bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in the Tissue Culture Techniques and the Synthesis of Bioactive Compounds in Eurycoma longifolia Jack—Current Status and Future Perspectives
Authors: Sale Sani , Subramaniam Sreeramanan , Mad’ Atari Mohamad Fadhli
Published: December 2023

Over the last two decades, there has been a concerted effort by researchers to mass propagate Eurycoma longifolia and improve the yield of its very important and sought-after anti-cancer and aphrodisiac bioactive compounds. To achieve this, various techniques have been used to mass propagate and improve the yield of these bioactive compounds in tissue cultures. These techniques include the optimization of media conditions and application of various types and combinations of plant growth regulators (PGRs). In addition, some elicitation techniques have been used to improve the synthesis of these bioactive compounds. However, in comparison with other herbal species with similar economic importance, many techniques have not been applied to E. longifolia. Adopting the most recent methodologies would ensure efficiency and sustainability in the in vitro production of bioactive compounds in E. longifolia. Therefore, in this review, we present an up-to-date record on the success stories in the tissue culture techniques and synthesis of bioactive compounds. In addition, we attempted to identify some of the missing links on the road to the effective and sustainable biotechnological utilization of this super important biological resource.
Effects of Waterlogging at Flowering Stage on the Grain Yield and Starch Quality of Waxy Maize
Authors: Yang Huan , Cai Xuemei , Lu Dalei
Published: December 2023

Waterlogging is a common abiotic stress in global maize production. Maize flowering stage (from tasseling to silking) is more fragile to environmental stresses, and this stage frequently overlapped the plum rain season in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze river in China and affect the yield and quality of spring-sown maize severely. In the present study, the soil moisture content under control and waterlogging conditions at the flowering stage was controlled by a negative-pressure water supply and controlling pot device in a pot trial in 2014–2015. The grain yield, starch content, and starch structural and functional properties under two soil moisture levels were compared using Suyunuo5 (SYN5) and Yunuo7 (YN7) as materials, which are the control hybrids of National waxy maize hybrid regional trials in Southern China. The results observed that the grain yield was reduced by 29.1% for SYN5 with waterlogging due to the decreased grain weight and numbers, which was significantly higher than that of YN7 (14.7%), indicated that YN7 was more tolerant to waterlogging. The grain starch content in YN7 was decreased by 9.4% when plants suffered waterlogging at the flowering stage, whereas the content in SYN5 was only decreased in 2014 and unaffected in 2015. The size of starch granules and proportion of small-molecule amylopectin with waterlogging at the flowering stage increased in SYN5 and decreased in YN7 in both years. The type of starch crystalline structure was not changed by waterlogging, whereas the relative crystallinity was reduced in SYN5 and increased in YN7. The pasting viscosities were decreased, and the pasting temperature was unaffected by waterlogging in general. The gelatinization enthalpy was unaffected by waterlogging in both hybrids in both years, whereas the retrogradation enthalpy and percentage in both hybrids were reduced by waterlogging in 2014 and unaffected in 2015. Between the two hybrids, YN7 has high pasting viscosities and low retrogradation percentage than SYN5, indicated its advantages on produce starch for more viscous and less retrograde food. In conclusion, waterlogging at the flowering stage reduced the grain yield, restricted starch accumulation, and deteriorated the pasting viscosity of waxy maize. Results provide information for utilization of waxy maize grain in food production.
Effect of the Interplay between Polymer–Filler and Filler–Filler Interactions on the Conductivity of a Filled Diblock Copolymer System
Authors: Chervanyov A. I.
Published: December 2023

We investigate the relative roles of the involved interactions and micro-phase morphology in the formation of the conductive filler network in an insulating diblock copolymer (DBC) system. By incorporating the filler immersion energy obtained by means of the phase-field model of the DBC into the Monte Carlo simulation of the filler system, we determined the equilibrium distribution of fillers in the DBC that assumes the lamellar or cylindrical (hexagonal) morphology. Furthermore, we used the resistor network model to calculate the conductivity of the simulated filler system. The obtained results essentially depend on the complicated interplay of the following three factors: (i) Geometry of the DBC micro-phase, in which fillers are preferentially localized; (ii) difference between the affinities of fillers for dissimilar copolymer blocks; (iii) interaction between fillers. The localization of fillers in the cylindrical DBC micro-phase has been found to most effectively promote the conductivity of the composite. The effect of the repulsive and attractive interactions between fillers on the conductivity of the filled DBC has been studied in detail. It is quantitatively demonstrated that this effect has different significance in the cases when the fillers are preferentially localized in the majority and minority micro-phases of the cylindrical DBC morphology.
Dual-Shell Microcapsules for High-Response Efficiency Self-Healing of Multi-Scale Damage in Waterborne Polymer–Cement Coatings
Authors: Liu Chenyang , Sun Zhicheng , Jiao Shouzheng , Wang Ting , Liu Yibin , Meng Xianyu , Zhang Binbin , Han Lu , Liu Ruping , Liu Yuanyuan , Zhou Yang
Published: December 2023

Waterborne polymer–cement coatings have been widely applied in building materials due to their organic solvent-free nature, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, these coatings can easily crack during the drying process as a result of construction environment factors, compromising the barrier performance of the coating and limiting its large-scale application. In this study, a dual-shell self-healing microcapsule was developed, which can effectively heal damage on a macro scale in waterborne polymer–cement coatings. Specifically, this dual-shell self-healing microcapsule was designed with a silica gel shell and a tannic acid–cuprum (TA–Cu) double-shell structure embedded with an epoxy resin (EP) healing agent, which was successfully fabricated via a two-step in situ polymerization. This silica gel shell self-healing microcapsules can effectively load into waterborne polymer–cement coatings. As the coating dries and solidifies, the silica gel shell of the microcapsule also becomes loose and brittle due to dehydration. This improves the mechanical initiation efficiency of the microcapsules in the coating. This study provides a novel approach for the application of self-healing microcapsules in waterborne coating systems, which can significantly reduce cracking during the drying process of waterborne polymer–cement coatings and improve the service life of the coating under complex conditions.
PLA-Based Composite Panels Prepared via Multi-Material Fused Filament Fabrication and Associated Investigation of Process Parameters on Flexural Properties of the Fabricated Composite
Authors: Wang Zhaogui , Wang Lihan , Tang Feng , Shen Chengyang
Published: December 2023

This study prepares composite panels with three Polylactic acid (PLA)-based materials via the multi-material fused filament fabrication method. The influences of four processing parameters on the mechanical properties of 3D-printed samples are investigated employing the Taguchi method. These parameters include the relative volume ratio, material printing order, filling pattern, and filling density. A “larger is better” signal-to-noise analysis is performed to identify the optimal combination of printing parameters that yield maximum bending strength and bending modulus of elasticity. The results reveal that the optimal combination of printing parameters that maximizes the bending strength involves a volume ratio of 1:1:2, a material sequence of PLA/foam-agent-modified eco-friendly PLA (ePLA-LW)/glass fiber-reinforced eco-friendly PLA (ePLA-GF), a Gyroid filling pattern, and a filling density of 80%, and the optimal combination of printing parameters for maximum bending modulus involves a volume ratio of 1:2:1 with a material sequence of PLA/ePLA-LW/ePLA-GF, a Grid filling pattern, and 80% filling density. The Taguchi prediction method is utilized to determine an optimal combination of processing parameters for achieving optimal flexural performances, and predicted outcomes are validated through related experiments. The experimental values of strength and modulus are 43.91 MPa and 1.23 GPa, respectively, both very close to the predicted values of 46.87 MPa and 1.2 GPa for strength and modulus. The Taguchi experiments indicate that the material sequence is the most crucial factor influencing the flexural strength of the composite panels. The experiment result demonstrates that the flexural strength and modulus of the first material sequence are 67.72 MPa and 1.53 GPa, while the flexural strength and modulus of the third material sequence are reduced to 27.09 MPa and 0.72 GPa, respectively, only 42% and 47% of the first material sequence. The above findings provide an important reference for improving the performance of multi-material 3D-printed products.
Modeling the Effect of Material Viscoelasticity on the Dielectric Permittivity of Deformed Elastomers
Authors: Zheng Xianghe , Zhou Jianyou
Published: December 2023

Elastomers, as a typical category of soft dielectrics, have shown great potential for developing stretchable electronics and soft transducers. However, the performance of dielectric elastomers (DEs) is susceptible to the dielectric permittivity of the material, whether as insulators or actuators. On the other hand, experiments suggest that the material viscoelasticity significantly influences the dielectric permittivity of DEs. Based on the theory of finite-deformation viscoelasticity, this work adopts the Brillouin function to develop a modeling framework to examine the effect of material viscoelasticity on the dielectric permittivity for the first time. A comparison of the data fitting results between the models with and without consideration of the material viscoelasticity is presented. Simulation results also reveal that the viscous network of the elastomer exerts a mitigation effect on the decrease in the dielectric permittivity when the material is deformed. Furthermore, it is found that the loading rate is a key parameter that strongly affects the dielectric permittivity, mainly through the inelastic deformation.
Rapeseed Oil as Feedstock for Bio-Based Thermoset Foams Obtained via Michael Addition Reaction
Authors: Kirpluks Mikelis , Abolins Arnis , Eihe Darta , Pomilovskis Ralfs , Fridrihsone Anda
Published: December 2023

Rapeseed oil was used to develop thermoset foams via Michael addition reaction by mixing two liquid components, Michael donor and Michael acceptor. The foaming of the curing thermoset was achieved by the physical blowing agent which expanded from the reacting foam mass due to an exothermic curing reaction. The influence of the rapeseed oil-based Michael donor functionality on the foaming process and the characteristics of the obtained thermoset foams was studied. The 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine catalyst’s influence on the foaming process kinetics was studied using FOAMAT equipment. The curing of the bio-based thermoset was analysed using a dielectric polarisation sensor. The morphology of the developed thermoset foam was analysed using a scanning electron microscope and the obtained foams were characterized using TGA, DSC, DMA and mechanical analysis tests. A direct correlation between the thermoset foam polymer crosslinking density and foaming reactivity, mechanical properties and glass transition temperature were determined. Obtained rapeseed oil based thermoset foams had a relatively low thermal conductivity of 33.9–35.4 mW/(m·K) which allows their use as thermal insulation material in civil engineering applications.
Optimized Scheduling of an Integrated Energy System with an Electric Truck Battery Swapping Station
Authors: Liu Bin , Chen Jie , Zhang Nan , Liu Jun , Zhang Yuchao , Bao Hongyin , Liu Lili , Chen Kang
Published: December 2023

Currently, the focus of integrated energy system scheduling research is the multi-objective’s optimized operational strategies that take into account the economic benefits, carbon emissions, and new energy consumption rates of such systems. The integration of electric trucks with battery charging and swapping capabilities, along with their corresponding battery swapping stations, into an integrated energy system can not only optimize system operation, but also reduce investment costs associated with building energy storage equipment. This study first constructs an operational model for the electric trucks, as well as an electric truck battery swapping station, of the flexible charging and discharging; then, an optimized scheduling model of an integrated energy system is proposed, including an electric truck battery swapping station and using stepped carbon trading. On the basis of meeting the charging and battery swapping needs of electric trucks and coordinating the system’s electrical, thermal and cooling energies, the goal of the optimized scheduling model is to reduce the system’s carbon emissions, improve its economics, and optimize its ability to absorb new energy. Finally, a simulation model of the integrated energy system including an electric truck battery swapping station is built on the MATLAB platform, and commercial software package CPLEX is used to solve the model. In the calculation example, compared to the integrated energy system of disorderly charging and battery swapping of electric trucks and electric truck battery swapping stations, the proposed optimized model of the integrated energy system with the flexible charging and discharging of electric trucks and electric truck battery swapping stations reduces the operating costs by CNY 819, reduces carbon emissions by 414 kg, improves the utilization rate of wind and solar power by 0.3%, and fully utilizes wind and photovoltaic power. Therefore, the rational dispatching of the electric trucks and their battery swapping stations with flexible charging and discharging mentioned in this article can effectively optimize system operations.
Sparse Mix-Attention Transformer for Multispectral Image and Hyperspectral Image Fusion
Authors: Yu Shihai , Zhang Xu , Song Huihui
Published: December 2023

Multispectral image (MSI) and hyperspectral image (HSI) fusion (MHIF) aims to address the challenge of acquiring high-resolution (HR) HSI images. This field combines a low-resolution (LR) HSI with an HR-MSI to reconstruct HR-HSIs. Existing methods directly utilize transformers to perform feature extraction and fusion. Despite the demonstrated success, there exist two limitations: (1) Employing the entire transformer model for feature extraction and fusion fails to fully harness the potential of the transformer in integrating the spectral information of the HSI and spatial information of the MSI. (2) HSIs have a strong spectral correlation and exhibit sparsity in the spatial domain. Existing transformer-based models do not optimize this physical property, which makes their methods prone to spectral distortion. To accomplish these issues, this paper introduces a novel framework for MHIF called a Sparse Mix-Attention Transformer (SMAformer). Specifically, to fully harness the advantages of the transformer architecture, we propose a Spectral Mix-Attention Block (SMAB), which concatenates the keys and values extracted from LR-HSIs and HR-MSIs to create a new multihead attention module. This design facilitates the extraction of detailed long-range information across spatial and spectral dimensions. Additionally, to address the spatial sparsity inherent in HSIs, we incorporated a sparse mechanism within the core of the SMAB called the Sparse Spectral Mix-Attention Block (SSMAB). In the SSMAB, we compute attention maps from queries and keys and select the K highly correlated values as the sparse-attention map. This approach enables us to achieve a sparse representation of spatial information while eliminating spatially disruptive noise. Extensive experiments conducted on three synthetic benchmark datasets, namely CAVE, Harvard, and Pavia Center, demonstrate that the SMAformer method outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
A Survey of Object Detection for UAVs Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Tang Guangyi , Ni Jianjun , Zhao Yonghao , Gu Yang , Cao Weidong
Published: December 2023

With the rapid development of object detection technology for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it is convenient to collect data from UAV aerial photographs. They have a wide range of applications in several fields, such as monitoring, geological exploration, precision agriculture, and disaster early warning. In recent years, many methods based on artificial intelligence have been proposed for UAV object detection, and deep learning is a key area in this field. Significant progress has been achieved in the area of deep-learning-based UAV object detection. Thus, this paper presents a review of recent research on deep-learning-based UAV object detection. This survey provides an overview of the development of UAVs and summarizes the deep-learning-based methods in object detection for UAVs. In addition, the key issues in UAV object detection are analyzed, such as small object detection, object detection under complex backgrounds, object rotation, scale change, and category imbalance problems. Then, some representative solutions based on deep learning for these issues are summarized. Finally, future research directions in the field of UAV object detection are discussed.
Iterative Network for Disparity Prediction with Infrared and Visible Light Images Based on Common Features
Authors: Zhang Ziang , Li Li , Jin Weiqi , Qu Zanxi
Published: December 2023

In recent years, the range of applications that utilize multiband imaging has significantly expanded. However, it is difficult to utilize multichannel heterogeneous images to achieve a spectral complementarity advantage and obtain accurate depth prediction based on traditional systems. In this study, we investigate CFNet, an iterative prediction network, for disparity prediction with infrared and visible light images based on common features. CFNet consists of several components, including a common feature extraction subnetwork, context subnetwork, multimodal information acquisition subnetwork, and a cascaded convolutional gated recurrent subnetwork. It leverages the advantages of dual-band (infrared and visible light) imaging, considering semantic information, geometric structure, and local matching details within images to predict the disparity between heterogeneous image pairs accurately. CFNet demonstrates superior performance in recognized evaluation metrics and visual image observations when compared with other publicly available networks, offering an effective technical approach for practical heterogeneous image disparity prediction.
DTFusion: Infrared and Visible Image Fusion Based on Dense Residual PConv-ConvNeXt and Texture-Contrast Compensation
Authors: Zhou Xinzhi , He Min , Zhou Dongming , Xu Feifei , Jeon Seunggil
Published: December 2023

Infrared and visible image fusion aims to produce an informative fused image for the same scene by integrating the complementary information from two source images. Most deep-learning-based fusion networks utilize small kernel-size convolution to extract features from a local receptive field or design unlearnable fusion strategies to fuse features, which limits the feature representation capabilities and fusion performance of the network. Therefore, a novel end-to-end infrared and visible image fusion framework called DTFusion is proposed to address these problems. A residual PConv-ConvNeXt module (RPCM) and dense connections are introduced into the encoder network to efficiently extract features with larger receptive fields. In addition, a texture-contrast compensation module (TCCM) with gradient residuals and an attention mechanism is designed to compensate for the texture details and contrast of features. The fused features are reconstructed through four convolutional layers to generate a fused image with rich scene information. Experiments on public datasets show that DTFusion outperforms other state-of-the-art fusion methods in both subjective vision and objective metrics.
Feasibility of 3D Body Tracking from Monocular 2D Video Feeds in Musculoskeletal Telerehabilitation
Authors: Clemente Carolina , Chambel Gonçalo , Silva Diogo C. F. , Montes António Mesquita , Pinto Joana F. , Silva Hugo Plácido da
Published: December 2023

Musculoskeletal conditions affect millions of people globally; however, conventional treatments pose challenges concerning price, accessibility, and convenience. Many telerehabilitation solutions offer an engaging alternative but rely on complex hardware for body tracking. This work explores the feasibility of a model for 3D Human Pose Estimation (HPE) from monocular 2D videos (MediaPipe Pose) in a physiotherapy context, by comparing its performance to ground truth measurements. MediaPipe Pose was investigated in eight exercises typically performed in musculoskeletal physiotherapy sessions, where the Range of Motion (ROM) of the human joints was the evaluated parameter. This model showed the best performance for shoulder abduction, shoulder press, elbow flexion, and squat exercises. Results have shown a MAPE ranging between 14.9% and 25.0%, Pearson’s coefficient ranging between 0.963 and 0.996, and cosine similarity ranging between 0.987 and 0.999. Some exercises (e.g., seated knee extension and shoulder flexion) posed challenges due to unusual poses, occlusions, and depth ambiguities, possibly related to a lack of training data. This study demonstrates the potential of HPE from monocular 2D videos, as a markerless, affordable, and accessible solution for musculoskeletal telerehabilitation approaches. Future work should focus on exploring variations of the 3D HPE models trained on physiotherapy-related datasets, such as the Fit3D dataset, and post-preprocessing techniques to enhance the model’s performance.
Pretreated Agro-Industrial Effluents as a Source of Nutrients for Tomatoes Grown in a Dual Function Hydroponic System: Tomato Quality Assessment
Authors: Afonso Alexandra , Ribeiro Carlos , Carvalho Maria João , Correia Tânia , Correia Pedro , Regato Mariana , Costa Idália , Fernandes Annabel , Almeida Adelaide , Lopes Ana , Carvalho Fátima
Published: December 2023

In a zero-waste approach for the agro-industrial sector, this study aimed to evaluate the reuse of cheese whey wastewater (chemical oxygen demand = 2.1 g L−1) pretreated by immediate one-step lime precipitation followed by natural carbonation as a nutritive solution for tomato production in hydroponic systems. Pretreated effluent, diluted with groundwater (1:6) and supplemented with nutrients, was utilized to irrigate different hydroponic systems designed to assess the influence of tomato rooting type (free/confined−setup_A) and the feed’s solution level (with/without water deep−setup_B). Plants and fruit development, fruit physicochemical characteristics and sensory analysis, and effluent quality after reuse were analyzed. Good quality tomato production with high crop yield was obtained. The highest marketable tomato weight per plant (682 g) was observed in setup_B with a deep-bed system, but setup_A, with free or confined rooting, presented similar values. The type of rooting, within setup_A or water deep within setup_B, did not significantly influence plant and fruit characteristics. The highest maturity and flavor indexes were observed for setup_A with free rooting. Regarding sensory analysis, setup_A often scored the highest in terms of overall appreciation with free or confined rooting. The reuse of cheese whey wastewater in hydroponics reduced freshwater consumption for crop production, allowed for a treated final effluent and prevented soil degradation in a sustainable circular economy methodology.
A Battery of Simple Bioassays for Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plants in Konya, Turkey
Authors: Tongur Süheyla , Atmaca Hande
Published: December 2023

Wastewater ingredients present risks to the environment and can cause health problems. The aim of this study was to identify the toxicological effects of influent and effluent wastewater from Konya Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant (KU WWTP) and Konya Organized Industrial Zone Wastewater Treatment Plant (KOI WWTP). Three different trophic level toxicity tests were conducted to determine the possible harmful effects of wastewater on the environment. The base toxic unit values of the Lepidium sativum toxicity test for the inlet and outlet samples of KU WWTP were found to be 1.43 and 1.10, respectively. Both values classified the analyzed wastewater into the “toxic” category. Wastewater entering the KU wastewater treatment facility was classified as “toxic” for the presence of toxic substances according to the Vibrio fischeri toxicity testing. Influent samples from the KOI wastewater treatment plant were classified as “toxic” with the Vibrio fischeri toxicity test. In addition, based on the fish bioassay value (TDF), wastewater from the KOI treatment facility was also classified as “toxic”. It was concluded that increased chemical oxygen demand and concentrations of total nitrogen and phosphorus and of certain heavy metals above the limits played a decisive role in classifying the samples as “toxic”. The results of this study suggest that all three tests have the potential to assess wastewater toxicity and that changes in wastewater properties may result in differences in test sensitivity.
Spatiotemporal Land Use and Land Cover Changes and Associated Runoff Impact in Itaperuna, Brazil
Authors: da Silva Gean Carlos Gonzaga , Campos Priscila Celebrini de Oliveira , Reis Marcelo de Miranda , Paz Igor
Published: December 2023

The urban growth intricately linked to the hydrological cycle outlines a crucial dynamic in the environmental transformations of cities. Utilizing the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) Urban Flood Risk Mitigation model, we conducted hydrological modeling to assess the impact of urbanization on land use and land cover (LULC) changes and their subsequent effects on runoff generation in Itaperuna, Brazil, spanning the years 2015 to 2020. The analysis, performed across 17 urban sub-basins, highlights rapid urban expansion, notably in sub-basins 3 and 7, reflecting the city’s spatial dynamics and growth. Significantly, sub-basin 3 exhibited a 7.42% increase in runoff production capacity. The study meticulously documents changes in six LULC categories—water bodies, urban area, exposed soil, forest, natural pasture, and grassland vegetation—revealing that urban growth has directly amplified surface runoff in specific sub-basins, thereby impacting water resource management and flood prevention. Emphasizing the urgency of environmental conservation, especially in deforested basins, the findings hold substantial importance for urban planners and local authorities, offering relevant insights for flood risk mitigation and water security. Future research directions may explore additional facets, including water quality, advanced hydrological models, impacts on biodiversity and society, socioeconomic assessments of preventative measures, public policy considerations, and monitoring systems.
Understanding City 4.0: A Triple Bottom Line Approach
Authors: Yigitcanlar Tan , Xia Bo , Cortese Tatiana Tucunduva Philippi , Sabatini-Marques Jamile
Published: December 2023

Rapid urbanization and population increase, along with remarkable technological advances, have accelerated the speed of digital transformation, or at least the need for it, in our cities. Whilst being smart and sustainable is seen somewhat as an ideal city quality globally, a new city concept has emerged—the so-called City 4.0—that combines Industry 4.0 and Society 4.0 in the context of smart cities. While there is growing literature on the topic, there is limited understanding of City 4.0. This communication piece aims to bring clarity to City 4.0 by elaborating it from three diverse but interrelated perspectives—namely, societal, environmental, and economic lenses or domains (also know as the triple bottom line approach)—and highlights the key City 4.0 themes—namely, circularity, adaptability, livability, accessibility, authenticity, and responsibility. The methodological approach includes a thorough appraisal of the current City 4.0 literature. This communication paper informs researchers, local and regional authorities, and urban planners on the rising importance of the notion of City 4.0 and its prospective research areas.
Enhancing the Fuel Properties of Spent Coffee Grounds through Hydrothermal Carbonization: Output Prediction and Post-Treatment Approaches
Authors: Dang Chau Huyen , Farru Gianluigi , Glaser Claudia , Fischer Marcus G. , Libra Judy A.
Published: December 2023

The reuse potential for the large annual production of spent coffee grounds (SCGs) is underexploited in most world regions. Hydrochars from SCGs produced via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) have been recognized as a promising solid fuel alternative. To increase demand, optimization of the HTC and two post-treatment processes, washing and agglomeration, were studied to improve hydrochar in terms of energetic properties, minimizing unwanted substances, and better handling. HTC experiments at three scales (1–18.75 L) and varying process conditions (temperature T (160–250 °C), reaction time t (1–5 h), and solid content %So (6–20%) showed that the higher heating value (HHV) can be improved by up to 46%, and most potential emissions of trace elements from combustion reduced (up to 90%). The HTC outputs (solid yield—SY, HHV, energy yield—EY) were modeled and compared to published genetic programming (GP) models. Both model types predicted the three outputs with low error (<15%) and can be used for process optimization. The efficiency of water washing depended on the HTC process temperature and type of aromatics produced. The furanic compounds were removed (69–100%; 160 °C), while only 34% of the phenolic compounds (240 °C) were washed out. Agglomeration of both wet SCG and its hydrochar is feasible; however, the finer particles of washed hydrochar (240 °C) resulted in larger-sized spherical pellets (85% > 2000–4000 µm) compared to SCGs (only 4%).
Investigating the Effect of Green Brand Innovation and Green Perceived Value on Green Brand Loyalty: Examining the Moderating Role of Green Knowledge
Authors: Jalu Gebeyehu , Dasalegn Goshu , Japee Gurudutta , Tangl Anita , Boros Anita
Published: December 2023

The numerous organisations voicing their concerns show that concern for the environment has increased compared to earlier times. This study aims to investigate the relationship between green brand innovation and green perceived value, along with its impact on green brand loyalty within the Ethiopian banking sector. Based upon previous research, this study delves into the distinctions between innovation and innovativeness, exploring their respective influences on brand loyalty. Additionally, this study introduces the roles of green perceived value as a mediator and consumer green knowledge as a moderator in shaping green brand loyalty. To assess the conceptual model, a survey was conducted using convenience sampling among 600 customers using internet banking services across nine reputable banks. This approach aimed to capture a representative sample for the conceptual model. Subsequently, data analysis was performed using a structural equation model (SEM). The results indicated that consumers’ perceptions of green value have indirect effects on green brand loyalty and direct effects on green brand innovation. In addition, green knowledge moderates the relationship between green brand innovation and green perceived value in a significant way. Therefore, in order to increase customer loyalty to green brand innovations, organisations should focus on improving consumers’ environmental literacy and cultivating positive attitudes towards green businesses.
Promoting the Transition to a Circular Economy: A Study about Behaviour, Attitudes, and Knowledge by University Students in Portugal
Authors: Alves Márcia N. , Seixas Carlos , Castro Alberto , Leitão Alexandra
Published: December 2023

Younger and highly skilled generations are one of the major driving forces of a successful transformation to a circular economy (CE); therefore, this paper intends to assess the prevalent behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge of the CE by university students. The study focuses specifically on Portuguese students. Some new conclusions were added to the existent literature. Our conclusions show that, although students engage in several types of CE behaviour and have positive attitudes, these mostly include actions such as reducing food waste, recycling practices, or purchasing energy-efficient products. Circular consumption habits like remanufactured products, second-hand purchases, the sharing economy, and product-as-a-service systems (PSSs) still need further implementation. However, we determine that the level of knowledge of the CE goes beyond the conventional recycling premise. Moreover, we have included an innovative part, based on a probit model, by studying how knowledge of the CE affects students’ behaviour and attitudes and conclude that it positively influences them. Other variables such as age, gender, and level of education are also found to influence actions and attitudes. As a result, this study can significantly improve the overview of the current situation and provide a starting point for measuring the effectiveness of future policies to be defined.
Nonlinear Influence and Interaction Effect on the Imbalance of Metro-Oriented Dockless Bike-Sharing System
Authors: Song Yancun , Luo Kang , Shi Ziyi , Zhang Long , Shen Yonggang
Published: December 2023

Dockless Bike-Sharing (DBS) is an eco-friendly, convenient, and popular form of ride-sharing. Metro-oriented DBS systems have the potential to promote sustainable transportation. However, the availability of DBS near metro stations often suffers from either scarcity or overabundance. To investigate the factors contributing to this imbalance, this paper examines the nonlinear influences and interactions that impact the DBS system near metro stations, with Shenzhen, China serving as a case study. An ensemble learning approach is employed to predict the imbalance state. Then, the machine learning interpretation method (i.e., SHapley Additive exPlanations) is used to quantify the contribution of effects, discover the strength of interactions between factors and uncover their underlying interactive connections. The results indicate the influence of external factors and the relations between pairwise variables (e.g., road density and the day of the week) for each imbalanced state. Provide two quantized sets of factors that can result in the supply-demand imbalance and support future transport planning decisions to enhance the accessibility and sustainability of Metro-oriented DBS systems.
From Perpetual Wetness to Soil Chemistry: Enumerating Environmental and Physicochemical Factors Favoring Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi Snail Presence in the Municipality of Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines
Authors: Manalo Daria L. , Bolivar Jude Karlo G. , Yap Paul Raymund , Gomez Ma. Ricci R. , Saldo Zaldy P. , Espino Mark Joseph M. , Dilig Joselito E. , Fornillos Raffy Jay C. , Perez Shirlyn A. , Baga Regie A. , Sunico Louie S. , Fontanilla Ian Kendrich C. , Leonardo Lydia R.
Published: December 2023

Snail control to complement mass drug administration is being promoted by the World Health Organization for schistosomiasis control. Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi, the snail intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in the Philippines, has a very focal distribution; thus, scrutinizing baseline data and parameters affecting this distribution is very crucial. In this study in Gonzaga, Cagayan, Philippines, snail habitats were surveyed, and the various factors affecting the existence of the snails were determined. Malacological surveys and the mapping of sites of perpetual wetness in five endemic and five neighboring non-endemic barangays were conducted. Environmental and physicochemical factors were also examined. Maps of both snail and non-snail sites were generated. Of the fifty sites surveyed, O. h. quadrasi were found in twelve sites, and two sites yielded snails that were infected with S. japonicum cercariae. Factors such as silty loam soil, proximity to a snail site, water ammonia, and soil attributes (organic matter, iron, and pH) are all significantly associated with the presence of snails. In contrast, types of habitats, temperatures, and soil aggregation have no established association with the existence of snails. Mapping snail sites and determining factors favoring snail presence are vital to eliminating snails. These approaches will significantly maximize control impact and minimize wasted efforts and resources, especially in resource-limited schistosomiasis endemic areas.
Meta-Analysis of Data from Four Clinical Trials in the Ivory Coast Assessing the Efficacy of Two Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies (Artesunate-Amodiaquine and Artemether-Lumefantrine) between 2009 and 2016
Authors: Bédia-Tanoh Akoua Valérie , Kassi Kondo Fulgence , Touré Offianan André , Assi Serge Brice , Gnagne Akpa Paterne , Adoubryn Koffi Daho , Bissagnene Emmanuel , Konaté Abibatou , Miezan Jean Sebastien , Angora Kpongbo Etienne , Vanga-Bosson Henriette , Kiki-Barro Pulchérie Christiane , Djohan Vincent , Yavo William , Hervé Menan Eby Ignace
Published: December 2023

The combinations of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and artesunate-amodiaquine (ASAQ) are used as first-line treatments for uncomplicated malaria in the Ivory Coast. Different studies document the efficacy of two artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) (AL and ASAQ) in the Ivory Coast. However, there is no meta-analysis examining the data set of these studies. The purpose of this work was to determine the prevalence of malaria treatment failure cases in randomized control trials with two artemisinin-based combination therapies (AL versus ASAQ) in the Ivory Coast between 2009 to 2016. This study is a meta-analysis of data from the results of four previous multicenter, open-label, randomized clinical trial studies evaluating the clinical and parasitological efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine conducted between 2009 and 2016 following World Health Organization (WHO) protocol at sentinel sites in the Ivory Coast. These drug efficacy data collected between 2009 and 2016 were analyzed. During these studies, to distinguish between recrudescence and new infection, molecular genotyping of genes encoding merozoite surface protein 1 and 2 was carried out using nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 1575 patients enrolled in the four studies, including 768 in the AL arm and 762 in the ASAQ arm, which were fully followed either for 28 days or 42 days according to WHO protocol. The adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) was higher than 95% in the two groups (intention to treat (ITT): AL = 96.59% and ASAQ = 96.81; Per Protocol (PP): AL = 99.48% and ASAQ = 99.61%) after PCR correction at day 28. Aggregate data analysis (2009–2016) showed that at day 28, the proportions of patients with recurrent infection was higher in the AL group (ITT: 3.79%, PP: 3.9%) than in the ASAQ group (ITT: 2.17%, PP: 2.23%). After PCR correction, most treatment failures were classified as new infections (AL group (ITT: 0.13%, PP: 0.13%); ASAQ group (ITT: 0.39%, PP: 0.39%). The recrudescent infections rate was high, at 0.39% compared to 0.13% for ASAQ and AL, respectively, for both ITT and PP, no significant difference. However, the Kaplan–Meier curve of cumulative treatment success showed a significant difference between the two groups after PCR from 2012–2013 (p = 0.032). Overall, ASAQ and AL have been shown to be effective drugs for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in the study areas, 14 years after deployment of these drugs.
Epidemiological Profile of Urinary and Intestinal Schistosomiasis in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Seven-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Zrieq Rafat , Alzain Mohamed Ali , Ali Reem M. , Alazzeh Awfa Y. , Tirawi Anas O. , Attili Rozan , Acar Tolgahan , Haouas Najoua
Published: December 2023

Background: Despite the marked decline of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia in recent years, it is still reported in several regions. This study investigates the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Saudi Arabia over seven years (2014–2020). Methodology: A retrospective study was retrieved from the annual reports of the Ministry of Health. A Geographic Information System GIS, Chi-square, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Out of the 4,371,481 tested, 680 cases were positive for schistosomiasis, with a cumulative incidence rate of 2.155/100,000 population. This number showed significant variation over the study period (p value < 0.001). The highest number of cases detected in 2015 was almost 2-fold (OR = 1.93; 95%CI: 1.36–2.74) higher than in 2020. Both clinical forms (urinary and intestinal schistosomiasis) exist in Saudi Arabia (79.6% and 20.4% of all schistosomiasis cases, respectively). Schistosomiasis was reported in seven out of thirteen regions. Among them, Mecca has a relatively high number of cases (OR = 5.57; 95%CI: 2.49–12.47). Conversely, the Eastern Province has a low number of cases (OR = 0.09; 95%CI: 0.02–0.39) when compared to the Najran region (p value > 0.001). Regarding the distribution of schistosomiasis cases by gender and nationality, we noticed that most of the positive cases were found among males (70.6%) and expatriates (83.6%). Conclusions: The persistence of schistosomiasis and the disparity in the demographic factors underscores the imperative for intensified and integrative One Health interventions to combat this disease in Saudi Arabia.
The Unruh Vacuum and the “In-Vacuum” in Reissner-Nordström Spacetime
Authors: Balbinot Roberto , Fabbri Alessandro
Published: December 2023

The Unruh vacuum is widely used as a quantum state to describe black hole evaporation since, near the horizon, it reproduces the physical state of a quantum field, the so-called “in-vacuum”, in the case where a black hole is formed by gravitational collapse. We examine the relation between these two quantum states in the background spacetime of a Reissner–Nordström black hole (both extremal and not), highlighting the similarities and striking differences.
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 following Second Dose Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine BNT162b2 in Danish Adolescents Aged 12–18 Years: A Real-World Nationwide Danish Cohort Study
Authors: Birk Nina Marie , Christensen Anne Vinggaard , Nygaard Ulrikka , Bundgaard Henning , Nielsen Susanne Dam , Berg Selina Kikkenborg , Wallach-Kildemoes Helle
Published: December 2023

In this real-world cohort study based on Danish nationwide registers, the cumulated proportion, relative risk (RR) of SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections, and vaccine effectiveness (VE) were investigated in adolescents aged 12–18 years following vaccination with the BNT162b2 vaccine compared to unvaccinated controls. Adolescents with and without vaccination with the first dose of BNT162b2 between 1 May and 30 September 2021 were included. Effect estimates include proportions with a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test among vaccinated and unvaccinated, RR, and VE at three different time points. During Delta-dominance, VE was first 97.6% (95% CI 96.3–98.4), then 96.2% (95% CI 95.4–96.9) in the age group 12–15 and 95.1% (95% CI 94.1–96.0) followed by 95.5% (95% CI 94.8–96.1) in the age group 16–18 years, respectively. During Omicron dominance, VE was 5.8% (95% CI 4.6–7.0) in ages 12–15 years and 9.2% (95% CI 7.7–10.6) in ages 16–18 years. Thus, BNT162b2-vaccine protection was limited during the Omicron era.
Time-Course Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Distinct Phases and Identifies Two Key Genes during Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection in PMA-Induced THP-1 Cells
Authors: Huang Tao , Wang Xueqi , Mi Yuqian , Wu Wei , Xu Xiao , Li Chuan , Wen Yanhan , Li Boyang , Li Yang , Sun Lina , Li Jiandong , Wang Mengxuan , Liu Tiezhu , Wang Shiwen , Liang Mifang
Published: December 2023

In recent years, there have been significant advancements in the research of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus (SFTSV). However, several limitations and challenges still exist. For instance, researchers face constraints regarding experimental conditions and the feasibility of sample acquisition for studying SFTSV. To enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of SFTSV research, we opted to employ PMA-induced THP-1 cells as a model for SFTSV infection. Multiple time points of SFTSV infection were designed to capture the dynamic nature of the virus–host interaction. Through a comprehensive analysis utilizing various bioinformatics approaches, including diverse clustering methods, MUfzz analysis, and LASSO/Cox machine learning, we performed dynamic analysis and identified key genes associated with SFTSV infection at the host cell transcriptomic level. Notably, successful clustering was achieved for samples infected at different time points, leading to the identification of two important genes, PHGDH and NLRP12. And these findings may provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of SFTSV and contribute to our understanding of host–virus interactions.
RBD-Protein/Peptide Vaccine UB-612 Elicits Mucosal and Fc-Mediated Antibody Responses against SARS-CoV-2 in Cynomolgus Macaques
Authors: Wang Shixia , Guirakhoo Farshad , Periasamy Sivakumar , Ryan Valorie , Wiggins Jonathan , Subramani Chandru , Thibodeaux Brett , Sahni Jaya , Hellerstein Michael , Kuzmina Natalia A. , Bukreyev Alexander , Dodart Jean-Cosme , Rumyantsev Alexander
Published: December 2023

Antibodies provide critical protective immunity against COVID-19, and the Fc-mediated effector functions and mucosal antibodies also contribute to the protection. To expand the characterization of humoral immunity stimulated by subunit protein–peptide COVID-19 vaccine UB-612, preclinical studies in non-human primates were undertaken to investigate mucosal secretion and the effector functionality of vaccine-induced antibodies in antibody-dependent monocyte phagocytosis (ADMP) and antibody-dependent NK cell activation (ADNKA) assays. In cynomolgus macaques, UB-612 induced potent serum-neutralizing, RBD-specific IgG binding, ACE2 binding-inhibition antibodies, and antibodies with Fc-mediated effector functions in ADMP and ADNKA assays. Additionally, immunized animals developed mucosal antibodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL). The level of mucosal or serum ADMP and ADNKA antibodies was found to be UB-612 dose-dependent. Our results highlight that the novel subunit UB-612 vaccine is a potent B-cell immunogen inducing polyfunctional antibody responses contributing to anti-viral immunity and vaccine efficacy.