bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning-Based DoS Amplification Attack Detection against Constrained Application Protocol
Authors: Almeghlef Sultan M. , AL-Ghamdi Abdullah AL-Malaise , Ramzan Muhammad Sher , Ragab Mahmoud
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses the Internet of Things (IoT) and the security challenges associated with it. IoT is a network of interconnected devices that share information. However, the low power and resources of IoT devices make them vulnerable to attacks. Using heavy protocols like HTTP for IoT devices can prove costly and using popular lightweight protocols like CoAP can invite attacks such as DoS (Denial-of-Service). While security models such as DTLS and LSPWSN can secure IoT against such attacks, they also have limitations. To overcome this problem, this paper proposes a machine learning model that detects DoS amplification attacks against CoAP with 99% accuracy. To the best of our knowledge, this research is the first to use the multi-classification process to detect and classify the different types of the DoS amplification techniques that attack CoAP client use against victim CoAP clients.
Liquid for Fused Deposition Modeling Technique (L-FDM)—A Revolution in Application Chemicals to 3D Printing Technology: Color and Elements
Authors: Przekop Robert E. , Gabriel Ewa , Pakuła Daria , Sztorch Bogna
Published: June 2023

This article presents a novel 3D printing technique called L-FDM (liquid for fused deposition modeling), which is based on the deposition of molten thermoplastic material. The new method allows for the direct introduction of chemicals and polymer filament modifications during the printing process. In contrast to traditional incremental methods, L-FDM eliminates the need for extra granulating, extrusion, and processing equipment, making it possible to introduce chemical additives to the polymer matrix directly. This opens up exciting possibilities for chemical laboratories to test and experiment with new and known chemicals through 3D printing. The article discusses the technical aspects of L-FDM and its potential applications and provides practical examples of direct filament modifications using the technique. The results of these modifications were verified using a colorimeter, electron microscopy (SEM/EDS), and optical microscopy.
Increasing NH3 Emissions in High Emission Seasons and Its Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics during 1850–2060
Authors: Li Tong , Wang Zhaosheng
Published: June 2023

Ammonia (NH3) is a crucial alkaline component in the atmosphere, with significant impacts on environmental and ecosystem health. However, our understanding of the long-term variability characteristics of NH3 emissions is still limited due to the scarcity of long-term continuous NH3 emission observation data. In this study, we investigated the global NH3 emission evolution pattern during the high-emission season (March–August) in historical (1850–2014) and future (2015–2060) periods, based on the simulated global NH3 emission and temperature data using the CESM2-WACCM model from CMIP6. We utilized cluster analysis, KNN regression simulation, and transfer matrix analysis to explore the emission characteristics. In the historical period, the analysis revealed that the high NH3 emission season is March–August, accounting for about 60% of annual emissions, with a significant increasing trend of NH3 emissions. The global average NH3 emissions in the last 164 years were about four times higher (28.06 mg m−2) than those in 1850 (5.52 mg m−2). Moreover, on the intercontinental scale, NH3 emissions from 1850 to 2014 March–August exhibited dynamic increases characterized differently across continents. Europe showed an increasing and then decreasing trend, Asia demonstrated a rapid increase, while South America, North America, and Africa exhibited medium increases, and Australia showed low increases. The global NH3 emissions experienced three distinct periods of low (1850–1964, slope = 0.059 mg m−2 y−1), high (1965–1988, slope = 0.389 mg m−2 y−1), and medium (1989–2014, slope = 0.180 mg m−2 y−1) rates of increase. Starting from the high rate of increase period, the hotspots of global NH3 emissions gradually shifted from Europe to East and South Asia. Looking ahead, our findings suggest that the global NH3 emission rate will tend to slow down under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and RCP8.5 warming scenarios. However, compared with the medium-rate increasing period, the moderate and heavy NH3 emission areas under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios will show a tendency to expand by 2060, with the proportion of area covered by heavy emissions increasing by 0.55% and 0.56%, respectively. In conclusion, our study highlights that NH3 pollution remains a significant environmental challenge in the future period, with Asia and Europe being the key areas requiring attention for NH3 emission reduction.
Comparison of Bias Correction Methods for Summertime Daily Rainfall in South Korea Using Quantile Mapping and Machine Learning Model
Authors: Seo Ga-Yeong , Ahn Joong-Bae
Published: June 2023

This study compares the bias correction techniques of empirical quantile mapping (QM) and the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) machine learning model for summertime daily rainfall simulation focusing on precipitation-dependent bias and temporal variation. Numerical experiments using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) were conducted over South Korea with lateral boundary conditions of ERA5 reanalysis data. For the spatial distribution of mean summertime rainfall, the bias-uncorrected WRF simulation (WRF_RAW) showed dry bias for most of the region of South Korea. The WRF results corrected by QM and LSTM (WRF_QM and WRF_LSTM, respectively) were improved for the mean summer rainfall simulation with the root mean square error values of 0.17 and 0.69, respectively, which were smaller than those of the WRF_RAW (1.10). Although the WRF_QM performed better than the WRF_LSTM in terms of the summertime mean and monthly precipitation, the WRF_LSTM presented a closer interannual rainfall variation to the observation than the WRF_QM. The coefficient of determination for calendar-day mean rainfall was the highest in the following order: the WRF_LSTM (0.451), WRF_QM (0.230), and WRF_RAW (0.201). However, the WRF_LSTM had a limitation in reproducing extreme rainfall exceeding 50 mm/day due to the few cases of extreme precipitation in training data. Nevertheless, the WRF_LSTM better simulated the observed light-to-moderate precipitation (10–50 mm/day) than the others.
Scalar-on-Function Relative Error Regression for Weak Dependent Case
Authors: Chikr Elmezouar Zouaoui , Alshahrani Fatimah , Almanjahie Ibrahim M. , Kaid Zoulikha , Laksaci Ali , Rachdi Mustapha
Published: June 2023

Analyzing the co-variability between the Hilbert regressor and the scalar output variable is crucial in functional statistics. In this contribution, the kernel smoothing of the Relative Error Regression (RE-regression) is used to resolve this problem. Precisely, we use the relative square error to establish an estimator of the Hilbertian regression. As asymptotic results, the Hilbertian observations are assumed to be quasi-associated, and we demonstrate the almost complete consistency of the constructed estimator. The feasibility of this Hilbertian model as a predictor in functional time series data is discussed. Moreover, we give some practical ideas for selecting the smoothing parameter based on the bootstrap procedure. Finally, an empirical investigation is performed to examine the behavior of the RE-regression estimation and its superiority in practice.
Optimizing Supplier Selection and Order Lot-Sizing Decisions in a Two-Stage Supply Chain
Authors: Ventura José A. , Lu Qingyuan
Published: June 2023

This paper analyzes different lot-sizing policies for the supplier selection and order allocation problem in a two-stage supply chain. The supply chain consists of multiple candidate suppliers and a single buyer. In this system, selected suppliers produce a product in batches at finite production rates, ship it to the buyer, and the buyer sells it to the market at a constant demand rate. Our goal is to evaluate two lot-sizing policies and select the one that optimizes the supply chain by minimizing the total cost and maximizing supplier efficiency. A bi-objective mixed-integer nonlinear programming (BOMINLP) model is proposed. The first objective consists of the development of a coordination mechanism for supplier selection and order allocation that minimizes the entire supply chain cost, and the second objective comprises a data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach to evaluate the overall performance of suppliers to optimize supplier efficiency. Then, the lot-for-lot and order frequency policies are applied to the BOMINLP model separately to determine the set of selected suppliers as well as the corresponding order quantities and number of orders allocated to each selected supplier per replenishment cycle. Numerical examples that illustrate the solution approach and compare the two lot-sizing policies are provided.
A Fixed Point Theorem for Generalized Ćirić-Type Contraction in Kaleva–Seikkala’s Type Fuzzy b-Metric Spaces
Authors: Wu Jiaojiao , He Fei , Li Shufang
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we state and establish a new fixed point theorem for generalized Ćirić-type contraction in Kaleva-Seikkala’s type fuzzy b-metric space. Our results improve and extend some well-known results in the literature. Some examples are given to support our result. Finally, as an application, we show the existence and uniqueness of solution to Volterra integral equation formulated in Kaleva–Seikkala’s type fuzzy b-metric space.
Stability of HIV-1 Dynamics Models with Viral and Cellular Infections in the Presence of Macrophages
Authors: Raezah Aeshah A. , Dahy Elsayed , Elnahary E. Kh. , Azoz Shaimaa A.
Published: June 2023

In this research work, we suggest two mathematical models that take into account (i) two categories of target cells, CD4+T cells and macrophages, and (ii) two modes of infection transmissions, the direct virus-to-cell (VTC) method and cell-to-cell (CTC) infection transmission, where CTC is an effective method of spreading human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), as with the VTC method. The second model incorporates four time delays. In both models, the presence of a bounded and positive solution of the biological model is investigated. The existence conditions of all equilibria are established. The basic reproduction number R0 that identifies a disease index is obtained. Lyapunov functions are utilized to verify the global stability of all equilibria. The theoretical findings are verified through numerical simulations. According to the outcomes, the trajectories of the solutions approach the infection-free equilibrium and infection-present equilibrium when R0≤1 and R0>1, respectively. Further, we study the sensitivity analysis to investigate how the values of all the parameters of the suggested model affect R0 for given data. We discuss the impact of the time delay on HIV-1 progression. We find that a longer time delay results in suppression of the HIV-1 infection and vice versa.
Circulating Levels of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in Patients with Age-Related Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Piragine Eugenia , Malanima Marco Andrea , Lucenteforte Ersilia , Martelli Alma , Calderone Vincenzo
Published: June 2023

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gasotransmitter that promotes multiple biological effects in many organs and tissues. An imbalanced biosynthesis of H2S has been observed in animal models of age-related pathological conditions. However, the results from human studies are inconsistent. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis of studies searched in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and CENTRAL databases. We included observational studies on patients with age-related diseases showing levels of H2S in blood, plasma, or serum. All the analyses were carried out with R software. 31 studies were included in the systematic review and 21 in the meta-analysis. The circulating levels of H2S were significantly reduced in patients with progressive, chronic, and degenerative diseases compared with healthy people (standardized mean difference, SMD: −1.25; 95% confidence interval, CI: −1.98; −0.52). When we stratified results by type of disorder, we observed a significant reduction in circulating levels of H2S in patients with vascular disease (e.g., hypertension) (SMD: −1.32; 95% CI: −2.43; −0.22) or kidney disease (SMD: −2.24; 95% CI: −4.40; −0.08) compared with the control group. These results could support the potential use of compounds targeting the “H2S system” to slow down the progression of many diseases in the elderly.
Effect of Employee Experience on Organizational Commitment: Case of South Korea
Authors: Lee Minkyung , Kim Boyoung
Published: June 2023

This study’s purpose is to examine the effect of employee experience on job satisfaction, psychological well-being, and organizational commitment among corporate employees, with a specific focus on three factors: physical, technological, and cultural experiences. Given the growing importance of mental health management for employees, the study investigates the relationship between employee experience and mental toughness. A structural equation modeling research model was designed, and data were collected through a survey of 534 Korean employees. The analysis results show that cultural and physical experiences have a significant impact on organizational commitment, while technological experience does not have a significant impact. Furthermore, the study identifies that employee experience positively effects organizational commitment through job satisfaction and psychological well-being as mediators. It also reveals that the effect of employee experience on organizational commitment varies depending on the level of mental toughness. The findings suggest that managing employee experience can increase organizational commitment by improving job satisfaction and psychological well-being. Therefore, it is essential to be aware of individual mental toughness and its development. Hence this study highlights the importance of considering the physical, technological, and cultural experiences of employees in enhancing their well-being and commitment to the organization.
The Social Production of Industrial Heritage Spaces in the Background of Cultural Governance: A Comparative Study Based on Cases from Taipei and Hong Kong
Authors: Yang Qi
Published: June 2023

This article borrows Heri Lefebvre’s space production theory to discuss the cultural governance of East Asian cities and how culture is used as a means of spatial organization in a structured way. Text analysis, field investigation, and comparative analysis are used as the main research methods to explore the specific social production process of Taipei’s Songshan Cultural and Creative Park and Hong Kong’s The Mills. The social production processes of these cultural spaces took place in the same period, having some similarities, and they mostly involved transformation from old factories and old buildings in urban areas. However, the cultural governance strategies in Taipei and Hong Kong are different. On the one hand, the Taipei government’s continuous cultural policy has spawned diverse cultural spaces rooted in factory renovations and unified under the authorities’ imagination of “Creative Taiwan”. A benign model of cultural heritage protection has been formed in terms of community participation, industrial development, and ecological conservation in Taipei. On the other hand, Hong Kong’s cultural governance pays more attention to landmark cultural projects from the perspective of tourism development. Mainly driven by private capital, The Mills completed the transformation from a factory to a cultural space. The Mills’ transformation process is also the epitome of the decline of Hong Kong’s textile industry. In addition, different cultural governance strategies and cultural policies in Taipei and Hong Kong affect the dominant forces in the social production process of cultural spaces. The main driving force of cultural spaces in Taipei is the local government, while the production of cultural spaces in Hong Kong involves more stakeholders, such as private developers, non-profit organizations, etc., and presents the characteristics of a multi-path and multi-participant historic building activation process. Moreover, at the regional level, the abandonment and reuse of industrial buildings in Hong Kong and Taipei are rooted in the migration of local traditional manufacturing to mainland China with cheaper labor and the upgrading and transformation of local industries. This comparative study complements the global picture of cultural space production and also provides references for other areas.
Mapping a Decade of Smart Homes for the Elderly in Web of Science: A Scientometric Review in CiteSpace
Authors: Liao Jianfeng , Cui Xiao , Kim Hwanyong
Published: June 2023

Challenges caused by the care of the ageing population in many countries are becoming increasingly severe. However, high expenditures on healthcare services and the cost of infrastructure construction will be an unbearable burden for both the government and individuals. Due to its security, convenience, and lower prices compared with traditional medical care, smart home technology, which includes information and communication technologies (ICTs), artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT), can reduce the care burden. While smart home studies targeting older adults have increased, systematic analysis of these studies is lacking. CiteSpace enables rapid clustering and visualisation of the literature using scientific diagrams, exhibiting the results more comprehensibly. This analysis of academic research published within the last decade (from 2012 to 2023) through a scientometric approach can help to understand the historical variations, the latest technologies and emerging trends, and the research clusters that have emerged related to the study of smart homes for the elderly (SHFTE). The study results showed that recent research mainly centres on IoT for home automation and home-based healthcare, including wearable device applications and information security analysis. Research trends regarding SHFTE have focused primarily on developing and updating smart technologies based on the IoT, sensors, and related home monitoring. Therefore, greater emphasis must be placed on connecting smart homes and intelligent buildings with communities and societies, developing the potential of smart communities, and investigating the application of smart integration to the home and community in cities.
B7-H3 in Pediatric Tumors: Far beyond Neuroblastoma
Authors: Bottino Cristina , Vitale Chiara , Dondero Alessandra , Castriconi Roberta
Published: June 2023

B7-H3 is a 4Ig transmembrane protein that emerged as a tumor-associated antigen in neuroblastoma. It belongs to the B7 family, shows an immunoregulatory role toward NK and T cells, and, therefore, has been included in the growing family of immune checkpoints. Besides neuroblastoma, B7-H3 is expressed by many pediatric cancers including tumors of the central nervous system, sarcomas, and acute myeloid leukemia. In children, particularly those affected by solid tumors, the therapeutic protocols are aggressive and cause important life-threatening side effects. Moreover, despite the improved survival observed in the last decade, a relevant number of patients show therapy resistance and fatal relapses. Immunotherapy represents a new frontier in the cure of cancer patients and the targeting of tumor antigens or immune checkpoints blockade showed exciting results in adults. In this encouraging scenario, researchers and clinicians are exploring the possibility to use immunotherapeutics targeting B7-H3; these include mAbs and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T). These tools are rapidly evolving to improve the efficacy and decrease the unwanted side effects; drug-conjugated mAbs, bi–tri-specific mAbs or CAR-T, and, very recently, NK cell engagers (NKCE), tetra-specific molecules engaging a tumor-associated antigen and NK cells, have been generated. Preclinical data are promising, and clinical trials are ongoing. Hopefully, the B7-H3 targeting will provide important benefits to cancer patients.
Correction: Winkler et al. The Adhesion G-Protein-Coupled Receptor GPR115/ADGRF4 Regulates Epidermal Differentiation and Associates with Cytoskeletal KRT1. Cells 2022, 11, 3151
Authors: Winkler Romy , Quaas Marianne , Glasmacher Stefan , Wolfrum Uwe , Thalheim Torsten , Galle Jörg , Krohn Knut , Magin Thomas M. , Aust Gabriela
Published: June 2023

In the original publication [...]
Evaluation of Homogentisic Acid, a Prospective Antibacterial Agent Highlighted by the Suitability of Nitisinone in Alkaptonuria 2 (SONIA 2) Clinical Trial
Authors: Ooi Nicola , Cooper Ian R. , Norman Brendan , Gallagher James A. , Sireau Nick , Bou-Gharios George , Ranganath Lakshminarayan R. , Savage Victoria J.
Published: June 2023

Despite urgent warnings about the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, the antibiotic development pipeline has remained sparsely populated. Naturally occurring antibacterial compounds may provide novel chemical starting points for antibiotic development programs and should be actively sought out. Evaluation of homogentisic acid (HGA), an intermediate in the tyrosine degradation pathway, showed that the compound had innate activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which was lost following conversion into the degradation product benzoquinone acetic acid (BQA). Anti-staphylococcal activity of HGA can be attributed to effects on bacterial membranes. Despite an absence of haemolytic activity, the compound was cytotoxic to human HepG2 cells. We conclude that the antibacterial activity and in vitro safety profile of HGA render it more suitable for use as a topical agent or for inclusion in a small-molecule medicinal chemistry program.
Global Proteome Profiling Revealed the Adaptive Reprogramming of Barley Flag Leaf to Drought and Elevated Temperature
Authors: Mikołajczak Krzysztof , Kuczyńska Anetta , Krajewski Paweł , Kempa Michał , Witaszak Natalia
Published: June 2023

Plants, as sessile organisms, have developed sophisticated mechanisms to survive in changing environments. Recent advances in omics approaches have facilitated the exploration of plant genomes; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the responses of barley and other cereals to multiple abiotic stresses remain largely unclear. Exposure to stress stimuli affects many proteins with regulatory and protective functions. In the present study, we employed liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify stress-responsive proteins on the genome-wide scale of barley flag leaves exposed to drought, heat, or both. Profound alterations in the proteome of genotypes with different flag leaf sizes were found. The role of stress-inducible proteins was discussed and candidates underlying the universal stress response were proposed, including dehydrins. Moreover, the putative functions of several unknown proteins that can mediate responses to stress stimuli were explored using Pfam annotation, including calmodulin-like proteins. Finally, the confrontation of protein and mRNA abundances was performed. A correlation network between transcripts and proteins performance revealed several components of the stress-adaptive pathways in barley flag leaf. Taking the findings together, promising candidates for improving the tolerance of barley and other cereals to multivariate stresses were uncovered. The presented proteomic landscape and its relationship to transcriptomic remodeling provide novel insights for understanding the molecular responses of plants to environmental cues.
Soil–Structure Interaction Effects on Seismic Responses of a Conventional and Isolated Bridge Subjected to Moderate Near-Fault and Far-Field Records
Authors: Cheshmehkaboodi Nastaran , Guizani Lotfi , Ghlamallah Noureddine
Published: June 2023

Seismic isolation is a powerful tool for mitigating seismic risk and improving structural performance. However, some parameters, such as earthquake inputs and soil characteristics, influence the technology’s performance. This research aims to investigate the effects of soil–structure interaction (SSI) with regard to different moderate earthquakes associated with different distances of the source to the site, frequency content, and different soil characteristics on the seismic response of the isolated bridges. Near-fault (NF) and far-field (FF) records are applied to the conventional and isolated bridge with and without considering the underlying soil. For this reason, using the direct and simplified methods, three soil properties representing rock, dense, and stiff soils are modeled in Abaqus software. Nonlinear time history analysis (NLTHA) is carried out, and structural responses of both approaches in terms of maximum deck acceleration, base shear, and displacement of the deck and the isolation system are studied. Results demonstrate that the difference between the two approaches is significant. Using the simplified method is a rather simple approach that roughly captures the important features of the record characteristics and SSI. Furthermore, careful attention should be paid to the base shear responses and the isolator displacement demands, as they are significantly amplified in softer soils. In addition, the peak ground acceleration to peak ground velocity ratio (PGA/PGV) plays a decisive role in all dynamic responses. Records with a lower PGA/PGV ratio cause higher dynamic responses in terms of displacement and acceleration/force, regardless of the distance of the ruptured fault, while NF records show higher dynamic responses compared to FF records.
Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrophobic and Low Surface Tension Polyurethane
Authors: Rudlong Autumn M. , Goddard Julie M.
Published: June 2023

Polyurethane is a common polymeric coating, providing abrasion resistance, chemical durability, and flexibility to surfaces in the biomedical, marine, and food processing industries with great promise for future materials due to its tunable chemistry. There exists a large body of research focused on modifying polyurethane with additional functionalities, such as antimicrobial, non-fouling, anticorrosive action, or high heat resistance. However, there remains a need for the characterization and surface analysis of fluoro-modified polyurethanes synthesized with commercially available fluorinated polyol. In this work, we have synthesized traditional solvent-borne polyurethane, conventionally found in food processing facilities, boat hulls, and floor coatings, with polyurethane containing 1%, 2%, and 3% perfluoropolyether (PFPE). Polyurethane formation was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, with the urethane band forming at 1730 cm−1 and the absence of free isocyanate stretching from 2275–2250 cm−1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to confirm perfluoropolyether polymerization with an increase in the atomic percentage of fluorine. Wettability and hydrophobicity were determined using a dynamic water contact angle with significant differences in advancing the water contact angle with the inclusion of perfluoropolyether blocks (PU–co–1PFPE 131.5° ± 8.0, PU–co–2PFPE 130.9° ± 5.8, and PU–co–3PFPE 128.8° ± 5.2) compared to the control polyurethane (93.6° ± 3.6). The surface orientation of fluorine supported the reduced critical surface tensions of polyurethane modified with PFPE (12.54 mN m−1 for PU–co–3PFPE compared to 17.19 mN m−1 for unmodified polyurethane). This work has demonstrated the tunable chemical qualities of polyurethane by presenting its ability to incorporate fluoropolymer surface characteristics, including low critical surface tension and high hydrophobicity.
Molecular Structures and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding of Silylated 2-Aminopyrimidines
Authors: Herbig Marcus , Kroke Edwin , Wagler Jörg
Published: June 2023

A series of silylated 2-aminopyrimidines Me(4−n)Si(NHpyr)n (Me = methyl, NHpyr = pyrimid-2-ylamino, n = 1, 2, 3, 4), i.e., compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively, was prepared from a series of the respective chlorosilanes Me(4−n)SiCln and 2-aminopyrimidine. Triethylamine was used as a sacrificial base. Compounds 1, 2, 3, and 4 are solid at room temperature. They were analyzed using 1H, 13C, 29Si NMR, and Raman spectroscopy, and their molecular structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. All structures exhibit intramolecular van der Waals contacts between the silicon atom and one nitrogen atom of the pyrimidine moiety. Thus, their Si coordination spheres can be interpreted as [4+n] coordinated capped tetrahedra. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds (N–H···N bridges between the Si-bound amino groups and the non-Si-capping pyrimidine N atoms) are a constant contributor to the solid-state structures of these compounds. Furthermore, compounds 2 and 4 exhibit N–H···N bridges which involve 50% of their Si-capping N atoms as hydrogen bridge acceptors. Consequently, 50% of the non-Si-capping pyrimidine N atoms are stabilized by C–H···N contacts. As a result of a particularly dense network of intermolecular hydrogen bridges, the melting point of Si(NHpyr)4 (compound 4) is higher than 300 °C.
Photoluminescence and Temperature Sensing Properties of Bi3+/Sm3+ Co-Doped La2MgSnO6 Phosphor for Optical Thermometer
Authors: Xu Qingliang , Qian Wanqing , Muhammad Raz , Chen Xinhua , Yu Xueqing , Song Kaixin
Published: June 2023

The optical temperature sensor utilizing the fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) has garnered significant attention in the past few years due to its rapid response, robust anti-interference capability, remote control feature, and other advantages. In this study, the high-temperature solid-phase approach was used to fabricate a variety of double perovskite-structured La2MgSnO6: Bi3+, Sm3+ (LMS: Bi3+, Sm3+) phosphors. The Rietveld refinement data of XRD and the Gaussian fitting of the emission peak of LMS: 0.02Bi3+ phosphor indicated Bi3+ occupies three lattice sites. The calculation and analysis of average lifetime and energy transfer efficiency substantiated the presence of energy transfer from Bi3+ to Sm3+, with a transfer efficiency of up to 59.07%. The emission intensity of LMS: 0.02Bi3+, 0.05Sm3+ at 403 K maintains 50.2% at the condition of room temperature. The FIR fitting and calculation demonstrated that LMS: 0.02Bi3+, 0.05Sm3+ phosphor possessed good optical temperature sensitivity, with a maximum absolute sensitivity Sa-max of 0.0055 K−1 and a maximum relative sensitivity Sr-max of 0.88% K−1, demonstrating its valuable potential applications for optical temperature sensors.
Base-Controlled Regiospecific Mono-Benzylation/Allylation and Diallylation of 4-Aryl-5-indolyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione: Thio-Aza Allyl Rearrangement
Authors: Salama Eid E. , Youssef Mohamed F. , Boraei Ahmed T. A. , Haukka Matti , Soliman Saied M. , Barakat Assem , Sarhan Ahmed A. M.
Published: June 2023

The regiospecific S-benzylation/allylation of two 4-aryl-5-indolyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-thione precursors was carried out using Et3N as a base. Allyl group migration from exocyclic sulfur to the triazole nitrogen (N3) was successfully achieved in a short time via thermal fusion without the need for any catalyst. The allylation of indole nitrogen, along with exocyclic sulfur or triazole nitrogen (N3), was carried out using K2CO3 as stronger base. S,N-Diallylated products were converted to N,N-diallylated analogues using a simple fusion approach. Structural analyses of the two newly synthesized hybrids 2b and 5b investigated via the X-ray diffraction of a single crystal combined with Hirshfeld calculations. The compound 5b was crystallized in a monoclinic crystal system and the P21/c space group, whereas in compound 2b, the crystal system comprises the less symmetric triclinic and P − 1 space group. The asymmetric unit contains one and two molecules of 5b and 2b, respectively, while the unit cell contains four molecules in both cases. Hirshfeld analysis was performed in both systems to analyze the non-covalent interactions that control molecular packing. For 5b, C…H, N…H, S…H, Cl…N and H…H interactions are the most significant. Their percentages are 23.7, 8.8, 4.5, 1.2 and 48.2, respectively. In the case of 2b, the Cl…C, S…N, C…H, H…H and N…H interactions have the upper hand in molecular packing. In one unit, the percentages of these contacts are 2.3, 0.9, 26.8, 38.7 and 9.3%, while in the other unit, the corresponding values are 4.4, 1.3, 22.1, 43.6 and 9.0%, respectively.
Endoscopic Stenting for Malignant Dysphagia in Patients with Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Ishihara Ryu
Published: June 2023

Malignant dysphagia is a common problem in patients with esophageal cancer. Endoscopic stenting can resolve dysphagia caused by malignant stricture; however, controversy exists regarding the use of esophageal stenting for the treatment of malignant stricture, including whether stenting or radiotherapy is superior, whether stenting before or after radiotherapy is safe, whether stenting before or after chemotherapy is safe, and whether low-radial-force stents are safer than conventional stents. Among treatment options for malignant dysphagia, stenting may have some disadvantages in terms of pain relief and the risk of adverse events compared with radiotherapy and in terms of survival compared with gastrostomy. Additionally, the risk of stent-related adverse events is significantly associated with prior radiotherapy. The risk of perforation is especially high when a radiation dose of >40 Gy is delivered to the esophagus after stenting, whereas perforation is not associated with prior chemotherapy or additional chemotherapy after stenting. Nevertheless, stenting remains an important palliative option, especially for patients with a short life expectancy and a strong desire for oral intake, because stenting can facilitate a more rapid improvement in dysphagia than radiotherapy or gastrostomy. The application of a low-radial-force stent should be considered to reduce the risk of adverse events, especially in patients with prior radiotherapy.
The Current State of Zooplankton Diversity in the Middle Caspian Sea during Spring
Authors: Aubakirova Moldir , Mazhibayeva Zhanara , Assylbekova Saule Zh. , Isbekov Kuanysh B. , Barbol Bekzhan , Bolatbekova Zamira , Jussupbekova Nurgul , Moldrakhman Aidana , Satybaldiyeva Gulmira
Published: June 2023

The study of planktonic animals of the Caspian Sea is topical and, during the last centuries, has brought and continues to bring new results. This is an inevitable process attributed to the introduction of non-indigenous predatory representatives of zooplankton by ballast water of ships. During the study period, the zooplankton of the Middle Caspian Sea was represented by 13 taxa and consisted mainly of non-indigenous species typical of the Palearctic region. Native fauna was represented by three species—cladoceran Evadne anonyx, Podonevadne camptonyx, and copepod Halicyclops sarsi during the study period. The quantitative variables of zooplankton did not reach a high level in May 2020 and 2021 compared to the data of previous years. Cladocerans Podonevadne camptonyx, copepods Acartia tonsa, and larvae of Cirripedia dominated in 2020. By 2021, the dominant species of last year had been replaced by the cladoceran Evadne nordmanni. One-way ANOVA analysis detected significant differences in the quantitative variables of cladocerans and copepods between different years of zooplankton study. The decreasing abundance, biomass, and alteration of the dominant zooplankton species in the Middle Caspian Sea during the study period may be associated with the feeding type of predator species and a slight elevation of water salinity.
Cell-Free Methylated PTGER4 and SHOX2 Plasma DNA as a Biomarker for Therapy Monitoring and Prognosis in Advanced Stage NSCLC Patients
Authors: Fleischhacker Michael , Arslan Erkan , Reinicke Dana , Eisenmann Stefan , Theil Gerit , Kollmeier Jens , Schäper Christoph , Grah Christian , Klawonn Frank , Holdenrieder Stefan , Schmidt Bernd
Published: June 2023

Notwithstanding some improvement in the earlier detection of patients with lung cancer, most of them still present with a late-stage disease at the time of diagnosis. Next to the most frequently utilized factors affecting the prognosis of lung cancer patients (stage, performance, and age), the recent application of biomarkers obtained by liquid profiling has gained more acceptance. In our study, we aimed to answer these questions: (i) Is the quantification of free-circulating methylated PTGER4 and SHOX2 plasma DNA a useful method for therapy monitoring, and is this also possible for patients treated with different therapy regimens? (ii) Is this approach possible when blood-drawing tubes, which allow for a delayed processing of blood samples, are utilized? Baseline values for mPTGER4 and mSHOX2 do not allow for clear discrimination between different response groups. In contrast, the combination of the methylation values for both genes shows a clear difference between responders vs. non-responders at the time of re-staging. Furthermore, blood drawing into tubes stabilizing the sample allows researchers more flexibility.
Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: A Comparison of SICMF–SIPMO and AAOMS Guidelines
Authors: De Cicco Davide , Boschetti Ciro Emiliano , Santagata Mario , Colella Giuseppe , Staglianò Samuel , Gaggl Alexander , Bottini Gian Battista , Vitagliano Rita , D’amato Salvatore
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) is an adverse drug reaction characterized by progressive bone disruption and necrosis in the mandibular and/or maxillary bones. It occurs in individuals who have received antiresorptive drugs without prior radiotherapy. Since its first reported cases in the USA in 2003, extensive literature has emerged worldwide, leading to significant advancements in understanding MRONJ’s pathogenesis and management. (2) Results: This article aims to compare the current national recommendations provided by the Italian Society of Maxillofacial Surgery (SICMF)/Italian Society of Oral Pathology and Medicine (SIPMO) and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS). (3) Conclusions: Historically, the AAOMS advocated for a more conservative approach compared to the Italian guidelines. However, in their 2022 update, the AAOMS adopted a different perspective based on reported evidence, highlighting the advantages of early surgical treatment. Despite resolving some initial controversies, differences still exist between the two sets of recommendations, particularly regarding diagnosis and staging.
High-Quality Instance Mining and Dynamic Label Assignment for Weakly Supervised Object Detection in Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Zeng Li , Huo Yu , Qian Xiaoliang , Chen Zhiwu
Published: June 2023

Weakly supervised object detection (WSOD) in remote sensing images (RSIs) has attracted more and more attention because its training merely relies on image-level category labels, which significantly reduces the cost of manual annotation. With the exploration of WSOD, it has obtained many promising results. However, most of the WSOD methods still have two challenges. The first challenge is that the detection results of WSOD tend to locate the significant regions of the object but not the overall object. The second challenge is that the traditional pseudo-instance label assignment strategy cannot adapt to the quality distribution change of proposals during training, which is not conducive to training a high-performance detector. To tackle the first challenge, a novel high-quality seed instance mining (HSIM) module is designed to mine high-quality seed instances. Specifically, the proposal comprehensive score (PCS) that consists of the traditional proposal score (PS) and the proposal space contribution score (PSCS) is designed as a novel metric to mine seed instances, where the PS indicates the probability that a proposal pertains to a certain category and the PSCS is calculated by the spatial correlation between top-scoring proposals, which is utilized to evaluate the wholeness with which a proposal locates an object. Consequently, the high PCS will encourage the WSOD model to mine the high-quality seed instances. To tackle the second challenge, a dynamic pseudo-instance label assignment (DPILA) strategy is developed by dynamically setting the label assignment threshold to train high-quality instances. Consequently, the DPILA can better adapt the distribution change of proposals according to the dynamic threshold during training and further promote model performance. The ablation studies verify the validity of the proposed PCS and DPILA. The comparison experiments verify that our method obtains better performance than other advanced WSOD methods on two popular RSIs datasets.
Circular Polarization Annular Leaky-Wave Antenna with Conical and Broadside Beams
Authors: Ma Yuchen , Yang Haijiao , Wang Junhong , Zhu Ying , Pan Chong , Wu Xiang
Published: June 2023

In order to properly cover different scenarios, radiation patterns of antennas should be accordingly designed. However, most antennas are unable to provide either broadside beams or designable conical beams, which are the typically used radiation patterns for radio coverage, based on one single-structure format through adjusting parameters before fabrication. In this paper, a planar circular polarized (CP) annular leaky-wave antenna (LWA) is proposed, which is realized on an annular substrate-integrated waveguide (SIW). A broadside beam or a conical beam could be easily obtained through fabricating the LWA with different structural parameters. The operating frequency is 5.75 GHz. The LWA allows only the −1st spatial harmonic to radiate, while the fundamental wave and other spatial harmonics are suppressed in slow wave mode. In order to validate the design effectiveness, two examples for broadside beam and conical beam radiation are fabricated and measured. The measurement results show good agreement with the simulation results. The broadside beam LWA shows a gain of 9.75 dBic and the conical beam LWA with a beam angle of 13° has a gain of 7.93 dBic. The proposed LWA presents promising radiation performance and is a good candidate for wireless communication applications.
Optical Frequency Comb Generator Employing Two Cascaded Frequency Modulators and Mach–Zehnder Modulator
Authors: Ujjwal  , Kumar Rajkishor
Published: June 2023

Optical frequency combs (OFCs) are extensively used in spectroscopy, range finding, metrology, and optical communications. In this paper, we propose a novel technique to achieve a flat OFC by serially cascading two frequency modulators (FMs) followed by a single-drive Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM). The modulators are driven by a sinusoidal RF signal of frequencies fm, fm2, and 2 fm GHz, respectively. With our proposed approach (fm), an optical spectrum of 71 subcarriers spaced at 4 GHz is realized within a power fluctuation of ∼2 dB. The proposed method is also tested for fm = 16 GHz, showing that this approach can work in all scenarios with lower power fluctuations. In addition, we also studied the impact of the phase of the RF signal on the power variation of the OFC spectrum. A theoretical investigation of the ultra-flat spectrum generated by cascaded FMs and MZM is conducted, and the results of simulations support the findings. The simulation results demonstrate good performance, allowing for the application of our proposed approach in next-generation optical networks.
Disturbance Decoupling for a Single-Phase Pulse Width Modulation Rectifier Based on an Extended H-Infinity Filter
Authors: Ndabarushimana Egone , Qin Na , Ma Lei
Published: June 2023

The growing utilization of single-phase pulse width modulation (PWM) rectifiers in various applications has spurred interest in detecting and monitoring faults in these devices. In particular, voltage and current sensors play a crucial role in the control loop of these rectifiers. However, sensor faults can significantly affect the converter’s performance and availability. This paper introduces a novel and efficient method for detecting and decoupling sensor faults in single-phase PWM rectifiers. The proposed method utilizes residual generation and incorporates an extended filter within the rectifier. Unlike conventional filters, the presented fault detection and isolation (FDI) method effectively eliminates the influence of disturbances on the residual signal. This feature helps prevent false alarms in the monitored system, ensuring reliable fault detection. To evaluate the effectiveness of the approach, hardware-in-the-loop and simulation tests were conducted. The results from these tests provide substantial evidence supporting the efficacy of the proposed method. The hardware-in-the-loop experiments involved real-world implementation, validating the practicality and reliability of the approach. Meanwhile, simulation tests allowed for a comprehensive analysis of system behavior and performance under various fault scenarios. The findings demonstrate the rapid and dependable nature of the proposed method for detecting and decoupling sensor faults in single-phase PWM rectifiers. By effectively mitigating the impact of disturbances on the residual signal, false alarms are minimized, ensuring accurate fault detection. The experimental validation highlights the practical applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach, making it a valuable contribution to fault detection in single-phase PWM rectifiers.
An Exploratory Verification Method for Validation of Sea Surface Radiance of HY-1C Satellite UVI Payload Based on SOA Algorithm
Authors: Li Lei , Yin Dayi , Li Qingling , Zhang Quan , Mao Zhihua
Published: June 2023

To support the application of ocean surface radiance data from the ultraviolet imager (UVI) payload of the HY-1C oceanographic satellite and to improve the quantification level of ocean observation technology, the authenticity check study of ocean surface radiance data from the UVI payload was conducted to provide a basis for the quantification application of data products. The UVI load makes up for the lack of detection capabilities of modern ocean remote sensing satellites in the ultraviolet band. The UVDRAMS (Ultra-Violet Dual-band RadiAnce Measurement System) was used to verify the surface radiance data collected at 16 stations in the study area and the pupil radiance data collected by the UVI payload to establish an effective radiative transfer model and to identify the model parameters using the seeker optimization algorithm (SOA). The study of the UVDRAMS measurement system based on the SOA algorithm and the validation of the sea surface radiance of the UVI payload of the HY-1C satellite shows that 97.2% of the incident pupil radiance of the UVI payload is contributed by the atmospheric reflected radiance, and only 2.8% is from the real radiation of the water surface, while the high signal-to-noise ratio of the UVI payload of the HY-1C ocean satellite can effectively distinguish the reflectance of the water body. The high signal-to-noise ratio of the UVI payload of the HY-1C ocean satellite can effectively distinguish the amount of standard deviation in the on-satellite radiation variation, which meets the observation requirements and provides a new way of thinking and technology for further quantitative research in the future.