bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interaction between Intestinal Parasites and the Gut Microbiota: Implications for the Intestinal Immune Response and Host Defence
Authors: Grondin Jensine A. , Jamal Asif , Mowna Sadrina , Seto Tyler , Khan Waliul I.
Published: July 2024

Intestinal parasites, including helminths and protozoa, account for a significant portion of the global health burden. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract not only serves as the stage for these parasitic infections but also as the residence for millions of microbes. As the intricacies of the GI microbial milieu continue to unfold, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the interactions between host, parasite, and resident microbes help dictate parasite survival and, ultimately, disease outcomes. Across both clinical and experimental models, intestinal parasites have been shown to impact microbial composition and diversity. Reciprocally, microbes can directly influence parasitic survival, colonization and expulsion. The gut microbiota can also indirectly impact parasites through the influence and manipulation of the host. Studying this host–parasite–microbiota axis may help bring about novel therapeutic strategies for intestinal parasitic infection as well as conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this review, we explore the relationship between intestinal parasites, with a particular focus on common protozoa and helminths, and the gut microbiota, and how these interactions can influence the host defence and intestinal immune response. We will also explore the impact of this tripartite relationship in a clinical setting and its broader implications for human health.
Anthroponotic and Zoonotic Hookworm DNA in an Indigenous Community in Coastal Ecuador: Potential Cross-Transmission between Dogs and Humans
Authors: Calvopina Manuel , Aguilar-Rodríguez Dayana , DeGroot Audrey , Cevallos William , Lee Gwenyth O , Lopez Andrea , Nutman Thomas B. , Levy Karen , Eisenberg Joseph , Sears William J. , Cooper Philip J.
Published: July 2024

Humans can be infected with anthroponotic (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus) and with zoonotic (Ancylostoma ceylanicum, A. caninum, A. braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala) hookworms from dogs. Anthroponotic species are usually thought not to infect dogs. We used the internal transcribed spacer–1 (ITS1) gene in a quantitative PCR to detect anthroponotic and zoonotic hookworm species in fecal samples from 54 children and 79 dogs living in an indigenous community in tropical Northwestern Ecuador. Hookworm DNA was detected in 59.3% of children and 92.4% of dogs. Among samples from children, zoonotic hookworms were detected in 24.1% (A. ceylanicum 14.8%, A. caninum 11.1%, and A. braziliense 1.9%), whilst in dog samples, anthroponotic species were detected in 19.0% (N. americanus 12.4% and A. duodenale 6.3%). Sanger sequencing was performed successfully on 60 qPCR-positive samples (16 from children and 44 from dogs), and consensus sequences were obtained with >98% homology to GenBank references for hookworm spp. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between anthroponotic and zoonotic Ancylostoma species and no heterogeneity between A. duodenale and A. caninum; in human samples, we found A. ceylanicum but not A. braziliense sequences and we were unable to identify N. americanus in the dog samples. No infections with U. stenocephala were detected. Our data provide evidence for high rates of hookworm infections in indigenous children and dogs in a marginalized rural setting in coastal Ecuador. We also found evidence for potential cross-transmission of hookworm spp. between humans and dogs that represent a potential domestic reservoir for zoonotic and anthroponotic hookworms.
Liposomal Encapsulation of Ascorbyl Palmitate: Influence on Skin Performance
Authors: Stolić Jovanović Aleksandra , Tadić Vanja M. , Martinović Milica , Žugić Ana , Nešić Ivana , Blagojević Stevan , Jasnić Nebojša , Tosti Tomislav
Published: July 2024

L-ascorbic acid represents one of the most potent antioxidant, photoprotective, anti-aging, and anti-pigmentation cosmeceutical agents, with a good safety profile. However, the main challenge is the formulation of stable topical formulation products, which would optimize the penetrability of L-ascorbic acid through the skin. The aim of our research was to evaluate the performance of ascorbyl palmitate on the skin, incorporated in creams and emulgels (2%) as carriers, as well as to determine the impact of its incorporation into liposomes on the penetration profile of this ingredient. Tape stripping was used to study the penetration of ascorbyl palmitate into the stratum corneum. In addition, the sensory and textural properties of the formulations were determined. The liposomal formulations exhibited a better penetration profile (p < 0.05) of the active substance compared to the non-liposomal counterpart, leading to a 1.3-fold and 1.2 fold-increase in the total amount of penetrated ascorbyl palmitate in the stratum corneum for the emulgel and cream, respectively. Encapsulation of ascorbyl palmitate into liposomes led to an increase in the adhesiveness and density of the prepared cream and emulgel samples. The best spreadability and absorption during application were detected in liposomal samples. The obtained results confirmed that liposomal encapsulation of ascorbyl palmitate improved dermal penetration for both the cream and emulgel formulations.
Model of the Effects of Femtosecond Laser Pulse Energy on the Effective Z-Position of the Resulting Cut after Laser-Induced Optical Breakdown
Authors: Sobutas Simas , Arba Mosquera Samuel
Published: July 2024

Presented in this study is a validated semiempirical model of the effects of femtosecond laser pulse energy on the effective z-position of the resulting cut after laser-induced optical breakdown. Different energy levels (for the same spot spacings, i.e., different doses) running from 1.07 × (~60 nJ) to 3.8 × (~215 nJ) of the laser-induced optical breakdown (LIOB) threshold (~56 nJ) were used to perform flat cuts within flat poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) samples at the same nominal focus position (depth within the material). The z-locations of the effective cut and the anterior surface of the PMMA were confocally determined. The difference (PMMA_surface—Cut_plane) was used as a surrogate for the effective shift in the z-position of the cut. A consistent and continuous shift towards less deep cuts was observed for increasing pulse energies. The z-shift spreads by up to 22 µm thinner cuts for the largest pulse energy (3.8× LIOBTh, ~215 nJ). Higher pulse energies seem to significantly reduce the cutting depth. The results for PMMA are in good agreement with the moving LIOB model.
Research on Distortion Control in Off-Axis Three-Mirror Astronomical Telescope Systems
Authors: Liu En , Zheng Yuquan , Lin Chao , Zhang Jialun , Niu Yanlin , Song Lei
Published: July 2024

With off-axis reflection systems with specific distortion values serving as objectives or collimators, it is possible to compensate and correct for spectral line bending in spectroscopic instruments. However, there is limited research on the precise control of distortion, which poses particular challenges in large field-of-view optical systems. This paper presents a method for controlling distortion in off-axis reflection systems. Based on Seidel aberration theory and the relationship between distortion wavefront error and primary ray error, we construct objective functions with structural constraints and aberration constraints. The initial structure with specific distortion values is then solved using a differential evolution algorithm. The effectiveness and reliability of this method are verified through the design of an off-axis three-reflection system. The method provided in this study facilitates the design of remote sensing instruments.
A Segment-Based Algorithm for Grid Junction Corner Detection Used in Stereo Microscope Camera Calibration
Authors: Liu Junjie , Zhao Weiren , Li Keming , Wang Jiahui , Yi Shuangping , Jiang Huan , Zhang Hui
Published: July 2024

Corner detection is responsible for accurate camera calibration, which is an essential task for binocular three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. In microscopic scenes, binocular 3D reconstruction has significant potential to achieve fast and accurate measurements. However, traditional corner detectors and calibration patterns (checkerboard) performed poorly in microscopic scenes due to the non-uniform illumination and the shallow depth of field of the microscope. In this paper, we present a novel method for detecting grid junction corners based on image segmentation, offering a robust alternative to the traditional checkerboard pattern. Model fitting was utilized to obtain the coordinates at a sub-pixel level. The procedures of the proposed method were elaborated, including image segmentation, corner prediction, and model fitting. The mathematical model was established to describe the grid junction. The experiment was conducted using both synthetic and real data and the experimental result shows that this method achieves high precision and is robust to image blurring, indicating this method is suitable for microscope camera calibration.
Seed Treatment with Cold Plasma and Electromagnetic Field: Changes in Antioxidant Capacity of Seedlings in Different Picea abies (L.) H. Karst Half-Sib Families
Authors: Čėsnienė Ieva , Čėsna Vytautas , Miškelytė Diana , Novickij Vitalij , Mildažienė Vida , Sirgedaitė-Šėžienė Vaida
Published: July 2024

In the context of climate change, methods to improve the resistance of coniferous trees to biotic and abiotic stress are in great demand. The common plant response to exposure to vastly different stressors is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by activation of the defensive antioxidant system. We aimed to evaluate whether seed treatment with physical stressors can activate the activity of antioxidant enzymes and radical scavenging activity in young Picea abies (L.) H. Karst seedlings. For this, we applied seed treatment with cold plasma (CP) and electromagnetic field (EMF) and compared the response in ten different half-sib families of Norway spruce. The impact of the treatments with CP (1 min—CP1; 2 min—CP2) and EMF (2 min) on one-year-old and two-year-old P. abies seedlings was determined by the emergence rate, parameters of growth, and spectrophotometric assessment of antioxidant capacity (enzyme activity; DPPH and ABTS scavenging) in needles. The results indicated that the impact of seed treatment is strongly dependent on the genetic family. In the 577 half-sib family, the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POX), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased after EMF-treatment in one-year-old seedlings, while similar effects in 477 half-sib family were induced by CP2 treatment. In two-year-old seedlings, CP1-treatment increased CAT, APX, POX, GR, SOD, DPPH, and ABTS activity in the 457 half-sib family. However, no significant impact of the treatment with CP1 was determined in one-year-old seedlings in this family. The application of novel technologies and the consideration of the combinatory impact of genetic and physical factors could have the potential to improve the accumulation of compounds that play an essential role in the defense mechanisms of P. abies. Nevertheless, for different resistance and responses to stressors of plants, their genetic properties play an essential role. A comprehensive analysis of interactions among the stress factors (CP and EMF), genetic properties, and changes induced in the antioxidant system can be of importance both for the practical application of seed treatment in forestry and for understanding fundamental adaptation mechanisms in conifers.
Comparative Analysis of Polyphenolic Profile and Chemopreventive Potential of Hemp Sprouts, Leaves, and Flowers of the Sofia Variety
Authors: Galanty Agnieszka , Juncewicz Paulina , Podolak Irma , Grabowska Karolina , Służały Piotr , Paśko Paweł
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the phytochemical composition and biological activities of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) leaves, flowers’ methanolic extracts from the Sofia variety, and its sprouts cultivated under different light conditions (natural light, darkness, blue, and white LED light for 5, 7, and 9 days). Phytochemical analysis using HPLC identified four key polyphenolic compounds in sprouts’ extracts: chlorogenic, caffeic, and gallic acids, and myricetin, with a predomination of the chlorogenic acid. In contrast, leaves and flowers’ extracts contained cannflavins A and B and chlorogenic, p-coumaric, and ferulic acids, with a significant presence of isochlorogenic acid. Antioxidant capacity, assessed by FRAP method, revealed higher antioxidant potential in leaves compared to flowers and sprouts, with sprouts grown under blue and white LED lights exhibiting the highest activity. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated on human colon cancer cell lines (HT29, HCT116, DLD-1) and normal colon epithelial cells (CCD 841 CoN). Results demonstrated significant and selective cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines, with leaves showing more pronounced effects than flowers, and sprouts only moderate activity. All samples revealed an anti-inflammatory effect in vitro. To conclude, sprouts, leaves, and flowers of the Sofia hemp may be considered promising products for chemoprevention in the future.
Urban Air Pollution and Plant Tolerance: Omics Responses to Ozone, Nitrogen Oxides, and Particulate Matter
Authors: Antenozio Maria Luisa , Caissutti Cristina , Caporusso Francesca Maria , Marzi Davide , Brunetti Patrizia
Published: July 2024

Urban air pollution is a crucial global challenge, mainly originating from urbanization and industrial activities, which are continuously increasing. Vegetation serves as a natural air filter for air pollution, but adverse effects on plant health, photosynthesis, and metabolism can occur. Recent omics technologies have revolutionized the study of molecular plant responses to air pollution, overcoming previous limitations. This review synthesizes the latest advancements in molecular plant responses to major air pollutants, emphasizing ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOX), and particulate matter (PM) research. These pollutants induce stress responses common to other abiotic and biotic stresses, including the activation of reactive oxygen species (ROSs)-scavenging enzymes and hormone signaling pathways. New evidence has shown the central role of antioxidant phenolic compound biosynthesis, via the phenylpropanoid pathway, in air pollution stress responses. Transcription factors like WRKY, AP2/ERF, and MYB, which connect hormone signaling to antioxidant biosynthesis, were also affected. To date, research has predominantly focused on laboratory studies analyzing individual pollutants. This review highlights the need for comprehensive field studies and the identification of molecular tolerance traits, which are crucial for the identification of tolerant plant species, aimed at the development of sustainable nature-based solutions (NBSs) to mitigate urban air pollution.
The Ability of Different Tea Tree Germplasm Resources in South China to Aggregate Rhizosphere Soil Characteristic Fungi Affects Tea Quality
Authors: Jia Xiaoli , Lin Shaoxiong , Zhang Qi , Wang Yuhua , Hong Lei , Li Mingzhe , Zhang Shuqi , Wang Tingting , Jia Miao , Luo Yangxin , Ye Jianghua , Wang Haibin
Published: July 2024

It is generally recognized that the quality differences in plant germplasm resources are genetically determined, and that only a good “pedigree” can have good quality. Ecological memory of plants and rhizosphere soil fungi provides a new perspective to understand this phenomenon. Here, we selected 45 tea tree germplasm resources and analyzed the rhizosphere soil fungi, nutrient content and tea quality. We found that the ecological memory of tea trees for soil fungi led to the recruitment and aggregation of dominant fungal populations that were similar across tea tree varieties, differing only in the number of fungi. We performed continuous simulation and validation to identify four characteristic fungal genera that determined the quality differences. Further analysis showed that the greater the recruitment and aggregation of Saitozyma and Archaeorhizomyces by tea trees, the greater the rejection of Chaetomium and Trechispora, the higher the available nutrient content in the soil and the better the tea quality. In summary, our study presents a new perspective, showing that ecological memory between tea trees and rhizosphere soil fungi leads to differences in plants’ ability to recruit and aggregate characteristic fungi, which is one of the most important determinants of tea quality. The artificial inoculation of rhizosphere fungi may reconstruct the ecological memory of tea trees and substantially improve their quality.
The Drought Tolerance Function and Tanscriptional Regulation of GhAPX7 in Gossypium hirsutum
Authors: Wang Tingwei , Chen Quanjia , Guo Yaping , Gao Wenju , Zhang Hu , Li Duolu , Geng Shiwei , Wang Yuxiang , Zhao Jieyin , Fu Jincheng , Long Yilei , Liu Pengfei , Qu Yanying , Chen Qin
Published: July 2024

Drought stress significantly affects the growth, development, and yield of cotton, triggering the response of multiple genes. Among them, ascorbate peroxidase (APX) is one of the important antioxidant enzymes in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species in plants, and APX enhances the ability of plants to resist oxidation, thus increasing plant stress tolerance. Therefore, enhancing the activity of APX in cells is crucial to improving plant stress resistance. Previous studies have isolated differentially expressed proteins under drought stress (GhAPX7) in drought-resistant (KK1543) and drought-sensitive (XLZ26) plants. Thus, this study analyzed the expression patterns of GhAPX7 in different cotton tissues to verify the drought resistance function of GhAPX7 and explore its regulatory pathways. GhAPX7 had the highest expression in cotton leaves, which significantly increased under drought stress, suggesting that GhAPX7 is essential for improving antioxidant capacity and enzyme activities in cotton. GhAPX7 silencing indirectly affects pronounced leaf yellowing and wilting in drought-resistant and drought-sensitive plants under drought stress. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly increased and chlorophyll and proline content and APX enzyme activity were generally decreased in silenced plants compared to the control. This result indicates that GhAPX7 may improve drought resistance by influencing the contents of MDA, chlorophyll, proline, and APX enzyme activity through increased expression levels. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the drought-related differentially expressed genes between the control and treated groups enriched plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signaling, and plant–pathogen interaction pathways. Therefore, the decreased expression of GhAPX7 significantly affects the expression levels of genes in these three pathways, reducing drought resistance in plants. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of GhAPX7 and its role in drought resistance and lays a foundation for further research on the molecular mechanisms of response to drought stress in cotton.
Application of Open Panicle Traits in Improving the Filling Characteristics at the Base of Indica Rice Panicles
Authors: Yang Guotao , Wang Qin , Yang Guoxing , Zhang Guohao , Chen Hong , Wang Xuechun , Ma Peng , Hu Yungao
Published: July 2024

Panicle-type structure is an important factor affecting rice yield, and an excellent panicle type has become a key indicator in rice breeding. In this study, the indica rice variety R766, which has an open panicle type, was obtained through natural mutation and hybrid selection. Through analyzing differences in panicle structure, panicle yield, and chemical composition between open panicle rice R766 and conventional panicle rice R2928, we found that the angles of the middle and lower branches in R766 were 186.99% and 135.93% greater than those in R2928, respectively. By comparing the grain-filling characteristics of different panicle positions in the two rice varieties, we found that the grain filling at the middle and lower panicle positions of R2928 was significantly lower, accompanied by an increase in the percentage of empty spikelets. However, in R766, the grain-filling rates in the middle and lower panicle positions were consistent with those in the upper panicle position, with significantly higher rates of grain filling and grain plumpness in the middle and lower panicle positions than in R2928. The empty grain rate at the lower panicle position of R766 was 15.25% lower than that of R2928, and the grain filling was 24.75% higher than that of R2928. Additionally, the variation in the 1000-grain weight of grains at different panicle positions in R766 was relatively small, with decreases of 1.55% and 0.38% in the middle and lower panicle positions, respectively, compared with the upper position, whereas R2928 showed decreases of 5.99% and 7.12% in the 1000-grain weight of grains at the middle and lower panicle positions, respectively, compared with the upper position. The cellulose content in the stems of R766 was 7.51% higher than that of R2928, with no significant difference in the cellulose content in the panicle axis and primary branches compared to R2928. The lignin content of the panicle axis in R766 was 8.03% higher than that in R2928, whereas there was no significant difference between the lignin content of the stems and primary branches. This preliminary study revealed the open panicle characteristics of R766 and the reasons for its high basal grain setting rate. This study provides a reference for promoting this open panicle-type indica rice variety to improve yield and disease resistance in environments with high humidity and low sunlight levels.
Thermal Stability of Highly Filled Cellulosic Biocomposites Based on Ethylene–Vinyl Acetate Copolymer
Authors: Shelenkov Pavel Gennadievich , Pantyukhov Petr Vasilievich , Aleshinskaya Svetlana Vladimirovna , Maltsev Alexander Andreevich , Abushakhmanova Zubarzhat Rafisovna , Popov Anatoly Anatolievich , Saavedra-Arias Jose Javier , Poletto Matheus
Published: July 2024

The effect of plant-based fillers on thermal resistance in highly filled biocomposites based on ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) was studied. Wood flour and microcrystalline cellulose were used as fillers. It was shown that the introduction of microcrystalline cellulose into EVA did not affect the thermal stability of the polymer matrix. In contrast, the introduction of wood flour into EVA led to a significant increase in the thermal stability of the entire biocomposite. Oxidation induction time increased from 0 (pure EVA) to 73 min (EVA + wood flour biocomposites). The low-molecular weight phenolic compounds contained in wood flour are likely able to diffuse into the polymer matrix, exerting a stabilizing effect. The discovered stabilizing effect is a positive development for expanding the possibilities of technological processing of biocomposites, including multiple processing.
Recent Advancements in Acrylic Fabric Applications: A Comprehensive Review and Future Trends
Authors: Rosa Raphael Palucci , Rosace Giuseppe , Trovato Valentina
Published: July 2024

Acrylic fibres, as synthetic polymers, have been used extensively in the textile industry to create a wide variety of products, ranging from apparel and home furnishings to car rooftops and carbon fibres. Their widespread application is attributed to a combination of desirable properties, including a soft, wool-like texture, chemical stability, and robust mechanical characteristics. Furthermore, the chemical structure of acrylic fibres can be modified to imbue them with additional features, such as antimicrobial properties, fire resistance, conductivity, water repellency, and ultraviolet protection. This review explores the technological methods employed to functionalise acrylic fibres and discusses future trends in their development.
Experimental Study on Gas Production Capacity of Composite Reservoir Depletion in Deep Carbonate Gas Reservoirs
Authors: Li Yuan , Qian Qing , Zhong Anhai , Yang Feng , Lu Mingjing , Zhang Yuzhe , Jiang Ana
Published: July 2024

Deep carbonate gas reservoirs exhibit diverse reservoir types and complex seepage patterns. To study the gas production capabilities of different composite reservoir types, we classified the reservoirs of the fourth member of the Dengying Formation in the Anyue Gas Field into high-quality reservoirs (HRs) and poor-quality reservoirs (PRs) based on high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI) experiment results. By varying the differential pressure of the depletion experiment and the connection method, as well as the permeability and water saturation of the composite core, the effects of well location deployment, permeability ratio of the high-quality reservoir and poor-quality reservoir (PRHPR), gas well production pressure difference (GWPPD), and water saturation on the depletion gas production characteristics of the composite reservoir were studied. The research results show that (1) deploying wells on HR enables high gas production rates and ultimate recovery rates; (2) only when the PRHPR falls within a reasonable range (21.88–43.19) can the “dynamic recharge” capability of PR and the high permeability of HR be coordinated to achieve high gas recovery rates; (3) a GWPPD of 3 MPa is optimal, resulting in fast gas production rates and high ultimate recovery rates for PR; (4) high water saturation (≥50%) leads to premature water breakthrough at the well bottom, decreased gas production rate, and sealing of HR and PR reserves by formation water. Combining experimental results with field production data is our next research focus. Our future research focus will be on integrating experimental results with field production data to provide solid theoretical support for the efficient development of this type of gas reservoir.
Hermeneutical Systematic Dimensions of the Debate on God as Timeless and/or Temporal
Authors: Rodrigues Adriani Milli
Published: July 2024

While the debate on God’s eternity as timeless and/or temporal is a fascinating topic in itself, especially in philosophical theology, the discussion of time and temporality has a hermeneutical systematic potential for the articulation of Christian theology. In this article, I explore the hermeneutical systematic dimensions of time and timelessness for Christian theology in Augustine’s Confessions (Book XI) in dialogue with contemporary articulations of divine timelessness and temporality, as delineated by Allan Padgett and William Craig. The study identifies how timelessness and temporality are hermeneutically and systematically shaped and serve as presuppositions for related concepts in anthropological and cosmological approaches that inform different views about the relationship of God with His creatures.
Finding the Context of “Han”, the Core Sentiment of Salpurichum
Authors: Hwang Hee-jeong
Published: July 2024

This study seeks to examine the process by which han was established as a core emotion in salpurichum (salpuri dance), and uncover the background and triggers leading to its formation. From the early 20th century to the early 1960s, salpurichum was known as the “impromptu”, “heoteun”, and “handkerchief” dance, and it included an aspect of playfulness. However, since the mid-1960s, it has been increasingly interpreted as an expression of women’s sorrow, reflecting the view that the tradition encapsulates women’s suffering. In the 1980s, in the wake of the shamanic origin hypothesis proposed by Byeong-ho Jeong, the historical value of salpurichum was legitimized. It was performed at protests and was used as a shamanistic dance in accordance with this hypothesis. Accordingly, it began to be interpreted as a women’s and national han. Concurrently, the authoritarian government promoted shamanism as part of Korea’s indigenous identity during the 1988 Seoul Olympics, with salpurichum emerging as a representative traditional dance imbued with han. Therefore, the incorporation of han into salpurichum can be seen as a result of the nationalist political agendas advanced by two opposing groups. After salpurichum was designated as a national intangible heritage in 1990, han was academically completed and salpurichum became institutionalized.
Adab al-Qāḍi: Shared Juridical Virtues of Judaic and Islamic Leadership
Authors: Ariel Neri Y.
Published: July 2024

This paper argues for proximity between the two branches of a jurisprudential–adjudicative genre: manuals for judges or the etiquette for the judgeship. I wish to demonstrate that the proximity, lexicography, ways and tools of argument, etc., are founded upon a meta-legal stratum that contains kalam theology. In this paper, I will elaborate on the genre and its discovery, define some basic principles for the field of discussion, and provide textual examples of the proximities between the two branches of the genre based on pre-legal or meta-halachic demands. I suggest a preliminary result here and lay the groundwork for further research in the future: The criteria for the appointment of the true judge sketch out his idealized personality. He is more than an administrator of the judicial bureaucracy: he is a guide for the legally perplexed peoplehood, both in Judaism and Islam.
Aristotle Meets Augustine in Fourteenth-Century Liège: Religious Violence in the Chronicon of Jean Hocsem
Authors: Padusniak Chase
Published: July 2024

As William Cavanaugh has remarked, the scholarly notion of religion “should often be surrounded by scare quotes. Its flexibility and occasional nebulousness make evaluating its role in conceiving of, effecting, and justifying violence even more difficult. At the same time, it sticks around and remains a vital category of contemporary analysis. What if getting behind the Wars of Religion—the period to which Cavanaugh traces the emergence of his “myth of religious violence”—could plant the seeds for a new paradigm in understanding the relationship between religion and violence? In this article, I analyze the Chronicon of Jean Hocsem, a fourteenth-century canon from Liège. Untranslated into English and rarely written about, Hocsem’s text offers an unexpectedly political perspective on this question. Combining insights from Augustine’s City of God as well as Aristotle’s Politics and basing his ideas on his own experience of nearly constant conflict, Hocsem develops the idea that class antagonisms and human frailty make violence—especially political violence—inevitable. He takes this approach within a polity ruled by a prince-bishop, though one he would not have thought of as “religious”. Hocsem’s solutions are thus avowedly political. His pessimism about such questions leads to an emphasis on mitigating violence through the institution of proper socio-political structures. This reading of Hocsem and his politicizing of the question of violence opens new possibilities for scholars, further calling into question any easy relationship between the modern categories of “religion” and violence.
Ionograms Trace Extraction Method Based on Multiscale Transformer Network
Authors: Han Sijia , Guo Wei , Wang Caiyun
Published: July 2024

The echo traces in the ionograms contain key information about the ionosphere. Therefore, the accurate extraction of these traces is crucial for the subsequent work. This paper transforms the original signal processing problem into a semantic segmentation task, combines it with the currently popular deep learning techniques, and proposes a multiscale Transformer network to achieve pixel-level trace extraction. To train the proposed model, we built a dataset by discretizing the original echo data, labeling, and other preprocessing work. A series of advanced semantic segmentation networks are utilized for comparative experiments. The analysis of the results indicates that the proposed network excels in performance, achieving the highest scores on key semantic segmentation evaluation metrics, including mIoU, Kappa, Dice, and AUC-ROC. In addition, this paper also designs a series of ablation experiments to observe the changes in network performance and to evaluate the rationality of the network design. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the network in the trace extraction task, which plays a positive role in the subsequent electron density reversal work.
An Improved Fire and Smoke Detection Method Based on YOLOv8n for Smart Factories
Authors: Zhang Ziyang , Tan Lingye , Robert Tiong Lee Kong
Published: July 2024

Factories play a crucial role in economic and social development. However, fire disasters in factories greatly threaten both human lives and properties. Previous studies about fire detection using deep learning mostly focused on wildfire detection and ignored the fires that happened in factories. In addition, lots of studies focus on fire detection, while smoke, the important derivative of a fire disaster, is not detected by such algorithms. To better help smart factories monitor fire disasters, this paper proposes an improved fire and smoke detection method based on YOLOv8n. To ensure the quality of the algorithm and training process, a self-made dataset including more than 5000 images and their corresponding labels is created. Then, nine advanced algorithms are selected and tested on the dataset. YOLOv8n exhibits the best detection results in terms of accuracy and detection speed. ConNeXtV2 is then inserted into the backbone to enhance inter-channel feature competition. RepBlock and SimConv are selected to replace the original Conv and improve computational ability and memory bandwidth. For the loss function, CIoU is replaced by MPDIoU to ensure an efficient and accurate bounding box. Ablation tests show that our improved algorithm achieves better performance in all four metrics reflecting accuracy: precision, recall, F1, and mAP@50. Compared with the original model, whose four metrics are approximately 90%, the modified algorithm achieves above 95%. mAP@50 in particular reaches 95.6%, exhibiting an improvement of approximately 4.5%. Although complexity improves, the requirements of real-time fire and smoke monitoring are satisfied.
Influential Factors Affecting the Intention to Utilize Advance Care Plans (ACPs) in Thailand and Indonesia
Authors: Futri Irianna , Ketkaew Chavis , Naruetharadhol Phaninee
Published: July 2024

Demographic shifts resulting from population aging are evident globally, including in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and Indonesia. The relevance of advance care plans is becoming increasingly apparent as the worldwide demographic transforms due to aging. This study sought to investigate the factors influencing the use and implementation of advance care plans (ACPs) using the health belief model (HBM) and technology acceptance model (TAM). This study selected a sample of individuals aged 30–60 in Indonesia and Thailand based on established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study utilized the purposive random sampling method, integrating aspects of purposive and random selection. A total of 532 questionnaires were distributed via an online form, and 472 were obtained after data cleaning. Most respondents to this survey came from Indonesia, comprising 238 out of 472 respondents (50.4%), and from Thailand, comprising 49.5%; most respondents were women who were between 36 and 40 years old, and most reported graduating with a bachelor’s degree. A significant construct influences the use of advance care plans, i.e., perceived barriers. The perceived barrier (PBA) construct included data security, accessibility, and language barriers. In summary, overcoming existing barriers can indirectly increase the benefits of advance care plans. The results show that perceived usefulness (β = 0.189, p < 0.001), perceived ease of use (β = 0.150, p < 0.01), perceived susceptibility (β = 0.153, p < 0.01), perceived severity (β = 0.105, p < 0.05), and perceived benefits (β = 0.241, p < 0.001) all had significant positive effects on behavioral intention. In contrast, health motivation (β = 0.073, p = 0.100) and perceived barriers (β = 0.034, p = 0.134) did not show significant relationships with behavioral intention in Indonesia and Thailand, offering insights into both countries’ development strategies and the promotion of advance care plans with media as the technology.
The Quality of Life of Former Portuguese Football Players
Authors: Teixeira Eduardo , Silva Carlos , Romero Félix , Costa João Paulo , Vicente António
Published: July 2024

Background: The demands of playing professional football can have an impact on an individual’s quality of life (QoL), which may remain into retirement. Given limited evidence exists regarding the QoL in former football players, this study aimed to assess QoL among Portuguese former players according to career duration, career end period, competitive level, tactical-positional status, international status, academic qualifications, serious injuries in career, and current professional football connection. Methods: The study included 84 Portuguese former football players (48.8 ± 8.2 years old) who transitioned to retirement between 1988 and 2018. The WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess QoL perceptions, and the Portuguese version was validated. Results and Discussion: The former players have positive QoL indicators, both in general and across the four domains, namely in terms of the physical, psychological, and social relationship and environment. There were no statistically significant differences in QoL between the defined categories for career end period, competitive level, tactical-positional status, international status, and current professional football connection. Likewise, there was no significant correlation between QoL and career duration. In contrast, there were significant differences in general QoL (p < 0.023) and in the physical domain (p < 0.001) between former players with different academic qualifications. A significant correlation was found between the number of severe injuries sustained in a career and QoL in the physical domain (R = −0.300, p = 0.006). Conclusions: There are no concerning QoL results presented by former players. However, the number of severe injuries sustained during the career was associated with a lower QoL, while holding higher academic qualifications demonstrated higher general and physical QoL. Studies with larger samples should be conducted to confirm these trends.
An Assessment of the Ratio between Upper Body Push and Pull Strength in Female and Male Elite Swedish Track and Field Throwers
Authors: Augustsson Jesper , Gunhamn Ted , Andersson Håkan
Published: July 2024

Data on the strength ratio between agonist and antagonist muscles are frequently examined in sports testing, given its correlation with athletic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the agonist-to-antagonist ratio of upper body strength in female and male elite Swedish track and field throwers using a new push (bench press) and pull (supine bench row) test device, and to determine its reliability. The study involved eight female and nine male athletes, aged 19–29 years, engaging, respectively, in discus, hammer, and shot put competitions at both national and international levels. The athletes’ maximum isometric force was assessed during the bench press (push) and supine bench row (pull) exercises, respectively, using a custom-built test device. The test–retest reliability of the device was also examined. The total push-to-pull strength ratio for the female throwers was 1.15, whereas male throwers demonstrated a ratio of 1.22. Total push and pull force for the female throwers was significantly less than for the male throwers (5511 N vs. 8970 N, p < 0.001). Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.93 to 0.96 for the bench press and supine bench row exercise, indicating that the push and pull test device was highly reliable. The main findings of this study were that elite female and male discus, hammer, and shot put throwers exhibited 15% and 22% more pushing (bench press) than pulling (supine bench row) strength. Push and pull strength in the female throwers ranged from 47% to 71% of that of the male throwers. The push and pull test device is a reliable tool in establishing the agonist-to-antagonist ratio of upper body strength of athletes. Coaches and athletes may benefit from examining upper body push and pull strength ratios for training planning and prescription.
Ecotoxicity of Tar from Coffee Grounds and Pine Pellet Gasification Process
Authors: Hawrot-Paw Małgorzata , Koniuszy Adam , Borusiewicz Andrzej , Skibko Zbigniew , Romaniuk Wacław , Zając Grzegorz , Szyszlak-Bargłowicz Joanna
Published: July 2024

This study determined the toxicity of the condensates produced during the gasification of two waste types. Coffee grounds, pine pellets, and a mixture of both substrates at a ratio of 1:1 were used in the study. Two microbiotests were applied for soil plants and aquatic macrophytes, and quantitative analysis of the soil microbiome for primary taxonomic groups of microorganisms was conducted. Three contamination rates were used in the Phytotoxkit test and the microbiological tests, 100, 1000, and 10,000 mg·kg−1 d.m. of soil, while in the aquatic organism studies, successive two-fold serial dilutions of condensates were used. The presence of liquid waste from the gasification process adversely affected the germination and development of terrestrial plants and the vegetative growth of aquatic plants. The condensate components modified the composition of the soil microbiome, adversely affecting soil fertility. The negative impact increased with increasing levels of contamination and primarily depended on the type of substrate from which the gasification process produced the liquid waste.
The Optimal Logistics Distribution Service Strategy of the E-commerce Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network under Blockchain Technology and the Government Blockchain Subsidy
Authors: Zhou Yan , Liang Cong , Wong Kar-Hung
Published: July 2024

The booming development of e-commerce has promoted the diversified development of logistics distribution services (LDS). For LDS, e-commerce retailers (e-retailers) often choose either the outsourced logistics distribution services strategy (OLDSS) or the self-built logistics distribution services strategy (SBLDSS). Although there are problems such as products getting lost and damaged during the logistics distribution process, the high transparency and traceability characteristics of blockchain technology (BT) can help solve the problem of products being lost and damaged in the logistics distribution process. However, due to the high cost of BT, e-retailers may encounter reduced sales, which causes the supply chain corporate profits to decrease. To encourage the BT investment enthusiasm of the e-retailers and regulate corporate profits, the government implements subsidies for e-retailers’ BT, namely, the government blockchain subsidy (GBS). In addition, in recent years, environmental degradation has become increasingly severe, causing negative impacts on people’s lives. To promote sustainable development, we use variational inequality to establish an e-commerce closed-loop supply chain (E-CLSC) network equilibrium model in which the network equilibrium decisions of e-retailers choosing the OLDSS and those choosing the SBLDSS are obtained. Then, we analyze the impact of the BT input cost and the GBS quota on equilibrium decisions by studying their properties and verifying the theoretical results by performing numerical examples. Finally, we analyze the profits of the e-retailers to obtain the impact of the BT input cost and the GBS quota on e-retailers’ choice of the optimal LDS strategy; in this way, we provide a scientific basis for e-retailers to choose the optimal LDS strategy. The results show that increasing the BT input costs reduces e-retailers’ product sales under the two LDS strategies, which decreases the production rate and the recovery rate of the products. When the BT input cost is low, SBLDSS is the best choice for e-retailers. When the BT input cost is high, OLDSS is the best choice for e-retailers. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between GBS and e-retailers’ product sales; thus, GBS is conducive to expanding market demand, regulating the profits of manufacturers, increasing the e-retailers’ profits, improving the enthusiasm of the e-retailers for BT investment, and promoting the overall development of supply chain enterprises. For e-retailers, choosing the OLDSS can lead to a better development of the E-CLSC.
Research on the Mechanism of Collaborative Innovation in Green Technology among Supply Chain Enterprises Based on Cost Sharing and Market Competition
Authors: Zou Yijing , He Dayi , Sun Rui
Published: July 2024

Supply chain green technology collaborative innovation is an important means for enterprises to improve the greenness of their products. This paper takes supply chain green technology innovation collaboration as the research object and constructs a stochastic differential game model, which not only provides reference for enterprises to choose the optimal type of technology innovation by combining with their own characteristics, but also provides a reference for their innovation decision-making in different market competition environments. The study shows the following: (1) in green product innovation, the formation of the cost-sharing contract is less affected by the intensity of competition in the green market when the market preference for greenness is relatively low. Therefore, government subsidies become an important tool to effectively guide the market mechanism to achieve the desired goal. As market competition intensifies, manufacturers’ incentives to suppliers will shift from reducing costs to increasing demand. (2) In green process innovation, when the intensity of green competition is low and suppliers’ process innovation efficiency is high, manufacturers should bear more costs; when the market preference for greenness is low, the market competition is intense, and the suppliers’ process innovation efficiency is low, the suppliers should bear more costs to help the manufacturers gain more market shares. (3) When retailers’ preference for greenness is relatively low, the government subsidy becomes an important tool to effectively guide the market mechanism to achieve the desired goal. (4) When the retailer’s green promotion performance is higher than the manufacturer’s, the manufacturer should bear more green promotion costs; conversely, the retailer should bear more green promotion costs. (5) Over time, the marginal increase in price over the marginal increase in greenness helps stabilise price volatility, considering consumer preferences. Conversely, it helps to increase the average value of prices.