bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Enhanced Photothermal Therapeutic Iridium Hybrid Platform Reversing the Tumor Hypoxic Microenvironment
Authors: Zhang Hang , Chen Xiaoxiao , Li Shengliang , Shen Jianliang , Mao Zong-Wan
Published: April 2022

As hypoxia is closely associated with tumor progression, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and strong resistance to therapy, regulating and overcoming the hypoxia tumor microenvironment are two increasingly important aspects of tumor treatment. Herein, we report a phototherapeutic platform that uses the organic photosensitizer diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivative and inorganic iridium salts (IrCl3) with photothermal activity and the capacity to decompose H2O2 efficiently. The characterization of their photophysical properties proved that DPP-Ir nanoparticles are capable of remarkable near-infrared (NIR) absorption, and compared to DPP nanoparticles, the photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) increases from 42.1% in DPP nanoparticles to 67.0% in DPP-Ir nanoparticles. The hybrid nanoparticles utilize the catalytic decomposition of endogenous H2O2 to produce oxygen for the downregulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF-1α) protein, which could reverse the tumor hypoxic microenvironment. Benefiting from the excellent optical properties and good biocompatibility, the hybrid platform exhibits efficient photothermal therapeutic effects as well as good biological safety. In conclusion, such a hybrid platform could improve photothermal therapy against cancer.
Systematic Screening of Chemical Constituents in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Arnebiae Radix by UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Lian , Ma Shengjun , Li Kailin , Xiong Pei , Qin Shihan , Cai Wei
Published: April 2022

Arnebiae Radix (dried root of Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Johnst.) has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to treat macular eruptions, measles, sore throat, carbuncles, burns, skin ulcers, and inflammation. Previous studies have shown that shikonins and shikonofurans are two of their main bioactive ingredients. However, systematic investigations of their constituents have rarely been conducted. It is necessary to establish a rapid and effective method to identify the chemical constituents of Arnebiae Radix. This will help to further improve the effective resource utilization rate of this plant. In this study, a rapid and effective UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry method was established to simultaneously analyze chemical ingredients in Arnebiae Radix within a short period of time. Based on the results of a full scan MS, the MS2 database (mzVault and mzCloud), the diagnostic fragment ions, the retention time, and the bibliography, a total of 188 compounds were identified, with 114 of those being reported from Arnebiae Radix for the first time. The results of this study lay the foundation for obtaining a thorough understanding of the active ingredients in Arnebiae Radix and its quality control. This method may be widely used for the chemical characterization of different samples.
Copper Cobalt Sulfide Structures Derived from MOF Precursors with Enhanced Electrochemical Glucose Sensing Properties
Authors: Zhang Daojun , Zhang Xiaobei , Bu Yingping , Zhang Jingchao , Zhang Renchun
Published: April 2022

Nonenzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose is popular because of its low price, simple operation, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility. Co-Cu MOFs precursors were synthesized via the solvothermal way at first, and a series of porous spindle-like Cu-Co sulfide microparticles were obtained by secondary solvothermal sulfurization, which maintained the morphology of the MOFs precursors. Electrochemical studies exhibit that the as-synthesized Cu-Co sulfides own excellent nonenzymatic glucose detection performances. Compared with CuS, Co (II) ion-doped CuS can improve the conductivity and electrocatalytic activity of the materials. At a potential of 0.55 V, the as-prepared Co-CuS-2 modified electrode exhibits distinguished performance for glucose detection with wide linear ranges of 0.001–3.66 mM and high sensitivity of 1475.97 µA·mM−1·cm−2, which was much higher than that of CuS- and Co-CuS-1-modified electrodes. The constructed sulfide sensors derived from MOF precursors exhibit a low detection limit and excellent anti-interference ability for glucose detection.
The Mediation Role of Health Behaviors in the Association between Self-Regulation and Weight Status among Preschool Children: A Sex-Specific Analysis
Authors: Xu Ke , Zhang Yuanyuan , Dong Wenli , Tuerxun Paiziyeti , Li Chunan , Chang Ruixia , Qi Haiqin , Zhang Ya , Zhang Jianduan
Published: April 2022

Previous studies have supported the link between children’s self-regulation (CSR) and weight status, but the potential pathways have not been elucidated yet. We aimed to investigate whether and to what extent health behaviors mediate this association, as well as to explore the sex effect. For this study, we recruited 3740 preschoolers in Wuhan, China. The height and weight of children were measured, and a body mass index of the ≥85th percentile was defined as overweight/obesity (OWO). We used the Children’s Behavior Questionnaire, with measured domains including inhibitory control, impulsivity, anger, and attentional focusing, to assess CSR. The primary caregivers’ SR (PSR) was assessed with the Self-Control Scale. Information on lifestyles collected from questionnaires was utilized to construct the health behavior index (HBI). We found that Children’s HBI was associated with both CSR and PSR, inhibitory control (OR = 0.81, p < 0.001), anger (OR = 1.23, p < 0.001), attentional focusing (OR = 0.70, p < 0.001), impulsivity (OR = 1.23, p < 0.001), and PSR (OR = 0.73, p < 0.001). Children’s impulsivity was associated with their OWO (OR = 1.11, p = 0.013) which was partly mediated by the HBI (direct effect: β = 0.092, p = 0.026; indirect effect: β = 0.011, p = 0.007). The sex-specific analysis indicated that this mediation effect was only significant in boys. These results indicated that impulsivity is associated with childhood weight status, which is partially mediated by health behaviors, especially in boys.
Effect of Fermented Red Ginseng Concentrate Intake on Stool Characteristic, Biochemical Parameters, and Gut Microbiota in Elderly Korean Women
Authors: Lee Songhee , Jung Sunghee , You Heesang , Lee Yeongju , Park Youngsook , Lee Hyunkoo , Hyun Sunghee
Published: April 2022

Fermented red ginseng (FRG) has been used as a general stimulant and herbal medicine for health promotion in Asia for thousands of years. Few studies have investigated the effects of FRG containing prebiotics on the gut microbiota. Here, 29 Korean women aged ≥ 50 years were administered FRG for three weeks to determine its effect on stool characteristics, biochemical parameters, and gut microbiome. Gut microbial DNA was subjected to 16S rRNA V3–V4 region sequencing to assess microbial distribution in different stages. Additionally, the stool consistency, frequency of bowel movements, and biochemical parameters of blood were evaluated. We found that FRG intake improved stool consistency and increased the frequency of bowel movements compared to before intake. Biochemical parameters such as glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased with FRG intake. Gut microbiome analysis revealed 20 specific bacteria after three weeks of FRG intake. Additionally, 16 pathways correlated with the 20 specific bacteria were enhanced after red ginseng intake. In conclusion, FRG promoted health in elderly women by lowering blood glucose levels and improving bowel movement frequency. The increase in bacteria observed with FRG ingestion supports these findings.
Chitosan Nanoparticles for Meloxicam Ocular Delivery: Development, In Vitro Characterization, and In Vivo Evaluation in a Rabbit Eye Model
Authors: Mohamed Hebatallah B. , Attia Shafie Mohamed Ali , Mekkawy Aml I.
Published: April 2022

Eye inflammation is considered one of the most common co-morbidities associated with ocular disorders and surgeries. Conventional management of this condition with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as eye drops is associated with low corneal bioavailability and ocular irritancy. In the current study, we first investigated the capacity of different solvent systems to enhance the solubility of Meloxicam (MLX). Then, we prepared chitosan nanoparticles loaded with meloxicam (MLX-CS-NPs) through electrostatic interaction between the cationic chitosan and the anionic MLX using either 100% v/v polyethylene glycol 400 or 0.25% w/v tripolyphosphate solution as solvents based on the MLX solubility data. In further studies, MLX-CS-NPs were characterized in vitro and assessed for their ex vivo corneal and scleral permeability. The morphology, average particle size (195–597 nm), zeta potential (25–54 mV), and percent entrapment efficiencies (70–96%) of the prepared MLX-CS-NPs were evaluated. The in vitro release study of MLX from the selected MLX-CS-NPs showed a sustained drug release for 72 h with accepted flux and permeation through the cornea and sclera of rabbits. In the in vivo studies, MLX-CS-NPs eye drop dispersion showed enhanced anti-inflammatory activity and no ocular irritancy compared to MLX-eye drop solution. Our findings suggest the potential for using chitosan nanotechnology for ocular delivery of MLX with high contact time and activity.
Development of a Campus-Wide Community Service Initiative during a Pandemic
Authors: King Kevan , Davis Hannah E. , Moorman-Li Robin , Cook Kelsey J. , Seligson Nathan D.
Published: April 2022

Community service serves as a major aspect of pharmacy education; however, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represented a significant disruption to student involvement. The College of Pharmacy student council, which serves as the local student government organization for the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Jacksonville campus, developed a community service initiative to offer more consistent opportunities for students to participate in community service events, while adapting to COVID-19 restrictions. A retrospective, qualitative review of this initiative demonstrates the potential value of this model. Prior to this initiative, students relied on individual student organizations to provide service opportunities to their members. This excluded portions of the student body and led to sparse and inconsistent events, with limited variation in the types of service events available. Furthermore, de-centralized planning of service opportunities increased the difficulty of ensuring that COVID-19 safety restrictions were followed appropriately. This initiative resulted in 39 students logging over 200 service hours through nine events in the first seven months after its development. Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, our centralized initiative serves as a model for improving community service involvement.
Design and Modelling of Metal-Oxide Nanodisk Arrays for Structural Colors and UV-Blocking Functions in Solar Cell Glass Covers
Authors: Amores Albert Peralta , Ravishankar Ajith Padyana , Anand Srinivasan
Published: April 2022

We present a multifunctional structural coloration strategy for solar cell glass covers based on all-dielectric nanoscatterer arrays. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanostructures are designed to efficiently scatter in the visible and absorb in the UV region, making them suitable candidates as UV absorptive color coatings. Results from finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations on a square lattice of TiO2 nanocylinders show that a rich palette in the reflected colors can be obtained by varying the period of the lattice. The reflected colors are narrow-banded, with a typical FWHM ~11–17 nm, leading to a minimal penalty on the amount of transmitted light. This narrow band reflectance is attributed to the interaction of Mie resonances between individual scatterers with their neighbors in the lattice. The color appearance, with viewing angles of ~45°, is maintained for incidence angles up to ~70°. With TiO2 being transparent for a major part of silicon solar cells spectral response (400–1100 nm), a loss of ~4.5–9.2% in the short-circuit current has been estimated in the specified wavelength range, primarily due to the loss of photons in the reflected light. Furthermore, due to the inherent UV-absorption properties of TiO2, the proposed color-cover designs reduce the transmittance of UV radiation (320–400 nm) by up to ~63.70%, potentially preventing the degradation of the encapsulation materials and thus increasing the lifetime expectancy of a solar panel.
Special Issue “Specialty Optical Fibers, Fiber Lasers and Their Applications”
Authors: Aleshkina Svetlana , Gumenyuk Regina , Filatova Serafima
Published: April 2022

The unique properties of optical fibers enable the realization of the state-of-the-art fiber lasers, which surpass other laser sources in many characteristics and act themselves as an exceptional platform for harnessing emerging technologies [...]
Good News for Cabbageheads: Controlling Phelipanche aegyptiaca Infestation under Hydroponic and Field Conditions
Authors: Wallach Amit , Achdari Guy , Eizenberg Hanan
Published: April 2022

Phelipanche aegyptiaca (Orobanchaceae) is a parasitic weed that causes severe yield losses in field crops around the world. After establishing vascular connections to the host plant roots, P. aegyptiaca becomes a major sink that draws nutrients, minerals, and water from the host, resulting in extensive crop damage. One of the most effective ways to manage P. aegyptiaca infestations is through the use of herbicides. Our main objective was to optimize the dose and application protocol of herbicides that effectively control P. aegyptiaca but do not damage the cabbage crop. The interactions between the cabbage roots and the parasite were first examined in a hydroponic system to investigate the effect of herbicides on initial parasitism stages, e.g., germination, attachment, and tubercles production. Thereafter, the efficacy of glyphosate and ethametsulfuron-methyl in controlling P. aegyptiaca was examined in five cabbage fields naturally infested with P. aegyptiaca. The herbicides glyphosate and ethametsulfuron-methyl were applied on cabbage foliage and in the soil solution, both before and after the parasite had attached to the host roots. A hormesis effect was observed when glyphosate was applied at a dose of 36 g ae ha−1 in a non-infested P. aegyptiaca field. Three sequential herbicide applications (21, 35, and 49 days after planting) effectively controlled P. aegyptiaca without damaging the cabbages at a dose of 72 g ae ha−1 for glyphosate and at all the examined doses for ethametsulfuron-methyl. Parasite control with ethametsulfuron-methyl was also effective when overhead irrigation was applied after the herbicide application.
Numerical Simulation of Diffusion Regularity and Parameter Optimization of Shaft Grouting Slurry
Authors: Pan Weidong , Liang Suyu , Liu Shengyou , Zhao Zhining , Zha Dashun
Published: April 2022

Increase in downhole mining prompts the need to develop effective methods for maintenance of shafts. Currently, grouting behind the shaft wall is the main approach used for prevention of water seepage into the shaft. Several factors determine the grouting effect, and grouting often fails during field applications due to use of ineffective parameters. In the present study, numerical simulation was performed to evaluate slurry diffusion regularity under different grouting parameters based on the factors that affect shaft grouting. The simulation results showed that the overall diffusion radius of the slurry increased with increase in grouting time and stabilized toward the end of the simulation, under different grouting parameters. Porosity of the surrounding rock near the grouting hole gradually became denser with an increase in time, which is not conducive for diffusion of the slurry. The amount of water gushing at 146 m below the secondary shaft of Zhundong No. 2 mine decreased by 81% after optimizing the grouting parameters for application at the actual site. This decrease in amount of water had a significant anti-seepage effect, and it reduced grouting costs. The findings of the present study provide a basis for conducting subsequent shaft grouting projects.
The Role of Mineral Raw Materials Education in a Social License to Operate—A Case of Poland
Authors: Kot-Niewiadomska Alicja
Published: April 2022

The Social License to Operate (SLO), understood as the consent of a wide group of stakeholders to mining activities, has become an important element in the process of obtaining a mining license in recent years. Such a pattern of increasing importance is common, both in Poland and throughout the EU. Therefore, it should be of key importance to prevent society’s reluctance to this industry. The article indicates that a very important tool in this matter should be reliable and knowledge-based raw materials education, carried out as early as at the stage of school education. Deficiencies in this respect were revealed through a survey conducted among children and youth up to 15 years of age. The results of the survey were discussed in the context of the development of raw materials education in Poland, which results indicate should focus on emphasizing the benefits of mining, both in terms of the general public and individuals. Shaping and strengthening the mineral raw materials awareness of the inhabitants of Poland is also of key importance for the implementation of standards for the protection of mineral deposits and ensuring the country’s resource security.
BRICS Capital Markets Co-Movement Analysis and Forecasting
Authors: Maiti Moinak , Vukovic Darko , Vyklyuk Yaroslav , Grubisic Zoran
Published: April 2022

The present study analyses BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) capital markets in both time and frequency domain using wavelets. We used artificial neural network techniques to forecast the co-movement among BRICS capital markets. Wavelet coherence and clustering estimates uncover the interesting dynamics among the BRICS capital markets co-movement. A wavelet coherence diagram shows a clear contagion effect among BRICS nations, and it favors short period investments over longer period investments. Overall study estimates indicate that co-movement among BRICS nations significantly differs statistically at different levels. Except for China during the great financial crisis period, significant levels of co-movement were observed between other BRICS nations and that lasted for a longer period of time. A wavelet clustering diagram demonstrates that investors would not get any substantial benefits of diversification by investing only in the ‘Russia and China’ or ‘India and South Africa’ capital markets. Lastly, the study attempts to forecast the BRICS capital market co-movement using two different types of neural networks. Further, RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) values confirm the correctness of the forecasting model. The present study answers the key question, “What kind of integration and globalization framework do we need for sustainable development?”.
Performance Investigation and Repeatability Assessment of a Mobile Robotic System for 3D Mapping
Authors: Maset Eleonora , Scalera Lorenzo , Beinat Alberto , Visintini Domenico , Gasparetto Alessandro
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we present a quantitative performance investigation and repeatability assessment of a mobile robotic system for 3D mapping. With the aim of a more efficient and automatic data acquisition process with respect to well-established manual topographic operations, a 3D laser scanner coupled with an inertial measurement unit is installed on a mobile platform and used to perform a high-resolution mapping of the surrounding environment. Point clouds obtained with the use of a mobile robot are compared with those acquired with the device carried manually as well as with a terrestrial laser scanner survey that serves as a ground truth. Experimental results show that both mapping modes provide similar accuracy and repeatability, whereas the robotic system compares favorably with respect to the handheld modality in terms of noise level and point distribution. The outcomes demonstrate the feasibility of the mobile robotic platform as a promising technology for automatic and accurate 3D mapping.
Multi-View Structural Feature Extraction for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Liang Nannan , Duan Puhong , Xu Haifeng , Cui Lin
Published: April 2022

The hyperspectral feature extraction technique is one of the most popular topics in the remote sensing community. However, most hyperspectral feature extraction methods are based on region-based local information descriptors while neglecting the correlation and dependencies of different homogeneous regions. To alleviate this issue, this paper proposes a multi-view structural feature extraction method to furnish a complete characterization for spectral–spatial structures of different objects, which mainly is made up of the following key steps. First, the spectral number of the original image is reduced with the minimum noise fraction (MNF) method, and a relative total variation is exploited to extract the local structural feature from the dimension reduced data. Then, with the help of a superpixel segmentation technique, the nonlocal structural features from intra-view and inter-view are constructed by considering the intra- and inter-similarities of superpixels. Finally, the local and nonlocal structural features are merged together to form the final image features for classification. Experiments on several real hyperspectral datasets indicate that the proposed method outperforms other state-of-the-art classification methods in terms of visual performance and objective results, especially when the number of training set is limited.
Accuracy of Real Time Continuous Glucose Monitoring during Different Liquid Solution Challenges in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Cross-Over Trial
Authors: Schierbauer Janis R. , Günther Svenja , Haupt Sandra , Zimmer Rebecca T. , Zunner Beate E. M. , Zimmermann Paul , Wachsmuth Nadine B. , Eckstein Max L. , Aberer Felix , Sourij Harald , Moser Othmar
Published: April 2022

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) represents an integral of modern diabetes management, however, there is still a lack of sensor performance data when rapidly consuming different liquids and thus changing total body water. 18 healthy adults (ten females, age: 23.1 ± 1.8 years, BMI 22.2 ± 2.1 kg·m−2) performed four trial visits consisting of oral ingestion (12 mL per kg body mass) of either a 0.9% sodium chloride, 5% glucose or Ringer’s solution and a control visit, in which no liquid was administered (control). Sensor glucose levels (Dexcom G6, Dexcom Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) were obtained at rest and in 10-min intervals for a period of 120 min after solution consumption and compared against reference capillary blood glucose measurements. The overall MedARD [IQR] was 7.1% [3.3–10.8]; during control 5.9% [2.7–10.8], sodium chloride 5.0% [2.7–10.2], 5% glucose 11.0% [5.3–21.6] and Ringer’s 7.5% [3.1–13.2] (p < 0.0001). The overall bias [95% LoA] was 4.3 mg·dL−1 [−19 to 28]; during control 3.9 mg·dL−1 [−11 to 18], sodium chloride 4.8 mg·dL−1 [−9 to 19], 5% glucose 3.6 mg·dL−1 [−33 to 41] and Ringer’s solution 4.9 mg·dL−1 [−13 to 23]. The Dexcom G6 CGM system detects glucose with very good accuracy during liquid solution challenges in normoglycemic individuals, however, our data suggest that in people without diabetes, sensor performance is influenced by different solutions.
Axial Stress Measurement of Steel Tubes Using Ultrasonic Guided Waves
Authors: Zhu Siyuan , Xu Xian , Han Jinsong , Luo Yaozhi
Published: April 2022

Axially loaded steel tubes are widely used as primary structural members in civil engineering structures. In this paper, a stress measurement method for axially loaded steel tubes is developed based on the linear relationship between the group velocity of guided waves in the steel tube and the stress of the steel tube. The propagation modes of guided waves in a typical steel tube are analyzed using semi-analytical finite element method. A torsional mode T(0,1) is adopted to conduct the measurement. Experiments are carried out to calibrate the linear relationship between the group velocity of guided waves in a steel tube and the stress of the steel tube. The calibrated linear relationship is verified by another round of experiments on the same steel tube specimen. There is an average error of 8.2% between the stresses predicted by the calibrated linear equation and those obtained from strain gauges. Via this study, the guided wave-based stress measurement method has been successfully extended to axially loaded steel tubes.
Direct Spread Spectrum Technology for Data Hiding in Audio
Authors: Kuznetsov Alexandr , Onikiychuk Alexander , Peshkova Olga , Gancarczyk Tomasz , Warwas Kornel , Ziubina Ruslana
Published: April 2022

Direct spread spectrum technology is traditionally used in radio communication systems with multiple access, for example, in CDMA standards, in global satellite navigation systems, in Wi-Fi network wireless protocols, etc. It ensures high security and reliability of information transfer. In addition, spread spectrum technology provides the transmitted signals with a noise-like appearance, thus hiding the semantic content of the messages. We researched this technology for other implementations. The purpose of our study was to investigate new technologies for hiding data in multimedia files. In particular, we investigated the direct spread spectrum in the context of the development of methods for hiding data in audio containers. We considered various spreading sequences (chip codes) and also explored their use for hiding information in audio files. We conducted experimental studies and estimated the bit error rate (BER) in the recovered data. The article also evaluates the distortion of an audio container by the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). The results of our research enable us to find out which method of forming chip codes gives a lower BER with equal PSNR. We provide recommendations on the formation of spreading sequences to reliably and safely hide informational messages in audio files.
Utility of Cognitive Neural Features for Predicting Mental Health Behaviors
Authors: Kato Ryosuke , Balasubramani Pragathi Priyadharsini , Ramanathan Dhakshin , Mishra Jyoti
Published: April 2022

Cognitive dysfunction underlies common mental health behavioral symptoms including depression, anxiety, inattention, and hyperactivity. In this study of 97 healthy adults, we aimed to classify healthy vs. mild-to-moderate self-reported symptoms of each disorder using cognitive neural markers measured with an electroencephalography (EEG). We analyzed source-reconstructed EEG data for event-related spectral perturbations in the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands in five tasks, a selective attention and response inhibition task, a visuospatial working memory task, a Flanker interference processing task, and an emotion interference task. From the cortical source activation features, we derived augmented features involving co-activations between any two sources. Logistic regression on the augmented feature set, but not the original feature set, predicted the presence of psychiatric symptoms, particularly for anxiety and inattention with >80% sensitivity and specificity. We also computed current flow closeness and betweenness centralities to identify the “hub” source signal predictors. We found that the Flanker interference processing task was the most useful for assessing the connectivity hubs in general, followed by the inhibitory control go-nogo paradigm. Overall, these interpretable machine learning analyses suggest that EEG biomarkers collected on a rapid suite of cognitive assessments may have utility in classifying diverse self-reported mental health symptoms.
A Novel Clock Parameterization and Its Implications for Precise Point Positioning and Ionosphere Estimation
Authors: Keshin Maxim , Sato Yuki , Nakakuki Kenji , Hirokawa Rui
Published: April 2022

By convention, IGS precise clock products are computed using the ionosphere-free linear combination. Due to the broad use of IGS products, this convention is exploited in PPP-RTK models not using such a linear combination. So, in different carrier phase combinations, the code hardware biases are contained in different combinations, thus making the problem of separating biases from integer ambiguities more complicated. In this paper, we proposed a novel clock parameterization which allows facilitating this problem. Based on the proposed parameterization, we derived a dual-frequency PPP-RTK model for the undifferenced measurements and assessed this model for the static positioning case in terms of positioning accuracy, convergence, and ambiguity resolution performance. The results showed that a cm-level accuracy level is achievable with the derived models with nearly instant convergence and almost 100% successfully resolved ambiguities. We demonstrated the use of this parameterization for slant ionosphere estimation. We derived the analog of the equation linking the wide-lane, geometry-free, and ionosphere-free biases from the Fast-PPP system and used it to retrieve slant ionosphere information. Our TEC estimates showed some evidence of capability to reach an agreement of 1–2 TECU and the standard deviation of 3–4 TECU with GIM TEC values.
A Uniform Magnetic Field Generator Combined with a Thin-Film Magneto-Impedance Sensor Capable of Human Body Scans
Authors: Nakai Tomoo
Published: April 2022

A detection system for magnetic inclusions of large bulk, such as that of a whole human body, is proposed in this paper. The system consists of both a uniform magnetic field generating apparatus capable of the insertion of a whole human body and also of a high-sensitivity magnetic sensor array installed in the strong magnetic field. The system can detect the magnetic inclusion simultaneously through its magnetization, which is advantageous for detecting low-remanence magnetic materials, such as a cluster of nanoparticles. The thin-film magneto-impedance sensor was reported to be capable of tolerating strong magnetic fields of more than 3000 Gauss (0.3 T) in the substrate’s normal direction and can retain its sensitivity even in strong fields. Through a combination of both uniformity of strength and the placement of its directionally aligned, static magnetic field in a particular measurement area and its array of single-dimensional thin-film magneto-impedance sensors, it was reported that it can estimate a magnetic sample’s 3D position by using a simple equation. The aim of the system developed in this study is to nondestructively detect a cluster of magnetic nanoparticles in a human body and also to detect the position and the concentration of the clustered magnetic particles. In this paper, a prototype system consisting of a magnetic field generator with an area of W500 mm × L400 mm × H210 mm and a uniform magnetic field of 370 Gauss (37 mT) is reported. It also reported that the thin-film magneto-impedance sensor installed in the system verified the detection of 2 mm × 1 mm small ellipsoidal magnetic chips at a distance of 27 mm from the sensor element.
Seabed Modelling by Means of Airborne Laser Bathymetry Data and Imbalanced Learning for Offshore Mapping
Authors: Kogut Tomasz , Tomczak Arkadiusz , Słowik Adam , Oberski Tomasz
Published: April 2022

An important problem associated with the aerial mapping of the seabed is the precise classification of point clouds characterizing the water surface, bottom, and bottom objects. This study aimed to improve the accuracy of classification by addressing the asymmetric amount of data representing these three groups. A total of 53 Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) algorithms were adjusted and evaluated to balance the amount of data. The prepared data set was used to train the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network used for classifying the point cloud. Data balancing contributed to significantly increasing the accuracy of classification. The best overall classification accuracy achieved varied from 95.8% to 97.0%, depending on the oversampling algorithm used, and was significantly better than the classification accuracy obtained for unbalanced data and data with downsampling (89.6% and 93.5%, respectively). Some of the algorithms allow for 10% increased detection of points on the objects compared to unbalanced data or data with simple downsampling. The results suggest that the use of selected oversampling algorithms can aid in improving the point cloud classification and making the airborne laser bathymetry technique more appropriate for seabed mapping.
Multi-UAV Content Caching Strategy and Cooperative, Complementary Content Transmission Based on Coalition Formation Game
Authors: Sun Yanzan , Zhong Xinlin , Wu Fan , Chen Xiaojing , Zhang Shunqing , Dong Nan
Published: April 2022

The transmission of a large amount of video and picture content brings more challenges to wireless communication networks. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-aided small cells with active content caching deployed on cellular networks are recognized as a promising way to alleviate wireless backhaul and support flexible coverage. However, a UAV cannot operate for a long time due to limited battery life, and its caching capacity is also limited. For this, a multi-UAV content-caching strategy and cooperative, complementary content transmission among UAVs are jointly studied in this paper. Firstly, a user-clustering-based caching strategy is designed, where user clustering is based on user similarity, concurrently taking into consideration similarities in content preference and location. Then, cooperative, complementary content transmission between multiple UAVs is modeled as a coalition formation game (CFG) to maximize the utility of the whole network. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms is demonstrated through numerical simulations.
On the Acquisition of High-Quality Digital Images and Extraction of Effective Color Information for Soil Water Content Testing
Authors: Liu Guanshi , Tian Shengkui , Mo Yankun , Chen Ruyi , Zhao Qingsong
Published: April 2022

Soil water content (SWC) is a critical indicator for engineering construction, crop production, and the hydrologic cycle. The rapid and accurate assessment of SWC is of great importance. At present, digital images are becoming increasingly popular in environmental monitoring and soil property analysis owing to the advantages of non-destructiveness, cheapness, and high-efficiency. However, the capture of high-quality digital image and effective color information acquisition is challenging. For this reason, a photographic platform with an integrated experimental structure configuration was designed to yield high-quality soil images. The detrimental parameters of the platform including type and intensity of the light source and the camera shooting angle were determined after systematic exploration. A new method based on Gaussian fitting gray histogram for extracting RGB image feature parameters was proposed and validated. The correlation between 21 characteristic parameters of five color spaces (RGB, HLS, CIEXYZ, CIELAB, and CIELUV) and SWC was investigated. The model for the relationship between characteristic parameters and SWC was constructed by using least squares regression (LSR), stepwise regression (STR), and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Findings showed that the camera platform equipped with 45° illumination D65 light source, 90° shooting angle, 1900~2500 lx surface illumination, and operating at ambient temperature difference of 5 °C could produce highly reproducible and stable soil color information. The effects of image scale had a great influence on color feature extraction. The entire area of soil image, i.e., 3,000,000 pixels, was chosen in conjunction with a new method for obtaining color features, which is beneficial to eliminate the interference of uneven lightness and micro-topography of soil samples. For the five color spaces and related 21 characteristic parameters, RGB and CIEXYZ spaces and characteristic parameter of lightness both exhibited the strongest correlation with SWC. The PLSR model based on soil specimen images ID had an excellent predictive accuracy and the best stability (R2 = 0.999, RMSE = 0.236). This study showed the potential of the application of color information of digital images to predict SWC in agriculture and geotechnical engineering.
Stable Gaze Tracking with Filtering Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Xiao Peng , Wu Jie , Wang Yu , Chi Jiannan , Wang Zhiliang
Published: April 2022

Gaze tracking is basic research in the era of the Internet of Things. This study attempts to improve the performance of gaze tracking in an active infrared source gaze-tracking system. Owing to unavoidable noise interference, the estimated points of regard (PORs) tend to fluctuate within a certain range. To reduce the fluctuation range and obtain more stable results, we introduced a Kalman filter (KF) to filter the gaze parameters. Considering that the effect of filtering is relevant to the motion state of the gaze, we design the measurement noise that varies with the speed of the gaze. In addition, we used a correlation filter-based tracking method to quickly locate the pupil, instead of the detection method. Experiments indicated that the variance of the estimation error decreased by 73.83%, the size of the extracted pupil image decreased by 93.75%, and the extraction speed increased by 1.84 times. We also comprehensively discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method, which provides a reference for related research. It must be pointed out that the proposed algorithm can also be adopted in any eye camera-based gaze tracker.
A Sustainable Supply Chain Network Model Considering Carbon Neutrality and Personalization
Authors: Chen Xing , Jang Eunmi
Published: April 2022

The development of a carbon-neutral production and distribution method that minimizes the consumption of input resources and energy and facilitates resource recycling is an important global issue. Therefore, this study aimed to explore a new type of sustainable supply chain network (SSCN) that focuses on carbon neutrality and personalization. The first significance of the SSCN model is that it combines carbon neutrality and personalization problems into one research framework for the sustainable development of corporate management environments. In addition, evaluation and optimization mechanisms are crucial for decision-making in an SSCN. Thus, in this study, a creative evaluation and optimization mechanism was developed as a second significance for the sustainable development of the supply chain. The model used two evaluation indices (EIs) to measure the performance of the entire network in terms of the degree of personalization and carbon neutrality. The proposed SSCN is formulated as a mathematical model using mixed-integer nonlinear programming, and it is implemented by combining two types of approaches: hypergeometric distribution and a genetic algorithm. The results show the evaluation values and comparisons by the average values of transportation cost, handling cost, fixed costs, carbon dioxide emission cost, total cost, and average processing time. In addition to providing help for mass-customized production enterprises, this study also provided constructive suggestions for the conversion of small or venture enterprises to multi-variety and small-scale production, and it suggests the direction of job creation for such enterprises.
Does Business Group’s Conscious of Social Responsibility Enhance its Investment Efficiency? Evidence from ESG Disclosure of China’s Listed Companies
Authors: Hai Mengdie , Fang Ziwei , Li Zhaohua
Published: April 2022

Business groups are industry exemplars whose investment decisions and social responsibility commitments are important for future sustainable development. We use data from China’s listed firms from 2012 to 2018 to investigate the effects of ESG-related disclosure on corporate investment efficiency by comparing the heterogeneity in ESG-related disclosure between group-affiliated firms and standalone firms, as well as between member firms within groups at different pyramid levels. We find that (1) group-affiliated firms are more willing to disclose ESG information than independent ones, and compared with lower-level pyramid member firms, higher-level pyramid member firms have a higher propensity of ESG disclosure; (2) over-investment for group-affiliated firms and under-investment for higher-level pyramid member firms are all moderated by their higher propensity for ESG disclosure. That is, corporate disclosure of ESG information significantly promotes investment efficiency; (3) by grouping the sample firms according to analyst attention and industry external financing dependence, respectively, we find that the promotion effect of ESG disclosure on corporate investment efficiency is more significant when the firms are followed by fewer analysts, or when firms belong to industries with higher external financing dependence. Our findings suggest that ESG disclosure plays an important role in driving a firm’s investment toward desirable levels.
Inoculation of Prickly Pear Litter with Microbial Agents Promotes the Efficiency in Aerobic Composting
Authors: Liu Yiliang , Li Chao , Zhao Benliang , Zhang Jiaen , Qiu Rongliang
Published: April 2022

Prickly pear (Rosa roxburghii Tratt), a shrub mainly distributed in South China, is an economically essential plant for helping the local people out of poverty. To efficiently provide sufficient nutrients to the plant in the soil for the ecological cultivation of prickly pear, we studied the aerobic composting of a prickly pear litter with three agents, including AC (Bacillus natto, Bacillus sp., Actinomycetes sp., Saccharomyces sp., Trichoderma sp., Azotobacter sp., and Lactobacillus sp.), BC (Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillaceae sp., Bacillus licheniformis, Saccharomyces sp., and Enterococcus faecalis), and CC (Bacillus sp., Actinomycetes sp., Lactobacillaceae sp., Saccharomyces sp., and Trichoderma sp.) and a control without microbial agents. The results show that the physicochemical and microbial traits of three resultant prickly pear composts were different after the inoculation with AC, BC, or CC. The pH values of three composts ranged from 8.0 to 8.5, and their conductivity values were between 1.6 and 1.9 mS/cm. The seed germination index of all three composts exceeded 70%. The contents of volatile solids and organic matter of the three composts both decreased significantly. The BC maximally increased the total N (18%) of the compost, whereas the CC maximally increased the total P (48%) and total K (38%) contents. Contents of available P and available K of the three composts increased significantly, and the available N content in compost after BC inoculation increased by 16%. The physicochemical features showed that three composts were non-hazardous to plants, and the microbial agents improved nutrient availability. The richness, Chao1, and Shannon index in the bacterial communities of three composts increased significantly. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes bacterium became dominant in the three composts, whereas at the family level, Microscillaceae and A4b (phylum Chloroflexi) became the dominant groups. Abundant cellulose-degrading bacteria existed at the dominant phylum level, which promoted fiber degradation in composts. Organic matter and the available N content regulated the composting bacterium. The inoculants enhanced the efficiency of composting: agents B and C were more suitable exogenous inoculants for the composting of a prickly pear litter.
Numerical Analysis on the Optimization of Evaporative Cooling Performance for Permeable Pavements
Authors: Xie Jinli , Zhou Zuheng
Published: April 2022

The phenomenon of urban heat islands is mainly caused by the increase of artificially hardened surfaces in cities, and it can be alleviated by using permeable pavements to dissipate latent heat. There are many disagreements on the cooling effect of permeable pavements, and at present, it still needs more tests and modeling to prove this view. This paper proposes a 3-D transient model based on the heat transfer theory of porous media to accurately evaluate the cooling performance of permeable pavements. The influences of surface thermal parameters, storage depths, and spraying schemes on the cooling performance of permeable pavements are analyzed. The results show that compared with the peak temperature in the dry state, saturated permeable pavements can be significantly reduced. It is also found that the reflectivity of permeable pavements is positively correlated with the magnitude of temperature reduction and it has the most significant effect on the surface temperature among the discussed thermal parameters. A water storage layer with a thickness of 15 cm is recommended to balance economic costs and the cooling performance of permeable pavements. Based on the calculation results of the temperature reduction and cooling time, the optimal quantity of water spray is given innovatively. The proposed model can help improve the material components, structures, and maintenance methods of permeable pavements.
A Systematic Literature Review of Sustainable Packaging in Supply Chain Management
Authors: Morashti Jonathan , An Youra , Jang Hyunmi
Published: April 2022

This exploratory study utilises quantitative analysis to deliver a systematic literature review of published journal papers from 1993 to 2020 with the aim to identify research trends and present a comprehensive overview of research focus conducted in the sustainable packaging domain within the scope of supply chain management. This research is conducted with the data mining software, NetMiner 4, utilising the three analytical tools of statistical analysis, keyword network analysis, and topic analysis. The research also utilises the qualitative method of in-depth interviews in order to investigate current trends and perspectives on the future of sustainable packaging and to validate the analysis results. The research findings reveal that research in the field of ‘sustainable packaging in supply chain management’ field has been extremely limited, and this study acts to address this research gap. The results confirm that the vast majority of research focus has been in the fields of engineering and science. Research on the topic has gained momentum and has significantly increased since 2013 with research trends becoming increasingly diversified and gradually aligned with the concept of circular economy, while the topic of operational management has been highlighted as an area requiring additional attention. The keyword frequency analysis reveals the following highest occurring keywords in TF: life cycle; environmental impact; consumer; transportation; and production. The highest occurring keywords in TF-IDF: production; transportation; consumer; food; and environmental impact. Topic modelling revealed the following six topics: consumer behaviour; environmental pollution; circular economy; waste management; resource conservation; and operational management. This study contributes to understanding past, present, and future research agendas, and can be utilised as foundation for research development, as it provides insight to current research status and trends provided by the keyword network analysis highlighting research focus and trends in ‘sustainable packaging in supply chain management’.
Galactic Anomalies and Particle Dark Matter
Authors: Fairbairn Malcolm
Published: April 2022

This is a brief review of aspects of galactic astrophysics and astronomy which have a possible bearing on particle dark matter. It is still quite normal for particle physicists to try to solve “well known anomalies“ that are apparently seen in observations of galaxies (missing satellites, cusp vs. core, etc.) whereas a lot of these anomalies have actually been resolved many years ago. We will try to briefly review the field and discuss many of the areas in question.