bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do Government Subsidies Induce Green Transition of Construction Industry? Evidence from Listed Firms in China
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Liu Bingquan , An Guixin
Published: April 2024

The construction industry is a major energy consumer and carbon emitter, and identifying the key drivers for its green transition has attracted increasing attention. Although government subsidies are one of the most effective and direct ways to induce a green transition, few academics have examined their effects at a micro level. Therefore, this study used the Chinese construction industry as an example to study the influence of subsidies on its green transition. Given the ambiguity of the green transition concept, this study employed the number of green patents and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) ratings to represent the narrow sense and the wide sense of green transition, respectively. According to the empirical findings, subsidies can successfully induce green technology innovation and thus facilitate a green transition. The results of heterogeneity analysis show that government subsidies have a significant incentive-based effect solely on state-owned firms, but an insufficient effect on private and other enterprises. Furthermore, while government subsidies have little effect on ESG ratings, they can promote green transition of enterprises by increasing ESG ratings. The government should increase the types of subsidy packages available to enterprises, while attaching more importance to social responsibility.
Quantifying the Impact of Carbon Reduction Interventions and Incentive Mechanisms in Campus Buildings: A Case Study from a Chinese University
Authors: Xue Li , Xu Hejun , Zhang Zixuan , Li Nan
Published: April 2024

With the development of sustainable cities, densely populated higher education institutions increasingly emphasize the sustainability of campuses and their impact on the environment. However, there is a lack of means to quantify emission reduction measures. This study aims to propose an evaluation framework that can quantify energy conservation and emission reduction measures and incentive policies. To this end, this study adopts a mixed methods approach, using questionnaires to assess the effectiveness of management and communication interventions and the impact of incentives on residents’ willingness to participate in emission reduction efforts. The survey results show that although the support for the intervention measures is slightly higher than the average, specific measures such as adjusting dormitory lights-out time and providing sports equipment show superior emission reduction potential. Universities could reduce carbon emissions by about 560 tons per year without incentives and just using interventions. However, when incentives and interventions are combined, the university’s annual emissions reductions are expected to increase to 800 to 1045 tons. Research also highlights the importance of understanding the relationship between occupant behavior, energy consumption, and building carbon emissions. By quantifying the impact of carbon reduction measures and incentives on the daily behaviors of residents, universities can more effectively implement sustainable campus strategies.
Bovine Meat and Milk Factor-like Sequences Are Frequently Detected in Renal Cell Carcinoma Tissues
Authors: Mobaraki Ghalib , Shi Shuai , Smits Kim M. , Severens Kim , Lommen Kim , Rennspiess Dorit , Chteinberg Emil , Winnepenninckx Véronique , Samarska Iryna , Klufah Faisal , Hausen Axel zur
Published: April 2024

Previous studies have indicated a potential role of diet in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Recently, circular bovine meat and milk factor (BMMF) DNAs have been identified in peritumoral tissues of human colon and breast cancers. Here, we investigated the prevalence of the DNA of these novel human pathogenic infectious agents in RCC and adjacent peritumoral renal tissues. DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) RCC and peritumoral kidney tissues, including a test (n = 11) and a validation (n = 152) collection. BMMF1 and BMMF2 consensus primers were designed to screen for the presence of BMMF1- and BMMF2-like DNA. In addition, BMMF-specific PCR was performed on selected cases to test for the presence of additional regions of BMMF1 and BMMF2 genomes. A reference collection of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs; n = 60) and adjacent peritumoral liver tissues (n = 50) was also included. Our results demonstrated that BMMF1 and BMMF2 DNAs are frequently found in human RCC tissues and are particularly more prevalent in peritumoral kidney tissues. Of note, BMMF1 and BMMF2 genotype heterogeneity was higher in peritumoral kidney tissues compared to RCC tissues. This is the first study to directly test human FFPE tissues for BMMF1- and BMMF2-like DNA using consensus PCR and demonstrate BMMF DNA in neoplastic and peritumoral kidney tissues. The findings are in line with the recently proposed indirect etiopathogenetic role of BMMFs in, e.g., colorectal carcinogenesis. Follow-up studies are needed to explore the potential role of BMMFs in the etiopathogenesis of RCC.
The Epitaxial Growth of Ge and GeSn Semiconductor Thin Films on C-Plane Sapphire
Authors: Wangila Emmanuel , Gunder Calbi , Lytvyn Petro M. , Zamani-Alavijeh Mohammad , Maia de Oliveira Fernando , Kryvyi Serhii , Stanchu Hryhorii , Sheibani Aida , Mazur Yuriy I. , Yu Shui-Qing , Salamo Gregory
Published: April 2024

Ge1−xSnx growth on a new sapphire platform has been demonstrated. This involved the growth of GeSn on Ge/GaAs layers using the algorithm developed. The resultant growths of Ge on GaAs/AlAs/sapphire and Ge1−xSnx on Ge/GaAs/AlAs/sapphire were investigated by in situ and ex situ characterization techniques to ascertain the surface morphology, crystal structure, and quality. The growth mode of Ge on GaAs was predominantly two-dimensional (2D), which signifies a layer-by-layer deposition, contributing to enhanced crystal quality in the Ge/GaAs system. The growth of Ge1−xSnx with 10% Sn on a graded profile for 30 min shows uniform composition and a strong peak on the reciprocal space map (RSM). On the other hand, the partially relaxed growth of the alloy on RSM was established.
Novel Detector Configurations in Cone-Beam CT Systems: A Simulation Study
Authors: Karali Evangelia , Michail Christos , Fountos George , Kalyvas Nektarios , Valais Ioannis
Published: April 2024

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has emerged in recent years as an adequate alternative to mammography and tomosynthesis due to the several advantages over traditional mammography, including its ability to provide 3D images, its reduced radiation dose, and its ability to image dense breasts more effectively and conduct more effective breast compressions, etc. Furthermore, CBCT is capable of providing images with high sensitivity and specificity, allowing a more accurate evaluation, even of dense breasts, where mammography and tomosynthesis may lead to a false diagnosis. Clinical and experimental CBCT systems rely on cesium iodine (CsI:Tl) scintillators for X-ray energy conversion. This study comprises an investigation among different novel CBCT detector technologies, consisting either of scintillators (BGO, LSO:Ce, LYSO:Ce, LuAG:Ce, CaF2:Eu, LaBr3:Ce) or semiconductors (Silicon, CZT) in order to define the optimum detector design for a future experimental setup, dedicated to breast imaging. For this purpose, a micro-CBCT system was adapted, using GATE v9.2.1, consisting of the aforementioned various detection schemes. Two phantom configurations were selected: (a) an aluminum capillary positioned at the center of the field of view in order to calculate the system’s spatial resolution and (b) a breast phantom consisting of spheres of different materials, such that their characteristics are close to the breast composition. Breast phantom contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) were extracted from the phantom’s tomographic images. The images were reconstructed with filtered back projection (FBP) and ordered subsets expectation-maximization (OSEM) algorithms. The semiconductors acted satisfactorily in low-density matter, while LYSO:Ce, LaBr3:Ce, and LuAG:Ce presented adequate CNRs for all the different spheres’ densities. The energy converters that are presented in this study were evaluated for their performance against the standard CsI:Tl crystal.
Effect of Changing and Combining Trivalent Metals in the Structural and Electronic Properties of Cu-Based Crystal Delafossite Materials
Authors: Cerutti Torres Joeluis Cerutti , Sánchez-Palencia Pablo , Jiménez-Sáez José Carlos , Wahnón Perla , Palacios Pablo
Published: April 2024

Cu-based ternary oxides with delafossite structure have received considerable attention in recent years for their versatility in a wide range of applications, among which is the possibility to use them in heterostructure solar cells as hole transport layers, due to their promising behavior as p-type conducting oxides. Ab initio calculations have been performed with density functional theory to investigate the role of the trivalent metal within the CuMO2 structure and the dependence of structural and electronic properties with the species (M = Al, Ga, In, Fe, Cr, Co, Sc, Y) occupying the site of the metal. Generalized Gradient Approximation also including a Hubbard term and nonlocal Heyd–Scuseria–Enzerhof screened hybrid functional schemes were tested and their results were compared. Excellent agreement with experimental lattice parameters and measured gaps have been found. The use of hybrid functionals in HSE approximation considerably improves the bandgaps when compared with the experimental results but takes considerable time to converge, hence the need to explore less demanding methodologies. Trends in the geometry as well as in the electronic properties are discussed, and the effect of mixing different metals (CuMxN1−xO2, M, N being the aforementioned elements) in the geometry and electronic properties of these delafossite materials is investigated. Due to the high cost of HSE calculations, especially when supercells are needed to model several x concentrations, statistical models and techniques based on machine learning have also been explored to predict HSE bandgap values from GGA and structural information.
Investigation of the Positive Temperature Coefficient Resistivity of Nb-Doped Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3 Ceramics
Authors: Wang Yifei , Chen Xiaoyang
Published: April 2024

The demands of low-Curie-temperature (~−10 °C) positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistors are increasing in advanced precision integrated circuits and other industries. In this paper, the Nb-doped Ba0.55Sr0.45TiO3(BST)-based PTC resistivity materials are reported. The effects of the sintering process, especially the cooling rate on the PTC properties of the material, are investigated. The results indicate that the Ba0.55Sr0.45Ti0.9985Nb0.0015O3 composition of the prepared PTC ceramics demonstrates promising PTC characteristics. These include a Curie temperature as low as −13 °C, a high temperature coefficient of 0.296 at −3.4 °C, a large enough resistivity change of 3.1 over a narrow phase transition temperature range of approximately 38 °C, and moderate resistivity below the Curie temperature. Such properties suggest that the Ba0.55Sr0.45Ti0.9985Nb0.0015O3 ceramics are likely suitable for use in thermal management systems designed for low-temperature control.
Low-Temperature Migration-Enhanced Epitaxial Growth of High-Quality (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-Doped InAlAs Quantum Wells for THz Applications
Authors: Liu Linsheng , Deng Zhen , Liu Guipeng , Kong Chongtao , Du Hao , Chen Ruolin , Yan Jianfeng , Qin Le , Song Shuxiang , Zhang Xinhui , Wang Wenxin
Published: April 2024

This investigation explores the structural and electronic properties of low-temperature-grown (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs and InGaAs/Be-doped InAlAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs), utilizing migration-enhanced epitaxy (MEE) and conventional molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth mode. Through comprehensive characterization methods including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy (AFM), pump–probe transient reflectivity, and Hall effect measurements, the study reveals significant distinctions between the two types of MQWs. The (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs grown via the MEE mode exhibit enhanced periodicity and interface quality over the InGaAs/Be-InAlAs MQWs grown through the conventional molecule beam epitaxy (MBE) mode, as evidenced by TEM. The AFM results indicate lower surface roughness for the (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs by using the MEE mode. Raman spectroscopy reveals weaker disorder-activated modes in the (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs by using the MEE mode. This originates from utilizing the (InAs)4(GaAs)3 short period superlattices rather than InGaAs, which suppresses the arbitrary distribution of Ga and In atoms during the InGaAs growth. Furthermore, pump–probe transient reflectivity measurements show shorter carrier lifetimes in the (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs, attributed to a higher density of antisite defects. It is noteworthy that room temperature Hall measurements imply that the mobility of (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs grown at a low temperature of 250 °C via the MEE mode is superior to that of InGaAs/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs grown in the conventional MBE growth mode, reaching 2230 cm2/V.s. The reason for the higher mobility of (InAs)4(GaAs)3/Be-doped InAlAs MQWs is that this short-period superlattice structure can effectively suppress alloy scattering caused by the arbitrary distribution of In and Ga atoms during the growth process of the InGaAs ternary alloy. These results exhibit the promise of the MEE growth approach for growing high-performance MQWs for advanced optoelectronic applications, notably for high-speed optoelectronic devices like THz photoconductive antennas.
Enhancing Salt Stress Tolerance in Rye with ZnO Nanoparticles: Detecting H2O2 as a Stress Biomarker by Nanostructured NiO Electrochemical Sensor
Authors: Gerbreders Vjaceslavs , Krasovska Marina , Sledevskis Eriks , Mihailova Irena , Mizers Valdis , Keviss Jans , Bulanovs Andrejs
Published: April 2024

This article is devoted to the study of the effect of ZnO nanoparticles on the development of tolerance to salt stress in rye samples. As a quantitative criterion for assessing the degree of oxidative stress, the amount of H2O2 released in the samples during growth was determined. For these purposes, an electrochemical sensor based on hydrothermally synthesized wall-shaped NiO nanostructures was developed. This sensor has been proven to demonstrate high sensitivity (2474 µA·mM−1), a low limit of detection (1.59 µM), good selectivity against common interferents, and excellent long-term stability. The investigation reveals that the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles in irrigation water notably enhances rye’s ability to combat salt stress, resulting in a decrease in detected H2O2 levels (up to 70%), coupled with beneficial effects on morphological traits and photosynthetic rates.
Gradient Analysis of Spatial-Temporal Change and Conservation Effectiveness in Different Ecological Protected Areas
Authors: Hou Peng , Zhu Hanshou , Zhai Jun , Chen Yan , Jin Diandian , Liu Yisheng , Zhao Jiajun , Wang Xifei
Published: April 2024

The protection of ecological systems is currently a trending topic. Numerous countries have implemented various measures to safeguard ecosystems. Evaluating the effectiveness of regional ecological protection and cooperative conservation is of paramount importance. In this paper, Hainan Island, China, was taken as an example to construct an evaluation framework of the ecosystem change characteristics and conservation effects of different types of protected areas. In this way, the study evaluated the ecological status of important protected areas and the effects of collaborative management and control, and it discussed the changes in ecological status and protection effects. The results revealed the following. (1) Important protected areas occupy a large proportion of natural ecological space, reaching 76.33%, more than twice the proportion of ecological space on Hainan Island. In the past 20 years, the ecological space retention rate has increased by 0.57%. (2) The contribution of excellent-quality and good-quality ecosystems is the greatest, accounting for 82.65% of the whole island. In the past 20 years, the ec7osystem quality has improved in more than 80% of the areas. The proportion of excellent-quality and good-quality ecosystems is as high as 96.75% in these conservation areas, and their contribution to Hainan Island is 44.29%, while conservation areas only account for about 38%. (3) The ecosystem services of Hainan Island have improved and become stable in the past 20 years. The contribution of all types of protected areas to the ecosystem services of Hainan Island is more than 53.22%. In general, the ecological quality and service function has increased in Hainan Island, and the ecological space tends to be stable. Different types of protected areas have effectively protected various ecosystems on Hainan Island with different protection and management mechanisms.
Growth and Genome Features of Non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae Isolated from Three Species of Common Freshwater Fish
Authors: Qin Xinchi , Yang Lianzhi , Xu Yingwei , Xie Lu , Wang Yongjie , Chen Lanming
Published: April 2024

Vibrio cholerae is the etiological agent of cholera in humans. The bacterium is frequently detected in aquatic products worldwide. However, the current literature on the genome evolution of V. cholerae of aquatic animal origins is limited. Here, we firstly characterized the growth and genome features of V. cholerae isolates with different resistance phenotypes from three species of common freshwater fish. The results revealed that the non-O1/O139 V. cholerae isolates (n = 4) were halophilic and grew optimally at 2% NaCl and pH 8.0. Their draft genome sequences were 3.89 Mb–4.15 Mb with an average GC content of 47.35–47.63%. Approximately 3366–3561 genes were predicted to encode proteins, but 14.9–17.3% of them were of an unknown function. A number of strain-specific genes (n = 221–311) were found in the four V. cholerae isolates, 3 of which belonged to none of any of the known sequence types (STs). Several putative mobile genetic elements (MGEs) existed in the V. cholerae isolates, including genomic islands (n = 4–9), prophages (n = 0–3), integrons (n = 1–1), and insertion sequences (n = 0–3). Notably, CRISPR-Cas system arrays (n = 2–10) were found in the V. cholerae genomes, whereby the potential immunity defense system could be active. Comparative genomic analyses also revealed many putative virulence-associated genes (n = 106–122) and antibiotic resistance-related genes (n = 6–9). Overall, the results of this study demonstrate the bacterial broader-spectrum growth traits and fill prior gaps in the genomes of V. cholerae originating from freshwater fish.
Improving Aquatic Biodiversity Estimates in Africa: Rotifers of Angola and Ghana
Authors: Smolak Radoslav , Brown Patrick D. , Walsmith Robert N. , Ríos-Arana Judith V. , Sanful Peter , Kalous Lukáš , Walsh Elizabeth J.
Published: April 2024

Afrotropical inland waters are highly diverse ecosystems; however, they remain poorly studied, especially for rotifers. Here, we contributed to the knowledge of the rotifer species richness in the largely understudied African countries of Angola and Ghana. We assessed the roles of habitat type and a suite of abiotic environmental factors in determining rotifer species richness of Ghana. A total of 37 sites (Ghana 32, Angola 5) in 19 water bodies from a variety of aquatic habitat types were sampled. In Ghana, we identified 118 taxa (105 species or subspecies level, 13 identified to genus). We identified 15 taxa (13 species) in the Angola samples. For Ghana, 100 of 118 (~85%) taxa were new records for the country, of which 13 species (~11%) were also new records for Africa. Nearly all the species (~93%) were new records for Angola. Species richness was positively correlated with conductivity and reservoir habitat type and negatively with pH. Redundancy analysis (RDA), conducted at the species level for the Ghana dataset, indicated suites of species associated with latitude, longitude, temperature, TDS, or pH. We also evaluated the effect of climate on species distribution in 27 African countries by conducting a review of all reports from Africa to determine factors associated with species richness. A Spearman’s correlation confirmed a significant positive correlation between the number of rotifer species and the number of climatic regions (R = 0.53, p < 0.001) for certain countries, based on species distributions in relation to Köppen–Geiger climate regions. This fact validates the environmental heterogeneity hypothesis for African rotifers. Lastly, we predicted that rotifer species richness in Ghana, as a country with a tropical climate, could approach ~190 taxa, while in climatically heterogeneous Angola we predict ~200 taxa. This study contributes to our knowledge of rotifer biogeography and species richness patterns in Africa.
Optimal Quaternary Hermitian LCD Codes
Authors: Lu Liangdong , Li Ruihu , Ren Yuezhen
Published: April 2024

Linear complementary dual (LCD) codes, which are a class of linear codes introduced by Massey, have been extensively studied in the literature recently. It has been shown that LCD codes play a role in measures to counter passive and active side-channel analyses on embedded cryptosystems. In this paper, tables are presented of good quaternary Hermitian LCD codes and they are used in the construction of puncturing, shortening and combination codes. The results of this, including three tables of the best-known quaternary Hermitian LCD codes of any length n≤25 with corresponding dimension k, are presented. In addition, many of these quaternary Hermitian LCD codes given in this paper are optimal and saturate the lower or upper bound of Grassl’s code table, and some of them are nearly optimal.
Modeling Tree-like Heterophily on Symmetric Matrix Manifolds
Authors: Wu Yang , Hu Liang , Hu Juncheng
Published: April 2024

Tree-like structures, characterized by hierarchical relationships and power-law distributions, are prevalent in a multitude of real-world networks, ranging from social networks to citation networks and protein–protein interaction networks. Recently, there has been significant interest in utilizing hyperbolic space to model these structures, owing to its capability to represent them with diminished distortions compared to flat Euclidean space. However, real-world networks often display a blend of flat, tree-like, and circular substructures, resulting in heterophily. To address this diversity of substructures, this study aims to investigate the reconstruction of graph neural networks on the symmetric manifold, which offers a comprehensive geometric space for more effective modeling of tree-like heterophily. To achieve this objective, we propose a graph convolutional neural network operating on the symmetric positive-definite matrix manifold, leveraging Riemannian metrics to facilitate the scheme of information propagation. Extensive experiments conducted on semi-supervised node classification tasks validate the superiority of the proposed approach, demonstrating that it outperforms comparative models based on Euclidean and hyperbolic geometries.
Systemic Importance and Risk Characteristics of Banks Based on a Multi-Layer Financial Network Analysis
Authors: Gao Qianqian , Fan Hong , Yu Chengyang
Published: April 2024

Domestic and international risk shocks have greatly increased the demand for systemic risk management in China. This paper estimates China’s multi-layer financial network based on multiple financial relationships among banks, assets, and firms, using China’s banking system data in 2021. An improved PageRank algorithm is proposed to identify systemically important banks and other economic sectors, and a stress test is conducted. This study finds that China’s multi-layer financial network is sparse, and the distribution of transactions across financial markets is uneven. Regulatory authorities should support economic recovery and adjust the money supply, while banks should differentiate competition and manage risks better. Based on the PageRank index, this paper assesses the systemic importance of large commercial banks from the perspective of network structure, emphasizing the role of banks’ transaction behavior and market participation. Different industries and asset classes are also assessed, suggesting that increased attention should be paid to industry risks and regulatory oversight of bank investments. Finally, stress tests confirm that the improved PageRank algorithm is applicable within the multi-layer financial network, reinforcing the need for prudential supervision of the banking system and revealing that the degree of transaction concentration will affect the systemic importance of financial institutions.
Teachers’ Knowledge and Experiences after the Implementation of an Eating Disorder Prevention Program in the Physical Education Classroom
Authors: Monserrat Montserrat , Arjona Ángeles , Checa Juan Carlos , Tarifa Joaquín , Salguero Darío
Published: April 2024

Since psychological and social factors are especially prominent among the multiple causes of eating disorders, we argue that school, a meeting place among equals and thus a locus for the transmission of values and attitudes, can play an important role in preventing these disorders. This article’s main objective is to verify whether the physical education (PE) class can become an arena for transferring and learning that prevent eating disorders, analyzing teachers’ perceptions of the program development “Psychology for Nutrition and Physical Activity in the Prevention of Eating Disorders” (P-NAF) and specifically: (1) analyzing what teachers know and believe about preventing eating disorders; (2) analyzing the relationship between PE sessions and the acquisition of skills for the prevention of eating disorders; and (3) verifying whether the strategies proposed in the program P-NAF help teachers develop skills for the prevention of eating disorders. We conducted semi-structured interviews with physical education teachers (six women and six men) from five educational institutions in southern Spain. We organized their responses into four blocks: (1) self-esteem, (2) social skills, (3) satisfaction with body image, and (4) nutrition. The results show that physical education teachers are poorly trained in eating disorders, in their detection, as well as their treatment. In particular, there is little communication between health professionals and teachers to provide the information needed to develop effective intervention programs. However, after participating in the Psychology for Nutrition and Physical Activity program, the teachers improved both their knowledge and educational tools when it comes to transmitting that knowledge. We conclude that this program is effective in its objectives and that it should be presented more widely to physical education teachers who work directly with young people.
Diachronic Semantic Tracking for Chinese Words and Morphemes over Centuries
Authors: Chi Yang , Giunchiglia Fausto , Xu Hao
Published: April 2024

Lexical semantic changes spanning centuries can reveal the complicated developing process of language and social culture. In recent years, natural language processing (NLP) methods have been applied in this field to provide insight into the diachronic frequency change for word senses from large-scale historical corpus, for instance, analyzing which senses appear, increase, or decrease at which times. However, there is still a lack of Chinese diachronic corpus and dataset in this field to support supervised learning and text mining, and at the method level, few existing works analyze the Chinese semantic changes at the level of morpheme. This paper constructs a diachronic Chinese dataset for semantic tracking applications spanning 3000 years and extends the existing framework to the level of Chinese characters and morphemes, which contains four main steps of contextual sense representation, sense identification, morpheme sense mining, and diachronic semantic change representation. The experiment shows the effectiveness of our method in each step. Finally, in an interesting statistic, we discover the strong positive correlation of frequency and changing trend between monosyllabic word sense and the corresponding morpheme.
Analysis and Mitigating Methods for Jamming in the Optical Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces-Assisted Dual-Hop FSO Communication Systems
Authors: Wang Jingyu , Gao Dingshan , Li Juan , Huang Linhe , Ding Haiyang , Zhou Shaohua
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a study investigating the impact of jamming in a Dual-Hop free-space optical (FSO) communication system assisted by reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) in the presence of a malicious jammer. We analyze the combined effects of atmospheric turbulence (AT), pointing error (PE), and angle of arrival (AoA) fluctuation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Closed-form expressions for the overall average bit error rate (ABER) are derived while considering these impairments. To mitigate the jamming effect, we explore a Single-Input Multiple-Output (SIMO) FSO system and derive the end-to-end Average Bit Error Rate (ABER) under various jamming scenarios. Additionally, we conduct a comprehensive study by examining different placements of the malicious UAV jammer and RIS, drawing insightful conclusions on system performance. The analytically derived expressions are validated through Monte Carlo simulations.
Optimal PMU Placement to Enhance Observability in Transmission Networks Using ILP and Degree of Centrality
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad Musadiq , Amjad Muhammad , Qureshi Muhammad Ali , Khan Muhammad Omer , Haider Zunaib Maqsood
Published: April 2024

The optimal PMU placement problem is placing the minimum number of PMUs in the network to ensure complete network observability. It is an NP-complete optimization problem. PMU placement based on cost and critical nodes is solved separately in the literature. This paper proposes a novel approach, a degree of centrality in the objective function, to combine the effect of both strategies to place PMUs in the power network optimally. The contingency analysis and the effect of zero-injection buses are solved to ensure the reliability of network monitoring and attain a minimum number of PMUs. Integer linear programming is used on the IEEE 7-bus, IEEE 14-bus, IEEE 30-bus, New England 39-bus, IEEE 57-bus, and IEEE 118-bus systems to solve this problem. The results are evaluated based on two performance measures: the bus observability index (BOI) and the sum of redundancy index (SORI). On comparison, it is found that the proposed methodology has significantly improved results, i.e., a reduced number of PMUs and increased network overall observability (SORI). This methodology is more practical for implementation as it focuses on critical nodes. Along with improvement in the results, the limitations of existing indices are also discussed for future work.
Modeling of Fiber Optic Strain Responses to Shear Deformation of Fractures
Authors: Ratnayake Ruwantha , Ghassemi Ahmad
Published: April 2024

Identifying distributed strain sensing (DSS) patterns (or signatures), particularly those arising from different hydraulic fracture geometries, has gained significant attention and research effort. Recent works have generated a catalogue of signatures for planar hydraulic fractures in an elastic rock formation. Yet, in numerous cases (e.g., fault motion and some geothermal reservoir stimulation), the main mode of deformation is a shear on a fracture or a network of natural fractures (particularly during low pressure injection/circulation). However, the specific fiber signatures that result from such shear deformation have not been studied. In this study, we use a three-dimensional poroelastic hydraulic fracture simulator to capture the strain signatures resulting from the shear deformation of fractures in various orientations with respect to the monitoring well. Five key cases are examined: one where the fracture strike is perpendicular to the fiber, another with the strike running parallel to the fiber, a third case where the fracture strike is at 45 degrees to the fiber, a fourth case with a strike slip fault perpendicular to the fiber, and a fifth case where fiber is intersecting the fracture. Theoretically and physically meaningful results were obtained in all five cases, which completely differ from the heart-shaped signature of tensile fracture propagation. It was discovered that the strain pattern changes with the shear deformation direction with respect to the fiber. The model is then used to simulate the response of a fracture network at Utah FORGE to injection to assess whether a signature might be expected in response to the planned injection and circulation rates, and, if so, what strain pattern might be expected. The simulation confirms that a strain response can indeed be observed. More importantly, the fiber response that would be detected in the monitoring well would be a combination of strain signatures from dilation and shear deformation of differently oriented natural fractures. The results in this study provide useful insights on the application of fiber to other stimulation and/or circulation scenarios where shear deformation of a fracture or fracture network plays a major role.
Definition of Regulatory Targets for Electricity Default Rate in Brazil: Proposition of a Fuzzy Inference-Based Model
Authors: Celestino Nivia Maria , Calili Rodrigo , Louzada Daniel , Almeida Maria Fatima
Published: April 2024

The current electricity default rates in continental countries, such as Brazil, pose risks to the economic stability and investment capabilities of distribution utilities. This situation results in higher electricity tariffs for regular customers. From a regulatory perspective, the key issue regarding this challenge is devising incentive mechanisms that reward distribution utilities for their operational and investment choices, aiming to mitigate or decrease electricity non-payment rates and avoid tariff increases for regular customers. Despite adhering to the principles of incentive regulation, the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) uses a methodological approach to define regulatory targets for electricity defaults tied to econometric models developed to determine targets to combat electricity non-technical losses (NTLs). This methodology has been widely criticized by electricity distribution utilities and academics because it includes many ad hoc steps and fails to consider the components that capture the specificities and heterogeneity of distribution utilities. This study proposes a fuzzy inference-based model for defining regulatory default targets built independently of the current methodological approach adopted by ANEEL and aligned with the principles of incentive regulation. An empirical study focusing on the residential class of electricity consumption demonstrated that it is possible to adopt a specific methodology for determining regulatory default targets and that the fuzzy inference approach can meet the necessary premises to ensure that the principles of incentive regulation and the establishment of regulatory targets are consistent with the reality of each electricity distribution utility.
Classification of Smart and Sustainable Urban Mobility
Authors: Gulc Aleksandra , Budna Klaudia
Published: April 2024

The main purpose of this article is to identify and classify smart and sustainable urban mobility solutions in the context of three narratives for sustainable mobility: electromobility, collective transport 2.0 and low-mobility societies. The research process of this study included the following methods: review of the literature, namely, strategic European documents, sustainable urban mobility plans in chosen cities and scientific publications addressing smart and sustainable mobility, case studies of selected cities in Europe and technology mapping to visualize the study results. The main result of this study is the review of various smart and sustainable urban solutions (SSUM) and their classification within the three narratives of electromobility, collective transport 2.0 and low-mobility societies. This article expands the concept of the three narratives for sustainable mobility with the aspect of smart mobility enriched with the variety of example solutions, case studies and good practices within mobility strategies in European cities. The study results can be useful for different stakeholders engaged in developing and introducing the sustainable mobility strategies in cities. Based on the catalogue of SSUM solutions, presented case studies and good practices, they may gain the necessary knowledge, consider the possible initiatives towards green transformation in cities and finally adjust them to the citizens’ need.
Establishment of a Simple, Sensitive, and Specific Salmonella Detection Method Based on Recombinase-Aided Amplification Combined with dsDNA-Specific Nucleases
Authors: Zhou Changyu , Zhao Yu , Guo Boyan , Yang Ming , Xu Qiang , Lei Changwei , Wang Hongning
Published: April 2024

Salmonella is a common foodborne pathogen that can cause food poisoning, posing a serious threat to human health. Therefore, quickly, sensitively, and accurately detecting Salmonella is crucial to ensuring food safety. For the Salmonella hilA gene, we designed Recombinase-aided amplification (RAA) primers and dsDNA-specific nuclease (DNase) probes. The ideal primer and probe combination was found when conditions were optimized. Under UV light, a visual Salmonella detection technique (RAA-dsDNase) was developed. Additionally, the RAA-dsDNase was modified to further reduce pollution hazards and simplify operations. One-pot RAA-dsDNase-UV or one-pot RAA-dsDNase-LFD was developed as a Salmonella detection method, using UV or a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) for result observation. Among them, one-pot RAA-dsDNase and one-pot RAA-dsDNase-LFD had detection times of 50 min and 60 min, respectively, for detecting Salmonella genomic DNA. One-pot RAA-dsDNase-UV had a detection limit of 101 copies/μL and 101 CFU/mL, while one-pot RAA-dsDNase-LFD had a sensitivity of 102 copies/μL and 102 CFU/mL. One-pot RAA-dsDNase-UV and one-pot RAA-dsDNase-LFD assays may identify 17 specific Salmonella serovars witho ut causing a cross-reaction with the remaining 8 bacteria, which include E. coli. Furthermore, Salmonella in tissue and milk samples has been reliably detected using both approaches. Overall, the detection method developed in this study can quickly, sensitively, and accurately detect Salmonella, and it is expected to become an important detection tool for the prevention and control of Salmonella in the future.
Developing a High-Umami, Low-Salt Soy Sauce through Accelerated Moromi Fermentation with Corynebacterium and Lactiplantibacillus Strains
Authors: Wang Li-Hao , Qu Wen-Hui , Xu Ya-Nan , Xia Song-Gang , Xue Qian-Qian , Jiang Xiao-Ming , Liu Hong-Ying , Xue Chang-Hu , Wen Yun-Qi
Published: April 2024

The traditional fermentation process of soy sauce employs a hyperhaline model and has a long fermentation period. A hyperhaline model can improve fermentation speed, but easily leads to the contamination of miscellaneous bacteria and fermentation failure. In this study, after the conventional koji and moromi fermentation, the fermentation broth was pasteurized and diluted, and then inoculated with three selected microorganisms including Corynebacterium glutamicum, Corynebacterium ammoniagenes, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum for secondary fermentation. During this ten-day fermentation, the pH, free amino acids, organic acids, nucleotide acids, fatty acids, and volatile compounds were analyzed. The fermentation group inoculated with C. glutamicum accumulated the high content of amino acid nitrogen of 0.92 g/100 mL and glutamic acid of 509.4 mg/100 mL. The C. ammoniagenes group and L. plantarum group were rich in nucleotide and organic acid, respectively. The fermentation group inoculated with three microorganisms exhibited the best sensory attributes, showing the potential to develop a suitable fermentation method. The brewing speed of the proposed process in this study was faster than that of the traditional method, and the umami substances could be significantly accumulated in this low-salt fermented model (7% w/v NaCl). This study provides a reference for the low-salt and rapid fermentation of seasoning.
A Sensory Shelf-Life Study for the Evaluation of New Eco-Sustainable Packaging of Single-Portion Croissants
Authors: Tolve Roberta , Sportiello Lucia , Rainero Giada , Pelattieri Andrea , Trezzi Marco , Favati Fabio
Published: April 2024

Understanding the correlation between straightforward analytical methods and sensory attributes is pivotal for transitioning to sustainable packaging while improving product quality. In this context, the viability of eco-sustainable packaging alternatives for single-packaged croissants has been investigated through examining the correlations between analytical methods, sensory attributes, employing quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA), and consumer survival analysis. The performance of biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP), a petrochemical plastic film, against paper-based, compostable, and biodegradable films over a 150-day croissant storage period was compared in this study, examining both physiochemical and sensory perspectives. The results showed a correlation between a lower water vapour barrier in packaging materials and increased moisture migration and croissant hardness, as assessed by the Avrami kinetic model. Notably, given its reduced barrier properties, the compostable film accelerated sensory profile deterioration, as evidenced by QDA results. Shelf-life estimation, assessed by consumer rejection, underscored the viability of the biodegradable film for up to 185 days, surpassing BOPP, paper-based, and other biodegradable alternatives. Using linear regression, physiochemical parameters associated with predicted shelf-life were elucidated. Overall, croissants were rejected by 50% of consumers when they reached humidity levels below 18%, water activity below 0.81, firmness exceeding 1064 N, pH above 4.4, and acidity below 4.5. Based on the results of this study, biodegradable packaging emerges as a promising alternative to traditional BOPP, offering a sustainable opportunity to extend the shelf-life of croissants.
Social Capital and Cross-Border Venture Capital Investments in China
Authors: Tan Yi , Wang Xiaoli , Lee Jason Z. -H. , Shi Kun
Published: April 2024

In the context of the Chinese market, foreign cross-border venture capitalists have devised specific strategies to mitigate the challenges associated with the liabilities of foreignness, such as risks and information asymmetry. They have strategically leveraged social capital to not only decrease investment risk but also to influence their investment preferences and behaviors. To investigate the influence of different types of social capital on the investment decisions of cross-border venture capitalists, hypotheses are proposed and tested using regression analysis. Our research reveals several key findings in this regard. Firstly, cross-border venture capitalists with a robust structural social capital network exhibit a greater propensity to invest in early-stage companies. This suggests that well-established connections and partnerships within the Chinese entrepreneurial ecosystem provide a level of comfort and confidence when investing in ventures at their infancy. Interestingly, relational and cognitive social capital, though undoubtedly valuable, do not significantly impact the decision to make early-stage investments. Furthermore, we have observed that venture capitalists with higher levels of structural and cognitive social capital are more inclined to form syndications. Collaborative partnerships and shared knowledge networks seem to be crucial factors that drive syndication decisions. Lastly, venture capitalists endowed with substantial structural and relational social capital tend to allocate larger investment amounts, signifying the influence of business or personal relationships and network connections on the scale of their investments.
Transformer-Based Approach to Pathology Diagnosis Using Audio Spectrogram
Authors: Tami Mohammad , Masri Sari , Hasasneh Ahmad , Tadj Chakib
Published: April 2024

Early detection of infant pathologies by non-invasive means is a critical aspect of pediatric healthcare. Audio analysis of infant crying has emerged as a promising method to identify various health conditions without direct medical intervention. In this study, we present a cutting-edge machine learning model that employs audio spectrograms and transformer-based algorithms to classify infant crying into distinct pathological categories. Our innovative model bypasses the extensive preprocessing typically associated with audio data by exploiting the self-attention mechanisms of the transformer, thereby preserving the integrity of the audio’s diagnostic features. When benchmarked against established machine learning and deep learning models, our approach demonstrated a remarkable 98.69% accuracy, 98.73% precision, 98.71% recall, and an F1 score of 98.71%, surpassing the performance of both traditional machine learning and convolutional neural network models. This research not only provides a novel diagnostic tool that is scalable and efficient but also opens avenues for improving pediatric care through early and accurate detection of pathologies.
Comparison of Force Distribution during Laryngoscopy with the C-MAC D-BLADE and Macintosh-Style Blades: A Randomised Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Schmutz Axel , Breddin Ingo , Draxler Ramona , Schumann Stefan , Spaeth Johannes
Published: April 2024

Background: The geometry of a laryngoscope’s blade determines the forces acting on the pharyngeal structures to a relevant degree. Knowledge about the force distribution along the blade may prospectively allow for the development of less traumatic blades. Therefore, we examined the forces along the blades experienced during laryngoscopy with the C-MAC D-BLADE and blades of the Macintosh style. We hypothesised that lower peak forces are applied to the patient’s pharyngeal tissue during videolaryngoscopy with a C-MAC D-BLADE compared to videolaryngoscopy with a C-MAC Macintosh-style blade and direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh-style blade. Beyond that, we assumed that the distribution of forces along the blade differs depending on the respective blade’s geometry. Methods: After ethical approval, videolaryngoscopy with the D-BLADE or the Macintosh blade, or direct laryngoscopy with the Macintosh blade (all KARL STORZ, Tuttlingen, Germany), was performed on 164 randomly assigned patients. Forces were measured at six positions along each blade and compared with regard to mean force, peak force and spatial distribution. Furthermore, the duration of the laryngoscopy was measured. Results: Mean forces (all p < 0.011) and peak forces at each sensor position (all p < 0.019) were the lowest with the D-BLADE, whereas there were no differences between videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy with the Macintosh blades (all p > 0.128). With the D-BLADE, the forces were highest at the blade’s tip. In contrast, the forces were more evenly distributed along the Macintosh blades. Videolaryngoscopy took the longest with the D-BLADE (p = 0.007). Conclusions: Laryngoscopy with the D-BLADE resulted in significantly lower forces acting on pharyngeal and laryngeal tissue compared to Macintosh-style blades. Interestingly, with the Macintosh blades, we found no advantage for videolaryngoscopy in terms of force application.