bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of a Novel p53 Modulator Endowed with Antitumoural and Antibacterial Activity through a Scaffold Repurposing Approach
Authors: Nuti Elisa , La Pietra Valeria , Daniele Simona , Cuffaro Doretta , Ciccone Lidia , Giacomelli Chiara , Cason Carolina , Carotenuto Alfonso , D’Amore Vincenzo Maria , Pozzo Eleonora Da , Costa Barbara , Di Leo Riccardo , Comar Manola , Marinelli Luciana , Martini Claudia , Rossello Armando
Published: October 2022

Intracellular pathogens, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, have been recently shown to induce degradation of p53 during infection, thus impairing the protective response of the host cells. Therefore, p53 reactivation by disruption of the p53–MDM2 complex could reduce infection and restore pro-apoptotic effect of p53. Here, we report the identification of a novel MDM2 inhibitor with potential antitumoural and antibacterial activity able to reactivate p53. A virtual screening was performed on an in-house chemical library, previously synthesised for other targets, and led to the identification of a hit compound with a benzo[a]dihydrocarbazole structure, RM37. This compound induced p53 up-regulation in U343MG glioblastoma cells by blocking MDM2–p53 interaction and reduced tumour cell growth. NMR studies confirmed its ability to dissociate the MDM2–p53 complex. Notably, RM37 reduced Chlamydia infection in HeLa cells in a concentration-dependent manner and ameliorated the inflammatory status associated with infection.
Self-Assembled Ru(II)-Coumarin Complexes for Selective Cell Membrane Imaging
Authors: Liu Jiyin , Xie Xiaochun , Lu Junna , He Yi , Shao Dan , Chen Fangman
Published: October 2022

The cell membrane, as the protecting frontier of cells, is closely related to crucial biological behaviors including cell growth, death, and division. Lots of fluorescent probes have been fabricated to monitor cell membranes due to their simplicity and intuitiveness. However, the efficiency of those traditional probes has been limited by their susceptibility to photobleaching and poor water solubility. In this study, we have reported Ru(II)-coumarin complexes consisting of ruthenium, 1,10-phenanthroline, and coumarin 6 to further form self-assembled nanoprobes, for cell membrane targeting and imaging. The fluorescent property could be switchable from red to green through the dynamic disassembly of nanoprobes. Compared with commercial Dil, biocompatible nanoprobes exhibited superior stability for long-term cell imaging, along with remarkedly reduced background interference. Therefore, our self-assembled nanoprobe provides a powerful solution for investigating lipid trafficking with optical imaging.
Magnetite Microspheres for the Controlled Release of Rosmarinic Acid
Authors: Chircov Cristina , Pîrvulescu Diana-Cristina , Bîrcă Alexandra Cătălina , Andronescu Ecaterina , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai
Published: October 2022

Since cancer incidence is constantly increasing, novel and more efficient treatment methods that overcome the current limitations of chemotherapy are continuously explored. In this context, the aim of the present study was to investigate the potential of two types of magnetite microspheres as drug delivery vehicles for the controlled release of rosmarinic acid (RA) in anticancer therapies. The magnetite microspheres were obtained through the solvothermal method by using polyethylene glycol (PEG) with two different molecular weights as the surfactant. The physicochemical characterization of the so-obtained drug delivery carriers involved X-ray diffraction (XRD) coupled with Rietveld refinement, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS) and zeta potential, and UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The magnetite-based anticancer agents were biologically evaluated through the ROS-Glo H2O2 and MTT assays. Results proved the formation of magnetite spheres with submicronic sizes and the effective RA loading and controlled release, while the biological assays demonstrated the anticancer potential of the present systems. Thus, this study successfully developed a promising drug delivery alternative based on magnetite that could be used in the continuous fight against cancer.
Pulmonary Safety Profile of Esc Peptides and Esc-Peptide-Loaded Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) Nanoparticles: A Promising Therapeutic Approach for Local Treatment of Lung Infectious Diseases
Authors: Cappiello Floriana , Casciaro Bruno , Loffredo Maria Rosa , Puglisi Elena , Lin Qiao , Yang Dandan , Conte Gemma , d’Angelo Ivana , Ungaro Francesca , Ferrera Loretta , Barbieri Raffaella , Cresti Laura , Pini Alessandro , Di Yuanpu Peter , Mangoni Maria Luisa
Published: October 2022

In recent years, we have discovered Esc(1-21) and its diastereomer (Esc peptides) as valuable candidates for the treatment of Pseudomonas lung infection, especially in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Furthermore, engineered poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles (NPs) were revealed to be a promising pulmonary delivery system of antimicrobial peptides. However, the “ad hoc” development of novel therapeutics requires consideration of their stability, tolerability, and safety. Hence, by means of electrophysiology experiments and preclinical studies on healthy mice, we demonstrated that neither Esc peptides or Esc-peptide-loaded PLGA NPs significantly affect the integrity of the lung epithelium, nor change the global gene expression profile of lungs of treated animals compared to those of vehicle-treated animals. Noteworthy, the Esc diastereomer endowed with the highest antimicrobial activity did not provoke any pulmonary pro-inflammatory response, even at a concentration 15-fold higher than the efficacy dosage 24 h after administration in the free or encapsulated form. The therapeutic index was ≥70, and the peptide was found to remain available in the bronchoalveolar lavage of mice, after two days of incubation. Overall, these studies should open an avenue for a new up-and-coming pharmacological approach, likely based on inhalable peptide-loaded NPs, to address CF lung disease.
3D Printed Fractal-like Structures with High Percentage of Drug for Zero-Order Colonic Release
Authors: Linares Vicente , Aguilar-de-Leyva Ángela , Casas Marta , Caraballo Isidoro
Published: October 2022

Colonic drug delivery of drugs is an area of great interest due to the need to treat high prevalence colonic local diseases as well as systemic conditions that may benefit from the advantages associated to this route of drug administration. In the last decade, the use of 3D printing technologies has expanded, offering the possibility of preparing personalized medicines in small batches directly at the point of care. The aim of this work is to design a high drug loaded 3D printed system prepared by a combination of Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Injection Volume Filling (IVF) techniques intended for zero-order colonic drug release. For this purpose, different batches of binary and ternary filaments based on the thermoplastic polyurethane Tecoflex EG-72D (TPU), theophylline anhydrous (AT) as model drug, and magnesium stearate as lubricant have been developed and characterized. Filaments with the highest drug load and the best rheological properties were selected for the manufacture of a printed fractal-like structure based on multiple toroids. This design was proposed to provide high surface area, leading to increased drug release and water uptake in the colonic region. This structure was 3D printed by FDM and then coated in a unique step by IVF technology using the enteric polymer DrugCoat S 12.5. This way, an additional coating process is avoided, reducing costs and production time. Studies of drug release confirmed the ability of the structures to provide a five-hour period of constant drug delivery in the colonic region.
The Philosophy of Nature of the Natural Realism. The Operator Algebra from Physics to Logic
Authors: Basti Gianfranco
Published: October 2022

This contribution is an essay of formal philosophy—and more specifically of formal ontology and formal epistemology—applied, respectively, to the philosophy of nature and to the philosophy of sciences, interpreted the former as the ontology and the latter as the epistemology of the modern mathematical, natural, and artificial sciences, the theoretical computer science included. I present the formal philosophy in the framework of the category theory (CT) as an axiomatic metalanguage—in many senses “wider” than set theory (ST)—of mathematics and logic, both of the “extensional” logics of the pure and applied mathematical sciences (=mathematical logic), and the “intensional” modal logics of the philosophical disciplines (=philosophical logic). It is particularly significant in this categorical framework the possibility of extending the operator algebra formalism from (quantum and classical) physics to logic, via the so-called “Boolean algebras with operators” (BAOs), with this extension being the core of our formal ontology. In this context, I discuss the relevance of the algebraic Hopf coproduct and colimit operations, and then of the category of coalgebras in the computations over lattices of quantum numbers in the quantum field theory (QFT), interpreted as the fundamental physics. This coalgebraic formalism is particularly relevant for modeling the notion of the “quantum vacuum foliation” in QFT of dissipative systems, as a foundation of the notion of “complexity” in physics, and “memory” in biological and neural systems, using the powerful “colimit” operators. Finally, I suggest that in the CT logic, the relational semantics of BAOs, applied to the modal coalgebraic relational logic of the “possible worlds” in Kripke’s model theory, is the proper logic of the formal ontology and epistemology of the natural realism, as a formalized philosophy of nature and sciences.
ZnO Nanorods Coated Tapered U-Shape Plastic Optical Fiber for Relative Humidity Detection
Authors: Johari Siti Halma , Cheak Tiu Zian , Abdul Rahim Hazli Rafis , Jali Mohd Hafiz , Mohd Yusof Haziezol Helmi , Md Johari Md Ashadi , Yasin Moh , Harun Sulaiman Wadi
Published: October 2022

A relative humidity sensor was fabricated by exploiting an evanescent wave (EW) on a U-bent tapered plastic optical fiber (POF) coated with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods. The POF was tapered manually using a polishing method to a diameter of 0.5 mm, a length of 5 cm, and a radius of 5 cm. ZnO nanorods were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and grown on the POF by a seeding process for 12 h. A significant response of the sensor was observed when the sensor was exposed to 35 to 90%RH due to the intense chemisorption process and changeable relative index in the POF. The sensitivity and resolution of the sensor have been improved by factors of 1.23 and 2.18, respectively, compared to the conventional tapered POF sensor without ZnO coating. Besides, the ZnO-coated sensor also exhibited better repeatability properties in terms of output voltage when exposed to 35 to 90%RH for three repeated measurements. The obtained results revealed that the proposed new POF sensor has an excellent sensing performance as an RH sensor in terms of sensitivity, repeatability, and stability properties.
Design and Analysis of Femtosecond Laser-Generated Metasurface for Optical Filter Application
Authors: Khan Yousuf , Noor Dua , Ullah Naqeeb , Khonina Svetlana N. , Kazanskiy Nikolay L. , Butt Muhammad A.
Published: October 2022

This work investigates a Fano filter design based on a nano-hole array, patterned in fused silica using high-energy ultrafast femtosecond laser pulses. After carefully observing the experimental results, the structural profile of the nano-holes is numerically modeled in a 3D finite-difference time-domain-based software platform. The metasurface design consists of conical shaped air holes structured in the substrate, and a later deposited waveguide layer which leaves craters on the surface as the material fills inside the nano-holes. The spectral properties of the device are studied against variations in the structural parameters, such as the depth of the nano-holes, its surface diameter, and the depth of the craters on the surface of the waveguide. The proposed Fano filter device is designed to operate in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength range around a telecommunication window of 1550 nm. Multiple narrowband resonances are observed with a linewidth in the range of 1.4 to 24.2 nm and a quality factor of 66.51 to 1090.12. The device shows good spectral tunability over a wide range from 1380 to 1650 nm comprising multiple narrowband resonances and variations in the structural parameters. Since the device can be implemented using a cost-effective and rapid fabrication method, it can be proposed for use in various optical filtering and sensing applications.
Changes in Biogenic Amines of Two Table Grapes (cv. Bronx Seedless and Italia) during Berry Development and Ripening
Authors: Incesu Melek , Karakus Sinem , Seyed Hajizadeh Hanifeh , Ates Fadime , Turan Metin , Skalicky Milan , Kaya Ozkan
Published: October 2022

Bronx Seedless and Italia (Vitis vinifera L.) are a variety preferred by consumers owing to their exciting flavour and widely cultivated in Aegean Region in Turkey. The aim was to identify the biogenic amines of these table grapes during berry ripeness. The biogenic amines were analyzed by HPLC in six different berry phenological stages. Italia grapes presented lower biogenic amine content than Bronx Seedless table grapes. The concentration of most of the biogenic amines analyzed linearly raised from the beginning of berry touch to when berries ripen for harvest stages. The most common biogenic amines in grape varieties were putrescine, followed by histamine, agmatine, and tyramine. There was also a positive correlation between all biogenic amines of the two grape varieties. The weakest correlation was found between spermine and cadaverine, whereas the strongest correlation was found among dopamine, trimethylamine, norepinephrine, tyramine, and histamine amines. The present study is the first report of a synthesis study regarding the effect of B.A.s on quality characteristics throughout berry ripeness in grape varieties containing foxy and muscat tastes. The concentration and composition of biogenic amines identified for both varieties might provide helpful information regarding human health and the vintage.
Mechanisms of Actions Involved in The Antinociceptive Effect of Estragole and its β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex in Animal Models
Authors: da Costa Roger Henrique Sousa , Martins Anita Oliveira Brito Pereira Bezerra , Pessoa Renata Torres , Alshehri Saad Ali , Wahab Shadma , Ahmad Md Faruque , Suliman Muath , da Silva Lucas Yure Santos , Alcântara Isabel Sousa , Ramos Andreza Guedes Barbosa , Oliveira Maria Rayane Correia de , Batista Francisco Lucas Alves , Delmondes Gyllyandeson de Araújo , de Farias Pablo Antonio Maia , Rocha Janaína Esmeraldo , Coutinho Henrique Douglas Melo , Raposo António , Carrascosa Conrado , Jaber José Raduan , de Menezes Irwin Rose Alencar
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: estragole is a monoterpene found in the essential oils of several aromatic plants, which can be used for several pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of estragole (Es) and its β-cyclodextrins inclusion complex (Es/β-CD). (2) Methods: the effects of Es and Es/β-CD on the central nervous system (CNS) were evaluated through open field and rota-rod assays, and the antinociceptive effect in formalin models, abdominal writhing induced by acetic acid, hot plate, tail flick test and plantar mechanical hyperalgesia. (3) Results: Es and Es/β-CD showed no alterations on the CNS evaluated parameters and the results suggested there was an antinociceptive action in the formalin, abdominal writhing, hot plate, tail flick tests and plantar mechanical hyperalgesia, proposing the involvement of the nitric oxide, glutamatergic signaling pathways, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and vanilloid pathways. (4) Conclusion: the results suggest that Es and Es/β-CD have a promising antinociceptive potential as a possible alternative for the pharmacological treatment of pain, also showing that the encapsulation of Es in β-cyclodextrins probably improves its pharmacological properties, since the complexation process involves much lower amounts of the compound, contributing to better bioavailability and a lower probability of adverse effect development.
Multi-Criteria Evaluation of the Failure of CFRP Laminates for Frames in the Automotive Industry
Authors: Mititelu Ionuț , Petrișor Silviu Mihai , Savin Adriana , Šturm Roman , Bergant Zoran , Steigmann Rozina , Stanciu Mariana Domnica , Bârsănescu Paul Doru
Published: October 2022

Methods to predict the fracture of thin carbon fibre-reinforced polymers (CFRPs) under load are of great interest in the automotive industry. The manufacturing of composites involves a high risk of defect occurrence, and the identification of those that lead to failure increases the functional reliability and decreases costs. The performance of CFRPs can be significantly reduced in assembled structures containing stress concentrators. This paper presents a hybrid experimental–numerical method based on the Tsai–Hill criterion for behavior of thin CFRPs at complex loadings that can emphasize the threshold of stress by tracing the σ-τ envelope. Modified butterfly samples were made for shearing, traction, or shearing-with-traction tests in the weakened section by changing the angle of force application α. ANSYS simulations were used to determine the zones of maximum stress concentration. For thin CFRP samples tested with stacking sequences [0]8 and [(45/0)2]s, the main mechanical characteristics have been determined using a Dynamic Mechanical Analyzer (DMA) and ultrasound tests. A modified Arcan device (AD) was used to generate data in a biaxial stress state, leading to the characterization of the material as a whole. The generated failure envelope allows for the prediction of failure for other combinations of normal and shear stress, depending on the thickness of the laminations, the stacking order, the pretension of the fasteners, and the method used to produce the laminations. The experimental data using AD and the application of the Tsai–Hill criterion serve to the increase the safety of CFRP components.
Adhesion of Bis-Salphen-Based Coordination Polymers to Graphene: Insights from Free Energy Perturbation Study
Authors: Pyrlin Sergey , Lenzi Veniero , Silva Alexandre , Ramos Marta , Marques Luís
Published: October 2022

Manipulation of nanoscale objects using molecular self-assembly is a potent tool to achieve large scale nanopatterning with small effort. Coordination polymers of bis-salphen compounds based on zinc have demonstrated their ability to align carbon nanotubes into micro-scale networks with an unusual “rings-and-rods” pattern. This paper investigates how the compounds interact with pristine and functionalized graphene using density functional theory calculations and molecular dynamic simulations. Using the free energy perturbation method we will show how the addition of phenyl side groups to the core compound and functionalization of graphene affect the stability, mobility and conformation adopted by a dimer of bis-(Zn)salphen compound adsorbed on graphene surface and what it can reveal about the arrangement of chains of bis-(Zn)salphen polymer around carbon nanotubes during the self-assembly of microscale networks.
Investigation of Loss of Shape Stability in Textile Laminates Using the Buckling Method
Authors: Fridrichová Ludmila
Published: October 2022

Car buyers today are very demanding customers and pay great attention to the quality of purchased goods. They are interested in the quality of the interior as well, for example, the car seats. To avoid customer complaints, the manufacturer needs a sophisticated product testing method that detects any undesirable appearance defects in the textile laminate used for the production of seats in time. The aim of the research was to replace the manual test device used until now with a new methodology for evaluating the appearance defects of textile laminates. The theoretical basis of the methodology for evaluating wrinkled fabric using the well-known buckling theory is described. A newly developed device is introduced. The principle of the new measurement methodology has been patented.
Investigating the Adsorption Behavior of Polyaniline and Its Clay Nanocomposite towards Ammonia Gas
Authors: El-Shazly Ahmed H. , Elkady Marwa , Abdelraheem Amira
Published: October 2022

Air pollution and control of gaseous air pollutants are global concerns. Exposure to these gaseous contaminants causes several health risks, especially exposure to irritant gases such as ammonia (NH3). Furthermore, the application of smart polymeric nanocomposites in environmental applications has gained significant interest in recent years. In this study, aniline was polymerized without and with clay using a carbon dioxide (CO2)-assisted polymerization technique, yielding PANI and PANC samples, respectively. The samples were characterized using different methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Brunner Emmett Teller (BET). The synthesized nanomaterials were utilized as gas adsorbents using a fixed bed reactor to investigate their adsorption behavior towards NH3. Three inlet NH3 concentrations were tested (35–150 ppm). The results revealed that the adsorption capacities of PANC nanocomposites were higher than nanostructured PANI for the studied concentrations. The adsorption capacities were 61.34 mgNH3/gm for PANC and 73.63 mgNH3/gm for PANI at the same inlet concentration (35 ppm). The highest NH3 adsorption capacity recorded was 582.4 mg NH3/gm, for PANC. This study showed the impressive adsorption behavior of the prepared PANI and PANC nanomaterials towards NH3 gas. Consequently, nanostructured PANI and PANC can be promising adsorbents that can be utilized to control different gaseous air pollutants.
Effects of Different Metals on Properties and Friction and Wear of Composite Materials
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Yihui
Published: October 2022

With the vigorous development of the automobile industry, the rubber industry has also made continuous progress. As necessary mixing equipment in the rubber industry, the internal mixer is required to undertake a lot of constant work for a long time, which inevitably causes wear to the internal mixer. On the one hand, the wear of the metal on the end face of the internal mixer will lead to an increase in the gap between the inner mixing chamber and the end face, which will lead to material leakage, affect the material ratio of the rubber mixture, and ultimately affect the performance of the rubber mixture. On the other hand, the wear of the end metal of the internal mixer is an increasing process, and the tiny metal particles of the end metal will be incorporated into the rubber mix along with the mixing process, affecting the performance of the rubber mix. At the same time, the disassembly and repair of the internal mixer are complex, and the end face maintenance is difficult. Therefore, finding a kind of end face metal with good wear resistance, long service life, and no influence on rubber compound performance is essential. This paper takes the end face metal of the internal mixer with severe wear as the research object. The wear degree of the metal after friction between MCYD-4 alloy, YW-15 alloy, wear-resistant stainless steel, tungsten carbide alloy, and the rubber compound is compared. The changes in the properties of the compounds after rubbing were investigated. The study found that the tensile tear properties, wet skid resistance, and rolling resistance of NR/BR composites differed when different end-face metals were selected for mixing, but the gap was small. When the end-face metal is YW-15 alloy, the NR/BR composites have the best dispersibility, the most robust tensile tear performance, the best wet-skid resistance, and minor rolling resistance. When the end face metal is the other three alloys, the physical and mechanical properties of the NR/BR composites are reduced to different extents. In this paper, starting from the actual working conditions, considering both abrasive wear and corrosive wear, the friction and wear between the rubber compound and the four kinds of metals commonly used on the end face of the internal mixer are studied. The metal that has little effect on the performance of the rubber compound and is the most wear-resistant was found. This paper is of great significance for improving production efficiency and prolonging the life of the internal mixer.
Imbibition Characteristic of Fractured Tight Sandstone Reservoir
Authors: Liu Xiong , Fan Xin , Yin Jian , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2022

“Fracture network stimulation + imbibition replacement” is a new attempt to effectively develop tight sandstone reservoirs, and the fractures provide conditions for fluid imbibition replacement. On the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance and pseudo-color processing technology, combined with the imbibition experiments, this paper studies the imbibition process of fractured tight sandstone reservoirs, clarifies the effect of each level of pore-throat on imbibition, and realizes the visualization of the imbibition process. The results show that, in fractured tight sandstone reservoirs, the fluid displacement occurs in fractures first, followed by pore-throat. Most of the imbibition recovery is contributed by the macropore, the contribution of the mesopore to imbibition recovery is very weak, and the contributions of the micropore and the pinhole are even less. In the process of imbibition, capillary force and gravitational force are key parameters controlling fluid flow in pores and fractures. The replacement of fluid normally takes place in the early stage of imbibition, especially on the first day of imbibition, then the imbibition rate gradually decreases and finally tends to be stable.
Optimum Design of a Solar-Wind-Diesel Hybrid Energy System with Multiple Types of Storage Devices Driving a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Process
Authors: Jiang Yinghua , Zhao Jing , Tong Zhangfa
Published: October 2022

To simultaneously satisfy the electricity and freshwater requirements, a superstructure of a solar-wind-diesel hybrid energy system (HES) with multiple types of storage devices driving a reverse osmosis desalination (ROD) process is established in this paper. The corresponding mathematical model of the HES, potentially including photovoltaic cells, a wind turbine, a diesel generator, a ROD unit, different battery storage technologies, or a water tank is developed and features mixed integer linear programming. The optimum design and operation schemes of the HES can be obtained by taking the minimum total annual cost as the optimization objective. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, an example of a solar-wind-diesel system for supplying a ROD process in Saudi Arabia is adopted. The results show that a photovoltaic panel, wind turbine, diesel generator, lead-acid battery, Li-ion battery and water tank are selected in the HES with the minimum total annual cost (i.e., 1.16 × 105 USD·y−1), by satisfying the requirement of the renewable energy penetration rate (i.e., 0.8). Then, a quantified method is proposed to determine the optimal design and operation schemes of the HES, including both economic and environmental aspects. Finally, the HES with various generators and multiple types of storage devices shows a better performance in terms of economy and renewable energy utilization.
A Multiple Solution Approach to Real-Time Optimization
Authors: Speakman Jack , François Grégory
Published: October 2022

Modifier Adaptation (MA) is a method of real-time optimization (RTO) which modifies a single model to match the first order properties of the plant. Known uncertainties in the parameters of this model are discarded in favor of real-time measurements, but they can be used to quantify the mismatch between the plant and model. Using multi-model methods increases the computation time, but can improve rate of convergence of the RTO scheme. This article proposes a framework, known as multiple solution modifier adaptation (MSMA), which produces several models which are all modified in the same way as standard MA, each producing a potential solution to be applied to the plant. From this framework, three recommended schemes are proposed on how to select the operating point to be applied to the plant: (1) Selecting the solution based off the modifiers; (2) Selecting the mean solution from convex models; (3) Selecting the closest solution to the current operating point. Each of these methods have different advantages, including limiting the increase in computational complexity and improving the model adequacy conditions of the scheme. These recommended schemes are shown on three different case studies of varying complexity with all three schemes showing improvements over standard MA.
Raising the Soul in Love: St Ignatius of Loyola and the Tradition of Mystical Theology
Authors: Tyler Peter Mark
Published: October 2022

This paper explores St Ignatius Loyola’s relationship to the medieval tradition of theologia mystica, especially in the Spiritual Exercises. Although the evidence is scanty, it is clear that the young Iñigo was acquainted with the methods and structures of Abbot García de Cisneros’ Exercitatorio de La Vida Espiritual during his extended stay at Montserrat and Manresa after his conversion of life. Commentators have disagreed over the extent of the influence of these writings on Ignatius’ later spirituality; however, this paper will explore the ‘family resemblances’ between the type of spirituality developed by Ignatius after his stay in Catalonia and the later medieval spirituality expressed in the Abbot’s work. In particular, the paper concentrates on one aspect of that work that has not received much attention: namely, the strand in Cisneros’ work that explores the late medieval tradition of theologia mystica, particularly as reworked from the writings of Jean Gerson (1363–1429), sometime Chancellor of the University of Paris. The paper argues that Gerson’s form of ‘affective Dionysianism’ shares much in common with the spirituality later developed by Ignatius, and will conclude with some final remarks as to how this helps us to understand the ‘mystical desire’ that lies at the heart of Ignatius’ project.
A Pathologically Abnormal Situation: Le Cercle Gaston Crémieux and the [Im]Possibility of an Anti-National Jewishness
Authors: Swanson Joel Howard
Published: October 2022

This paper examines the diasporist French Jewish political group, Le Cercle Gaston Crémieux, founded in 1967 “to promote a diasporic Jewish existence without subjugation to the synagogue or to Zionism”. In contrast to either an assimilationist model which demanded the acceptance of French national identity in the public sphere, or a Zionist model of Jewish nationalism, the Cercle offered a model in which the state of exile and diaspora becomes constitutive of Jewish identity, positioned as an alternate mode of being-in-the-world defined against white Christian European nationalism. Yet to expose the historically constructed, socially contingent nature of European nationalisms that claim the status of organic and natural, the Cercle had to imagine a particular narrative of the historical construction of Jewishness, and this social constructionism conflicted with the almost ontological, metaphysical status they wanted to accord to Jewish exile and otherness. Thus the Cercle failed to imagine an anti-national model of Jewishness, but this failure sheds light on larger fault lines in the possibility of a Jewish politics. The paper concludes that the Cercle’s imaginal diasporic Jewishness tries to enable the articulation of other forms of minority identity, suggesting that this failure may nonetheless prove politically productive.
Sharpening the Identities of African Churches in Eastern Christianity: A Comparison of Entanglements between Religion and Ethnicity
Authors: Guglielmi Marco
Published: October 2022

Although at first sight Eastern Christianity is not associated with Africa, the African continent has shaped the establishment and development of three of the four main Eastern Christian traditions. Through a sociological lens, we examine the identity of the above African churches, focusing on the socio-historical entanglements of their religious and ethnic features. Firstly, we study the identity of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and the Eritrean Orthodox Church belonging to Oriental Orthodoxy. We focus on these African churches—and their diasporas in Western countries—as indigenous Christian paths in Africa. Secondly, we examine the identity of Africans and African-Americans within Eastern Orthodoxy. We consider both to have some inculturation issues within the Patriarchate of Alexandria and the development of an African-American component within Orthodoxy in the USA. Thirdly, we analyze the recent establishment and identity formation of African churches belonging to Eastern-rite Catholic Churches. In short, we aim to elaborate an overview of the multiple identities of African churches and one ecclesial community in Eastern Christianity, and to compare diverse sociological entanglements between religious and ethnic traits within them. A fruitful but neglected research subject, these churches’ identities appear to be reciprocally shaped by their own Eastern Christian tradition and ethnic heritage.
Tracking Atmospheric Moisture Changes in Convective Storm Environments Using GEO ABI and LEO CrIS Data Fusion
Authors: Weisz Elisabeth , Menzel W. Paul
Published: October 2022

The synergistic use of data from advanced space-borne instruments of different designs onboard different satellite platforms with different orbital tracks provides advantages in various applications over the use of individual data sets alone. For example, high vertical resolution sounding profiles from advanced sounders like CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder) in a low Earth orbit (LEO) and a high horizontal plus temporal resolution radiance measurements from geostationary (GEO) imagers like ABI (Advanced Baseline Imager) can be effectively combined to benefit severe weather monitoring, prediction, and warning systems. The spatial and temporal fusion approach allows LEO products, such as atmospheric moisture, to be created with increased spatial detail at every GEO measurement time, generating a GEO hyperspectral sounder-like perspective. To demonstrate the potential benefit of a GEO and LEO (i.e., ABI and CrIS) data fusion to real-time applications, time sequences of the moisture profile fusion results are presented in two case studies, namely a tornado outbreak in Nebraska on 5 May 2021 and a severe storm occurrence in Texas on 24 May 2022. The implications of the fusion results for nowcasting and warning operations via comparisons to numerical model forecasts and weather radar reflectivity data are discussed.
Feasibility Analysis of GPS L2C Signals for SSV Receivers on SBAS GEO Satellites
Authors: Lee Hak-Beom , Kwon Ki-Ho , Won Jong-Hoon
Published: October 2022

This paper analyzes the feasibility of Global Positioning System (GPS) L2C signals for use with the space service volume (SSV) receiver on satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites equipped with L1 and L5 band signal transmitters. Augmentation signals transmitted at L1 and L5 bands from SBAS GEO satellites may interfere with the same bands of SSV GPS-receiving antennas. Therefore, the use of L1 and L5 band signals for the GPS SSV receiver on SBAS GEO satellites is prohibited, and the GPS L2C signal is selected. Unlike ground systems, the various constraints of space exploration in GEO should be considered. Therefore, signal feasibility analysis is essential before considering the use of new global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals in GEO. This paper presents satellite visibility, dilution of precision, and navigation solution error when the GPS L2C signal is used in GEO satellites through numerical simulation.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Exploit High-Spatial- and -Temporal-Resolution Aerial Imagery to Phenotype Key Traits in Miscanthus
Authors: Varela Sebastian , Zheng Xuying , Njuguna Joyce N. , Sacks Erik J. , Allen Dylan P. , Ruhter Jeremy , Leakey Andrew D. B.
Published: October 2022

Miscanthus is one of the most promising perennial crops for bioenergy production, with high yield potential and a low environmental footprint. The increasing interest in this crop requires accelerated selection and the development of new screening techniques. New analytical methods that are more accurate and less labor-intensive are needed to better characterize the effects of genetics and the environment on key traits under field conditions. We used persistent multispectral and photogrammetric UAV time-series imagery collected 10 times over the season, together with ground-truth data for thousands of Miscanthus genotypes, to determine the flowering time, culm length, and biomass yield traits. We compared the performance of convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures that used image data from single dates (2D-spatial) versus the integration of multiple dates by 3D-spatiotemporal architectures. The ability of UAV-based remote sensing to rapidly and non-destructively assess large-scale genetic variation in flowering time, height, and biomass production was improved through the use of 3D-spatiotemporal CNN architectures versus 2D-spatial CNN architectures. The performance gains of the best 3D-spatiotemporal analyses compared to the best 2D-spatial architectures manifested in up to 23% improvements in R2, 17% reductions in RMSE, and 20% reductions in MAE. The integration of photogrammetric and spectral features with 3D architectures was crucial to the improved assessment of all traits. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that the integration of high-spatiotemporal-resolution UAV imagery with 3D-CNNs enables more accurate monitoring of the dynamics of key phenological and yield-related crop traits. This is especially valuable in highly productive, perennial grass crops such as Miscanthus, where in-field phenotyping is especially challenging and traditionally limits the rate of crop improvement through breeding.
A Modified Shape Model Incorporating Continuous Accumulated Growing Degree Days for Phenology Detection of Early Rice
Authors: Liao Shicheng , Xu Xiong , Xie Huan , Chen Peng , Wang Chao , Jin Yanmin , Tong Xiaohua , Xiao Changjiang
Published: October 2022

Using a shape model (SM) is a typical method to determine the phenological phases of crops with long-time-series satellite remote sensing data. The average AGDD-based shape model (AAGDD-SM) takes temperature into account compared to SM, however, the commonly used daily average temperature is not sufficient to determine the exact AGDD owing to the possibly significant changes in temperatures throughout the day. In this paper, a modified shape model was proposed for the better estimation of phenological dates and it is incorporated into the continuous AGDD (CAGDD) which was calculated based on temperatures from a continuous 24 h within a day, different from the calendar day or the average AGDD indicators. In this study, the CAGDD replaced the abscissa of the NDVI growth curve over a 5-year period (2014 to 2018, excluding 2015) for a test site of early rice in Jiangxi province of China. Four key phenological phases, including the reviving, tillering, heading and anthesis phases, were selected and determined with reference to the field-observed phenological data. The results show that compared with the AAGDD-SM, the method proposed in this paper has basically improved the prediction of each phenological period. For those cases where the average temperature is lower than the minimum temperatures (K1) but the effective accumulated temperature is not zero, more accurate AGDD can be calculated according to the method in this paper.
A Spatiotemporal Atmospheric Refraction Correction Method for Improving the Geolocation Accuracy of High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Peng Xiaohong , Huang Wenwen , Li Xiaoyan , Yang Lin , Chen Fansheng
Published: October 2022

Atmospheric refraction is one of the most significant factors that affect the geolocation accuracy of high-resolution remote sensing images. However, most of the current atmospheric refraction correction methods based on empirical data neglect the spatiotemporal variation of pressure, temperature, and humidity of the atmosphere, inevitably resulting in poor geometric positioning accuracy. Therefore, in terms of the problems mentioned above, this study proposed a spatiotemporal atmospheric refraction correction method (SARCM) based on global measured data to avoid the uncertainty of traditional empirical models. Initially, the atmosphere was stratified into 42 layers according to their pressure property, and each layer was divided into 1,042,560 grid cells with intervals of 0.25 longitude and 0.25 latitude. Then, the atmospheric refractive index of each grid in the imaging region was accurately calculated using the high-precision Ciddor formula, and the result was interpolated using three splines. Subsequently, according to the rigorous geometric positioning model, the line-of-sight of each pixel and the viewing zenith angle outside the atmosphere in WGS84 were derived to provide input for atmospheric refraction correction. Finally, the coordinates of the ground control points were corrected with the calculated atmospheric refractive index and Snell’s law. The experimental results showed that the proposed SARCM could effectively improve the positioning accuracy of the image with a large viewing zenith angle, and especially, the improvement percentage for a viewing zenith angle of 34.2426° in the x-direction was 99.5%. Moreover, the atmospheric refraction correction result of the SARCM was better than that of the primary state-of-the-art methods.
Distributed Scatterer Processing Based on Binary Partition Trees with Multi-Baseline PolInSAR Data
Authors: Wang Guanya , Deng Kailiang , Chen Qi , Li Zhiwei , Gao Han , Hu Jun , Xiang Deliang
Published: October 2022

Distributed scatterers (DSs) are necessary to increase point density in multi-temporal InSAR (MT-InSAR) monitoring. The identification of homogeneous pixels (HPs) is the first and key step for DS processing to overcome the low signal-to-noise ratio condition. Since multi-polarization data are good at describing geometrical structures and dielectric properties of ground objects, they have been applied for HP identification. However, polarimetric information is not enough for identifying areas with similar ground objects but different deformation. We propose a novel DS preprocessing algorithm based on polarimetric interferometric homogeneous pixel (PIHP) identification. Firstly, a novel Polarimetric InSAR (PolInSAR) similarity that combines polarimetric intensity, interferometric coherence, and phase is proposed, which is readily available in multi-baseline and multi-polarization data and flexible by controlling weighting factors. Secondly, based on the binary partition tree (BPT) framework, object-orientated multi-scale PIHP identification is achieved, which is suitable for complex deformation scenes. Tested with simulated quad-polarization data, our method shows improvement in phase quality and point density, especially in the deformed areas, compared with the traditional HP identification method based on the polarimetric homogeneity (PolHom) test and the method with ground object type map. Tested with 30 quad-polarization Radarsat-2 images over Kilauea Volcano, the point density of our method is three times higher than that of the PolHom test in vegetation areas. Our method is proven to be more sensitive and mechanically more advanced to homogeneous pixels identification than the traditional ones, which is helpful for phase optimization, spatial enlargement of monitoring points, and stability of the MT-InSAR algorithm.
Effect of Lignin Type as an Additive on Rheology and Adhesion Properties of Asphalt Binder
Authors: Ghabchi Rouzbeh
Published: October 2022

Utilization of alternative asphalt binders and additives from renewable sources, given the scale and the impact of the asphalt pavement industry, is an important step toward a sustainable future for the surface transportation infrastructure. Among several sources available for harvesting sustainable construction materials, bio-based materials from agricultural feedstock are known to be one of the most reliable, renewable, environmentally friendly, and economically feasible solutions to achieve this goal. Lignin, one of the most abundant materials in nature, is the byproduct of several industries, specifically pulp processing and biofuel production facilities. Given its physical properties, the use of lignin as a partial replacement for petroleum-based asphalt binder has been studied and proven promising. However, lignin’s properties vary depending on its source and processing techniques. Therefore, incorporating lignin in asphalt binders can result in different mechanical properties, depending on its type and chemical composition. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of three different lignin types, when used as an asphalt binder modifier, on the rheological properties of the asphalt binder, aging characteristics, and its adhesion to different aggregates. This study’s findings showed that, when incorporated in an asphalt binder at the same amount, different lignin types have significantly different effects on asphalt binder blends’ rheological, aging, and adhesion properties. Different rheological, aging, and adhesion properties of the binders result in different mechanical characteristics in asphalt mixes containing lignin-modified asphalt binders.
eSports Events Trend: A Promising Opportunity for Tourism Offerings
Authors: Leon Marcelo , Hinojosa-Ramos Miriam Vanessa , León-Lopez Alan , Belli Simone , López-Raventós Cristian , Florez Hector
Published: October 2022

eSports events are a groundbreaking phenomenon worldwide. For this reason, this study aims to recognize the potential of eSports as an alternative for tourism events diversification in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. Within the methodological framework of an exploratory-descriptive scope, it was proposed to analyze the conditions of eSports events and the tourist perception of them in the selected city. A survey was applied to 384 participants of eSports events (potential tourists), using video game rooms and player community networks throughout Latin America. The instrument used to collect data was a questionnaire available online for six months for further analysis. The principal findings in terms of quality performance of the event, perception of the event, destination image, and satisfaction revealed four vital indicators associated. Event staff, event atmosphere, hospitality, and good feelings about live attendance must be taken into consideration while designing a satisfactory experience to integrate into eSports into the city’s tourism offerings. Attendees also expressed their willingness to return to the city in the future. These results contribute to expanding the scientific literature on the evaluation and management of eSports events for other developing cities and countries.