bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Geospatial Decision Support System for Supporting the Assessment of Land Degradation in Europe
Authors: Manna Piero , Agrillo Antonietta , Bancheri Marialaura , Di Leginio Marco , Ferraro Giuliano , Langella Giuliano , Mileti Florindo Antonio , Riitano Nicola , Munafò Michele
Published: January 2024

Nowadays, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is on the political agenda as one of the main objectives in order to respond to the increasing degradation processes affecting soils and territories. Nevertheless, proper implementation of environmental policies is very difficult due to a lack of the operational, reliable and easily usable tools necessary to support political decisions when identifying problems, defining the causes of degradation and helping to find possible solutions. It is within this framework that this paper attempts to demonstrate a new valuable web-based operational LDN tool as a component of an already running Spatial Decision Support System (S-DSS) developed on a Geospatial Cyberinfrastructure (GCI). The tool could be offered to EU administrative units (e.g., municipalities) so that they may better evaluate the state and the impact of land degradation in their territories. The S-DSS supports the acquisition, management and processing of both static and dynamic data, together with data visualization and on-the-fly computing, in order to perform modelling, all of which is potentially accessible via the Web. The land degradation data utilized to develop the LDN tool refer to the SDG 15.3.1 indicator and were obtained from a platform named Trends.Earth, designed to monitor land change by using earth observations, and post-processed to correct some of the major artefacts relating to urban areas. The tool is designed to support land planning and management by producing data, statistics, reports and maps for any EU area of interest. The tool will be demonstrated through a short selection of practical case studies, where data, tables and stats are provided to challenge land degradation at different spatial extents. Currently, there are WEBGIS systems to visualize land degradation maps but—to our knowledge—this is the first S-DSS tool enabling customized LDN reporting at any NUTS (nomenclature of territorial units for statistics) level for the entire EU territory.
Development of a Pre-Automatized Processing Chain for Agricultural Monitoring Using a Multi-Sensor and Multi-Temporal Approach
Authors: Valentini Emiliana , Sapio Serena , Schiavon Emma , Righini Margherita , Monteleone Beatrice , Taramelli Andrea
Published: January 2024

Understanding crop types and their annual cycles is key to managing natural resources, especially when the pressures on these resources are attributable to climate change and social, environmental, and economic policies. In recent years, the space sector’s development, with programs such as Copernicus, has enabled a greater availability of satellite data. This study uses a multi-sensor approach to retrieve crop information by developing a Proof of Concept for the integration of high-resolution SAR imagery and optical data. The main goal is to develop a pre-automatized processing chain that explores the temporal dimension of different crop. Results are related to the advantage of using a multi-sensor approach to retrieve vegetation biomass and vertical structure for the identification of phenological stages and different crops. The novelty consists of investigating the multi-temporal pattern of radiometric indices and radar backscatter to detect the different phenological stages of each crop, identifying the Day of the Year (DoY) in which the classes showed greater separability. The current study could be considered a benchmark for the exploitation of future multi-sensor missions in downstream services for the agricultural sector, strengthening the evolution of Copernicus services.
Impact of Blood-Count-Derived Inflammatory Markers in Psoriatic Disease Progression
Authors: Tiucă Oana Mirela , Morariu Silviu Horia , Mariean Claudia Raluca , Tiucă Robert Aurelian , Nicolescu Alin Codrut , Cotoi Ovidiu Simion
Published: January 2024

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease, linked to local and systemic inflammation and predisposing patients to a higher risk of associated comorbidities. Cytokine levels are not widely available for disease progression monitoring due to high costs. Validated low-cost and reliable markers are needed for assessing disease progression and outcome. This study aims to assess the reliability of blood-count-derived inflammatory markers as disease predictors and to identify prognostic factors for disease severity. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into three study groups according to disease severity measured by the Body Surface Area (BSA) score: mild, moderate, and severe psoriasis. White blood cell count (WBC), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR), systemic immune index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and aggregate index of systemic inflammation (AISI) positively were correlated with disease severity (p < 0.005). d-NLR, NLR, and SII are independent prognostic factors for mild and moderate psoriasis (p < 0.05). d-NLR is the only independent prognostic factor for all three study groups. Moderate psoriasis is defined by d-NLR values between 1.49 and 2.19. NLR, PLR, d-NLR, MLR, SII, SIRI, and AISI are useful indicators of systemic inflammation and disease severity in psoriasis.
Effects of Activation Barriers on Quenching to Stabilize Prebiotic Chemical Systems
Authors: Sheng Qianyi , Intoy Ben Fredrick , Halley J. W.
Published: January 2024

We have previously shown in model studies that rapid quenches of systems of monomers interacting to form polymer chains can fix nonequilibrium chemistries with some lifelike properties. We suggested that such quenching processes might have occurred at very high rates on early Earth, giving an efficient mechanism for natural sorting through enormous numbers of nonequilibrium chemistries from which the most lifelike ones could be naturally selected. However, the model used for these studies did not take account of activation barriers to polymer scission (peptide bond hydrolysis in the case of proteins). Such barriers are known to exist and are expected to enhance the quenching effect. Here, we introduce a modified model which takes activation barriers into account and we compare the results to data from experiments on quenched systems of amino acids. We find that the model results turn out to be sensitive to the width of the distribution of barrier heights but quite insensitive to its average value. The results of the new model are in significantly better agreement with the experiments than those found using our previous model. The new parametrization of the model only requires one new parameter and the parametrization is more physical than the previous one, providing a chemical interpretation of the parameter p in our previous models. Within the model, a characteristic temperature Tc emerges such that if the temperature of the hot stage is above Tc and the temperature of the cold stage is below it, then the ‘freezing out’, in a quench, of a disequilibrium ensemble of long polymers is expected. We discuss the possible relevance of this to models of the origin of life in emissions from deep ocean rifts.
Evaluation of Reporting Quality of Glaucoma Randomized Controlled Trial Abstracts: Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Vucinovic Ana , Bukic Josipa , Rusic Doris , Leskur Dario , Seselja Perisin Ana , Radic Marijana , Grahovac Marko , Modun Darko
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study was to explore adherence to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) reporting standards in abstracts of randomized controlled trials on glaucoma. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on the aforementioned abstracts, indexed in MEDLINE/PubMed between the years 2017 and 2021. In total, 302 abstracts met the inclusion criteria and were further analyzed. The median score of CONSORT-A items was 8 (interquartile range, 7–10) out of 17 (47.0%). Most analyzed studies were conducted in a single center (80.5%) and the abstracts were predominantly structured (95.0%). Only 20.5% of the abstracts adequately described the trial design, while randomization and funding were described by 6.0% of the abstracts. Higher overall scores were associated with structured abstracts, a multicenter setting, statistically significant results, funding by industry, a higher number of participants, and having been published in journals with impact factors above four (p < 0.001, respectively). The results of this study indicate a suboptimal adherence to CONSORT-A reporting standards, especially in particular items such as randomization and funding. Since these factors could contribute to the overall quality of the trials and further translation of trial results into clinical practice, an improvement in glaucoma research reporting transparency is needed.
Skid Resistance Performance Assessment by a PLS Regression-Based Predictive Model with Non-Standard Texture Parameters
Authors: Ban Ivana , Deluka-Tibljaš Aleksandra , Ružić Igor
Published: January 2024

The importance of skid resistance performance assessment in pavement engineering and management is crucial due to its direct influence on road safety features. This paper provides a new approach to skid resistance predictive model definition based on experimentally obtained texture roughness parameters. The originally developed methodology is based on a photogrammetry technique for pavement surface data acquisition and analysis, named the Close-Range Orthogonal Photogrammetry (CROP) method. Texture roughness features were analyzed on pavement surface profiles extracted from surface 3D models, obtained by the CROP method. Selected non-standard roughness parameters were used as predictors in the skid resistance model. The predictive model was developed by the partial least squares (PLS) method as a feature engineering procedure in the regression analysis framework. The proposed model was compared to the simple linear regression model with a traditional texture parameter Mean Profile Depth as the predictor, showing better predictive strength when multiple non-standard texture parameters were used.
Study on the Influence of Metal Substrates on Protective Performance of the Coating by EIS
Authors: Gong Jiyun , Wei Han , Hao Pan , Li Shenghui , Zhao Xuhui , Tang Yuming , Zuo Yu
Published: January 2024

The degradation process of a red iron oxide epoxy coating on three kinds of metals under a periodic cycling exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution (45 °C 12 h + 25 °C 12 h) was comparatively studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The influence of the metal substrates (carbon steel, brass, and Al alloy) on the protection performance of the coating was analyzed using variations in the electrochemical and chemical parameters. The failure criteria of the coating were discussed. The results show that the coating on the three substrates presents different failure times, with the coating on steel presenting the shortest time and the coating on Al alloy the longest time. The characteristics of metal substrates and their corrosion products influence the coating failure behavior. The corrosion products with loose and hygroscopic properties of steel and brass have promoting effects on the diffusion of water through the coating. The passive film of the Al alloy substrate and the formation of salt film containing Cl− have corrosion-inhibiting effects on the substrate. Evaluation of the coating performance by |Z|0.01Hz should consider the characteristics of the metal substrates.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of High-Strength AA6011 Aluminum Alloy Welding with Novel 4xxx Filler Metals
Authors: Ahmed Mohamed , Javidani Mousa , Maltais Alexandre , Chen X.-Grant
Published: January 2024

Welding high-strength 6xxx aluminum alloys using a commercial ER4043 filler often results in inferior joint strength. This study investigated the effects of newly developed Al-Si-Mg filler metals with varying Mg (0.6–1.4 wt.%) and Mn (0.25–0.5 wt.%) contents on the microstructure evolution and mechanical performance of high-strength AA6011-T6 plates using gas metal arc welding. Two commercial fillers, ER4043 and ER4943, were used as references for comparison. The results revealed that increasing the Mg and Mn contents in the novel fillers resulted in sufficiently high alloying elements in the fusion zone (FZ), leading to higher microhardness. Under as-welded conditions, the weakest region of the joint was the heat-affected zone (HAZ). The joint strength was almost independent of the filler type and was controlled by the HAZ strength, measuring a UTS of 230 and 241 MPa for ER4043 and the other joints, respectively. The higher Mg contents in the novel fillers promoted the precipitation of a large volume fraction of fine β″-MgSi in the FZ during post-weld heat treatment (PWHT), resulting in superior strength and higher welding efficiency relative to the reference fillers. The optimal Mg content of the novel fillers was 0.6 wt.%. Increasing the Mn content of the filler metal had an insignificant effect. The FMg0.6 filler with 0.6% Mg achieved the best combination of strength (UTS of 410 MPa) and elongation (6.7%) as well as the highest welding efficiency (94%) after PWHT, among all of the fillers studied. However, the newly developed fillers adversely affected the impact toughness of the joints.
Improving the Surface Quality and Tribological Characteristics of 3D-Printed Titanium Parts through Reactive Electro-Spark Deposition
Authors: Kostadinov Georgi , Penyashki Todor , Nikolov Antonio , Vencl Aleksandar
Published: January 2024

This work presents the results of research conducted with an aim to improve the surface quality, hardness and wear resistance of titanium alloy Ti6Al4V, obtained via the laser powder bed fusion of metals (PBF-LB/M) process of additive manufacturing (AM) known as the 3D printing of metals. The 3D surfaces were coated via reactive electrospark deposition (RESD) with low-pulse energy and electrode materials of low-melting metals and multi-component hard alloys. The relationship between the electrical parameters of the RESD process and the quality, composition, structure, microhardness and wear resistance of the treated surfaces were investigated and analysed. It was found that the roughness and thickness of the resulting surface layers could be changed by changing the RESD modes within the limits of 2.5–5 µm and 8–20 µm, respectively. RESD processing allowed us to achieve two to five times lower roughness than that of titanium AM surfaces. The microhardness and wear resistance of the RESD surfaces are two to four times higher than those of the titanium substrate. Possibilities for the purposeful synthesis of new wear-resistant phases and compounds and for obtaining surface layers with predetermined thickness and roughness were established. It was shown that the subsequent reaction’s electrospark processing helped to simultaneously reduce the roughness and increase the hardness and wear resistance of the modified surfaces, and can be successfully used instead of the material-energy-labour and machine-intensive finishing treatments of the titanium surfaces obtained after 3D printing.
Effect of Residual Stress and Microstructure on the Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of Aluminum Friction Stir Welded Joints
Authors: Guo Yanning , Li Peiyao
Published: January 2024

Friction stir welding (FSW) has been adopted in the aerospace industry for fabricating structural alloys due to the low melting point and high thermal conductivity of aviation aluminum alloys. However, welding residual stresses can lead to secondary deformation in friction stir welded (FSWed) structures. Additionally, microstructural characteristics impact the crack growth rates and directions in these structures. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the effects of residual stress and microstructure on the fatigue responses of FSWed joints. In this paper, we studied the fatigue crack growth behavior of two homogeneous and dissimilar FSWed joints with varying welding parameters, namely 2024-T3 and 7075-T6. The residual stresses were measured with the X-ray diffraction method. The dislocations and precipitates in different zones of the FSWed joints were analyzed via transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results demonstrated that the residual stress significantly affected the fatigue crack growth rate and direction; the tensile residual stress promoted fatigue crack growth and offset the decrease in the fatigue crack growth rate that occurred due to grain refinement. The results of the microstructural analysis indicated that dislocation density and sliding resistance increased with the decrease in rotational speed and led to a decreased rate of fatigue crack propagation.
Effect of Microstructural Change under Pressure during Isostatic Pressing on Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Isotropic Carbon Blocks
Authors: Byun Tae-Sub , Lee Sang-Hye , Kim Suk-Hwan , Roh Jae-Seung
Published: January 2024

In this study, carbon blocks were fabricated using isotropic coke and coal tar pitch as raw materials, with a variation in pressure during cold isostatic pressing (CIP). The CIP pressure was set to 50, 100, 150, and 200 MPa, and the effect of the CIP pressure on the mechanical and electrical properties of the resulting carbon blocks was analyzed. Microstructural observations confirmed that, after the kneading, the surface of isotropic coke was covered with the pitch components. Subsequently, after the CIP, granules, which were larger than isotropic coke and the kneaded particles, were observed. The formation of these granules was attributed to the coalescence of kneaded particles under the applied pressing pressure. This granule formation was accompanied by the development of pores, some remaining within the granules, while others were extruded, thereby existing externally. The increase in the applied pressing pressure facilitated the formation of granules, and this microstructural development contributed to enhanced mechanical and electrical properties. At a pressing pressure of 100 MPa, the maximum flexural strength was achieved at 33.3 MPa, and the minimum electrical resistivity was reached at 60.1 μΩm. The higher the pressing pressure, the larger the size of the granules. Pores around the granules tended to connect and grow larger, forming crack-like structures. This microstructural change led to degraded mechanical and electrical properties. The isotropic ratio of the carbon blocks obtained in this study was estimated based on the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). The results confirmed that all carbon blocks obtained proved to be isotropic. In this study, a specimen type named CIP-100 exhibited the best performance in every aspect as an isotropic carbon block.
Leakage Mechanism and Cycling Behavior of Ferroelectric Al0.7Sc0.3N
Authors: Chen Li , Wang Qiang , Liu Chen , Li Minghua , Song Wendong , Wang Weijie , Loke Desmond K. , Zhu Yao
Published: January 2024

Ferroelectric scandium-doped aluminum nitride (Al1-xScxN) is of considerable research interest because of its superior ferroelectricity. Studies indicate that Al1-xScxN may suffer from a high leakage current, which can hinder further thickness scaling and long-term reliability. In this work, we systematically investigate the origin of the leakage current in Al0.7Sc0.3N films via experiments and theoretical calculations. The results reveal that the leakage may originate from the nitrogen vacancies with positively charged states and fits well with the trap-assisted Poole-Frenkel (P-F) emission. Moreover, we examine the cycling behavior of ferroelectric Al0.7Sc0.3N-based FeRAM devices. We observe that the leakage current substantially increases when the device undergoes bipolar cycling with a pulse amplitude larger than the coercive electric field. Our analysis shows that the increased leakage current in bipolar cycling is caused by the monotonously reduced trap energy level by monitoring the direct current (DC) leakage under different temperatures and the P-F emission fitting.
Study on Vertical Bearing Capacity of Pile Foundation with Distributed Geopolymer Post-Grouting on Pile Side
Authors: Li Pan , Xia Yangyang , Xie Xinhui , Wang Jing , Wang Chaojie , Shi Mingsheng , Wang Bo , Wu Haoye
Published: January 2024

To study the applicability of the new geopolymer grouting material for super-long and large-diameter post-grouting bored piles in silty fine sand geology, this paper compares the bearing capacity of two grouting materials, geopolymer and normal Portland cement, and different grouting volume pile side-distributed grouting piles in silty fine sand based on field model tests are analyzed through the diffusion forms of the two materials in silty fine sand through the morphology of the grouted body after excavation. The results show that the ultimate bearing capacities of P0 (ungrouted pile), P1 (8 kg cement grouted pile), P2 (6 kg geopolymer-grouted pile), P3 (8 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) and P4 (10 kg geopolymer-grouted pile) are 5400 N, 8820 N, 9450 N, 11,700 N and 12,600 N, respectively, and that the ultimate bearing capacity of the grouted pile is improved compared with that of the ungrouted pile since, under the same grouting amount, the maximum bearing capacity of the pile using geopolymer grouting is increased by 133% compared with that of the pile with cement grouting. This further verifies the applicability of the geopolymer grouting material for the post-grouting of the pile foundation in silty fine sand. Under the action of the ultimate load, the pile side friction resistance of P1, P2, P3 and P4 is increased by 200%, 218%, 284% and 319% compared with that of P0. In addition, the excavation results show that the geopolymer post-grouting pile forms the ellipsoidal consolidation body at the pile side grouting location, which mainly comprises extrusion diffusion with a small amount of infiltration diffusion, and the cement grouting pile forms a sheet-like consolidation body at the lower grouting location, which primarily comprises split diffusion. This study can provide a reference basis for the theoretical and engineering application of post-grouting piles using geopolymers.
Analytic and Data-Driven Force Prediction for Vacuum-Based Granular Grippers
Authors: Wacker Christian , Dierks Niklas , Kwade Arno , Dröder Klaus
Published: January 2024

As manufacturing and assembly processes continue to require more adaptable systems for automated handling, innovative solutions for universal gripping are emerging. These grasping systems can enable the handling of wide varieties of shapes, with gripping forces varying with grasped geometries. For the efficient usage of handling systems, precise offline and online prediction models for resulting grasping forces for different objects are necessary. In previous research, a flexible vacuum-based granular gripper was developed, for which no option for predicting gripping forces is currently available. Various gripping force prediction methodologies within the current state of the art are examined and evaluated. For an assessment of grasping forces of previously untested objects for the examined gripper with limited data and low computational effort, two methodologies are proposed. An analytical, 2D-geometry-derived gripper-specific metric for geometries is compared to a methodology based on similarities of objects to a small existing dataset. The applicability and prediction quality for different object types is analyzed through validation experiments. Gripping force estimations are possible with both methodologies, with individual weaknesses towards geometric features such as air permeabilities. With further development, robust predictions of gripping forces could be achieved for a wide range of unknown object geometries with limited experimental effort.
Modified Block Bootstrap Testing for Persistence Change in Infinite Variance Observations
Authors: Zhang Si , Jin Hao , Su Menglin
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates the properties of the change in persistence detection for observations with infinite variance. The innovations are assumed to be in the domain of attraction of a stable law with index κ∈(0,2]. We provide a new test statistic and show that its asymptotic distribution under the null hypothesis of non-stationary I(1) series is a functional of a stable process. When the change point in persistence is not known, the consistency is always given under the alternative, either from stationary I(0) to non-stationary I(1) or vice versa. The proposed tests can be used to identify the direction of change and do not over-reject against constant I(0) series, even in relatively small samples. Furthermore, we also consider the change point estimator which is consistent and the asymptotic behavior of the test statistic in the case of near-integrated time series. A block bootstrap method is suggested to determine critical values because the null asymptotic distribution contains the unknown tail index, which results in critical values depending on it. The simulation study demonstrates that the block bootstrap-based test is robust against change in persistence for heavy-tailed series with infinite variance. Finally, we apply our methods to the two series of the US inflation rate and USD/CNY exchange rate, and find significant evidence for persistence changes, respectively, from I(0) to I(1) and from I(1) to I(0).
Soft Set Decision and Cluster Percolation Method-Based Policy Clustering and Encryption Optimization for CP-ABE
Authors: Liu Wei , Helil Nurmamat
Published: January 2024

In ciphertext-policy attribute-based encryption, there might be different levels of overlapping in the access policies of different data objects outsourced by the same data owner. This paper proposes a soft set decision-making method and cluster percolation method-based policy clustering by using policy similarity for CP-ABE, aiming to merge the duplicated access policy pieces to reduce repeated computations during the encryption process of corresponding data objects. Firstly, the access policies are clustered using either the soft set decision-making or the cluster percolation method. Secondly, the access policies within the same cluster are integrated for further encryption of corresponding data objects as a whole, thereby preventing redundant computations during the encryption process and thus reducing computational overhead. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach in this paper.
Rare Ophiuroid-Type Steroid 3β,21-, 3β,22-, and 3α,22-Disulfates from the Slime Sea Star Pteraster marsippus and Their Colony-Inhibiting Effects against Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Kicha Alla A. , Malyarenko Timofey V. , Kuzmich Alexandra S. , Malyarenko Olesya S. , Kalinovsky Anatoly I. , Popov Roman S. , Tolkanov Dmitriy K. , Ivanchina Natalia V.
Published: January 2024

Two new steroid 3β,21-disulfates (1, 2) and two new steroid 3β,22- and 3α,22-disulfates (3, 4), along with the previously known monoamine alkaloid tryptamine (5) were found in the ethanolic extract of the Far Eastern slime sea star Pteraster marsippus. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed analysis of one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR, HRESIMS, and HRESIMS/MS data. Compounds 1 and 2 have a Δ22-21-sulfoxy-24-norcholestane side chain. Compounds 3 and 4 contain a Δ24(28)-22-sulfoxy-24-methylcholestane side chain, which was first discovered in the polar steroids of starfish and brittle stars. The influence of substances 1–4 on cell viability, colony formation, and growth of human breast cancer T-47D, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231 cells was investigated. It was shown that compounds 1 and 2 possess significant colony-inhibiting activity against T-47D cells, while compounds 3 and 4 were more effective against MDA-MB-231 cells.
Digital Model of Plan View Pattern Control for Plate Mills Based on Machine Vision and the DBO-RBF Algorithm
Authors: Jiao Zhijie , Gao Shiwen , Liu Chujie , Luo Junyi , Wang Zhiqiang , Lang Guanyu , Zhao Zhong , Wu Zhiqiang , He Chunyu
Published: January 2024

Plan view pattern control (PVPC) is a highly effective means to improve the rectangularization of products and increase the yield of plate mills. By optimizing the parameters of PVPC, the effect of PVPC can be further improved. In this paper, a digital model for predicting and controlling crop patterns of plates is proposed based on the radial basis function (RBF) neural network optimized by the dung beetle optimizer (DBO) algorithm. Machine vision technology is used to obtain a digital description of the crop pattern of the rolled plates. An automatic threshold adjustment algorithm is proposed for the image processing of plate pattern photos during the rolling process. The error between the pattern data calculated through machine vision technology and the measured pattern data does not exceed 3 mm. The spread parameters of the RBF are optimized using DBO, and the digital model structure is established. The goodness of fit (R2) and the mean absolute error (MAE) are used as evaluation indicators. The results show that the digital model established based on DBO-RBF has good predictive and control performance, realizing intelligent prediction of the crop pattern of plates and the parameter optimization of PVPC. In practical applications, the crop cutting loss area of irregular deformation at the end of the plate can be reduced by 31%.
Blood Glucose Levels during Decathlon Competition: An Observational Study in Timing of Intake and Competing Time
Authors: Yoshitake Rikako , Ogata Hitomi , Omi Naomi
Published: January 2024

During a men’s decathlon, a combined event conducted over two consecutive days, fluctuations in blood glucose were measured using flash glucose monitoring. Because decathletes repeatedly intake and exercise, high and low blood glucose levels are observed, but the actual conditions have not yet been clarified. Low blood glucose levels (<80 mg/dL) were observed in nine athletes, while high blood glucose levels (>139 mg/dL) were observed in all athletes at least once during the competition days. Furthermore, low blood glucose levels were observed in nine athletes at least once during and after intake (“intake” refers to consuming energy-containing food and beverages). Additionally, high blood glucose levels were observed in nine athletes at least once during and after intake. Five athletes had low blood glucose during competing time. It was suggested that even if they had eaten a meal just prior to the competition, their intake was likely insufficient for their energy expenditure. A significant positive correlation was found between the mean blood glucose level and the number of intakes on competition days. It is believed that meals may have had a strong influence on blood glucose, even on competition days with a high frequency of eating and exercise for the decathlon.
Lightweight and High-Stiffness Metal Optical Systems Based on Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Fu Qiang , Yan Lei , Tan Shuanglong , Liu Yang , Wang Lingjie
Published: January 2024

To build a long-wave infrared catadioptric optical system for deep space low-temperature target detection with a lightweight and wide field of view, this work conducted a study that encompasses a local cooling optical system, topology optimization-based metal mirror design, and additive manufacturing. First, a compact catadioptric optical system with local cooling was designed. This system features a 55 mm aperture, a 110 mm focal length, and a 4-degree by 4-degree field of view. Secondly, we applied the principles of topology optimization to design the primary mirror assembly, the secondary mirror assembly, and the connecting baffle. The third and fourth modes achieved a resonance frequency of 1213.7 Hz. Then, we manufactured the mirror assemblies using additive manufacturing and single-point diamond turning, followed by the centering assembly method to complete the optical assembly. Lastly, we conducted performance testing on the system, with the test results revealing that the modulation transfer function (MTF) curves of the optical system reached the diffraction limit across the entire field of view. Remarkably, the system’s weight was reduced to a mere 96.04 g. The use of additive manufacturing proves to be an effective means of enhancing optical system performance.
Scaling a Hydraulic Motor for Minimally Invasive Medical Devices
Authors: Vinnakota Manjeera , Bellur Kishan , Starnes Sandra L. , Schulz Mark J.
Published: January 2024

Aligned with the medical device industry’s trend of miniaturization, academic and commercial researchers are constantly attempting to reduce device sizes. Many applications require miniature actuators (2 mm range) to perform mechanical work; however, biocompatible micromotors are not readily available. To that end, a hydraulic motor-driven cutting module that aims to combine cutting and drug delivery is presented. The hydraulic motor prototype developed has an outside diameter (OD) of ~4 mm (twice the target size) and a 1 mm drive shaft to attach a cutter. Four different designs were explored and fabricated using additive manufacturing. The benchtop experimental data of the prototypes are presented herein. For the prototype motor with fluid inlet perpendicular to the blades, the average angular velocity was 10,593 RPM at a flowrate of 3.6 mL/s and 42,597 RPM at 10.1 mL/s. This design was numerically modeled using 3D-transient simulations in ANSYS CFX (version 2022 R2) to determine the performance characteristics and the internal resistance of the motor. Simplified mathematical models were also used to compute and compare the peak torque with the simulation estimates. The viability of current design represents a crucial milestone in scaling the hydraulic motor to a 2 mm OD to power a microcutter.
Functional Bi2O3/Gd2O3 Silica-Coated Structures for Improvement of Early Age and Radiation Shielding Performance of Cement Pastes
Authors: Cendrowski Krzysztof , Federowicz Karol , Techman Mateusz , Chougan Mehdi , El-Khayatt Ahmed M. , Saudi H. A. , Kędzierski Tomasz , Mijowska Ewa , Strzałkowski Jarosław , Sibera Daniel , Abd Elrahman Mohamed , Sikora Pawel
Published: January 2024

This study presents a new approach towards the production of sol-gel silica-coated Bi2O3/Gd2O3 cement additives towards the improvement of early mechanical performance and radiation attenuation. Two types of silica coatings, which varied in synthesis method and morphology, were used to coat Bi2O3/Gd2O3 structures and evaluated as a cement filler in Portland cement pastes. Isothermal calorimetry studies and early strength evaluations confirmed that both proposed coating types can overcome retarded cement hydration process, attributed to Bi2O3 presence, resulting in improved one day compressive strength by 300% and 251% (depending on coating method) when compared to paste containing pristine Bi2O3 and Gd2O3 particles. Moreover, depending on the type of chosen coating type, various rheological performances of cement pastes can be achieved. Thanks to the proposed combination of materials, both gamma-rays and slow neutron attenuation in cement pastes can be simultaneously improved. The introduction of silica coating resulted in an increment of the gamma-ray and neutron shielding thanks to the increased probability of radiation interaction. Along with the positive early age effects of the synthesized structures, the 28 day mechanical performance of cement pastes was not suppressed, and was found to be comparable to that of the control specimen. As an outcome, silica-coated structures can be successfully used in radiation-shielding cement-based composites, e.g. with demanding early age performances.
Editorial of the Special Issue ‘Nano-Optics and Nano-Optoelectronics: Challenges and Future Trends’
Authors: Song Hai-Zhi
Published: January 2024

Through nano-optics and nano-optoelectronics, we can investigate the characteristics of light at the nanometer scale and the interaction of nanometer-scale objects with light [...]
Enhanced Photocatalysis of Electrically Polarized Titania Nanosheets
Authors: Mihara Tomoyuki , Nozaki Kosuke , Kowaka Yasuyuki , Jiang Mengtian , Yamashita Kimihiro , Miura Hiroyuki , Ohara Satoshi
Published: January 2024

Titania (TiO2) nanosheets are crystals with controlled, highly ordered structures that improve the functionality of conventional TiO2 nanoparticles. Various surface modification methods have been studied to enhance the effectiveness of these materials as photocatalysts. Surface modifications using electrical polarization have attracted considerable attention in recent years because they can improve the function of titania without changing its composition. However, the combination of facet engineering and electrical polarization has not been shown to improve the functionality of TiO2 nanosheets. In the present study, the dye-degradation performance of polarized TiO2 nanosheets was evaluated. TiO2 nanosheets with a F/Ti ratio of 0.3 were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. The crystal morphology and structure were evaluated using transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. Then, electrical polarization was performed under a DC electric field of 300 V at 300 °C. The polarized material was evaluated using thermally stimulated current measurements. A dye-degradation assay was performed using a methylene blue solution under ultraviolet irradiation. The polarized TiO2 nanosheets exhibited a dense surface charge and accelerated decolorization. These results indicate that electrical polarization can be used to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2.
Towards High Performance: Solution-Processed Perovskite Solar Cells with Cu-Doped CH3NH3PbI3
Authors: Soopy Abdul Kareem Kalathil , Parida Bhaskar , Aravindh S. Assa , O. Al Ghaithi Asma , Qamhieh Naser , Amrane Noureddine , Benkraouda Maamar , Liu Shengzhong (Frank) , Najar Adel
Published: January 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have demonstrated remarkable photovoltaic performance, positioning themselves as promising devices in the field. Theoretical calculations suggest that copper (Cu) can serve as an effective dopant, potentially occupying interstitial sites in the perovskite structure, thereby reducing the energy barrier and enhancing carrier extraction. Subsequent experimental investigations confirm that adding CuI as an additive to MAPbI3-based perovskite cells improves optoelectronic properties and overall device performance. Optimizing the amount of Cu (0.01 M) has been found to significantly enhance crystalline quality and grain size, leading to improved light absorption and suppressed carrier recombination. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Cu-doped PSCs increased from 16.3% to 18.2%. However, excessive Cu doping (0.1 M) negatively impacts morphology, resulting in inferior optical properties and diminished device performance. Furthermore, Cu-doped PSCs exhibit higher stabilized power output (SPO) compared to pristine cells. This study underscores the substantial benefits of Cu doping for advancing the development of highly efficient PSCs.
RETRACTED: Ahmed et al. Application of Nanopharmaceutics for Flibanserin Brain Delivery Augmentation Via the Nasal Route. Nanomaterials 2020, 10, 1270
Authors: Ahmed Osama A. A. , Fahmy Usama A. , Badr-Eldin Shaimaa M. , Aldawsari Hibah M. , Awan Zuhier A. , Asfour Hani Z. , Kammoun Ahmed K. , Caruso Giuseppe , Caraci Filippo , Alfarsi Anas , Al-Ghamdi Raniyah A. , Al-Ghamdi Rawan A. , Alhakamy Nabil A.
Published: January 2024

The Journal retracts the article “Application of Nanopharmaceutics for Flibanserin Brain Delivery Augmentation Via the Nasal Route” [...]
Energy Decomposition Scheme for Rectangular Graphene Flakes
Authors: Hendra  , Witek Henryk A.
Published: January 2024

We show—to our own surprise—that total electronic energies for a family of m × n rectangular graphene flakes can be very accurately represented by a simple function of the structural parameters m and n with errors not exceeding 1 kcal/mol. The energies of these flakes, usually referred to as multiple zigzag chains Z(m,n), are computed for m, n < 21 at their optimized geometries using the DFTB3 methodology. We have discovered that the structural parameters m and n (and their simple algebraic functions) provide a much better basis for the energy decomposition scheme than the various topological invariants usually used in this context. Most terms appearing in our energy decomposition scheme seem to have simple chemical interpretations. Our observation goes against the well-established knowledge stating that many-body energies are complicated functions of molecular parameters. Our observations might have far-reaching consequences for building accurate machine learning models.
Machine Learning-Assisted Identification of Single-Layer Graphene via Color Variation Analysis
Authors: Yang Eunseo , Seo Miri , Rhee Hanee , Je Yugyeong , Jeong Hyunjeong , Lee Sang Wook
Published: January 2024

Techniques such as using an optical microscope and Raman spectroscopy are common methods for detecting single-layer graphene. Instead of relying on these laborious and expensive methods, we suggest a novel approach inspired by skilled human researchers who can detect single-layer graphene by simply observing color differences between graphene flakes and the background substrate in optical microscope images. This approach implemented the human cognitive process by emulating it through our data extraction process and machine learning algorithm. We obtained approximately 300,000 pixel-level color difference data from 140 graphene flakes from 45 optical microscope images. We utilized the average and standard deviation of the color difference data for each flake for machine learning. As a result, we achieved F1-Scores of over 0.90 and 0.92 in identifying 60 and 50 flakes from green and pink substrate images, respectively. Our machine learning-assisted computing system offers a cost-effective and universal solution for detecting the number of graphene layers in diverse experimental environments, saving both time and resources. We anticipate that this approach can be extended to classify the properties of other 2D materials.
The Fatty Acid Compositions, Irritation Properties, and Potential Applications of Teleogryllus mitratus Oil in Nanoemulsion Development
Authors: Chaiyana Wantida , Inthorn Jirasit , Somwongin Suvimol , Anantaworasakul Pimporn , Sopharadee Sawat , Yanpanya Pornnapat , Konaka Marina , Wongwilai Wasin , Dhumtanom Pongsathorn , Juntrapirom Saranya , Kanjanakawinkul Watchara
Published: January 2024

This study aimed to characterize and investigate the potential of the oils from Gryllus bimaculatus, Teleogryllus mitratus, and Acheta domesticus to be used in nanoemulsions. The oils were extracted by a cold press method and characterized for their fatty acid profiles. Their irritation effects on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) were evaluated, along with investigations of solubility and the required hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (RHLB). Various parameters impacting nanoemulsion generation using high-pressure homogenization were investigated. The findings revealed that G. bimaculatus yielded the highest oil content (24.58% w/w), followed by T. mitratus (20.96% w/w) and A. domesticus (15.46% w/w). Their major fatty acids were palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids. All oils showed no irritation, suggesting safety for topical use. The RHLB values of each oil were around six–seven. However, they could be successfully developed into nanoemulsions using various surfactants. All cricket oils could be used for the nanoemulsion preparation, but T. mitratus yielded the smallest internal droplet size with acceptable PDI and zeta potential. Nanoemulsion was found to significantly enhance the antioxidant and anti-skin wrinkle of the T. mitratus oil. These findings pointed to the possible use of cricket oils in nanoemulsions, which could be used in various applications, including topical and cosmetic formulations.
Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis
Authors: Leach Steven T.
Published: January 2024

The objective of this Special Issue entitled ‘Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics in Gut Symbiosis’ is to publish reviews, clinical trials and experimental studies that focus on probiotics and prebiotics that have a role in influencing disease and promoting gastrointestinal and overall health [...]
Complementary Feeding Practices: Recommendations of Pediatricians for Infants with and without Allergy Risk
Authors: Vassilopoulou Emilia , Feketea Gavriela , Pagkalos Ioannis , Rallis Dimitrios , Milani Gregorio Paolo , Agostoni Carlo , Douladiris Nikolaos , Lakoumentas John , Stefanaki Evangelia , Efthymiou Zenon , Tsabouri Sophia
Published: January 2024

Aim: To investigate the routine guidance provided by pediatricians concerning the timing of complementary feeding (CF) for both healthy infants and those at a heightened risk of allergies. Methods: A total of 233 pediatricians participated in an anonymous online survey that included questions about demographics and recommendations for CF. Specifically, they provided guidance on the types of foods, preparation methods, supplements, time intervals for introducing new foods to infants at low and high allergy risk, and delayed food introductions for high-risk cases. Results: The respondents advised introducing certain foods at specific ages: fruits, starchy non-gluten grains, vegetables, olive oil, and meat were appropriate at 6 months; gluten-rich grains at 7 months; yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and legumes at 8 months; fish at 8.5 months; and nuts at 9 months. Pediatricians, especially those with less than 15 years of practice, often introduced egg, seafood, gluten-rich grains, legumes, and nuts earlier for high-risk infants. Parenthood and male gender were associated with the earlier introduction of eggs and grains. Conclusions: Greek pediatricians follow a structured food introduction schedule for CF in infants. Interestingly, they tend to delay the introduction of common food allergens and recommend longer intervals between introducing new foods, particularly for high-risk infants. Key Notes: Despite recent evidence-based indications on healthy complementary feeding strategies for infants, discrepancies persist among pediatricians regarding food choices and the order and timing of food introduction, both for healthy infants and those at risk of allergy. Guidance on complementary feeding by pediatricians is influenced by their individual characteristics. Pediatricians tend to delay the introduction of common food allergens and recommend longer intervals between introducing new foods, particularly for high-risk infants.