bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Characterization of Epoxy Soybean Oil Modified Polylactic acid Reinforced with Straw Fibers
Authors: Ruan Fangtao , Yang Qingyong , Wang Hongjie , Xu Zhenzhen 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Natural fiber-reinforced biogenic polymer composites have been promising materials for packaging, furniture, and other applications due to their environmentally friendly and cost-effective characteristics. However, certain properties, including mechanical properties, still need to be improved. In this work, polylactic acid (PLA) was modified with a range of epoxy soybean oil (ESO) concentrations, and straw fibers were added to the plasticized PLA. The functional groups of various compositions were investigated via FTIR and the effects of SF and ESO on the impact, flexural and tensile intensities were evaluated. The composites’ thermal stability performance was examined via TG and DSC analysis. The results showed that chemical bonds were formed between PLA and ESO, with the possibility of H-bonding between the -OH group on the molecular chains of SF and PLA and the ethylene oxide group of ESO. The mechanical intensity of material can be enhanced after adding a small amount of ESO (<4%), while the SF addition has the opposite result. The addition of both ESO and straw fibers decreased the thermal transition temperature (Tg, Tc, and Tm) and the degree of PLA crystallinity. Meanwhile, SF was beneficial for improving the thermal decomposition temperature.
Retinal microvascular complexity as a putative biomarker of biological age – a pilot study
Authors: Popovic Natasa , Ždralević Maša , Vujosevic Stela , Radunović Miroslav , Zečević Antoaneta Adžić , Dragović Isidora Rovčanin , Vukčević Batrić , Popovic Tomo , Radulović Ljiljana , Vuković Tijana , Eraković Jevto , Lazović Ranko , Radunovic Miodrag 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Physiological changes associated with aging increase the risk for the development of age-related diseases. This increase is nonspecific to the type of age-related disease, although each desease develops through a unique pathophysiologic mechanism. People who age at a faster rate develop age-related diseases earlier in their life. They have an older “biological age” compared to their “chronological age”. Early detection of individuals with accelerated aging would allow timely intervention to postpone the onset of age-related diseases. This would not only increase their life expectancy, but would also increase their length of good quality life. The goal of this study was to investigate whether retinal microvascular complexity could be used as a biomarker of biological age. To test this, retinal images of 68 participants ages ranging from 19 to 82 years were collected in an observational cross-sectional study. Twenty of the old participants had age-related diseases such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and/or Alzheimer’s dementia, while the rest of the participants were healthy. Retinal images were captured by a hand-held, non-mydriatic fundus camera and quantification of the microvascular complexity was performed by using Sholl’s, box-counting fractal, and lacunarity analysis. In healthy subjects, increasing chronological age was associated with lower retinal microvascular complexity measured by Sholl’s analysis (young healthy vs. old healthy mean=716.1 vs. 637.6, p=0.010). Decreased box-counting fractal dimension was present in old patients with age-related diseases (old healthy vs. old with age-related diseases mean=1.358 vs. 1.324, p=0.031). Retinal microvascular complexity could be a promising new biomarker of biological age.
Operationalization and measurement of compulsivity across video gaming and gambling behavioral domains
Authors: Muela Ismael , Navas Juan F. , Barrada Juan Ramón , López-Guerrero José , Rivero Francisco J. , Brevers Damien , Perales José C. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background Compulsivity is the hallmark of addiction chronification and, as a construct, has played an important role in unveiling the etiological pathways from learning mechanisms underlying addictive behavior to harms resulting from it. However, a sound use of the compulsivity construct in the field of behavioral addictions has been hindered to date by the lack of consensus regarding its definition and measurement. Here we capitalize on a previous systematic review and expert appraisal to develop a compulsivity scale for candidate behavioral addictions (the Granada Assessment for Cross-domain Compulsivity, GRACC).Methods The initial scale (GRACC90) consisted of 90 items comprising previously proposed operationalizations of compulsivity, and was validated in two panel samples of individuals regularly engaging in gambling and video gaming, using exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) and convergence analyses.Results The GRACC90 scale is unidimensional and structurally invariant across samples, and predicted severity of symptoms, lower quality of life, and negative affect, to similar degrees in the two samples. Additionally, poorer quality of life and negative affect were comparably predicted by compulsivity and by severity of symptoms. A shorter version of the scale (GRACC18) is proposed, based on selecting the 18 items with highest factor loadings.Conclusions Results support the proposal that core symptoms of behavioral addictions strongly overlap with compulsivity, and peripheral symptoms are not essential for their conceptualization. Further research should clarify the etiology of compulsive behavior, and whether pathways to compulsivity in behavioral addictions could be common or different across domains.
Creep performance and life prediction of bamboo scrimber under long-term tension in parallel-to-grain
Authors: LIU Caimei , WU Xizhi , LIU Xiubo , LI Xianjun 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In order to study the long-term tensile creep properties of bamboo scrimber, this paper conducted long-term tensile creep tests in parallel-to-grain of bamboo scrimber in the indoor environment, and studied the creep failure mode, creep strain and creep compliance of bamboo scrimber in the long-term tensile. Furthermore, we proposed a unified creep life prediction method at the full stress level. The method included fitting the theoretical model of creep compliance of bamboo scrimber under long-term tension by using the multi-branch Kelvin-Voigt model, fitting the shear relaxation model in the form of Prony series by using the multi-branch generalized Maxwell model, establishing the creep finite element model of the bamboo scrimber specimen in the parallel-to-grain tension, and establishing the creep life prediction model of the bamboo scrimber in the parallel-to-grain tension based on the creep failure rule and the creep deformation data calculated by the finite element model. The results showed that the creep strain curve of bamboo scrimber included unstable creep stage and stable creep stage without accelerated creep stage. The specimen broke instantaneously in the last 1 second, and the fracture shape showed as flush fracture and oblique fracture. Under 70% of the ultimate load level, the creep characteristics of the bamboo scrimber in the parallel-to-grain tension were linear viscoelastic, and the creep compliance was basically independent of the load level. The creep finite element model of bamboo scrimber tensile specimen could accurately calculate the creep deformation of the bamboo scrimber. The creep life prediction model could accurately predict the creep life of bamboo scrimber at the full tensile stress level in parallel-to-grain.
Digital economy and urban green innovation: Evidence from China’s Cities
Authors: Yang Zhengyuan , Ye Lei , Ding Jian 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
This article assesses the digital economy and green innovation in Chinese cities from 2011 to 2020 using an Epsilon-Based Measure (EBM) and green patent data. We explore the causal effect and mechanism of the digital economy and green innovation. The results showed that the digital economy has significantly increased green innovation and passed a series of robustness tests. The promotion effect is heterogeneous in terms of geographic location and city size, and the positive effect of the digital economy becomes more significant over time. Based on the intermediary effect and grouping regression, it is found that industrial structure upgrading and human capital advancement are important mechanisms for the digital economy to drive green innovation. This paper analyzes the mechanism of the digital economy and its effect on green innovation at the city level, enriching the digital economy theory on urban green development and providing research support for urban development transformation.
A quantum model for dreaming and its role in imaging
Authors: El-Nabulsi Rami Ahmad , Anukool Waranont , Sepehri Alireza , Fioranelli Massimo , Roccia Maria Grazia , Beesham Aroonkumar , Idris Zamzuri , Flavin Dana , Suardi Nursakinah 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Each spinor has two states and could store a bit of information. Within a biological system, spinors on the heart cells give information bits to spinors on blood cells. Then, these blood cells move and give these information bits to spinors on the neurons of the brain. Spinors within these structures exchange information through photons with the limited velocity and spinors waves with infinite velocity. The infinite velocity means that when a spin in a pair is reversed, other spin which is placed in a distant point, changes immediately. This difference between the velocities of transferring information by these waves causes to the oscillations of the heart and brain cells and emergence of new quantum electromagnetic fields. These fields and the acceleration of photons and spinors in curved ways of neural systems create the Rindler space-time. In this space-time, there are two regions which time, position and arrow of spinors in each region are different respect to ones in other region. This gives the possibility that spinors store information of different times and positions. During sleeping, these information bits may form points of dream images. For example, when one sees a point in time \(t={t_0}\)and position \(x={x_0}\) at the wake state, its information could be stored in two spinor states in (\(t={t_1}\), \(x={x_1}\)) of region I and (\(t={t_2}\), \(x={x_2}\)) of regions II. During dream, these points are joined and a line is seen. These spinors may form triplet states with other spinors which each state of it could be related to one of main colors: Red, Blue and Green. Thus, a dark point may be converted to a colorful line during dreaming. If a tumor is emerged, states of spinors are changed and a straight line may be converted to a curved line. Thus, dream images could help us in imaging.
Insight Into the Microstructural Properties of Bio-Engineered Concrete Matrices &amp; Analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Rahman Md. Asifur , Zawad Md Fahad Shahriar , Priyom Sudipto Nath , Islam Md. Moinul 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Cracks under loading and high permeability in marine condition are the most common weakness in concrete. Several researches have been carried out to make durable concrete structure having self-healing ability and less permeability but very few have considered the eco-friendly approach simultaneously. This work involves an attempt to improve the microstructural properties of concrete by injecting Bacillus Cereus a gram-positive calcite precipitating bacteria directly into the concrete mix as microbial culture. 100 mm cubical concrete specimens of two different strength criteria (25 MPa, 35 MPa), with and without microbial culture, were prepared and cured for various curing ages to test and analyze the effect of bacterial culture on concrete properties. An optimum optical culture density of 0.5 ± 0.1 was chosen in this form of study as it yielded maximum output in terms of calcite precipitation. 0:25 and 0:50 were the ratios of plain water to microbial culture for the preparation of bacterial concrete. Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) measurement test and Water Absorption Capacity (WAC) test were carried out on the specimens for eight different curing ages. UPV analysis showed that concrete specimens containing higher percentages of microbial culture possess higher pulse velocity than conventional concrete which is the effect of microstructural densification. 40% less permeable concrete genera were found by Water Absorption Capacity test. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed the presence of higher mineral calcite precipitation in the microbial concrete microstructure than the conventional concrete. SEM also showed that with the increment of curing periods the CSH gel became well dispersed in the concrete matrix containing microbial culture. Considering all the test results, it can be concluded that the use of Bacillus Cereus microbial culture in concrete mix develops better concrete genera than the conventional one. So, this technique refers to be an eco-friendly approach for developing a durable new generation concrete in the near future.
Detection and characterization of spike architecture based on deep learning and X-ray computed tomography in barley
Authors: Ling Yimin , Zhao Qinlong , Liu Wenxin , Wei Kexu , Bao Runfei , Song Weining , Nie Xiaojun 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
The cereal spike is the main harvested plant organ determining the grain yield and quality, and its dissection provides the basis to estimate yield- and quality-related traits, such as grain number per spike and kernel weight. Phenotypic detection of spike architecture has potential for genetic improvement of yield and quality. However, manual collection and analysis of phenotypic data is laborious, time-consuming, low-throughput and destructive.
Results
We used a barley model to develop a non-invasive, high-throughput approach through combining X-ray computed tomography (CT) and deep learning model (UNet) to phenotype spike architectural traits. We used an optimized 3D image processing methods by point cloud for analyzing internal structure and quantifying morphological traits of barley spikes. The volume and surface area of grains per spike can be determined efficiently, which is hard to be measured manually. The UNet model was trained based on two types of spikes (wheat cultivar D3 and two-row barley variety S17350), and the best model accurately predicted grain characteristics from CT images. The spikes of ten barley varieties were analyzed and classified into three categories, namely wild barley, barley cultivars and barley landraces. The results showed that modern cultivated barley has shorter but thicker grains with larger volume and higher yield compared to wild barley. The X-ray CT reconstruction and phenotype extraction pipeline needed only 5 minutes per spike for imaging and traits extracting.
Conclusions
The combination of X-ray CT scans and a deep learning model could be a useful tool in breeding for high yield in cereal crops, and optimized 3D image processing methods could be valuable means of phenotypic traits calculation.
A survey of research on several problems in the RoboCup3D simulation environment
Authors: Gao Zhongye , Yi Mengjun , Jin Ying , Zhang Hanwen , Hao Yun , Yin Ming , Cai Ziwen , Shen Furao 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
In the process of robot research and development, due to the vulnerability of hardware, simulation environment is often used to verify and test algorithms first. RoboCup3D simulation environment is developed based on open dynamic engine, and the humanoid robot NAO is modeled as the main robot, which provides a simulation platform for humanoid robot researchers to study robot movements. At the same time, it is also the official platform of RoboCup 3D events. Under the rules of soccer robot competition, it is helpful for the research of multi-robots, especially multi-humanoid robots' cooperation strategy. This paper summarizes the related research in RoboCup3D simulation environment, and first introduces the basic problems existing in this simulation environment. Secondly, the research of robot motion generation and optimization based on model and non-model in simulation environment is introduced respectively. Then, it introduces the related research of cooperation strategy design of multi-humanoid robots under RoboCup3D rules, including positioning, dynamic role assignment, etc. And sort out a typical practical solution to the above problems; Finally, the future development trend of related research in RoboCup3D simulation environment is analyzed.
Prediction of Fibrous Adipose Tissue Infiltration in Rectal Cancer Using MRI-Based Radiomics
Authors: Zhang Ran , Tang Yongxiang , Su Zhaoran , Li Shijian , Zhang Jingping 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Objective To evaluate the value of preoperative prediction of fibrous adipose tissue infiltration around rectal cancer using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) model.
Methods The preoperative MRI images of 75 patients with rectal cancer confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analysed. According to the pathological results, the patients were divided into two groups: the fibrous adipose tissue infiltration group (n = 33) and the fibrous adipose tissue noninfiltration group (n = 42). The image group features for T2-weighted imaging (T2WI) and arterial phase contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging (CE_T1WI) were extracted. The data were divided into a training group (n = 54) and a verification group (n = 21) at a ratio of 7:3. The training set data were reduced by maximum correlation minimum redundancy (mRMR) and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and feature dimension reduction was used to select the optimal imaging features. Three image group models (T2WI model, CE_T1WI model, and T2WI + CE_T1WI model) were constructed. Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate logistic regression analysis, a clinical + T2WI model was constructed, and its predictive efficiency and clinical benefits were evaluated.
Results In total, 851 imaging features were extracted from T2WI and CE_T1WI, and 10 and 14 optimal features were obtained, respectively, which were used to construct the T2WI + CE_T1WI model. In the training group, the areas under the curve (AUCs) for the T2WI model, CE_T1WI model and T2WI + CE_T1WI model for predicting fibrous adipose tissue infiltration around rectal cancer were 0.87 (95% CI: 0.75 ~ 0.95), 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70 ~ 0.91) and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71 ~ 0.92), respectively. In the verification group, the AUCs were 0.76 (95% CI: 0.53 ~ 0.92), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.50 ~ 0.90) and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.52 ~ 0.92), respectively. For the clinical + T2WI model, the AUC for predicting fibrous adipose tissue infiltration of rectal cancer was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.80 ~ 0.97) in the training group and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.57 ~ 0.94) in the verification group. Decision curve analysis (DCA) suggested that when the threshold was 0:1, the net return of the clinical + T2WI model was higher than that of the T2WI model.
Conclusion The clinical + T2WI model is effective in the preoperative prediction of fibrous adipose tissue infiltration around rectal cancer.
Sendong: Pain, Agony, and Survival
Authors: Eslit Edgar 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
This study aimed to explore the experiences of deluge victims in Iligan City following Typhoon Sendong using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants, and the data were analyzed using IPA. The study found that the flood had a significant psychological and emotional impact on the participants, with several key themes and patterns emerging from the IPA analysis. These included the impact on emotional well-being, coping strategies, and patterns of adaptation and adjustment among Iligan City’s Sendong Survivors. The coping strategies employed by the participants highlighted the importance of social support and community engagement in disaster recovery. The patterns of adaptation and adjustment observed among the participants suggest the potential for personal growth and development following a traumatic event. The study has implications for practitioners and policymakers involved in disaster response and recovery, and highlights the need for continued research and support for individuals and communities affected by natural disasters.
Tunable Physical Properties of Starch-Based Hydrogels Synthesized by Freeze-Thaw Technique
Authors: Luthfianti Halida Rahmi , Waresindo William Xaveriano , Rodhiyah Marathur , Edikresnha Dhewa , Noor Fatimah Arofiati , Elfahmi Elfahmi , Khairurrijal Khairurrijal 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Hydrogels are three-dimensional (3D) polymer networks that are water-absorbent, insoluble, flexible, and biocompatible. The freeze-thaw technique is a physical cross-linking method for hydrogel synthesis, which can form a stable structure and non-toxic materials. Biopolymer hydrogel is a solution to environmental pollution due to synthetic polymers, which have been widely used as hydrogel base materials. This paper uses starch composite as precursor solutions for the preparation of hydrogels. The precursor solution ratios (potato starch/gelatin) of 20:0, 20:1, 20:2, 20:3, and 0:20 were labeled as SCG1, SCG2, SCG3, SCG4, and SCG5, respectively. Morphological results showed a cross-linking between polymer chains (solid area) and porosity (liquid area). During the freeze-thaw process, gelatin interfered with a cross-linking process of the hydroxyl group so that the solid phase decreased and the pore size was irregular and enlarged. The swelling degree increased with the gelatin composition, while the weight loss showed the opposite result. SCG1 showed the highest swelling degree value of around 319.39 ± 35.05a % and lower weight loss of about 19.26 ± 9.91a %, which showed a higher degradability. SCG1 has good mechanical properties with Young Modulus, onset strain, and onset stress of about 1.4 ± 0.33a KPa, 145.11 ± 47.28b %, and 1.62 ± 0.08c KPa, although the highest compressive strength was shown by SCG5 of 25.63 ± 2.75a KPa. In general, we found that the physical properties of starch hydrogels showed a potential to be used as a functional food matrix: higher swelling degree, modulus elasticity, and degradability. For gelatin hydrogels, it is necessary to modify the process to become a potential matrix as a media delivery.
Probing the structural variations of different tissue cells in Beechwood by X-ray microdiffraction
Authors: Liu Jiliang , Burghammer Manfred 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Scanning X-ray microdiffraction is applied to determine the structural variations of cellulose microfibrils among the fiber cells, vessel cells and ray cells of Beechwood. A longitudinal section of Beechwood was raster scanned with an X-ray microbeam. This allows to collect diffraction patterns from cell walls of distinct cell types. While the diffraction patterns from fiber cells are dominated by the cellulose signal with a longitudinal orientation, the diffraction patterns from ray and vessel cells show transversal fiber alignment, however to a lower degree of orientation. Moreover, the scattering pattern at small angle region of ray and vessel cells become less pronounced than to fiber cells. These results suggest that the crystalline cellulose of fiber cells has a completely different structure at the meso and molecular level when compared to ray and vessel cellulose within Beechwood.