bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of drying temperature on coconut-fibers
Authors: Martinelli Flavia R. Bianchi , Pariz Marcos Gomes , de Andrade Rodolfo , Ferreira Saulo Rocha , Marques Francisco A. , Monteiro Sergio N. , de Azevedo Afonso R. G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe use of natural fibers in cementitious composites has been gaining prominence in engineering. The natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) used in these composites have advantages such as reduced density, reduced fragmentation and concrete cracking, thus improving flexural performance and durability. Coconut-fiber is one of those natural fibers and its use presents technical, ecological, social and economic benefits, as it is improperly disposed of, representing a large waste of natural resources, in addition to causing environmental pollution.. Thus, composites reinforced with natural fibers are promising materials for the construction industry, as in addition to meeting the sustainability of buildings, there will also be a reduction in urban solid waste generated and gains for structures with the use of environmentally friendly materials that meet to active efforts and with greater durability. This work aims to evaluate the tensile behavior of green coconut-fibers subjected to different drying temperatures through chemical, thermal (TG/DSC), morphological, visual and mechanical analysis. Drying temperatures of 70 °C, 100 °C and 130 °C were analyzed and the results indicated that the drying temperature at 70 °C was satisfactory, providing fiber-reinforced composites with good tensile strength, combined with good ductility.
Hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness as green corrosion inhibitor for the brass immersed in 0.5 M HCl
Authors: BustosRivera-Bahena Genoveva , Ramírez-Arteaga A. M. , Saldarriaga-Noreña Hugo A. , Larios-Gálvez A. K. , González-Rodríguez José G. , Romero-Aguilar M. , Sesenes Roy López 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness (PSN) was analyzed as corrosion inhibitor for the brass surface immersed in 0.5 M HCl. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and a gas chromatographic (GC) and mass spectrometric (MS) were used to identify the PSN extract’s functional groups and compound constituents. The functional groups identified were $${\text{C}}{\text{H}}_{3}$$

CH
3

and $${\text{C}}{\text{H}}_{2}$$

CH
2

functional alkyl groups, $$\text{C=O}$$
C=O
stretching vibration of aldehydes, ketones, and carbonyl groups. The GC/MS determined the presence of fatty acids in the PSN extract, where palmitic acid, oleic acid, and ethyl oleate were the major constituents. Electrochemical characterizations were conducted to observe the effect of PSN as corrosion inhibitor on the brass surface. The Rp and Rn calculated from EIS and ENA give the same behavior. Based on the OCP behavior, it was determined that the PSN works as a mix inhibitor, affecting both anodic and cathodic reactions. The corrosion current density (Icorr) suggests that the extract of PSN reduces the corrosion rate of the brass with efficiencies above 90% for all concentrations. The efficiency obtained for each PSN concentration was attributed to forming a corrosion scale of $${\text{CuO}}$$
CuO
and $${\text{C}}{\text{u}}_{2}{\text{O}}$$

Cu
2

O

, which reacted with the carboxyl group to form copper carboxylates on the metal surface.
Metabolic health tracking using Ultrahuman M1 continuous glucose monitoring platform in non- and pre-diabetic Indians: a multi-armed observational study
Authors: Chaudhry Monik , Kumar Mohit , Singhal Vatsal , Srinivasan Bhuvan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractContinuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device adoption in non- and pre-diabetics for preventive healthcare has uncovered a paucity of benchmarking data on glycemic control and insulin resistance for the high-risk Indian/South Asian demographic. Furthermore, the correlational efficacy between digital applications-derived health scores and glycemic indices lacks clear supportive evidence. In this study, we acquired glycemic variability (GV) using the Ultrahuman (UH) M1 CGM, and activity metrics via the Fitbit wearable for Indians/South Asians with normal glucose control (non-diabetics) and those with pre-diabetes (N = 53 non-diabetics, 52 pre-diabetics) for 14 days. We examined whether CGM metrics could differentiate between the two groups, assessed the relationship of the UH metabolic score (MetSc) with clinical biomarkers of dysglycemia (OGTT, HbA1c) and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR); and tested which GV metrics maximally correlated with inflammation (Hs-CRP), stress (cortisol), sleep, step count and heart rate. We found significant inter-group differences for mean glucose levels, restricted time in range (70–110 mg/dL), and GV-by-SD, all of which improved across days. Inflammation was strongly linked with specific GV metrics in pre-diabetics, while sleep and activity correlated modestly in non-diabetics. Finally, MetSc displayed strong inverse relationships with insulin resistance and dysglycemia markers. These findings present initial guidance GV data of non- and pre-diabetic Indians and indicate that digitally-derived metabolic scores can positively influence glucose management.
Preliminary report on embolization with quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles for angiographically negative acute gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Alali Meshari , Cao Chuanwu , Shin Ji Hoon , Jeon Gayoung , Zeng Chu Hui , Park Jung-Hoon , Aljerdah Shakir , Aljohani Sultan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractProphylactic embolization is usually performed using gelatin sponge particles, which are absorbed within several weeks, for managing angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) with quick-soluble gelatin sponge particles (QS-GSP) that dissolve in less than 4 h for treating angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. We included ten patients (M:F = 7:3; mean age, 64.3 years) who underwent prophylactic TAE with QS-GSP for angiographically negative acute gastrointestinal bleeding between 2021 and 2023. The technical success rate of TAE, clinical outcomes focusing on rebleeding, and procedure-related complications were evaluated. The embolized arteries were the gastroduodenal (n = 3), jejunal (n = 4), and ileal (n = 3) arteries. QS-GSP (150–350 µm or 350–560 µm) were used alone (n = 8) or in combination with a coil (n = 1). A 100% technical success rate was accomplished. In 1 patient (10%), rebleeding occurred 2 days after prophylactic TAE of the gastroduodenal artery, and this was managed by repeat TAE. There were no procedure-related complications. The use of QS-GSP for prophylactic TAE appears to be safe and effective for controlling bleeding among patients with angiographically negative gastrointestinal bleeding. There were no cases of related ischemic complications of the embolized bowels likely attributable to recanalization of the affected arteries following biodegradation of QS-GSP.
Stability enhancement of perovskite solar cells using multifunctional inorganic materials with UV protective, self cleaning, and high wear resistance properties
Authors: Azad Seyyedeh Sedigheh , Keshavarzi Reza , Mirkhani Valiollah , Moghadam Majid , Tangestaninejad Shahram , Mohammadpoor-Baltork Iraj 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOrganometal halide perovskite solar cells have reached a high power conversion efficiency of up to 25.8% but suffered from poor long-term stability against environmental factors such as ultraviolet irradiation and humidity of the environment. Herein, two different multifunctional transparent coatings containing AZO and ZnO porous UV light absorbers were employed on the front of the PSCs. This strategy is designed to improve the long-term stability of PSCs against UV irradiation. Moreover, the provided coatings exhibit two additional roles, including self-cleaning and high wear resistance. In this regard, AZO coating showed higher wear resistance compared to the ZnO coating. The photocatalytic self-cleaning properties of these prepared coatings make them stable against environmental pollutants. Furthermore, appropriate mechanical properties such as high hardness and low coefficient of friction that leads to high resistance against wear are other features of these coatings. The devices with AZO/Glass/FTO/meso-TiO2/Perovskite/spiro/Au and ZnO/Glass/FTO/meso-TiO2/Perovskite/spiro/Au configurations maintained 40% and 30% of their initial performance for 100 h during 11 days (9 h per day) against the UV light with the high intensity of 50 mW cm-2 which is due to higher absorption of AZO compared with ZnO in the ultraviolet region. Since AZO has a higher light transmission in the visible region in comparison to ZnO, perovskite cells with AZO protective layers have higher efficiency than perovskite cells with ZnO layers. It is worth noting that the mentioned features make these coatings usable for cover glass in all types of solar cells.
Analysis and experimental validation of IL-17 pathway and key genes as central roles associated with inflammation in hepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury
Authors: Tan Siyou , Lu Xiang , Chen Wenyan , Pan Bingbing , Kong Gaoyin , Wei Lai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHepatic ischemia–reperfusion injury (HIRI) elicits an immune-inflammatory response that may result in hepatocyte necrosis and apoptosis, ultimately culminating in postoperative hepatic dysfunction and hepatic failure. The precise mechanisms governing the pathophysiology of HIRI remain incompletely understood, necessitating further investigation into key molecules and pathways implicated in disease progression to guide drug discovery and potential therapeutic interventions. Gene microarray data was downloaded from the GEO expression profile database. Integrated bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify HIRI signature genes, which were subsequently validated for expression levels and diagnostic efficacy. Finally, the gene expression was verified in an experimental HIRI model and the effect of anti-IL17A antibody intervention in three time points (including pre-ischemic, post-ischemic, and at 1 h of reperfusion) on HIRI and the expression of these genes was investigated. Bioinformatic analyses of the screened characterized genes revealed that inflammation, immune response, and cell death modulation were significantly associated with HIRI pathophysiology. CCL2, BTG2, GADD45A, FOS, CXCL10, TNFRSF12A, and IL-17 pathway were identified as key components involved in the HIRI. Serum and liver IL-17A expression were significantly upregulated during the initial phase of HIRI. Pretreatment with anti-IL-17A antibody effectively alleviated the damage of liver tissue, suppressed inflammatory factors, and serum transaminase levels, and downregulated the mRNA expression of CCL2, GADD45A, FOS, CXCL10, and TNFRSF12A. Injection of anti-IL17A antibody after ischemia and at 1 h of reperfusion failed to demonstrate anti-inflammatory and attenuating HIRI benefits relative to earlier intervention. Our study reveals that the IL-17 pathway and related genes may be involved in the proinflammatory mechanism of HIRI, which may provide a new perspective and theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of HIRI.
The newly assembled chloroplast genome of Aeluropus littoralis: molecular feature characterization and phylogenetic analysis with related species
Authors: Ben Romdhane Walid , Al-Doss Abdullah , Hassairi Afif 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAeluropus littoralis, a halophyte grass, is widely distributed from the Mediterranean to the Indian subcontinent through the Mongolian Gobi. This model halophyte has garnered increasing attention owing to its use as forage and its high tolerance to environmental stressors. The chloroplast genomes of many plants have been extensively examined for molecular, phylogenetic and transplastomic applications. However, no published research on the A. littoralis chloroplast (cp) genome was discovered. Here, the entire chloroplast genome of A. littoralis was assembled implementing accurate long-read sequences. The entire chloroplast genome, with an estimated length of 135,532 bp (GC content: 38.2%), has a quadripartite architecture and includes a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions, IRa and IRb (21,012 bp each), separated by a large and a small single-copy regions (80,823 and 12,685 bp, respectively). The features of A. littoralis consist of 133 genes that synthesize 87 peptides, 38 transfer RNAs, and 8 ribosomal RNAs. Of these genes, 86 were unique, whereas 19 were duplicated in IR regions. Additionally, a total of forty-six simple sequence repeats, categorized into 32-mono, four-di, two-tri, and eight-tetranucleotides, were discovered. Furthermore, ten sets of repeats greater than 20 bp were located primarily in the LSC region. Evolutionary analysis based on chloroplast sequence data revealed that A. littoralis with A. lagopoides and A. sinensis belong to the Aeluropodinae subtribe, which is a sister to the Eleusininae in the tribe Cynodonteae and the subfamily Chloridoideae. This subfamily belongs to the PACMAD clade, which contains the majority of the C4 photosynthetic plants in the Poaceae. The newly constructed A. littoralis cp genome offers valuable knowledge for DNA barcoding, phylogenetic, transplastomic research, and other biological studies.
An efficient data sheet based parameter estimation technique of solar PV
Authors: Charu K. M. , Thakur Padmanabh , Rawat Nikita , Ansari Fahim , Gupta Sandeep , Kumar Mukesh 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis work develops an efficient parameter estimation technique, based on manufacturer datasheet, to obtain unknown parameter of solar photovoltaic (PV), precisely. Firstly, a nonlinear least square objective function, in terms of variables given in manufacturer datasheet, has been developed. Then, two optimization techniques, namely the Particle Swarn Optimization (PSO) and Harmony Search (HS) are applied on the developed objective function to achieve the optimized result. Further, the correctness of the developed technique is tested by estimating the performance indices, namely percentage maximum power deviation index (%MPDI) and overall model deviation index (OMDI), of two different solar PV, viz., Kyocera KD210GH-2PU (poly-crystalline), and Shell SQ85 (mono-crystalline). It is shown that developed method with PSO outperforms the HS. The developed method with PSO gives the values of %MPDI and OMDI of 0.0214% and 0.213, only. Also, the existing methods, based on hybrid, multi-objective function, numerical method, have been considered for the comparative analysis. It is revealed through the comparative studies that the developed method with PSO has smaller value of MPDI (= 0.0041%) and OMDI (0.005) than the other existing methods. Further, the convergence of the developed method has also been estimated to check the speed of estimation. It is shown that the developed technique converges only in 5 s. In addition, the developed technique avoids the need of extensive data as it is based on manufacturer datasheet.
Ferritin heavy chain supports stability and function of the regulatory T cell lineage
Authors: Wu Qian , Carlos Ana Rita , Braza Faouzi , Bergman Marie-Louise , Kitoko Jamil Z , Bastos-Amador Patricia , Cuadrado Eloy , Martins Rui , Oliveira Bruna Sabino , Martins Vera C , Scicluna Brendon P , Landry Jonathan JM , Jung Ferris E , Ademolue Temitope W , Peitzsch Mirko , Almeida-Santos Jose , Thompson Jessica , Cardoso Silvia , Ventura Pedro , Slot Manon , Rontogianni Stamatia , Ribeiro Vanessa , Domingues Vital Da Silva , Cabral Inês A , Weis Sebastian , Groth Marco , Ameneiro Cristina , Fidalgo Miguel , Wang Fudi , Demengeot Jocelyne , Amsen Derk , Soares Miguel P 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRegulatory T (TREG) cells develop via a program orchestrated by the transcription factor forkhead box protein P3 (FOXP3). Maintenance of the TREG cell lineage relies on sustained FOXP3 transcription via a mechanism involving demethylation of cytosine-phosphate-guanine (CpG)-rich elements at conserved non-coding sequences (CNS) in the FOXP3 locus. This cytosine demethylation is catalyzed by the ten–eleven translocation (TET) family of dioxygenases, and it involves a redox reaction that uses iron (Fe) as an essential cofactor. Here, we establish that human and mouse TREG cells express Fe-regulatory genes, including that encoding ferritin heavy chain (FTH), at relatively high levels compared to conventional T helper cells. We show that FTH expression in TREG cells is essential for immune homeostasis. Mechanistically, FTH supports TET-catalyzed demethylation of CpG-rich sequences CNS1 and 2 in the FOXP3 locus, thereby promoting FOXP3 transcription and TREG cell stability. This process, which is essential for TREG lineage stability and function, limits the severity of autoimmune neuroinflammation and infectious diseases, and favors tumor progression. These findings suggest that the regulation of intracellular iron by FTH is a stable property of TREG cells that supports immune homeostasis and limits the pathological outcomes of immune-mediated inflammation.
Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire: Psychometric Evaluation and Revision
Authors: Karlsson Elin , Manchaiah Vinaya , Mäki-Torkko Elina , Granberg Sarah , Gustafsson Johanna , Dahlström Örjan , Widén Stephen 
Published: March 2024

Purpose:
The aim of the current study was to explore the construct validity and internal consistency reliability of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF)–based original English version of the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) and to revise the HFEQ based on the results.

Method:

This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The data were collected using an online survey. Adults with self-reported hearing disability (
n
= 513) from the United States were included. The ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors were tested as the underlying structure of the HFEQ using confirmatory factor analysis and then adjusted by triangulation with previous content validation.

Results:
The results of the current study confirmed the ICF components of body functions, activity and participation, and environmental factors as underlying constructs of the HFEQ. However, after triangulation with previous content validation, fine adjustments were made. The revised version of the HFEQ includes two removed items and a fine-tuned factor structure.

Conclusion:
The results confirm that the structure of the HFEQ aligns with the ICF, and the overall results indicate that HFEQ has acceptable construct validity and internal consistency.
Enhancing generalized spectral clustering with embedding Laplacian graph regularization
Authors: Zhang Hengmin , Yang Jian , Zhang Bob , Tang Yang , Du Wenli , Wen Bihan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAn enhanced generalised spectral clustering framework that addresses the limitations of existing methods by incorporating the Laplacian graph and group effect into a regularisation term is presented. By doing so, the framework significantly enhances discrimination power and proves highly effective in handling noisy data. Its versatility enables its application to various clustering problems, making it a valuable contribution to unsupervised learning tasks. To optimise the proposed model, the authors have developed an efficient algorithm that utilises the standard Sylvester equation to compute the coefficient matrix. By setting the derivatives to zero, computational efficiency is maintained without compromising accuracy. Additionally, the authors have introduced smoothing strategies to make the non‐convex and non‐smooth terms differentiable. This enables the use of an alternative iteration re‐weighted procedure (AIwRP), which distinguishes itself from other first‐order optimisation algorithms by introducing auxiliary variables. The authors provide a provable convergence analysis of AIwRP based on the iteration procedures of unconstrained problems to support its effectiveness. Extensive numerical tests have been conducted on synthetic and benchmark databases to validate the superiority of their approaches. The results demonstrate improved clustering performance and computational efficiency compared to several existing spectral clustering methods, further reinforcing the advantages of their proposed framework. The source code is available at https://github.com/ZhangHengMin/LGR_LSRLRR.
Enhanced command filtered control with extended state observer for dual‐motor servo mechanisms considering backlash and friction
Authors: Wang Xiang , Liu Hanzhong , Zhang Lei , Gao Yang , Wu Yifei 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA dual‐motor servo mechanism is a high‐order and strong‐coupling system with unknown nonlinearity, which brings challenges to controller design to realize high‐performance tracking and synchronization. This article proposes a finite‐time command filtered control strategy to address this problem. In tracking control design, finite‐time command filters are adopted to obtain the derivatives of virtual controllers, and the “explosion of complexity” problem in backstepping is thus solved. An improved compensation system is designed to reduce filtering errors. The tracking control is developed based on the combination of finite‐time control and command filtered approach. Moreover, to deal with unknown nonlinearities and uncertainties, fast finite‐time extended state observers are developed to observe lumped disturbances for the load and motor, respectively. In synchronization control design, two opposite control actions are developed using the speed difference to force two motors to rotate synchronously. The finite‐time convergence of the tracking and synchronization errors is proved. The efficiency of the proposed control strategy is verified via experiments conducted on a dual‐motor servo turntable.
Mitigation of limitation imposed on hosting capacity in low voltage networks by their distribution transformer loading and degradation considerations
Authors: Ame‐Oko Agaba , Lavrova Olga 
Published: March 2024

AbstractA distribution transformer's thermal operating conditions can impose a limitation on the Hosting Capacity (HC) of an electrical distribution feeder for PV interconnections in the feeder's low‐voltage network. This is undesirable as it curtails PV interconnection of both residential and commercial customers in the secondary networks at a time when there are record numbers of interconnection requests by utilities' customers. The authors analyse the limitations on HC due to transformer loading and degradation considerations. Then, the paper proposes a battery energy storage system (BESS) dispatch strategy that will mitigate the limitation on distribution feeder HC by distribution transformers. Three scenarios of HC were simulated for a test network—HC evaluation without restrictions by the distribution transformer (scenario 1), HC evaluation with restrictions by the distribution transformer (scenario 2), and HC evaluation without restriction by the distribution transformer, and with the implementation of the proposed BESS mitigation strategy (scenario 3). Simulation results show that transformer lifetime is depleted to about 6% of expected lifetime for unrestricted HC in scenario 1. Curtailing the HC by 32% in scenario 2 improves the lifetime to 149% of expected lifetime. Implementing the proposed BESS in scenario 3 improves the transformer lifetime to 127% and increases the HC by 62% above the curtailed value in scenario 2, and by 10% above the original HC in scenario 1. The BESS strategy implementation produced cost savings of 49% and 27% of the transformer cost in scenarios 2 and 3, respectively, due to deferred transformer replacement. Conversely, there is a 1600% replacement cost incurred in scenario 1, which underscores the need for a mitigation strategy. The proposed BESS strategy does not only improve the HC of a distribution feeder but also increases a distribution transformer's lifetime leading to replacement cost savings.