bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody in Chronic Kidney Disease (Dialysis Independent and Not)
Authors: Siddi Mariana , Molinari Paolo , Alfieri Carlo Maria , Tangredi Marianna , Lunghi Giovanna , Colombo Elisa , Uceda Renteria Sara , Grimaldi Emanuele , Ceriotti Ferruccio , Castellano Giuseppe , Fabrizi Fabrizio
Published: May 2022

Background: The evidence in the medical literature regarding the prevalence of antibody towards SARS-CoV-2 in patients with chronic kidney disease is limited, particularly among those at the pre-dialysis stage. Aim: We have prospectively performed a cohort study at a third-level university hospital to evaluate frequency and risk factors for anti-SARS-CoV-2-positive serology among chronic kidney disease patients. Methods: We have tested a cohort of consecutive outpatients with chronic kidney disease on regular follow-up at a major metropolitan hospital, during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Italy. We adopted an enzyme immunoassay for the assessment of IgM/IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in human serum or plasma (DIA.PRO COVID-19 Serological Assay); the assay detects antibodies against Spike (1/2) and Nucleocapsid proteins of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. Results: There were 199 (65.8%) out of 302 patients with dialysis-independent CKD; 2 patients were anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM antibody positive, 23 were anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG positive and 37 had detectable anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody in serum. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG was 20.5% (60/302). All patients positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody tested negative by nasopharyngeal swab. A significant and independent relationship between anti-SARS-CoV-2-positive serologic status and serum albumin (a marker of nutritional status) was observed (p < 0.046). The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody was greater in CKD than in control populations (health care workers and blood donors) attending the hospital a few months before the current study (7.6% and 5.2%, respectively). Conclusions: The great prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody in our study group could be, at least partially, explained with the fact that our patients were living in Milan, an area severely hit by SARS-CoV-2 infection. It seems that a poor nutritional status supports the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 antibody in CKD patients. Clinical studies to understand the mechanisms responsible for the high frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection are under way.
Re-Examining the Importance of Pigs in the Transmission of Japanese Encephalitis Virus
Authors: Park So Lee , Huang Yan-Jang S. , Vanlandingham Dana L.
Published: May 2022

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is the leading cause of pediatric encephalitis in Southeast Asia. The enzootic transmission of JEV involves two types of amplifying hosts, swine and avian species. The involvement of pigs in the transmission cycle makes JEV a unique pathogen because human Japanese encephalitis cases are frequently linked to the epizootic spillover from pigs, which can not only develop viremia to sustain transmission but also signs of neurotropic and reproductive disease. The existing knowledge of the epidemiology of JEV largely suggests that viremic pigs are a source of infectious viruses for competent mosquito species, especially Culex tritaeniorhynchus in the endemic regions. However, several recently published studies that applied molecular detection techniques to the characterization of JEV pathogenesis in pigs described the shedding of JEV through multiple routes and persistent infection, both of which have not been reported in the past. These findings warrant a re-examination of the role that pigs are playing in the transmission and maintenance of JEV. In this review, we summarize discoveries on the shedding of JEV during the course of infection and analyze the available published evidence to discuss the possible role of the vector-free JEV transmission route among pigs in viral maintenance.
Real-World Evidence for Favourable Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Hungarian Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Treated for Two Years with Oral Teriflunomide: Results of the Teri-REAL Study
Authors: Bencsik Krisztina , Dobos Enikő , Jobbágy Zita , Birkás Adrienne Jóri , Kovács Krisztina , Sátori Mária , Lencsés Gyula , Bartok Gabor , Losonczi Erika , Vécsei László ,   on behalf of the Teri-REAL Investigators
Published: May 2022

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is a degenerative, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system in which symptoms and disability progression vary significantly among patients. Teri-REAL was a prospective, real-world observational study that examined quality-of-life (QoL) and treatment outcomes in a Hungarian cohort of RRMS patients treated with once-daily oral teriflunomide. QoL was assessed at baseline, 12, and 24 months with the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQoL-54) questionnaire. Other measurements included disease progression (Patient Determined Disease Steps [PDDS]), clinical efficacy (relapses), fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale [FIS]), depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI]), cognition (Brief International Cognitive Assessment in MS [BICAMS]), persistence and safety. 212 patients were enrolled (69.1% female, 50.5% treatment naïve), with 146 (69%) completing the study. Statistically significant improvements in subscales of the MSQoL-54 versus baseline were found at Month 12 and Month 24. Significant improvements were also observed for individual components of the BICAMS score at 24 months, while PDDS, FIS and BDI scores remained stable. The mean annualised relapse rate was 0.08 ± 0.32. There were 93 safety events, most of which were mild to moderate. Improved QoL and cognitive outcomes in teriflunomide-treated patients over 2 years offer a unique perspective to this real-world study.
RETRACTED: Poly (N-vinylcaprolactam-grafted-sodium alginate) Based Injectable pH/Thermo Responsive In Situ Forming Depot Hydrogels for Prolonged Controlled Anticancer Drug Delivery; In Vitro, In Vivo Characterization and Toxicity Evaluation
Authors: Khan Samiullah , Minhas Muhammad , Aqeel Muhammad , Shah Ihsan , Khan Shahzeb , Kazi Mohsin , Warnken Zachary
Published: May 2022

This study was aimed to develop novel in situ forming gels based on N-vinylcaprolactam, sodium alginate, and N,N-methylenebisacrylamide. The in situ Poly (NVRCL-g-NaAlg) gels were developed using the cold and free radical polymerization method. The structure formation, thermal stability, and porous nature of gels was confirmed by FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, and SEM. The tunable gelation temperature was evaluated by tube titling and rheological analysis. Optical transmittance showed that all formulations demonstrated phase transition around 33 °C. The swelling and release profile showed that gels offered maximum swelling and controlled 5-FU release at 25 °C and pH (7.4), owing to a relaxed state. Porosity and mesh size showed an effect on swelling and drug release. The in vitro degradation profile demonstrated a controlled degradation rate. An MTT assay confirmed that formulations are safe tested against Vero cells. In vitro cytotoxicity showed that 5-FU loaded gels have controlled cytotoxic potential against HeLa and MCF-7 cells (IC50 = 39.91 µg/mL and 46.82 µg/mL) compared to free 5-FU (IC50 = 50.52 µg/mL and 53.58 µg/mL). Histopathological study demonstrated no harmful effects of gels on major organs. The in vivo bioavailability in rabbits showed a controlled release in gel form (Cmax, 1433.59 ± 45.09 ng/mL) compared to a free drug (Cmax, 2263.31 ± 13.36 ng/mL) after the subcutaneous injection.
Enhancing Finite Element-Based Photoacoustic Tomography by Localized Reconstruction Method
Authors: Sun Yao , Jiang Huabei
Published: May 2022

Iterative reconstruction algorithm based on finite element (FE) modeling is a powerful approach in photoacoustic tomography (PAT). However, an iterative inverse algorithm using conventional FE meshing of the entire imaging zone is computationally demanding, which hinders this powerful tool in applications where quick image acquisition and/or a large image matrix is needed. To address this challenge, parallel computing techniques are proposed and implemented in the field. Here, we present an alternative approach for 2D PAT, which locoregionally reconstructs the region of interest (ROI) instead of the full imaging zone. Our simulated and phantom experimental results demonstrate that this ROI reconstruction algorithm can produce almost the same image quality as the conventional full zone-based reconstruction algorithm; however, the computation time can be significantly reduced without any additional hardware cost by more than two orders of magnitude (100-fold). This algorithm is further applied and validated in an in vivo study. The major vessel structures in a rat’s brain can be imaged clearly using our ROI-based approach, coupled with a mesh of 11,801 nodes. This novel algorithm can also be parallelized using MPI or GPU acceleration techniques to further enhance the reconstruction performance of FE-based PAT.
Synthesis and Optimization of a Free-Radical/Cationic Hybrid Photosensitive UV Curable Resin Using Polyurethane Acrylate and Graphene Oxide
Authors: Huang Lijie , Wang Yanan , Wei Zhehao , Han Xiaoxue , Mo Qi , Wang Xiyue , Li Yishan
Published: May 2022

Cost-effective, practical, and efficiently performing photosensitive resin composite materials are essential, as the current materials are expensive, lack better alternatives, and do not meet 3D printing standards. In this study, based on orthogonal experiments for photosensitive resin curing, we prepared a free-radical/cationic hybrid photosensitive UV cured resin (UVR) using acrylic ester and epoxy resin as the prepolymers, tripropylenediol diacrylate (TPGDA) as the active diluent, and triaryl sulfonium salt (I-160) and 2,2-dimethyl-α-hydroxy acetophenone (1173) as the photoinitiators, in the optimized formula of acrylic-ester:epoxy-resin:TPGDA:I-160:1173 = 37.5:37.5:20:2.5:2.5. Further, we investigated the effects of polyurethane acrylates (PUA) and Graphene oxide (GO) on the surface morphology, chemical structure, hydrophobicity, mechanical strength, and gelation rate of the hybrid resin. We observed that 20% PUA improved tensile strength to the maximum of 36.89 MPa from 16.42 MPa of the unmodified hybrid resin, whereas 1% GO reduced volume shrinkage to the minimum of 2.89% from 3.73% of the unmodified hybrid resin. These photosensitive resins with higher tensile strength and lower volume shrinkage can be used to synthesize high performance functional materials in the future.
Functionalization of Polymer Surface with Antimicrobial Microcapsules
Authors: Rezić Iva , Somogyi Škoc Maja , Majdak Mislav , Jurić Slaven , Stracenski Katarina Sopko , Vinceković Marko
Published: May 2022

The development of antimicrobial polymers is a priority for engineers fighting microbial resistant strains. Silver ions and silver nanoparticles can assist in enhancing the antimicrobial properties of microcapsules that release such substances in time which prolongs the efficiency of antimicrobial effects. Therefore, this study aimed to functionalize different polymer surfaces with antimicrobial core/shell microcapsules. Microcapsules were made of sodium alginate in shell and filled with antimicrobial silver in their core prior to application on the surface of polymer materials by dip-coating methodology. Characterization of polymers after functionalization was performed by several spectroscopic and microscopic techniques. After the characterization of polymers before and after the functionalization, the release of the active substances was monitored in time. The obtained test results can help with the calculation on the minimal concentration of antimicrobial silver that is encapsulated to achieve the desired amounts of release over time.
Green Composites from Partially Bio-Based Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate)-PBSA and Short Hemp Fibers with Itaconic Acid-Derived Compatibilizers and Plasticizers
Authors: Dolza Celia , Gonga Eloi , Fages Eduardo , Tejada-Oliveros Ramon , Balart Rafael , Quiles-Carrillo Luis
Published: May 2022

In this work, green composites have been developed and characterized using a bio-based polymeric matrix such as BioPBSA and the introduction of 30 wt.% short hemp fibers as a natural reinforcement to obtain materials with maximum environmental efficiency. In order to increase the interfacial adhesion between the matrix and the fiber to obtain better properties in the composites, a reactive extrusion process has been carried out. On the one hand, different additives derived from bio-based itaconic acid have been added to the BioPBSA/HEMP composite, such as dibutyl itaconate (DBI) and a copolymer of PBSA grafted with itaconic acid (PBSA-g-IA). On the other hand, a different copolymer of PBSA grafted with maleic anhydride (PBSA-g-MA) was also tested. The resulting composites have been processed by injection-molding to obtain different samples which were evaluated in terms of mechanical, thermal, chemical, dynamic-mechanical, morphological and wettability and color properties. In relation to the mechanical properties, the incorporation of hemp fibers resulted in an increase in the stiffness of the base polymer. The tensile modulus of pure BioPBSA increased from 281 MPa to 3482 MPa with 30% fiber. The addition of DBI shows a remarkable improvement in the ductility of the composites, while copolymers with IA and MA, generate mechanically balanced composites. In terms of thermal properties, the incorporation of hemp fiber and compatibilizing agents led to a reduction in thermal stability. However, from the point of view of thermomechanical properties, a clear increase in rigidity is achieved throughout the temperature range studied. As far as the color of the samples is concerned, the incorporation of hemp generates a typical color, while the incorporation of the compatibilizing agents does not modify this color excessively. Finally, the introduction of lignocellulosic fibers greatly affects water absorption and contact angle, although the use of additives helped to mitigate this effect.
Electrochemical Investigation of PANI:PPy/AC and PANI:PEDOT/AC Composites as Electrode Materials in Supercapacitors
Authors: Khan Shahbaz , Alkhedher Mohammad , Raza Rizwan , Ahmad Muhammad Ashfaq , Majid Abdul , Din ElSayed M. Tag El
Published: May 2022

The electrochemical deposition of the composites polyaniline (PANI):polypyrrole (PPy)/activated carbon (AC) and polyaniline (PANI): 3, 4-polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT)/AC films is carried out in this work. The electrochemical character of the fabricated samples is investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) using a three-electrode setup. The values of the specific capacitance of the composites PANI:PPy/AC and PANI:PEDOT/AC at a current density of 1 Ag−1 are evaluated as 586 Fg−1 and 611 Fg−1, respectively. The values of energy density are 40 Whkg−1 and 2094 Wkg−1, whereas power density is recorded as 44 Whkg−1 and 2160 Wkg−1 for respective composites PANI:PPy/AC and PANI:PEDOT/AC. Moreover, the respective composites appeared to retain cyclic stabilities of 92% and 90%. This study points to the potential of the prepared composites for application as electrodes in supercapacitors.
Effect on the Properties of Edible Starch-Based Films by the Incorporation of Additives: A Review
Authors: Singh Gurvendra , Bangar Sneh , Yang Tianxi , Trif Monica , Kumar Vinod , Kumar Dinesh
Published: May 2022

At present, people more actively pursuing biodegradable-based food packaging to lower the environmental problems of plastic-based packaging. Starch could become a promising alternative to plastic because of its properties (easily available, nontoxic, tasteless, biodegradable, ecofriendly, and edible). This review article is focused mainly on the impact of the properties of starch-based biodegradable films, such as their thickness, morphology, and optical, water-barrier, mechanical, oxygen-barrier, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, after the incorporation of additives, and how such films fulfill the demands of the manufacturing of biodegradable and edible food-based film with preferable performance. The incorporation of additives in starch-based films is largely explained by its functioning as a filler, as shown via a reduction in water and oxygen permeability, increased thickness, and better mechanical properties. Additives also showed antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in the films/coatings, which would positively impact the shelf life of coated or wrapped food material.
Degradation of P(3HB-co-4HB) Films in Simulated Body Fluids
Authors: Vodicka Juraj , Wikarska Monika , Trudicova Monika , Juglova Zuzana , Pospisilova Aneta , Kalina Michal , Slaninova Eva , Obruca Stanislav , Sedlacek Petr
Published: May 2022

A novel model of biodegradable PHA copolymer films preparation was applied to evaluate the biodegradability of various PHA copolymers and to discuss its biomedical applicability. In this study, we illustrate the potential biomaterial degradation rate affectability by manipulation of monomer composition via controlling the biosynthetic strategies. Within the experimental investigation, we have prepared two different copolymers of 3-hydroxybutyrate and 4-hydroxybutyrate—P(3HB-co-36 mol.% 4HB) and P(3HB-co-66 mol.% 4HB), by cultivating the thermophilic bacterial strain Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 and further investigated its degradability in simulated body fluids (SBFs). Both copolymers revealed faster weight reduction in synthetic gastric juice (SGJ) and artificial colonic fluid (ACF) than simple homopolymer P3HB. In addition, degradation mechanisms differed across tested polymers, according to SEM micrographs. While incubated in SGJ, samples were fragmented due to fast hydrolysis sourcing from substantially low pH, which suggest abiotic degradation as the major degradation mechanism. On the contrary, ACF incubation indicated obvious enzymatic hydrolysis. Further, no cytotoxicity of the waste fluids was observed on CaCO-2 cell line. Based on these results in combination with high production flexibility, we suggest P(3HB-co-4HB) copolymers produced by Aneurinibacillus sp. H1 as being very auspicious polymers for intestinal in vivo treatments.
Study on Compressive Properties and Dynamic Characteristics of Polypropylene-Fiber-and-Cement-Modified Iron-Ore Tailing under Traffic Load
Authors: Jiang Ping , Chen Yewen , Song Xinjiang , Li Na , Wang Wei , Wu Erlu
Published: May 2022

Using polypropylene (PP) fiber and cement to modify iron-ore tailing and applying it to road engineering is an effective way to reuse iron-ore tailing. The compressive properties and deformation characteristics of PP-fiber-and-cement-modified iron-ore tailing (FCIT) under traffic load were studied by the unconfined-compressive-strength (UCS) test and the dynamical-triaxial (DT) test. The test results indicated that the UCS and residual strength both increased with increasing PP-fiber content, and tensile and toughness properties were positively correlated with PP-fiber content. Moreover, the dynamic elastic modulus and damping of FCIT both showed a negative linear relationship with cycle time. It can be found from the test results that 0.75% was the best PP-fiber content to modify iron tailing sand in this work. Lastly, a prediction model was developed to describe the relationship between the cumulative plastic strain, PP-fiber content and cycle time, which can effectively capture the evolution law of the cumulative plastic strain with cycle time of FCITs at different PP-fiber contents.
Novel Copper Complexes as Visible Light Photoinitiators for the Synthesis of Interpenetrating Polymer Networks (IPNs)
Authors: Rahal Mahmoud , Noirbent Guillaume , Graff Bernadette , Toufaily Joumana , Hamieh Tayssir , Gigmes Didier , Dumur Frédéric , Lalevée Jacques
Published: May 2022

This work is devoted to the study of two copper complexes (Cu) bearing pyridine ligands, which were synthesized, evaluated and tested as new visible light photoinitiators for the free radical photopolymerization (FRP) of acrylates functional groups in thick and thin samples upon light-emitting diodes (LED) at 405 and 455 nm irradiation. These latter wavelengths are considered to be safe to produce polymer materials. The photoinitiation abilities of these organometallic compounds were evaluated in combination with an iodonium (Iod) salt and/or amine (e.g., N-phenylglycine—NPG). Interestingly, high final conversions and high polymerization rates were obtained for both compounds using two and three-component photoinitiating systems (Cu1 (or Cu2)/Iodonium salt (Iod) (0.1%/1% w/w) and Cu1 (or Cu2)/Iod/amine (0.1%/1%/1% w/w/w)). The new proposed copper complexes were also used for direct laser write experiments involving a laser diode at 405 nm, and for the photocomposite synthesis with glass fibers using a UV-conveyor at 395 nm. To explain the obtained polymerization results, different methods and characterization techniques were used: steady-state photolysis, real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (RT-FTIR), emission spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry.
Modified Flory–Rehner Theory Describes Thermotropic Swelling Transition of Smart Copolymer Microgels
Authors: Friesen Simon , Kakorin Sergej , Hellweg Thomas
Published: May 2022

In the present article, we use an improved Flory–Rehner theory to describe the swelling behavior of copolymer microgels, where the interaction parameter is modeled by a Hill-like equation for a cooperative thermotropic transition. This description leads to very good fits of the swelling curves of the copolymer microgels at different comonomer contents (30 mol%, 50 mol% and 70 mol%) obtained by photon correlation spectroscopy. Fixed parameters, which are universally applicable for the respective monomers given in our previous work, are used to fit the swelling curves. The analysis of the swelling curves yields physically reasonable and meaningful results for the remaining adjustable parameters. The comonomer content of the statistical copolymer microgels poly(NNPAM-co-NIPAM), poly(NIPAM-co-NIPMAM) and poly(NIPMAM-co-NNPAM) is determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and is in agreement with the nominal comonomer feed used in the synthesis. To investigate the volume phase transition at a molecular level, swelling curves are also measured by Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. The obtained swelling curves are also fitted using the Hill-like model. The fits provide physically reasonable parameters too, consistent with the results from photon correlation spectroscopy.
β-Cyclodextrin-Based Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Fibers for Sustained Release of Fragrances
Authors: Xing Chengyuan , Xu Xia , Song Lei , Wang Xiaoling , Li Bangjing , Guo Kun
Published: May 2022

Poly (vinyl alcohol)/β-cyclodextrin (PVA/CD) composite fibers are prepared by wet spinning followed by hot stretching. XRD results show that β-CDs are in an amorphous state in fiber, and β-CD can help maintain the fibrous crystal that exists in the composite fiber. The DSC results show that the total crystalline ratio of the composite fibers decreased with the increase of β-CD. The as-prepared composite fibers were further crosslinked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to improve their usability. The crosslinked structure, together with amorphous β-CD, contributes to the loading and sustained release of fragrance molecules that were studied. The fragrance retention ratio of PVA/CD/GA is 55.63% and 48.25% for cis-jasmone and citronella, even after 25 days. The inclusion complexes of β-CD and fragrance molecules are confirmed by 2D-FTIR, which is responsible for the sustained release of fragrance. This study may contribute to the mass production of wearable long-term scented fabrics.
Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology
Authors: Boscaljon Daniel
Published: May 2022

This article examines the role of hope relative to the unexplored potential of narrative theology as a particular mode of thinking. The first section provides a brief introduction. The second section begins by discussing the world of experience as postulated by Alfred North Whitehead: I argue that literal idolatry forms as a specific technology based around the use of symbols. The third section explores the resources of narrative as a centrifugal model of metaphor that serves as a robust alternative literal idolatry: I argue that narratives develop the intellect through pattern recognition and the imagination through empathetic recognition, and then describe how narrative theory’s emphasis on focalized perspectives opens hopeful expectations of the future. The fourth section explores Ricoeur’s work in narrative theology, defining it as a “field” whose dynamic emphasis on tension provides an alternative to the static, “closed circuit” of religious symbols. The final section looks at Colson Whitehead’s The Intuitionist as a contemporary novel that seems to fit with Ricoeur’s stipulations for what generates a field of narrative theology.
A Star God Is Born: Chintaku Reifujin Talismans in Japanese Religions
Authors: Kim Sujung
Published: May 2022

This article examines a talismanic culture in Japanese religions through the case of the Chintaku reifu 鎮宅霊符 (“numinous talismans for the stabilization of residences”). Whereas previous scholarship viewed the set of seventy-two talismans as having an ancient Korean origin or connection to the Onmyōdō 陰陽道 tradition in Japan, my analysis of the talismans suggests that they arrived in Japan directly from Ming China around the late Muromachi period. Once introduced, the talismans were widely adopted across different religious traditions such as Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism, and Shugendō under the name Chintaku reifujin 鎮宅霊符神 (the god of Chintaku reifu talismans) in Japan. Locating the talismans as a major force that shaped the medieval and early modern Japanese religious landscape, this article argues that the worship was not an extension or variation of Chinese Big Dipper worship but a sophisticated form of religious mosaic, which allowed an array of different forms of doctrinal thinking, cosmological knowledge, and ritual logics to coexist.
Recasting Paul as a Chauvinist within the Western Text-Type Manuscript Tradition: Implications for the Authorship Debate on 1 Corinthians 14.34-35
Authors: Wilson Joseph
Published: May 2022

The mandate for women’s silence in 1 Corinthians 14.34-35 is an incongruity within Paul’s undisputed writings. Critical scholars expressed doubts about these verses’ authorship beginning in the nineteenth century. The consensus of egalitarian Paulists today is that vv.34-35 are not Paul’s sentiments. Disagreements about circumstances beyond this fact remain unresolved. Supporters of the quotation/refutation (“Q/R”) hypothesis argue that Paul quoted a letter from Corinth in vv.34-35 and refuted it in v.36. Supporters of the interpolation hypothesis regard the passage as a marginal gloss by a later author, inserted at one of two locations (after v.33 or v.40). The present work favors the Q/R position. Tertullian of Carthage (c.155-220 CE) was the first known exegetist of vv.34-35. Tertullian and his successors employed the Western text-type manuscript tradition. The second century CE displacement of vv.34-35 (following v.40) in this text stream is not evidence of haphazard interpolation. It coheres with a pattern of anti-feminist redactions in the Western texts of the epistles and Acts. The editors of the Western text-type sought to harmonize the genuine epistles with pseudo-Pauline material. This harmonization effort shaped later orthodox exegesis, which established canonical norms by domesticating Paul and recast him in the image of a Greco-Roman gender traditionalist.
Metaphors and New Testament Theology: The Temple as a Test Case for a Theology of New Testament Metaphors
Authors: Lookadoo Jonathon
Published: May 2022

Researchers within New Testament Studies have attempted in recent years to articulate the multifaceted identity of a broad discipline. The place of New Testament Theology (NTT) remains disputed within the guild. Some would like to remove NTT from fields of research undertaken within Arts and Humanities departments, while others argue that the New Testament cannot be properly understood without an eye to its theological claims. This article employs the ongoing tension as a starting point from which to argue that metaphors provide a fruitful field of study within NTT. The study of metaphors allows readers of the New Testament to draw upon broader research within the Humanities, while wrestling with the theological claims of New Testament texts. The article outlines recent studies of metaphors in a range of fields before exploring metaphorical uses of temple imagery within the Gospel of John, the Pauline letters, and Revelation. Temple metaphors employ the same image with multiple referents so that the study of metaphors may also illustrate unity and diversity within the New Testament. The study of metaphors deserves further consideration within NTT, since multiple avenues for exploration open when undertaking such research.
A Cloud Classification Method Based on a Convolutional Neural Network for FY-4A Satellites
Authors: Jiang Yuhang , Cheng Wei , Gao Feng , Zhang Shaoqing , Wang Shudong , Liu Chang , Liu Juanjuan
Published: May 2022

The study of cloud types is critical for understanding atmospheric motions and climate predictions; for example, accurately classified cloud products help improve meteorological predicting accuracies. However, the current satellite cloud classification methods generally analyze the threshold change in a single pixel and do not consider the relationship between the surrounding pixels. The classification development relies heavily on human recourses and does not fully utilize the data-driven advantages of computer models. Here, a new intelligent cloud classification method based on the U-Net network (CLP-CNN) is developed to obtain more accurate, higher frequency, and larger coverage cloud classification products. The experimental results show that the CLP-CNN network can complete a cloud classification task of 800 × 800 pixels in 0.9 s. The classification area covers most of China, and the classification task only needs to use the original L1-level data, which can meet the requirements of a real-time operation. With the Himawari-8 CLTYPE product and the CloudSat 2B-CLDCLASS product as the test comparison target, the CLP-CNN network results matched the Himawari-8 product highly by 76.8%. The probability of detection (POD) was greater than 0.709 for clear skies, deep-convection, and Cirrus–Stratus-type clouds. The probability of detection (POD) and accuracy are improved compared with other deep learning methods.
Simulation and Design of Circular Scanning Airborne Geiger Mode Lidar for High-Resolution Topographic Mapping
Authors: Liu Fanghua , He Yan , Chen Weibiao , Luo Yuan , Yu Jiayong , Chen Yongqiang , Jiao Chongmiao , Liu Meizhong
Published: May 2022

Over the last two decades, Geiger-mode lidar (GML) systems have been developing rapidly in defense and commercial applications, demonstrating high point density and great collection efficiency. We presented a circular scanning GML system simulation model for performance prediction and developed a GML system for civilian mapping. The lidar system used an eye-safe fiber laser at 1545 nm coupled with a 64 × 64 pixels photon-counting detector array. A real-time data compression algorithm was implanted to reduce half of the data transmission rate and storage space compared to the uncompressing situation. The GML system can operate at aircraft above-ground levels (AGLs) between 0.35 km and 3 km, and at speeds in excess of 220 km/h. The initial flight tests indicate that the GML system can operate day and night with an area coverage of 366 km2/h. The standard deviations of the relative altimetric accuracy and the relative planimetric accuracy are 0.131 m and 0.152 m, respectively. The findings presented in this article guide the implementation of designing an airborne GML system and the data compression method.
COVID-19 Spatio-Temporal Evolution Using Deep Learning at a European Level
Authors: Kavouras Ioannis , Kaselimi Maria , Protopapadakis Eftychios , Bakalos Nikolaos , Doulamis Nikolaos , Doulamis Anastasios
Published: May 2022

COVID-19 evolution imposes significant challenges for the European healthcare system. The heterogeneous spread of the pandemic within EU regions elicited a wide range of policies, such as school closure, transport restrictions, etc. However, the implementation of these interventions is not accompanied by the implementation of quantitative methods, which would indicate their effectiveness. As a result, the efficacy of such policies on reducing the spread of the virus varies significantly. This paper investigates the effectiveness of using deep learning paradigms to accurately model the spread of COVID-19. The deep learning approaches proposed in this paper are able to effectively map the temporal evolution of a COVID-19 outbreak, while simultaneously taking into account policy interventions directly into the modelling process. Thus, our approach facilitates data-driven decision making by utilizing previous knowledge to train models that predict not only the spread of COVID-19, but also the effect of specific policy measures on minimizing this spread. Global models at the EU level are proposed, which can be successfully applied at the national level. These models use various inputs in order to successfully model the spatio-temporal variability of the phenomenon and obtain generalization abilities. The proposed models are compared against the traditional epidemiological and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models.
Sensor Screening Methodology for Virtually Sensing Transmission Input Loads of a Wind Turbine Using Machine Learning Techniques and Drivetrain Simulations
Authors: Azzam Baher , Schelenz Ralf , Jacobs Georg
Published: May 2022

The ongoing trend of building larger wind turbines (WT) to reach greater economies of scale is contributing to the reduction in cost of wind energy, as well as the increase in WT drivetrain input loads into uncharted territories. The resulting intensification of the load situation within the WT gearbox motivates the need to monitor WT transmission input loads. However, due to the high costs of direct measurement solutions, more economical solutions, such as virtual sensing of transmission input loads using stationary sensors mounted on the gearbox housing or other drivetrain locations, are of interest. As the number, type, and location of sensors needed for a virtual sensing solutions can vary considerably in cost, in this investigation, we aimed to identify optimal sensor locations for virtually sensing WT 6-degree of freedom (6-DOF) transmission input loads. Random forest (RF) models were designed and applied to a dataset containing simulated operational data of a Vestas V52 WT multibody simulation model undergoing simulated wind fields. The dataset contained the 6-DOF transmission input loads and signals from potential sensor locations covering deformations, misalignments, and rotational speeds at various drivetrain locations. The RF models were used to identify the sensor locations with the highest impact on accuracy of virtual load sensing following a known statistical test in order to prioritize and reduce the number of needed input signals. The performance of the models was assessed before and after reducing the number of input signals required. By allowing for a screening of sensors prior to real-world tests, the results demonstrate the high promise of the proposed method for optimizing the cost of future virtual WT transmission load sensors.
Automatic Detection of Cracks on Concrete Surfaces in the Presence of Shadows
Authors: Palevičius Paulius , Pal Mayur , Landauskas Mantas , Orinaitė Ugnė , Timofejeva Inga , Ragulskis Minvydas
Published: May 2022

Deep learning-based methods, especially convolutional neural networks, have been developed to automatically process the images of concrete surfaces for crack identification tasks. Although deep learning-based methods claim very high accuracy, they often ignore the complexity of the image collection process. Real-world images are often impacted by complex illumination conditions, shadows, the randomness of crack shapes and sizes, blemishes, and concrete spall. Published literature and available shadow databases are oriented towards images taken in laboratory conditions. In this paper, we explore the complexity of image classification for concrete crack detection in the presence of demanding illumination conditions. Challenges associated with the application of deep learning-based methods for detecting concrete cracks in the presence of shadows are elaborated on in this paper. Novel shadow augmentation techniques are developed to increase the accuracy of automatic detection of concrete cracks.
Silicon Oxynitride Thin Film Coating to Lossy Mode Resonance Fiber-Optic Refractometer
Authors: Sudas Dmitriy P. , Zakharov Leonid Yu. , Jitov Viktor A. , Golant Konstantin M.
Published: May 2022

A fiber-optic refractometer for various liquids with refractive indices in the range from 1.33 to 1.43 has been manufactured and tested. The sensor is based on a thin silicon oxynitride (Si3N4-xOx) film coated thinned optic fiber section (taper) obtained in a multimode all-silica optical fiber by chemical etching of the reflective cladding. The film was deposited on the cylindrical surface of the thinned fiber by the surface plasma chemical vapor deposition method (SPCVD). Lossy mode resonance (LMR) was observed in the transmission spectrum of the coated taper at a wavelength dependent on the refractive index of the liquid in which the taper was immersed. We tested the obtained sensors in distilled water, isopropyl alcohol, dimethylformamide, and their aqueous solutions. It was found that with the help of the SPCVD, one can obtain a set of sensors in a single deposition run with the dispersion of sensitivity and spectral position of LMR no more than 5%. Maximum sensitivity of the manufactured sensors to surrounding media refractive index (SMRI) variation exceeds 1090 nm/RIU, which is the highest value recorded to date for a sensor with a non-oxide coating.
Linear-Range Extension for Linear Variable Differential Transformer Using Hyperbolic Sine Function
Authors: Rerkratn Apinai , Tongcharoen Jakkapun , Petchmaneelumka Wandee , Riewruja Vanchai
Published: May 2022

In this paper, a circuit technique to extend the measuring range of a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is proposed. The transfer characteristic of the LVDT contains the odd function form of the cubic polynomial. Therefore, the measuring range of a commercial LVDT is linear in a narrow range compared to its physical dimensions. The wide measuring range of the LVDT requires a large structure of the LVDT, which increases the scale and the cost of the measurement system. The measuring range of the LVDT can be linearly extended to the maximum of the stroke range using the proposed technique. The realization of the proposed technique is based on the use of the hyperbolic sine (sinh) function of the electronic circuit building block, named the class AB bipolar amplifier. The class AB bipolar amplifier can be obtained by the current feedback operational amplifier (CFOA). The circuit of the proposed technique requires two CFOAs and an operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) as the active devices and all devices used in the proposed technique to synthesize the sinh function are commercially available. The proposed technique exhibits an ability to compensate for the nonlinear characteristic of the LVDT without digital components. The proposed technique is attractive in terms of its simple circuit configuration, small size, and low cost. The linear range extension of the LVDT used in this paper is significantly increased with a maximum error of about 18.3 μm of 6.2 mm at the full stroke range or the full-scale percentage error of about 0.295%. The results indicate that the proposed technique provides excellent performance to extend the measuring range of the LVDT without modifying the LVDT structure.
Wearables in Swimming for Real-Time Feedback: A Systematic Review
Authors: Morais Jorge E. , Oliveira João P. , Sampaio Tatiana , Barbosa Tiago M.
Published: May 2022

Nowadays, wearables are a must-have tool for athletes and coaches. Wearables can provide real-time feedback to athletes on their athletic performance and other training details as training load, for example. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies that assessed the accuracy of wearables providing real-time feedback in swimming. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were selected to identify relevant studies. After screening, 283 articles were analyzed and 18 related to the assessment of the accuracy of wearables providing real-time feedback in swimming were retained for qualitative synthesis. The quality index was 12.44 ± 2.71 in a range from 0 (lowest quality) to 16 (highest quality). Most articles assessed in-house built (n = 15; 83.3%) wearables in front-crawl stroke (n = 8; 44.4%), eleven articles (61.1%) analyzed the accuracy of measuring swimming kinematics, eight (44.4%) were placed on the lower back, and seven were placed on the head (38.9%). A limited number of studies analyzed wearables that are commercially available (n = 3, 16.7%). Eleven articles (61.1%) reported on the accuracy, measurement error, or consistency. From those eleven, nine (81.8%) noted that wearables are accurate.
Dynamic Task Offloading for Cloud-Assisted Vehicular Edge Computing Networks: A Non-Cooperative Game Theoretic Approach
Authors: Hossain Md. Delowar , Sultana Tangina , Hossain Md. Alamgir , Layek Md. Abu , Hossain Md. Imtiaz , Sone Phoo Pyae , Lee Ga-Won , Huh Eui-Nam
Published: May 2022

Vehicular edge computing (VEC) is one of the prominent ideas to enhance the computation and storage capabilities of vehicular networks (VNs) through task offloading. In VEC, the resource-constrained vehicles offload their computing tasks to the local road-side units (RSUs) for rapid computation. However, due to the high mobility of vehicles and the overloaded problem, VEC experiences a great deal of challenges when determining a location for processing the offloaded task in real time. As a result, this degrades the quality of vehicular performance. Therefore, to deal with these above-mentioned challenges, an efficient dynamic task offloading approach based on a non-cooperative game (NGTO) is proposed in this study. In the NGTO approach, each vehicle can make its own strategy on whether a task is offloaded to a multi-access edge computing (MEC) server or a cloud server to maximize its benefits. Our proposed strategy can dynamically adjust the task-offloading probability to acquire the maximum utility for each vehicle. However, we used a best response offloading strategy algorithm for the task-offloading game in order to achieve a unique and stable equilibrium. Numerous simulation experiments affirm that our proposed scheme fulfills the performance guarantees and can reduce the response time and task-failure rate by almost 47.6% and 54.6%, respectively, when compared with the local RSU computing (LRC) scheme. Moreover, the reduced rates are approximately 32.6% and 39.7%, respectively, when compared with a random offloading scheme, and approximately 26.5% and 28.4%, respectively, when compared with a collaborative offloading scheme.
A Self-Adapting, Pixelized Planar Antenna Design for Infrared Frequencies
Authors: Shubbar Mustafa , Rakos Balázs
Published: May 2022

Infrared antennas with reconfigurable characteristics offer several advantages in the medical, military, telecommunication and energy harvesting areas, while their design and implementation is a particularly challenging task for the researchers. This paper proposes a pixel antenna, designed for mid-infrared frequencies with a bandwidth more than 25 THz, consisting of 3 × 3 square metallic planar patches. Bolometer-based switches are placed between the adjacent pixels in order to obtain the adaptable characteristics, optimized for the incoming infrared radiation. The incident wave from a certain direction will heat up the bolometers. Consequently, the conductivity of these bolometers (PTC) will be decreased, and as a result they can be considered to turn to OFF state. The simulation results suggest that the proposed structure can steer the antenna pattern toward the direction of the incident radiation in an adaptable manner, thereby considerably increasing the antenna gain. The gain of the antenna can be increased up to 2 dB with respect to the reference one, which makes it a promising structure for various applications.
Evolution Characteristics of Seismic Detection Probability in Underground Mines and Its Application for Assessing Seismic Risks—A Case Study
Authors: Li Hui , Cao Anye , Gong Siyuan , Wang Changbin , Zhang Rupei
Published: May 2022

Seismic hazards are typical mining hazards causing dynamic failure of coal and rock mass, which greatly threatens the safety of personnel and equipment. At present, various seismic analysis methods are used to assess seismic risks but their accuracy is significantly limited by the incompleteness of seismic data. The probability of detecting earthquakes (PDE) method has been proven as a powerful means for retrieving missed seismic events and enhancing the seismic data integrity in mines. However, to date, the reliability of the results of the PDE method has not been assessed and the highly integrated seismic data have not been linked with the actual hazard potential. To fill these gaps, this paper investigated the impacts of the seismic data volume used for calculation and the modification of the layout of sensors on the reliability and robustness of the PDE method. The event counts and seismic energy were compensated using the PDE method, correlated with strong seismic events. The results indicated that the compensated seismic data presented higher accuracy in locating future hazardous events than before. This research provides references on enhancing the performance of seismic analysing methods for seismic risk assessments.
Shooting Utility Maximization in UAV-Assisted Wireless Camera Sensor Networks
Authors: Wu Yulei , Feng Simeng , Dong Chao , Wang Weijun
Published: May 2022

Recently, wireless camera sensor networks (WCSNs) have entered an era of rapid development, and WCSNs assisted by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are capable of providing enhanced flexibility, robustness and efficiency when executing missions such as shooting targets. Existing research has mainly focused on back-end image processing to improve the quality of captured images, but it has neglected the question of attaining quality images on the front-end, which is significantly influenced by the location and hovering time of the UAV. Therefore, in this paper, we conceive a novel shooting utility model to quantify shooting quality, which is maximized by simultaneously considering the UAV’s trajectory planning, hovering time and shooting point selection. To expound further, we prove the submodularity of the utility function, whereby the original problem can be expressed as a submodular maximization problem with path constraints, and we propose a utility-cost ratio (UCR) algorithm to maximize shooting utility through two-level optimization. Then, by using the relaxation of the cost function, we analyze the gap between the proposed algorithm and the optimal algorithm (OPT) and prove that the UCR algorithm has a bi-criterion approximation ratio of 1−1/e/2. Simulation results show that the algorithm outperforms both the random algorithm (RAN) and the maximum shooting utility point selection algorithm (MSU) in terms of shooting utility and time utilization efficiency, improving shooting utility by 51% and 21% compared to the RAN and MSU algorithms, respectively, and achieving at least 88.2% of the OPT algorithm in terms of time utilization efficiency.