bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polyamine-Based Nanostructures Share Polyamine Transport Mechanisms with Native Polyamines and Their Analogues: Significance for Polyamine-Targeted Therapy
Authors: Holbert Cassandra E. , Foley Jackson R. , Yu Ao , Murray Stewart Tracy , Phanstiel Otto , Oupicky David , Casero Robert A.
Published: August 2022

Polyamines are small polycationic alkylamines involved in many fundamental cellular processes, including cell proliferation, survival, and protection from oxidative stress. Polyamine homeostasis is tightly regulated through coordinated biosynthesis, catabolism, and transport. Due to their continual proliferation, cancer cells maintain elevated intracellular polyamine pools. Both polyamine metabolism and transport are commonly dysregulated in cancer, and as such, polyamine analogues are a promising strategy for exploiting the increased polyamine requirement of cancer cells. One potential polyamine analogue resistance mechanism is the downregulation of the poorly defined polyamine transport system. Recent advances in nanomedicine have produced nanostructures with polyamine analogue-based backbones (nanopolyamines). Similar nanostructures with non-polyamine backbones have been shown to be transported by endocytosis. As these polyamine-based nanoparticles could be a method for polyamine analogue delivery that bypasses polyamine transport, we designed the current studies to determine the efficacy of polyamine-based nanoparticles in cells lacking intact polyamine transport. Utilizing polyamine transport-deficient derivatives of lung adenocarcinoma lines, we demonstrated that cells unable to transport natural polyamines were also resistant to nanopolyamine-induced cytotoxicity. This resistance was a result of transport-deficient cells being incapable of importing and accumulating nanopolyamines. Pharmacological modulation of polyamine transport confirmed these results in polyamine transport competent cells. These studies provide additional insight into the polyamine transport pathway and suggest that receptor-mediated endocytosis is a likely mechanism of transport for higher-order polyamines, polyamine analogues and the nanopolyamines.
Herpesvirus Screening in Childhood Hematopoietic Transplant Reveals High Systemic Inflammation in Episodes of Multiple Viral Detection and an EBV Association with Elevated IL-1β, IL-8 and Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Authors: Rojas-Rechy Moisés H. , Gaytán-Morales Félix , Sánchez-Ponce Yessica , Castorena-Villa Iván , López-Martínez Briceida , Parra-Ortega Israel , Escamilla-Núñez María C. , Méndez-Tenorio Alfonso , Pompa-Mera Ericka N. , Martinez-Ruiz Gustavo U. , Fuentes-Pananá Ezequiel M. , Morales-Sánchez Abigail
Published: August 2022

Infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Unlike Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Human Herpesvirus (HHV) 6, HHV7 and HHV8 are not routinely monitored in many centers, especially in the pediatric population of low–medium income countries. We screened EBV, HCMV, HHV6, HHV7 and HHV8 in 412 leukocytes-plasma paired samples from 40 pediatric patients assisted in a tertiary hospital in Mexico. Thirty-two underwent allo-HSCT, whereas eight received auto-HSCT. Overall viral detection frequencies in allo- and auto-HSCT were: EBV = 43.7% and 30.0%, HCMV = 5.0% and 6.7%, HHV6 = 7.9% and 20.0% and HHV7 = 9.7% and 23.3%. HHV8 was not detected in any sample. Interestingly, HHV6 and HHV7 were more frequent in auto-HSCT, and HHV6 was observed in all episodes of multiple detection in auto-HSCT patients. We found EBV DNA in plasma samples, whereas HCMV, HHV6 and HHV7 DNA were predominantly observed in leukocytes, indicative of their expansion in cellular compartments. We also found that IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly increased in episodes in which multiple viruses were simultaneously detected, and samples positive for EBV DNA and graft-versus-host disease had a further increase of IL-1β and IL-8. In conclusion, the EBV, HCMV, HHV6 and HHV7 burdens were frequently detected in allo- and auto-HSCT, and their presence associated with systemic inflammation.
Numerical Simulation of Slope Stability during Underground Excavation Using the Lagrange Element Strength Reduction Method
Authors: Ding Qi-Le , Peng Yan-Yan , Cheng Zheng , Wang Peng
Published: August 2022

In this study, the Lagrange element strength reduction method is used to explore slope stability and as an evaluation method of underground mining of end-slope coal in a rock-stability analysis. A numerical analysis model is established herein using the geological conditions for mining in a coordinated open pit with an underground mining area of the Anjialing Open-Pit Mine and Underground No. 2 Mine. Additionally, the evolution law of slope stability in open-pit end-slope mining is studied using the proposed numerical simulation method. According to our findings, the steps show obvious horizontal movement and deformation under the influence of underground mining disturbances. Taking the horizontal displacement at the slope tops of the steps as the deformation index, the entire disturbed slope is divided into four regions: upper, middle-upper, middle-lower, and lower steps. When a step is fully affected by underground mining, its subsidence value first increases rapidly and then slowly. An exponential function is used to reflect the change rule in the step-subsidence value as the working face advances. In the underground mining process, the critical sliding surface of the slope develops along the soft rock or coal seam, showing an L-shaped or a W (double L)-shaped broken line. As the working face advances, the initial position of the sliding mass is unchanged while the cutting position alternately changes up and down in the weak plane. The safety factor suddenly drops when the advancing distance exceeds a certain value.
Quantitative Structure–Neurotoxicity Assessment and In Vitro Evaluation of Neuroprotective and MAO-B Inhibitory Activities of Series N′-substituted 3-(1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthin-8-ylthio)propanehydrazides
Authors: Kondeva-Burdina Magdalena , Mitkov Javor , Valkova Iva , Peikova Lily , Georgieva Maya , Zlatkov Alexander
Published: August 2022

The neurotoxic, neuroprotective and MAO-B inhibitory effects of series N′-substituted 3-(1,3,7-trimethyl-xanthin-8-ylthio)propanehydrazides are evaluated. The results indicate compounds N′-(2,3-dimethoxybenzylidene)-3-(1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purin-8-ylthio)propanehydrazide (6k) and N′-(2-hydroxybenzylidene)-3-(1,3,7-trimethyl-2,6-dioxo-2,3,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-purin-8-ylthio)propanehydrazide (6l) as most perspective. The performed QSTR analysis identified that the decreased lipophilicity and smaller dipole moments of the molecules are the structural features ensuring lower neurotoxicity. The obtained results may be used as initial information in the further design of (xanthinyl-8-ylthio)propanhydrazides with potential hMAOB inhibitory effect and pronounced neuroprotection.
Deposition Mechanism and Characterization of Plasma-Enhanced Atomic Layer-Deposited SnOx Films at Different Substrate Temperatures
Authors: Huang Pao-Hsun , Zhang Zhi-Xuan , Hsu Chia-Hsun , Wu Wan-Yu , Ou Sin-Liang , Huang Chien-Jung , Wuu Dong-Sing , Lien Shui-Yang , Zhu Wen-Zhang
Published: August 2022

The promising functional tin oxide (SnOx) has attracted tremendous attention due to its transparent and conductive properties. The stoichiometric composition of SnOx can be described as common n-type SnO2 and p-type Sn3O4. In this study, the functional SnOx films were prepared successfully by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD) at different substrate temperatures from 100 to 400 °C. The experimental results involving optical, structural, chemical, and electrical properties and morphologies are discussed. The SnO2 and oxygen-deficient Sn3O4 phases coexisting in PEALD SnOx films were found. The PEALD SnOx films are composed of intrinsic oxygen vacancies with O-Sn4+ bonds and then transformed into a crystalline SnO2 phase with increased substrate temperature, revealing a direct 3.5–4.0 eV band gap and 1.9–2.1 refractive index. Lower (<150 °C) and higher (>300 °C) substrate temperatures can cause precursor condensation and desorption, respectively, resulting in reduced film qualities. The proper composition ratio of O to Sn in PEALD SnOx films near an estimated 1.74 suggests the highest mobility of 12.89 cm2 V−1 s−1 at 300 °C.
3D Printing of Ultrathin MXene toward Tough and Thermally Resistant Nanocomposites
Authors: Li Yuewei , Kankala Ranjith Kumar , Chen Ai-Zheng , Wang Shi-Bin
Published: August 2022

Liquid crystal display (LCD)-based 3D printing, a facile and cost-effective manufacturing technique, is often applied when fabricating objects with porcelain structures using photosensitive resins (PSRs). Currently, 3D printed constructions are typically used as models for demonstration purposes rather than industrial applications because of their poor performance. In this study, we prepared nanocomposites by incorporating Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets to enhance the overall characteristics of a PSR, including mechanical properties and thermal resistance. Notably, the designed nanocomposites showed optimum performance at an MXene loading of 0.5% w/w. The mechanical properties of the designed nanocomposites confirmed the enhanced ultimate tensile and flexural strengths (by 32.1% and 42.7%, respectively), at 0.5% w/w MXene loading. Moreover, the incorporated MXene presented no substantial influence on the toughness of the PSR. The glass transition and thermal degradation temperatures at 5% weight loss increased by 7.4 and 10.6 °C, respectively, resulting predominantly from the hydrogen bonding between the PSR and MXene. Together, the experimental results indicate that the designed PSR/MXene nanocomposites are expected to replace pristine resins for LCD printing in various practical applications.
Non-Cytotoxic Nanoparticles
Authors: Schneider Raphaël
Published: August 2022

For several decades, nanoparticles (NPs) are becoming widely used in various industries, in electronics, agriculture, textile production or medicine [...]
Impact of Ga3+ Ions on the Structure, Magnetic, and Optical Features of Co-Ni Nanostructured Spinel Ferrite Microspheres
Authors: Almessiere Munirah A. , Slimani Yassine , Ali Sadaqat , Baykal Abdulhadi , Balasamy Rabindran Jermy , Guner Sadik , Auwal İsmail A. , Trukhanov Alex V. , Trukhanov Sergei V. , Manikandan Ayyar
Published: August 2022

Co-Ni ferrite is one of the crucial materials for the electronic industry. A partial substitution with a rare-earth metal brings about modification in crystal lattice and broadens knowledge in the discovery of new magnetic material. Current work reports a Ga3+ substitution in the Co-Ni ferrite with composition Co0.5Ni0.5Fe2−xGaxO4 (where x = 0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0), herein referred to as spinel ferrite microspheres (CoNiGa-SFMCs). The samples were crystallized hydrothermally showing a hollow sphere morphology. The crystal phase, magnetic, morphology, and optical behaviour were examined using various microscopy and spectroscopic tools. While the XRD confirmed the phase of SFMCs, the crystallite size varied between 9 and 12 nm. The Tauc plot obtained from DRS (diffuse reflectance spectroscopy) shows the direct optical energy bandgap (Eg) of the products, with the pristine reading having the value of 1.41 eV Eg; the band gap increased almost linearly up to 1.62 eV along with rising the Ga3+ amount. The magnetic features, on the other hand, indicated the decrease in coercivity (Hc) as more Ga3+ is introduced. Moreover, there was a gradual increase in both saturation magnetization (Ms) and magnetic moment (nB) with increasing amount of Ga3+ till x = 0.6 and then a progressive decline with increases in the x content; this was ascribed to the spin-glass-like behavior at low temperatures. It was detected that magnetic properties correlate well with crystallite/particle size, cation distribution, and anisotropy.
Nursing Students’ Use of Recovery Stories of People with Mental Illness in Their Experiences: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Yamashita Ayako , Nakajima Takako
Published: August 2022

This study clarified nursing students’ experiences of an educational program where they listened to the recovery stories of individuals with mental illness in a classroom setting. In this qualitative study, the program was delivered to third year nursing students in December 2019 (n = 62), after which they completed an anonymous free-response questionnaire. The responses were classified into seven clusters: understanding how patients perceive and appraise nursing care practices; interpreting experiences of disease realistically; deciphering patients’ histories based on their recovery stories; exploring ways to engage with patients based on knowledge of determinants of nursing care quality; finding ways to engage with patients grounded in respect; recognizing the importance of creating a therapeutic environment; gaining a sensitive understanding based on real-world stories. These clusters were grouped into “understanding the quality of nursing practices” and “gaining knowledge for application to nursing practices.”
Consecutive Multicomponent Coupling-Addition Synthesis and Chromophore Characteristics of Cyclohexene-Embedded Merocyanines and Cyanines
Authors: Papadopoulos Julian , Gerlach Tabea , Reiss Guido J. , Mayer Bernhard , Müller Thomas J. J.
Published: August 2022

Merocyanines with embedded butadiene structure in a cyclohexane scaffold are readily obtained by consecutive three-component alkynylation-addition sequences in moderate to excellent yield. Moreover, employing pyrrolidine as an amine provides a pseudo four-component synthesis of related cyanines by carbonyl condensation of the heterocyclic amine in excellent yield. While the merocyanines are essentially nonluminescent, pentamethine cyanines show luminescence with low quantum yield. TDDFT calculations using various exchange correlation hybrid functionals in the gas phase and explicit continuum of dichloromethane underline that the lowest energy absorption bands are highly solvent dependent for a merocyanine and cyanine model. The blue-shifted deviation from the experimental spectra agrees with related merocyanine and cyanine systems. The lowest energy absorption band of merocyanines contains n-π* character, which rationalizes the absence of luminescence.
A Surface Plasmon–Polariton in a Symmetric Dielectric Waveguide with Active Graphene Plates
Authors: Evseev Dmitry A. , Eliseeva Svetlana V. , Sementsov Dmitry I. , Shutyi Anatolij M.
Published: August 2022

A theoretical study of the plasmon modes’ characteristics is carried out in a structure consisting of two active graphene layers separated by a dielectric barrier layer. A general dispersion relation is obtained, the numerical analysis of which reveals the possibility of controlling the parameters of amplified surface modes in the region of graphene negative conductivity. In particular, their dispersion is controlled by changing the chemical potential of the graphene layers. For antisymmetric plasmons, their dependence on the barrier layer parameters was revealed. An increase in the chemical potential makes it possible to expand the region of existence of the amplified plasmons, which is accompanied not only by an increase in the amplification coefficient but also by a shift to the region of higher frequencies of the amplified modes. For the first time, modal bistability was also demonstrated in a limited frequency range for antisymmetric plasmons, due to the appearance of additional modes, in which the phase velocity decreases sharply near the cutoff, and the group velocities of the modes entering the bistability turn out to be opposite in sign. The frequency dependences of the real and imaginary parts of the plasmon propagation constant are analyzed, the distributions of wave fields in the structure are plotted, and the frequency dependence of the depth of the plasmon–polariton is given.
A Graphene/Gold-Coated Surface Plasmon Sensor for Sodium Nitrate Detection
Authors: Zain H. A , Batumalay M. , Harith Z. , Rahim H. R. A. , Harun S. W.
Published: August 2022

A sodium nitrate sensor with graphene/gold coating is presented in this paper. A Kretschmann setup with angle interrogation was used to detect sodium nitrate in the range of 0–15%. Using a graphene coating on top of the 50 nm gold layer showed an improvement in the sensitivity of the sensor. The gold-coated setups had a sensitivity of 0.198°/%. In contrast, the graphene/gold-coated samples showed a sensitivity of 0.244°/% due to the charge transfer between the graphene and the gold and the resulting excited solid electric field. The graphene/gold-coated sensor showed good stability with time in the temperature range of 19–34 °C. This shows that this setup may be beneficial in detecting sodium nitrate.
NMR Metabolomics and Chemometrics of Lettuce, Lactuca sativa L., under Different Foliar Organic Fertilization Treatments
Authors: Lanzotti Virginia , Anzano Attilio , Grauso Laura , Zotti Maurizio , Sacco Adriana , Senatore Mauro , Moreno Mauro , Diano Marcello , Parente Maddalena , Esposito Serena , Termolino Pasquale , Palomba Emanuela , Zoina Astolfo , Mazzoleni Stefano
Published: August 2022

Lettuce plants were grown in a greenhouse affected by the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum to test the effects on plant metabolomics by different organic treatments. Three foliar application treatments were applied: a commercial compost tea made of aerobically fermented plant organic matter, a pure lyophilized microalga Artrospira platensis, commonly named spirulina, and the same microalga previously exposed during its culture to a natural uptake from medium enriched with F. oxysporum fragmented DNA (NAT). The experiment is the first attempt to observe in field conditions, the use and effects of a natural microbial library as a carrier of pathogenic fungal DNA for disease control. Untargeted NMR metabolomics and chemometrics showed that foliar organic application significantly reduced fumaric and formic acids, aromatic amino acids, and nucleosides, while increasing ethanolamine. A strong decrease in phenolic acids and an increase in citric acid and glutamine were specifically observed in the NAT treatment. It is noteworthy that the exposure of a known biostimulant microalga to fungal DNA in its culture medium was sufficient to induce detectable changes in the metabolomic profiles of the fertilized plants. These findings deserve further investigation to assess the potential relevance of the presented approach in the field of crop biostimulation and biocontrol of plant pathogens.
Ecofriendly Removal of Aluminum and Cadmium Sulfate Pollution by Adsorption on Hexanoyl-Modified Chitosan
Authors: Reis Berthold , Borchert Konstantin B. L. , Kafetzi Martha , Müller Martin , Carrasco Karina Haro , Gerlach Niklas , Steinbach Christine , Schwarz Simona , Boldt Regine , Pispas Stergios , Schwarz Dana
Published: August 2022

The purity and safety of water as a finite resource is highly important in order to meet current and future human needs. To address this issue, the usage of environmentally friendly and biodegradable adsorbers and flocculants is essential. Chitosan, as a biopolymer, features tremendous properties as an adsorber and flocculant for water treatment. For the application of chitosan as an adsorber under acidic aqueous conditions, such as acid mine drainage, chitosan has been modified with hydrophobic hexanoyl chloride (H-chitosan) to reduce the solubility at a lower pH. In order to investigate the influence of the substitution of the hexanoyl chloride on the adsorption properties of chitosan, two chitosans of different molecular weights and of three different functionalization degrees were analyzed for the adsorption of CdSO4(aq) and Al2(SO4)3(aq). Among biobased adsorbents, H-chitosan derived from the shorter Chitosan exhibited extraordinarily high maximum adsorption capacities of 1.74 mmol/g and 2.06 mmol/g for Cd2+ and sulfate, and 1.76 mmol/g and 2.60 mmol/g for Al3+ and sulfate, respectively.
A Tesla Valve as a Micromixer for Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Liosis Christos , Sofiadis George , Karvelas Evangelos , Karakasidis Theodoros , Sarris Ioannis
Published: August 2022

A large number of microfluidic applications are based on effective mixing. In the application of water purification, the contaminated water needs to be effectively mixed with a solution that is loaded with nanoparticles. In this work, the Tesla valve was used as a micromixer device in order to evaluate the effect of this type of geometry on the mixing process of two streams. For this reason, several series of simulations were performed in order to achieve an effective mixing of iron oxide nanoparticles and contaminated water in a duct. In the present work, a stream loaded with Fe3O4 nanoparticles and a stream with contaminated water were numerically studied for various inlet velocity ratios and initial concentrations between the two streams. The Navier–Stokes equations were solved for the water flow and the discrete motion of particles was evaluated by the Lagrangian method. Results indicate that the Tesla valve can be used as a micromixer since mixing efficiency reached up to 63% for Vp/Vc = 20 under various inlet nanoparticles rates for the geometry of the valve that was used in this study.
A Non-Invasive Method for Measuring Bubble Column Hydrodynamics Based on an Image Analysis Technique
Authors: Agarwal Neha , Lee Moonyong , Kim Hyunsung
Published: August 2022

Bubble size and its distribution are the important parameters which have a direct impact on mass transfer in bubble column reactors. For this, a new robust image processing technique was presented for investigating hydrodynamic aspects and bubble behavior in real chemical or biochemical processes. The experiments were performed in a small-scale bubble column. The study was conducted for the wide range of clear liquid heights and superficial gas velocities. However, a major challenge in image analysis techniques is identification of overlapping or cluster bubbles. This problem can be overcome with the help of the proposed algorithm. In this respect, large numbers of videos were recorded using a high-speed camera. Based on detailed experiments, the gas–liquid dispersion area was divided into different zones. A foam region width was found as inversely proportional to the clear liquid height. An entry region width was found as directly proportional to the clear liquid height. Hydrodynamic parameters, including gas holdup, bubble size distribution, and Sauter mean bubble diameter were evaluated and compared for different operating conditions. The gas holdup was calculated from both height measurement and pixel intensity methods, and it was found to be indirectly proportional to clear liquid height. Bubble sizes affect the bubble column performance; therefore, bubbles are tracked to calculate the bubble size distribution. Experimental results proved that the proposed scheme is robust.
Moderate Hydrogen Pressures in the Hydrogenation of Alkenes Using a Reactor with Hydrogen Gas Self-Inducing Impeller
Authors: Supramono Dijan , Yoandi Ivan , Fauzi Muhammad Reza
Published: August 2022

The non-oxygenated oil product of the pyrolysis of polypropylene cannot be used directly as an engine fuel due to its high content of alkenes. However, high pressure of hydrogen gas is commonly employed in the hydrotreatment of alkenes to produce alkanes. A semi-batch hydrogenation reaction using a hydrogen gas self-inducing impeller to internally recirculate the hydrogen gas has been implemented in the present work to provide small hydrogen gas bubbles so that the gas dispersion in the liquid phase is intensified. This technique is expected to improve the contact of hydrogen, oil, and the Ni/Al2O3 catalyst, which in turn alleviates high pressures of hydrogen gas. The hydrogenation reaction was performed at 185 °C with an impeller speed of 400 rpm. The pressure was varied from 2 to 8 bar. At the pressure of 2 bar, the main reactions are the hydrogenation of alkenes and cyclization of alkenes leading to cycloalkane formation, while at the pressures of 4, 6, and 8 bar, the main reactions are dimerization or oligomerization and hydrogenation of alkenes. The hydrogenation reaction shifts the carbon chain length in the oil towards the carbon chain length attributed to diesel fuel with more branching as the hydrogen pressure is increased. The gas inducement technique employed in the present work has succeeded in saturating almost all alkenes at moderate pressures (below 9 bar), lower than the pressures used by previous researchers, i.e., above 9 bar.
Potential Satellite Cell-Linked Biomarkers in Aging Skeletal Muscle Tissue: Proteomics and Proteogenomics to Monitor Sarcopenia
Authors: Fernández-Lázaro Diego , Garrosa Evelina , Seco-Calvo Jesús , Garrosa Manuel
Published: August 2022

Sarcopenia (Sp) is the loss of skeletal muscle mass associated with aging which causes an involution of muscle function and strength. Satellite cells (Sc) are myogenic stem cells, which are activated by injury or stress, and repair muscle tissue. With advancing age, there is a decrease in the efficiency of the regenerative response of Sc. Diagnosis occurs with the Sp established by direct assessments of muscle. However, the detection of biomarkers in real-time biofluids by liquid biopsy could represent a step-change in the understanding of the molecular biology and heterogeneity of Sp. A total of 13 potential proteogenomic biomarkers of Sp by their physiological and biological interaction with Sc have been previously described in the literature. Increases in the expression of GDF11, PGC-1α, Sirt1, Pax7, Pax3, Myf5, MyoD, CD34, MyoG, and activation of Notch signaling stimulate Sc activity and proliferation, which could modulate and delay Sp progression. On the contrary, intensified expression of GDF8, p16INK4a, Mrf4, and activation of the Wnt pathway would contribute to early Sp development by directly inducing reduced and/or altered Sc function, which would attenuate the restorative capacity of skeletal muscle. Additionally, tissue biopsy remains an important diagnostic tool. Proteomic profiling of aged muscle tissues has shown shifts toward protein isoforms characteristic of a fast-to-slow transition process and an elevated number of oxidized proteins. In addition, a strong association between age and plasma values of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been described and serpin family A member 3 (serpin A3n) was more secreted by atrophied muscle cells. The identification of these new biomarkers holds the potential to change personalized medicine because it could predict in real time the course of Sp by monitoring its evolution and assessing responses to potential therapeutic strategies.
Noteworthy Problems with God’s Immutability, Impassibility, and Simplicity. Should We Treat These Divine Attributes and the Hellenic Conditions of Christian Theism as a Dogma?
Authors: Słomka Marek
Published: August 2022

The article presents problems that the concepts of God’s immutability, impassibility, and simplicity pose for Christian theism. Through the critical analysis, the author indicates the roots of these ideas (mostly, but not only, in ancient Greek philosophy) and the consequences of absolutizing them for the image of God and His relationship to the world. The more general purpose of the paper is to highlight the danger of the strong dependence of religious depictions on philosophical grounds. As concluded in the article, it is a mistake to absolutize the particular solutions that appeared at the junction of fides et ratio at one of the historical stages. The awareness of this becomes extremely important when reflecting on the divine immutability, impassibility, and simplicity. The author shows some proposals to reformulate their understanding in light of contemporary analytic philosophy. Partial reinterpretation in this regard may help to rethink the concept of the Creator’s interaction with creation and to reconcile the biblical image of God with the philosophical one.
The Correlation between Spiritual Well-Being and Burnout of Teachers
Authors: Pong Hok-Ko
Published: August 2022

This study examines the correlation between spiritual well-being and burnout symptoms, including emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA), among Chinese secondary school teachers in Hong Kong. The data were collected from 427 Chinese secondary school teachers (189 males, 238 females) aged 25–37 from different schools with one to eight years of teaching experience. The participants completed the Spiritual Health and Life-orientation Measure (SHALOM) to evaluate the status of their spiritual well-being in the personal and communal, environmental, and transcendental domains. The Maslach Burnout Inventory—Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) was also used to measure the extent of burnout in the workplace. All domains of spiritual well-being were negatively associated with EE and DP, while the personal and communal domain and the transcendental domain of spiritual well-being were positively associated with PA. Multiple regression analysis revealed that all the specific domains of spiritual well-being explained 68.6% and 54.0% of the variance in teachers’ EE and DP, respectively. Meanwhile, the same analysis found that the personal–communal and transcendental domains explained 74.9% of the variance in teachers’ PA. The personal–communal domain of spiritual well-being was the strongest predictor of burnout.
Is Michel Henry’s Radical Phenomenology of Life a Christian Philosophy?
Authors: Hao Changchi
Published: August 2022

This paper examines two fundamental claims by Michel Henry on his philosophy’s relationship with classical phenomenology (Husserl and Heidegger) and Christianity. It shows in what way Henry’s phenomenology is the radicalization and absolutization of classical phenomenology: pure phenomenological truth is the identification of appearing and what appears rather than the separation of the two. According to Henry, his notions of life and truth is fully in accordance with Christianity’s Revelation of God. In the last part, the paper challenges Henry’s claim that his phenomenology is a Christian philosophy from a Kierkegaardian point of view and argues that Henry’s phenomenology is, as a matter of fact, a philosophy without Christ. Contrary to a popular viewpoint that Michel Henry is a Christian thinker of our age, I would argue that Henry’s concept of God and Christ is essentially a scholarly philosophical invention. If Henry’s philosophy is an absolute and ultimate form of phenomenology, then it is reasonable to draw a conclusion that Christ as the Truth of Christianity is outside the boundary of phenomenology.
Improving the Accuracy of a Robot by Using Neural Networks (Neural Compensators and Nonlinear Dynamics)
Authors: Yan Zhengjie , Klochkov Yury , Xi Lin
Published: August 2022

The subject of this paper is a programmable con trol system for a robotic manipulator. Considering the complex nonlinear dynamics involved in practical applications of systems and robotic arms, the traditional control method is here replaced by the designed Elma and adaptive radial basis function neural network—thereby improving the system stability and response rate. Related controllers and compensators were developed and trained using MATLAB-related software. The training results of the two neural network controllers for the robot programming trajectories are presented and the dynamic errors of the different types of neural network controllers and two control methods are analyzed.
A Hierarchical Network with Fault Tolerance by a Multi-Factor Method for Neighborhood Area Network in Smart Grid
Authors: Du Jiatao , Li Xiaohui , He Jie
Published: August 2022

The neighborhood area network of a smart grid usually has hierarchical wireless communication. Due to forwarding and processing more data, the upper-layer nodes are more likely to suffer congestion and energy exhaustion. This phenomenon leads to the failure of uploading data to the control center. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a scheme for constructing a multi-factor fault-tolerant hierarchical network. This scheme firstly defines a criterion for the generation of redundant links by multi-factor method in a hierarchical wireless network with the characteristics of the neighborhood area network. Then the redundant links are used to reconstruct the existing topology of the neighborhood area network for improving fault tolerance. Finally, a greedy routing algorithm is put forward to select a proper data transmission path by bypassing low energy nodes, further reducing the failure of uploading data to the control center. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can effectively improve the fault tolerance of the network topology of the wireless neighborhood area network and balance the network energy consumption. Compared with the original scheme, the proposed scheme improves the fault tolerance by 35% and the relative transmission rate by 21%.
RPDNet: Automatic Fabric Defect Detection Based on a Convolutional Neural Network and Repeated Pattern Analysis
Authors: Huang Yubo , Xiang Zhong
Published: August 2022

On a global scale, the process of automatic defect detection represents a critical stage of quality control in textile industries. In this paper, a semantic segmentation network using a repeated pattern analysis algorithm is proposed for pixel-level detection of fabric defects, which is termed RPDNet (repeated pattern defect network). Specifically, we utilize a repeated pattern detector based on convolutional neural network (CNN) to detect periodic patterns in fabric images. Through the acquired repeated pattern information and proper guidance of the network in a high-level semantic space, the ability to understand periodic feature knowledge and emphasize potential defect areas is realized. Concurrently, we propose a semi-supervised learning scheme to inject the periodic knowledge into the model separately, which enables the model to function independently from further pre-calculation during detection, so there is no additional network capacity required and no loss in detection speed caused. In addition, the model integrates two advanced architectures of DeeplabV3+ and GhostNet to effectively implement lightweight fabric defect detection. The comparative experiments on repeated pattern fabric images highlights the potential of the algorithm to determine competitive detection results without incurring further computational cost.
VISOR-NET: Visibility Estimation Based on Deep Ordinal Relative Learning under Discrete-Level Labels
Authors: Xun Lina , Zhang Huichao , Yan Qing , Wu Qi , Zhang Jun
Published: August 2022

This paper proposes a novel end-to-end pipeline that uses the ordinal information and relative relation of images for visibility estimation (VISOR-NET). By encoding ordinal information into a set of relatively ordered image pairs, VISOR-NET can learn a global ranking function effectively. Due to the lack of real scenes or continuous labels in public foggy datasets, we collect a large-scale dataset that we term Foggy Highway Visibility Images (FHVI), which are taken from real surveillance scenes, and synthesize an INDoor Foggy images dataset (INDF) with continuous annotation. This work measures the estimation effectiveness on two public datasets and our FHVI dataset as a classification task and then on the INDF dataset as a regression task. Comprehensive experiments with existing deep-learning methods demonstrate the performance of the proposed method in terms of estimation accuracy, the convergence rate, model stability, and data requirements. Moreover, this method can extend inter-level visibility estimation to intra-level visibility estimation and can realize approximate regression estimation under discrete-level labels.
Optimizations for Passive Electric Field Sensing
Authors: von Wilmsdorff Julian , Kuijper Arjan
Published: August 2022

Passive electric field sensing can be utilized in a wide variety of application areas, although it has certain limitations. In order to better understand what these limitations are and how countervailing measures to these limitations could be implemented, this paper contributes an in-depth discussion of problems with passive electric field sensing and how to bypass or solve them. The focus lies on the explanation of how commonly known signal processing techniques and hardware build-up schemes can be used to improve passive electric field sensors and the corresponding data processing.
Capture and Prediction of Rainfall-Induced Landslide Warning Signals Using an Attention-Based Temporal Convolutional Neural Network and Entropy Weight Methods
Authors: Zhang Di , Wei Kai , Yao Yi , Yang Jiacheng , Zheng Guolong , Li Qing
Published: August 2022

The capture and prediction of rainfall-induced landslide warning signals is the premise for the implementation of landslide warning measures. An attention-fusion entropy weight method (En-Attn) for capturing warning features is proposed. An attention-based temporal convolutional neural network (ATCN) is used to predict the warning signals. Specifically, the sensor data are analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis after obtaining data from the sensors on rainfall, moisture content, displacement, and soil stress. The comprehensive evaluation score is obtained offline using multiple entropy weight methods. Then, the attention mechanism is used to weight and sum different entropy values to obtain the final landslide hazard degree (LHD). The LHD realizes the warning signal capture of the sensor data. The prediction process adopts a model built by ATCN and uses a sliding window for online dynamic prediction. The input is the landslide sensor data at the last moment, and the output is the LHD at the future moment. The effectiveness of the method is verified by two datasets obtained from the rainfall-induced landslide simulation experiment.
Real-Time Reflectance Measurement Using an Astigmatic Optical Profilometer
Authors: Liao Hsien-Shun , Huang Ya-Kang , Syu-Gu Jian-Yuan , Hwu En-Te
Published: August 2022

An astigmatic optical profilometer with a commercial optical pickup head provides benefits, such as high resolution, compact size, and low cost. To eliminate artifacts caused by complex materials with different reflectances, a z-axis modulation mode is proposed to obtain quantitative surface morphology by measuring S curves on all image pixels. Moreover, the slope of the linear region in the S curve shows a positive relationship with the surface reflectance. However, the slope was calculated using an offline curve fitting method, which did not allow real-time reflectance imaging. Furthermore, quantitative reflectance data were unavailable because of the lack of calibration. In this study, we propose a novel method for real-time reflectance imaging by measuring the amplitude of a focus error signal (FES). The calibration results displayed a linear relationship between the FES amplitude and reflectance. The reflectance image of a grating sample with chrome patterns on a glass substrate demonstrates accurate reflectance measurements with a micrometer spatial resolution.
A Dual-Adaptive Equivalent Consumption Minimization Strategy for 4WD Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Guo Jianhua , Guo Zhiqi , Chu Liang , Zhao Di , Hu Jincheng , Hou Zhuoran
Published: August 2022

Energy management strategies are vitally important to give full play to energy-saving four-wheel-drive plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (4WD PHEV). This paper proposes a novel dual-adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (DA-ECMS) for the complex multi-energy system in the 4WD PHEV. In this strategy, management of the multi-energy system is optimized by introducing the categories of future driving conditions to adjust the equivalent factors and improving the adaptability and economy of driving conditions. Firstly, a self-organizing neural network (SOM) and grey wolf optimizer (GWO) are adopted to classify the driving condition categories and optimize the multi-dimensional equivalent factors offline. Secondly, SOM is adopted to identify driving condition categories and the multi-dimensional equivalent factors are matched. Finally, the DA-ECMS completes the multi-energy optimization management of the front axle multi-energy sources and the electric driving system and releases the energy-saving potential of the 4WD PHEV. Simulation results show that, compared with the rule-based strategy, the economy in the DA-ECMS is improved by 13.31%.
Fine Alignment of Thermographic Images for Robotic Inspection of Parts with Complex Geometries
Authors: Mineo Carmelo , Montinaro Nicola , Fustaino Mario , Pantano Antonio , Cerniglia Donatella
Published: August 2022

Increasing the efficiency of the quality control phase in industrial production lines through automation is a rapidly growing trend. In non-destructive testing, active thermography techniques are known for their suitability to allow rapid non-contact and full-field inspections. The robotic manipulation of the thermographic instrumentation enables the possibility of performing inspections of large components with complex geometries by collecting multiple thermographic images from optimal positions. The robotisation of the thermographic inspection is highly desirable to improve assessment speed and repeatability without compromising inspection accuracy. Although integrating a robotic setup for thermographic data capture is not challenging, the application of robotic thermography has not grown significantly to date due to the absence of a suitable approach for merging multiple thermographic images into a single presentation. Indeed, such an approach must guarantee accurate alignment and consistent pixel blending, which is crucial to facilitate defect detection and sizing. In this work, an innovative inspection platform was conceptualised and implemented, consisting of a pulsed thermography setup, a six-axis robotic manipulator and an algorithm for image alignment, correction and blending. The performance of the inspection platform is tested on a convex-shaped specimen with artificial defects, which highlights the potential of the new combined approach. This work bridges a technology gap, making thermographic inspections more deployable in industrial environments. The proposed fine image alignment approach can find applicability beyond thermographic non-destructive testing.
Communication Systems Performance at mm and THz as a Function of a Rain Rate Probability Density Function Model
Authors: Kupferman Judy , Arnon Shlomi
Published: August 2022

6G is already being planned and will employ much higher frequencies, leading to a revolutionary era in communication between people as well as things. It is well known that weather, especially rain, can cause increased attenuation of signal transmission for higher frequencies. The standard methods for evaluating the effect of rain on symbol error rate are based on long-term averaging. These methods are inaccurate, which results in an inefficient system design. This is critical regarding bandwidth scarcity and energy consumption and requires a more significant margin of effort to cope with the imprecision. Recently, we have developed a new and more precise method for calculating communication system performance in case of rain, using the probability density function of rain rate. For high rain rate (above 10 mm/h), for a typical set of parameters, our method shows the symbol error rate in this range to be higher by orders of magnitude than that found by ITU standard methods. Our model also indicates that sensing and measuring the rain rate probability is important in order to provide the required bit error rate to the users. This will enable the design of more efficient systems, enabling design of an adaptive system that will adjust itself to rain conditions in such a way that performance will be improved. To the best knowledge of the authors, this novel analysis is unique. It can constitute a more efficient performance metric for the new era of 6G communication and prevent disruption due to incorrect system design.
Study on Sensing Mechanism of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Pt-Loaded ZnO Nanocrystals
Authors: Shinkai Takeshi , Masumoto Keigo , Iwai Masaru , Inomata Yusuke , Kida Tetsuya
Published: August 2022

Understanding the surface chemistry of target gases on sensing materials is essential for designing high-performance gas sensors. Here, we report the effect of Pt-loading on the sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with ZnO gas sensors, demonstrated by diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy. Pt-loaded ZnO nanocrystals (NCs) of 13~22 nm are synthesized using the hot soap method. The synthesized powder is deposited on an alumina substrate by screen-printing to form a particulate gas sensing film. The 0.1 wt% Pt-loaded ZnO NC sensor shows the highest sensor response to acetone and ethanol at 350 °C, while the responses to CO and H2 are small and exhibit good selectivity to VOCs. The gas sensing mechanism of ethanol with Pt-ZnO NCs was studied by in situ DRIFT spectroscopy combined with online FT-IR gas analysis. The results show that ethanol reacts with small Pt-loaded ZnO to produce intermediate species such as acetaldehyde, acetate, and carbonate, which generates a high sensor response to ethanol in air.
Research on the Principal–Agent Mechanism of Poverty Alleviation through Mandarin Popularization in Ethnic Minority Areas from the Perspective of Ability Incentive
Authors: Mu Xiaoyang , Wang Li
Published: August 2022

In the process of poverty alleviation through Mandarin popularization in ethnic minority areas, there is a principal–agent relationship. In order to effectively stimulate the endogenous motivation of the public, it is necessary to study the principal–agent relationship between the local government and ethnic minorities in the process of poverty alleviation through Mandarin popularization from the perspective of ability incentive. Combining the traditional targeted poverty alleviation with principal–agent theory, this paper clarifies the principal–agent relationship between the local government, as principal, and the ethnic minorities, as agent, and constructs a principal–agent model based on information asymmetry scenarios. This model includes two scenarios: (1) the local government provides ability incentive; and (2) the local government does not provide ability incentive. Under the scenarios, the local government is risk-neutral, and the ethnic minorities are risk-averse. This paper focuses on analyzing the impact of ability incentives on the decision-making strategies of the local government and the public as well as on their expected revenue. Finally, the rationality and effectiveness of this model are verified through numerical simulation.