bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Influence of MoS2 Addition Method on the Tribological and Corrosion Properties of Greases
Authors: Zhu Can , He Yi Zhong , Xiong Ping li , Li JiuSheng , Li Li li
Published: November 2023

MoS2 lithium-based grease is suitable for lubrication protection between bearings at high temperatures and loads due to its excellent tribological properties. However, there is little research on the influence of different addition methods of MoS2 additive on the tribology and corrosion properties of lithium grease. In this work, vegetable oil with low toxicity, high biodegradation rate, and low cost was selected as the base oil, lithium 12-hydroxystearate as the thickener, and MoS2 as the additive. The effects of different adding modes of MoS2 on the tribology and corrosion properties of lithium grease were studied. The experimental results showed that adding 0.01wt% MoS2 before thickening was more conducive to improving the tribological properties of lithium grease. The average friction coefficient was 0.034, and the average spot diameter was reduced by 0.16mm. After grinding and adding 0.01wt% MoS2, the corrosion inhibition efficiency of the steel sheet was as high as 96.97%. The main reason was that the longer stirring and grinding were conducive to the uniform distribution of MoS2 in the grease, and the protective film formed by MoS2 and GCr15-bearing steel improved the lubrication performance and corrosion inhibition performance of the friction system.
Critically Small Contemporaneous Effective Population Sizes for Stocks of the African Bonytongue in West Africa
Authors: Hurtado Luis A. , Mateos Mariana , Caballero Isabel C , Oladimeji Tofunmi E , Adite Alphonse , Awodiran Michael O , Winemiller Kirk O
Published: November 2023

Inland capture fisheries play a critical role in supporting food security and livelihoods in West Africa. Therefore, it is important to evaluate genetic health of exploited fish populations. The African bonytongue, Heterotis niloticus, supports important commercial and subsistence fisheries in West Africa. Sharp declines of stocks have been reported, however. Herein, we estimate contemporary effective population sizes (Ne) of four Heterotis populations in Nigeria, three in Benin, and five in Cameroon using the Linkage Disequilibrium method with correction for age structure. Ne estimates were used to assess genetic short-term (i.e., inbreeding depression) and long-term (i.e., loss of evolutionary potential) risks. Analyses failed to obtain Ne point estimates for two populations. For the remaining ten populations, corrected Ne point estimates fell well below 500, the minimum recommended for populations to retain evolutionary potential; with eight populations below 100 (range 2.8–83.5), the minimum recommended to avoid inbreeding depression, one borderline (100–125), and one above this threshold (312–392). The lower 95% confidence interval bound of Ne for eleven populations was very small (0.7–14.6), and for the remaining population it was 44.2. Accordingly, all populations examined can be considered potentially at risk of inbreeding depression.
Mining and Mineral Processing Journals in the WoS and Their Rankings When Merging SCIEx and ESCI Databases—Case Study Based on the JCR 2022 Data
Authors: Korman Tomislav , Malvić Tomislav , Lozynskyi Vasyl , Briševac Zlatko , Kovač Zoran , Hrnčević Lidia , Pavlić Krešimir
Published: November 2023

The JCR 2022, for the first time, included the ESCI journals, increasing the number of publication titles by approximately 60%. In this paper, the subcategory Mining and Mineral Processing (as part of the Engineering and Geosciences category), where 12 of the ESCI journals were merged with the 20 SCIEx ones, is presented and analysed. Only three of the ESCI journals, that JCR 2022 included in the database, would be ranked in the Q1/Q2. The inclusion of the entire ESCI added new content for readers and authors relying on the JCR sources, and will help the journals in the database to attract more papers and citations in the future. Consequently, part of the journals (probably more than 25% marked in this analysis) will have a bigger chance to reach the Q1/Q2 ranking in the forthcoming years. This paper gives the authors, researchers, and publishers in the Mining and Mineral Processing field practical insights into the potential benefits and challenges associated with the changing landscape of indexed journals, as well as the in-depth, systematic analyses for potential future authors to have the opportunity to select the most suitable journal for submitting their papers.
Modified Hydrothermal Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Monoclinic LaPO4:Pr3+ Colloidal Nanorods and their X-ray Excited UV-C Luminescence for Cancer Theranostics
Authors: Shaidulin Artem Timurovich , Orlovskaya Elena Olegovna , Popov Alexandr Vladimirovich , Batygov Sergey Khachaturovich , Quddusi Umama , Maji Sanu Bifal , Iskhakova Liudmila Dmitrievna , Uvarov Oleg Venediktovich , Silaev Gleb Olegovich , Orlovskii Yurii Vladimirovich , Vainer Yuri Grigorievich , Makhov Vladimir Nikolaevich
Published: November 2023

A hydrothermal technique with microwave heating (200 °C, 2 hours, 2 magnetrons, 2.45 GHz) was modified to obtain UV-C luminescent LaPO4: Pr3+ colloidal nanorods for the potential use in X-ray cancer theranostics. For further possible biofunctionalization, a compound of tartaric acid formed under basic conditions was used as a coating and stabilizing agent to provide colloidal properties to the surface of nanoparticles in basic to neutral aqueous media, which was confirmed by zeta potential measurements. In addition, the colloidal properties and clustering processes of synthesized LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods in aqueous solutions with different pH values were studied in real time using a highly sensitive laser ultramicroscope operating according to the “light-sheet” scheme. A comparative analysis of the transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and high-energy spectroscopy showed the different effects of synthesis parameters on the morphological, crystalline and luminescent properties of the obtained nanorods. Through optimization of the synthesis parameters, stable aqueous solutions of m-LaPO4:Pr3+ nanorods with sizes less than 30 nm and an intensity of UV-C luminescence equal to 5-10% of the unmodified nanofibers were obtained.
Assessing Impact of Microplastics on Aquatic Food System and Human Health
Authors: Mithun Mahmudul Hasan , kar Auditi , Sunny Atiqur Rahman , Billah Masum , Sazzad Sharif Ahmed , Salehin Sadeques , Foysal Al Maksud , Jahan Nusrat , Rahman Koushikur , Shiam Abdulla Al , Chowdhury Redoyan , Arafat Jubayer , Baten Abdul
Published: November 2023

Micro-plastics (MPs) become significantly important to society since their commercial manufacture began in the 1950s because of their low production costs, stability, light weight, and adaptability. Plastic was produced in 400 million tons worldwide in 2020, compared to 1.5 million tons just 60 years earlier. Scientists predict that by 2050, plastic production would increase to 33 billion tons. MPs are a rising scientific and societal issue in the environment as a new type of contaminant that is widely disseminated in aquatic ecosystems and organisms. Aquatic species that come into contact with MPs for an extended period of time experience ecotoxicity, which includes oxidative stress, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive issues. In aquatic environments, MPs not only transport chemicals within animals but also serve as mediators for chemicals or other contaminants. As a result of co-exposure of MPs and chemical contaminants, various toxicity incidences involving aquatic organisms have been reported. The final exposure of MPs occurs in humans through biomagnification of aquatic edible products. This study presents an important overview of the literature on MP ingestion by aquatic biota. It covers topics such as the present scenario of plastic pollution worldwide, the pathways that MPs take to reach humans and aquatic species, the eco-toxicological impacts of MPs on aquatic species, the relation between MPs and other environmental pollution and the ensuing effects on aquatic organisms, and the MP pollution status in Bangladesh.
Visible‐Light‐Driven BiOBr‐TiO2‐Attapulgite Photocatalyst with Excellent Photocatalytic Activity for Multiple Xanthates
Authors: Qi Yaozhong , Zhao Sikai , Jiang Xiaoyu , Kang Zhangke , Gao Shuling , Liu Wengang , Shen Yanbai
Published: November 2023

The novel ternary composites, BiOBr-TiO2-attapulgite (BTA), were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal and water-bath method, exhibiting excellent photocatalytic performance to mul-tiple xanthates. For BTA photocatalyst, TiO2 and BiOBr were uniformly loaded on the surface of acid-activated attapulgite. As a widely used collector in mining processes, sodium ethyl-xanthate (SEX) was selected as the target pollutant due to its high toxicity. The BTA ternary photocatalyst demonstrated significantly higher adsorption and photocatalytic degradation performance compared to TiO2 nanoparticles, BiOBr nanosheets, and BiOBr-TiO2 heterojunction. Structural characterization and experimental results indicated that the exceptional photocatalytic degrada-tion efficiency of BTA was mainly attributed to the formation of heterojunction between BiOBr and TiO2, as well as the presence of additional active adsorption sites provided by attapulgite. Free radical scavenging experiments and EPR results confirmed that the photogenerated holes were the predominant active species to photodegrade SEX throughout the entire experiment. The LC-MS results provided insight into potential degradation pathways of SEX. This research demonstrates that BTA, as a novel triple composite material, achieves rapid and complete degradation to 20 mg/L SEX within 20 min. This work presents a novel approach to synthesize mineral-based photo-catalysts, which have broad prospects for application in flotation wastewater treatment.
Thermochemical Pretreatment for Improving the Psychrophilic Anaerobic Digestion of Coffee Husks
Authors: Yang Tzyy Shyuan , Flores-Rodriguez Carla , Torres-Albarracin Lorena , Silva Ariovaldo José da
Published: November 2023

Psychrophilic anaerobic digestion emerges as an appealing integrated solution for the management of agricultural waste, particularly for farmers in regions where the average temperature does not exceed 26°C, as seen in coffee cultivation. Therefore, this study seeks to assess the biomethane potential of thermochemical treated coffee husk through psychrophilic anaerobic digestion (C3-20°C-w/pretreatment). To examine its viability, outcomes were compared with reactors operating at both mesophilic (C1-35°C) and psychrophilic (C2-20°C) conditions, albeit without the use of pretreated coffee husk. The C3-20°C-w/pretreatment test demonstrated a 36.89% increase (150.47 mL CH4/g VS; 161.04 mL CH4/g COD), while the C1-35°C test exhibited a 24.03% increase (124.99 mL CH4/g VS; 133.77 mL CH4/g COD), both in comparison to the C2-20°C test (94.96 mL CH4/g VS; 101.63 mL CH4/g COD). Notably, the C3-20°C-w/pretreatment trial yielded superior outcomes, accompanied by an associated energy output of 4262.2 KWh/year, sufficient to meet the annual energy demands of 588 residences. This marks an increase of 100 and 217 residences compared to mesophilic and psychrophilic AD of CH without pretreatment, respectively.
Energy Management Model for a Remote Microgrid Based on Demand-Side Energy Control
Authors: Benavides Dario , Arévalo Paul , Ortega Antonio Cano , Sánchez-Sutil Francisco , Villa-Ávila Edisson
Published: November 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) is experiencing exponential growth, revolutionizing various industries with its ability to connect devices and enable advanced applications. In the realm of energy production, IoT offers significant potential for optimizing processes and improving efficiency. This study presents a comprehensive monitoring and energy management strategy for the University of Cuenca's microgrid photovoltaic (PV) system, utilizing IoT and ThingSpeak as key technologies. The proposed strategy leverages intelligent environments and utilizes ThingSpeak as a robust platform for data presentation and analysis. By integrating IoT devices and sensors, real-time monitoring of PV system parameters such as solar radiation and temperature is achieved. The collected data is then analyzed using advanced algorithms and visualized through ThingSpeak, enabling effective energy management and decision-making. The developed monitoring system was rigorously tested in a laboratory microgrid setting, where the PV system is interconnected with other generation and storage systems, as well as the electrical grid. Through the seamless integration of these components, the monitoring system provides enhanced visibility and control over the microgrid's energy production. The results demonstrate the successful implementation of the monitoring system, showcasing its ability to improve the supervision, automation, and analysis of daily energy production. By leveraging IoT technologies and ThingSpeak, stakeholders can access real-time data, analyze performance trends, and optimize energy resources.
Temperature-Enhanced Exciton Emission from GaAs Cone-Shell Quantum Dots
Authors: Heyn Christian , Ranasinghe Leonardo , Deneke Kristian , Alshaikh Ahmed , Blick Robert
Published: November 2023

The temperature-dependent intensities of the exciton (X) and biexciton (XX) peaks from single GaAs cone-shell quantum dots (QDs) are studied with micro photoluminescence (PL) at varied excitation power and QD size. The QDs are fabricated by filling of self-assembled nanoholes, which are drilled in an AlGaAs barrier by local droplet etching (LDE) during molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). This method allows the fabrication of strain-free QDs with sizes precisely controlled by the amount of material deposited for hole filling. Starting from the base temperature T = 3.2 K of the cryostat, single-dot PL measurements demonstrate a strong enhancement of the exciton emission up to a factor of five with increasing T. Both, the maximum exciton intensity and the temperature Tx,max of the maximum intensity depend on excitation power and dot size. At an elevated excitation power, Tx,max becomes larger than 30 K. This allows an operation using an inexpensive and compact Stirling cryocooler. Above Tx,max, the exciton intensity decreases strongly up to its disappearance. The experimental data are quantitatively reproduced by a model which considers the competing processes of exciton generation, annihilation, and recombination. Exciton generation in the QDs is given by the sum of direct excitation in the dot plus additional bulk excitons diffusing from the barrier layers into the dot. The thermally-driven bulk-exciton diffusion from the barriers causes the temperature enhancement of the exciton emission. Above Tx,max, the intensity decreases due to exciton annihilation processes. In comparison to the exciton, the biexciton intensity shows an only very weak enhancement, which is attributed to more efficient annihilation processes.
(Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 In-Situ Reactive Coating Prepared by Ultra-High Speed Laser Cladding: Interfacial Characterization, Residual Stress and Surface Wear Mechanisms
Authors: Du Rui Bo , Zhang Nan , Chen Ping Shao , Xu Fei Yi , Shi Hua , Wang Hui Miao
Published: November 2023

The (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coating with both homogeneous and defect-free microstructure were successfully prepared by in situ on the surface of 42CrMo steel using the coupling of the ultra-high-speed laser cladding (EHLA in German) technology with the direct reaction synthesis (DRS) technology, and were comparatively analyzed with the IN625 coating prepared by the EHLA. The microstructure of the fused cladding layer was investigated by selected scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) and double spherical aberration transmission electron microscopy (DSA-TEM). The residual stress distribution on both sides of the fused cladding interface was characterised by nanoindentation stress test based on the modified O&P method and the G&S energy method. The results show that the interface of (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coatings is affected by about 670 kJ Joule heat released from the in-situ reaction, and the interfacial width reaches 24 μm, so that it is 6 times higher than that of IN625 coating prepared by EHLA, which effectively reduces the stress gradient in the interfacial region and alleviates the stress mismatch on both sides of the interface. However, the surface hardness of (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coating is lower than that of the IN625 coating, with a value of about 240 HV0.2, and the average wear weight loss was only 10% of that of the IN625 coating, which is on the one hand attributed to the in-situ authigenic TiCB, TiC, NbMo3B4, and NbMo2B2 phases supporting the (Ti, Nb)(C, B)/IN625 composite coating substrate to achieve the abrasion reduction and wear resistance. On the other hand, it is attributed to the formation of nano-equiaxial ultrafine grains in the depth range of 250 nm below the wear surface area by the coupling of the three fields of plastic rheology-heat-force, which dynamically strengthens the wear surface.
Insight on the Structural and Dynamical Processes of Peptides by Means of Vibrational and Ultrasonic Relaxation Spectroscopies, Molecular Docking and DFT Calculations
Authors: Tryfon Afrodite , Siafarika Panagiota , Kouderis Constantine , Kalampounias Angelos G.
Published: November 2023

We report a detailed investigation of vibrational modes, structure, and dynamics of glutathione (GSH) solutions using ultrasonic relaxation spectroscopy, FT-IR vibrational spectroscopy and electronic absorption measurements. The experimental data were analyzed in view of density functional theory (DFT) and molecular docking calculations. Three distinct Debye-type relaxation processes are resolved in the acoustic spectra, which are assigned to conformational changes between GSH conformers, self-association of GSH, and protonation processes. The standard volume changes for each process were estimated both experimentally and theoretically revealing a close resemblance among them. The higher the effect of the relaxation process in the structure, the greater the induced volume changes. From the temperature dependence of specific acoustic parameters, the thermodynamic characteristics of each process were determined. The experimental FT-IR spectra were compared with the corresponding theoretically predicted vibrational spectra revealing that the GSH dimers and extended conformers dominate the structure of GSH solutions in the high concentration region. The absorption spectra in the ultraviolet region confirmed the gradual aggregation mechanism that takes place in the aqueous GSH solutions. The results of the present study were discussed and analyzed in the framework of the current phenomenological status of the field.
Mismatch Responses to Speech Contrasts in Preschoolers With and Without DLD
Authors: Campos Ana , Tuomainen Jyrki , Tuomainen Outi
Published: November 2023

This study compared cortical responses to speech in preschoolers with typical language development (TLD) and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), and in adults. We investigated whether top-down language effects modulate speech perception in an adult-like manner. We compared cortical mismatch responses (MMR) during passive perception of speech differing in linguistic complexity in three groups of participants: preschoolers with TLD (n=11), preschoolers with DLD (n=16) and adults (n=20). We also measured children’s phonological skills and investigated if they are associated with the cortical responses. MMR results indicated top-down language effects in adults, with enhanced cortical discrimination of lexical stimuli but not of non-words. In preschoolers, the TLD and DLD groups did not differ on the MMR measures and no top-down effects were detected. Moreover, we found no association between MMRs and phonological awareness skills, even though the DLD group’s phonological skills were significantly lower. Our findings suggest that top-down language modulations on speech discrimination may not be present during early childhood, and that children with DLD may not exhibit cortical speech perception deficits. The lack of association between phonological and MMR measures indicates that further research is needed to understand the link between language skills and cortical activity in preschoolers.
Peranan Gulf Cooperation Council terhadap Penyelesaian Konflik Qatar-Arab Saudi
Authors: Marzaman Atika Puspita , Nasrun Naswan , Darwis Darwis , Abdullah Nurjannah
Published: November 2023

This study aims to determine the role of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a sub-regional organization in the Middle East region towards the settlement of the Qatar-Saudi Arabia conflict and the Qatar-Saudi Arabia conflict resolution strategy within the GCC Framework. The method used in this research is descriptive method with data collection techniques in the form of literature review sourced from books, journals, articles, official internet sites, and reports related to this research.

The results of this study indicate that the GCC acts as an instrument for the Gulf countries to achieve their national goals. One of them is in the process of conflict resolution. The GCC acts as an arena where conflict resolution efforts between GCC member countries are mediated through the implementation of the 38th Summit to the 41st Summit. The Qatar-Saudi Arabia conflict resolution strategy within the GCC Framework was initiated by the GCC member countries, namely Kuwait and Oman. The two countries continue to maintain good relations with Qatar and resolve GCC internal disputes by establishing mediation between Qatar and Arab countries.
Impact of Teriparatide on Complications and Patient-Reported Outcomes of Patients Undergoing Long Spinal Fusion According to Bone Density
Authors: Mohanty Sarthak , Sardar Zeeshan M. , Hassan Fthimnir M. , Lombardi Joseph M. , Lehman Ronald A. , Lenke Lawrence G.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Surgery for adult spinal deformity (ASD) poses substantial risks, including the development of symptomatic pseudarthrosis, which is twice as prevalent among patients with osteoporosis compared with those with normal bone mineral density (BMD). Limited data exist on the impact of teriparatide, an osteoanabolic compound, in limiting the rates of reoperation and pseudarthrosis after treatment of spinal deformity in patients with osteoporosis.

Methods:

Osteoporotic patients on teriparatide (OP-T group) were compared with patients with osteopenia (OPE group) and those with normal BMD. OP-T patients were matched with OPE patients and patients with normal BMD at a 1:2:2 ratio. All patients had a minimum 2-year follow-up and underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF) involving >7 instrumented levels. The primary outcome was the 2-year reoperation rate. Secondary outcomes included pseudarthrosis with or without implant failure, proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK), and changes in patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Clinical outcomes were analyzed using conditional logistic regression. Changes in PROs were analyzed using a mixed-effects model.

Results:

Five hundred and forty patients (52.6% normal BMD, 32.9% OPE, 14.4% OP-T) were included. In the unmatched cohort, 2-year reoperation rates (odds ratio [OR] = 0.45 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.20 to 0.91]) and pseudarthrosis rates (OR = 0.25 [95% CI: 0.08 to 0.61]) were significantly lower in the OP-T group than the OPE group. Seventy-eight patients in the OP-T group were matched to 156 patients in the OPE group. Among these matched patients, at 2 years, 23.1% (36) in the OPE group versus 11.5% (9) in the OP-T group had a reoperation (OR = 0.45, p = 0.0188), 21.8% (34) versus 6.4% (5) had pseudarthrosis with or without implant failure (OR = 0.25, p = 0.0048), and 6.4% (10) versus 7.7% (6) had PJK (OR = 1.18, p = 0.7547), respectively. At 2 years postoperatively, PROs were better among OP-T patients than OPE patients. Subsequently, 78 patients in the OP-T group were matched to 156 patients in the normal BMD group. Among these matched patients, there was no significant difference in 2-year reoperation (OR = 0.85 [95% CI: 0.37 to 1.98]), pseudarthrosis (OR = 0.51 [95% CI: 0.181 to 1.44]), and PJK rates (OR = 0.77 [95% CI: 0.28 to 2.06).

Conclusions:

Osteoporotic patients on teriparatide demonstrated lower reoperation and symptomatic pseudarthrosis rates 2 years postoperatively compared with osteopenic patients. Moreover, patient-reported and clinical outcomes for osteoporotic patients on teriparatide were not different from those for patients with normal BMD.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
The Modified Fels and Abbreviated Modified Fels Knee Skeletal-Maturity Systems in the Prediction of Leg-Length Discrepancy
Authors: Kluck Dylan G. , Makarov Marina R. , Podeszwa David A. , Furdock Ryan J. , Liu Raymond W. , Jo Chan-Hee , Birch John G.
Published: November 2023

Background:

The Modified Fels (mFels) and Abbreviated Modified Fels (abFels) knee systems have been recently developed as options for grading skeletal maturity without the need for a separate hand radiograph. We sought to determine the interobserver reliability of these systems and to compare their prediction accuracy with that of the Greulich and Pyle (G-P) atlas in a cohort managed with epiphysiodesis for leg-length discrepancy (LLD).

Methods:

Three reviewers scored 20 knee radiographs using the mFels system, which includes 5 qualitative and 2 quantitative measures as well as a quantitative output. Short leg length (SL), long leg length (LL), and LLD prediction errors at maturity using the White-Menelaus (W-M) method and G-P, mFels, or abFels skeletal age were compared in a cohort of 60 patients managed with epiphysiodesis for LLD.

Results:

Intraclass correlation coefficients for the 2 quantitative variables and the quantitative output of the mFels system using 20 knee radiographs ranged from 0.55 to 0.98, and kappa coefficients for the 5 qualitative variables ranged from 0.56 to 1, indicating a reliability range from moderate to excellent. In the epiphysiodesis cohort, G-P skeletal age was on average 0.25 year older than mFels and abFels skeletal ages, most notably in females. The majority of average prediction errors between G-P, mFels, and abFels were <0.5 cm, with the greatest error being for the SL prediction in females, which approached 1 cm. Skeletal-age estimates with the mFels and abFels systems were statistically comparable.

Conclusions:

The mFels skeletal-age system is a reproducible method of determining skeletal age. Prediction errors in mFels and abFels skeletal ages were clinically comparable with those in G-P skeletal ages in this epiphysiodesis cohort. Further work is warranted to optimize and validate the accuracy of mFels and abFels skeletal ages to predict LLD and the impact of epiphysiodesis, particularly in females. Both the mFels and abFels systems are promising means of estimating skeletal age, avoiding additional radiation and health-care expenditure.

Level of Evidence:

Prognostic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
A Single Case Study Comparing High Tibial Osteotomy With Matrix-Associated Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation With Medial Collateral Ligament Release Treating Bilateral Severe Medial Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Uchio Yuji , Iwasa Junji , Kuwata Suguru , Tadenuma Taku
Published: November 2023

Case:

A 62-year-old woman with bilateral severe medial unicompartmental knee osteoarthritis underwent right high tibial osteotomy (HTO) at the age of 49 and left matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation covering with periosteum (pMACI) with medial collateral ligament (MCL) release at age 52 years. At the 13-year follow-up, she could walk and trek with good clinical scores, had high patient satisfaction, and had cartilaginous reparative tissue seen at second-look arthroscopy in her left knee.

Conclusion:

This case suggests that pMACI with MCL release might be a possible alternative to HTO in a varus knee undergoing cartilage replacement surgery when HTO is contraindicated.
Comparative Evaluation ofaFunctions and Volume-Translation Strategies to Predict Densities for Gas(es)-Heavy Oil/Bitumen Systems
Authors: Atonge Esther Anyi , Yang Daoyong
Published: November 2023

In this work, a unified, consistent, and efficient framework has been proposed to better predict the density of a gas(es)-heavy oil/bitumen system by using the Peng-Robinson equation of state (PR EOS) and Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) EOS together with α functions and volume-translation (VT) strategies, respectively. With a database comprising 218 experimentally measured densities for gas(es)-heavy oil/bitumen systems, five α functions defined at a reduced temperature (Tr) of 0.70 as well as three new α functions at Tr = 0.60 together with four VT strategies are selected and evaluated. For α Functions 1 to 4 defined at Tr = 0.70, VTs 1 to 4 lead to an overall absolute average relative deviation (AARD) of 7.21%, 9.74%, 7.02%, and 7.16%, respectively, for predicting the mixture densities. For α Function 5 defined at Tr = 0.70, these four VT strategies predict the mixture density with an AARD of 3.13%, 5.01%, 2.92%, and 2.56%, respectively. As for the two new α Functions 7 and 8 defined at Tr = 0.60, these four VT strategies predict the mixture density with an AARD of 1.38%, 2.57%, 1.34%, and 1.67%, respectively, among which VT 3 has a very close prediction compared to an AARD of 1.31% obtained from the ideal mixing rule with effective density (IM-E).
Early Stage Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease With Microsoft Azure Based Deep Learning
Authors: Mittal Krish
Published: November 2023

The early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) represent a pivotal aspect of ensuring effective patient care and timely intervention. This research introduces an innovative approach that harnesses the capabilities of Microsoft Azure-based custom vision technology for AD classification. The study primarily centers around the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans as the primary input data, categorizing these scans into two distinct categories: Cognitive Normal and Cognitive Impairment. To accomplish this, we employ transfer learning, leveraging a pre-trained Microsoft Azure Custom Vision model fine-tuned specifically for multi-class AD classification. The proposed work shows better results with the best validation average accuracy on the test data of AD. This test accuracy score is significantly higher in comparison with existing works. This proposed solution showcases the immense potential of convolutional neural networks and advanced deep learning techniques in the early detection of Alzheimer's disease, thereby paving the way for significantly improved patient care.
Does Manganese Influence Grass Litter Decomposition on a Hawaiian Rainfall Gradient?
Authors: Paulus Elizabeth L , Vitousek Peter M
Published: November 2023

Plant litter is a well-defined pool of organic matter in which the influence of Mn on decomposition (both decomposition rate, and the mix of compounds ultimately transferred to soil organic matter) has been clearly demonstrated in temperate forests. However, no similar study exists on grasslands, and the effect of foliar Mn versus soil-derived Mn on litter decomposition is poorly known. We used 5-month and 12-month field and 10-month laboratory experiments to evaluate organic-matter decomposition on the Kohala rainfall gradient in areas with different foliar and soil Mn abundances, and on which a single plant species dominates primary production and the litter pool. Chemical imaging analyses of decomposed litter revealed that Mn2+ oxidized to Mn3+ and Mn4+ on grass litter during decompositions—hallmarks of Mn-driven OM oxidation. However, these transformations and Mn abundance did not predict greater litter mass loss through decomposition. These observations demonstrate that the importance of Mn to an ecosystem’s C cycle does not rely solely on the metal’s abundance and availability.
Research on energy absorption characteristics of double arc snap fit spatial self locking thin-walled structure
Authors: Li Xiang , Zhao Yue chao , Yang Zhi hao , Wang Lin jun , Fu Jun jian
Published: November 2023

Transportation, intelligent equipment and other fields have increasingly high requirements for the performance of energy absorbing structures, especially in the field of emergency protection. It is of great significance to study the self-locking characteristics and energy absorbing effect of new structures. Based on the excellent arc principle of women wearing hair hoops and the self-locking characteristics of mortise and tenon structure, this paper proposes a double arc clip type space self-locking thin-walled structure, which has the advantages of editable, easy to install quickly, and space all-round self-locking. The results of quasi-static compression test on a single thin-walled pipe are compared with those of finite element simulation. The overall error is controlled within 10%, and the results of the experiment and simulation are relatively consistent, which proves the feasibility of the follow-up study of the overall structure. The spatial self-locking ability and energy absorption characteristics of the structure under uniform impact load are verified by finite element method. The effects of geometric parameters and different impact velocities on the energy absorption characteristics of the structure are studied. The results show that: the double arc clip type space self-locking thin-walled structure can withstand the uniform impact load in all directions of the space, and the self-locking characteristics and energy absorption effect are the best when the impact direction is α=0 ° and β=0 °; Without affecting the chord distance, the smaller the opening angle of the arc, the better the self-locking performance of the structure and the stronger the energy absorption effect.
Research on the Cutting Mechanism and Cutting Experiments of Ti6Al4V
Authors: Liu Qimeng , Cui Bo , Ming Zhe
Published: November 2023

Due to the high strength, lightweight, and corrosion resistance of Ti6Al4V. Therefore, it is widely used in fields such as aerospace, automotive manufacturing, biomedicine, etc. This article conducts research on cutting mechanism and cutting experiments, focusing on the difficult machining characteristics of Ti6Al4V. Firstly, this article analyzes the material characteristics of Ti6Al4V material, and based on the principle of two-dimensional metal right angle cutting, the metal cutting theory of Ti6Al4V was analyzed. Secondly, the mechanism of chip formation and burr formation in Ti6Al4V was studied through orthogonal cutting experiments. Analyzed the effects of different tool radius, cutting depth, and cutting speed on the shear angle and chip morphology of Ti6Al4V. Finally, through single factor milling experiments, the influence of cutting parameters on the cutting force, surface residual stress, surface roughness, and surface morphology of Ti6Al4V was analyzed. This provides theoretical and experimental guidance for the processing of Ti6Al4V.
Modeling of ultrasonic grinding force considering empty cutting and material softening effect
Authors: Chen Haifeng , Li Jiabin , Liao Dongri , Deng Mingming , Zhou Changjiang
Published: November 2023

Grinding force is a crucial parameter in the grinding process, as it is intricately linked to factors such as workpiece surface roughness, grinding temperature, grinding specific energy, and grinding wheel service life. The proposed grinding force model takes into account the material softening effect resulting from ultrasonic vibration and the void cutting effect due to trajectory overlap. Consequently, based on the grinding wheel model featuring a random distribution of abrasive grains, the non-productive grinding area arising from void cutting between abrasive grains is considered, leading to the establishment of an actual grinding area model.Utilizing the refined Johnson-Cook constitutive equation and accounting for the material softening effect induced by ultrasonic vibration, an ultrasonic grinding force prediction model is developed. In conclusion, a comparison is drawn between the experiment results of ultrasonic grinding and the model's simulation results. The average relative error for tangential grinding force stands at 19.78%, while the average relative error for normal grinding force is 17.72%.
Inflammasome-targeted therapy to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes of recurrent chronic histiocytic intervillositis of unknown etiology
Authors: Lazaro Estibaliz , Mattuizzi Aurelien , Sauvestre Fanny , Fargeix Tiphaine , White Eoghann , Leibler Claire , Cargou Marine , Nathalie Dugot-Senant , Douchet Isabelle , Duluc Dorothée , Contin-Bordes Cecile , Truchetet Marie Elise , Richez Christophe , Forcade Edouard , duffau pierre , Viallard Jean Francois , Sentilhes Loïc , Blanco Patrick
Published: November 2023

Chronic histiocytic intervillositis of unknown origin (CHI) is a rare placental disorder associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, frequent recurrence, and a lack of effective preventive strategies. Recent insights indicate a potential link between CHI-associated inflammatory lesions and the inflammasome pathway, suggesting innovative therapeutic avenues. This study aims to elucidate the role of the inflammasome pathway in CHI through comprehensive transcriptomic analysis of grade 2 or 3 histopathologic CHI samples, paired with placental controls. Additionally, we present case studies of three individuals with recurrent CHI who received treatment with anakinra and colchicine throughout pregnancy, resulting in improved perinatal outcomes. Notably, all cases led to the birth of healthy, full-term infants, with reduced or absent intervillositis recurrence. Placental assessment unveiled heightened activation of the NLRP3-PYCARD inflammasome pathway and IL-1β processing in CHI samples, with downregulation observed in treated pregnancy samples devoid of intervillositis. Collectively, these findings suggest a potential therapeutic role for targeting the inflammasome pathway in preventing recurrent CHI in pregnant individuals. The molecular insights provided herein open doors for innovative interventions in managing this rare placental disorder, warranting further investigation and consideration.
Reallocating Shared Groundwater Resources Using a Participatory Two-level Weighted Bankruptcy Framework
Authors: Virani Mohammad Ali Tolouei , Sabbaghian Reza Javidi , Roghani Bardia , Jovein Ehsan Bahrami , Fereshtehpour Mohammad
Published: November 2023

The global rising demand for exploiting limited shared groundwater resources, coupled with significant water deficit, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, has led to escalating conflicts among stakeholders. As such, using Bankruptcy Theory methods can be an appropriate response to the reallocation of resources. This study introduces a novel approach to weighted Bankruptcy, where the relative importance of stakeholders is determined by their contributions to sustainable development, and their claims’ impact on shared groundwater resources is considered. The framework is implemented in a two-level bankruptcy process including the plains and their beneficiaries (agriculture, drinking and industry). The proposed two-level weighted bankruptcy process applies to the Neyshabour-Ataiyeh-Sabzevar plains in Iran. Moreover, a Weighted Combinational Contribution-Claim (WCCC) method is proposed comparing with the other weighted methods such as Proportionality (WPRO), Constrained Equal Awards (WCEA), Pinile (WPIN), Talmud (WTAL), Constrained Equal Losses (WCEL), Modified Constrained Equal Losses (MWCEL), which are considered in two categories including the deficit-based and resource-based approaches. According to the Bankruptcy Allocation Stability Index (BASI), the preferred deficit-based method in the first reallocation level is the WCEL, while the preferred resources-based method is the WCEA. In the second reallocation level, the proposed WCCC is chosen as the preferred deficit-based method for all beneficiaries. Among the resources-based methods, the WPRO method is preferred for Neyshabour's beneficiaries. Also, the WTAL method is preferred for Sabzevar's and Ataiyeh's beneficiaries. The novel approach offers a promising solution to the water resource reallocation problem, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable management of shared groundwater resources.
WITHDRAWN: Perceived Racism and Well-Being in University Racial/Ethnic Minority Students: The Complex Roles of Racial/Ethnic Identity and Self-Esteem
Authors: Hu Yueqin , Purol Stephanie , Shen Yishan , Zheng Yao
Published: November 2023

Perceived racism comes in the form of blatant discrimination and microaggressions. This study investigated and compared the relations of perceived blatant discrimination and microaggression to university students’ well-being (physical and psychological health, academic adjustment), and how the associations may be influenced by racial/ethnic identity and self-esteem. A self-report survey from racial/ethnic minority university students showed that higher perceived racism was associated with higher stress levels, more somatic symptoms, and worse academic adjustment. Microaggression showed larger negative impact than blatant discrimination. Racial/ethnic identity showed complex effects—a large positive effect by promoting self-esteem and a modest negative effect by intensifying the perception of microaggression. Self-esteem was strongly associated with well-being, yet it also exacerbated the negative association between microaggression and academic adjustment. These findings suggest that racism—microaggression in particular—harm racial/ethnic minority university students in multiple aspects, and that racial/ethnic identity and self-esteem are primarily protective factors, yet mechanisms leading to negative outcomes also exist.
The correlation between Fischer’s ratio and the risk of cardiac dysfunction in Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: zhou qing fen , Yang Fan , Lu Qiu Ya , Zhang Feng Ru , Qu Bin , Lu Lin
Published: November 2023

Backgrounds:
Due to the high mortality and hospitalization rate in chronic heart failure (HF), it is of great significance to study myocardial nutrition conditions. Amino acids (AAs) are essential nutrient metabolites for cell development and survival. This study aims to investigate the plasma branched-chain amino acid/aromatic amino acid ratio (Fischer’s ratio, FR) as a potential metabolic risk factor for the presence of chronic HF and left ventricular (LV) pressure filling.
Methods
The value of serum AAs was obtained from 441 cardiovascular subjects by liquid chromatography-tandem, and 213 systolic HF subjects were followed up for a mean year (11.74 ± 1.44 months). LV ejection fraction (EF) and the ratio of early diastolic mitral inflow to mitral annular tissue velocities (E/e’) were determined by two-dimensional echocardiography and Doppler flow imaging using standard biplane technique. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to measure the FR index and the risk of HF, and further confirmed by receiver-operating characteristic curves (ROC curve) analysis. The event-free HF endpoint was determined by Kaplan–Meier curves, and differences were assessed using log‐rank tests.
Results
FR index decreased gradually along with the control group, systolic HF with E/e’≤14 group, and systolic HF with E/e’>14 group (3.73 ± 1.20 vs. 3.45 ± 0.94 vs. 3.18 ± 0.83, respectively, P < 0.001). Low FR index was associated with systolic HF after full adjustment in all subjects [odds ratio (OR), 2.124; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.595–2.829; P < 0.001] and the area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curve was 0.722 (sensitivity 62.91%, specificity 78.95%). Meanwhile, low FR index was the independent risk of E/e’>14 for systolic HF (OR: 1.525; 95% CI: 1.053–2.209; P = 0.025). The AUC of ROC curve for predicting abnormal E/e’ was 0.732 (sensitivity 61.39%, specificity 75.68%) by multivariate logistic regression. Furthermore, the decreased FR values indicated poor prognosis in systolic HF subjects (Log-rank P = 0.005).
Conclusions
In all subjects, low FR confers an increased risk for predicting systolic HF. Decreased FR levels could also indicate increased LV filling pressure in systolic HF. In addition, a lower FR value was associated with higher HF endpoint events. Thus, FR can be a valuable indicator of heart function.
SemiDocSeg: Harnessing Semi-Supervised Learning for Document Layout Analysis
Authors: Banerjee Ayan , Biswas Sanket , Lladós Josep , Pal Umapada
Published: November 2023

Document Layout Analysis (DLA) is the process of automatically identifying and categorizing the structural components (e.g. Text, Figure, Table, etc.) within a document to extract meaningful content and establish the page's layout structure. It is a crucial stage in document parsing, contributing to their comprehension. However, traditional DLA approaches often demand a significant volume of labeled training data, and the labor-intensive task of generating high-quality annotated training data poses a substantial challenge. In order to address this challenge, we proposed a semi-supervised setting that aims to perform learning on limited annotated categories by eliminating exhaustive and expensive mask annotations. The proposed setting is expected to be generalizable to novel categories as it learns the underlying positional information through a support set and class information through Co-Occurrence that can be generalized from annotated categories to novel categories. Here, we first extract features from the input image and support set with a shared multi-scale feature acquisition backbone. Then, the extracted feature representation is fed to the transformer encoder as a query. Later on, we utilize a semantic embedding network before the decoder to capture the underlying semantic relationships and similarities between different instances, enabling the model to make accurate predictions or classifications with only a limited amount of labeled data. Extensive experimentation on competitive benchmarks like PRIMA, DocLayNet, and Historical Japanese (HJ) demonstrate that this generalized setup obtains significant performance compared to the conventional supervised approach.