bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Model Insoluble Copper Compounds in a Sedimentary Environment on Denitrifying Anaerobic Methane Oxidation (DAMO) Enrichment
Authors: Xia Longfei , Wang Yong , Yao Peiru , Ryu Hodon , Dong Zhengzhong , Tan Chen , Deng Shihai , Liao Hongjian , Gao Yaohuan
Published: November 2024

The contribution of denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) as a methane sink across different habitats, especially those affected by anthropogenic activities, remains unclear. Mining and industrial and domestic use of metals/metal-containing compounds can all cause metal contamination in freshwater ecosystems. Precipitation of metal ions often limits their toxicity to local microorganisms, yet microbial activity may also cause the redissolution of various precipitates. In contrast to most other studies that apply soluble metal compounds, this study investigated the responses of enriched DAMO culture to model insoluble copper compounds, malachite and covellite, in simulated sedimentary environments. Copper ≤ 0.22 µm from covellite appeared to cause immediate inhibition in 10 h. Long-term tests (54 days) showed that apparent methane consumption was less impacted by various levels of malachite and covellite than soluble copper. However, the medium-/high-level malachite and covellite caused a 46.6–77.4% decline in denitrification and also induced significant death of the representative DAMO microorganisms. Some enriched species, such as Methylobacter tundripaludum, may have conducted DAMO or they may have oxidized methane aerobically using oxygen released by DAMO bacteria. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis suggests that Candidatus Methanoperedens spp. were less affected by covellite as compared to malachite while Candidatus Methylomirabilis spp. responded similarly to the two compounds. Under the stress induced by copper, DAMO archaea, Planctomycetes spp. or Phenylobacterium spp. synthesized PHA/PHB-like compounds, rendering incomplete methane oxidation. Overall, the findings suggest that while DAMO activity may persist in ecosystems previously exposed to copper pollution, long-term methane abatement capability may be impaired due to a shift of the microbial community or the inhibition of representative DAMO microorganisms.
Screening, Identification and Application of Lactic Acid Bacteria for Degrading Mycotoxin Isolated from the Rumen of Yaks
Authors: Yao Youli , Luo Jinting , Zhang Peng , Wang Yongben , Lu Boyu , Wu Guofang , Zhang Jianbo , Luo Xuan , Wang Lei
Published: November 2024

Mycotoxin contamination is a major food safety issue worldwide, posing a serious threat to animal production performance and human health. Lactic acid bacteria are generally regarded as safe fermentation potential probiotics. They have the advantages of low toxicity, small pollution, strong specificity and high safety, and can reduce the contamination of microorganisms and mycotoxins. In this study, we compared the mycotoxin degradation capacity of 15 lactic acid bacteria strains from the rumen of Qinghai yak, through comprehensive analysis, we finally identified the strains as potential probiotics because they have a fast growth speed, strong acid production capacity (pH < 4.5), and they can grow normally in an environment with a pH of 3.5, bile salt concentration of 0.1%, and good self-agglutination and hydrophobicity. It was found that the fermentation group (Pediococcus acidilactici C2, Pediococcus acidilactici E28, Pediococcus pentosaceus A16 and Enterococcus lactis C16) could significantly reduce mycotoxin content, and both the nutritional and fermentation quality of the feed improved after 7 days of fermentation, meaning that the fermentation group can be used as a functional feed additive.
Oxylipins Derived from PUFAs in Cardiometabolic Diseases: Mechanism of Actions and Possible Nutritional Interactions
Authors: Ağagündüz Duygu , Yeşildemir Özge , Koçyiğit Emine , Koçak Tevfik , Özen Ünaldı Buket , Ayakdaş Gamze , Budán Ferenc
Published: November 2024

Oxylipins are oxidized fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, formed through pathways that involve singlet oxygen or dioxygen-mediated oxygenation reactions and are primarily produced by enzyme families such as cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and cytochrome P450. These lipid-based complex bioactive molecules are pivotal signal mediators, acting in a hormone-like manner in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases, especially cardiometabolic diseases via modulating plenty of mechanisms. It has been reported that omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins are important novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic diseases. Moreover, collected literature has noted that diet and dietary components, especially fatty acids, can modulate these oxygenated lipid products since they are mainly derived from dietary omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or linoleic acid and α-linolenic by elongation and desaturation pathways. This comprehensive review aims to examine their correlations to cardiometabolic diseases and how diets modulate oxylipins. Also, some aspects of developing new biomarkers and therapeutical utilization are detailed in this review.
Assessing Energy Availability and Glucose Dynamics in Adolescent Cyclists: Implications for Nutritional Interventions During the Competitive Season
Authors: Tarocchi Matteo , Pellegrino Alessio , Skroce Kristina , Zignoli Andrea , Cavadini Letizia Clara , Bodini Chiara , Pagliai Giuditta , Toncelli Loira , Stefani Laura , Vanni Simone , Boddi Maria , Modesti Alessandra , Modesti Pietro Amedeo
Published: November 2024

Background: The risk of developing a state of low energy availability (LEA) (<30 kcals/kg free-fat mass) in endurance athletes is known and recommendations for nutrition are available. However, information on male adolescent cyclists and the influence of hot temperatures is limited. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact on energy availability of two 4-day nutritional intervention strategies: (1) supplementary carbohydrate (CHO) intake during exercise and (2) designing and implementing individual nutritional interventions. Methods: Each intervention was preceded by a 4-day basal assessment. Eight competitive male junior road cyclists (aged 16–17 years) were investigated using a 4-day diet and activity records, alongside bioelectric impedance analysis. Their real-time power output, interstitial glucose, and temperature were recorded via sensors and a bike computer. Their energy intake (EI) was estimated from daily, self-reported food diaries. Results: Overall, 100% and 71% of the cyclists were in a state of LEA during the baseline assessment of the supplementary CHO and nutritional interventions, respectively. LEA prevalence, not modified by supplementary CHO intake alone (from 100% to 87%, ns), was markedly reduced by the individual nutritional intervention (from 71% to 14%, p < 0.05). When considering all the data as a whole, LEA was positively influenced by the training load (OR 1.06; 95% Cl 1.03 to 1.09) and free-fat mass (OR 1.46; 1.04 to 2.04) and was negatively affected by EI (OR 0.994; 0.991 to 0.997). A hot environment (air temperature) failed to influence the LEA or glucose dynamics. Conclusions: the nutritional intervention, but not the supplementary CHO intake, markedly reduced the prevalence of LEA in adolescents, who often fail to match their energy expenditure with their energy intake during the competitive season. Nutritional education is essential for adolescent endurance cycling teams.
Higher Preoperative Serum Neuropeptide Y Concentration May Be Associated with a Better Prognosis After Surgery for Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Budzyński Jacek , Czarnecki Damian , Ziółkowski Marcin , Szukay Beata , Mysiak Natalia , Staniewska Agata , Michalska Małgorzata , Żekanowska Ewa , Tojek Krzysztof
Published: November 2024

Background: The early identification of patients at risk of peri-procedural complications and poor prognosis is particularly important. We conducted our study to determine whether serum orexigenic neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration is associated with nutritional status and prognosis among patients undergoing surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods: A cohort study with a 3-month follow-up was conducted with 84 consecutive inpatients who underwent elective surgery in one center between 2016 and 2019 for primary CRC. The clinical characteristics and nutritional status of all patients were assessed. In long-term follow-ups (median; IQR: 1322; 930–1788 days; average 3.6 years), the patients’ survival status was also checked during a telephone consultation. Results: Before CRC surgery, patients with serum NPY concentrations equal to or higher than the median value (661.70 pg/mL) had higher scores in their Mini Nutritional Assessment, Barthel, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) questionnaires, greater handgrip strength, a lower score in the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment, and almost a three-times lower risk of perioperative complications, as well as higher Barthel and IADL scores and larger calf circumference at the 3-month follow-up visit in comparison to individuals with lower serum NPY concentrations. A higher serum NPY concentration was predictive of a low Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 score at the 3-month visit, and this was also found to have significantly influenced the patients’ survival during the 1200 days after CRC surgery. Conclusions: A higher preoperative serum NPY concentration may be related to lower nutritional risk, more favorable patient nutritional and functional status, and better survival, but further studies are required.
1,5-Acrylodan: A Fluorescent Bioconjugate Sensor of Protic Environments
Authors: Morrin Jake , Petitt Matthew , Abelt Christopher
Published: November 2024

1,5-Acrylodan (1-(5-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl)prop-2-en-1-one) is prepared in six steps from 1-nitronaphthalene and 19% overall yield. The last three steps involve an aryllithium-directed nucleophilic addition, catalytic Kulinkovich cyclopropanation, and copper-catalyzed oxidative ring-opening to generate the acryloyl moiety. The fluorescent properties of 1,5-Acrylodan (AC) are reported. These include its solvatochromism and H-bond quenching by protic solvents. Its use as a bioconjugate sensor is demonstrated with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) through its covalent attachment to Human Serum Albumin (HSA) at the free cysteine-34 moiety. Unfolding studies with guanidinium chloride (GdmCl) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are conducted to illustrate how the fluorophore responds to changes in both micropolarity and exposure to water.
Investigating Osteomyelitis as a Rare Adverse Effect of Vaccination in the Pediatric Population
Authors: Garbo Valeria , Venuti Laura , Albano Chiara , Caruana Costanza , Cuccia Alessandra , Condemi Anna , Boncori Giovanni , Polara Valentina Frasca , Cascio Antonio , Salerno Sergio , Colomba Claudia
Published: November 2024

Immunization is a preventive measure of crucial importance. As with any other medication, side effects are a possibility and include the rare occurrence of severe infections, such as osteomyelitis. We report an unusual case of pediatric osteomyelitis following vaccination and provide a review of similar reports submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Report System (VAERS), aiming to explore the association between the vaccination procedure and the occurrence of osteomyelitis in childhood. A previously healthy infant, with no history of trauma or infection, presented with hyperpyrexia, swelling, and functional impairment in the left leg and was eventually diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the left femur. An edema was noted at the site of the injection that he received days before for immunization purposes. The infection required surgical drainage and a four-week-long intravenous antibiotic treatment, and the patient was discharged upon showing improved clinical conditions. Forty-seven reports of similar cases submitted to VAERS between 1994 and 2023 were collected, and several cases from the literature, including a case of femoral osteomyelitis in a newborn vaccinated against Hepatitis B, attributed to improper injection technique. Another case was reported in a 15-year-old girl, which aligned with six similar cases of osteomyelitis in adolescents following HPV vaccines collected from VAERS. Despite the small sample number, the findings that in 77% of cases the infection was localized in the vaccinated limb and that symptoms appeared on average 4.3 days (IQR 1.0–5.7 days) post-vaccination suggest a possible link to the injection procedure and highlight the need to adhere to recommendations regarding skin preparation and the selection of the appropriate needle length and injection site.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Shadowgraphy of Acoustically Levitated Heptane Droplets
Authors: Lokini Parneeth , Dumitrache Ciprian , Windom Bret C. , Yalin Azer P.
Published: November 2024

In this study, we examined the impact of droplet size and laser energy on droplet fragmentation and the resulting species composition due to laser irradiation of an acoustically levitated heptane droplet. Using shadowgraphy and spatially resolved laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), we observed two different fragmentation regimes for the conditions studied. The experiments demonstrated that low laser energy densities (<~70 mJ/mm3), designated as regime 1, resulted in a single plasma breakdown event accompanied by broadband emission and C2 Swan bands, suggesting weak plasma formation. Conversely, high energy densities (>~70 mJ/mm3), designated as regime 2, resulted in multiple plasma breakdowns that resulted in the emission of Hα, O, and N, implying a full laser breakdown in the gaseous reactive mixture. Additionally, in regime 2, we calculated the electron density using Stark broadening of the Hα line and temperature using Boltzmann analysis of O lines at 715 nm and 777 nm. We found that the electron densities and temperatures within the air spark and heptane droplets are quite similar. The findings from this research could impact the design of spray ignition systems and may also aid in validating the modeling efforts of aerosols, droplet breakdown, and ignition.
Sulfur Diffusion Studies Imitating Recycled Ground-Rubber-Containing Compounds
Authors: Frosch Stefan , Herrmann Volker , Schülein Tim , Grunert Fabian , Blume Anke
Published: November 2024

In-rubber properties of vulcanizates deteriorate in the presence of incorporated recycled ground rubber (GR). This behavior is partly explained by a possible diffusion of sulfur from the rubber matrix into the GR. Therefore, the sulfur concentration and, thus, the crosslink density in the matrix are reduced. This phenomenon was further investigated in this research work using two spatially resolved methods that supplement each other: the diffusion of soluble sulfur in GR-containing compounds was locally investigated via Micro X-Ray Fluorescence analysis. Viscoelastic properties were also determined spatially by the Micro Dynamic-Mechanical Indentation method. Combining the results of both methods, local concentrations of sulfur were related to local viscoelastic properties, revealing great differences in crosslink density at the interface between the GR and matrix material. In this way, it is shown that sulfur is capable of diffusing several mm, which locally doubles its concentration with respect to the sulfur content of the compound formulation. This, in turn, negatively impacts the homogeneity of crosslink density in both the matrix and GR, revealing a local increase in the elastic stiffness of 100 %. In addition, it was found that the vulcanization characteristics of the used polymers determine the amount of sulfur diffusion and, thus, the change in viscoelastic properties.
Characterization of the Tensile Properties and Nanoscale Phase Structures of Modified Asphalts and Their Aging Behavior
Authors: Zhang Yuhui , Wang Ming , Xing Chengwei , Zou Lingyun , Guo Jingxuan , Wang Yueduo
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on exploring tensile properties and nanoscale phase structures of different modified asphalts, and their aging behavior. For this, one virgin asphalt and three modified asphalts, namely, 4% SBS-modified asphalt, 2% SBS and 20% crumb rubber (CR) composite asphalt, and 4% SBS and 2%TiO2 composite asphalt, were prepared and investigated using the force-ductility test and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Also, detailed experiments of short-term (STA) and long-term (LTA) aging were conducted to obtain aged asphalt specimens. The results showed that a ductile fracture was found for the three modified asphalts. However, for the activation energy, SBS asphalt and SBS&TiO2 asphalt were 2.87 times and 3.31 times that of SBS&CR asphalt, respectively. This demonstrates that the activation of the SBS polymer phase requires more energy during the stretching process when the rubber powder is not present. SBS&CR asphalt and SBS&TiO2 asphalt showed better tensile properties and aging resistance in terms of the quantitative results of tensile property indicators, indicated by a larger value of fracture ductility, tensile compliance, and the toughness ratio under the same aging condition. According to the AFM results, SBS modifier had little effect on the phase structure of virgin asphalt, while TiO2 modifier increased the number of bee phases and made their distribution more uniform, indicating the formation of a more stable phase structure system. This may contribute to its better tensile properties and aging resistance. Moreover, TiO2 molecules inhibited the aggregation behavior of polar molecules during the aging process, which led to a reduction in surface roughness. By comparison, the effect of aging on the phase structure of SBS&CR asphalt was more significant among the three modified asphalts. This result can be attributed to the interaction between rubber powder particles and asphalt.
A Talc- and Kaolin-Enriched Acetylated Starch Biocoating: An Alternative to Single-Use Plastic for the Food Industry
Authors: Veloso-Fernández Antonio , Laza José Manuel , Pérez-Álvarez Leyre , Vilas-Vilela José Luis
Published: November 2024

The increasing production of plastics, driven by modern societal development, has resulted in a significant rise in plastic waste, which poses serious environmental concerns due to its lengthy degradation times. The growing issue of single-use plastics (SUPs), such as packaging for food items and disposable utensils, has led to their reduction and potential future prohibition in the European Union. Cellulose, a natural biopolymer sourced from nature, has been proposed as a viable alternative to SUPs because it degrades without toxicity. However, its limited barrier properties against water and grease have restricted its effectiveness as a substitute. This study focuses on developing an environmentally friendly alternative to SUPs by combining cellulose with acetylated starch and incorporating inorganic fillers like kaolin and talc. These fillers enhance the material’s barrier properties and reduce production costs. The results indicate that the addition of kaolin significantly lowers moisture absorption and water vapor permeability, while a mixture of kaolin and talc provides superior grease resistance. Additionally, incorporating D-sorbitol as a plasticizer improves the mechanical properties of the coated sheets, preventing cracking and enhancing strength. Overall, these coatings offer a promising alternative for packaging applications, such as for sugar, candies, or chocolate.
Advanced Short-Term Load Forecasting with XGBoost-RF Feature Selection and CNN-GRU
Authors: Cui Jingping , Kuang Wei , Geng Kai , Bi Aiying , Bi Fengjiao , Zheng Xiaogang , Lin Chuan
Published: November 2024

Accurate and efficient short-term load forecasting (STLF) is essential for optimizing power system operations. This study proposes a novel hybrid forecasting model that integrates XGBoost-RF feature selection with a CNN-GRU neural network to enhance prediction performance while reducing model complexity. The XGBoost-RF approach is first applied to select the most predictive features from historical load data, weather conditions, and time-based variables. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is then employed to extract spatial features, while a gated recurrent unit (GRU) captures temporal dependencies for load forecasting. By leveraging a dual-channel structure that combines long- and short-term historical load trends, the proposed model significantly mitigates cumulative errors from recursive predictions. Experimental results demonstrate that the model achieves superior performance with an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 53.29 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.56% on the test set. Compared to traditional models, the prediction accuracy improves by 28.140% to 110.146%. Additionally, the model exhibits strong robustness across different climatic conditions. This research validates the efficacy of integrating XGBoost-RF feature selection with CNN-GRU for STLF, offering reliable decision support for power system management.
Identification of Water-Flooded Layers and Evaluation of Flooded Levels in Fractured Tight Sand Oil Reservoir
Authors: Jia Jun
Published: November 2024

Owing to the heterogeneity of tight reservoirs, the development of fractures, and the unreasonable water injection development method, the logging response characteristics of water-flooded layers in fractured tight sandstone reservoirs in the H oilfield in the Junggar Basin are complex, making it difficult to identify and evaluate them quantitatively. This has severely restricted the treatment of water-flooded layers and the optimization of development methods. This study calibrates logging data with dynamic production data and experimental analysis data. Based on clarifying the logging response characteristics of the water-flooded layers, these layers were qualitatively identified through radial resistivity differences and original resistivity recovery methods. By constructing models for the water cut and extraction index, which reflect water flooding characteristics, quantitative evaluations of water flooding levels can be conducted on the basis of consistency principles. Furthermore, the impacts of structural location, sedimentary environment, and fracture development on the water-flooded layers were analyzed. The results suggest that the radial resistivity difference method, along with the original resistivity recovery approach, can effectively identify water-flooded layers. By integrating the water cut, the extraction index, and the radial resistivity difference chart, the influence of reservoir heterogeneity is mitigated, resulting in improved quantitative characterization accuracy and efficiency for water-flooded layers in fractured tight sandstone reservoirs. There are two primary mechanisms for the formation of water-flooded layers in the H oilfield: matrix pore infiltration and differential water drive through fractures. The lower parts of the structure and areas with developed channel sedimentary microfacies are more susceptible to the formation of water-flooded layers, and the remaining oil potential in the matrix pores of the fracture development zone in the northeast of the oilfield is objective.
Comprehensive Multi-Method Characterization of Pore Structure and Its Impact on Fluid Mobility of Tight Sandstones—A Case Study of the Shaximiao Formation in the Central Sichuan Basin
Authors: Zhang Huanle , Zeng Jianhui , Wang Maoyun , Qiao Juncheng , Cui Huwang
Published: November 2024

The pore structure and fluid mobility of gas reservoirs in tight sandstones significantly influence the assessment of reservoir quality and the potential for gas reservoir development. This study focuses on analyzing tight sandstone samples extracted from the Shaximiao Formation in the Central Sichuan Basin. Experimental techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-pressure mercury injection (HPMI), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and micrometer CT (micro-CT) scanning were employed to investigate the pore structure characteristics of tight sandstone reservoirs and their impact on fluid mobility. The findings indicate that the tight sandstones in the study region exhibit three distinct types of pore throat structures, which correspond to varying characteristics in the distribution of mobile fluids. The characteristics of a Class I pore throat structure are a large pore throat, predominantly ranging from 0.1 to 10 μm, exhibiting robust connectivity, and a straightforward pore throat structure. It possesses an average fractal dimension of 2.5347, along with the highest levels of movable fluid saturation and movable fluid porosity, averaging 69.48% and 7.00%, respectively. The pore throat of Class II pore throat structure is concentrated between 0.01 and 0.1 μm, exhibiting weak connectivity and a complicated pore throat structure. The average fractal dimension is 2.6604, while the averages for movable fluid saturation and movable fluid porosity are 46.60% and 3.94%, respectively. The pore throat of Class III pore throat structure is small, exhibiting the lowest connectivity. The coordination number and pore-throat ratio are 1.60 and 4.82, respectively, while the fractal dimension is 2.7388. The fluid mobility is suboptimal, and the mobile fluid saturation is at 19.88%. Nanopores and micropores constituted 30.77% and 30.55%, respectively, serving as the primary pore throats within the tight sandstone reservoir. The microscopic pore structure of tight sandstone is the main factor influencing fluid mobility. Higher-quality pore structures in tight sandstone correlate with enhanced fluid movement. In addition, the physical properties of tight sandstone reservoirs and clay mineral types also have some influence on fluid mobility. There is a direct correlation between the quality of physical characteristics in tight sandstone reservoirs and the amount of fluid that can be easily moved inside them. A rise in chlorite content promotes an increase in moveable fluid content, whereas the opposite is observed for the illite and smectite interlayer (I/S).
A Quantitative Method of Carbon Emission Reduction for Electrochemical Energy Storage Based on the Clean Development Mechanism
Authors: Chang He , Xing Ying , Miao Bo , Li Li , Liu Chao , Xiang Kangli , Chi Yongning , Liu Yongqian
Published: November 2024

Electrochemical energy storage (EES) plays a crucial role in reducing the curtailed power from wind and solar PV power (WSP) generation and enhancing the decarbonization effects of power systems. However, research on quantifying the carbon emission reduction effects of EES methods in the engineering field is still insufficient, which constrains decision-makers from making intuitive assessments of the decarbonization effects of energy storage. Therefore, drawing on the principles of the clean development mechanism (CDM), this paper proposes a method for quantifying the carbon emission reductions of a standalone EES station. Firstly, based on the design principles of building marginal emission factor in the CDM, a method for calculating the BM weight of WSP is proposed. Secondly, three quantification methods for the carbon emission reductions of EES are presented based on the complexity of the calculations. Lastly, to analyze the impacts of different operational conditions and calculation methods on the carbon emission reduction of energy storage systems, a dispatch model is constructed for various operational scenarios. The results of the case study indicate that different calculation methods yield varying results in terms of the carbon emission reductions of energy storage systems, with the sharply value method yielding the smallest reduction and the output curve method yielding the largest reduction. Additionally, when considering the losses in the state of charge (SOC) of an energy storage system and reducing the overall output fluctuations of WSP-EES, the carbon emission reduction potential of the energy storage will decrease. This study establishes a theoretical basis for quantifying the carbon emission reductions of standalone electrochemical energy storage systems, aiding decision-makers in gaining a deeper understanding of the role of electrochemical energy storage in carbon reduction and operational value.
The Word Made Flesh and the Spirit’s Breath: Bridging Christology and Pneumatology in Animal Theology
Authors: Rizzo Daniela
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes a synthesis of Christological and pneumatological insights to present a more inclusive vision of creation’s role in divine worship and redemption. While deep incarnation emphasizes Christ’s identification with all of creation, this study extends the discussion by incorporating the Spirit’s ongoing work through the framework of animal glossolalia. Nonhuman creatures are seen not merely as passive recipients of Christ’s redemptive work but as active participants in cosmic worship through the Spirit’s intercession. By uniting the shared flesh of Christ with the Spirit’s transformative presence, the paper suggests a more integrated theological vision that includes all living beings in the divine narrative. This approach invites us to reconsider the role of animals within a broader ecological and theological framework, urging a reimagining of their spiritual capacities and their place in the eschatological hope for the renewal of all creation.
The Role of Personal Remittances in Economic Development: A Comparative Analysis with Foreign Direct Investment in Lebanon
Authors: Abou Ltaif Samar F. , Mihai-Yiannaki Simona , Thrassou Alkis
Published: November 2024

Understanding the role of personal remittances in economic development is crucial, particularly for countries like Lebanon, where these inflows play a significant role in economic stability. This study investigates the impact of personal remittances on Lebanon’s economic development over the period from 2002 to 2022, employing a mixed-methods approach that combines quantitative regression analyses and qualitative data from surveys. The research finds that personal remittances have a more substantial effect on Lebanon’s GDP compared to foreign direct investment (FDI), with positive correlations observed between remittances and key economic indicators such as GDP, public debt, and unemployment rates. Additionally, qualitative findings reveal that remittances are vital for addressing basic living expenses, education, and healthcare needs, illustrating their multifaceted influence on household well-being. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing a nuanced understanding of how remittances impact economic development in Lebanon and highlights the need for policy interventions aimed at enhancing financial literacy and promoting productive investments. The findings offer valuable implications for policymakers and stakeholders, suggesting that improving the management and utilization of remittances could significantly bolster Lebanon’s economic resilience and growth prospects.
Delineation of Optimized Single and Multichannel Approximate DA-Based Filter Design Using Influential Single MAC Strategy for Trans-Multiplexer
Authors: James Britto Pari , Man-Fai Leung , Karuthapandian Mariammal , Dhandapani Vaithiyanathan
Published: November 2024

In this paper, a multichannel FIR filter design based on the Time Division Multiplex (TDM) approach that incorporates one multiply and add unit, regardless of the variable coefficient length and varying channels, by associating the resource sharing doctrine is suggested. A multiplier based on approximate distributed arithmetic (DA) circuits is employed for effective resource optimization. Although no explicit multiplication was conducted in this realization, the radix-8 and radix-4 Booth algorithms are utilized in the DA framework to curtail and optimize the partial products (PPs). Furthermore, the input stream is truncated with an erratum mending unit to roughly construct the partial products. For an aggregation of PPs, an approximate Wallace tree is taken into consideration to further minimize hardware expenses. Consequently, the suggested design’s latency, utilized area, and power usage are largely reduced. The Xilinx Vertex device is expedited, given the synthesis of the suggested multichannel realization with 16 taps, which is simulated using the Verilog formulary. It is observed that the filter structure with one channel produced the desired results, and the system’s frequency can support up to 429 MHz with a reduced area. Utilizing TSMC 180 nm CMOS technology and the Cadence RC compiler, cell-level performance is also achieved.
Event-Driven Maximum Correntropy Filter Based on Cauchy Kernel for Spatial Orientation Using Gyros/Star Sensor Integration
Authors: Cui Kai , Liu Zhaohui , Han Junfeng , Ma Yuke , Liu Peng , Gao Bingbing
Published: November 2024

Gyros/star sensor integration provides a potential method to obtain high-accuracy spatial orientation for turntable structures. However, it is subjected to the problem of accuracy loss when the measurement noises become non-Gaussian due to the complex spatial environment. This paper presents an event-driven maximum correntropy filter based on Cauchy kernel to handle the above problem. In this method, a direct installation mode of gyros/star sensor integration is established and the associated mathematical model is derived to improve the turntable’s control stability. Based on this, a Cauchy kernel-based maximum correntropy filter is developed to curb the influence of non-Gaussian measurement noise for enhancing the gyros/star sensor integration’s robustness. Subsequently, an event-driven mechanism is constructed based on the filter’s innovation information for further reducing the unnecessary computational cost to optimize the real-time performance. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated by simulations of the gyros/star sensor integration for spatial orientation. This shows that the proposed filtering methodology not only has strong robustness to deal with the influence of non-Gaussian measurement noise but can also achieve superior real-time spatial applications with a small computational cost, leading to enhanced performance for the turntable’s spatial orientation using gyros/star sensor integration.
An Alien in the Newsroom: AI Anxiety in European and American Newspapers
Authors: Sanguinetti Pablo , Palomo Bella
Published: November 2024

The media portrayal of artificial intelligence (AI) directly impacts how audiences conceptualize this technology and, therefore, its use, development, and regulation. This study aims to measure a key aspect of this problem: the feeling of AI anxiety conveyed by news outlets that represent this technology as a sort of “alien” that is autonomous, opaque, and independent of humans. To do so, we build an AI anxiety index based on principal component analysis (PCA) and apply it to a corpus of headlines (n = 1682) about AI published before and after the launch of ChatGPT in ten newspapers: The New York Times, The Guardian, El País, Le Monde, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, San Francisco Chronicle, Manchester Evening News, La Voz de Galicia, Ouest France, and Münchner Merkur. The results show that ChatGPT not only boosted the number of AI headlines (× 5.16) but also reduced positive sentiments (−26.46%) and increased negatives (58.84%). The AI anxiety index also grew (10.59%), albeit driven by regional media (61.41%), while it fell in national media (−6.82%). Finally, the discussion of the variables that compose the index reveals the opportunities and challenges faced by national and regional media in avoiding the feeling of AI anxiety.
Analysis of the Impact of Policies and Meteorological Factors on Industrial Electricity Demand in Jiangsu Province
Authors: Xu Zhanyang , Xu Jian , Xu Chengxi , Zhao Hong , Shi Hongyan , Wang Zhe
Published: November 2024

Under the strategic background of “carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060”, the impact of energy policy on China’s industrial electricity demand is increasingly significant. This study focuses on the industrial electricity demand in Jiangsu Province, comprehensively considering the impact of policy and meteorological factors, and uses multivariate regression analysis to systematically explore the impact mechanisms of policy adjustments and climate change on industrial electricity demand. First, by analyzing the policy background and climate characteristics of Jiangsu Province, relevant policy and meteorological indicators are extracted, followed by a correlation analysis and the establishment of an industrial electricity multivariate regression prediction model. Finally, the evolution of the industrial electricity load in Jiangsu Province under different socio-economic pathways is forecasted. The results show the following: (1) Policy factors such as the electrification rate and self-generated electricity show significant correlation with electricity demand, as do meteorological factors such as temperature. (2) The future industrial electricity level in Jiangsu Province is expected to show a fluctuating upward trend, with industrial electricity consumption reaching 767.51 to 794.32 billion kWh by 2035. Accordingly, the forecast results are expected to guide future planning of the industrial electricity system in Jiangsu Province under the carbon neutrality scenario.
Pro-Environmental Behaviors and Environmental Value Orientation of Vocational College Students in China
Authors: Zheng Li , Zhang Ran
Published: November 2024

As vocational education directly prepares the future labor force, the pro-environmental behavior (PEB) of students in vocational colleges has important impacts on the transformation toward a green economy and sustainable development. Drawing upon the New Environmental Paradigm Scale and the Student Environmental Behavior Scale, this study surveyed 1034 vocational college students in Hunan province, China. Their responses were analyzed using factor analysis and cluster analysis to identify “anthropocentric” and “ecocentric” students, and the differences in their respective pro-environmental behaviors were examined. Furthermore, this study explored the impact of environmental value orientation on vocational college students’ PEB through a regression model. This study found significant differences in the PEB of “anthropocentric” and “ecocentric” vocational college students, which were most obvious when it came to energy conservation. However, both types of students were not actively involved in change-oriented behaviors. In addition, this study found that different environmental value orientations had a significant impact on vocational college students’ PEB. The research findings were interpreted in light of features of vocational education in China, and the authors argue that environmental education in Chinese vocational education requires a paradigm change.
A Mechanistic Study of the Coexistence of High House Prices, Low Income, and High Homeownership Rates in China
Authors: Zeng Hui , Fan Hongyi , Phan Thao Thi Thu , Yu Xiaofen , Pan Yi
Published: November 2024

An important feature of China’s housing market is the coexistence of a high house-price- to-income ratio and high homeownership rates. The purpose of our study is to reveal the root causes of this paradox from a new perspective and theoretical foundation. Based on questionnaire data from Hangzhou and logistic regression models, our research finds that the most important factors driving middle and lower-income groups to buy homes are its unique household registration and school district housing system, underdeveloped housing rental market and inadequate regulatory system, and the wealth appreciation effect caused by the continued rise in housing prices. Furthermore, intergenerational wealth transfers, private lending, and China’s generous home mortgage policies have made homeownership possible for this groups. However, the high house-price-to-income ratio leads to heavy financial pressure on the middle- and low-income groups and is not conducive to sustainable and healthy economic development. To this end, we suggest that the government accelerate the equalization of public services, improve the regulatory system governing the rental housing market, and control the unreasonable rise in housing prices and diversify investment channels for residents.
Study on the Evolutionary Characteristics of Post-Fire Forest Recovery Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery and Deep Learning: A Case Study of Jinyun Mountain in Chongqing, China
Authors: Zhu Deli , Yang Peiji
Published: November 2024

Forest fires pose a significant threat to forest ecosystems, with severe impacts on both the environment and human society. Understanding the post-fire recovery processes of forests is crucial for developing strategies for species diversity conservation and ecological restoration and preventing further damage. The present study proposes applying the EAswin-Mask2former model based on semantic segmentation in deep learning using visible light band data to better monitor the evolution of burn areas in forests after fires. This model is an improvement of the classical semantic segmentation model Mask2former and can better adapt to the complex environment of burned forest areas. This model employs Swin-Transformer as the backbone for feature extraction, which is particularly advantageous for processing high-resolution images. It also includes the Contextual Transformer (CoT) Block to better capture contextual information capture and incorporates the Efficient Multi-Scale Attention (EMA) Block into the Efficiently Adaptive (EA) Block to enhance the model’s ability to learn key features and long-range dependencies. The experimental results demonstrate that the EAswin-Mask2former model can achieve a mean Intersection-over-Union (mIoU) of 76.35% in segmenting complex forest burn areas across different seasons, representing improvements of 3.26 and 0.58 percentage points, respectively, over the Mask2former models using ResNet and Swin-Transformer backbones, respectively. Moreover, this method surpasses the performance of the DeepLabV3+ and Segformer models by 4.04 and 1.75 percentage points, respectively. Ultimately, the proposed model offers excellent segmentation performance for both forest and burn areas and can effectively track the evolution of burned forests when combined with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing images.
An Ensemble of Machine Learning Models for the Classification and Selection of Categorical Variables in Traffic Inspection Work of Importance for the Sustainable Execution of Events
Authors: Đukić Aleksandar , Banjanin Milorad K. , Stojčić Mirko , Đurić Tihomir , Đekić Radenka , Anđelković Dejan
Published: November 2024

Traffic inspection (TraffIns) work in this article is positioned as a specific module of road traffic with its primary function oriented towards monitoring and sustainably controlling safe traffic and the execution of significant events within a particular geographic area. Exploratory research on the significance of event execution in simple, complicated, and complex traffic flow and process situations is related to the activities of monitoring and controlling functional states and performance of categorical variables. These variables include objects and locations of road infrastructure, communication infrastructure, and networks of traffic inspection resources. It is emphasized that the words “work” and “traffic” have the semantic status as synonyms (in one world language), which is explained in the design of the Agent-based model of the complexity of content and contextual structure of TraffIns work at the singular and plural levels with 12 points of interest (POI) in the thematic research. An Event Execution Log (EEL) was created for on-site data collection with eight variables, seven of which are independent (event type, activities, objects, locations, host, duration period, and periodicity of the event) and one dependent (significance of the event) variable. The structured dataset includes 10,994 input-output vectors in 970 categories collected in the EEL created by 32 human agents (traffic inspectors) over a 30-day period. An algorithmic presentation of the methodological research procedure for preprocessing and final data processing in the ensemble of machine learning models for classification and selection of TraffIns tasks is provided. Data cleaning was performed on the available dataset to increase data consistency for further processing. Vector elimination has been carried out based on the Location variable, such that the total number of vectors equals the number of unique categories of this variable, which is 636. The main result of this research is the classification modeling of the significance of events in TraffIns work based on machine learning techniques and the Stacking ensemble. The created machine learning models for Event Significance classification modeling have high accuracy values. To evaluate the performance metrics of the Stacking ensemble of the models, the confusion matrix, Precision, Recall, and F1 score are used.
Emerging Trends in Eco-Logistics: A Review of Sustainable Practices in Szczecin (Poland) from the Residents’ Perspective
Authors: Drop Natalia , Chełstowska Aleksandra
Published: November 2024

This article offers an interdisciplinary analysis of eco-friendly urban logistics in Szczecin. It includes a review of innovative ecological solutions, results from a survey on residents’ awareness and acceptance and a case study on the implementation of these solutions in Szczecin. The theoretical part discusses the latest trends in eco-logistics, emphasising urban-specific solutions. The empirical section presents survey findings and explores the practical application of eco-friendly practices in Szczecin, analysing the associated benefits and challenges. The respondents demonstrated a high level of awareness and acceptance of city logistics solutions, such as urban pick-up points and electric scooters, which indicates support for sustainable urban transport. The residents of Szczecin appreciate the practical benefits and positive environmental impact of these eco-friendly investments, which they believe enhance city life by improving air quality and mobility. This article aims to provide a detailed perspective on eco-logistics in Szczecin, focusing on both the social and practical aspects of implementing sustainable solutions.
Centroid-Induced Ranking of Triangular Picture Fuzzy Numbers and Applications in Decision-Making
Authors: Popa Lorena
Published: November 2024

This paper proposes the concept of a centroid for picture fuzzy numbers and particularly for triangular picture fuzzy numbers. The concept allows the implementation of a ranking function for the triangular picture fuzzy numbers, which has the advantage of reuniting the symmetry and asymmetry of the information. Then, empirical applications are considered for the picture fuzzy numbers. Specifically, multiple TPFNs are considered. The ranked, A comparison study is conducted for said ranked TPFNs relative to other methodologies in the specialized literature, illustrating that these methods exhibit limitations in specific scenarios. An additional compelling example is provided: before elections, opinion surveys are extensively utilised to assess voter intentions about candidates. The survey findings can be analysed through PFNs and the ranking mechanism proposed in this study. Another contribution of this paper is the development an algorithm meant to solve decision making problems in an uncertain environment. This is applied in the practical context of comparing the performance of several standards in two successive evaluations.