bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D and Vitamin D3 Supplementation during Photodynamic Therapy: A Review
Authors: Mazur Anna , Koziorowska Katarzyna , Dynarowicz Klaudia , Aebisher David , Bartusik-Aebisher Dorota
Published: September 2022

Photodynamic therapy is an unconventional yet increasingly common method of treating dermatological diseases and cancer that is implemented more often in adults than in children. Current clinical uses include treatment of actinic keratosis, superficial basal cell carcinomas, and acne. Despite its high efficiency, photodynamic therapy support supplements have recently been reported in the literature, including calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol), the active form of vitamin D, and vitamin D3 cholecalciferol. In clinical trials, photodynamic therapy enhanced with vitamin D or D3 supplementation has been reported for treatment of squamous cell skin cancers, actinic keratosis, and psoriasis. Experimental research on the effect of photodynamic therapy with vitamin D or D3 has also been carried out in breast cancer cell lines and in animal models. The aim of this review is to evaluate the usefulness and effectiveness of vitamin D and D3 as supports for photodynamic therapy. For this purpose, the Pubmed and Scopus literature databases were searched. The search keyword was: “vitamin D in photodynamic therapy”. In the analyzed articles (1979–2022), the authors found experimental evidence of a positive effect of vitamin D and D3 when used in conjunction with photodynamic therapy. An average of 6–30% (in one case, up to 10 times) increased response to photodynamic therapy was reported in combination with vitamin D and D3 as compared to photodynamic therapy alone. Implementing vitamin D and D3 as a supplement to photodynamic therapy is promising and may lead to further clinical trials and new clinical methodologies.
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Patient Education Interventions in Obesity and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Correia Jorge C. , Waqas Ahmed , Huat Teoh Soo , Gariani Karim , Jornayvaz François R. , Golay Alain , Pataky Zoltan
Published: September 2022

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity account for the highest burden of non-communicable diseases. There is increasing evidence showing therapeutic patient education (TPE) as a clinically and cost-effective solution to improve biomedical and psychosocial outcomes among people with DM and obesity. The present systematic review and meta-analysis present a critical synthesis of the development of TPE interventions for DM and obesity and the efficacy of these interventions across a range of biomedical, psychosocial and psychological outcomes. A total of 54 of these RCTs were identified among patients with obesity and diabetes and were thus qualitatively synthesized. Out of these, 47 were included in the quantitative synthesis. There was substantial heterogeneity in the reporting of these outcomes (I2 = 88.35%, Q = 317.64), with a significant improvement noted in serum HbA1c levels (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.272, 95% CI: 0.118 to 0.525, n = 7360) and body weight (SMD = 0.526, 95% CI: 0.205 to 0.846, n = 1082) in the intervention group. The effect sizes were comparable across interventions delivered by different modes and delivery agents. These interventions can be delivered by allied health staff, doctors or electronically as self-help programs, with similar effectiveness (p < 0.001). These interventions should be implemented in healthcare and community settings to improve the health outcomes in patients suffering from obesity and DM.
Comparing the Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials for Nonskeletal Health Effects of Vitamin D
Authors: Grant William B. , Boucher Barbara J. , Al Anouti Fatme , Pilz Stefan
Published: September 2022

Although observational studies of health outcomes generally suggest beneficial effects with, or following, higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have generally not supported those findings. Here we review results from observational studies and RCTs regarding how vitamin D status affects several nonskeletal health outcomes, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, autoimmune diseases, cancers, cardiovascular disease, COVID-19, major depressive disorder, type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, all-cause mortality, respiratory tract infections, and pregnancy outcomes. We also consider relevant findings from ecological, Mendelian randomization, and mechanistic studies. Although clear discrepancies exist between findings of observational studies and RCTs on vitamin D and human health benefits these findings should be interpreted cautiously. Bias and confounding are seen in observational studies and vitamin D RCTs have several limitations, largely due to being designed like RCTs of therapeutic drugs, thereby neglecting vitamin D’s being a nutrient with a unique metabolism that requires specific consideration in trial design. Thus, RCTs of vitamin D can fail for several reasons: few participants’ having low baseline 25(OH)D concentrations, relatively small vitamin D doses, participants’ having other sources of vitamin D, and results being analyzed without consideration of achieved 25(OH)D concentrations. Vitamin D status and its relevance for health outcomes can usefully be examined using Hill’s criteria for causality in a biological system from results of observational and other types of studies before further RCTs are considered and those findings would be useful in developing medical and public health policy, as they were for nonsmoking policies. A promising approach for future RCT design is adjustable vitamin D supplementation based on interval serum 25(OH)D concentrations to achieve target 25(OH)D levels suggested by findings from observational studies.
Energy Drinks and Sleep among Adolescents
Authors: Tomanic Milena , Paunovic Katarina , Lackovic Maja , Djurdjevic Katarina , Nestorovic Milica , Jakovljevic Ana , Markovic Milos
Published: September 2022

Many adolescents worldwide have the problem of meeting recommended nightly sleep hours. The causes of sleep disturbance are multifactorial, but interest in food’s effect on sleep has dramatically increased lately. In this study, we investigated the association between regular energy drink (ED) intake (weekly or more frequent) and sufficient sleep (SS) (≥8 h) in adolescents. Additional objectives were to examine the relationship between health-related behaviors and SS, stratified by gender. A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2019/2020 school year from 12 schools in Belgrade. There were 1287 students aged 15 to 19 who participated (37.4% male). We used a modified version of the food frequency questionnaire adapted for Serbian adolescents. Logistic regression revealed that regular ED consumption was an independent risk factor negatively related to SS in both sexes. Additionally, daily vegetable and water intake (≥2 L) showed a positive correlation with SS in boys, while in girls, the odds of realizing SS decreased with statements of sedative use. In conclusion, we show that ED intake is negatively associated with SS in both sexes; daily vegetable and water intake (≥2 L) may raise the odds of SS in boys, while sedative use may decrease the chances of SS in girls.
Sex and Diet-Related Disparities in Low Handgrip Strength among Young and Middle-Aged Koreans: Findings Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2017
Authors: Kim Inhye , Son Kumhee , Jeong Su Jin , Lim Hyunjung
Published: September 2022

“Possible sarcopenia” may be defined as a low muscle strength assessed by handgrip strength (HGS) by sex. We examined the sex-specific association between low handgrip strength (LGS) and dietary factors for the prevention of sarcopenia in young and middle-aged Koreans. We used data from the 2014–2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 11,635 Korean adults with LGS and normal handgrip strength (NGS). The relationship between dietary factors, e.g., nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns, and HGS was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In men, the LGS group had a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates and a lower proportion of energy from proteins than the NGS group. The LGS group had lower protein, niacin, phosphorus, and iron densities in their diet than the NGS group. The odds of having LGS increased as intake of vitamin B1 (odds ratio (OR) 2.916, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.265–6.719), niacin (OR 2.286, 95% CI 1.095–4.774), phosphorus (OR 2.731, 95% CI 1.036–7.199), and iron (OR 2.591, 95% CI 1.102–6.088) decreased. In women with LGS, the odds of insufficient protein intake (OR 1.976, 95% CI 1.248–3.127) was significantly higher. This study suggests that adequate intake of protein, vitamin B1, niacin, phosphorus, and iron is beneficial for maintaining HGS.
Promastigote-to-Amastigote Conversion in Leishmania spp.—A Molecular View
Authors: Clos Joachim , Grünebast Janne , Holm Myrine
Published: September 2022

A key factor in the successful infection of a mammalian host by Leishmania parasites is their conversion from extracellular motile promastigotes into intracellular amastigotes. We discuss the physical and chemical triggers that induce this conversion and the accompanying changes at the molecular level crucial for the survival of these intracellular parasites. Special emphasis is given to the reliance of these trypanosomatids on the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression but also to the role played by protein kinases, chaperone proteins and proteolytic enzymes. Lastly, we offer a model to integrate the transduction of different stress signals for the induction of stage conversion.
Acyldepsipeptide Analogues: A Future Generation Antibiotics for Tuberculosis Treatment
Authors: Cobongela Sinazo Z. Z. , Makatini Maya M. , Mdluli Phumlane S. , Sibuyi Nicole R. S.
Published: September 2022

Acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) are a new class of emerging antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are currently explored for treatment of pathogenic infections, including tuberculosis (TB). These cyclic hydrophobic peptides have a unique bacterial target to the conventional anti-TB drugs, and present a therapeutic window to overcome Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (M. tb) drug resistance. ADEPs exerts their antibacterial activity on M. tb strains through activation of the protein homeostatic regulatory protease, the caseinolytic protease (ClpP1P2). ClpP1P2 is normally regulated and activated by the ClpP-ATPases to degrade misfolded and toxic peptides and/or short proteins. ADEPs bind and dysregulate all the homeostatic capabilities of ClpP1P2 while inducing non-selective proteolysis. The uncontrolled proteolysis leads to M. tb cell death within the host. ADEPs analogues that have been tested possess cytotoxicity and poor pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. However, these can be improved by drug design techniques. Moreover, the use of nanomaterial in conjunction with ADEPs would yield effective synergistic effect. This new mode of action has potential to combat and eradicate the extensive multi-drug resistance (MDR) problem that is currently faced by the public health pertaining bacterial infections, especially TB.
Low-Complexity and Highly-Robust Chromatic Dispersion Estimation for Faster-than-Nyquist Coherent Optical Systems
Authors: Yang Tao , Jiang Yu , Wang Yongben , You Jialin , Wang Liqian , Chen Xue
Published: September 2022

Faster-than-Nyquist (FTN) coherent optical transmission technology is considered to be an outstanding solution to achieve higher spectral efficiency (SE), larger capacity, and greater achievable transmission by using advanced modulation formats in concert with highly efficient digital signal processing (DSP) to estimate and compensate various impairments. However, severe inter-symbol interference (ISI) caused by tight FTN pulse shaping will lead to intractable chromatic dispersion (CD) estimation problems, as existing conventional methods are completely ineffective or exhibit unaffordable computational complexity (CC). In this paper, we propose a low-complexity and highly robust scheme that could realize accurate and reliable CD estimation (CDE) based on a designed training sequence (TS) in the first stage and an optimized fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) in the second stage. The training sequence with the designed structure helps us to estimate CD roughly but reliably, and it further facilitates the FrFT in the second stage to achieve accurate CDE within a narrowed searching range; it thereby results in very low CC. Comprehensive simulation results of triple-carrier 64-GBaud FTN dual-polarization 16-ary quadrature amplitude modulation (DP-16QAM) systems demonstrate that, with only overall 3% computational complexity compared with conventional blind CDE methods, the proposed scheme exhibits a CDE accuracy better than 65 ps/nm even under an acceleration factor as low as 0.85. In addition, 60-GBaud FTN DP quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK)/16QAM transmission experiments are carried out, and the results show that the CDE error is less than 70 ps/nm. The advantages of the proposed scheme make it a preferable candidate for CDE in practical FTN coherent optical systems.
Dynamic RNA-Seq Study Reveals the Potential Regulators of Seed Germination in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis
Authors: Tang Zhengbin , Zhao Jia , Yang Bin , Sun Shan , Xu Furong , Wang Zhoufei
Published: September 2022

Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis is an important traditional Chinese medicine, but poor seed germination limits its large-scale artificial cultivation. Thus, it is crucial to understand the regulators of seed germination to obtain clues about how to improve the artificial cultivation of Paris polyphylla. In this study, the seeds at three germination stages, including ungerminated seeds (stage 1), germinated seeds with a 0.5 cm radicel length (stage 2), and germinated seeds with a 2.0 cm radicel length (stage 3) after warm stratification (20 °C) for 90 days were used for RNA sequencing. Approximately 220 million clean reads and 447,314 annotated unigenes were obtained during seed germination, of which a total of 4454, 5150, and 1770 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified at stage 1 to stage 2, stage 1 to stage 3, and stage 2 to stage 3, respectively. Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis revealed that the DEGs were significantly enriched in carbohydrate metabolism, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, and translation. Of them, several genes encoding the glutamate decarboxylase, glutamine synthetase, alpha-galactosidase, auxin-responsive protein IAA30, abscisic-acid-responsive element binding factor, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 9/18, and small and large subunit ribosomal proteins were identified as potentially involved in seed germination. The identified genes provide a valuable resource to study the molecular basis of seed germination in Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis.
Interaction of the Nanoparticles and Plants in Selective Growth Stages—Usual Effects and Resulting Impact on Usage Perspectives
Authors: Wohlmuth Jan , Tekielska Dorota , Čechová Jana , Baránek Miroslav
Published: September 2022

Nanotechnologies have received tremendous attention since their discovery. The current studies show a high application potential of nanoparticles for plant treatments, where the general properties of nanoparticles such as their lower concentrations for an appropriate effects, the gradual release of nanoparticle-based nutrients or their antimicrobial effect are especially useful. The presented review, after the general introduction, analyzes the mechanisms that are described so far in the uptake and movement of nanoparticles in plants. The following part evaluates the available literature on the application of nanoparticles in the selective growth stage, namely, it compares the observed effect that they have when they are applied to seeds (nanopriming), to seedlings or adult plants. Based on the research that has been carried out, it is evident that the most common beneficial effects of nanopriming are the improved parameters for seed germination, the reduced contamination by plant pathogens and the higher stress tolerance that they generate. In the case of plant treatments, the most common applications are for the purpose of generating protection against plant pathogens, but better growth and better tolerance to stresses are also frequently observed. Hypotheses explaining these observed effects were also mapped, where, e.g., the influence that they have on photosynthesis parameters is described as a frequent growth-improving factor. From the consortium of the used nanoparticles, those that were most frequently applied included the principal components that were derived from zinc, iron, copper and silver. This observation implies that the beneficial effect that nanoparticles have is not necessarily based on the nutritional supply that comes from the used metal ions, as they can induce these beneficial physiological changes in the treated cells by other means. Finally, a critical evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of the wider use of nanoparticles in practice is presented.
Targeted Metabolomics Provide Chemotaxonomic Insights of Medicago ruthenica, with Coupled Transcriptomics Elucidating the Mechanism Underlying Floral Coloration
Authors: Zhu Lin , Li Hongyan , Wu Zinian , Li Zhiyong , Guo Maowei , Ning Bu , Liu Wanpeng , Liu Qian , Liu Lei , Wang Zhiyong , Li Jun , Mi Fugui
Published: September 2022

Medicago ruthenica, a wild legume forage widely distributed in the Eurasian steppe, demonstrates high genetic and phenotypic variation. M. ruthenica with a purely yellow flower (YFM), differing from the general phenotype of M. ruthenica with a purple flower (PFM), was recently discovered. The similar characteristics of YFM with Medicago falcata have led to conflicting opinions on its taxonomy using traditional morphological methods. The lack of chemotaxonomy information about M. ruthenica species and the unclear flower coloration mechanisms have hampered their study. Here, we investigated M. ruthenica using targeted metabolomics based on the chemotaxonomy method and elaborated the floral coloration mechanisms using transcriptomics. The identified flavonoids were the same types, but there were different contents in YFM and PFM, especially the contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), an anthocyanin that causes the purple-reddish color of flowers. The over-accumulation of C3G in PFM was 1,770 times more than YFM. Nineteen anthocyanin-related genes were downregulated in YFM compared with their expression in PFM. Thus, YFM could be defined as a variety of M. ruthenica rather than a different species. The loss of purple flower coloration in YFM was attributed to the downregulation of these genes, resulting in reduced C3G accumulation. The taxonomic characteristics and molecular and physiological characteristics of this species will contribute to further research on other species with similar external morphologies.
Genome-Wide Identification of SMXL Gene Family in Soybean and Expression Analysis of GmSMXLs under Shade Stress
Authors: Zhang Han , Wang Li , Gao Yang , Guo Yukai , Zheng Naiwen , Xu Xiangyao , Xu Mei , Wang Wenyan , Liu Chunyan , Liu Weiguo , Yang Wenyu
Published: September 2022

SMXL6,7,8 are important target proteins in strigolactone (SL) signal pathway, which negatively regulate the reception and response of SL signal, and play an important role in regulating plant branching. However, there is a relative lack of research on soybean SMXL gene family. In this study, 31 soybean SMXL genes were identified by phylogenetic analysis and divided into three groups. Based on the analysis of GmSMXL gene’s structure and motif composition, it was found that the GmSMXL members in the same group were similar. The results of cis-element analysis showed that GmSMXL genes may regulate the growth and development of soybean by responding to hormones and environment. Based on the tissue specificity analysis and GR24 treatment, the results showed that four GmSMXLs in G1 group were predominantly expressed in stems, axillary buds and leaves and involved in SL signal pathway. Finally, under shading stress, the expression of four genes in G1 group was slightly different in different varieties, which may be the reason for the difference in branching ability of different varieties under shading stress. We have systematically studied the SMXL gene family in soybean, which may lay a foundation for the study of the function of GmSMXL gene in the future.
The Ability of Biodegradable Thermosensitive Hydrogel Composite Calcium-Silicon-Based Bioactive Bone Cement in Promoting Osteogenesis and Repairing Rabbit Distal Femoral Defects
Authors: Guo Chao , Qi Junqiang , Liu Jia , Wang Haotian , Liu Yifei , Feng Yingying , Xu Guohua
Published: September 2022

Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures are a global issue affecting the elderly population. To explore a new calcium silicate bone cement, polylactic acid (PLGA)–polyethylene glycol (PEG)–PLGA hydrogel was compounded with tricalcium silicate (C3S)/dicalcium silicate (C2S)/plaster of Paris (POP) to observe the hydration products and test physical and chemical properties. The cell compatibility and osteogenic capability were tested in vitro. The rabbit femoral condylar bone defect model was used to test its safety and effectiveness in vivo. The addition of hydrogel did not result in the formation of a new hydration product and significantly improved the injectability, anti-washout properties, and in vitro degradability of the bone cement. The cholecystokinin octapeptide-8 method showed significant proliferation of osteoblasts in bone cement. The Alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase activity test showed that the bone cement had a superior osteogenic property in vitro. The computed tomography scan and gross anatomy at 12 weeks after surgery in the rabbit revealed that PLGA-PEG-PLGA/C3S/C2S/POP was mostly degraded, with the formation of new bone trabeculae and calli at the external orifice of the defect. Thus, PLGA-PEG-PLGA/C3S/C2S/POP composite bone cement has a positive effect on bone repair and provides a new strategy for the clinical application of bone tissue engineering materials.
Isosorbide and 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid Based (Co)Polyesters: Synthesis, Characterization, and Environmental Degradation
Authors: Bouyahya Chaima , Patrício Rafael , Paço Ana , Lima Mafalda S. , Fonseca Ana C. , Rocha-Santos Teresa , Majdoub Mustapha , Silvestre Armando J. D. , Sousa Andreia F.
Published: September 2022

Poly(2,5-furandicarboxylate)s incorporating aliphatic moieties represent a promising family of polyesters, typically entirely based on renewable resources and with tailored properties, notably degradability. This study aims to go beyond by developing poly(isosorbide 2,5-furandicarboxylate-co-dodecanedioate) copolyesters derived from isosorbide (Is), 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA), and 1,12-dodecanedioic acid (DDA), and studying their degradation under environmental conditions, often overlooked, namely seawater conditions. These novel polyesters have been characterized in-depth using ATR-FTIR, 1H, and 13C NMR and XRD spectroscopies and thermal analysis (TGA and DSC). They showed enhanced thermal stability (up to 330 °C), and the glass transition temperature increased with the content of FDCA from ca. 9 to 60 °C. Regarding their (bio)degradation, the enzymatic conditions lead to the highest weight loss compared to simulated seawater conditions, with values matching 27% vs. 3% weight loss after 63 days of incubation, respectively. Copolymerization of biobased FDCA, Is, and DDA represents an optimal approach for shaping the thermal/(bio)degradation behaviors of these novel polyesters.
Energy-Saving and Low-Carbon Gear Blank Dimension Design Based on Business Compass
Authors: Xiao Yongmao , Zhou Jincheng , Wang Ruping , Zhu Xiaoyong , Zhang Hao
Published: September 2022

Sustainable blank dimension design is the key to the implementation of green industrial development. However, blank dimension design only considers the blank production factor of the blank dimension design stage, which cannot guarantee the blank production stage and the use stage’s overall goal. In this paper, based on the guiding thinking of a business compass, a low-carbon and low-energy consumption blank dimension optimization design model was proposed. Taking the process parameters of the production and the use of the blank as the variables, the grey wolf optimization algorithm was adopted to solve the problem. Taking the gear blanks dimension as an example, the optimized blank dimension is 98.6, compared with the standard blank dimension of 100, 105, the energy consumption is 95.7% and 93.1%, the carbon emission is 92.6% and 90.2%, and the material consumption is 96.5% and 87.5%, respectively. The sustainable blank dimension design has obvious advantages in terms of low energy consumption and low carbon, and it can save a lot of materials; it can also promote product sustainability.
Can Satellite and Atmospheric Reanalysis Products Capture Compound Moist Heat Stress-Floods?
Authors: Gu Lei , Gu Ziye , Guo Qiang , Fang Wei , Zhang Qianyi , Sun Huaiwei , Yin Jiabo , Zhou Jianzhong
Published: September 2022

Satellite-retrieved and model-based reanalysis precipitation products with high resolution have received increasing attention in recent decades. Their hydrological performance has been widely evaluated. However, whether they can be applied in characterizing the novel category of extreme events, such as compound moist heat-flood (CMHF) events, has not been fully investigated to date. The CMHF refers to the rapid transition from moist heat stress to devastating floods and has occurred increasingly frequently under the current warming climate. This study focuses on the applicability of the Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) and the fifth generation of European Reanalysis (ERA5-Land) in simulating CMHF events over 120 catchments in China. Firstly, the precipitation accuracy of IMERG and ERA5-Land products is appraised for each catchment, using the gridded in situ meteorological dataset (CN05.1) as a baseline. Then, the ability of IMERG and ERA5-Land datasets in simulating the fraction, magnitude, and decade change of floods and CMHFs is comprehensively evaluated by forcing the XAJ and GR4J hydrological models. The results show that: (a) the IMERG and ERA5-Land perform similarly in terms of precipitation occurrences and intensity; (b) the IMERG yields discernably better performance than the ERA5-Land in streamflow simulation, with 71.7% and 50.8% of catchments showing the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) higher than 0.5, respectively; (c) both datasets can roughly capture the frequency, magnitude, and their changes of floods and CMHFs in recent decades, with the IMERG exhibiting more satisfactory accuracy. Our results indicate that satellite remote sensing and atmospheric reanalysis precipitation can not only simulate individual hydrological extremes in most regions, but monitor compound events such as CMHF episodes, and especially, the IMERG satellite can yield better performance than the ERA5-Land reanalysis.
Gated Path Aggregation Feature Pyramid Network for Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Zheng Yuchao , Zhang Xinxin , Zhang Rui , Wang Dahan
Published: September 2022

Object detection in remote sensing images is a challenge because remote sensing targets have characteristics such as small geometries, an unfixed direction and multiple poses. Recent studies have shown that the accuracy of object detection can be improved using feature fusion. However, direct fusion methods regard each layer as being of equal importance and rarely consider the hierarchical structure of multiple convolutional layers, leading to redundancy and rejected information being rarely applied during the fusion process. To address these issues, we propose a gated path aggregate (GPA) network that integrates path enhancement and information filtering into an end-to-end integrated network. Specifically, we first quantitatively analyze the performance of different gating functions to select the most suitable gating function. Then, we explore the embedding of soft switchable atrous convolution (SSAC) in the topmost feature layer. Finally, we validate our proposed model by combining it with experiments using the public NWPU VHR-10 dataset. The experimental results show that our proposed GPAFPN structure has significant improvement compared to the FPN structure. Compared with the mainstream networks, it achieved state-of-the-art performance.
Total Variation Weighted Low-Rank Constraint for Infrared Dim Small Target Detection
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Xu Wei , Tao Shuping , Gao Tan , Feng Qinping , Piao Yongjie
Published: September 2022

Infrared dim small target detection is the critical technology in the situational awareness field currently. The detection algorithm of the infrared patch image (IPI) model combined with the total variation term is a recent research hotspot in this field, but there is an obvious staircase effect in target detection, which reduces the detection accuracy to some extent. This paper further investigates the problem of accurate detection of infrared dim small targets and a novel method based on total variation weighted low-rank constraint (TVWLR) is proposed. According to the overlapping edge information of image background structure characteristics, the weights of constraint low-rank items are adaptively determined to effectively suppress the staircase effect and enhance the details. Moreover, an optimization algorithm combined with the augmented Lagrange multiplier method is proposed to solve the established TVWLR model. Finally, the experimental results of multiple sequence images indicate that the proposed algorithm has obvious improvements in detection accuracy, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, background suppression factor (BSF) and signal-to-clutter ratio gain (SCRG). Furthermore, the proposed method has stronger robustness under complex background conditions such as buildings and trees.
Geomorphological Mapping and Erosion of Abandoned Tailings in the Hiendelaencina Mining District (Spain) from Aerial Imagery and LiDAR Data
Authors: Martín-Velázquez Silvia , Rodríguez-Santalla Inmaculada , Ropero-Szymañska Nikoletta , Gomez-Ortiz David , Martín-Crespo Tomás , de Ignacio-San José Cristina
Published: September 2022

The Hiendelaencina district in Spain was the most important silver producer in Europe during 1844–1925. At the end of the 20th century, with mines having closed, some waste rock dumps were reprocessed, and the sludge from the flotation process was stored in two tailings ponds. When this activity ceased, the residues began to be eroded and disperse. In this study, the state of degradation of both deposits was evaluated using historical mapping and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, incorporated into a Geographic Information System. In the aerial images (1946–2018), mine tailings and their main erosive and sedimentary forms were mapped. Geoforms linked to hydrological (channels, gullies, alluvial cones), wind (eolian mantles), hydric–gravitational (colluvium) and anthropic (motorbike tracks) processes which move sludge into the surrounding areas were identified. A net loss of 8849 m3 of sludge, a release of 10.3 t of potentially polluting substances and a high erosion rate of 346 t/ha*year were calculated based on LiDAR data from 2009 and 2014. The ponds show a current high degree of erosion that could increase due to both human activity and the growing frequency of drought and torrential rain periods if stabilization measures are not undertaken.
Study on the Impact of the Doppler Shift for CO2 Lidar Remote Sensing
Authors: Cao Xifeng , Zhang Lu , Zhang Xingying , Yang Sen , Deng Zhili , Zhang Xin , Jiang Yuhan
Published: September 2022

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) is recognized as the most important component of the greenhouse gases, the concentration of which has increased rapidly since the pre-industrial era due to anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The accurate monitoring of carbon dioxide is essential to study the global carbon cycle and radiation budget on Earth. The Aerosol and Carbon Detection Lidar (ACDL) instrument onboard the Atmospheric Environmental Monitoring Satellite (AEMS) was successfully launched in April 2022, which allows a new perspective to quantify the global spatial distribution of atmospheric CO2 with high accuracy. In this work, the impact of the Doppler shift on CO2 measurements for an integrated-path differential absorption (IPDA) light detection and ranging (lidar) system was evaluated to meet the weighted column-averaged mixing ratio of carbon dioxide (XCO2) measurement requirements of less than one part per million (ppm). The measurement uncertainties due to the Doppler shift were first evaluated in airborne IPDA observations. The result shows that most of the Doppler shift is in the range of 6–8 MHz, resulting in 0.26-0.39 ppm deviations in the XCO2 results. The deviations between the XCO2 retrievals and in situ measurements decreased to 0.16 ppm after the correction of the Doppler shift from 11:28:29 to 11:28:49 in the flight campaign. In addition, the online Doppler shift accounts for 98% of the deviations between XCO2 retrievals and in situ measurements. Furthermore, the impact of the Doppler shift on ACDL measurements is also assessed. The differences between the XCO2 retrievals with and without Doppler shift are used to quantify measurement uncertainties due to the Doppler effect. The simulations reveal that a pointing misalignment of 0.067 mrad can lead to a mean bias of about 0.30 ppm (0.072%) in the CO2 column. In addition, CO2 measurements are more sensitive to the Doppler shift at high altitudes for IPDA lidar, so the largest differences in the CO2 columns are found on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China.
SOLO-SLAM: A Parallel Semantic SLAM Algorithm for Dynamic Scenes
Authors: Sun Liuxin , Wei Junyu , Su Shaojing , Wu Peng
Published: September 2022

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a core technology for mobile robots working in unknown environments. Most existing SLAM techniques can achieve good localization accuracy in static scenes, as they are designed based on the assumption that unknown scenes are rigid. However, real-world environments are dynamic, resulting in poor performance of SLAM algorithms. Thus, to optimize the performance of SLAM techniques, we propose a new parallel processing system, named SOLO-SLAM, based on the existing ORB-SLAM3 algorithm. By improving the semantic threads and designing a new dynamic point filtering strategy, SOLO-SLAM completes the tasks of semantic and SLAM threads in parallel, thereby effectively improving the real-time performance of SLAM systems. Additionally, we further enhance the filtering effect for dynamic points using a combination of regional dynamic degree and geometric constraints. The designed system adds a new semantic constraint based on semantic attributes of map points, which solves, to some extent, the problem of fewer optimization constraints caused by dynamic information filtering. Using the publicly available TUM dataset, SOLO-SLAM is compared with other state-of-the-art schemes. Our algorithm outperforms ORB-SLAM3 in accuracy (maximum improvement is 97.16%) and achieves better results than Dyna-SLAM with respect to time efficiency (maximum improvement is 90.07%).
5G/B5G mmWave Cellular Networks with MEC Prefetching Based on User Context Information
Authors: Maruta Kazuki , Nishiuchi Hiroaki , Nakazato Jin , Tran Gia Khanh , Sakaguchi Kei
Published: September 2022

To deal with recent increasing mobile traffic, ultra-broadband communication with millimeter-wave (mmWave) has been regarded as a key technology for 5G cellular networks. In a previous study, a mmWave heterogeneous network was composed of several mmWave small cells overlaid on the coverage of a macro cell. However, as seen from the optical fiber penetration rate worldwide, it is difficult to say that backhaul with Gbps order is available everywhere. In the case of using mmWave access under a limited backhaul capacity, it becomes a bottleneck at the backhaul; thus, mmWave access cannot fully demonstrate its potential. On the other hand, the concept of multi-access edge computing (MEC) has been proposed to decrease the response latency compared to cloud computing by deploying storage and computation resources to the user side of mobile networks. This paper introduces MEC into mmWave heterogeneous networks and proposes a content prefetching algorithm to resolve such backhaul issues. Context information, such as the destination, mobility, and traffic tendency, is shared through the macro cell to the prefetch application and data that the users request. Prefetched data is stored in the MEC and then transmitted via mmWave without a backhaul bottleneck. The effectiveness is verified through computer simulations where we implement realistic user mobility as well as traffic and backhauling models. The results show that the proposed framework achieved 95% system capacity even under the constraint of a 1 Gbps backhaul link.
Economic Viability of Smallholder Agriculture in the Savannah and Transitional Zones of Ghana: Implications of Farm Output Commercialization and Farm Diversification
Authors: Adzawla William , Bindraban Prem S. , Atakora Williams K. , Camara Oumou , Gouzaye Amadou
Published: September 2022

Smallholder agriculture remains the heart of Ghana’s food crop production and crucial to meet the zero-hunger target. Unfortunately, rural households continue to see no significant improvement in their livelihoods, as poverty and food insecurity remain high in these areas. This has raised concerns about the economic viability of smallholder agriculture in Ghana. We estimated propensity score matching on a sample of 581 farmers to determine the economic viability of the smallholder farmers and the impact of farm output commercialization and off-farm diversification on their food security and welfare status. Large-scale (>2 ha) maize production led to 8% more yield and 96% more income than small-scale (≤2 ha) production. At observed mean levels, large-scale farmers performed better in most of the livelihood outcomes. The impact of diversification and commercialization on livelihood outcomes was mixed, based on the scale of production. For small-scale farmers, diversification reduced per capita consumption expenditure, while commercialization improved food security, consumption expenditure, and income. For large-scale farmers, diversification improved yield and food security, while commercialization improved fertilizer application rate and income but reduced yield. Although small-scale farmers are not necessarily doomed, the heterogeneity of farmers’ production scale should be considered in the design of rural agricultural policies.
Design of a Building-Scale Space Solar Cooling System Using TRNSYS
Authors: Redpath David , Paneri Anshul , Singh Harjit , Ghitas Ahmed , Sabry Mohamed
Published: September 2022

Research into solar absorption chillers despite their environmental benefits has been limited to date to mainly larger systems whilst ignoring smaller building-scale units, which can significantly benefit from the use of optimally designed, low concentrating, non-imaging optical reflectors. A solar absorption chiller system designed to provide year-round space cooling for a typical primary health care facility in Cairo, Egypt, was designed to match local ambient, solar, and occupancy conditions, its performance simulated and then optimized to minimize auxiliary power consumption using the TRNSYS18 software, TRNOPT. Different configurations of collector types, array areas, storage sizes and collector slopes were used to determine the optimum specifications for the system components. Non-concentrating Evacuated Tube Collectors (ETCs) were compared with the same Evacuated Tube Collectors but integrated with external Compound Parabolic Concentrators (CPCs) with a geometric concentration ratio of 1.5X for supplying thermal energy to the single-effect absorption chiller investigated. This paper describes a user-friendly methodology developed for the design of solar heat-powered absorption chillers for small buildings using TRNSYS18 employing the Hookes–Jeeves algorithm within the TRNOPT function. Clear steps to avoid convergence problems when using TRNSYS are articulated to make repeatability for different systems and locations more straightforward. Collector array areas were varied from 30 m2 to 160 m2 and the size of the water-based thermal storage from 1 m3 to 3 m3 to determine the configuration that can supply the maximum solar fraction of the building’s cooling requirements for the lowest lifetime cost. The optimum solar fraction for ETCs and CPCs was found to be 0.66 and 0.94, respectively. If the current air conditioning demand is met through adoption of the CPC-based solar absorption systems this can potentially save the emission of 3,966,247 tCO2 per annum.
Grandparenting Role on Math Online Learning in Chinese Multigenerational Households
Authors: Guan Connie Qun , Wang Youjia , Wang Yao
Published: September 2022

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has become m sore frequently used and has carried over cultural characteristics. In China, grandparents exert a great impact on parent–child relationships and on children’s online learning process. This study proposed six models and examined the roles of various Chinese family members (father, mother, grandparents) and their online accompaniment time in promoting preschoolers’ math learning. A total of 3552 participants were recruited to finish online questionnaires about demographics, household adult–child interactions, online company time investment, and math language performance. We found that the relationships between father time investment online and children’s math language performance were mediated by the amount of time that maternal grandparents spent with children on online learning. To contextualize these findings, we discussed the unique Chinese cultural aspects of the grandparent–parent–children relationship during the development of online math language performance in Chinese families.
Design, Modelling and Optimization of a Novel Concentrated Solar Powered (CSP) Flash Desalination System Involving Direct Heating and Pressure Modulation Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)
Authors: Ahmed Faizan , Abdul Aziz Mohd Sharizal , Mohd Arif Zainol Mohd Remy Rozainy , Yee Khor Chu , Shaik Feroz , Che Halin Dewi Suriyani , Mohd Salleh Mohd Arif Anuar , Kheimi Marwan
Published: September 2022

The main problem with existing desalination technologies is that they consume high input energy to generate fresh water. Secondly, this energy demand is usually met by conventional sources of energy such as fossil fuels. With limited conventional energy reserves predicted for the future, the focus is on the utilization of renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy for powering desalination systems. Such a transformation would make the desalination systems more energy efficient, sustainable, and economical. In this paper, a novel concentrated solar powered (CSP) flash desalination system with direct heating and pressure modulation is presented. A lab-scale prototype was designed, manufactured, and tested for feed water collected from the Arabian Sea and in climatic conditions of Al-Khobar city in Saudi Arabia. The effect of three process parameters, namely, feed water temperature (30–40 °C), feed water flow rate (0.003–0.006 kg/s), and vacuum pressure (0.1–0.3 bar) on distillate production, was investigated. System modelling and optimization were done using Design Expert software and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The central composite design technique was employed for the optimization of process parameters. The adequacy of the developed distillate production model was verified by ANOVA. The optimum values of feed water temperature, flow rate, and vacuum pressure are reported to be 40 °C, 0.005 kg/s, and 0.1 bar, respectively, resulting in distillate production of 0.001 kg/s.
County Ecosystem Health Assessment Based on the VORS Model: A Case Study of 183 Counties in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: He Rong , Huang Xintong , Ye Xiaoying , Pan Zhe , Wang Heng , Luo Bin , Liu Dongmei , Hu Xinxin
Published: September 2022

The scientific assessment of the health level of county ecosystems is the basis for formulating county-based sustainable development strategies. In this paper, we take the county areas of Sichuan Province as the evaluation objects and combine the SDGs (the Sustainable Development Goals) to establish a county ecosystem health evaluation index system based on the VORS (Vigor–Organization–Resilience–Service) model. On this basis, we used the entropy weight method, the Moran index method, and the obstacle degree model to analyze the ecosystem health level, spatial distribution characteristics, and obstacles of 183 counties in Sichuan Province. The main results were as follows: (1) A total of 80.87% of the counties in Sichuan Province were at sub-healthy and healthy levels, concentrated in the southeastern part of Sichuan, and 19.13% of the counties were at an unhealthy level, mainly in the Aba, Ganzi, and Liangshan areas. (2) The health levels of county ecosystems in Sichuan Province had high spatial autocorrelation characteristics. The H–H (High–High) agglomeration area and the L–L (Low–Low) agglomeration area had significant agglomeration characteristics, which were distributed in the Cheng-Mian area and the northwestern Sichuan area, respectively. (3) The key indicators restricting the healthy development of urban ecosystems in Sichuan counties are economic vitality, economic resilience, and quality of life, all of which belong to the economic subsystems, with obstacles reaching 17.25%, 16.68%, and 13.52%, respectively. This study can provide theoretical and methodological support for research into ecosystem health evaluations at the county level, and provide a decision-making basis for promoting the health of county ecosystems and coordinating regional development in Sichuan Province.
A Flexible Robust Possibilistic Programming Approach for Sustainable Second-Generation Biogas Supply Chain Design under Multiple Uncertainties
Authors: Kanan Mohammad , Habib Muhammad Salman , Habib Tufail , Zahoor Sadaf , Gulzar Anas , Raza Hamid , Abusaq Zaher
Published: September 2022

The goal of this research is to develop a novel second-generation-based biogas supply chain network design (BG-SCND) model that takes into account the triple bottom line approach. Biogas is a promising renewable energy source that can be obtained from a variety of easily accessible second-generation wastes, including animal manure, municipal waste, and agricultural leftovers. Integrated optimization of the biogas generation system is essential for a speedy and environmentally friendly transition to sustainable biodiesel production. The dynamic environment of the energy market significantly impairs the decisions of the BG-SCND model; therefore, a hybrid solution approach using flexible programming and possibilistic programming is suggested. To verify the suggested model and approach for solving the problem, a thorough computational analysis of a case study is conducted. The case study findings demonstrate that considerable investment is necessary to attain social and environmental well-being goals and safeguard decisions against epistemic uncertainty. Policymakers involved in the planning of biogas production and distribution projects may find the proposed approach useful.