bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Photobiomodulation Support the Management of Temporomandibular Joint Pain? Molecular Mechanisms and a Systematic Review of Human Clinical Trials
Authors: Alsarhan Jumana , El Feghali Rita , Alkhudari Thaer , Benedicenti Stefano , Pasquale Claudio
Published: June 2022

This study aims to point out the correlation between photobiomodulation (PBM) targets and effects and management of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) pain using diode lasers with infrared wavelengths ranging from 780 up to 980 nanometers (nm). A systematic search of multiple electronic databases was done to identify the clinical trials published between 1st January 2010 and 18th December 2021. The included studies were limited to human subjects who had TMD pain, involving two genders with age > 18 years, and were treated with PBM using a diode laser (780–980 nm) as a non-pharmacological therapy to decrease the intensity of the pain associated to TMDs. The risk of bias for included studies was assessed using the Cochrane RoB tool (for randomized studies). The methodologic quality was rated using the Delphi list. The findings suggest that PBM is an effective tool in alleviating TMDs’ pain and increasing the range of movement in patients with Axis 1 of TMDs. However, TMDs’ pain related to underlying pathology cannot be solely treated by PBM. The causative factors must be treated first. Studies displaying the highest quality Delphi score may represent a suggested PBM therapy protocol to follow for TMDs pain management.
Refractive Bi-Conic Axicon (Volcone) for Polarization Conversion of Monochromatic Radiation
Authors: Degtyarev Sergey A. , Karpeev Sergey V. , Ivliev Nikolay A. , Strelkov Yuriy S. , Podlipnov Vladimir V. , Khonina Svetlana N.
Published: June 2022

A new element is proposed for producing an azimuthally polarized beam with a vortex phase dependence. The element is formed by two conical surfaces in such a way that the optical element resembles a mountain with a crater on top, like a volcano (volcanic cone is volcone). The element in the form of a refractive bi-conic axicon is fabricated by diamond turning, in which an internal conical cavity is made. Polarization conversion in this optical element occurs on the inner surface due to the refraction of beams at the Brewster angle. The outer surface is used to collimate the converted beam, which significantly distinguishes the proposed element from previously proposed approaches. The paper describes a method for calculating the path of beams through a refractive bi-conic axicon, taking into account phase and polarization conversions. In the case of incident circularly polarized radiation, azimuthally polarized ring-shape beam radiation is generated at the output. The proposed element is experimentally made of polymethyl methacrylate on a CNC milling machine. The experiment demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed element.
Ultrafast Fiber Technologies for Compact Laser Wake Field in Medical Application
Authors: Sha Weijian , Chanteloup Jean-Christophe , Mourou Gérard
Published: June 2022

Technologies, performances and maturity of ultrafast fiber lasers and fiber delivery of ultrafast pulses are discussed for the medical deployment of laser-wake-field acceleration (LWFA). The compact ultrafast fiber lasers produce intense laser pulses with flexible hollow-core fiber delivery to facilitate electron acceleration in the laser-stimulated wake field near treatment site, empowering endoscopic LWFA brachytherapy. With coherent beam combination of multiple fiber amplifiers, the advantages of ultrafast fiber lasers are further extended to bring in more capabilities in compact LWFA applications.
Productive and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Tomato Fruits Submitted to Fertigation Doses with Water Treated with Very Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Resonance Fields
Authors: Putti Fernando Ferrari , Nogueira Bianca Bueno , Vacaro de Souza Angela , Festozo Vicente Eduardo , Zanetti Willian Aparecido Leoti , de Lucca Sartori Diogo , Pigatto de Queiroz Barcelos Jéssica
Published: June 2022

It is known that poorly performed fertigation directly impacts on tomato production and biometric components. In addition, consumers are also affected by interrelated characteristics that interfere with the acceptability of the fruit, such as the physicochemical parameters and nutrients in the fruit. Thus, eco-friendly technologies, such as irrigation with ultra-low frequency electromagnetic treated-water, which attenuates the inadequate management of fertigation, are essential to improve marketable fruit yields. Thus, the objective of the present work was to investigate the impact of treated water with very low-frequency electromagnetic resonance fields in physical, chemical and nutritional parameters at different nutrient solution strengths in tomato fruits. In this study, experiments were carried out in randomized blocks and five doses of fertigation were used (1.5; 2.5; 4.0; 5.5; and 7.0 dS m−1), employing two types of water: electromagnetically treated and untreated. It can be seen that the fertigation affected some parameters, mainly the number of fruits with blossom-end rot, fruit size, and weight. Variance analysis (ANOVA) was performed with the subsequent use of the Tukey test. In all statistical tests, a confidence level of 95% was considered. The soluble solids content increased by 28% as a function of the fertigation doses. The electromagnetically treated water reduced the number of fruits with blossom-end rot by 35% (p < 0.05). Overall, electromagnetic water improved the physicochemical quality parameters and the nutritional status of tomato fruits. Thus, this study demonstrated that green technology could leverage tomato fruit production and quality.
MLO Proteins from Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and Related Species in the Broad Phylogenetic Context
Authors: Pozharskiy Alexandr , Kostyukova Valeriya , Nizamdinova Gulnaz , Kalendar Ruslan , Gritsenko Dilyara
Published: June 2022

MLO proteins are a family of transmembrane proteins in land plants that play an important role in plant immunity and host–pathogen interactions, as well as a wide range of development processes. Understanding the evolutionary history of MLO proteins is important for understanding plant physiology and health. In the present work, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis on a large set of MLO protein sequences from publicly available databases, specifically emphasising MLOs from the tomato plant and related species. As a result, 4886 protein sequences were identified and used to construct a phylogenetic tree. In comparison to previous findings, we identified nine phylogenetic clades, revealed the internal structure of clades I and II as additional clades and showed the presence of monocotyledon species in all MLO clades. We identified a set of 19 protein motifs that allowed for the identification of particular clades. Sixteen SlMLO proteins from tomato were located in the phylogenetic tree and identified in relation to homologous sequences from other Solanaceae species. The obtained results could be useful for further work on the use of MLO proteins in the study of mildew resistance in Solanaceae and other plant families.
Stolonicaulon: A Section-Puzzle within Marsupella (Gymnomitriaceae, Marchantiophyta)
Authors: Bakalin Vadim A. , Vilnet Anna A. , Mamontov Yuriy S. , Schäfer-Verwimp Alfons , Maltseva Yulia D. , Klimova Ksenia G. , Nguyen Van Sinh , Choi Seung Se
Published: June 2022

Marsupella sect. Stolonicaulon is not speciose and is a commonly neglected section within the genus, which currently includes three species with somewhat similar morphologies (wiry shoots with distanced leaves) and distributions in the mountains of tropical and subtropical regions (SE (Southeast) Asia, the Venezuelan Andes, and the high mountains of SE Brazil). After studying materials that were found to be dissimilar to the “traditional” Marsupella that were collected in the last decade by the authors of this article, it was found that these plants belong to three new-for-science species, and all of these species should be included in Marsupella sect. Stolonicaulon. The newly described species have expanded the boundaries of morphological variability, not only for the section itself, but also for the genus based on two findings: (1) the leaves of Marsupella sect. Stolonicaulon can be either appressed and entire or spaced and deeply divided (thus, the plants could occasionally be similar to Cephaloziella or Anastrophyllum); (2) some species of the section possess regular underleaf production. The first discovery of regular underleaves in Marsupella, as noted in two of the three newly described taxa, is the main morphological novelty described in this paper. The development of regular underleaves is a presumable relict character that brings Marsupella closer to Nardia, which was recently transferred to the Gymnomitriaceae and occupies an isolated position within its own subfamily, Nardioideae.
Characteristics of Microplastics and Their Affiliated PAHs in Surface Water in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Nguyen Thao , Nhon Nguyen Thi Thanh , Hai Ho Truong Nam , Chi Nguyen Doan Thien , Hien To Thi
Published: June 2022

Microplastic pollution has become a worldwide concern. However, studies on the distribution of microplastics (MPs) from inland water to the ocean and their affiliated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are still limited in Vietnam. In this study, we investigated the distribution of MPs and PAHs associated with MPs in canals, Saigon River, and Can Gio Sea. MPs were found at all sites, with the highest average abundance of MPs being 104.17 ± 162.44 pieces/m3 in canals, followed by 2.08 ± 2.22 pieces/m3 in the sea, and 0.60 ± 0.38 pieces/m3 in the river. Fragment, fiber, and granule were three common shapes, and each shape was dominant in one sampling area. White was the most common MP color at all sites. A total of 13 polymers and co-polymers were confirmed, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate were the three dominant polymers. The total concentration of MPs-affiliated PAHs ranged from 232.71 to 6448.66, from 30.94 to 8940.99, and from 432.95 to 3267.88 ng/g in Can Gio sea, canals, and Saigon River, respectively. Petrogenic sources were suggested as a major source of PAHs associated with MPs in Can Gio Sea, whereas those found in Saigon River and canals were from both petrogenic and pyrogenic sources.
Design, Synthesis and Characterization of Vitrimers with Low Topology Freezing Transition Temperature
Authors: Krishnan Baiju P. , Saalwaechter Kay , Adjedje Vico K. B. , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: June 2022

Vitrimers are crosslinked polymeric materials that behave like fluids when heated, regulated by the kinetics of internal covalent bond-exchange that occurs rapidly at or above the topology freezing transition temperature (Tv) of the vitrimer, making these materials readily reprocessable and recyclable. We report two novel multiphase vitrimeric materials prepared by the cross-linking of two polymers, namely poly(triethylene glycol sebacate) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate), using zinc acetate or tin(II) 2-ethylhexanoate as catalysts, which exhibit significantly low Tv temperatures of 39 °C and 29 °C, respectively. The transesterification reactions allow rapid and pronounced stress relaxation at high temperatures, following the Arrhenius law. The lower Tv of these vitrimers could be attributable to the flexible long chains of these polymers and the significant excess of OH moieties present along the main chain of the polymer. The design of such multiphase vitrimers is not only useful for the practical application of vitrimers to reduce plastic waste but could also facilitate further development of functional polymer materials that can be reprocessed at low temperatures.
Thermo-Responsive Shape Memory Vanillin-Based Photopolymers for Microtransfer Molding
Authors: Jaras Justinas , Navaruckiene Aukse , Skliutas Edvinas , Jersovaite Jurga , Malinauskas Mangirdas , Ostrauskaite Jolita
Published: June 2022

Novel thermo-responsive shape-memory vanillin-based photopolymers have been developed for microtransfer molding. Different mixtures of vanillin dimethacrylate with tridecyl methacrylate and 1,3-benzenedithiol have been tested as photocurable resins. The combination of the different reaction mechanisms, thiol-acrylate photopolymerization, and acrylate homopolymerization, that were tuned by changing the ratio of monomers, resulted in a wide range of the thermal and mechanical properties of the photopolymers obtained. All polymers demonstrated great shape-memory properties and were able to return to their primary shape after the temperature programming and maintain their temporary shape. The selected compositions weretested by the microtransfer molding technique and showed promising results. The developed thermo-responsive shape-memory bio-based photopolymers have great potential for forming microtransfered structures and devices applicable on non-flat surfaces.
Polymer-Magnetic Semiconductor Nanocomposites for Industrial Electronic Applications
Authors: Romero-Fierro David , Bustamante-Torres Moises , Bravo-Plascencia Francisco , Magaña Héctor , Bucio Emilio
Published: June 2022

Nanocomposite materials have acquired great importance, as have similar composite materials on a macroscopic scale, because the reinforcement complements the defects in the properties of the matrix, thus obtaining materials with better mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties, among others. At the same time, the importance and research of polymeric nanocomposites reinforced with nanoparticles of various types have grown. Among those that have stood out the most in the electronics industry are polymeric matrices reinforced with nanoparticles that present dual behavior, that is, both magnetic and semiconductor. This property has been very well used in developing electronic devices such as televisions, computers, and smartphones, which are part of everyday life. In this sense, this review presents a compilation of the synthetic methods to produce polymer nanocomposites with dual magnetic and semiconductor behavior and their potential applications within electronic fields and new relevant trends.
Sub-THz Small-Signal Equivalent Circuit Model and Parameter Extraction for 3 nm Gate-All-Around Nanosheet Transistor
Authors: Sun Yabin , Gao Hengbin , Hu Shaojian , Liu Ziyu , Li Xiaojin , Liu Yun , Shi Yanling
Published: June 2022

This paper presents a novel RF small-signal equivalent circuit model and parameter extraction for 3 nm nanosheet gate-all-around field effect transistor (GAAFET). The extrinsic parasitic effect induced by ground-signal-ground (GSG) layout is evaluated by 3D full-wave electromagnetic simulation, and an improved five-step analytical parameter extraction method is proposed for such extrinsic GSG layout. The model parameters for the intrinsic device are analytically determined with the help of nonlinear rational function fitting. The accuracy of the proposed extraction method was confirmed via comparisons between device simulator and electromagnetic simulator with frequency responses up to 300 GHz. Excellent agreement is obtained between the simulated and modeled S-parameters, and the calculated error is lower than 2.689% for the extrinsic layout, and 0.897% for the intrinsic device in the whole frequency range among multi-bias points.
Personalized Medicine for the Critically Ill Patient: A Narrative Review
Authors: Lazar Alexandra Elena , Azamfirei Leonard
Published: June 2022

Personalized Medicine (PM) is rapidly advancing in everyday medical practice. Technological advances allow researchers to reach patients more than ever with their discoveries. The critically ill patient is probably the most complex of all, and personalized medicine must make serious efforts to fulfill the desire to “treat the individual, not the disease”. The complexity of critically ill pathologies arises from the severe state these patients and from the deranged pathways of their diseases. PM constitutes the integration of basic research into clinical practice; however, to make this possible complex and voluminous data require processing through even more complex mathematical models. The result of processing biodata is a digitized individual, from which fragments of information can be extracted for specific purposes. With this review, we aim to describe the current state of PM technologies and methods and explore its application in critically ill patients, as well as some of the challenges associated with PM in intensive care from the perspective of economic, approval, and ethical issues. This review can help in understanding the complexity of, P.M.; the complex processes needed for its application in critically ill patients, the benefits that make the effort of implementation worthwhile, and the current challenges of PM.
Experimental Studies of the Processes of Stepped Torque Loads Parrying by Asynchronous Electric Drives and Interpretation of Experimental Results by Nonlinear Transfer Functions of Drives
Authors: Kodkin Vladimir L. , Baldenkov Alexander A.
Published: June 2022

This article presents the results of experimental studies of asynchronous motors with a short-circuited rotor (induction motors—IM) with the most common frequency control methods: scalar; vector control; vector with speed control circuit; scalar control with dynamic compensation. The purpose of the experiments was to identify and show the features of the reaction of these control methods to the stepped sketches of the load on the asynchronous electric drive, as in a nonlinear electromechanical system. When selecting the parameters and settings of the “Schneider electric” frequency converter settings, standard instructions and techniques have been used, so the settings of the regulators were not optimal. The aim was not to determine the most effective structures and show fundamentally new solutions. Asynchronous electric motors are substantially nonlinear structures. In the formation of vector control theory, a number of simplifications and assumptions were used, the cost of which was not very clear and theoretically difficult to assess. This work is a step towards estimating the cost of these simplifications. This paper provides the results of experiments in which step-loading modes are presented by the maximum possible registered signals and the amplitude of the stator voltage, formed by various algorithms, the frequency and amplitude of the rotor current and the actual sliding and rotation speed of the engine rotor. This made it possible to maximally objectively assess the effectiveness of the interpretation of asynchronous electric drives and the methods of their regulation. The authors have conducted research in this area for about 15 years. In numerous articles on this subject over the past 25–30 years, the authors did not find such results. The vast majority of work devoted to the study of asynchronous electric drives with frequency control uses the notion of not too significant errors in the linearization of Park’s vector equations. In particular, the concepts of the sinusoidality of currents and voltages in AC motors and the accuracy of vector equations are almost always used, which are valid only at a constant frequency of the stator voltage.
Modification of the Microstructure and Transport Properties of La2CuO4−δ Electrodes via Halogenation Routes
Authors: dos Santos-Gómez Lucía , Zamudio-García Javier , Porras-Vázquez José M. , R. Losilla Enrique , Marrero-López David
Published: June 2022

Ruddlesden–Popper type electrodes with composition La2CuO4−δ are alternative cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); however, the undoped compound exhibits low electrical conductivity for potential applications, which is usually increased by alkaline-earth doping. A promising alternative to alkaline-earth doping is the modification of the anionic framework by halogen doping. In this study, La2CuO4−0.5xAx (A = F, Cl, Br; x = 0–0.3) compounds are prepared by a freeze-drying precursor method, using an anion doping strategy. The composition, structure, morphology and electrical properties are studied to evaluate their potential use in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The halogen-doped materials show higher electrical conductivity and improved electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions when compared to the pristine material, with polarization resistance values 2.5 times lower, i.e., 0.20, 0.11 and 0.08 Ω cm2 for undoped, F- and Cl-doped samples, respectively, at 800 °C. Moreover, halogen doping prevents superficial copper segregation in La2CuO4−δ, making it an attractive strategy for the development of highly efficient electrodes for SOFCs.
Experimental Verification of Reservoirs with Different Wettability Using an Oil–Water Relative Permeability Model
Authors: Pei Jianya , Zhang Yunfeng , Hu Jin , Zhang Jian , Zhu Xiaomeng , Wang Qiang , Gong Hua
Published: June 2022

Oil–water relative permeability is an important parameter that affects fluid flow in porous media. It is usually obtained in a laboratory. Since rock resistivity and relative permeability are both effects of water saturation, they should theoretically have a relationship. Based on the parallel conduction principle of fluid and skeleton in porous media, the pore structure and fluid distribution can be simplified using the Kozeny–Carman permeability correction equation and the Archie formula, and the relative permeability model of the water phase can be deduced under different wetting conditions. In this study, the resistivity and relative permeability experimental data of 20 rock samples from four inspection wells were compared and verified. The results show that the proposed oil–water relative permeability model agrees well with a reservoir having a porosity range of 17.6–30.7% and an air permeability of 0.16–973 × 10−3 μm, and it may explain why the relative permeability of the water phase decreases as water saturation increases. This model could provide a new technique to construct the relative permeability curves of sandstone reservoirs.
Picking Path Planning Method of Dual Rollers Type Safflower Picking Robot Based on Improved Ant Colony Algorithm
Authors: Zhang He , Ge Yun , Sun Chao , Zeng Haifeng , Liu Na
Published: June 2022

Aiming at the problem of automatic path planning for the whole safflower bulbs during the operation of safflower picking robots, an improved ant colony algorithm (ACA) was proposed to plan the three-dimensional path of the safflower picking points. The shortest time and distance were taken as the overall goal of path planning to comprehensively improve the working efficiency of safflower picking robots. First, in order to shorten time, the angle induction factor was introduced to reduce the angle rotation of the end-effector. Second, in order to shorten the length of the picking path, the picking track was optimized. Finally, the design of the secondary path optimization reduced the number of picking points, which not only shortened the length of the picking path, but also shortened the picking time. The simulation results show that the path planned by the improved ACA was reduced by three picking points, shortening the total length by 74.32%, and reducing the picking time by 0.957 s. The simulation results verify the feasibility of the improved ACA for safflower picking path planning, which provides theoretical reference and technical support for the picking path planning of dual roller safflower picking robots.
Optimal Demand-Side Management Using Flat Pricing Scheme in Smart Grid
Authors: Albogamy Fahad R. , Ashfaq Yasir , Hafeez Ghulam , Murawwat Sadia , Khan Sheraz , Ali Faheem , Aslam Khan Farrukh , Rehman Khalid
Published: June 2022

This work proposes a framework to solve demand-side management (DSM) problem by systematically scheduling energy consumption using flat pricing scheme (FPS) in smart grid (SG). The framework includes microgrid with renewable energy sources (solar and wind), energy storage systems, electric vehicles (EVs), and building appliances like time flexible, power flexible, and base/critical appliances. For the proposed framework, we develop an ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithm, which efficiently schedules smart appliances, and EVs batteries charging/discharging with microgrid and without (W/O) microgrid under FPS to minimize energy cost, carbon emission, and peak to average ratio (PAR). An integrated technique of enhanced differential evolution (EDE) algorithm and artificial neural network (ANN) is devised to predict solar irradiance and wind speed for accurate microgrid energy estimation. To endorse the applicability of the proposed framework, simulations are conducted. Moreover, the proposed framework based on the ACO algorithm is compared to mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and W/O scheduling energy management frameworks in terms of energy cost, carbon emission, and PAR. The developed ACO algorithm reduces energy cost, PAR, and carbon emission by 23.69%, 26.20%, and 15.35% in scenario I, and 25.09%, 31.45%, and 18.50% in scenario II, respectively, as compared to W/O scheduling case. The results affirm the applicability of the proposed framework in aspects of the desired objectives.
Research and Development for Cyclotron Production of 225Ac from 226Ra—The Challenges in a Country Lacking Natural Resources for Medical Applications
Authors: Higashi Tatsuya , Nagatsu Kotaro , Tsuji Atsushi B , Zhang Ming-Rong
Published: June 2022

The high therapeutic effect of targeted radioisotope/radionuclide therapy (TRT) using α-emitters, especially 225Ac, is attracting attention worldwide. However, the only 225Ac production method that has been put into practical use is extraction from a 229Th generator derived from the nuclear fuel 233U, and it is unlikely that this method alone is able to meet future global medical demand. Development towards new 225Ac production methods is in progress. These new 225Ac production methods require the irradiation of 232Th or 226Ra using an accelerator or a nuclear reactor. Global competition has already begun in the race to secure a reliable supply of 232Th and 226Ra, as well as 229Th for the conventional production method. Japan is a “resource-poor country” that depends on foreign countries for most of its needs. As such, it is difficult for Japan to secure raw materials such as 232Th and 226Ra for medical application. In this paper, we look back on our research at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) in the fields of 225Ac production and 225Ac-labeled pharmaceutical development. We present the history and details of our research from 2011, as well as the development of a collaboration between QST and Nihon Medi-Physics that focuses on research into 225Ac production via 226Ra(p,2n)225Ac reaction using an accelerator. Furthermore, we review the valuable discussion at the 2018 Joint IAEA-JRC Workshop—“Supply of Actinium-225”, an international conference that we participated in. Overall, the statuses of external 225Ac supply, domestic production, and distribution are discussed, as are the latest developments in 225Ac production methods, 225Ac pharmaceuticals, and future prospects for the domestic production of 225Ac in Japan, a country lacking natural resources for medical applications.
Solving the Formation and Containment Control Problem of Nonlinear Multi-Boiler Systems Based on Interval Type-2 Takagi–Sugeno Fuzzy Models
Authors: Lin Yann-Horng , Chang Wen-Jer , Ku Cheung-Chieh
Published: June 2022

An interval type-2 (IT-2) fuzzy control design method is developed to solve the formation and containment problem of nonlinear multi-boiler systems. In most practical industrial systems such as airplanes, vessels, and power plants, the boiler system often exists as more than one piece of equipment. An efficient control theory based on the leader-following multi-agent system is applied to achieve the control purpose of multiple boiler systems simultaneously. Moreover, a faithful mathematical model of the nonlinear boiler system is extended to construct the multi-boiler system so that the dynamic behaviors can be accurately presented. For the control of practical multi-agent systems, the uncertainties problem, which will deteriorate the performance of the whole system greatly, must be considered. Because of this, the IT-2 Takagi–Sugeno (T–S) fuzzy model is developed to represent the nonlinear multi-boiler system with uncertainties more completely. Based on the fuzzy model, the IT-2 fuzzy formation and containment controllers are designed with the imperfect premise matching scheme. Thus, the IT-2 fuzzy control method design can be more flexible for the nonlinear multi-boiler system. Solving the formation problem, a control method without the communication between leaders differs from the previous research. Since leaders achieve the formation objective, the followers can be forced into the specific range formed by leaders. Via the IT-2 fuzzy control method in this paper, not only can the more flexible process of the controller design method be developed to solve the uncertainties problem magnificently, but a more cost-effective control purpose can also be achieved via applying the lower rules of fuzzy controllers. Finally, the simulation results of controlling a nonlinear multi-boiler system with four agents are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed IT-2 fuzzy formation and containment control method.
Correction: Steele et al. Misincorporation Proteomics Technologies: A Review. Proteomes 2021, 9, 2
Authors: Steele Joel R. , Italiano Carly J. , Phillips Connor R. , Violi Jake P. , Pu Lisa , Rodgers Kenneth J. , Padula Matthew P.
Published: June 2022

In the original publication, there was a mistake in Table 2 as published [...]
Introduction: Spirituality and Addiction
Authors: Flanagan Bernadette , Molina Noelia
Published: June 2022

This collection of papers is inspired by years of collaboration in delivering academic programmes in Applied Spirituality [...]
‘Small Fires Causing Large Fires’: An Analysis of Boko Haram Terrorism–Insurgency in Nigeria
Authors: Igboin Benson Ohihon
Published: June 2022

Since July 2009, when the popular founder of Boko Haram, Mohammed Yusuf, was extrajudicially killed by the police, the group has become radicalised. Boko Haram started by terrorising the country, particularly the northeastern zone, which extends to Cameroon, Niger, and Lake Chad. Several works on the group, mostly by foreign commentators and scholars, have mainly attributed its rise to political and economic factors. Many of those works have not also recognised the metamorphosis from terrorism to insurgency, wherein the group is now replacing the secular status of Nigeria’s configuration with a monolithic Islamic caliphal rule in the swathes of land that it has captured. Even though the Nigerian government has adopted the factors canvassed by those scholars and also denies the group an ideological anchorage, I argue that Boko Haram’s ideological scaffolding is hinged on ultra-jihadi Salafism. Relying on qualitative sources, I employ a historical and interpretive framework in explicating the origin of Boko Haram and in content analysing President Muhammad Buhari’s 2015 inaugural speech, which denies the group of any ideological leaning on Islam. I then contend that such a denial has made counter-insurgency measures of the government counter-productive, as efforts at meeting political and economic factors are difficult to achieve in the present circumstance. I, therefore, recommend counter-insurgency measures, which include, amongst others, Western education, Islamic de-radicalisation processes, and counter-insurgency narratives, as well as ideas to cut off the recruitment of youth into the group and military engagement, as both short- and long-term strategies.
Research on Inversion and Correction Method of Urban Light Environment Based on Cooperative Observation
Authors: Zhang Baogang , Li Yiwei , Liu Ming , Liu Yuchuan , Luo Tong , Liu Qingyuan , Feng Lie , Jiao Weili
Published: June 2022

With the continuously growing city size and the increasingly complex and changeable light environment in the city, remote sensing and ground-measured technologies have certain limitations in the research of urban night light environment. The ground-measured data are accurate but low in efficiency and small in scale, while the night-light remote sensing data have the characteristics of high accuracy and large coverage. In this paper, high-resolution night-light remote sensing data and high-accuracy ground-measured data were used to establish an urban ground light environment inversion method with the advantages of remote sensing and ground-measured data in a “space-ground collaboration” approach. A ground database is constructed in GIS based on 26,000 ground measurement data of 4 blocks, 3 spatial perspectives, and 3 light environment parameters. Based on the comparison of the numerical relationship between the measured data of each light environment parameter and each window, the horizontal window is selected as the target window for the ground night light environment inversion research. The urban night light environment inversion method based on the correlation between telemetry and ground- measurement is used to construct and compare the correlation between Luojia night light radiance data and 9 sets of measured data of different ground windows and different light environment parameters. The illuminance measured data of horizontal window and Luojia radiance data, both of which are highly correlated, are selected for regression analysis. The mathematical inversion model of ground illuminance is constructed based on the cubic polynomial model with the lowest RMSE among the six regression models. The inversion result not only has photometric calibration, but also is superior to the original data in terms of population data relevance and accuracy.
Elevation Resolution Enhancement Method Using Non-Ideal Linear Motion Error of Airborne Array TomoSAR
Authors: Yang Ling , Zhang Fubo , Zhang Zhuo , Chen Longyong , Wang Dawei , Yang Yaqian , Li Zhenhua
Published: June 2022

Airborne array tomographic synthetic aperture radar (TomoSAR) is a major breakthrough, which can obtain three-dimensional (3D) information of layover scenes in a single pass. As a high-resolution SAR, airborne array TomoSAR has considerable potential for 3D applications. However, the original TomoSAR elevation resolution is limited by the baseline and platform length. In this study, a novel method for enhancing the elevation resolution is proposed. First, the actual curve trajectory observation model of airborne array TomoSAR is established. Subsequently, multi-channel image data are substituted into the model to obtain the observation equation. Furthermore, the azimuth and elevation directions of the two-dimensional observation scene are modeled uniformly. The scene reconstruction is realized through the two-dimensional joint solution. Finally, the observation equation is sparsely solved according to the sparse distribution characteristics of the target to obtain the image. The performance of the proposed method is verified via simulation and real-data experiments. The experimental results indicate that, compared with the traditional elevation resolution enhancement method, the proposed method improves the elevation resolution by two times. The proposed method also provides a new thinking for high-resolution SAR 3D imaging.
Bio-Optical Measurements Indicative of Biogeochemical Transformations of Ocean Waters by Coral Reefs
Authors: Dekker Arnold G. , Clementson Lesley A. , Wettle Magnus , Cherukuru Nagur , Botha Hannelie , Oubelkheir Kadija
Published: June 2022

The bio-optical properties of coral reef waters were examined across coral reef ecosystems not influenced by land-derived run-off, in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon (Heron Island) and the Coral Sea (the Coringa-Herald and Lihou Reefs). The aim was to determine whether the absorption properties, the concentration-specific absorption properties, and the phytoplankton and non-algal pigmented particle (NAP) absorption concentrations varied from the ocean waters flushing onto the reef at high tide to those waters on the reef or flushing off the reef at low tide. The optical and biogeochemical properties of on-reef waters systematically differed from the surrounding ocean waters. The chl a concentration values varied up to 7-fold and the NAP concentrations up to 29-fold; for the reef samples, the chl a values were on average 2 to 3 times lower than for the oceans whilst the NAP values were slightly higher on the reefs. The spectral absorption values of the chl a, NAP, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) varied up to 6-fold for reef waters and up to 15-fold for ocean waters. The spectral absorption for chl a was up to 3-fold lower on the reef waters, the absorption by the CDOM was up to 2-fold higher and the NAP absorption was 1.6-fold higher on the reef waters. The concentration-specific absorption coefficients for chl a and NAP varied up to 9-fold in reef waters and up to 30-fold in ocean waters. In the case of Heron Island and Coringa-Herald cays, this concentration-specific absorption was on average 1.3 to 1.7-fold higher for chl a and up to 2-fold lower for NAP on the reefs. The Lihou Reef measurements were more ambiguous between the reef waters and ocean waters due to the complex nature and size of this reef. Based on our results, the assumption that the optical properties of on-reef waters and the adjacent ocean waters are the same was shown to be invalid. Ocean waters flowing on to the reef are higher in phytoplankton, whilst waters on the reef or flowing off the reefs are higher in CDOM and NAP. We found differences in the pico,- nano-, and microplankton distributions as well as in the ratios of photosynthetic to photoprotective pigments. The variability in the bio-optical properties between the reef waters and adjacent ocean waters has implications for the estimations of sunlight absorption along the water column, the UV penetration depth, the temperature distributions, and the nutrient and carbon fluxes in coral reef ecosystems. As Earth observation algorithms require proper parameterization for the water column effects when estimating benthic cover, the actual optical properties need to be used. These results will improve the use of Earth observation to systematically map the differences in the water quality between reefs and the adjacent ocean.
PolSAR Ship Detection Based on a SIFT-like PolSAR Keypoint Detector
Authors: Gu Mingfei , Wang Yinghua , Liu Hongwei , Wang Penghui
Published: June 2022

The detection of ships on the open sea is an important issue for both military and civilian fields. As an active microwave imaging sensor, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a useful device in marine supervision. To extract small and weak ships precisely in the marine areas, polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data have been used more and more widely. We propose a new PolSAR ship detection method which is based on a keypoint detector, referred to as a PolSAR-SIFT keypoint detector, and a patch variation indicator in this paper. The PolSAR-SIFT keypoint detector proposed in this paper is inspired by the SAR-SIFT keypoint detector. We improve the gradient definition in the SAR-SIFT keypoint detector to adapt to the properties of PolSAR data by defining a new gradient based on the distance measurement of polarimetric covariance matrices. We present the application of PolSAR-SIFT keypoint detector to the detection of ship targets in PolSAR data by combining the PolSAR-SIFT keypoint detector with the patch variation indicator we proposed before. The keypoints extracted by the PolSAR-SIFT keypoint detector are usually located in regions with corner structures, which are likely to be ship regions. Then, the patch variation indicator is used to characterize the context information of the extracted keypoints, and the keypoints located on the sea area are filtered out by setting a constant false alarm rate threshold for the patch variation indicator. Finally, a patch centered on each filtered keypoint is selected. Then, the detection statistics in the patch are calculated. The detection statistics are binarized according to the local threshold set by the detection statistic value of the keypoint to complete the ship detection. Experiments on three data sets obtained from the RADARSAT-2 and AIRSAR quad-polarization data demonstrate that the proposed detector is effective for ship detection.
Estimating the Carbon Emissions of Remotely Sensed Energy-Intensive Industries Using VIIRS Thermal Anomaly-Derived Industrial Heat Sources and Auxiliary Data
Authors: Kong Xiaoyang , Wang Xianfeng , Jia Man , Li Qi
Published: June 2022

The energy-intensive industrial sector (EIIS) occupies a majority of global CO2 emissions, but spatially monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of these emissions remains challenging. In this study, we used the Chinese province with the largest carbon emissions, Shandong Province, as an example to investigate the capacity of remotely sensed thermal anomaly products to identify annual industrial heat source (IHS) patterns at a 1 km resolution and estimated the carbon emissions of these sources using auxiliary datasets and the boosting regression tree (BRT) model. The IHS identification accuracy was evaluated based on two IHS references and further attributed according to corporate inventory data. We followed a bottom-up approach to estimate carbon emissions for each IHS object and conducted model fitting using the explanatory strength of the annual population density, nighttime light (NTL), and relevant thermal characteristic information derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). We generated a time series of IHS distributions from 2012 to 2020 containing a total of over 3700 IHS pixels exhibiting better alignment with the reference data than that obtained in previous work. The results indicated that the identified IHSs mostly belonged to the EIIS, such as energy-related industries (e.g., thermal power plants) and heavy manufacturing industries (e.g., chemistry and cement plants), that primarily use coal and coke as fuel sources. The BRT model exhibited a good performance, explaining 61.9% of the variance in the inventory-based carbon emissions and possessing an index of agreement (IOA) of 0.83, suggesting a feasible goodness of fit of the model when simulating carbon emissions. Explanatory variables such as the population density, thermal power radiation, NTL, and remotely sensed thermal anomaly durations were found to be important factors for improving carbon emissions modeling. The method proposed in this study is useful to aid management agencies and policymakers in tracking the carbon footprint of the EIIS and regulating high-emission corporations to achieve carbon neutrality.
Demonstration of SWIR Silicon-Based Photodetection by Using Thin ITO/Au/Au Nanoparticles/n-Si Structure
Authors: Li Xinxin , Deng Zhen , Ma Ziguang , Jiang Yang , Du Chunhua , Jia Haiqiang , Wang Wenxin , Chen Hong
Published: June 2022

Plasmonic photodetection based on the hot-electron generation in nanostructures is a promising strategy for sub-band detection due to the high conversion efficiencies; however, it is plagued with the high dark current. In this paper, we have demonstrated the plasmonic photodetection with dark current suppression to create a Si-based broadband photodetector with enhanced performance in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) region. By hybridizing a 3 nm Au layer with the spherical Au nanoparticles (NPs) formed by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on Si substrate, a well-behaved ITO/Au/Au NPs/n-Si Schottky photodetector with suppressed dark current and enhanced absorption in the SWIR region is obtained. This optimized detector shows a broad detection beyond 1200 nm and a high responsivity of 22.82 mA/W at 1310 nm at −1 V, as well as a low dark current density on the order of 10−5 A/cm2. Such a Si-based plasmon-enhanced detector with desirable performance in dark current will be a promising strategy for realization of the high SNR detector while keeping fabrication costs low.
The First Case of Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Triggered by the Booster Dose of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in a Patient with β-Thalassemia
Authors: Calvaruso Giuseppina , Chiavetta Marta , Renda Disma , Raso Simona , Dieli Francesco , Lentini Vincenzo Luca , Gentile Massimo , Carroccio Antonio , Maggio Aurelio
Published: June 2022

Background: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and potentially life-threatening systemic hyperinflammatory disease, which can have several aetiologies. Clinical case: a 48-year-old woman affected by a transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia was hospitalized in our haematology unit presenting with intermittent fever, haepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia, which developed a few days after the booster dose of anti-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine. The investigations performed during hospitalization led to a diagnosis of HLH and steroid therapy where IV dexamethasone was initiated and provided benefits. Conclusions: the severity of HLH mandates early treatment, but the management of patients with post-vaccine HLH is still challenging and requires further study. No cases of HLH in patients with thalassemia were previously described.
Measurements infrastructure — futurological considerations
Authors: Samoilenko Oleksandr
Published: June 2022

Futurology as science for predicting humanity progress is important for planning specific steps to be taken today.

Author made an attempt of scientific prediction concerning development of such important measurement infrastructure components as comparisons of measurement standards, interlaboratory comparisons of measurement results and calibration. Current state of this measurement infrastructure component should be improved to meet the challenges of a complicated and changeable environment. Comparisons of measurement standards are not performed often. Number of participants is limited. CMCs are difficult to obtain. Interlaboratory comparisons and calibrations are separated from comparisons, etc.

Idea of measurement infrastructure future improvement is substantiated. Global informatization provides advantages and opportunities for it.

The answer to modern challenges is seen in the creation of the Comprehensive Measurement Traceability Network (hereinafter — the Network). The Network is assumed to be the most automated and consequently, the fastest, the most dynamic and comprehensive. Various levels of comparisons for various measurement methods and submethods can be initiated fast, easy and without restrictions. They can be provided continuously, without interruptions. Interlaboratory comparisons and calibrations should be directly linked to comparisons of measurement standards in the Network. Interlaboratory comparisons initiated in the Network differ from comparisons of measurement standards only in the factor that they will be initiated for working measurement standards and instruments. Subjective human factors in initiating, planning, processing and analyzing measurement results will be significantly reduced in the Network.

The purpose, basic (but not all) tasks and principles of such Network future work are formulated. Its advantages are underlined.