bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Lightweight Inertial Gravimeter for Use on Board an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle: Measurement Principle, System Design and Sea Trial Mission
Authors: Verdun Jérôme , Roussel Clément , Cali José , Maia Marcia , D’Eu Jean-François , Kharbou Ossama , Poitou Charles , Ammann Jérôme , Durand Frédéric , Bouhier Marie-Édith
Published: May 2022

The purpose of this paper is to present the design, development and testing of an innovative instrument called GraviMob, which allows performing dynamic measurements of underwater gravity anomalies. After recalling the interest in underwater gravimetry, we describe the system, the core of which consists of triads of accelerometers rigidly attached to an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV). The article also presents the mathematical methods for estimating the east, north and vertical components of the local gravity vector. An unscented Kalman filter, integrating AUV position and orientation data, performs estimation of gravity in a frame adapted to its interpretation. To assess its performance, GraviMob was tested in the Mediterranean Sea during the year 2016. A comparison of the surface gravimetric signal previously acquired by the French Navy indicates that the maximum discrepancy between the vertical gravity component and its reference is below 4 mGal. Components of the vertical deflection calculated from GraviMob’s measurements were compared with those calculated from recent gravity field models. While a remarkable agreement was found on the north component, there remains a discrepancy (7 arcsec) on the east component which can be largely reduced by refining the estimation of the orientation of GraviMob’s sensitive axes in the AUV.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of NDVI, Soil Moisture and ENSO in Tropical South America
Authors: Álvarez Diana M. , Poveda Germán
Published: May 2022

We evaluated the coupled dynamics of vegetation dynamics (NDVI) and soil moisture (SMOS) at monthly resolution over different regions of tropical South America and the effects of the Eastern Pacific (EP) and the Central Pacific (CP) El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. We used linear Pearson cross-correlation, wavelet and cross wavelet analysis (CWA) and three nonlinear causality methods: ParrCorr, GPDC and PCMCIplus. Results showed that NDVI peaks when SMOS is transitioning from maximum to minimum monthly values, which confirms the role of SMOS in the hydrological dynamics of the Amazonian greening up during the dry season. Linear correlations showed significant positive values when SMOS leads NDVI by 1–3 months. Wavelet analysis evidenced strong 12- and 64-month frequency bands throughout the entire record length, in particular for SMOS, whereas the CWA analyses indicated that both variables exhibit a strong coherency at a wide range of frequency bands from 2 to 32 months. Linear and nonlinear causality measures also showed that ENSO effects are greater on SMOS. Lagged cross-correlations displayed that western (eastern) regions are more associated with the CP (EP), and that the effects of ENSO manifest as a travelling wave over time, from northwest (earlier) to southeast (later) over tropical South America and the Amazon River basin. The ParrCorr and PCMCIplus methods produced the most coherent results, and allowed us to conclude that: (1) the nonlinear temporal persistence (memory) of soil moisture is stronger than that of NDVI; (2) the existence of two-way nonlinear causalities between NDVI and SMOS; (3) diverse causal links between both variables and the ENSO indices: CP (7/12 with ParrCorr; 6/12 with PCMCIplus), and less with EP (5/12 with ParrCorr; 3/12 with PCMCIplus).
Global Evapotranspiration Datasets Assessment Using Water Balance in South America
Authors: Ruhoff Anderson , de Andrade Bruno Comini , Laipelt Leonardo , Fleischmann Ayan Santos , Siqueira Vinícius Alencar , Moreira Adriana Aparecida , Barbedo Rafael , Cyganski Gabriele Leão , Fernandez Gabriel Matte Rios , Brêda João Paulo Lyra Fialho , Paiva Rodrigo Cauduro Dias de , Meller Adalberto , Teixeira Alexandre de Amorim , Araújo Alexandre Abdalla , Fuckner Marcus André , Biggs Trent
Published: May 2022

Evapotranspiration (ET) connects the land to the atmosphere, linking water, energy, and carbon cycles. ET is an essential climate variable with a fundamental importance, and accurate assessments of the spatiotemporal trends and variability in ET are needed from regional to continental scales. This study compared eight global actual ET datasets (ETgl) and the average actual ET ensemble (ETens) based on remote sensing, climate reanalysis, land-surface, and biophysical models to ET computed from basin-scale water balance (ETwb) in South America on monthly time scale. The 50 small-to-large basins covered major rivers and different biomes and climate types. We also examined the magnitude, seasonality, and interannual variability of ET, comparing ETgl and ETens with ETwb. Global ET datasets were evaluated between 2003 and 2014 from the following datasets: Breathing Earth System Simulator (BESS), ECMWF Reanalysis 5 (ERA5), Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model (GLEAM), MOD16, Penman–Monteith–Leuning (PML), Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) and Terra Climate. By using ETwb as a basis for comparison, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.45 (SSEBop) to 0.60 (ETens), and RMSE ranged from 35.6 (ETens) to 40.5 mm·month−1 (MOD16). Overall, ETgl estimates ranged from 0 to 150 mm·month−1 in most basins in South America, while ETwb estimates showed maximum rates up to 250 mm·month−1. ETgl varied by hydroclimatic regions: (i) basins located in humid climates with low seasonality in precipitation, including the Amazon, Uruguay, and South Atlantic basins, yielded weak correlation coefficients between monthly ETgl and ETwb, and (ii) tropical and semiarid basins (areas where precipitation demonstrates a strong seasonality, as in the São Francisco, Northeast Atlantic, Paraná/Paraguay, and Tocantins basins) yielded moderate-to-strong correlation coefficients. An assessment of the interannual variability demonstrated a disagreement between ETgl and ETwb in the humid tropics (in the Amazon), with ETgl showing a wide range of interannual variability. However, in tropical, subtropical, and semiarid climates, including the Tocantins, São Francisco, Paraná, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Atlantic basins (Northeast, East, and South), we found a stronger agreement between ETgl and ETwb for interannual variability. Assessing ET datasets enables the understanding of land–atmosphere exchanges in South America, to improvement of ET estimation and monitoring for water management.
Interprovincial Joint Prevention and Control of Open Straw Burning in Northeast China: Implications for Atmospheric Environment Management
Authors: Fu Jing , Song Shitao , Guo Li , Chen Weiwei , Wang Peng , Duanmu Lingjian , Shang Yijing , Shi Bowen , He Luyan
Published: May 2022

Large-scale open burning of straw residues causes seasonal and severe atmospheric pollution in Northeast China. Previous studies focused on the causes or assessment of atmospheric pollution in a single city. However, studies conducted on the interaction range, degree and policy control of pollutant transport on a large scale are still to be performed. In this study, we propose combined control of straw burning by dividing region the straw burning in Northeast China in recent 20 years, determining the transport routes between main cities, and analyzing the interaction characteristics of straw burning under different scenarios. The fire point data suggest that the most intense straw burning years in Northeast China in the past 20 years occurred in the range from 2014 to 2017, mainly after the autumn harvest (October–November) and before spring cultivation (March–April). The burning areas were concentrated in the belt of Shenyang-Changchun-Harbin, the border of the three provinces and Eastern-Inner Mongolia, and the surrounding area of Hegang and Jiamusi City. The lower number of fire points before 2013 indicates that high-intensity burning has not always been the case, while the sharp decline after 2018 is mainly due to scientific control of straw burning and increased comprehensive utilization of straw. Compared with S2, the PM2.5 concentrations increased by 6.2% in S3 and 18.7% in S4, indicating that burning in three or four provinces at the same time will significantly increase air pollution and exert a regional transmission effect. Straw burning in Northeast China is divided into six main regions based on correlation analysis and satellite fire monitoring. Under typical S3, the case analysis results indicate that there is regional transmission interaction between different cities and provinces, focusing on multi-province border cities, and it is affected by Northwest long airflow, and Southeast and Northeast short airflow. These results provide scientific and technological support for implementing the joint prevention and control plan for straw incineration in Northeast China.
Deep-Learning-Based Algorithm for the Removal of Electromagnetic Interference Noise in Photoacoustic Endoscopic Image Processing
Authors: Gulenko Oleksandra , Yang Hyunmo , Kim KiSik , Youm Jin Young , Kim Minjae , Kim Yunho , Jung Woonggyu , Yang Joon-Mo
Published: May 2022

Despite all the expectations for photoacoustic endoscopy (PAE), there are still several technical issues that must be resolved before the technique can be successfully translated into clinics. Among these, electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise, in addition to the limited signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), have hindered the rapid development of related technologies. Unlike endoscopic ultrasound, in which the SNR can be increased by simply applying a higher pulsing voltage, there is a fundamental limitation in leveraging the SNR of PAE signals because they are mostly determined by the optical pulse energy applied, which must be within the safety limits. Moreover, a typical PAE hardware situation requires a wide separation between the ultrasonic sensor and the amplifier, meaning that it is not easy to build an ideal PAE system that would be unaffected by EMI noise. With the intention of expediting the progress of related research, in this study, we investigated the feasibility of deep-learning-based EMI noise removal involved in PAE image processing. In particular, we selected four fully convolutional neural network architectures, U-Net, Segnet, FCN-16s, and FCN-8s, and observed that a modified U-Net architecture outperformed the other architectures in the EMI noise removal. Classical filter methods were also compared to confirm the superiority of the deep-learning-based approach. Still, it was by the U-Net architecture that we were able to successfully produce a denoised 3D vasculature map that could even depict the mesh-like capillary networks distributed in the wall of a rat colorectum. As the development of a low-cost laser diode or LED-based photoacoustic tomography (PAT) system is now emerging as one of the important topics in PAT, we expect that the presented AI strategy for the removal of EMI noise could be broadly applicable to many areas of PAT, in which the ability to apply a hardware-based prevention method is limited and thus EMI noise appears more prominently due to poor SNR.
Digital Forensic Analysis to Improve User Privacy on Android
Authors: Kim Hyungchan , Shin Yeonghun , Kim Sungbum , Jo Wooyeon , Kim Minju , Shon Taeshik
Published: May 2022

The Android platform accounts for 85% of the global smartphone operating-system market share, and recently, it has also been installed on Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices such as wearable devices and vehicles. These Android-based devices store various personal information such as user IDs, addresses, and payment information and device usage data when providing convenient functions to users. Insufficient security for the management and deletion of data stored in the device can lead to various cyber security threats such as personal information leakage and identity theft. Therefore, research on the protection of personal information stored in the device is very important. However, there is a limitation that the current research for protection of personal information on the existing Android platform was only conducted on Android platform 6 or lower. In this paper, we analyze the deleted data remaining on the device and the possibility of recovery to improve user privacy for smartphones using Android platforms 9 and 10. The deleted data analysis is performed based on three data deletion scenarios: data deletion using the app’s own function, data deletion using the system app’s data and cache deletion function, and uninstallation of installed apps. It demonstrates the potential user privacy problems that can occur when using Android platforms 9 and 10 due to the leakage of recovered data. It also highlights the need for improving the security of personal user information by erasing the traces of deleted data that remain in the journal area and directory entry area of the filesystem used in Android platforms 9 and 10.
The Influence of the sEMG Amplitude Estimation Technique on the EMG–Force Relationship
Authors: Ranaldi Simone , Corvini Giovanni , De Marchis Cristiano , Conforto Silvia
Published: May 2022

The estimation of the sEMG–force relationship is an open problem in the scientific literature; current methods show different limitations and can achieve good performance only on limited scenarios, failing to identify a general solution to the optimization of this kind of analysis. In this work, this relationship has been estimated on two different datasets related to isometric force-tracking experiments by calculating the sEMG amplitude using different fixed-time constant moving-window filters, as well as an adaptive time-varying algorithm. Results show how the adaptive methods might be the most appropriate choice for the estimation of the correlation between the sEMG signal and the force time course. Moreover, the comparison between adaptive and standard filters highlights how the time constants exploited in the estimation strategy is not the only influence factor on this kind of analysis; a time-varying approach is able to constantly capture more information with respect to fixed stationary approaches with comparable window lengths.
Microwave Ablation of Liver, Kidney and Lung Lesions: One-Month Response and Manufacturer’s Charts’ Reliability in Clinical Practice
Authors: Frandon Julien , Akessoul Philippe , Kammoun Tarek , Dabli Djamel , de Forges Hélène , Beregi Jean-Paul , Greffier Joël
Published: May 2022

Microwave ablation systems allow for performing tumoral destruction in oncology. The objective of this study was to assess the early response and reliability of the microwave ablation zone size at one month for liver, kidney and lung lesions, as compared to the manufacturer’s charts. Patients who underwent microwave ablation with the EmprintTM ablation system for liver, kidney and lung lesions between June 2016 and June 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Local response and ablation zone size (major, L, and minor, l, axes) were evaluated on the one-month follow-up imaging. Results were compared to the manufacturers’ charts using the Bland–Altman analysis. Fifty-five patients (mean age 68 ± 11 years; 95 lesions) were included. The one-month complete response was 94%. Liver ablations showed a good agreement with subtle, smaller ablation zones (L: −2 ± 5.7 mm; l: −5.2 ± 5.6 mm). Kidney ablations showed a moderate agreement with larger ablations for L (L: 8.69 ± 7.94 mm; l: 0.36 ± 4.77 mm). Lung ablations showed a moderate agreement, with smaller ablations for l (L: −5.45 ± 4.5 mm; l: −9.32 ± 4.72 mm). With 94% of early complete responses, the system showed reliable ablations for liver lesions, but larger ablations for kidney lesions, and smaller for lung lesions.
Design and Optimization of GeSn Waveguide Photodetectors for 2-µm Band Silicon Photonics
Authors: Ghosh Soumava , Bansal Radhika , Sun Greg , Soref Richard A. , Cheng Hung-Hsiang , Chang Guo-En
Published: May 2022

Silicon photonics is emerging as a competitive platform for electronic–photonic integrated circuits (EPICs) in the 2 µm wavelength band where GeSn photodetectors (PDs) have proven to be efficient PDs. In this paper, we present a comprehensive theoretical study of GeSn vertical p–i–n homojunction waveguide photodetectors (WGPDs) that have a strain-free and defect-free GeSn active layer for 2 µm Si-based EPICs. The use of a narrow-gap GeSn alloy as the active layer can fully cover entire the 2 µm wavelength band. The waveguide structure allows for decoupling the photon-absorbing path and the carrier collection path, thereby allowing for the simultaneous achievement of high-responsivity and high-bandwidth (BW) operation at the 2 µm wavelength band. We present the theoretical models to calculate the carrier saturation velocities, optical absorption coefficient, responsivity, 3-dB bandwidth, zero-bias resistance, and detectivity, and optimize this device structure to achieve highest performance at the 2 µm wavelength band. The results indicate that the performance of the GeSn WGPD has a strong dependence on the Sn composition and geometric parameters. The optimally designed GeSn WGPD with a 10% Sn concentration can give responsivity of 1.55 A/W, detectivity of 6.12 × 1010 cmHz½W−1 at 2 µm wavelength, and ~97 GHz BW. Therefore, this optimally designed GeSn WGPD is a potential candidate for silicon photonic EPICs offering high-speed optical communications.
Latent Ergonomics Maps: Real-Time Visualization of Estimated Ergonomics of Human Movements
Authors: Vianello Lorenzo , Gomes Waldez , Stulp Freek , Aubry Alexis , Maurice Pauline , Ivaldi Serena
Published: May 2022

Improving the ergonomy of working environments is essential to reducing work-related musculo-skeletal disorders. We consider real-time ergonomic feedback a key technology for achieving such improvements. To this end, we present supportive tools for online evaluation and visualization of strenuous efforts and postures of a worker, also when physically interacting with a robot. A digital human model is used to estimate human kinematics and dynamics and visualize non-ergonomic joint angles, based on the on-line data acquired from a wearable motion tracking device.
Investigating the Knuckleball Effect in Soccer Using a Smart Ball and Training Machine
Authors: Eager David , Ishac Karlos , Zhou Shilei , Hossain Imam
Published: May 2022

The term knuckleball in sporting jargon is used to describe a ball that has been launched with minimal spin, resulting in a trajectory that is erratic and unpredictable. This phenomenon was first observed in baseball (where the term originated) and has since been observed in other sports. While knuckleball has long fascinated the scientific community, the bulk of research has primarily focused on knuckleball as it occurs in baseball. Following the changes in the design of the soccer ball after the 2006 World Cup, knuckleball and ball aerodynamics were exploited by soccer players. This research examined the properties of a knuckleball in the sport of soccer. We designed and evaluated a system that could reproduce the knuckleball effect on soccer balls based on previous theories and characteristics outlined in our literature review. Our system is comprised of the Adidas miCoach Smart Ball, a companion smart phone app for data collection, a ball-launching machine with programmable functions, and a video-based tracking system and Tracker motion analysis software. The results from the testing showed that our system was successfully able to produce knuckleball behaviour on the football in a highly consistent manner. This verified the dynamic models of knuckleball that we outline. While a small portion of the data showed some lateral deviations (zig-zag trajectory), this erratic and unpredictable trajectory was much smaller in magnitude when compared to examples seen in professional games. The sensor data from the miCoach app and trajectory data from the Tracker motion analysis software, showed that the knuckleballs were consistently reproduced in-line with theoretical dynamics.
Novel Perspectives for the Management of Multilingual and Multialphabetic Heritages through Automatic Knowledge Extraction: The DigitalMaktaba Approach
Authors: Bergamaschi Sonia , De Nardis Stefania , Martoglia Riccardo , Ruozzi Federico , Sala Luca , Vanzini Matteo , Vigliermo Riccardo Amerigo
Published: May 2022

The linguistic and social impact of multiculturalism can no longer be neglected in any sector, creating the urgent need of creating systems and procedures for managing and sharing cultural heritages in both supranational and multi-literate contexts. In order to achieve this goal, text sensing appears to be one of the most crucial research areas. The long-term objective of the DigitalMaktaba project, born from interdisciplinary collaboration between computer scientists, historians, librarians, engineers and linguists, is to establish procedures for the creation, management and cataloguing of archival heritage in non-Latin alphabets. In this paper, we discuss the currently ongoing design of an innovative workflow and tool in the area of text sensing, for the automatic extraction of knowledge and cataloguing of documents written in non-Latin languages (Arabic, Persian and Azerbaijani). The current prototype leverages different OCR, text processing and information extraction techniques in order to provide both a highly accurate extracted text and rich metadata content (including automatically identified cataloguing metadata), overcoming typical limitations of current state of the art approaches. The initial tests provide promising results. The paper includes a discussion of future steps (e.g., AI-based techniques further leveraging the extracted data/metadata and making the system learn from user feedback) and of the many foreseen advantages of this research, both from a technical and a broader cultural-preservation and sharing point of view.
Enhancement of Room-Temperature Low-Field Magnetoresistance in Nanostructured Lanthanum Manganite Films for Magnetic Sensor Applications
Authors: Zurauskiene Nerija , Stankevic Voitech , Kersulis Skirmantas , Vagner Milita , Plausinaitiene Valentina , Dobilas Jorunas , Vasiliauskas Remigijus , Skapas Martynas , Koliada Mykola , Pietosa Jaroslaw , Wisniewski Andrzej
Published: May 2022

The results of colossal magnetoresistance (CMR) properties of La1-xSrxMnyO3 (LSMO) films grown by the pulsed injection MOCVD technique onto an Al2O3 substrate are presented. The grown films with different Sr (0.05 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) and Mn excess (y > 1) concentrations were nanostructured with vertically aligned column-shaped crystallites spread perpendicular to the film plane. It was found that microstructure, resistivity, and magnetoresistive properties of the films strongly depend on the strontium and manganese concentration. All films (including low Sr content) exhibit a metal–insulator transition typical for manganites at a certain temperature, Tm. The Tm vs. Sr content dependence for films with a constant Mn amount has maxima that shift to lower Sr values with the increase in Mn excess in the films. Moreover, the higher the Mn excess concentration in the films, the higher the Tm value obtained. The highest Tm values (270 K) were observed for nanostructured LSMO films with x = 0.17–0.18 and y = 1.15, while the highest low-field magnetoresistance (0.8% at 50 mT) at room temperature (290 K) was achieved for x = 0.3 and y = 1.15. The obtained low-field MR values were relatively high in comparison to those published in the literature results for lanthanum manganite films prepared without additional insulating oxide phases. It can be caused by high Curie temperature (383 K), high saturation magnetization at room temperature (870 emu/cm3), and relatively thin grain boundaries. The obtained results allow to fabricate CMR sensors for low magnetic field measurement at room temperature.
A Non-Destructive Health Evaluation Method for Wooden Utility Poles with Frequency-Modulated Empirical Mode Decomposition and Laplace Wavelet Correlation Filtering
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Yang Ji , Zhu Weidong , Li Gang
Published: May 2022

Wooden utility poles are one of the most commonly used utility carriers in North America. Even though they are given different protection treatments, wooden utility poles are prone to have defects that are mainly caused by temperature, oxygen, moisture, and high potential hydrogen levels after decades of being exposed in open-air areas. In order to meet the growing demand regarding their maintenance and replacement, an effective health evaluation technology for wooden utility poles is essential to ensure normal power supply and safety. However, the commonly used hole-drilling inspection method always causes extra damage to wooden utility poles and the precision of health evaluation highly relies on technician experience at present. Therefore, a non-destructive health evaluation method with frequency-modulated empirical mode decomposition (FM-EMD) and Laplace wavelet correlation filtering based on dynamic responses of wooden utility poles was proposed in this work. Specifically, FM-EMD was used to separate multiple confusing closely-spaced vibration modes due to nonlinear properties of wooden utility poles into several single modes. The instantaneous frequency and damping factor of the decomposed signal of each single mode of the dynamic response of a wooden utility pole could be determined using Laplace wavelet correlation filtering with high precision. The health status of a wooden utility pole could then be estimated according to the extracted instantaneous frequency and damping factor of the decomposed signal of each single mode. The proposed non-destructive health evaluation method for wooden utility poles was tested in the field and achieved successful results.
The Characterization of Optical Fibers for Distributed Cryogenic Temperature Monitoring
Authors: Marcon Leonardo , Chiuchiolo Antonella , Castaldo Bernardo , Bajas Hugues , Galtarossa Andrea , Bajko Marta , Palmieri Luca
Published: May 2022

Thanks to their characteristics, optical fiber sensors are an ideal solution for sensing applications at cryogenic temperatures, such as the monitoring of superconducting devices. Their applicability at such temperatures, however, is not immediate as optical fibers exhibit a non-linear thermal response which becomes rapidly negligible below 50 K. A thorough analysis of such a response down to cryogenic temperatures then becomes necessary to correctly translate the optical interrogation readings into the actual fiber temperature. Moreover, to increase the fiber sensitivity down to a few kelvin, special coatings can be used. In this manuscript we described the thermal responses experimental characterization of four commercially available optical fiber samples with different polymeric coatings in the temperature range from 5 K to 300 K: two with acrylate coatings of different thickness, one with a polyimide coating and one with a polyether–ether–ketone (PEEK) coating. Multiple thermal cycles were performed consecutively to guarantee the quality of the results and a proper estimate of the sensitivity of the various samples. Finally, we experimentally validated the quality of the measured thermal responses by monitoring the cool down of a dummy superconducting link from room temperature to approximately 50 K using two fibers coated, respectively, in acrylate and PEEK. The temperatures measured with the fibers agreed and matched those obtained by standard electronic sensors, providing, at the same time, further insight in to the cool-down evolution along the cryostat.
RPVC: A Revocable Publicly Verifiable Computation Solution for Edge Computing
Authors: Jiao Zi , Zhou Fucai , Wang Qiang , Sun Jintong
Published: May 2022

With publicly verifiable computation (PVC) development, users with limited resources prefer to outsource computing tasks to cloud servers. However, existing PVC schemes are mainly proposed for cloud computing scenarios, which brings bandwidth consumption or network delay of IoT devices in edge computing. In addition, dishonest edge servers may reduce resource utilization by returning unreliable results. Therefore, we propose a revocable publicly verifiable computation(RPVC) scheme for edge computing. On the one hand, RPVC ensures that users can verify the correct results at a small cost. On the other hand, it can revoke the computing abilities of dishonest edge servers. First, polynomial commitments are employed to reduce proofs’ length and generation speed. Then, we improve revocable group signature by knowledge signatures and subset covering theory. This makes it possible to revoke dishonest edge servers. Finally, theoretical analysis proves that RPVC has correctness and security, and experiments evaluate the efficiency of RPVC.
Concepts for New Rapid Simple HPLC Method for Quantification of Fosfomycin Trometamol in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms with Direct UV Detection
Authors: Piponski Marjan , Stoimenova Tanja Bakovska , Melnyk Tetiana , Kovalenko Sergiy , Todevska Elena Lazarevska , Velkovski Marjan , Deeb Sami El , Mysula Yuriy , Logoyda Liliya
Published: May 2022

Two different concepts for developing direct HPLC-UV methods for quantifying fosfomycin trometamol were developed without any derivatization and modification of the analyte. In the first concept, without the use of alkylamines as ion-pairs in the mobile phase, by using cyanopropyl CN and a strong anion-exchanger column, we investigated the possibility of their highly polar and anion-exchanging forces and mechanisms to retain, separate and detect trometamol without the help of additional agents or modifiers. In the second concept, the most frequent reversed-phase C18 columns with different characteristics and vendors were tested in combination with different length-based alkylamines with 3–10 C atoms in their chains. In our research, we found that the ion-pairing of fosfomycin with 6–10 C-atom-based alkyl-length of aliphatic chains manifested the most appropriate strength of interactions between alkyl-paired trometamol molecules and octadecylsilane or C18 bonded RP column to achieve optimal retention, selectivity and peak shape on chromatograms, with the possibility for the fine-tuning of elution time. The simplicity of our method concept omits the need for expensive and sophisticated columns like HILIC, C30 graphite carbon, and mixed-mode-based columns for easier retaining, separation, and determination of fosfomycin, and for its quantification purposes, especially in high-throughput analyses in regular quality-control laboratories.
Exploratory Systematic Review of Mixed Martial Arts: An Overview of Performance of Importance Factors with over 20,000 Athletes
Authors: Bueno João C. A. , Faro Heloiana , Lenetsky Seth , Gonçalves Aleksandro F. , Dias Stefane B. C. D. , Ribeiro André L. B. , da Silva Bruno V. C. , Filho Carlos A. Cardoso , de Vasconcelos Bruna M. , Serrão Júlio C. , Andrade Alexandro , Souza-Junior Tácito P. , Claudino João G.
Published: May 2022

This review aimed to analyze the findings in the literature related to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through an exploratory systematic review and to present the state of the art from a multifactorial perspective. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement, with a search performed in the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Participants were competitive athletes (amateurs or professionals) of regional, national, or international levels. Of the 2763 registries identified, 112 studies met the eligibility criteria. The pooled sample size and age were 20,784 participants, with a mean age of 27.7 ± 6 years for male and 28.9 ± 3 years for female, with the vast majority of athletes being male (94.9%). MMA athletes were 17.2% amateurs, 73.8% professionals, and 9% were not reported. The scientific literature related to MMA reported injuries (n = 28), weight loss (n = 21), technical and tactical analysis (n = 23), physical fitness (n = 8), physiological responses and training characteristics (n = 13), psychobiological parameters (n = 12), and interventions applied to MMA athletes (n = 7). Therefore, this exploratory systematic review presents practitioners and researchers with seven broad summaries of each facet of performance of importance in this population of athletes.
Modified Hydrological Drought Risk Assessment Based on Spatial and Temporal Approaches
Authors: Hasan Hasrul Hazman , Razali Siti Fatin Mohd , Muhammad Nur Shazwani , Ahmad Asmadi
Published: May 2022

This study was conducted using a modified drought risk assessment in which hydrological data were processed to assess the hazards and risk of hydrological drought in Peninsular Malaysia. Although drought vulnerability and risk assessment are critical components of the drought phenomenon, the lack of a comprehensive integrated drought risk assessment in Malaysia has led to increased socio-economic impacts. The Hydrological Drought Risk Index (HDRI) illustrates the relative importance of hazard and vulnerability assessments in drought risk management for Peninsular Malaysia using the Streamflow Drought Index (SDI). This study presents an integrated drought characteristics-based risk assessment framework to improve hydrological drought risk assessment. The hydrological drought risk assessment was conducted by combining physical hazard and socioeconomic variables across the region. The periods of 1998–1999 and 2017–2018 mark the most critical hydrological droughts. The results also show that the trend of hydrological drought in river basins is towards dry conditions with no change in the foreseeable future. This study proposes a theoretical framework for effective drought risk management that can be used by the government and its stakeholders for sustainable water resource management.
Do Immersive Displays Influence Exhibition Attendees’ Satisfaction?: A Stimulus-Organism-Response Approach
Authors: Park Jihye , Kang Haesang , Huh Chang , Lee Myong Jae (MJ)
Published: May 2022

One of the fastest-growing trends in the exhibition industry is the utilization of immersive technology displays which provide exhibition attendees with enhanced interactive and dynamic experiences. However, little is known about the relationship between immersive technology displays and exhibition attendees’ satisfaction. This study aimed to examine the relationship between exhibitors’ immersive displays and exhibition attendees’ satisfaction in relation to the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) framework. Additionally, the study categorized immersive displays and compared them with exhibition attendees’ socio-demographics. An online questionnaire survey was used for data collection, and a series of statistical analyses were carried out. The results revealed that 75% of respondents reported positive experiences with immersive displays, and some attendees were more satisfied with some of the immersive displays. Implications of the study are discussed.
Has the Construction of National High-Tech Zones Promoted Regional Economic Growth?—Empirical Research from Prefecture-Level Cities in China
Authors: Wang Zhaolong , Yang Yeqing , Wei Yu
Published: May 2022

As a “special economic zone” and “policy test field” in the region, the national high-tech zone is an important strategy for the country to promote the development of high-tech industries and regional economy, but its effect needs to be verified. This paper uses panel data of 281 prefecture-level cities in China from 1994 to 2019, and uses the differences-in-differences method to study the impact of high-tech zones on regional economic development. On this basis, the heterogeneity effects of different types of high-tech zones on regional economic growth are explored. The empirical research results show that the national high-tech zone promotes regional economic growth, and this conclusion still holds after conducting multiple robustness tests. Further research found that the promotion of national high-tech zones to economic development showed the law of “diminishing marginal effect”: Compared with higher-level cities, lower-level cities gained faster development from the construction of national high-tech zones. Compared with the developed regions in the east, the underdeveloped regions in the west have achieved faster development from the construction of the national high-tech zone. In addition, this paper finds that growth-type high-tech zones have a greater marginal contribution to regional economic growth than mature high-tech zones; multi-zone high-tech zones have a greater marginal contribution to regional economic growth than single-zone high-tech zones. The research of this paper shows that the national high-tech zones as “policy test fields” and “special economic zones” can not only drive economic development, but also help narrow the economic development gap between regions through their rational distribution. This provides important inspiration for the future layout of the national high-tech zone and the establishment of other related policies.
Freshwater Wild Swimming, Health and Well-Being: Understanding the Importance of Place and Risk
Authors: McDougall Craig W. , Foley Ronan , Hanley Nick , Quilliam Richard S. , Oliver David M.
Published: May 2022

Spending time in or around bodies of water or ‘blue spaces’ can benefit human health and well-being. A growing body of evidence suggests immersion in blue space, e.g., participating in ‘wild’ swimming, can be particularly beneficial for both physical and mental health. To date, wild swimming and health research has primarily focused on the experience of individuals who swim in the sea. Empirical studies of the health-promoting potential of swimming in freshwater environments, such as lochs and lakes, are lacking, despite the popularity of this practice in many countries and the vastly different physical and hydrological properties of freshwater and coastal environments. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between loch (lake) swimming and health and well-being for adults living in Scotland and determine the importance of perceptions of place and risk in this relationship. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve wild swimmers who regularly swim in lochs in Scotland. Interview data were analysed thematically using Nvivo. The findings suggest loch swimming has a variety of health and well-being benefits that can be categorised over three domains of health: physical, mental and social. Of these domains, mental health benefits e.g., mindfulness promotion, resilience building and increasing one’s ability to listen to their body, were particularly prominent. Our findings also highlight important physical and hydrological characteristics of loch environments, e.g., calm water conditions (relative to the sea), which contribute to positive wild swimming experiences. Finally, the perceived risks of loch swimming and mitigation strategies for these risks are established. Collectively, our findings further support the notion that wild swimming is a unique health-promoting practice. Our findings also highlight differences (in terms of experience and perceived risk) between swimming in freshwater and coastal environments, which can inform public health and water management policy.
Long-Term Partnerships in Japanese Firms’ Logistics Outsourcing: From a Sustainable Perspective
Authors: Shi Jin , Park Youngwon , Sugie Ryosuke , Fukuzawa Mitsuhiro
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to reveal the actual state of Japanese firms’ logistics outsourcing, and examine their relationship with LSPs. This study addressed the following issues by conducting a case study of six leading manufacturing firms. First, it clarified the characteristics of Japanese-style logistics outsourcing as: the outsourcing of the total activities, the consigning to a single LSP, and the development of advanced information systems. Moreover, it examined the logistics outsourcing performance from a sustainable perspective, and concluded that Japanese-style logistics management enables firms to achieve high performance in all the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Second, this study confirms that the traditional Japanese business practice of long-term partnerships is still maintained in logistics outsourcing management. Third, this study also explored how long-term partnerships create sustainable competitive advantages. Finally, based on these findings, a theoretical framework illustrating the relationship between Japanese-style logistics outsourcing and firms’ sustainable competitive advantage is presented. Our findings may encourage companies to develop a long-term partnership with their logistics service providers, and to put environmental and social indicators into their KPI system to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by balancing the economy, environment, and society.
Development of Sustainable Artificial Stone Using Granite Waste and Biodegradable Polyurethane from Castor Oil
Authors: Gomes Maria Luiza Pessanha Menezes , Carvalho Elaine Aparecida Santos , Barreto Gabriela Nunes Sales , Rodriguez Rubén Jesus Sánchez , Monteiro Sérgio Neves , Vieira Carlos Maurício Fontes
Published: May 2022

Brazil is one of the world’s major ornamental stone producers. As a consequence, ornamental stone wastes are generated on a large scale and are usually open air disposed. Thus, it is important to develop novel material reusing these accumulated wastes, aiming to minimize environmental impact. The development of artificial stones made with ornamental stone wastes agglomerated by a synthetic polymer represents an excellent alternative and, therefore, is currently the subject of several works. This work seeks to develop an innovative artificial stone containing 85%wt of granite waste and 15%wt of vegetable polyurethane from castor oil, a biodegradable resin, from a renewable source. The purpose is creating a sustainable material, technically viable to be applied as a civil construction coating. To manufacture the artificial stone plates, granite and polyurethane were mixed and transferred to a metallic mold subjected to vibration, vacuum and, later, hot compression. The artificial stone presented low water absorption (0.13%) and apparent porosity (0.31%) as well as a favorable 17.31 MPa bend strength. These results were confirmed through the excellent particles/matrix adhesion displayed in the micrographs, in addition to great chemical resistance.
A Study on the Coupled and Coordinated Development of the Logistics Industry, Digitalization, and Ecological Civilization in Chinese Regions
Authors: Gan Weihua , Yao Wenpei , Huang Shuying , Liu Yanan
Published: May 2022

The digital economy is booming worldwide, and industrial digitalization in particular has recently become very popular in China. This paper examines the coupled and coordinated development of the logistics industry, digitalization, and ecological civilization, as well as the barriers in China’s ecological civilization pilot provinces (Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou, and Hainan). The study shows that these four provinces have neglected ecological civilization in the coordinated development of the three. In terms of spatial and temporal distribution, the coupled coordination of the three in Fujian and Jiangxi provinces fluctuates at a high level. The three-coupling coordination of Guizhou and Hainan provinces, on the other hand, fluctuates at a low level. On this basis, the main reasons for the coordinated development of the logistics industry, digitalization, and ecological civilization in four Chinese provinces are analyzed and some specific suggestions are made.
A Research on the Ecological Operation of Reservoirs Based on the Indicators of Hydrological Alteration
Authors: Han Dongyang , Lv Guanghui , He Xuemin
Published: May 2022

The conventional reservoir operation strategy considering hydropower production ignores the ecology of the downstream rivers and causes a series of environmental problems. To ensure the sustainable development of a reservoir, the operation strategy should consider both the economic benefits of the power station and the ecological benefits in downstream rivers, the key to which is to select suitable parameters for quantifying the ecological objectives of the rivers and incorporate them into the reservoir operation model. To this end, the ecological index (EI) based on the Indicators of Hydrological Alteration (IHA) was developed to reflect the ecology of the downstream rivers, and a reservoir ecological operation model that takes into account the power generation capacity of the power station and the degree of hydrological alteration was constructed, which can be solved using the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II). The results show that the mean EI values increase a lot, from 0.24 to 0.62, after the construction of reservoir, and the optimal reservoir operation strategy in each typical year can reduce the hydrological alteration significantly (the reduction rates of both the abundant and dry water years exceed 20%), while ensuring the hydropower production of the power station (the reduction rates of hydropower production are just 1.64%, 3.15%, and 3.16% for abundant, normal, and dry water years, respectively), which provides a good reference for restoring the natural hydrological situation of downstream rivers.
Systematic Review: Preventive Intervention to Curb the Youth Online Gambling Problem
Authors: Giménez Lozano José Miguel , Morales Rodríguez Francisco Manuel
Published: May 2022

This systematic review focuses on all the gambling addiction prevention programs carried out in schools, with the intention of making their effectiveness known and encouraging the creation of more such programs. During the third quarter of 2021, an exhaustive search was conducted using the databases of Scopus, Medline (via Pubmed), WOS, and PsycINFO. The search strategy was based on a combination of specific search terms: “Gambling Disorder [Mesh]”, “Online Gambling Disorder [Mesh]”, and “Prevention Programs [Mesh]”. A total of 15 articles were chosen for systematic review. All the programs analyzed show effective results, although there are several methodological shortcomings in the way they are conducted. Effective programs need to focus more on long-term results and the emotional aspects of gambling. We need professionals who can convey the causal nature of the problem the youth are facing.
The Application of Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometrics in Classification of Dried Herbs
Authors: Dankowska Anna , Majsnerowicz Agnieszka , Kowalewski Wojciech , Włodarska Katarzyna
Published: May 2022

The fast differentiation and classification of herb samples are complicated processes due to the presence of many various chemical compounds. Traditionally, separation techniques have been employed for the identification and quantification of compounds present in different plant matrices, but they are tedious, time-consuming and destructive. Thus, a non-targeted approach would be specifically advantageous for this purpose. In the present study, spectroscopy in the visible and near-infrared range and pattern recognition techniques, including the principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), regularized discriminant analysis (RDA), super k-nearest neighbor (SKNN) and support vector machine (SVM) techniques, were applied to develop classification models that enabled the discrimination of various commercial dried herbs, including mint, linden, nettle, sage and chamomile. The classification error rates in the validation data were below 10% for all the classification methods, except for SKNN. The results obtained confirm that spectroscopy and pattern recognition methods constitute a good non-destructive tool for the rapid identification of herb species that can be used in routine quality control by the pharmaceutical industry, as well as herbal suppliers, to avoid mislabeling.