bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Numerical Modelling of a Dynamic Spring-Mounted Wing System to Reduce the Drag of Vehicles at Higher Speeds
Authors: Knight Jason , Patel Jay , Prouse-Edwards Harry , Fels Simon , Montalvao Diogo , Lewis Andrew
Published: August 2024

The dynamic behaviour of a spring-mounted symmetrical NACA0012 wing in a freestream flow of air is studied in the pre-stall region, over 0° to 12° angles of incidence. The primary aim of this work is for use within the automotive sector to reduce drag and fuel emissions. However, this work will also be of interest in the motorsport sector to improve performance, and also have some applications within the aerospace and renewable energy sectors. The general operation of the concept has previously been verified at these low angles in the pre-stall region with that of a theoretical estimation using finite and infinite wings. This paper provides a numerical solution of the same problem and is compared with the previous experimentation. At these low angles, the computations yield a dynamic response settling into a static equilibrium. The stable solutions match the start of a steady regime well, when compared with the experiment. The trends are also comparable with the experiment, but the velocities at which they occur are underestimated in the computation. The computations demonstrate a drag reduction of 59% when compared to a fixed wing, whereas the lift remains stable at a near constant value with increasing wind speed. Thence, downforce is maintained whilst drag is reduced, which will facilitate higher speeds on the straight whilst maintaining vehicle direction stability. Limitations to this proof-of-concept work are highlighted and future development work is suggested to achieve even further increases in performance.
Progress in the Earth Journal
Authors: Jones Charles
Published: August 2024

The Earth journal (ISSN 2673-4834) is an open-access international high-quality peer review venue that promotes multi-disciplinary research over a broad spectrum of natural, social and applied sciences [...]
The Impact of Land Cover on Nest Occupancy of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia (L.)): A Case Study of Kampinos Forest, 2006–2018
Authors: Bihałowicz Joanna , Schwerk Axel , Dymitryszyn Izabela , Olszewski Adam , Bihałowicz Jan Stefan
Published: August 2024

Land cover is one of the spatial factors influencing the ecological niche of animal populations. Some types of land cover predetermine a particular site as a habitat for certain species. One of the flagship species of agrocenosis is the white stork (Ciconia ciconia (L.)). This study focuses on the occupancy of 122 nests in the vicinity of Kampinos National Park in Poland. This area is a mixture of traditional agricultural settlements, forests, the Vistula valley, and the suburbs of Warsaw, Poland. This mix allows for the identification of land cover disturbances that affect the white stork’s nest occupancy. The current state of development and the efficiency of remote sensing-based land cover databases allows us to easily identify spatial factors affecting nest occupancy and to analyse them in a longer timeframe. The study analyses land cover in buffers of 1 to 5 km around white stork nests based on CORINE Land Cover (CLC) for the years 2006, 2012, and 2018. Although the white stork’s habitat is well studied, the CLC-based results provide significant new insights. The results show that nest occupancy increases with an increasing proportion of agricultural land, especially with significant natural vegetation, while the proportion of wetlands and water is not significant. This work provides a description of the ideal habitat for the white stork in terms of nest occupancy.
An Autoethnography of Teaching Drama to Student Teachers in Hong Kong
Authors: Shu Jack
Published: August 2024

Schools in Hong Kong are encouraged to engage students in learning activities to strengthen moral and values education. The use of fairy tales in drama teaching—in this case, Mr. Fox—is an approach to learning that can present opportunities to positively engage students in a range of issues, such as moral and value education. The aim of this research was to enhance moral and values education by taking an autoethnographic approach to exploring my experiences of using and adapting a Western fairy tale with local student teachers learning to teach drama as part of their Master of Education degree at a university in Hong Kong. The use of various narrative genres to engage in the process of self-dialogue emerged as an important source for developing understandings of teaching and learning. Through this reflective process, I gained insights into my own teaching and the challenges and benefits of using fairy tales and structured drama in moral and value education. This research also revealed that fairy tales, as cultural treasures passed down through generations, may hold immense value as a resource for personal enjoyment, drama teaching, and academic exploration.
DDE-Net: Dynamic Density-Driven Estimation for Arbitrary-Oriented Object Detection
Authors: Wang Boyu , Jing Donglin , Xia Xiaokai , Liu Yu , Xu Luo , Cheng Jiangmai
Published: August 2024

Compared with general images, objects in remote sensing (RS) images typically exhibit a conspicuous diversity due to their arbitrary orientations. However, many of the prevalent detectors generally apply an inflexible strategy in setting the angles of anchor, ignoring the fact that the number of possible orientations is predictable. Consequently, their processes integrate numerous superfluous angular considerations and hinder their efficiency. To deal with this situation, we propose a dynamic density-driven estimation network (DDE-Net). We design three core modules in DDE-Net: a density-map and mask generation module (DGM), mask routing prediction module (MRM), and spatial-balance calculation module (SCM). DGM is designed for the generation of a density map and mask, which can extract salient features. MRM is for the prediction of object orientation and corresponding weights, which are used to calculate feature maps. SCM is used to affine transform the convolution kernel, which applies an adaptive weighted compute mechanism to enhance the average feature, so as to balance the spatial difference to the rotation feature extraction. A broad array of experimental evaluations have conclusively shown that our methodology outperforms existing state-of-the-art detectors on common aerial object datasets (DOTA and HRSC2016).
Multi-Object Vehicle Detection and Tracking Algorithm Based on Improved YOLOv8 and ByteTrack
Authors: You Longxiang , Chen Yajun , Xiao Ci , Sun Chaoyue , Li Rongzhen
Published: August 2024

Vehicle detection and tracking technology plays a crucial role in Intelligent Transportation Systems. However, due to factors such as complex scenarios, diverse scales, and occlusions, issues like false detections, missed detections, and identity switches frequently occur. To address these problems, this paper proposes a multi-object vehicle detection and tracking algorithm based on CDS-YOLOv8 and improved ByteTrack. For vehicle detection, the Context-Guided (CG) module is introduced during the downsampling process to enhance feature extraction capabilities in complex scenarios. The Dilated Reparam Block (DRB) is reconstructed to tackle multi-scale issues, and Soft-NMS replaces the traditional NMS to improve performance in densely populated vehicle scenarios. For vehicle tracking, the state vector and covariance matrix of the Kalman filter are improved to better handle the nonlinear movement of vehicles, and Gaussian Smoothed Interpolation (GSI) is introduced to fill in trajectory gaps caused by detection misses. Experiments conducted on the UA-DETRAC dataset show that the improved algorithm increases detection performance, with mAP@0.5 and mAP@0.5:0.95 improving by 9% and 8.8%, respectively. In terms of tracking performance, mMOTA improves by 6.7%. Additionally, comparative experiments with mainstream detection and two-stage tracking algorithms demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithm.
Swin-Fake: A Consistency Learning Transformer-Based Deepfake Video Detector
Authors: Gong Liang Yu , Li Xue Jun , Chong Peter Han Joo
Published: August 2024

Deepfake has become an emerging technology affecting cyber-security with its illegal applications in recent years. Most deepfake detectors utilize CNN-based models such as the Xception Network to distinguish real or fake media; however, their performance on cross-datasets is not ideal because they suffer from over-fitting in the current stage. Therefore, this paper proposed a spatial consistency learning method to relieve this issue in three aspects. Firstly, we increased the selections of data augmentation methods to 5, which is more than our previous study’s data augmentation methods. Specifically, we captured several equal video frames of one video and randomly selected five different data augmentations to obtain different data views to enrich the input variety. Secondly, we chose Swin Transformer as the feature extractor instead of a CNN-based backbone, which means that our approach did not utilize it for downstream tasks, and could encode these data using an end-to-end Swin Transformer, aiming to learn the correlation between different image patches. Finally, this was combined with consistency learning in our study, and consistency learning was able to determine more data relationships than supervised classification. We explored the consistency of video frames’ features by calculating their cosine distance and applied traditional cross-entropy loss to regulate this classification loss. Extensive in-dataset and cross-dataset experiments demonstrated that Swin-Fake could produce relatively good results on some open-source deepfake datasets, including FaceForensics++, DFDC, Celeb-DF and FaceShifter. By comparing our model with several benchmark models, our approach shows relatively strong robustness in detecting deepfake media.
Soft Sensors for Industrial Processes Using Multi-Step-Ahead Hankel Dynamic Mode Decomposition with Control
Authors: Patanè Luca , Sapuppo Francesca , Xibilia Maria Gabriella
Published: August 2024

In this paper, a novel data-driven approach for the development of soft sensors (SSs) for multi-step-ahead prediction of industrial process variables is proposed. This method is based on the recent developments in Koopman operator theory and dynamic mode decomposition (DMD). It is derived from Hankel DMD with control (HDMDc) to deal with highly nonlinear dynamics using augmented linear models, exploiting input and output regressors. The proposed multi-step-ahead HDMDc (MSA-HDMDc) is designed to perform multi-step prediction and capture complex dynamics with a linear approximation for a highly nonlinear system. This enables the construction of SSs capable of estimating the output of a process over a long period of time and/or using the developed SSs for model predictive control purposes. Hyperparameter tuning and model order reduction are specifically designed to perform multi-step-ahead predictions. Two real-world case studies consisting of a sulfur recovery unit and a debutanizer column, which are widely used as benchmarks in the SS field, are used to validate the proposed methodology. Data covering multiple system operating points are used for identification. The proposed MSA-HDMDc outperforms currently adopted methods in the SSs domain, such as autoregressive models with exogenous inputs and finite impulse response models, and proves to be robust to the variability of systems operating points.
Case Study of the Impact of New Brazilian Legislation in the Year 2023 on the Economic Feasibility of Photovoltaic Microgeneration: Homes in the City of Fortaleza
Authors: Lima Porfirio de Sousa Brunna , Lopes Flávia , Jaramillo Loayza David Mickely , Yepes Maya Diego Mauricio , Garcia Pabon Juan Jose
Published: August 2024

More than two-thirds of the installed solar power in Brazil comes from distributed mini-generation and microgeneration (DMMG), mostly residential and for local self-consumption of solar PV. DMMG had its legal framework approved in 2022, gradually introduces charges for distribution network use, previously exempt. To understand these implications, this article compiles recent legislative and normative changes, particularly for solar PV DMMG projects. In addition, the present study focuses on the use of DMMG systems in the city of Fortaleza in the Northeast Region. The study includes an analysis of the integration of photovoltaic plants in homes in Fortaleza and their economic viability under the new conditions established after 2020. Two residential photovoltaic systems, with varying power levels common in the residential sector of Fortaleza, were studied. Each plant underwent three analyses: one with vested rights; another with 100% taxation of FIO Bl and a third for the current scenario, factoring in the growing FIO B charge from 15% in 2023 to 100% in 2029. Customers who obtained the system by cash payment or financing were considered. An economic feasibility study factored in a 5.79% yearly inflation rate and an 11.35% annual tariff readjustment across the two plants, including sensitivity analysis for this variable.
Numerical Investigation of Hydraulic Fractures Vertical Propagation Mechanism for Enhanced Tight Gas Recovery
Authors: Wu Jianshu , Fan Baitao , Wu Guangai , Peng Chengyong , Chen Zhengrong , Yan Wei , Xiao Cong , Liu Wei , Wu Mingliang , Zou Lei
Published: August 2024

Hydraulic fracturing stands as a pivotal technological approach for enhanced tight gas recovery. This paper investigates the influences of geological and engineering parameters on the vertical extension mechanism of hydraulic fractures. In addition, the feasibility and effectiveness of fracture height prediction method and various fracture height control techniques have been examined. The results indicate that the height of hydraulic fractures decreases with an increase in the thickness of the barrier layers, the stress difference between the barrier and reservoir layers, the difference in tensile strength, and the difference in fracture toughness, whereas it increases with the increasing of difference in elastic modulus between the barrier and reservoir layers. Compred with the difference in Poisson’s ratio, the volume of fracturing fluid, discharge rate, and fluid viscosity have little impactd. The influence of these factors on fracture height, in descending order, is stress difference between barrier and reservoir layers, fracturing fluid viscosity, fracturing discharge, fracturing fluid volume, barrier layer thickness, tensile strength difference between barrier and reservoir layers, elastic modulus difference between barrier and reservoir layers, Poisson’s ratio difference between barrier and reservoir layers. Furthermore, based on typical geomechanic and reservoir parameters of the target area, a fracture height prediction workflow has been developed. Engineering practice has proven the reliability of fracture height prediction method. The results of this study provide theoretical support and guidance for predicting fracture morphology, controlling fracture height in the hydraulic fracturing development of the tight gas reservoir, and optimizing fracturing process design.
Energy Communities in the Transition to Renewable Sources: Innovative Models of Energy Self-Sufficiency through Organic Waste
Authors: Bellini Francesco , Campana Paola , Censi Riccardo , Di Renzo Matteo , Tarola Anna Maria
Published: August 2024

This paper presents the evolution and role of energy communities in the context of the transition to renewable energy sources. Such communities are presented as an innovative and resilient response to the challenges posed by climate change. Their importance emerges from their ability to decentralize energy production, increasing local security and reducing dependence on non-renewable energy sources and external suppliers. However, despite the obvious benefits, this contribution highlights several challenges, such as the need for significant upfront investment and the presence of regulatory barriers that may hinder the integration of these solutions into existing energy systems. A detailed bibliometric analysis is used, focusing on specific research areas and using tools to map the most relevant keywords and emerging trends. The results of the bibliometric analysis highlight how energy communities are emerging as key players in the sustainability landscape, capable of addressing and overcoming contemporary environmental challenges. The research reaffirms the transformative potential of energy communities in promoting a more sustainable and resilient future.
Evaluation of Transport–Burnup Coupling Strategy in Double-Heterogeneity Problem
Authors: Zhang Yunfei , Zhang Qian , Zou Yang , Zhou Bo , Yan Rui , Zhu Guifeng , Guo Jian , Zhang Ao
Published: August 2024

The simulation of fuel composition requires coupled calculations of neutron transport and burnup. It is generally assumed that the neutron flux density and cross-sections remain constant within a burnup step. However, when there are strong absorber poisons present, the reaction rates of the absorbers change too rapidly over time, necessitating extremely fine step sizes to ensure computational accuracy, which in turn leads to low computational efficiency. As a type of accident tolerant fuel (ATF), fully ceramic micro-encapsulated (FCM) fuel is a promising new type of nuclear fuel. Accelerated algorithms for burnup calculations of FCM fuel containing gadolinium isotopes have been developed based on the ALPHA code, including the projected predictor–corrector (PPC), the log-linear rate (LLR), and the high-order predictor–corrector (HOPC) methods (including CE/LI, CE/QI, LE/LI, and LE/QI). The performances of different algorithms under the two forms of Gd2O3 existence were analyzed. The numerical results show that the LE/QI method performs the best overall. For Gd2O3 existing in both forms, the LE/QI algorithm can maintain accuracy with a burnup step size of up to 1.0 GWd/tU, keeping the infinite multiplication factor kinf within 100 pcm, and it exhibits high accuracy in simulating the atomic number densities of Gd-155 and Gd-157 throughout the burnup process.
Experimental Study on the Influence of Planar Configuration on Wind Load Distribution Characteristics of High-Rise Buildings with Whole Wind Azimuths
Authors: Chen Qiuhua , Zhang Xiaoxi
Published: August 2024

Wind resistance performance research on the influence of the exterior features of high-rise buildings is an essential part of structure design. In this paper, the wind resistance tests of three high-rise building models with different concavity shapes on the horizontal plane were investigated using the wind tunnel experiment. The CAARC (Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Research Council) standard high-rise model was adopted as the background model (BG model for short), and the other two comparison groups with different planar configurations were designed, one with concave corners around the building (T1 model) and the other with concavity in the middle of the long side of the building (T2 model). The distribution laws of the average wind pressure coefficients of the building facades and roofs under the whole wind azimuths were analyzed comprehensively. The results show that the external shape plays a certain role in wind pressure distribution. Among the three high-rise building models, the most unfavorable positive wind pressure coefficient on the facades occurs in the T2 model (a 4.7% increment compared with the BG model), while the most unfavorable negative wind pressure coefficient appears in the T1 model (a 25% increment compared with BG model). Furthermore, it is noted that the architectural appearance of the T1 model makes the flow field around the building more streamlined, reflecting more favorable wind-resistance performance, including a maximum reduction of 47.2% in the least stresses per unit area on the roof. The research in this paper can provide some references for the design of different exterior features of high-rise buildings.
Analysis of the Year-Round Operation of Enhanced Natural Ventilation Systems under Transient Weather Conditions in Europe
Authors: Andrzejczyk Rafał
Published: August 2024

This study presents the potential of using a natural ventilation system integrated with different combinations of enhancement techniques. The focus was on the perspective of using such configurations of passive ventilation systems (PVSs) in buildings located in different European cities. This work presents the results of obtaining the level of volumetric air flow rate for considering natural ventilation systems. Furthermore, the influences of local weather conditions (temperature, solar radiation, wind speed) were analyzed. Moreover, the year-round operation of all systems was presented. Also noted was the limitation of using PVSs based on the natural draft effect, additionally assisted by wind turbine ventilators in all European localizations. However, for the cities located in the northern part of Europe, it was confirmed that such a system can still meet minimum hygienic recommendations. It was also noted that a system additionally supported by a solar chimney is a much better solution. The best system was a PVS supported by a wind turbine ventilator and solar chimney integrated with PCM accumulation mass. The system should be additionally supported by waste heat from low-temperature sources. In the presented study, a high potential to reduce CO2 emission from building stock by the recommended system is additionally highlighted. However, there is still a need to analyze the proposed solutions by additional field tests and experimental investigations.
Revenue Sharing in Professional Sports Leagues
Authors: Rockerbie Duane
Published: August 2024

This entry provides a review of economic models of professional sports leagues with and without revenue sharing. These include models that assume profit-maximizing and win-maximizing (sportsmen) club owners. Both approaches predict that revenue sharing will reduce the demand for player talent, depress player salaries, and transfer revenue from large-market to small-market clubs, but they differ on league parity effects. Empirical work has been sparse due to financial data limitations and has not yielded definitive results on the parity issue. Despite the growing awareness of sports economics in the sports industry, the lack of consensus from theoretical models has resulted in sports leagues searching for an optimal revenue sharing policy. The difficulty in providing consistent policy prescriptions in models that incorporate revenue sharing, salary caps, and other league policies has made economic modeling of sports leagues very difficult and complex. While revenue sharing remains an interesting theoretical modeling issue, it has not bridged the gap to real-world league policies.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal Fungi as Inspiration for Sustainable Technology
Authors: Torres Maria J. , Moreira Geisianny , Bhadha Jehangir H. , McLamore Eric S.
Published: August 2024

This review illuminates established knowledge of root–arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)–plant mutualism to study the uptake of phosphorus (P) as a critical element for plant nutrition. We focus on P cycling, underscoring the role of AMF in enhancing P acquisition and plant resilience in the rhizosphere. The role(s) of plant roots, root exudates, and biomolecules in relevant soil processes is emphasized in this manuscript. Enhancing P uptake efficiency through AMF interaction presents a promising avenue for sustainable agriculture, with future research opportunities focusing on understanding underlying mechanisms and developing innovative technologies as a need to transition from the use of AMF as a biofertilizer or as an inoculation alternative for seeds to being an inspiration for the development of technology adapted to different crops. This is important to promote responsible agricultural practices and improve crop yields. We provide definitions of key terms and concepts for one of the best-known natural sustainable phosphorus systems. This manuscript illuminates and aims to inspire technology development to overcome the challenge of plant nutrition under P scarcity conditions.
Development of a Methodological Approach for the Design of Train Speed Trajectory Diagrams for the Suburban Railways—Application on the Greek Railway Line Athens–Chalkida
Authors: Koffas Konstantinos , Moschovou Tatiana P. , Liberis Konstantinos
Published: August 2024

Rail traction and resistance play an essential role in the efficient operation of rail systems. The nature of traction is based on the balance between static friction and generated force at the perimeter of the driving wheels. The main objective of this paper is the development of a methodology and a modeling procedure for the design of train speed trajectory diagrams for the suburban railway. The model is applied to the Athens–Chalkida railway line (in Greece). For this purpose, geometric data for the above-mentioned railway line is collected from the Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) and then recorded and digitized. A code is developed in MATLAB to calculate the total resistance of the railway line at each kilometer position. The traction elements of the trains operating on the Athens–Chalkida–Athens line, as well as other representative trains, and the magnitudes of their mechanical-aerodynamic resistances are recorded. The MATLAB program generates and compiles the train speed trajectory diagrams and the traction-resistance matrices. Finally, a comparison is made between the time, energy, CO2 emissions, and fuel costs of the rail in relation to the competing mode of transportation, which, for the specific line studied, is the tourist bus.
Individual Carbon Modeling in Eucalyptus Stands in the Cerrado Region
Authors: Ribeiro Fabiana Piontekowski , de Sousa Thais Rodrigues , Silva Fernanda Rodrigues da Costa , da Fonseca Ana Caroline Pereira , dos Santos Marcela Granato Barbosa , dos Santos Jane Ribeiro , de Jesus Douglas Rodrigues , Lozada Clara Milena Concha , Valadão Marco Bruno Xavier , Miguel Eder Pereira , de Oliveira Alexsandra Duarte , Carvalho Arminda Moreira de , Gatto Alcides
Published: August 2024

In the context of global climate change, eucalyptus stands in the planted forest sector have become a viable alternative for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in addition to presenting great potential for the carbon (C) stock. Thus, the objective of this study was to quantify C stocks in different eucalyptus compartments, in addition to evaluating three mathematical models at the individual tree level. We evaluated four areas of eucalyptus stands located in the Federal District, Brazil. The data were collected from the forest inventory and rigorous cubing procedures using the following statistical models: Spurr, Schumacher–Hall, and adapted Schumacher–Hall. The highest Pearson’s linear modification coefficient, lowest root means square error percentage (RMSE%), and lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC) were used to select the best model. The C content and stock varied between the compartments and areas studied owing to age and, above all, genetic differences. Clone I224 had the highest carbon concentration per acre at 233.35 Mg ha−1 and carbon difference per compartment. The adapted Schumacher–Hall was the best model. It included data on biometric factors, such as the diameter at breast height, height, and age. The contribution of eucalyptus plantations to carbon sequestration is fundamental to socioenvironmental enhancement.
Quantitative Study on the Effects of Vegetation and Soil on Runoff and Sediment in the Loess Plateau
Authors: Duan Gaohui , Leng Chunqian , Zhang Zeyu , Zheng Cheng , Wen Zhongming
Published: August 2024

Runoff and sediment (RAS) are important indicators of soil erosion in a watershed, playing a significant role in the migration of surface material and landform development. Previous studies have extensively documented the effects of trees, shrubs, herbs, and soil on runoff and sediment during erosive rainfall; however, the precise interactions among these factors and their influence on RAS yield within the vegetation hierarchy remain unclear. Using the random forest algorithm and the structural equation model, this research aimed to quantify the interaction of numerous variables within diverse vegetation hierarchies and how they affect RAS, as well as to identify critical indicators that influence RAS. The structural equation model results show that the grass properties have a direct effect on soil properties, and the grass properties and soil properties both affect the canopy properties directly; the soil properties and canopy properties are the main factors influencing runoff and sediment directly. In addition, the grass properties could affect RAS by influencing the soil properties indirectly, and the soil properties could also affect RAS indirectly by influencing the canopy properties. Height difference (HD) between two layers of vegetation had the highest weight of 1.043 among the canopy variables, showing that HD has a substantial effect on RAS. Among the soil properties, soil bulk density and maximum field capacity have a significant impact on RAS. We conclude that canopy properties have the greatest impact on RAS. In the future, more Caragana microphylla Lam and Robinia pseudoacacia Linn plants should be planted to prevent soil erosion. This study provides a scientific basis for vegetation planting management and soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau.
A Preliminary Study of the Effects of Gaseous Ozone on the Microbiological and Chemical Characteristics of Whole-Plant Corn Silage
Authors: Koakoski Douglas Luiz , Bordin Tiago , Cavallini Damiano , Buonaiuto Giovanni
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the effect of gaseous ozone (O3) on the chemical and microbiological properties of whole-plant corn silage. Conducted on a commercial dairy farm in Brazil, maize was ensiled in experimental bag silos and treated with varying levels of O3 (0%, 1.25%, 3.12%, 4.15%, and 6.25%). The findings revealed minimal nutrient losses in starch, non-fiber carbohydrates, crude protein, and total digestible nutrients compared to untreated fresh maize. O3-treated silages exhibited increased levels of ash, ether extract, calcium, and phosphorus. Notably, the application of 3.12% to 4.15% O3 improved microbiological characteristics, significantly reducing mold and yeast populations, which are common issues in farm-produced silage. This study demonstrated that gaseous ozone is a promising additive for enhancing the microbiological quality of corn silage, offering an effective alternative to traditional chemical preservatives.
Current Status and Prospects of Plant Flammability Measurements
Authors: Jian Minting , Jian Yi , Zeng Hong , Cao Dongyu , Cui Xinglei
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the frequency of wildfires worldwide has been gradually increasing, posing significant threats to global ecosystems and human society. Given that plants serve as the primary fuel in natural environments, accurately assessing the flammability of plants is crucial for wildfire management and fire ecology studies. Plant flammability is a multifaceted trait influenced by various physiological, physical, and chemical characteristics of plants. Currently, there is no universally accepted standard for quantifying plant flammability. By analyzing published research over the past few decades, this study found that 17.27% of studies assessed plant flammability by measuring flammability-related characteristics, such as moisture content, leaf size, bark thickness, oil content, and terpene content; a total of 34.55% of studies assessed plant flammability through burning experiments by measuring burning parameters, such as ignition time, duration of combustion, and flame spread rate. The remaining studies, approximately 50%, used a combination of burning experiments and flammability-related characteristic measurement to assess plant flammability. This study outlined the current status of plant flammability measurements, discussed the merits of each measurement method, and proposed suggestions for enhancing the assessment of plant flammability, with the aim of contributing to the standardization of plant flammability measurements.
Impacts and Drivers of Summer Wildfires in the Cape Peninsula: A Remote Sensing Approach
Authors: Xongo Kanya , Ngcoliso Nasiphi , Shikwambana Lerato
Published: August 2024

Over the years, the Cape Peninsula has seen a rise in the number of fires that occur seasonally. This study aimed to investigate the extent of fire spread and associated damages during the 2023/2024 Cape Peninsula fire events. Remote sensing datasets from Sentinel-5P, Sentinel-2, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), and Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2 (MERRA-2) were used. Most of the fires on the northern side of the Cape Peninsula had a short burning span of between 6 and 12 h, but fires with a duration of 12–24 h were minimal. The northern area is composed of low forests and thickets as well as fynbos species, which were the primary fuel sources. Excessive amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and black carbon (BC) emissions were observed. High speeds were observed during the period of the fires. This is one of the factors that led to the spread of the fire. Relative humidity at 60% was observed, indicating slightly dry conditions. Additionally, the Leaf Water Content Index (LWCI) indicated drier vegetation, enhancing fire susceptibility. High temperatures, low moisture and strong winds were the main drivers of the fire. The Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) values for the targeted fires showed values close to −1, which signifies presence of a fire scar. The study can be of use to those in the fire management agencies and biodiversity conservation in the region.
Increased Levels of Phosphorylated-P38α Induce WNT/β-Catenin and NGF/P75NTR/TrkA Pathways Disruption and SN56 Cell Death following Single and Repeated Chlorpyrifos Treatment
Authors: Moyano Paula , Flores Andrea , Fernández María de la Cabeza , García Jimena , Sanjuan Javier , Plaza José Carlos , Del Pino Javier
Published: August 2024

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) biocide, exposure to which is mainly produced in the human population through diet, induces several neurotoxic effects. CPF single and repeated exposure induces memory and learning disorders, although the mechanisms that produce these outcomes are complex and not well understood. CPF treatment (single and repeated) of cholinergic septal SN56 cells induced an increase in phosphorylated-P38α levels that led to WNT/β-Catenin and NGF/P75NTR/TrkA pathways disruption and cell death. These results provide new knowledge on the mechanisms that mediate CPF basal forebrain cholinergic neuronal loss induced by CPF single and repeated exposure and can help unravel the way through which this compound produces cognitive decline and develop efficient treatments against these effects.
A Sustainable Approach for Degradation of Alternariol by Peroxidase Extracted from Soybean Hulls: Performance, Pathway, and Toxicity Evaluation
Authors: Zhang Xingke , Zheng Hao , Lv Hao , Yin Jiyuan , Li Yi , Zhang Kexin , Zhang Liangyu , Zhang Wei , Wang Zhixiang , Zhao Lihong , Guo Yongpeng
Published: August 2024

Alternariol (AOH), an emerging mycotoxin, inevitably exists widely in various food and feed commodities with cereals and fruits being particularly susceptible, raising global concerns over its harm to human and livestock health. The development of eco-friendly and efficient strategies to decontaminate AOH has been an urgent task. This study provided insight into the utilization of crude soybean hull peroxidase as a powerful biocatalyst for degrading AOH. The results confirmed that crude soybean hull peroxidase (SHP) could catalyze the oxidation of AOH by use of H2O2 as a co-substrate. The optimum reaction conditions for SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation were recorded at pH 4.0–8.0, at 42–57 °C, and at H2O2 concentration of 100–500 μM. Mass analysis elucidated the degradation of AOH through hydroxylation and methylation by crude SHP. Moreover, toxicological analysis indicated that crude SHP-catalyzed AOH degradation detoxified the hepatotoxicity of this mycotoxin. The performance of crude SHP to degrade AOH in food matrices was further evaluated, and it was found that the enzyme agent could achieve AOH degradation by 77% in wheat flour, 84% in corn flour, 34% in grape juice, and 26% in apple juice. Collectively, these findings establish crude SHP as a promising candidate for effective AOH degradation, with potential applications in the food and feed industry.
The Policy of Compulsory Large-Scale Food Fortification in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Bell Victoria , Rodrigues Ana Rita , Ferrão Jorge , Varzakas Theodoros , Fernandes Tito H.
Published: August 2024

Food fortification with micronutrients was initially justified in developed countries by a lack of availability of micronutrients in staple crops, mainly due to soil exhaustion. However, in Sub-Saharan arable lands, soil fatigue is not predominant, and communities consume mostly home-grown, organic, non-processed crops. Sub-Saharan food systems are nevertheless deeply entwined with food insecurity, driver of illnesses. Family production can promote subsistence, food stability, and self-sufficiency, the main SSA setback being the vicious cycle of poverty and the lack of dietary variety, contributing to malnutrition. Poverty reduction and women’s education are significant strategies for reducing child and adolescent undernourishment. Fortification of foods consumed daily by individuals makes sense and can minimize, if not entirely, eliminate deficiencies. Compulsory mass fortification of foods in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with single micronutrients is, however, controversial since they work in synergy among each other and with the food matrix, for optimal absorption and metabolism. Since the causes of malnutrition are many, caused by diverse, unequal, and unjust food distribution, interrelated with political, social, cultural, or economic factors, education status of the population, season and climatic changes, and effectiveness of nutrition programs, just food fortification cannot solve the composite of all these elements. Further, compulsory fortification is excessive, unproductive, and likely harmful to human health, while many challenges remain in assessing the quality of available premixes. Furthermore, aiming at dietary diversification is the best approach of increasing trace element intake from commonly accessible and easily available food sources.
A Markov Switching Autoregressive Model with Time-Varying Parameters
Authors: Inayati Syarifah , Iriawan Nur , Irhamah
Published: August 2024

This study showcased the Markov switching autoregressive model with time-varying parameters (MSAR-TVP) for modeling nonlinear time series with structural changes. This model enhances the MSAR framework by allowing dynamic parameter adjustments over time. Parameter estimation uses maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) enhanced by the Kim filter, which integrates the Kalman filter, Hamilton filter, and Kim collapsing, further refined by the Nelder–Mead optimization technique. The model was evaluated using U.S. real gross national product (GNP) data in both in-sample and out-of-sample contexts, as well as an extended dataset to demonstrate its forecasting effectiveness. The results show that the MSAR-TVP model improves forecasting accuracy, outperforming the traditional MSAR model for real GNP. It consistently excels in forecasting error metrics, achieving lower mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean absolute error (MAE) values, indicating superior predictive precision. The model demonstrated robustness and accuracy in predicting future economic trends, confirming its utility in various forecasting applications. These findings have significant implications for sustainable economic growth, highlighting the importance of advanced forecasting models for informed economic policy and strategic planning.
Impact of PV and EV Forecasting in the Operation of a Microgrid
Authors: Manzolini Giampaolo , Fusco Andrea , Gioffrè Domenico , Matrone Silvana , Ramaschi Riccardo , Saleptsis Marios , Simonetti Riccardo , Sobic Filip , Wood Michael James , Ogliari Emanuele , Leva Sonia
Published: August 2024

The electrification of the transport sector together with large renewable energy deployment requires powerful tools to efficiently use energy assets and infrastructure. In this framework, the forecast of electric vehicle demand and solar photovoltaic (PV) generation plays a fundamental role. This paper studies the impact of forecast accuracy on total electric cost of a simulated electric vehicles (EVs) charging station coupled with true solar PV and stationary battery energy storage. The optimal energy management system is based on the rolling horizon approach implemented in with a mixed integer linear program which takes as input the EV load forecast using long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network and persistence approaches and PV production forecast using a physical hybrid artificial neural network. The energy management system is firstly deployed and validated on an existing multi-good microgrid by achieving a discrepancy of state variables below 10% with respect to offline simulations. Then, eight weeks of simulations from each of the four seasons show that the accuracy of the forecast can increase operational costs by 10% equally distributed between the PV and EV forecasts. Finally, the accuracy of the combined PV and EV forecast matters more than single accuracies: LSTM outperforms persistence to predict the EV load (−30% root mean squared error), though when combined with PV forecast it has higher error (+15%) with corresponding higher operational costs (up to 5%).
Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Coordination of 8-Hydroxquinoline Inhibitors to Biomimetic Zinc Complexes and Histone Deacetylase 8 (HDAC8)
Authors: Baudino Anthony M. , Ciaccio Harris F. , Turski Michael J. , Akins Xavier A. , Sun Cao Phoebus , Morales Elisa , Sommer Roger D. , Johnson Adam R. , Wink Donald J. , Grice Kyle A. , Stone Kari L.
Published: August 2024

Zinc is integral to diverse biological functions, acting catalytically, structurally, and supportively in essential enzyme cycles, despite its limited amounts in the body. Targeting zinc enzymes with potent drugs, such as Vorinostat, demonstrates the therapeutic efficacy of zinc-binding ligands, notably in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma treatments. Our study merges experimental and theoretical approaches to analyze the coordination of 8-hydroxylquinoline (8HQ) inhibitors with biomimetic zinc complexes and human histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), a monozinc hydrolase enzyme. Assessing 10 8HQ derivatives for structural and electronic characteristics against these models, we observe minimal inhibition efficacy, corroborated through protein–ligand docking analyses, highlighting the complexities of inhibitor–zinc enzyme interactions and suggesting intricate noncovalent interactions that are important for ligand binding to enzymes not accounted for in model zinc hydrolase mimics.
A Rapid Method to Quantify High-Frequency-Dominant Signals Based on Fixed-Interval Fractal Dimension
Authors: Feng Feng , Song Xinguo , Zhang Yu , Zhu Zhen , Wu Heng , Feng Pingfa
Published: August 2024

The fractal dimension (FD) is an effective indicator to characterize various signals in engineering. However, the FD is nearly twice that of its maximum value when examining high-frequency-dominant signals, such as those in milling chatter. Previous studies in the literature have generally employed signal-pre-processing methods that require a significant amount of time to lower the FD range, thus enabling the distinguishment of different states while disabling online monitoring. A new quantitative method based on the FD within a fixed interval was constructed in this study to address this issue. First, the relationship between the fixed-interval fractal dimension (FFD) and the energy ratio (ER), named the fractal complexity curve (FC-Curve), was established, and the sensitivity region of the FFD was determined. Second, a high-frequency suppression filter (HSF) with a high calculation speed was proposed to suppress the signal’s ER so the FFD could be adjusted within its sensitivity region. Moreover, a fast energy ratio (FER) correlated with the FFD was proposed using the FC-Curve and HSF to quantitatively analyze dominant high-frequency signals. Finally, the proposed method was verified via its application in milling chatter identification. The FER method accomplished signal analysis more quickly than the traditional energy ratio difference and entropy methods, demonstrating its feasibility for online monitoring and chatter suppression in practical engineering applications.
Steps toward Unraveling the Structure and Formation of Five Polar Ring Galaxies
Authors: Lackey Kyle E. , Kulkarni Varsha P. , Aller Monique C.
Published: August 2024

Polar ring galaxies (PRGs) are unusual relative to common galaxies in that they consist of a central host galaxy—usually a gas-poor, early-type S0 or elliptical galaxy—surrounded by a ring of gas, dust and stars that orbit perpendicular to the major axis of the host. Despite the general quiescence of early-type galaxies (ETGs) and the rings’ lack of spiral density waves, PRGs are the sites of significant star formation relative to typical ETGs. To study these structures and improve PRG statistics, we obtained and analyzed infrared (IR) images from the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) aboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, and combined these IR data with archival optical data from both the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and the Hubble Space Telescope, and with optical imaging data we obtained with the Gemini South Observatory. We performed structural decomposition and photometry for five PRGs, and fit the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of each PRG component to estimate the stellar masses, ages, and other physical properties of the PRG components. We show that PRC B-12 and PRC B-22, both lacking previous analysis, obey trends commonly observed among PRGs. We find that the stellar masses of polar rings can be a significant fraction of the host galaxy’s stellar masses (∼10–30%). We note, however, that our estimates of stellar mass and other physical properties are the results of SED fitting and not direct measurements. Our findings corroborate both previous theoretical expectations and measurements of existing samples of PRGs and indicate the utility of SED fitting in the context of these unusual galaxies, which historically have lacked multi-wavelength photometry of their stellar components. Finally, we outline future improvements needed for more definitive studies of PRGs and their formation scenarios.
Primary Signet-Ring-Cell Carcinoma in the Colorectum: A Case-Based Literature Review
Authors: Gulinac Milena , Mileva Niya , Miteva Dimitrina , Velikova Tsvetelina , Dikov Dorian
Published: August 2024

Primary colorectal signet-ring-cell carcinoma of the colon and rectum (PSRCCR) is an extremely rare subtype of mucinous adenocarcinoma with a reported rate of less than 1%. This low rate is mainly because it is generally diagnosed at advanced stages. The most common stage at which it is diagnosed for the first time is III or IV, with a lower median survival than other histological subtypes. To diagnose PSRCCR of the colon, at least half of the tumor must be consistent with a signet-ring-cell pattern. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of PSRCCR by synthesizing the existing literature and clinical data. Our objective was to elucidate the clinical features, diagnostic challenges, histopathological characteristics, molecular alterations, treatment modalities, and prognostic factors associated with this carcinoma. Additionally, we highlighted the significance of early detection, accurate diagnosis, and personalized therapeutic approaches in improving outcomes for patients with this challenging malignancy. By presenting a case report on the topic, we aimed to enhance understanding among clinicians, pathologists, and researchers, ultimately contributing to optimized management strategies and improved patient care for PSRCCR.