bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Water Sorption in Methacryl-Based Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS) Dental Composites Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Madhuranthakam Chandra Mouli R. , Pandiyan Sudharsan , Chaalal Omar , Elkamel Ali
Published: October 2023

Methacrylate-based polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) is one of the new composites used as a dental resin. Both monofunctional methacryl isobutyl POSS (MIPOSS) and multifunctional methacryl POSS (MAPOSS) are reported to be possible resins that possess the desired properties for using them as dental resins. Our group’s previous comparative study on these two resins showed that the MAPOSS composite has superior mechanical properties compared with the MIPOSS composite. In this article, molecular dynamic simulations (MD simulations) are performed to study the water sorption in these two composites. Water sorption in dental composites can have several effects on the material properties, performance, and longevity of dental restorations. Water sorption in MAPOSS and MIPOSS composites is analyzed by studying the hydrogen bonding, cluster analysis, density projection calculations, and diffusion coefficient calculation of water molecules within the resin matrix. MD simulations results are further used to understand the interaction of water molecules with the resin matrix comprehensively, which governs the composite’s mechanical properties. The water sorption study showed that the MAPOSS composite has less water sorption capacity than the MIPOSS composite. The practical significance of this study is to find properties that affect dental restoration and longevity, which can help in the design of better materials for dental applications.
Influence of Alginate Properties and Calcium Chloride Concentration on Alginate Bead Reticulation and Size: A Phenomenological Approach
Authors: Bennacef Chanez , Desobry Stéphane , Jasniewski Jordane , Leclerc Sébastien , Probst Laurent , Desobry-Banon Sylvie
Published: October 2023

Two types of alginates, AlgLF and AlgP, were used in this study to produce alginate beads by electro-vibratory extrusion. AlgLF and AlgP exhibited different Mannuronate/Guluronate (M/G) ratios and molecular weights as measured by NMR and SEC-MALS. The calcium chloride concentration was found to have the greatest effect on bead size. Higher concentrations resulted in smaller beads. AlgLF with a higher molecular weight and a lower proportion of G blocks showed smaller beads. For both alginates, the bead size was also influenced by the flow rate and vibration frequency. Alginate solution aging showed a minimal effect. Alginate reticulation was modeled using a mathematical equation. The study provides insights for the optimization of alginate-based materials in different applications by shedding light on the main factors influencing bead size. The importance of the molecular weight, M/G ratio and calcium ion concentration in the gelling process is highlighted, providing opportunities for the tailoring of alginate materials through a phenomenological model.
Biodegradability Assessment of Prickly Pear Waste–Polymer Fibers under Soil Composting
Authors: Correa-Pacheco Zormy Nacary , Bautista-Baños Silvia , Benítez-Jiménez José Jesús , Ortega-Gudiño Pedro , Cisneros-López Erick Omar , Hernández-López Mónica
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, solving the problems associated with environmental pollution is of special interest. Therefore, in this work, the morphology and thermal and mechanical properties of extruded fibers based on polylactic acid (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) added to prickly pear flour (PPF) under composting for 3 and 6 months were evaluated. The highest weight loss percentage (92 ± 7%) was obtained after 6-month degradation of the PLA/PBAT/PPF/CO/AA blend, in which PPF, canola oil (CO), and adipic acid (AA) were added. Optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed structural changes in the fibers as composting time increased. The main changes in the absorption bands observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were related to the decrease in -C=O (1740 cm−1) and -C-O (1100 cm−1) groups and at 1269 cm−1, associated with hemicellulose in the blends with PPF. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed an increase in the cold crystallization and melting point with degradation time, being more evident in the fibers with PPF, as well as a decrease in the mechanical properties, especially Young’s modulus. The obtained results suggest that PPF residues could promote the biodegradability of PLA/PBAT-based fiber composites.
Antioxidant Activities and Prebiotic Activities of Water-Soluble, Alkali-Soluble Polysaccharides Extracted from the Fruiting Bodies of the Fungus Hericium erinaceus
Authors: Zhuang Haining , Dong Huayue , Zhang Xiaowei , Feng Tao
Published: October 2023

In this study, the digestion and fermentation properties of the bioactive water-soluble polysaccharide (HEP-W), and alkali-soluble polysaccharide (HEP-A) from Hericium erinaceus and the impact on the human colonic microbiota were determined using simulated saliva–gastrointestinal digestion and human fecal fermentation models in vitro. The basic physicochemical properties of HEP-W and HEP-A were determined at the same time. The results showed that the in vitro simulated digestion had almost no effect on the physicochemical properties of HEP-W and HEP-A, indicating that HEP-W and HEP-A were partially degraded. During fermentation, HEP-W and HEP-A increased the relative abundance of the dominant butyric acid-producing genera, the microbial community structure was significantly regulated, the gas production and short-chain fatty acid production in the fermentation broth were significantly increased, and the pH of the fermentation broth was reduced. There were structural and other differences in HEP-W and HEP-A due to different extraction methods, which resulted in different results. These results suggest that HEP-W and HEP-A may be potential gut microbial manipulators to promote gut health by promoting the production of beneficial metabolites by intestinal microorganisms using different butyric acid production pathways.
Investigation and Prediction of Tensile, Flexural, and Compressive Properties of Tough PLA Material Using Definitive Screening Design
Authors: Al-Tamimi Abdulsalam A. , Pandžić Adi , Kadrić Edin
Published: October 2023

The material extrusion fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique has become a widely used technique that enables the production of complex parts for various applications. To overcome limitations of PLA material such as low impact toughness, commercially available materials such as UltiMaker Tough PLA were produced to improve the parent PLA material that can be widely applied in many engineering applications. In this study, 3D-printed parts (test specimens) considering six different printing parameters (i.e., layer height, wall thickness, infill density, build plate temperature, printing speed, and printing temperature) are experimentally investigated to understand their impact on the mechanical properties of Tough PLA material. Three different standardized tests of tensile, flexural, and compressive properties were conducted to determine the maximum force and Young’s modulus. These six properties were used as responses in a design of experiment, definitive screening design (DSD), to build six regression models. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) is performed to evaluate the effects of each of the six printing parameters on Tough PLA mechanical properties. It is shown that all regression models are statistically significant (p<0.05) with high values of adjusted and predicted R2. Conducted confirmation tests resulted in low relative errors between experimental and predicted data, indicating that the developed models are adequately accurate and reliable for the prediction of tensile, flexural, and compressive properties of Tough PLA material.
Biocomposites Based on Electrospun Fibers of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Nanoplatelets of Graphene Oxide: Thermal Characteristics and Segmental Dynamics at Hydrothermal and Ozonation Impact
Authors: Karpova Svetlana G. , Olkhov Anatoly A. , Varyan Ivetta A. , Shilkina Natalia G. , Berlin Alexander A. , Popov Anatoly A. , Iordanskii Alexey L.
Published: October 2023

In order to create new biodegradable nanocomposites for biomedicine, packaging, and environmentally effective adsorbents, ultra-thin composite fibers consisting of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and graphene oxide (GO) were obtained by electrospinning. Comprehensive studies of ultrathin fibers combining thermal characteristics, dynamic electron paramagnetic resonance (ESR) probe measurements, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were carried out. It is shown that at the addition of 0.05, 0.1, 0.3, and 1% OG, the morphology and geometry of the fibers and their thermal and dynamic characteristics depend on the composite content. The features of the crystalline and amorphous structure of the PHB fibers were investigated by the ESR and DSC methods. For all compositions of PHB/GO, a nonlinear dependence of the correlation time of molecular mobility TEMPO probe (τ) and enthalpy of biopolyether melting (ΔH) is observed. The influence of external factors on the structural-dynamic properties of the composite fiber, such as hydrothermal exposure of samples in aqueous medium at 70 °C and ozonolysis, leads to extreme dependencies of τ and ΔH, which reflect two processes affecting the structure in opposite ways. The plasticizing effect of water leads to thermal destruction of the orientation of the pass-through chains in the amorphous regions of PHB and a subsequent decrease in the crystalline phase, and the aggregation of GO nanoplates into associates, reducing the number of GO-macromolecule contacts, thus increasing segmental mobility, as confirmed by decreasing τ values. The obtained PHB/GO fibrillar composites should find application in the future for the creation of new therapeutic and packaging systems with improved biocompatibility and high-barrier properties.
Preparation and Photocatalytic Performance of Sodium Alginate/Polyacrylamide/Polypyrrole-TiO2 Nanocomposite Hydrogels
Authors: Sawut Amatjan , Wu Tongmeng , Simayi Rena , Jiao Xueying , Feng Yurou
Published: October 2023

The application of photocatalysis technology in environmental pollution treatment has garnered increasing attention, and enhancing the photocatalytic efficiency and recyclability of photocatalysts represents a pivotal research focus for future endeavors. In this paper, polypyrrole titanium dioxide nanocomposite (PPy-TiO2) was prepared using in situ polymerization method and dispersed in sodium alginate/polyacrylamide (SA/PAM) hydrogel matrix to prepare SA/PAM/PPy-TiO2 nanocomposite hydrogels. The nanocomposite hydrogels were characterized by XPS, FT-IR, XRD, TGA, SEM, and TEM. The results showed that the composite materials were successfully prepared and PPy-TiO2 was uniformly dispersed in the hydrogel matrix. The incorporation of PPy in the SA/PAM/TiO2 composite hydrogel resulted in enhanced visible light absorption, reduced recombination efficiency of photoelectron-hole pairs in TiO2, and facilitated the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic efficiency of the composite hydrogel for MB was nearly 100%, whereas for MO, it reached 91.85% after exposure to sunlight for 120 min. In comparison with nano-TiO2 and PPy-TiO2, the SA/PAM/PPy-TiO2 nanocomposite hydrogel exhibited a higher degradation rate of MB and demonstrated ease in separation and recovery from the reaction solution. Furthermore, even after undergoing five cycles of recycling, there was no significant decrease observed in photodegradation efficiency.
Reverse Micellar Dyeing of Cotton Fabric with Reactive Dye Using Biodegradable Non-Ionic Surfactant as Nanoscale Carrier: An Optimisation Study by One-Factor-at-One-Time Approach
Authors: Tang Yiu Lun Alan , Jin Shixin , Lee Cheng Hao , Law Ho Shing , Yu Jiali , Wang Yanming , Kan Chi-wai
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the feasibility of using biodegradable secondary alcohol ethoxylate (SAE) non-ionic surfactant as a building block for the formation of reverse micelles, functioning as reactive dye carriers for the dyeing of cotton fabric in non-aqueous octane medium. Ten dyeing parameters were optimised, by a one-factor-at-a-time approach, namely: (i) effect of colour fixation agent; (ii) surfactant-to-water mole ratio; (iii) surfactant-to-co-surfactant mole ratio; (iv) volume of soda ash; (v) volume of dye; (vi) solvent-to-cotton ratio; (vii) dyeing temperature; (viii) dyeing time; (ix) fixation time; (x) soda-ash-to-cotton ratio. The colour properties, fastness properties and physical properties of SAE-dyed samples were experimentally compared with the conventional water-dyed samples. The optimised condition was found when SAE samples were dyed as follows: (a) 1:20 surfactant-to-water ratio; (b) 1:8 surfactant-to-co-surfactant ratio; (c) 10:1 solvent ratio; (d) 40 min dyeing time; (e) 60 min fixation time; and (f) 70 °C dyeing and fixation temperature. The results showed that SAE-dyed samples have better colour strength, lower reflectance percentage and comparable levelness, fastness and physical properties than that of water-dyed samples. SEM images revealed that the dyed cotton fibres had no severe surface damage caused by an SAE-based reverse micellar dyeing system. The TEM image depicts that the reverse micelle was of nanoscale, spherical-shaped and had a core–shell structure, validating the presence of reverse micelle as a reactive dye carrier and the potential of an SAE-based reverse micellar system for dyeing of cotton fabrics.
Manipulating Molecular Self-Assembly Process at the Solid–Liquid Interface Probed by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy
Authors: Li Zhi , Li Yanan , Yin Chengjie
Published: October 2023

The phenomenon of ordered self-assembly on solid substrates is a topic of interest in both fundamental surface science research and its applications in nanotechnology. The regulation and control of two-dimensional (2D) self-assembled supra-molecular structures on surfaces have been realized through applying external stimuli. By utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), researchers can investigate the detailed phase transition process of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs), providing insight into the interplay between intermolecular weak interactions and substrate–molecule interactions, which govern the formation of molecular self-assembly. This review will discuss the structural transition of self-assembly probed by STM in response to external stimuli and provide state-of-the-art methods such as tip-induced confinement for the alignment of SAM domains and selective chirality. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities in the field of self-assembly and STM.
Determination of Five Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors in Multiple Honey-Based Consumer Products by Chromatographic Technique in Rat Plasma
Authors: Abu Dayyih Wael , Rasras Ammar A. , Hailat Mohammad , Karaki Rawan , Deeb Ahmad A. , Al-Ani Israa , AlTamimi Lina N. , Zakaraya Zainab , Matalqah Sina M. , Mareekh Basim , Alkhader Enas , Abu-Nameh Eyad S. M.
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to develop and verify a simple HPLC-based quantitative approach to simultaneously determine the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) sildenafil, vardenafil, udenafil, avanafil, and tadalafil in a tablet dosage form mixed with honey obtained form Jordanian market in rat plasma. PDE5Is block phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5). This blockage, in turn, triggers vasodilation by phosphorylating downstream effector molecules. Chromatographic separation was performed on a HypersilTM C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm, Thermo Fisher Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). An acetonitrile:10% Triethylamine solution (57:43) at pH 5.5 (adjusted with orthophosphoric acid), 20 µL injection volume, 1 mL/min flow rate, 25 °C temperature, and eluent monitoring at 250 nm was used to execute the current approach. Linearity was observed in the 9.6–14.4 µg/mL concentration ranges for sildenafil, udenafil, avanafil, and tadalafil, and 2.4–3.6 µg/mL for vardenafil. Each dosage form was recovered within acceptable limits at three distinct concentrations, and the assay selectivity indicated no interference from the inactive substances in the formulation. Sildenafil, vardenafil, udenafil, avanafil, and tadalafil had retention times of 3.5, 4.3, 6.2, 9.7, and 12.8 min, respectively, and tadalafil was 12.8 min. The present analytical method is comprehensive and universal for measuring the five drugs. Such an analytical method can be routinely used to detect the combination of these drugs.
Metabolomic Profiling (LC–MS2) of Flowers and Bee Honey of Dzidzilche (Gymnopodium floribundum Rolfe) and Jabin (Piscidia piscipula L. Sarg.) from Yucatán, México
Authors: Mendoza-Osorno Andrea Elizabeth , Avilés-Betanzos Kevin Alejandro , Uc-Varguez Alberto , Carballo-Castañeda Rommel , Moreno-Ulloa Aldo , Ramírez-Sucre Manuel Octavio , Rodríguez-Buenfil Ingrid Mayanin
Published: October 2023

Yucatan, Mexico, is renowned for its rich plant diversity, with ~40% melliferous plants. Yucatan bee honey (BH) constitutes ~15.83% of Mexico’s annual BH production, giving high international value. Major melliferous families in Yucatan include Fabaceae, with Piscidia piscipula (“Jabin”) as an example, and Polygonaceae, with Gymnopodium floribundum (“Dzidzilche”), crucial for BH production. This study aimed to profile the metabolome of Jabin and Dzidzilche flowers and their associated BH to identify metabolites for each flower coming from two regions (Tahdziu and Acanceh) of Yucatán. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS2), total polyphenol content (TPC), and antioxidant capacity (AC) were implemented. As many as 101 metabolites (69 in flowers, 55 in BH) were tentatively identified using spectral libraries and in silico predictions, predominantly flavonoids, which accounted for 50.7% of the total identified metabolites in flower and 16.4% in BH. Samples exhibited variations in TPC, AC, secondary metabolites, and chemical classes depending on geography and botanical origin. Dzidzilche flowers from Acanceh displayed the highest total polyphenol content (TPC, 1431.24 ± 15.38 mg GAE/100 g dry matter) and antioxidant capacity (AC, 93.63% inhibition). Among the metabolites detected in flowers (Piscidia piscipula, Gymnopodium floribundum), 50.7% were found to be part of the flavonoid chemical class, whereas in their respective honey samples, only 16.4% of the identified metabolites were categorized as flavonoids. Vanillin and vitexin were tentatively identified as potential markers for the botanical origin identification of honey from Piscidia piscipula and Gymnopodium floribundum, respectively. Recognizing botanical and geographic BH origin is important for product authentication, identification, and traceability. This study offers chemical insights that can be valuable and complementary to melissopalynology, aiding in determining the origin and quality of Yucatan BH.
L0 and Lp Loss Functions in Model-Robust Estimation of Structural Equation Models
Authors: Robitzsch Alexander
Published: October 2023

The Lp loss function has been used for model-robust estimation of structural equation models based on robustly fitting moments. This article addresses the choice of the tuning parameter ε that appears in the differentiable approximations of the nondifferentiable Lp loss functions. Moreover, model-robust estimation based on the Lp loss function is compared with a recently proposed differentiable approximation of the L0 loss function and a direct minimization of a smoothed version of the Bayesian information criterion in regularized estimation. It turned out in a simulation study that the L0 loss function slightly outperformed the Lp loss function in terms of bias and root mean square error. Furthermore, standard errors of the model-robust SEM estimators were analytically derived and exhibited satisfactory coverage rates.
Exousia and Conflict in the Gospel of Mark
Authors: König Judith
Published: October 2023

Interest in the Gospel of Mark has been steadily growing in the field of biblical studies for years. Although Mark’s narrative had long been treated as less polished and thus theologically lacking compared to the other canonical gospels in the past, many scholars now recognize it as a complex narrative with various intertwining and intentionally employed plots and storylines. This study aims to contribute to this growing scholarship which takes the narrative skill of Mark’s author seriously when it traces the term ἐξουσία (exousia) throughout the whole gospel. Special attention will be paid to the way ἐξουσία (exousia) is connected to conflict. Read through this lens, several interesting developments in the Markan presentation of Jesus, the disciples, and reader involvement will emerge. Finally, the question of why ἐξουσία (exousia) is totally absent from the Markan passion story will be answered. This study proposes to see Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross as a consequence of his practice of ἐξουσία (exousia) for which readers are prepared from the beginning of Mark’s narrative.
Early Buddhist Wisdom Literature: The “Book with Verses” (Sagāthāvagga) of the Saṃyutta nikāya
Authors: Shulman Eviatar
Published: October 2023

The Sagāthāvagga, the Book with Verses, and especially its third chapter, the Kosala-chapter (Kosala Saṃyutta), is presented here as a collection of early Buddhist wisdom literature. As the first book of the Pāli Saṃyutta-nikāya, the Book with Verses seems as an anomaly—the other four books contain some of the denser articulations of early Buddhist philosophy in the canon. Thus, scholars question whether the first book, which normally introduces verses with stories, is a real part of the collection. Scholars are also inclined to assume that the verses are the heart of the text and have shown less interest in the work’s compelling literary style. This article has three aims: First, it shows how the book, and most distinctly its third chapter, is a form of wisdom literature, with protagonist King Pasenadi of Kosala being comparable to wisdom-kings like King Solomon or Alexander the Great, and anticipating the classic Buddhist wisdom-king Aśoka. Second, it shows how this collection was designed for a performance by storytellers or preachers, suggesting that this is a feature of the Buddhist genre of prose that introduces verses. Third, it demonstrates the organic connection between the first book and the other books of the Saṃyutta.
The Application of Image Acquisition and Processing Techniques for the Determination of Wooden Pellet Length as an Alternative to ISO 17829
Authors: Toscano Giuseppe , Leoni Elena , De Francesco Carmine , Ciccone Giacomo , Gasperini Thomas
Published: October 2023

Global market developments of wooden pellets have led to an increased attention towards pellet quality. ISO 17829 defines the procedure to assess pellets’ geometrical parameters, which play a key role in pellet overall quality. For instance, pellet length influences the spatial arrangement within the stove brazier, affecting the interaction between combustion air and solid biofuel, thus affecting CO emissions. The ISO 17829 method is time-consuming and affected by the operator’s accuracy. Recent studies have investigated the application of new methods, such as image processing, for monitoring the aforementioned parameter. While also assessing the representativeness of ISO 17829’s method, this paper proposes an alternative measuring tool based on image processing named Pellet Length Detector (PLD). Samples were obtained from Italian pellet suppliers and subjected to a multiple dimensional analysis via PLD and caliper. The PLD’s overall performance led to satisfactory results, with only 10% of the samples having a bias between replicates of >2 mm. Compared to caliper, PLD led to an average bias of 0.5 mm. Moreover, a one-way ANOVA highlighted that increasing the sample size between caliper and PLD leads to a greater statistical similarity of the data obtained for different replicates. Given the prototype status of the device, a further performance upgrade is possible, especially through error modeling.
Airborne Radio-Echo Sounding Data Denoising Using Particle Swarm Optimization and Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition
Authors: Chen Yuhan , Liu Sixin , Luo Kun , Wang Lijuan , Tang Xueyuan
Published: October 2023

Radio-echo sounding (RES) is widely used for polar ice sheet detection due to its wide coverage and high efficiency. The multivariate variational mode decomposition (MVMD) algorithm for the processing of RES data is an improvement to the variational mode decomposition (VMD) algorithm. It processes data encompassing multiple channels. Determining the most effective component combination of the penalty parameter (α) and the number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) (K) is fundamental and affects the decomposition results. α and K in traditional MVMD are provided by subjective experience. We integrated the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to iteratively optimize these parameters—specifically, α and K—with high precision. This was then combined with the four quantitative parameters: energy entropy, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and root-mean-square error (RMSE). The RES signal decomposition results were judged, and the most effective component combination for noise suppression was selected. We processed the airborne RES data from the East Antarctic ice sheet using the combined PSO–MVMD method. The results confirmed the quality of the proposed method in attenuating the RES signal noise, enhancing the weak signal of the ice base, and improving the SNR. This combined PSO–MVMD method may help to enhance weak signals in deeper parts of ice sheets and may be an effective tool for RES data interpretation.
Identifying Outliers of the MODIS Leaf Area Index Data by Including Temporal Patterns in Post-Processing
Authors: Ma Baibing , Xu Ming
Published: October 2023

The moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) calculates the leaf area index (LAI) for each pixel without incorporating the temporal correlation information, leading to a higher sensitivity for the LAI that produces uncertainties in observed reflectance. As a result, an increased noise level is observed in the timeseries, making the data discontinuous and inconsistent in space and time. Therefore, it is important to identify and handle the outliers during the post-processing of MODIS data. This study proposed a method to identify the MODIS LAI outliers based on the analyses of temporal patterns, including the interannual and seasonal changes in the LAI. The analysis was carried out utilizing the data from 278 global MODIS LAI sites and the results were verified against the measurement obtained from 52 ground stations. The results from the analyses detected 50 and 92 outliers based on 1.5σ and 1.0σ standard deviations, respectively, of the difference between the MODIS LAI and ground measurements; correspondingly, 46 and 65 outliers, respectively, were identified by incorporating temporal patterns during the post-processing of the data. The validation results exhibited improved values of the coefficient of determination (R2) after eliminating the MODIS LAI outliers identified through the interannual and seasonal patterns. Specifically, the R2 between the ground measurement LAI and MODIS LAI increased from 0.51 to 0.54, 0.88, and 0.90 after eliminating MODIS LAI outliers when considering the interannual patterns, seasonal patterns, and both the interannual and seasonal patterns, respectively. The results from the study provided valuable information and theoretical support to improve MODIS LAI post-processing.
Within-Season Crop Identification by the Fusion of Spectral Time-Series Data and Historical Crop Planting Data
Authors: Wang Qun , Yang Boli , Li Luchun , Liang Hongyi , Zhu Xiaolin , Cao Ruyin
Published: October 2023

Crop mapping at an earlier time within the growing season benefits agricultural management. However, crop spectral information is very limited at the early crop phenological stages, leading to difficulties for within-season crop identification. In this study, we proposed a deep learning-based fusion method for crop mapping within the growing season, which first learned a priori information (i.e., pre-season crop types) from historical crop planting data and then integrated the a priori information with the satellite-derived crop types estimated from spectral times-series data. We expect that preseason crop types provided by crop rotation patterns is an effective supplement to spectral information to generate reliable crop maps in the early growing season. We tested the proposed fusion method at three representative sites in the U.S. with different crop rotation intensities and one site with cloudy weather conditions in the Sichuan Province of China. The experimental results showed that the fusion method incorporated the strengths of pre-season crop type estimates and the spectral-based crop type estimates and thus achieved higher crop classification accuracy than the two estimates throughout the growing season. We found that pre-season crop estimates had a higher accuracy in the scenarios with either nearly continuous planting or half-time planting of the same crop. In addition, the historical crop type data strongly affected the performance of pre-season crop estimates, suggesting that high-quality historical crop planting data are particularly important for crop identification at earlier times in the growing season. Our study highlighted the great potential for near real-time crop mapping through the fusion of spectral information and crop rotation patterns.
Pre-Launch Spectral Calibration of the Absorbed Aerosol Sensor
Authors: Mao Jinghua , Wang Yongmei , Shi Entao , Wang Jinduo
Published: October 2023

Spectral calibration consists of the calibration of wavelengths and the measurement of the instrument’s spectral response function (SRF). Unlike conventional slits, the absorbed aerosol sensors (AAS) are used as a slit homogenizer, in which the SRF is not a conventional Gaussian curve. To be more precise, the SRF is the convolution of the slit function of the spectrometer, the line spread function of the optical system, and the detector response function. The SRF of the slit homogenizer is a flat-topped multi-Gaussian function. Considering the convenience of fitting, a super-Gaussian function, which has a distribution similar to the flat-topped multi-Gaussian function, is employed to fit the measured data in a spectral calibration. According to the results, the SRF’s shapes resembling a Gaussian curve with a flat top could be derived, which contains a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 1.78–1.82 nm for the AAS. The results show that the correlation is about 0.99, which indicates the usefulness of the fitting function that could better characterize the SRF of the instrument.
Tool Wear State Identification Based on SVM Optimized by the Improved Northern Goshawk Optimization
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Xiang Zhong , Cheng Xiao , Zhou Ji , Li Wenqi
Published: October 2023

Tool wear condition significantly influences equipment downtime and machining precision, necessitating the exploration of a more accurate tool wear state identification technique. In this paper, the wavelet packet thresholding denoising method is used to process the acquired multi-source signals and extract several signal features. The set of features most relevant to the tool wear state is screened out by the support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE). Utilizing these selected features, we propose a tool wear state identification model, which utilizes an improved northern goshawk optimization (INGO) algorithm to optimize the support vector machine (SVM), hereby referred to as INGO-SVM. The simulation tests reveal that INGO demonstrates superior convergence efficacy and stability. Furthermore, a milling wear experiment confirms that this approach outperforms five other methods in terms of recognition accuracy, achieving a remarkable accuracy rate of 97.9%.
Breast Ultrasound Images Augmentation and Segmentation Using GAN with Identity Block and Modified U-Net 3+
Authors: Alruily Meshrif , Said Wael , Mostafa Ayman Mohamed , Ezz Mohamed , Elmezain Mahmoud
Published: October 2023

One of the most prevalent diseases affecting women in recent years is breast cancer. Early breast cancer detection can help in the treatment, lower the infection risk, and worsen the results. This paper presents a hybrid approach for augmentation and segmenting breast cancer. The framework contains two main stages: augmentation and segmentation of ultrasound images. The augmentation of the ultrasounds is applied using generative adversarial networks (GAN) with nonlinear identity block, label smoothing, and a new loss function. The segmentation of the ultrasounds applied a modified U-Net 3+. The hybrid approach achieves efficient results in the segmentation and augmentation steps compared with the other available methods for the same task. The modified version of the GAN with the nonlinear identity block overcomes different types of modified GAN in the ultrasound augmentation process, such as speckle GAN, UltraGAN, and deep convolutional GAN. The modified U-Net 3+ also overcomes the different architectures of U-Nets in the segmentation process. The GAN with nonlinear identity blocks achieved an inception score of 14.32 and a Fréchet inception distance of 41.86 in the augmenting process. The GAN with identity achieves a smaller value in Fréchet inception distance (FID) and a bigger value in inception score; these results prove the model’s efficiency compared with other versions of GAN in the augmentation process. The modified U-Net 3+ architecture achieved a Dice Score of 95.49% and an Accuracy of 95.67%.
Improved Calibration of Eye-in-Hand Robotic Vision System Based on Binocular Sensor
Authors: Yu Binchao , Liu Wei , Yue Yi
Published: October 2023

Eye-in-hand robotic binocular sensor systems are indispensable equipment in the modern manufacturing industry. However, because of the intrinsic deficiencies of the binocular sensor, such as the circle of confusion and observed error, the accuracy of the calibration matrix between the binocular sensor and the robot end is likely to decline. These deficiencies cause low accuracy of the matrix calibrated by the traditional method. In order to address this, an improved calibration method for the eye-in-hand robotic vision system based on the binocular sensor is proposed. First, to improve the accuracy of data used for solving the calibration matrix, a circle of confusion rectification method is proposed, which rectifies the position of the pixel in images in order to make the detected geometric feature close to the real situation. Subsequently, a transformation error correction method with the strong geometric constraint of a standard multi-target reference calibrator is developed, which introduces the observed error to the calibration matrix updating model. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by a series of experiments. The results show that the distance error is reduced to 0.080 mm from 0.192 mm compared with the traditional calibration method. Moreover, the measurement accuracy of local reference points with updated calibration results from the field is superior to 0.056 mm.
A Phase-Sensitive Optical Time Domain Reflectometry with Non-Uniform Frequency Multiplexed NLFM Pulse
Authors: Li Zhengyang , Zhang Yangan , Yuan Xueguang , Xiao Zhenyu , Zhang Yuan , Huang Yongqing
Published: October 2023

In the domain of optical fiber distributed acoustic sensing, the persistent challenge of extending sensing distances while concurrently improving spatial resolution and frequency response range has been a complex endeavor. The amalgamation of pulse compression and frequency division multiplexing methodologies has provided certain advantages. Nevertheless, this approach is accompanied by the drawback of significant bandwidth utilization and amplified hardware investments. This study introduces an innovative distributed optical fiber acoustic sensing system aimed at optimizing the efficient utilization of spectral resources by combining compressed pulses and frequency division multiplexing. The system continuously injects non-linear frequency modulation detection pulses spanning various frequency ranges. The incorporation of non-uniform frequency division multiplexing augments the vibration frequency response spectrum. Additionally, nonlinear frequency modulation adeptly reduces crosstalk and enhances sidelobe suppression, all while maintaining a favorable signal-to-noise ratio. Consequently, this methodology substantially advances the spatial resolution of the sensing system. Experimental validation encompassed the multiplexing of eight frequencies within a 120 MHz bandwidth. The results illustrate a spatial resolution of approximately 5 m and an expanded frequency response range extending from 1 to 20 kHz across a 16.3 km optical fiber. This achievement not only enhances spectral resource utilization but also reduces hardware costs, making the system even more suitable for practical engineering applications.
Should Smart Cities Introduce a New Form of Public Transport Vehicles?
Authors: Kruszyna Maciej
Published: October 2023

This study shows the concept of an innovative road and rail vehicle as a new form of public transport. Our literature review shows that the idea of a “smart city” contains not only new tools but also vehicles or infrastructure. The new vehicle is proposed based on the observed development of urban public transport means and other novel solutions. A slight innovation proposed here could allow the use of typical and operated tram routes for modified buses. A new type of vehicle could use both the existing tram routes and newly constructed sections with no tracks. It is assumed that new vehicles would drive with trams on the same, shared tracks. All of the conditions should reduce the costs of developing public transport networks in many cities where tram networks already exist. This paper contains a description of the idea and a potential case study location. The implementation conditions are outlined in the Discussion section. The title’s question is also considered there: “Should smart cities introduce a new form of public transport vehicles?” In addition, the potential benefits as well as threats are presented. Conclusions define the next steps for the research. So, this paper is an introduction to the wider research. It will popularize the idea of a new vehicle and could motivate the industry to construct a prototype. At this stage, no models or detailed calculations were conducted.
Gender Construct for Sustainable Development in Pakistan: Evaluating Alignment of Education System with the Religious Ideology
Authors: Mursaleen Huma , Taimur Sadaf
Published: October 2023

Gender construct plays a role in activating or deactivating gender equality in society, which is an essential factor for sustainable development. An education system is a primary source of building and mainstreaming social values, especially gender constructs, and Pakistan’s education system aims to provide equal access and un-discriminatory education to both boys and girls, aligned with religious ideology. The current research evaluates the alignment between the gender construct informed by religion in the education system of Pakistan and the gender construct informed by the local religious perception. To achieve this purpose, this research captures the perceptions of local experts on gender constructs, guided by the education system and underlining religious (Islamic) ideology via semi-structured interviews. The research identifies that the obsolete interpretation of religion, aligned with the local interpretation, guides biased gender constructs through the education system. The current research has identified the leverage points to transform the current education system of Pakistan into a sustainable education system by promoting religiously acceptable gender-inclusive education.
Comparison between Chemical and Biological Degradation Processes for Perfluorooctanoic Acid
Authors: Shu Xuhan , Pulicharla Rama , Kumar Pratik , Brar Satinder Kaur
Published: October 2023

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a perfluoro compound that contains an eight-carbon perfluoroalkyl chain followed by a carboxylic acid function group. The C-F bound possesses a strong bond energy of approximately 485 kJ/mol, rendering PFOA thermally and chemically stable. It has found applications in water-resistant coating and is produced either by degrading other long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids or fluorotelomer alcohol. PFOA is challenging to further degrade during water treatment processes, leading to its accumulation in natural systems and causing contamination. Research has been conducted to develop several methods for its removal from the water system, but only a few of these methods effectively degrade PFOA. This review compares the most common chemical degradation methods such as photochemical, electrochemical, and sonochemical methods, to the cutting-edge biodegradation method. The chemical degradation and biodegradation methods both involve the stepwise degradation of PFOA, with the latter capable of occurring both aerobically and anaerobically. However, the degradation efficiency of the biological process is lower when compared to the chemical process, and further research is needed to explore the biological degradation aspect.
Predictive Analytics and Machine Learning for Real-Time Supply Chain Risk Mitigation and Agility
Authors: Aljohani Abeer
Published: October 2023

Supply chain agility has become a key success factor for businesses trying to handle upheavals and uncertainty in today’s quickly changing business environment. Proactive risk reduction is essential for achieving this agility. To facilitate real-time risk prevention and improve agility, this research study proposes an innovative strategy that makes use of machine learning as well as predictive analytics approaches. Traditional supply chain risk management frequently uses post-event analysis as well as historical data, which restricts its ability to address real-time interruptions. This research, on the other hand, promotes a futuristic methodology that uses predictive analytics to foresee possible disruptions. Based on contextual and historical data, machine learning models can be trained to find patterns and correlations as well as anomalies that point to imminent dangers. Organizations can identify risks as they arise and take preventative measures by incorporating these models into a real-time monitoring system. This study examines numerous predictive analytics methods, showing how they can be used to spot supply chain risks. These methods include time series analysis and anomaly detection as well as natural language processing. Additionally, risk assessment models are continuously improved and optimized using machine learning algorithms, assuring their accuracy and adaptability in changing contexts. This research clarifies the symbiotic relationship among predictive analytics and machine learning as well as supply chain agility using a synthesis of theoretical discourse and practical evidence. Case studies from various sectors highlight the usefulness and advantages of the suggested strategy. The advantages of this novel technique include improved risk visibility and quicker response times as well as the capacity to quickly modify operations. The development of a holistic framework that incorporates predictive analytics and machine learning into risk management procedures, setting the path for real-time risk identification as well as mitigation, is one of the theoretical contributions. On the practical side, the case studies offered in this paper show the actual benefits as well as the adaptability of the proposed approach across a wide range of businesses.
A Bibliometric Review of Revenue Management in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry, 1989–2021
Authors: Subying Chatarin , Yoopetch Chanin
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to examine the conceptual development, trends, and intellectual structures in the literature on revenue management in the tourism and hospitality industry. This study applied the bibliometric review method to analyze 1165 Scopus-indexed documents. Descriptive analyses, citation analysis, co-citation analysis, and keyword co-occurrence analysis were used to investigate the intellectual structure of the revenue management literature. The concept of revenue management literature has been globally examined since 2008 with greater interest over time. According to co-citation analysis, three schools of thought are identified, including customer orientation, operational performance, and revenue management technique. Most highly influential documents are conceptual papers. Six dominant topics in the research field of revenue management, including dynamic pricing, tourism, hotel, hospitality, machine learning, and consumer behavior, have recently been examined in the literature. As research in the revenue management literature has shifted to consumer orientation, applying consumer behavior theories to explain revenue management practices is beneficial to provide more significant insights for researchers. In addition, the literature has expanded to include different types of businesses, making it imperative to examine the application of revenue management in each type of business.
The Use and Recycling of Agricultural Plastic Mulch in China: A Review
Authors: Yang Hongguang , Hu Zhichao , Wu Feng , Guo Kai , Gu Fengwei , Cao Mingzhu
Published: October 2023

The use of plastic film for mulching cultivation is an important agricultural production technology, which plays an important role in achieving agricultural yield increase and farmers’ income increase. China’s use of plastic mulch ranks first in the world, and China is also the country with the most severe residual plastic mulch pollution in farmland. It is of great significance to have a comprehensive understanding of the use and resource recycling of plastic mulch in China. As a result, this article reviews the recent advances in the use and recycling of plastic mulch in China. First, the types and characteristics of commonly used agricultural plastic mulch are introduced. Then, the development process and application situation of plastic mulch in China are mainly summarized, and the problems of farmland soil and environmental pollution caused by residual plastic mulch are discussed. Finally, the current situation, main practices, and existing problems of waste plastic mulch recycling in China’s farmland are explained in detail from the perspectives of government policy formulation and farmer practice. The research in this article will play an important role in further solving the problem of plastic mulch pollution in farmland soil in China and can also provide a reference for other countries.