bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Addressing the Gap of Nutrition in Medical Education: Experiences and Expectations of Medical Students and Residents in France and the United States
Authors: Thircuir Solenn , Chen Nancy N. , Madsen Kristine A.
Published: December 2023

Distinct pedagogical approaches within medical curricula in France and in the U.S. reflect a growing recognition of the importance of nutrition to address major public health challenges. However, recent generations of medical students have expressed mixed opinions regarding nutrition education. What pedagogical approach may improve nutrition education? Despite different medical systems, students from both France and the U.S. share similar concerns and expectations, that nutrition knowledge must be embedded in the curriculum and must be engaging. Hands-on, system-based, epistemological, and multidisciplinary approaches need better articulation to forge a robust medical curriculum. In the rapidly changing contexts of medicine and public awareness, social science research may facilitate recommendations for improved nutrition education.
Higher Short-Chain Fermentable Carbohydrates Are Associated with Lower Body Fat and Higher Insulin Sensitivity in People with Prediabetes
Authors: Chu Natural H. S. , He Jie , Leung Kathy H. T. , Ma Ronald C. W. , Lee Jimmy Y. S. , Varney Jane , Chan Juliana C. N. , Muir Jane G. , Chow Elaine
Published: December 2023

The quality of carbohydrates has metabolic consequences in people with prediabetes. However, the causality of short-chain fermentable carbohydrate intakes and metabolic parameters has not been explored in the prediabetic or diabetic population. We investigated associations between different types of carbohydrates, including fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, polyols (FODMAPs), and polysaccharides (dietary fibre), and body composition and glucose/insulin responses in subjects with prediabetes. In this prospective cross-sectional study, 177 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (mean age: 60 (54–62) years, 41% men) underwent an assessment of body composition and completed six-point oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT), Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA2-IR), insulin sensitivity, detailed 3-day food records, and physical activity questionnaire. Daily habitual FODMAP intake decreased progressively with increasing BMI, ranging from 7.9 (6.2–12.7) g/d in subjects with normal BMI and 6.6 (4.6–9.9) g/d in subjects with overweight to 5.8 (3.8–9.0) g/d in subjects with obesity (p = 0.038). After adjustment for age and gender, galactooligosaccharides (GOSs) were negatively correlated with body fat (Standardised Beta coefficient β = −0.156, p = 0.006) and positively associated with insulin sensitivity (β = 0.243, p = 0.001). This remained significant after adjustment for macronutrients, fibre, and physical activity (p = 0.035 and p = 0.010, respectively). In individuals with IGT, higher dietary GOS intake was associated with lower body fat and higher insulin sensitivity independent of macronutrients and fibre intake, calling for interventional studies to evaluate the effect of FODMAP intake in prediabetes.
Chemotherapeutic Activity of Imidazolium-Supported Pd(II) o-Vanillylidene Diaminocyclohexane Complexes Immobilized in Nanolipid as Inhibitors for HER2/neu and FGFR2/FGF2 Axis Overexpression in Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Awaji Aeshah A. , Rizk Moustafa A. , Alsaiari Raiedhah A. , Alqahtani Norah F. , Al-Qadri Fatima A. , Alkorbi Ali S. , Hafez Hani S. , Elshaarawy Reda F. M.
Published: December 2023

Two bis-(imidazolium–vanillylidene)-(R,R)-diaminocyclohexane ligands (H2(VAN)2dach, H2L1,2) and their Pd(II) complexes (PdL1 and PdL2) were successfully synthesized and structurally characterized using microanalytical and spectral methods. Subsequently, to target the development of new effective and safe anti-breast cancer chemotherapeutic agents, these complexes were encapsulated by lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) to formulate (PdL1LNP and PdL2LNP), which are physicochemically and morphologically characterized. PdL1LNP and PdL2LNP significantly cause DNA fragmentation in MCF-7 cells, while trastuzumab has a 10% damaging activity. Additionally, the encapsulated Pd1,2LNPs complexes activated the apoptotic mechanisms through the upregulated P53 with p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively. The apoptotic activity may be triggered through the activity mechanism of the Pd1,2LNPs in the inhibitory actions against the FGFR2/FGF2 axis on the gene level with p < 0.001 and the Her2/neu with p < 0.05 and p < 0.01. All these aspects have triggered the activity of the PdL1LNP and PdL2LNP to downregulate TGFβ1 by p < 0.01 for both complexes. In conclusion, LNP-encapsulated Pd(II) complexes can be employed as anti-cancer drugs with additional benefits in regulating the signal mechanisms of the apoptotic mechanisms among breast cancer cells with chemotherapeutic-safe actions.
A Systematic Study of Yiqi Qubai Standard Decoction for Treating Vitiligo Based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS Combined with Chemometrics, Molecular Docking, and Cellular and Zebrafish Assays
Authors: Cui Lijun , Ma Cui , Shi Wenqing , Yang Chen , Wu Jiangping , Wu Zhenghua , Lou Yuefen , Fan Guorong
Published: December 2023

The Yiqi Qubai (YQ) formula is a hospital preparation for treating vitiligo in China that has had reliable efficacy for decades. The formula consists of four herbs; however, the extraction process to produce the formula is obsolete and the active ingredients and mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, in this paper, fingerprints were combined with the chemometrics method to screen high-quality herbs for the preparation of the YQ standard decoction (YQD). Then, the YQD preparation procedure was optimized using response surface methodology. A total of 44 chemical constituents, as well as 36 absorption components (in rat plasma) of YQD, were identified via UPLC-Q-TOF/MS. Based on the ingredients, the quality control system of YQD was optimized by establishing the SPE-UPLC-Q-TOF/MS identification method and the HPLC quantification method. Network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking showed that carasinaurone, calycosin-7-O-β-d-glucoside, methylnissolin-3-O-glucoside, genkwanin, akebia saponin D, formononetin, akebia saponin B, and apigenin may be the key active components for treating vitiligo; the core targets associated with them were AKT1, MAPK1, and mTOR, whereas the related pathways were the PI3K-Akt, MAPK, and FoxO signaling pathways. Cellular assays showed that YQD could promote melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity, as well as the transcription and expression of tyrosinase-associated proteins (i.e., TRP-1) in B16F10 cells. In addition, YQD also increased extracellular tyrosinase activity. Further efficacy validation showed that YQD significantly promotes melanin production in zebrafish. These may be the mechanisms by which YQD improves the symptoms of vitiligo. This is the first systematic study of the YQ formula that has optimized the standard decoction preparation method and investigated the active ingredients, quality control, efficacy, and mechanisms of YQD. The results of this study lay the foundations for the clinical application and further development of the YQ formula.
Preparation of 18F-Labeled Tracers Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein via Sulfur [18F]Fluoride Exchange Reaction
Authors: Craig Austin , Kogler Jürgen , Laube Markus , Ullrich Martin , Donat Cornelius K. , Wodtke Robert , Kopka Klaus , Stadlbauer Sven
Published: December 2023

Early detection and treatment of cancers can significantly increase patient prognosis and enhance the quality of life of affected patients. The emerging significance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a new frontier for cancer diagnosis and therapy may be exploited by radiolabeled tracers for diagnostic imaging techniques such as positron emission tomography (PET). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) within the TME are identified by biomarkers such as fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα), which are expressed on their surfaces. Targeting FAPα using small-molecule 18F-labeled inhibitors (FAPIs) has recently garnered significant attention for non-invasive tumor visualization using PET. Herein, two potent aryl-fluorosulfate-based FAPIs, 12 and 13, were synthetically prepared, and their inhibition potency was determined using a fluorimetric FAP assay to be IC50 9.63 and 4.17 nM, respectively. Radiofluorination was performed via the sulfur [18F]fluoride exchange ([18F]SuFEx) reaction to furnish [18F]12 and [18F]13 in high activity yields (AY) of 39–56% and molar activities (Am) between 20–55 GBq/µmol. In vitro experiments focused on the stability of the radiolabeled FAPIs after incubation with human serum, liver microsomes and liver cytosol. Preliminary PET studies of the radioligands were performed in healthy mice to investigate the in vivo biodistribution and 18F defluorination rate. Fast pharmacokinetics for the FAP-targeting tracers were retained and considerable bone uptake, caused by either 18F defluorination or radioligand accumulation, was observed. In summary, our findings demonstrate the efficiency of [18F]SuFEx as a radiolabeling method as well as its advantages and limitations with respect to PET tracer development.
In Vitro and Preclinical Antitumor Evaluation of Doxorubicin Liposomes Coated with a Cholesterol-Based Trimeric β-D-Glucopyranosyltriazole
Authors: Maciel e Silva Aline Teixeira , Maia Ana Luiza Chaves , Silva Juliana de Oliveira , Miranda Sued Eustáquio Mendes , Cantini Talia Silva , de Barros Andre Luis Branco , Soares Daniel Crístian Ferreira , de Magalhães Mariana Torquato Quezado , Alves Ricardo José , Ramaldes Gilson Andrade
Published: December 2023

The coating of liposomes with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) has been extensively discussed over the years as a strategy for enhancing the in vivo and in vitro stability of nanostructures, including doxorubicin-loaded liposomes. However, studies have shown some important disadvantages of the PEG molecule as a long-circulation agent, including the immunogenic role of PEG, which limits its clinical use in repeated doses. In this context, hydrophilic molecules as carbohydrates have been proposed as an alternative to coating liposomes. Thus, this work studied the cytotoxicity and preclinical antitumor activity of liposomes coated with a glycosyl triazole glucose (GlcL-DOX) derivative as a potential strategy against breast cancer. The glucose-coating of liposomes enhanced the storage stability compared to PEG-coated liposomes, with the suitable retention of DOX encapsulation. The antitumor activity, using a 4T1 breast cancer mouse model, shows that GlcL-DOX controlled the tumor growth in 58.5% versus 35.3% for PEG-coated liposomes (PegL-DOX). Additionally, in the preliminary analysis of the GlcL-DOX systemic toxicity, the glucose-coating liposomes reduced the body weight loss and hepatotoxicity compared to other DOX-treated groups. Therefore, GlcL-DOX could be a promising alternative for treating breast tumors. Further studies are required to elucidate the complete GlcL-DOX safety profile.
Stimuli-Responsive Protein Hydrogels: Their Design, Properties, and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Lu Yuxuan , Chen Yuhe , Zhu Yuhan , Zhao Jingyi , Ren Ketong , Lu Zhao , Li Jun , Hao Ziyang
Published: December 2023

Protein-based hydrogels are considered ideal biomaterials due to their high biocompatibility, diverse structure, and their improved bioactivity and biodegradability. However, it remains challenging to mimic the native extracellular matrices that can dynamically respond to environmental stimuli. The combination of stimuli-responsive functionalities with engineered protein hydrogels has facilitated the development of new smart hydrogels with tunable biomechanics and biological properties that are triggered by cyto-compatible stimuli. This review summarizes the recent advancements of responsive hydrogels prepared from engineered proteins and integrated with physical, chemical or biological responsive moieties. We underscore the design principles and fabrication approaches of responsive protein hydrogels, and their biomedical applications in disease treatment, drug delivery, and tissue engineering are briefly discussed. Finally, the current challenges and future perspectives in this field are highlighted.
The Dielectrophoretic Alignment of Biphasic Metal Fillers for Thermal Interface Materials
Authors: Lee Yangwoo , Akyildiz Kubra , Kang Chanmi , So Ju-Hee , Koo Hyung-Jun
Published: December 2023

Pad-type thermal interface materials (TIMs) with composite structures are required to exhibit high thermal conductivity while maintaining conformal contact with the heat sink, which is strongly influenced by the type and content of the thermally conductive filler. This study presents that biphasic metal particles can be effectively aligned using the dielectrophoretic chaining (DEP-C) mechanism, thereby enhancing the thermal conductivity of a pad-type TIM. A eutectic gallium–indium (EGaIn) alloy liquid metal and solid copper were used as the filler materials with two different phases. The biphasic metal particle mixture of EGaIn and Cu (EGaIn-Cu) were better aligned by DEP-C than when they presented individually because fusion between the two particles increased the effective size. As expected, the thermal conductivity of the TIM composites increased when DEP-C aligned the filler. Notably, TIMs with both EGaIn-Cu fillers showed the largest increase in thermal conductivity, of up to 64.6%, and the highest thermal conductivity values after DEP-C application compared to TIMs with only the EGaIn or Cu filler. Finally, the heat dissipation performance of the TIM composite on a lit light-emitting diode is shown, where the TIM with DEP-C-aligned fillers exhibits improved performance.
PEDOT:PSS versus Polyaniline: A Comparative Study of Conducting Polymers for Organic Electrochemical Transistors
Authors: Kawamura Ryotaro , Michinobu Tsuyoshi
Published: December 2023

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) based on conducting polymers have attracted significant attention in the field of biosensors. PEDOT:PSS and polyaniline (PANI) are representative conducting polymers used for OECTs. While there are many studies on PEDOT:PSS, there are not so many reports on PANI-based OECTs, and a detailed study to compare these two polymers has been desired. In this study, we investigated the fabrication conditions to produce the best performance in the OECTs using the above-mentioned two types of conducting polymers. The two main parameters were film thickness and film surface roughness. For PEDOT:PSS, the optimal conditions for fabricating thin films were a spin-coating rate of 3000 rpm and a DI water immersion time of 18 h. For PANI, the optimal conditions were a spin-coating rate of 3000 rpm and DI water immersion time of 5 s, and adding dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA) was found to provide better OECT performances. The OECT performances based on PEDOT:PSS were superior to those based on PANI in terms of conductivity and transconductance, but PANI showed excellence in terms of film thickness and surface smoothness, leading to the good reproducibility of OECT performances.
Preparation of High-Transparency Phosphenanthrene-Based Flame Retardants and Studies of Their Flame-Retardant Properties
Authors: Zhang Tao , Liu Yong
Published: December 2023

Transparency is an important property for polymer flame retardants, especially epoxy resin (EP) flame retardants, and flame-retardant epoxy resins that maintain a high transparency and low chromatic aberration play important roles in the optical, lighting, and energy industries. Herein, a DOPO-based flame retardant 6,6′-((sulfonylbis(4,1-phenylene))bis(oxy))bis(dibenzo[c,e][1,2]oxaphosphinine 6-oxide) with a high transparency and low chromatic aberration was prepared via the classical Atherton–Todd reaction and named SBPDOPO. Its chemical structure was characterized with Fourier IR spectroscopy and NMR spectroscopy. An EP loaded with 7 wt% SBPDOPO passed the UL-94 V-0 rating with an LOI value of 32.1%, and the peak heat release rate, total heat release, and total smoke production were reduced by 34.1%, 31.6%, and 27.7%, respectively, compared with those of pure EP. In addition, the addition of SBPDOPO improved the thermal stability, residual mass, and glass transition temperature of the EP. On this basis, the EP containing 7 wt% SBPDOPO maintained a high transparency and low color aberration, with a transmittance of 94% relative to that of pure EP and a color aberration ΔE of 1.63. Finally, the flame-retardant mechanism of SBPDOPO was analyzed, which demonstrated that it exerted both gas-phase and condensed-phase flame-retardant effects, and that SBPDOPO/EP had high potential for application scenarios in which both flame retardancy and transparency are needed. SBPDOPO/EP has great potential for applications requiring both flame retardancy and transparency.
Alginate–Moroccan Clay, New Bio-Nanocomposite for Removal of H2PO4−, HPO42−, and NO3− Ions from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Aziam Rachid , Stefan Daniela Simina , Aboussabek Abdelali , Chiban Mohamed , Croitoru Alexa-Maria
Published: December 2023

The aim of this work is to synthesize and characterize alginate–Moroccan clay bio-composite in order to improve our understanding of the adsorption of inorganic pollutants found in textile effluents. Characterization of the bio-composite used was carried out using a variety of techniques (IR-TF, SEM, DRX, and pHZPC). The influence of the medium’s physico-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, initial concentration, etc.) on the retention of inorganic pollutants was also studied. Studies of adsorption and inorganic pollutants such as orthophosphate (H2PO4− and HPO42−) and nitrate (NO3−) ions were carried out, using simple solutions from the laboratory, in a batch system. This study explored the impact of adsorbent dose, contact time, solution pH, and temperature on the adsorption process. Various kinetic models, including pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intra-particle diffusion, and Elovich models, were tested and evaluated, to illustrate the adsorption kinetics. This study’s findings demonstrated that the adsorption process follows second-order kinetics, with associated rate constants successfully determined. The correlation coefficient for the pseudo-second-order kinetic model is nearly equal to 1 (>0.98), and the value of theoretical adsorption capacity (qe,the) is comparable to the experimental one (qe,the = 58.14 mg/g for H2PO4−, qe,the = 54.64 mg/g for HPO42−, and qe,the = 52.63 mg/g for NO3−). Additionally, the adsorption equilibrium was investigated through the application of various mathematical models, including the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models, to assess the mechanistic parameters associated with the adsorption process. Among these models, the Langmuir isotherm emerged as the most suitable one for characterizing the adsorption of H2PO4−, HPO42−, and NO3− ions using bio-nanocomposite beads. The maximum adsorbed amounts of metal ions by the bio-nanocomposite used were 625 mg/g for H2PO4−, 909.09 mg/g for HPO42−, and 588.23 mg/g for NO3− from the batch system. The endothermic and physical nature of the adsorption is suggested by the positive values of ΔH°, which is consistent with experimental findings. The adsorption process is spontaneous, as evidenced by the negative ΔG° values. Positive ΔS° values indicate increased randomness at the solid/liquid interface during adsorption of ion-organic ions onto the engineered bio-nanocomposite. The obtained results demonstrated that, from a scientific perspective, alginate–Moroccan clay bio-nanocomposites exhibit a highly significant adsorption capability for the removal of oxyanions in aqueous environments.
Aging of Plasma-Activated Polyethylene and Hydrophobic Recovery of Polyethylene Polymers
Authors: Mozetič Miran
Published: December 2023

Available literature on the aging of plasma-activated polyethylene due to hydrophobic recovery has been reviewed and critically assessed. A common method for the evaluation of hydrophobic recovery is the determination of the static water contact angle, while the surface free energy does not reveal significant correlations. Surface-sensitive methods for the characterization of chemical composition and structure have limited applicability in studying the aging phenomenon. Aging is driven by thermodynamics, so it is observed even upon storage in a vacuum, and hydrophobic recovery increases with increasing temperature. Storage of plasma-activated polyethylene in the air at ambient conditions follows almost logarithmic behavior during the period studied by most authors; i.e., up to one month. The influence of the storage medium is somehow controversial because some authors reported aging suppression by storing in polar liquids, but others reported the loss of hydrophilicity even after a brief immersion into distilled water. Methods for suppressing aging by hydrophobic recovery include plasma treatment at elevated temperature followed by brief treatment at room temperature and application of energetic ions and photons in the vacuum ultraviolet range. Storing at low temperatures is a trivial alternative, but not very practical. The aging of plasma-activated polyethylene suppresses the adhesion of many coatings, but the correlation between the surface free energy and the adhesion force has yet to be addressed adequately.
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Polypropylene–Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Desert Sand Concrete
Authors: Hou Lina , Wen Baojun , Huang Wei , Zhang Xue , Zhang Xinyu
Published: December 2023

In order to improve the performance of desert sand concrete, polypropylene fiber (PF) and glass fiber (GF) were used to prepare desert sand concrete (DSC) with different fiber and volume content, and the basic mechanical properties, such as cube compressive, tensile and flexural strengths, were tested and studied. Based on the mercury injection method (MIP) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the evolution of pore structure and interface structure was analyzed. The mechanism of fiber toughening was revealed at the microscopic level. The results show that the slump of DSC decreases with the increase in fiber content. The slump of glass-fiber-reinforced DSC (GFRDSC) is smaller than that of polypropylene-fiber-reinforced DSC (PFRDSC). The strength enhancement of DSC by fibers is in the order of flexural strength > split tensile strength > compressive strength. The flexural strength of hybrid-fiber-reinforced DSC (HyFRDSC) (0.1% PF + 0.1% GF) is increased by 40.7%. Meanwhile, fibers can improve the toughness of DSC. The MIP results show that the porosity of HyFRDSC decreased by 50.01%, and the addition of fiber can effectively refine the large pore size. The SEM results show that the incorporation of PF and GF causes the formation of a uniform and dense structure between the fibers, cement and aggregate. The two can give full play to the crack-resisting and toughening effect in different loading stages, thus improving the macromechanical properties of DSC.
Cleaner Leather Tanning and Post-Tanning Processes Using Oxidized Alginate as Biodegradable Tanning Agent and Nano-Hydroxyapatite as Potential Flame Retardant
Authors: Quaratesi Ilaria , Micu Maria Cristina , Rebba Erica , Carsote Cristina , Proietti Noemi , Di Tullio Valeria , Porcaro Rita , Badea Elena
Published: December 2023

In this study, sodium alginate (SA) was oxidized with potassium periodate to produce an alginate-based tanning agent. Using OSA as a biodegradable tanning agent and a nano-hydroxyapatite (nano-HAp) low concentration suspension to give flame retardancy to leather, eco-design concepts were applied to establish a chrome-, aldehyde-, and phenol-free tanning process. Micro-DSC, 1H unilateral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), attenuated total reflection mode Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) were used to investigate the complex matrix collagen-OSA-nano-HAp. Micro-differential scanning calorimetry (micro-DSC) was used to assess OSA’s ability to interact with collagen and stabilize the collagen-OSA matrix, while 1H unilateral (NMR) was used to investigate the aqueous environment and its limitations around collagen molecules caused by their association with OSA and nano-HAp. Industrial standard tests were used to assess the mechanical properties and fire resistance of the new leather prototype. The findings reported here indicate that both OSA and nano-HAp are suitable alternatives for cleaner tanning technologies and more sustainable leather.
Effect of Fiber Sizing Levels on the Mechanical Properties of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Thermoset Composites
Authors: Jaber Albraa A. , Abbas Sara A. , Farah Abdiaziz A. , Kopeć Karina K. , Alsalik Yahya M. , Tayeb Mohammed A. , Verghese Nikhil
Published: December 2023

Fiber sizing is one of the most important components in manufacturing composites by affecting mechanical properties, including strength and stiffness. The sizing of manmade fibers offers many advantages, such as improving fiber/matrix adhesion and bonding properties, protecting fiber surfaces from damage during the processing and weaving stages, and enhancing the surface wettability of polymer matrices. In this work, the influence of fiber sizing levels on carbon fibers’ (CFs) mechanical properties is reported at room temperature using single fiber tensile testing (Favimat+), single fiber pullout testing (SFPO), and interfacial elemental analysis by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Standard modulus CFs (7 ± 0.2 μm in diameter) were sized using two commercially available Michelman sizing formulations. The average solid content for each sizing formulation was 26.3 ± 0.2% and 34.1 ± 0.2%, respectively. HEXION RIMR 135 with curing agent RIMH 137 was used as a model thermoset epoxy matrix during SFPO measurements. A predictive engineering fiber sizing methodology was also developed. Sizing amounts of 0.5, 1, and 2 wt.% on the fiber surface were achieved for both sizing formulations. For each fiber size level, 50 single-fiber tensile testing experiments and 20 single-fiber pull-out tests were conducted. The ultimate tensile strength (σult) of the carbon fibers and the interfacial shear strength (τapp) of the single fiber composite were analyzed. The sizing levels’ effect on interfacial shear stress and the O/C (Oxygen/Carbon) surface composition ratio was investigated. Based on our experimental findings, an increase of 6% in fiber performance was recorded for ultimate tensile and interfacial shear strengths. As a result, generalized fiber sizing and characterization methods were established. These developed methods can be used to characterize the strength and interfacial shear strength of manmade fibers with different sizing formulations and solid contents irrespective of the matrix, i.e., thermoset or thermoplastic.
Spiritual Christians in Republican China: Reconceptualization beyond Pentecostalism and Indigenization
Authors: Liu Yi , Liu Meng
Published: December 2023

Pentecostalism contributes significantly to Christian revivals as well as to the rise of indigenous churches in the non-Western world. This is due to its proximity to local religious traditions, such as the practices of dream interpretation, healing, and exorcism. However, Pentecostalism as a term also reflects an American-dominated narrative; it has proven incapable of covering the main traits of indigenous Christian movements, either in the Global South or in China. For instance, in the 19th century—far before the birth of Pentecostalism as a modern term—both the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom (1851–1864) and the ministry of the legendary Pastor Hsi (Xi Shengmo 席胜魔, 1835–1896) expressed some Pentecostal characteristics. In the early 20th century, some indigenous churches, like the True Jesus Church and the Jesus Family, had clear connections with Pentecostal missionaries or organizations and showed obvious Pentecostal characteristics. However, leading evangelists such as Watchman Nee (Ni Tuosheng 倪柝声, 1903–1972) agreed with some practices of Pentecostalism and opposed others. Instead of claiming a Pentecostal identity (Ling’en pai 灵恩派), most Chinese Christians preferred to be defined as “spiritual” (Shuling 属灵). With the Spirit (Ling 灵) at the center, Chinese Christians went beyond the narrative of both Pentecostalism and indigenization; their exact aim was to seek the authentic Christianity of the apostolic age. “Spiritual Christian” (Shuling jidutu 属灵基督徒) would thus suggest a re-conception of part of the history of Christianity in China.
Buddhist Pilgrimage at Mount Wutai: Architecture, Landscape, and Religious Heritage
Authors: Wang Xiaolu , Ren Xiang , Woudstra Jan
Published: December 2023

Mount Wutai, China’s earliest Buddhist center, dating to the Han Dynasty’s first century (206 BCE–220 CE), boasts over a hundred monasteries, numerous monuments, and ruins, drawing global pilgrims and travelers. Over its long history, as the geographical focus of imperial support shifted, the ideological underpinnings for structuring the monastic habitation on Mount Wutai also underwent a transformation, consequently altering the pilgrimage paths, monasteries, and mountain gates. However, there remains a paucity of understanding regarding these changes. This paper aims to map out the representative dynamic pilgrimage routines influenced by geo-capital shifts and to reveal the changeable Buddhist ideology of monasticism on Mount Wutai. Through archival studies on ancient transcripts and maps, the interpretation selects the three most significant periods in the development of Buddhism in Mount Wutai: the Northern Wei (386–534 CE), the Sui Tang (581–907 CE), and the Qing Dynasty (1630–1912 CE). The article indicates that Mount Wutai’s monastic strategies have transformed significantly, progressing from free monasticism to the Mañjuśrī maṇḍala mode and ultimately adopting a predominant Tibetan Buddhist character. These changes were driven by shifting Buddhist ideologies and heritage, with pilgrimages and monastic construction responding to these shifts.
Decoding the Dynamics of Climate Change Impact: Temporal Patterns of Surface Warming and Melting on the Nivlisen Ice Shelf, Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica
Authors: Murugesan Geetha Priya , Koppuram Ramesh Babu Raghavendra , Baineni Mahesh , Chidananda Rakshita , Satish Dhanush , Sivalingam Sivaranjani , Aruldhas Deva Jefflin , Venkatesh Krishna , Muniswamy Narendra Kumar , Luis Alvarinho Joaozinho
Published: December 2023

This study analyzes the dynamics of surface melting in Antarctica, which are crucial for understanding glacier and ice sheet behavior and monitoring polar climate change. Specifically, we focus on the Nivlisen ice shelf in East Antarctica, examining melt ponds, supra glacial lakes (SGLs), seasonal surface melt extent, and surface ice flow velocity. Spatial and temporal analysis is based on Landsat and Sentinel-1 data from the austral summers of 2000 to 2023. Between 2000 and 2014, melt ponds and SGLs on the ice shelf covered roughly 1 km2. However, from 2015 to 2023, surface melting increased consistently, leading to more extensive melt ponds and SGLs. Significant SGL depths were observed in 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2020, with 2008, 2016, and 2020 showing the highest volumes and progressive SGL area growth. We also examined the relationship between seasonal surface melt extent and ice flow velocity. Validation efforts involved ground truth data from a melt pond in central Dronning Maud Land (cDML) during the 2022–2023 austral summer, along with model-based results. The observed increase in melt pond depth and volume may significantly impact ice shelf stability, potentially accelerating ice flow and ice shelf destabilization. Continuous monitoring is essential for accurately assessing climate change’s ongoing impact on Antarctic ice shelves.
Frequency Domain Imaging Algorithms for Short-Range Synthetic Aperture Radar
Authors: Zhang Fatong , Luo Chenyang , Fu Yaowen , Zhang Wenpeng , Yang Wei , Yu Ruofeng , Yan Shangqu
Published: December 2023

In order to achieve miniaturization, short-range radar (SRR) generally adopts millimeter-wave (MMW) radar with a frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) system, which may make the stop–go–stop assumption in traditional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging algorithms invalid. In addition, in order to observe a large enough area, SRR often needs a wide radar beam, which may cause serious range–azimuth coupling when using SRR for SAR imaging. The above two problems may make the traditional SAR imaging algorithm invalid in SRR SAR imaging. Taking the SRR SAR imaging application into account, traditional frequency domain SAR imaging algorithms are analyzed and improved in this paper. Firstly, the intra-pulse motion (IPM) caused by the FMCW system and the two-dimensional coupling (TDC) in the case of a wide beam are analyzed. Subsequently, the applicability of the range Doppler algorithm (RDA), the frequency scaling algorithm (FSA) and the range migration algorithm (RMA) for SRR SAR is analyzed. Then, improvement measures are put forward to address the aliasing and folding phenomena caused by the wide-beam problem in the FSA and RMA, respectively. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified using simulation data and real measured data collected using an MMW radar fixed on a slide rail.
Identifying Crop Growth Stages from Solar-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence Data in Maize and Winter Wheat from Ground and Satellite Measurements
Authors: Hou Yuqing , Wu Yunfei , Wu Linsheng , Pei Lei , Zhang Zhaoying , Ding Dawei , Wang Guangshuai , Li Zhongyang , Zhang Yongguang
Published: December 2023

Crop growth stages are integral components of plant phenology and are of significant ecological and agricultural importance. While the use of remote sensing methods for phenology identification in cropland ecosystems has been extensively explored in previous studies, the focus has often been on land surface phenology, primarily related to the start and end of the growing season. In contrast, the monitoring of crop growth within an agronomic framework has been limited, particularly in the context of recently developed solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) data. Additionally, some critical growth stages have not received adequate attention or evaluation. This study aims to assess the utility of SIF data, collected from both ground and satellite measurements, for identifying critical crop growth stages within the realm of remote sensing phenological estimation. A comparative analysis was conducted using enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data at the Shangqiu site in the North China Plain from 2018 to 2022. Both SIF and EVI time-series data, obtained from ground and satellite sources, undergo a comprehensive phenological estimation framework encompassing pre-processing, modeling, and transition characterization. This approach involves reconciling time-series phenological patterns with crop growth stages, revealing the necessity of redefining the mapping relationship between these two fundamental concepts. After preprocessing the time-series data, the framework incorporates the phenological modeling process employing two double logistic models and a spline model for comparison. Additionally, it includes phenological transition characterization using four different methods. Consequently, each input dataset undergoes an assessment, resulting in 12 sets of estimations, which are compared to select the ideal estimation portfolio for identifying the growth stages of maize and winter wheat. Our findings highlight the efficacy of SIF data in accurately identifying the growth stages of maize and winter wheat, achieving remarkable results with an R-square exceeding 0.9 and an RMSE of less than 1 week for key growth stages (KGSs). Notably, SIF data demonstrate superior accuracy, robustness, and sensitivity to phenological events when compared to EVI data. This study establishes an estimation portfolio utilizing SIF data, involving the Gu model, a double logistic model, as the preferred phenological modelling method together with various compositing methods and transition characterization methods, suitable for most KGSs. These findings create opportunities for future research aimed at enhancing and standardizing crop growth stage identification using remote sensing data for a wide range of KGSs.
Deep Wavelet Convolutional Neural Networks for Multimodal Human Activity Recognition Using Wearable Inertial Sensors
Authors: Vuong Thi Hong , Doan Tung , Takasu Atsuhiro
Published: December 2023

Recent advances in wearable systems have made inertial sensors, such as accelerometers and gyroscopes, compact, lightweight, multimodal, low-cost, and highly accurate. Wearable inertial sensor-based multimodal human activity recognition (HAR) methods utilize the rich sensing data from embedded multimodal sensors to infer human activities. However, existing HAR approaches either rely on domain knowledge or fail to address the time-frequency dependencies of multimodal sensor signals. In this paper, we propose a novel method called deep wavelet convolutional neural networks (DWCNN) designed to learn features from the time-frequency domain and improve accuracy for multimodal HAR. DWCNN introduces a framework that combines continuous wavelet transforms (CWT) with enhanced deep convolutional neural networks (DCNN) to capture the dependencies of sensing signals in the time-frequency domain, thereby enhancing the feature representation ability for multiple wearable inertial sensor-based HAR tasks. Within the CWT, we further propose an algorithm to estimate the wavelet scale parameter. This helps enhance the performance of CWT when computing the time-frequency representation of the input signals. The output of the CWT then serves as input for the proposed DCNN, which consists of residual blocks for extracting features from different modalities and attention blocks for fusing these features of multimodal signals. We conducted extensive experiments on five benchmark HAR datasets: WISDM, UCI-HAR, Heterogeneous, PAMAP2, and UniMiB SHAR. The experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed model over existing competitors.
Can Wrist-Worn Medical Devices Correctly Identify Ovulation?
Authors: Niggli Angela , Rothenbühler Martina , Sachs Maike , Leeners Brigitte
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle lead to multiple changes in physiological parameters such as body temperature, cardiovascular function, respiratory rate and perfusion. Electronic wearables analyzing those parameters might present a convenient alternative to urinary ovulation tests for predicting the fertile window. (2) Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study including women aged 18–45 years without current hormonal therapy who used a wrist-worn medical device and urinary ovulation tests for a minimum of three cycles. We analyzed the accuracy of both the retrospective and prospective algorithms using a generalized linear mixed-effects model. The findings were compared to real-world data from bracelet users who also reported urinary ovulation tests. (3) Results: A total of 61 study participants contributing 205 cycles and 6081 real-life cycles from 3268 bracelet users were included in the analysis. The mean error in identifying ovulation with the wrist-worn medical device retrospective algorithm in the clinical study was 0.31 days (95% CI −0.13 to 0.75). The retrospective algorithm identified 75.4% of fertile days, and the prospective algorithm identified 73.8% of fertile days correctly within the pre-specified equivalence limits (±2 days). The quality of the retrospective algorithm in the clinical study could be confirmed by real-world data. (4) Conclusion: Our data indicate that wearable sensors may be used to accurately detect the periovulatory period.
Recent Study Advances in Flexible Sensors Based on Polyimides
Authors: Zhang Tianyong , Chai Yamei , Wang Suisui , Yu Jianing , Jiang Shuang , Zhu Wenxuan , Fang Zihao , Li Bin
Published: December 2023

With the demand for healthy life and the great advancement of flexible electronics, flexible sensors are playing an irreplaceably important role in healthcare monitoring, wearable devices, clinic treatment, and so on. In particular, the design and application of polyimide (PI)-based sensors are emerging swiftly. However, the tremendous potential of PI in sensors is not deeply understood. This review focuses on recent studies in advanced applications of PI in flexible sensors, including PI nanofibers prepared by electrospinning as flexible substrates, PI aerogels as friction layers in triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), PI films as sensitive layers based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in relative humidity (RH) sensors, photosensitive PI (PSPI) as sacrificial layers, and more. The simple laser-induced graphene (LIG) technique is also introduced in the application of PI graphitization to graphene. Finally, the prospect of PIs in the field of electronics is proposed in the review.
Vibration and Slope Conditions during Harvesting Affect Radish Mass Measurements for Yield Monitoring: An Experimental Study Using a Laboratory Test Bench
Authors: Kiraga Shafik , Reza Md Nasim , Chowdhury Milon , Gulandaz Md Ashraffuzzaman , Ali Mohammod , Kabir Md Sazzadul , Habineza Eliezel , Kabir Md Shaha Nur , Chung Sun-Ok
Published: December 2023

Site-specific measurements of the crop yield during harvesting are essential for successfully implementing precision management techniques. This study aimed to estimate the mass of radish tubers using the impact principle under simulated vibration and sloped-field harvesting conditions with a laboratory test bench. These conditions included the conveyor speed (CS), impact plate layout (IP), falling height onto the impact plate (FH), the plate angle relative to the horizontal (PH), the field slope, and the vibration of the harvesting machine. Two layouts of impact-type sensors were fabricated and tested, one with a single load cell (SL) and the other with two load cells (DL). An adjustable slope platform and a vibration table equipped with vibration blades were utilized to simulate the slope and vibration effects, respectively. Calibrations were conducted to verify the accuracy of the sensor outputs, processed with the finite impulse response and moving average filters. Radish mass was estimated using an asymmetrically trimmed mean method. The relative percentage error (RE), standard error (SE), coefficient of determination (R²), and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to assess the impact plate performance. The results indicated that the SE for both impact plates was less than 4 g in the absence of vibration and slope conditions. The R2 for the single and double impact plates ranged from 0.58 to 0.89 and 0.69 to 0.81, respectively. The FH had no significant impact, while the PH significantly affected the mass measurements for both impact plates. On the other hand, the CS significantly affected the plate performance, except for the double-load-cell impact plate. Both vibration and slope affected the mass measurements, with RE values of 9.89% and 13.92%, respectively. The RE for filtered radish signals was reduced from 9.13% to 5.42%. The tests demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing the impact principle to assess the mass of radishes, opening up possibilities for the development of yield-monitoring systems for crops harvested in a similar manner.
Single-Element Dual-Interferometer for Precision Inertial Sensing: Sub-Picometer Structural Stability and Performance as a Reference for Laser Frequency Stabilization
Authors: Huarcaya Victor , Dovale Álvarez Miguel , Yamamoto Kohei , Yang Yichao , Gozzo Stefano , Martínez Cano Pablo , Mehmet Moritz , Esteban Delgado Juan José , Jia Jianjun , Heinzel Gerhard
Published: December 2023

Future GRACE-like geodesy missions could benefit from adopting accelerometer technology akin to that of the LISA Pathfinder, which employed laser interferometric readout at the sub-picometer level in addition to the conventional capacitive sensing, which is at best at the level of 100 pm. Improving accelerometer performance holds great potential to enhance the scientific output of forthcoming missions, carrying invaluable implications for research in climate, water resource management, and disaster risk reduction. To reach sub-picometer displacement sensing precision in the millihertz range, laser interferometers rely on suppression of laser-frequency noise by several orders of magnitude. Many optical frequency stabilization methods are available with varying levels of complexity, size, and performance. In this paper, we describe the performance of a Mach–Zehnder interferometer based on a compact monolithic optic. The setup consists of a commercial fiber injector, a custom-designed pentaprism used to split and recombine the laser beam, and two photoreceivers placed at the complementary output ports of the interferometer. The structural stability of the prism is transferred to the laser frequency via amplification, integration, and feedback of the balanced-detection signal, achieving a fractional frequency instability better than 6 parts in 1013, corresponding to an interferometer pathlength stability better than 1pm/Hz. The prism was designed to host a second interferometer to interrogate the position of a test mass. This optical scheme has been dubbed “single-element dual-interferometer” or SEDI.
Visualization with Prediction Scheme for Early DDoS Detection in Ethereum
Authors: Park Younghoon , Kim Yejin
Published: December 2023

Blockchain technologies have gained widespread use in security-sensitive applications due to their robust data protection. However, as blockchains are increasingly integrated into critical data management systems, they have become attractive targets for attackers. Among the various attacks on blockchain systems, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are one of the most significant and potentially devastating. These attacks render the systems incapable of processing transactions, causing the blockchain to come to a halt. To address the challenge of detecting DDoS attacks on blockchains, existing visualization schemes have been developed. However, these schemes often fail to provide early DDoS detection since they typically display only past and current system status. In this paper, we present a novel visualization scheme that not only portrays past and current values but also forecasts future expected system statuses. We achieve these future predictions by utilizing polynomial regression with blockchain data. Additionally, we offer an alternative DDoS detection method employing statistical analysis, specifically the coefficient of determination, to enhance accuracy. Through our experiments, we demonstrate that our proposed scheme excels at predicting future blockchain statuses and anticipating DDoS attacks with minimal error. Our work empowers system managers of blockchain-based applications to identify and mitigate DDoS attacks at an earlier stage.