bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Aseptic and Non-Aseptic Systems’ Influence on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Microplants
Authors: Livadariu Oana , Constantin Carmen Gabriela , Boiu-Sicuia Oana-Alina , Dobrin Aurora , Ion Violeta Alexandra
Published: August 2024

Considering the current global climate and demographic conditions, combined with the growing demand for food diversification, the need for innovative functional foods that adhere to the principles of the circular economy is becoming clear. Therefore, this research aims to identify an appropriate cultivation system and growth substrate to maintain a high germination rate and produce basil aromatic microplants with superior quality traits that are entirely edible, together with the substrate. Microplants were grown in both aseptic (AS) and non-aseptic (NAS) systems. Both AS and NAS experiments were conducted in vitro using eco-innovative production technology. Moreover, various growth substrates were tested, such as perlite, agar, banana peel, peat, and their combinations. The analyses focused on the germination capacity, morphometric measurements, and biochemical analyses of the microplants. The results showed that the edible agar-based substrate, used in both AS and NAS, increased the germination capacity up to 95.00 ± 0.30%, while peat provided a germination capacity of only 12.07 ± 1.27% under AS conditions and 6.07 ± 0.35% under NAS conditions. Most biochemical analyses indicated that AS conditions are more suitable for basil microplant production, increasing the dry matter content, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and total antioxidant capacity compared to NAS conditions. These findings support the adoption of a new eco-innovative technology that provides organic basil microplants, which are fully usable along with the edible agar substrate.
Effects of Shading Nets Color on the Internal Environmental Conditions, Light Spectral Distribution, and Strawberry Growth and Yield in Greenhouses
Authors: Alhelal Ibrahim M. , Albadawi Ammar A. , Alsadon Abdullah A. , Alenazi Mekhled M. , Ibrahim Abdullah A. , Shady Mohamed , Al-Dubai Abdulhakim A.
Published: August 2024

Greenhouses are used to create the appropriate environment for plant growth. Controlling the level of lighting using shading nets is one of the most commonly used methods for making suitable environmental modifications in greenhouses. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of three colored shading nets (green, black, and beige at shading rates of 50%) on inside air temperature, relative humidity, and spectral distribution of light in a greenhouse, as well as their effect on the growth and yield of strawberry plants. Data were collected during winter (December and January) and spring (March and April) months from shaded and unshaded blocks. The green net had the highest transmittance to solar radiation (τSR) during the two periods (38% and 35%, respectively) and the highest transmittance to photosynthetically active radiation (τPAR) of 34% during spring months, while the beige net had the highest τPAR of 27% during winter months. The black net had the smallest τPAR values during the two periods (22% and 29%, respectively). The lowest total light levels per season for solar radiation (SR) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (746.8 and 293.7 MJ·m−2, respectively) were obtained under the black net, compared with (906.7 and 320.8 MJ·m−2, respectively) for the beige net, and (969.6 and 337.2 MJ·m−2, respectively) for the green net. The ratio of PAR to SR (PAR:SR) was 41% and 44% outside and inside the greenhouse for the control (without shade), respectively. The black net had the highest ratio of PAR:SR (39%) among the treatment nets. The green net transmitted more light in the blue–green region (400 to 570 nm) and transmitted the highest photon flux at 480 nm, while the beige net increased the infrared radiation flux from 730 nm and above and transmitted the highest photon flux at 604 nm. The study found that the green net increased the ratio of blue to red light (B/R), while the beige and green nets reduced the red to far-red light (R/FR) ratio. The photosynthetic rate, conductance to water, and transpiration were significantly higher for strawberries grown under the beige net. These results indicate that the beige net positively influenced leaf and stem characteristics, leading to improved strawberry yields. The best yields of strawberries were obtained under the beige net and the control group (no shade), surpassing the yields achieved under the black net by 26.3% and 21.4%, respectively.
Examining the Sensitivity of Satellite-Derived Vegetation Indices to Plant Drought Stress in Grasslands in Poland
Authors: Bartold Maciej , Wróblewski Konrad , Kluczek Marcin , Dąbrowska-Zielińska Katarzyna , Goliński Piotr
Published: August 2024

In this study, the emphasis is on assessing how satellite-derived vegetation indices respond to drought stress characterized by meteorological observations. This study aimed to understand the dynamics of grassland vegetation and assess the impact of drought in the Wielkopolskie (PL41) and Podlaskie (PL84) regions of Poland. Spatial and temporal characteristics of grassland dynamics regarding drought occurrences from 2020 to 2023 were examined. Pearson correlation coefficients with standard errors were used to analyze vegetation indices, including NDVI, NDII, NDWI, and NDDI, in response to drought, characterized by the meteorological parameter the Hydrothermal Coefficient of Selyaninov (HTC), along with ground-based soil moisture measurements (SM). Among the vegetation indices studied, NDDI showed the strongest correlations with HTC at r = −0.75, R2 = 0.56, RMSE = 1.58, and SM at r = −0.82, R2 = 0.67, and RMSE = 16.33. The results indicated drought severity in 2023 within grassland fields in Wielkopolskie. Spatial–temporal analysis of NDDI revealed that approximately 50% of fields were at risk of drought during the initial decades of the growing season in 2023. Drought conditions intensified, notably in western Poland, while grasslands in northeastern Poland showed resilience to drought. These findings provide valuable insights for individual farmers through web and mobile applications, assisting in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of drought on grasslands and thereby reduce associated losses.
Nut Proteins as Plant-Based Ingredients: Emerging Ingredients for the Food Industry
Authors: Matos Jessica da Silva , Costa Juliana Eloy Granato , Krichanã Debora Raquel Gomes Castro , Azevedo Paula Zambe , Nascimento Amanda Lais Alves Almeida , Stringheta Paulo Cesar , Martins Evandro , Campelo Pedro Henrique
Published: August 2024

This review explores the growing interest in and potential applications of proteins extracted from nuts in the food industry. With an increasing shift toward plant-based diets and sustainable food sources, the nutritional value and functional properties of nut proteins have gained significant attention. The composition, digestibility, and bioavailability of these proteins are discussed, emphasizing their role as high-quality substitutes for animal-based proteins. The text further delves into the technological applications of nut proteins, focusing on their ability to stabilize emulsions, enhance texture, and contribute to the development of innovative food products. This review highlights the diverse range of nuts and their unique protein profiles, underscoring the importance of combining different plant protein sources to achieve a well-balanced amino acid composition. As the food industry seeks novel and sustainable protein alternatives, the utilization of nut proteins emerges as a promising avenue with considerable nutritional benefits.
Editorial for Special Issue on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Applications in Energy Engineering Research and Simulation
Authors: Iranzo Alfredo
Published: August 2024

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been firmly established as a fundamental discipline to advancing research on energy engineering [...]
Special Issue: “Micro/Nano Manufacturing Processes: Theories and Optimization Techniques”
Authors: Zhao Zejia , Zhang Guoqing , Yip Wai Sze
Published: August 2024

Manufacturing at the micro/nano scale creates many opportunities to fabricate micro- and nanostructures or to manufacture high-precision components, which has attracted considerable attention in fields such as optics [...]
Research on Tool Wear and Machining Characteristics of TC6 Titanium Alloy with Cryogenic Minimum Quantity Lubrication (CMQL) Technology
Authors: Zhang Zhaoyuan , Zhang Weikun , Zhang Xueni , Li Xingkai , Ju Luyan , Gu Tianping
Published: August 2024

Titanium alloys are crucial in precision manufacturing due to their exceptional properties, but traditional machining methods lead to tool wear, deformation, and high costs. Conventional cooling fluids reduce heat but cause environmental issues, necessitating more sustainable solutions. Cryogenic Minimum Quantity Lubrication (CMQL) technology, using liquid nitrogen or carbon dioxide with minimal amounts of cutting fluid, offers an eco-friendly alternative that reduces machining temperatures and friction. This study tested the TC6 titanium alloy under conventional and CMQL conditions, focusing on tool wear, surface quality, and machining efficiency. Results showed that CMQL significantly decreased tool wear and surface roughness, with a 42% reduction in surface roughness during drilling and a 20–30% efficiency increase. The findings highlight CMQL’s potential to improve machining quality and efficiency while promoting environmentally friendly practices in the industry.
Physical Properties of High-Rank Coal Reservoirs and the Impact on Coalbed Methane Production
Authors: Liu Gang , Tang Runchi , Mu Chi , Liu Xing , Zhang Junjian
Published: August 2024

The physical characteristics of coal reservoirs are important factors affecting the occurrence status of coalbed methane, as well as key factors restricting the production capacity. Therefore, taking 3# coal in Qinnan region of China as the research object, based on the actual production data of 200 coalbed methane wells in the research area, experimental testing combined with simulation analysis was used to explore the physical properties of medium and high-order reservoirs and their impact on the occurrence and production of coalbed methane. The characteristics of coalbed methane reservoir formation and production capacity changes in the research area were revealed, and the factors restricting the production capacity of coalbed methane wells were calculated using the gray correlation analysis method. The results indicate that the micropores in the coal reservoir in the study area are well-developed, while the macropores and mesopores (exogenous fractures) are underdeveloped, the surface of the micropores is complex, and the connectivity of the micropores is poor, resulting in reservoirs with high gas adsorption characteristics and low permeability. The fractal characteristics of pores and fractures can reflect the permeability characteristics of reservoirs. Permeability is positively correlated with macropores (exogenous fractures) and mesopores, and negatively correlated with micropores. There is a positive correlation between permeability and productivity, and the reservoir in the study area has a stress-sensitive boundary. The main factors restricting productivity under the complex pore and fracture system of high-rank coal reservoir were identified, and the gray relational analysis method was used to evaluate the development effect of the research area. This study provides guidance for the development of coalbed methane production in high-rank coal reservoirs.
Religious Publishing in 17th-Century Geneva
Authors: Dami Hadrien
Published: August 2024

The objective of this article is to shed light on the history of the Reformation in 17th-century Geneva. The lens through which this study is conducted is that of religious publishing activity, which was significantly managed by the Company of Pastors and Professors. The role of the Company in religious publishing is inextricably linked to the unique status of the Church of Geneva within the broader context of the Reformation. The Company’s institutional archives offer insight into the issues at stake in the printed book matters. This article focuses on the role of the Company in local censorship, which diminished over the period under study. The Company’s censorship function enabled it to exert concrete influence on the global scale of Reformed publishing. This influence was the consequence of the Company’s ecclesiastical and theological authority. This authority derived from the status of the Church of Geneva as the principal church and birthplace of the Reformation in the 16th century. An analysis of the metaphors signifying and symbolizing this role in the printed books themselves underlines the pre-eminence of the Church of Geneva in 17th-century Reformation.
Investigating the Impact of Lunar Rover Structure and Lunar Surface Characteristics on Antenna Performance
Authors: Gadhafi Rida , Serria Elham , AlMaeeni Sara , Mukhtar Husameldin , Abd-Alhameed Raed , Mansoor Wathiq
Published: August 2024

This article explores the influence of lunar regolith and rover structure, such as mast design and material composition, on antenna parameters. It focuses on the distinctive difficulties of communication in the lunar environment, which need specialized antenna solutions. This study specifically examines the performance of antennas on the lunar Rashid rover within the Atlas crater, a landing site on the moon, considering two antenna types: a sleeve dipole antenna and an all-metal patch antenna. Thermal analyses reveal temperatures in the Atlas crater can exceed 80 °C during lunar mid-day. The findings highlight the effect of different materials used as thermal coatings for Rashid rover antennas, as well as the influence of rover materials on antenna performance. Furthermore, this study extends to analyze the conductivity and depth of lunar regolith within the Atlas crater. Given the critical role of antennas in wireless communication, understanding how lunar regolith properties affect antenna performance is essential. This research contributes to the creation of a strong communication system for the Rashid rover and future lunar missions by considering the features of the lunar regolith in addition to the rover’s size and material attributes.
An Approach of Query Audience’s Attention in Virtual Speech
Authors: Kang Hongbo , Yang Rui , Song Ruoyang , Yang Chunjie , Wang Wenqing
Published: August 2024

Virtual speeches are a very popular way for remote multi-user communication, but it has the disadvantage of the lack of eye contact. This paper proposes the evaluation of an online audience attention based on gaze tracking. Our research only uses webcams to capture the audience’s head posture, gaze time, and other features, providing a low-cost method for attention monitoring with reference values across multiple domains. Meantime, we also propose a set of indexes which can be used to evaluate the audience’s degree of attention, making up for the fact that the speaker cannot gauge the audience’s concentration through eye contact during online speeches. We selected 96 students for a 20 min group simulation session and used Spearman’s correlation coefficient to analyze the correlation between our evaluation indicators and concentration. The result showed that each evaluation index has a significant correlation with the degree of attention (p = 0.01), and all the students in the focused group met the thresholds set by each of our evaluation indicators, while the students in the non-focused group failed to reach the standard. During the simulation, eye movement data and EEG signals were measured synchronously for the second group of students. The EEG results of the students were consistent with the systematic evaluation. The performance of the measured EEG signals confirmed the accuracy of the systematic evaluation.
Integrating Heuristic Methods with Deep Reinforcement Learning for Online 3D Bin-Packing Optimization
Authors: Wong Ching-Chang , Tsai Tai-Ting , Ou Can-Kun
Published: August 2024

This study proposes a method named Hybrid Heuristic Proximal Policy Optimization (HHPPO) to implement online 3D bin-packing tasks. Some heuristic algorithms for bin-packing and the Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithm of deep reinforcement learning are integrated to implement this method. In the heuristic algorithms for bin-packing, an extreme point priority sorting method is proposed to sort the generated extreme points according to their waste spaces to improve space utilization. In addition, a 3D grid representation of the space status of the container is used, and some partial support constraints are proposed to increase the possibilities for stacking objects and enhance overall space utilization. In the PPO algorithm, some heuristic algorithms are integrated, and the reward function and the action space of the policy network are designed so that the proposed method can effectively complete the online 3D bin-packing task. Some experimental results illustrate that the proposed method has good results in achieving online 3D bin-packing tasks in some simulation environments. In addition, an environment with image vision is constructed to show that the proposed method indeed enables an actual robot manipulator to successfully and effectively complete the bin-packing task in a real environment.
One-Channel Wearable Mental Stress State Monitoring System
Authors: Abdul Kader Lamis , Al-Shargie Fares , Tariq Usman , Al-Nashash Hasan
Published: August 2024

Assessments of stress can be performed using physiological signals, such as electroencephalograms (EEGs) and galvanic skin response (GSR). Commercialized systems that are used to detect stress with EEGs require a controlled environment with many channels, which prohibits their daily use. Fortunately, there is a rise in the utilization of wearable devices for stress monitoring, offering more flexibility. In this paper, we developed a wearable monitoring system that integrates both EEGs and GSR. The novelty of our proposed device is that it only requires one channel to acquire both physiological signals. Through sensor fusion, we achieved an improved accuracy, lower cost, and improved ease of use. We tested the proposed system experimentally on twenty human subjects. We estimated the power spectrum of the EEG signals and utilized five machine learning classifiers to differentiate between two levels of mental stress. Furthermore, we investigated the optimum electrode location on the scalp when using only one channel. Our results demonstrate the system’s capability to classify two levels of mental stress with a maximum accuracy of 70.3% when using EEGs alone and 84.6% when using fused EEG and GSR data. This paper shows that stress detection is reliable using only one channel on the prefrontal and ventrolateral prefrontal regions of the brain.
Mechanically Adjustable 4-Channel RF Transceiver Coil Array for Rat Brain Imaging in a Whole-Body 7 T MR Scanner
Authors: Roat Sigrun , Nohava Lena , Laistler Elmar
Published: August 2024

Investigations of human brain disorders are frequently conducted in rodent models using magnetic resonance imaging. Due to the small specimen size and the increase in signal-to-noise ratio with the static magnetic field strength, dedicated small-bore animal scanners can be used to acquire high-resolution data. Ultra-high-field (≥7 T) whole-body human scanners are increasingly available, and they can also be used for animal investigations. Dedicated sensors, in this case, radiofrequency coils, are required to achieve sufficient sensitivity for the high spatial resolution needed for imaging small anatomical structures. In this work, a four-channel transceiver coil array for rat brain imaging at 7 T is presented, which can be adjusted for use on a wide range of differently sized rats, from infants to large adults. Three suitable array designs (with two to four elements covering the whole rat brain) were compared using full-wave 3D electromagnetic simulation. An optimized static B1+ shim was derived to maximize B1+ in the rat brain for both small and big rats. The design, together with a 3D-printed adjustable coil housing, was tested and validated in ex vivo rat bench and MRI measurements.
Targeted FT-NIR and SERS Detection of Breast Cancer HER-II Biomarkers in Blood Serum Using PCB-Based Plasmonic Active Nanostructured Thin Film Label-Free Immunosensor Immobilized with Directional GNU-Conjugated Antibody
Authors: Khosroshahi Mohammad E. , Patel Yesha , Umashanker Vithurshan
Published: August 2024

This work describes our recent PCB-based plasmonic nanostructured platform patent (US 11,828,747B2) for the detection of biomarkers in breast cancer serum (BCS). A 50 nm thin gold film (TGF) was immersion-coated on PCB (i.e., PCB-TGF) and immobilized covalently with gold nanourchin (GNU) via a 1,6-Hexanedithiol (HDT) linkage to produce a plasmonic activated nanostructured thin film (PANTF) platform. A label-free SERS immunosensor was fabricated by conjugating the platform with monoclonal HER-II antibodies (mAb) in a directional orientation via adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH) to provide higher accessibility to overexpressed HER-II biomarkers (i.e., 2+ (early), 3+ (locally advanced), and positive (meta) in BCS. An enhancement factor (EF) of 0.3 × 105 was achieved for PANTF using Rhodamine (R6G), and the morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). UV-vis spectroscopy showed the peaks at 222, 231, and 213 nm corresponding to ADH, mAb, and HER-II biomarkers, respectively. The functionalization and conjugation were investigated by Fourier Transform Near Infrared (FT-NIR) where the most dominant overlapped spectra of 2+, 3+, and Pos correspond to OH-combination of carbohydrate, RNH2 1st overtone, and aromatic CH 1st overtone of mAb, respectively. SERS data were filtered using the filtfilt filter from scipy.signals, baseline corrected using the Improved Asymmetric Least Squares (isals) function from the pybaselines.Whittaker library. The results showed the common peaks at 867, 1312, 2894, 3026, and 3258 cm−1 corresponding to glycine, alanine ν (C-N-C) assigned to the symmetric C-N-C stretch mode; tryptophan and α helix; C-H antisymmetric and symmetric stretching; NH3+ in amino acids; and N-H stretch primary amide, respectively, with the intensity of Pos > 3+ > 2+. This trend is justifiable considering the stage of each sample. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discrimination Analysis (LDA) were employed for the statistical analysis of data.
NABNet: Deep Learning-Based IoT Alert System for Detection of Abnormal Neck Behavior
Authors: Qin Hongshuai , Cai Minya , Qin Huibin
Published: August 2024

The excessive use of electronic devices for prolonged periods has led to problems such as neck pain and pressure injury in sedentary people. If not detected and corrected early, these issues can cause serious risks to physical health. Detectors for generic objects cannot adequately capture such subtle neck behaviors, resulting in missed detections. In this paper, we explore a deep learning-based solution for detecting abnormal behavior of the neck and propose a model called NABNet that combines object detection based on YOLOv5s with pose estimation based on Lightweight OpenPose. NABNet extracts the detailed behavior characteristics of the neck from global to local and detects abnormal behavior by analyzing the angle of the data. We deployed NABNet on the cloud and edge devices to achieve remote monitoring and abnormal behavior alarms. Finally, we applied the resulting NABNet-based IoT system for abnormal behavior detection in order to evaluate its effectiveness. The experimental results show that our system can effectively detect abnormal neck behavior and raise alarms on the cloud platform, with the highest accuracy reaching 94.13%.
Clearing the Path: Overcoming Barriers to Prevention through Design (PtD) Utilization in the US Construction Industry
Authors: Al-Bayati Ahmed Jalil , Bazzi Karim , Karakhan Ali A. , Jensen Elin
Published: August 2024

The construction industry presents significant high risks of injury and fatality to its workforce. Adopting prevention through design (PtD) principles is reported to have high potential for mitigating such risks and improving safety outcomes. PtD seeks to assess and reduce workplace hazards during the design phase, minimizing unsafe construction conditions. Despite its potential benefits, the construction industry encounters challenges in effectively utilizing PtD. Thus, the implementation of PtD in the US construction industry is limited, and designers’ awareness remains low. This evident lack of utilization warrants further examination of the contributing factors. The goal of this study is to identify and rank PtD utilization barriers in the United States (US) construction industry. This study pinpointed 12 pivotal barriers to PtD implementation through a systematic literature review. These barriers were categorized into industry-, project-, designer-, and client-related domains. Furthermore, they were grouped into three clusters based on their influence on PtD implementation from the most to the least influence, based on an expert matter questionnaire. This study also compared the experts’ rankings of the identified barriers with their citation frequencies in the reviewed articles. Among other observations, this study found that the lack of PtD professional training and formal education for project stakeholders negatively impacts the likelihood of PtD utilization and exacerbates several other barriers. Therefore, it is advisable to prioritize addressing this barrier by allocating the necessary resources and efforts to efficiently address it. Construction industry stakeholders with a vested interest in advancing PtD applications are encouraged to leverage the insights this study provides to expedite the adoption of PtD.
Pipeline Leak Detection System for a Smart City: Leveraging Acoustic Emission Sensing and Sequential Deep Learning
Authors: Ullah Niamat , Siddique Muhammad Farooq , Ullah Saif , Ahmad Zahoor , Kim Jong-Myon
Published: August 2024

This study explores a novel approach utilizing acoustic emission (AE) signaling technology for pipeline leakage detection and analysis. Pipeline leaks are a significant concern in the liquids and gases industries, prompting the development of innovative detection methods. Unlike conventional methods, which often require contact and visual inspection with the pipeline surface, the proposed time-series-based deep learning approach offers real-time detection with higher safety and efficiency. In this study, we propose an automatic detection system of pipeline leakage for efficient transportation of liquid (water) and gas across the city, considering the smart city approach. We propose an AE-based framework combined with time-series deep learning algorithms to detect pipeline leaks through time-series features. The time-series AE signal detection module is designed to capture subtle changes in the AE signal state caused by leaks. Sequential deep learning models, including long short-term memory (LSTM), bi-directional LSTM (Bi-LSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRUs), are used to classify the AE response into normal and leakage detection from minor seepage, moderate leakage, and major ruptures in the pipeline. Three AE sensors are installed at different configurations on a pipeline, and data are acquired at 1 MHz sample/sec, which is decimated to 4K sample/second for efficiently utilizing the memory constraints of a remote system. The performance of these models is evaluated using metrics, namely accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and convergence, demonstrating classification accuracies of up to 99.78%. An accuracy comparison shows that BiLSTM performed better mostly with all hyperparameter settings. This research contributes to the advancement of pipeline leakage detection technology, offering improved accuracy and reliability in identifying and addressing pipeline integrity issues.
Clickbait Contagion in International Quality Media: Tabloidisation and Information Gap to Attract Audiences
Authors: Diez-Gracia Alba , Sánchez-García Pilar , Palau-Sampio Dolors , Sánchez-Sobradillo Iris
Published: August 2024

The competition to attract audiences has led to an increase in sensational or misleading headlines and content, with the aim of garnering user clicks in the news media. This dynamic alters the journalistic manner in which news is presented, and it does so by reducing informative quality and eroding the trust of the audience. This study examines the proliferation of clickbait strategies on the front pages of reputable international ‘serious’ press and how it manifests in readers’ consumption and sharing habits. We carried out a comparative content analysis of digital news articles from four international media sources (N = 1680): The Guardian (UK), The New York Times (USA), El País (Spain) and Público (Portugal). Our results confirm the existence of clickbait (N = 516) on the front pages, the most read content and the articles most shared on social media. Most clickbait titles resort to headline strategies of containing incomplete information that affect both hard and soft news topics. This particular finding highlights the inclusion of clickbait in the agenda of ‘serious’ journalism, despite the negative implications on information quality and trust. Associated with irrelevant content, this ‘hook’ captures the attention of the online audience more than the social media audience.
Effect of Strength and Endurance Training Sequence on Endurance Performance
Authors: Vikestad Vidar , Dalen Terje
Published: August 2024

This review investigates the effect of two different concurrent training sequences on endurance performance. The sequences investigated are Endurance–Resistance (ER) and Resistance–Endurance (RE). A literature search is conducted of the SPORTDiscus and Medline databases. The included studies are randomized control trials, which compare the effect of ER and RE on at least one endurance performance variable. A PEDro scale is used to assess the methodological quality of the articles in this review. Of a total of 152 articles identified during the initial screening, 15 studies meet the inclusion criteria. These studies include 426 participants (298 males and 128 females), with 212 of the participants training with ER and 214 with RE. The results are presented as the percentage change of the mean from pre- to post-test. All the studies show an improvement in endurance from pre to post for both interventions, except for the RE group in one study. This review finds small and non-conclusive sequence effects between ER and RE, suggesting that the sequence of concurrent training is not of great importance in relation to endurance performance.
Optimal Design Alternatives of Guide Signs for Expressway Segments with Consecutive Dense Exits
Authors: Ran Jin , Li Meiling , Rong Jian , Zhao Ding , Li Xingyuan , Luo Qiang
Published: August 2024

The guide signs at expressway play an important role in conveying road information to drivers. To study the reasonable setting of guide signs at expressway with consecutive dense exits, firstly, a bidirectional eight-lane expressway segment model were constructed with three exit ramp scenarios: “single exit”, “consecutive double exits”, and “consecutive triple exits”. Two groups of schemes (standard group and optimized group) for guide signs were set, resulting in 10 different experimental comparison schemes. Secondly, thirty-two licensed drivers were recruited to conduct experimental tests using a driving simulation platform. Then four types of experimental data related to driving operations are collected: participants’ subjective perception, vehicle operation safety, driving maneuvers smoothness, and cumulative eye movement comfort. These data were used to compare and analyze the 10 different design schemes of guide signs, determining the optimal design alternatives for expressway segment with three exit ramp scenarios. The comparative analysis of the experimental data across the three exit ramp scenarios revealed that factors such as ramp spacing, guide signs content, and placement distance of guide signs significantly impact vehicle safety and comfort. There is an inverse relationship between ramp spacing and both vehicle safety and driving comfort. The participants’ visual recognition efficiency is enhanced by optimizing the content and placement distance of the guide sign effectively, further ensuring the safe and smooth operation of vehicles. This study can effectively reduce traffic conflicts at expressway exit ramps and decrease the incidence of traffic accidents. Additionally, it provides solid theoretical support for the design and sustainable development of expressway traffic facilities.
Fish-Mimicking Hydrophilic and Hygroscopic Transparent Films with Long-Lasting Anti-Oil Adhesion and Its Application to PET Bottles
Authors: Wassgren Jerred , Kakiuchida Hiroshi , Sato Tomoya , Hozumi Atsushi
Published: August 2024

With the recent ban on the production and use of long-chain perfluorinated compounds, the development of alternative approaches to prepare liquid-repellent surfaces that avoids the use of such compounds has become an urgent issue. We have succeeded in the development of fish-mimicking hydrophilic transparent hydrogel-based films with long-lasting anti-oil adhesion properties. Such films could be prepared by simply mixing poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP), nanoclay particles (NCPs), and a waterborne aminosilane (AOS) using an integral blend (IB) method. When submerged in water, these films displayed underwater superoleophobicity (advancing and receding contact angles (CAs) of diiodomethane were ~171°/~163°) with low CA hysteresis (less than 8°), because the hydrophilic nature of the films promoted the formation of a thin layer of adsorbed water on the topmost film surfaces, similar to fish scales. Furthermore, when our films were coated onto the inside of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) bottles and pre-wetted using 80 °C hot water vapors, these film surfaces could effectively repel various oils and were able to maintain their oil-repellent properties for more than 5 weeks. These water-driven, non-perfluorinated transparent hydrogel-based films are expected to increase recycling of PET bottles for oils that are generally incinerated or landfilled.
Prognostic Nomogram for Predicting Survival, Clinicopathological Analysis, and Racial Disparities in Uterine Carcinosarcoma: A Retrospective Population-Based Study
Authors: Ullah Asad , Rubin Lily , Rakusin Alexa , Yasinzai Abdul Qahar Khan , Chandasir Abdullah , Sohail Amir Humza , Iqbal Asif , Waheed Abdul , Khan Roona , Brandi Luis , Tareen Bisma , Goyal Aman , Sheikh Abu Baker , Wali Agha , Paterniti Thomas , Reedy Mark
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Uterine carcinosarcoma is an aggressive gynecologic malignancy that accounts for 5% of all gynecological malignancies. There is a disproportion in its incidence and mortality among different races. This study describes demographic and clinicopathological factors and racial disparities affecting the survival of patients with uterine carcinosarcoma. Methods: Data on uterine carcinosarcoma patients were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database from 2000 to 2020. Results: Of the 11,338 patients identified, the median age at diagnosis was 68 years, and the five-year cause-specific survival (CSS) rate was 38.7%. for all races. Compared with Asian patients (39.5%, 95% CI, 36.0–43.4%), Hispanic patients (39.4%, 95% CI, 36.5–42.5%), and White patients (37.9%, 95% CI, 36.7–39.2%), Black patients accounted for 21% of the patients and had a significantly lower 5-year CSS (95% CI, 27.2–31.2%). The CSS rates were 84.4% (95% CI, 83.3–85.6%) for localized tumors, 68.5% (95% CI, 66.9–70.1%) for regional tumors, and 39.0% (95% CI, 36.9–41.2%) for distant tumors. Multimodal treatment involving chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation improved the overall one- and five-year survival rates by 88.2% (95% CI, 87.0–89.5%) and 52.8% (95% CI, 50.7–55.1%), respectively, across all disease stages. Multivariate analysis identified age >60 years, Black race, tumor size >4 cm, and distant metastases as independent risk factors for mortality (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This large database study presents the most up-to-date epidemiological information regarding cases of uterine carcinosarcoma. The findings suggest that a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be most efficacious in treating this malignancy, especially in patients with distant disease.
Nonlocal Effects in Asymptotically Safe Gravity
Authors: Nagy Sándor
Published: August 2024

The asymptotically safe gravity is investigated in the framework of the functional renormalization group method. The low energy region of the model can account for the cosmological behavior, where it is assumed that the nonlocal effects play a crucial role. Using the Wegner–Houghton equation it is shown that the dynamically induced bilocal term modifies the infrared scaling of the model.
Sequestration of Dyes from Water into Poly(α-Olefins) Using Polyisobutylene Sequestering Agents
Authors: Rosenfeld Neil , Alonso Mara P. , Humphries Courtney , Bergbreiter David E.
Published: August 2024

Trace concentrations of dyes are often present in textile wastewater streams and present a serious environmental problem. Thus, these dyes must be removed from wastewater either by degradation or sequestration prior to discharge of the wastewater into the environment. Existing processes to remove these wastewater contaminants include the use of solid sorbents to sequester dyes or the use of biochemical or chemical methods of dye degradation. However, these processes typically generate their own waste products, are not necessarily rapid because of the low dye concentration, and often use expensive or non-recyclable sequestrants or reagents. This paper describes a simple, recyclable, liquid–liquid extraction scheme where ionic dyes can be sequestered into poly(α-olefin) (PAO) solvent systems. The partitioning of anionic and cationic dyes from water into PAOs is facilitated by ionic PAO-phase anchored sequestering agents that are readily prepared from commercially available vinyl-terminated polyisobutylene (PIB). This is accomplished by a sequence of reactions involving hydroboration/oxidation, conversion of an alcohol into an iodide, and conversion of the resulting primary alkyl iodide into a cationic nitrogen derivative. The products of this synthetic sequence are cationic nitrogen iodide salts which serve as anionic sequestrants that are soluble in PAO. These studies showed that the resulting series of cationic PIB-bound cationic sequestering agents facilitated efficient extraction of anionic, azo, phthalein, and sulfonephthalein dyes from water into a hydrocarbon PAO phase. Since the hydrocarbon PAO phase is completely immiscible with water and the PIB derivatives are also insoluble in water, neither the sequestration solvent nor the sequestrants contaminate wastewater. The effectiveness and efficiency of these sequestrations were assayed by UV–visible spectroscopy. These spectroscopic studies showed that extraction efficiencies were in most cases >99%. These studies also involved procedures that allowed for the regeneration and recycling of these PAO sequestration systems. This allowed us to recycle the PAO solvent system for at least 10 sequential batch extractions where we sequestered sodium salts of methyl red and 4′,5′-dichlorofluorescein dyes from water with extraction efficiencies of >99%. These studies also showed that a PIB-bound derivative of the sodium salt of 1,1,1-trifluoromethylpentane-2,4-dione could be prepared from a PIB-bound carboxylic acid ester by a Claisen-like reaction and that the sodium salt of this β-diketone could be used to sequester cationic dyes from water. This PIB-bound anion rapidly and efficiently extracted >99% of methylene blue, malachite green, and safranine O from water based on UV–visible and 1H NMR spectroscopic assays.
Evaluation of THP-1 and Jurkat Cell Lines Coculture for the In Vitro Assessment of the Effects of Immunosuppressive Substances
Authors: Franko Nina , Sollner Dolenc Marija
Published: August 2024

The strong appeal to reduce animal testing calls for the development and validation of in vitro, in chemico and in silico models that would replace the need for in vivo testing and ex vivo materials. A category that requires such new approach methods is the assessment of immunosuppression that can be induced by chemicals including environmental pollutants. To assess the immunosuppressive action on monocytes and lymphocytes, we mimicked the whole-blood cytokine-release assay by preparing an in vitro coculture of THP-1 and Jurkat cell lines. We optimised its activation and investigated the effects of known immunosuppressive drugs with different mechanisms of action on the release of proinflammatory cytokines. Decreased secretion of IL-8 was achieved by several immunosuppressive mechanisms and was therefore selected as an appropriate marker of immunosuppression. A set of environmentally occurring bisphenols, BPA, BPAP, BPP, BPZ, BPE, TCBPA and BPS-MAE, were then applied to the model and BPP and BPZ were found to act as potent immunosuppressants at micromolar concentrations.
Short-Term Chronic Toxicity of Copper to Hyalella azteca: Contrast in Terms of Equilibrating Diet, Diet Type, and Organic Matter Source
Authors: Fuad Nafis , Williams Rebecca , Vadas Timothy M.
Published: August 2024

The most up-to-date regulatory guidelines for establishing acute and chronic numeric limits for copper in freshwaters are based on a biotic ligand model for various species, but the model for Cu lacks data on dietary uptake. In addition, some common macroinvertebrate toxicity assay parameters are less representative of the ecosystem. We investigated the effects of diet and its type in the experimental setup and as an exposure pathway to an established amphipod (crustacean) Hyalella azteca (H. azteca) for Cu toxicity assays. We also investigated another overlooked aspect, the organic matter (OM) source. Our experiments compared the toxicity of pre-equilibrated and unequilibrated natural diets and a laboratory-favored diet in effluent and stormwater sources of organic matter adjusted to standard water characteristics. The experiments indicated a more toxic effect of the pre-equilibrated diet and natural dietary sources, and less toxic effects in the presence of effluent OM compared with stormwater OM, shifting LC50 or EC20 values by as much as 67% compared with the controls. The use of a pre-equilibrated natural diet in toxicity assays provides the advantage of producing toxicity data more representative of field conditions. Considering organic matter type, especially in dietary exposures, will better predict toxicity, accounting for copper complexation with OM from different sources and partitioning to the food supply. Adapting these ecologically relevant parameters in whole effluent toxicity testing or other assays will also provide safer regulatory oversite of discharges to surface waters.
Toxicity Evaluation and Transcriptome Analysis of Yellowstripe Goby (Mugilogobius chulae) in Response to 2,7-Dibromocarbazole Exposure during Early Development
Authors: Gao Caixia , Lai Suqun , Zeng Jin , Peng Ying , Li Jianjun
Published: August 2024

Polyhalogenated carbazoles (PHCZs) are a class of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds that are widely distributed throughout the marine environment and sediment. These compounds share structural and toxicity similarities with dioxins. However, our understanding of the toxicological effects of PHCZs on marine organisms and their underlying molecular mechanisms remains limited. In this study, we employed the marine model organism Mugilogobius chulae as the experimental subject and selected 2,7-dibromocarbazole (2,7-DBCZ), a compound known for its high toxicity and detection frequency, to conduct both an acute toxicity test and transcriptome analysis on M. chulae embryos. Our findings revealed that the 96 h median lethal concentration (LC50) of 2,7-DBCZ for M. chulae embryos was 174 μg/L, with a median effective concentration (EC50) resulting in pericardial edema deformity of 88.82 μg/L. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant impacts on various systems in M. chulae embryos following exposure to 2,7-DBCZ, including the sensory, cardiovascular, immune, and endocrine systems. Furthermore, this compound perturbed signaling pathways such as phototransduction, protein folding and processing, amino acid metabolism, lipid transport, and exogenous compound metabolism. Notably, transcript abundance of the CYP1A gene associated with the activation of the AhR signaling pathway, similar to dioxin-like compounds, was 18.18 times higher than that in the control group. This observation suggests that M. chulae embryos mount a stress response when exposed to PHCZs. In summary, this study contributes to our understanding of the toxicological implications of PHCZ in marine fish and offers a theoretical foundation for risk assessment and regulatory frameworks for PHCZs in the marine environment.
Toxicity of Moxifloxacin on the Growth, Photosynthesis, Antioxidant System, and Metabolism of Microcystis aeruginosa at Different Phosphorus Levels
Authors: Wan Liang , Zhou Yan , Huang Rong , Jiao Yiying , Gao Jian
Published: August 2024

Moxifloxacin (MOX), a widely used novel antibiotic, may pose ecological risks at its actual environmental concentrations, as has been detected in aquatic systems. However, its ecotoxicity to aquatic organisms and regulatory mechanisms of phosphorus in eutrophic aqueous environments are still limited. This study aimed to analyze its physiological and biochemical parameters, including cellular growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, photosynthetic pigments, oxidative stress biomarkers, and metabolomics to elucidate the toxicity induced by environmental concentrations of MOX in Microcystis aeruginosa at different phosphorus levels. The results revealed that the EC50 values of MOX on M. aeruginosa at different phosphorus concentrations were 8.03, 7.84, and 6.91 μg/L, respectively, indicating MOX toxicity was exacerbated with increasing phosphorus levels. High phosphorus intensified the suppression of chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic pigments, while activating the antioxidant enzyme, indicating severe peroxidation damage. Metabolomic analysis showed MOX induced different discriminating metabolites under different phosphorus levels, and perturbed more biological pathways at higher phosphorus concentrations, such as starch and sucrose metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and glycerolipid metabolism. This indicates that phosphorus plays an important role in regulating metabolism in M. aeruginosa exposed to MOX. The findings provide valuable information on the mechanisms involved in cyanobacteria responses to antibiotic stress, and offer a theoretical basis for accurately assessing antibiotic toxicity in eutrophic aqueous environments.