bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recycling of Agricultural Film Wastes for Use as a Binder in Building Composites
Authors: Zegardło Bartosz , Maraveas Chrysanthos , Rastawicki Kacper , Woliński Paweł , Bombik Antoni
Published: January 2025

Plastic film, also known as low-density polyethylene (LDPE), poses serious environmental challenges due to mass production, short life cycle, and poor waste management. The main aim of this paper was to examine the suitability of using agricultural waste film as a binder in construction composites instead of the traditional cement slurry. Molten at temperatures of around 120–150 °C wastes was mixed with fine sand and gravel aggregate as filler. Twelve samples consisting of different mixtures were produced—F20, F25, F30, F35, F40, F45, F50, F60, F70, F80, F90, and F100—where a given number indicates the weight ratio of film waste to aggregate used. The composites were subjected to various tests, including volumetric density, compressive strength, and flexural strength. The volumetric density (ρ) of the composites decreased with increasing amounts of waste. Composites containing 100% recyclate (F100) depicted density, ρ = 0.74 g/cm3, was 50.7% lower than for a composite that contained 20% recyclate (F20). The highest soakability was recorded in F20 (2.19%). Subsequently, the absorbency tested in composites decreased with increasing recyclate content. Compression strength (σcomp) was highest for F40 (σcomp = 39.46 MPa). In contrast, F20 had the lowest recorded compressive strength value (σcomp = 11.13 MPa) and was 71.8% lower than F40. F70 had the highest recorded flexural strength value (σflex = 27.77 MPa). The other composites showed lower strength for higher amounts of recyclate and the amount of sand. SEM imaging proved that the contact zone between the aggregate grains and the bonding phase of the recycled film was consistent, with no anomalies, cracks, or voids. The results prove that LDPE film waste is suitable for use as a binder in building composites. However, appropriately selecting proportions of the recyclate, sand, and gravel aggregate is crucial to obtain a composite with technical parameters similar to those of cementitious composites.
A Review on the Recent Development of Planar Snake Robot Control and Guidance
Authors: Li Ningwei , Wang Fei , Ren Shanjun , Cheng Xin , Wang Gang , Li Peng
Published: January 2025

Snake robots, inspired by the biology of snakes, are bionic robots with multiple degrees of freedom and strong robustness. These robots represent a current area of significant research interest within the field of robotics. Snake robots have a wide range of applications in many fields, advancing the integration of bionics, robotics, and cybernetics, while playing a crucial role in performing survey and rescue missions. This survey presents the latest technological advancements in modeling, motion control, and guidance laws for planar snake robots, and provides a unified perspective based on the existing results. To achieve target-tracking control of robots in complex environments, we present a feasible approach that integrates guided vector field technology and transforms the target-tracking and obstacle avoidance problem into a reference angle tracking issue. Finally, this paper analyzes and summarizes the development process and key technologies of snake robot control and provides an outlook on future development trends.
DP-4-Colorability on Planar Graphs Excluding 7-Cycles Adjacent to 4- or 5-Cycles
Authors: Yang Fan , Li Xiangwen , Huang Ziwen
Published: January 2025

In order to resolve Borodin’s Conjecture, DP-coloring was introduced in 2017 to extend the concept of list coloring. In previous works, it is proved that every planar graph without 7-cycles and butterflies is DP-4-colorable. And any planar graph that does not have 5-cycle adjacent to 6-cycle is DP-4-colorable. The existing research mainly focus on the forbidden adjacent cycles that guarantee the DP-4-colorability for planar graph. In this paper, we demonstrate that any planar graph G that excludes 7-cycles adjacent to k-cycles (for each k=4,5), and does not feature a Near-bow-tie as an induced subgraph, is DP-4-colorable. This result extends the findings of the previous works mentioned above.
Smoothing Estimation of Parameters in Censored Quantile Linear Regression Model
Authors: Wang Mingquan , Ma Xiaohua , Wang Xinrui , Wang Jun , Zhou Xiuqing , Gao Qibing
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we propose a smoothing estimation method for censored quantile regression models. The method associates the convolutional smoothing estimation with the loss function, which is quadratically derivable and globally convex by using a non-negative kernel function. Thus, the parameters of the regression model can be computed by using the gradient-based iterative algorithm. We demonstrate the convergence speed and asymptotic properties of the smoothing estimation for large samples in high dimensions. Numerical simulations show that the smoothing estimation method for censored quantile regression models improves the estimation accuracy, computational speed, and robustness over the classical parameter estimation method. The simulation results also show that the parametric methods perform better than the KM method in estimating the distribution function of the censored variables. Even if there is an error setting in the distribution estimation, the smoothing estimation does not fluctuate too much.
Fractional Dynamics: Applications of the Caputo Operator in Solving the Sawada–Kotera and Rosenau–Hyman Equations
Authors: Rashedi Khudhayr A. , Almusawa Musawa Yahya , Almusawa Hassan , Alshammari Tariq S. , Almarashi Adel
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the fractional-order Sawada–Kotera and Rosenau–Hyman equations, which significantly model non-linear wave phenomena in various scientific fields. We employ two advanced methodologies to obtain analytical solutions: the q-homotopy Mohand transform method (q-HMTM) and the Mohand variational iteration method (MVIM). The fractional derivatives in the equations are expressed using the Caputo operator, which provides a flexible framework for analyzing the dynamics of fractional systems. By leveraging these methods, we derive diverse types of solutions, including hyperbolic, trigonometric, and rational forms, illustrating the effectiveness of the techniques in addressing complex fractional models. Numerical simulations and graphical representations are provided to validate the accuracy and applicability of derived solutions. Special attention is given to the influence of the fractional parameter on behavior of the solution behavior, highlighting its role in controlling diffusion and wave propagation. The findings underscore the potential of q-HMTM and MVIM as robust tools for solving non-linear fractional differential equations. They offer insights into their practical implications in fluid dynamics, wave mechanics, and other applications governed by fractional-order models.
Circulating microRNAs as Biomarkers of Various Forms of Epilepsy
Authors: Timechko Elena E. , Lysova Kristina D. , Yakimov Alexey M. , Paramonova Anastasia I. , Vasilieva Anastasia A. , Kantimirova Elena A. , Usoltseva Anna A. , Yakunina Albina V. , Areshkina Irirna G. , Dmitrenko Diana V.
Published: January 2025

Background: Epilepsy is a group of disorders characterized by a cluster of clinical and EEG signs leading to the formation of abnormal synchronous excitation of neurons in the brain. It is one of the most common neurological disorders worldwide; and is characterized by aberrant expression patterns; both at the level of matrix transcripts and at the level of regulatory RNA sequences. Aberrant expression of a number of microRNAs can mark a particular epileptic syndrome; which will improve the quality of differential diagnosis. Materials and Methods: In this work; the expression profile of six microRNAs was analyzed: hsa-miR-106b-5p; hsa-miR-134-5p; hsa-miR-122-5p; hsa-miR-132-3p; hsa-miR-155-5p; and hsa-miR-206-5p in the blood plasma of patients suffering from temporal lobe epilepsy (n = 52) and juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (n = 42); n—amount of participants; in comparison with healthy volunteers. The expression analysis was carried out using RT-PCR. Mathematical processing of the data was carried out according to the Livak method. Results: A statistically significant change in the expression of hsa-miR-106b-5p; hsa-miR-134-5p; hsa-miR-122-5p; and hsa-miR-132-3p was found. An increase in the expression of hsa-miR-134-5p and hsa-miR-122-5p was registered in the group of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy compared to the control; as well as an increase in the expression of hsa-miR-132-3p and hsa-miR-106b-5p in the juvenile myoclonic epilepsy group compared to the control. hsa-miR-122-5p; 106b-5p; 132-3p are also able to discriminate groups with different syndromes. Additionally; a number of microRNAs are able to discriminate patients with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive forms of epilepsy from the control; as well as patients with hippocampal sclerosis and patients without hippocampal sclerosis from the control. Conclusion. Our data allow us to propose these microRNAs as plasma biomarkers of various epileptic syndromes
Effects of Nicotinamide Riboside Supplementation on Postmortem Mitochondrial Functionality and Apoptotic Activation
Authors: Zhu Chen , Whitcomb Luke A. , Chicco Adam J. , Gravely Morgan E. , Alcocer Hanna M. , Alambarrio Daniela A. , Gonzalez John M. , Smith Colton L. , Nair Mahesh N. , Loh Huey Yi , Engle Terry E. , Niraula Arya , Zhai Chaoyu
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Early postmortem mitochondrial function and apoptotic activation affect meat quality development. Nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplementation to pigs prior to harvest can improve pork color stability, but its mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of NR supplementation on early postmortem mitochondrial functionality and apoptosis. Methods: Sixteen pigs (N = 16) were individually fed a control or NR-supplemented diet (30 mg·kg body weight−1·d−1) for 10 days prior to harvest. Longissimus dorsi muscle samples were collected at 45 min and 24 h postmortem and analyzed for mitochondrial functionality using high-resolution respirometry and apoptotic protein abundance (apoptosis regulator Bcl-2-associated X (BAX), apoptotic inducing factor (AIF), and caspase 3 (CASP3)) via immunoblotting. Results: NR-supplemented muscle exhibited lower proton leak-associated respiration at 45 min postmortem (p < 0.05), followed by a slower accumulation of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP; p < 0.05) and a slower loss of mitochondrial integral function (p < 0.05) from 45 min to 24 h postmortem. NR supplementation decreased BAX abundance at 45 min postmortem but increased mature AIF abundance (62 kDa) at 24 h postmortem (p < 0.05). The abundance of CASP3 fragments (~29 kDa) decreased from 45 min to 24 h postmortem, independent of treatment (p < 0.05). Conclusions: NR supplementation demonstrated the potential to protect mitochondrial integral function and alleviate apoptotic activation in early postmortem porcine skeletal muscle, which might contribute to a higher meat color stability in NR-supplemented pork during retail display.
Effects of Four Sulfonate-Containing Additives and Hydroxyethyl Cellulose on the Properties of Electrolytic Copper Foils
Authors: Wang Wei , Tao Jun , Tong Kaiwen , Xu Zhiqiang , Zhong Fuqi , Dong Jianping , Chen Yanxia , Fu Zhengbing , Qin Caiqin
Published: January 2025

Ultrathin electrolytic copper foils with a thickness of 6 μm were prepared by a test machine using copper sulfate electrolyte with gelatin, hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), and sulfonic acid-containing organics as additives. The effects of four sulfonic acid-containing organic additives, sodium 3-mercaptopropanesulfonate (MPS), bis-(sodium sulfopropyl)-disulfide (SPS), sodium 3-[[(dimethylamino)thioxomethyl]thio]propanesulfonate (DPS), and sodium 3-((4,5-dihydrothiazol-2-yl)thio)propane-1-sulfonate (TPS), on the physical property of copper foils were investigated. The results show that all these additives can effectively improve the gloss and tensile strength of electrolytic copper foil, and the texture coefficients of Cu(111) selectivity increase. The synergistic use of HEC and TPS can effectively reduce the pinholes of copper foil.
Paper-Based Sensors: Fantasy or Reality?
Authors: Korotcenkov Ghenadii
Published: January 2025

This article analyzes the prospects for the appearance of paper-based sensors on the sensor market. It is concluded that paper-based sensors are not a fantasy but a reality. It is shown that paper has properties that make it possible to develop a wide variety of paper-based sensors, such as SERS, colorimetric, fluorescent, conductometric, capacitive, fiber-optic, electrochemical, microfluidic, shape-deformation, microwave, and various physical sensors. The use of paper in the manufacturing of various sensors opens up new possibilities both in terms of new approaches to their manufacturing and in terms of new areas of their application. However, it must be recognized that for the widespread use of paper and the appearance of paper-based sensors on the sensor market, many obstacles must be overcome.
Protaetia brevitarsis Hydrolysate Mitigates Muscle Dysfunction and Ectopic Fat Deposition Triggered by a High-Fat Diet in Mice
Authors: Park Kyungeun , Jung Sunyoon , Ha Jung-Heun , Jeong Yoonhwa
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Obesity is a key factor in metabolic syndrome (MetS) development. Consumption of a high-fat diet (HFD) accelerates the onset of obesity and associated metabolic complications. Protaetia brevitarsis (PB) has been traditionally utilized in Korean medicine for its antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and hepatoprotective effects. However, specific effects of PB hydrolysate on skeletal muscles have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study sought to assess the influence of PB on HFD-induced MetS, focusing on the lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses mediated by AMP-activated protein kinase activation. Methods: To induce obesity, 6-week-old C57BL/6J mice were maintained on an HFD for 8 weeks, after which PB hydrolysate was orally administered for 16 weeks while the HFD regimen was sustained. A glucose tolerance test was conducted orally to evaluate glucose regulation, and forelimb grip strength was assessed upon completion of the experimental period. Histological assessments, serum biochemical analysis, lipid extraction, Western blot analysis, and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed following euthanasia. Results: PB significantly reduced ectopic lipid deposition in skeletal muscles, enhanced muscle strength, and improved insulin sensitivity by increasing fatty acid oxidation via AMP-activated protein kinase/carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 activation and inhibiting lipogenesis via stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 gene downregulation. Furthermore, PB alleviated HFD-induced low-grade chronic inflammation by decreasing systemic monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 levels, thereby reducing ectopic fat deposition. Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of PB as a nutraceutical to mitigate MetS in HFD-fed mice.
Conservation Attitudes and Perceived Biodiversity Among Divers on the Spanish Mediterranean Coast: Insights from Local Ecological Knowledge
Authors: Garcia-Bustos Victor
Published: January 2025

The Mediterranean Sea, a global biodiversity hotspot, faces significant threats that compromise its ecological health. While Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) play a crucial role in biodiversity conservation, their effectiveness is debated, and empirical data on their impact remain limited. This study evaluates the utility of Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) from divers along the Spanish Mediterranean coast to assess perceived abundance of sentinel species in both MPAs and non-protected areas, in relation to empirical data, alongside divers’ attitudes toward ocean threats and conservation strategies. Divers perceived higher abundance and subjective health indicators of key species, such as Posidonia oceanica, octocorals, and top predators within MPAs, which aligns with empirical evidence supporting MPA effectiveness in conserving biodiversity and mitigating human disturbances. Notably, divers showed knowledge gaps, particularly underestimating climate change impacts while overemphasizing pollution threats. Diver education emerged as a critical factor in shaping conservation attitudes, with higher education levels correlating with increased environmental awareness and stronger support for conservation measures. This study underscores the potential of leveraging LEK in marine conservation strategies while acknowledging limitations related to self-reported data and regional specificity, advocating for expanded geographic scope and integration with empirical data in future research.
Locally Adapted Coral Species Withstand a 2-Week Hypoxic Event
Authors: Lucey Noelle , César-Ávila Carolina , Eckert Alaina , Veintimilla Paul , Collin Rachel
Published: January 2025

One approach to improve long-term coral restoration success utilizes naturally stress-tolerant corals from the wild. While the focus has primarily been on thermal stress, low oxygen is a growing threat to coral reefs and restoration efforts should also consider hypoxia tolerance. Here we determine if Siderastrea siderea and Agaricia tenuifolia populations from a reef with a historical record of low oxygen exhibit evidence of local adaptation to hypoxic events, compared to populations from a reference reef. We employed a laboratory-based reciprocal transplant experiment mimicking a severe 14-night hypoxic event and monitored bleaching responses, photo-physiology, metabolic rates, and survival of all four populations during, and for two weeks following the event. In both species, we found the populations from the hypoxic reef either fully persisted or recovered within 3 days of the event. In contrast, the conspecific naïve populations from the well-oxygenated reference reef experienced bleaching and death. This showcases the vulnerability of naïve corals exposed to low oxygen but also suggests that corals from the hypoxic reef locally adapted to survive severe episodic hypoxia. Other reefs with past episodic low oxygen may also be home to corals with adaptation signatures to hypoxia and may be useful for restoration efforts.
Estimating Age and Sex from Dental Panoramic Radiographs Using Neural Networks and Vision–Language Models
Authors: Alam Salem Shamsul , Rashid Nabila , Faiza Tasfia Azrin , Ahmed Saif , Hassan Rifat Ahmed , Dudley James , Farook Taseef Hasan
Published: January 2025

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare multiple deep learning models for estimating age and sex using dental panoramic radiographs and identify the most successful deep learning models for the specified tasks. Methods: The dataset of 437 panoramic radiographs was divided into training, validation, and testing sets. Random oversampling was used to balance the class distributions in the training data and address the class imbalance in sex and age. The models studied were neural network models (CNN, VGG16, VGG19, ResNet50, ResNet101, ResNet152, MobileNet, DenseNet121, DenseNet169) and vision–language models (Vision Transformer and Moondream2). Binary classification models were built for sex classification, while regression models were developed for age estimations. Sex classification was evaluated using precision, recall, F1 score, accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), and a confusion matrix. For age regression, performance was evaluated using mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE), R2, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). Results: In sex classification, neural networks achieved accuracies of 85% and an AUC of 0.85, while Moondream2 had much lower accuracy (49%) and AUC (0.48). DenseNet169 performed better than other models for age regression, with an R2 of 0.57 and an MAE of 7.07. Among sex classes, the CNN model achieved the highest precision, recall, and F1 score for both males and females. Vision Transformers that specialised in identifying objects from images demonstrated weaker performance in dental panoramic radiographs, with an inference time of 4.5 s per image. Conclusions: The CNN and DenseNet169 were the most effective models for classifying sex and age regression, performing better than other models for estimating age and sex from dental panoramic radiographs.
Characterization of Vaccine-Enhanced Humoral Immune Responses Against Emergent SARS-CoV-2 Variants in a Convalescent Cohort
Authors: Sheehan Jared , Trauth Amber J. , Hagensee Michael E. , Ramsay Alistair J.
Published: January 2025

Vaccination of COVID-19–convalescent individuals may generate ‘hybrid’ immunity of enhanced magnitude, durability, and cross-reactive breadth. Our primary goal was to characterize hybrid antibody (Ab) responses in a patient cohort infected with ancestral Wuhan-Hu-1 virus and vaccinated between 6 and 10 months later with the Wuhan-Hu-1–based BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. We were particularly interested in determining the efficacy of neutralizing Ab responses against subsequently emergent SARS-CoV-2 variants. Sera collected at 3-monthly intervals over a period of 12 months were analyzed by ELISA for SARS-CoV-2 RBD–specific Ab responses, and also for neutralizing Ab activity using pseudovirus-based neutralization assays. We found that convalescent RBD-reactive IgG and IgA Ab responses did not decline significantly through 9 months post-diagnosis. These responses improved significantly following vaccination and remained elevated through at least 12-months. SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing Ab activity was detected in convalescent sera through 9 months post-diagnosis, although it trended downwards from 3 months. Neutralizing Ab activity against the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain was significantly improved by vaccination, to levels that persisted through the end of the study. However, sera collected from vaccinated convalescent subjects also had significant neutralization activity against Delta B.1.617.2 and Omicron variants that persisted for at least 2–3 months, unlike sera from unvaccinated convalescent controls. Thus, vaccination of Wuhan-Hu-1–convalescent individuals with the BNT162b2 vaccine improved and sustained protective neutralizing Ab activity against SARS-CoV-2, including cross-reactive neutralizing activity against variants that emerged months later.
Ruthenium(II) Complex with 1-Hydroxy-9,10-Anthraquinone Inhibits Cell Cycle Progression at G0/G1 and Induces Apoptosis in Melanoma Cells
Authors: Dias Júlia S. M. , Ferreira-Silva Guilherme A. , Viana Rommel B. , de Araujo Neto João H. , Ellena Javier , Corrêa Rodrigo S. , Barbosa Marília I. F. , Ionta Marisa , Doriguetto Antônio C.
Published: January 2025

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal skin cancer that affects thousands of people worldwide. Ruthenium complexes have shown promising results as cancer chemotherapeutics, offering several advantages over platinum drugs, such as potent efficacy, low toxicity, and less drug resistance. Additionally, anthraquinone derivatives have broad therapeutic applications, including melanoma. Objectives: Thus, two new ruthenium complexes with 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone were obtained: trans-[Ru(HQ)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (1) and cis-[RuCl2(HQ)(dppb)] (2), where HQ = 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone, PPh3 = triphenylphospine, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, PF6 = hexafluorophosphate, and dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)butane. Methods: The complexes were characterized by infrared (IR), UV–vis, 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopies, molar conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, and elemental analysis. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. Results: Compound (2) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which confirms the bidentate coordination mode of HQ through the carbonyl and phenolate oxygens. Additionally, DNA-binding experiments yielded constants of 105 M−1 (Kb = 6.93 × 105 for (1) and 1.60 × 105 for (2)) and demonstrate that both complexes can interact with DNA through intercalation, electrostatic attraction, or hydrogen bonding. Conclusions: The cytotoxicity profiles of the compounds were evaluated in human melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL-147, CHL-1, and WM1366), revealing greater cytotoxic activity for (1) on the CHL-1 cell line with an IC50 of 14.50 ± 1.09 µM. Subsequent studies showed that (1) inhibits the proliferation of CHL-1 cells and induces apoptosis, associated at least in part with the pro-oxidant effect and cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition.
Effect of Deficit Irrigation on Agronomic and Physiological Performance of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)
Authors: Porras-Jorge Rossana , Aguilar José Mariano , Baixauli Carlos , Bartual Julián , Pascual Bernardo , Pascual-Seva Nuria
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Agriculture accounts for over 70% of global freshwater consumption, with increasing competition for water resources due to climate change and rising urban and industrial demands. This study analyzes the effect of deficit irrigation (DI) on the agronomic and physiological performance of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in a Mediterranean climate. Deficit irrigation strategies, including sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), were evaluated against a control with full irrigation. The research was conducted over two growing seasons (2022–2023) at the Cajamar Experimental Centre in Paiporta, Valencia, Spain. RDI strategies achieved approximately 10% water savings without compromising marketable yield or fruit weight, while SDI resulted in significant water savings (~50%) but with a notable reduction in marketable yield, particularly in hot and dry conditions. SDI also reduced tree growth in height and trunk diameter compared to RDI and control strategies. The study concludes that RDI is a viable irrigation strategy for pomegranate cultivation under water-limited conditions, whereas SDI should be reserved for situations of severe water scarcity.
Bio-Microcapsules of Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) and Isocyanates: Towards Sustainable, Safer, and Efficient Adhesives
Authors: Marcelino Lucas P. , Aguiar António , Galhano dos Santos Rui , Pinho Isabel , Marques Ana C.
Published: January 2025

This work describes the encapsulation of three different aliphatic isocyanates to reduce the risks associated with isocyanates’ direct handling. The use of bio-based polybutylene succinate (bio-PBS) increases the sustainability factor as it allows for the use of microcapsules (MCs) from renewable sources with biodegradable features. The three different MCs (MCs-Monomer, MCs-Trimer, and MCs-Polymer) are spherical, crack-free, and matrix-type, containing an isocyanate payload between 67 wt% and 70 wt%. Protection against environmental moisture was improved, resulting in losses of less than 10% for most cases after one month. The bio-PBS MCs were found to be suitable as crosslinking agents in high-performance adhesive formulations for the footwear industry. Adhesive joints with encapsulated isocyanate exhibited peel strength values ranging from 3.28 to 4.56 N/mm, well above the minimum requirements for the intended footwear application. Additionally, these joints demonstrated improved creep resistance compared to those using non-encapsulated isocyanates. In this context, the MCs-Trimer stood out, providing exceptional thermal robustness to the joints, as they showed no failure or opening at 90 °C, consistent with commercial adhesives. These results confirm that bio-PBS MCs can be excellent components for future adhesive formulations and that matrix-type MCs can also be utilised for this purpose.
Evaluation of the Cyber-Physical System State Under Destructive Impact Conditions Based on a Comprehensive Analysis of Parameters
Authors: Mogilny Anton , Basan Elena , Nekrasov Alexey
Published: January 2025

This manuscript proposes a method for analyzing the stability of the behavior of a cyber-physical system (CPS) under conditions of potential destructive impact, considering the tasks it performs, which does not require labeled sets of abnormal data. The considered CPS has an autonomous decision-making system. The method was formalized in terms of the Markov decision-making process. Proposed metrics for assessing CPS behavior based on changes in its parameters were defined. They allowed classifying the operating mode into three classes: normal, abnormal, and uncertain. Evaluation results prove the efficiency of the proposed method. Despite the proposed method being tested on an unmanned vehicle (UV), it can also be applied to other CPSs, primarily to autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
Modeling and Data Analysis of Bistatic Bottom Reverberation from a Towed Horizontal Array
Authors: Su Zhaohua , Zhuo Jie , Sun Chao
Published: January 2025

The spatial-temporal structures of bottom reverberation are associated with seafloor features. In a bistatic bottom reverberation experiment involving a vertical transmitting array and a towed horizontal receiving array, stable stripe structures were observed within the beam-time domain. In this study, a bistatic reverberation model based on ray theory is presented to interpret the experimental phenomena. The conventional empirical scattering function is primarily applicable to small grazing angles. Moreover, the regional segmentation method simulates reverberations across various receiving beams, ignoring scatterers in other areas. To address these issues, we substitute the empirical scattering function with a small-slope approximation (SSA) that is appropriate for full grazing angles. Furthermore, we utilize the beam pattern of arrays to incorporate the effects of each scatterer, and derive the expression for bottom reverberation intensity in both the array and beam domains. The established model demonstrates its applicability in simulating and interpreting the stripe structures of bottom reverberation, and the comparison shows that the model outputs are in agreement with the experimental results. The analysis indicates that the vertical stripes within the structures originate from eigenrays in the mirror reflection direction. Furthermore, the convex stripes are predominantly affected by the direct ray and the surface reflection ray among the scattered eigenrays, whereas the concave and elliptical stripes are primarily affected by the bottom-surface reflection ray and the surface-bottom-surface reflection ray within the scattered eigenrays.
Tropical Rice Mapping Using Time-Series SAR Images and ESF-Seg Model in Hainan, China, from 2019 to 2023
Authors: Xie Yazhe , Xu Lu , Zhang Hong , Song Mingyang , Ge Ji , Wu Fan
Published: January 2025

Tropical and subtropical Asia is the major rice-producing region in the world, but the complexity of the cropping system and the diversity of the topography bring challenges to the accurate monitoring of rice cultivation. To address this difficulty, a new deep learning model, ESF-Seg, is proposed in this study to extract the annual tropical rice distribution using monthly averaged time-series Sentinel-1 VH data. The ESF-Seg adopts the Efficient Adaptive Sparse Transformer (EAT) to remove redundant information from input features. The Channel Attention Bridge Block (CAB) and Spatial Attention Bridge Block (SAB) modules are introduced to refine the information. Meanwhile, with the FreqFusion-KAN (FreqK) module, the loss of information can be reduced through the multi-scale feature fusion strategy. The proposed method is evaluated in the Hainan Province of China, an important tropical arable zone with diverse crop resources and complicated croplands. First, ablation experiments are conducted. Compared to the classical SegFormer model, the ESF-Seg model improves on the mIOU by 4.99% and on the mPA by 2.65%. Subsequently, compared to the RF, U-Net, and the original SegFormer model, the overall accuracy (OA) of the ESF-Seg model on the validation samples increased by 11.02%, 2.01%, and 1.33%, and the F1 score improved by 0.0756, 0.0624, and 0.0490, reaching 98.31% and 0.9506, respectively. Furthermore, products showing the annual rice distribution from 2019 to 2023 in Hainan are generated, which exhibit good alignments with the statistical data, surpassing other existing products with an RMSE of 5.4004 Kha. As indicated by the rice mapping products, the proposed method preserves the integrity of the rice parcels in the fragmented croplands, thus providing a new opportunity for the continuous monitoring of tropical rice distribution with high accuracy.
Research on the Role of Digital Finance in Urban Green Innovation
Authors: Diao Li , Zhao Xinpeng , Xie Wenlong , Liu Jiahao
Published: January 2025

Promoting green innovation is an important way to implement the dual carbon strategy and build an innovative country. Based on the panel data of 250 cities in China from 2011 to 2018, this paper constructs a two-way fixed-effect model, an intermediary effect model and a spatial Durbin model, and empirically studies the impact and mechanism of digital finance on urban green innovation. The results show that digital finance can improve the ability of urban green innovation, and its enabling effect mainly comes from improving the financial service model and improving the digital level. However, the role of digital finance in improving the efficiency of green innovation is not significant. Digital finance can promote urban green innovation by promoting the development of the Internet and alleviating the distortion of labor factors. A good environment for innovation will enhance the role of digital finance in promoting green innovation. Through further analysis, the spatial spillover effect of digital finance on green innovation at this stage is dominated by the siphon effect while the “trickle-down” effect is blocked.
Path Planning Algorithm for Manipulators in Complex Scenes Based on Improved RRT*
Authors: Zhang Xiqing , Wang Pengyu , Guo Yongrui , Han Qianqian , Zhang Kuoran
Published: January 2025

Aiming at the problems of a six-degree-of-freedom robotic arm in a three-dimensional multi-obstacle space, such as low sampling efficiency and path search failure, an improved fast extended random tree (RRT*) algorithm for robotic arm path planning method (abbreviated as HP-APF-RRT*) is proposed. The algorithm generates multiple candidate points per iteration, selecting a sampling point probabilistically based on heuristic values, thereby optimizing sampling efficiency and reducing unnecessary nodes. To mitigate increased search times in obstacle-dense areas, an artificial potential field (APF) approach is integrated, establishing gravitational and repulsive fields to guide sampling points around obstacles toward the target. This method enhances path search in complex environments, yielding near-optimal paths. Furthermore, the path is simplified using the triangle inequality, and redundant intermediate nodes are utilized to further refine the path. Finally, the simulation experiment of the improved HP-APF-RRT* is executed on Matlab R2022b and ROS, and the physical experiment is performed on the NZ500-500 robotic arm. The effectiveness and superiority of the improved algorithm are determined by comparing it with the existing algorithms.
Structural Fatigue Life Monitoring with Piezoelectric-Based Sensors: Fundamentals, Current Advances, and Future Directions
Authors: Ghaderiaram Aliakbar , Schlangen Erik , Fotouhi Mohammad
Published: January 2025

Structural fatigue can lead to catastrophic failures in various engineering applications and must be properly monitored and effectively managed. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of recent developments in structural fatigue monitoring using piezoelectric-based sensors. Compared to alternative sensing technologies, piezoelectric sensors offer distinct advantages, including compact size, lightweight design, low cost, flexible formats, and high sensitivity to dynamic loads. The paper reviews the working principles and recent advancements in passive piezoelectric-based sensors, such as acoustic emission wave and strain measurements, and active piezoelectric-based sensors, including ultrasonic wave and dynamic characteristic measurements. These measurements, captured under in-service dynamic strain, can be correlated to the remaining structural fatigue life. Case studies are presented, highlighting applications of fatigue life monitoring in metals, polymeric composites, and reinforced concrete structures. The paper concludes by identifying challenges and opportunities for advancing piezoelectric-based sensors for fatigue life monitoring in engineering structures.
Predicting Soil Salinity Based on Soil/Water Extracts in a Semi-Arid Region of Morocco
Authors: Ouzemou Jamal-Eddine , Laamrani Ahmed , El Battay Ali , Whalen Joann K.
Published: January 2025

Soil salinity is a major constraint to soil health and crop productivity, especially in arid and semi-arid regions. The most accurate measurement of soil salinity is considered to be the electrical conductivity of saturated soil extracts (ECe). Because this method is labor-intensive, it is unsuitable for routine analysis in large soil sampling campaigns. This study aimed to identify the best models to estimate soil salinity based on ECe in relation to a rapid electrical conductivity (EC) measurement in soil/water (referred to as S:W henceforward) extracts. We evaluated the relationship between ECe and the ECS:W extract ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 1:5) in salt-affected soils from the semi-arid Sehb El Masjoune region of Morocco. The soil salinity in this region is 0.5 to 235 dS/m, as determined by the ECe method. A total of 125 soil samples, from topsoil (0–15 cm) and subsoil (15–30 cm) with mainly fine to medium textures, were analyzed using linear, logarithmic, and second-order polynomial regression models. The models included all samples or grouped samples according to soil texture (fine, medium) or specific textural classes. The mean ECe values were 2.6, 3.1, and 7.9 times greater than the EC of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:5 S:W extracts, respectively. Polynomial regression models had the best predictive accuracy, R2 = 0.98, and the lowest root mean square error of 10.6 to 10.7 dS/m for the ECS:W extract ratios of 1:5 and 1:2. The polynomial models could represent the non-linear relationships between ECe and salinity indicators, especially in the 80–170 dS/m salinity range, where other models typically underestimate the salinity. These results confirm that advanced regression techniques are suitable for predicting soil salinity in a salt-affected semi-arid region. The site-specific models outperformed previously published models, because they consider the spatial variability and heterogeneity of the salinity in the study area explicitly. This confirms the importance of calibrating soil salinity models according to the local soil and environmental conditions. Consequently, we can undertake soil salinity assessments in hundreds of samples by using the simple, rapid ECS:W extraction method as a direct indicator of EC and extrapolate to ECe with a polynomial regression model. Our approach enables the widespread soil salinity assessments that are needed for land-use planning, irrigation management, and crop selection in salt-affected landscapes.
The Influence of Anthropometric Characteristics on Punch Impact
Authors: Pinto Manuel , Crisóstomo João , Silva Gil , Monteiro Luís
Published: January 2025

Objective: This review examined the influence of anthropometric characteristics, such as body height (BH) and body mass (BM), on the impact of punches in striking-combat sports. Despite their perceived importance for combat strategy, the relationship between these characteristics and punch impact remains unclear. Methods: We included experimental, quasi-experimental and cross-sectional studies. The search was conducted on 30 August 2024, in three databases. The review analyzed 23 studies involving 381 participants (304 men, 30 women, 47 participants of unknown gender). Various instruments were used in the included studies, including ten instruments used to measure impact force and two instruments used to measure impact power. Results: Impact force ranged from 989 ± 116.76 to 5008.6 ± 76.3 N, with rear-hand straight punches and rear-hand hooks producing the greatest force. The PowerKube, a device specifically designed to measure punch impact power, revealed that the rear-hand straight punch generated the highest power, ranging from 15,183.27 ± 4368.90 to 22,014 ± 1336 W. While higher BM categories were associated with stronger punches, BM alone was not the only predictor. Other factors, such as technique, gender, and sport type, also played roles. The relationship between BH and punch impact showed mixed results. Conclusions: The data suggest that while higher BM categories are associated with greater punch impact, BM is not the only determining factor. The relationship between BH and impact also showed mixed results, with no clear association found. The review highlights the lack of a “gold standard” instrument for evaluating punch impact.
Analysis of the Pollution Load Contribution Rate of Inflowing Tributaries for the Sustainable Management of the Seomjin River (Seombon D)
Authors: Ha Don-Woo , Baek Jong-Hun , Hwang Seong-Yun , Lee Young-Jea , Lee Won-Seok , Choi Ji-Yeon
Published: January 2025

The total maximum daily load (TMDL) system divides the watershed into unit basins for implementation and evaluates water quality by assessing whether targets have been achieved based on investigated data through continuous monitoring. River water quality is influenced by the amount and type of pollutants entering the river, making continuous monitoring, along with analysis and evaluation, essential for the ongoing development of policies and systems aimed at improving water quality. In this study, basic data for water quality management were gathered by analyzing the pollution contributions of the main river (the Seomjin River) and its tributaries, identifying major pollutant sources, and conducting trend analyses. The delivery pollution load of the Seombon D unit basin, one of the main watersheds of the Seomjin River in South Korea, shows a rapid increasing trend (BOD, 1.2–2.4, 2020), which is different from the trend in the B unit watershed of the Boseong River, also a tributary. The rapid increase is presumed to be due to the characteristics of Seombon D, including the inflow of pollution sources of Seombon C, an upstream point. The D unit basin of Seombon is located in the middle of the unit watersheds that divide the main stream of the Seomjin River in Korea into A, B, C, D, E, and F. This increase is thought to be due to the inflow of pollutants specific to Seombon D’s characteristics and the influence of the upstream Seombon C unit basin. In the pollution load contribution rate analysis of Seombon D, it was found that the contribution rate from Seombon C, the upstream area (BOD, 38.42–120.08%), was higher than that of the Boseong B unit basin tributary. The self-purification capacity of Seombon D is believed to have contributed to the improvement in its water quality. It is essential to manage the upstream Seombon C unit basin to sustainably improve the water quality of the Seombon D unit basin. Therefore, managing Seombon C is deemed necessary to further enhance the water quality of Seombon D.
Experimental Research on the Performance of All-Solid-Waste Cementitious Grouting Filling Materials
Authors: Zhu Ningqiang , Yin Dawei , Li Xuelong , Sheng Shouqian
Published: January 2025

Overburden bed separation grouting is a green mining method to control surface subsidence and protect surface buildings (structures). The performance of cementitious grouting material is the key factor affecting grouting filling. Although offering good fluidity and low cost, the fly ash (FA) slurry demands a significant water supply, undergoes high dehydration rates, and lacks cementing property. These factors result in low grouting efficiency and negatively impact the safety of operations in complex-structure areas. This work developed a CBF + D series all-solid-waste cementitious grouting filling material with blast furnace slag (BFS), FA, carbide slag (CS), desulfurization gypsum (DG), and calcium chloride (CaCl2) as components. Based on the orthogonal test, the basic performance test of the grouting material was carried out using macroscopic and microscopic test methods. The influences of the water–cement ratio, the mass ratio of BFS to FA, the proportion of CS, and the proportion of DG on the slurry density, fluidity, water extraction rate, and uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the stone body were assessed. The material’s hydration mechanism was analyzed by combining X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) microscopic experiments. The optimal parameters for this test were as follows: a water–cement ratio of 0.7, a mass ratio of BFS to FA of 3:1, a proportion of CS of 40%, and a proportion of DG of 4%. Under the optimal conditions, the density of the slurry was 1.41 g·cm−3, with a fluidity of 15.7 cm, a water extraction rate of 0.107, and a UCS of the stone body of 6.25 MPa. The water extraction rate of the slurry is 67% lower than that of the FA slurry and the slurry has good cementation performance, while still maintaining its fluidity. This significantly enhanced the safety and applicability of the grouting filling process. In addition, CBF + D series all-solid-waste cementitious materials have solved the large accumulation of industrial wastes such as FA, BFS, and CS, which maximized the resource utilization rate of these wastes and brought significant economic benefits.
A Study of Energy Production in Gran Canaria with a Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage Plant (PHES)
Authors: Lozano Medina Juan Carlos , León Zerpa Federico A. , Pérez Báez Sebastián Ovidio , Sánchez Morales Carlos , Pino Carlos A. Mendieta
Published: January 2025

The Canary Archipelago, in general, and the island of Gran Canaria, in particular, operate with an independent energy system (SIE), which depends largely on local power generation. Today, its energy supply comes mainly from two sources: (a) Renewable energy, accounting for 19.90%, and (b) Fossil fuel combustion in thermal power plants, contributing the remaining 80.10%. The existing energy infrastructure faces challenges due to aging technology, requiring either modernization or replacement to prevent a potential energy crisis and ensure a sustainable production cycle. A transformative step to improve the system is the completion and commissioning in 2030 of the Chira-Soria pumped hydroelectric energy storage (PHES) plant. This installation will allow water to be transported to high altitudes by pumping, to be deposited until the right time and to be turbined to generate electricity in optimal conditions. To fully understand the impact of this integration, detailed analyses of annual energy production patterns, equipment performance, and real-time demand data (collected at five-minute intervals) will be conducted. These assessments will provide insights into how the Chira-Soria PHES can be seamlessly integrated into Gran Canaria’s energy network. Furthermore, they will help identify both the strengths and limitations of this storage solution, paving the way for a more resilient and efficient energy future for the island.