bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Putative Daucus carota Capsanthin-Capsorubin Synthase (DcCCS) Possesses Lycopene β-Cyclase Activity, Boosts Carotenoid Levels, and Increases Salt Tolerance in Heterologous Plants
Authors: Rosas-Saavedra Carolina , Quiroz Luis Felipe , Parra Samuel , Gonzalez-Calquin Christian , Arias Daniela , Ocarez Nallat , Lopez Franco , Stange Claudia
Published: July 2023

Plant carotenoids are synthesized and accumulated in plastids through a highly regulated pathway. Lycopene β-cyclase (LCYB) is a key enzyme involved directly in the synthesis of α-carotene and β-carotene through the cyclization of trans-lycopene. Daucus carota harbors two LCYB genes, of which DcLCYB2 (annotated as CCS-Like) is mostly expressed in mature storage roots, an organ that accumulates high α-carotene and β-carotene content. In this work, we determined that DcLCYB2 of the orange Nantes variety presents plastid localization and encodes for a functional LCYB enzyme determined by means of heterologous complementation in Escherichia coli. Also, ectopic expression of DcLCYB2 in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa) plants increases total carotenoid content showing its functional role in plants. In addition, transgenic tobacco T2 homozygous plants showed better performance under chronic salt treatment, while kiwi transgenic calli also presented a higher survival rate under salt treatments than control calli. Our results allow us to propose DcLCYB2 as a prime candidate to engineer carotenoid biofortified crops as well as crops resilient to saline environments.
Comparing the Salt Tolerance of Different Spring Soybean Varieties at the Germination Stage
Authors: Zhou Xinyu , Tian Yumei , Qu Zhipeng , Wang Jinxing , Han Dezhi , Dong Shoukun
Published: July 2023

Salinization is a global agricultural problem with many negative effects on crops, including delaying germination, inhibiting growth, and reducing crop yield and quality. This study compared the salt tolerance of 20 soybean varieties at the germination stage to identify soybean germplasm with a high salt tolerance. Germination tests were conducted in Petri dishes containing 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mmol L−1 NaCl. Each Petri dish contained 20 soybean seeds, and each treatment was repeated five times. The indicators of germination potential, germination rate, hypocotyl length, and radicle length were measured. The salt tolerance of 20 soybean varieties was graded, and the theoretical identification concentration was determined by cluster analysis, the membership function method, one-way analysis of variance, and quadratic equation analysis. The relative germination rate, relative germination potential, relative root length, and relative bud length of the 20 soybean germplasms decreased when the salt concentration was >50 mmol L−1, compared with that of the Ctrl. The half-lethal salt concentration of soybean was 164.50 mmol L−1, and the coefficient of variation was 18.90%. Twenty soybean varieties were divided into three salt tolerance levels following cluster analysis: Dongnong 254, Heike 123, Heike 58, Heihe 49, and Heike 68 were salt-tolerant varieties, and Xihai 2, Suinong 94, Kenfeng 16, and Heinong 84 were salt-sensitive varieties, respectively. This study identified suitable soybean varieties for planting in areas severely affected by salt and provided materials for screening and extracting parents or genes to breed salt-tolerant varieties in areas where direct planting is impossible. It assists crop breeding at the molecular level to cope with increasingly serious salt stress.
Comparatively Evolution and Expression Analysis of GRF Transcription Factor Genes in Seven Plant Species
Authors: Cheng Zhihan , Wen Shiqi , Wu Yuke , Shang Lina , Wu Lin , Lyu Dianqiu , Yu Hongtao , Wang Jichun , Jian Hongju
Published: July 2023

Growth regulatory factors (GRF) are plant-specific transcription factors that play pivotal roles in growth and various abiotic stresses regulation. However, adaptive evolution of GRF gene family in land plants are still being elucidated. Here, we performed the evolutionary and expression analysis of GRF gene family from seven representative species. Extensive phylogenetic analyses and gene structure analysis revealed that the number of genes, QLQ domain and WRC domain identified in higher plants was significantly greater than those identified in lower plants. Besides, dispersed duplication and WGD/segmental duplication effectively promoted expansion of the GRF gene family. The expression patterns of GRF gene family and target genes were found in multiple floral organs and abundant in actively growing tissues. They were also found to be particularly expressed in response to various abiotic stresses, with stress-related elements in promoters, implying potential roles in floral development and abiotic stress. Our analysis in GRF gene family interaction network indicated the similar results that GRFs resist to abiotic stresses with the cooperation of other transcription factors like GIFs. This study provides insights into evolution in the GRF gene family, together with expression patterns valuable for future functional researches of plant abiotic stress biology.
Mapping Asia Plants: The Threat Status and Influencing Factors of Rare and Endangered Vascular Plant Species in North Asia (Asian Russia)
Authors: Xue Jianhua , Shcherbakov Andrey V. , Kipriyanova Laura M. , Zhu Li , Ma Keping
Published: July 2023

In order to effectively protect rare and endangered plants, 27 provincial-level administrative regions in North Asia (the Asian part of Russia) have compiled and published local Red Data Books. In this study, the names (with synonyms) of vascular plants in the 27 provincial Red Books were digitalized and merged into a database of rare and endangered vascular plants in North Asia. The purpose is to reflect the species composition, geographic distribution pattern, and protection level of these plants and their inclusion in the national Russian Red Data Book and the IUCN Red List, and provide a reference for formulating conservation strategies. The dataset has a total of 2079 species, 160 subspecies, and 53 varieties belonging to 667 genera and 143 families. It contains data on 2292 taxa, including family name, genus name, species name and synonyms, protection level, and other information. We also analyzed the main influencing factors, existing problems of rare and endangered vascular plant species, and suggestions for addressing them. We conclude that, to date, the IUCN criteria have not been applied consistently in all regions, leading to an excessive number of species being recorded in the Red Data Books of Asian Russia; specifically, one-third of all floral species are in the regional Red Data Books.
Effects of Leaf Wetness Duration, Temperature, and Host Phenological Stage on Infection of Walnut by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis
Authors: Moragrega Concepció , Llorente Isidre
Published: July 2023

Bacterial blight, caused by Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis, is a significant disease affecting walnut production worldwide. Outbreaks are most severe in spring, and closely tied to host phenology and weather conditions. Pathogen infections are mainly observed in catkins, female flowers, leaves, and fruits. In this study, the effect of wetness duration and temperature on walnut infections by X. arboricola pv. juglandis was determined through two independent experiments conducted under controlled environmental conditions. The combined effect of both climatic parameters on disease severity was quantified using a third-order polynomial equation. The model obtained by linear regression and backward elimination technique fitted well to the data (R2 = 0.94 and R2adj = 0.93). The predictive capacity of the forecasting model was evaluated on pathogen-inoculated walnut plants exposed to different wetness duration–temperature combinations under Mediterranean field conditions. Observed disease severity in all events aligned with predicted infection risk. Additionally, the relationship between leaf and fruit age and the disease severity was quantified and modelled. A prediction model, which has been referred to as the WalBlight-risk model, is proposed for evaluation as an advisory system for timing bactericide sprays to manage bacterial blight in Mediterranean walnut orchards.
Optimization of Abrasive Water Jet Machining Process Parameters on Onyx Composite Followed by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Ganesan Dharmalingam , Salunkhe Sachin , Panghal Deepak , Murali Arun Prasad , Mahalingam Sivakumar , Tarigonda Hariprasad , Gawade Sharad Ramdas , Hussein Hussein Mohamed Abdel-Moneam
Published: July 2023

Fiber-reinforced additive manufacturing components have been used in various industrial applications in recent years, including in the production of aerospace, automobile, and biomedical components. Compared to conventional methods, additive manufacturing (AM) methods can be used to obtainin lighter parts with superior mechanical properties with lower setup costs and the ability to design more complex parts. Additionally, the fabrication of onyx composites using the conventional method can result in delamination, which is a significant issue during composite machining. To address these shortcomings, the fabrication of onyx composites via additive manufacturing with the Mark forged 3D-composite printer was considered. Machinability tests were conducted using abrasive water jet machining (AWJM) with various drilling diameters, traverse speeds, and abrasive mass flow rates. These parameters were optimized using Taguchi analysis and then validated using the Genetic algorithm (GA) and the Moth Flame Optimization algorithm (MFO). The surface morphology (Dmax) and the roughness of the drilled holes were determined using a vision measuring machine with 2D software (MITUTOYO v5.0) and a contact-type surface roughness tester. Confirmation testing demonstrated that the predicted values werenearly identical to the experimental standards. During the drilling of an onyx polymer composite, regression models, genetic algorithms and the Moth-Flame Optimization algorithm were used to estimate the response surface of delamination damage and surface roughness.
Steam Explosion of Eucalyptus grandis Sawdust for Ethanol Production within a Biorefinery Approach
Authors: Guigou Mairan , Guarino Juan , Chiarello Luana M. , Cabrera María N. , Vique Mauricio , Lareo Claudia , Ferrari Mario D. , Ramos Luiz P.
Published: July 2023

In this work, Eucalyptus grandis sawdust was subjected to steam explosion as the first step in cellulosic ethanol production within a biorefinery approach. The effect of the moisture content in the eucalypt sawdust (8 and 50%) and pretreatment process variables, such as temperature and residence time, were evaluated along with the influence of the water washing of steam-exploded solids on enzymatic hydrolysis and C6 fermentation yields. All other process streams were characterized to evaluate the recovery yield of valuable co-products. A recovery of nearly 100% glucans in the solid fraction and 60% xylans in the liquid fraction, mainly as partially acetylated oligomers, was obtained. The best enzymatic hydrolysis efficiencies (66–67%) were achieved after pretreatment at 205 °C for 10 min. The washing of pretreated sawdust with water improved the hydrolysis efficiencies and ethanol production yields by 10% compared to the unwashed pretreated solids under the same experimental condition. The highest ethanol yields were achieved after pretreatment of the sawdust with an 8% moisture content at 205 °C for 10 min, enzymatic hydrolysis at 13 wt% total solids with 25 FPU/g glucans, and fermentation with S. cerevisiae PE-2. In this case, 227 L ethanol and 40 kg total xylose (including xylo-oligomers) were obtained per ton of dry eucalypt sawdust.
Heroism and Being-towards-Death: On Sacrificial Martyrdom in Contemporary Shiʿism
Authors: Ayoub Tareq
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the philosophy of martyrdom, heroism, and death, with reference to Islam in general and Shiʿism in particular. This paper will be divided into two parts; the first will highlight the etymological and philosophical significance of the Arabic term martyrdom (istishhād) and its interrelation with the notion of testimony (shahāda), allowing for the clarification of the complexity of the existential privation of death and the communality of heroic martyrdom. The second part will move beyond the observation of Qurʾanic canonical sources by traversing traditional Shiʿi references and narratives, allowing for a reflection on the articulation of the ontology of martyrdom, such as its temporal horizon and mortality. Consequently, the state of affairs surrounding the phenomenon of heroic martyrdom embodies testimonies of both love and hate, of belongingness and enmity, and of devotion and hostility. Yet, the identification of such heroism is, in practice, coupled with a tacit sense of a Heideggerian ‘fall’ due to its inseparability from the pull of religious, social, and communal violence and aggression. Thus, in both theory and practice, a phenomenology of heroic martyrdom and death takes into account the ideological and societal contexts of the use of violence and the concrete rituals in its mediation of aggression.
Statement or Supramundanity? Making Sense of Śūraṃgama-Samādhi and Its Related Narratives
Authors: Li Can
Published: July 2023

The aim of this paper is to provide a new interpretation for the term Śūraṃgama-samādhi, an important concept in the Mahāyāna literature, by proposing new exegeses of its primary and derivative meanings as they appear in the Śūraṃgamasamādhi-sūtra (hereafter SSS). While many have defined samādhi as a form of meditative practice, a state of mind, or a collection of terms as argued by Andrew Skilton, the concept samādhi in the SSS can be understood as a locus of gathering or convergence in the metaphorical sense. In SSS, this metaphorical location refers to the supramundane state of those buddhas and tenth-stage bodhisattvas, wherein all his supernatural powers and manifestations converge. Lamotte’s interpretation of Śūraṃgama as “marche héroïque/heroic progress”, however, only provides a single understanding of this polysemous concept. This article will offer a more nuanced understanding and interpretation of this compound term. Regarding the derivative meanings of the term, the present paper argues that the traditional interpretation of the term Śūraṃgama-samādhi (in the derivative meaning) as self-referential to the sūtra itself (Śūraṃgama-samādhi = SSS) does not align with the meaning of the term as it appears in the SSS. The exclusion of “self-reference” in our interpretation of the derivative meaning of the term therefore avoids the paradox of an “infinite loop of self-reference” as presented by past studies on the subject.
Improving the Efficiency of Fan Coil Units in Hotel Buildings through Deep-Learning-Based Fault Detection
Authors: Matetić Iva , Štajduhar Ivan , Wolf Igor , Ljubic Sandi
Published: July 2023

Optimizing the performance of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems is critical in today’s energy-conscious world. Fan coil units (FCUs) play a critical role in providing comfort in various environments as an important component of HVAC systems. However, FCUs often experience failures that affect their efficiency and increase their energy consumption. In this context, deep learning (DL)-based fault detection offers a promising solution. By detecting faults early and preventing system failures, the efficiency of FCUs can be improved. This paper explores DL models as fault detectors for FCUs to enable smarter and more energy-efficient hotel buildings. We tested three contemporary DL modeling approaches: convolutional neural network (CNN), long short-term memory network (LSTM), and a combination of CNN and gated recurrent unit (GRU). The random forest model (RF) was additionally developed as a baseline benchmark. The fault detectors were tested on a real-world dataset obtained from the sensory measurement system installed in a hotel and additionally supplemented with simulated data via a physical model developed in TRNSYS. Three representative FCU faults, namely, a stuck valve, a reduction in airflow, and an FCU outage, were simulated with a much larger dataset than is typically utilized in similar studies. The results showed that the hybrid model, integrating CNN and GRU, performed best for all three observed faults. DL-based fault detectors outperformed the baseline RF model, confirming these solutions as viable components for energy-efficient hotels.
The Design of an Automatic Temperature Compensation System through Smart Heat Comparison/Judgment and Control for Stable Thermal Treatment in Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Surgery
Authors: Yoon Kicheol , Lee Sangyun , Lee Tae-Hyeon , Kim Kwang Gi
Published: July 2023

After surgery for ovarian cancer or colorectal cancer, residual tumors are left around. A practical way to treat residual tumors is to destroy them with heat by injecting high-temperature drugs into the abdominal cavity. The injected medicinal substances are induced to flow out of the abdominal cavity; then, the spilled drug flows back into the abdominal cavity through feedback. During this process, the heat starts to decrease; thus, the treatment performance reduces. To overcome this problem, this study compares and assesses the temperature needed to maintain the heat for treatment and transmits a command signal to the heat exchanger through a look-up table (LUT). When the temperature decreases during the circulation of medications leaking out of the abdominal cavity, the LUT transmits a control signal (Tp) to the heat exchanger, which increases or vice versa. However, if the temperature (To) is within the treatment range, the LUT sends a Ts signal to the heat exchanger. This principle generates a pulse signal for the temperature difference (Tdif) in TC by comparing and determining the temperature (To) of the substance flowing out of the abdominal cavity with the reference temperature (Tref) through the temperature comparator (TC). At this time, if the signal is 41 °C or less, the LUT generates (heats) a Tp signal so that the temperature of the heat exchanger can be maintained in the range of 41 °C to 43 °C. If the Tdif is 44 °C or higher, the LUT generates (cools) the Ta signal and maintains the temperature of the heat exchanger at 41–43 °C. If the Tdif is maintained at 41–43 °C, the LUT generates a Tx signal to stop the system performance. At this time, the TC operation performance and Tdif generation process for comparing and determining the signal of To and Tref for drugs leaking out of the abdominal cavity is very important. It was observed that the faster the response signal, the lower the comparison and judgment error was; therefore, the response signal was confirmed to be 0.209 μs. The proposed method can guarantee rapid/accurate/safe treatment and automatically induce temperature adjustment; thus, it could be applied to the field of surgery.
Adaptive Optics Tip-Tilt Correction Based on Smith Predictor and Filter-Optimized Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control Method
Authors: Kong Lingxi , Yang Kangjian , Su Chunxuan , Guo Sicheng , Wang Shuai , Cheng Tao , Yang Ping
Published: July 2023

A tip-tilt mirror (TTM) control method is designed to enhance the control bandwidth and ensure the rejection performance of the adaptive optics (AO) tip-tilt correction system. Optimized with the Smith predictor and filter, linear active disturbance rejection (LADRC) is adopted to achieve the tip-tilt correction. An AO tip-tilt correction experimental platform was built to validate the method. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves the control bandwidth of the system by at least 3.6 times compared with proportional–integral (PI) control. In addition, under the same control bandwidth condition, compared with the Smith predictor and proportional–integral (PI–Smith) control method, the system is more capable of rejecting internal and external disturbances, and its dynamic response performance is improved by more than 29%.
A Light-Weight Cropland Mapping Model Using Satellite Imagery
Authors: Hussain Maya Haj , Abuhani Diaa Addeen , Khan Jowaria , ElMohandes Mohamed , Zualkernan Imran , Ali Tarig
Published: July 2023

Many applications in agriculture as well as other related fields including natural resources, environment, health, and sustainability, depend on recent and reliable cropland maps. Cropland extent and intensity plays a critical input variable for the study of crop production and food security around the world. However, generating such variables manually is difficult, expensive, and time consuming. In this work, we discuss a cost effective, fast, and simple machine-learning-based approach to provide reliable cropland mapping model using satellite imagery. The study includes four test regions, namely Iran, Mozambique, Sri-Lanka, and Sudan, where Sentinel-2 satellite imagery were obtained with assigned NDVI scores. The solution presented in this paper discusses a complete pipeline including data collection, time series reconstruction, and cropland extent and crop intensity mapping using machine learning models. The approach proposed managed to achieve high accuracy results ranging between 0.92 and 0.98 across the four test regions at hand.
An Implementation of Inverse Cosine Hardware for Sound Rendering Applications
Authors: Lee Jinyoung , Kim Cheong-Ghil , Moon Yeon-Kug , Park Woo-Chan
Published: July 2023

Sound rendering is the process of determining the sound propagation path from an audio source to a listener and generating 3D sound based on it. This task demands complex calculations, including trigonometric functions. This paper presents hardware-based inverse cosine function calculations using the table method and linear approximation. This approach maintains a high accuracy while limiting hardware size for suitability in sound rendering applications. Consequently, our proposed hardware-based inverse cosine calculation method is a valuable tool for achieving high efficiency and accuracy in 3D sound rendering.
Optimizing Stability and Performance of Silver-Based Grating Structures for Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors
Authors: Sarapukdee Pongsak , Spenner Christian , Schulz Dirk , Palzer Stefan
Published: July 2023

The use of surface plasmon resonance sensors allows for the fabrication of highly sensitive, label-free analytical devices. This contribution reports on a grating coupler to enable surface plasmon resonance studies using silver on silicon oxide technology to build long-term stable plasmonic structures for biological molecule sensing. The structural parameters were simulated and the corresponding simulation model was optimized based on the experimental results to improve its reliability. Based on the model, optimized grating nanostructures were fabricated on an oxidized silicon wafer with different structural parameters and characterized using a dedicated optical setup and scanning electron microscopy. The combined theoretical and experimental results show that the most relevant refractive index range for biological samples from 1.32–1.46 may conveniently be covered with a highest sensitivity of 128.85°/RIU.
Macroscopic Parameters of Fuel Sprays Injected in an Optical Reciprocating Single-Cylinder Engine: An Approximation by Means of Visualization with Schlieren Technique
Authors: Corral-Gómez Lis , Castillo-García Fernando J. , Soriano José A. , Armas Octavio
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a sensor system for an internal combustion engine based on a new vision-based algorithm supported by the Schlieren sensorization technique, which allows to acquire the macroscopic parameters of the fuel spray injected in a reciprocating internal combustion engine under unmanned aerial vehicle-like conditions. The sensor system proposed here is able to automatically determine the spray cone angle, its area and its penetration. In addition, the external surface and the volume of the fuel spray is estimated together with the injector opening delay and the ignition delay. The developed algorithm was experimentally tested using a conventional diesel fuel in a single-cylinder engine with an optically adapted head but with easy application and other configurations of reciprocating internal combustion engines. These spray macroscopic parameters allow to analyze, among others, the effect of the spray on the development of both the injection and combustion processes under different operating conditions. The estimation of the external surface of the spray makes it possible to determine the amount of fuel in the spray that is in contact with the surrounding air, with the possibility to link this parameter to the combustion efficiency and emission reduction. Consequently, obtaining the injector opening delay and the ignition delay are important parameters in the combustion phenomenon. In addition, the ignition delay has a great influence on both the engine design and its performance in the study of the air–fuel blending process, in the efficient combustion process and in the reduction of emissions.
IoT System Based on Artificial Intelligence for Hot Spot Detection in Photovoltaic Modules for a Wide Range of Irradiances
Authors: Cardinale-Villalobos Leonardo , Jimenez-Delgado Efren , García-Ramírez Yariel , Araya-Solano Luis , Solís-García Luis Antonio , Méndez-Porras Abel , Alfaro-Velasco Jorge
Published: July 2023

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a technique used to diagnose Photovoltaic (PV) installations to detect sub-optimal conditions. The increase of PV installations in smart cities has generated the search for technology that improves the use of IRT, which requires irradiance conditions to be greater than 700 W/m2, making it impossible to use at times when irradiance goes under that value. This project presents an IoT platform working on artificial intelligence (AI) which automatically detects hot spots in PV modules by analyzing the temperature differentials between modules exposed to irradiances greater than 300 W/m2. For this purpose, two AI (Deep learning and machine learning) were trained and tested in a real PV installation where hot spots were induced. The system was able to detect hot spots with a sensitivity of 0.995 and an accuracy of 0.923 under dirty, short-circuited, and partially shaded conditions. This project differs from others because it proposes an alternative to facilitate the implementation of diagnostics with IRT and evaluates the real temperatures of PV modules, which represents a potential economic saving for PV installation managers and inspectors.
A Novel Multiple Role Evaluation Fusion-Based Trust Management Framework in Blockchain-Enabled 6G Network
Authors: Yin Yujia , Fang He
Published: July 2023

Six-generation (6G) networks will contain a higher density of users, base stations, and communication equipment, which poses a significant challenge to secure communications and collaborations due to the complex network and environment as well as the number of resource-constraint devices used. Trust evaluation is the basis for secure communications and collaborations, providing an access criterion for interconnecting different nodes. Without a trust evaluation mechanism, the risk of cyberattacks on 6G networks will be greatly increased, which will eventually lead to the failure of network collaboration. For the sake of performing a comprehensive evaluation of nodes, this paper proposes a novel multiple role fusion trust evaluation framework that integrates multiple role fusion trust calculation and blockchain-based trust management. In order to take advantage of fused trust values for trust prediction, a neural network fitting method is utilized in the paper. This work further optimizes the traditional trust management framework and utilizes the optimized model for node trust prediction to better increase the security of communication systems. The results show that multiple role fusion has better stability than a single role evaluation network and better performance in anomaly detection and evaluation accuracy.
Removal of Azo Dyes Orange II and Reactive Black 5 from Aqueous Solutions by Adsorption on Chitosan Beads Modified with Choline Chloride: Urea Deep Eutectic Solvent and FeO
Authors: Martínez-Rico Óscar , Blanco Lucía , Domínguez Ángeles , González Begoña
Published: July 2023

The removal of the azo dyes Orange II (OII) and Reactive Black 5 (RB5) from aqueous solutions was studied using three types of adsorbents derived from chitosan: unmodified chitosan beads (un-Ch), chitosan beads tuned with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) composed of choline chloride:urea at a 1:2 molar ratio (Ch-DES), along with FeO nanoparticles added to chitosan and modified with DES (Ch-FeO-DES). Both dyes were effectively removed in 3–4 h when Ch-DES beads were used, at a dye concentration range of 25–50 mg/L. The modification with DES improved the removal efficiency to achieve increases of around 32% for OII and 17% for RB5. The adsorbent dosage and the initial dye concentration influenced the adsorption process. Isotherm adsorption models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) and kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, and Elovich models) were applied to identify the adsorption behavior. The process could be characterized by employing the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and fitting it to the monolayer Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption occurred on a monolayer with no interaction among dye molecules when electrostatic forces would determine the attaching of dye molecules on the adsorbent. OII was efficiently desorbed by an alkaline solution, while RB5 was more strongly attached. The adsorbent could be recycled, after regeneration with an acid solution, for at least 5 reuse cycles while still achieving effective OII removal. Reactivation with a diluted EDTA solution allowed the authors to recycle RB5-attached beads, achieving optimum removal in two further uses.
Biosynthesis of Salbutamol-4′-O-sulfate as Reference for Identification of Intake Routes and Enantiopure Salbutamol Administration by Achiral UHPLC-MS/MS
Authors: Jendretzki Annika Lisa , Harps Lukas Corbinian , Sun Yanan , Bredendiek Felix , Bureik Matthias , Girreser Ulrich , de la Torre Xavier , Botrè Francesco M. , Parr Maria Kristina
Published: July 2023

The aim of the study was a comprehensive and quantitative determination of salbutamol and its sulfoconjugated major metabolite in urine samples using achiral ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Therefore, salbutamol-4′-O-sulfate was biosynthesized as a reference using genetically modified fission yeast cells, and the product was subsequently characterized by NMR and HRMS. In competitive sports, salbutamol is classified as a prohibited drug; however, inhalation at therapeutic doses is permitted with a maximum allowance of 600 µg/8 h. In contrast, the enantiopure levosalbutamol is prohibited under any condition. For analytical discrimination, the amount of salbutamol and its main metabolite excreted in the urine was studied. As proof of concept, a longitudinal study in one healthy volunteer was performed in order to investigate excreted amounts and to study potential discrimination using achiral chromatography. Discrimination of administration of racemic salbutamol or the enantiopure levosalbutamol was not achieved by solely analyzing salbutamol as the parent compound. However, a distinction was possible by evaluation of the proportion of salbutamol-4′-O-sulfate in relation to salbutamol. Therefore, reference material of metabolites is of great importance in doping control, especially for threshold substances.
Social Sustainability of Raw Rubber Production: A Supply Chain Analysis under Sri Lankan Scenario
Authors: Dunuwila Pasan , Rodrigo V. H. L. , Daigo Ichiro , Goto Naohiro
Published: July 2023

Raw rubber production is the sole foundation for the rubber product industry, rendering raw rubber to manufacture essential commodities to mankind, such as tires, condoms, surgical gloves, and so forth. Raw rubber production involves various stakeholders; however, literature focusing on the social impacts of the supply chains of raw rubber production has hereto been absent. Social life cycle assessment, a popular tool to assess the social impacts of a product or process and was deployed herein to assess the social profiles of three Sri Lankan raw rubber supply chains (crepe rubber, concentrated latex, and ribbed smoked sheets) in a cradle-to-gate manner. The Social Hotspots Database v4 on Sima Pro v9.3 was used for the analysis. Results indicated that Governance, Labour rights & decent work had been affected due to Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining issues, mainly in Belarus and China. Proposed improvement options to address these touchpoints were found to be effective. If the importation of K-fertilizer shifted into countries with lower risks, such as Canada, Israel, and Lithuania, overall social risks associated with Corruption and Freedom of association & collective bargaining could be reduced by ca. 36% and 25%, respectively. As a result, social risks in the impact described above categories, i.e., Governance and Labor rights & decent work, were reduced by ca. 35–41% and ca. 17–20%, respectively. Managers may pay thorough attention to the hotspots identified herein in the first place and try to avoid them as much as possible. They may consider importation from the aforesaid low-risk countries while weighing the trade-offs with economic and environmental aspects.
Technology Transfer Assessment in Regional Business Contexts
Authors: Martín-Martín Antonio O. , Bañuls Victor A. , Ruiz-Benítez Rocío
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a procedure for the organization of meetings between leaders of research groups and representatives of R&D&I departments in companies that is inspired by speed dating. The participating candidates were first assessed and selected based on their potential for an effective linkage in accordance with certain relevant variables taken from the literature on efficiency in technology and knowledge transfer activities. The process and findings of the application of this procedure were analyzed through the action research methodology in a real case, where 12 research groups and 55 companies participated in a pilot project fostered by the public authorities. Although meetings represent a common formula to promote collaboration between universities and industry, very few academic papers have analyzed the appropriate procedures for the organization of such meetings, which could help organizers not only to achieve the best interaction possible but also to improve the matching between a research group and the companies that are potentially interested in forming a stable collaboration for sustainable transfer activities. The results show that this procedure allows research groups to efficiently achieve first contact with companies in order to assess the potential for more lasting and sustainable collaboration.
The Impact of Student Response Systems (SRS) on Student Achievements: A University-Scale Study with Deep Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA)
Authors: Shahba Ahmad Abdul-Wahhab , Soufan Walid , Altwijri Omar , Alsadoon Elham , Alkathiri Saud
Published: July 2023

The integration of Student Response Systems (SRSs) into classroom teaching is a pioneering progression in social sciences research that has shown potential in boosting student engagement and elevating academic success. However, no extensive study has examined the impact of its use on academic achievement within a sizable number of students of diverse cofactors, such as scientific discipline and study levels. The current study aims to conduct a comprehensive score analysis investigating the effect of SRS use on academic performance. It involved a total of 6047 male and female undergraduate students from four scientific disciplines, seven colleges, four campuses, and 13 courses covering all study levels within King Saud University. The student’s scores along with their attributes were anonymously collected from the university system. A voluntary anonymous survey was distributed to collect students’ perceptions of SRS along with their personal attributes, such as learning style, and class interaction preferences. Upon data collection, the Python programming language was exclusively implemented for comprehensive data analysis including grouping, validation, random sampling, visualization, and statistical analysis. The overall score analysis study showed a non-significant effect of SRS use on student scores compared to the control (non-SRS) group, while the survey findings proved a significant enhancement of students’ scores (in courses that utilized SRS) compared to their overall GPA. In addition, the differential score and survey analysis within various study subcategories showed significant positive effects in certain subcategories, particularly science and community colleges, and four of their representative courses. SRS showed higher levels of overall student satisfaction (average—4.4/5.0), yet it was also significantly influenced by scientific discipline, preferred interaction methods, and study levels. Overall, SRS provides a highly engaging tool with excellent student acceptance and potential academic performance enhancement.
Realist Review and System Dynamics as a Multimethod Qualitative Synthesis Approach for Analyzing Waste Minimization in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Manning Suzanne , Sharma Sudesh Raj , Walton Mat
Published: July 2023

Many of society’s most pressing problems, such as climate change, poverty, and waste, are categorized as “wicked” problems because they are seemingly resistant to change. Interventions designed to address these problems can produce unintended consequences, which then perpetuate the problem. Evaluating the effectiveness of such interventions is challenging and requires understanding of the social systems in which the problems are embedded. Multimethodology approaches can support such holistic understanding by combining different methodologies which complement and overlap with each other. This article reports on a study that combined two different methodologies—realist review and qualitative system dynamics. The result was a program theory for waste minimization interventions in Aotearoa New Zealand and a causal loop diagram, which allowed us to identify potential leverage points for change. The two methodologies highlighted different aspects of the problem in complementary ways. For example, the first program theory proposition emphasized the important role of people who were critically conscious of the need for sustainability, while the causal loop diagram showed that there needed to be enough critically conscious people for change to be embedded in the system. The program theory’s third and fourth propositions noted the important role of leadership and resource allocation in shifting interventions away from waste management initiatives, such as recycling plastic bags, towards waste minimization initiatives, such as banning single-use plastic bags. The causal loop diagram demonstrated why resource allocation to waste management initiatives, such as recycling, are not effective in addressing the overall problem of waste by showing the feedback loops that operate in the system. Such insights show that realist reviews and qualitative system dynamics can usefully complement each other for greater understanding of wicked problems.
Towards Youth Mental Health System Reform: An Evaluation of Participatory Systems Modelling in the Australian Capital Territory
Authors: Lee Grace Yeeun , Hickie Ian Bernard , Song Yun Ju C. , Huntley Sam , Ho Nicholas , Loblay Victoria , Freebairn Louise , Skinner Adam , Crosland Paul , Moore Elizabeth , Johnson Natalie , Lentern Stephanie , Brogden Josephine , Barry Erin , Vacher Catherine , Rosenberg Sebastian , Mayers Paul , Iannelli Olivia , Park Shin Ho , Occhipinti Jo-An
Published: July 2023

Australia’s mental health system is failing young people. Calls for accountability, strategic long-term policy planning, and regional leadership have been identified as solutions to guide mental health reform. Developing system dynamics models using a participatory approach (participatory systems modelling (PSM)) is recognized as a useful method that can support decision-making for strategic reform. This paper reports evaluation findings of a youth mental health PSM process conducted in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Baseline and follow-up mixed-methods evaluation data were collected in 2022 across diverse stakeholder groups to investigate the feasibility, value, impact, and sustainability of PSM. Although youth mental health system reform was viewed as desirable and a necessity across all stakeholder groups, shared perceptions of disabling powerless was observed regarding their ability to influence current decision-making processes to improve the youth mental health system. This suggests greater accountability is required to support systemic reform in youth mental health. PSM offers promise in improving transparency and accountability of decision-making for youth mental health, as exemplified in the ACT. However, more support and time are required to facilitate transformational change. Future research should investigate empowerment strategies to complement the implementation of findings from dynamic models developed through PSM, as well as the effectiveness of regional youth mental health policy decision-making supported by systems modelling.
Correction: Woodlief et al. Immunotoxicity of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: Insights into Short-Chain PFAS Exposure. Toxics 2021, 9, 100
Authors: Woodlief Tracey , Vance Samuel , Hu Qing , DeWitt Jamie
Published: July 2023

Error in figure x-axis (Figure 1A: Hepatic peroxisome proliferation) [...]
A Systematic Review of Population-Based Studies Assessing Knowledge, Attitudes, Acceptance, and Hesitancy of Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women towards the COVID-19 Vaccine
Authors: Gianfredi Vincenza , Stefanizzi Pasquale , Berti Alessandro , D’Amico Marilena , De Lorenzo Viola , Lorenzo Antonio Di , Moscara Lorenza , Castaldi Silvana
Published: July 2023

The anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is recommended for pregnant women due to the high risk of complications. However, pregnancy has been associated with vaccine hesitancy. Our review aims at summarizing the existing literature about anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy in pregnant and lactating women. The research was conducted on PubMed/MEDLINE, ExcerptaMedica Database (EMBASE), and Scopus, according to PRISMA guidelines. Articles regarding the COVID-19 vaccine’s acceptance and/or refusal by pregnant and lactating women were selected. Only observational, population-based studies were included. The Joanna Briggs Institute quality assessment tools were employed. A total of 496 articles were retrieved, and after the selection process, 21 papers were included in the current analysis. All the included studies were cross-sectional, mostly from Europe and North America. The sample sizes ranged between 72 and 25,111 subjects. All of them included pregnant subjects, except one that focused on breastfeeding women only. Vaccine hesitancy rates ranged from 26% to 57% among different studies. Fear of adverse events and lack of knowledge were shown to be the main drivers of hesitancy. Approximately half of the studies (11/21) were classified as low quality, the remaining (9/21) were classified as moderate, and only one study was classified as high quality. Primigravidae were also shown to be more likely to accept anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Our findings confirm significant anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. Information gaps should be addressed to contain concerns related to adverse events.
Kepentingan Nasional Indonesia Menolak Ratifikasi Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)
Authors: Subagyo Agus , Primawanti Henike
Published: July 2023

Salah satu perjanjian internasional dibawah WHO yang berkaitan dengan kesehatan masyarakat adalah FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) yang bertujuan melindungi umat manusia di dunia dari ancaman dampak dari konsumsi rokok dan implikasi paparan asap rokok. Sampai dengan saat ini, Indonesia merupakan satu-satunya negara di Benua Asia yang belum meratifikasi FCTC. Penelitian ini ingin mencari jawaban atas pertanyaan mengapa Indonesia menolak ratifikasi FCTC? Dalam menjawab pertanyaan ini maka dipergunakan landasan teori politik luar negeri James S Rosenau. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data wawancara dan studi literatur. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Indonesia menolak ratifikasi FCTC disebabkan oleh faktor sistemik (berupa FCTC dipandang sebagai rezim global Barat yang akan menguasai pasar tembakau Indonesia), faktor governmental (berupa penolakan Kementerian Industri dan Perdagangan karena FCTC merugikan ekonomi nasional), faktor societal (berupa tekanan dari kelompok petani tembakau terhadap FCTC), dan faktor idiosinkretik (nilai, pengalaman, dan relasi anggota parlemen dengan petani tembakau). Novelty yang ditemukan adalah pemerintah Indonesia lebih memilih kepentingan ekonomi (economic interest), dibandingkan dengan kepentingan kesehatan publik (publik health interest).

Kata Kunci: Kepentingan Nasional, Ratifikasi, FCTC.
Analisis Pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) Dalam Sengketa Wilayah Perbatasan Kashmir
Authors: Rizki Khairur , Muquita Namira Risqi Putri
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to show human rights violations that occurred in the Kashmir border area. Kashmir is a disputed area in South Asia between India and Pakistan. The dispute occurred due to complex historical factors that led to conflict between the Indian government and the Kashmiri Muslim community. For Kashmiri Muslims, the Kashmir region is not only a place of origin but also representing social structure and identity. The escalation of the conflict also triggering persecution toward Kashmiri Muslims led to protests in various forms. Protests and demonstrations were also carried out because of the many human rights violations committed by the Indian government against the Kashmiri Muslim community. Human rights violations also continue to occur to the Kashmiri community who protest. This paper uses one theory and one concept, the conflict theory by Karl Marx to explain the conflicts that occurred and the concept of Human Rights to analyze the various human rights violations that occurred. The results of this study indicate that the Kashmiri Muslim community has experienced various human rights violations committed by the Indian authorities.

Keywords: Conflict, Human Rights Violation, India, Kashmir, Pakistan
CONSTRUCTION PRAGMATICS IN A WIDER CONTEXT. AN ADDITION TO WEN (2022)
Authors: Foolen Ad
Published: July 2023

This contribution reflects on Wen's (2022) proposal to develop Construction Pragmatics as a new field of research. On the one hand, this proposal is fully supported, on the other hand, this paper brings together some existing literature that can be considered as already inspiring representations of research from the perspective of Construction Pragmatics. The paper also reflects on the way pragmatics and semantics are demarcated by different authors and stresses the importance of awareness of such differences. Such an awareness is a condition for a successful integration of different research fields as is aimed at in the enterprise of Construction Pragmatics.
COLOUR NAMING: SEMANTICS OF THE COLOUR WHITE IN ENGLISH AND POLISH LEXICON
Authors: Uberman Agnieszka
Published: July 2023

In the present paper, an analysis is made of the colour names offered for the different shades and hues of the white palette of Dulux paints in English and Polish. The names are created by associations with colour names within the colour category WHITE but also with other domains of human experience, which are positively and naturally valued. The symbolism of the colour term is also reflected in some exemplars.