bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of [18F]AlF-EMP-105 for Molecular Imaging of C-Met
Authors: Teh Jin Hui , Amgheib Ala , Fu Ruisi , Barnes Chris , Abrahams Joel , Ashek Ali , Wang Ning , Yang Zixuan , Mansoorudeen Muneera , Long Nicholas J. , Aboagye Eric O.
Published: July 2023

C-Met is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is overexpressed in a range of different cancer types, and has been identified as a potential biomarker for cancer imaging and therapy. Previously, a 68Ga-labelled peptide, [68Ga]Ga-EMP-100, has shown promise for imaging c-Met in renal cell carcinoma in humans. Herein, we report the synthesis and preliminary biological evaluation of an [18F]AlF-labelled analogue, [18F]AlF-EMP-105, for c-Met imaging by positron emission tomography. EMP-105 was radiolabelled using the aluminium-[18F]fluoride method with 46 ± 2% RCY and >95% RCP in 35–40 min. In vitro evaluation showed that [18F]AlF-EMP-105 has a high specificity for c-Met-expressing cells. Radioactive metabolite analysis at 5 and 30 min post-injection revealed that [18F]AlF-EMP-105 has good blood stability, but undergoes transformation—transchelation, defluorination or demetallation—in the liver and kidneys. PET imaging in non-tumour-bearing mice showed high radioactive accumulation in the kidneys, bladder and urine, demonstrating that the tracer is cleared predominantly as [18F]fluoride by the renal system. With its high specificity for c-Met expressing cells, [18F]AlF-EMP-105 shows promise as a potential diagnostic tool for imaging cancer.
Nanocellulose-Based Film-Forming Hydrogels for Improved Outcomes in Atopic Skin
Authors: Bolko Seljak Katarina , Sterle Zorec Barbara , Gosenca Matjaž Mirjam
Published: July 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by impaired skin barrier function. Amongst the various dermal formulations that are being used and/or investigated for AD treatment, one of the advanced approaches is the use of hydrogels as film-forming systems that are applied directly to the skin and have the added value of providing a physical barrier, which is lacking in atopic skin. Novel film-forming hydrogels based on two different nanocrystalline celluloses (NCCs) in combination with one of two natural polymers (alginate or pectin) were developed for incorporation of betamethasone dipropionate (BDP). Initially, the low water solubility of BDP was resolved by prior dissolution in a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). The mixture of Kolliphor® EL/Capryol® 90 in a ratio of 8/2 was chosen on the merit of its high BDP-saturated solubility and no BDP precipitation upon water dilution, enabling BDP to remain dissolved after incorporation into hydrogels. The solvent evaporation method was used to prepare the films, and their high water retention capacity was confirmed in vitro on artificial membranes and pig ear skin. The presented results thus confirm NCC-based film-forming hydrogels as a very promising drug delivery system for AD treatment.
Reduction of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Co-Administration of Smart Liposomal Doxorubicin and Free Quercetin: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Dorostkar Hamidreza , Haghiralsadat Bibi Fatemeh , Hemati Mahdie , Safari Fatemeh , Hassanpour Azam , Naghib Seyed Morteza , Roozbahani Mohammad Hossein , Mozafari M. R. , Moradi Ali
Published: July 2023

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective chemotherapeutic agents; however, it has various side effects, such as cardiotoxicity. Therefore, novel methods are needed to reduce its adverse effects. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid with many biological activities. Liposomes are lipid-based carriers widely used in medicine for drug delivery. In this study, liposomal doxorubicin with favorable characteristics was designed and synthesized by the thin-film method, and its physicochemical properties were investigated by different laboratory techniques. Then, the impact of the carrier, empty liposomes, free doxorubicin, liposomal doxorubicin, and quercetin were analyzed in animal models. To evaluate the interventions, measurements of cardiac enzymes, oxidative stress and antioxidant markers, and protein expression were performed, as well as histopathological studies. Additionally, cytotoxicity assay and cellular uptake were carried out on H9c2 cells. The mean size of the designed liposomes was 98.8 nm, and the encapsulation efficiency (EE%) was about 85%. The designed liposomes were anionic and pH-sensitive and had a controlled release pattern with excellent stability. Co-administration of liposomal doxorubicin with free quercetin to rats led to decreased weight loss, creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and malondialdehyde (MDA), while it increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase enzymes in their left ventricles. Additionally, it changed the expression of NOX1, Rac1, Rac1-GTP, SIRT3, and Bcl-2 proteins, and caused tissue injury and cell cytotoxicity. Our data showed that interventions can increase antioxidant capacity, reduce oxidative stress and apoptosis in heart tissue, and lead to fewer complications. Overall, the use of liposomal doxorubicin alone or the co-administration of free doxorubicin with free quercetin showed promising results.
EHO-85, Novel Amorphous Antioxidant Hydrogel, Containing Olea europaea Leaf Extract—Rheological Properties, and Superiority over a Standard Hydrogel in Accelerating Early Wound Healing: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Verdú-Soriano José , de Cristino-Espinar Marisol , Luna-Morales Silvia , Dios-Guerra Caridad , Casado-Díaz Antonio , Quesada-Gómez José Manuel , Dorado Gabriel , Berenguer-Pérez Miriam , Vílchez Susana , Esquena Jordi , Rodríguez-Mañas Leocadio , Lázaro-Martínez José Luis
Published: July 2023

Many advanced wound healing dressings exist, but there is little high-quality evidence to support them. To determine the performance of a novel amorphous hydrogel (EHO-85) in relation to its application, we compared its rheological properties with those of other standard hydrogels (SH), and we assessed the induction of acceleration of the early stages of wound healing as a secondary objective of a prospective, multicenter, randomized, observer-blinded, controlled trial. The patients were recruited if they had pressure, venous, or diabetic foot ulcers and were treated with EHO-85 (n = 103) or VariHesive® (SH) (n = 92), and their response was assessed by intention-to-treat as wound area reduction (WAR (%)) and healing rate (HR mm2/day) in the second and fourth weeks of treatment. Results: EHO-85 had the highest shear thinning and G′/G″ ratio, the lowest viscous modulus, G″, and relatively low cohesive energy; EHO-85 had a significantly superior effect over SH in WAR and HR, accelerating wound healing in the second and fourth weeks of application (p: 0.002). This superiority is likely based on its optimal moisturizing capacity and excellent pH-lowering and antioxidant properties. In addition, the distinct shear thinning of EHO-85 facilitates spreading by gentle hand pressure, making it easier to apply to wounds. These rheological properties contribute to its improved performance.
Uncovering the Burden of Rhinitis in Patients Purchasing Nonprescription Short-Acting β-Agonist (SABA) in the Community
Authors: Alamyar Sara , Azzi Elizabeth , Srour-Alphonse Pamela , House Rachel , Cvetkovski Biljana , Kritikos Vicky , Bosnic-Anticevich Sinthia
Published: July 2023

Asthma and rhinitis are common comorbidities that amplify the burden of each disease. They are both characterized by poor symptom control, low adherence to clinical management guidelines, and high levels of patient self-management. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence of self-reported rhinitis symptoms in people with asthma purchasing Short-Acting Beta Agonist (SABA) reliever medication from a community pharmacy and compare the medication-related behavioral characteristics among those who self-report rhinitis symptoms and those who do not. Data were analyzed from 333 people with asthma who visited one of eighteen community pharmacies in New South Wales from 2017–2018 to purchase SABA and completed a self-administered questionnaire. Participants who reported rhinitis symptoms (71%), compared to those who did not, were significantly more likely to have coexisting gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), overuse SABA, and experience side effects. They may have been prescribed daily preventer medication but forget to take it, and worry about its side effects. They were also more likely to experience moderate-to-severe rhinitis (74.0%), inaccurately perceive their asthma as well-controlled (50.0% self-determined vs. 14.8% clinical-guideline defined), and unlikely to use rhinitis medications (26.2%) or daily preventer medication (26.7%). These findings enhance our understanding of this cohort and allow us to identify interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Some Physiological Effects of Nanofertilizers on Wheat-Aphid Interactions
Authors: Chamani Masoud , Naseri Bahram , Rafiee-Dastjerdi Hooshang , Emaratpardaz Javid , Ebadollahi Asgar , Palla Franco
Published: July 2023

The increasing use of nanofertilizers in modern agriculture and their impact on crop yield and pest management require further research. In this study, the effects of nano-Fe, -Zn, and -Cu (which are synthesized based on nanochelating technology), and urea (N) fertilizers on the antioxidant activities of wheat plants (cv. Chamran), and the wheat green aphid Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) are investigated. The authors observed the highest levels of phenolics in non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants (26% higher compared with control). The highest H2O2 levels are in the infested and non-infested nano-Zn-treated and infested nano-Fe-treated plants (in infested nano-Zn and nano-Fe treated plants, 18% and non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants, 28% higher compared with control). The highest peroxidase (POX) activity is observed in the infested and non-infested N-treated and non-infested water-treated plants (almost 14%, 37%, and 46% higher than control, respectively). The lowest activity is in the infested plants’ nano-Zn and -Fe treatments (almost 7 and 5 folds lower compared to the control, respectively). The highest and lowest catalase (CAT) activity are in the infested N-treated plants (almost 42% higher than control) and water-treated plants, respectively. The infested nano-Zn, -Fe, -Cu and Hoagland-treated plants showed the highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Regarding the antioxidant enzyme activities of S. graminum, the highest POX activity is in the nano-Cu treatment (more than two folds higher compared with control); the highest CAT and SOD activities are in the nano-Cu and -Zn treatments. It can be concluded that the application of nanofertilizers caused increasing effects on the wheat plant’s antioxidant system and its resistance to S. graminum.
Functional Characterization and Toxicity of Pectin from Red Chilto Fruit Waste (Peels)
Authors: Orqueda María Eugenia , Zampini Iris Catiana , Torres Sebastian , Isla María Inés
Published: July 2023

Background: Food and agricultural wastes constitute a rich source of functional ingredients for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. In this context, by-products from the red variety of Solanum betaceum fruits (chilto) from Northwestern Argentina are suitable sources for pectin extraction. Methods: In this study, pectin from the peels of red chilto fruits was extracted and characterized. Results: The recovery yield of red chilto peel pectin was about 24%, and it was co-extracted with 40.0 mg phenolic compounds, 6.5 mg anthocyanins, and 4.7 g proteins per 100 g of pectin. The pectin obtained from red chilto showed proper technological functionality displaying water and oil holding capacities of 4.2 and 2.0%, respectively, an emulsifying capacity of 83%, emulsion stability of 87.5%, foaming capacity of 21.1%, and foaming stability of 79.1%. The pectin displayed antioxidant activity with the ability to scavenge ABTS radical, superoxide anion, and H2O2. The polysaccharide exhibited in vitro hypoglycemic potential and inhibited the α-amylase enzyme, retarded glucose diffusion, and improved the cellular uptake of glucose in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae model. The extract was non-toxic on acute toxicity tests. Conclusions: Red chilto pectin showed potential as a new and safe functional ingredient for the design of foods, health products, and cosmetics.
Finite Element Analysis of Upper Limb Splint Designs and Materials for 3D Printing
Authors: Mian Syed Hammad , Umer Usama , Moiduddin Khaja , Alkhalefah Hisham
Published: July 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) printed splints must be lightweight and adequately ventilated to maximize the patient’s convenience while maintaining requisite strength. The ensuing loss of strength has a substantial impact on the transformation of a solid splint model into a perforated or porous model. Thus, two methods for making perforations—standard approach and topological optimization—are investigated in this study. The objective of this research is to ascertain the impact of different perforation shapes and their distribution as well as topology optimization on the customized splint model. The solid splint models made of various materials have been transformed into porous designs to evaluate their strength by utilizing Finite Element (FE) simulation. This study will have a substantial effect on the designing concept for medical devices as well as other industries such as automobiles and aerospace. The novelty of the research refers to creating the perforations as well as applying topology optimization and 3D printing in practice. According to the comparison of the various materials, PLA had the least amount of deformation and the highest safety factor for all loading directions. Additionally, it was shown that all perforation shapes behave similarly, implying that the perforation shape’s effect is not notably pronounced. However, square perforations seemed to perform the best out of all the perforation shape types. It was also obvious that the topology-optimized hand splint outperformed that with square perforations. The topology-optimized hand splint weighs 26% less than the solid splint, whereas the square-perforated hand splint weighs roughly 12% less. Nevertheless, the user must choose which strategy (standard perforations or topology optimization) to employ based on the available tools and prerequisites.
Effect of Reduction Methods on the Properties of Composite Films of Bacterial Cellulose-Silver Nanoparticles
Authors: Jenkhongkarn Ratchanon , Phisalaphong Muenduen
Published: July 2023

Composite films of bacterial cellulose-silver nanoparticles (BC-Ag) were prepared by different methods of in situ reduction of silver ions, using sodium hydroxide, ascorbic acid, chitosan, and UV irradiation. The effects of the reduction methods on their properties were investigated. The chitosan-reduced composite exhibited dispersed silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) within the nanocellulose matrix with the smallest size, while the ascorbic-reduced composite displayed the largest size. The incorporation of AgNPs tended to reduce the crystallinity of the composites, except for the ascorbic-reduced composite, which exhibited an increase in crystallinity. Mechanical testing revealed that the ascorbic-reduced composite had the highest Young’s modulus of 8960 MPa, whereas the UV-reduced composite had the highest tensile strength and elongation at break. Thermal analysis of BC-Ag composites indicated similar glass transition temperature and decomposition profiles to BC, with additional weight-loss steps at high temperatures. The sodium hydroxide-reduced composite demonstrated the highest electrical conductivity of 1.1 × 10−7 S/cm. Water absorption capacity was reduced by the incorporation of AgNPs, except for the chitosan-reduced composite, which showed an enhanced water absorption capacity of 344%. All BC-Ag composites displayed very strong antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. These results also highlight the potential uses of BC-Ag composites for various applications.
Effect of Recombinant Spidroins Self-Assembly on Rheological Behavior of Their Dispersions and Structure of Electrospun Nanofibrous Materials
Authors: Tenchurin Timur Kh. , Sharikov Roman V. , Belousov Sergei I. , Streltsov Dmitry R. , Malakhov Sergey N. , Yastremsky Evgeny V. , Chesnokov Yuri M. , Davydova Lyubov I. , Bogush Vladimir G. , Chvalun Sergei N.
Published: July 2023

The effect of primary amino acid sequence in recombinant spidroins on their spatial organization is crucial for the fabrication of artificial fibers and fibrous materials. This study focuses on the rheological properties of aqueous and alcoholic solutions of recombinant analogs of natural spidroins (rS1/9 and rS2/12), as well as the structure of their films and nanofibrous materials. Non-Newtonian flow behavior of aqueous solutions of these proteins was observed at certain concentrations in contrast to their solutions in hexafluoroisopropanol. The secondary structure of recombinant spidroins was addressed by IR spectroscopy, whereas their self-organization in various solvents was studied by AFM and cryo-TEM. The influence of the solvent on the structure and properties of the films and nanofibrous materials produced by electrospinning has been established.
Iron-Coordinated L-Lysine–Based Nanozymes with High Peroxidase-like Activity for Sensitive Hydrogen Peroxide and Glucose Detection
Authors: Hou Xiuqing , Wang Ruoxue , Zhang Huijuan , Zhang Meng , Qu Xiongwei , Hu Xiuli
Published: July 2023

It is crucial to develop sensitive and accurate sensing strategies to detect H2O2 and glucose in biological systems. Herein, biocompatible iron-coordinated L-lysine–based hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mimetic enzymes (Lys-Fe-NPs) were prepared by precipitation polymerization in aqueous solution. The coordinated Fe2+ ion acted as centers of peroxidase-like enzymes of Lys-Fe-NPs, and the catalytic activity was evaluated via the oxidation of 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H2O2. Therefore, a sensitive colorimetric detection sensor for H2O2 was constructed with a linear range of 1 to 200 μM and a detection limit of 0.51 μM. The same method could also be applied to highly sensitive and selective detection of glucose, with a linear range of 0.5 to 150 μM and a detection limit of 0.32 μM. In addition, an agarose-based hydrogel biosensor colorimetric was successfully implemented for visual assessment and quantitative detection of glucose. The design provided a novel platform for constructing stable and nonprotein enzyme mimics with lysine and showed great potential applications in biorelevant assays.
Eco-Friendly Blends of Recycled PET Copolymers with PLLA and Their Composites with Chopped Flax Fibres
Authors: Kuété Martial Aimé , Van Velthem Pascal , Ballout Wael , Klavzer Nathan , Nysten Bernard , Ndikontar Maurice Kor , Pardoen Thomas , Bailly Christian
Published: July 2023

The structure and properties of blends of a novel polyethylene terephthalate copolymer (COPET) obtained by chemical recycling of commercial PET with high-molar-mass poly-L-lactide (PLLA) are investigated and compared to corresponding composites with chopped flax fibres. The focus is on the morphology at nano- and micro-scales, on the thermal characteristics and on the mechanical behaviour. The blends are immiscible, as evidenced by virtually unchanged glass transition temperatures of the blend components compared to the neat polymers (49 °C for COPET and 63 °C for PLLA by DSC). At low PLLA content, the blends display a sea–island morphology with sub-micron to micron droplet sizes. As the composition approaches 50/50, the morphology transitions to a coarser co-continuous elongated structure. The blends and composites show strongly improved stiffness compared to COPET above its glass transition temperature, e.g., from melt behaviour at 60 °C for COPET alone to almost 600 MPa for the 50/50 blend and 500 MPa for the 20% flax composite of the 80/20 COPET/PLLA blend. The flax fibres increase the crystallisation rate of PLLA in blends with dispersed PLLA morphology. The evidence of cavitation on the fracture surfaces of blends shows that despite the immiscibility of the components, the interfacial adhesion between the phases is excellent. This is attributed to the presence of aliphatic ester spacers in COPET. The tensile strength of the 80/20 blend is around 50 MPa with a Young’s modulus of 2250 MPa. The corresponding 20% flax composite has similar tensile strength but a high Young’s modulus equal to 6400 MPa, which results from the individual dispersion and strong adhesion of the flax fibres and leads close to the maximum possible reinforcement of the composite, as demonstrated by tensile tests and nano-indentation. The Ashby approach to eco-selection relying on the embodied energy (EE) further clarifies the eco-friendliness of the blends and their composites, which are even better positioned than PLLA in a stiffness versus EE chart.
Textured Polyester Fiber in Three-Dimensional (3D) Carpet Structure Application: Experimental Characterizations under Compression–Bending–Abrasion–Rubbing Loading
Authors: Erdogan Gulhan , Yucel Sinem , Bilisik Kadir
Published: July 2023

In this article, textured polyester fiber was used as pile yarn in three-dimensional woven carpet structures. The properties of developed polyester carpets under various mechanical loading were studied. A statistical method was used to analyze the experimental data. Regression models were proposed to explain the relationships between carpet pile height and density. The study showed that the bending rigidity and curvature of dry and wet polyester pile fiber carpets were influenced by pile height and pile density (indirectly weft density) in that the downward concave large bending curvature was obtained from very dense carpet structures. In addition, the average dry bending rigidity of the carpet was over eight times higher than the average wet bending rigidity of the carpet. The thickness loss (%) and resilience (%) for each recovery period of various polyester carpets were proportional depending on the pile density. It was broadly decreased when the pile density was increased due to the compression load carrying capacity per polyester fiber knot, which was higher in carpets having dense knots compared to sparse knots per area. On the other hand, the polyester pile density and height largely affected the carpet mass losses (%) of all textured polyester carpets under an abrasion load. The number of strokes received after completely fractured polyester pile yarns during a rubbing test were increased when the pile heights for each pile density were increased. Findings from the study can be useful for polyester carpet designers and three-dimensional dry or impregnate polyester fiber-based preform designers in particularly complex shape molding part manufacturing.
Research on the Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Distribution Behavior and Influencing Factors of Swirling Flow in Horizontal Pipe
Authors: Zhang Ming , Chen Jiaqing , Wang Qiangqiang , Kong Lingzhen , Shang Chao , Wang Chunsheng , Ding Guodong , Ji Yipeng , Lei Junyong
Published: July 2023

Gas-liquid two-phase swirling flow is widely used for gas-liquid separation in the power, chemical, petroleum, and nuclear industries. However, the majority of current research on swirling flow focuses on identifying flow patterns and does not pay more attention to topics such as the boundary where swirling flow forms. The length and diameter of the central gas core are the main focus of the current studies as well as the distribution patterns of gas-liquid two-phase. Comparative studies on the gas-liquid distribution morphology, such as whether the gas phase is separated and the separation mode, are lacking. In this paper, a combination of visual experimental observations and numerical simulations of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is used to investigate the formation conditions of gas-liquid two-phase swirling flow in three types of cyclonic components. The results show that the minimum superficial liquid velocity for the formation of swirling flow in the horizontal tube is about 0.375~0.82 m/s when the superficial gas velocity is less than 10 m/s. The formation of swirling flow is almost independent of the geometric swirl number and superficial liquid velocity when the superficial gas velocity is greater than 10 m/s. At low inlet superficial velocities, the tangential velocity determines the transition from swirling flow to stratified flow. However, at higher inlet superficial velocities, the decay of the cyclonic field is mainly affected by the wave amplitude of the gas-liquid interface. In both co-current and counter-current horizontal inline gas-liquid cyclone separators, the flow split is related to the vortex core breakdown of the central gas core. In addition, the numerical simulation results show that the breakdown of the vortex core is related to the pressure distribution inside the separator. This work enriches the study of swirling flow and provides a basis for the performance improvement of inline gas-liquid cyclone separators.
Micromixing Performance in a Taylor–Couette Reactor with Ribbed Rotors
Authors: Tang Jianxin , Wang Chenfeng , Liu Fei , Yang Xiaoxia , Wang Rijie
Published: July 2023

The Taylor–Couette reactor (TCR) is becoming an increasingly significant topic in chemical industry. This study investigates the micromixing performance of a ribbed TCR with axial flow in the Villermaux–Dushman reaction system. The local micromixing mechanism of the ribbed TCR was analyzed, and the volume-averaged energy dissipation rate was calculated using CFD. The effects of operating parameters and rib structural parameters on micromixing performance were investigated. The results show that the introduction of ribs eliminates the high shear region between the vortex pairs, resulting in the strong micromixing region being situated on the inner and outer cylinder wall surfaces and the ribbed surface region. Smaller rib spacing, larger rib width, and rib height can strengthen micromixing and result in a smaller segregation index. Micromixing times of ribbed TCRs were calculated using the incorporation model, tm, in the range of 2.0 × 10−5 to 8.0 × 10−3. The results show that ribbed TCRs require a lower energy consumption to achieve a lower tm than other rotating reactors. A correlation equation between tm and five parameters was developed, with a correlation coefficient of 0.951. The accuracy of the volume-averaged energy dissipation rate obtained via CFD was verified through experimental analysis. The correlation between the micromixing time and the volume-averaged energy dissipation rate was established in a form that satisfies Kolmogorov’s turbulence theory for tm. To convert the volume-averaged energy dissipation rate into a local energy dissipation rate, a factor ϕ was introduced and solved using the engulfing diffusion model. This study provides insights into the design and optimization of ribbed TCRs.
New Bioretention Drainage Channel as One of the Low-Impact Development Solutions: A Case Study from Poland
Authors: Stec Agnieszka , Słyś Daniel
Published: July 2023

In recent years, as a result of intensive urbanisation, a significant increase in the surface of impermeable areas has been observed, which results in changes in the hydrological cycle of catchments. In order to counteract these changes, low-impact development (LID) solutions are increasingly being implemented in urban catchments, including bioretention systems. Taking this into account, a new bioretention drainage channel (BRC) was designed, whose main task is retention, infiltration, and pre-treatment of rainwater. The pilot laboratory tests carried out on two BRC prototypes (K1 and K2) showed that the average rate of reduction of mineral-suspended solids from rainwater was 69% and 57%, respectively, for K1 and K2. Analysing the results of the research, it was found that the bioretention drainage channel is characterised by very high efficiency in removing petroleum hydrocarbons from rainwater, and the reduction rate of these pollutants for both the K1 and K2 channels was close to 100%. In turn, hydrodynamic studies carried out on the model of the urban catchment showed that the implementation of BRCs will reduce the peak runoff by more than 82%, and the maximum flow in the sewage network by 83%.
Assimilating AMSU-A Radiance Observations with an Ensemble Four-Dimensional Variational (En4DVar) Hybrid Data Assimilation System
Authors: Zhu Shujun , Wang Bin , Zhang Lin , Liu Juanjuan , Liu Yongzhu , Gong Jiandong , Xu Shiming , Wang Yong , Huang Wenyu , Liu Li , He Yujun , Wu Xiangjun , Zhao Bin , Chen Fajing
Published: July 2023

Many ensemble-based data assimilation (DA) methods use observation space localization to mitigate the sampling errors due to the insufficient ensemble members. Observation space localization is simpler and more timesaving than model space localization in implementation, but more difficult to directly assimilate satellite radiance observations, a kind of non-local observations. The vertical locations of radiance observations are undetermined and the transmission of observational information is thereby obstructed. To determine the vertical coordinates of radiance observations, a weighted average hypsometry is proposed. Using this hypsometry, AMSU-A radiance observations are directly assimilated with an ensemble four-dimensional variational (En4DVar) DA system. It consists of a four-dimensional ensemble-variational (4DEnVar) system providing ensemble covariance and a 4DVar system. Observing system simulation experiments show that the hypsometry alleviates the degradations in the late period of medium-range forecast in the Northern Extratropics that occur in the traditional peak-based hypsometry. It obviously improves the analysis qualities and forecast skills of the En4DVar system and its two components, especially in the Southern Extratropics, when incorporating AMSU-A radiance observations. The improvement in the En4DVar-initialized forecast is comparable to that in the 4DVar-initialized forecast in the Southern Extratropics and Tropics. It indicates that a proper hypsometry enables efficient extraction of useful information from AMSU-A radiance observations by 4DEnVar with observation space localization. Therefore, the 4DEnVar provides high-quality ensemble covariances for En4DVar.
Multi-Level Difference Network for Change Detection from Very High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images: A Case Study in Open-Pit Mines
Authors: Li Wei , Li Jun , Du Shouhang , Zhang Chengye , Xing Jianghe
Published: July 2023

Automatic change detection based on remote sensing is playing an increasingly important role in the national economy construction. To address the problem of limited change detection accuracy in existing single-level difference networks, this study proposes the Multi-level Difference Network (MDNet) for automatic change detection of ground targets from very high-resolution (VHR) remote sensing images. An early-difference network and a late-difference network are combined by MDNet to extract multi-level change features. The early-difference network can focus on change information throughout to reduce the spurious changes in the change detection results, and the late-difference network can provide deep features of a single image for reducing rough boundaries and scattered holes in the change detection results, thus improving the accuracy. However, not all high-level features extracted by MDNet contribute to the recognition of image differences, and the multi-level change features suffer from cross-channel heterogeneity. Stacking them directly on channels does not make effective use of change information, thus limiting the performance of MDNet. Therefore, the Multi-level Change Features Fusion Module (MCFFM) is proposed in this study for the effective fusion of multi-level change features. In the experiments, the publicly available open-pit mine change detection (OMCD) dataset was used first to achieve a change detection of open-pit mines over a large area, with an F1-score of 89.2%, increasing by 1.3% to 5.9% compared to the benchmark methods. Then, a self-made OMCD dataset was used to achieve an F1-score of 92.8% for the localized and fine-scale change detection in open-pit mines, which is an improvement of 0.7% to 5.4% compared to the benchmark methods. Finally, the Season-varying Change Detection Dataset is used to verify that the MDNet proposed can detect changes in other scenarios very well. The experimental results show that the proposed MDNet has significantly improved the performance of change detection on the three datasets compared with six advanced deep learning models, which will contribute to the development of change detection with VHR remote sensing images.
A Cluster-Based Energy-Efficient Secure Optimal Path-Routing Protocol for Wireless Body-Area Sensor Networks
Authors: Dass Ruby , Narayanan Manikandan , Ananthakrishnan Gayathri , Kathirvel Murugan Tamilarasi , Nallakaruppan Musiri Kailasanathan , Somayaji Siva Rama Krishnan , Arputharaj Kannan , Khan Surbhi Bhatia , Almusharraf Ahlam
Published: July 2023

Recently, research into Wireless Body-Area Sensor Networks (WBASN) or Wireless Body-Area Networks (WBAN) has gained much importance in medical applications, and now plays a significant role in patient monitoring. Among the various operations, routing is still recognized as a resource-intensive activity. As a result, designing an energy-efficient routing system for WBAN is critical. The existing routing algorithms focus more on energy efficiency than security. However, security attacks will lead to more energy consumption, which will reduce overall network performance. To handle the issues of reliability, energy efficiency, and security in WBAN, a new cluster-based secure routing protocol called the Secure Optimal Path-Routing (SOPR) protocol has been proposed in this paper. This proposed algorithm provides security by identifying and avoiding black-hole attacks on one side, and by sending data packets in encrypted form on the other side to strengthen communication security in WBANs. The main advantages of implementing the proposed protocol include improved overall network performance by increasing the packet-delivery ratio and reducing attack-detection overheads, detection time, energy consumption, and delay.
Adversarial-Aware Deep Learning System Based on a Secondary Classical Machine Learning Verification Approach
Authors: Alkhowaiter Mohammed , Kholidy Hisham , Alyami Mnassar A. , Alghamdi Abdulmajeed , Zou Cliff
Published: July 2023

Deep learning models have been used in creating various effective image classification applications. However, they are vulnerable to adversarial attacks that seek to misguide the models into predicting incorrect classes. Our study of major adversarial attack models shows that they all specifically target and exploit the neural networking structures in their designs. This understanding led us to develop a hypothesis that most classical machine learning models, such as random forest (RF), are immune to adversarial attack models because they do not rely on neural network design at all. Our experimental study of classical machine learning models against popular adversarial attacks supports this hypothesis. Based on this hypothesis, we propose a new adversarial-aware deep learning system by using a classical machine learning model as the secondary verification system to complement the primary deep learning model in image classification. Although the secondary classical machine learning model has less accurate output, it is only used for verification purposes, which does not impact the output accuracy of the primary deep learning model, and, at the same time, can effectively detect an adversarial attack when a clear mismatch occurs. Our experiments based on the CIFAR-100 dataset show that our proposed approach outperforms current state-of-the-art adversarial defense systems.
Applying Blockchain Technology and the Internet of Things to Improve the Data Reliability for Livestock Insurance
Authors: Shen Lihua , Zhang Zhibin , Zhou Youmei , Xu Yingying
Published: July 2023

Animal husbandry is a vital sector in China’s agriculture sector, contributing to over one-third of its agricultural output, and more than 40% of farmers’ income. However, this industry is vulnerable to risks arising from production and operation, such as disease outbreaks, natural disasters, and market fluctuations. Livestock insurance can help mitigate these risks, but the lack of reliable data on shed environments has hindered its effectiveness. The objective of this study is to propose a livestock shed environmental regulatory platform that utilizes blockchain and the Internet of Things to ensure data authenticity, real-time monitoring, and transparency in the regulatory process. The platform also automates the insurance process, reducing costs and improving efficiency. The proposed platform employs blockchain to ensure data authenticity and devices to monitor and collect real-time environmental data. It also utilizes smart contracts to automate the insurance process, from negotiating and signing contracts to making insurance claims. The system’s design rationale, architecture, and implementation are detailed. The proposed platform has been implemented and currently manages over 300,000 livestock animals with more than 350,000 insurance contracts signed. The use of blockchain and the Internet of Things has ensured data authenticity, real-time monitoring, and transparency in the regulatory process, while the automation of the insurance process has reduced costs and improved efficiency. The proposed livestock shed environmental regulatory platform has the potential to improve the effectiveness of livestock insurance in China by addressing the critical issue of data reliability. The use of blockchain and the Internet of Things has enabled real-time monitoring, data authenticity, and transparency in the regulatory process, while the automation of the insurance process has improved efficiency and reduced costs. This platform could serve as a model for other countries looking to improve the effectiveness of their livestock insurance programs.
The Temporal Variation of Secondary Metabolites in the Mycobiont Culture and Thallus of Parmelina carporrhizans and Parmelina quercina Analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography
Authors: Alors David , Divakar Pradeep Kumar , Calchera Anjuli , Schmitt Imke , Crespo Ana , Molina María Carmen
Published: July 2023

Lichens are composite organisms that produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites; many of the compounds have a high potential as bioactive compounds. The major limitations of using bioactive compounds from lichens is their slow growth rate and the damage to environmental populations caused by massive collection. The alternative to the massive collection of lichens in the field is their culture under laboratory conditions. We chose two related lichen species of Parmeliaceae that produce similar metabolites and isolated from spores in cultures placed under axenic conditions for over 550 days. From these cultures, we sampled 35 mg of each species from different culture media at two sampling times. The samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to detect and identify major compounds. We found no differences in the metabolites produced within the species in comparisons between different culture media. Our results show that the mycobiont cultures produced different secondary metabolites than those found in natural lichen thalli. Moreover, different secondary metabolites between species and different metabolites over time were observed. We conclude that mycobiont cultures are a promising alternative for determining bioactive compounds and enhancing the efficiency of growth and production. These could be a good option for eco-friendly metabolite production.
Psychometric Test Review of the Abusive Behaviour Inventory (ABI)
Authors: Heron Rebecca , McAndrew Gracie , Parsonson Karen , Browne Kevin
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the Abusive Behaviour Inventory (ABI), which is regarded as an efficient self-report measure with demonstrated high reliability and validity. This examination aims to determine the tool’s effectiveness when screening for victims of domestic violence and present recommendations for how the device may be improved. Within this critique, the ABI is analysed through a literature review and the exploration of the tool’s development. A detailed overview of the ABI is included, and its reliability and validity are critically reviewed. Findings from the research base of this tool are presented and also discussed. While the ABI is regarded as an efficient self-report measure which has been demonstrated to have both high reliability and validity, after evaluation, implementing a structured professional judgement (SPJ) approach is recommended. This would expand the tool’s utility to include risk and safety assessment. In addition, methods and considerations for including LGBTQ relationships are introduced. Finally, implications for the ABI’s use in informing batterer intervention programs are highlighted. It is concluded that more research is warranted to continue increasing the ABI’s applicability to different intimate relationship archetypes and populations.
Light-Induced Condensates Show Accumulation-Prone and Less Dynamic Properties in the Nucleus Compared to the Cytoplasm
Authors: Hamada Yuta , Kitamura Akira
Published: July 2023

Biomolecular condensates, including membraneless organelles, are ubiquitously observed in subcellular compartments. However, the accumulation and dynamic properties of arbitrarily induced condensates remain elusive. Here, we show the size, amount, and dynamic properties of subcellular condensates using various fluorescence spectroscopic imaging analyses. Spatial image correlation spectroscopy showed that the size of blue-light-induced condensates of cryptochrome 2-derived oligomerization tag (CRY2olig) tagged with a red fluorescent protein in the nucleus was not different from that in the cytoplasm. Fluorescence intensity measurements showed that the condensates in the nucleus were more prone to accumulation than those in the cytoplasm. Single-particle tracking analysis showed that the condensates in the nucleus are predisposed to have stationary dynamics compared to those in the cytoplasm. Therefore, the subcellular compartment may, in part, affect the characteristics of self-recruitment of biomolecules in the condensates and their movement property.
How Urban Morphology Relates to the Urban Heat Island Effect: A Multi-Indicator Study
Authors: Liu Biao , Guo Xian , Jiang Jie
Published: July 2023

Urban morphology quantitatively expresses a city’s spatial structure, internal relationships, and physical form. It has advantages for predicting urban growth and analyzing the current state of cities in the literature. A comprehensive study on the complex relationships between urban morphology and urban heat island intensity (UHII) is of great importance for mitigating the urban heat island (UHI) effect for megacities. This study models urban morphological indicators in fine resolution based on three aspects: building morphology, ecological infrastructure, and human activities. The model accurately captures UHII by employing the definition of UHI effects. The relationship between urban morphology and UHII was further examined using extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP). By taking central Beijing, China as study area, major findings include the following: (1) Significant daytime UHI effects were observed within the research area, particularly during the summer months, when it appears to be most severe. More than 90% of the region experiences varying degrees of the UHI effects. (2) UHI is significantly correlated with both 2D and 3D urban morphological indicators. Low sky view factor (SVF) and high SVF tend to mitigate UHI, whereas moderate SVF tends to aggravate UHI. (3) In densely populated areas, tall trees may be more effective than other forms of vegetation at mitigating UHI. Based on the aforementioned findings, this article suggests that urban morphology optimization should focus on seasonality, spatial specificity, and indicator specificity for megacities in urban design and spatial planning aimed at mitigating UHI.
Do Changes in Attribute Weights between Two Platforms Alter Interplay Effects in the O2O Era? Two Time-Lag Intervals in the Tourism Sector
Authors: Kim Kowoon , Ha Hong-Youl
Published: July 2023

Hotels and their online agencies have an interplay effect on the online-to-offline (O2O) platform. Since the new platform cannot do business with one service provider alone, understanding the changes in attributes that determine service satisfaction during subsequent consumption events is crucial. Despite such interrelationships between online agency services and offline hotel services, there remains a dearth of empirical research on this issue. Grounded in the consumption system approach, the present paper attempted to empirically examine the temporal, carryover, and interplay relationships among service attributes, customer satisfaction, and loyalty intentions in the hotel O2O commerce context. We developed a conceptual model for the establishment of consumption systems that consist of two different service providers and tested it using two time-lag interval data. The results showed that the relationship between attribute-level ratings and satisfaction is dynamic for both tourism websites and hotels. In particular, we found that changes in online tourism website attributes are more dynamic than changes in hotel attributes. Furthermore, while the tourism website satisfaction–hotel loyalty intentions linkage strengthens during consumption episodes, the hotel satisfaction–tourism website loyalty intentions linkage weakens, demonstrating the difference in temporal effects on O2O businesses. Meanwhile, although the relationship between satisfaction and loyalty intentions are strengthened in the online tourism sector, the same relationship if weakened in the hotel sector. Finally, we found no carryover effects in the Chinese hospitality sectors.
Impact of Agricultural Industrial Agglomeration on Agricultural Environmental Efficiency in China: A Spatial Econometric Analysis
Authors: Ye Rendao , Qi Yue , Zhu Wenyan
Published: July 2023

In recent years, China has made remarkable progress in increasing yield at the expense of resource depletion, excessive consumption, and overexploitation. Improving agricultural environmental efficiency (AEE) is crucial to achieve agricultural modernization and facilitate a green transformation. Agricultural industrial agglomeration (AIA), as a main policy in industrial space organization, is an effective way to promote resource allocation optimization. This paper selects panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2000 to 2020 and employs the fixed-effects stochastic frontier analysis with hyperbolic distance function to measure AEE. Based on this, an empirical analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of AIA on AEE. The study finds that the average value of AEE is 0.909, which needs to be further improved. Meanwhile, AEE demonstrates obvious agglomeration characteristics and positive correlations with space. AIA exerts an inverted U-shaped effect on AEE in local and neighboring regions. Therefore, this paper believes that to improve AEE, it is essential to carry out dynamic and differentiated strategies of industrial agglomeration, ensuring the level of AIA remains within a reasonable range and effectively eliminates the congestion effect.