bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing Explant Sources, Culture Media, and Light Conditions for the Improvement of Organogenesis in Pinus ponderosa (P. Lawson and C. Lawson)
Authors: Rojas-Vargas Alejandra , Castander-Olarieta Ander , do Nascimento Antonia Maiara Marques , Vélez María Laura , Pereira Cátia , Martins João , Zuzarte Mónica , Canhoto Jorge , Montalbán Itziar A. , Moncaleán Paloma
Published: February 2023

Pinus. ponderosa (P. Lawson and C. Lawson) is a commercial tree and one of the most important forest species in North America. Ponderosa pine suffers hardship when going through vegetative propagation and, in some cases, 15–30 years are needed to achieve full reproductive capacity. Based on previous works on P. ponderosa regeneration through in vitro organogenesis and trying to improve the published protocols, our objective was to analyze the influence of different types of explants, basal culture media, cytokinins, auxins, and light treatments on the success of shoot multiplication and rooting phases. Whole zygotic embryos and 44 µΜ 6-benzyladenine showed the best results in terms of explants survival. For shoot organogenesis, whole zygotic embryos and half LP (LP medium, Quoirin and Lepoivre, 1977, modified by Aitken-Christie et al., 1988) macronutrients were selected. A significant positive interaction between whole zygotic embryos and half LP macronutrients was found for the percentage of explants forming shoots. Regarding the light treatments applied, a significantly higher percentage of shoots elongated enough to be rooted was detected in shoots growing under blue LED at a light intensity of 61.09 µmol m−2 s−1. However, the acclimatization percentage was higher in shoots previously cultivated under fluorescent light at a light intensity of 61.71 µmol m−2 s−1. Anatomical studies using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed the light treatments promoted differences in anatomical aspects in in vitro shoots; needles of plantlets exposed to red and blue LEDs revealed less stomata compared with needles from plantlets exposed to fluorescent light.
Icephobicity of Hierarchically Rough Aluminum Surfaces Sequentially Coated with Fluoroalkyl and PDMS Alkoxysilanes
Authors: Lo Tien N. H. , Hwang Ha Soo , Park In
Published: February 2023

Superhydrophobic surfaces fabricated by grafting 1H,1H,2H,2H-heptadecafluorodecyl trimethoxysilane (FD-TMS) and polydimethylsiloxane triethoxysilane (PDMS-TES) onto a nano-micro hierarchical aluminum (Al) surface are considered to possess substantial anti-icing functionality, with delayed freezing and low ice-adhesion strength (IAS). Verifying the impacts of PDMS and the synergism of PDMS and FD on the anti-icing performance is the goal of this study. Roughness, one of the prerequisites for superhydrophobicity, was obtained by etching Al substrates in aqueous HCl, followed by immersion in boiling water. FD-TMS and PDMS-TES were then coated on the rough Al substrates layer by layer; a congener coated with a single layer was also prepared for comparison. The FD-PDMS1.92 (1.92 wt.%) coating, in which FD-TMS and PDMS-TES were used as primary and secondary coating materials, respectively, exhibited superior icephobicity, with the lowest IAS of 28 kPa under extremely condensing weather conditions (−20 °C and 70% relative humidity, RH) and the longest freezing delay time of 230 min (at −18 °C). These features are attributed to the incorporation of a dense coating layer with a low-surface-tension FD and the high mobility of PDMS, which lowered the contact area and interaction between the ice and substrate. The substrate coated with FD-PDMS1.92 exhibited improved durability with an IAS of 63 kPa after 40 icing/melting cycles, which is far less than that achieved with the FD single-layer coating.
Room Temperature Synthesized TiO2 Nanoparticles for Two-Folds Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Unsaturated Polyester
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Latif Zeeshan , Ali Mumtaz , Al-Ghamdi Ahmed , Arshad Zafar , Wageh S.
Published: February 2023

Using of nano-inclusion to reinforce polymeric materials has emerged as a potential technique to achieve an upper extreme of specific strength. Despite the significant improvement of mechanical properties via nano-reinforcements, the commercial application of such nano-composites is still restricted, due to high cost and unwanted aggregation of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. To address these issues, here we proposed a scalable and economical synthesis of TiO2 at low temperatures, resulting in self-dispersed nanoparticles, without any surfactant. As lower energy is consumed in the synthesis and processing of such nanoparticles, so their facile gram-scale synthesis is possible. The defect-rich surface of such nanoparticles accommodates excessive dangling bonds, serving as a center for the functional groups on the surface. Functional surface enables high dispersion stability of room temperature synthesized TiO2 particles. With this motivation, we optimized the processing conditions and concentration of as-synthesized nano-particles for better mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester (UP) resin. The composite structure (UP-TiO2) showed nearly two folds higher tensile, flexural, and impact strength, with 4% content of nanoparticles. Characterization tools show that these better mechanical properties are attributed to a strong interface and superior dispersion of nanoparticles, which facilitate better stress distribution in the composite structure. In addition, the crack generation and propagation are restricted at a much smaller scale in nanocomposites, therefore significant improvement in mechanical properties was observed.
An Approach to the Impact Simulation on Foamed Injection Molded Polypropylene Parts: An Example of Application in the Automotive Industry
Authors: Nutini Massimo , Franzen Markus , Vitali Mario
Published: February 2023

An approach to the simulation of foamed injection molded Polypropylene parts subjected to impact loading is presented in this paper. The proposed method, which considers strain-rate-dependent material properties and the possible occurrence of fracture, is, in particular, suitable for parts manufactured with core-back technology. The method was developed to be used within the functionality of a commercial Finite Element solver using a shell-type element mesh. The material model is based on a three-layer structure, with two compact skin layers and a foamed core layer made of expanded material. The properties of the foamed material are assumed as those of the compact grade scaled by a suitable factor, which is identified via inverse engineering on a set of bending tests executed on specimens having different foam densities. The fracture of the material is then predicted using a damage model which considers the effects of triaxiality. The approach is then validated on industrial parts from the automotive sector, subjected to impact in a component test. Despite the simplicity of the presented approach, which makes this method suitable for industrial applications and especially for early-stage design, the validation shows a sufficiently accurate simulation of part behavior under the impact, with a reasonable prediction of damage and fracture.
Study of Correlation between Structure and Shape-Memory Effect/Drug-Release Profile of Polyurethane/Hydroxyapatite Composites for Antibacterial Implants
Authors: Bil Monika , Jurczyk-Kowalska Magdalena , Kopeć Kamil , Heljak Marcin
Published: February 2023

The effectiveness of multifunctional composites that combine a shape-memory polyurethane (PU) matrix with hydroxyapatite (HA) as a bioactive agent and antibiotics molecules results from a specific composite structure. In this study, structure-function correlations of PU-based composites consisting of 3, 5, and 10 (wt%) of HA and (5 wt%) of gentamicin sulfate (GeS) as a model drug were investigated. The performed analysis revealed that increasing HA content up to 5 wt% enhanced hydrogen-bonding interaction within the soft segments of the PU. Differential-scanning-calorimetry (DSC) analysis confirmed the semi-crystalline structure of the composites. Hydroxyapatite enhanced thermal stability was confirmed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the water contact angle evaluated hydrophilicity. The shape-recovery coefficient (Rr) measured in water, decreased from 94% for the PU to 86% for the PU/GeS sample and to 88–91% for the PU/HA/GeS composites. These values were positively correlated with hydrogen-bond interactions evaluated using the Fourier-transform-infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, it was found that the shape-recovery process initiates drug release. After shape recovery, the drug concentration in water was 17 μg/mL for the PU/GeS sample and 33–47 μg/mL for the PU HA GeS composites. Antibacterial properties of developed composites were confirmed by the agar-diffusion test against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Synthesis and Characterization of Solution-Processible Donor-Acceptor Electrochromic Conjugated Copolymers Based on Quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine as the Acceptor Unit
Authors: Xu Zhen , Wang Bozhen , Kong Lingqian , Zhao Jinsheng , Du Yuchang
Published: February 2023

Donor-acceptor (D-A) type conjugated polymers are of high interest in the field of electrochromism. In this study, three novel conjugated copolymers (PBPE–1, PBPE-2 and PBPE-3) based on quinoxalino[2′,3′:9,10]phenanthro[4,5-abc]phenazine (A) as the acceptor unit and 4,8-bis((2-octyldodecyl)oxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene (D1) and 3,3-didecyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepine (ProDOT-decyl2, D2) as the donor units with different donor-to-acceptor ratios were successfully synthesized through Stille coupling polymerization. The polymers were then characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectoscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), spectroelectrochemistry, thermogravimetry (TG), electrochromic switching and colorimetry. Optical band gap values were calculated as 1.99 eV, 2.02 eV and 2.03 eV, respectively. The three copolymers have good solubility, distinct redox peaks, wide absorption spectra, good thermal stabilities, bright color changes and significant electrochromic switching properties. Compared to the other two copolymers, the PBPE-3 film exhibited high coloration efficiency values of 513 cm2·C−1 at 504 nm and 475 cm2·C−1 at 1500 nm. The films have the advantage of exhibiting cathodic and anodic coloration.
Magnetodielectric Properties of Ordered Microstructured Polydimethylsiloxane-Based Magnetorheological Elastomer with Fe3O4@rGO Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Chunjie , Liu Shaogang , Wei Fengmei , Dong Liqiang , Zhao Dan , Ou Yuqing
Published: February 2023

Magnetodielectric properties of prepared ordered microstructured polydimethylsiloxane-based magnetorheological elastomer with the Fe3O4@rGO (Fe3O4@rGO/PDMS-MRE) were investigated to expand the application of magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) in magnetic sensing fields by improving the magnetodielectric effect. Five types of Fe3O4@rGO electromagnetic biphasic composite particles were synthesized by the solvothermal method, and their characterization and magnetic properties were also tested. Microstructurally ordered Fe3O4@rGO/PDMS-MRE samples with different Fe3O4@rGO concentrations were obtained through the magnetic field orientation technique, an experimental platform for magnetodielectric properties was built, and the relative permittivity of the samples was tested under magnetic flux density from 0 to 500 mT. The results show when the ratio of modified Fe3O4 to GO reaches 10:1, the Fe3O4@rGO composite particles exhibit uniform distribution with a flaky structure and strong magnetic properties and have the best bonding effect of composite particles. The relative permittivity of Fe3O4@rGO/PDMS-MRE increases with the rise of Fe3O4@rGO concentration and applied magnetic flux density. The relative permittivity of Fe3O4@rGO/PDMS-MRE with Fe3O4@rGO concentration of 60 wt% reaches 12.934 under the action of 500 mT magnetic flux density, and the magnetodielectric effect is as high as 92.4%. A reasonable mechanism for improving the magnetodielectric effect of ordered microstructured Fe3O4@rGO/PDMS-MRE is proposed.
Numerical Analysis of Magnetic–Fluid–Thermal Multifield Coupling Processes in Electric Fused Magnesia Furnace
Authors: Qi Fengsheng , Hou Yunyi , Xu Jianxiang , Li Baokuan
Published: February 2023

The production of fused magnesia is a process in which raw materials are melted and recrystallized in the electric-fused magnesia furnace (EFMF). Temperature is the key factor that affects production, but it is difficult to be observed and monitored due to the high internal temperature. Thus, the working current is the standard for workers to judge whether the production process is normal. In order to master heat transfer characteristics in the furnace and accurately control the processes, a three-dimensional mathematical model of coupling the magnetic–fluid–thermal multifield has been established in a six-electrode EFMF. The model also considers the thermal decomposition of magnesium carbonate in the furnace. The phase change of materials is simulated by the solidification and melting model. The results show that the current density and Joule heat are concentrated in the region below the electrode. When the current size increases to 12,500 A, the molten pool begins to be connected. The average wall temperature at the end of the smelting stage is only 317.54 K, which conforms to the reality. The results of this study could provide guidance for practical production.
Multicomponent Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Derivatives of 4-Methyl-Substituted 5-Nitropyridines
Authors: Turgunalieva Daria M. , Stalinskaya Alena L. , Kulakov Ilya I. , Sagitullina Galina P. , Atuchin Victor V. , Elyshev Andrey V. , Kulakov Ivan V.
Published: February 2023

The multicomponent reaction of 2-nitroacetophenone (or nitroacetone), acetaldehyde diethyl acetal, β-dicarbonyl compound, and ammonium acetate in an acetic acid solution allowed the acquisition of previously undescribed 4-methyl-substituted derivatives of 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridine in satisfactory yields. The oxidation of the obtained 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives resulted in the corresponding 2,4-dimethyl-5-nitropyridines. In addition, for the first time in the synthesis of unsymmetrical 1,4-dihydropyridines by the Hantzsch reaction acetaldehyde, diethyl acetal was used as a source of acetaldehyde. The use of more volatile and sufficiently reactive acetaldehyde in this reaction did not lead to a controlled synthesis of unsymmetrical 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridines. The proposed multicomponent approach to the synthesis of 4-methyl-substituted 5-nitro-1,4-dihydropyridines and their subsequent aromatization into pyridines made it possible to obtain previously undescribed and hardly accessible substituted 5(3)-nitropyridines.
Special Issue “Advances in Innovative Engineering Materials and Processes”
Authors: Zhukov Arcady , Alexandrov Sergei , Rodionova Valeria , Zhukova Valentina
Published: February 2023

Successful progress in industrial development requires the use of cost-effective materials and advanced innovative materials with improved properties [...]
Miyun Yuanwu 密雲圓悟 (1567–1642) and His Impact on 17th-Century Buddhism
Authors: Bingenheimer Marcus
Published: February 2023

This paper relies on the dataset “Historical Social Network of Chinese Buddhism” (Ver. 2021-06). The focus is on the period between c. 1570 and 1700 CE. We argue that the actor who was most influential for institutional Buddhism in the 17th century was not one of the “four great monks of the late Ming” but rather Miyun Yuanwu 密雲圓悟 (1566–1642). The network illustrates how Miyun’s Tiantong branch 天童派 of the Linji School became the dominant Chan lineage in China and beyond. The main results of this study are: (1) the data corroborate the assumption that (at least) monastic Buddhism declined between c. 1420 and 1570. (2) The network view de-emphasizes the importance of the ‘four famous late Ming eminent monks’ for the development of 17th-century Buddhist monasticism. (3) The data align well with a suggestion by Jiang Wu to distinguish two different stages in the development of late Ming Buddhism. The first is characterized by the “late Ming revival,” led by figures such as Yunqi Zhuhong, Zibo Zhenke, and Hanshan Deqing; the second phase is the organization of orthopraxy around the Chan lineage discourse dominated by Miyun Yuanwu and his students. (4) For the 17th century, the network data clearly shows the centrality of Miyun Yuanwu and his network.
Reaching the End of the World: An Anthropological Reading of Early Buddhist Medicine and Ascetic Practices
Authors: Divino Federico
Published: February 2023

This article aims to analyze the ideas of health and illness in ancient Buddhism, making use of the theoretical tools of medical anthropology and historical–philological inquiry. As a contribution to the conceptual history of medicine in Buddhism, I intend to focus the present investigation on the ascetic problem of the “end of the world” as a means of achieving complete healing. The asceticism of early Buddhism reconciles the goal of transcendence with that of healing, carrying out a complex reflection on awareness and presence.
Living Interfaith Dialogue during the Lockdown: The Role of Women in the Italian Case
Authors: Casavecchia Andrea , Carbone Chiara , Canta Alba Francesca
Published: February 2023

The aim of this article is to present some results of a study conducted in Italy exploring interfaith dialogue during and after the 2020 lockdown. To continue ritual practices during the COVID-19 emergency, several religious communities rethought all their forms of communication. They have shifted their activities mainly to the internet. Often, these transformations changed the forms of religious practices, but did not alter pre-existing cosmologies and theologies. How has physical distance affected interfaith dialogue, and what role did women play? To answer these questions, the research used semi-structured interviews with key informants, including opinion leaders of religious communities and experts. The analysis of the interviews paid special attention to the active role played by women in building bridges between different religions.
Geosite Assessment and Communication: A Review
Authors: Pasquaré Mariotto Federico , Drymoni Kyriaki , Bonali Fabio L. , Tibaldi Alessandro , Corti Noemi , Oppizzi Paolo
Published: February 2023

This work is aimed at reviewing the current state of the art in geosite selection, assessment, and communication. We first highlight the main papers that have defined paramount concepts such as geodiversity, geoheritage, and geosites. We then delve into the theoretical principles and guidelines that have been proposed over the last twenty years by researchers who have thoroughly illustrated how to individuate and assess geosites. In doing so, we illustrate notable field examples of applications of qualitative and quantitative assessments of geosites in places such as Serbia, India, Iceland, Ecuador, Sardinia (Italy), Egypt, Tasmania (Australia), and Brazil. The third part of this work is dedicated to illustrating a list (by no means exhaustive) of works that have tried to come up with innovative tools, strategies, and solutions to promote and communicate geosites. From our work, it appears that geosites can be extremely effective as fully fledged outreach tools capable of bridging the gap between Earth science and the lay public.
Non-Local Means De-Speckling Based on Multi-Directional Local Plane Inclination Angle
Authors: Guo Fengcheng , Tang Haoran , Liu Wensong
Published: February 2023

The unavoidable speckle in SAR images seriously interferes with image quality and has a negative effect on subsequent image interpretation. The existing filters still need to be strengthened in terms of both noise suppression and edge preservation. Based on this, a novel non-local means filter by multi-directional local plane inclination angle (MDLPIA) is proposed. The proposed filter uses the MDLPIA to reconstruct a new weight function for non-local means filtering. One instance of simulation data and four real SAR images are used for filtering experiments. In the experiment, seven other filters with excellent performance are selected for comparison, and six quantitative indicators are selected for algorithm performance evaluation. The experimental results show that the proposed filter achieves good visual and index evaluation results, and the equivalent number of looks (ENL) is at least 22.13 times higher than the unfiltered image. The effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithm are thus verified.
Health-Monitoring Systems for Marine Structures: A Review
Authors: Silva-Campillo Arturo , Pérez-Arribas Francisco , Suárez-Bermejo Juan Carlos
Published: February 2023

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the state-of-the-art developments in health monitoring of marine structures. Monitoring the health of marine structures plays a key role in reducing the risk of structural failure. The authors establish the different sensors with their theoretical foundations and applications in order to determine the optimal position of the sensors on board. Once the data were collected, it was necessary to use for subsequent treatment; thus, the authors identified the different methodologies related to the treatment of data collected by the sensors. The authors provide a historical review of the location of different sensors depending on the type of ship and offshore platform. Finally, this review paper states the conclusions and future trends of this technology.
Peer-to-Peer User Identity Verification Time Optimization in IoT Blockchain Network
Authors: Kairaldeen Ammar Riadh , Abdullah Nor Fadzilah , Abu-Samah Asma , Nordin Rosdiadee
Published: February 2023

Blockchain introduces challenges related to the reliability of user identity and identity management systems; this includes detecting unfalsified identities linked to IoT applications. This study focuses on optimizing user identity verification time by employing an efficient encryption algorithm for the user signature in a peer-to-peer decentralized IoT blockchain network. To achieve this, a user signature-based identity management framework is examined by using various encryption techniques and contrasting various hash functions built on top of the Modified Merkle Hash Tree (MMHT) data structure algorithm. The paper presents the execution of varying dataset sizes based on transactions between nodes to test the scalability of the proposed design for secure blockchain communication. The results show that the MMHT data structure algorithm using SHA3 and AES-128 encryption algorithm gives the lowest execution time, offering a minimum of 36% gain in time optimization compared to other algorithms. This work shows that using the AES-128 encryption algorithm with the MMHT algorithm and SHA3 hash function not only identifies malicious codes but also improves user integrity check performance in a blockchain network, while ensuring network scalability. Therefore, this study presents the performance evaluation of a blockchain network considering its distinct types, properties, components, and algorithms’ taxonomy.
Investigation of FBMC-OQAM Equalization with Real Interference Prediction Algorithm Properties for MIMO Transmission Scheme
Authors: Varlamov Vladimir O. , Lobov Evgeniy M. , Lobova Elizaveta O.
Published: February 2023

Increasing the data transfer rate is an urgent task in cellular, high-frequency (HF) and special communication systems. The most common way to increase the data rate is to expand the bandwidth of the transmitted signal, which is often achieved through the use of multitone systems. One such system is the filter bank multicarrier (FBMC). In addition, speed improvements are achieved using multi-input–multi-output (MIMO) systems. In this study, we developed an algorithm for equalizing FBMC signals with offset-QAM modulation (OQAM) with self-interference compensation due to its correlation properties in a MIMO channel with memory. An analytical derivation of the proposed algorithm and an analysis of the computational complexity are given. According to the results of simulation modeling and a comparative analysis of performance in terms of the bit error rate and error vector magnitude with solutions with similar computational complexity, a similar level of performance was shown compared to a more complex parallel multistage algorithm, and a better performance was demonstrated compared to a one-tap algorithm.
Reviewing Federated Machine Learning and Its Use in Diseases Prediction
Authors: Moshawrab Mohammad , Adda Mehdi , Bouzouane Abdenour , Ibrahim Hussein , Raad Ali
Published: February 2023

Machine learning (ML) has succeeded in improving our daily routines by enabling automation and improved decision making in a variety of industries such as healthcare, finance, and transportation, resulting in increased efficiency and production. However, the development and widespread use of this technology has been significantly hampered by concerns about data privacy, confidentiality, and sensitivity, particularly in healthcare and finance. The “data hunger” of ML describes how additional data can increase performance and accuracy, which is why this question arises. Federated learning (FL) has emerged as a technology that helps solve the privacy problem by eliminating the need to send data to a primary server and collect it where it is processed and the model is trained. To maintain privacy and improve model performance, FL shares parameters rather than data during training, in contrast to the typical ML practice of sending user data during model development. Although FL is still in its infancy, there are already applications in various industries such as healthcare, finance, transportation, and others. In addition, 32% of companies have implemented or plan to implement federated learning in the next 12–24 months, according to the latest figures from KPMG, which forecasts an increase in investment in this area from USD 107 million in 2020 to USD 538 million in 2025. In this context, this article reviews federated learning, describes it technically, differentiates it from other technologies, and discusses current FL aggregation algorithms. It also discusses the use of FL in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Finally, the problems hindering progress in this area and future strategies to overcome these limitations are discussed in detail.
HFNet-SLAM: An Accurate and Real-Time Monocular SLAM System with Deep Features
Authors: Liu Liming , Aitken Jonathan M.
Published: February 2023

Image tracking and retrieval strategies are of vital importance in visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) systems. For most state-of-the-art systems, hand-crafted features and bag-of-words (BoW) algorithms are the common solutions. Recent research reports the vulnerability of these traditional algorithms in complex environments. To replace these methods, this work proposes HFNet-SLAM, an accurate and real-time monocular SLAM system built on the ORB-SLAM3 framework incorporated with deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs). This work provides a pipeline of feature extraction, keypoint matching, and loop detection fully based on features from CNNs. The performance of this system has been validated on public datasets against other state-of-the-art algorithms. The results reveal that the HFNet-SLAM achieves the lowest errors among systems available in the literature. Notably, the HFNet-SLAM obtains an average accuracy of 2.8 cm in EuRoC dataset in pure visual configuration. Besides, it doubles the accuracy in medium and large environments in TUM-VI dataset compared with ORB-SLAM3. Furthermore, with the optimisation of TensorRT technology, the entire system can run in real-time at 50 FPS.
Light Field View Synthesis Using the Focal Stack and All-in-Focus Image
Authors: Sharma Rishabh , Perry Stuart , Cheng Eva
Published: February 2023

Light field reconstruction and synthesis algorithms are essential for improving the lower spatial resolution for hand-held plenoptic cameras. Previous light field synthesis algorithms produce blurred regions around depth discontinuities, especially for stereo-based algorithms, where no information is available to fill the occluded areas in the light field image. In this paper, we propose a light field synthesis algorithm that uses the focal stack images and the all-in-focus image to synthesize a 9 × 9 sub-aperture view light field image. Our approach uses depth from defocus to estimate a depth map. Then, we use the depth map and the all-in-focus image to synthesize the sub-aperture views, and their corresponding depth maps by mimicking the apparent shifting of the central image according to the depth values. We handle the occluded regions in the synthesized sub-aperture views by filling them with the information recovered from the focal stack images. We also show that, if the depth levels in the image are known, we can synthesize a high-accuracy light field image with just five focal stack images. The accuracy of our approach is compared with three state-of-the-art algorithms: one non-learning and two CNN-based approaches, and the results show that our algorithm outperforms all three in terms of PSNR and SSIM metrics.
The Use of Bi-Potentiostat as a Simple and Accurate Electrochemical Approach for the Determination of Orthophosphate in Seawater
Authors: Altahan Mahmoud Fatehy , Esposito Mario , Bogner Boie , Achterberg Eric P.
Published: February 2023

Autonomous on-site monitoring of orthophosphate (PO43−), an important nutrient for primary production in natural waters, is urgently needed. Here, we report on the development and validation of an on-site autonomous electrochemical analyzer for PO43− in seawater. The approach is based on the use of flow injection analysis in conjunction with a dual electrochemical cell (i.e., a bi-potentiostat detector (FIA-DECD) that uses two working electrodes sharing the same reference and counter electrode. The two working electrodes are used (molybdate/carbon paste electrode (CPE) and CPE) to correct for matrix effects. Optimization of squarewave voltammetry parameters (including step potential, amplitude, and frequency) was undertaken to enhance analytical sensitivity. Possible interferences from non-ionic surfactants and humic acid were investigated. The limit of quantification in artificial seawater (30 g/L NaCl, pH 0.8) was 0.014 µM for a linear concentration range of 0.02–3 µM. The system used a Python script for operation and data processing. The analyzer was tested for ship-board PO43− determination during a four-day research cruise in the North Sea. The analyzer successfully measured 34 samples and achieved a good correlation (Pearson’ R = 0.91) with discretely collected water samples analyzed using a laboratory-based colorimetric reference analyzer.
Data Dissemination in VANETs Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Desai Dhwani , El-Ocla Hosam , Purohit Surbhi
Published: February 2023

A vehicular Ad-Hoc Network (VANET) is a type of Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks (MANETs) that uses wireless routers inside each vehicle to act as a node. The need for effective solutions to urban traffic congestion issues has increased recently due to the growing number of automobile connections in the car communications system. To ensure a high level of service and avoid unsafe situations brought on by congestion or a broadcast storm, data dissemination in a VANET network requires an effective approach. Effective multi-objective optimization methods are required to tackle this because of the implied competing nature of multi-metric approaches. A meta-heuristic technique with a high level of solution interactions can handle efficient optimization. To accomplish this, a meta-heuristic search algorithm particle optimization was chosen. In this paper, we have created a network consisting of vehicles as nodes. The aim is to send emergency messages immediately to the stationary nodes. The normal messages will be sent to the FIFO queue. To send these messages to a destination node, multiple routes were found using Time delay-based Multipath Routing (TMR) method, and to find the optimal and secure path Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is used. Our method is compared with different optimization methods such as Ant Colony Optimization (ACO), Firefly Optimization (FFO), and Enhanced Flying Ant Colony Optimization (EFACO). Significant improvements in terms of throughput and packet loss ratio, reduced end-to-end delay, rounding overhead ratio, and the energy consumption are revealed by the experimental results.
The Potential of Membrane Contactors in the Pre-Treatment and Post-Treatment Lines of a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant
Authors: Criscuoli Alessandra
Published: February 2023

The flexibility of membrane contactors (MCs) is highlighted for a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plant. MCs are applied as pre-treatment for the oxygen removal and the pH reduction of seawater, also as post-treatment for the pH increase of the RO permeate and the reduction of the RO brine volume. A decrease of the seawater pH down to neutral values, as needed when coagulation is used in the pre-treatment line of RO, together with an increase of the RO permeate pH up to 7.58, matching the target of produced water, can be obtained without the use of chemicals. Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD) and Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) are investigated as function of the feed concentration (ranging from 40 g/L to 80 g/L) and temperature (40 °C–80° C). Their performance is compared at parity of operating conditions and in terms of applied driving force. Both distillation systems are able to efficiently reject salts (rejection > 99.99%), while higher distillate fluxes are obtained when a vacuum is applied at the permeate side (15 kg/m2h vs. 6.6 kg/m2h for the 80 g/L feed).
Strength Performance and Stabilization Mechanism of Fine Sandy Soils Stabilized with Cement and Metakaolin
Authors: Wang Shengnian , Zhang Xingjin , Zhang Peng , Chen Zewei
Published: February 2023

Enhancing strength performance while reducing cement consumption for soil stabilization is the key to improving the economic benefits of engineering construction projects like retaining structures of underground engineering, subgrade bases, and foundation reinforcement. This study employed metakaolin as the additive to realize these two aims. A series of compression and microstructural observation tests on cement- and metakaolin-stabilized fine sandy soils (CMSFSS) were conducted with different cement–metakaolin ratios, water–binder ratios, dosages of the binder (the mixture of cement and metakaolin), and curing ages. The influences of these factors on the mechanical performance of the CMSFSS were studied. The empirical relationships between compressive strength and these influence factors were discussed. Then, the strengthening mechanism of the CMSFSS at different curing ages was investigated. The results showed that the optimal cement–metakaolin ratio for fine sandy soil stabilization was 5:1, which did not change with the total consumption of cement and metakaolin. The compressive strength of the CMSFSS decreased linearly with the water–binder ratio but increased linearly with the curing age. Four empirical prediction formulas about these strength-influencing factors were summarized. The evolution of microstructural characteristics discovered by scanning electron microscope and mercury intrusion tests showed that the hydrated gels in CMSFSS were being formed during the early curing age and resulted in decreasing pore sizes with an initial rapid rate and then a slower rate over the curing age. The gradual disappearance of calcium hydroxide (by-products of cement hydration) over the curing age proved the promoting effect of metakaolin on the strength improvement of cement-stabilized fine sandy soils. This study can provide a reference for applying cement and metakaolin in soil stabilization practices.
Rethinking “Streetline Forestscapes” in a Broader Context of Urban Forestry: In-Between Ecological Services and Landscape Design, with Some Evidence from Rome, Italy
Authors: Clemente Matteo
Published: February 2023

Urban forestry development plans, which sometimes pass under the “slogan” of urban forestry, are a great opportunity for our cities. Improving urban forestscapes is a successful part of any urban sustainability strategy, including concrete actions in support of citizens’ well-being. The experience of Italy with the most recent forest planning legislation and a specific focus on Rome, with the recent implementation of a local forest plan, is thus fundamental to give due weight to the different roles of road trees in the ecological, architectural, engineering and social fields, differentially considering some aspects relevant to urban forestation plans and in particular in projects for the new planting of road trees. The present study discusses the main issue of road trees as a part of the green system, linking the “porosity” of urban landscapes with beneficial contributions in terms of ecosystem services. It is outlined how considering the issue of road trees within the more general question of the structure of urban and metropolitan green areas, which includes urban parks, ecological corridors between wilderness areas, residual green areas of buildings, riparian strips of rivers, agricultural areas, natural and wooded areas, is necessary in current planning for urban forests. The project of new plantings and replacement of existing trees should also follow a careful analysis of the local and regional ecological network, promoting a full integration with the mobility network, the service system and the city’s public spaces, including vacant land. Any strategy promoted by urban forestry, and in particular tree-lined roads, should work in synergy with the other measures for urban redevelopment and landscape enhancement of the city in a truly holistic perspective. Finally, the identity of street tree lines in building the image of a given city should be significantly enhanced, recovering in some ways (and giving value to) the aesthetic and scenic role of urban trees.
Sustainable Economic Production Quantity Model Considering Greenhouse Gas and Wastewater Emissions
Authors: Yee Yann Mey , Sy Lilian , Lomibao Kryzia , German Josephine Dela Cruz , Wee Hui-Ming
Published: February 2023

Pursuing sustainability in the production inventory model has motivated researchers to reconsider carbon emission costs. In this study, we develop an economic production quantity (EPQ) inventory model to consider greenhouse gas and wastewater emission costs. This study aims to optimize the production quantity, the total costs per production cycle, and the waste emissions. To validate and test the model, data from a pulp and paper mill industry was used. The effectiveness of the model was determined by comparing the costs generated under three (3) scenarios: (1) an EPQ model that considers the costs of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; (2) an EPQ model considering shortages; and (3) a multiproduct EPQ model considering shortages. Our proposed sustainable EPQ models can provide decision-makers with insights to visualize how certain factors affect the manufacturing system. Future research can be conducted to consider the product life cycle as well as deteriorating items.
Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Driving Factors for Traditional Villages in Areas of China Based on GWR Modeling and Geodetector: A Case Study of the Awa Mountain Area
Authors: Li Shiying , Song Yuhong , Xu Hua , Li Yijiao , Zhou Shaokun
Published: February 2023

Traditional villages are human treasures left behind by the integration of material space and non-material culture in the process of agricultural civilization. Studying the spatial autocorrelation characteristics, heterogeneity, and quantitative attribution of the factors influencing traditional villages provides new ideas for the protection of traditional villages. This study took 75 traditional villages as the research object. From the perspective of spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity, the study used nuclear density estimation and Moran’s I index to analyze the spatial distribution patterns and selected 12 factors to construct the GWR modeling and geodetector to analyze the main driving forces and the interaction mechanism. The results showed that, firstly, the overall spatial layout of traditional villages in the Awa Mountain area had two cores, two sides, and a scattered distribution; the global Moran’s I was 0.774, and 55.6% of traditional villages showed a clustering phenomenon. Second, the spatial layout of traditional villages in the Awa Mountain area has been jointly promoted and mutually constrained by multiple factors in a dynamic and complex mechanism with obvious spatial heterogeneity. The natural factor is the basic factor, which determines the location and scale of development of villages; the spatial factor is the auxiliary factor; the social factor is the decisive factor, with a negative global correlation and a positive local correlation; the regional cultural factor is the key factor, and the regional factor and the social factor complement each other; and factors such as a backward economic level, restricted transportation, less external communication, and low population density play a protective role. Third, the main driving factor is the proportion of ethnic minorities (X10), and the explanatory power of q-value reaches 0.54; the proportion of ethnic minorities (X10) ∩ average annual precipitation (X4) has the strongest interactive driving force, which belongs to nonlinear enhancement, and the q-value is 0.93, which proves that the explanatory power of the two-factor model is much greater than the single-factor model from the system perspective.
Analysis and Simulation of Blood Cells Separation in a Polymeric Serpentine Microchannel under Dielectrophoresis Effect
Authors: Ayash Ahmed A. , Al-Moameri Harith H. , Salman Ali Abed , Lubguban Arnold A. , Malaluan Roberto M.
Published: February 2023

The current work presents a novel microfluidic approach, allowing a full separation of blood cells. The approach relies on using a polydimethylsiloxane serpentine microchannel equipped with a series of electrodes, providing two separation zones. The proposed design exploits the unique configuration of the channel along with the inherent difference in dielectric properties of the three kinds of blood cells to achieve a size-based sorting. The platelets (PLTs) are subjected to a larger dielectrophoretic force than red blood cells (RBCs) and white blood cells (WBCs), forcing them to be separated in the first zone. This leaves RBCs and WBCs to be separated in the second zone. The model developed in this work has been used intensively to examine the feasibility of the proposed approach. The model results showed a full separation of blood content can be achieved over a range of phase flow rates and AC frequencies.
Sustainable Analysis of Insulator Fault Detection Based on Fine-Grained Visual Optimization
Authors: Wang Linfeng , Wan Heng , Huang Deqing , Liu Jiayao , Tang Xuliang , Gan Linfeng
Published: February 2023

Insulators of the kind used for overhead transmission lines institute important kinds of insulation control, namely, electrical insulation and mechanical fixing. Because of their large exposure to the environment, they are affected by factors such as climate, temperature, durability, the easy occurrence of explosions, damage, the threat of going missing, and other faults. These seriously influence the safety of the power transmission, so insulation monitoring must be conducted. With the development of unmanned technology, the staff used unmanned aircraft to take aerial photos of the detected insulators, and the insulator images were obtained by naked eye observation. Although this method looks very reliable, in practice, due to the large quantity of insulator-collected seismic data, and the complex background, workers are usually relying on their experience to make judgements, so it is easy for mistakes to appear. In recent years, with the rapid development of computer technology, more and more attention has been paid to fault detection and identification in insulators by computer-aided workers. In order to improve the detection accuracy of self-exploding insulators, especially in bad weather environments, and to overcome the influence of fog on target detection, a regression attention convolutional neural network is used for optimization. Through the recursive operation of multi-scale attention, multi-scale feature information is connected in series, the regional focus is recursively generated from coarse to fine, and the target region is detected to achieve optimal results. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively improve the fault diagnosis ability of insulators. Compared with the accuracy of other basic models, such as FCAN and MG-CNN, the accuracy of RA-CNN in multi-layer cascade optimization is higher than that in the previous two models, which is 74.9% and 75.6%, respectively. In addition, the results of the ablation experiments at different scales showed that the identification results of different two-level combinations were 78.2%, 81.4%, and 83.6%, and the accuracy of selecting three-level combinations was up to 85.3%, which was significantly higher than the other models.
Correlation between Distribution of Rural Settlements and Topography in Plateau-Mountain Area: A Study of Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Xu Jian , Zheng Liangjun , Ma Ruiqu , Tian Han
Published: February 2023

Topography is one of the important factors influencing the distribution of rural settlements, as the natural environment in plateau-mountain areas is more complicated and harsher and the forces of various natural influences are more obvious. Analyzing the correlation between settlement distribution and topography would help understand the influence of topography on human activities. This paper takes rural settlements in Yunnan Province as the research object, introduces the concept of the distribution index, and integrates the methods of GIS spatial analysis and mathematical statistics to analyze the correlation between them. The results show that (1) the distribution pattern of rural settlements in Yunnan Province is dense in the northeast, sparse in the northwest, dense in the middle, and sparse in the south; the overall pattern shows low density, fragmentation, and a dotted distribution of high-value areas, showing three typical core areas with very obvious spatial differentiation. (2) The distribution of rural settlements is influenced by three key topographic factors: Relief amplitude, incision depth, and surface roughness. The dispersion index of rural settlements drastically declines as the value rises. (3) Each topographic factor influences the natural resources and climatic characteristics of the region, and by coupling them with the production and life of the rural settlements and the psychological needs of the inhabitants, they form an intrinsic mechanism that influences the distribution of rural settlements. (4) Topography is an important factor when developing and constructing in plateau-mountain areas. The environmental protection and construction of human settlements should be in accordance with nature and adapted to the terrain, which can reduce the damage to the natural environment. The study provides effective data support for quantifying the relationship between the distribution of rural settlements and topography in the plateau-mountain area and optimizing the layout of rural settlements.