bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Batteryless Sensor Devices for Underground Infrastructure—A Long-Term Experiment on Urban Water Pipes
Authors: Boebel Manuel , Frei Fabian , Blumensaat Frank , Ebi Christian , Meli Marcel Louis , Rüst Andreas
Published: May 2023

Drinking water is becoming increasingly scarce as the world’s population grows and climate change continues. However, there is great potential to improve drinking water pipelines, as 30% of fresh water is lost between the supplier and consumer. While systematic process monitoring could play a crucial role in the early detection and repair of leaks, current practice requires manual inspection, which is both time-consuming and costly. This project envisages maintenance-free measurements at numerous locations within the underground infrastructure, a goal that is to be achieved through the use of a harvesting device mounted on the water pipe. This device extracts energy from the temperature difference between the water pipe and the soil using a TEG (thermoelectric generator), takes sensor measurements, processes the data and transmits it wirelessly via LoRaWAN. We built 16 harvesting devices, installed them in four locations and continuously evaluated their performance throughout the project. In this paper, we focus on two devices of a particular type. The data for a full year show that enough energy was available on 94% of the days, on average, to take measurements and transmit data. This study demonstrates that it is possible to power highly constrained sensing devices with energy harvesting in underground environments.
Histone Acetyltransferase Rtt109 Regulates Development, Morphogenesis, and Citrinin Biosynthesis in Monascus purpureus
Authors: Shi Ruoyu , Gong Pengfei , Luo Qiaoqiao , Chen Wei , Wang Chengtao
Published: May 2023

Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) has been reported to be pivotal for various physiological processes in many fungi. However, the functions that HAT Rtt109 perform in edible fungi Monascus and the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identified the rtt109 gene in Monascus, constructed the rtt109 knockout strain (Δrtt109) and its complementary strain (Δrtt109:com) by CRISPR/Cas9 methods, and functionally characterized the roles that Rtt109 play in Monascus. Deletion of rtt109 significantly reduced conidia formation and colony growth, whereas, it increased the yield of Monascus pigments (MPs) and citrinin (CTN). Further real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis indicated that Rtt109 remarkably affected the transcriptional expression of key genes related to development, morphogenesis, and secondary metabolism of Monascus. Together, our results revealed the critical roles of HAT Rtt109 in Monascus, and enriched our current knowledge of the development and regulation of secondary metabolism in fungi, throwing light on restraining or eliminating citrinin in the development and industrial applications of Monascus.
Bioclimatic Origin Shapes Phylogenetic Structure of Tirmania (Pezizaceae): New Species and New Record from North Africa
Authors: Zitouni-Haouar Fatima El-Houaria , Bidartondo Martin I. , Moreno Gabriel , Carlavilla Juan Ramón , Manjón José Luis , Neggaz Samir , Zitouni-Nourine Saida Hanane
Published: May 2023

The phylogenetic relationships among Tirmania were investigated using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions of the nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and compared with morphological and bioclimatic data. The combined analyses of forty-one Tirmania samples from Algeria and Spain supported four lineages corresponding to four morphological species. Besides the two previously described taxa, Tirmania pinoyi and Tirmania nivea, here we describe and illustrate a new species, Tirmania sahariensis sp. nov., which differs from all other Tirmania by its distinct phylogenetic position and its specific combination of morphological features. We also present a first record of Tirmania honrubiae from North Africa (Algeria). Our findings suggest that restrictions imposed by the bioclimatic niche have played a key role in driving the speciation process of Tirmania along the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Current Progress in Sporothrix brasiliensis Basic Aspects
Authors: Gómez-Gaviria Manuela , Martínez-Álvarez José A. , Mora-Montes Héctor M.
Published: May 2023

Sporotrichosis is known as a subacute or chronic infection, which is caused by thermodimorphic fungi of the genus Sporothrix. It is a cosmopolitan infection, which is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and can affect both humans and other mammals. The main etiological agents causing this disease are Sporothrix schenckii, Sporothrix brasiliensis, and Sporothrix globosa, which have been recognized as members of the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. Within this clade, S. brasiliensis is considered the most virulent species and represents an important pathogen due to its distribution and prevalence in different regions of South America, such as Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, and Central American countries, such as Panama. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis has been of great concern due to the number of zoonotic cases that have been reported over the years. In this paper, a detailed review of the current literature on this pathogen and its different aspects will be carried out, including its genome, pathogen-host interaction, resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs, and the caused zoonosis. Furthermore, we provide the prediction of some putative virulence factors encoded by the genome of this fungal species.
Wood Degradation by Fomitiporia mediterranea M. Fischer: Exploring Fungal Adaptation Using Metabolomic Networking
Authors: Schilling Marion , Levasseur Marceau , Barbier Muriel , Oliveira-Correia Lydie , Henry Céline , Touboul David , Farine Sibylle , Bertsch Christophe , Gelhaye Eric
Published: May 2023

Fomitiporia mediterranea M. Fischer (Fmed) is a white-rot wood-decaying fungus associated with one of the most important and challenging diseases in vineyards: Esca. To relieve microbial degradation, woody plants, including Vitis vinifera, use structural and chemical weapons. Lignin is the most recalcitrant of the wood cell wall structural compounds and contributes to wood durability. Extractives are constitutive or de novo synthesized specialized metabolites that are not covalently bound to wood cell walls and are often associated with antimicrobial properties. Fmed is able to mineralize lignin and detoxify toxic wood extractives, thanks to enzymes such as laccases and peroxidases. Grapevine wood’s chemical composition could be involved in Fmed’s adaptation to its substrate. This study aimed at deciphering if Fmed uses specific mechanisms to degrade grapevine wood structure and extractives. Three different wood species, grapevine, beech, and oak. were exposed to fungal degradation by two Fmed strains. The well-studied white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor (Tver) was used as a comparison model. A simultaneous degradation pattern was shown for Fmed in the three degraded wood species. Wood mass loss after 7 months for the two fungal species was the highest with low-density oak wood. For the latter wood species, radical differences in initial wood density were observed. No differences between grapevine or beech wood degradation rates were observed after degradation by Fmed or by Tver. Contrary to the Tver secretome, one manganese peroxidase isoform (MnP2l, jgi protein ID 145801) was the most abundant in the Fmed secretome on grapevine wood only. Non-targeted metabolomic analysis was conducted on wood and mycelium samples, using metabolomic networking and public databases (GNPS, MS-DIAL) for metabolite annotations. Chemical differences between non-degraded and degraded woods, and between mycelia grown on different wood species, are discussed. This study highlights Fmed physiological, proteomic and metabolomic traits during wood degradation and thus contributes to a better understanding of its wood degradation mechanisms.
Molecular Response of Meyerozyma guilliermondii to Patulin: Transcriptomic-Based Analysis
Authors: Yang Qiya , Zhang Xi , Solairaj Dhanasekaran , Fu Yu , Zhang Hongyin
Published: May 2023

Patulin (PAT), mainly produced by Penicillium expansum, is a potential threat to health. In recent years, PAT removal using antagonistic yeasts has become a hot research topic. Meyerozyma guilliermondii, isolated by our group, produced antagonistic effects against the postharvest diseases of pears and could degrade PAT in vivo or in vitro. However, the molecular responses of M. guilliermondii over PAT exposure and its detoxification enzymes are not apparent. In this study, transcriptomics is used to unveil the molecular responses of M. guilliermondii on PAT exposure and the enzymes involved in PAT degradation. The functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes indicated that the molecular response mainly includes the up-regulated expression of genes related to resistance and drug-resistance, intracellular transport, growth and reproduction, transcription, DNA damage repair, antioxidant stress to avoid cell damage, and PAT detoxification genes such as short-chain dehydrogenase/reductases. This study elucidates the possible molecular responses and PAT detoxification mechanism of M. guilliermondii, which could be helpful to further accelerate the commercial application of antagonistic yeast toward mycotoxin decontamination.
Prognostic Serum Biomarkers of Inflammaging in Patients Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy
Authors: George Michael , Mukherjee Rajarshi
Published: May 2023

Surgeons are increasingly faced with an ageing and frail patient population. There is a significant absence of biomarkers capable of risk stratifying patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. Inflammaging describes a state of chronic inflammation associated with ageing and frailty that may predict worse outcomes after surgery. This retrospective observational study evaluated pre-morbid inflammatory markers in the prognostication of older adult patients undergoing emergency laparotomy. Patients aged ≥65 years undergoing surgery between 1 April 2017 and 1 April 2022 were identified. Pre-admission and acute C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total white cell count (WCC), neutrophil count (NC) and lymphocyte count (LC) datapoints were captured. Pre-operative risk stratification scores and post-operative outcomes were recorded using the National Emergency Laparotomy Audit (NELA) database. A cohort of 196 patients was included: 57.7% were female, median age 74.5 years. High risk (NELA risk of mortality ≥ 5%) and frail (clinical frailty scale ≥ 4) patients experienced a significantly longer hospital and critical care stay (p < 0.05). Pre-admission ESR ≥ 16 and LC ≥ 4.1 were significantly associated with a longer critical care stay (p < 0.05); no statistical significance was observed with CRP, WCC and NC in predicting adverse outcomes. We found that an elevated pre-morbid ESR and LC identifies a potential inflammaging cohort that demonstrates worse outcomes following emergency laparotomy. The prognostication of older adult surgical patients remains a challenge and represents an area of research deserving of future attention.
Mandibular Crowding: Diagnosis and Management—A Scoping Review
Authors: Patano Assunta , Malcangi Giuseppina , Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Garofoli Grazia , De Leonardis Nicole , Azzollini Daniela , Latini Giulia , Mancini Antonio , Carpentiere Vincenzo , Laudadio Claudia , Inchingolo Francesco , D’Agostino Silvia , Di Venere Daniela , Tartaglia Gianluca Martino , Dolci Marco , Dipalma Gianna , Inchingolo Angelo Michele
Published: May 2023

Background: Crowding is the most frequent malocclusion in orthodontics, with a strong hereditary tendency. It already occurs in pediatric age and is mainly hereditary. It is a sign of a lack of space in the arches, and is not self-correcting, but can worsen over time. The main cause of the worsening of this malocclusion is a progressive and physiological decrease in the arch perimeter. Methods: To identify relevant studies investigating the most common possible treatments for mandibular dental crowding, a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science was conducted encompassing the last 5 years (2018–2023) using the following MeSH: “mandibular crowding AND treatment” and “mandibular crowding AND therapy “. Results: A total of 12 studies were finally included. An orthodontic treatment cannot ignore the concept of “guide arch”, which concerns the lower arch, because of the objective difficulty in increasing its perimeter; the bone structure of the lower jaw is more compact than that of the upper one. Its expansion, in fact, is limited to a slight vestibularization of the incisors and lateral sectors that may be associated with a limited distalization of the molars. Conclusions: There are various therapeutic solutions available to the orthodontist, and a correct diagnosis through clinical examination, radiographs and model analysis are essential. The decision of how to deal with crowding cannot be separated from an overall assessment of the malocclusion to be treated.
Post-Surgical Indications to Radioiodine Treatment and Potential Risk Factors for Post-Treatment Recurrence in Patients with Intermediate-Risk Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Rossi Mattia , Mele Chiara , Rossetto Giaccherino Ruth , Meomartino Letizia , Brero Denise , Marsan Giulia , Aimaretti Gianluca , Ghigo Ezio , Pagano Loredana
Published: May 2023

In this multicentric retrospective observational study, we investigated the potential risk factors for radioiodine (RAI) indication and the post-treatment recurrence of intermediate-risk differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) 1 and 3 years from diagnosis. We included 121 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for intermediate-risk DTC. The 92 patients (76.0%) who underwent RAI treatment had a higher prevalence of extra-thyroid micro-extension (mETE) (p = 0.03), pT3 staging (p = 0.03) and recourse to therapeutic central (p = 0.04) and lateral (p = 0.01) neck dissection, as well as higher numbers (p = 0.02) and greater dimensions (p = 0.01) of lymph node metastases, compared with untreated patients. Relapse was observed in 18.1% and 20.7% of cases 1 and 3 years from diagnosis, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. A lower age at diagnosis (p = 0.03) and higher levels of stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) (p = 0.04) emerged as the only independent risk factors for tumour relapse at 1 year. Tumour relapse at 3 years was only independently predicted by the presence of tumour relapse at 1 year (p = 0.04). In conclusion, mETE, pT3 and the presence of large, multiple or clinically evident lymph node metastases represent the main indicators for referring patients to RAI treatment. Early recurrence may be considered the most relevant factor when planning further surveillance.
Relationship between the TGFBR1 Gene and Molar Incisor Hypomineralization
Authors: Georgina-Pérez Laura , Ribas-Pérez David , Dehesa-Santos Alexandra , Mendoza-Mendoza Asunción
Published: May 2023

Background: Molar Incisor Hypomineralization Syndrome (MIH) is a problem of increasing incidence that represents a new challenge in the dental treatment of many of the children we see in our dental offices. Understanding the etiology of this syndrome (still unknown) will help us to prevent the appearance of this process. Lately a certain genetic relationship has been suggested in the syndrome. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between activation of the TGFBR1 gene and the development of MIH, as recent studies suggest that there may be an association in this regard. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 50 children between 6–17 years of age with MIH, each with at least one parent and a sibling with or without MIH, and a group control of 100 children without MIH. The condition of the permanent molars and incisors was evaluated and recorded based on the criteria of Mathu-Muju and Wright. Saliva samples were collected after washing and rinsing of the oral cavity. Genotyping was performed with the saliva samples for the selection of a target polymorphism of the studied gene (TGFBR1). Results: The mean age was 9.7 years (SD 2.36). Of the 50 children with MIH, 56% were boys and 44% girls. The degree of MIH was predominantly severe (58%), with moderate and mild involvement in 22% and 20% of the cases, respectively, according to the classification of Mathu-Muju. The allelic frequencies were seen to behave as expected. The logistic regression analysis aimed to relate each polymorphism to the presence or absence of the factors. These results were inconclusive, with no evidence suggesting an alteration of the TGFBR1 gene to be related to the appearance of MIH. Conclusions: Within the limitations posed by a study of these characteristics, it can be affirmed that no relationship has been found between the TGFBR1 gene and the appearance of molar incisor hypomineralization.
Synchrony 2022: Roundtable Discussion on the Pathways and the Challenges of Getting Medications FDA Approved
Authors: Belfort Gabriel , Nanda Heer , Slattery John C. , Sambor Joanna , Rodakis John , Frye Richard E.
Published: May 2023

The BRAIN Foundation (Pleasanton, CA, USA) hosted a medicine conference, Synchrony 2022, for research into treatments to benefit individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorders (ASD) [...]
Recurrent/Subsequent Stroke and Associated Outcomes in Geriatric Patients with OSA and Prior Stroke Events: A Retrospective Study Using the 2019 National Inpatient Sample
Authors: Desai Rupak , Singh Sandeep , Mellacheruvu Sai Priyanka , Mohammed Adil Sarvar , Soni Roshni , Perera Ayodya , Makarla Venkata Akhil , Santhosh Sarayu , Siddiqui Muneeb Ali , Mohammed Bilal Khan , Mohammed Zaki Ur Rahman , Gandhi Zainab , Vyas Ankit , Jain Akhil , Sachdeva Rajesh , Kumar Gautam
Published: May 2023

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases the risk of stroke and cardiovascular diseases. However, its impact on geriatric patients with a prior history of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) has not been adequately studied. Methods: We utilized the 2019 National Inpatient Sample in the US to identify geriatric patients with OSA (G-OSA) who had a prior history of stroke/TIA. We then compared subsequent stroke (SS) rates among sex and race subgroups. We also compared the demographics and comorbidities of SS+ and SS− groups and utilized logistic regression models to assess outcomes. Results: Out of 133,545 G-OSA patients admitted with a prior history of stroke/TIA, 4.9% (6520) had SS. Males had a higher prevalence of SS, while Asian-Pacific Islanders and Native Americans had the highest prevalence of SS, followed by Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics. The SS+ group had higher all-cause in-hospital mortality rates, with Hispanics showing the highest rate compared to Whites and Blacks (10.6% vs. 4.9% vs. 4.4%, p < 0.001), respectively. Adjusted analysis for covariates showed that complicated and uncomplicated hypertension (aOR 2.17 [95% CI 1.78–2.64]; 3.18 [95% CI 2.58–3.92]), diabetes with chronic complications (aOR 1.28 [95% CI 1.08–1.51]), hyperlipidemia (aOR 1.24 [95% CI 1.08–1.43]), and thyroid disorders (aOR 1.69 [95% CI 1.14–2.49]) were independent predictors of SS. The SS+ group had fewer routine discharges and higher healthcare costs. Conclusions: Our study shows that about 5% of G-OSA patients with a prior history of stroke/TIA are at risk of hospitalization due to SS, which is associated with higher mortality and healthcare utilization. Complicated and uncomplicated hypertension, diabetes with chronic complications, hyperlipidemia, thyroid disorders, and admission to rural hospitals predict subsequent stroke.
Quantifying the Differences between 3D Virtual Planning and Attained Postoperative Reduction on CT for Patients with Tibial Plateau Fractures; a Clinical Feasibility Study
Authors: van der Gaast Nynke , Huitema Jellina M. , Edwards Britt H. J. , Verbakel Joy , Alderlieste Dagmar S. , Doornberg Job N. , Edwards Michael J. R. , Jaarsma Ruurd L. , Hermans Erik ,   on behalf of the Traumaplatform 3D Consortium
Published: May 2023

Background: Three-Dimensional Virtual Planning (3DVP) has been proven to be effective for limiting intra-articular screw penetration and improving the quality of reduction for numerous fractures. However, the value of 3DVP for patients with tibial plateau fractures has yet to be determined. Purposes: The research question of this study is: Can Computed Tomography Micromotion Analysis (CTMA) provide a reliable quantification of the difference between 3DVP and the postoperative reduction on CT for tibial plateau fractures? Methods: Nine consecutive adult patients who received surgical treatment for a tibial plateau fracture and received pre- and postoperative CT scans were included from a level I trauma center in the Netherlands. The preoperative CT scans of the patients were uploaded in a 3DVP software. In this software, fracture fragments were reduced and the reduction was saved as a 3D file (STL). The quality of the reduction from the 3DVP software was compared with the postoperative results using CT Micromotion Analysis (CTMA). In this analysis, the translation of the largest intra-articular fragment was calculated by aligning the postoperative CT with the 3DVP. Coordinates and measurement points were defined in the X, Y, and Z axes. The combined values of X and Y were used to define the intra-articular gap. The Z-axis was defined as the line from cranial to caudal and was used to define intra-articular step-off. Results: The intra-articular step-off was 2.4 mm (Range 0.5–4.6). Moreover, the mean translation of the X-axis and Y-axis, which was defined as the intra-articular gap, was 4.2 mm (Range 0.6–10.7). Conclusions: 3DVP provides excellent insight into the fracture and its fragments. Utilizing the largest intra-articular fragment, it is feasible to quantify the difference between 3DVP and a postoperative CT using CTMA. A prospective study to further analyze the use of 3DVP in terms of intra-articular reduction and surgical and patient-related outcomes has been started by our team.
Digital Banking through the Uncertain COVID Period: A Panel Data Study
Authors: Singh Kuldeep , Goundar Sam , Chandran Preetha , Agrawal Amit Kumar , Singh Nimisha , Kolar Prasanna
Published: May 2023

This research investigates how the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has affected digital banking usage in India. The study is made by utilizing a panel of data consisting of 108 firm-month observations during covid period from 2020 to 2022, with data mainly collected to analyze the impact of COVID-19 uncertainty. Most of the determinants were collected from the RBI data website. The main emphasis of this study is on the utilization of digital banking services in the context of the pandemic, and the research assesses the factors that have influenced this trend, including the number of physical bank branches, the utilization of debit and credit cards at automated teller machines (ATMs) and points of sale (PoS), as well as the level of economic policy uncertainty (EPU). The analysis was conducted using panel regression analysis, a suitable method for handling the error components in the model that are either fixed or random. The findings indicate that the uncertainty caused by the pandemic has had a negative impact on the use of digital banking services. Additionally, the study highlights that the usage of debit and credit cards at PoS has significantly contributed to promoting the progress of digital banking services during the pandemic. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into how digital banking services have evolved during a period of significant uncertainty and disruption.
From Motion to Causation: The Diachrony of the Spanish Causative Constructions with traer (‘Bring’) and llevar (‘Take’)
Authors: Torres Soler Julio , Enghels Renata
Published: May 2023

This paper describes the historical evolution of the Spanish causative micro-constructions with the motion verbs llevar (‘take’) and traer (‘bring’) (e.g., el miedo llevó al ladrón a cometer un error, ‘the fear caused the thief to make a mistake’). In order to reconstruct the historical development of these micro-constructions between the 13th and 20th centuries, all causative uses of llevar and traer were extracted from the Corpus del Diccionario Histórico. This corpus was annotated for a series of formal and semantic parameters that count as indexes of grammaticalization, and was submitted to a quantitative productivity analysis. The results point to the existence of a subschema formed of verbs of caused accompanied motion, which has semantically specialized in the expression of indirect causation. From a formal point of view, this subschema is characterized by a low level of syntactic incorporation of the causative verb and the infinitive. In addition, it is shown that the productivity of the causative micro-constructions under study is determined by semantic changes experienced by llevar and traer as full lexical verbs during the history of Spanish. The late development of the micro-construction with llevar is explained by the initial tendency of this verb to express motion events not bounded by an endpoint. From the 16th century onwards, the decline in the micro-construction with traer and the rise in the micro-construction with llevar results from the consolidation of the deictic meaning of the verb pair.
Hogweed Seed Oil: Physico–Chemical Characterization, LC-MS Profile, and Neuroprotective Activity of Heracleum dissectum Nanosuspension
Authors: Olennikov Daniil N. , Chirikova Nadezhda K.
Published: May 2023

The seeds of dissected hogweed (Heracleum dissectum Ledeb., Apiaceae) are the source of hogweed oil (HSO), which is still underexplored and requires careful chemical and biological studies. The performed physico–chemical analysis of HSO elucidated basic physical characteristics and revealed the presence of fatty acids, essential oil components, pigments, and coumarins. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometric detection (HPLC–PDA–ESI–tQ–MS/MS) identified 38 coumarins that were characterized and quantified. Various furanocoumarins were the major components of HSO polyphenolics, including imperatorin, phellopterin, and isoimperatorin, and the total coumarin content in HSO varied from 181.14 to 238.42 mg/mL. The analysis of storage stability of the selected compounds in HSO indicated their good preservation after 3-year storage at cold and freezing temperatures. The application of the CO2-assisted effervescence method allowed the production of an HSO nanosuspension, which was used in a brain ischemia model of rats. The HSO nanosuspension enhanced cerebral hemodynamics and decreased the frequency of necrotic processes in the brain tissue. Thus, H. dissectum seeds are a good source of coumarins, and HSO nanosuspension promotes neuroprotection of the brain after lesions, which supports earlier ethnopharmacological data.
Epidemiology Pattern, Prevalent Genotype Distribution, Fighting Stigma and Control Options for Hepatitis D in Bulgaria and Other European Countries
Authors: Tsaneva-Damyanova Denitsa Todorova , Georgieva Lora Hristova
Published: May 2023

Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a satellite virus that causes the most aggressive form of all viral hepatitis in individuals already infected with HBV (hepatitis B virus). In recent years, there has been a negative trend towards an increase in the prevalence of chronic hepatitis D in Europe, especially among immigrant populations coming from regions endemic for the virus. The aim of this review is to analyse the current epidemiology of chronic HDV, routes of transmission, prevalent genotype, its management, prevention, fighting stigma and options for viral control in European countries, such as Bulgaria.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Response on Soil Phosphorus Utilization and Enzymes Activities in Aerobic Rice under Phosphorus-Deficient Conditions
Authors: Mitra Debasis , Panneerselvam Periyasamy , Senapati Ansuman , Chidambaranathan Parameswaran , Nayak Amaresh Kumar , Mohapatra Pradeep Kumar Das
Published: May 2023

The prominence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in sustainable rice production has long been recognized. However, there is little information about AMF response in aerobic rice cultivation under phosphorus (P)-deficient conditions. The aim of this experiment was to compare and determine the preeminent AMF effects on rice mycorrhizal colonization, responsiveness, P utilization, and different growth-promoting traits under P-deficient conditions. Different AMF genera viz. (Funneliformis sp., Rhizophagus sp., Glomus sp., Acaulospora sp., and Claroideoglomus sp.) in four different aerobic rice varieties developed by ICAR-NRRI, India (CR Dhan 201, CR Dhan 204, CR Dhan 205, and CR Dhan 207) were investigated using the check P-susceptible variety (IR 36) and the P-tolerant variety (Kasalath IC459373). Data analyzed through linear modeling approaches and bivariate associations found that AMF colonization was highly correlated with soil enzymes, particularly fluorescein diacetate (FDA) and plant P uptake. The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and FDA content were significantly changed among rice varieties treated with AMF compared to uninoculated control. Out of four different rice varieties, CR Dhan 207 inoculated with AMF showed higher plant P uptake compared to other varieties. In all the rice varieties, AMF colonization had higher correlation coefficients with soil enzymes (FDA), MBC, and plant P uptake than uninoculated control. The present study indicates that AMF intervention in aerobic rice cultivation under P-deficient conditions significantly increased plant P uptake, soil enzymes activities and plant growth promotion. Thus, the information gathered from this study will help us to develop a viable AMF package for sustainable aerobic rice cultivation.
Tribological Behavior and Wear Protection Ability of Graphene Additives in Synthetic Hydrocarbon Base Stocks
Authors: Du Ge , Yang Hongmei , Sun Xiuli , Tang Yong
Published: May 2023

Graphene carbon materials show good tribological properties due to their unique layered structures. In this work, the tribological properties of graphene (GN) and fluorinated graphene (FGN) were studied in two kinds of synthetic hydrocarbon base stocks at different working conditions. Firstly, the structures of GN and FGN were characterized comparatively using FT-IR, Raman, XRD, and TGA. Secondly, the tribological properties of GN and FGN as the lubrication additives both in PAO6 and CTL6 were studied on a four-ball tester. Finally, the surfaces of friction counterparts, before and after tribological tests, were analyzed to disclose the lubrication mechanism using UV, micro-Raman, and EDS. The results show that GN and FGN can be stably dispersed in the selected synthetic hydrocarbon base stocks with 1 wt.% T161 as the dispersant, and the optimal addition of graphene additive is 100 ppm, which shows better friction reducing and anti-wear properties. GN and FGN also show better tribological performance at a higher load (not less than 392 N), and their compatibility with PAO6 is better. The worn surface analysis shows that the graphene additive participates in the lubrication film formation during friction by frictional chemical reaction with friction counterparts, which could improve the stability and tribological performance, resulting in an increased application temperature of synthetic hydrocarbon base stock by at least 10 °C.
Investigation of a New Screw Press Forming Process for Manufacturing Connectors from ZK60 Magnesium Alloy Preforms
Authors: Dziubinska Anna
Published: May 2023

This article discusses a new technology of forming connector forgings from ZK60 magnesium alloy preforms by die forging on a screw press. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of using preforms cast from the ZK60 magnesium alloy to forge a connector forging with improved mechanical properties compared to those obtained by casting. It also aimed to establish whether this new forging method has the potential for replacing the multi-stage forging process conducted on hydraulic presses used for high-strength Mg alloys. A numerical analysis of the proposed approach was performed by the finite element method, applying the popular DEFORM computer software for simulating forming processes. The numerical results confirmed that the developed method produces parts with the desired shape. The numerical results also provided information regarding the behavior of the workpiece’s material and the screw press forging process, including the distributions of strains and temperatures, the Cockcroft–Latham damage criterion, and energy required to form connector forgings. The proposed screw press forging process for producing ZK60 alloy connectors from cast preforms was verified by experimental tests. The connector forgings produced from the ZK60 magnesium alloy were then subjected to qualitative tests.
Application of Multi-Scale Convolutional Neural Networks and Extreme Learning Machines in Mechanical Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Zhang Wei , Li Junxia , Huang Shuai , Wu Qihang , Liu Shaowei , Li Bin
Published: May 2023

Extracting fault features in mechanical fault diagnosis is challenging and leads to low diagnosis accuracy. A novel fault diagnosis method using multi-scale convolutional neural networks (MSCNN) and extreme learning machines is presented in this research, which was conducted in three stages: First, the collected vibration signals were transformed into images using the continuous wavelet transform. Subsequently, an MSCNN was designed to extract all detailed features of the original images. The final feature maps were obtained by fusing multiple feature layers. The parameters in the network were randomly generated and remained unchanged, which could effectively accelerate the calculation. Finally, an extreme learning machine was used to classify faults based on the fused feature maps, and the potential relationship between the fault and labels was established. The effectiveness of the proposed method was confirmed. This method performs better in mechanical fault diagnosis and classification than existing methods.
Design and Stability Analysis of a Digital Automatic Power Control Based on a PI Controller for Laser Drivers
Authors: Pedreros Jose , Becerra Alex , Rojas Javier , Pavez Cristian , Diaz Marcos
Published: May 2023

Laser diodes are widely used in research and industrial applications in areas such as measurements, communications and health. In most of these applications, stability in the emitted light power is required. This can be realized by modifying the internal parameters, such as the current supply, by using an analog automatic power control (APC). This research presents the design and analysis of a feedback laser driver (digital APC system) based on a proportionall–integral (PI) controller. The controller’s theoretical design acting on the supply current in a laser was obtained by algebraically solving the general equations of a PI controller over a laser described as a steady-state system. The required steady-state model can be determined from the lightl–current curve obtained either from the laser data sheet or experimentally. A posterior numerical analysis shows that the proportional gain of the PI controller is only limited numerically by the reciprocal of the slope efficiency of the laser when the characteristic time of the system is greater than the sampling period. Finally, the APC model was tested in an experimental setting using a laser diode ADL-65052TL at several temperatures. The results show that the proposed relations for the proportional gain and the integral time are valid, achieving the desired power stability with a drift of less than 0.1%.
Modeling and Optimization of the Blade Structural Parameters for a Turbomolecular Pump
Authors: Chen Zhi , Wang Wenlong , Li Zhizuo , Yan Hongzhi
Published: May 2023

The development of high-performance mass spectrometer and vacuum coating technology has placed higher demand on the vacuum level of turbomolecular pumps (TMPs), which are required to possess a greater compression ratio and faster pumping speed. There exists a relation of “as one falls, another rises” between the compression ratio and the pumping speed when traditional improvement methods are used. How to simultaneously increase the compression ratio and pumping speed is a very important question for the high-end turbomolecular pumps. In this study, on the basis of a parallel blade and thin gas aerodynamic model, several types of curved blade are presented to improve the pumping performance of TMPs. The comparison results show that the positive quadratic surface exhibited a better pumping performance than the other curved blades. After that, a hybrid optimization method based on a support vector machine (SVR) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) are proposed to obtain the structural parameters of the rotor blade for the highest pumping speed and maximum compression ratio. The optimization results show that, compared with the parallel blades, the compression single-stage blade row with quadratic surface structure was able to increase the maximum compression ratio by 10.35% and the maximum pumping speed factor by 4.61%. In addition, the intermediate single-stage blade row with quadratic surface structure increased the maximum compression ratio by 9.15% and the maximum pumping speed factor by 2.53%.
Virtual Coupling in Railways: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Felez Jesus , Vaquero-Serrano Miguel Angel
Published: May 2023

The current mobility situation is constantly changing as people are increasingly moving to urban areas. Therefore, a flexible mode of transport with high-capacity passenger trains and a high degree of modularity in the trains’ composition is necessary. Virtual coupling (VC) is a promising solution to this problem because it significantly increases the capacity of a line and provides a more flexible mode of operation than conventional signaling systems. This novel review, in which approximately 200 papers were analyzed, identifies the main topics of current railway-related VC research, and represents the first step toward the implementation of VC in future railways. It was found that industry research has mainly focused on the feasibility of VC implementation and operation, whereas in academia, which is coordinated with industry, research has focused on control and communication systems. From a technological perspective, the main challenges for VC were identified with regard to aspects such as safety, control technology, interlocking, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, cooperative train protection and control, and integrated traffic management. The important directions for future research that have been identified for future development include complete dynamic models, real-time controllers, reliable and secure communication, different communication topologies, cybersecurity, intelligent control, reinforcement learning, and Big Data analytics.
Smart Retrofit: An Innovative and Sustainable Solution
Authors: Pietrangeli Ilaria , Mazzuto Giovanni , Ciarapica Filippo Emanuele , Bevilacqua Maurizio
Published: May 2023

Recovering old machinery, once it reaches its end of life, allows companies to be sustainable. Several strategies are available for this purpose, both from the point of view of hardware and software modifications. Especially in the industrial sector, these strategies are classified as revamping, remanufacturing and retrofitting. Machinery revamping, retrofitting and remanufacturing are all used to improve industrial equipment performance, efficiency and sustainability. Each approach has unique benefits and trade-offs, depending on the specific needs and requirements of the equipment and business. Moreover, according to Industry 4.0 principles, it is also possible to talk about smart retrofitting, involving the integration of various technologies such as sensors, automation systems, Digital Twins, artificial intelligence and data analytics software to control and optimise the operation of the machinery. Digital Twins, in particular, have been widely used among smart retrofit solutions and can integrate several innovative aspects of dated systems. However, a literature review needs to clarify their meaning and specific characteristics. For this reason, this paper aims to distinguish different strategies and find a correct definition of smart retrofitting, highlighting its relevance, benefits and sustainability in the industrial sector, focusing more on Digital Twin solutions for smart retrofitting.
Conditioning Theory for Generalized Inverse CA‡ and Their Estimations
Authors: Samar Mahvish , Zhu Xinzhong , Shakoor Abdul
Published: May 2023

The conditioning theory of the generalized inverse CA‡ is considered in this article. First, we introduce three kinds of condition numbers for the generalized inverse CA‡, i.e., normwise, mixed and componentwise ones, and present their explicit expressions. Then, using the intermediate result, which is the derivative of CA‡, we can recover the explicit condition number expressions for the solution of the equality constrained indefinite least squares problem. Furthermore, using the augment system, we investigate the componentwise perturbation analysis of the solution and residual of the equality constrained indefinite least squares problem. To estimate these condition numbers with high reliability, we choose the probabilistic spectral norm estimator to devise the first algorithm and the small-sample statistical condition estimation method for the other two algorithms. In the end, the numerical examples illuminate the obtained results.
Neural Networks Simulation of Distributed SEIR System
Authors: Kmet Tibor , Kmetova Maria , Végh Ladislav
Published: May 2023

In this paper, a neural network-based optimal control synthesis is presented for distributed optimal control problems. We deal with solutions of systems controlled by parabolic differential equations with control and state constraints and discrete time delays. The given optimal control problem is transformed into a discrete nonlinear problem and then implemented into a feed-forward adaptive critic neural network. We propose a new algorithm to reach optimal control and an optimal trajectory using a feed-forward neural network. We present a concrete application of this simulation method on the SEIR (Susceptible—Exposed—Infectious—Recovered) optimal control problem of a distributed system for disease control. The results show that the adaptive-critic-based neural network approach is suitable for the solution of optimal distributed control problems with delay in state and control variables subject to control-state constraints and simulates the spread of disease in the SEIR system.
Global Stabilization of Delayed Feedback Financial System Involved in Advertisement under Impulsive Disturbance
Authors: Li Xinggui , Yang Xinsong
Published: May 2023

Diffusion is an inevitable important factor in advertising dynamic systems. However, previous literature did not involve this important diffusion factor, and only involved the local stability of the advertising model. This paper develops a global stability criterion for the impulsive advertising dynamic model with a feedback term under the influence of diffusion. Since global stability requires the unique existence of equilibrium points, variational methods are employed to solve it in the infinite dimensional function space, and then a global stability criterion of the system is derived by way of the impulse inequality lemma and orthogonal decomposition of a class of Sobolev spaces. Numerical simulations verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Grey-Black Optical Solitons, Homoclinic Breather, Combined Solitons via Chupin Liu’s Theorem for Improved Perturbed NLSE with Dual-Power Law Nonlinearity
Authors: Rizvi Syed T. R. , Seadawy Aly R. , Alsallami Shami A. M.
Published: May 2023

In this article, we consider the improved perturbed nonlinear Schrödinger Equation (IP-NLSE) with dual power law nonlinearity, which arises in optical fibers and photovoltaic-photo-refractive materials. We found grey and black optical solitons of the governing equation by means of a suitable complex envelope ansatz solution. By using the Chupin Liu’s theorem (CLT) for the grey and black solitons, we evaluated new categories of combined optical soliton (COS) solutions to the IP-NLSE. The propagation behaviors for homoclinic breathers (HB), multiwaves and M-shape solitons will be analytically examined. All new analytical solutions will be found by an ansatz function scheme and suitable transformations. Multiwave solitons have been reported by using a three-waves technique. Furthermore, two kinds of interactions for M-shape soliton through exponential functions will be examined.
Toward a Secure Smart-Home IoT Access Control Scheme Based on Home Registration Approach
Authors: Wu Tsu-Yang , Meng Qian , Chen Yeh-Cheng , Kumari Saru , Chen Chien-Ming
Published: May 2023

The extensive application of the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence technology has greatly promoted the construction and development of smart cities. Smart home as the foundation of smart cities can optimize home lifestyles. However, users access the smart home system through public channels, and the transmitted information is vulnerable to attack by attackers, and the privacy and data security of the home user will be difficult to be guaranteed. Therefore, how to protect users’ data and privacy security becomes critical. In this paper, we design a provably secure authentication scheme for the smart home environment, which ensures that only legitimate users can use smart devices. We use the informal model to verify the security of the scheme and formally analyze the security and correctness of the scheme through the Real or Random model. Finally, through the comparison of security and performance analysis, it is proven that our scheme has higher security under similar performance.
Mean Estimation for Time-Based Surveys Using Memory-Type Logarithmic Estimators
Authors: Bhushan Shashi , Kumar Anoop , Al-Omari Amer Ibrahim , Alomani Ghadah A.
Published: May 2023

This article examines the issue of population mean estimation utilizing past and present data in the form of an exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic under simple random sampling (SRS). We suggest memory-type logarithmic estimators and derive their properties, such as mean-square error (MSE) and bias up to a first-order approximation. Using the EWMA statistic, the conventional and novel memory-type estimators are compared. Real and artificial populations are used as examples to illustrate the theoretical findings. According to the empirical findings, memory-type logarithmic estimators are superior to the conventional mean estimator, ratio estimator, product estimator, logarithmic-type estimator, and memory-type ratio and product estimators.