bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patients-Reported Oral Manifestations in Coeliac Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: An Italian Survey
Authors: Valentini Giulia , D’Agostino Silvia , Ferrara Elisabetta , Dolci Marco
Published: July 2023

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBDs), including Ulcerative Colitis (UC), Crohn’s Disease (CD), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), and Coeliac Disease (CoD), primarily affect the intestinal tract but show some extra-intestinal manifestations affecting the skin, joints, liver, pancreas, and lungs. The aim of this survey was to define how often these intestinal conditions show oral manifestation. The study involved 46 patients of 56 recruited at the beginning, with a mean age of 42 ± 13.64 and a sex distribution of 67.4% (31) female and 32.6% (15) male. Everyone was sent a questionnaire of four multiple-choice questions about the type of their bowel disease, the time of the diagnosis, the major symptoms which led to the disease discover, and finally their oral symptoms. According to the results, 65.52% referred to oral manifestations, especially canker sores and burning sensation. The oral involvement suggests that multidisciplinary management and therapy are mandatory, with close monitoring and follow-up interfacing with other specialists. Finally, dental practitioners have to be aware of this possible oral effect in IBDs and CoD patients.
Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae in Ticks and Small Mammals from Grassland and Forest Habitats in Central Germany
Authors: Arz Charlotte , Król Nina , Imholt Christian , Jeske Kathrin , Rentería-Solís Zaida , Ulrich Rainer G. , Jacob Jens , Pfeffer Martin , Obiegala Anna
Published: July 2023

Rickettsiae of the spotted fever group (SFG) are zoonotic tick-borne pathogens. Small mammals are important hosts for the immature life stages of two of the most common tick species in Europe, Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus. These hosts and vectors can be found in diverse habitats with different vegetation types like grasslands and forests. To investigate the influence of environmental and individual factors on Rickettsia prevalence, this study aimed to analyse the prevalence of SFG rickettsiae in ticks and small mammals in different small-scale habitats in central Germany for the first time. Small mammals of ten species and ticks of two species were collected from grasslands and forests in the Hainich-Dün region, central Germany. After species identification, DNA samples from 1098 ticks and ear snips of 1167 small mammals were screened for Rickettsia DNA by qPCR targeting the gltA gene. Positive samples were retested by conventional PCR targeting the ompB gene and sequencing. Rickettsia DNA was detected in eight out of ten small mammal species. Small mammal hosts from forests (14.0%) were significantly more often infected than those from grasslands (4.4%) (p < 0.001). The highest prevalence was found in the mostly forest-inhabiting genus Apodemus (14.8%) and the lowest in Microtus (6.6%), which inhabits grasslands. The prevalence was higher in D. reticulatus (46.3%) than in the I. ricinus complex (8.6%). Adult ticks were more often infected than nymphs (p = 0.0199). All sequenced rickettsiae in I. ricinus complex ticks were R. helvetica, and the ones in D. reticulatus were R. raoultii. Unlike adults, questing nymphs have had only one blood meal, which explains the higher prevalence in I. ricinus adults. Interestingly, habitat type did influence infection probability in small mammals, but did not in ticks. A possible explanation may be the high prevalence in Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus which were more abundant in the forest.
Molecular Characterization of Rotavirus C from Rescued Sloth Bears, India: Evidence of Zooanthroponotic Transmission
Authors: Malik Yashpal Singh , Ansari Mohd Ikram , Karikalan Mathesh , Sircar Shubhankar , Selvaraj Ilayaraja , Ghosh Souvik , Singh Kalpana
Published: July 2023

The present study reports the detection and molecular characterisation of rotavirus C (RVC) in sloth bears (Melursus ursinus) rescued from urban areas in India. Based on an RVC VP6 gene-targeted diagnostic RT-PCR assay, 48.3% (42/87) of sloth bears tested positive for RVC infection. The VP6, VP7, and NSP4 genes of three sloth bear RVC isolates (UP-SB19, 21, and 37) were further analysed. The VP6 genes of RVC UP-SB21 and 37 isolates were only 37% identical. The sequence identity, TM-score from structure alignment, and selection pressure (dN/dS) of VP6 UP-SB37 with pig and human RVCs isolates were (99.67%, 0.97, and 1.718) and (99.01%, 0.93, and 0.0340), respectively. However, VP6 UP-SB21 has an identity, TM-score, and dN/dS of (84.38%, 1.0, and 0.0648) and (99.63%, 1.0, and 3.7696) with human and pig RVC isolates, respectively. The VP7 genes from UP-SB19 and 37 RVC isolates were 79.98% identical and shared identity, TM-score, and dN/dS of 88.4%, 0.76, and 5.3210, along with 77.98%, 0.77, and 4.7483 with pig and human RVC isolates, respectively. The NSP4 gene of UP-SB37 RVC isolates has an identity, TM-score, and dN/dS of 98.95%, 0.76, and 0.2907, along with 83.12%, 0.34, and 0.2133 with pig and human RVC isolates, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the sloth bear RVC isolates assigned the isolate UP-SB37 to genotype G12, I2 for RVC structural genes VP7 and VP6, and E1 for NSP4 genes, respectively, while isolates UP-SB19 and UP-SB21 were classified as genotype G13 and GI7 based on the structural gene VP7, respectively. The study suggests that the RVCs circulating in the Indian sloth bear population are highly divergent and might have originated from pigs or humans, and further investigation focusing on the whole genome sequencing of the sloth bear RVC isolate may shed light on the virus origin and evolution.
Rationale for Prostate-Specific-Membrane-Antigen-Targeted Radionuclide Theranostic Applied to Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma
Authors: Giraudet Anne Laure , Vinceneux Armelle , Pretet Valentin , Paquet Emilie , Lajusticia Alicia Sanchez , Khayi Fouzi , Badel Jean Noël , Boyle Helen , Flechon Aude , Kryza David
Published: July 2023

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), whose high expression has been demonstrated in metastatic aggressive prostate adenocarcinoma, is also highly expressed in the neovessels of various solid tumors, including clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In the VISION phase III clinical trial, PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy (PRLT) with lutetium 177 demonstrated a 4-month overall survival OS benefit compared to the best standard of care in heavily pretreated metastatic prostate cancer. Despite the improvement in the management of metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (mccRCC) with antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and immunotherapy, there is still a need for new treatments for patients who progress despite these drugs. In this study, we discuss the rationale of PRLT applied to the treavtment of mccRCC.
Indol-3-ylglyoxylamide as Privileged Scaffold in Medicinal Chemistry
Authors: Barresi Elisabetta , Robello Marco , Baglini Emma , Poggetti Valeria , Viviano Monica , Salerno Silvia , Da Settimo Federico , Taliani Sabrina
Published: July 2023

In recent years, indolylglyoxylamide-based derivatives have received much attention due to their application in drug design and discovery, leading to the development of a wide array of compounds that have shown a variety of pharmacological activities. Combining the indole nucleus, already validated as a “privileged structure,” with the glyoxylamide function allowed for an excellent template to be obtained that is suitable to a great number of structural modifications aimed at permitting interaction with specific molecular targets and producing desirable therapeutic effects. The present review provides insight into how medicinal chemists have elegantly exploited the indolylglyoxylamide moiety to obtain potentially useful drugs, with a particular focus on compounds exhibiting activity in in vivo models or reaching clinical trials. All in all, this information provides exciting new perspectives on existing data that can be useful in further design of indolylglyoxylamide-based molecules with interesting pharmacological profiles. The aim of this report is to present an update of collection data dealing with the employment of this moiety in the rational design of compounds that are able to interact with a specific target, referring to the last 20 years.
Nanosystems in Cardiovascular Medicine: Advancements, Applications, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Omidian Hossein , Babanejad Niloofar , Cubeddu Luigi X.
Published: July 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite significant advancements in the development of pharmacological therapies, the challenges of targeted drug delivery to the cardiovascular system persist. Innovative drug-delivery systems have been developed to address these challenges and improve therapeutic outcomes in CVDs. This comprehensive review examines various drug delivery strategies and their efficacy in addressing CVDs. Polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, microparticles, and dendrimers are among the drug-delivery systems investigated in preclinical and clinical studies. Specific strategies for targeted drug delivery, such as magnetic nanoparticles and porous stent surfaces, are also discussed. This review highlights the potential of innovative drug-delivery systems as effective strategies for the treatment of CVDs.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Points to the Biological Processes of Hybrid Incompatibility between Brassica napus and B. oleracea
Authors: Yue Fang , Zheng Fajing , Li Qinfei , Mei Jiaqin , Shu Chunlei , Qian Wei
Published: July 2023

Improving Brassica napus via introgression of the genome components from its parental species, B. oleracea and B. rapa, is an important breeding strategy. Interspecific hybridization between B. napus and B. rapa is compatible with high rate of survival ovules, while the hybridization between B. napus and B. oleracea is incompatible with the high occurrence of embryo abortion. To understand the diverse embryo fate in the two interspecific hybridizations, here, the siliques of B. napus pollinated with B. oleracea (AE) and B. rapa (NE) were employed for transcriptome sequencing at 8 and 16 days after pollination. Compared to NE and the parental line of B. napus, more specific differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (1274 and 1698) were obtained in AE and the parental line of B. napus at 8 and 16 days after pollination (DAP). These numbers were 51 and 5.8 times higher than the number of specific DEGs in NE and parental line of B. napus at 8 and 16 DAP, respectively, suggesting more complex transcriptional changes in AE. Most of DEGs in the terms of cell growth and cell wall formation exhibited down-regulated expression patterns (96(down)/131(all) in AE8, 174(down)/235(all) in AE16), while most of DEGs in the processes of photosynthesis, photorespiration, peroxisome, oxidative stress, and systemic acquired resistance exhibited up-regulated expression patterns (222(up)/304(all) in AE8, 214(up)/287(all) in AE16). This is in accordance with a high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the siliques of B. napus pollinated with B. oleracea. Our data suggest that the disorder of plant hormone metabolism, retardation of cell morphogenesis, and the accumulation of ROS may be associated with hybrid incompatibility between B. napus and B. oleracea.
Integration of Multivariate Statistical Control Chart and Machine Learning to Identify the Abnormal Process Parameters for Polylactide with Glass Fiber Composites in Injection Molding; Part I: The Processing Parameter Optimization for Multiple Qualities of Polylactide/Glass Fiber Composites in Injection Molding
Authors: Hsiao Chi-Hao , Huang Chang-Chiun , Kuo Chung-Feng Jeffrey , Ahmad Naveed
Published: July 2023

This paper discusses the mixing of polylactide (PLA) and glass fiber which use injection molding to produce a functional composite material with glass fiber properties. The injection molding process explores the influence of glass fiber ratio, melt temperature, injection speed, packing pressure, packing time and cooling time on the mechanical properties of composite. Using the orthogonal table planning experiment of the Taguchi method, the optimal parameter level combination of a single quality process is obtained through main effect analysis (MEA) and Analysis of variance (ANOVA). Then, the optimal parameter level combination of multiple qualities is obtained through principal component analysis (PCA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA), respectively. It is observed that if all the quality characteristics of tensile strength, hardness, impact strength and bending strength are considered at the same time, the optimal process conditions are glass fiber addition 20 wt %, melt temperature 185 °C, injection speed 80 mm/s, holding pressure 60 MPa, holding time 1 s and cooling time 15 s, and the corresponding mechanical properties are tensile strength 95.04 MPa, hardness 86.52 Shore D, impact strength 4.4408 J/cm2, bending strength 119.89 MPa. This study effectively enhances multiple qualities of PLA/GF composite.
Sustainable Filtering Systems to Reduce Microfiber Emissions from Textiles during Household Laundering
Authors: Belzagui Francisco , Gutiérrez-Bouzán Carmen , Carrillo-Navarrete Fernando , López-Grimau Víctor
Published: July 2023

During laundering, synthetic textiles (polyester, polyamide, etc.) can release small fiber debris with a length of <5 mm. These are a type of microplastics (MPs), usually referred to as microfibers (MFs), which are considered high-concern pollutants due to their continuous and cumulative entrance into the environment. Currently, as far as we know, there are no feasible alternatives to remove them. In this work, four new and sustainable filtering systems are proposed to retain the MFs emitted from domestic washing machines. The filters contain a replaceable cartridge partially filled with recycled low-density polyethylene pellets. The four designed filtering systems of different sizes were tested in a household washing machine determining the retention efficiency of the MFs after several washing cycles. It was found that all four assessed filter arrangements have a good performance for retaining MFs from the washers’ effluents. Filter F1 (diameter of 4 cm and a height of 30 cm) started retaining more than 50% of the MFs, at the 10th washing cycle, the retention climbed to 66%, while in the 20th washing cycle, its retention was greater than 80%. MFs retention was higher for filter F2 (diameter of 6.3 cm and a height of 41 cm), achieving a performance greater than 90% in the 20th washing cycle. Filter F3 was arranged by turning the F1 model flow upside down and the retention efficiency is higher compared with filter F1 values, reaching a retention efficiency of almost 100% in the 15th washing cycle. Finally, filter F4 arrangement was developed using the existing washing machine filter, obtaining better performance than the F1 and F2 filters, reaching efficiencies higher than 90% at the 20th washing cycle. In summary, depending on the arrangement, the microfiber retention efficiency was estimated between 52% and 86% in the 1st washing cycle and up to 83% to 99% in the 20th. Additionally, all arrangements demonstrated that the cartridges may last for more than 30 washing cycles before needing to be replaced.
Ductile Effect of PGA/PCL Blending Plastics Using a Novel Ionic Chain Extender with Non-Covalent Bonds
Authors: Kwon Hyuk-Jun , Jang Joseph , Koh Won-Gun , Lee Jun-Young , Hwang Kiseob
Published: July 2023

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a promising polymer in the packaging field owing to its excellent hydrolysis, heat resistance, and gas barrier properties, but it is limited in application due to its poor toughness. For this reason, a covalently bonded chain extender is introduced to increase compatibility with flexible polymers. However, covalent bonds are unfavorable for application to degradable plastics because of the energy required for reverse reactions. Therefore, we intended to effectively control the ductility of blending plastics by using a novel ionic chain extender with a relatively weaker non-covalent bond than the existing covalent bond. Polycaprolactone (PCL), which has biodegradability and flexibility, was selected as a blending polymer. For comparison, a covalently reactive chain extender (G-CE) and a non-covalently ionic chain extender (D-CE) were synthesized and compounded with blending plastics. Each chain extender improved the compatibility between PGA and PCL, and the ductility of the PGA/PCL blending plastics was more greatly enhanced with non-covalently bonded D-CE than with covalently bonded G-CE. At this time, the ductility of the PGA/PCL(90/10) blending plastic without CE was 7.2%, the ductility of blending plastic with D-CE (10D) was 26.6%, and the ductility of blending plastic with G-CE (10G) was 18.6%. Therefore, it was confirmed that the novel ionic chain extender inducing non-covalent bonds improves the compatibility between PGA and PCL and is more advantageous in enhancing ductility through a reversible reaction.
Preparation and Effect of Methyl-Oleate-Based Polyol on the Properties of Rigid Polyurethane Foams as Potential Thermal Insulation Material
Authors: Kamairudin Norsuhaili , Abdullah Luqman Chuah , Hoong Seng Soi , Biak Dayang Radiah Awang , Ariffin Hidayah
Published: July 2023

Recently, most of the commercial polyols used in the production of rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) have been derived from petrochemicals. Therefore, the introduction of modified palm oil derivatives-based polyol as a renewable material into the formulation of RPUFs is the focus of this study. A palm oil derivative—namely, methyl oleate (MO)—was successfully modified through three steps of reactions: epoxidation reaction, ring-opened with glycerol, followed by amidation reaction to produce a bio-based polyol named alkanolamide polyol. Physicochemical properties of the alkanolamide polyol were analyzed. The hydroxyl value of alkanolamide polyol was 313 mg KOH/g, which is suitable for producing RPUFs. Therefore, RPUFs were produced by replacing petrochemical polyol with alkanolamide polyol. The effects of alkanolamide polyol on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties were evaluated. The results showed that the apparent density and compressive strength increased, and cell size decreased, upon introducing alkanolamide polyol. All the RPUFs exhibited low water absorption and excellent dimensional stability. The RPUFs made with increased amounts of alkanolamide polyol showed higher thermal conductivity. Nevertheless, the thermal conductivities of RPUFs made with alkanolamide polyol are still within the range for thermal insulating materials (<0.1 W/m.K). The thermal stability of RPUFs was improved with the addition of alkanolamide polyol into the system. Thus, the RPUFs made from alkanolamide polyol are potential candidates to be used as insulation for refrigerators or freezers.
Transport of Organic Contaminants in Composite Vertical Cut-Off Wall with Defective HDPE Geomembrane
Authors: Lin Hai , Huang Wenzhou , Wang Liangni , Liu Zhanlei
Published: July 2023

Soil-bentonite vertical cut-off wall is an emergency technique used for contaminant control in geo-environmental engineering, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (GM) with an extremely low-permeability coefficient is expected to enhance the contaminant barrier effect of the vertical cut-off wall. To evaluate the barrier performance of the composite barrier composed of GM and soil-bentonite mixture towards organic contaminant, while also quantitively revealing the impact of GM defects and placement, a one-dimensional transport model for organic contaminants in composite barrier is solved under semi-infinite boundary conditions. The proposed transport model is validated by numerical simulations using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.4, and the effects of GM defect rate, placement within the composite isolation wall, and contact level with soil-bentonite on contaminant transport behavior are further studied. The results show that as the average frequency of GM defects increases from 2.5 to 50 holes per hectare, the breakthrough time of organic contaminants through composite barrier decreases by almost 70%. Poor contact level between GM and soil-bentonite mixture may reduce the breakthrough time of the composite cut-off wall by 65%. Although the selection of GM placement has limited impact on the transient flux of contaminants, it does affect the total flux of contaminants over a certain period of time. The effects of permeability coefficient, effective diffusion coefficient, distribution coefficient, and hydraulic head of the composite cut-off wall can be considered by the proposed analytical solution, which would provide guidance and reference for the design and service performance evaluation of the composite cut-off wall.
Influence of a Thin V2O3 Spacer on Interlayer Interactions in Fe-Ni/V2O3/FeNi Film Structures
Authors: Patrin Gennadiy S. , Kobyakov Aleksandr V. , Yushkov Vasiliy I. , Anisimov Igor O. , Zharkov Sergey M. , Semenov Sergey V. , Moiseenko Evgeniy T.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we explore the suggestions of the results of experimental studies on low-dimensional layered systems in FeNi/V2O3/FeNi film structures. The multifunctional material V2O3 is used as an interlayer between the magnetically active FeNi layers. The films were obtained by ultrahigh vacuum magnetron sputtering on a glass substrate with a base size of 10−10 Torr. It has been found that for V2O3 films, the decrease in the metal–semiconductor transition temperature increases significantly. Magnetic characteristics were studied on the MPMS-XL SQUID magnetometer. The exchange effect occurs both in the region where the oxide has a magnetic order and in the paramagnetic region. The latter is due to the effect of the magnetic panel in the oxide package. The phenomenon of oscillation of the exchange field occurs depending on the phenomenon of intermediate observation observed experimentally.
Developing a High-Resolution Seamless Surface Water Extent Time-Series over Lake Victoria by Integrating MODIS and Landsat Data
Authors: Wu Guiping , Chen Chuang , Liu Yongwei , Fan Xingwang , Niu Huilin , Liu Yuanbo
Published: July 2023

To effectively monitor the spatio–temporal dynamics of the surface water extent (SWE) in Lake Victoria, this study introduced a novel methodology for generating a seamless SWE time series with fine resolution by integrating daily a Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Landsat imagery. In the proposed methodology, daily normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series data with 30 m resolution were first generated based on the constructed pixel-by-pixel downscaling models between the simultaneously acquired MODIS-NDVI and Landsat-NDVI data. In the compositing process, a Minimum Value Composite (MinVC) algorithm was used to generate monthly minimum NDVI time series, which were then segmented into a seamless SWE time series of the years 2000–2020 with 30 m resolution from the cloud background. A comparison with the existing Landsat-derived JRC (European Joint Research Centre) monthly surface water products and altimetry-derived water level series revealed that the proposed methodology effectively provides reliable descriptions of spatio–temporal SWE dynamics. Over Lake Victoria, the average percentage of valid observations made using the JRC’s products was only about 70% due to persistent cloud cover or linear strips, and the correlation with the water level series was poor (R2 = 0.13). In contrast, our derived results strongly correlated with the water level series (R2 = 0.54) and efficiently outperformed the JRC’s surface water products in terms of both space and time. Using the derived SWE data, the long-term and seasonal characteristics of lake area dynamics were studied. During the past 20 years, a significant changing pattern of an initial decline followed by an increase was found for the annual mean SWE, with the lowest area of 66,386.57 km2 in 2006. A general seasonal variation in the monthly mean lake area was also observed, with the largest SWE obtained during June–August and the smallest SWE observed during September–November. Particularly in the spring of 2006 and the autumn of 2020, Lake Victoria experienced intense episodes of drought and flooding, respectively. These results demonstrate that our proposed methodology is more robust with respect to capturing spatially and temporally continuous SWE data in cloudy conditions, which could also be further extended to other regions for the optimal management of water resources.
Post-Shock Gravitational Erosion and Sediment Yield: A Case Study of Landscape Transformation along the Wenchuan–Yingxiu Section of the Minjiang River, Sichuan, China
Authors: Han Yongshun , Wang Zhenlin , Chang Yulong , Zhang Dongshui , Li Lelin , Qiu Zhuoting , Xia Yangdelong
Published: July 2023

In Wenchuan, China, which was severely affected by an M8.1 earthquake in 2008, the geomorphic process has been driven by gravitational erosion brought on by post-shock rockfalls and landslides. However, a process-based delineation of the post-shock landscape modification using quantitative methods employing mathematical modeling and control experiments has not yet been successfully undertaken. This is due to the areas’ substantial sediment yield and growing transportation capacity. This study looked into 31 minor watersheds along the Minjiang River’s Wenchuan–Yingxiu stretch. Additionally, a digital gully model based on multi-source remote sensing, Geographic Information System (GIS), Differential Intereferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (D-InSAR), and amplitude tracking technology was created for the quantitative estimation of post-shock gravity erosion and sediment yield by comparison of three-dimensional topographical alternation (before and after the shock). Following regression analysis, a useful model for sediment yield estimation was suggested. The following conclusions were reached: (1) There was a considerable favorable effect between an angle of 50 and 70 degrees, and various geomorphological parameters had scale effects. Gravitational sediment yield modulus displayed a positive power function relationship with relative relief and surface fragmentation, but there was no clear correlation between the modulus and slope, relative relief, or surface fragmentation at the watershed scale; (2) Both the budget for post-shock geo-materials and the production of sediment from gravity erosion showed an annual trend of decline; (3) A 10–20-year active period would be recognized by gravity erosion.
Image Texture Analysis Enhances Classification of Fire Extent and Severity Using Sentinel 1 and 2 Satellite Imagery
Authors: Gibson Rebecca Kate , Mitchell Anthea , Chang Hsing-Chung
Published: July 2023

Accurate and reliable mapping of fire extent and severity is critical for assessing the impact of fire on vegetation and informing post-fire recovery trajectories. Classification approaches that combine pixel-wise and neighbourhood statistics including image texture derived from high-resolution satellite data may improve on current methods of fire severity mapping. Texture is an innate property of all land cover surfaces that is known to vary between fire severity classes, becoming increasingly more homogenous as fire severity increases. In this study, we compared candidate backscatter and reflectance indices derived from Sentinel 1 and Sentinel 2, respectively, together with grey-level-co-occurrence-matrix (GLCM)-derived texture indices using a random forest supervised classification framework. Cross-validation (for which the target fire was excluded in training) and target-trained (for which the target fire was included in training) models were compared to evaluate performance between the models with and without texture indices. The results indicated that the addition of texture indices increased the classification accuracies of severity for both sensor types, with the greatest improvements in the high severity class (23.3%) for the Sentinel 1 and the moderate severity class (17.4%) for the Sentinel 2 target-trained models. The target-trained models consistently outperformed the cross-validation models, especially with regard to Sentinel 1, emphasising the importance of local training data in capturing post-fire variation in different forest types and severity classes. The Sentinel 2 models more accurately estimated fire extent and were improved with the addition of texture indices (3.2%). Optical sensor data yielded better results than C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data with respect to distinguishing fire severity and extent. Successful detection using C-band data was linked to significant structural change in the canopy (i.e., partial-complete canopy consumption) and is more successful over sparse, low-biomass forest. Future research will investigate the sensitivity of longer-wavelength (L-band) SAR regarding fire severity estimation and the potential for an integrated fire-mapping system that incorporates both active and passive remote sensing to detect and monitor changes in vegetation cover and structure.
A Method for Measuring Gravitational Potential of Satellite’s Orbit Using Frequency Signal Transfer Technique between Satellites
Authors: Shen Ziyu , Shen Wenbin , Xu Xinyu , Zhang Shuangxi , Zhang Tengxu , He Lin , Cai Zhan , Xiong Si , Wang Lingxuan
Published: July 2023

We introduce an approach for the direct measurement of the gravitational potential (GP) along the trajectory of a satellite, with a specific focus on Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites. A LEO satellite communicates with several Geosynchronous Equatorial Orbit (GEO) satellites via frequency signal links. The GP difference can be measured in real-time using the gravitational frequency shift approach by equipping both LEO and GEO satellites with precise atomic clocks. Since the GP at the high orbits of the GEO satellites can be precisely determined by the present gravitational field model EGM2008, the GP along the LEO satellite’s trajectory can be determined. In this study, simulation experiments were conducted, featuring a GRACE-type satellite as the LEO satellite in communication with three equidistant GEO satellites. The results indicated that the accuracy of the GP measurements along the LEO satellite’s trajectory primarily depends on the precision of the onboard atomic clocks. Supposing optical atomic clocks attain an instability level of 1×10−17τ−1/2 (τ in seconds), we determined the GP distribution covered by the LEO satellite’s trajectories with 30-day observations. Then, we determined a gravitational field at the centimeter level based on the GP distribution. The GP data derived from the trajectory of a LEO satellite can be utilized to establish temporal gravitational fields, which have broad applications in different disciplines.
Deformation Evaluation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) Central Route over Handan in Hebei, China, Based on Sentinel-1A, Radarsat-2, and TerraSAR-X Datasets
Authors: Xiong Siting , Deng Zhichao , Zhang Bochen , Wang Chisheng , Qin Xiaoqiong , Li Qingquan
Published: July 2023

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is a megaproject which has been constructed to alleviate imbalanced water resource distribution between northern and southern China. It encompasses three routes distributed in the east, central, and west of China, respectively. The central route (CR) of the SNWDP starts from the Danjiangkou Reservoir and ends in Beijing and Tianjin, running through Hubei, Henan, and Hebei Provinces; it has been in service since December 2014. For this type of megaproject, efficient and effective safety monitoring during its operation is highly challenging to the management department. Multitemporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (MT-InSAR) has been widely applied in monitoring land deformation, especially in a wide area. However, its ability to show the deformation of one specific facility along the SNWD has not been deeply investigated. This study investigates the capability of MT-InSAR in monitoring the deformation of the canal and ancillary facilities along the SNWD-CR over Handan, Hebei Province, in China, using Sentinel-1, Radarsat-2, and TerraSAR-X datasets. Deformation rates from March 2015 to March 2016 are obtained by applying permanent scatterers (PS)-InSAR to these three SAR datasets. After combining the deformation rates derived by the three datasets, deformation along the SNWDP-CR is evaluated using a method encompassing median absolute deviation (MAD) calculation and heatmap. The evaluation result reveals that one part of the western embankment of the open canal is subsiding at up to 10 mm/year, which may be associated with overirrigation. Besides this location, the most dangerous areas assessed by the proposed method are related to ancillary facilities, mainly aqueducts and crossing-canal bridges.
Polarimetry for Bionic Geolocation and Navigation Applications: A Review
Authors: Li Qianhui , Dong Liquan , Hu Yao , Hao Qun , Wang Wenli , Cao Jie , Cheng Yang
Published: July 2023

Polarimetry, which seeks to measure the vectorial information of light modulated by objects, has facilitated bionic geolocation and navigation applications. It is a novel and promising field that provides humans with a remote sensing tool to exploit polarized skylight in a similar way to polarization-sensitive animals, and yet few in-depth reviews of the field exist. Beginning with biological inspirations, this review mainly focuses on the characterization, measurement, and analysis of vectorial information in polarimetry for bionic geolocation and navigation applications, with an emphasis on Stokes–Mueller formalism. Several recent breakthroughs and development trends are summarized in this paper, and potential prospects in conjunction with some cutting-edge techniques are also presented. The goal of this review is to offer a comprehensive overview of the exploitation of vectorial information for geolocation and navigation applications as well as to stimulate new explorations and breakthroughs in the field.
Hybrid Indoor Positioning System Based on Acoustic Ranging and Wi-Fi Fingerprinting under NLOS Environments
Authors: Zhang Zhengyan , Yu Yue , Chen Liang , Chen Ruizhi
Published: July 2023

An accurate indoor positioning system (IPS) for the public has become an essential function with the fast development of smart city-related applications. The performance of the current IPS is limited by the complex indoor environments, the poor performance of smartphone built-in sensors, and time-varying measurement errors of different location sources. This paper introduces a hybrid indoor positioning system (H-IPS) that combines acoustic ranging, Wi-Fi fingerprinting, and low-cost sensors. This system is designed specifically for large-scale indoor environments with non-line-of-sight (NLOS) conditions. To improve the accuracy in estimating pedestrian motion trajectory, a data and model dual-driven (DMDD) model is proposed to integrate the inertial navigation system (INS) mechanization and the deep learning-based speed estimator. Additionally, a double-weighted K-nearest neighbor matching algorithm enhanced the accuracy of Wi-Fi fingerprinting and scene recognition. The detected scene results were then utilized for NLOS detection and estimation of acoustic ranging results. Finally, an adaptive unscented Kalman filter (AUKF) was developed to provide universal positioning performance, which further improved by the Wi-Fi accuracy indicator and acoustic drift estimator. The experimental results demonstrate that the presented H-IPS achieves precise positioning under NLOS scenes, with meter-level accuracy attainable within the coverage range of acoustic signals.
Inversion of Leaf Area Index in Citrus Trees Based on Multi-Modal Data Fusion from UAV Platform
Authors: Lu Xiaoyang , Li Wanjian , Xiao Junqi , Zhu Hongyun , Yang Dacheng , Yang Jing , Xu Xidan , Lan Yubin , Zhang Yali
Published: July 2023

The leaf area index (LAI) is an important growth indicator used to assess the health status and growth of citrus trees. Although LAI estimation based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) platforms has been widely used for field crops, mainly focusing on food crops, less research has been reported on the application to fruit trees, especially citrus trees. In addition, most studies have used single-modal data for modeling, but some studies have shown that multi-modal data can be effective in improving experimental results. This study utilizes data collected from a UAV platform, including RGB images and point cloud data, to construct single-modal regression models named VoVNet (using RGB data) and PCNet (using point cloud data), as well as a multi-modal regression model called VPNet (using both RGB data and point cloud data). The LAI of citrus trees was estimated using deep neural networks, and the results of two experimental hyperparameters (loss function and learning rate) were compared under different parameters. The results of the study showed that VoVNet had Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), and R-Squared (R2) of 0.129, 0.028, and 0.647, respectively. In comparison, PCNet decreased by 0.051 and 0.014 to 0.078 and 0.014 for MAE and MSE, respectively, while R2 increased by 0.168 to 0.815. VPNet decreased by 0% and 42.9% relative to PCNet in terms of MAE and MSE to 0.078 and 0.008, respectively, while R2 increased by 5.6% to 0.861. In addition, the use of loss function L1 gave better results than L2, while a lower learning rate gave better results. It is concluded that the fusion of RGB data and point cloud data collected by the UAV platform for LAI estimation is capable of monitoring citrus trees’ growth process, which can help farmers to track the growth condition of citrus trees and improve the efficiency and quality of orchard management.
Scattering Properties of Non-Gaussian Ocean Surface with the SSA Model Applied to GNSS-R
Authors: Sun Weichen , Wang Xiaochen , Han Bing , Meng Dadi , Wan Wei
Published: July 2023

Global Navigation Satellite System Reflectometry (GNSS-R) is an emerging earth observation method for remote sensing of feature parameters using reflected signals from navigation satellites, and is a purely specular bistatic forward scattering observation means with special right-handed circular polarization incident wave. In this paper, the small-slope approximation model of non-Gaussian sea surface is used as the basis to construct the scattering model for the observation geometry of GNSS-R as well as the L-band characteristics, and the fully-polarization normalized bistatic radar scattering cross section (NBRCS) are simulated by the method of polarization synthesis to analyze the scattering characteristics under different wind speeds and directions on the ocean surface, which highlights the variation of NBRCS with wind direction, and the scattering modeling accuracy is improved by comparing with the data of CYGNSS. In addition, we adopt the observation geometry deviating from purely specular geometry, discuss the scattering azimuth angle, scattering influence, and the relative relationship between different polarizations of the scattering angle under the non-specular geometry.
In-Water Fish Body-Length Measurement System Based on Stereo Vision
Authors: Zhou Minggang , Shen Pingfeng , Zhu Hao , Shen Yang
Published: July 2023

Fish body length is an essential monitoring parameter in aquaculture engineering. However, traditional manual measurement methods have been found to be inefficient and harmful to fish. To overcome these shortcomings, this paper proposes a non-contact measurement method that utilizes binocular stereo vision to accurately measure the body length of fish underwater. Binocular cameras capture RGB and depth images to acquire the RGB-D data of the fish, and then the RGB images are selectively segmented using the contrast-adaptive Grab Cut algorithm. To determine the state of the fish, a skeleton extraction algorithm is employed to handle fish with curved bodies. The errors caused by the refraction of water are then analyzed and corrected. Finally, the best measurement points from the RGB image are extracted and converted into 3D spatial coordinates to calculate the length of the fish, for which measurement software was developed. The experimental results indicate that the mean relative percentage error for fish-length measurement is 0.9%. This paper presents a method that meets the accuracy requirements for measurement in aquaculture while also being convenient for implementation and application.
An Advanced Energy-Efficient Environmental Monitoring in Precision Agriculture Using LoRa-Based Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Križanović Višnja , Grgić Krešimir , Spišić Josip , Žagar Drago
Published: July 2023

Sensor networks, as a special subtype of wireless networks, consist of sets of wirelessly connected sensor nodes often placed in hard-to-reach environments. Therefore, it is expected that sensor nodes will not be powered from the power grid. Instead, sensor nodes have their own power sources, the replacement of which is often impractical and requires additional costs, so it is necessary to ensure minimum energy consumption. For that reason, the energy efficiency of wireless sensor networks used for monitoring environmental parameters is essential, especially in remote networking scenarios. In this paper, an overview of the latest research progress on wireless sensor networks based on LoRa was provided. Furthermore, analyses of energy consumption of sensor nodes used in agriculture to observe environmental parameters were conducted using the results of real measurements in the field, as well as simulations carried out based on collected data about real equipment. Optimization methods of energy consumption, in terms of choosing the appropriate data collection processes from the conducted field measurements, as well as the settings of network radio parameters imitating real conditions used in conducted simulations were highlighted. In the analyses, special emphasis was placed on choosing the optimal packet size. Unlike in other papers analyzing energy efficiency of LoRa communication, in this paper, it was proven that the adjustment of the transmission speed to the actual size of the packet is important for better energy efficiency of communication and that it can reduce energy consumption considerably. Moreover, in the paper, the contents of a packet that can be used in precision agriculture is suggested in order to prove that the 6-bit packet is sufficient for energy-efficient collection of parameters from the environment, in contrast to the 11-bit packets used in standard commercially available equipment.
Using the Non-Adoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) Framework to Identify Barriers and Facilitators for the Implementation of Digital Twins in Cardiovascular Medicine
Authors: Winter Peter D. , Chico Timothy J. A.
Published: July 2023

A digital twin is a computer-based “virtual” representation of a complex system, updated using data from the “real” twin. Digital twins are established in product manufacturing, aviation, and infrastructure and are attracting significant attention in medicine. In medicine, digital twins hold great promise to improve prevention of cardiovascular diseases and enable personalised health care through a range of Internet of Things (IoT) devices which collect patient data in real-time. However, the promise of such new technology is often met with many technical, scientific, social, and ethical challenges that need to be overcome—if these challenges are not met, the technology is therefore less likely on balance to be adopted by stakeholders. The purpose of this work is to identify the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of digital twins in cardiovascular medicine. Using, the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework, we conducted a document analysis of policy reports, industry websites, online magazines, and academic publications on digital twins in cardiovascular medicine, identifying potential facilitators and barriers to adoption. Our results show key facilitating factors for implementation: preventing cardiovascular disease, in silico simulation and experimentation, and personalised care. Key barriers to implementation included: establishing real-time data exchange, perceived specialist skills required, high demand for patient data, and ethical risks related to privacy and surveillance. Furthermore, the lack of empirical research on the attributes of digital twins by different research groups, the characteristics and behaviour of adopters, and the nature and extent of social, regulatory, economic, and political contexts in the planning and development process of these technologies is perceived as a major hindering factor to future implementation.
Saliency-Aided Online RPCA for Moving Target Detection in Infrared Maritime Scenarios
Authors: Pulpito Osvaldo , Acito Nicola , Diani Marco , Ferri Gabriele , Grasso Raffaele , Zissis Dimitris
Published: July 2023

Moving target detection (MTD) is a crucial task in computer vision applications. In this paper, we investigate the problem of detecting moving targets in infrared (IR) surveillance video sequences captured using a steady camera in a maritime setting. For this purpose, we employ robust principal component analysis (RPCA), which is an improvement of principal component analysis (PCA) that separates an input matrix into the following two matrices: a low-rank matrix that is representative, in our case study, of the slowly changing background, and a sparse matrix that is representative of the foreground. RPCA is usually implemented in a non-causal batch form. To pursue a real-time application, we tested an online implementation, which, unfortunately, was affected by the presence of the target in the scene during the initialization phase. Therefore, we improved the robustness by implementing a saliency-based strategy. The advantages offered by the resulting technique, which we called “saliency-aided online moving window RPCA” (S-OMW-RPCA) are the following: RPCA is implemented online; along with the temporal features exploited by RPCA, the spatial features are also taken into consideration by using a saliency filter; the results are robust against the condition of the scene during the initialization. Finally, we compare the performance of the proposed technique in terms of precision, recall, and execution time with that of an online RPCA, thus, showing the effectiveness of the saliency-based approach.