bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Origanum heracleoticum Essential Oils: Chemical Composition, Phytotoxic and Alpha-Amylase Inhibitory Activities
Authors: Amato Giuseppe , Caputo Lucia , Francolino Rosaria , Martino Mara , De Feo Vincenzo , De Martino Laura
Published: February 2023

Many studies have demonstrated the herbicidal effects of several essential oils and their possible use as substitutes for chemical herbicides. Several enzymes play a very significant role in seed germination: among these, α-amylase could be involved in essential oil phytotoxic processes. The aims of this study were to compare the chemical composition of the essential oils of two ecotypes of O. heracleoticum growing in Cilento (Southern Italy) and to study their possible use as natural herbicide using Raphanus sativus, Sinapis arvensis and Lolium multiflorum seeds. Moreover, a possible inhibitory activity on the α-amylase enzyme extracted from germinating seeds was evaluated as a possible mechanism of action. Both oils, characterized by GC-MS, belonged to a carvacrol chemotype. The alpha-amylase activity was determined using DNSA (dinitrosalicylic acid) assay quantifying the reducing sugar produced. Furthermore, the essential oils demonstrated phytotoxicity at the highest dose tested, and an inhibitory effect on α-amylase, probably correlated with the phytotoxic effects, was registered. The oils showed interesting phytotoxic and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities, which deserve to be further investigated.
Worldwide Evaluations of Quinoa—Biodiversity and Food Security under Climate Change Pressures: Advances and Perspectives
Authors: Pulvento Cataldo , Bazile Didier
Published: February 2023

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd [...]
Tree-Level Growth Patterns and Genetic Associations Depict Drought Legacies in the Relict Forests of Abies marocana
Authors: Méndez-Cea Belén , García-García Isabel , Sánchez-Salguero Raúl , Lechuga Víctor , Gallego Francisco Javier , Linares Juan C.
Published: February 2023

The frequency and intensity of drought events are increasing worldwide, challenging the adaptive capacity of several tree species. Here, we evaluate tree growth patterns and climate sensitivity to precipitation, temperature, and drought in the relict Moroccan fir Abies marocana. We selected two study sites, formerly stated as harboring contrasting A. marocana taxa (A. marocana and A. tazaotana, respectively). For each tree, dendrochronological methods were applied to quantify growth patterns and climate–growth sensitivity. Further, ddRAD-seq was performed on the same trees and close saplings to obtain single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and related genotype–phenotype associations. Genetic differentiation between the two studied remnant populations of A. marocana was weak. Growth patterns and climate–growth relationships were almost similar at the two sites studied, supporting a negative effect of warming. Growth trends and tree size showed associations with SNPs, although there were no relationships with phenotypes related to climatic sensitivity. We found significant differences in the SNPs subjected to selection in the saplings compared to the old trees, suggesting that relict tree populations might be subjected to genetic differentiation and local adaptation to climate dryness. Our results illustrate the potential of tree rings and genome-wide analysis to improve our understanding of the adaptive capacity of drought-sensitive forests to cope with ongoing climate change.
Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Gonostegia hirta: An Underexploited, Potentially Edible, Wild Plant
Authors: Li Yaochen , Hu Zheng , Chen Xiaoqi , Zhu Biao , Liu Tingfu , Yang Jing
Published: February 2023

Wild, edible plants have received increasing attention as an important complement to cultivate vegetables, as they represent an easily accessible source of nutrients, mineral elements, and antioxidants. In this study, the tender stems and leaves of Gonostegia hirta, an edible species for which only scarce data are available in the literature, are thoroughly evaluated for their nutritional profile, chemical characterization, and antioxidant activity. Being considered as an underexploited, potentially edible plant, the nutritional composition of Gonostegia hirta was identified, and several beneficial compounds were highlighted: sugars, potassium, calcium, organic acids, fatty acids, phenolics, and flavonoids. A total of 418 compounds were identified by metabolomic analysis, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, lipids, organic acids, terpenoids, alkaloids, nucleotides, tannins, lignans, and coumarin. The plant sample was found to have good antioxidant capacities, presented by DPPH, FRAP, ABTS+, hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity, and its resistance to the superoxide anion radical test. In general, Gonostegia hirta has a good nutritional and phytochemical composition. The health benefits of Gonostegia hirta as a vegetable and herbal medicine is important for both a modern diet and use in medication.
The Role of Gorse (Ulex parviflorus Pourr. Scrubs) in a Mediterranean Shrubland Undergoing Climate Change: Approach by Hyperspectral Measurements
Authors: Marteau Audrey , Fourmaux Martin , Mevy Jean-Philippe
Published: February 2023

The goal of this study was to observe the neighbor effect of Gorse, a plant of the Fabaceae family, on three typical species of Mediterranean shrubland: kermes oak, white Cistus and rosemary. For this purpose, a hyperspectral analysis and the application of vegetation indices (VIs) were carried out. We provide the spectral signature of Gorse, which differs mainly from that of its companion species in the band between 700 and 1350 nm. This supposed Gorse effect was tested in natural conditions and in conditions of forced drought to simulate the effects of the climate change predicted for the Mediterranean Basin. Field spectrometry demonstrated the existence of such interactions between the four species. In control stands, the presence of Gorse significantly modifies the spectral responses of kermes, white Cistus and rosemary, mainly in the near-infrared region (700–1350 nm). Both tri- and tetra-specific plant assemblages also exhibited spectral changes, suggesting an indirect effect of Gorse. Under drought conditions, one-way ANOVA followed by Fisher’s LSD test led us to identify the features involved in plants’ coexistence with Gorse. The Cistus albidus reflectance spectrum was clearly increased in the presence of Gorse in rain-exclusion conditions. The application of several VIs allowed us to extract new information on the variation of spectral signatures. Unexpectedly, nitrogen supply by Gorse was not shown, except for Cistus, as shown by the VI NDVI (N) analysis. However, this study proved that Gorse can modify the behavior of its companion species in controls, but also in drought conditions, by increasing their photosynthesis activity (NIRvP) and water content (ratio R975/R900). Gorse therefore appears as a key species in the ecosystem of the Mediterranean shrubland, but its high vulnerability to drought leaves a vacant ecological niche in plant communities. While the spectral reflectance increases linearly with the specific richness in the lack of any disturbance, by contrast, climate aridification imposes a double reciprocal profile. This clearly means that multispecific plant communities cope better with climate change. Nevertheless, knowledge of the underlying mechanisms requires further structural, chemical, and biochemical investigation.
Exigency for the Control and Upgradation of Indoor Air Quality—Forefront Advancements Using Nanomaterials
Authors: Kausar Ayesha , Ahmad Ishaq , Zhu Tianle , Shahzad Hassan , Eisa M. H.
Published: February 2023

Due to increasing health and environmental issues, indoor air quality (IAQ) has garnered much research attention with regard to incorporating advanced clean air technologies. Various physicochemical air treatments have been used to monitor, control, and manage air contaminants, such as monitoring devices (gas sensors and internet of things-based systems), filtration (mechanical and electrical), adsorption, UV disinfection, UV photocatalysts, a non-thermal plasma approach, air conditioning systems, and green technologies (green plants and algae). This article reviews presently viable technologies for cleaning indoor air and enhancing IAQ. However, regarding the integration of each technology, there are certain limitations to these methods, including the types of pollutants released. As a result, advanced nanomaterials have been applied to monitoring sensors, filtration and adsorption media, and UV photocatalysts to improve IAQ values. The most important nanomaterials used in this regard include polymeric nanofibrous membranes, nanoporous nanomaterials, nanocomposite hydrogels, polymer/nanocarbon nanocomposite, polymer/metal oxide nanocomposite, polymeric nanohybrids, etc. Accordingly, through the use of nanotechnology, optimal solutions linking IAQ regulation techniques to novel nanomaterials can be achieved to attain safe IAQ levels.
Synergistic Effect of Partial Replacement of Carbon Black by Palm Kernel Shell Biochar in Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Composites
Authors: Zainal Abidin Zafirah , Mamauod Siti Nur Liyana , Romli Ahmad Zafir , Sarkawi Siti Salina , Zainal Nahrul Hayawin
Published: February 2023

With the rapid development of the palm oil-related industry, this has resulted in the high production of palm oil waste. The increasing amount of palm oil waste has become an alarming issue in which researchers have carried out studies that this palm oil waste has the potential to be used as a biomass source. Carbon black (CB) is the most preferred reinforcing filler in the rubber industry but it has a disadvantage where CB is carcinogenic and a petroleum-based product. Hence CB is less sustainable. Palm kernel shell (PKS) derived from palm oil waste can be turned into palm kernel shell biochar (PKSBc) which can potentially be a value-added, sustainable biofiller as reinforcement in rubber composites. In this study, PKSBc is hybridized with CB (N660) at different loading ratios to be filled in carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR). This study aims to elucidate the effect of the varying ratios of hybrid CB/PKSBc on the rheological properties, abrasion resistance, and hardness of XNBR composites. In this study, both CB and PKSBc are incorporated into XNBR and were then cured with sulphur. The composites were prepared by using a two-roll mill. Different compositions of hybrid CB/PKSBc were incorporated. The rheological properties and physicomechanical properties, such as abrasion resistance and hardness of the vulcanizates, were investigated. Based on the results, as the loading ratio of PKSBc in hybrid CB/PKSBc increases, the cure time decreases, and the cure rate index increases. The abrasion resistance and hardness values of vulcanizates were maintained by the high loading of PKSBc which was due to the porous structure of PKSBc as shown in the morphological analysis of PKSBc. The pores of PKSBc provided mechanical interlocking to reduce volume loss and maintain the hardness of vulcanizates when subjected to force. With this, PKSBc is proven to be a semi-reinforcing filler that could not only act as a co-filler to existing commercialized CB, but PKSBc could also fully substitute CB as reinforcement in rubber, specifically XNBR as it is able to provide high abrasion resistance and hardness to the rubber composites. This would mean the performance of PKSBc is comparable with CB (N660) when it comes to maintaining the physicomechanical properties of XNBR composites in terms of abrasion resistance and hardness. Therefore, this approach of using eco-friendly filler derived from palm oil agricultural waste (PKSBc) can reduce the abundance of palm oil waste, be a sustainable alternative to act as a co-filler in hybrid CB/PKSBc to decrease the usage of CB, and helps to enhance the quality of existing rubber-based products.
High-Performance Polyamide Reverse Osmosis Membrane Containing Flexible Aliphatic Ring for Water Purification
Authors: Jiang Chi , Fei Zhaohui , Hou Yingfei
Published: February 2023

A reverse osmosis (RO) membrane with a high water permeance and salt rejection is needed to reduce the energy requirement for desalination and water treatment. However, improving water permeance while maintaining a high rejection of the polyamide RO membrane remains a great challenge. Herein, we report a rigid–flexible coupling strategy to prepare a high-performance RO membrane through introducing monoamine with a flexible aliphatic ring (i.e., piperidine (PPR)) into the interfacial polymerization (IP) system of trimesoyl chloride (TMC) and m-phenylenediamine (MPD). The resulted polyamide film consists of a robust aromatic skeleton and soft aliphatic-ring side chain, where the aliphatic ring optimizes the microstructure of polyamide network at a molecular level. The obtained membranes thereby showed an enhanced water permeance of up to 2.96 L·m−2 h−1 bar−1, nearly a 3-fold enhancement compared to the control group, meanwhile exhibiting an ultrahigh rejection toward NaCl (99.4%), thus successfully overcoming the permeability–selectivity trade-off limit. Furthermore, the mechanism of the enhanced performance was investigated by molecular simulation. Our work provides a simple way to fabricate advanced RO membranes with outstanding performance.
15 Years of Success and Still Improving: Polymers
Authors: Böker Alexander
Published: February 2023

In 2009, the inaugural issue of Polymers was released [...]
Towards the Future of Polymeric Hybrids of Two-Dimensional Black Phosphorus or Phosphorene: From Energy to Biological Applications
Authors: Kumar Avneesh , Chang Dong Wook
Published: February 2023

With the advent of a new 2D nanomaterial, namely, black phosphorus (BP) or phosphorene, the scientific community is now dedicated to focusing on and exploring this 2D material offering elusive properties such as a higher carrier mobility, biocompatibility, thickness-dependent band gap, and optoelectronic characteristics that can be harnessed for multiple applications, e.g., nanofillers, energy storage devices, field effect transistors, in water disinfection, and in biomedical sciences. The hexagonal ring of phosphorus atoms in phosphorene is twisted slightly, unlike how it is in graphene. Its unique characteristics, such as a high carrier mobility, anisotropic nature, and biocompatibility, have attracted much attention and generated further scientific curiosity. However, despite these interesting features, the phosphorene or BP poses challenges and causes frustrations when it comes to its stability under ambient conditions and processability, and thus in order to overcome these hurdles, it must be conjugated or linked with the suitable and functional organic counter macromolecule in such a way that its properties are not compromised while providing a protection from air/water that can otherwise degrade it to oxides and acid. The resulting composites/hybrid system of phosphorene and a macromolecule, e.g., a polymer, can outperform and be exploited for the aforementioned applications. These assemblies of a polymer and phosphorene have the potential for shifting the paradigm from exhaustively used graphene to new commercialized products offering multiple applications.
Research and Application of Biomass-Based Wood Flame Retardants: A Review
Authors: Liang Yuqing , Jian Hao , Deng Chao , Xu Junxian , Liu Yang , Park Heejun , Wen Mingyu , Sun Yaoxing
Published: February 2023

Wood is widely used as a construction material due to its many advantages, such as good mechanical properties, low production costs, and renewability. However, its flammability limits its use in construction. To solve the problem of wood flammability, the most common method to improve the fire safety of wood is to modify the wood by deep impregnation or surface coating with flame retardants. Therefore, many researchers have found that environmentally friendly and low-cost biomass materials can be used as a source of green flame retardants. Two aspects of biomass-based intumescent flame retardants are summarized in this paper. On the one hand, biomass is used as one of the three sources or as a flame-retardant synergist in combination with other flame retardants, which are called composite biomass intumescent flame retardants. On the other hand, biomass is used alone as a feedstock to produce all-biomass intumescent flame retardants. In addition, the potential of biomass-based materials as an environmentally friendly and low-cost FR source to produce high-performance biomass-based flame retardants with improved technology was also discussed in detail. The development of biomass-based intumescent flame retardants represents a viable and promising approach for the efficient and environmentally friendly production of biomass-based flame retardants.
Controlled Deposition of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Doped Nanofibers Mats for Improving the Interlaminar Properties of Glass Fiber Hybrid Composites
Authors: Muhammad Arif , Ncube Mkhululi , Aravinth Nithish , Muthu Jacob
Published: February 2023

The properties of glass fiber composites were improved by strengthening the interlaminar regions using electrospun nanofibers mats. However, the chaotic nature of the electrospinning process at the collector restricts the controlled deposition and alignment of nanofibers and limits the use of electrospun nanofibers as secondary reinforcements. Hence, auxiliary vertical electrodes were used, which drastically reduced the diameter of the nanofibers from 450 nm to 150 nm and also improved the alignment of nanofibers. The aligned nanofibers were then used for doping the functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (f-SWCNTs) with nanofibers, which controlled the inherent issues associated with SWCNTs such as agglomeration, poor dispersion, and alignment. This process produced f-SWCNTs doped nanofiber mats. A series of tensile, three-point flexural, and Charpy impact tests showed that 30 vol% glass fiber composites reinforced with 0.5 wt% of randomly oriented nanofiber (RONFs) mats improved the properties of the hybrid composites compared to 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, and 1 wt% RONFs mats reinforced glass fiber hybrid composites. The increase in properties for 0.5 wt% composites was attributed to the higher specific surface area and resistance to the relative slip within the interlaminar regions. The 0.5 wt% RONFs were then used to produce 0.5 wt% of continuous-aligned nanofiber (CANFs) mats, which showed improved mechanical properties compared to 0.5 wt% randomly oriented nanofiber (RONFs) mats reinforced hybrid composites. The CANFs mats with reduced diameter increased the tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact resistance by 4.71%, 17.19%, and 20.53%, respectively, as compared to the random nanofiber mats. The increase in properties could be attributed to the reduced diameter, controlled deposition, and alignment of the nanofibers. Further, the highest increase in mechanical properties was achieved by the addition of f-SWCNTs doped CANFs mats strengthened hybrid composites, and the increase was 30.34% for tensile strength, 30.18% for flexural strength, and 132.29% for impact resistance, respectively. This improvement in properties was made possible by orderly alignments of f-SWCNTs within the nanofibers. The SEM images further confirmed that auxiliary vertical electrodes (AVEs) reduced the diameter, improved the alignment and molecular orientation of the nanofibers, and thus helped to reinforce the f-SWCNTs within the nanomats, which improved the properties of the glass hybrid composites.
A Class of Algorithms for Recovery of Continuous Relaxation Spectrum from Stress Relaxation Test Data Using Orthonormal Functions
Authors: Stankiewicz Anna
Published: February 2023

The viscoelastic relaxation spectrum provides deep insights into the complex behavior of polymers. The spectrum is not directly measurable and must be recovered from oscillatory shear or relaxation stress data. The paper deals with the problem of recovery of the relaxation spectrum of linear viscoelastic materials from discrete-time noise-corrupted measurements of relaxation modulus obtained in the stress relaxation test. A class of robust algorithms of approximation of the continuous spectrum of relaxation frequencies by finite series of orthonormal functions is proposed. A quadratic identification index, which refers to the measured relaxation modulus, is adopted. Since the problem of relaxation spectrum identification is an ill-posed inverse problem, Tikhonov regularization combined with generalized cross-validation is used to guarantee the stability of the scheme. It is proved that the accuracy of the spectrum approximation depends both on measurement noises and the regularization parameter and on the proper selection of the basis functions. The series expansions using the Laguerre, Legendre, Hermite and Chebyshev functions were studied in this paper as examples. The numerical realization of the scheme by the singular value decomposition technique is discussed and the resulting computer algorithm is outlined. Numerical calculations on model data and relaxation spectrum of polydisperse polymer are presented. Analytical analysis and numerical studies proved that by choosing an appropriate model through selection of orthonormal basis functions from the proposed class of models and using a developed algorithm of least-square regularized identification, it is possible to determine the relaxation spectrum model for a wide class of viscoelastic materials. The model is smoothed and robust on measurement noises; small model approximation errors are obtained. The identification scheme can be easily implemented in available computing environments.
Modelling Influence on Bending Behaviour Simulation of the Poly(Lactic Acid) Structures, 3D Printed
Authors: Catana Dorin-Ioan , Brus Denisa-Iulia , Pop Mihai-Alin
Published: February 2023

The paper presents the influence of the loading modelling on the simulation process results of the bending behaviour for 3D printed structures. The study is done on structures having different geometries of the cross section, and the type of structure is bar or tube. The materials used for 3D printing are poly(lactic) acid and poly(lactic acid) mixed with glass fibres. The simulation was carried out both based on a simple modelling (schematization) of the bending loading and a complex one. The complex modelling reproduces the bending of 3D printed structures more accurately but is also more time-consuming for the computer-aided design stage. Analysis of the study results shows that in terms of the Von Mises stresses determined by simulation, they are in line with those of the tests but with a slight advantage for the complex modelling compared to the simple one. In terms of deformations, the simulation introduces errors compared to the test results, but the source of the errors is the high elasticity of some 3D printed structures. The study also shows that the high elasticity is due to both the shape of the structure cross section and its arrangement during the bending test.
Study of Scavenging and Combustion Processes for Small Two-Stroke Aviation Heavy Fuel Direct Injection Engines
Authors: Shao Longtao , Zhou Yu , Zhao Shuai , Yu Tao , Zhu Kun , Ding Shuiting , Xu Zheng
Published: February 2023

Heavy-fuel aviation piston engines (HF-APEs) are widely used in general aviation and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) due to their safety and fuel economy. This paper describes a numerical and experimental study of scavenging and combustion processes on a 2-Stroke Direct Injected HF-APEs for light aircraft, with its cylinder specifically designed as cross scavenging. A 3-Dimentional transient model of in-cylinder flow and combustion process is established by the Forte platform, and the engine test system is set up. By comparing the simulation results to the experimental results, it showed that multi-ports cross scavenging can generate unbalanced aerodynamic torque in the cylinder. In the compression process, the swirl ratio (SR) gradually increases, and the peak SR reaches 15. Moreover, approximately 25% of exhaust residual gas in the cylinder is conducive to the fuel atomization and evaporation process in a high-altitude environment. When the injection timing is between −8 °CA and −16 °CA, the engine has the optimal power and economy performance at different altitudes. Finally, when the injection advance angle moves forward by 4 °CA, the maximum pressure increases by 2 MPa, with the rising rate decreasing gradually. The results have important significance for the development of the combustion system of small 2-Stroke Direct Injected HF-APEs.
The Prospects of Algae-Derived Vitamins and Their Precursors for Sustainable Cosmeceuticals
Authors: Arora Neha , Philippidis George P.
Published: February 2023

Aquatic algae are a rich source of a wide range of bioproducts intended to compete for a sizable global market share. Thanks to the gradual shift towards the use of natural products, microalgae-derived bioactive compounds offer an ecofriendly and vegan option to the cosmeceutical sector, whose products aim to improve skin health but currently consist of mostly synthetic chemicals. In particular, algae-derived vitamins and their precursors are being explored and widely used in the cosmeceuticals industry as compounds that contain biologically active ingredients with therapeutic benefits. The present review highlights the current strategies for industrial production of an array of vitamins from algae for cosmeceutical applications. When compared to traditional plant sources, algae have been found to accumulate vitamins, such as A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C and E, in high concentrations. The purpose of this review is to provide context for the development of a green and sustainable algae-derived bioeconomy by summarizing and comparing the current market for vitamins and precursors derived from algae, as well as presenting novel strategies and key findings from the most recent research in this area. Emphasis is placed on novel biotechnological interventions that encompass genetic modifications, genetic engineering, and media development to enhance vitamin biosynthesis.
Design, Development, and Performance Evaluation of a New Photovoltaic-Thermal (PVT) Air Collector: From Lab Testing to Field Measurements
Authors: Simón-Allué Raquel , Villén Raúl , Brun Gonzalo , Lara Yolanda , Guedea Isabel
Published: February 2023

Over the last decade, the market has experienced a growing interest in hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) technologies, although more long-term studies are needed before air-based PVT panels are fully implemented. In this paper, we present the experimental framework developed around an air-based PVT collector, consisting of a high-quality photovoltaic laminate and a newly designed thermal absorber. The experimental performance of the collector was measured both in lab testing and in a pilot plant during one of the field operations. Results show an almost constant electrical performance of 15–19%, and a thermal performance that changes a lot, ranged between 15–52% for the individual panel and 11–35% for the system of 2.5 panels in series (to maximize output temperature). Field operation presents average thermal and electrical efficiencies ranged between 16–20% with an electrical–thermal generation ratio close to 1:1.
Thermal-Imaging-Based PCA Method for Monitoring Process Temperature
Authors: Lou Zhijiang , Hao Weichen , Lu Shan , Sun Pei , Wang Yonghui , Deprizon Syamsunur
Published: February 2023

To overcome the shortage of traditional temperature sensors, this paper adopts infrared thermal imaging technology for temperature measurement. To avoid the spatial information loss issue during the image data vectorization process, this paper adopted the spatial relationship between pixels in principal component analysis (PCA) model training, which is called spatial information-based PCA (SIPCA). Then, spatial information is also used in the fault localization method to enhance the fault location performance. Tested by an experimental tank system, the proposed method achieves better performance than the traditional PCA approach, and it can detect heat leakage faults on the surface of the equipment.
Yi Ik on Compassion and Grief
Authors: Back Youngsun
Published: February 2023

This article examines the thought of Yi Ik 李瀷 (1681–1763), a prominent Confucian scholar in the late period of the Joseon 朝鮮 dynasty (1392–1910). In a broader context of the Confucian classics, as well as in the later development of neo-Confucian tradition in China and Korea, Yi Ik built an elaborate and comprehensive account of human psychology in his New Compilation of the Four–Seven Debate (Sachil sinpyeon 四七新編). He offers us a new perspective on the unresolved tension between the universal concern for others in general and the natural affection for the family by introducing the binary concepts of gong 公 and sa 私. In his system, successful moral agents do more than develop and strengthen their compassion with respect to the suffering of others, and they regard the suffering of others in the same way that they regard their own suffering. I believe that Yi Ik’s thought sheds new light on the Mencian program of cultivation and how to better lead our complex moral lives.
Living Theology in a Pluralistic Latin America: An Exploration of Ecclesial Base Communities through the Lens of Social Imaginaries
Authors: Acero Ferrer Héctor A.
Published: February 2023

The geography, histories, and ethnic composition of the Latin American continent pose a great challenge when attempting to identify and describe the region’s constitutive religious traditions and experiences. This task is further complexified by the hybridity, fluidity, and porosity of the region’s cultural groups. However, there is an aspect of Latin American religiosity that shares a significant family resemblance across the continent: the small community settings in which religiosity often emerges and consolidates as a worldview, commonly known as Ecclesial base communities. Informed by liberation theology, these communities are a uniquely generative experiment in social, political, and religious life. Scholarly accounts of liberation theology fail to identify key aspects of how Ecclesial base communities generate ways of being, knowing, and making meaning. While many of these accounts depict liberation theology as a socio-political discourse of theological origin, they do not unearth the multidirectional interaction between political practice and theological thought at the heart of these communities. In this paper, I aimed to fill this gap in the literature by reframing liberation theology as a set of social imaginaries, making use of Paul Ricoeur’s theories of memory and cultural imagination to provide the philosophical ground to understand the lived theology of Ecclesial base communities. In doing so, I maintain that liberation theology is not only a theoretical discourse that emerges from these communities, but also the inarticulate background of their ways of thinking, communicating, and living, one that provides an existential orientation through which Latin Americans can provide coherence to their collective action and recognize their own capacity to change their reality of oppression.
Feasibility of Establishing Operational Budgeting in Iraqi Public Universities
Authors: Salman Faisal , Hashemi Seyyed Abbas , Foroghi Daruosh
Published: February 2023

Budgeting is allocating limited resources to unlimited needs and aims to maximise the use of resources that are usually scarce. In the face of these scarce resources, continuous attention to planning, allocating resources, and budgeting is an undeniable necessity. The importance of the budget in universities that receive their credits from the government is much greater because of their significant role in society’s scientific and cultural orientation of the younger generations. It is evident that incorrect budgeting will cause mistakes in allocating resources in this critical field and will cause severe damage to the country at the national level. Hence, reforming the methods of budgeting and distribution of resources in Iraqi public universities is one of the primary necessities. Therefore, the current research has investigated the feasibility of establishing operational budgeting in Iraqi public universities based on the PESTEL model. The study period is 2022, and the research community is Iraqi public universities (35 universities), of which 15 top universities were selected as a statistical sample. The research data were collected using 198 questionnaires completed by financial managers, accounting experts in financial affairs, and experts specializing in budgeting in sample universities. The results of hypothesis testing showed that all aspects of the study, including political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal, affect the establishment of operational budgeting in Iraqi public universities, and all the research hypotheses are confirmed. In other words, it was found that the political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legal factors identified in the current research are significant for establishing operational budgeting in Iraqi public universities. It is suggested that legislators and budgeting planners prioritise these factors and rely on them in making decisions since experts approved these stimuli in the field of operational budgeting in the strategic environment of universities and according to the current conditions prevailing in Iraq.
Towards a More Resilient Festival Industry: An Analysis of the Adoption of Risk Management Models for Sustainability
Authors: Lorincz Katalin , Formadi Katalin , Ernszt Ildiko
Published: February 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on numerous industries, including the event industry, resulting in widespread disruptions. The widespread cancellations of festivals have been a direct consequence of the pandemic, and, following the reopening, those that have taken place have had to implement changes in response to the new guidelines and regulations created as a result of the pandemic. In this study, we examine the experiences of festivals held in 2021 in the Veszprém–Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture region (VEB 2023 region). The study aims to adapt the PwC Risk Management Model and identify its four pillars (1: detect; 2: protect; 3: react; 4: restore) in the case of festivals. Our study outlines how festival organizers have faced unprecedented challenges and risks (detect), how they survived in complete uncertainty (protect), what lessons they learned, and what risk management decisions they made as a challenge of the pandemic period from a consumer perspective (react). The present study utilized a qualitative research methodology and involved conducting structured interviews with a total of 19 event organizers from five different events. In addition, to gain a comprehensive understanding of the sustainable consumption habits of festival visitors, a questionnaire survey was administered yielding 1133 responses. The biggest challenges for the organizers during the times of the pandemic were uncertainty and unpredictability, with increased financial, human, and mental risks and burdens. However, the positive benefits of the pandemic period and the future developmental directions of sustainable festivals were also highlighted (e.g., small-scale, family-friendly events). Regarding the future, the aspects of greening aspirations, a need to reflect on the social-environmental criteria of sustainability, and more flexible management decisions to deal with uncertainty have emerged among the festival organizers (restore). The research has revealed that festival visitors themselves will be important allies in the introduction of sustainable measures. The research result helps festival organizers to adapt more effectively to the new socio-economic circumstances caused by the pandemic.
Unsupervised Diffusion and Volume Maximization-Based Clustering of Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Polk Sam L. , Cui Kangning , Chan Aland H. Y. , Coomes David A. , Plemmons Robert J. , Murphy James M.
Published: February 2023

Hyperspectral images taken from aircraft or satellites contain information from hundreds of spectral bands, within which lie latent lower-dimensional structures that can be exploited for classifying vegetation and other materials. A disadvantage of working with hyperspectral images is that, due to an inherent trade-off between spectral and spatial resolution, they have a relatively coarse spatial scale, meaning that single pixels may correspond to spatial regions containing multiple materials. This article introduces the Diffusion and Volume maximization-based Image Clustering (D-VIC) algorithm for unsupervised material clustering to address this problem. By directly incorporating pixel purity into its labeling procedure, D-VIC gives greater weight to pixels corresponding to a spatial region containing just a single material. D-VIC is shown to outperform comparable state-of-the-art methods in extensive experiments on a range of hyperspectral images, including land-use maps and highly mixed forest health surveys (in the context of ash dieback disease), implying that it is well-equipped for unsupervised material clustering of spectrally-mixed hyperspectral datasets.
Euphotic Zone Depth Anomaly in Global Mesoscale Eddies by Multi-Mission Fusion Data
Authors: Wang Yan , Yang Jie , Chen Ge
Published: February 2023

As the waters of marine primary production, the euphotic zone is the primary living environment for aquatic organisms. Eddies account for 90% of the ocean’s kinetic energy and they affect marine organisms’ habitats by the excitation of vertical velocities and the horizontal advection of nutrients and ecosystems. Satellite observations indicate that anticyclones mainly deepen the euphotic zone depth, while cyclones do the opposite. The anomalies reach 5 m on average in the region of high eddy amplitude and frequent eddy occurrence. In addition, we found that the anomalies have an extreme value in each of the 5°–23° and 23°–55° and reach a maximum at around 38 degrees with the increase in latitude. In the eddy-center coordinate system, the minus gradient direction of the negative anomaly is consistent with the background flow field and the direction of the eddy movement. Meanwhile, the anomaly increases along the radial direction to about 0.2r and then decreases. Finally, there is a significant linear correlation between the anomaly magnitude and the eddy amplitude. The conclusion of this research and related mechanism explanation contributes to marine biology research and conservation, the estimates of marine primary productivity, and the understanding of the biogeochemical properties of eddy modulation in the upper water column.
The Retrieval of Drop Size Distribution Parameters Using a Dual-Polarimetric Radar
Authors: Lee GyuWon , Bringi Viswanathan , Thurai Merhala
Published: February 2023

The raindrop size distribution (DSD) is vital for applications such as quantitative precipitation estimation, understanding microphysical processes, and validation/improvement of two-moment bulk microphysical schemes. We trace the history of the DSD representation and its linkage to polarimetric radar observables from functional forms (exponential, gamma, and generalized gamma models) and its normalization (un-normalized, single/double-moment scaling normalized). The four-parameter generalized gamma model is a good candidate for the optimal representation of the DSD variability. A radar-based disdrometer was found to describe the five archetypical shapes (from Montreal, Canada) consisting of drizzle, the larger precipitation drops and the ‘S’-shaped curvature that occurs frequently in between the drizzle and the larger-sized precipitation. Similar ‘S’-shaped DSDs were reproduced by combining the disdrometric measurements of small-sized drops from an optical array probe and large-sized drops from 2DVD. A unified theory based on the double-moment scaling normalization is described. The theory assumes the multiple power law among moments and DSDs are scaling normalized by the two characteristic parameters which are expressed as a combination of any two moments. The normalized DSDs are remarkably stable. Thus, the mean underlying shape is fitted to the generalized gamma model from which the ‘optimized’ two shape parameters are obtained. The other moments of the distribution are obtained as the product of power laws of the reference moments M3 and M6 along with the two shape parameters. These reference moments can be from dual-polarimetric measurements: M6 from the attenuation-corrected reflectivity and M3 from attenuation-corrected differential reflectivity and the specific differential propagation phase. Thus, all the moments of the distribution can be calculated, and the microphysical evolution of the DSD can be inferred. This is one of the major findings of this article.
Estimation of Perceived Temperature of Road Workers Using Radiation and Meteorological Observation Data
Authors: Lee Hankyung , Kwon Hyuk-Gi , Ahn Sukhee , Yang Hojin , Yi Chaeyeon
Published: February 2023

During summer heat waves, road workers are easily exposed to heat stress and faced with a high risk of thermal diseases and death, and thus preventive measures are required for their safety at the work site. To prepare response measures, it is necessary to estimate workers’ perceived temperature (PT) according to exposure time, road environment, clothing type, and work intensity. This study aimed to examine radiation (short-wave radiation and long-wave radiation) and other meteorological factors (temperature, humidity, and wind) in an actual highway work environment in summer and to estimate PT using the observation data. Analysis of radiation and meteorological factors on the road according to pavement type and weather revealed that more heat was released from asphalt than from concrete. Regression model analysis indicated that compared with young workers (aged 25–30 years), older workers (aged ≥ 60 years) showed a rapid increase in PT as the temperature increased. The temperatures that people actually feel on concrete and asphalt roads in heat wave conditions can be predicted using the PT values calculated by the regression models. Our findings can serve as a basis for measures to prevent workers from thermal diseases at actual road work sites.
Surfactant-Enhanced Extraction of Lutein from Marigold Petals using an Aqueous Two-Phase System
Authors: Maheshwari Neha , Arya Raj Kumar , Verros George D. , Dhamole Pradip B. , Kannan Ashwin
Published: February 2023

The extraction of lutein from marigold petals using a surfactant-based aqueous two-phase system is reported. In this work, the effectiveness of the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of surfactants on extraction performance for the extraction of lutein from marigold petal powder was demonstrated using aqueous solutions of a wide range of non-ionic surfactants. The response surface methodology was applied to obtain optimised conditions for maximum extraction of lutein. At the optimised conditions (Temperature = 37.5 °C, S/L = 0.00375, and surfactant amount = 1.5% (v/v)), 12.12 ± 0.16 mg/g of lutein was obtained. Furthermore, the surface morphology of marigold petal powder (MPP) was analysed using SEM micrographs. Significant changes in surface morphology were observed which suggested better access of surfactant solution to the targeted biomolecule implanted in the matrix. Finally, the antioxidant activity of the obtained lutein extract was analysed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Results suggest that the antioxidant activity of the lutein extract obtained by the surfactant-based system is more than that of the lutein extract obtained by organic solvents. The aforementioned results suggest that the lutein can be extracted using a surfactant-based aqueous two-phase system (ATPS).
Multiscale Analysis of Permeable and Impermeable Wall Models for Seawater Reverse Osmosis Desalination
Authors: Yang Qingqing , Heng Yi , Jiang Ying , Luo Jiu
Published: February 2023

In recent years, high permeability membranes (HPMs) have attracted wide attention in seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination. However, the limitation of hydrodynamics and mass transfer characteristics for conventional spiral wound modules defeats the advantage of HPMs. Feed spacer design is one of the effective ways to improve module performance by enhancing permeation flux and mitigating membrane fouling. Herein, we propose a multiscale modeling framework that integrates a three-dimensional multi-physics model with a permeable wall and an impermeable wall, respectively, at a sub-millimeter scale and a system-level model at a meter scale. Using the proposed solution framework, a thorough quantitative analysis at different scales is conducted and it indicates that the average errors of the friction coefficient and the Sherwood number using the impermeable wall model are less than 2% and 9%, respectively, for commercial SWRO membrane (water permeability 1 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) and HPMs (3 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, 5 L m−2 h−1 bar−1 and 10 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) systems, compared to the predictions using the permeable wall model. Using both the permeable and impermeable wall models, the system-level simulations, e.g., specific energy consumption, average permeation flux, and the maximum concentration polarization factor at the system inlet are basically the same (error < 2%), while the impermeable wall model has a significant advantage in computational efficiency. The multiscale framework coupling the impermeable wall model can be used to guide the efficient and accurate optimal spacer design and system design for HPMs using, e.g., a machine learning approach.
Use of Instagram as a Resource for the Adoption of Behaviors Related to Health and Well-Being of Young College Students: Associations between Use Profile and Sociodemographic Variables—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Pessoa Kaline , Alves Costa Cícero Luciano , Coelho Ana Cláudia , Bastos Ana , Rodrigues Isilda
Published: February 2023

The use of Instagram and content from digital influencers to gain information and adopt behaviors related to health and well-being may be associated with sociodemographic variables. Few studies have been conducted in different contexts regarding the use of Instagram to obtain information about health and well-being and its relationship with sociodemographic variables. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed with a convenience sample of the population of students attending a degree course in physical education, in the northeast region of Brazil, to assess the prevalence of Instagram use as a resource for the adoption of behaviors related to health and well-being, as well as to understand the associations between use profiles and sociodemographic variables. An online validated questionnaire was completed by 162 students from March to June 2021. Descriptive statistics and analysis of artificial networks were used. Results indicate the profile of using Instagram to obtain information about health and well-being is impacted by sociodemographic variables such as gender, age, monthly income, and the semester the student is attending. Specifically, although men adopt health and well-being behaviors more frequently, the relationship between variables such as age and monthly income and the variables of the Instagram use profile is stronger among women. However, the adoption of behaviors and the belief in their contribution to self-care establish a strong relationship among both genders. It is concluded that sociodemographic variables can contribute to a better understanding of the use of Instagram to adopt behaviors related to health and well-being.