bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on an Online Monitoring Device for the Powder Laying Process of Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Wei Bin , Liu Jiaqi , Li Jie , Zhao Zigeng , Liu Yang , Yang Guang , Liu Lijian , Chang Hongjie
Published: January 2024

Improving the quality of metal additive manufacturing parts requires online monitoring of the powder bed laying procedure during laser powder bed fusion production. In this article, a visual online monitoring tool for flaws in the powder laying process is examined, and machine vision technology is applied to LPBF manufacture. A multiscale improvement and model channel pruning optimization method based on convolutional neural networks is proposed, which makes up for the deficiencies of the defect recognition method of small-scale powder laying, reduces the redundant parameters of the model, and enhances the processing speed of the model under the premise of guaranteeing the accuracy of the model. Finally, we developed an LPBF manufacturing process laying powder defect recognition algorithm. Test experiments show the performance of the method: the minimum size of the detected defects is 0.54 mm, the accuracy rate of the feedback results is 98.63%, and the single-layer laying powder detection time is 3.516 s, which can realize the effective detection and control of common laying powder defects in the additive manufacturing process, avoids the breakage of the scraper, and ensures the safe operation of the LPBF equipment.
Controller Design for Air Conditioner of a Vehicle with Three Control Inputs Using Model Predictive Control
Authors: Parent Trevor , Defoe Jeffrey J. , Rahimi Afshin
Published: January 2024

Fuel consumption optimization is a critical field of research within the automotive industry to meet consumer expectations and regulatory requirements. A reduction in fuel consumption can be achieved by reducing the energy consumed by the vehicle. Several subsystems contribute to the overall energy consumption of the vehicle, including the air conditioning (A/C) system. The loads within the A/C system are mainly contributed by the compressor, condenser fan, and underhood aerodynamic drag, which are the components targeted for overall vehicle energy use reduction in this paper. This paper explores a new avenue for A/C system control by considering the power consumption due to vehicle drag (regulated by the condenser fan and active grille shutters (AGS)) to reduce the energy consumption of the A/C system and improve the overall vehicle fuel economy. The control approach used in this paper is model predictive control (MPC). The controller is designed in Simulink, where the compressor clutch signal, condenser fan speed, and AGS open-fraction are inputs. The controller is connected to a high-fidelity vehicle model in Gamma Technologies (GT)-Suite (which is treated as the real physical vehicle) to form a software-in-the-loop simulation environment, where the controller sends actuator inputs to GT-Suite and the vehicle response is sent back to the controller in Simulink. Quadratic programming is used to solve the MPC optimization problem and determine the optimal input trajectory at each time step. The results indicate that using MPC to control the compressor clutch, condenser fan, and AGS can provide a 37.6% reduction in the overall A/C system energy consumption and a 32.7% reduction in the error for the air temperature reference tracking compared to the conventional baseline proportional integral derivative control present in the GT-Suite model.
Recent Advances in Organometallic NIR Iridium(III) Complexes for Detection and Therapy
Authors: Jing Shaozhen , Wu Xiaolei , Niu Dou , Wang Jing , Leung Chung-Hang , Wang Wanhe
Published: January 2024

Iridium(III) complexes are emerging as a promising tool in the area of detection and therapy due to their prominent photophysical properties, including higher photostability, tunable phosphorescence emission, long-lasting phosphorescence, and high quantum yields. In recent years, much effort has been devoted to develop novel near-infrared (NIR) iridium(III) complexes to improve signal-to-noise ratio and enhance tissue penetration. In this review, we summarize different classes of organometallic NIR iridium(III) complexes for detection and therapy, including cyclometalated ligand-enabled NIR iridium(III) complexes and NIR-dye-conjugated iridium(III) complexes. Moreover, the prospects and challenges for organometallic NIR iridium(III) complexes for targeted detection and therapy are discussed.
In-Situ Construction of Anti-Aggregation Tellurium Nanorods/Reduced Graphene Oxide Composite to Enable Fast Sodium Storage
Authors: Hu Haiguo , Zhong Jiarui , Jian Bangquan , Zheng Cheng , Zeng Yonghong , Kou Cuiyun , Xiao Quanlan , Luo Yiyu , Wang Huide , Guo Zhinan , Niu Li
Published: January 2024

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) as a replaceable energy storage technology have attracted extensive attention in recent years. The design and preparation of advanced anode materials with high capacity and excellent cycling performance for SIBs still face enormous challenges. Herein, a solution method is developed for in situ synthesis of anti-aggregation tellurium nanorods/reduced graphene oxide (Te NR/rGO) composite. The material working as the sodium-ion battery (SIB) anode achieves a high reversible capacity of 338 mAh g−1 at 5 A g−1 and exhibits up to 93.4% capacity retention after 500 cycles. This work demonstrates an effective preparation method of nano-Te-based composites for SIBs.
Ashwagandha Ethanol Extract Attenuates Sarcopenia-Related Muscle Atrophy in Aged Mice
Authors: Ko Jin-Sung , Chang Bo-Yoon , Choi Young-Ju , Choi Ji-Soo , Kwon Hee-Yeon , Lee Jae-Yeon , Kim Sung-Yeon , Choung Se-Young
Published: January 2024

The investigation focused on the impact of Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) extract (WSE) on age-related mechanisms affecting skeletal muscle sarcopenia-related muscle atrophy in aged mice. Beyond evaluating muscular aspects, the study explored chronic low-grade inflammation, muscle regeneration, and mitochondrial biogenesis. WSE administration, in comparison to the control group, demonstrated no significant differences in body weight, diet, or water intake, affirming its safety profile. Notably, WSE exhibited a propensity to reduce epidermal and abdominal fat while significantly increasing muscle mass at a dosage of 200 mg/kg. The muscle-to-fat ratio, adjusted for body weight, increased across all treatment groups. WSE administration led to a reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, mitigating inflammation-associated muscle atrophy. In a 12-month-old mouse model equivalent to a 50-year-old human, WSE effectively preserved muscle strength, stabilized grip strength, and increased muscle tissue weight. Positive effects were observed in running performance and endurance. Mechanistically, WSE balanced muscle protein synthesis/degradation, promoted fiber differentiation, and enhanced mitochondrial biogenesis through the IGF-1/Akt/mTOR pathway. This study provides compelling evidence for the anti-sarcopenic effects of WSE, positioning it as a promising candidate for preventing sarcopenia pending further clinical validation.
Dietary Epigenetic Modulators: Unravelling the Still-Controversial Benefits of miRNAs in Nutrition and Disease
Authors: Martino Elisa , D’Onofrio Nunzia , Balestrieri Anna , Colloca Antonino , Anastasio Camilla , Sardu Celestino , Marfella Raffaele , Campanile Giuseppe , Balestrieri Maria
Published: January 2024

In the context of nutrient-driven epigenetic alterations, food-derived miRNAs can be absorbed into the circulatory system and organs of recipients, especially humans, and potentially contribute to modulating health and diseases. Evidence suggests that food uptake, by carrying exogenous miRNAs (xenomiRNAs), regulates the individual miRNA profile, modifying the redox homeostasis and inflammatory conditions underlying pathological processes, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and cancer. The capacity of diet to control miRNA levels and the comprehension of the unique characteristics of dietary miRNAs in terms of gene expression regulation show important perspectives as a strategy to control disease susceptibility via epigenetic modifications and refine the clinical outcomes. However, the absorption, stability, availability, and epigenetic roles of dietary miRNAs are intriguing and currently the subject of intense debate; additionally, there is restricted knowledge of their physiological and potential side effects. Within this framework, we provided up-to-date and comprehensive knowledge on dietary miRNAs’ potential, discussing the latest advances and controversial issues related to the role of miRNAs in human health and disease as modulators of chronic syndromes.
A Composite Score for Predicting Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis C: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Wasuwanich Paul , So Joshua M. , Presnell Brett , Karnsakul Wikrom , Egerman Robert S. , Wen Tony S.
Published: January 2024

Background: Prevention of the vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) presents an obstetric challenge. There are no approved antiviral medications for the treatment or prevention of HCV for pregnant patients. Objective: We aimed to create a composite score to accurately identify a population of pregnant patients with HCV who have high potential for vertical transmission. Study Design: In a retrospective, multicenter cohort study, we identified pregnant patients with hepatitis C with linked data to their infants who have had HCV RNA or HCV antibody testing. Demographic data, including age and race/ethnicity, as well as clinical and laboratory data, including tobacco/alcohol use, infections, liver function tests, the HCV RNA titer, HCV antibody, HCV genotype, absolute lymphocyte count, and platelet count, were collected. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) and internally validated using the forward selection bootstrap method. Results: We identified 157 pregnant patients and 163 corresponding infants. The median maternal delivery age was 29 (IQR: 25–33) years, and the majority (141, or 89.8%) were White. A high HCV RNA titer, high absolute lymphocyte count, and high platelet count were associated with vertical transmission. A high HCV RNA titer had an AUROC of 0.815 with sensitivity, specificity, a positive predictive value, and a negative predictive value of 100.0%, 59.1%, 17.6%, and 100.0%, respectively. A composite score combining the three risk factors had an AUROC of 0.902 (95% CI = 0.840–0.964) but with a risk of overfitting. Conclusions: An HCV RNA titer alone or a composite score combining the risk factors for HCV vertical transmission can potentially identify a population of pregnant patients where the rate of vertical transmission is high, allowing for potential interventions during antepartum care.
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Isoforms: Their Clinical Implications, Utilisation in Diagnosis, Prevention and New Antiviral Strategies
Authors: Lazarevic Ivana , Banko Ana , Miljanovic Danijela , Cupic Maja
Published: January 2024

The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a multifunctional glycoprotein composed of large (LHB), middle (MHB), and small (SHB) subunits. HBsAg isoforms have numerous biological functions during HBV infection—from initial and specific viral attachment to the hepatocytes to initiating chronic infection with their immunomodulatory properties. The genetic variability of HBsAg isoforms may play a role in several HBV-related liver phases and clinical manifestations, from occult hepatitis and viral reactivation upon immunosuppression to fulminant hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their immunogenic properties make them a major target for developing HBV vaccines, and in recent years they have been recognised as valuable targets for new therapeutic approaches. Initial research has already shown promising results in utilising HBsAg isoforms instead of quantitative HBsAg for correctly evaluating chronic infection phases and predicting functional cures. The ratio between surface components was shown to indicate specific outcomes of HBV and HDV infections. Thus, besides traditional HBsAg detection and quantitation, HBsAg isoform quantitation can become a useful non-invasive biomarker for assessing chronically infected patients. This review summarises the current knowledge of HBsAg isoforms, their potential usefulness and aspects deserving further research.
Phytochemical Profile, GC-MS Profiling and In Vitro Evaluation of Some Biological Applications of the Extracts of Origanum syriacum L. and Cousinia libanotica D.C.
Authors: Dawra Michella , Bouajila Jalloul , El Beyrouthy Marc , Taillandier Patricia , Nehme Nancy , El Rayess Youssef
Published: January 2024

Indigenous to Lebanon, Origanum syriacum L. and Cousinia libanotica D.C. are notable plants in the Middle East, with O. syriacum known for its aromatic qualities and C. libanotica being less explored. Both plants have a significant role in traditional medicine for treating various ailments. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological properties of the extracts from these plants. The extracts were obtained through cold maceration with solvents of increasing polarity. The ethyl acetate extract of O. syriacum exhibited the highest total polyphenol content. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified fifteen compounds in both C. libanotica and O. syriacum extracts, whereas gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis unveiled 179 volatile compounds. Notably, the O. syriacum-MeOH extract showed moderate antioxidant activity. Both plants’ methanolic extracts demonstrated significant anti-Alzheimer’s potential. The O. syriacum-dichloromethane and C. libanotica-cyclohexane extracts displayed the highest cytotoxicities against the HCT-116 cell line. For anti-proliferative activity against the Caco-2 cell line, the O. syriacum-methanol and C. libanotica-cyclohexane extracts were the most effective. This study provides valuable insights into the phytochemistry and potential therapeutic applications of extracts from these two oriental plant species.
Cellulose Functionalization Using N-Heterocyclic-Based Leaving Group Chemistry
Authors: Negi Arvind , Tehrani-Bagha Ali R.
Published: January 2024

There has been continuous interest in developing novel activators that facilitate the functionalization of cellulosic materials. In this paper, we developed a strategy in which trisubstituted triazinium salts act as cellulose preactivators. As leaving groups, these triazinium salts utilize N-heterocycles (pyridine, imidazole, and nicotinic acid). Initially, we optimized the synthetic route for developing these novel cellulose preactivators (triazinium salts), whose structures were confirmed using NMR spectroscopy. The surface zeta potential of cellulose changed from a negative value to a positive one after preactivation due to the cationic nature of these preactivators. To enhance the scope of the study, we functionalized the cellulose-preactivated materials with a series of amine- or hydroxy-containing aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, nucleophilic amino acids (cysteine), colorants (2-aminoanthraquinone and 2-amino-3-methyl-anthraquinone), and biopolymer (zein protein). The treated samples were analyzed using FTIR, time-gated Raman spectroscopy, and reflection spectroscopy, and the success of the functionalization process was validated. To widen the scope of such chemistries, we synthesized four reactive agents containing N-heterocyclic-based leaving groups (pyridine and nicotinic acid) and successfully functionalized cellulose with them in one step. The proposed single- and two-step functionalization approaches will provide opportunities for chemically linking various chemical compounds to cellulose for different applications.
A Comparison of Methods for Synthesizing Results from Previous Research to Obtain Priors for Bayesian Structural Equation Modeling
Authors: Finch Holmes
Published: January 2024

Bayesian estimation of latent variable models provides some unique advantages to researchers working with small samples and complex models when compared with the more commonly used maximum likelihood approach. A key aspect of Bayesian modeling involves the selection of prior distributions for the parameters of interest. Prior research has demonstrated that using default priors, which are typically noninformative, may yield biased and inefficient estimates. Therefore, it is recommended that data analysts obtain useful, informative priors from prior research whenever possible. The goal of the current simulation study was to compare several methods designed to combine results from prior studies that will yield informative priors for regression coefficients in structural equation models. These methods include noninformative priors, Bayesian synthesis, pooled analysis, aggregated priors, standard meta-analysis, power priors, and the meta-analytic predictive methods. Results demonstrated that power priors and meta-analytic predictive priors, used in conjunction with Bayesian estimation, may yield the most accurate estimates of the latent structure coefficients. Implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Suicide Prevention Strategies in Nigeria: Exploring Religious Roles, Insights, and Challenges
Authors: Nwafor Collins Ikeokwu
Published: January 2024

Suicide is a pressing issue in Nigeria, often linked to the stigmatisation of mental health rooted in supernatural beliefs. Revealing one’s mental health status is an invitation stigma, which discourages disclosure. The study of the problem of suicide has been reported in various academic publications that deal with the driving factors or the aftermath of suicide incidents in the country. Pastoral caregivers have been shown to play a crucial role in addressing this multifaceted problem. However, some clergy and religious caregivers lack knowledge about mental health, and healthcare providers may have negative attitudes. This conceptual review analyses the role of religion in suicide prevention, focusing on existing research in Nigeria. It examines different religious perspectives on suicide, recognising that acceptance varies within religious contexts. Chaplains and religious healthcare practitioners provide pastoral care through hospital visits, offering support, encouragement, and prayer. This paper advocates for suicide awareness in pastoral care, emphasising the importance of mental health promotion in religious communities. Recognising the challenges of identifying suicidal signs, the emotional impact, and the limited training of religious leaders, this paper concludes by highlighting the complexity of suicide prevention in religious settings. Despite the barriers, the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing mental health and the importance of perseverance in prevention efforts are emphasised.
Cross-Modal Retrieval and Semantic Refinement for Remote Sensing Image Captioning
Authors: Li Zhengxin , Zhao Wenzhe , Du Xuanyi , Zhou Guangyao , Zhang Songlin
Published: January 2024

Two-stage remote sensing image captioning (RSIC) methods have achieved promising results by incorporating additional pre-trained remote sensing tasks to extract supplementary information and improve caption quality. However, these methods face limitations in semantic comprehension, as pre-trained detectors/classifiers are constrained by predefined labels, leading to an oversight of the intricate and diverse details present in remote sensing images (RSIs). Additionally, the handling of auxiliary remote sensing tasks separately can introduce challenges in ensuring seamless integration and alignment with the captioning process. To address these problems, we propose a novel cross-modal retrieval and semantic refinement (CRSR) RSIC method. Specifically, we employ a cross-modal retrieval model to retrieve relevant sentences of each image. The words in these retrieved sentences are then considered as primary semantic information, providing valuable supplementary information for the captioning process. To further enhance the quality of the captions, we introduce a semantic refinement module that refines the primary semantic information, which helps to filter out misleading information and emphasize visually salient semantic information. A Transformer Mapper network is introduced to expand the representation of image features beyond the retrieved supplementary information with learnable queries. Both the refined semantic tokens and visual features are integrated and fed into a cross-modal decoder for caption generation. Through extensive experiments, we demonstrate the superiority of our CRSR method over existing state-of-the-art approaches on the RSICD, the UCM-Captions, and the Sydney-Captions datasets
Experimental Analysis of Deep-Sea AUV Based on Multi-Sensor Integrated Navigation and Positioning
Authors: Liu Yixu , Sun Yongfu , Li Baogang , Wang Xiangxin , Yang Lei
Published: January 2024

The operation of underwater vehicles in deep waters is a very challenging task. The use of AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicles) is the preferred option for underwater exploration activities. They can be autonomously navigated and controlled in real time underwater, which is only possible with precise spatio-temporal information. Navigation and positioning systems based on LBL (Long-Baseline) or USBL (Ultra-Short-Baseline) systems have their own characteristics, so the choice of system is based on the specific application scenario. However, comparative experiments on AUV navigation and positioning under both systems are rarely conducted, especially in the deep sea. This study describes navigation and positioning experiments on AUVs in deep-sea scenarios and compares the accuracy of the USBL and LBL/SINS (Strap-Down Inertial Navigation System)/DVL (Doppler Velocity Log) modes. In practice, the accuracy of the USBL positioning mode is higher when the AUV is within a 60° observation range below the ship; when the AUV is far away from the ship, the positioning accuracy decreases with increasing range and observation angle, i.e., the positioning error reaches 80 m at 4000 m depth. The navigational accuracy inside and outside the datum array is high when using the LBL/SINS/DVL mode; if the AUV is far from the datum array when climbing to the surface, the LBL cannot provide accurate position calibration while the DVL fails, resulting in large deviations in the SINS results. In summary, the use of multi-sensor combination navigation schemes is beneficial, and accurate position information acquisition should be based on the demand and cost, while other factors should also be comprehensively considered; this paper proposes the use of the LBL/SINS/DVL system scheme.
Seasonal Variability of Arctic Mid-Level Clouds and the Relationships with Sea Ice from 2003 to 2022: A Satellite Perspective
Authors: Wang Xi , Liu Jian , Liu Hui
Published: January 2024

Mid-level clouds play a crucial role in the Arctic. Due to observational limitations, there is scarce research on the long-term evolution of Arctic mid-level clouds. From a satellite perspective, this study attempts to analyze the seasonal variations in Arctic mid-level clouds and explore the possible relationships with sea ice changes using observations from the hyperspectral Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) over the past two decades. For mid-level clouds of three layers (648, 548, and 447 hPa) involved in AIRS, high values of effective cloud fraction (ECF) occur in summer, and low values primarily occur in early spring, while the seasonal variations are different. The ECF anomalies are notably larger at 648 hPa than those at 548 and 447 hPa. Meanwhile, the ECF values at 648 hPa show a clear reduced seasonal variability for the regions north of 80°N, which has its minimum coefficient of variation (CV) during 2019 to 2020. The seasonal CV is relatively lower in the regions dominated by Greenland and sea areas with less sea ice coverage. Analysis indicates that the decline in mid-level ECF’s seasonal mean CV is closely correlated to the retreat of Arctic sea ice during September. Singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis reveals a reverse spatial pattern in the seasonal CV anomaly of mid-level clouds and leads anomaly. However, it is worth noting that this pattern varies by region. In the Greenland Sea and areas near the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, both CV and leads demonstrate negative (positive) anomalies, probably attributed to the stronger influence of atmospheric and oceanic circulations or the presence of land on the sea ice in these areas.
Joint Active and Passive Beamforming in RIS-Assisted Secure ISAC Systems
Authors: Chen Jinsong , Wu Kai , Niu Jinping , Li Yanyan
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates joint beamforming in a secure integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) system assisted by reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS). The system communicates with legitimate downlink users, detecting a potential target, which is a potential eavesdropper attempting to intercept the downlink communication information from the base station (BS) to legitimate users. To enhance the physical-layer secrecy of the system, we design and introduce interference signals at the BS to disrupt eavesdroppers’ attempts to intercept legitimate communication information. The BS simultaneously transmits communication and interference signals, both utilized for communication and sensing to guarantee the sensing and communication quality. By jointly optimizing the BS active beamformer and the RIS passive beamforming matrix, we aim to maximize the achievable secrecy rate and radiation power of the system. We develop an effective scheme to find the active beamforming matrix through fractional programming (FP) and semi-definite programming (SDP) techniques and obtain the RIS phase shift matrix via a local search technique. Simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods in enhancing communication and sensing performance. Additionally, the results demonstrate the effectiveness of introducing the interference signals and RIS in enhancing the physical-layer secrecy of the ISAC system.
Wrist-to-Tibia/Shoe Inertial Measurement Results Translation Using Neural Networks
Authors: Kolakowski Marcin , Djaja-Josko Vitomir , Kolakowski Jerzy , Cichocki Jacek
Published: January 2024

Most of the established gait evaluation methods use inertial sensors mounted in the lower limb area (tibias, ankles, shoes). Such sensor placement gives good results in laboratory conditions but is hard to apply in everyday scenarios due to the sensors’ fragility and the user’s comfort. The paper presents an algorithm that enables translation of the inertial signal measurements (acceleration and angular velocity) registered with a wrist-worn sensor to signals, which would be obtained if the sensor was worn on a tibia or a shoe. Four different neural network architectures are considered for that purpose: Dense and CNN autoencoders, a CNN-LSTM hybrid, and a U-Net-based model. The performed experiments have shown that the CNN autoencoder and U-Net can be successfully applied for inertial signal translation purposes. Estimating gait parameters based on the translated signals yielded similar results to those obtained based on shoe-sensor signals.
Integrated Sensing and Secure Communication with XL-MIMO
Authors: Sun Ping , Dai Haibo , Wang Baoyun
Published: January 2024

This paper studies extremely large-scale multiple-input multiple-output (XL-MIMO)-empowered integrated sensing and secure communication systems, where both the radar targets and the communication user are located within the near-field region of the transmitter. The radar targets, being untrusted entities, have the potential to intercept the confidential messages intended for the communication user. In this context, we investigate the near-field beam-focusing design, aiming to maximize the achievable secrecy rate for the communication user while satisfying the transmit beampattern gain requirements for the radar targets. We address the corresponding globally optimal non-convex optimization problem by employing a semidefinite relaxation-based two-stage procedure. Additionally, we provide a sub-optimal solution to reduce complexity. Numerical results demonstrate that beam focusing enables the attainment of a positive secrecy rate, even when the radar targets and communication user align along the same angle direction.
Prediction of Bleeding via Simulation of Hydrodynamics in Centrifugal Partition Chromatography
Authors: Buthmann Felix , Volpert Sophia , Koop Jörg , Schembecker Gerhard
Published: January 2024

Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC) utilizes a two-phase liquid–liquid system as mobile and stationary phases. During operation, the latter continuously drains out of the rotor, despite it being in fact stationary, leading to decreasing separation efficiency over time, a phenomenon still poorly understood today because neither simulations nor extensive experimental investigations have addressed this so-called bleeding. With the model presented in this study, the underlying hydrodynamics are discussed in detail. This model can simulate bleeding over 60 s and is verified experimentally for different operating points (volumetric flow rates of 5, 12, and 20 mL⋅min−1) of the Centrifugal Partition Chromatograph utilizing an aqueous–organic phase system. We simulated two interconnected chambers at the rotor inlet and analyzed the loss of the stationary phase over time. The results of the simulated second chamber are closely aligned with the experimental validation results. Thus, the prediction of bleeding utilizing the simulation of hydrodynamics was successful. Moreover, we highlighted the benefits of the two-chamber setup modeled in this study compared to single-chamber models.
Female Leadership in Shia Islam: Women on the Way from Mujtahid to Marja’
Authors: Tahiiev Akif
Published: January 2024

Marja’ al-taqlid are Shia religious scholars of the highest level, something which takes decades to achieve. At present, most Shia scholars agree that women cannot be Marja’, i.e., create religious rulings for other people. But there is a space for discourse, and there are even a few scholars who disagree with the mainstream narrative. In this paper, I argue that, with time, the number of these scholars will increase, since Shia Islamic thought is ‘live’ and flexible, and adapts to the changing social conditions. The main obstacles that prevented women from reaching this level were the conservative views of some scholars and the lack of access to education. As the number of women with religious education constantly increases, the appearance of a female Marja’ will be a matter of time, but will still cause some resistance from some patriarchal members of society.
The Body, the Spirit, and the Other: Yantras as Embodied Cultural Integration
Authors: Jerrentrup Maja Tabea
Published: January 2024

This article looks at the Sak Yant tattoo style, which is becoming increasingly popular among so-called “Westerners”. It explores the questions of whether Sak Yant tattoos among “Westerners” will typically fall under copyright issues and cultural appropriation, and what makes Sak Yants relevant to clients. Underlying this research, with a marketing analysis of Sak Yants on Instagram, is the assumption that marketing is also guided by (anticipated) customer desires and can thus tell us something about their perspective. Two interrelated aspects become apparent: Sak Yants integrate aesthetics and spirituality as well as the body and mind, entities that are often considered separately in the “West”, which may be appealing to the “Western” customer and which sets Sak Yants apart from other tattoo styles. The meanings that Sak Yants have usually go deeper than just to the surface, as is not only illustrated by the process and permanence of tattooing but also by the importance of the ritual. People from the respective cultural contexts usually benefit and take part in the process. Therefore, instead of cultural appropriation or appreciation, one could perhaps speak of cultural participation or integration.
Shifts in Soil Bacterial Communities under Three-Year Fertilization Management and Multiple Cropping Systems
Authors: Yaghoubi Khanghahi Mohammad , Curci Maddalena , Cazzato Eugenio , Lasorella Cesare , Traversa Andreina , Crecchio Carmine , Spagnuolo Matteo
Published: January 2024

The current study was undertaken to investigate how organic and inorganic fertilizers shape soil bacterial communities and soil nitrogen and carbon status and to find their relationships with plant production. Soils were collected from fields under a three-year application of green manures (vetch (GMV), field bean (GMB), and wheat (GMW)), livestock manure (MF), inorganic mineral fertilizer (IF), and control (no nitrogen fertilization). The plants cultivated during the three years were tomato, watermelon, and pepper, respectively. The findings showed an increase in crop yields under both organic and inorganic fertilizers, in which the effects of leguminous green manures (GMV and GMB) were more pronounced, equal to +65–81% in tomato, +32–40% in watermelon, and +51–57% in pepper. An extensive modification in the bacterial communities was observed under organic fertilization. These changes were associated with a higher ratio of Proteobacteria (a copiotrophic phylum) to Acidobacteria (an oligotrophic phylum) in GMV and GMB, due to higher soil N content compared to IF and control treatments. Therefore, the data indicated an increase in soil N and organic C levels, as well as higher plant production by replacing IF with GMV, GMB, and MF, suggesting a promising movement to preserve the soil ecosystem. Such changes were more pronounced in MF-treated soils, where bacterial diversity improved and the heterogeneity of bacterial communities was preserved.
Optimal Planning of Urban Building-Type Integrated Energy Systems Considering Indoor Somatosensory Comfort and PV Consumption
Authors: You Guangzeng , Sun Peng , Lei Yi , Zhang Donghui , Li Haibo
Published: January 2024

Building energy consumption is the main urban energy consumption component, which mainly serves people-centered work and living energy demands. Based on the physical requirements of humans in urban buildings and to determine the comfortable body temperature in each season, this paper establishes a sizing optimization model of building-type integrated energy systems (IES) for sustainable development, where the cooling and heating loads required to maintain indoor somatosensory body comfort temperature are calculated. Depending on the external energy price, internal power balance, and other constraints, the model develops an optimal sizing and capacity-planning method of energy conversion and storage unit in a building-type IES with PV generation. The operating principle is described as follows: the PV generation is fully consumed, a gas engine satisfies the electric and thermal base load requirements, and the power system and a heat pump supply the remaining loads. The gas price, peak-valley electricity price gap, and heat-to-power ratio of gas engines are considered important factors for the overall techno-economic analysis. The developed method is applied to optimize the economic performance of building-type IES and verified by practical examples. The results show that using the complementary characteristics of different energy conversion units is important to the overall IES cost. A 300 kW building photovoltaic system can reduce the gas engine capacity from 936.7 kW to 854.7 kW, and the annual cost can be approximately reduced from 7.82 million to 7.50 million RMB yuan.
Sustainable Economy: The Eco-Branding of an Industrial Region in Kazakhstan
Authors: Davidenko Lyudmila , Sherimova Nurzhanat , Kunyazova Saule , Amirova Maral , Beisembina Ansagan
Published: January 2024

In the sustainable economy, consumer preferences are gradually beginning to prioritize environmentally friendly products and services. A sustainable economy is directly linked to the growth of consumer welfare and the environmental culture. The success of environmental projects is largely determined by approaches to the management of complex interconnected objects, which operate in developed industrial regions. In this regard, we formulate the purpose of this study, which is to generalize approaches to and to improve the mechanisms of the ecological branding of the industrial complex of a region through conscious ESG transformation. For this purpose, we have studied the statistics and principles of the management systems of Kazakhstani companies and their stakeholders. The focus was on the Pavlodar industrial region, where metallurgical production, petrochemicals, the agro-industrial sector, the banking sector, and logistics hubs are developed. The vision and the mechanisms that can influence the development of the export potential of products with an “ecological brand” were studied. A survey of export-oriented organizations helped to identify the behavioral attributes of the “new generation eco-consumer”, namely, a conscious desire to reduce the negative impact of production and economic activities on the environment. The theoretical significance of this study helps to reveal the influence of the ecological principles of the organization of modern production on the speed of transition to green technologies. Its practical significance is seen in the formation of a system for measuring the level of readiness of companies to promote the ecological branding of a region’s industry outside its country.
System Construction, Tourism Empowerment, and Community Participation: The Sustainable Way of Rural Tourism Development
Authors: Tong Junhui , Li Yi , Yang Yongliang
Published: January 2024

The development of rural tourism serves as a crucial strategy for achieving rural revitalization and common prosperity in China. However, the uneven distribution of interests caused by the imperfect tourism destination system is common, and its economic and social impacts have become a major problem and obstacle to the sustainable development of rural tourism. Tourism empowerment and community participation are important for balancing community interests and promoting the sustainable development of tourism. Therefore, from the perspective of tourism empowerment and community participation, this paper takes the Wuzhen scenic area as a case study and considers tourism empowerment as a mediating variable between system construction and community participation, with participation ability serving as a moderating variable. Employing a structural equation model, this paper investigates the interactions among system construction, tourism empowerment, community participation, and participation ability in a rural destination context. The results indicate that system construction significantly benefits tourism empowerment and community participation. Tourism empowerment exerts a significant positive impact on community participation while also serving as a partial mediator between system construction and community participation. Additionally, participation ability positively moderates the impact of system construction on tourism empowerment. This study recommends the creation of an interest linkage mechanism grounded in the property rights of tourism attractions, the introduction of oversight mechanisms for rural tourism enterprises, and the fortification of community participation through educational and informational support as strategies to ensure the sustainable development of rural tourism destinations.
Sustainability Unleashed through Innovation: Knowledge-Driven Strategies Igniting Labor Productivity in Small- and Medium-Sized Engineering Enterprises
Authors: Khalil Wali Imran , Malik Muhammad Omar , Ahsan Ali
Published: January 2024

This research is focused on knowledge-based performance drivers, which are often intertwined with intellectual capital (IC); specifically, the value-added intellectual coefficient (VAIC) and its profound influence on labor productivity (LP), with the pivotal inputs of training and research and development (R&D) as moderating, in the realm of small- and medium-sized (engineering) enterprises (SMEs). The aim is to offer this as a sustainable model for practical implementation to empower engineering managers, donors, and policy researchers. The motivation catalyzes more informed decision-making investing in human or structural capital. It attempts to foster sustainable growth and societal stability through job creation within the knowledge-intensive engineering sector of developing countries. Methodologically, the research draws upon statistical analysis, employing Pearson’s correlation, multivariate regression, and model testing executed through specialized statistical software. The World Bank Enterprise Survey Instrument was used to collect data on 213 aviation-related firms. Primary data were collected for the years 2013–2022. Several hypotheses were developed between the variables expected to relate positively, because intellectual capital, training, and research and development should lead to better labor productivity. The findings revealed the critical issue of the misallocated investments in structural capital that this model brought forth. Furthermore, the notable contribution to national intellectual capital (NIC) studies is the significant VAIC value of 4.58 and an impressive labor productivity value of 6.78 within the knowledge-intensive ecosystem of SMEs. More insightful findings were the modest 17% positive variation attributable to the VAIC on LP, accompanied by an absence of significant influence exerted by training and R&D on this relationship. While underscoring the model’s overall validity, this intriguing discovery emphasizes the impact of intangibles on knowledge firms’ overall sustainability calculations, specifically structural capital, which accounts for a substantial 31% of labor productivity. The practical implication is that this model can be used to expose long-term financial performance hiccups through intellectual capital measures. The novelty is employing the labor productivity metric sourced from the engineering literature instead of the customary asset productivity (ATO) ratio from the IC literature.
Valorization of Acid Leaching Post-Consumer Gypsum Purification Wastewater
Authors: Castro-Díaz Miguel , Cavalaro Sergio , Osmani Mohamed , Morsali Saeed , Gutai Matyas , Needham Paul , Parker Bill , Lovato Tatiana
Published: January 2024

Industries are required to utilize treatment technologies to reduce contaminants in wastewater prior to discharge and to valorize by-products to increase sustainability and competitiveness. Most acid leaching gypsum purification studies have obviated the treatment of the highly acidic wastewater produced. In this work, acidic wastewater from acid leaching purification of post-consumer gypsum was treated to recover a valuable solid product and reusable water. The main aims of this work were to determine the impact of recirculating acidic and treated wastewaters on the efficiency of the acid leaching purification process and to valorize the impurities in the wastewater. Samples were characterized through X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. SimaPro 9.5 and the ReCiPe 2016 midpoint method were used for the life cycle assessment of three sustainable wastewater management approaches. The reuse of the acidic wastewater did not improve the chemical purity of gypsum. Soluble impurities were precipitated at pH 10.5 as a magnesium-rich gypsum that could be commercialized as fertilizer or soil ameliorant. The alkaline-treated water was reused for six acid leaching purification cycles without impacting the efficiency of the purification process. An acid leaching–neutralization–filtration–precipitation approach demonstrated superior overall environmental performance. Barriers and enabling measures for the implementation of an in-house wastewater treatment were identified.
Siamese Tracking Network with Spatial-Semantic-Aware Attention and Flexible Spatiotemporal Constraint
Authors: Zhang Huanlong , Wang Panyun , Zhang Jie , Wang Fengxian , Song Xiaohui , Zhou Hebin
Published: January 2024

Siamese trackers based on classification and regression have drawn extensive attention due to their appropriate balance between accuracy and efficiency. However, most of them are prone to failure in the face of abrupt motion or appearance changes. This paper proposes a Siamese-based tracker that incorporates spatial-semantic-aware attention and flexible spatiotemporal constraint. First, we develop a spatial-semantic-aware attention model, which identifies the importance of each feature region and channel to target representation through the single convolution attention network with a loss function and increases the corresponding weights in the spatial and channel dimensions to reinforce the target region and semantic information on the target feature map. Secondly, considering that the traditional method unreasonably weights the target response in abrupt motion, we design a flexible spatiotemporal constraint. This constraint adaptively adjusts the constraint weights on the response map by evaluating the tracking result. Finally, we propose a new template updating the strategy. This strategy adaptively adjusts the contribution weights of the tracking result to the new template using depth correlation assessment criteria, thereby enhancing the reliability of the template. The Siamese network used in this paper is a symmetric neural network with dual input branches sharing weights. The experimental results on five challenging datasets show that our method outperformed other advanced algorithms.
Data-Tracking in Blockchain Utilizing Hash Chain: A Study of Structured and Adaptive Process
Authors: Kim Sungbeen , Kim Dohoon
Published: January 2024

This study presents a series of structured and adaptive processes aimed at tracking and verifying transactions recorded on the blockchain. Permissioned blockchains are employed across diverse enterprises for various purposes, including data recording, management, the utilization of blockchain services, and authentication. However, the processes of data tracking and transactions incur substantial resource and time expenditure. Furthermore, there is potential for information asymmetry within the blockchain ledger due to data breach attacks. Consequently, we propose a contract structured as a hash chain to mitigate resource and time consumption in the tracking and verification processes by organizing transaction hash values and content in a hash chain format based on cryptography. We generate a hash chain for the recorded transactions along the process line and expedite the tracking and verification process by navigating the relevant hash chain. This approach achieves faster and more accurate tracking procedures compared to conventional transaction tracking processes, simultaneously maintaining data symmetry within the blockchain ledger. We conduct a comparative analysis of a contract-based hash-chain-employing structure and two contracts related to tracking in terms of tracking time, CPU usage, and network traffic, among other metrics. The findings suggest that structuring transaction data in the form of a hash chain significantly enhances the efficiency and integrity of the data-tracking and verification processes. Consequently, in this study, we advocate for the adoption of contracts based on the hash chain format when leveraging the blockchain for tracking and verification purposes across various institutions.