bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Eating Behavior and Nutritional Profile of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a Reference Center in the Amazon
Authors: da Silva Rayanne Vieira , Gomes Daniela Lopes
Published: February 2024

There is no single pattern for the evolution of the nutritional status of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous studies have found a tendency towards food selectivity with food monotony and difficulties with food texture in children with ASD, but studies in this area, especially in Brazil, are still scarce. The nutritional profile and changes in eating behavior were analyzed in patients with autism spectrum disorder assisted at a reference center in Belém. Eating behavior was assessed using the Labyrinth Scale, nutritional status assessment through weight and height (to calculate body mass index—BMI), and consumption food through the 24 h reminder. A total of 80 children of both sexes participated in the study, the majority of whom were male (80%), 47.5% eutrophic, while for the food consumption of the children evaluated, there was an average energy consumption of 1911 kcal daily, with 57.3%, 15.4%, and 27.3% of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids, respectively. In relation to eating behavior, the highest averages were demonstrated in the domains of food selectivity, behavioral aspects, and mealtime skills. Masticatory motor scores showed a positive correlation with weight, BMI, and the amount of energy consumed by the child. The gastrointestinal symptoms score showed a negative correlation with the child’s age. Regarding mealtime skills, a negative correlation was observed with the proportion of carbohydrates in the diet and a positive correlation with the proportion of lipids consumed in the children’s diet. Therefore, knowing the main changes in eating behavior is important to ensure a complete and safe approach for each patient.
The Association between Serum Copper and Bone Mineral Density among Adolescents Aged 12 to 19 in the United States
Authors: Liu Haobiao , Bao Miaoye , Liu Mian , Deng Feidan , Wen Xinyue , Wan Ping , Lin Xue , Dong Guoqiang , Li Zhaoyang , Han Jing
Published: February 2024

Bone mineral density (BMD) is a key parameter widely used in the assessment of bone health. Although many investigations have explored the relationship between trace elements and BMD, there are fewer studies focused on serum copper and BMD, especially for adolescents. Using data extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we applied a multiple-linear regression and smooth curve fitting to assess the relationship between serum copper and BMD. A total of 910 participants were finally included in this study. After adjusting for relevant covariates, serum copper was negatively associated with lumbar spine BMD (β = −0.057, 95% CI: −0.109 to −0.005), trunk bone BMD (β = −0.068, 95% CI: −0.110 to −0.026), pelvis BMD (β = −0.085, 95% CI: −0.145 to −0.024), subtotal BMD (β = −0.072, 95% CI: −0.111 to −0.033), and total BMD (β = −0.051, 95% CI: −0.087 to −0.016) (p < 0.05). In quartile analysis, the highest level of serum copper was associated with decreased BMD when compared with those at the lowest quartile (p < 0.05). The stratified analysis revealed a significant interaction between age and the effects of serum copper on trunk bone BMD (p = 0.022) and pelvis BMD (p = 0.018). Meanwhile, the higher level of serum copper was negatively associated with BMD in males, and gender modified the relationship (p < 0.001). Future longitudinal studies will be necessary for a more definitive interpretation of our results.
Clostridioides difficile Infection in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Ding UZhe , Ooi Lijin , Wu Henry H. L. , Chinnadurai Rajkumar
Published: February 2024

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterial organism that typically infects the colon, which has had its homeostasis of healthy gut microbiota disrupted by antibiotics or other interventions. Patients with kidney transplantation are a group that are susceptible to C. difficile infection (CDI) and have poorer outcomes with CDI given that they conventionally require long-term immunosuppression to minimize their risk of graft rejection, weakening their responses to infection. Recognizing the risk factors and complex pathophysiological processes that exist between immunosuppression, dysbiosis, and CDI is important when making crucial clinical decisions surrounding the management of this vulnerable patient cohort. Despite the clinical importance of this topic, there are few studies that have evaluated CDI in the context of kidney transplant recipients and other solid organ transplant populations. The current recommendations on CDI management in kidney transplant and solid organ transplant recipients are mostly extrapolated from data relating to CDI management in the general population. We provide a narrative review that discusses the available evidence examining CDI in solid organ transplant recipients, with a particular focus on the kidney transplant recipient, from the epidemiology of CDI, clinical features and implications of CDI, potential risk factors of CDI, and, ultimately, prevention and management strategies for CDI, with the aim of providing areas for future research development in this topic area.
A Multi-Residue Analytical Method for Assessing the Effects of Stacking Treatment on Antimicrobial and Coccidiostat Degradation in Broiler Litter
Authors: Efriem Solomon , Britzi Malka , Soback Stefan , Sabastian Chris , Mabjeesh Sameer J.
Published: February 2024

Antimicrobial drugs and coccidiostat compounds are commonly used in poultry farming. These compounds are subsequently excreted and released into the environment via broiler litter (BL) and can re-enter the food chain as fertilizer or animal feed. Such residue in animal feed can encourage the appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as toxicity. Most analytical methods used to identify and quantitate these drug residues are traditional, and are specific to some antimicrobials and present limitations in assessing complex matrixes like BL. The aim of this study was to develop a multi-residue analytic method for assessing 30 antimicrobial drugs and coccidiostats associated with BL. We investigated the presence and the effects of biotic stack treatment on the degradation of drug residue in BL. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and solid phase extraction (SPE) were replaced by Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) clean-up steps and detected by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Results show that a wide spectrum of residues were detected from 0.4 to 8.9 mg kg−1. Following lab-scale stacking treatment, tilmicosin and eight coccidiostats persisted in BL (26–100%). This research supports the need for better understanding, regulation, and management of the use of BL that might carry a high risk of residue drugs.
Risk Factors for Respiratory Depression Associated with Tramadol Based on the Global Pharmacovigilance Database (VigiBase)
Authors: Park Sunny , Lee Geon-Ho , Kim Soyun , Kim Solee , Kim Yeju , Choi Soo-An
Published: February 2024

Tramadol, a weak μ-opioid receptor agonist, has been used worldwide for pain management. It is considered to have a favorable safety profile without serious adverse events; however, safety issues of respiratory depression were proposed by regulatory governments. We aimed to examine the risk and contributing factors associated with tramadol-related respiratory depression using a real-world database, VigiBase. Disproportionality analysis of tramadol and tramadol/paracetamol was performed using proportional reporting ratios, reporting odds ratios, and information components for all drugs and opioids. Factors related to respiratory depression, including sex, age, presence of abuse, death, and various concomitant medications, were evaluated. Among 140,721 tramadol reports, respiratory depression was reported in 1126 cases, 81.3% of which were deemed serious. Five adverse events were detected as signals of tramadol-related acute central respiratory depression (ACRD) in 882 reports. A higher proportion of ACRD cases in children and adolescents was observed than all adverse events cases of tramadol. Concomitant users of CYP2D6 inhibitors, opioids, benzodiazepines, and anti-depressant drugs showed a higher proportion in ACRD cases than non-ACRD cases. ACRD was related to drug abuse and death. This pharmacovigilance study, using VigiBase, confirmed a high risk of respiratory depression (a serious, potentially fatal adverse event) secondary to the use of tramadol, especially in pediatric patients, drug abusers, or during concomitant use of opioids, benzodiazepines, or antidepressants.
Indocyanine-Green-Loaded Liposomes for Photodynamic and Photothermal Therapies: Inducing Apoptosis and Ferroptosis in Cancer Cells with Implications beyond Oral Cancer
Authors: Liao Wei-Ting , Chang Dao-Ming , Lin Meng-Xian , Lee Jeng-Woei , Tung Yi-Chung , Hsiao Jong-Kai
Published: February 2024

Oral cancer represents a global health burden, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Photodynamic and photothermal therapies using indocyanine green (ICG) have shown promise due to their distinctive near-infrared (NIR) light absorption characteristics and FDA-approved safety profiles. This study develops ICG-loaded liposomes (Lipo-ICGs) to further explore their potential in oral cancer treatments. We synthesized and characterized the Lipo-ICGs, conducted in vitro cell culture experiments to assess cellular uptake and photodynamic/photothermal effects, and performed in vivo animal studies to evaluate their therapeutic efficacy. Quantitative cell apoptosis and gene expression variation were further characterized using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing, respectively. Lipo-ICGs demonstrated a uniform molecular weight distribution among particles. The in vitro studies showed a successful internalization of Lipo-ICGs into the cells and a significant photodynamic treatment effect. The in vivo studies confirmed the efficient delivery of Lipo-ICGs to tumor sites and successful tumor growth inhibition following photodynamic therapy. Moreover, light exposure induced a time-sensitive photothermal effect, facilitating the further release of ICG, and enhancing the treatment efficacy. RNA sequencing data showed significant changes in gene expression patterns upon Lipo-ICG treatment, suggesting the activation of apoptosis and ferroptosis pathways. The findings demonstrate the potential of Lipo-ICGs as a therapeutic tool for oral cancer management, potentially extending to other cancer types.
The Potential Use of Peptides in the Fight against Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis
Authors: Berhe Hayelom , Kumar Cinthakunta Sridhar Mahesh , Zerihun Mulate , Qvit Nir
Published: February 2024

Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are both neglected tropical diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Leishmaniasis is currently the second most widespread vector-borne parasitic disease after malaria. The World Health Organization records approximately 0.7–1 million newly diagnosed leishmaniasis cases each year, resulting in approximately 20,000–30,000 deaths. Also, 25 million people worldwide are at risk of Chagas disease and an estimated 6 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine are currently used to treat leishmaniasis. Also, nifurtimox and benznidazole are two drugs currently used to treat Chagas disease. These drugs are associated with toxicity problems such as nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, in addition to resistance problems. As a result, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents has emerged as a top priority and a promising alternative. Overall, there is a need for new and effective treatments for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, as the current drugs have significant limitations. Peptide-based drugs are attractive due to their high selectiveness, effectiveness, low toxicity, and ease of production. This paper reviews the potential use of peptides in the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Several studies have demonstrated that peptides are effective against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, suggesting their use in drug therapy for these diseases. Overall, peptides have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, but more research is needed to fully investigate their potential.
Ecophysiology of Antarctic Vascular Plants: An Update on the Extreme Environment Resistance Mechanisms and Their Importance in Facing Climate Change
Authors: Ramírez Constanza F. , Cavieres Lohengrin A. , Sanhueza Carolina , Vallejos Valentina , Gómez-Espinoza Olman , Bravo León A. , Sáez Patricia L.
Published: February 2024

Antarctic flowering plants have become enigmatic because of their unique capability to colonize Antarctica. It has been shown that there is not a single trait that makes Colobanthus quitensis and Deschampsia antarctica so special, but rather a set of morphophysiological traits that coordinately confer resistance to one of the harshest environments on the Earth. However, both their capacity to inhabit Antarctica and their uniqueness remain not fully explained from a biological point of view. These aspects have become more relevant due to the climatic changes already impacting Antarctica. This review aims to compile and update the recent advances in the ecophysiology of Antarctic vascular plants, deepen understanding of the mechanisms behind their notable resistance to abiotic stresses, and contribute to understanding their potential responses to environmental changes. The uniqueness of Antarctic plants has prompted research that emphasizes the role of leaf anatomical traits and cell wall properties in controlling water loss and CO2 exchange, the role of Rubisco kinetics traits in facilitating efficient carbon assimilation, and the relevance of metabolomic pathways in elucidating key processes such as gas exchange, nutrient uptake, and photoprotection. Climate change is anticipated to have significant and contrasting effects on the morphophysiological processes of Antarctic species. However, more studies in different locations outside Antarctica and using the latitudinal gradient as a natural laboratory to predict the effects of climate change are needed. Finally, we raise several questions that should be addressed, both to unravel the uniqueness of Antarctic vascular species and to understand their potential responses to climate change.
The Fitting of the OJ Phase of Chlorophyll Fluorescence Induction Based on an Analytical Solution and Its Application in Urban Heat Island Research
Authors: Shi Tongxin , Fan Dayong , Xu Chengyang , Zheng Guoming , Zhong Chuanfei , Feng Fei , Chow Wah Soon
Published: February 2024

Chlorophyll (Chl) fluorescence induction (FI) upon a dark–light transition has been widely analyzed to derive information on initial events of energy conversion and electron transfer in photosystem II (PSII). However, currently, there is no analytical solution to the differential equation of QA reduction kinetics, raising a doubt about the fitting of FI by numerical iteration solution. We derived an analytical solution to fit the OJ phase of FI, thereby yielding estimates of three parameters: the functional absorption cross-section of PSII (σPSII), a probability parameter that describes the connectivity among PSII complexes (p), and the rate coefficient for QA− oxidation (kox). We found that σPSII, p, and kox exhibited dynamic changes during the transition from O to J. We postulated that in high excitation light, some other energy dissipation pathways may vastly outcompete against excitation energy transfer from a closed PSII trap to an open PSII, thereby giving the impression that connectivity seemingly does not exist. We also conducted a case study on the urban heat island effect on the heat stability of PSII using our method and showed that higher-temperature-acclimated leaves had a greater σPSII, lower kox, and a tendency of lower p towards more shade-type characteristics.
Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) for Identifying SNPs and Genes Related to Phosphate-Induced Phenotypic Traits in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)
Authors: Hakla Haroon Rashid , Sharma Shubham , Urfan Mohammad , Mandlik Rushil , Kumawat Surbhi , Rajput Prakriti , Khajuria Bhubneshwari , Chowdhary Rehana , Deshmukh Rupesh , Roychowdhury Rajib , Pal Sikander
Published: February 2024

Phosphate (P) is a crucial macronutrient for normal plant growth and development. The P availability in soils is a limitation factor, and understanding genetic factors playing roles in plant adaptation for improving P uptake is of great biological importance. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have become indispensable tools in unraveling the genetic basis of complex traits in various plant species. In this study, a comprehensive GWAS was conducted on diverse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) accessions grown under normal and low P conditions for two weeks. Plant traits such as shoot height, primary root length, plant biomass, shoot inorganic content (SiP), and root inorganic content (RiP) were measured. Among several models of GWAS tested, the Bayesian-information and linkage disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway (BLINK) models were used for the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among all the traits analyzed, significantly associated SNPs were recorded for PB, i.e., 1 SNP (SSL4.0CH10_49261145) under control P, SiP, i.e., 1 SNP (SSL4.0CH08_58433186) under control P and 1 SNP (SSL4.0CH08_51271168) under low P and RiP i.e., 2 SNPs (SSL4.0CH04_37267952 and SSL4.0CH09_4609062) under control P and 1 SNP (SSL4.0CH09_3930922) under low P condition. The identified SNPs served as genetic markers pinpointing regions of the tomato genome linked to P-responsive traits. The novel candidate genes associated with the identified SNPs were further analyzed for their protein-protein interactions using STRING. The study provided novel candidate genes, viz. Solyc10g050370 for PB under control, Solyc08g062490, and Solyc08g062500 for SiP and Solyc09g010450, Solyc09g010460, Solyc09g010690, and Solyc09g010710 for RiP under low P condition. These findings offer a glimpse into the genetic diversity of tomato accessions’ responses to P uptake, highlighting the potential for tailored breeding programs to develop P-efficient tomato varieties that could adapt to varying soil conditions, making them crucial for sustainable agriculture and addressing global challenges, such as soil depletion and food security.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of DWARF53 Gene in Response to GA and SL Related to Plant Height in Banana
Authors: Tong Ning , Zhang Chunyu , Xu Xiaoqiong , Zhang Zhilin , Li Jiahui , Liu Zhaoyang , Chen Yukun , Zhang Zihao , Huang Yuji , Lin Yuling , Lai Zhongxiong
Published: February 2024

Dwarfing is one of the common phenotypic variations in asexually reproduced progeny of banana, and dwarfed banana is not only windproof and anti-fallout but also effective in increasing acreage yield. As a key gene in the strigolactone signalling pathway, DWARF53 (D53) plays an important role in the regulation of the height of plants. In order to gain insight into the function of the banana D53 gene, this study conducted genome-wide identification of banana D53 gene based on the M. acuminata, M. balbisiana and M. itinerans genome database. Analysis of MaD53 gene expression under high temperature, low temperature and osmotic stress based on transcriptome data and RT-qPCR was used to analyse MaD53 gene expression in different tissues as well as in different concentrations of GA and SL treatments. In this study, we identified three MaD53, three MbD53 and two MiD53 genes in banana. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that D53 Musa are equally related to D53 Asparagales and Poales. Both high and low-temperature stresses substantially reduced the expression of the MaD53 gene, but osmotic stress treatments had less effect on the expression of the MaD53 gene. GR24 treatment did not significantly promote the height of the banana, but the expression of the MaD53 gene was significantly reduced in roots and leaves. GA treatment at 100 mg/L significantly promoted the expression of the MaD53 gene in roots, but the expression of this gene was significantly reduced in leaves. In this study, we concluded that MaD53 responds to GA and SL treatments, but “Yinniaijiao” dwarf banana may not be sensitive to GA and SL.
Metabolic Patterns of Flavonoid and Its Key Gene Expression Characteristics of Five Cultivars of Tulipa gesneriana during Flower Development
Authors: Li Shu , Chen Jing , Guo Xueying , Li Xin , Shen Qiang , Fu Xueqing , Tang Dongqin
Published: February 2024

Flower color is one of the most important ornamental traits of tulips (Tulipa gesneriana). Five typical tulip cultivars were selected to identify the flavonoid components and analyze their key gene expression in their tepals. Firstly, after preliminary determination of the pigment type, the flavonoids were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. A total of 17 anthoxanthins were detected in the five cultivars. The total anthoxanthin content in the white tulip and the red tulip showed a similar decreasing trend, while an increasing trend was observed in the black tulip. Similarly, a total of 13 anthocyanins were detected in five tulip cultivars. The black tulip contained the largest number of anthocyanins, mainly delphinidin derivatives (Dp) and cyanidin derivatives (Cy). The total anthocyanin content (TAC) in the orange, red, and black cultivars was higher than that in the white and yellow cultivars and presented an overall increase trend along with the flower development. TgCHS, TgFLS, TgF3H, TgF3′H, TgF3′5′H, and TgDFR, as key structural genes, were involved in the flavonoid synthesis pathway, and the expression patterns of these genes are basically consistent with the components and accumulation patterns of flavonoids mentioned above. Taken together, the flower color in tulips was closely related to the composition and content of anthocyanins and anthoxanthins, which were indeed regulated by certain key structural genes in the flavonoid pathway.
Thermally Conductive and Electrically Insulating Polymer-Based Composites Heat Sinks Fabricated by Fusion Deposition Modeling
Authors: Bagatella Simone , Cereti Annacarla , Manarini Francesco , Cavallaro Marco , Suriano Raffaella , Levi Marinella
Published: February 2024

This study explores the potential of novel boron nitride (BN) microplatelet composites with combined thermal conduction and electrical insulation properties. These composites are manufactured through Fusion Deposition Modeling (FDM), and their application for thermal management in electronic devices is demonstrated. The primary focus of this work is, therefore, the investigation of the thermoplastic composite properties to show the 3D printing of lightweight polymeric heat sinks with remarkable thermal performance. By comparing various microfillers, including BN and MgO particles, their effects on material properties and alignment within the polymer matrix during filament fabrication and FDM processing are analyzed. The characterization includes the evaluation of morphology, thermal conductivity, and mechanical and electrical properties. Particularly, a composite with 32 wt% of BN microplatelets shows an in-plane thermal conductivity of 1.97 W m−1 K−1, offering electrical insulation and excellent printability. To assess practical applications, lightweight pin fin heat sinks using these composites are designed and 3D printed. Their thermal performance is evaluated via thermography under different heating conditions. The findings are very promising for an efficient and cost-effective fabrication of thermal devices, which can be obtained through extrusion-based Additive Manufacturing (AM), such as FDM, and exploited as enhanced thermal management solutions in electronic devices.
Effect of Prestrain on Payne Effect and Hysteresis Loss of Carbon-Black-Filled Rubber Vulcanizates: Measurements and Modeling
Authors: Yin Boyuan , Jiao Xinyue , Wen Haibo , Li Yan , Li Ming
Published: February 2024

The performance of a viscoelastic damper is governed by the mechanical properties of the viscoelastic material, which are sensitive to prestrain. Among viscoelastic materials, carbon black (CB)-filled rubber vulcanizate is commonly used in structural applications. In this paper, the prestrain-dependent Payne effect and hysteresis loss of CB-filled rubber vulcanizates are investigated through experimental and theoretical analysis. Based on the experimental results, the classic quantitative models proposed by Kraus, Huber–Vilgis, and Maier–Göritz are used to describe the Payne effect. The results show that the Maier–Göritz model is most suitable to describe the Payne effect, especially for the loss modulus. After calculating the area of the hysteresis loops, hysteresis loss curves at various dynamic strain amplitudes are parallel to each other. Through application of the time–strain superposition principle, the hysteresis loss at any arbitrary prestrain can be predicted. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide guidance for researchers in choosing an accurate model for future investigations of the prestrain-dependent Payne effect. An accelerated characterization method is useful for the prediction of the hysteresis loss of rubber products using small amounts of experimental data, which can provide manufacturers with more attractive and lower cost opportunities for testing the mechanical properties of rubber products.
Rheology of Highly Filled Polymer Compositions—Limits of Filling, Structure, and Transport Phenomena
Authors: Malkin Alexander Ya. , Kulichikhin Valery G. , Khashirova Svetlana Yu. , Simonov-Emelyanov Igor D. , Mityukov Anton V.
Published: February 2024

The current state of the rheology of various polymeric and other materials containing a high concentration of spherical solid filler is considered. The physics of the critical points on the concentration scale are discussed in detail. These points determine the features of the rheological behavior of the highly filled materials corresponding to transitions from a liquid to a yielding medium, elastic–plastic state, and finally to an elastic solid-like state of suspensions. Theoretical and experimental data are summarized, showing the limits of the most dense packing of solid particles, which is of key importance for applications and obtaining high-quality products. The results of model and fine structural studies of physical phenomena that occur when approaching the point of filling the volume, including the occurrence of instabilities, are considered. The occurrence of heterogeneity in the form of individual clusters is also described. These heterogeneous objects begin to move as a whole that leads to the appearance of discontinuities in the suspension volume or wall slip. Understanding these phenomena is a key for particle technology and multiphase processing.
Numerical Simulation Study of Energy Separation in Jet Shear Layer
Authors: Xu Wanwen , Dong Ruoling , Liang Shuang
Published: February 2024

In order to investigate the rational utilization of energy in the fluid jet process, a free dual jet of parallel air is used as a research object. Simulation of turbulence was carried out based on the realizable k-epsilon equations with pressure-velocity coupling, PISO method, discrete method with second-order windward format, and first-order implicit transient solution. The energy separation phenomenon within the jet shear layer and its influencing factors were investigated under dual-jet Reynolds number differences of 12,800, 19,200, 25,600, 32,000, 41,500, and 51,100, respectively. The simulation is in transient format and the jet inlet velocity is given by udf. Calculations show that the pressure perturbation in the air shear layer, which gives rise to the pressure work exchange between the jet and the surroundings, is the main reason for the coexistence of high- and low-temperature regions formed within the jet shear layer, and the larger the Reynolds number, the stronger the energy separation effect. The center streamline path of a parallel air free dual jet can be fitted by a circular arc, whose radius of curvature increases with the Reynolds number, and the curvilinear development path of the dual jet can offset the energy separation effect to some extent. This paper confirms the existence of energy separation in the shear layer of a parallel air free double jet, reveals the mechanism of energy separation in the fluid domain, and explores the flow characteristics of two parallel jets.
Prevention of Blowout Tests in Large-Diameter Boreholes with Soundless Chemical Demolition Agents and Fracturing Characteristics of Hard Sandstones
Authors: Wu Junjie , Dong Zhuo , Yuan Ruifu , Xie Shuaishuai , Deng Junhao
Published: February 2024

Increasing the diameter of the drillhole can facilitate drillhole breakage using soundless chemical demolition agents, but it is prone to cause drillhole blowout, resulting in crushing failure. This paper conducted a blowhole prevention test on a large borehole using the internal insertion cooling pipe method (ICBPM) to test the expansion pressure of cooling pipes with different diameters. During this test, a fracture occurred in a hole with a 75 mm inner diameter in the rectangular sandstone specimens with high strength. It was found that utilizing the ICBPM can effectively hinder the development of blowholes. Expansion and blowhole prevention are optimized with a 0.14 mass ratio of the cooling water to demolition agent and a maximum expansion stress of 49.0 MPa. The guiding effect of the minimum resistance line is significant. In repeated tests, all fissures are distributed in a Y-shape on the free surface where the minimum resistance line is located. The acoustic emission signals from statically fractured hard rock increase abruptly before damage, and the development of rock expansion and fracturing can be obtained through strain monitoring. These results suggest that the ICBPM can reduce the expansion time with a strong crushing effect, satisfying the need to process more crushing projects.
Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of the Thermostatic Drying Process in Wetted Porous Sand Beds with Different Pore Sizes
Authors: Su Weijie , Cao Xiang , Deng Zilong
Published: February 2024

The drying kinetics of porous media are crucial for controlling the drying process, which is a vital component in many processes. A mathematical model of the drying process in a granular bed was developed using Whitaker’s model, and its accuracy was verified through experimental results. The results indicated that the three stages of porous media drying are closely linked to the heat flow to the media and the latent heat of evaporation required by the liquid water inside it. Moreover, as the influence of gravity weakens and the capillary force strengthens, specifically due to the gradual decrease in the pore size of the bed, significant differences in the drying kinetics of the bed are observed, particularly in the third stage of drying, which is most affected. The onset of saturation in the third stage of bed drying varies with the pore size of the particles, with smaller pore sizes exhibiting an earlier onset. Additionally, the temperature change in this stage demonstrates the occurrence of secondary warming as the pore size decreases.
Does Quality Matter? Quality Assurance in Research for the Chilean Higher Education System
Authors: Troncoso Elizabeth , López Daniel A. , Ruby-Figueroa René , Koch Dieter , Reich Ricardo
Published: February 2024

This study analyzes the research quality assurance processes in Chilean universities. Data from 29 universities accredited by the National Accreditation Commission were collected. The relationship between institutional accreditation and research performance was analyzed using length in years of institutional accreditation and eight research metrics used as the indicators of quantity, quality, and impact of a university’s outputs at an international level. The results showed that quality assurance in research of Chilean universities is mainly associated with quantity and not with the quality and impact of academic publications. There was also no relationship between the number of publications and their quality, even finding cases with negative correlations. In addition to the above, the relationship between international metrics to evaluate research performance (i.e., international collaboration, field-weighted citation impact, and output in the top 10% citation percentiles) showed the existence of three clusters of heterogeneous composition regarding the distribution of universities with different years of institutional accreditation. These findings call for a new focus on improving regulatory processes to evaluate research performance and adequately promote institutions’ development and the effectiveness of their mission.
Mythological Notions of the Deceased among the Slavic Peoples
Authors: Djurić Dragana
Published: February 2024

Many taboos and a high resistance to change are the hallmark of posthumous rituals and customs among all Slavic peoples, which has helped maintain their archaic nature. According to Slavic beliefs, in the otherworld, the souls of the deceased who were kind-hearted during their lifetime join the group of their ancestors who guard the living, providing them with prosperity and fertility. In return, living descendants had an obligation to periodically organize commemorations for the deceased, invoke memories of them, and make (food) offerings meant for the salvation of their souls. On the other hand, Slavs believed that the deceased who died prematurely or violently, or those who were dishonourable throughout their lives, became “the revenant deceased” or “the impure deceased” and could bring harm, sickness, and death to the living. For these reasons, people tended to prepare all of the dead—particularly the ones whose souls could potentially become members of the “impure” group—adequately for the funeral and to see their souls off from this world following traditional rites. This research is based on the presupposition that, among folk beliefs, customs, and rituals regarding the deceased (and their souls), there is a substratum whose archaic nature reaches back to the period when Slavic peoples lived together. These are folk beliefs and customs which appear in all three groups of Slavic peoples but are not related to any of the predominant religions, primarily Christianity, nor did they emerge under the influences of those religions. The sources used in the research include a published ethnographic corpus of data and scientific papers on posthumous rites among the Slavs. Also taken into account were archaeological, historical, and linguistic sources.
Is the “Common Home” Metaphor Adequate and Useful for an “Integral Ecology” Theology in Modern Times?
Authors: Varanda Maria Isabel Pereira
Published: February 2024

This essay argues that the “common home” metaphor, when applied to planet Earth, falls short in its ability to provide an accurate analogy with the complexity and diversity of the planet itself since it has a limited epistemological, heuristic, and hermeneutical horizon; it is an analogy that proves inadequate in expressing common human representations of home and the two principles that should inspire an Ecotheology: the ontological value of creatures (Gaudium et Spes) and the recognition of the intrinsic relationship between all beings (Laudato Si’). In order to methodologically support this enquiry, a reflexive analysis and a metadisciplinary discourse are used through Emmanuel Levinas, Hannah Arendt, and the concept of integral ecology, proposed in Pope Francis’s encyclical letter Laudato Si’. On care for our common home, 21 May 2015. The performativity of the “common home” metaphor is evaluated to review its use in Ecotheology. The conclusion reached is that the category of “common life” might be more appropriate than “common home” to characterize how humans inhabit the world for an Ecotheology, and to represent planetary and cosmic communion and interdependence.
Determinants of Life Insurance Consumption in OECD Countries Using FMOLS and DOLS Techniques
Authors: Srinivasan Maheswaran , Mitra Subrata
Published: February 2024

This paper aims to examine the determinants of life insurance consumption in 30 OECD countries using panel data from 1996 to 2020. This study uses GDP per capita, Life expectancy, Urbanization, School education, and Health expenditure as the determinants to measure the OECD countries’ life insurance consumption. Insurance density is used as a proxy for life insurance consumption. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares (FMOLS), Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares (DOLS), and causality tests are applied in this study. Our empirical results revealed that the variables urbanization, school education, and GDP per capita significantly impact life insurance consumption, whereas life expectancy and health expenditure were found to have an insignificant relationship in estimating life insurance consumption. These findings will help all insurance industry stakeholders in OECD countries in policy formulation and decision making.
Spectral Fingerprinting of Methane from Hyper-Spectral Sounder Measurements Using Machine Learning and Radiative Kernel-Based Inversion
Authors: Wu Wan , Liu Xu , Xiong Xiaozhen , Yang Qiguang , Zhou Lihang , Lei Liqiao , Zhou Daniel K. , Larar Allen M.
Published: February 2024

Satellite-based hyper-spectral infrared (IR) sensors such as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) cover many methane (CH4) spectral features, including the ν1 vibrational band near 1300 cm−1 (7.7 μm); therefore, they can be used to monitor CH4 concentrations in the atmosphere. However, retrieving CH4 remains a challenge due to the limited spectral information provided by IR sounder measurements. The information required to resolve the weak absorption lines of CH4 is often obscured by interferences from signals originating from other trace gases, clouds, and surface emissions within the overlapping spectral region. Consequently, currently available CH4 data product derived from IR sounder measurements still have large errors and uncertainties that limit their application scope for high-accuracy climate and environment monitoring applications. In this paper, we describe the retrieval of atmospheric CH4 profiles using a novel spectral fingerprinting methodology and our evaluation of performance using measurements from the CrIS sensor aboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite. The spectral fingerprinting methodology uses optimized CrIS radiances to enhance the CH4 signal and a machine learning classifier to constrain the physical inversion scheme. We validated our results using the atmospheric composition reanalysis results and data from airborne in situ measurements. An inter-comparison study revealed that the spectral fingerprinting results can capture the vertical variation characteristics of CH4 profiles that operational sounder products may not provide. The latitudinal variations in CH4 concentration in these results appear more realistic than those shown in existing sounder products. The methodology presented herein could enhance the utilization of satellite data to comprehend methane’s role as a greenhouse gas and facilitate the tracking of methane sources and sinks with increased reliability.
Remote Sensing Extraction of Lakes on the Tibetan Plateau Based on the Google Earth Engine and Deep Learning
Authors: Pang Yunxuan , Yu Junchuan , Xi Laidian , Ge Daqing , Zhou Ping , Hou Changhong , He Peng , Zhao Liu
Published: February 2024

Lakes are an important component of global water resources. In order to achieve accurate lake extractions on a large scale, this study takes the Tibetan Plateau as the study area and proposes an Automated Lake Extraction Workflow (ALEW) based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and deep learning in response to the problems of a low lake identification accuracy and low efficiency in complex situations. It involves pre-processing massive images and creating a database of examples of lake extraction on the Tibetan Plateau. A lightweight convolutional neural network named LiteConvNet is constructed that makes it possible to obtain spatial–spectral features for accurate extractions while using less computational resources. We execute model training and online predictions using the Google Cloud platform, which leads to the rapid extraction of lakes over the whole Tibetan Plateau. We assess LiteConvNet, along with thresholding, traditional machine learning, and various open-source classification products, through both visual interpretation and quantitative analysis. The results demonstrate that the LiteConvNet model may greatly enhance the precision of lake extraction in intricate settings, achieving an overall accuracy of 97.44%. The method presented in this paper demonstrates promising capabilities in extracting lake information on a large scale, offering practical benefits for the remote sensing monitoring and management of water resources in cloudy and climate-differentiated regions.
Multi-Level Feature Extraction Networks for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Fang Shaoyi , Li Xinyu , Tian Shimao , Chen Weihao , Zhang Erlei
Published: February 2024

Hyperspectral image (HSI) classification plays a key role in the field of earth observation missions. Recently, transformer-based approaches have been widely used for HSI classification due to their ability to model long-range sequences. However, these methods face two main challenges. First, they treat HSI as linear vectors, disregarding their 3D attributes and spatial structure. Second, the repeated concatenation of encoders leads to information loss and gradient vanishing. To overcome these challenges, we propose a new solution called the multi-level feature extraction network (MLFEN). MLFEN consists of two sub-networks: the hybrid convolutional attention module (HCAM) and the enhanced dense vision transformer (EDVT). HCAM incorporates a band shift strategy to eliminate the edge effect of convolution and utilizes hybrid convolutional blocks to capture the 3D properties and spatial structure of HSI. Additionally, an attention module is introduced to identify strongly discriminative features. EDVT reconfigures the organization of original encoders by incorporating dense connections and adaptive feature fusion components, enabling faster propagation of information and mitigating the problem of gradient vanishing. Furthermore, we propose a novel sparse loss function to better fit the data distribution. Extensive experiments conducted on three public datasets demonstrate the significant advancements achieved by MLFEN.
Critical Assessment of Cocoa Classification with Limited Reference Data: A Study in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Using Sentinel-2 and Random Forest Model
Authors: Moraiti Nikoletta , Mullissa Adugna , Rahn Eric , Sassen Marieke , Reiche Johannes
Published: February 2024

Cocoa is the economic backbone of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, making them the leading cocoa-producing countries in the world. However, cocoa farming has been a major driver of deforestation and landscape degradation in West Africa. Various stakeholders are striving for a zero-deforestation cocoa sector by implementing sustainable farming strategies and a more transparent supply chain. In the context of tracking cocoa sources and contributing to cocoa-driven deforestation monitoring, the demand for accurate and up-to-date maps of cocoa plantations is increasing. Yet, access to limited reference data and imperfect data quality can impose challenges in producing reliable maps. This study classified full-sun-cocoa-growing areas using limited reference data relative to the large and heterogeneous study areas in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. A Sentinel-2 composite image of 2021 was generated to train a random forest model. We undertook reference data refinement, selection of the most important handcrafted features and data sampling to ensure spatial independence. After refining the quality of the reference data and despite their size reduction, the random forest performance was improved, achieving an overall accuracy of 85.1 ± 2.0% and an F1 score of 84.6 ± 2.4% (mean ± one standard deviation from ten bootstrapping iterations). Emphasis was given to the qualitative visual assessment of the map using very high-resolution images, which revealed cases of strong and weak generalisation capacity of the random forest. Further insight was gained from the comparative analysis of our map with two previous cocoa classification studies. Implications of the use of cocoa maps for reporting were discussed.
Double Augmentation: A Modal Transforming Method for Ship Detection in Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Mou Fangli , Fan Zide , Jiang Chuan’ao , Zhang Yidan , Wang Lei , Li Xinming
Published: February 2024

Ship detection in remote sensing images plays an important role in maritime surveillance. Recently, convolution neural network (CNN)-based methods have achieved state-of-the-art performance in ship detection. Even so, there are still two problems that remain in remote sensing. One is that the different modal images observed by multiple satellite sensors and the existing dataset cannot satisfy network-training requirements. The other is the false alarms in detection, as the ship target is usually faint in real view remote sensing images and many false-alarm targets can be detected in ocean backgrounds. To solve these issues, we propose a double augmentation framework for ship detection in cross-modal remote sensing imagery. Our method can be divided into two main steps: the front augmentation in the training process and the back augmentation verification in the detection process; the front augmentation uses a modal recognition network to reduce the modal difference in training and in using the detection network. The back augmentation verification uses batch augmentation and results clustering to reduce the rate of false-alarm detections and improve detection accuracy. Real-satellite-sensing experiments have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, which shows promising performance in quantitative evaluation metrics.
Gesture-Based Interactions: Integrating Accelerometer and Gyroscope Sensors in the Use of Mobile Apps
Authors: Caro-Alvaro Sergio , Garcia-Lopez Eva , Brun-Guajardo Alexander , Garcia-Cabot Antonio , Mavri Aekaterini
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the feasibility and functionality of accelerometer and gyroscope sensors for gesture-based interactions in mobile app user experience. The core of this innovative approach lies in introducing a dynamic and intuitive user interaction model with the device sensors. The Android app developed for this purpose has been created for its use in controlled experiments. Methodologically, it was created as a stand-alone tool to both capture quantitative (time, automatically captured) and qualitative (behavior, collected with post-task questionnaires) variables. The app’s setting features a set of modules with two levels each (randomized presentation applied, minimizing potential learning effects), allowing users to interact with both sensor-based and traditional touch-based scenarios. Preliminary results with 22 participants reveal that tasks involving sensor-based interactions tend to take longer to complete when compared to the traditional ones. Remarkably, many participants rated sensor-based interactions as a better option than touch-based interactions, as seen in the post-task questionnaires. This apparent discrepancy between objective completion times and subjective user perceptions requires a future in-depth exploration of factors influencing user experiences, including potential learning curves, cognitive load, and task complexity. This study contributes to the evolving landscape of mobile app user experience, emphasizing the benefits of considering the integration of device sensors (and gesture-based interactions) in common mobile usage.