bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of sliding mode control based on diagonal recurrent neural network for coupled tank system
Authors: El-Nagar Ahmad M. , Abdo Mohamed I. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study presents the development of sliding mode control (SMC) using the diagonal recurrent neural network (DRNN) for nonlinear systems. Firstly, the SMC for linear systems is developed for nonlinear coupled tank system. Second, the DRNN is used to design the equivalent part of the SMC law, which is performed to approximate the dynamics of a controlled process. Third, the sliding surface for the switching control is developed using the DRNN. The DRNN parameters are tuned using Lyapunov function to achieve the controlled process stability. For the developed scheme, discontinuous signum function is used to compensate the chattering phenomenon. The developed scheme is applied for controlling the uncertain nonlinear coupled tank system. The simulation results indicate that the developed scheme can respond to the effects of system uncertainties compared to other existing schemes.
Comparison of transposition and interposition methods in microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm: an analysis of 109 cases performed by a single surgeon in a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Owashi Etsuko , Ohmura Kazufumi , Shoda Kenji , Yamada Tetsuya , Kano Kiyomitsu , Nakayama Noriyuki , Iwama Toru 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Microvascular decompression (MVD), the standard surgical approach for hemifacial spasm (HFS), can be divided into the interposition and transposition methods. Although the risk of HFS recurrence following interposition has been reported, there is limited data comparing long-term outcomes between both methods performed by a single surgeon. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of MVD techniques on HFS by comparing surgical outcomes performed by a single surgeon in a single-center setting.

Methods
A total of 109 patients who underwent MVD were analyzed and divided into the transposition (86 patients) and interposition (23 patients) groups. Postoperative outcomes at 1 month and 1 year were assessed and compared, including rates of spasm relief, complications, and recurrence.

Results
Outcome assessment revealed higher rates of early spasm relief in the interposition group (66.3% vs. 100%, transposition vs. interposition, respectively, p = 0.0004), although spasm relief at 1-year postoperatively was comparable between the two groups (84.9% vs. 95.7%, transposition vs. interposition, respectively, p = 0.2929). No significant differences were observed in complication and recurrence rates. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the duration of spasm resolution by MVD method (p = 0.4347, log-rank test).

Conclusion
This study shows that both the transposition (Surgicel® and fibrin glue) and interposition (sponge) methods were excellent surgical techniques. The interposition method may achieve earlier spasm resolution compared to the transposition method.
New insights into the photoassisted anodic reactions of n-type 4H SiC semiconductors
Authors: Mairhofer Katharina , Larisegger Silvia , Foelske Annette , Sauer Markus , Friedbacher Gernot , Fafilek Günter 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the photoelectrochemical behavior of the n-type 4H-SiC, focusing on aqueous, hydroxide-based electrolytes. Despite its high stability, this wide-bandgap semiconductor material undergoes electrochemical reactions, such as anodic oxidation or etching, under specific conditions. Since electrons are the majority charge carriers in n-type semiconductors, oxidation processes require above-bandgap illumination. Then, the reaction rate is influenced by the number of electron holes available for an oxidation process and the velocity of the transport of hydroxide ions to/from the surface. The goal is to focus on the essential reaction parameters (i.e., potential and electrolyte concentration) to clarify the reaction mechanism in aqueous (alkaline) electrolytes. Methods with controllable hydrodynamic conditions are required to investigate the transport processes in the electrolyte. Even though the rotating disk electrode (RDE) is a commonly used and powerful method, it is not well suited for our purpose. Photoelectrochemical etching of SiC is extraordinary because it involves both mass transfer phenomena and gas evolution but also needs high-intensity illumination from an appropriate light source. Hence, a new concept for an inverted rotating cell was developed and implemented. This setup was used to study the effect of the mass transport of hydroxide ions on the photoelectrochemical behavior of SiC in each potential region at varying rotation speeds. In order to interpret the experimental findings, a distinct electrical network model was formulated for simulating the results, aiding in unraveling the underlying reaction mechanism. Electrochemical measurements were complemented by surface-sensitive analytical techniques. XPS was the method of choice to investigate the composition of the sample surface before and after etching. SEM and AFM allow the characterization of the surface morphology in the initial stages of etching. The totality of this information provides a complete picture of the complex processes in the vicinity of the semiconductor electrode.
Graphical abstract
Physico-mechanical parameters of rock materials used in open pit reclamation – a case study of CTL Maczki-Bór S.A. mine in Poland
Authors: Bukowska Mirosława , Niedbalska Katarzyna , Bukowski Przemysław , Smolorz Anna 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe aim of the research was to assess the variability of selected physical and mechanical properties of Carboniferous barren rocks in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin and to analyze the impact of time and increasing vertical pressure on the mechanical parameters of the mixture of these rocks used in the reclamation of the open pit. Both type of tests were conducted in a strength press. For lithologically and stratigraphically differentiated rock samples, strength parameters in various states of humidity (air-dried and capillary saturation state) were determined, including compressive strength, cohesion and the angle of internal friction. It was found that the strength of all types of rock increases with geological age, however saturation of these rocks with water causes their structural weakening, which is especially noticeable in the case of sandstone and claystone. In the case of mudstone, due to their structure, the reduction of strength after saturation with water is not so significantly noticeable. In the second part of the laboratory tests, 5 samples of Carboniferous post-mining waste with different storage times in the open pit were subjected to the assessment of changes in density and compressibility in relation to increasing values of vertical pressure. It was found that the long-term depositing of waste in the excavation is conducive to the intensive development of hypergenic processes. This contributes to the disintegration of sedimentary rocks, which causes changes in their physical and mechanical parameters. This phenomenon is additionally intensified by the increasing vertical pressure with thickness of waste layers.
Potential of activated sludge-derived mixed microbial culture enriched on acetate to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates from various substrates
Authors: Ren Yu , Inoue Daisuke , Ike Michihiko 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe use of waste activated sludge (WAS) as a biocatalyst to produce polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) from waste streams may help promote the beneficial use of WAS for low-carbon, sustainable wastewater treatment. However, it remains unclear which types of substrates can be used for efficient PHA production, and how the PHA production can be maximized. This study aimed to assess the substrate versatility of mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) constructed from WAS by enriching PHA-accumulating bacteria using an aerobic dynamic discharge (ADD) process fed with acetate. Twelve different substrates, including organic acids, saccharides, and alcohols, were selected as the test substrates. In single-batch assays, the highest PHA production (583–680 mg/L) was achieved using butyrate, acetate, and pyruvate. In fed-batch assays, > 30 wt% PHA content was achieved using acetate, butyrate, propionate, lactate, and ethanol, with the highest content (60.3 wt%) using acetate. These results indicate that acetate-fed MMC by the ADD process could efficiently produce PHA from volatile fatty acids, lactate, pyruvate, and ethanol. Polyhydroxybutyrate was preferentially produced from acetate, butyrate, pyruvate, lactate, and ethanol, whereas polyhydroxyvalerate was notably produced from propionate. The results suggest that PHA can be efficiently produced from a wide range of substrates using MMCs enriched on a single substrate.
Partial Fourier in the presence of respiratory motion in prostate diffusion-weighted echo planar imaging
Authors: McTavish Sean , Van Anh T. , Peeters Johannes M. , Weiss Kilian , Harder Felix N. , Makowski Marcus R. , Braren Rickmer F. , Karampinos Dimitrios C. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the effect of respiratory motion in terms of signal loss in prostate diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and to evaluate the usage of partial Fourier in a free-breathing protocol in a clinically relevant b-value range using both single-shot and multi-shot acquisitions.

Methods
A controlled breathing DWI acquisition was first employed at 3 T to measure signal loss from deep breathing patterns. Single-shot and multi-shot (2-shot) acquisitions without partial Fourier (no pF) and with partial Fourier (pF) factors of 0.75 and 0.65 were employed in a free-breathing protocol. The apparent SNR and ADC values were evaluated in 10 healthy subjects to measure if low pF factors caused low apparent SNR or overestimated ADC.

Results
Controlled breathing experiments showed a difference in signal coefficient of variation between shallow and deep breathing. In free-breathing single-shot acquisitions, the pF 0.65 scan showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher apparent SNR than pF 0.75 and no pF in the peripheral zone (PZ) of the prostate. In the multi-shot acquisitions in the PZ, pF 0.75 had a significantly higher apparent SNR than 0.65 pF and no pF. The single-shot pF 0.65 scan had a significantly lower ADC than single-shot no pF.

Conclusion
Deep breathing patterns can cause intravoxel dephasing in prostate DWI. For single-shot acquisitions at a b-value of 800 s/mm2, any potential risks of motion-related artefacts at low pF factors (pF 0.65) were outweighed by the increase in signal from a lower TE, as shown by the increase in apparent SNR. In multi-shot acquisitions however, the minimum pF factor should be larger, as shown by the lower apparent SNR at low pF factors.
Use of proteomic-based MALDI-TOF mass spectra for identification of bacterial pathogens in aquaculture: a review
Authors: Çağatay İfakat Tülay 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe fisheries and aquaculture sectors are growing rapidly, reflecting their importance in meeting the ever-increasing human population’s demands for animal protein. Production progress in this sector, however, is challenging as a result of increased deaths from epidemics caused by bacterial infectious diseases in aquaculturally important species. In order to minimize the impact of such diseases, quick and reliable diagnosis of pathogens, timely intervention, and control of the disease are essential to ensure the health of aquaculture and fisheries stocks. Thus, high-throughput proteomics-based matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been used as a rapid, accurate, and species-specific tool for the identification of bacterial fish pathogens and antibiotic resistance. The aim of this article is to review and evaluate the results of nearly three hundred papers published from 2010 to 2023 on the application of MALDI-TOF MS in aquaculture, showing that this method has been increasingly used over the years for the species-level identification and antibiotic resistance of fifty different gram-positive and negative bacterial aquatic pathogens encountered in wild or cultured fish, shellfish, invertebrates, and crustaceans. In addition, the history and general principles of the MALDI-TOF MS method are also mentioned in the article so that fish disease researchers interested in the use of this technology can see all aspects of the topic.
Mining exploration infrastructure affects biophysical habitat characteristics and ground-dwelling arthropod communities
Authors: Fernandes Kristen , Clark-Ioannou Sophia , Saunders Benjamin J. , Majer Jonathan , Bateman Philip W. , Bunce Michael , Nevill Paul 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMonitoring of environmental impacts of mining activities typically focuses on the main operation footprint, neglecting exploration infrastructure like tracks, roads, and drill pads. These areas are cleared of native vegetation and impacts on the surrounding environment can be both cumulative and enigmatic. Here, we study the impacts of mining exploration infrastructure on habitat characteristics and ground-dwelling arthropod communities in the Midwest region of Western Australia. The study was conducted at three mine sites, each with three infrastructure types: maintained tracks, unmaintained tracks, and drill pads along transects extending 100 m away from the disturbance into remnant vegetation. Habitat characteristics were measured, and arthropods collected from pitfall traps along these transects and identified using COI metabarcoding. The overall arthropod community and two indicator groups, ants (Formicidae) and springtails (Collembola) - were used to measure arthropod responses to changes in response to habitat disturbance. Whilst changes in habitat were only visible to 10 m from the disturbance, impacts on arthropod communities could be detected up to 100 m into the remnant vegetation, and these responses were more complex. In general, we found similar patterns expressed in the compositional changes for arthropods overall and between our chosen indicator groups, but they were not the same across all sites and infrastructure types. Our results demonstrate the utility of bulk arthropod metabarcoding and different arthropod indicator groups for documenting the effects of fine-scale habitat destruction, degradation, or disturbance. They also highlight the need to monitor the negative impacts of mineral exploration on the environment.
Do People Respond to the Climate Impact of their Behavior? The Effect of Carbon Footprint Information on Grocery Purchases
Authors: Fosgaard Toke R. , Pizzo Alice , Sadoff Sally 
Published: May 2024

Abstract Food production is a primary contributor to climate change, and one way to mitigate its effect is through consumption choices. Finding the most effective way to achieve emissions reduction via consumers behavioral change has recently raised policy-makers' interest but experimental evidence about this is still scarce. In this study, we examine the impact of individualized information about greenhouse gas emissions on grocery purchases. Using a randomized field experiment, we compare the effects of individualized information on the carbon footprint of grocery purchases to individualized information on grocery spending provided through a smartphone app. Compared to the spending information, the carbon footprint information decreases emissions from groceries by 27% in the first month of treatment, with 45% reductions in emissions from beef, the highest emissions food group. Treatment effects fade in the longer run along with app engagement but persist among those engaged with the app. Our results suggest that the provision of emissions information, in particular when paired with sufficient engagement, is a promising avenue for policies to turn food consumption greener.
Morphological characterization and molecular marker-assisted selection for resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) in S2 population of capia pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Şavkan Ayşe Nur , Başak Hakan , Uncu Ali Tevfik , Türkmen Önder 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
TMV (Tobacco mosaic virus) and TSWV (Tomato spotted wilt virus) are the most common virus diseases that causes loss of productivity in pepper cultivation. The most effective method in the fight against viral diseases is the use of resistant cultivars. This study was conducted to determine the similarities and differences of 120 Capia pepper lines in the S2 stage, consisted of local populations, standard and hybrid cultivars, in terms of morphological variation and to determine the resistance levels of the lines to TSWV and TMV. As a result of molecular analysis, genotypes 34, 35, 36, 46, 47, 48, 84, and 85 were found to be homozygous resistant to L4 allele and the Tsw gene. Cluster analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to determine the relationship between the lines determined as a result of single plant selection. A dendrogram was prepared to evaluate morphological similarity between the lines. In the cluster analysis, 10 groups were identified based on 25 variables. The PCA explained 69.9% of the total variation based on 10 PC axes. At the end of the study, morphological variability was found high among the pepper lines. This evaluation of plant trait variability can assist geneticists and breeders to identify populations with desirable characteristics for inclusion in pepper breeding programs. In addition, the levels of resistance to these two diseases are crucial for breeding programs aimed at developing cultivars resistant to diseases.
Status of the Deep Learning-Based Shattered Pellet Injection Shard Tracking at ASDEX Upgrade
Authors: Illerhaus Johannes , Treutterer W. , Heinrich P. , Miah M. , Papp G. , Peherstorfer T. , Sieglin B. , Toussaint U. v. , Zohm H. , Jenko F. ,   the ASDEX Upgrade Team
Published: May 2024

AbstractPlasma disruptions pose an intolerable risk to large tokamaks, such as ITER. If a disruption can no longer be avoided, ITER’s last line of defense will be the Shattered Pellet Injection. An experimental test bench was created at ASDEX Upgrade to inform the design decisions for controlling the shattering of the pellets and develop the techniques for the generation of the fragment distributions necessary for optimal disruption mitigation. In an effort to analyze the videos resulting from the more than 1000 tests and determine the impact of different settings on the resulting shard cloud, an analysis pipeline, based on traditional computer vision (CV), was created. This pipeline enabled the analysis of 173 of the videos, but at the same time showed the limits of traditional CV when applied in applications with a highly heterogeneous dataset such as this. We created a machine learning-based (ML) alternative as a drop-in replacement to the original image processing code using a semantic segmentation model to exploit the innate adaptability and robustness of deep learning models. This model is capable of labeling the entire dataset quickly, accurately and reliably. This contribution details the implementation of the ML model and the current state and future plans of the project.
Periodic Optimal Control of a Plug Flow Reactor Model with an Isoperimetric Constraint
Authors: Yevgenieva Yevgeniia , Zuyev Alexander , Benner Peter , Seidel-Morgenstern Andreas 
Published: May 2024

AbstractWe study a class of nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations with boundary control. This class describes chemical reactions of the type “$$A \rightarrow $$

A
→

product” carried out in a plug flow reactor (PFR) in the presence of an inert component. An isoperimetric optimal control problem with periodic boundary conditions and input constraints is formulated for the considered mathematical model in order to maximize the mean amount of product over the period. For the single-input system, the optimality of a bang-bang control strategy is proved in the class of bounded measurable inputs. The case of controlled flow rate input is also analyzed by exploiting the method of characteristics. A case study is performed to illustrate the performance of the reaction model under different control strategies.
Effects of temperature and nanoparticle mixing ratio on the thermophysical properties of GNP–Fe2O3 hybrid nanofluids: an experimental study with RSM and ANN modeling
Authors: Borode Adeola , Tshephe Thato , Olubambi Peter , Sharifpur Mohsen , Meyer Josua 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of temperature and nanoparticle mixing ratio on the thermophysical properties of hybrid nanofluids (HNFs) made with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3). The results showed that increased temperature led to higher thermal conductivity (TC) and electrical conductivity (EC), and lower viscosity in HNFs. Higher GNP content relative to Fe2O3 also resulted in higher TC but lower EC and viscosity. Artificial neural network (ANN) and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to model and correlate the thermophysical properties of HNFs. The ANN models showed a high degree of correlation between predicted and actual values for all three properties (TC, EC, and viscosity). The optimal number of neurons varied for each property. For TC, the model with six neurons performed the best, while for viscosity, the model with ten neurons was optimal. The best ANN model for EC contained 18 neurons. The RSM results indicated that the 2-factor interaction term was the most significant factor for optimizing TC and EC; while, the linear term was most important for optimizing viscosity. The ANN models performed better than the RSM models for all properties. The findings provide insights into factors affecting the thermophysical properties of HNFs and can inform the development of more effective heat transfer fluids for industrial applications.
Senescence of endothelial cells promotes phenotypic changes in adventitial fibroblasts: possible implications for vascular aging
Authors: Sarad Katarzyna , Jankowska Urszula , Skupien-Rabian Bozena , Babler Anne , Kramann Rafael , Dulak Józef , Jaźwa-Kusior Agnieszka 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Aging is the most important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Senescent cells release plethora of factors commonly known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype, which can modulate the normal function of the vascular wall. It is currently not well understood if and how endothelial cell senescence can affect adventitial niche. The aim of this study was to characterize oxidative stress-induced endothelial cells senescence and identify their paracrine effects on the primary cell type of the adventitia, the fibroblasts. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) were treated with hydrogen peroxide to induce premature senescence. Mass spectrometry analysis identified several proteomic changes in senescent HAEC with top upregulated secretory protein growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15). Treatment of the human adventitial fibroblast cell line (hAdv cells) with conditioned medium (CM) from senescent HAEC resulted in alterations in the proteome of hAdv cells identified in mass spectrometry analysis. Majority of differentially expressed proteins in hAdv cells treated with CM from senescent HAEC were involved in the uptake and metabolism of lipoproteins, mitophagy and ferroptosis. We next analyzed if some of these changes and pathways might be regulated by GDF-15. We found that recombinant GDF-15 affected some ferroptosis-related factors (e.g. ferritin) and decreased oxidative stress in the analyzed adventitial fibroblast cell line, but it had no effect on erastin-induced cell death. Contrary, silencing of GDF-15 in hAdv cells was protective against this ferroptotic stimuli. Our findings can be of importance for potential therapeutic strategies targeting cell senescence or ferroptosis to alleviate vascular diseases.