bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of Coalesced Bainite in Hydrogen Embrittlement of Tempered Martensitic Steels
Authors: Shin Hee-Chang , Kim Sang-Gyu , Hwang Byoungchul
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the role of coalesced bainite in enhancing the hydrogen embrittlement resistance of tempered martensitic steels. By analyzing the microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties under varying cooling rates, it was found that the presence of coalesced bainite significantly impedes hydrogen accumulation at prior austenite grain boundaries. This leads to a transition in the fracture mode from intergranular to transgranular, thereby improving the overall resistance to hydrogen embrittlement in steels. Slow strain rate tests (SSRTs) on both smooth and notched specimens further confirmed that steels cooled at lower rates, which form a higher fraction of coalesced bainite, exhibiting superior hydrogen embrittlement resistance. These findings suggest that optimizing the cooling process to promote coalesced bainite formation could be a valuable strategy for enhancing the performance of tempered martensitic steels in hydrogen-rich environments.
Identification of Novel PPARγ Partial Agonists Based on Virtual Screening Strategy: In Silico and In Vitro Experimental Validation
Authors: Lian Yu-E , Wang Mei , Ma Lei , Yi Wei , Liao Siyan , Gao Hui , Zhou Zhi
Published: October 2024

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) including rosiglitazone and pioglitazone function as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) full agonists, which have been known as a class to be among the most effective drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, side effects of TZDs such as fluid retention and weight gain are associated with their full agonistic activities toward PPARγ induced by the AF-2 helix-involved “locked” mechanism. Thereby, this study aimed to obtain novel PPARγ partial agonists without direct interaction with the AF-2 helix. Through performing virtual screening of the Targetmol L6000 Natural Product Library and utilizing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, as well as molecular mechanics Poisson–Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) analysis, four compounds including tubuloside b, podophyllotoxone, endomorphin 1 and paliperidone were identified as potential PPARγ partial agonists. An in vitro TR-FRET competitive binding assay showed podophyllotoxone displayed the optimal binding affinity toward PPARγ among the screened compounds, exhibiting IC50 and ki values of 27.43 µM and 9.86 µM, respectively. Further cell-based transcription assays were conducted and demonstrated podophyllotoxone’s weak agonistic activity against PPARγ compared to that of the PPARγ full agonist rosiglitazone. These results collectively demonstrated that podophyllotoxone could serve as a PPARγ partial agonist and might provide a novel candidate for the treatment of various diseases such as T2DM.
Continuous Glucose Monitor Metrics That Predict Neonatal Adiposity in Early and Later Pregnancy Are Higher in Obesity Despite Macronutrient-Controlled Eucaloric Diets
Authors: Hernandez Teri L. , Farabi Sarah S. , Van Pelt Rachael E. , Hirsch Nicole , Dunn Emily Z. , Haugen Elizabeth A. , Reece Melanie S. , Friedman Jacob E. , Barbour Linda A.
Published: October 2024

Background: Fasting glucose is higher in pregnancies with obesity (OB); less is known about postprandial (PP) and nocturnal patterns when the diet is eucaloric and fixed or about the continuous-glucose-monitor (CGM) metrics that predict neonatal adiposity (NB%fat). We hypothesized that continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) would reveal higher glycemia in OB vs. normal weight (NW) during Early (14–16 weeks) and Later (26–28 weeks) gestation despite macronutrient-controlled eucaloric diets and elucidate unique predictors of NB%fat. Methods: In a prospective, parallel-group comparative study, a eucaloric diet (NW: 25 kcal/kg; OB: 30 kcal/kg) was provided (50% carbohydrate [20% simple/30% complex; of total calories], 35% fat, 15% protein) to Early and Later gestation groups wearing a blinded CGM for three days. CGM metrics (mean fasting; 1 h and 2 h PP; daytime and nocturnal glucose; percent time-in-range (%TIR: 63–140 mg/dL); PP excursions; and area-under-the-curve [AUC]) were interrogated between groups and as predictors of NB%fat by dual X-ray absorptiometry(DXA). Results: Fifty-four women with NW (BMI: 23 kg/m2; n = 27) and OB (BMI: 32; n = 27) provided their informed consent to participate. Early, the daytime glucose was higher in OB vs. NW (mean ± SEM) (91 ± 2 vs. 85 ± 2 mg/dL, p = 0.017), driven by 2 h PP glucose (95 ± 2 vs. 88 ± 2, p = 0.004). Later, those with OB exhibited higher nocturnal (89 ± 2 vs. 81 ± 2), daytime (95 ± 2 vs. 87 ± 2), 1 h (109 ± 3 vs. 98 ± 2), and 2 h PP (101 ± 3 vs. 92 ± 2) glucose (all p < 0.05) but no difference in %TIR (95–99%). Postprandial peak excursions for all meals were markedly blunted in both the Early (9–19 mg/dL) and Later (15–26 mg/dL). In OB, the Later group’s 24 h AUC was correlated with NB%fat (r = 0.534, p = 0.02). Despite similar weight gain, infants of OB had higher birthweight (3528 ± 107 vs. 3258 ± 74 g, p = 0.037); differences in NB%fat did not reach statistical significance (11.0 vs. 8.9%; p > 0.05). Conclusions: Despite macronutrient-controlled eucaloric diets, pregnancies with OB had higher glycemia Early and Later in gestation; the Later 24 h glucose AUC correlated with NB%fat. However, glycemic patterns were strikingly lower than current management targets.
The Effect of the Oral Contraceptive Pill on Acute Glycaemic Response to an Oral Glucose Bolus in Healthy Young Women: A Randomised Crossover Study
Authors: Cree Julia M. E. , Brennan Niamh M. , Poppitt Sally D. , Miles-Chan Jennifer L.
Published: October 2024

Background/Objective: The oral contraceptive pill (OCP) is widely used by women worldwide, yet the influence of the OCP on carbohydrate metabolism remains under-investigated, with existing studies being few and largely cross-sectional. The study objective was to assess, for the first time, the effect of the combined OCP on postprandial glycaemic response to an oral glucose bolus, using a randomised crossover design. Methods: The effect of a combined monophasic OCP phase on glucose homeostasis and metabolic profile was investigated in 21 healthy young women, who were regular users of either androgenic or anti-androgenic OCP formulations. Plasma glycaemic markers (glucose, insulin and C-peptide) were assessed prior to a 60 g glucose drink (fasting) and for a further 4 h postprandially; once during the “active” (hormone-containing) pill phase and once during the “inactive” (hormone-free) pill phase of the OCP usage cycle. Results: Despite no change in fasting values, in androgenic pill users, postprandial glucose and insulin responses to an oral glucose bolus were ~100% and ~50% greater, respectively, during the active versus inactive phase. In contrast, in anti-androgenic pill users there was no significant change in response between the two OCP usage cycle phases. Conclusions: These findings highlight an acute, but potentially detrimental, influence of the combined OCP on glucose homeostasis, particularly in users of formulations containing androgenic progestogens. Given the high global prevalence of OCP use and increasingly common prolonged active pill regimens, which may continue for months, years or even decades, potential cumulative effects of such changes on metabolic risk demand further investigation.
Enhancing Gentamicin Antibacterial Activity by Co-Encapsulation with Thymoquinone in Liposomal Formulation
Authors: Alzahrani Raghad R. , Alkhulaifi Manal M. , Al Jeraisy Majed , Albekairy Abdulkareem M. , Ali Rizwan , Alrfaei Bahauddeen M. , Ehaideb Salleh N. , Al-Asmari Ahmed I. , Qahtani Sultan Al , Halwani Abdulaziz , Yassin Alaa Eldeen B. , Halwani Majed A.
Published: October 2024

Background and Purpose. Gentamicin (GEN) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that cannot be prescribed freely because of its toxicity. Thymoquinone (THQ), a phytochemical, has antibacterial, antioxidant, and toxicity-reducing properties. However, its hydrophobicity and light sensitivity make it challenging to utilize. This incited the idea of co-encapsulating GEN and THQ in liposomes (Lipo-GEN-THQ). Method. Lipo-GEN-THQ were characterized using the zeta-potential, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The liposomes’ stability was evaluated under different storage and biological conditions. Lipo-GEN-THQ’s efficacy was investigated by the minimum inhibitory/bactericidal concentrations (MICs-MBCs), time–kill curves, and antibiofilm and antiadhesion assays. Bacterial interactions with the empty and GEN-THQ-loaded liposomes were evaluated using TEM. Results. The Lipo-GEN-THQ were spherical, monodispersed, and negatively charged. The Lipo-GEN-THQ were relatively stable and released GEN sustainably over 24 h. The liposomes exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than free GEN, as evidenced by the four-fold lower MIC and biofilm eradication in resistant E. coli strain (EC-219). TEM images display how the empty liposomes fused closely to the tested bacteria and how the loaded liposomes caused ultrastructure damage and intracellular component release. An antiadhesion assay showed that the Lipo-GEN-THQ and free GEN (0.125 mg/L) similarly inhibited Escherichia coli (EC-157) adhesion to the A549 cells (68% vs. 64%). Conclusions. The Lipo-THQ-GEN enhanced GEN by combining it with THQ within the liposomes, reducing the effective dose. The reduction in the GEN dose after adding THQ may indirectly reduce the toxicity and aid in developing an enhanced and safer form of GEN.
Antimicrobial Activities of Essential Oils of Different Pinus Species from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Mirković Snježana , Tadić Vanja , Milenković Marina T. , Ušjak Dušan , Racić Gordana , Bojović Dragica , Žugić Ana
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: The emergence of antimicrobial resistance has urged researchers to explore new antimicrobial agents, such as essential oils (EOs). The aim of this study was to examine chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the EOs from the needles and green cones of four Pinus species (Pinus mugo Turra., P. nigra J.F., P. syilvestris L., and P. halepensis Miller) from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: Chemical profiles of EOs were assessed by gas chromatography, while microdilution method was used to test their antimicrobial activity. A synergistic action of EOs and gentamicin was investigated by the checkerboard assay. Results: The chemical composition of the tested EOs showed a high percentage of α-pinene, (E)-caryophyllene, limonene, germacrene D, myrcene, and δ-3-carene. EO from green cones of P. sylvestris showed high efficiency against S. aureus and E. faecalis. The MIC of P. nigra cones’ EO was 100 μg/mL against E. coli. The EO of P. halepensis green cones demonstrated the strongest activity against E. faecalis. EOs of P. halepensis needles and green cones exhibited the highest activity against C. albicans. Further, synergistic interaction was detected in combination of the selected EOs/gentamicin toward S. aureus and K. pneumoniae. Conclusions: Among the tested EOs, oils of P. sylvestris cones and P. halepensis cones and needles showed the greatest antimicrobial activity. The same EOs and EO from P. nigra cones displayed synergistic potential in combination with gentamicin, supporting their utilization as antimicrobial agents alone or in combination with antibiotics, which is in line with their ethnopharmacological usage and circular bioeconomy principles.
Research on B4C/PEEK Composite Material Radiation Shielding
Authors: Li Hongxia , Guo Hongping , Tu Hui , Chen Xiao , Zeng Xianghua
Published: October 2024

There are various types of charged particles in the space environment, which can cause different types of radiation damage to materials and devices, leading to on-orbit failures and even accidents for spacecraft. Developing lightweight and efficient radiation-shielding materials is an effective approach to improving the inherent protection of spacecraft. The protective performance of different materials against proton and electron spectra in the Earth’s radiation belts is evaluated using a Geant4 simulation. Based on the simulation results, suitable hardening components were selected to design composite materials, and B4C/PEEK composites with different B4C contents were successfully prepared. The experimental results demonstrate that the simulated and experimental results for the electron, proton and neutron shielding performance of the B4C/PEEK composites are consistent. These composites exhibit excellent radiation shielding capabilities against electrons, protons and neutrons, and the radiation protection performance improves with increasing B4C content in the B4C/PEEK composite materials.
Continuous Material Deposition on Filaments in Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Naim Guy , Magdassi Shlomo , Mandler Daniel
Published: October 2024

A novel approach, i.e., Continuous Material Deposition on Filaments (CMDF), for the incorporation of active materials within 3D-printed structures is presented. It is based on passing a filament through a solution in which the active material is dissolved together with the polymer from which the filament is made. This enables the fabrication of a variety of functional 3D-printed objects by fused deposition modeling (FDM) using commercial filaments without post-treatment processes. This generic approach has been demonstrated in objects using three different types of materials, Rhodamine B, ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), and Ciprofloxacin (Cip). The functionality of these objects is demonstrated through strong antibacterial activity in ZnO NPs and the controlled release of the antibiotic Cip. CMDF does not alter the mechanical properties of FDM-printed structures, can be applied with any type of FDM printer, and is, therefore, expected to have applications in a wide variety of fields.
How Can Humans Attain a Harmonious Cosmic Order? Max Scheler’s Insights into Religious Experience in the Middle Period
Authors: Shi Yuanping
Published: October 2024

This paper critically examines Scheler’s mid-period religious theory, focusing on his pursuit of a harmonious cosmic order and religious experience by integrating Catholic theology and phenomenology. The argument has four key stages. First, I argue that the realization of this cosmic order, which enables communion with both the cosmos and God, relies on three elements: spiritual intuition, love, and faith in God’s reality. Second, I contend that these elements, in turn, originate from God’s self-revelation and divine love, which establish a bidirectional relationship between humanity and God. Third, I demonstrate that this mutuality is deepened through Scheler’s dual-layered cosmic order, which employs analogy and phenomenological intuition to distinguish between the microcosm and the macrocosm. Finally, I identify two critical limitations in Scheler’s framework: his oversimplification of the divine–human asymmetry through analogy and his insufficient treatment of the origins of evil. Therefore, while Scheler’s synthesis offers valuable insights, it necessitates the further exploration of metaphysical and religious questions, particularly those concerning divine transcendence and the nature of evil.
Moderating Natural Theology: A Heuristic Interrogative Approach
Authors: Moser Paul K.
Published: October 2024

This article proposes an underappreciated value for traditional natural theology and its familiar arguments for the existence of God, without endorsing the soundness or the rational cogency of these arguments. Famously, Aquinas and Kant represent two extremes, with Aquinas endorsing some natural theology arguments for God’s existence and Kant opposing such arguments. This article recommends a moderating approach, on the grounds that while Aquinas is unduly optimistic here by the epistemic standards of many inquirers, Kant is too pessimistic regarding the heuristic value of the relevant natural theology arguments. The neglected heuristic value of these arguments, according to this article, is in their prompting in unique ways some challenging and fruitful questions for inquiry about God. The disputed natural theology arguments have not achieved anything near a consensus on their soundness or rational cogency, but they still can have significant heuristic value aside from their soundness or rational cogency. This article identifies the relevant fruitful questions and their theoretical importance for human inquiry about God. Ultimately, a heuristic interrogative approach to familiar arguments of natural theology gives these arguments a new role with resilient heuristic value for inquiry about God, even if they do not justify the belief that God exists. Such moderation, this article contends, is rationally defensible with regard to these arguments.
Transfers of Sacredness and the Trifunctional Imagery
Authors: Vermander Benoît
Published: October 2024

Studies on the Indo-European principle of trifunctionality and on the medieval Three Estates imagery provide researchers with precious resources for investigating the ways and means through which social representations become loaded with sacredness, and sacredness progressively transferred from one set of social representations to another. This article focuses on the transformations undergone by the Three Estates religious substratum, first at the time of the birth of Absolutism, and second during and after the French Revolution. In the case of France (and with openings towards other contexts), it shows how trifunctionality has been attributed, alternatively or conjointly, to the bourgeoisie and to the nation. Triune imagery has thus contributed to shape rituals and symbols proper to civil religion in France. Additionally, this contribution draws lessons from our case study for assessing both the resilience and the power of metamorphosis proper to symbolic references once the latter are organized into patterns that nurture a community’s cohesiveness by the putting into motion of images, narratives and ritual practices.
Quantifying Night Sky Brightness as a Stressor for Coastal Ecosystems in Moreton Bay, Queensland
Authors: Levin Noam , Cooper Rachel Madeleine , Kark Salit
Published: October 2024

Growing light pollution is increasingly studied in terrestrial environments. However, research on night lights in coastal ecosystems is limited. We aimed to complement spaceborne remote sensing with ground-based hemispheric photos to quantify the exposure of coastal habitats to light pollution. We used a calibrated DSLR Canon camera with a fisheye lens to photograph the night sky in 24 sites in the rapidly developing area of Moreton Bay, Queensland, Australia, extracting multiple brightness metrics. We then examined the use of the LANcubeV2 photometer and night-time satellite data from SDGSAT-1 for coastal areas. We found that the skies were darker in less urbanized areas and on islands compared with the mainland. Sky brightness near the zenith was correlated with satellite observations only at a coarse spatial scale. When examining light pollution horizontally above the horizon (60–80° degrees below the zenith), we found that the seaward direction was brighter than the landward direction in most sites due to urban glow on the seaward side. These findings emphasize the importance of ground measurements of light pollution alongside satellite imagery. In order to reduce the exposure of coastal ecosystems to light pollution, actions need to go beyond sites with conservation importance and extend to adjacent urban areas.
Water–Ecological Health Assessment Considering Water Supply–Demand Balance and Water Supply Security: A Case Study in Xinjiang
Authors: Zhang Ji , Lai Xiaoying , Long Aihua , Zhang Pei , Deng Xiaoya , Deng Mingjiang , Ren Cai , Xiao Yi
Published: October 2024

Water scarcity and ecological degradation in arid zones present significant challenges to regional ecological health. Despite this, integrating the water supply–demand balance and water supply security (SEC) into ecological health assessments—particularly through composite indicators—remains underexplored in arid regions. In this study, we assessed the ecological health changes in Xinjiang by utilizing multivariate remote sensing data, focusing on the balance between water supply and demand, the degree of SEC, and ecosystem resilience (ER). Our results indicate that while water supply and demand remained relatively stable in northern Xinjiang between 2000 and 2020, the conflict between supply and demand intensified in the southern and eastern agricultural regions. SEC evaluations revealed that 73.3% of the region experienced varying degrees of decline over the 20-year period. Additionally, ER assessments showed that 7.12% of the region exhibited a significant decline, with 78.6% experiencing overall reductions in ecological health. The indicators’ response to drought demonstrated that improvements in ecological health during wet conditions were less pronounced than declines during droughts. This study underscores the necessity of prioritizing areas with lower ecological health in future water allocation strategies to optimize water resource utilization.
Experimental Investigation of Meter-Level Resolution Radar Measurement at Ka Band in Yellow Sea
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxiao , Su Xiang , Liu Lixia , Wu Zhensen
Published: October 2024

The backscatter characteristics of ocean surfaces are of great importance in active marine remote-sensing fields. This paper presents the high spatial and temporal resolution dual co-polarized (VV and HH) and cross-polarized (HV) Ka-band sea-surface backscattering measurements taken from the Yellow Sea research platform at incidence angles ranging from 30° to 50° and in the wind speed range from 5.8 to 8.6 m/s. The experimental results show that the backscattering coefficient in HH polarization is close to (or even surpassing) that in VV polarization within a wind speed range of 7.1 to 8.6 m/s for Ka band under high resolution at medium incidence angles (30°–50°). Further analysis of the 10-ms short-time observation samples found that the sea surface echoes in VV polarization are more sensitive to wave motions, exhibiting more complex scattering characteristics such as multi-peaks and reducing scattering energy, especially at high wind speeds and large incident angles. The Doppler velocity analysis also confirms that rapid ocean wave changes can be detected within a short observation period, especially in VV polarization. The research in this article not only demonstrates the high spatial and temporal resolution capabilities of Ka-band radar for ocean surface observation but also reveals its great potential in interpreting and inversing rapidly evolving marine phenomena.
A Small-Sample Classification Strategy for Extracting Fractional Cover of Native Grass Species and Noxious Weeds in the Alpine Grasslands
Authors: Ai Zetian , An Ru
Published: October 2024

The fractional cover of native grass species (NGS) and noxious weeds (NW) provides a more comprehensive understanding of grassland health in the alpine grasslands. However, coverage extraction of NGS and NW from satellite hyperspectral imagery can be challenging due to the small spectral and spatial feature difference, insufficient training samples, and the lack of effective fractional cover extraction methods. In this research, firstly, a feature optimization method is proposed to optimize the difference feature between NGS and NW. Secondly, a spectral–spatial constrained re-clustering training sample extension method (SSCTSE) is proposed to increase the number of training samples. Thirdly, a composite three-kernel SVM method (CTK-SVM) is developed to produce fractional cover maps of NGS and NW. The experimental results show that (1) the feature optimization method is effective in preserving the spectral and spatial difference features while eliminating invalid features; (2) the SSCTSE algorithm is capable of significantly increasing the number of training samples; (3) the fractional cover maps of NGS and NW are produced with the CTK-SVM method with overall accuracies of approximately 65%, and the RMSEs of NGS and NW are approximately 16% and 11%, respectively. The results provide a foundation for the fractional cover extraction of different grass species in alpine grasslands based on satellite hyperspectral imagery.
A Beam Hopping Scheme Based on Adaptive Beam Radius for LEO Satellites
Authors: Chen Jinhui , Jiang Quanjiang , Yan Mubiao
Published: October 2024

Toward the vision of seamless global connectivity in the 6G era, the non-terrestrial network (NTN) in space-air-ground integrated networks (SAGINs) network architecture is one of the highly promising solutions. From the perspective of relay nodes, NTN includes satellite nodes and space-based platform nodes. As a resource management technology in satellite communication, beam-hopping has garnered significant attention from researchers due to its effectiveness in ad-dressing the disparity between offered capacities and uneven terrestrial traffic demands. Recognizing that the larger beams offer broader coverage but the smaller ones provide better an-ti-interference capabilities and higher throughput, this paper introduces an adaptive cluster-ing-based approach. It provides large, medium, and small user beams to target ground users. The proposed algorithm aims to minimize total system latency and enhance system throughput. Sim-ulation results show that employing the proposed algorithm in the baseline model results in a 3.44% increase in system throughput and a 35.5% reduction in system latency. Furthermore, simulation results based on alternative models indicate that while the proposed algorithm may lead to a slight decrease in system throughput, it brings significant improvements in system latency.
Classification of Infant Crying Sounds Using SE-ResNet-Transformer
Authors: Li Feng , Cui Chenxi , Hu Yashi
Published: October 2024

Recently, emotion analysis has played an important role in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly in the study of speech emotion analysis, which can help understand one of the most direct ways of human emotional communication—speech. This study focuses on the emotion analysis of infant crying. Within cries lies a variety of information, including hunger, pain, and discomfort. This paper proposes an improved classification model using ResNet and transformer. It utilizes modified Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) features obtained through feature engineering from infant cries and integrates SE attention mechanism modules into residual blocks to enhance the model’s ability to adjust channel weights. The proposed method achieved 93% accuracy rate in experiments, offering advantages of shorter training time and higher accuracy compared to other traditional models. It provides an efficient and stable solution for infant cry classification.
Assessment and Validation of Small-Scale Tropospheric Delay Estimations Based on NWP Data
Authors: Håkegård Jan Erik , Ouassou Mohammed , Sokolova Nadezda , Morrison Aiden
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the applicability of the Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) data for characterizing the gradient of zenith wet delay in horizontal direction observed on short baselines over larger territories. A three-year period of data for an area covering Scandinavia and Finland is analyzed, and maximum gradients during the considered period are identified. To assess the quality of the NWP-based estimates, results for a smaller region are compared with the estimates obtained using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements processed by the GipsyX/RTGx software package (version 2.1) from a cluster of GNSS reference stations. Additionally, the NWP data from 7 to 9 August 2023 covering a period that includes a storm with high rain intensities over Southern Norway leading to sustained flooding are processed and analyzed to assess if the gradient of zenith wet delay in the horizontal direction increases significantly during such events. The results show that maximum gradients in the range of 40–50 mm/km are detected. When comparing NWP-based estimates to GNSS-based estimates, the tropospheric delays show a very strong correlation. The tropospheric gradients, however, show a weak correlation, probably due to the uncertainty in the NWP data exceeding the gradient values. The data captured during the storm show that while the tropospheric delay increases significantly it is difficult to see increases in the gradient of zenith wet delay in the horizontal direction using this data source and resolution.
Solute Transport in a Multi-Channel Karst System with Immobile Zones: An Example of Downtown Salado Spring Complex, Salado, Texas
Authors: Ajayi Toluwaleke , Yelderman Joe C. , Powers Stephen M.
Published: October 2024

To investigate the influence of flow rate increment on the solute transport parameter of immobile zones in a karst system, a dye tracer test was conducted in the Downtown Salado Spring Complex (DSSC) comprising three springs: Big Boiling, Anderson, and Doc Benedict springs. The Multiflow two-region nonequilibrium model (2RNE) was used to simulate the breakthrough curve (BTC) of the springs, and changes in the solute transport parameters in response to flow rate increment were observed. The simulation result showed that the 2RNE model was capable of reproducing the BTC of all the DSSC springs, with an R-squared value greater than 0.9 in all flow rate increment scenarios. The research demonstrates that a positive correlation will exist between the flow rate and solute transport parameter of the immobile zones if the tracer transport to the spring is truly influenced by immobile zones. In contrast, a negative correlation will exist between the flow rate and mass transfer coefficient if the immobile zone has less influence. Overall, the research provides insights into contaminant movement in karst by documenting how tracers are retained in the immobile fluid zone.
Uptake, Efflux, and Sequestration of Mercury in the Asian Clam, Corbicula fluminea, at Environmentally Relevant Concentrations, and the Implications for Mercury Remediation
Authors: Geeza Thomas Jeremy , Stevenson Louise Mote , Mathews Teresa Joan
Published: October 2024

(1) Mercury (Hg) is a persistent, ubiquitous contaminant that readily biomagnifies into higher trophic level species in aquatic environments across the globe. It is crucial to understand the movement of environmentally relevant concentrations of Hg in impacted freshwater streams to minimize risks to ecological and human health. (2) The bioconcentration kinetics of aqueous Hg exposure (20, 100, and 200 ng/L) in the invasive Asian Clam, Corbicula fluminea, were measured. A toxicokinetic model, the first parameterized for Hg accumulation in freshwater clams, was developed to estimate uptake and efflux parameters and compared to previous parameter values estimated for other mollusk species. (3) Results demonstrated that even at low Hg concentrations, Corbicula record signals of contamination through bioconcentration, and both direct measurement and toxicokinetic models demonstrate large Hg bioconcentration factors (as high as 1.34 × 105 mL/g dry tissue), similar to partitioning coefficients seen in engineered Hg sorbents. (4) Our study found that Corbicula accumulated Hg at aqueous concentrations relevant to impacted streams, but well below regulatory drinking water limits, demonstrating their utility as a sensitive sentinel species and potential bioremediator.
VMD: A Visualizable Malware Detection Scheme Based on Multi-dimensional Dynamic Behavior Information
Authors:   School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710071, China, Cui Yulong , Zhang Zhiwei , Ma Zhidong , Chen Zehan , Wang Yuzi , Shen Yulong
Published: October 2024

Enormous traditional malware detection methods have been proposed and they are efficient in detecting known malware, however, these methods usually either are ineffective or have high false positive rate in detecting unknown malware. To improve the performance in unknown malware detection, many novel methods are presented by introducing and employing software behavior visualization, Artificial Intelligence, and other popular technologies. Unfortunately, they are still facing the inadequate data utilization and benchmark dataset lack problems. Therefore, in this paper, we propose an effective malware detection method by utilizing multi-dimensional software dynamic behavior information. To construct the concrete scheme, we combine a mapping mechanism from key parameters of software operation to grayscale images with a malware prediction model. In addition, to our knowledge, we constructed the first publicly accessible software dynamic behavior dataset containing over 800 malicious and 600 non-malicious software behavior images. Finally, the experiment results show that our method can effectively detect unknow malware and outperforms the existing comparative baseline schemes in terms of accuracy, precision, and recall.
A Survey on Cross-Layer Authentication in Wireless Communication Networks
Authors:   School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126, China, Liu Xin , Wang Jianing ,   School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126, China, Guo Shichang ,   School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126, China, Wang Haiyang ,   School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi’an, 710126, China
Published: October 2024

In current wireless networks, Physical Layer Authentication (PLA) and cryptography-based authentication have been recognized as the two dominant methods that can be trusted for user authentication and device identification. PLA methods are intensively studied in the field of network security as a strong complement to upper layer authentication. However, using only two existing authentication mechanisms cannot meet the security requirements and service demands of future wireless network development. Cross-layer authentication was created in response to the future explosion of Internet of Things (IoT) devices for secure authentication and broader service requirements. This paper presents a survey on current research status of cross-layer authentication schemes in wireless networks. We divide current cross-layer authentication approaches into two categories: cross-layer device authentication and cross-layer user-device authentication, introduce the state-of-the-art works in each category and finally discuss the challenges and future research directions.
Mitigating Risk in P2P Lending Network: Enhancing Predictions with GenAI and SMOTE
Authors:   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Louis Lina Devakumar , Dunton Andrew ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Saklecha Sourab Rajendra ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Sivakumar Swetha Neha Kutty ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Ahmed Abdul Sohail ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Sheth Smeet ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States, Chang Shih Yu ,   Department of Applied Data Science, San Jose State University, Washington Sq, San Jose, CA 95192, United States
Published: October 2024

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending is a major revolution in the field of finance where it transformed the market by eliminating the need for middlemen or conventional intermediaries such as banks, connecting borrowers directly with investors. This transformation offers several advantages, including potentially lower interest rates for borrowers and higher returns for investors. However, it also introduces risks, particularly the possibility of borrowers defaulting on their loans which could lead to significant losses. Research indicates that classification models can be leveraged to address this risk. However, the real-world datasets available are heavily skewed which could lead to bias in the prediction and model over-fitting. Existing research utilize conventional approaches such as Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE) for balancing data and ensemble models. This study addresses these challenges by implementing a comparative study between SMOTE and generative AI for data synthesis to rationalize the effects of modern approaches. Further it also explores the inclusion of additional features as compared to existing research. Ensemble modeling approaches were adopted for the purpose of this study. Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine (SVM), KNN, and Random Forest were selected to determine the best base model to be used for stacking. XGBoost, LightGBM, and AdaBoost were the three selected models for stacking. XGBoost outperformed all other models, achieving an average accuracy of 99.4% and average F1-score of 97.4% using SMOTE synthesis. GenAI synthesis obtained similar performance.
Methods for addressing variable turbine operations during wind farm noise compliance monitoring
Authors: DELAIRE Christophe , GUZIK Christopher , ADCOCK Justin , MESA Christian
Published: October 2024

Post-construction wind farm noise measurements at dwelling locations are commonly required in Australia to verify compliance with noise limits. These are often required as soon as the wind farm begins operating. However, commissioning issues and electricity network restrictions are
a common occurrence during initial stages of operation. As such, curtailed modes of operation and shutdowns are a regular occurrence, and large sections of a wind farm may only be operating intermittently. This presents challenges to obtaining noise measurement data that is representative
of normal operation of the wind farm, and may ultimately limit the conclusions that are able to be reached from measurements during the early stages of operation. To address these challenges, it is necessary to identify and account for any periods when operational noise levels may be lower
as a result of turbines being curtailed or shut down. Several methods have been developed for this purpose, and range from simple procedures that remove any data affected by curtailment or shutdown, through to more complex assessments of the magnitude and implications of the uncertainty introduced
by variable wind turbine operations. These methods are presented and assessed in this paper with case studies of their application to operational projects.
Temporal and spectral analyses of decorative noises in Chinese Pipa music generated via Merge, Twist, Refrain and Flap skills
Authors: GAN Shafei , LIU Xiaojing , NIU Feng , ZHANG Hongyan , YANG Ping
Published: October 2024

Pipa is a short-necked, normally four-stringed Chinese lute with a shallow, pear-shaped body. Noises can be conveniently generated from Pipa and are very often used as decorative components for improved perceptual experience. A few episodes from classic Chinese Pipa songs with decorative
noises played using Merge, Twist, Refrain, and Flap skills were selected, played, and recorded for comparative studies. The episodes were also played and recorded without the decorative noises. Temporal and spectral analyses were conducted to evaluate the two versions, with and without the
decorative noises, respectively. The difference between the two versions was analyzed and illustrated. The intensity profiles of the decorative noises were correlated with those of their contexts for rhythmic harmony evaluation. The positive effects of adding decorative noises to the selected
episodes of Pipa music were confirmed based on the findings of the comparative studies.
"Stadtklanggestaltung" - The importance of urban sound design in the field of administrative noise control
Authors: HABERL Max , KUSITZKY Thomas , ALVES Sonia
Published: October 2024

Cities sound. They can be loud, quiet, monotonous, or vibrant and exciting. How urban spaces sound in detail depends on the respective framework, which includes the urban planning and the different activities of the residents. The focus dealing with sounds of the cities in acoustic
engineering lies mainly on the topic of noise. In fact, environmental noise has a negative impact on our health and reduces the quality of life. But the sound of cities is much more than just noise. Harmonious and appealing city sounds have a positive effect on well-being; it promotes orientation,
and it can help to strengthen social and cultural bonds. Therefore, it is important to consider the sound of the city from the planning stage. This contribution sets out to show the possibilities of including planning tools within the concept of "Stadtklanggestaltung" (Urban Sound
Design) into the field of administrative noise control and how the soundscape standardization sets a supporting framework to implement them in practice. Specific urban sound design and planning can make a significant contribution to developing high-quality urban places and to preventing possible
conflicts in relation to controversial urban sound situations.
Evaluation of ANSI low frequency measurement standard S12.9 part 7 in light of current research
Authors: WOOLWORTH David , WAXLER Roger , WEBSTER Jeremy
Published: October 2024

ANSI S12.9 Part 7 (2016) Measurement of Low-frequency Noise and Infrasound Outdoors in the Presence of Wind and Indoors in Occupied Spaces was developed over 2-3 years and was a much needed guide to standardize the measurement of low frequency sound and infrasound. Since then, research
has advanced what are now considered best practices, and technology has advanced to make instrumentation available to consultants and researchers to help solve several limiting issues in measurements. This paper provides a review of the standard and recommends improvements to the techniques
used in the measurement of low frequency-infrasound outdoors. These improvements include better assessment and understanding of wind noise, the importance of sensor placement, and advances in transducers, wind screening, arrays and calibration. The information provided includes best practice
with a conceptual understanding of the interaction with the environment in low frequency-infrasound measurement; references are provided for a deeper dive into each topic.
Design of the Helmholtz resonators assembly for optimizing the broadband sound absorption of acoustic metasurface
Authors: NAKANISHI Shinsuke
Published: October 2024

The acoustic metasurface (AMS) can give a broadband sound absorption by a planar periodic array assembling small Helmholtz resonators tuned at different resonant frequencies, which work as unit cells which have equivalent small area to a fraction of the wavelength. The author has suggested
that the broadband flat sound absorption is obtained by the AMS assembling the small Helmholtz resonators of more quantities at the lower resonant frequencies in the target frequency range. Their resonant frequencies are ordinary tuned by parameters of an airtight cavity with a multiple folded
long neck reaching to the opening on the sound incident surface, which have a longer neck for a lower resonant frequency in this study. The formulation for the sound absorption coefficient of the AMS referring to the prior study shows the flat and nearly perfect sound absorption in one octave
band with its center frequency of 125 Hz, 250 Hz and 500 Hz. Numerical case studies suggests that the area ratio of unit cells for the flat sound absorption of the AMS is formulated as a power function of frequency ratio to the center frequency and that its formulation will be identical for
any center frequency.
Sound propagation modelling in a street canyon by combining an image source model and impulse response measurements
Authors: VOS Valerie , HORNIKX Maarten , AALMOES Roalt , THOMAS Pieter , VAN RENTERGHEM Timothy
Published: October 2024

This research introduces an innovative approach to achieve a computationally efficient model for calculating impulse responses in an urban environment, more precisely a street canyon, for auralization purposes. The image source method has shown its merits before, but when used for auralization,
it typically lacks realism. In this study the image source method is used to create a basic impulse response of a street canyon, enriched by a stochastic response based on an envelope function. While the image source model accounts for the most prominent reflections, the stochastic part is
due to all scattered sound energy in the street originating mainly from facade irregularities and street furniture. To obtain realistic frequency dependent envelope functions for various street canyon geometries, the function is based on measured impulse responses in nearly 100 inner-city
street canyons in the city of Ghent, which were conducted by Thomas et al. (2013). By the proposed approach, we are able to generate impulse responses for street canyons suitable for sound perception research in an efficient way. More studies are needed to verify the applicability of the model
for streets outside the Ghent dataset.
Investigation of ultrasonic propagation in high attenuation porous materials
Authors: BOUCHENDOUKA Abdellah , FELLAH Zine El Abiddine , NGUYEN Cong-Truc , OGAM Eric , PERROT Camille , DUVAL Arnoud , MESO Christian , SCOTTI Thierry , DEPOLLIER Claude
Published: October 2024

This research examines ultrasonic wave propagation in air-saturated plastic foams used for noise pollution reduction, questioning the effectiveness of current models such as the well known Johnson-Champoux-Allard model at high frequencies. These foams present a challenge for existing
models to accurately depict visco-inertial and thermal interactions within their pores. The study highlights the model's failure to align experimental results with theoretical predictions. It introduces novel parameters denoted as Σ and V for viscous effects, and Σ′ and V ′
for thermal effects, to improve the representation of fluid-sturcture interactions. These parameters suggest a more significant boundary layer effect within the pores than previously considered. This approach aims to provide additional physical context for the principles governing the behavior
of highly attenuating porous media and to explore new avenues for material characterization that surpass the limitations of existing models.
Influence of the number and sound level of noise events and task engagement on perceived loudness and annoyance
Authors: WELCH David , SHEPHERD Daniel , DIRKS Kim , ONG Jessica
Published: October 2024

It is not clear how the distribution of noise sound-energy over time influences people. We compared perceived loudness, annoyance and ability to perform a cognitive task in people exposed to recordings of aircraft noise, presented either as a single 15-second overflight at 80 dB LeqA15seconds
or four 15-second overflights at 60 dB LeqA15seconds. Levels were chosen on the basis that an increase of 10 dB doubles the perceived loudness, thus four stimuli at 60 dB might be expected to seem as loud as a single stimulus at 80 dB. Participants performed an engaging mental arithmetic task
during half the noise presentations and rated their perception of loudness and annoyance to every presentation. Overall, the single 80-dB-flight stimulus was perceived as louder and more annoying than the four 60-dB flights. While doing the task, the four 60-dB flights were perceived as louder
and more annoying than without the task, whereas the single 80-dB stimulus was less loud and no more annoying than without the task. Noise did not influence task performance. Future research may explore systematically the relationship between the number and sound level of overflights and the
reactions they induce.