bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Si-Based Polarizer and 1-Bit Phase-Controlled Non-Polarizing Beam Splitter-Based Integrated Metasurface for Extended Shortwave Infrared
Authors: Shi Leidong , Lu Lidan , Chen Weiqiang , Chen Guang , He Yanlin , Ren Guanghui , Zhu Lianqing
Published: September 2023

Metasurfaces, composed of micro-nano-structured planar materials, offer highly tunable control over incident light and find significant applications in imaging, navigation, and sensing. However, highly efficient polarization devices are scarce for the extended shortwave infrared (ESWIR) range (1.7~2.5 μm). This paper proposes and demonstrates a highly efficient all-dielectric diatomic metasurface composed of single-crystalline Si nanocylinders and nanocubes on SiO2. This metasurface can serve as a nanoscale linear polarizer for generating polarization-angle-controllable linearly polarized light. At the wavelength of 2172 nm, the maximum transmission efficiency, extinction ratio, and linear polarization degree can reach 93.43%, 45.06 dB, and 0.9973, respectively. Moreover, a nonpolarizing beam splitter (NPBS) was designed and deduced theoretically based on this polarizer, which can achieve a splitting angle of ±13.18° and a phase difference of π. This beam splitter can be equivalently represented as an integration of a linear polarizer with controllable polarization angles and an NPBS with one-bit phase modulation. It is envisaged that through further design optimization, the phase tuning range of the metasurface can be expanded, allowing for the extension of the operational wavelength into the mid-wave infrared range, and the splitting angle is adjustable. Moreover, it can be utilized for integrated polarization detectors and be a potential application for optical digital encoding metasurfaces.
Nanostructured PbSe Films Deposited by Spray Pyrolysis Using PbSe Colloidal Solutions
Authors: Díaz-Torres Esteban , Roque Jorge , Arreola-Pina Alma Sofía , Pérez-Guzmán Manuel Alejandro , Ortega-Amaya Rebeca , Ortega-López Mauricio
Published: September 2023

This work describes the spray pyrolysis deposition of PbSe films, using as-prepared PbSe colloids as the starting solution. The PbSe colloids were prepared by using the alkahest approach, where Pb and Se precursors were made to react with the following green polyols: glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, to subsequently spray them onto glass substrates. The results of the characterization indicated that amine or thiol groups-free and single-phase rock-salt cubic PbSe powder was obtained, producing nanocrystals 16–30 nm in size. X-ray diffraction also showed that the PbSe films containing PbSeO3 and PbO·xH2O as impurity phases were produced during the deposition. The morphology of the powders and films was developed by a self-assembly process, in which the primary PbSe nanoparticles self-assemble to produce peanut-like microstructures. Additionally, a non-continuous and porous feature was formed in the thick films. Certain films revealed optical structures characterized by broad- and low-intensity bands resembling an exciton-like behavior. This could be attributed to the presence of nanocrystals with a size less than the Bohr radius, indicating reminiscent quantum effects. The results suggest that the usage of colloidal dispersions as spray solutions represents an effective approach to forming PbSe films, as well as that the synthesis method allows for the elimination of thiol and amine groups before deposition, significantly simplifying the process.
The Effect of Hokkaido Red Wines on Vascular Outcomes in Healthy Adult Men: A Pilot Study
Authors: Charoenwoodhipong Prae , Holt Roberta R. , Keen Carl L. , Hedayati Nasim , Sato Tomoyuki , Sone Teruo , Hackman Robert M.
Published: September 2023

Moderate red wine intake has been associated with lower cardiovascular mortality, due in part to the intake of polyphenols and anthocyanins, whose content can vary from varietal and year of harvest. This study assessed the vascular effects in response to a single intake of 2015 and 2018 Zweigelt red wines from Hokkaido, Japan. Healthy men were randomly assigned to consume 240 mL each of a red wine, or a sparkling white grape juice as a control in a randomized three-arm cross-over design with a 7 day washout between arms. The augmentation index (AI; a measure of arterial stiffness) and AI at 75 beats/min (AI75), reactive hyperemia index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP, respectively), and platelet reactivity were assessed at baseline and two and four hours after each beverage intake. Changes from the baseline were analyzed using a linear mixed model. Significant treatment effects (p = 0.02) were observed, with AI 13% lower after the intake of the 2015 or 2018 vintages compared to the control. Intake of the 2018 vintage reduced SBP and DBP (−4.1 mmHg and −5.6 mmHg, respectively; p = 0.02) compared to the 2015 wine and the control drink. The amount of hydroxytyrosol in the 2018 wine was almost twice the amount as in the 2015 wine, which may help explain the variable blood pressure results. Future studies exploring the vascular effects of the same red wine from different vintage years and different phenolic profiles are warranted.
Age-Related Dietary Habits and Blood Biochemical Parameters in Patients with and without Steatosis—MICOL Cohort
Authors: Donghia Rossella , Pesole Pasqua Letizia , Castellaneta Antonino , Coletta Sergio , Squeo Francesco , Bonfiglio Caterina , De Pergola Giovanni , Rinaldi Roberta , De Nucci Sara , Giannelli Gianluigi , Di Leo Alfredo , Tatoli Rossella
Published: September 2023

Background: Steatosis is now the most common liver disease in the world, present in approximately 25% of the global population. The aim of this study was to study the association between food intake and liver disease and evaluate the differences in blood parameters in age classes and steatosic condition. Methods: The present study included 1483 participants assessed in the fourth recall of the MICOL study. Patients were subdivided by age (</>65 years) and administered a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with 28 food groups. Results: The prevalence of steatosis was 55.92% in the adult group and 55.88% in the elderly group. Overall, the results indicated many statistically significant blood parameters and dietary habits. Analysis of food choices with a machine learning algorithm revealed that in the adult group, olive oil, grains, processed meat, and sweets were associated with steatosis, while the elderly group preferred red meat, dairy, seafood, and fruiting vegetables. Furthermore, the latter ate less as compared with the adult group. Conclusions: Many differences were found between the two age groups, both in blood parameters and food intake. The random forest also revealed different foods predicted steatosis in the two groups. Future analysis will be useful to understand the molecular basis of these differences and how different food intake causes steatosis in people of different ages.
LC-MS Fingerprinting Development for Standardized Precipitate from Agastache mexicana, Which Induces Antihypertensive Effect through NO Production and Calcium Channel Blockade
Authors: Cruz-Torres Karla , Estrada-Soto Samuel , Arias-Durán Luis , Navarrete-Vázquez Gabriel , Almanza-Pérez Julio , Mora-Ramiro Beatriz , Perea-Arango Irene , Hernández-Núñez Emanuel , Villalobos-Molina Rafael , Carmona-Castro Gabriela , Medina-Díaz Irma-Martha , Ávila-Villarreal Gabriela
Published: September 2023

The aim of this work was to evaluate the vasorelaxant and antihypertensive effects of a standardized precipitate of the hydroalcoholic extract from Agastache mexicana (PPAm), comprising ursolic acid, oleanolic acid, acacetin, luteolin and tilianin, among others. In the ex vivo experiments, preincubation with L-NAME (nonspecific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthases) reduced the relaxation induced by PPAm; nevertheless, preincubation with indomethacin (nonspecific inhibitor of cyclooxygenases) did not generate any change in the vasorelaxation, and an opposed effect was observed to the contraction generated by CaCl2 addition. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg of PPAm induced a significant acute decrease in diastolic (DBP) and systolic (SBP) blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats, without changes in heart rate. Additionally, PPAm showed a sustained antihypertensive subacute effect on both DBP and SBP for 10 days compared to the control group. On the other hand, human umbilical vein cells treated with 10 µg/mL of PPAm showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in intracellular adhesion molecule-1, compared to the control, but not on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. In conclusion, PPAm induces a significant antihypertensive effect in acute- and subacute-period treatments, due to its direct vasorelaxant action on rat aortic rings through NO production and Ca2+ channel blockade.
Stability Study of Fosfomycin in Elastomeric Pumps at 4 °C and 34 °C: Technical Bases for a Continuous Infusion Use for Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy
Authors: Manca Alessandra , Palermiti Alice , Mula Jacopo , Cusato Jessica , Maiese Domenico , Simiele Marco , De Nicolò Amedeo , D’Avolio Antonio
Published: September 2023

Background: Fosfomycin acts against aerobic Gram−/+ bacteria by blocking the synthesis of peptidoglycan. Its use has been currently re-evaluated for intravenous administration for the treatment of systemic infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria. Concentration-/time-dependent activity has been suggested, with potential clinical advantages from prolonged or continuous infusion. Nevertheless, little is known about Fosfomycin stability in elastomeric pumps. The aim of the present work was stability investigation before administration at 4 °C and during administration at 34 °C. Methods: InfectoFos® (InfectoPharm s.r.l., Milan, Italy) preparation for intravenous use in elastomeric pumps at 4 °C and 34 °C was analyzed following EMA guidelines for drug stability. Samples were analyzed with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry method on a LX50® UHPLC system equipped with a QSight 220® (Perkin Elmer, Milan, Italy) tandem mass spectrometer. Results: Fosfomycin in elastomeric preparation is stable for at least 5 days at a storage temperature of 4 °C and 34 °C. Conclusions: The results suggest Fosfomycin eligibility for continuous infusion even in the context of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy. Therefore, this approach should be tested in clinical and pharmacokinetic studies, in order to evaluate the possible gains in the pharmacokinetic profile and the clinical effectiveness.
The Specific Encapsulation of Procyanidins from Litchi Peel and Coffee Pulp Extracts via Spray-Drying Using Green Polymers
Authors: Vázquez-Núñez María de los Ángeles , Aguilar-Zárate Mayra , Gómez-García Ricardo , Reyes-Luna Carlos , Aguilar-Zárate Pedro , Michel Mariela R.
Published: September 2023

Polyphenols called procyanidins can be extracted from agro-industrial waste like litchi peel and coffee pulp. However, their efficacy is limited due to instability, which hinders both the bioavailability and preservation of their activity. This study aims to establish the ideal encapsulation conditions required to preserve the procyanidin properties found in extracts taken from litchi peel and coffee pulp. To attain the maximum procyanidin encapsulation efficacy (EE), the Taguchi method was utilized to streamline the spray-drying conditions for different wall materials—maltodextrin (MD), whey protein (WP), citrus pectin (CP), and skim milk (SM). The optimized conditions consisted of feed flow (3, 4.5, and 6 mL/min), temperature (125, 150, and 175 °C), and airflow (30, 35, and 40 m3/h). The microcapsules were characterized using ABTS, DPPH, lipoperoxidation, and scanning electron microscopy. Objective evaluations revealed that MD was the most effective encapsulation material for the litchi extract, whereas WP was the optimal option for the coffee extract. Of all the factors considered in the spray-drying process, feed flow had the strongest impact. The spray-drying process for the litchi peel extracts achieved high procyanidin encapsulation efficiencies at a feed flow rate of 4.5 mL/min, a temperature of 150 °C, and an airflow rate of 35 m3/h. Meanwhile, the coffee extract spray drying achieved similar results at a feed flow rate of 4.5 mL/min, a temperature of 175 °C, and an airflow rate of 40 m3/h. Encapsulation efficiencies of 98.1% and 93.6% were observed for the litchi and coffee extracts, respectively, under the mentioned optimal conditions. The microencapsulation process was successful in preserving the antioxidant properties of procyanidins. The microcapsules’ size ranged from 2.6 to 3.2 micrometers. The results imply that the phenolic compounds present in the extracts function as effective antioxidant agents.
Lotus-Flower- and Lotus-Seedpod-Derived Polysaccharide: Structural Characterization and Biological Activity
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Wang Li , Zeng Dai , Ma Xia , Wang Hui
Published: September 2023

Lotus flower polysaccharide (LFP) and lotus seedpod polysaccharide (LSP) were separated by water extract–alcohol precipitation, and their structures and biological activities were investigated. The results of monosaccharide composition showed that LFP and LSP were composed of nine monosaccharides, fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, galactose, mannose, fructose, galacturonic acid, and glucuronic acid, with the molar percentages of 0.18: 0.43: 2.26: 45.22: 32.14: 4.28: 8.20: 6.28: 1.01 and 2.70: 1.02: 8.15: 45.63: 20.63: 1.44: 2.59: 16.45. LSP and LFP exhibited molecular weights of 9.37 × 104 Da and 1.24 × 106 Da, respectively. SEM showed that LFP and LSP have similar structures; XRD analysis showed that both polysaccharides had crystalline structure and amorphous structure. The results of ABTS+, DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging experiment, and a reducing power experiment showed that LFP and LSP had good antioxidant capacity. Cell viability findings showed that polysaccharide concentrations of lotus flower and lotus seedpod could enhance cellular proliferation ranging from 25 to 400 μg/mL without cytotoxicity. By inducing the production of crucial proteins in the TLR4/NF-κB pathway, LFP and LSP were able to induce autophagy in RAW264.7, according to the results of the RT-PCR and Western blotting assays.
Impact of Stocking Densities on the Microbiota of the Cloaca, Eggshell, and Egg Content of White Egg Layers in Colony Cages
Authors: Alig Benjamin , Anderson Kenneth , Malheiros Ramon , Lowery Justin , Walker Lin
Published: September 2023

Food safety is a major concern for commercial poultry producers and consumers. Currently, there is also pressure from retailers and legislators to increase the space per hen in cages. Five different density treatments consisting of six (208 in2/bird), nine (139 in2/bird), twelve (104 in2/bird), fifteen (83 in2/bird), and eighteen birds (69 in2/bird) per cage were examined in colony cage environments. Microbiological tests were performed at 39, 55, and 68 weeks of age. The populations of total aerobic bacteria; E. coli/coliform; Enterobacteriaceae; and yeasts and molds from an eggshell rinse, egg content, and cloacal swabs were enumerated. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. in these samples was also monitored. Overall, no bacteria were detected in any of the egg content, and there were no differences (p > 0.05) between treatments for the shell rinse. Stocking density did not influence the eggshell microbiota of the hens. Hens housed at 104 in2 per hen showed higher levels of total aerobic bacterial counts from the cloaca compared to hens at 208 in2 and 69 in2 per hen. Hens housed at 139 in2 per hen had the highest level of cloacal molds. This research demonstrates that stocking density does not influence eggshell microbiota or Salmonella contamination of the eggshell or cloaca, thereby indicating that allowing more space per hen will not positively or negatively affect the prevalence or concentration of foodborne pathogen-associated bacteria in or on the eggs.
“There Is a Silent War Going On”—African Religious Leaders’ Perspectives on Domestic Violence before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Frost Marie-Luise
Published: September 2023

The increase in domestic violence—particularly against women—is one of the most alarming indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting countries worldwide. Following a mixed-methods approach, this paper examines religious leaders’ perspectives on and their engagement with this topic. It scrutinises the findings of the online survey Religious Leaders’ Perspectives on Corona, conducted from 2020 to 2021 by the Research Programme on Religious Communities and Sustainable Development at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Most answers came from the African continent and showed that more female than male leaders perceived an increase in domestic violence during the pandemic or see the need to respond to this topic. However, both male and female participants warned that domestic violence is underreported, inter alia, because of religio-cultural norms. To illustrate how the relationship between women and men in marriage is understood and (re)interpreted and how domestic violence is addressed in individual communities, this paper additionally draws on semi-structured interviews with church leaders conducted in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda from 2017 to 2019 and in 2022. In addition to forms of support and advocacy against domestic violence, the examples also show that church leaders might call for women’s empowerment while upholding the idea of male headship.
Multi-Temporal PSI Analysis and Burn Severity Combination to Determine Ground-Burned Hazard Zones
Authors: Letsios Vasilis , Faraslis Ioannis , Stathakis Demetris
Published: September 2023

Forest fires are a seasonal phenomenon in Greece, reoccurring annually and causing adverse impacts on both human-made and natural environments. Our case study focuses on the devastating fire that took place in July 2018 in the second-housing area of Mati, East Attica. In this research, we propose a simple and effective approach that combines the deformation trend obtained from the Permanent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) analysis with the burn severity assessment aiming to identify and classify potential ground-burn hazard zones. To maximize the number of measuring points, we employ a weighted full-graph PSI approach. Additionally, we calculate the burn severity by comparing Sentinel-2 satellite images captured before and after the event. The resulting datasets are reclassified on a scale from 1 to 5, and the proposed equation yields the final product. Numerous high and very high hazard zones have been identified using this methodology. The research findings reveal the proximity between these hazard zones and the stream network. Overall, the proposed method offers valuable insights for the post-fire monitoring and management of urban and peri-urban landscapes in the affected areas.
Recognition of Severe Convective Cloud Based on the Cloud Image Prediction Sequence from FY-4A
Authors: Chen Qi , Yin Xiaobin , Li Yan , Zheng Peinan , Chen Miao , Xu Qing
Published: September 2023

Severe convective weather is hugely destructive, causing significant loss of life and social and economic infrastructure. Based on the U-Net network with the attention mechanism, the recurrent convolution, and the residual module, a new model is proposed named ARRU-Net (Attention Recurrent Residual U-Net) for the recognition of severe convective clouds using the cloud image prediction sequence from FY-4A data. The characteristic parameters used to recognize severe convective clouds in this study were brightness temperature values TBB9, brightness temperature difference values TBB9−TBB12 and TBB12−TBB13, and texture features based on spectral characteristics. This method first input five satellite cloud images with a time interval of 30 min into the ARRU-Net model and predicted five satellite cloud images for the next 2.5 h. Then, severe convective clouds were segmented based on the predicted image sequence. The root mean square error (RMSE), peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), and correlation coefficient (R2) of the predicted results were 5.48 K, 35.52 dB, and 0.92, respectively. The results of the experiments showed that the average recognition accuracy and recall of the ARRU-Net model in the next five moments on the test set were 97.62% and 83.34%, respectively.
Boosting SAR Aircraft Detection Performance with Multi-Stage Domain Adaptation Training
Authors: Yu Wenbo , Li Jiamu , Wang Zijian , Yu Zhongjun
Published: September 2023

Deep learning has achieved significant success in various synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery interpretation tasks. However, automatic aircraft detection is still challenging due to the high labeling cost and limited data quantity. To address this issue, we propose a multi-stage domain adaptation training framework to efficiently transfer the knowledge from optical imagery and boost SAR aircraft detection performance. To overcome the significant domain discrepancy between optical and SAR images, the training process can be divided into three stages: image translation, domain adaptive pretraining, and domain adaptive finetuning. First, CycleGAN is used to translate optical images into SAR-style images and reduce global-level image divergence. Next, we propose multilayer feature alignment to further reduce the local-level feature distribution distance. By applying domain adversarial learning in both the pretrain and finetune stages, the detector can learn to extract domain-invariant features that are beneficial to the learning of generic aircraft characteristics. To evaluate the proposed method, extensive experiments were conducted on a self-built SAR aircraft detection dataset. The results indicate that by using the proposed training framework, the average precision of Faster RCNN gained an increase of 2.4, and that of YOLOv3 was improved by 2.6, which outperformed other domain adaptation methods. By reducing the domain discrepancy between optical and SAR in three progressive stages, the proposed method can effectively mitigate the domain shift, thereby enhancing the efficiency of knowledge transfer. It greatly improves the detection performance of aircraft and offers an effective approach to address the limited training data problem of SAR aircraft detection.
Innovative Intelligent Cheese Packaging with Whey Protein-Based Edible Films Containing Spirulina
Authors: Kontogianni Vasiliki G. , Kosma Ioanna , Mataragas Marios , Pappa Eleni , Badeka Anastasia V. , Bosnea Loulouda
Published: September 2023

The use of edible and biodegradable films and coatings as active packaging for cheese has recently attracted great attention as it meets the concept of sustainability and ensures safety. Spirulina is a rich source of high-added-value biocompounds, which could be used as functional ingredients. In the present study, spirulina was added in different concentrations (0.5; 1; 2; 4% w/w) to the edible films produced from whey protein concentrate-based solutions. The films were characterized according to their optical parameters (color); they were studied for their total phenolic content, and the viability of the films in simulated gastric juice was investigated. The possible use of the developed films for intelligent food packaging, as colorimetric pH indicators, was also investigated. Finally, a preliminary evaluation of selected films containing spirulina (WPC-based films containing 2% spirulina) as packaging for “kefalotyri” cheese was also assessed. The effect of these films, applied as packaging for “kefalotyri” cheese during two months of refrigerated storage, was evaluated. GC-MS analysis was used to evaluate the effect of the spirulina odor of the film with spirulina incorporated and the cheese products where the film was applied.
The Relationship between Job Insecurity and Safety Behavior: The Buffering Role of Leadership Ethics
Authors: Hong Yunsook , Kim Min-Jik , Sohn Young Woo
Published: September 2023

While numerous studies have delved into the ramifications of job insecurity for organizational outcomes, past endeavors have not adequately unveiled the mediating and moderating factors in the connection between job insecurity and safety behavior, especially from a positive psychology standpoint. Furthermore, the interaction between organizational leadership and job insecurity has been underexplored, despite the critical role of leaders during periods of job insecurity. Addressing these research gaps, we have devised a theoretical framework suggesting that meaningfulness of work might act as an intermediary in the link between job insecurity and safety behavior. We also hypothesize that ethical leadership might mitigate the adverse effects of job insecurity on the meaningfulness of work. Data were collected three separate times from 235 employees in the Republic of Korea. Our empirical evidence substantiates that meaningfulness of work indeed serves as a bridge between job insecurity and safety behavior. Additionally, the presence of ethical leadership moderates the interrelation between job insecurity and meaningfulness of work positively, attenuating the detrimental influence of job insecurity. These insights emphasize the fundamental roles of both meaningfulness of work (as a mediator) and ethical leadership (as a moderator) in defining the nexus between job insecurity and safety behavior.
Strategic Initiatives for Large Transport Infrastructure Planning: Reinforcing Sustainability in Urban Transportation through Better Stakeholder Engagement
Authors: Ngampravatdee Chayaporn , Gharehbaghi Koorosh , Hosseinian-Far Amin , Tee Kong Fah , McManus Kerry
Published: September 2023

An efficacious stakeholder engagement process is instrumental in achieving success in large transport infrastructure projects. This is due to the integral role of public stakeholders’ participation in the decision-making process. The purpose of this study is to explore the key components that are essential for an effective public stakeholder engagement process in large transport infrastructure projects. The paper entails an in-depth analysis of stakeholder management processes, large transport infrastructure complexities, and stakeholder engagement as a holistic framework. A mixed-methods approach is adopted, together with a comparative case study design utilizing various data from large transport infrastructure projects. The findings demonstrate that the engagement framework and objectives are the key components of large transport infrastructure planning. Moreover, such components are dependent upon the characteristics of public stakeholders and the project scope. These findings can assist transport planners in devising effective techniques for stakeholder engagement during the initiation of such projects.
Development of a Green Competency Matrix Based on Civil Servants’ Perception of Sustainable Development Expertise
Authors: Grigorescu Adriana , Munteanu Ionela , Dumitrica Catalin-Daniel , Lincaru Cristina
Published: September 2023

This paper analysed the responses of 242 civil servants collected during a survey for public authorities personnel with management or executive responsibilities. The survey focused on the perception of respondents regarding the key competencies and the utility of the sustainability development expert occupation (SDE). Based on the assumption that the responses were influenced by multiple factors, the impact of perceptual theory, agency theory and sustainability theory calibrated the analysis of the collected data. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test the reliability of the received responses and multinominal logistic regression with a single dichotomous variable (Regulation Awareness) and several continuous predictor variables (Specialization, Knowledge, Attributions and Competence) was employed to determine to what extent the SDE occupation would contribute to the implementation of sustainable development policies. This paper argues that the ‘green’ competency matrix appropriate for the implementation of sustainable development policies should include executive, compliance promoting, ethical and reporting competencies. The creation of a green competency matrix is an important step toward changing the organisational culture of the public or private sectors to achieve sustainable and reliable development. This research can help organizations and public authorities understand where their efforts should be focused to efficiently incorporate sustainability development into their systems.
Influence of Media Attention on the Quality of Environmental, Social, and Governance Information Disclosure in Enterprises: An Adjustment Effect Based on the Shareholder Relationship Network
Authors: Cui Wei , Chen Xiaofang , Xia Wenlei , Hu Yu
Published: September 2023

As an intermediary in information dissemination and a guide of public opinion, the media represent an important external supervision force in corporate governance. It is very important to fully understand the supporting role of public media in the modernization of environmental governance in China to improve the quality of ESG information disclosure. Based on the data of companies listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 Index from 2015 to 2020, this paper finds that media attention has a significant positive impact on ESG information disclosure, that is, high-frequency media attention can promote the quality of ESG information disclosure, while different types of media reports can promote the quality of ESG information disclosure. Considering the characteristics of media emotions, it is found that negative media reports can promote the quality of ESG information disclosure. The shareholder relationship network strengthens the positive influence of media attention on the ESG information disclosure of enterprises through the information advantage of a “weak relationship”. These research conclusions reveal the internal influence of media attention on the quality of the ESG information disclosure of enterprises and the regulatory role of the shareholder relationship network to some extent, which provides the governance perspective on and empirical basis for ESG information disclosure research, and it also provides a decision-making reference for promoting the quality of the ESG information disclosure of listed enterprises in China, enriching the theoretical research and practical exploration of ESG information disclosure.
Research on the Construction of Index System to Promote the Sustainable Development of Core Literacy of Physical Education Teachers in Chinese Universities from the Perspective of Higher Education Modernization
Authors: Li Wenliang , Hu Ti
Published: September 2023

This study aims to comprehensively explore the core competencies required of physical education teachers in universities, within the context of modernizing higher education. The goal is to build an index system that conforms to the development of the core literacy of college PE teachers. With the vigorous development of higher education, increasingly higher requirements are placed for college teachers. Starting from the perspective of higher education modernization, this study comprehensively explores the corresponding core qualities of physical education teachers in colleges and universities, which has certain research value. The research utilizes qualitative analysis, the Delphi method, and the analytic hierarchy process to construct a comprehensive indicator system that includes four primary indicators: moral character, educational ability, teaching competence, and research expertise. These primary indicators are further divided into 15 secondary indicators, such as political morality, information literacy integration, research concept literacy, and educational and teaching philosophy, and 53 tertiary indicators, such as the integration of ideological and political education into the curriculum, information ethics and morality, research values, and pre-class teaching decision-making data. The analytic hierarchy process is employed to determine the weight coefficients of each level of indicators, as well as the comprehensive weight coefficients of the secondary and tertiary indicators. The primary indicators of the system are representative and used to determine the appropriate weight of the indicator system for different types of physical education teachers. The study found: 1. That moral character and educational ability occupy the first and second proportions, respectively, in the weight coefficients of the core competencies of different types of physical education teachers. 2. Teaching and research-oriented teachers have a considerable proportion of teaching and research expertise, respectively. 3. Research-oriented physical education teachers have a much higher proportion of research expertise than teaching expertise. 4. Teaching-oriented physical education teachers have a higher proportion of teaching expertise than research expertise. Discuss: The constructed indicator system is scientifically sound and structurally reasonable, providing theoretical reference and guidance for the evaluation and cultivation of core competencies of physical education teachers in universities, and effectively helps the sustainable development of college physical education teachers.
Methods and Applications of Safety Control for Cable Net Structure Considering Spatiotemporal Changes
Authors: Wang Zeqiang , Zhang Zehua , Liu Zhansheng , Dezhkam Majid , Zhao Yifeng
Published: September 2023

The construction of cable net structures is intricate, and the construction process itself is laborious. Conventional safety control measures during the construction of cable net structures involve monitoring cable forces and deformations at specific moments during the construction steps. However, these measures do not guarantee adequate safety assurance. This paper proposes a method for the safety control of cable net structures, considering spatiotemporal changes, based on the concept of digital twins. This method enables real-time monitoring and control of the cable net construction process onsite, facilitating a comparative analysis between the mechanical and geometric information of the construction site and the real-time finite element simulation results. Such an approach ensures safety control throughout the construction process. Firstly, a twin model framework for safety control is established. Then, the methods for spatiotemporal representation, data collection, and processing at the construction site are analyzed. Finally, the proposed method is validated through its application to the Xiaotian Cultural and Sports Park project. The results demonstrate that this method can achieve real-time monitoring and control of cable net structure construction.
A Novel Brushless PM-Assisted DC Motor with Compound-Excited Circular Winding
Authors: Jiang Mingyuan , Zhao Kangshuo , Wang Weiyu , Niu Shuangxia
Published: September 2023

A novel compound-excited brushless DC motor with polygonal circular winding is proposed in this paper. The key is that DC excitation is effectively coupled with PM excitation, significantly improving the torque density per PM volume and improving the machine flux weakening performance in the proposed design. This proposed design provides simplified control characteristics similar to a compound-excited DC motor. Further, the flux weakening of the proposed machine can be smoothly achieved using polygonal closed-loop circular winding and a lagging slot winding shifting method.
A Simulation Optimization Approach for Wetland Conservation and Management in an Agricultural Basin
Authors: Hatamkhani Amir , Moridi Ali
Published: September 2023

Decreasing water quantity and growth in water demand have increased the competition between satisfying societal water needs and protecting ecosystem requirements. Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. They provide various services to people’s livelihoods, in addition to being suitable habitats for many plant and wildlife species. However, wetlands are under threat of loss and degradation due to anthropogenic activities, particularly the diversion of water for irrigation. The flow regime is usually considered the most crucial ecological factor and a key component of wetland management. So, determining the allocation of environmental requirements is a main factor for managing, restoring, and protecting wetlands, and it is crucial to reach a compromise for optimal water allocation between different sectors. For this purpose, in this research, a new approach is developed to achieve the optimal environmental flow of the wetland in an agricultural-dominated basin using a combination of remote sensing and the simulation optimization method. Waterbirds and vegetation are used as bioindicators of wetland ecosystems. First, using remote sensing data and analyses, we obtained the interrelation between the wetland water regime, vegetation, and waterbird characteristics using different time series of Landsat spectral indices. Then, by employing the long-term simulation optimization (WEAP-MOPSO) model, the optimal e-flow of the wetland is evaluated in such a way that the suitable ecological condition of the wetland is achieved and the wetland is able to provide its functions and services.
Assessment of Stormwater Quality in the Context of Traffic Congestion: A Case Study in Egypt
Authors: Gabr Mohamed Elsayed , El Shorbagy Amira Mahmoud , Faheem Hamdy Badee
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of traffic congestion in urbanized areas (parking lots and highways) on stormwater quality. Three separate locations in Egypt’s heavily urbanized and populous Giza Governorate were picked for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the stormwater quality: Faisal (A), El Dokki (B), and Hadayek El-Ahram (C), with catchment areas of 10,476, 7566, and 9870 m2, and with monthly average daily traffic (MADT) values of 47,950, 20,919, and 27,064 cars, respectively. The physio-chemical and heavy metal stormwater quality parameters of six water samples were investigated and compared with Egypt’s water criteria and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The water quality index (WQI) and the irrigation water quality indices were used to assess the uses of stormwater. The results showed that the WQI varied from 426 to 929, with an average of (661 ± 168), indicating that the stormwater was contaminated at each location under examination and needed pretreatment in order to be useful. As a result, the allowed stormwater quality standards were exceeded for heavy metals such as Al, Cr, Cd, Fe, and Cu. The indicators of the stormwater quality for irrigation—the total dissolved solids (TDS), sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), permeability index (PI), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), and Kelley’s ratio (KR)—show excellent stormwater for irrigation, while the total hardness (TH) and residual sodium bicarbonate (RSBC) indicate poor irrigation water quality. It is advised to sweep the streets to remove particle-bound pollution before it reaches storm drain water, and to put in place an adequate stormwater sewerage system to catch rainwater.
Detailed Inventory and Spatial Distribution Analysis of Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Jiexi County, Guangdong Province, China in August 2018
Authors: Xie Chenchen , Huang Yuandong , Li Lei , Li Tao , Xu Chong
Published: September 2023

In recent years, with the intensification of climate change, the occurrence of heavy rain events has become more frequent. Landslides triggered by heavy rainfall have become one of the common geological disasters around the world. This study selects an extreme rainfall event in August 2018 in Jiexi County, Guangdong province, as the research object. Based on high-resolution remote sensing images before and after the event, visual interpretation is conducted to obtain a detailed distribution map of rainfall-induced landslides. The results show that a total of 1844 rainfall-induced landslides were triggered within Jiexi County during this rainfall event. In terms of triggered scale, the total area of the landslides is 3.3884 million m2, with the largest individual landslide covering an area of 22,300 m2 and the smallest one covering an area of 417.78 m2. The landslides are concentrated in the northeastern, central, and southwestern parts of the study area, consistent with the distribution trend of rainfall intensity. To investigate further the influence of the regional environment on landslide distribution, this study selects eight influencing factors, including elevation, slope aspect, slope angle, topographic wetness index (TWI), topographic relief, lithology, distance to river, and accumulated rainfall. The landslide number density (LND) and landslide area percentage (LAP) are used as evaluation indicators. Based on statistical analysis using a data analysis platform, the relationship between landslide distribution and influencing factors triggered by this event is revealed. The results of this study will contribute to understanding the development law of regional rainfall-induced landslides and provide assistance for disaster prevention and mitigation in the area. The research results show that the elevation range of 100–150 m is the high-risk zone for landslides. In addition, this study has verified previous findings that slopes in the southeast direction are more prone to landslides. The steeper the slope, the more significant its influence on landslide development. When the topographic wetness index (TWI) is less than 4, landslides tend to have a high-density distribution. Greater variation in terrain relief is more likely to trigger landslides. The instability of lithology in Mesozoic strata is the main cause of landslides. The farther away from the water system, the fewer landslides occur. An increase in cumulative rainfall leads to an increase in both the number and area of landslides.
Climate and Biodiversity Credentials for Australian Grass-Fed Beef: A Review of Standards, Certification and Assurance Schemes
Authors: Thomas Dean T. , Mata Gonzalo , Toovey Andrew F. , Hunt Peter W. , Wijffels Gene , Pirzl Rebecca , Strachan Maren , Ridoutt Brad G.
Published: September 2023

Extensive livestock production occupies 25% of the ice-free terrestrial surface of the Earth, and Australian beef production contributes about 10% of this total land footprint. Therefore, the management of cattle has major implications for natural vegetation, soils, biodiversity, and atmospheric greenhouse gases in Australia and globally. To meet global sustainability targets and consumer expectations, a variety of environmental Standards, Certification and Assurance (SCA) schemes are being developed and implemented to enable producers to verify claims relating to their products. Improved standardization and coordination are now needed to address the rapid proliferation of credentialing systems that use different frameworks, methods and levels of scientific verification. Using the Australian grass-fed beef industry as a case study, we identified the measures, metrics and methods that are currently used by SCA schemes for climate and biodiversity credentialing. From here, a co-design process with industry representatives was applied to develop recommendations for credentialing in extensive beef production, feedlots and meat processing. It was clear that the successful adoption of credentialing by beef producers will require flexible and user-friendly support tools that use scalable data sources such as existing producer records, agtech databases and remote sensing information. Substantive rewards and incentives will be required to support producer engagement with the SCA schemes. Overall, ’more needs to be done to ensure the transparency of schemes and to meet benchmarks for integrity such as determining uncertainty and support though peer-reviewed science.
Some Fixed-Point Results in Extended S-Metric Space of Type (α,β)
Authors: Qaralleh Reham , Tallafha Abdalla , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we introduce the notion of extended S-metric space of type (α,β). This extension is a generalization of S-metric space, defined by employing two functions instead of considering a constant in the second condition of the S-metric space definition. Accordingly, we prove some fixed-point results and give some examples to illustrate the validity of our work, along with giving an application of the Fredholm integral equation.
Lactobacillus fermentum Alleviates the Colorectal Inflammation Induced by Low-Dose Sub-Chronic Microcystin-LR Exposure
Authors: Yang Yue , Wen Cong , Zheng Shuilin , Song Fengmei , Liu Ying , Yao Xueqiong , Tang Yan , Feng Xiangling , Chen Jihua , Yang Fei
Published: September 2023

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) contamination is a worldwide environmental problem that poses a grave threat to the water ecosystem and public health. Exposure to MC-LR has been associated with the development of intestinal injury, but there are no effective treatments for MC-LR-induced intestinal disease. Probiotics are “live microorganisms that are beneficial to the health of the host when administered in sufficient quantities”. It has been demonstrated that probiotics can prevent or treat a variety of human diseases; however, their ability to mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal harm has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether probiotics can mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal toxicity and its underlying mechanisms. We first evaluated the pathological changes in colorectal tissues using an animal model with sub-chronic exposure to low-dose MC-LR, HE staining to assess colorectal histopathologic changes, qPCR to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors in colorectal tissues, and WB to detect the alterations on CSF1R signaling pathway proteins in colorectal tissues. Microbial sequencing analysis and screening of fecal microorganisms differential to MC-LR treatment in mice. To investigate the role of microorganisms in MC-LR-induced colorectal injury, an in vitro model of MC-LR co-treatment with microorganisms was developed. Our findings demonstrated that MC-LR treatment induced an inflammatory response in mouse colorectal tissues, promoted the expression of inflammatory factors, activated the CSF1R signaling pathway, and significantly decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus. In a model of co-treatment with MC-LR and Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), it was discovered that L. fermentum substantially reduced the incidence of the colorectal inflammatory response induced by MC-LR and inhibited the protein expression of the CSF1R signaling pathway. This is the first study to suggest that L. fermentum inhibits the CSF1R signaling pathway to reduce the incidence of MC-LR-induced colorectal inflammation. This research may provide an excellent experimental foundation for the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases in MC-LR.