bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facile Synthesis of Hollow Glass Microsphere Filled PDMS Foam Composites with Exceptional Lightweight, Mechanical Flexibility, and Thermal Insulating Property
Authors: Han Tian-Long , Guo Bi-Fan , Zhang Guo-Dong , Tang Long-Cheng
Published: March 2023

The feature of low-density and thermal insulation properties of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam is one of the important challenges of the silicone industry seeking to make these products more competitive compared to traditional polymer foams. Herein, we report a green, simple, and low-cost strategy for synthesizing ultra-low-density porous silicone composite materials via Si-H cross-linking and foaming chemistry, and the sialylation-modified hollow glass microspheres (m-HM) were used to promote the HM/PDMS compatibility. Typically, the presence of 7.5 wt% m-HM decreases the density of pure foam from 135 mg/cm−3 to 104 mg/cm−3 without affecting the foaming reaction between Si-H and Si-OH and produces a stable porous structure. The optimized m-HM-modified PDMS foam composites showed excellent mechanical flexibility (unchanged maximum stress values at a strain of 70% after 100 compressive cycles) and good thermal insulation (from 150.0 °C to 52.1 °C for the sample with ~20 mm thickness). Our results suggest that the use of hollow microparticles is an effective strategy for fabricating lightweight, mechanically flexible, and thermal insulation PDMS foam composite materials for many potential applications.
Hybrid 1D/3D-Structured Perovskite as a Highly Selective and Stable Sensor for NO2 Detection at Room Temperature
Authors: Cheng Anqi , Zhao Jinru , Wang Xi-Ao , Lu Zhen , Qi Yan , Sun Jiankun
Published: March 2023

To exploit high-performance and stable sensing materials with a room working temperature is pivotal for portable and mobile sensor devices. However, the common sensors based on metal oxide semiconductors usually need a higher working temperature (usually above 300 °C) to achieve a good response toward gas detection. Currently, metal halide perovskites have begun to rise as a promising candidate for gas monitoring at room temperature but suffer phase instability. Herein, we construct 1D/3D PyPbI3/FA0.83Cs0.17PbI3 (denoted by PyPbI3/FACs) bilayer perovskite by post-processing spin-coating Pyrrolidinium hydroiodide (PyI) salt on top of 3D FACs film. Benefitting from the 1D PyPbI3 coating layer, the phase stability of 1D/3D PyPbI3/FACs significantly improves. Simultaneously, the gas sensor based on the 1D/3D PyPbI3/FACs bilayer perovskite presents a superior selectivity and sensitivity toward NO2 detection at room temperature, with a low detection limit of 220 ppb. Exposed to a 50 ± 3% relative humidity (RH) level environment for a consecutive six days, the 1D/3D PyPbI3/FACs perovskite-based sensor toward 10 ppm NO2 can still maintain a rapid response with a slight attenuation. Gas sensors based on hybrid 1D/3D-structured perovskite in this work may provide a new pathway for highly sensitive and stable gas sensors in room working temperature, accelerating its practical application and portable device.
Multi-Level Optimization and Strategies in Microbial Biotransformation of Nature Products
Authors: Qin Dan , Dong Jinyan
Published: March 2023

Continuously growing demand for natural products with pharmacological activities has promoted the development of microbial transformation techniques, thereby facilitating the efficient production of natural products and the mining of new active compounds. Furthermore, due to the shortcomings and defects of microbial transformation, it is an important scientific issue of social and economic value to improve and optimize microbial transformation technology in increasing the yield and activity of transformed products. In this review, the aspects regarding the optimization of fermentation and the cross-disciplinary strategy, leading to the microbial transformation of increased levels of the high-efficiency process from natural products of a plant or microbial origin, were discussed. Additionally, due to the increasing craving for targeted and efficient methods for detecting transformed metabolites, analytical methods based on multiomics were also discussed. Such strategies can be well exploited and applied to the production of more efficient and more natural products from microbial resources.
Preparation of Heavily Doped P-Type PbSe with High Thermoelectric Performance by the NaCl Salt-Assisted Approach
Authors: Ma Xinru , Shai Xuxia , Ding Yu , Zheng Jie , Wang Jinsong , Sun Jiale , Li Xiaorui , Chen Weitao , Wei Tingting , Ren Weina , Gao Lei , Deng Shukang , Zeng Chunhua
Published: March 2023

Thermoelectric (TE) technology, which can convert scrap heat into electricity, has attracted considerable attention. However, broader applications of TE are hindered by lacking high-performance thermoelectric materials, which can be effectively progressed by regulating the carrier concentration. In this work, a series of PbSe(NaCl)x (x = 3, 3.5, 4, 4.5) samples were synthesized through the NaCl salt-assisted approach with Na+ and Cl− doped into their lattice. Both theoretical and experimental results demonstrate that manipulating the carrier concentration by adjusting the content of NaCl is conducive to upgrading the electrical transport properties of the materials. The carrier concentration elevated from 2.71 × 1019 cm−3 to 4.16 × 1019 cm−3, and the materials demonstrated a maximum power factor of 2.9 × 10−3 W m−1 K−2. Combined with an ultralow lattice thermal conductivity of 0.7 W m−1 K−1, a high thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) with 1.26 at 690 K was attained in PbSe(NaCl)4.5. This study provides a guideline for chemical doping to improve the thermoelectric properties of PbSe further and promote its applications.
A Review on the Potential Bioactive Components in Fruits and Vegetable Wastes as Value-Added Products in the Food Industry
Authors: ‘Aqilah Nasir Md Nur , Rovina Kobun , Felicia Wen Xia Ling , Vonnie Joseph Merillyn
Published: March 2023

The food production industry is a significant contributor to the generation of millions of tonnes of waste every day. With the increasing public concern about waste production, utilizing the waste generated from popular fruits and vegetables, which are rich in high-added-value compounds, has become a focal point. By efficiently utilizing food waste, such as waste from the fruit and vegetable industries, we can adopt a sustainable consumption and production pattern that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This paper provides an overview of the high-added-value compounds derived from fruit and vegetable waste and their sources. The inclusion of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibrowning properties can enhance the quality of materials due to the high phenolic content present in them. Waste materials such as peels, seeds, kernels, and pomace are also actively employed as adsorbents, natural colorants, indicators, and enzymes in the food industry. Therefore, this article compiles all consumer-applicable uses of fruit and vegetable waste into a single document.
Sea-Cucumber-like Microstructure Polyoxometalate/TiO2 Nanocomposite Electrode for High-Performance Electrochromic Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Qu Xiaoshu , Zhou Lili , Liu Zefeng , Wang Zeyu , Wang Jilong , Yu Xiaoyang , Jin Hua , Yang Yanyan
Published: March 2023

The key challenge in the practical application of electrochromic energy storage devices (EESDs) is the fabrication of high-performance electrode materials. Herein, we deposited K7[La(H2O)x(α2-P2W17O61)] (P2W17La) onto TiO2 nanowires (NW) to construct an NW–P2W17La nanocomposite using a layer-by-layer self-assembly method. In contrast to the pure P2W17La films, the nanocomposite exhibits enhanced electrochromic and electrochemical performance owing to the 3D sea-cucumber-like microstructure. An EESD using the NW–P2W17La film as the cathode exhibited outstanding electrochromic and energy storage properties, with high optical modulation (48.6% at 605 nm), high switching speeds (tcoloring = 15 s, tbleaching = 4 s), and high area capacitance (5.72 mF cm−2 at 0.15 mA cm−2). The device can reversibly switch between transparent and dark blue during the charge/discharge process, indicating that electrochromic contrast can be used as a quantitative indicator of the energy storage status.
Continuous Production of Dietetic Structured Lipids Using Crude Acidic Olive Pomace Oils
Authors: Souza-Gonçalves Joana , Fialho Arsénio , Soares Cleide M. F. , Osório Natália M. , Ferreira-Dias Suzana
Published: March 2023

Crude olive pomace oil (OPO) is a by-product of olive oil extraction. In this study, low-calorie structured triacylglycerols (TAGs) were produced by acidolysis of crude OPO with medium-chain fatty acids (caprylic, C8:0; capric, C10:0) or interesterification with their ethyl ester forms (C8EE, C10EE). These new TAGs present long-chain fatty acids (L) at position sn-2 and medium-chain fatty acids (M) at positions sn-1,3 (MLM). Crude OPO exhibited a high acidity (12.05–28.75% free fatty acids), and high contents of chlorophylls and oxidation products. Reactions were carried out continuously in a packed-bed bioreactor for 70 h, using sn-1,3 regioselective commercial immobilized lipases (Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase, Lipozyme TL IM; and Rhizomucor miehei lipase, Lipozyme RM IM), in solvent-free media at 40 °C. Lipozyme RM IM presented a higher affinity for C10:0 and C10EE. Lipozyme TL IM preferred C10:0 over C8:0 but C8EE over C10EE. Both biocatalysts showed a high activity and operational stability and were not affected by OPO acidity. The New TAG yields ranged 30–60 and the specific productivity ranged 0.96–1.87 g NewTAG/h.g biocatalyst. Lipozyme RM IM cost is more than seven-fold the Lipozyme TL IM cost. Therefore, using Lipozyme TL IM and crude acidic OPO in a continuous bioreactor will contribute to process sustainability for structured lipid production by lowering the cost of the biocatalyst and avoiding oil refining.
Production of Tetramethylpyrazine from Cane Molasses by Bacillus sp. TTMP20
Authors: Li Yujia , Luo Lirong , Ding Xiaoxiao , Zhang Xiumin , Gan Shanling , Shang Changhua
Published: March 2023

2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine (TTMP) is an active ingredient of Ligusticum wallichii Franch. It can be used in medicine and food fields. In this study, Bacillus sp. TTMP20 was applied to produce TTMP using cane molasses as a carbon source. After pretreatment with phosphoric acid, 170 mL/L treated molasses, combined with 10 g/L yeast powder, 30 g/L tryptone and 30 g/L (NH4)2HPO4 were used for fermentation. After 36 h, TTMP output reached the highest value of 208.8 mg/L. The yield of TTMP using phosphoric acid-treated molasses as carbon source was 145.59% higher than control. Under the sulfuric acid treatment process of molasses (150 g), the maximum yield of TTMP was 895.13 mg/L, which was 183.18% higher than that of untreated molasses (316.1 mg/L). This study demonstrated that molasses is a high-quality and inexpensive carbon source for the manufacture of TTMP, laying the groundwork for the future industrial production of TTMP.
The Temperature Dependence of the Hexagonal Boron Nitride Oxidation Resistance, Insights from First−Principle Computations
Authors: Antipina Liubov Yu. , Varlamova Liubov A. , Sorokin Pavel B.
Published: March 2023

In this work, we studied the oxidation stability of h−BN by investigating different variants of its modification by −OH, −O− and −O−O− groups using an atomistic thermodynamics approach. We showed that up to temperatures of ~1700 K, oxygen is deposited on the surface of hexagonal boron nitride without dissociation, in the form of peroxide. Only at higher temperatures, oxygen tends to be incorporated into the lattice of hexagonal boron nitride, except in the presence of defects Nv, when the embedding occurs at all temperatures. Finally, the electronic and magnetic properties of the oxidized h−BN were studied.
The Complex Effects of Light on Metabolism in Humans
Authors: Ishihara Asuka , Courville Amber B. , Chen Kong Y.
Published: March 2023

Light is an essential part of many life forms. The natural light–dark cycle has been the dominant stimulus for circadian rhythms throughout human evolution. Artificial light has restructured human activity and provided opportunities to extend the day without reliance on natural day–night cycles. The increase in light exposure at unwanted times or a reduced dynamic range of light between the daytime and nighttime has introduced negative consequences for human health. Light exposure is closely linked to sleep–wake regulation, activity and eating patterns, body temperature, and energy metabolism. Disruptions to these areas due to light are linked to metabolic abnormalities such as an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Research has revealed that various properties of light influence metabolism. This review will highlight the complex role of light in human physiology, with a specific emphasis on metabolic regulation from the perspective of four main properties of light (intensity, duration, timing of exposure, and wavelength). We also discuss the potential influence of the key circadian hormone melatonin on sleep and metabolic physiology. We explore the relationship between light and metabolism through circadian physiology in various populations to understand the optimal use of light to mitigate short and long-term health consequences.
Ophthalmic Manifestations of the Monkeypox Virus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gandhi Aravind P. , Gupta Parul Chawla , Padhi Bijaya K. , Sandeep Mokanpally , Suvvari Tarun Kumar , Shamim Muhammad Aaqib , Satapathy Prakasini , Sah Ranjit , León-Figueroa Darwin A. , Rodriguez-Morales Alfonso J. , Barboza Joshuan J. , Dziedzic Arkadiusz
Published: March 2023

Background: The accurate estimation of the prevalence of mpox-induced ophthalmic lesions will enable health departments to allocate resources more effectively during the ongoing mpox pandemic. The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the global prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations in mpox patients. Methods: A systematic search was carried out in seven databases—Pub Med, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, ProQuest, EBSCOHost, and Cochrane—for studies published on or before 12 December 2022. The pooled prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations was estimated by the random effects model. Risk of bias assessment of the studies and sub-group analysis to explain heterogeneity were undertaken. Results: Overall, 12 studies were included, with 3239 confirmed mpox cases, among which 755 patients reported ophthalmic manifestations. The pooled prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations was 9% (95% confidence interval (CI), 3–24). Studies from Europe reported a very low prevalence of ocular manifestations of 0.98% (95% CI 0.14–2.31), compared to studies from Africa with a substantially higher prevalence of 27.22% (95% CI 13.69–43.26). Conclusions: A wide variation in the prevalence of ocular manifestations among mpox patients was observed globally. Healthcare workers involved in mpox-endemic African countries should be aware of ocular manifestations for early detection and management.
Low Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Histidine-Rich Protein 2 and 3 Gene Deletions—A Multiregional Study in Central and West Africa
Authors: Krueger Tina , Ikegbunam Moses , Lissom Abel , Sandri Thaisa , Ntabi Jacques , Djontu Jean , Baina Marcel , Lontchi Roméo , Maloum Moustapha , Ella Givina , Agonhossou Romuald , Akoton Romaric , Djogbenou Luc , Borrmann Steffen , Held Jana , Ntoumi Francine , Adegnika Ayola , Kremsner Peter , Kreidenweiss Andrea
Published: March 2023

Plasmodium falciparum parasites carrying deletions of histidine-rich protein 2 and 3 genes, pfhrp2 and pfhrp3, respectively, are likely to escape detection via HRP2-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and, consequently, treatment, posing a major risk to both the health of the infected individual and malaria control efforts. This study assessed the frequency of pfhrp2- and pfhrp3-deleted strains at four different study sites in Central Africa (number of samples analyzed: Gabon N = 534 and the Republic of Congo N = 917) and West Africa (number of samples analyzed: Nigeria N = 466 and Benin N = 120) using a highly sensitive multiplex qPCR. We found low prevalences for pfhrp2 (1%, 0%, 0.03% and 0) and pfhrp3 single deletions (0%, 0%, 0.03% and 0%) at all study sites (Gabon, the Republic of Congo, Nigeria and Benin, respectively). Double-deleted P. falciparum were only found in Nigeria in 1.6% of all internally controlled samples. The results of this pilot investigation do not point towards a high risk for false-negative RDT results due to pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions in Central and West African regions. However, as this scenario can change rapidly, continuous monitoring is essential to ensure that RDTs remain a suitable tool for the malaria diagnostic strategy.
Recent Advances in Coherent Optical Communications for Short-Reach: Phase Retrieval Methods
Authors: Karar Abdullah S. , Falou Abdul Rahman El , Barakat Julien Moussa H. , Gürkan Zeynep Nilhan , Zhong Kangping
Published: March 2023

Short-reach transmission systems traditionally utilize intensity modulation (IM) at the transmitter and direct detection (DD) at the receiver due to their cost-effectiveness, small footprint, and low power consumption. However, with the exponential increase in bandwidth demand, coherent optical communication systems have become necessary for long-haul distances, requiring application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) and advanced digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms coupled with high-speed digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital converters to achieve Tbit/s speeds. As coherent technology matures, it will eventually become feasible for short-reach transmission. In this context, self-coherent systems have emerged as an intermediary solution, offering advantages over traditional IM/DD systems. While comprehensive review studies exist on self-coherent transceivers, they do not cover recent advances in phase retrieval methods for short-reach optical communications. This review article highlights recent developments in cost-effective self-coherent detection for short-reach systems through comparing the benefits of single sideband (SSB) transmission and Kramers-Kronig detection to carrier-assisted phase retrieval, the Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm, and the transport of intensity equation (TIE) method.
Understanding Illumination Effect on Saturation Behavior of Thin Film Transistor
Authors: Jiang Shijie , Yang Lurong , Huang Chenbo , Chen Qianqian , Zeng Wei , She Xiaojian
Published: March 2023

Thin film transistor (TFT) has been a key device for planal drive display technology, and operating the TFT device in a saturation regime is particularly important for driving the light emission at a stable current. Considering the light emission reaches the TFT planal, it is thereby meaningful to understand the effect of illumination on TFT saturation behavior in order to improve the stability of light emission. Through experiments and simulations, our study shows that the drift current of photogenerated carriers can follow a saturation behavior when the channel conductance is dominated by charges induced by gate bias rather than the charges generated by photons, and vice versa. The obtained device physics insights are beneficial for developing TFT technologies that can drive light emission at a stable current.
Enhancement of the Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy against Uropathogenic Gram-Negative Bacteria Species
Authors: Elagin Vadim , Budruev Ivan , Antonyan Artem , Bureev Pavel , Ignatova Nadezhda , Streltsova Olga , Kamensky Vladislav
Published: March 2023

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) was demonstrated to be effective against various species of Gram-positive bacteria. However, the complex structure of a Gram-negative bacteria envelope limits the application of aPDT. Thus, the goal of this study was to improve the efficiency of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy with Fotoditazin against uropathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. The non-ionic detergent Triton X-100 and emulsifier Tween 80 were tested. The effect of extracellular photosensitizer on aPDT efficacy was analyzed. Moreover, the irradiation regime was optimized in terms of the output power and emitting mode. It was found that Triton X-100 at 10% vol enhanced the efficacy of aPDT of E. coli up to 52%. The subsequent observation demonstrated that, when the photosensitizer was removed from the extracellular space, the efficacy of aPDT on various Gram-negative species decreased dramatically. As for the irradiation mode, an increase in the laser output power led to an increase in the aPDT efficacy. The pulsed irradiation mode did not affect the aPDT efficacy. Thus, in order to achieve optimal aPDT efficacy, bacteria should be irradiated at 450-mW output power in the presence of Triton X-100 and a photosensitizer in the extracellular environment. However, it should be noted that the efficacy of aPDT of K. pneumoniae was significantly lower than for other species. The developed aPDT technique may be effective in a native environment of uropathogenic microorganisms.
Contrasting Pollination Strategies and Breeding Systems in Two Native Useful Cacti from Southern Brazil
Authors: Becker Rafael , Báez Oscar Perdomo , Singer Rosana Farias , Singer Rodrigo Bustos
Published: March 2023

Brazil is one of the centers of diversity of Cactaceae, yet studies addressing both pollination biology and the breeding system in Brazilian cacti are scarce. We herein present a detailed analysis of two native species with economic relevance: Cereus hildmannianus and Pereskia aculeata. The first species produce edible, sweet, spineless fruits and the second species produces leaves with high protein content. Pollination studies were undertaken through fieldwork observations in three localities of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, over two flowering seasons, totaling over 130 observation hours. Breeding systems were elucidated utilizing controlled pollinations. Cereus hildmannianus is solely pollinated by nectar-gathering species of Sphingidae hawk moths. In contrast, the flowers of P. aculeata are pollinated by predominantly native Hymenoptera but also by Coleoptera and Diptera, which gather pollen and/or nectar. Both cacti species are pollinator-dependent; neither intact nor emasculated flowers turn into fruit, yet whereas C. hildmannianus is self-incompatible, P. aculeata is fully self-compatible. In sum, C. hildmannianus is more restrictive and specialized regarding its pollination and breeding system, whereas P. aculeata is more generalist. Understanding the pollination needs of these species is a necessary starting point towards their conservation but also for their proper management and eventual domestication.
Stress Response to Climate Change and Postharvest Handling in Two Differently Pigmented Lettuce Genotypes: Impact on Alternaria alternata Invasion and Mycotoxin Production
Authors: Miranda-Apodaca Jon , Artetxe Unai , Aguado Iratxe , Martin-Souto Leire , Ramirez-Garcia Andoni , Lacuesta Maite , Becerril José María , Estonba Andone , Ortiz-Barredo Amaia , Hernández Antonio , Zarraonaindia Iratxe , Pérez-López Usue
Published: March 2023

Many species of Alternaria are important pathogens that cause plant diseases and postharvest rots. They lead to significant economic losses in agriculture and affect human and animal health due to their capacity to produce mycotoxins. Therefore, it is necessary to study the factors that can result in an increase in A. alternata. In this study, we discuss the mechanism by which phenol content protects from A. alternata, since the red oak leaf cultivar (containing higher phenols) showed lower invasion than the green one, Batavia, and no mycotoxin production. A climate change scenario enhanced fungal growth in the most susceptible cultivar, green lettuce, likely because elevated temperature and CO2 levels decrease plant N content, modifying the C/N ratio. Finally, while the abundance of the fungi was maintained at similar levels after keeping the lettuces for four days at 4 °C, this postharvest handling triggered TeA and TEN mycotoxin synthesis, but only in the green cultivar. Therefore, the results demonstrated that invasion and mycotoxin production are cultivar- and temperature-dependent. Further research should be directed to search for resistant cultivars and effective postharvest strategies to reduce the toxicological risk and economic losses related to this fungus, which are expected to increase in a climate change scenario.
Reproductive Ecology of the Invasive Alien Shrub Pyracantha angustifolia in the Grassland Biome, South Africa
Authors: Adams Lehlohonolo D. , Giovannoni Dino , Clark Vincent R. , Steenhuisen Sandy-Lynn , Martin Grant D.
Published: March 2023

Knowledge on reproductive traits of problematic invasive alien plants, such as the woody invasive shrub Pyracantha angustifolia of temperate Chinese origin, can help better manage invasive species. To determine factors contributing to its invasion, we investigated floral visitors and pollen loads, self-compatibility, seed set, seed rain, soil seed banks, and seed longevity in the soil. Generalist insects were recorded visiting flowers and all carried pollen loads of high purity (>70%). Floral visitor exclusion experiments showed that P. angustifolia can set seed (66%) without pollen vectors, although natural pollination resulted in higher fruit set (91%). Fruit count surveys and seed set showed an exponentially increased relationship between seed set and plant size with high natural seed yield (±2 million seeds m−2). Soil core samples revealed a high seed density of 46,400 ± (SE) 8934 m−2 under shrubs, decreasing with distance away from the shrub. Bowl traps stationed under trees and fences confirmed that seeds were efficiently dispersed by animals. Buried seeds survived for less than six months in the soil. Due to high seed production, self-compatibility augmented by generalist pollen vectors, and effective seed dispersal by local frugivores, it is difficult to manage the spread manually. Management of this species should focus on the short life span of seeds.
Changes in Pomological and Physical Parameters in Rosehips during Ripening
Authors: Medveckienė Brigita , Levickienė Dovilė , Vaitkevičienė Nijolė , Vaštakaitė-Kairienė Viktorija , Kulaitienė Jurgita
Published: March 2023

Rosehips of various Rosa spp. are well known for having human health-promoting compounds like mineral nutrients, vitamins, fatty acids, and phenolic compounds. However, little is known about rosehip characteristics which describe the fruit quality and may indicate appropriate harvest times. Our study evaluated the pomological (width, length, and weight of fruits, flesh weight, and seed weight), texture, and CIE colour parameters (L*, a*, and b*), chroma (C), and hue angle (h°) of rosehip fruits of Rosa canina, Rosa rugosa, and genotypes of Rosa rugosa ‘Rubra’ and ‘Alba’, harvested at five ripening stages (I–V). The main results revealed that genotype and ripening stage significantly affected parameters. The significantly longest (R. canina) and widest fruits (R. Rugosa) were measured at ripening stage V. Genotypes of R. rugosa ‘Rubra’ and ‘Alba’ had significantly higher fruit and flesh weights at ripening stage V. Rosehips of all investigated genotypes expressed darkness (lower L*) during ripening, and had the highest hue angle h° values at ripening stage I while the lowest was at stage V. The significantly lowest skin elasticity of rosehips was found at stage V. However, R. canina was distinguished by the highest fruit skin elasticity and strength. As our results show, the desired pomological, colour, and texture features of various species and cultivars rosehips can be optimised according to the harvest time.
NO and GSH Alleviate the Inhibition of Low-Temperature Stress on Cowpea Seedlings
Authors: Song Xueping , Xu Zeping , Zhang Jianwei , Liang Le , Xiao Jiachang , Liang Zongxu , Yu Guofeng , Sun Bo , Huang Zhi , Tang Yi , Lai Yunsong , Li Huanxiu
Published: March 2023

Low-temperature stress in early spring seriously affects the growth and development of cowpea seedlings. To study the alleviative effect of the exogenous substances nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (Linn.) Walp.) seedlings under 8 °C low-temperature stress, 200 μmol·L−1 NO and 5 mmol·L−1 GSH were sprayed on cowpea seedlings whose second true leaf was about to unfold to enhance the tolerance of cowpea seedlings to low temperature. Spraying NO and GSH can eliminate excess superoxide radicals (O2−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to varying degrees, reduce the content of malondialdehyde and relative conductivity, delay the degradation of photosynthetic pigments, increase the content of osmotic regulating substances such as soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline, and improve the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, dehydroascorbate reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase. This study revealed that the mixed use of NO and GSH played an important role in alleviating low temperature stress, and the effect of spraying NO alone was better than that of spraying GSH.
A Development of an Induction Heating Process for a Jewelry Factory: Experiments and Multiphysics
Authors: Jansaengsuk Thodsaphon , Pattanapichai Sorathorn , Thongsri Jatuporn
Published: March 2023

This article reports a successful development of the induction heating process (IHP) in a jewelry factory based on experiments and multiphysics consisting of electromagnetic and thermal simulations. First, two experiments were set to measure essential parameters for result validation and multiphysics boundary condition settings. Then, the essential parameters were applied to multiphysics, and both simulation results revealed heat transfer, magnetic flux density (B) generated by the coil, and temperature (T) of the product. B and T were consistent with the experimental results and theory, confirming the reliability of the multiphysics and methodology. After that, all simulation results were analyzed to assess and optimize IHP in terms of the number of coil turns (N), positional placement of the product (P), and coil thickness (Th). Multiphysics revealed that the current operating condition with N = 3 is proper; however, the IHP can be improved more with coil and operating condition optimizations. Finally, completing the optimizations, decreasing 40% of Th with N = 6, and the same P, increased B on the product by 21.62%, leading to IHP efficacy enhancement. The research findings are the optimum coil model and methodology for developing the IHP, which were practically employed in the jewelry factory.
Risk Assessment of Concentralized Distribution Logistics in Cruise-Building Imported Materials
Authors: Cui Zhimin , Wang Haiyan , Xu Jing
Published: March 2023

The concentralized distribution logistics in cruise-building imported materials (CDL-CIMs) constitute a complex process that requires a high degree of coordination between the multi-link and multi-participator. Delayed delivery, materials damaged, and cost overruns occur because of increasing uncertainties and risks, which may cause disjointedness in cruise construction planning. Therefore, it is essential to conduct a risk assessment of the CDL-CIMs to examine their adverse impacts on cruise construction. Drawing on the advantages of the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) method in risk assessment, an effective and efficient model is developed using a novel hybrid method in this paper, namely the rule-based Bayesian network (RBN) and utility function. The approach has its superiorities in dealing with vague and uncertainty risk information. In addition, the risk parameters from multiple perspectives concerning “occurrence likelihood”, “detection”, “delayed schedule”, “damaged quality”, and “additional cost” facilitate the understanding of the risk characteristics of the CDL-CIMs. The applicability and robustness of the proposed method are demonstrated by an empirical study for the first cruise constructed in China. The results reveal that the highest-priority threats are the poor management for the actors in the logistics chain (MR1), human errors (MR5), limited storage ability and poor environment of warehouse (ER2), and ignorance of good handling practices during the operation of loading and unloading (OR2). The conclusion can provide insight into the implementation of risk response strategies for cruise-building logistics management in China and other countries.
A Forward-Looking IFRS 9 Methodology, Focussing on the Incorporation of Macroeconomic and Macroprudential Information into Expected Credit Loss Calculation
Authors: Breed Douw Gerbrand , Hurter Jacques , Marimo Mercy , Raletjene Matheba , Raubenheimer Helgard , Tomar Vibhu , Verster Tanja
Published: March 2023

The International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9 relates to the recognition of an entity’s financial asset/liability in its financial statement, and includes an expected credit loss (ECL) framework for recognising impairment. The quantification of ECL is often broken down into its three components, namely, the probability of default (PD), loss given default (LGD), and exposure at default (EAD). The IFRS 9 standard requires that the ECL model accommodates the influence of the current and the forecasted macroeconomic conditions on credit loss. This enables a determination of forward-looking estimates on impairments. This paper proposes a methodology based on principal component regression (PCR) to adjust IFRS 9 PD term structures for macroeconomic forecasts. We propose that a credit risk index (CRI) is derived from historic defaults to approximate the default behaviour of the portfolio. PCR is used to model the CRI with the macroeconomic variables as the set of explanatory variables. A novice all-subset variable selection is proposed, incorporating business decisions. We demonstrate the method’s advantages on a real-world banking data set, and compare it to several other techniques. The proposed methodology is on portfolio-level with the recommendation to derive a macroeconomic scalar for each different risk segment of the portfolio. The proposed scalar is intended to adjust loan-level PDs for forward-looking information.
A Conceptual Model of Investment-Risk Prediction in the Stock Market Using Extreme Value Theory with Machine Learning: A Semisystematic Literature Review
Authors: Melina  , Sukono  , Napitupulu Herlina , Mohamed Norizan
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an extraordinary event, the type of event that rarely occurs but that has major impacts on the stock market. The pandemic has created high volatility and caused extreme fluctuations in the stock market. The stock market can be characterized as either linear or nonlinear. One method that can detect extreme fluctuations is extreme value theory (EVT). This study employed a semisystematic literature review on the use of the EVT method to estimate investment risk in the stock market. The literature used was selected by applying the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, sourced from the ScienceDirect.com, ProQuest, and Scopus databases. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to determine the study characteristics and identify any research gaps. The results of the analysis show that studies on this topic are rarely carried out. Research in this field is generally performed only in univariate cases and is very complicated in multivariate cases. Given these limitations, further research could focus on developing a conceptual model that is dynamic and sensitive to extreme fluctuations, with multivariable inputs, in order to predict investment risk. The model developed here considered the variables that affect stock price fluctuations as the input data. The combination of VaR–EVT and machine-learning methods is effective in increasing model accuracy because it combines linear and nonlinear models.
Trunk-Constrained and Tree Structure Analysis Method for Individual Tree Extraction from Scanned Outdoor Scenes
Authors: Ning Xiaojuan , Ma Yishu , Hou Yuanyuan , Lv Zhiyong , Jin Haiyan , Wang Zengbo , Wang Yinghui
Published: March 2023

The automatic extraction of individual tree from mobile laser scanning (MLS) scenes has important applications in tree growth monitoring, tree parameter calculation and tree modeling. However, trees often grow in rows and tree crowns overlap with varying shapes, and there is also incompleteness caused by occlusion, which makes individual tree extraction a challenging problem. In this paper, we propose a trunk-constrained and tree structure analysis method to extract trees from scanned urban scenes. Firstly, multi-feature enhancement is performed via PointNet to segment the tree points from raw urban scene point clouds. Next, the candidate local tree trunk clusters are obtained by clustering based on the intercepted local tree trunk layer, and the real local tree trunk is obtained by removing noise data. Then, the trunk is located and extracted by combining circle fitting and region growing, so as to obtain the center of the tree crown. Further, the points near the tree’s crown (core points) are segmented through distance difference, and the tree crown boundary (boundary points) is distinguished by analyzing the density and centroid deflection angle. Therefore, the core and boundary points are deleted to obtain the remaining points (intermediate points). Finally, the core, intermediate and boundary points, as well as the tree trunks, are combined to extract individual tree. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on the Pairs-Lille-3D dataset, which is a benchmark for point cloud classification, and data were produced using a mobile laser system (MLS) applied to two different cities in France (Paris and Lille). Overall, the precision, recall, and F1-score of instance segmentation were 90.00%, 98.22%, and 99.08%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that our method can effectively extract trees with multiple rows of occlusion and improve the accuracy of tree extraction.
Optimization of Multi-Mission CubeSat Constellations with a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Melaku Shimeles Demissie , Kim Hae-Dong
Published: March 2023

The increasing demand for low-cost space-borne Earth observation missions has led to small satellite constellation systems development. CubeSat platforms can provide a cost-effective multiple-mission space system using state-of-the-art technology. This paper presents a new approach to CubeSat constellation design for multiple missions using a multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA). The CubeSat constellation system is proposed to perform multi-missions that should satisfy global Earth observation and regional disaster monitoring missions. A computational approach using a class of MOGA named non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II is implemented to optimize the proposed system. Pareto optimal solutions are found that can minimize the number of satellites and the average revisit time (ART) for both regional and global coverage while maximizing the percentage coverage. As a result, the study validates the feasibility of implementing the CubeSat constellation design with an acceptable level of performance in terms of ART and percentage coverage. Moreover, the study demonstrates CubeSat’s ability to perform a multi-missions.
A Multi-Model Ensemble Pattern Method to Estimate the Refractive Index Structure Parameter Profile and Integrated Astronomical Parameters in the Atmosphere
Authors: Zhang Hanjiu , Zhu Liming , Sun Gang , Zhang Kun , Liu Ying , Ma Xuebin , Zhang Haojia , Liu Qing , Cui Shengcheng , Luo Tao , Li Xuebin , Weng Ningquan
Published: March 2023

In this study, we devised a constraint method, called multi-model ensemble pattern (MEP), to estimate the refractive index structure parameter (Cn2) profiles based on observational data and multiple existing models. We verified this approach against radiosonde data from field campaigns in China’s eastern and northern coastal areas. Multi-dimensional statistical evaluations for the Cn2 profiles and integrated astronomical parameters have proved MEP’s relatively reliable performance in estimating optical turbulence in the atmosphere. The correlation coefficients of MEP and measurement overall Cn2 in two areas are up to 0.65 and 0.76. A much higher correlation can be found for a single radiosonde profile. Meanwhile, the difference evaluation of integrated astronomical parameters also shows its relatively robust performance compared to a single model. The prowess of this reliable approach allows us to carry out regional investigation on optical turbulence features with routine meteorological data soon.
Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Core-Shell Fe3O4@SiO2@Au Nanoparticles Amplification Effect for Detection of T-2 Toxin
Authors: Fan Lirui , Du Bin , Pei Fubin , Hu Wei , Guo Aijiao , Xie Zihao , Liu Bing , Tong Zhaoyang , Mu Xihui , Tan Wenyuan
Published: March 2023

In this paper, a core-shell based on the Fe3O4@SiO2@Au nanoparticle amplification technique for a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor is proposed. Fe3O4@SiO2@AuNPs were used not only to amplify SPR signals, but also to rapidly separate and enrich T-2 toxin via an external magnetic field. We detected T-2 toxin using the direct competition method in order to evaluate the amplification effect of Fe3O4@SiO2@AuNPs. A T-2 toxin–protein conjugate (T2-OVA) immobilized on the surface of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-modified sensing film competed with T-2 toxin to combine with the T-2 toxin antibody–Fe3O4@SiO2@AuNPs conjugates (mAb-Fe3O4@SiO2@AuNPs) as signal amplification elements. With the decrease in T-2 toxin concentration, the SPR signal gradually increased. In other words, the SPR response was inversely proportional to T-2 toxin. The results showed that there was a good linear relationship in the range of 1 ng/mL~100 ng/mL, and the limit of detection was 0.57 ng/mL. This work also provides a new possibility to improve the sensitivity of SPR biosensors in the detection of small molecules and in disease diagnosis.
Domain Adaptation Methods for Lab-to-Field Human Context Recognition
Authors: Alajaji Abdulaziz , Gerych Walter , Buquicchio Luke , Chandrasekaran Kavin , Mansoor Hamid , Agu Emmanuel , Rundensteiner Elke
Published: March 2023

Human context recognition (HCR) using sensor data is a crucial task in Context-Aware (CA) applications in domains such as healthcare and security. Supervised machine learning HCR models are trained using smartphone HCR datasets that are scripted or gathered in-the-wild. Scripted datasets are most accurate because of their consistent visit patterns. Supervised machine learning HCR models perform well on scripted datasets but poorly on realistic data. In-the-wild datasets are more realistic, but cause HCR models to perform worse due to data imbalance, missing or incorrect labels, and a wide variety of phone placements and device types. Lab-to-field approaches learn a robust data representation from a scripted, high-fidelity dataset, which is then used for enhancing performance on a noisy, in-the-wild dataset with similar labels. This research introduces Triplet-based Domain Adaptation for Context REcognition (Triple-DARE), a lab-to-field neural network method that combines three unique loss functions to enhance intra-class compactness and inter-class separation within the embedding space of multi-labeled datasets: (1) domain alignment loss in order to learn domain-invariant embeddings; (2) classification loss to preserve task-discriminative features; and (3) joint fusion triplet loss. Rigorous evaluations showed that Triple-DARE achieved 6.3% and 4.5% higher F1-score and classification, respectively, than state-of-the-art HCR baselines and outperformed non-adaptive HCR models by 44.6% and 10.7%, respectively.
Tool Health Monitoring of a Milling Process Using Acoustic Emissions and a ResNet Deep Learning Model
Authors: Ahmed Mustajab , Kamal Khurram , Ratlamwala Tahir Abdul Hussain , Hussain Ghulam , Alqahtani Mejdal , Alkahtani Mohammed , Alatefi Moath , Alzabidi Ayoub
Published: March 2023

In the industrial sector, tool health monitoring has taken on significant importance due to its ability to save labor costs, time, and waste. The approach used in this research uses spectrograms of airborne acoustic emission data and a convolutional neural network variation called the Residual Network to monitor the tool health of an end-milling machine. The dataset was created using three different types of cutting tools: new, moderately used, and worn out. For various cut depths, the acoustic emission signals generated by these tools were recorded. The cuts ranged from 1 mm to 3 mm in depth. In the experiment, two distinct kinds of wood—hardwood (Pine) and softwood (Himalayan Spruce)—were employed. For each example, 28 samples totaling 10 s were captured. The trained model’s prediction accuracy was evaluated using 710 samples, and the results showed an overall classification accuracy of 99.7%. The model’s total testing accuracy was 100% for classifying hardwood and 99.5% for classifying softwood.
Range-Extension Algorithms and Strategies for TDOA Ultra-Wideband Positioning System
Authors: Huang Shih-Ping , Chen Chien-Bang , Wei Tan-Zhi , Tsai Wei-Ting , Liou Chong-Yi , Mao Yuan-Mou , Sheng Wang-Huei , Mao Shau-Gang
Published: March 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) for smart industry requires the surveillance and management of people and objects. The ultra-wideband positioning system is an attractive solution for achieving centimeter-level accuracy in target location. While many studies have focused on improving the accuracy of the anchor coverage range, it is important to note that in practical applications, positioning areas are often limited and obstructed by furniture, shelves, pillars, or walls, which can restrict the placement of anchors. Furthermore, some positioning regions are located beyond anchor coverage, and a single group with few anchors may not be able to cover all rooms and aisles on a floor due to non-line-of-sight errors causing severe positioning errors. In this work, we propose a dynamic-reference anchor time difference of arrival (TDOA) compensation algorithm to enhance accuracy beyond anchor coverage by eliminating local minima of the TDOA loss function near anchors. We designed a multidimensional and multigroup TDOA positioning system with the aim of broadening the coverage of indoor positioning and accommodating complex indoor environments. By employing an address-filter technique and group-switching process, tags can seamlessly move between groups with a high positioning rate, low latency, and high accuracy. We deployed the system in a medical center to locate and manage researchers with infectious medical waste, demonstrating its usefulness for practical healthcare institutions. Our proposed positioning system can thus facilitate precise and wide-range indoor and outdoor wireless localization.