bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Effects of Chitosan, Chitooligosaccharides and Their Derivatives on Lemna minor
Authors: Boros Bianca-Vanesa , Dascalu Daniela , Ostafe Vasile , Isvoran Adriana
Published: September 2022

Chitosan, chitooligosaccharides and their derivatives’ production and use in many fields may result in their release to the environment, possibly affecting aquatic organisms. Both an experimental and a computational approach were considered for evaluating the effects of these compounds on Lemna minor. Based on the determined EC50 values against L. minor, only D-glucosamine hydrochloride (EC50 = 11.55 mg/L) was considered as “slightly toxic” for aquatic environments, while all the other investigated compounds, having EC50 > 100 mg/L, were considered as “practically non-toxic”. The results obtained in the experimental approach were in good agreement with the predictions obtained using the admetSAR2.0 computational tool, revealing that the investigated compounds were not considered toxic for crustacean, fish and Tetrahymena pyriformis aquatic microorganisms. The ADMETLab2.0 computational tool predicted the values of IGC50 for Tetrahymena pyriformis and the LC50 for fathead minnow and Daphnia magna, with the lowest values of these parameters being revealed by totally acetylated chitooligosaccharides in correlation with their lowest solubility. The effects of the chitooligosaccharides and chitosan on L. minor decreased with increased molecular weight, increased with the degree of deacetylation and were reliant on acetylation patterns. Furthermore, the solubility mainly influenced the effects on the aqueous environment, with a higher solubility conducted to lower toxicity.
Encapsulation of Vitamin B12 by Complex Coacervation of Whey Protein Concentrate–Pectin; Optimization and Characterization
Authors: Akbari Neda , Assadpour Elham , Kharazmi Mohammad Saeed , Jafari Seid Mahdi
Published: September 2022

Vitamin B12 (VB12) is one of the essential vitamins for the body, which is sensitive to light, heat, oxidizing agents, and acidic and alkaline substances. Therefore, the encapsulation of VB12 can be one of the ways to protect it against processing and environmental conditions in food. In this work, the influence of pectin concentration (0.5–1% w/v), whey protein concentrate (WPC) level (4–8% w/v) and pH (3–9) on some properties of VB12-loaded pectin–WPC complex carriers was investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). The findings showed that under optimum conditions (1:6.47, pectin:WPC and pH = 6.6), the encapsulation efficiency (EE), stability, viscosity, particle size and solubility of complex carriers were 80.71%, 85.38%, 39.58 mPa·s, 7.07 µm and 65.86%, respectively. Additionally, the formation of complex coacervate was confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). In addition, it was revealed that the most important factor in VB12 encapsulation was pH; at a pH < isoelectric point of WPC (pH = 3), in comparison with higher pH values (6 and 9), a stronger complex was formed between pectin and WPC, which led to an increase in EE, lightness parameter, particle size and water activity, as well as a decrease in the zeta-potential and porosity of complex carriers.
Chemical Composition, Enantiomeric Distribution, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities of Origanum majorana L. Essential Oil from Nepal
Authors: Paudel Prem Narayan , Satyal Prabodh , Satyal Rakesh , Setzer William N. , Gyawali Rajendra
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted to examine the chemical constituents of Origanum majorana L. essential oils (EOs) that originate in Nepal, as well as their biological activities, antioxidant properties, and enantiomeric compositions. The EOs were extracted by the hydro-distillation method using a Clevenger-type apparatus and their chemical compositions were determined through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Chiral GC-MS was used to evaluate the enantiomeric compositions of EOs. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the essential oils were determined by the micro-broth dilution method, and the antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging assay and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). GC-MS analysis showed the presence of 50 and 41 compounds in the EO samples, (S1) and (S2), respectively, representing the Kathmandu and Bhaktapur districts. The oxygenated monoterpenoids, along with terpinen-4-ol, were predominant constituents in both EO samples. However, the EOs from two locations showed some variations in their major components. The chiral terpenoids for two EO samples of marjoram have also been reported in this study in an elaborative way for the first time in accordance with the literature review. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the compositions of EOs with 50 compositions reported in the literature revealed at least 5 different chemotypes of marjoram oil. The antioxidant activity for the sample (S2) was found to be relatively moderate, with an IC50 value of 225.61 ± 0.05 μg/mL and an EC50 value of 372.72 ± 0.84 µg/mL, as compared to the standard used. Furthermore, with an MIC value of 78.1 µg/mL, the EO from sample (S2) demonstrated effective antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Moreover, both samples displayed considerable antimicrobial activity. The results suggest that EOs of Origanum majorana possess some noteworthy antimicrobial properties as well as antioxidant activity, and hence can be used as a natural preservative ingredient in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
Adherence of Obese Patients from Poland and Germany and Its Impact on the Effectiveness of Morbid Obesity Treatment
Authors: Hoffmann Karolina , Kopciuch Dorota , Michalak Michał , Bryl Wiesław , Kus Krzysztof , Marzec Kinga , Raakow Jonas , Pross Matthias , Berghaus Rafael , Nowakowska Elżbieta , Kostrzewska Magdalena , Zaprutko Tomasz , Ratajczak Piotr , Paczkowska Anna
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to investigate and compare the adherence of patients treated for morbid obesity living in Poland and Germany. Methods: A cross-sectional international multicenter survey design was adopted. The study involved 564 adult subjects treated for morbid obesity at selected healthcare facilities in Germany (210 participants) and Poland (354 participants). A validated, custom-made questionnaire based on the literature related to this issue was used. Results: The degree of adherence was higher, but not statistically significant, among Polish patients (83.82% vs. 78.33%, p = 0.26140). Patient adherence was associated with gender, age, level of education, duration of obesity, number of health professionals involved in obesity treatment, and type of obesity treatment (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed in the case of age, level of education, and a growing number of health professionals involved in obesity treatment, whereas a negative correlation was observed in the case of the duration of obesity. Patients who underwent bariatric surgery significantly more often followed medical recommendations regarding lifestyle changes, compared to obese participants treated only conservatively. Adherence in the field of obesity treatment significantly increases the percentage of total weight loss and excess weight loss due to applied obesity treatment among both Polish and German groups (p < 0.001). Both the percentage of total weight loss and that of excess weight loss were significantly higher in the group of adherent patients compared to the nonadherent patients (p < 0.00001). The levels of perceived anxiety, stress, and depression were significantly higher in nonadherent patients in both countries. Conclusions: These findings confirm the role of adherence in the effective and satisfactory treatment of morbid obesity. There is a great need to improve patient adherence to overcome the consequences of the obesity pandemic.
Insight into the Formation of Cocrystal and Salt of Tenoxicam from the Isomer and Conformation
Authors: Xie Yifei , Yuan Penghui , Heng Tianyu , Du Lida , An Qi , Zhang Baoxi , Zhang Li , Yang Dezhi , Du Guanhua , Lu Yang
Published: September 2022

Tenoxicam (TNX) is a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that shows a superior anti-inflammatory effect and has the advantages of a long half-life period, a fast onset of action, a small dose, complete metabolism, and good tolerance. Some compounds often have tautomerism, and different tautomers exist in different crystalline forms. TNX is such a compound and has three tautomers. TNX always exists as the zwitterionic form in cocrystals. When the salt is formed, TNX exists in the enol form, which exhibits two conformations depending on whether a proton is gained or lost. Currently, the crystal structure of the keto form is not in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD). Based on the analysis of existing crystal structures, we derived a simple rule for what form of TNX exists according to the pKa value of the cocrystal coformer (CCF) and carried out validation tests using three CCFs with different pKa values, including p-aminosalicylic acid (PAS), 3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid (DNB), and 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHB). The molecular surface electrostatic potential (MEPS) was combined with the pKa rule to predict the interaction sites. Finally, two new cocrystals (TNX-PAS and TNX-DNB) and one salt (TNX-DHB) of TNX were obtained as expected. The differences between the cocrystals and salt were distinguished by X-ray diffraction, vibration spectra, thermal analysis, and dissolution measurements. To further understand the intermolecular interactions in these cocrystals and salt, the lattice energy and energy decomposition analysis (EDA) were used to explain them from the perspective of energy. The results suggest that the melting point of the CCF determines that of the cocrystal or salt, the solubility of the CCF itself plays an important role, and the improvement of the solubility after salt formation is not necessarily better than that of API or its cocrystals.
Microemulsions as Lipid Nanosystems Loaded into Thermoresponsive In Situ Microgels for Local Ocular Delivery of Prednisolone
Authors: Hamed Rania , Abu Kwiak Amani D. , Al-Adhami Yasmeen , Hammad Alaa M. , Obaidat Rana , Abusara Osama H. , Huwaij Rana Abu
Published: September 2022

This study aimed to develop and evaluate thermoresponsive in situ microgels for the local ocular delivery of prednisolone (PRD) (PRD microgels) to improve drug bioavailability and prolong ocular drug residence time. Lipid nanosystems of PRD microemulsions (PRD-MEs) were prepared and evaluated at a drug concentration of 0.25–0.75%. PRD microgels were prepared by incorporating PRD-MEs into 10 and 12% Pluronic® F127 (F127) or combinations of 12% F127 and 1–10% Kolliphor®P188 (F68). PRD microgels were characterized for physicochemical, rheological, and mucoadhesive properties, eye irritation, and stability. Results showed that PRD-MEs were clear, miscible, thermodynamically stable, and spherical with droplet size (16.4 ± 2.2 nm), polydispersity index (0.24 ± 0.01), and zeta potential (−21.03 ± 1.24 mV). The PRD microgels were clear with pH (5.37–5.81), surface tension (30.96–38.90 mN/m), size, and zeta potential of mixed polymeric micelles (20.1–23.9 nm and −1.34 to −10.25 mV, respectively), phase transition temperature (25.3–36 °C), and gelation time (1.44–2.47 min). The FTIR spectra revealed chemical compatibility between PRD and microgel components. PRD microgels showed pseudoplastic flow, viscoelastic and mucoadhesive properties, absence of eye irritation, and drug content (99.3 to 106.3%) with a sustained drug release for 16–24 h. Microgels were physicochemically and rheologically stable for three to six months. Therefore, PRD microgels possess potential vehicles for local ocular delivery.
Curcumin-Loaded Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Dispersed in Thermo-Responsive Hydrogel as Potential Alzheimer Disease Therapy
Authors: Ribeiro Tais de Cassia , Sábio Rafael Miguel , Luiz Marcela Tavares , de Souza Lucas Canto , Fonseca-Santos Bruno , Cides da Silva Luis Carlos , Fantini Márcia Carvalho de Abreu , Planeta Cleopatra da Silva , Chorilli Marlus
Published: September 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive and behavioral impairment. Curcumin-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN-CCM) can overcome the drawbacks related to the free curcumin (CCM) clinical application, such as water insolubility and low bioavailability, besides acting over the main causes associated to AD. A thermo-responsive hydrogel is an interesting approach for facilitating the administration of the nanosystem via a nasal route, as well as for overcoming mucociliary clearance mechanisms. In light of this, MSN-CCM were dispersed in the hydrogel and evaluated through in vitro and in vivo assays. The MSNs and MSN-CCM were successfully characterized by physicochemical analysis and a high value of the CCM encapsulation efficiency (EE%, 87.70 ± 0.05) was achieved. The designed thermo-responsive hydrogel (HG) was characterized by rheology, texture profile analysis, and ex vivo mucoadhesion, showing excellent mechanical and mucoadhesive properties. Ex vivo permeation studies of MSN-CCM and HG@MSN-CCM showed high permeation values (12.46 ± 1.08 and 28.40 ± 1.88 μg cm−2 of CCM, respectively) in porcine nasal mucosa. In vivo studies performed in a streptozotocin-induced AD model confirmed that HG@MSN-CCM reverted the cognitive deficit in mice, acting as a potential formulation in the treatment of AD.
Zinc Biofortification in Vitis vinifera: Implications for Quality and Wine Production
Authors: Daccak Diana , Lidon Fernando C. , Luís Inês Carmo , Marques Ana Coelho , Coelho Ana Rita F. , Pessoa Cláudia Campos , Caleiro João , Ramalho José C. , Leitão António E. , Silva Maria José , Rodrigues Ana Paula , Guerra Mauro , Leitão Roberta G. , Campos Paula Scotti , Pais Isabel P. , Semedo José N. , Alvarenga Nuno , Gonçalves Elsa M. , Silva Maria Manuela , Legoinha Paulo , Galhano Carlos , Kullberg José Carlos , Brito Maria , Simões Manuela , Pessoa Maria Fernanda , Reboredo Fernando H.
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, there is a growing concern about micronutrient deficits in food products, with agronomic biofortification being considered a mitigation strategy. In this context, as Zn is essential for growth and maintenance of human health, a workflow for the biofortification of grapes from the Vitis vinifera variety Fernão Pires, which contains this nutrient, was carried out considering the soil properties of the vineyard. Additionally, Zn accumulation in the tissues of the grapes and the implications for some quality parameters and on winemaking were assessed. Vines were sprayed three times with ZnO and ZnSO4 at concentrations of 150, 450, and 900 g ha−1 during the production cycle. Physiological data were obtained through chlorophyll a fluorescence data, to access the potential symptoms of toxicity. At harvest, treated grapes revealed significant increases of Zn concentration relative to the control, being more pronounced for ZnO and ZnSO4 in the skin and seeds, respectively. After winemaking, an increase was also found regarding the control (i.e., 1.59-fold with ZnSO4-450 g ha−1). The contents of the sugars and fatty acids, as well as the colorimetric analyses, were also assessed, but significant variations were not found among treatments. In general, Zn biofortification increased with ZnO and ZnSO4, without significantly affecting the physicochemical characteristics of grapes.
Electroactive Oxidized Alginate/Gelatin/MXene (Ti3C2Tx) Composite Hydrogel with Improved Biocompatibility and Self-Healing Property
Authors: Zhu Hui , Dai Weitao , Wang Liming , Yao Cong , Wang Chenxi , Gu Bingsong , Li Dichen , He Jiankang
Published: September 2022

Conductive hydrogels (CHs) have shown promising potential applied as wearable or epidermal sensors owing to their mechanical adaptability and similarity to natural tissues. However, it remains a great challenge to develop an integrated hydrogel combining outstanding conductive, self-healing and biocompatible performances with simple approaches. In this work, we propose a “one-pot” strategy to synthesize multifunctional CHs by incorporating two-dimensional (2D) transition metal carbides/nitrides (MXenes) multi-layer nano-flakes as nanofillers into oxidized alginate and gelatin hydrogels to form the composite CHs with various MXene contents. The presence of MXene with abundant surface groups and outstanding conductivity could improve the mechanical property and electroactivity of the composite hydrogels compared to pure oxidized alginate dialdehyde-gelatin (ADA-GEL). MXene-ADA-GELs kept good self-healing properties due to the dynamic imine linkage of the ADA-GEL network and have a promoting effect on mouse fibroblast (NH3T3s) attachment and spreading, which could be a result of the integration of MXenes with stimulating conductivity and hydrophily surface. This study suggests that the electroactive MXene-ADA-GELs can serve as an appealing candidate for skin wound healing and flexible bio-electronics.
Bioabsorbable Carboxymethyl Starch–Calcium Ionic Assembly Powder as a Hemostatic Agent
Authors: Ko Young-Gwang , Kim Byeong Nam , Kim Eun Jin , Chung Ho Yun , Park Seong Yong , Kim Young-Jin , Kwon Oh Hyeong
Published: September 2022

In contrast to hemostatic fabrics, foams, and gels, hemostatic spray powders may be conveniently applied on narrow and complex bleeding sites. However, powdered hemostatic agents are easily desorbed from the bleeding surface because of blood flow, which seriously decreases their hemostatic function. In this study, the hemostatic performance of a bioabsorbable powder with decreased desorption was investigated. The proposed hemostatic powder (OOZFIXTM) is an ionic assembly of carboxymethyl starch and calcium. The microstructure and chemical properties of the hemostatic powder were analyzed. The hemostatic performance (blood absorption, blood absorption rate, and coagulation time), thromboelastography (TEG), rheology, adhesion force, and C3a complement activation of the OOZFIXTM were evaluated and compared with those of the carboxymethyl starch-based commercial hemostatic powder (AristaTM AH). The in vivo rat hepatic hemorrhage model for hemostasis time and bioabsorption of the OOZFIXTM showed quick biodegradation (<3 weeks) and a significantly improved hemostasis rate (78 ± 17 s) compared to that of AristaTM AH (182 ± 11) because of the reduced desorption. The bioabsorbable hemostatic powder OOZFIXTM is expected to be a promising hemostatic agent for precise medical surgical treatments.
Compressive and Flexural Strengths of Mortars Containing ABS and WEEE Based Plastic Aggregates
Authors: El Bitouri Youssef , Perrin Didier
Published: September 2022

The incorporation of plastic aggregates as a partial replacement of natural aggregates in cementitious materials is interesting in several ways. From a mechanical point of view, the partial substitution of sand with plastic aggregates could improve some properties (e.g., ductility, thermal insulation). This paper deals with the mechanical strength of mortars containing plastic aggregates as a partial replacement of sand. Part of the volume of sand in cement mortars is substituted with plastic aggregates which originate from WEEE (Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment) and consist of a mix of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene), HIPS (high impact polystyrene) and PP (Polypropylene), or of monomaterial ABS from WEEE sorting. Three rates of replacement (by volume of sand) were tested: 10%, 15% and 30%. Mechanical tests were performed according to European standard EN196-1. The results show that compressive and flexural strength decrease with rate of replacement, but remain satisfactory for structural purposes. In addition, the density of mortar is reduced with the incorporation of plastic aggregates. The decrease of mechanical strength is mainly due to the weak bond between cement paste and plastic aggregates leading to the increase of porosity. Furthermore, it appears that mortars containing plastic aggregates could present a ductile rupture.
Potential Applications of an Exopolysaccharide Produced by Bacillus xiamenensis RT6 Isolated from an Acidic Environment
Authors: Huang-Lin Elisa , Sánchez-León Enrique , Amils Ricardo , Abrusci Concepcion
Published: September 2022

The Bacillus xiamenensis RT6 strain was isolated and identified by morphological, biochemical and molecular tests from an extreme acidic environment, Rio Tinto (Huelva). Optimisation tests for exopolysaccharide (EPS) production in different culture media determined that the best medium was a minimal medium with glucose as the only carbon source. The exopolymer (EPSt) produced by the strain was isolated and characterised using different techniques (GC-MS, HPLC/MSMS, ATR-FTIR, TGA, DSC). The molecular weight of EPSt was estimated. The results showed that the average molecular weight of EPSt was approximately 2.71 × 104 Da and was made up of a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose (60%), mannose (20%) and galactose (20%). The EPSt showed antioxidant capabilities that significantly improved cell viability. Metal chelation determined that EPSt could reduce the concentration of transition metals such as iron at the highest concentrations tested. Finally, the emulsification study showed that EPSt was able to emulsify different natural polysaccharide oils, reaching up to an 80% efficiency (olive and sesame oil), and was a good candidate for the substitution of the most polluting emulsifiers. The EPSt was found to be suitable for pharmaceutical and industrial applications.
Polyaniline/Multi Walled Carbon Nanotubes—A Promising Photocatalyst Composite for Reactive Blue 4 Oxidation
Authors: Farha Ashraf H. , Tony Maha A. , Mansour Shehab A. , El Basaty Ahmed B.
Published: September 2022

For the photocatalytic removal of the Reactive Blue 4 dye from an aqueous stream, new polyaniline/multi walled carbon nanotube nanocomposites (PANI-MWCNTs) were applied as a promising photocatalyst. The PANI-MWCNT nanocomposites were fabricated by aniline oxidation in the presence of MWCNTs using the typical direct oxidation polymerization route. The morphology, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra and the UV-Vis absorbance spectra of the fabricated nanocomposites were studied and the attained data confirmed the good interaction between the MWCNTs and PANI matrix. The PANI-MWCNTs nanocomposites were varied according to the wt%, the MWCNTs, which ranged from 0–10 wt% and the corresponding resultant samples are labeled as P-0, P-3, P-5, P-5, P-7 and P-10, respectively. Such composites showed the high potential for the removal of the Reactive Blue 4 dye containing pollutants from wastewater. The starting concentration of the dye pollutants was halved during the first 5 min of UV illumination. The oxidation technique of Reactive Blue 4 over the prepared nanocomposites were processed in a different way and the highest catalytic activity corresponded to P-7. The process reached the complete dye removal in low concentrations of contaminants. The kinetics of the removal followed the pseudo-second order regime which possesses high correlation coefficients with the k2 in the range of 0.0036–0.1115 L.mg−1.min−1 for the Reactive Blue 4 oxidation. In this regard, the combination of the PANI and MWCNTs showed a superior novel photocatalytic activity in the oxidation of commercial textile dying wastewater, namely Reactive Blue 4. This study is the starting point for future applications on an industrial scale since the successful performances of the PANI-MWCNT on commercial dye oxidation.
Interfaith Actor Reception of Islamic Covenants: How ‘New’ Religious Knowledge Influences Views on Interreligious Relations in Islam
Authors: Rane Halim
Published: September 2022

The historicity of early Islamic diplomatic documents, referred to as the covenants of Prophet Muhammad, has received considerable scholarly attention over the past decade. This article is the first to present a critical examination of the reception of the Prophet’s covenants among interfaith actors. An educative intervention instrument was used to examine how research on the historicity of the Prophet’s covenants influences participants’ thinking about interreligious relations in Islam. With reference to Stuart Hall’s audience reception theory, the study found that most participants adopted the ‘preferred’ reading of the educative intervention material, while minorities adopted ‘negotiated’ or ‘oppositional’ readings. This article discusses these findings, highlighting that participants’ openness to new religious knowledge, prior views on interreligious relations in Islam, and knowledge of primary Islamic sources influence reception of the Prophet’s covenants.
Mapping Multi-Decadal Mangrove Extent in the Northern Coast of Vietnam Using Landsat Time-Series Data on Google Earth Engine Platform
Authors: Vu Thuy Thi Phuong , Pham Tien Dat , Saintilan Neil , Skidmore Andrew , Luu Hung Viet , Vu Quang Hien , Le Nga Nhu , Nguyen Huu Quang , Matsushita Bunkei
Published: September 2022

A pixel-based algorithm for multi-temporal Landsat (TM/ETM+/OLI/OLI-2) imagery between 1990 and 2022 monitored mangrove dynamics and detected their changes in the three provinces (i.e., Thai Binh, Nam Dinh and Hai Phong), which are located on the Northern coast of Vietnam, through the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform. Results showed that the mangrove area in the study area decreased from 2960 ha in 1990 to 2408 ha in 1995 and then significantly increased to 4435 ha in 2000 but later declined to 3502 ha in 2005. The mangrove areas experienced an increase from 4706 ha in 2010 to 10,125 ha in 2020 and reached a highest peak of 10,630 ha in 2022. In 2022, Hai Phong province had the largest area of mangrove (3934 ha), followed by Nam Dinh (3501 ha) and Thai Binh (3195 ha) provinces. The overall accuracies for 2020 and 2022 were 94.94% and 91.98%, while the Kappa coefficients were 0.90 and 0.84, respectively. The mangrove restoration programs and policies by the Vietnamese government and local governments are the key drivers of this increase in mangroves in the three provinces from 1990 to 2022. The results also demonstrated that the combination of Landsat time series images, a pixel-based algorithm, and the GEE platform has a high potential for monitoring long-term change of mangrove forests during 32 years in the tropics. Moreover, the obtained mangrove forest maps at a 30-m spatial resolution can serve as a useful and up-to-date dataset for sustainable management and conservation of these mangrove forests in the Red River Delta, Vietnam.
PUFTAP-IoT: PUF-Based Three-Factor Authentication Protocol in IoT Environment Focused on Sensing Devices
Authors: Lee JoonYoung , Oh JiHyeon , Kwon DeokKyu , Kim MyeongHyun , Yu SungJin , Jho Nam-Su , Park Youngho
Published: September 2022

In IoT-based environments, smart services can be provided to users under various environments, such as smart homes, smart factories, smart cities, smart transportation, and healthcare, by utilizing sensing devices. Nevertheless, a series of security problems may arise because of the nature of the wireless channel in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) for utilizing IoT services. Authentication and key agreements are essential elements for providing secure services in WSNs. Accordingly, two-factor and three-factor-based authentication protocol research is being actively conducted. However, IoT service users can be vulnerable to ID/password pair guessing attacks by setting easy-to-remember identities and passwords. In addition, sensors and sensing devices deployed in IoT environments are vulnerable to capture attacks. To address this issue, in this paper, we analyze the protocols of Chunka et al., Amintoosi et al., and Hajian et al. and describe their security vulnerabilities. Moreover, this paper introduces PUF and honey list techniques with three-factor authentication to design protocols resistant to ID/password pair guessing, brute-force, and capture attacks. Accordingly, we introduce PUFTAP-IoT, which can provide secure services in the IoT environment. To prove the security of PUFTAP-IoT, we perform formal analyses through Burrows Abadi Needham (BAN) logic, Real-Or-Random (ROR) model, and scyther simulation tools. In addition, we demonstrate the efficiency of the protocol compared with other authentication protocols in terms of security, computational cost, and communication cost, showing that it can provide secure services in IoT environments.
Stability Analysis of Two Power Converters Control Algorithms Connected to Micro-Grids with Wide Frequency Variation
Authors: Rohten Jaime , Villarroel Felipe , Pulido Esteban , Muñoz Javier , Silva José , Perez Marcelo
Published: September 2022

Distributed power generation, micro-grids, and networks working in islanding mode have strong deviations in voltage quantities. These deviations can be divided into amplitude and frequency. Amplitude deviations are well-known and studied, as they are common in small and big grids. However, deviations on the ac mains frequency have not been widely studied. The literature shows control schemes capable of bearing these variations, but no systematic analysis has been performed to ensure stability. As the majority of power converters are designed for big grids, their analysis and design neglect frequency disturbances, therefore those devices allow a very small frequency operating window. For instance, in power converters that need to be synchronized to the grid, the standard deviation does not go beyond 0.5 Hz, and for grid-tied inverters it does not go beyond 1 Hz, whereas variations of around 8 Hz can be expected in micro-grids. This work presents a comprehensive analysis of the control system’s stability, where two different control schemes for a back-to-back static converter topology are implemented and studied under a wide variable grid frequency. Because the behavior of power converters is nonlinear and coupled, dynamic and static decouplers are usually introduced in the controller, being a key element on the scheme according to the findings. The results show that using just a static decoupler does not guarantee stability under frequency variations; meanwhile, when a dynamic decoupler is used, the operating window can be greatly extended. The procedure shown in this paper can also be extended to other control algorithms, making it possible to carefully choose the control system for a variable frequency condition. Simulated and experimental results confirm the theoretical approach.
JDAPCOO: Resource Scheduling and Energy Efficiency Optimization in 5G and Satellite Converged Networks for Power Transmission and Distribution Scenarios
Authors: Meng Sachula , Zhu Sicheng , Wang Zhihui , Zhang Ruibing , Han Jinxia , Liu Jiayan , Sun Haoran , Qin Peng , Zhao Xiongwen
Published: September 2022

Along with the continuous revolution of energy production and energy consumption structures, the information data of smart grids have exploded, and effective solutions are urgently needed to solve the problem of power devices resource scheduling and energy efficiency optimization. In this paper, we propose a fifth generation (5G) and satellite converged network architecture for power transmission and distribution scenarios, where power transmission and distribution devices (PDs) can choose to forward power data to a cloud server data center via ground networks or space-based networks for power grid regulation and control. We propose a Joint Device Association and Power Control Online Optimization (JDAPCOO) algorithm to maximize the long-term system energy efficiency while guaranteeing the minimum transmission rate requirement of PDs. Since the formulated issue is a mixed integer nonconvex optimization problem with high complexity, we decompose the original problem into two subproblems, i.e., device association and power control, which are solved using a genetic algorithm and improved simulated annealing algorithm, respectively. Numerical simulation results show that when the number of PDs is 50, the proposed algorithm can improve the system energy efficiency by 105%, 545.05% and 835.26%, respectively, compared with the equal power allocation algorithm, random power allocation algorithm and random device association algorithm.
A New Construction of 4q-QAM Golay Complementary Sequences
Authors: Peng Gang , Han Zhiren , Li Dewen
Published: September 2022

Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) constellation and Golay complementary sequences (GCSs) are usually applied in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems to obtain a higher data rate and a lower peak-to-mean envelope power ratio (PMEPR). In this paper, after a sufficient search of the literature, it was found that increasing the family size is an effective way to improve the data rate, and the family size is mainly determined by the number of offsets in the general structure of QAM GCSs. Under the guidance of this idea, we propose a new construction for 4q-QAM GCSs through generalized Boolean functions (GBFs) based on a new description of a 4q-QAM constellation, which aims to enlarge the family size of GCSs and obtain a low PMEPR. Furthermore, a previous construction of 4q-QAM GCSs presented by Li has been proved to be a special case of the new one, and the family size of new sequences is much larger than those previously mentioned, which means that there was a great improvement in the data rate. On the other hand, a previous construction of 16-QAM GCSs presented by Zeng is also a special case of the new one in this paper, when q=2. In the meantime, the proposed sequences have the same PMEPR upper bound as the previously mentioned sequences presented by Li when applied in OFDM systems, which increase the data rate without degrading the PMEPR performance. The theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed new sequences can achieve a higher data rate and a low PMEPR.
Conceptualizing and Measuring Megacity Resilience with an Integrated Approach: The Case of China
Authors: Yang Jie , Ding Yanan , Zhang Lin
Published: September 2022

Megacities play an essential role in social interaction and relationship formation. There is a need for megacity resilience to achieve both safety and sustainability. This paper set out to develop a contextualized conceptual framework and an applied megacity resilience comprehensive index (MRCI). The study provides a multi-model named the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), extending the criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation and entropy (CRITIC-Entropy) weight and introducing the time-ordered weighted averaging (TOWA) to a dynamic situation. The results show that, while the performance of resilience in Nanjing was the highest, the growth ratio of resilience in Zhengzhou was the fastest. In addition, a coupling relationship of pressure, state, and response resilience was verified, and response resilience was more correlated and showed similar trends with the MRCI. The findings indicate that response resilience is still an obstacle factor in the criterion layer in Dalian. Moreover, identified key obstacle factors in the index layer may differ by district or functional zones and need to improve unified and point to area operation. Issues around resilient culture and citizenship were found to be common. Improving public service in Zhengzhou, enhancing support for applied research in Nanjing, and optimizing the ecological industry layout in Dalian were identified as key focuses. This study should be of value for similar megacities in developed or developing countries to improve their resilience.
Study on Vehicle–Road Interaction for Autonomous Driving
Authors: Guo Runhua , Liu Siquan , He Yulin , Xu Li
Published: September 2022

Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and this can potentially affect road performance. Road performance also influences driving comfort and safety for AVs. In this study, the influence of changes in traffic volume and wheel track distribution caused by AVs on the rutting distress of asphalt pavement was investigated through finite element simulations. A vehicle-mounted three-dimensional laser profiler was used to obtain pavement roughness and texture information. The vehicle vibration acceleration was obtained through vehicle dynamics simulations, and the skid resistance indexes of 20 rutting specimens were collected. The results showed that an increase in traffic volume caused by the increasing AV traffic accelerated the occurrence of rutting distress; however, the uniform distribution of vehicles at both ends of the transverse direction could prolong the maintenance life of flexible and semi-rigid pavements by 0.041 and 0.530 years, respectively. According to Carsim and Trucksim vehicle simulations and multiple linear regression fitting, the relationship models of three factors, namely speed, road roughness, and comfort, showed high fitting accuracies; however, there were some differences among the models. Among the texture indexes, the arithmetic mean’s height (Ra) had the greatest influence on the tire–road friction coefficient; Ra greatly influenced the safe driving of AVs. The findings of this study were used to present a speed control strategy for AVs based on the roughness and texture index for ensuring comfort and safety during automatic driving.
What Drives Sustainable Development of Enterprises? Focusing on ESG Management and Green Technology Innovation
Authors: Zhang Cong , Jin Shanyue
Published: September 2022

Sustainable development of a company is an important task in corporate management. Enterprises must constantly innovate and change to achieve sustainable development. In China, considering the need for sustainable development of enterprises and the requirement of the dual carbon goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, the environment, social responsibility, and governance (ESG) management and green technology innovation of enterprises are in the spotlight. Therefore, this study aimed to use empirical analysis to verify whether the ESG performance of enterprises promotes corporate green technology innovation and to further explore corporate attributes that promote the relationship between the two. This study selected 933 Chinese A-share listed companies from 2015 to 2019 as the research object and used the fixed effect model to empirically analyze the relationship between ESG performance and the green technology innovation capability of enterprises. The results show that ESG performance plays an important role in promoting green technology innovation capability. Moreover, this study found that, compared to enterprises with low technology levels or short-listing life span, the ESG performance of enterprises with high technology level and long listing life span has a stronger role in promoting the green technology innovation capability of enterprises. Simultaneously, compared with non-state-owned enterprises, state-owned enterprises play a stronger role in the promotion. This study enriches the theoretical mechanism of ESG performance affecting green technology innovation of enterprises, and they have a certain reference value for promoting the sustainable development of enterprises.
Effects of Local Government Behavior on University–Enterprise Knowledge Flow: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Shaopeng , Wang Xiaohong
Published: September 2022

Government financial investment has been increasingly adopted as a policy support to stimulate university–enterprise cooperation, however, empirical research from the perspective of knowledge flow remains limited. We reason that school–enterprise knowledge flow can be divided into dual stages, namely, knowledge creation and knowledge transfer, and this dual efficiency can be measured with the super-efficiency DEA model. The results show that the average value of knowledge creation efficiency (KCE) is higher than knowledge transfer efficiency (KTE). We adopt the Dynamic Generalized Spatial Model method to study the effect of government support on knowledge flow dual efficiency, and the regression results show that government support has a nonlinear effect on KCE while having a positive impact on KTE. We find that intergovernmental competition has a moderating influence on the relationship between government support and dual efficiency. Fiscal transparency can enhance the moderating effect of intergovernmental competition.
Engineering Feasibility Assessment of Cage Aquaculture in Offshore Wind Power Generation Areas in Taiwan
Authors: Tang Hung-Jie , Chiang Wen-Son , Nan Fan-Hua
Published: September 2022

This paper investigates the engineering feasibility of cage aquaculture in the offshore wind farm area of Changhua, Taiwan. Two types of net cages commonly used in Taiwan are compared under typhoon wave and monsoon wave conditions to determine the suitable one. The submersible function of the selected cages to reduce the typhoon wave effect is analyzed. The yearly probability of the remaining volumes of the selected cages (deformed volume/undeformed volume) under a wave scatter diagram combined with a tidal current of the study area are analyzed and discussed. The influences of water depth on the selected cages for the site selection are investigated. Regarding the seabed sand waves in the study area, two potential disasters of mooring line failure and anchor sinking on the selected cages are considered and discussed. Both issues are a concern for the wind farm developers, fishery groups, and government authorities. According to the results, the selected cage aquaculture is feasible from an engineering standpoint in the case study area.
Predicting the Potential Distribution Area of the Platanus orientalis L. in Turkey Today and in the Future
Authors: Kamer Aksoy Özgür
Published: September 2022

Climate conditions throughout the world clearly affect every aspect of the lives of plants, animals, and humans. Platanus orientalis L. (Oriental plane) is an important tree species for the economy, culture, and forest ecosystems. Recent studies indicate that the climatic conditions significantly affect the distribution areas of Platanus orientalis L. This study aims to model the potential geographical distribution of Platanus orientalis L., which has a natural distribution in Turkey, today and in the future. The geographical distribution of Platanus orientalis L. is under pressure from human activities such as intensive agricultural production, changes in riverbanks, and increased urban development and road construction, and its population is in serious decline. The study produced prediction models using presence data belonging to the species, bio-climatic variables and altitude, and the distributions of the species were determined according to two separate global climate change scenarios. The potential distribution areas of Platanus orientalis L. for the periods 2041–2060 and 2081–2100 under the SSP5 4.5 and SSP5 8.5 scenarios were modelled using MaxEnt 3.4.1. The distribution area of the species in Turkey will be negatively affected by climatic changes due to relatively medium and high increases in the temperature. Platanus orientalis L., which is also found in the Mediterranean basin, the region subject to the most intensive climate changes, will face the risk of extinction unless it is able to adapt to these changes. Results on the current and future potential distributions of Platanus orientalis L. in Turkey provide crucial insights into species’ response to climate change, particularly to increases in temperature. Extent and locations of predicted suitable and unchanged areas for the distribution of Platanus orientalis L. can be used for developing strategies in conservation, management, monitoring, and cultivation of Platanus orientalis L. in the face of climate change.
Analysis of Residential Satisfaction Changes by the Land Bank Program Using Text Mining
Authors: Park Seongbeom , Lee Jaekyung , Park Yunmi
Published: September 2022

Many American manufacturing cities have experienced depopulation and economic downturns over the past five decades, and various revitalization strategies have been suggested to overcome the decline issue—ranging from redevelopment to smart decline. However, while most land bank-related studies have focused on socioeconomic dynamics (income levels, unemployment rate, etc.) through the program, there is a lack of direct research on residential satisfaction changes. Additionally, surveys were frequently used in previous studies to evaluate residential satisfaction; however, this method has disadvantages, including constraints on time and cost, and the inability to take into account external factors that may affect residential satisfaction. Furthermore, most studies on urban decline have focused primarily on declining factors, and there have been few investigations into how cities change as urban regeneration strategies advance. Therefore, the primary purpose of this study is to identify the influence of the land bank program on residential satisfaction by using Twitter data. Approximately 300,000 Twitter posts containing location information generated within the city of Detroit were collected to determine the degree of sensitivity to each tweet and categorized into positive and negative emotions to determine the relationship between residential satisfaction and the land bank program. As a result, the increase in homeownership, built year, house value, and the number of land banking sold properties were found to have a negative effect on neighborhood satisfaction in Detroit. Although the research results indicated that while the land bank program did not significantly improve residential satisfaction in Detroit, it has made a partial contribution to improving living standards. These findings emphasize the importance of enhancing residential satisfaction and suggest the need for policy change. In response to the problem of urban contraction, it seems that indiscriminately distributing houses is not the only solution to prevent urban shrinkage. Furthermore, this study shows meaningful results on text mining and provides the possibility of developing research using social network services.
Essential Factors Enhancing Industrialized Building Implementation in Malaysian Residential Projects
Authors: Al-Aidrous Al-Hussein M. H. , Shafiq Nasir , Al-Ashmori Yasser Yahya , Al-Mekhlafi Al-Baraa Abdulrahman , Baarimah Abdullah O.
Published: September 2022

Sustainable residential development requires a balance between the increasing demand for housing and the efficient use of materials and resources. The increasing use of industrialized building systems (IBSs) through new building techniques and materials holds high potential as an optimum construction alternative. Although considerable research has been conducted on industrialized buildings, very few studies have focused on low- and mid-rise residential buildings. Therefore, this paper aims to fill this gap. An extensive literature review was conducted to identify the critical success factors (CSFs) followed by an interview to discuss and validate the collected factors. This study resulted in twenty-six factors grouped into five CSFs comprising planning and control, roles and responsibilities, policies and incentives, industry maturity and technology advancement. In addition, 219 survey responses were collected and analyzed. Three factors were perceived differently among organizations including commitment toward IBS policy, implementation of preferential policy for IBSs and imposition of higher taxes on waste dumping. The top five CSFs were early planning to implement IBSs, extended training for local labor, effective communication among project players, project location evaluation and accessibility and standardized design concept adoption. The findings of this paper will help policymakers to review current practices and help develop a roadmap for sustainable IBS development for all industry organizations.