bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A 6-Week Badminton-Based Movement Intervention Enhances Fundamental Movement Skills and Physical Fitness in Saudi Boys and Girls
Authors: Duncan Michael J. , AlShabeb Abdulrahman , Fitton Davies Katie , Alshahrani Nadia , Almasoud Yazeed
Published: July 2023

This study examined the short (pre-post) and longer-term (post to 10 weeks post) effects of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Shuttle Time program on fundamental movement skills (FMS) and physical fitness in Saudi boys and girls. Seventy-six children aged 9–11 years (44 boys, 32 girls; mean ± SD = 10.2 ± 0.9 years) undertook twice weekly Shuttle Time sessions for 6 weeks. Pre, post, and 10 weeks post, FMS was measured using the test of gross motor development 3 and physical fitness was measured via 10 m sprint speed, standing long jump, seated medicine ball throw, and a 6 min walk test (6MWT). There were significant improvements in FMS from pre to post (p = 0.0001) and post to 10-weeks post (p = 0.0001) for both boys and girls. Girls demonstrated a significantly greater magnitude of change in FMS. For 10 m sprint time, seated medicine ball throw, standing long jump, and 6MWT performance, both boys and girls significantly improved from pre-10 weeks post (all p = 0.001). The magnitude of change was greater pre to 10-weeks post for girls for the seated medicine ball throw, but was greater for boys for the standing long jump and 6MWT. In terms of practical applications, the BWF Shuttle Time program is feasible for administration in the Saudi context and is beneficial in developing FMS and fitness for Saudi children aged 8–12 years.
Life Cycle Assessment of Aggregate Quarry By-Product Fines in Pavement Applications
Authors: Qamhia Issam I. A. , Tutumluer Erol , Ozer Hasan
Published: July 2023

Quarry by-products (QB) pose a major environmental challenge for quarries as they accumulate in large quantities, and their beneficial uses are continually sought out. Research at the Illinois Center for Transportation introduced seven applications to utilize QB in chemically stabilized base/subbase pavement layers. These applications were evaluated for field performance through accelerated pavement testing. This paper presents results for the environmental benefits and trade-offs of including QB or blends of QB with recycled materials in pavements. The seven QB applications and a control section were evaluated in terms of environmental impacts using life cycle assessment (LCA). The LCA was conducted in accordance with the International Standard Organization ISO 14044:2006 guidelines. The life cycle impacts were calculated in terms of energy consumption and global warming potential. Three scenarios for (1) as-constructed thicknesses, (2) as-designed thicknesses, and (3) thinner sections for local roads were considered. LCA analysis results were interpreted in terms of the normalized impacts and the response benefits based on falling weight deflectometer resilient deflections to reflect on the impacts due to relative service life expectancy. It was shown that cement-stabilized QB pavement layers, particularly those having QB blended with recycled pavement materials, can have lower environmental impacts when normalized over pavement life and anticipated traffic (i.e., when pavement life expectancy is considered).
Renewable-Energy-Based Microgrid Design and Feasibility Analysis for King Saud University Campus, Riyadh
Authors: Alshehri Mohammed Abdullah H. , Guo Youguang , Lei Gang
Published: July 2023

The world is forced to think about alternate energy sources because fossil fuel stocks are unreliable, harmful, and depleting quickly. Deployments of microgrids powered by renewable energy are some of the most economical, effective, dependable, and sustainable answers to this problem. The design of a power system with the least amount of economic and environmental impact is the main challenge because the world is currently facing climate change disasters on a scale that has never been seen before. As a result, there is an urgent need to transition to renewable energy resources to meet energy demands. This study examines the creation of a hybrid microgrid to meet the electrical load requirements of the King Saud University campus in Riyadh by utilizing the site’s solar and wind potential. A software called HOMER Pro Version 3.14.5 is used to simulate the planned microgrid system. The software can run numerous simulations while taking into account various system configurations. The ultimate objective is to choose the best combination of different power sources to create a microgrid with low energy costs, dependability, minimal GHG emissions, and a high penetration of renewable energy. The solar, wind, and battery system connected to the grid was shown to be the most advantageous choice in terms of cost of energy (COE), net present cost (NPC), operational costs, and GHG emissions after the software ran numerous simulations. The most economically advantageous way to meet the load demands of a university campus while still achieving more than 82% renewable penetration is to use an optimal system architecture. In this study, the ideal system configuration is subjected to sensitivity analysis to confirm the system’s performance. This optimal system design is used as a benchmark for examining the potential usage of renewable energy in the education sector in Saudi Arabia in particular and in any educational facility worldwide in general.
Influence of Longitudinal Wind on Hydrogen Leakage and Hydrogen Concentration Sensor Layout of Fuel Cell Vehicles
Authors: Wang Xingmao , Yi Fengyan , Su Qingqing , Zhou Jiaming , Sun Yan , Guo Wei , Shu Xing
Published: July 2023

Hydrogen has the physical and chemical characteristics of being flammable, explosive and prone to leakage, and its safety is the main issue faced by the promotion of hydrogen as an energy source. The most common scene in vehicle application is the longitudinal wind generated by driving, and the original position of hydrogen concentration sensors (HCSs) did not consider the influence of longitudinal wind on the hydrogen leakage trajectory. In this paper, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software STAR CCM 2021.1 is used to simulate the hydrogen leakage and diffusion trajectories of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) at five different leakage locations the longitudinal wind speeds of 0 km/h, 37.18 km/h and 114 km/h, and it is concluded that longitudinal wind prolongs the diffusion time of hydrogen to the headspace and reduces the coverage area of hydrogen in the headspace with a decrease of 81.35%. In order to achieve a good detection effect of fuel cell vehicles within the longitudinal wind scene, based on the simulated hydrogen concentration–time matrix, the scene clustering method based on vector similarity evaluation was used to reduce the leakage scene set by 33%. Then, the layout position of HCSs was optimized according to the proposed multi-scene full coverage response time minimization model, and the response time was reduced from 5 s to 1 s.
Thickness and Strength Analysis of Prestressed Anchor (Cable) Compression Arch Based on Safe Co-Mining of Deep Coal and Gas
Authors: Wu Deyi , Li Nanyu , Zhou Shuang
Published: July 2023

The stability of the gas extraction roadway is very important for the safe mining of coal and gas. The compression arch formed by the combined action of the prestressed bolt (cable) support and surrounding rock has been widely used in the engineering practice of the gas extraction roadway. It is of great engineering application value to analyze the influence of prestressed bolt (cable) parameters on the compression arch. In this paper, combined with the engineering practice of the deep roadway in Huainan and Huaibei mining area of Anhui Province, the mechanical parameters of surrounding rock are measured via field coring and the laboratory. The numerical simulation software FLAC3D is used to analyze the typical position of fractured mudstone, mudstone, sandy mudstone and muddy sandstone under the bolt pre-tightening force of F = 50 kN, 70 kN and 100 kN; the bolt spacing of a × b = 400 mm × 400 mm, 500 mm × 500 mm and 600 mm × 600 mm; the bolt length of L = 1500 mm, 2000 mm, 2600 mm and 3000 mm; and the distribution characteristics of additional compressive stress on the surface of the side. The influence of the different lithology and bolt parameters on the thickness and strength of the compression arch was analyzed, and on this basis, prestressed anchor cables with a pre-tightening force of F = 80 kN, 100 kN and 120 kN and length of L = 3000 mm, 4000 mm and 6000 mm were applied, and their influence on the thickness and strength of the compression arch was analyzed. The results show that the bolt pre-tightening force (F) and the bolt length (L) have a significant effect on the thickness of the compression arch, while the surrounding rock lithology, the bolt spacing (a × b), the anchor cable pre-tightening force (F) and the anchor cable length (L) have no obvious effect on the thickness of the compression arch. The surrounding rock lithology, the bolt pre-tightening force (F), the bolt length (L), the bolt spacing (a × b), the anchor cable pre-tightening force (F) and the anchor cable length (L) have a significant effect on the strength of the compression arch.
Development-Induced Impacts on the Livelihoods of Displaced Communities: The Case of Bole Lemi Industry Park, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Lemessa Fituma , Simane Belay , Seyoum Aseffa , Gebresenbet Girma
Published: July 2023

Livelihood encompasses the resources and capabilities that individuals and households utilize to ensure their survival and to enhance their well-being. This study examined the impact of the Bole Lemi Industry Park on livelihood systems in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It focused on how the establishment of the industrial park affected the livelihoods of displaced communities. A survey was conducted on 379 household heads who were displaced by the industrial park, ensuring representation across various factors such as gender, marital status, education level, ethnic group, and religion. Descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, mean values, standard deviations, and percentages, were used to analyze the data. Multiple linear regression models were employed to investigate how socioeconomic variables predicted the household heads’ annual income before and after the establishment of the park. The findings revealed that 84% of the household heads said that the BLIP has hurt their livelihoods. The majority of respondents (69%) became jobless as a result of the BLIP. Another 16% transitioned to urban lifestyles, while 7.3% shifted to semi-agrarian and 5.6% to trade and services. This study identified the balance gap between industrial development and the interests of local farming communities, and how it failed to ensure sustainable livelihoods. It is recommended that development projects in Addis Ababa prioritize the affected communities by offering compensation, support for resettlement, and opportunities for livelihood diversification. Taking a comprehensive and participatory approach to industrial park development is crucial for achieving sustainable and equitable economic growth while safeguarding the well-being of local communities.
Study on the Spatial Structure and Drivers of Agricultural Carbon Emission Efficiency in Belt and Road Initiative Countries
Authors: Shu Qin , Su Yang , Li Hong , Li Feng , Zhao Yunjie , Du Chen
Published: July 2023

Agricultural carbon emissions are one of the major causes of global climate change. As some of the world’s largest agricultural producers and consumers, countries along the route of the Belt and Road initiative produce significant agricultural carbon emissions. An in-depth study on the efficiency of agricultural carbon emissions in countries along the route can help countries reduce environmental load while improving agricultural production, optimizing resource use, improving agricultural production efficiency, and achieving sustainable development goals, which is significant for global climate change mitigation. Based on the relational data and network perspective, this paper takes the agricultural carbon emission efficiency of 34 countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative from 1995 to 2020 as the research object. It integrates the social network analysis method and other methods to realize the expansion of agricultural carbon emission efficiency in the research method. The study shows that (1) agricultural carbon emission efficiency has more room for improvement and presents complex spatially linked network characteristics; (2) the spatial correlation network of agricultural carbon emission efficiency is relatively well connected, and there is a general spatial correlation and spatial spillover effect among countries; and (3) similar differences in the proportion of primary industries and differences in informatization levels help establish spatial correlations between regions and produce spatial spillover effects. It is imperative to change global economic growth, social development, and lifestyles through green development. This study is conducive to the international community’s formulation of differentiated agricultural carbon emission reduction support mechanisms for different countries to help the countries realize the transformation of agriculture and even overall economic development as soon as possible. At the same time, accelerating the pace of emission reduction and reducing the negative impact of agricultural carbon emissions are conducive to better responding to the challenges posed by global climate change.
Prospers and Obstacles in Using Artificial Intelligence in Saudi Arabia Higher Education Institutions—The Potential of AI-Based Learning Outcomes
Authors: Alotaibi Nayef Shaie , Alshehri Awad Hajran
Published: July 2023

Within the framework of the ongoing implementation of the 2030 Vision for Comprehensive Development of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal objective for the country’s numerous higher education institutions. This study aims to examine the opportunities and challenges that arise from the adoption of AI-based learning outcomes in Saudi Arabia’s higher education institutes. Moreover, the research also investigates the contribution of major higher education institutes in Saudi Arabia to the field of AI-based learning outcomes. To gather relevant literature, the Scopus and Web of Science databases were utilised, resulting in the selection of fifty-five studies for final analysis. The study employed the PRISMA statement 2020 for records filtration and utilised VOS viewer software to classify the literature on AI-based learning outcomes in Saudi Arabian universities. Through detailed analysis, three significant data streams were identified and examined. The findings indicate that AI is in a nascent stage within the realm of learning, and it has become an undeniable reality for higher education institutions. Embracing this transformative technology is crucial for meeting future learning challenges, and it is imperative that all students acquire the necessary technical skills to interact with and create artificial intelligence in the future. According to the findings, AI has the potential to address significant educational challenges, revolutionise teaching and learning methodologies, and accelerate progress toward the Saudi 2030 objectives. However, the study also highlights certain challenges associated with the implementation of AI-based learning in the higher education context of Saudi Arabia, emphasising the need for teachers to acquire new technological skills to effectively utilise AI pedagogically.
Wave Height Attenuation over a Nature-Based Breakwater of Floating Emergent Vegetation
Authors: Li Yanhong , Zhao Dongliang , Yu Guoliang , Xie Liquan
Published: July 2023

The nature-based breakwater of floating emergent vegetation (BFEV) provides protection for water banks and various engineering structures from wave erosion. Compared with the convenient hard breakwater, the BFEV is beneficial to the resilient and sustainable development of rivers, lakes, coasts, and marine areas because it is free of new pollution. As a new breakwater, the unrevealed effect and efficiency of the BFEV on wave attenuation are to be investigated through a set of 312 physical tests in a rectangular indoor water flume in the present study. Results show that the wave height attenuates by 38–62%. Based on statistical methods, the main influencing factors of the wave transmitted coefficient (Ct) are found to be closely dependent on three conventional and newly proposed dimensionless parameters (λ1, λ2, λ3, λ4). Three conventional parameters include the wave orbital velocity, wave period, and the BFEV-width and stem spacing-based parameter (λ1, λ2), and the ratio of stem spacing to wave height (λ3). The newly proposed parameter (λ4) is the ratio of gravity to wave orbital acceleration, which is significantly positively related to the wave height attenuation. A multiple linear regression formula for Ct based on these four parameters is obtained with a high correlation coefficient of 0.958. This study is expected to supplement the wave attenuation data of this new breakwater and provide fundamental theory for the design and construction of the BFEV.
The Grim Cost of Economic Growth and Environmental Degradation: A Comprehensive Panel ARDL Study of Public Debt in the ASEAN-5 Countries
Authors: Shaari Mohd Shahidan , Masnan Faiz , Abd Rani Mohd Juraij , Zainal Abidin Zaharah , Ridzuan Abdul Rahim , Othman Norreha
Published: July 2023

This study uses panel ARDL analysis to investigate the connections between GDP growth, environmental degradation, and public debt in the ASEAN-5 countries (Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia) from 1996 to 2021. It appears that economic development can increase public debt, but investment can reduce public debt in the long run. Moreover, there is a positive correlation between savings and public debt, but only in the short run. These findings raise important considerations for policymakers in striking a balance between economic development, environmental sustainability, and public debt. This study also suggests that savings may positively affect public debt in Indonesia. In contrast, investment may raise debt in the short term in Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The possible effects of corruption on public debt in the Philippines and environmental damage in both that country and Thailand are also highlighted. Keeping public debt at a manageable level requires policies that balance economic development and environmental protection, as emphasized by this research.
Impact of Circular Bioeconomy on Industry’s Sustainable Performance: A Critical Literature Review and Future Research Directions Analysis
Authors: Karuppiah Koppiahraj , Sankaranarayanan Bathrinath , Ali Syed Mithun , Santibanez Gonzalez Ernesto D. R.
Published: July 2023

The circular bioeconomy (CBE) practice concept has demonstrated its capability in improving the industry’s performance. However, the impact of CBE practice on sustainable industrial performance is less analysed due to a poor understanding of the connection between CBE practice and sustainability. This study aims to carry out a systematic literature review (SLR) to understand whether CBE practice has improved the industry’s sustainable performance. Also, this study aims to expose the industries that are less covered under the CBE practice concept. An SLR has been performed to identify peer-reviewed articles that evaluate the impact of CBE practice in industry’s sustainable performance. A total of 38 articles published between 2015 and 2021 were subjected to descriptive and content analysis to arrive at new findings, research gaps, and future research directions. The descriptive analysis revealed that most of the articles reviewed were focused on agro-based industries and developed countries. The content analysis highlights that the lack of understanding, limited technological and financial support, and a well-established reverse supply chain network restrict industries from adopting CBE practice. To improve CBE acceptance, technological assistance and a well-established supply chain network are required. This study contributes significantly to the literature by providing better insights into CBE practice. Unlike earlier studies which mainly emphasise the positive side, this study reveals the challenges faced by the industries in adopting CBE practice. Also, this study interprets the synergy between CBE practice and sustainability.
Effects of Continuous Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Technology on the Behavior of Holders’ Farmland Quality Protection: The Role of Social Norms and Green Cognition
Authors: Guo Yanhong , Dong Yifang , Wei Xu , Dong Yifei
Published: July 2023

The continuous adoption of artificial intelligence technology (CAAIT) has fully demonstrated its transformative roles in various fields, and it has effectively improved the economic benefits of agriculture in practical applications. However, sustainable agricultural development can only be achieved if economic and environmental benefits are reconciled. Then, it is necessary to explore whether CAAIT can provide valuable environmental benefits. Therefore, this paper uses AMOS 22.0 and SPSS 25.0 software, a hierarchical regression model, and bootstrapping to analyze the survey data of 522 farmers and finds that: (1) CAAIT is positively correlated with the behavior of holders’ farmland quality protection (BHFQP). (2) Social norms (SN) partially mediate the relationship between CAAIT and BHFQP. (3) Green cognition (GC) plays a negative intermediary role in the relationship between CAAIT and SN. (4) GC also moderates the mediating effect of SN in the relationship between CAAIT and BHFQP. This paper attempts to explore whether, how, and when CAAIT can affect BHFQP, providing new empirical research to improve holders’ farmland quality protection behavior.
ResNet Based on Multi-Feature Attention Mechanism for Sound Classification in Noisy Environments
Authors: Yang Chao , Gan Xingli , Peng Antao , Yuan Xiaoyu
Published: July 2023

Environmental noise affects people’s lives and poses challenges for urban sound classification. Traditional algorithms such as Mel frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs) struggle due to audio signal complexity. This study applied an attention mechanism to a deep residual network (ResNet) deep learning network to overcome the structural impact of urban noise on audio signals and improve classification accuracy. We propose a three-feature fusion ResNet + attention method (Net50_SE) to maximize information representation in environmental sound signals. This method uses residual structured convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for feature extraction in sound classification tasks. Additionally, an attention module is added to suppress environmental noise impact and focus on different feature map channels. The experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, achieving 93.2% accuracy compared with 82.87% with CNN and 84.77% with long short-term memory (LSTM). Our model provides higher accuracy and confidence in urban sound classification.
Composting Old Bark and Wood Waste in Cold Weather Conditions
Authors: Margina Yuliya , Troegubov Aleksandr , Kulikova Yuliya , Sliusar Natalia
Published: July 2023

The pulp and paper industry generates large quantities of bark and wood waste (BWW), most of which is disposed of at bark dumps. There are dozens of such dumpsites in Russia, some of which cause negative environmental impacts due to their proximity to bodies of water. Unlike fresh BWW, old BWW is characterized by significant heterogeneity. Given that BWW stored long-term in bark dumps is a water-heavy woody material subjected to varying degrees of microbiological decomposition, the most acceptable method for its disposal is composting. This text presents the results of studies focused on the process of field composting BWW in heaps with natural aeration during the cold season in the region of Perm, Russia. Composting was carried out in two ways: (1) with mineral fertilizers; (2) with both mineral fertilizers and a microbiological inoculum. Concurrent with the field composting, laboratory composting was carried out under controlled conditions. At the end of a 60-day process of field composting old BWW at ambient temperatures of 5 to −14 °C, there were decreases in the values of the compost mixture: loss on ignition (LOI) fell by 22%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 98%, and respiratory activity (AT4) by 32%. In laboratory conditions at an ambient temperature of 30–35 °C, LOI decreased by 24%, COD by 98%, and AT4 by 39%. The introduction of a microbiological inoculum into the compost mixture did not intensify the biochemical destruction process of old BWW, neither in the laboratory nor in field conditions.
A General Framework for Sustainability Assessment of Buildings: A Life-Cycle Thinking Approach
Authors: Tran Duc Binh , Tran Van Tan , Pham Xuan Anh , Nguyen Van Tuan
Published: July 2023

Construction is a manufacturing industry that consumes substantial amounts of natural resources, human resources, and social capital. Activities that occur during building construction and utilization negatively impact the environment and have direct and indirect impacts on the surrounding community and society. Properly assessing the sustainability of buildings is critical to the pursuit and achievement of sustainable development goals. Also, construction project decision-makers and stakeholders currently lack an effective tool for comparing the relative sustainability of different materials, design approaches, construction methods, and building operation alternatives. Thus, an integrated framework for assessing building sustainability in terms of environmental, economic, and social aspects is developed and proposed in this paper based on life cycle thinking. This framework is applicable to different building types and life-cycle assessment scopes and provides a practical tool for construction investment project stakeholders to reference, implement, and use to guide the decision-making process. This framework may also provide a reference for other researchers in the construction field to develop sustainability assessment models optimized for different types of construction projects.
Study of a Hybrid Vehicle Powertrain Parameter Matching Design Based on the Combination of Orthogonal Test and Cruise Software
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Liu Shengren , Ye Peilin , Zhu Yu , Yuan Yinnan , Chen Linfei
Published: July 2023

In order to further improve the power and fuel economy of hybrid vehicles, this paper proposes a method of hybrid vehicle powertrain matching by combining orthogonal tests with Cruise software, supplemented by the control strategy formulation of critical components of the whole vehicle on the MATLAB/Simulink platform. Considering the influence of vehicle engine, electric motor, battery and overall mass on the powertrain design, the L9(34)-type orthogonal table is selected for the orthogonal test design. After verifying the feasibility and accuracy of each design solution of the powertrain, the different design solutions are simulated for power and economic performance. Finally, the best performance indicators of the vehicle are as follows: the maximum speed is 183.35 km/h, the 0–100 km/h acceleration time is 6.87 s, and the maximum degree of climbing is 39.65 percent. The fuel consumption of 100 km is 3.47 L. The optimal solution was compared with the third-generation Harvard H6 and AITO M5 in terms of fuel saving and emission reduction, and it was found that for every 15,000 km driven, it is expected to save 469.5 L of fuel and 109.5 L of CO2, respectively, which can reduce fuel use and emission by about 1051.21 kg and 245.17 kg CO2, respectively. This simulation experiment can reduce the workload of traditional power system matching. It can provide ideas for power system matching and optimization for Corun CHS Technology Co., Ltd. (Foshan City, Guangdong Province, China) and offer a certain degree of reference for hybrid vehicle power system design and simulation.
Nitrogen- and Fluorine-Doped Carbon Nanohorns as Efficient Metal-Free Oxygen Reduction Catalyst: Role of the Nitrogen Groups
Authors: Tosin Elisa , Gatti Teresa , Agnoli Stefano , Calvillo Laura , Menna Enzo
Published: July 2023

The search of active, stable and low costs catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is crucial for the extensive use of fuel cells and metal–air batteries. The development of metal-free catalysts, instead of platinum-based materials, can dramatically reduce the cost and increase the efficiency of these devices. In this work, carbon nanohorns (CNHs) have been covalently functionalized with N-containing heterocycles by the Tour reaction protocol and tested as metal-free ORR catalysts. The insertion of N-functionalities favored the complete reduction of oxygen to hydroxyl ions, while their absence favored the production of hydrogen peroxide. With the aim of determining the N-species responsible for the ORR activity of CNHs, photoemission and electrochemical measurements were combined. Results suggest that protonated N is the main species involved in the ORR process, facilitating the adsorption of oxygen, with their consequent reduction to neutral hydrogenated N species.
An Evolving Spacetime Metric Induced by a ‘Static’ Source
Authors: Land Martin
Published: July 2023

In a series of recent papers we developed a formulation of general relativity in which spacetime and the dynamics of matter evolve with a Poincaré invariant parameter τ. In this paper, we apply the formalism to derive the metric induced by a ‘static’ event evolving uniformly along its t-axis at the spatial origin x=0. The metric is shown to vary with t and τ, as well as spatial distance r, taking its maximum value for a test particle at the retarded time τ=t−r/c. In the resulting picture, an event localized in space and time produces a metric field similarly localized, where both evolve in τ. We first derive this metric as a solution to the wave equation in linearized field theory, and discuss its limitations by studying the geodesic motion it produces for an evolving event. By then examining this solution in the 4+1 formalism, which poses an initial value problem for the metric under τ-evolution, we clarify these limitations and indicate how they may be overcome in a solution to the full nonlinear field equations.
An Engineered Escherichia coli Community for Studying Quorum Sensing
Authors: Li Yuwei , Clarke Justin E. , O’Neill Alex J. , Goycoolea Francisco M. , Smith James
Published: July 2023

In bacterial communities, quorum sensing (QS) is a process mediated via chemical signalling that individuals use to coordinate their collective phenotypes. It is closely associated with pathogenic traits such as virulence factor production and antibiotic resistance. In their natural habitats, bacteria live in small niches, forming intricate consortia, where the role of QS is little understood. This work aims to construct a tuneable, trackable, and reconfigurable model bacterial community for studying QS. To this end, three Escherichia coli fluorescent reporter strains were constructed based on the paradigm LuxI/LuxR QS system. The strains recreate the three major aspects of QS response: sensing (S), autoinducer production (P), and regulation (R). We found that the response of the S strain as a function of the N-(3-oxohexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (OHHL) concentration did not saturate and exhibited a concentration-dependent response (in the range 10−7 to 10−4 M). The P strain produced OHHL and showed the ability to activate the S response, while the R strain showed the ability to attenuate the response due to the expression of the lactonase AiiA. Monitoring the fluorescent signals of the strains permits tracking the activation and attenuation activities of the LuxI/LuxR QS system. Future studies can now also benefit from this straightforward subcloning strategy to study other QS systems.
Failure Mode and Effect Analysis with a Fuzzy Logic Approach
Authors: Cardiel-Ortega José Jovani , Baeza-Serrato Roberto
Published: July 2023

Failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) is one of the most used techniques in risk management due to its potential to solve multidisciplinary engineering problems. The role of experts is fundamental when developing the FMEA; they identify the failure modes by expressing their opinion based on their experience. A relevant aspect is a way in which the experts evaluate to obtain the indicator of the risk priority number (RPN), which is based on qualitative analysis and a table of criteria where they subjectively and intuitively determine the factor level (severity, occurrence, and detection) for each of the failures. With this, imprecision is present due to the interpretation that each one has regarding the failures. Therefore, this research proposes a fuzzy logic evaluation system with a solid mathematical basis that integrates these conditions of imprecision and uncertainty, thus offering a robust system capable of emulating the evaluation form of experts to support and improve decision making. One of the main contributions of this research is in the defuzzification stage, adjusting the centroid method and treating each set individually. With this, the RPN values approximate to the conventional technique were obtained. Simulations were carried out to test and determine the system’s best structure. The system was validated in a textile company in southern Guanajuato. The results demonstrate that the system reliably represents how experts perform risk assessment.
Vector Quarkonia at the LHC with Jethad: A High-Energy Viewpoint
Authors: Celiberto Francesco Giovanni
Published: July 2023

In this review, we discuss and extend the study of the inclusive production of vector quarkonia, J/ψ and Υ, emitted with large transverse momenta and rapidities at the LHC. We adopt the novel ZCW19+ determination of fragmentation functions to depict the quarkonium production mechanism at the next-to-leading level of perturbative QCD. This approach is based on the nonrelativistic QCD formalism well adapted to describe the formation of a quarkonium state from the collinear fragmentation of a gluon or a constituent heavy quark at the lowest energy scale. We rely upon the NLL/NLO+ hybrid high-energy and collinear factorization for differential cross-sections, where the collinear formalism is enhanced by the BFKL resummation of next-to-leading energy logarithms arising in the t-channel. We employ the method to analyze the behavior of the rapidity distributions for double-inclusive vector quarkonium and inclusive vector quarkonium plus jet emissions. We discover that the natural stability of the high-energy series, previously seen in observables sensitive to the emission of hadrons with heavy flavor detected in the rapidity acceptance of LHC barrel calorimeters, becomes even more manifest when these particles are tagged in forward regions covered by endcaps. Our findings present the important message that vector quarkonia at the LHC via hybrid factorization offer a unique chance to perform precision studies of high-energy QCD, as well as an intriguing opportunity to shed light on the quarkonium production puzzle.
Structure and Function of Hoc—A Novel Environment Sensing Device Encoded by T4 and Other Bacteriophages
Authors: Fokine Andrei , Islam Mohammad Zahidul , Fang Qianglin , Chen Zhenguo , Sun Lei , Rao Venigalla B.
Published: July 2023

Bacteriophage T4 is decorated with 155 180 Å-long fibers of the highly antigenic outer capsid protein (Hoc). In this study, we describe a near-atomic structural model of Hoc by combining cryo-electron microscopy and AlphaFold structure predictions. It consists of a conserved C-terminal capsid-binding domain attached to a string of three variable immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains, an architecture well-preserved in hundreds of Hoc molecules found in phage genomes. Each T4-Hoc fiber attaches randomly to the center of gp23* hexameric capsomers in one of the six possible orientations, though at the vertex-proximal hexamers that deviate from 6-fold symmetry, Hoc binds in two preferred orientations related by 180° rotation. Remarkably, each Hoc fiber binds to all six subunits of the capsomer, though the interactions are greatest with three of the subunits, resulting in the off-centered attachment of the C-domain. Biochemical analyses suggest that the acidic Hoc fiber (pI, ~4–5) allows for the clustering of virions in acidic pH and dispersion in neutral/alkaline pH. Hoc appears to have evolved as a sensing device that allows the phage to navigate its movements through reversible clustering–dispersion transitions so that it reaches its destination, the host bacterium, and persists in various ecological niches such as the human/mammalian gut.
Enhanced Systemic Humoral Immune Response Induced in Mice by Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) Is Associated with Affinity Maturation and Isotype Switching
Authors: Piccioli Diego , Buricchi Francesca , Bacconi Marta , Bechi Nicoletta , Galli Barbara , Ferlicca Francesca , Luzzi Enrico , Cartocci Elena , Marchi Sara , Romagnoli Giacomo , Alfini Renzo , Di Benedetto Roberta , Gallorini Simona , Savino Silvana , Brunelli Brunella , Bartolini Erika , Micoli Francesca
Published: July 2023

Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA) are outer membrane vesicles derived from Gram-negative bacteria that can be used to design affordable subunit vaccines. GMMA have been observed to induce a potent humoral immune response in preclinical and clinical studies. In addition, in preclinical studies, it has been found that GMMA can be exploited as optimal antigen carriers for both protein and saccharide antigens, as they are able to promote the enhancement of the antigen-specific humoral immune response when the antigen is overexpressed or chemically conjugated to GMMA. Here we investigated the mechanism of this GMMA carrier effect by immunizing mice and using factor H binding protein and GMMA of Neisseria meningitidis B as an antigen–GMMA model. We confirmed that the antigen displayed on the GMMA surface increased the antigen-specific IgG production and, above all, the antibody functionality measured by the serum bactericidal activity. We found that the enhancement of the bactericidal capacity induced by GMMA carrying the antigen on the surface was associated with the increase in antibody affinity to the antigen, and with the switching toward IgG subclasses with more bactericidal potential. Thus, we conclude that the potent carrier effect of GMMA is due to their ability to promote a better quality of humoral immunity.
Improving Protection to Prevent Bacterial Infections: Preliminary Applications of Reverse Vaccinology against the Main Cystic Fibrosis Pathogens
Authors: Cocorullo Mario , Chiarelli Laurent R. , Stelitano Giovanni
Published: July 2023

Reverse vaccinology is a powerful tool that was recently used to develop vaccines starting from a pathogen genome. Some bacterial infections have the necessity to be prevented then treated. For example, individuals with chronic pulmonary diseases, such as Cystic Fibrosis, are prone to develop infections and biofilms in the thick mucus that covers their lungs, mainly caused by Burkholderia cepacia complex, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycobacterium abscessus complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. These infections are complicated to treat and prevention remains the best strategy. Despite the availability of vaccines against some strains of those pathogens, it is necessary to improve the immunization of people with Cystic Fibrosis against all of them. An effective approach is to develop a broad-spectrum vaccine to utilize proteins that are well conserved across different species. In this context, reverse vaccinology, a method based on computational analysis of the genome of various microorganisms, appears as one of the most promising tools for the identification of putative targets for broad-spectrum vaccine development. This review provides an overview of the vaccines that are under development by reverse vaccinology against the aforementioned pathogens, as well as the progress made so far.
Ebselen and Diphenyl Diselenide Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 Replication at Non-Toxic Concentrations to Human Cell Lines
Authors: Wildner Guilherme , Tucci Amanda Resende , Prestes Alessandro de Souza , Muller Talise , Rosa Alice dos Santos , Borba Nathalia Roberto R. , Ferreira Vivian Neuza , Rocha João Batista Teixeira , Miranda Milene Dias , Barbosa Nilda Vargas
Published: July 2023

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global public health problem. Despite the numerous studies for drug repurposing, there are only two FDA-approved antiviral agents (Remdesivir and Nirmatrelvir) for non-hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Consequently, it is pivotal to search for new molecules with anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity and to study their effects in the human immune system. Ebselen (Eb) is an organoselenium compound that is safe for humans and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Diphenyl diselenide ((PhSe)2) shares several pharmacological properties with Eb and is of low toxicity to mammals. Herein, we investigated Eb and (PhSe)2 anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in a human pneumocytes cell model (Calu-3) and analyzed their toxic effects on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Both compounds significantly inhibited the SARS-CoV-2 replication in Calu-3 cells. The EC50 values for Eb and (PhSe)2 after 24 h post-infection (hpi) were 3.8 µM and 3.9 µM, respectively, and after 48 hpi were 2.6 µM and 3.4 µM. These concentrations are safe for non-infected cells, since the CC50 values found for Eb and (PhSe)2 on Calu-3 were greater than 200 µM. Importantly, the concentration rates tested on viral replication were not toxic to human PBMCs. Therefore, our findings reinforce the efficacy of Eb and demonstrate (PhSe)2 as a new candidate to be tested in future trials against SARS-CoV-2 infection/inflammation conditions.
Early-Life Exposure to Lipopolysaccharide Induces Persistent Changes in Gene Expression Profiles in the Liver and Spleen of Female FVB/N Mice
Authors: Dervishi Elda , Hailemariam Dagnachew , Goldansaz Seyed Ali , Ametaj Burim N.
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study was to investigate how subcutaneous (sc) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration affects the gene expression profiles of insulin signaling as well as innate and adaptive immunity genes in mouse livers and spleens. FVB/N female mice were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups at 5 weeks of age: (1) a six-week subcutaneous injection of saline at 11 μL/h (control—CON), or (2) a six-week subcutaneous injection of LPS from Escherichia coli 0111:B4 at 0.1 μg/g body weight at 11 μL/h. At 106 weeks (i.e., 742 days) after the last treatment, mice were euthanized. Following euthanasia, liver and spleen samples were collected, snap frozen, and stored at −80 °C until gene expression profiling. LPS upregulated nine genes in the liver, according to the findings (Pparg, Frs3, Kras, Raf1, Gsk3b, Rras2, Hk2, Pik3r2, and Myd88). With a 4.18-fold increase over the CON group, Pparg was the most up-regulated gene in the liver. Based on the annotation cluster analysis, LPS treatment upregulated liver genes which are involved in pathways associated with hepatic steatosis, B- and T-cell receptor signaling, chemokine signaling, as well as other types of cancers such as endometrial cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. LPS increased the spleen expression of Ccl11, Ccl25, Il6, Cxcl5, Pparg, Tlr4, Nos2, Cxcl11, Il1a, Ccl17, and Fcgr3, all of which are involved in innate and adaptive immune responses and the regulation of cytokine production. Furthermore, functional analysis revealed that cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction and chemokine signaling pathways were the most enriched in LPS-treated mice spleen tissue. Our findings support the notion that early-life LPS exposure can result in long-term changes in gene expression profiling in the liver and spleen tissues of FVB/N female mice.
Resettlement and Compensation Practice in the Context of the Tha Htay Hydropower Project in Rakhine, Myanmar
Authors: Lin Aung Tun , Yao Kaiwen
Published: July 2023

This research investigates the views of the resettled people regarding the practice of resettlement and compensation (RCP) to assess the developmental progress of the Tha Htay hydropower (THH) project and establish a resettlement relationship from various perspectives. In this paper, a convergent mixed research method was used for interpretations and analyses of the whole resettlement and compensation practice. Descriptive statistics were utilized to analyze the collected data on the resettlement practices of those participants who presented it by frequency and percentage of quantitative findings. The study revealed that educational facilities and development received the highest average rating from the participants, indicating a higher level of satisfaction. On the other hand, the current living situation and job opportunities received the lowest rating, indicating lower satisfaction in this aspect. Overall, the respondents expressed satisfaction with other indicators of the resettlement process, such as site selection, housing, compensation, and fundamental infrastructure services. Despite receiving foreign technical advisory assistance for resettlement and sustainable livelihoods for the resettled communities, the project fell short in providing agricultural or cultivation land as a replacement for those who relied on land-based livelihoods. It was verified that most of the resettled people seemed poorer than in the previous condition, and they were facing higher living standards without adequate income. It is therefore crucial for the project proponent to take active measures in supporting the three resettled Villages by providing agricultural land and assisting them in their livelihoods and overall living conditions, so as to ensure that the resettled households do not face long-term challenges in sustaining their livelihoods after the resettlement project.
Assimilation of Sentinel-2 Biophysical Variables into a Digital Twin for the Automated Irrigation Scheduling of a Vineyard
Authors: Bellvert Joaquim , Pelechá Ana , Pamies-Sans Magí , Virgili Jordi , Torres Mireia , Casadesús Jaume
Published: July 2023

Decision support systems (DSS) are needed to carry out precision irrigation. Key issues in this regard include how to deal with spatial variability and the adoption of deficit irrigation strategies at the field scale. A software application originally designed for water balance-based automated irrigation scheduling locally fine-tuned through the use of sensors has been further developed with the emerging paradigm of both digital twins and the Internet of Things (IoT). The aim of this research is to demonstrate the feasibility of automatically scheduling the irrigation of a commercial vineyard when adopting regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) strategies and assimilating in near real time the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) obtained from Sentinel-2 imagery. In addition, simulations of crop evapotranspiration obtained by the digital twin were compared with remote sensing estimates using surface energy balance models and Copernicus-based inputs. Results showed that regression between instantaneous fAPAR and in situ measurements of the fraction of intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (fIPAR) had a coefficient of determination (R2) ranging from 0.61 to 0.91, and a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of 0.10. The conversion of fAPAR to a daily time step was dependent on row orientation. A site-specific automated irrigation scheduling was successfully adopted and an adaptive response allowed spontaneous adjustments in order to stress vines to a certain level at specific growing stages. Simulations of the soil water balance components performed well. The regression between digital twin simulations and remote sensing-estimated actual (two-source energy balance Priestley–Taylor modeling approach, TSEB-PTS2+S3) and potential (Penman–Monteith approach) evapotranspiration showed RMSD values of 0.98 mm/day and 1.14 mm/day, respectively.