bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production, Recycling and Economy of Palladium: A Critical Review
Authors: Michałek Tomasz , Hessel Volker , Wojnicki Marek
Published: December 2023

Platinum group metals (PGMs), including palladium, play a pivotal role in various industries due to their unique properties. Palladium is frequently employed in technologies aimed at environmental preservation, such as catalytic converters that reduce harmful emissions from vehicles, and in the production of clean energy, notably in the hydrogen evolution process. Regrettably, the production of this vital metal for our environment is predominantly centered in two countries—Russia and South Africa. This centralization has led to palladium being classified as a critical raw material, emphasizing the importance of establishing a secure and sustainable supply chain, as well as employing the most efficient methods for processing materials containing palladium. This review explores techniques for palladium production from primary sources and innovative recycling methods, providing insights into current technologies and emerging approaches. Furthermore, it investigates the economic aspects of palladium production, including price fluctuations influenced by emission regulations and electric vehicle sales, and establishes connections between palladium prices, imports from major producers, as well as copper and nickel prices, considering their often co-occurrence in ores.
Chondroitin Sulfate/Dermatan Sulfate Hybrid Chains from Swim Bladder: Isolation, Structural Analysis, and Anticoagulant Activity
Authors: Yao Yue , Tang Hao , Ma Haiqiong , Liu Zidong , Huang Jinwen , Yang Xiufen , Zhao Longyan , Yuan Qingxia
Published: December 2023

Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) with unique structures from marine animals show intriguing pharmacological activities and negligible biological risks, providing more options for us to explore safer agents. The swim bladder is a tonic food and folk medicine, and its GAGs show good anticoagulant activity. In this study, two GAGs, CMG-1.0 and GMG-1.0, were extracted and isolated from the swim bladder of Cynoscion microlepidotus and Gadus morhua. The physicochemical properties, precise structural characteristics, and anticoagulant activities of these GAGs were determined for the first time. The analysis results of the CMG-1.0 and GMG-1.0 showed that they were chondroitin sulfate (CS)/dermatan sulfate (DS) hybrid chains with molecular weights of 109.3 kDa and 123.1 kDa, respectively. They were mainly composed of the repeating disaccharide unit of -{IdoA-α1,3-GalNAc4S-β1,4-}- (DS-A). The DS-B disaccharide unit of -{IdoA2S-α1,3-GalNAc4S-β1,4-}- also existed in both CMG-1.0 and GMG-1.0. CMG-1.0 had a higher proportion of CS-O disaccharide unit -{-GlcA-β1,3-GalNAc-β1,4-}- but a lower proportion of CS-E disaccharide unit -{-GlcA-β1,3-GalNAc4S6S-β1,4-}- than GMG-1.0. The disaccharide compositions of the GAGs varied in a species-specific manner. Anticoagulant activity assay revealed that both CMG-1.0 and GMG-1.0 had potent anticoagulant activity, which can significantly prolong activated partial thromboplastin time. GMG-1.0 also can prolong the thrombin time. CMG-1.0 showed no intrinsic tenase inhibition activity, while GMG-1.0 can obviously inhibit intrinsic tenase with EC50 of 58 nM. Their significantly different anticoagulant activities may be due to their different disaccharide structural units and proportions. These findings suggested that swim bladder by-products of fish processing of these two marine organisms may be used as a source of anticoagulants.
Gemmata algarum, a Novel Planctomycete Isolated from an Algal Mat, Displays Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Kumar Gaurav , Kallscheuer Nicolai , Kashif Mohammad , Ahamad Shabbir , Jagadeeshwari Uppada , Pannikurungottu Sreya , Haufschild Tom , Kabuu Moses , Sasikala Chintalapati , Jogler Christian , Ramana Chintalapati
Published: December 2023

Axenic cultures of two strains, JC673T and JC717, both belonging to the phylum Planctomycetota, were isolated from distinct geographical locations in India. Strain JC673T was obtained from algal mats of a wetland situated in the state of Kerala, India, while strain JC717 originated from the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), state of Tamil Nadu, India. The two strains share 99.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and are most closely related to Gemmata obscuriglobus UQM 2246T (99.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence identity). The newly isolated strains are Gram-negative, grow aerobically and tolerate up to 4% (w/v) NaCl and a pH of up to 9.0. Cells are spherical and form pink-pigmented colonies. The respiratory quinone is MK-6. Major fatty acids are C18:0, C16:1ω5c and C16:0. Polar lipids include phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, several unidentified amino lipids, unidentified phospholipids, additional unidentified lipids, and an unidentified choline lipid. The polyamine spermidine is produced by the two strains. The strains have a genome size of about 8.2 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 67.6%. Solvent-based culture extracts of the isolates showed antimicrobial activity against three bacterial test strains. Their phylogenetic position along with differences in morphological, physiological, and genomic features support the classification as a new species of the genus Gemmata, for which we propose the name Gemmata algarum sp. nov. Strain JC673T (=KCTC 72851T = NBRC 114340T) and JC717 are the type and non-type strain of the new species, respectively.
Shotgun-Based Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Phospholipid and Triacylglycerol Molecular Species and Eicosanoids in Salmon Muscle Tissue on Feeding Microbial Oil
Authors: Yeo JuDong , Colombo Stefanie M. , Guerra Nigel I. , Parrish Christopher C.
Published: December 2023

The continuous growth of aquaculture places a growing demand on alternative sources of fish oil (FO). Certain microorganisms provide a sustainable replacement for FO due to their content of EPA and DHA, which are essential for fish health. Appreciable evidence shows that changes in feeding sources may alter the nutritional components of salmon; however, the influence of diets on lipid species remains unclear. In this study, the identification and semi-quantification of lipid molecular species in salmon muscle during feeding with a microbial oil (MO) were carried out by focusing on triacylglycerol (TAG) and diacyl-phospholipid using shotgun-based mass spectrometry analysis. DHA in the MO diet was efficiently incorporated into phospholipid structures on feeding, followed by accumulation in salmon muscle. The MO diet elevated the level of certain EPA-containing TAGs, such as TAG C52:5 (16:0_16:0_20:5) and TAG C54:6 (16:0_18:1_20:5), indicating that the MO diet may be an excellent source for enhancement of the abundance of ω3 lipids. Further, prostaglandins (PGs) PGE2 and PGF3α were identified and quantified for the first time in salmonid tissue.
Biocoke Thermochemical Properties for Foamy Slag Formations in Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking
Authors: Kieush Lina , Schenk Johannes , Koveria Andrii , Hrubiak Andrii
Published: December 2023

This paper is devoted to studying the thermochemical properties of carbon sources (laboratory-scale conventional coke, biocoke with 5 wt.%, and 10 wt.% wood pellet additions) and the influence of these properties on foamy slag formations at 1600 °C. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) conducted under air unveiled differences in mass loss among carbon sources, showing an increasing order of coke < biocoke with 5 wt.% wood pellets < biocoke with 10 wt.% wood pellets. The Coats–Redfern method was used to calculate and reveal distinct activation energies among these carbon sources. Slag foaming tests performed using biocoke samples resulted in stable foam formation, indicating the potential for biocoke as a carbon source to replace those conventionally used for this process. Slag foaming characters for biocoke with 5 wt.% wood pellets were improved more than coke. Using biocoke with 10 wt.% wood pellets was marginally worse than coke. On the one hand, for biocoke with 5 wt.% wood pellets, due to increased reactivity, the foaming time was reduced, but it was sufficient and optimal for slag foaming. Conversely, biocoke with 10 wt.% wood pellets reduced foaming time, proving insufficient and limiting the continuity of the foaming. This study highlights that thermochemical properties play a significant role, but comprehensive assessment should consider multiple parameters when evaluating the suitability of unconventional carbon sources for slag foaming applications.
Ultrasonic Manipulation of Hydrodynamically Driven Microparticles in Vessel Bifurcation: Simulation, Optimization, Experimental Validation, and Potential for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Sharif Saqib , Jung Daewon , Cao Hiep Xuan , Park Jong-Oh , Kang Byungjeon , Choi Eunpyo
Published: December 2023

Microrobots driven by multiple external power sources have emerged as promising tools for targeted drug and stem cell delivery in tissue regeneration. However, navigating and imaging these devices within a complex colloidal vascular system at a clinical scale is challenging. Ultrasonic actuators have gained interest in the field of non-contact manipulation of micromachines due to their label-free biocompatible nature and safe operation history. This research presents experimentally validated simulation results of ultrasonic actuation using a novel ultrasonic transducer array with a hemispherical arrangement that generates active traveling waves with phase modulation. Blood flow is used as a carrier force while the direction and path are controlled by blocking undesirable paths using a highly focused acoustic field. In the experiments, the microrobot cluster was able to follow a predefined trajectory and reach the target. The microrobot size, maximum radiation pressure, and focus position were optimized for certain blood flow conditions. The outcomes suggest that this acoustic manipulation module has potential applications in targeted tumor therapy.
Experimental Study on Chemical–Mechanical Synergistic Preparation for Cemented Carbide Insert Cutting Edge
Authors: Qin Changjiang , Pan Jian , Guo Lei , Zhang Chi , Chen Wanli , Hu Zihua , Jiang Shengqiang , Chen Xiaogao , Mao Meijiao
Published: December 2023

Typical edge defects in the edge region of a new cemented carbide insert without edge preparation include burrs, poor surface quality, micro-breakages, and irregularities along the edge. To address the problems in new cemented carbide inserts without edge preparations, a chemical–mechanical synergistic preparation (CMSP) method for the cemented carbide insert cutting edge was proposed. Firstly, the CMSP device for the insert cutting edge was constructed. Then, the polishing slurry of the CMSP for the insert cutting edge was optimized using the Taguchi method combined with a grey relation analysis and fuzzy inference. Finally, orthogonal experiments, the Taguchi method, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to investigate the effect of the polishing plate’s rotational speed, swing angle, and input frequency of the controller on the edge preparation process, and the parameters were optimized. The results showed that the best parameter combination for the polishing slurry for the cemented carbide inserts was the mass concentration of the abrasive particle of 10 wt%, the mass concentration of the oxidant of 10 wt%, the mass concentration of the dispersant of 2 wt%, and the pH of 8. The CMSP process parameter combination for the linear edge had the polishing plate’s rotational speed of 90 rpm, the swing angle of 6°, and the input frequency of the controller of 5000 Hz. The optimum CMSP process parameter combination for the circular edge had the polishing plate’s rotational speed of 90 rpm, the swing angle of 6°, and the input frequency of the controller of 7000 Hz. The polishing plate’s rotational speed had the most significant impact on the edge preparation process, followed by the swing angle, and the effect of the input frequency of the controller was the smallest. This study demonstrated that CMSP is a potential way to treat the cemented carbide insert cutting edge in a tool enterprise.
Genome Sequence and Characterisation of Peribacillus sp. Strain AS_2, a Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from Alectra sessiliflora
Authors: Maela Mehabo Penistacia , Serepa-Dlamini Mahloro Hope
Published: December 2023

Peribacillus sp. AS_2, a leaf endophytic bacterium isolated from the medicinal plant Alectra sessiliflora, was previously identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The draft genome of AS_2 had a 5,482,853 bp draft circular chromosome, 43 contigs, N50 of 360,633 bp and an average G + C% content of 40.5%. Whole genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis showed that AS_2 was Gram-positive, endospore-forming, motile, and rod-shaped and it showed a high sequence similarity with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T. Genomic digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) between strain AS_2 and Peribacillus frigoritolerans DSM 8801T and P. castrilensis N3T was 84.8% and 79.2%, respectively, and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of strain AS_2 with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T and P. castrilensis N3T was 97.0% and 96.7%, respectively. The antiSMASH software predicted a total of eight secondary metabolite gene clusters comprising non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) type koranimine, terpenes, and siderophore clusters. Strain AS_2 also displayed genes involved in endophytic lifestyle and antibiotic resistance gene clusters such as small multidrug resistance antibiotic efflux pumps (qacJs). Using the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), together with the phenotypic data and genomic analysis, we demonstrated that strain AS_2 is a subspecies of P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T. Genome sequencing of Peribacillus sp. AS_2 from medicinal plants provides valuable genomic information and allows us to further explore its biotechnological applications.
Effective Removal of Boron from Aqueous Solutions by Inorganic Adsorbents: A Review
Authors: Lou Xiang-Yang , Yohai Lucia , Boada Roberto , Resina-Gallego Montserrat , Han Dong , Valiente Manuel
Published: December 2023

Increasing levels of boron in water exceeding acceptable thresholds have triggered concerns regarding environmental pollution and adverse health effects. In response, significant efforts are being made to develop new adsorbents for the removal of boron from contaminated water. Among the various materials proposed, inorganic adsorbents have emerged as promising materials due to their chemical, thermal, and mechanical stability. This review aims to comprehensively examine recent advances made in the development of inorganic adsorbents for the efficient removal of boron from water. Firstly, the adsorption performance of the most used adsorbents, such as magnesium, iron, aluminum, and individual and mixed oxides, are summarized. Subsequently, diverse functionalization methods aimed at enhancing boron adsorption capacity and selectivity are carefully analyzed. Lastly, challenges and future perspectives in this field are highlighted to guide the development of innovative high-performance adsorbents and adsorption systems, ultimately leading to a reduction in boron pollution.
Computational Investigation of Selected Spike Protein Mutations in SARS-CoV-2: Delta, Omicron, and Some Circulating Subvariants
Authors: Roy Urmi
Published: December 2023

Among the multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants recently reported, the Delta variant has generated the most perilous and widespread effects. Another variant, Omicron, has been identified specifically for its high transmissibility. Omicron contains numerous spike (S) protein mutations and numbers much larger than those of its predecessor variants. In this report, the author has discussed some essential structural aspects and time-based structure changes of a selected set of spike protein mutations within the Delta and Omicron variants. The expected impact of multiple point mutations within the spike protein’s receptor-binding domain (RBD) and S1 of these variants are examined. Additionally, the RBDs of the more recently emerged subvariants BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.12.1 are discussed. Within the latter group, BA.5 represents the most prevalent form of SARS-CoV-2 globally until recently. This computational work also briefly explores the temporal mutation profile for the currently circulating variants of interest (VOIs), variants under monitoring (VUMs), and variants being monitored (VBMs) including XBB.1.5, BQ.1, BA.2.75, CH.1.1, XBB, XBF, EG.5 (or Eris), and BA.2.86 (or Pirola). It is expected that these structural data can facilitate the tasks of identifying drug targets and neutralizing antibodies for the evolving variants/subvariants of SARS-CoV-2.
Genetic and Epigenetic Responses of Autochthonous Grapevine Cultivars from the ‘Epirus’ Region of Greece upon Consecutive Drought Stress
Authors: Maniatis Grigorios , Tani Eleni , Katsileros Anastasios , Avramidou Evangelia V. , Pitsoli Theodora , Sarri Efi , Gerakari Maria , Goufa Maria , Panagoulakou Maria , Xipolitaki Konstantina , Klouvatos Kimon , Megariti Stamatia , Pappi Polixeni , Papadakis Ioannis E. , Bebeli Penelope J. , Kapazoglou Aliki
Published: December 2023

Within the framework of preserving and valorizing the rich grapevine germplasm of the Epirus region of Greece, indigenous grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars were characterized and assessed for their resilience to abiotic stresses in the context of climate change. The cultivars ‘Debina’ and ‘Dichali’ displayed significant differences in their response to drought stress as judged by morpho-physiological analysis, indicating higher drought tolerance for Dichali. Hence, they were selected for further study aiming to identify genetic and epigenetic mechanisms possibly regulating drought adaptability. Specifically, self-rooted and heterografted on ‘Richter 110’ rootstock plants were subjected to two phases of drought with a recovery period in between. Gene expression analysis was performed for two stress-related miRNAs and their target genes: (a) miRNA159 and putative targets, VvMYB101, VvGATA-26-like, VvTOPLESS-4-like and (b) miRNA156 and putative target gene VvCONSTANS-5. Overall, grafted plants exhibited a higher drought tolerance than self-rooted plants, suggesting beneficial rootstock–scion interactions. Comparative analysis revealed differential gene expression under repetitive drought stresses between the two cultivars as well as between the self-rooted and grafted plants. ‘Dichali’ exhibited an up-regulation of most of the genes examined, which may be associated with increased tolerance. Nevertheless, the profound down-regulation of VvTOPLESS-4-like (a transcriptional co-repressor of transcription factors) upon drought and the concomitant up-regulation of miRNA159 highlights the importance of this ‘miRNA-target’ module in drought responsiveness. DNA methylation profiling using MSAP analysis revealed differential methylation patterns between the two genotypes in response to drought. Further investigations of gene expression and DNA methylation will contribute to our understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying grapevine tolerance to drought stress.
An Extreme Marine Heatwave Event in the Yellow Sea during Winter 2019/20: Causes and Consequences
Authors: Yu Haiqing , Ma Jie , Wang Hui , Xing Qinwang , Jiang Lin
Published: December 2023

Increasing evidence has shown that marine heatwaves (MHWs) have destructive impacts on marine ecosystems, and understanding the causes of these events is beneficial for mitigating the associated adverse effects on the provision of ecosystem services. During the 2019/20 boreal winter, a long-lasting extreme MHW event was recorded (over 90 days) in the Yellow Sea (YS). Observations and numerical experiments revealed that the unprecedented winter MHW event was initiated and sustained by a significant decrease in ocean heat loss in the YS, which may be associated with the pronounced weakening of the Siberian high system induced by an extreme positive Arctic Oscillation (AO) event. A weakened northerly wind is the essential prerequisite, while the extreme AO event is only a trigger for the winter MHW in the YS. It was also found that the extreme winter MHW event is likely to substantially affect the seasonal evolution of the vertical thermal structure, which may have a great impact on the whole ecosystem in the YS. This study provides new insights for the prediction of winter MHWs in the YS, as well as their effects on marine ecosystems in a changing climate.
Improved Modeling of Gross Primary Production and Transpiration of Sugarcane Plantations with Time-Series Landsat and Sentinel-2 Images
Authors: Celis Jorge , Xiao Xiangming , White Paul M. , Cabral Osvaldo M. R. , Freitas Helber C.
Published: December 2023

Sugarcane croplands account for ~70% of global sugar production and ~60% of global ethanol production. Monitoring and predicting gross primary production (GPP) and transpiration (T) in these fields is crucial to improve crop yield estimation and management. While moderate-spatial-resolution (MSR, hundreds of meters) satellite images have been employed in several models to estimate GPP and T, the potential of high-spatial-resolution (HSR, tens of meters) imagery has been considered in only a few publications, and it is underexplored in sugarcane fields. Our study evaluated the efficacy of MSR and HSR satellite images in predicting daily GPP and T for sugarcane plantations at two sites equipped with eddy flux towers: Louisiana, USA (subtropical climate) and Sao Paulo, Brazil (tropical climate). We employed the Vegetation Photosynthesis Model (VPM) and Vegetation Transpiration Model (VTM) with C4 photosynthesis pathway, integrating vegetation index data derived from satellite images and on-ground weather data, to calculate daily GPP and T. The seasonal dynamics of vegetation indices from both MSR images (MODIS sensor, 500 m) and HSR images (Landsat, 30 m; Sentinel-2, 10 m) tracked well with the GPP seasonality from the EC flux towers. The enhanced vegetation index (EVI) from the HSR images had a stronger correlation with the tower-based GPP. Our findings underscored the potential of HSR imagery for estimating GPP and T in smaller sugarcane plantations.
Wireless Sensor Networks for Precision Agriculture: A Review of NPK Sensor Implementations
Authors: Musa Purnawarman , Sugeru Herik , Wibowo Eri Prasetyo
Published: December 2023

The integration of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) into agricultural areas has had a significant impact and has provided new, more complex, efficient, and structured solutions for enhancing crop production. This study reviews the role of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) in monitoring the macronutrient content of plants. This review study focuses on identifying the types of sensors used to measure macronutrients, determining sensor placement within agricultural areas, implementing wireless technology for sensor communication, and selecting device transmission intervals and ratings. The study of NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) monitoring using sensor technology in precision agriculture is of high significance in efforts to improve agricultural productivity and efficiency. Incorporating Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) into the ongoing progress of proposed sensor node placement design has been a significant facet of this study. Meanwhile, the assessment based on soil samples analyzed for macronutrient content, conducted directly in relation to the comparison between the NPK sensors deployed in this research and the laboratory control sensors, reveals an error rate of 8.47% and can be deemed as a relatively satisfactory outcome. In addition to fostering technological innovations and precision farming solutions, in future this research aims to increase agricultural yields, particularly by enabling the cultivation of certain crops in locations different from their original ones.
A Current Noise Cancellation Method Based on Fractional Linear Prediction for Bearing Fault Detection
Authors: Xu Kaijin , Song Xiangjin
Published: December 2023

The stator current in an induction motor contains a large amount of information, which is unrelated to bearing faults. This information is considered as the noise component for the detection of bearing faults. When there is noise information in the current signal, it can affect the detection of motor bearing faults and lead to the possibility of false alarms. Therefore, to accomplish an effective bearing fault detection, all or some of these noise components must be properly eliminated. This paper proposes the use of fractional linear prediction (FLP) as a noise elimination method in bearing fault diagnosis, which makes these noise components the predictable components and this bearing fault information the unpredictable components. The basis of the FLP is to eliminate noise components in the current signal by predicting predictable components through linear prediction theory and optimal prediction order. Meanwhile, this paper adopts the FLP model with limited memory samples. After determining the optimal number of memories, only the fractional derivative order parameter needs to be optimized, which greatly reduces the computational complexity and difficulty in parameter optimization. In addition, this paper uses spectral analysis of the current signals through experimental simulation to compare the FLP method with the linear prediction (LP) method and the time-shifting (TS) method that have been successfully applied to bearing fault diagnosis. Based on the analysis results, the FLP method can better extract fault features and achieve better bearing fault diagnosis results, verifying the effectiveness and superiority of the FLP method in the field of bearing fault diagnosis. Additionally, the predictive performance of thevFLP and LP was compared based on experimental data, verifying the advantages of the FLP method in predictive performance, indicating that this method has a better noise cancellation effect.
An Autonomous Mobile Combination Disinfection System
Authors: Yao Zifan , Ma Na , Chen Youdong
Published: December 2023

To address the common drawbacks of current disinfection robots, which include the potential for secondary environmental pollution, disinfection dead corners, and low efficiency, in this paper, an autonomous mobile combination disinfection system is proposed. The system utilizes ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a low-concentration hydrogen peroxide aerosol to kill pathogens. It comprises three parts: a human–computer interface, a mobile robot, and disinfection equipment. A disinfection process model with continuous and fixed-point modes was established, and the effective disinfection range, speed, and duration were quantitatively calculated. The developed prototype was tested on-site by a professional third-party testing agency. The experimental results demonstrated that the combination disinfection robot achieved a 92.95% disinfection rate of natural airborne bacteria in a room measuring 22 square meters with a height of 2.8 m in just 30 min. The disinfection efficiency is at least 25% higher compared to standalone UV lamp disinfection and also exhibits a noticeable improvement over standalone hydrogen peroxide aerosol disinfection. The system enables the environmentally friendly, rapid, efficient, and all-encompassing disinfection of natural airborne bacteria. Finally, various disinfection solutions and recommendations for different application scenarios and requirements are provided.
Flexible Thin Film Functionalized by Initiative Dust Removal and Anti-Fogging for Optical Device Applications
Authors: Feng Yingqi , Tian Li , Huang Zunkai , Yang Chenghe , Guo Linhai , Jiang Yuwei , Wei Chenye , Guo Yu , Wang Hui
Published: December 2023

The deposition of dust and condensation of fog will block the scattering and transmission of light, thus affecting the performance of optical devices. In this work, flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foil functionalized by active dust removal and anti-fogging characteristics is realized which combines electrodynamic screen (EDS) and electro-heating devices. In lieu of traditional measurement methods of dust removal efficiency, the PSNR is employed to characterize the dust removal efficiency of the film for the first time. The results show that both dust removal and anti-fogging improve the image quality, in which the dust removal increases the PSNR from 28.1 dB to 34.2 dB and the anti-fogging function realizes a film temperature rise of 16.7 ∘C in 5 min, reaching a maximum of 41.3 ∘C. According to the high sensitivity of the PSNR, we propose a fully automatic CIS film-driven algorithm, and its feasibility has been demonstrated.
An Enhanced Detector for Vulnerable Road Users Using Infrastructure-Sensors-Enabled Device
Authors: Shi Jian , Sun Dongxian , Kieu Minh , Guo Baicang , Gao Ming
Published: December 2023

The precise and real-time detection of vulnerable road users (VRUs) using infrastructure-sensors-enabled devices is crucial for the advancement of intelligent traffic monitoring systems. To overcome the prevalent inefficiencies in VRU detection, this paper introduces an enhanced detector that utilizes a lightweight backbone network integrated with a parameterless attention mechanism. This integration significantly enhances the feature extraction capability for small targets within high-resolution images. Additionally, the design features a streamlined ‘neck’ and a dynamic detection head, both augmented with a pruning algorithm to reduce the model’s parameter count and ensure a compact architecture. In collaboration with the specialized engineering dataset De_VRU, the model was deployed on the Hisilicon_Hi3516DV300 platform, specifically designed for infrastructure units. Rigorous ablation studies, employing YOLOv7-tiny as the baseline, confirm the detector’s efficacy on the BDD100K and LLVIP datasets. The model not only achieved an improvement of over 12% in the mAP@50 metric but also realized a reduction in parameter count by more than 40%, and a 50% decrease in inference time. Visualization outcomes and a case study illustrate the detector’s proficiency in conducting real-time detection with high-resolution imagery, underscoring its practical applicability.
Evaluation of Life Cycle Assessment of Jatropha Biodiesel Processed by Esterification of Thai Domestic Rare Earth Oxide Catalysts
Authors: Rattanaphra Dussadee , Tawkaew Sittinun , Chuichulcherm Sinsupha , Kingkam Wilasinee , Nuchdang Sasikarn , Kitpakornsanti Kittiwan , Suwanmanee Unchalee
Published: December 2023

The Thai domestic rare earth oxides, including cerium, lanthanum, and neodymium oxides, with the effects of calcination temperatures (500–1000 °C), were utilized as catalysts for twelve Jatropha biodiesel alternatives via an esterification reaction. This study applied life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology from well-to-wheel analysis to assess energy efficiency and the global warming impact with and without land use change. The results of the life cycle analysis showed that the Jatropha biodiesel alternatives using the La2O3 catalyst in all conditions (0.89–1.06) were found to be potential fuel substitutes for conventional diesel (0.86) in terms of net energy ratios; however, the results showed that they generated a higher global warming impact. Considering the improvement process of Jatropha biodiesel in the utilization of waste heat recovery, the Jatropha biodiesel reduced the impacts of the net energy ratios and the global warming impact by 22–24% and 34–36%, respectively. The alternative Jatropha biodiesel using the La2O3 catalyst with a calcination temperature of 600 °C was shown to be the most environmentally friendly of all the studied fuels; relatively, it had the highest energy ratios of 1.06–1.37 (with and without waste heat recovery) and the lowest total global warming impact of 47.9–70.7 kg CO2 equivalent (with land use change). The integration of the material and process development by domestic catalysts and the recovery of waste heat would improve the sustainability choices of biofuel production from renewable resources for transportation fuels in Thailand.
Simultaneous Detection of Three Subgroups of Avian Leukosis Virus Using the Nanoparticle-Assisted PCR Assay
Authors: Wu Miaoli , Hu Shuaiqi , Zhu Yujun , Cong Feng , Liu Shengwang
Published: December 2023

Nanoparticle-assisted polymerase chain reaction (nanoPCR) is a novel method for the rapid detection of pathogens. A sensitive and specific multiple nanoPCR assay was developed for simultaneous detection of avian leucosis virus (ALV) subgroups A, B and J. In this study, three pairs of primers were designed, based on the conserved region of the gp85 gene. An exploration of the optimal primer concentration and annealing temperature were carried out, for better performance of the nanoPCR assay. According to the results, the multiple nanoPCR assay amplified 336 pb, 625 bp and 167 bp fragments of ALV-A, -B and -J, respectively, and showed no cross-reactivity with irrelevant pathogens, suggesting the excellent specificity of the assay. The constructed standard DNA templates were used to estimate the limit of detection. As shown by the results, the detection limit of the nanoPCR assay was nearly 10 copies/μL. To further evaluate the detection ability of the assay, 186 clinical samples were detected using the nanoPCR assay, among which, 14 samples were confirmed as ALV positive; the results were further confirmed by sequencing. In conclusion, a highly specific and sensitive nanoPCR assay was successfully developed, which could be a useful tool for clinical diagnosis as well as for the discrimination of ALV-A, -B and -J.
Torque Teno Virus (TTV)—A Potential Marker of Immunocompetence in Solid Organ Recipients
Authors: Kuczaj Agnieszka , Przybyłowski Piotr , Hrapkowicz Tomasz
Published: December 2023

Torque Teno Virus (TTV), first discovered in 1997, is a non-pathogenic, highly prevalent virus with a notable presence in the human virome. TTV has garnered attention as a potential indicator of immunocompetence in recipients of solid organ transplants. In this review, we discuss the role of TTV as a potential marker for immunosuppression optimization, prediction of graft rejection, and as an indicator of opportunistic infections. We discuss TTV’s behavior over the course of time after transplantation, TTV’s implications in different immunosuppressive regimens, and potential utility in vaccinations. The review synthetizes findings from various studies depicting its potential clinical utility for future personalized patient care.
Fin de ciclo: política y democracia en tiempos de miedo
Authors: Bustinduy Pablo
Published: December 2023

Este artículo plantea una reflexión sobre el auge contemporáneo de formaciones y movimientos políticos antidemocráticos, poniendo el foco sobre la sensación de inestabilidad y malestar que les sirve como clima político de fondo. Una reafirmación democrática, sostiene el artículo, no vendrá inspirada por el miedo ni por la simple reafirmación de lo existente, sino que requiere abordar las causas profundas de esa inestabilidad percibida: la desigualdad, la precariedad y la vulnerabilidad eco-social que caracterizan las sociedades contemporáneas. En consonancia, se presenta una serie de consideraciones relativas a la conformación de un nuevo imaginario democrático por medio de la recuperación, la adaptación y el refuerzo de la idea de bienestar que sirvió como horizonte ideológico a los movimientos progresistas del siglo XX.
Knjiga Tobijaša Ignaca Kristijanovića –
komunikacijski aspekti biblijskog prijevoda
Authors: Beck Boris , Štebih Golub Barbara
Published: December 2023

Temom rada je prijevod Knjige Tobijaša što ga je načinio i u svojem kalendaru Danica zagrebečka 1845. objavio Ignac Kristijanović (1796. – 1884.), kajkavski vjerski pisac i važan pučki prosvjetitelj. U radu se argumentira da je priča o Tobijašu izabrana za prvu cjelovitu biblijsku priču objavljenu u Danici zagrebečkoj upravo zato što spaja primjer pobožnosti s dinamičnim i zanimljivim sadržajem. Nadalje se pokazuje koje je traduktološke postupke prevoditelj primijenio ne bi li svoj prijevod približio čitateljima. Zaključuje se da je Kristijanović odabrao upravo tu deuterokanonsku knjigu želeći recipijente svojega prijevoda podučiti i zabaviti te da je uporabom paratekstnih elemenata svoj prijevod oblikovao kao komunikativni.
An exegetical-theological reading of Is 30, 1-17 (TM) in the light of "unity movement" for reading the Book of Isaiah
Authors: Benaković Ivan
Published: December 2023

The Book of Isaiah has been truly complex for bible researchers for years. The primary difficulty arises from the poetic way of expressing the author, and this is of course associated with the difficulty of connecting different historical epochs described by the Book of Isaiah in its completeness. Lately, this book has been approached in a unitary way. This will say that it is sought to be read in its wholeness of parts, rather than dividing it as it has long been a trend, into three parts: Is 1-39; 40-55; 56-66. This so-called “unity movement” in research on the Book of Isaiah shows us how the Book can nevertheless be approached whole. Therefore, in this paper, we will seek to analyze the text of Is 30:1-17 (TM) in light of the so-called “unity movement” approach to the Book of Isaiah. It should be said however that the methodological path of this work will be primarily the so-called “close reading” of the text and then also will be given some possible intertextual echoes which link Is 30, 1-17 with other parts of the Book of Isaiah. At the end author will also try to depict a possible historical and theological message of the same biblical text.
Faktor-Faktor yang Memengaruhi Praktik Swamedikasi pada Ibu Hamil di Jawa Tengah
Authors: Aisyah Diah , Sitorus Jeffry Raja Hamonangan
Published: December 2023

Swamedikasi merupakan upaya pengobatan yang sering dipilih oleh masyarakat untuk mengatasi keluhan kesehatannya. Dalam praktiknya, swamedikasi harus memperhatikan kondisi khusus seperti ibu hamil karena risiko penggunaan obat dapat berdampak pada kesehatan ibu dan janin. Selain itu, informasi terkait efek dan keamanan obat bagi ibu hamil masih cukup terbatas. Provinsi Jawa Tengah memiliki persentase penduduk yang melakukan swamedikasi tertinggi di tahun 2021, yaitu mencapai 82,79 persen. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan ingin mengetahui berbagai faktor pada level individu dan wilayah kabupaten/kota yang signifikan memengaruhi praktik swamedikasi pada ibu hamil di Provinsi Jawa Tengah tahun 2021. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode regresi logistik biner multilevel serta data Susenas Kor Maret 2021, Publikasi BPS dan Dinkes Jawa Tengah. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan umur dan keparahan keluhan kesehatan merupakan faktor individual yang signifikan memengaruhi praktik swamedikasi pada ibu hamil. Selain itu, PDRB per kapita di suatu wilayah juga turut menentukan praktik swamedikasi pada ibu hamil.
Peramalan Awal Harga Telur Ayam Ras di Indonesia Sebagai Pandangan Awal dalam Penentuan Kebijakan
Authors: Kautsar Syahrizal
Published: December 2023

Ketahanan pangan merupakan isu yang sedang dihadapi dunia sekarang ini. Ketahanan pangan Indonesia masih perlu ditingkatkan lagi. Salah satu faktor yang dapat memengaruhi ketahanan pangan adalah harga komoditas. Telur ayam ras menjadi salah satu komoditas pangan penting di Indonesia. Penelitian ini melakukan pemodelan harga konsumen telur ayam ras menggunakan analisis clustering time series dan pemodelan ARIMA yang hasil peramalan dapat dijadikan pandangan awal dalam penentuan kebijakan. Setelah dilakukan analisis, diperoleh bahwa provinsi Indonesia dapat dikelompokkan menjadi tiga kelompok berdasarkan pola harga konsumen telur ayam ras yakni menjadi kelompok tinggi, sedang, dan rendah. Provinsi pada kelompok tinggi dan rendah diramalkan cenderung mengalami harga stabil pada level masing-masing. Sebaliknya, provinsi pada kelompok sedang diramalkan cenderung mengalami tren kenaikan harga konsumen telur ayam ras.
Mampukah Usaha Rumah Tangga Penggalian Garam Tambang Industri di Indonesia Mencapai Produksi Optimal?
Authors: Adila Rani , Budiasih Budiasih
Published: December 2023

Produksi garam tambang industri di Indonesia masih belum mencukupi kebutuhan nasional, membuat Indonesia harus melakukan impor. Padahal, potensi wilayah dan sumber dayanya untuk menjadi produsen garam sangatlah besar. Hal ini diduga karena ketidakefisienan dalam proses produksi. Diketahui bahwa salah satu garam yang umumnya memiliki kadar Natrium Clorida (NaCl) garam industri adalah garam tambang. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini menguji ada tidaknya inefisiensi teknis dan determinannya dari usaha rumah tangga penggalian garam tambang industri di Indonesia. Data yang digunakan adalah raw data dari Survei Tahunan Usaha Penggalian Bahan Industri dan Konstruksi dengan kuesioner GALIAN-URT di Indonesia tahun 2022. Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) Cobb-Douglas digunakan untuk mengukur inefisiensi teknis. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa lama waktu usaha beroperasi berpengaruh positif terhadap efisiensi teknis. Rata-rata efisiensi teknis yang didapatkan adalah 0,66 yang berarti produksi belum optimal. Variasi inefisiensi antar usaha didominasi oleh variabel yang tidak bisa dikontrol oleh pemilik usaha.
Estimasi Tingkat Kemiskinan Anak Level Kabupaten/Kota di Provinsi Banten Tahun 2018-2021 dengan Small Area Estimation (SAE) Rao-Yu Pendekatan Hierarchical Bayes
Authors: Salis Dian Rahmawati , Ubaidillah Azka
Published: December 2023

Kemiskinan anak sangat berpengaruh pada kualitas penduduk dewasa di masa depan. Perhitungan estimasi tingkat kemiskinan anak hingga level kabupaten/kota sangat diperlukan agar kebijakan tepat sasaran. Estimasi langsung yang dihasilkan data SUSENAS memiliki nilai Relative Standard Error (RSE) lebih besar dari 25% sehingga perlu digunakan sebuah metode tidak langsung yang bernama pendugaan area kecil atau small area estimation (SAE). Provinsi Banten merupakan provinsi dengan angka partisipasi kasar (APK) anak yang mengikuti Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini (PAUD) terendah di Pulau Jawa dari tahun ke tahun yang dapat dimaknai sebagai indikasi dini adanya keterbatasan akses pendidikan anak akibat kemiskinan. Dalam penelitian ini dilakukan estimasi tingkat kemiskinan anak level kabupaten/kota di Provinsi Banten dengan pendekatan model hierarchical bayes Rao-Yu berdistribusi normal dan beta. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa meski menghasilkan presisi paling baik, pendugaan SAE Rao-Yu HB Beta memiliki hasil dengan tingkat konsistensi yang lebih kecil dibandingkan pendugaan SAE Rao-Yu HB normal.
Determinan Prevalensi Balita Stunting di Indonesia Tahun 2021
Authors: Priatmadani Priatmadani , Anjarweni Hanifah Ukti , Putri Shalihati Melani , Pramana Anugerah Surya , Palupi Retno , Budiasih Budiasih
Published: December 2023

Stunting adalah gangguan tumbuh kembang anak yang disebabkan asupan gizi yang kurang dan ditandai dengan tinggi badan di bawah standar. Angka prevalensi stunting di Indonesia masih melebihi rekomendasi WHO yaitu 20% yaitu sebesar 24,4%. Permasalahan stunting di Indonesia berhubungan dengan ketahanan pangan, kondisi ekonomi, dan sosial masyarakat. Dari aspek tersebut, variabel yang diduga mempengaruhi stunting di Indonesia antara lain pengeluaran makanan, kerawanan pangan, PMT pada ibu hamil KEK, ketidakcukupan pangan, tingkat pendidikan, dan sanitasi layak yang datanya didapat dari Kemenkes dan BPS. Hasil pemetaan persentase stunting didapat daerah yang memerlukan percepatan penurunan stunting berada pada provinsi bagian timur Indonesia dan terdapat autokorelasi spasial pada persentase stunting antarprovinsi di Indonesia. Berdasarkan model Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) hanya variabel tingkat pendidikan yang tidak berpengaruh signifikan dan persentase stunting pada suatu provinsi di Indonesia akan berpengaruh signifikan positif terhadap persentase stunting di provinsi sekitarnya.
Determinan Kejadian Wasting pada Balita
Authors: Aurellia Nur Aisya , Ramadhani Anindita Ayu , Pamungkas Khrisna Aji , Kartiasih Fitri
Published: December 2023

Wasting menjadi sebuah permasalahan yang serius karena memiliki dampak yang signifikan terhadap berbagai sektor kehidupan terutama dalam menghambat kemajuan seorang individu dan sumber daya manusia di suatu negara. Kejadian wasting tertinggi di Indonesia terdapat di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis faktor-faktor yang berpengaruh terhadap kejadian wasting balita di Provinsi NTT pada tahun 2021. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah regresi linear berganda. Temuan penelitian menunjukkan persentase penduduk miskin ekstrem, persentase perempuan yang melahirkan bayi dengan berat bayi lahir rendah, dan persentase bayi dua tahun yang pernah mendapatkan ASI memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap persentase balita wasting. Sebagai solusi, diperlukan upaya kolaboratif dari pemerintah, lembaga kesehatan, organisasi masyarakat sipil, dan komunitas secara keseluruhan untuk mengatasi masalah wasting dan meningkatkan kesehatan serta kesejahteraan anak-anak.
Leviticus 13:1-8 and The Handling of Pandemic Victims Among Priests in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
Authors: Ugwu Collins , Eze Virginus Uchenna , Ndukka Ncheke Alfred , Amarachi Ugwu Salom
Published: December 2023

Leviticus 13:1-8 presents God’s instruction to his people, Israel, on how to combat the health pandemic. The hermeneutical propagations will help the priests and church leaders fight the virus, especially among priests in Nsukka, Enugu State. According to this text, the priest is to act as a health instructor in a situation of overwhelming health challenges. It describes health challenges and the role of the priest in overcoming them. Therefore, this text can serve as a model for combating contagious diseases like Covid-19. It is on record that the emergency of the Corona virus pandemic overwhelmed the health workers. This opened a gap, which necessitated that other people, like the priests, could come in and fill it. A rhetorical-exegetical method of biblical interpretation was used. Again, observations and interviews sufficed to ascertain the extent to which the priest helped enforce precautionary measures for Covid-19 as advanced by the World Health Organization and the National Center for Disease Control. It was discovered that the priests and other ordained men of God in Nsukka, Enugu State, are not totally committed to the extra services of helping the health workers in their fight against Covid-19. This is because it does not reflect on their sermon. Also, social distancing was not observed in the churches visited, and no testing kits, not even infrared thermometers, were found in most of the churches visited. Worse still, some laity were observed entering and worshiping without a facemask and no sanction. Washing of hands with soap and use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer were noticed not to be in place in most of the remote places of worship centers that were visited. Therefore, this paper engages the priests and religious leaders within the study area to preach health protocols, provide testing materials, and establish isolation centers to assuage Covid-19 pandemic.
Las culturas políticas en la democracia como experiencia histórica (Argentina, siglo XX)
Authors: Carrizo Bernardo , Giménez Juan Cruz
Published: December 2023

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Marina Franco y Claudia Feld (dir.) (2022). ESMA. Represión y poder en el centro clandestino de detención más emblemático de la última dictadura militar. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 198 páginas.
Authors: Pintueles Agustín
Published: December 2023

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