bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ZnO@ activated carbon derived from wood sawdust as adsorbent for removal of methyl red and methyl orange from aqueous solutions
Authors: Sayed Nessma S. M. , Ahmed Abdelaal S. A. , Abdallah Mohamed H. , Gouda Gamal A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractActivated carbon (AC) and ZnO@AC composite derived from wood sawdust were prepared to be utilized as adsorbents for methyl red (MR) and methyl orange (MO) anionic dyes from the aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity of the AC and ZnO@AC composite toward both dyes was achieved in the strong acidic medium (pH = 3), and under stirring for 60 min. The kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption of MR and MO dyes onto the AC and ZnO@AC composite fitted well with the pseudo-second-order model. Furthermore, the intraparticle diffusion and Elovich kinetic models confirmed the adsorption is controlled by external surfaces, and the adsorption is chemisorption process. The isotherm results indicated that the MR and MO dye adsorption occurred via monolayer adsorption, and the estimated maximum adsorption capacities of both dyes onto the ZnO@AC composite were higher than those achieved by AC. Thermodynamic analysis suggested that the adsorption is endothermic and spontaneous. The mechanism for MR, and MO dyes adsorption onto the AC and ZnO@AC composite is proposed to be controlled by electrostatic bonding, π–π interactions, and ion exchange, while H-bonding and n–π interactions were minor contributors. This study reveals the potential use of carbon-based adsorbents derived from wood sawdust for the removal of anionic dyes from wastewater.
Object-centered family interactions for young autistic children: a diary study
Authors: Hu Yuqi , Sun Xu , Yao Cheng , Luo Shijian , Liu Bingjian , Xue Mengru , Lyu Hui 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAutistic Children often struggle with social interaction and communication, studies have found that many of them prefer to interact with objects than people. However, there is a lack of research exploring the specific characteristics and factors involved in interactions within families with autistic children where objects are the center of the interaction. This paper describes the process and findings of a diary study exploring how young autistic children interact with their families through objects in natural scenarios. A one-week diary study was conducted with six families with young autistic children. Diary videos were recorded onsite and coded later according to a social interaction behavior scheme with corresponding diary entries. Qualitative data analysis was conducted to reveal possible patterns. Results revealed ongoing difficulties in establishing and maintaining family interaction and identified influential factors of object-centered family interaction. The most prevalent pattern observed was parents taking the lead in interactions, followed by the child's confirmation response. Remarkably, daily necessities emerged as potential physical mediums for enhancing family interactions, opening avenues for exploring tangible designs in human–computer interaction. These findings offer valuable implications for future research and the development of innovative designs that promote enriching interactions for autistic children and their families.
Direct coupled electrical stimulation towards improved osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells: a comparative study of different protocols
Authors: Silva João C. , Meneses João , Garrudo Fábio F. F. , Fernandes Sofia R. , Alves Nuno , Ferreira Frederico Castelo , Pascoal-Faria Paula 
Published: March 2024

AbstractElectrical stimulation (ES) has been described as a promising tool for bone tissue engineering, being known to promote vital cellular processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Despite the high variability of applied protocol parameters, direct coupled electric fields have been successfully applied to promote osteogenic and osteoinductive processes in vitro and in vivo. Our work aims to study the viability, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells when subjected to five different ES protocols. The protocols were specifically selected to understand the biological effects of different parts of the generated waveform for typical direct-coupled stimuli. In vitro culture studies evidenced variations in cell responses with different electric field magnitudes (numerically predicted) and exposure protocols, mainly regarding tissue mineralization (calcium contents) and osteogenic marker gene expression while maintaining high cell viability and regular morphology. Overall, our results highlight the importance of numerical guided experiments to optimize ES parameters towards improved in vitro osteogenesis protocols.
Design and analysis of ELM-based predefined time sliding mode adaptive controller for PMLM position control under physical constraints
Authors: Riaz Saleem , Li Bingqiang , Qi Rong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAchieving accurate position tracking for robotics and industrial servo systems is an extremely challenging task, particularly when dealing with control saturation, parameter perturbation, and external disturbance. To address these challenges, a predefined time convergent sliding mode adaptive controller (PTCSMAC) has been proposed for a permanent magnet linear motor (PMLM). A novel sliding mode surface (SMS) with predefined time convergence PDTC has been constructed, which ensures that the error converges to zero within the prescribed time. The system not only meets the expected performance standards but also has a uniformly bounded motor speed. The trajectory tracking error in SMS is proven to converge to zero within the predefined time. This predefined time stability of the closed-loop system has been demonstrated by using the Lyapunov stability criterion with PDTC. The convergence time (CT) can be arbitrarily set, and the upper bound of it is not affected by the initial value and control parameters of the system. A new updated version of extreme learning machine (ELM) is introduced to approximate the uncertain part of the system based on PDTC. The ELM is also provided with the hyperbolic tangent function to estimate the saturation constraint. This is done by converting the function into a linear function concerning the unconstrained control input variable. Then, based on established stability, a novel sliding mode adaptive controller (PTCSMAC) with predefined time convergence is designed. The convergence time (CT) of the controller is unaffected by the initial conditions as well as the control parameters. The rigorous numerical simulations on the PMLM model with complex disturbances verify the strong robustness and high-precision tracking characteristic of the proposed control law.
Development of a composite drought indicator for operational drought monitoring in the MENA region
Authors: Bergaoui Karim , Fraj Makram Belhaj , Fragaszy Stephen , Ghanim Ali , Hamadin Omar , Al-Karablieh Emad , Al-Bakri Jawad , Fakih Mona , Fayad Abbas , Comair Fadi , Yessef Mohamed , Mansour Hayat Ben , Belgrissi Haythem , Arsenault Kristi , Peters-Lidard Christa , Kumar Sujay , Hazra Abheera , Nie Wanshu , Hayes Michael , Svoboda Mark , McDonnell Rachael 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper presents the composite drought indicator (CDI) that Jordanian, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Tunisian government agencies now produce monthly to support operational drought management decision making, and it describes their iterative co-development processes. The CDI is primarily intended to monitor agricultural and ecological drought on a seasonal time scale. It uses remote sensing and modelled data inputs, and it reflects anomalies in precipitation, vegetation, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration. Following quantitative and qualitative validation assessments, engagements with policymakers, and consideration of agencies’ technical and institutional capabilities and constraints, we made changes to CDI input data, modelling procedures, and integration to tailor the system for each national context. We summarize validation results, drought modelling challenges and how we overcame them through CDI improvements, and we describe the monthly CDI production process and outputs. Finally, we synthesize procedural and technical aspects of CDI development and reflect on the constraints we faced as well as trade-offs made to optimize the CDI for operational monitoring to support policy decision-making—including aspects of salience, credibility, and legitimacy—within each national context.
Causal association study of the dynamic development of the metabolic syndrome based on longitudinal data
Authors: Razbek Jaina , Bao Liangliang , Zhang Yan , Daken Mayisha , Cao Mingqin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe dynamic progression of metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes developmental deterioration and reverse recovery; however, the key factors in this bidirectional progression have not been identified. Our study aimed to use the data obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) and construct a Bayesian network to explore the causal relationship between influential factor and the development and recovery of MetS. Followed up at 4 years, forward progression of MetS occurred in 1543 and reverse recovery of MetS occurred in 1319 of 5581 subjects. Bayesian Networks showed that hyperuricemia and body mass index (BMI) levels directly influenced progression of MetS, and gender, exercise and age play an indirect role through hyperuricemia and BMI levels; high hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and BMI levels directly influenced recovery of MetS, and gender and exercise play an indirect role through BMI levels. Bayesian Network inference found that the rate of progression of MetS in subjects with hyperuricemia increases from 36 to 60%, the rate of progression of MetS in subjects with overweight or obese increases from 36 to 41% and the rate of reverse recovery rate of MetS in subjects with high HbA1c decreased from 33 to 20%. Therefore, attention to individuals at high risk of hyperuricemia, high HbA1c levels, and overweight/obesity should be enhanced, with early detection and following healthy behavioral interventions to prevent, control and delay the progression of MetS and its components.
Hexavalent chromium ion removal from wastewater using novel nanocomposite based on the impregnation of zero-valent iron nanoparticles into polyurethane foam
Authors: Saad Eman M. , Abd-Elhafiz Mohammed F. , Ahmed Eman M. , Markeb Ahmad Abo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this study, we developed a novel nanocomposite, polyurethane foam impregnated with zero-valent iron nanoparticles (PU@nZVI), for the effective removal of chromium(VI) from various water sources. The characterization of nanocomposite (PU@nZVI) was performed by XRD, SEM–EDS, TEM and FT-IR techniques. Using the response surface methodology, we optimized the removal conditions, achieving an optimal pH of 2 and a dose of 0.5 g/L. The PU@nZVI demonstrated an excellent maximum adsorption capacity of 600.0 mg/g for Cr6+. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms were best described by the pseudo-second-order model and the Freundlich isotherm, respectively. Significantly, the nanocomposite removed 99.98% of Cr6+ from tap water, 96.81% from industrial effluent, and 94.57% from treated sewage wastewater. Furthermore, the PU@nZVI maintained its efficiency over five adsorption–desorption cycles, highlighting its reusability. These results suggest that the PU@nZVI nanocomposite is a highly efficient and sustainable option for chromium(VI) removal in water treatment applications.
Physical characterization, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial activity of polyvinyl alcohol/sodium alginate blend doped with TiO2 nanoparticles for wound dressing applications
Authors: Ibrahim Manar A. , Nasr G. M. , Ahmed R. M. , Kelany Nermeen A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe ability of wound dressing materials to tackle skin pathogens colonization that is associated with open wound infections is limited. Recently, green-synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles has received a lot of attention to overcome this limitation. However, titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) exhibit exceptional antibacterial properties. In this work, several concentrations (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of TiO2 NPs prepared using Aloe vera leaf extract were added to a blend of polyvinyl alcohol and sodium alginate (PVA:SA). This nanocomposite was designed to enhance the healing process of wounds. The interaction between the PVA:SA composite and the TiO2 NPs was confirmed by FTIR. The thermal behavior of the nanocomposite films was investigated using DSC and TGA. The experimental results indicate that the glass transition temperatures of the nanocomposites increased by increasing the added amount of TiO2 NPs to be 53.7 °C (1 wt.%), 55.8 °C (3 wt.%), and 60.6 °C (5 wt.%), which were consistently lower than the glass transition temperature of the matrix material (69.6 °C). The Dynamic Mechanical Analysis was examined. The nanocomposite doped with 5 wt.% of TiO2 NPs detected a high storage modulus (21.6 × 108). Based on swelling and degradation studies, the prepared PVA:SA:TiO2 nanocomposite films have an excellent swelling rate, and the inclusion of TiO2 NPs increases the stability of the polymeric matrix. The PVA:SA:TiO2 nanocomposite films exhibited a superior antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria such as Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, compared to their effectiveness against Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli. Moreover, the nanocomposite films were biocompatible with Human Skin Fibroblast. Therefore, the developed PVA:SA:TiO2 nanocomposite films suit wound dressing applications.
Band-offsets scaling of low-index Ge/native-oxide heterostructures
Authors: Ong Bin Leong , Tok Eng Soon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe investigate, through XPS and AFM, the pseudo layer-by-layer growth of Ge native oxide across Ge(001), (110) and (111) surfaces in ambient environment. More significantly, our study reveals a universal set of valence and conduction band offset (VBO and CBO) values observed for Ge(001), Ge(110), and Ge(111) surfaces as a function of Ge-oxide concentration. We find that the band offsets appear to be the same across these low-index Ge surfaces i.e., for Ge-oxide/Ge heterostructures with the same Ge-oxide overlayer concentration or thickness. In contrast, different oxidation rates for Ge(001), Ge(110), and Ge(111) surfaces were observed, where the oxidation rate is fastest for Ge(001), compared to Ge(110) and Ge(111). This can be attributed to the different number of unsatisfied Ge dangling bonds (2 vs 1) associated to the respective ideal Ge surface in forming Ge-oxide. Thus, at any given oxidation time, the oxide concentration or thickness for each type of low index Ge surface will be different. This in turn will lead to different band offset value observed for each type of Ge surface. More significantly, we show that while oxidation rates can differ from different Ge surface-types, the band offset values can be estimated simply based on the Ge-oxide concentration regardless of Ge surface type.
Explicit scheme for solving variable-order time-fractional initial boundary value problems
Authors: Kanwal Asia , Boulaaras Salah , Shafqat Ramsha , Taufeeq Bilal , ur Rahman Mati 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe creation of an explicit finite difference scheme with the express purpose of resolving initial boundary value issues with linear and semi-linear variable-order temporal fractional properties is presented in this study. The rationale behind the utilization of the Caputo derivative in this scheme stems from its known importance in fractional calculus, an area of study that has attracted significant interest in the mathematical sciences and physics. Because of its special capacity to accurately represent physical memory and inheritance, the Caputo derivative is a relevant and appropriate option for representing the fractional features present in the issues this study attempts to address. Moreover, a detailed Fourier analysis of the explicit finite difference scheme’s stability is shown, demonstrating its conditional stability. Finally, certain numerical example solutions are reviewed and MATLAB-based graphic presentations are made.
An extensive assessment of the impacts of BaO on the mechanical and gamma-ray attenuation properties of lead borosilicate glass
Authors: Sayyed M. I. , Mahmoud K. A. , Arayro Jack , Maghrbi Yasser , Mhareb M. H. A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe current work deals with the synthesis of a new glass series with a chemical formula of 5Al2O3–25PbO–10SiO2–(60-x) B2O3–xBaO; x was represented as 5, 10, 15, and 20 mol%. The FT-IR spectroscopy was used to present the structural modification by rising the BaO concentration within the synthesized glasses. Furthermore, the impacts of BaO substitution for B2O3 on the fabricated borosilicate glasses were investigated using the Makishima-Mackenzie model. Besides, the role of BaO in enhancing the gamma-ray shielding properties of the fabricated boro-silicate glasses was examined utilizing the Monte Carlo simulation. The mechanical properties evaluation depicts a reduction in the mechanical moduli (Young, bulk, shear, and longitudinal) by the rising of the Ba/B ratio in the fabricated glasses. Simultaneously, the micro-hardness boro-silicate glasses was reduced from 4.49 to 4.12 GPa by increasing the Ba2+/B3+ ratio from 0.58 to 3.18, respectively. In contrast, the increase in the Ba/B ratio increases the linear attenuation coefficient, where it is enhanced between 0.409 and 0.448 cm−1 by rising the Ba2+/B3+ ratio from 0.58 to 3.18, respectively. The enhancement in linear attenuation coefficient decreases the half-value thickness from 1.69 to 1.55 cm and the equivalent thickness of lead is also reduced from 3.04 to 2.78 cm, at a gamma-ray energy of 0.662 MeV. The study shows that the increase in the Ba2+/B3+ ratio enhances the radiation shielding capacity of the fabricated glasses however, it slightly degrades the mechanical properties of the fabricated glasses. Therefore, glasses with high ratios of Ba2+/B3+ have high gamma-ray shielding ability to be used in hospitals as a shielding material.
Individualized physiology-based digital twin model for sports performance prediction: a reinterpretation of the Margaria–Morton model
Authors: Boillet Alice , Messonnier Laurent A. , Cohen Caroline 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPerformance in many racing sports depends on the ability of the athletes to produce and maintain the highest possible work i.e., the highest power for the duration of the race. To model this energy production in an individualized way, an adaptation and a reinterpretation (including a physiological meaning of parameters) of the three-component Margaria–Morton model were performed. The model is applied to the muscles involved in a given task. The introduction of physiological meanings was possible thanks to the measurement of physiological characteristics for a given athlete. A method for creating a digital twin was therefore proposed and applied for national-level cyclists. The twins thus created were validated by comparison with field performance, experimental observations, and literature data. Simulations of record times and 3-minute all-out tests were consistent with experimental data. Considering the literature, the model provided good estimates of the time course of muscle metabolite concentrations (e.g., lactate and phosphocreatine). It also simulated the behavior of oxygen kinetics at exercise onset and during recovery. This methodology has a wide range of applications, including prediction and optimization of the performance of individually modeled athletes.
Nomograms based on the lymphocyte–albumin–neutrophil ratio (LANR) for predicting the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients after definitive radiotherapy
Authors: Zhang Sujuan , Chen Zui , Ling Jie , Feng Yuhua , Xie Yangchun , Liu Xianling , Hu Chunhong , Hou Tao 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMuch evidence has accumulated to show that inflammation and nutritional status are associated with the prognosis of patients with various cancers. The present study was designed to explore the prognostic role of the LANR in NPC patients receiving definitive radiotherapy and to construct a nomogram for predicting patient survival. This study retrospectively reviewed 805 NPC patients (604 in the training cohort and 201 in the validation cohort) who received definitive radiotherapy between January 2013 and December 2019. The clinical data and pretreatment laboratory test data, including lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, and serum ALB concentration, were collected for all patients. The LANR was calculated as the albumin × lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio. Patients in the training cohort and validation cohort were categorized into high-LANR and low-LANR groups according to the corresponding cutoff values. The independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), relapse-free survival (RFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and a nomogram was subsequently constructed. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated by the concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. A low LANR (< 14.3) was independently associated with worse OS, PFS and MFS in NPC patients. A prognostic prediction nomogram was established based on T stage, N stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, treatment modality, and LANR and was validated. The C-indices of the nomograms for OS and PFS in the training cohort were 0.729 and 0.72, respectively. The C-indices of the nomograms for OS and PFS in the validation cohort were 0.694 and 0.695, respectively. The calibration curve revealed good consistency between the actual survival and the nomogram prediction. Patients with NPC with low pretreatment LANR had a poor prognosis. The nomogram established on the basis of the LANR was efficient and clinically useful for predicting survival in NPC patients who underwent definitive radiotherapy.