bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Rice Husk Ash on the Mechanical Characteristics and Freeze–Thaw Resistance of Recycled Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liu Huawei , Liu Chao
Published: November 2022

With the accelerating growth of infrastructure construction, carbon emission and environmental pollution problems have become increasingly severe. In order to promote the sustainable development of the construction industry, using rice husk ash (RHA) in recycled aggregate concrete has aroused extensive interest. This study aims to investigate the impact of the partial replacement (0%, 10%, 20%, 30% of binder) of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with RHA by equal mass on recycled concrete’s mechanical characteristics and freeze–thaw resistance. The workability, compressive strength, mass loss and dynamic elastic modulus of recycled concrete were tested, and the hydration products and microstructure were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests. The mechanism of the freeze–thaw damage deterioration of RHA recycled aggregate concrete was revealed. The results indicate that the incorporation of RHA has an adverse effect on the workability of fresh concrete. Its high specific surface area will provide a large number of nucleation sites for the hydration reaction, refining the pore structure in the paste and improving the weak bonding of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ) by enhancing the matrix’s pozzolanic reaction effect and filling effect, thus improving the compressive strength of concrete. Furthermore, the porous structure of the recycled aggregate attached mortar and mesoporous RHA will absorb a lot of water during the freeze–thaw cycles. With the continuous accumulation of expansion pressure, the interior pores and cracks will gradually expand and extend, leading to more severe damage to the concrete, and the degree of freeze–thaw damage deterioration grows as the RHA replacement ratios increase.
Molecular Dynamics Study of Interfacial Properties for Crude Oil with Pure and Impure CH4
Authors: Dong Zhenzhen , Ma Xinle , Xu Haobin , Li Weirong , Qian Shihao , Wang Zhengbo , Liu Zhaoxia , Lei Gang
Published: November 2022

Gas injection has received increasing attention as one of the key technologies to enhance oil recovery. When gas is dissolved in crude oil, it will accelerate the flow of crude oil by reducing the density, viscosity, interfacial tension (IFT), and other properties of crude oil, so IFT is one of the main factors affecting the recovery of the gas drive. The interfacial properties of CH4, one of the principal associated hydrocarbon gases, with crude oil remain unclear. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to determine the IFTs of pure and impure CH4 with n-decane as well as the IFTs of the ternary systems CH4 + n-hexane + n-decane and CH4 + n-decane + n-nonadecane. Additionally, investigating factors including pressure, temperature, gas composition, and crude oil composition reveals the mechanisms affecting the interfacial properties of CH4 and crude oil. The results demonstrate that CO2 significantly lowers the IFT of CH4 + n-decane; the effect of crude oil components on IFT varies with the properties of the crude oil and, generally speaking, IFT is greater for crude oils containing heavy components than for those containing light components; the effect of temperature on the IFT of the CH4 + n-decane system is more pronounced at low pressure and decreases with increasing pressure. This study contributes to understanding the behavior of CH4 and oil systems in the formation and could be used to enhance the oil recovery technology.
Influence of Warm Isostatic Press Process on Mechanical Properties of a Part Fabricated by Metal Material Extrusion Process
Authors: Choi Byeong-Yeol , Park Seong-Je , Son Yong , Han Seung-Jun , Kim Hyung-Giun , Ahn Il-Hyuk , Choi Woo-Chun
Published: November 2022

Material extrusion (ME) using a filament including metal powders has recently attracted considerable attention because it allows the production of metal parts at low cost. However, like other additive manufacturing processes, metal ME suffers from the problem of internal pores. In this study, warm isostatic pressure (WIP)—a post-process used to downsize or remove the pores in polymer ME—was employed in metal ME to improve the mechanical properties of the finished part. It was confirmed experimentally that the tensile strength and the strain at the ultimate tensile strength were increased by WIP. However, from hardness tests, two different results were obtained. On a microscopic scale, there was no change in hardness because the temperature of the WIP process was not high enough to change the microstructure, while on a macroscopic scale, the hardness changed owing to the collapse of the pores within the material under the indenter load. In specimens with relatively large pores, the hardness sensitivity increases with a larger indenter. Finally, factors affecting the WIP process parameters in metal ME were discussed.
Chemical Analysis Suggesting Origin of Raw Materials and Possible Recycling of Late Antique Roman Glass from Vasileos Irakleiou Street 45, Thessaloniki in Northern Greece
Authors: Karalis Petros , Dotsika Elissavet , Godelitsas Athanasios , Antonaras Anastasios , Poutouki Anastasia Elektra , Tassi Maria
Published: November 2022

During antiquity, it is known that glass was produced in specialized primary workshops in Levant and Egypt, and this glass was melted and formed into objects in secondary workshops, and distributed in most cities and towns of the Roman Empire. Great efforts, although it is difficult, have been made to distinguish where it was produced. In this study, we perform chemical analysis on 48 glass samples (22 moils and 26 glass artefacts) dated to the 6th century CE from Vasileos Irakleiou Street, 45, Thessaloniki in northern Greece by using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) with Energy–Dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX). All glasses were produced with natron as a flux and based on the sodium oxide content we divided them into two groups. Most of the glasses’ chemical analysis indicates that they originated from Egypt, and can be categorized as HIMT and others as Roman Mn or Roman Mn-Sb. MnO is the main decolorizer, while in some samples MnO coexists with Sb2O3. Finally, recycling processes are evident in most of the samples.
A Method Detecting Student’s Flow Construct during School Tests through Electroencephalograms (EEGs): Factors of Cognitive Load, Self-Efficacy, Difficulty, and Performance
Authors: Wu Shu-Fen , Kao Chieh-Hsin , Lu Yu-Ling , Lien Chi-Jui
Published: November 2022

This study gathers and examines information about the flow state’s emergence during tests and its factors using an electroencephalogram (EEG) to establish a method and reveal an individual student’s flow construct. Through a single-case experimental design and 766 test items, multiple measurements were performed on a 14-year-old junior high school science-gifted student. During the test, self-efficacy, item difficulty, cognitive load, and test performance (long-term test performance [LT-tp] and short-term test performance [ST-tp]) were examined to establish the construct of EEG-detected, real-time flow states (EEG-Fs). Based on the chi-square test of independence results, the EEG-F had a significant correlation with the student’s cognitive load, self-efficacy, LT-tp, and item difficulty. Furthermore, a J48 decision tree analysis and logistic regression revealed four inhibiting and two inducing conditions affecting the emergence of EEG-Fs. The two inducing conditions included (1) high self-efficacy with a low cognitive load (odds ratio (OR) = 3.7) and (2) high cognitive load when combined with high self-efficacy and LT-tp for low-difficulty items (OR = 3.5). The established method and findings may help teaching designers or automated teaching applications detect the individual student’s flow construct to select appropriate test tasks accordingly, resulting in an optimal experience and better achievements.
Zero Reaction Torque Trajectory Tracking of an Aerial Manipulator through Extended Generalized Jacobian
Authors: Pasetto Alberto , Vyas Yash , Cocuzza Silvio
Published: November 2022

Aerial manipulators are used in industrial and service robotics tasks such as assembly, inspection, and maintenance. One of the main challenges in aerial manipulation is related to the motion of the UAV base caused by manipulator disturbance torques and forces, which jeopardize the precision of the robot manipulator. In this paper, we propose two novel inverse kinematic control methods used to track a trajectory with an aerial manipulator while also considering resultant UAV base motions. The first method is adapted from the generalized Jacobian formulation used in space robotics and includes the change in system momentum resulting from gravity and UAV control forces in the inverse kinematic control equation. This approach is simulated for a 2 and 3 degree-of-freedom aerial manipulator tracking trajectories with the end-effector. Although the end-effector position error is approximately zero throughout the simulated task, we see significant undesired UAV base motions of several centimeters in magnitude. To ameliorate this by exploiting the kinematic redundancy, we modify the generalized Jacobian by adding an additional task constraint which minimizes the reaction torques from the manipulator, to form the extended generalized Jacobian. While the second approach results in improved precision and reduced base motion by an order of magnitude as compared to the generalized Jacobian, a drawback is the reduction in the available workspace as the solution seeks to minimize the manipulator center of gravity translation. We also demonstrate and compare both approaches in a load picking task. All the algorithms are completed computationally faster than real time in the MATLAB simulations, illustrating their potential for application in real-world experiments.
Teenagers and Automated Vehicles: Are They Ready to Use Them?
Authors: Mourtzouchou Andromachi , Raileanu Ioan Cristinel , Grosso Monica , Duboz Louison , Cordera Rubén , Alonso Raposo Maria , Garus Ada , Alonso Borja , Ciuffo Biagio
Published: November 2022

Mobility needs, expectations, and concerns vary across age groups and are closely linked to users’ views on the future of the road transport system. Automated vehicles are expected to have a significant impact on the future of the road transport system, and pilot deployments are increasingly being tested in Europe and beyond, which is also thanks to the evolving regulatory landscape. As a result, several studies have started to analyse citizens’ attitudes towards this technology. However, very few studies have focused on teenagers’ views on automated vehicles, although today’s children and teenagers could be among the first users of such vehicles. Studying teenagers and the way they envisage automated vehicles in the future is of particular significance in defining transport planning strategies and supporting upcoming policy orientations. To cover this gap, the present study aims to explore teenagers’ views about automated vehicles and whether and how they could fit into their future transport setting. A series of on-line and face-to-face focus groups, a demonstration of an automated vehicle prototype, supporting engagement activities, and a post-pre survey were used to collect their views on the topic. The results show that even though the teenagers acknowledged the potential advantages, they also expressed concerns in relation to the interactions with other road users, to automated driving systems’ reliability, to safety, and to data privacy. In particular, these safety concerns revealed an unwillingness on the part of the teenagers to be among the first users of automated vehicles.
Dry Test Methods for Micropumps
Authors: Chappel Eric
Published: November 2022

The test in the production of microfluidic devices dedicated to medical applications poses several challenges in terms of contamination, reliability, and cost. The present article describes the Design-for-Testability approach used to make an insulin MEMS micropump that can be fully tested in production in a few seconds. Each key functional parameter of a positive displacement micropump with check valves is described together with detailed pneumatic test methods. The typical failure modes of the device are considered and tested experimentally to show that these methods can also be used for failure analysis and process control. A simplified Built-In-Self-Test is also presented. Finally, advanced methods to characterize the piezoelectric actuator are also described and tested.
Integration and Field Evaluation of an IoV System for Enhancing Road Safety
Authors: Spiliotis Aristotelis , Giannopoulos Fotios , Spandonidis Christos , Gkemou Maria , Kalfa Natalia
Published: November 2022

Road safety is a major global concern, as millions of lives are lost every year because of road accidents. Towards an effort to increase road safety, several Internet-of-Vehicle systems have been developed over the last years in order to better monitor vehicle and driver behavior and issue warnings that effectively prevent life-threatening accidents. These systems face a number of challenges including connectivity issues and high installation and/or maintenance costs. The current work introduces the ODOS2020 system, an integrated Internet-of-Vehicles system aiming to increase road safety. The system comprises several On-the-Road Units for vehicle-related data collection from affordable, energy-efficient magnetometers and calculation of critical parameters, such as each passing vehicle’s speed and direction. A Road-Side Unit accumulates data from the On-the-Road Units, sends data to a cloud infrastructure for further analysis and sends dedicated warnings to the drivers based on their road behavior and/or specific traffic conditions via a dedicated Human–Machine Interface. The overall system architecture and the key features of its modules are being presented, as well as the evaluation results of specially designed tests performed in an actual motorway under real use case scenarios. The evaluation results showed both a very good technical performance of the system and a high level of user acceptance. This in turn means that the system can be employed for effective traffic control and road accident avoidance via monitoring of critical vehicle parameters and early warning of the drivers based on their and other drivers’ behavior, road conditions and real-time, unpredictable events.
Gummy Smile Improvement during Growth Period Using a Simple Bite Jumping Appliance and High-Pull J-Hook HeadGear: A Case Series Study
Authors: Sato Takuma , Tabuchi Masako , Kawaguchi Misuzu , Sekiya Takeo , Takahashi Mifumi , Asaoka Ryo , Miyazawa Ken , Goto Shigemi
Published: November 2022

Purpose: In recent years, a method for improving gummy smiles in adults using an orthodontic anchor screw has been reported, but there is yet to be a treatment for the gummy smiles of those in the growth period. Methods: We improved the gummy smiles of three class II patients with vertical excessive growth of the upper jaw, during their growth period, using a simple bite jumping appliance (SBJA) and a high pull J-hook headgear. Results: It was found that SBJA promoted mandibular growth and the high-pull J-hook headgear inhibited the vertical growth of the maxillary anterior teeth. Conclusion: It is suggested that a combined use of high-pull J-hook headgear and SBJA is an effective way of improving gummy smiles in class II patients with vertical excessive growth of the upper jaw during their growth period.
Oncological Applications of Photodynamic Therapy in Dogs and Cats
Authors: Guimarães Tarcísio Guerra , Cardoso Karla Menezes , Marto Carlos Miguel , Teixo Ricardo , Serambeque Beatriz , Silva Fernando Capela e , Alexandre Nuno , Botelho Maria Filomena , Laranjo Mafalda
Published: November 2022

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in small animals’ oncology has been under research focus, pointing to new treatment possibilities. Moreover, several animal studies constitute experimental human disease models due to the similarity of tumor biology between animals and man. PDT uses photosensitizing compounds without toxicity per se. When subjected to a specific wavelength, the photosensitizers are activated, triggering the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to cell death. Additionally, antiangiogenic effects and immune stimulation may also be elicited. PDT is minimally invasive, non-toxic, and does not induce carcinogenic or mutagenic side effects. Thus, it is safe for non-neoplastic tissues compared with other neoplasms treatment modalities. This review describes the applications of PDT in the cancer treatment of small animals, particularly dogs and cats, focusing on the respective photosensitizers and treatment protocols used in trials in this therapeutic modality.
Positivity-Preserving H∞ Model Reduction for Discrete-Time Positive Systems via a Successive Convex Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Ren Yingying , Xia Yunxia , Wang Qian , Ding Da-Wei
Published: November 2022

This paper considers the positivity-preserving model reduction for discrete-time positive systems. Given a stable high-order positive system, we aim to find a reduced-order model such that the approximation error is minimized within a prescribed H∞ performance and positivity is preserved. Regarding the bounded real lemma, the sufficient and necessary condition for the existence of a reduced-order model is established in terms of bilinear matrix inequality and convex semi-definite constraint, which ensures that the reduced-order system is positive and the resulted error system is stable and has an H∞ performance level. Based on the inner-approximation strategy, we approximate the bilinear constraints with convex ones, under which an iterative procedure is provided to calculate the desired reduced-order model. Finally, an example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and potential benefits of the presented results.
The Sinkhole Phenomenon—Changes in Compartment Fire Characteristics Due to Incomplete Combustion before Flame Ejection
Authors: Yun Hong-Seok , Mun Sun-Yeo , Hwang Cheol-Hong
Published: November 2022

In this study, experiments and numeric studies were conducted to analyze the causes of abnormal behavior in temperature, heat flux, and combustion efficiency that occurred before a compartment fire was converted to the under-ventilated condition. The fire experiments were performed using a 1/4 reduced-scale ISO 9705 compartment and propane fuel. Considering that the occurrence and termination of abnormal behavior are related to ventilation conditions, vertical openings of various shapes designed to have the identical ventilation factor (0.52Ah) were used. As a result, an abnormal phenomenon was observed in which the measured heat release rate did not increase despite the increase in the fuel flow rate under the over-ventilation condition in all opening shapes. Due to this phenomenon, the combustion efficiency was reduced to 70% regardless of the opening shape. In order to understand these abnormal behaviors and to analyze the causes of their occurrence, the temperature and chemical species concentrations of the opening discharge flow were measured. The results indicated that the abnormal behavior of thermal physical quantities, HRR, and combustion efficiency occurred because fuel that was not burned inside the compartment did not reach the lower combustion limit even outside the compartment and was discharged.
Development of a Web Application for the Detection of Coronary Artery Calcium from Computed Tomography
Authors: Aguilera-Alvarez Juan , Martínez-Nolasco Juan , Olmos-Temois Sergio , Padilla-Medina José , Sámano-Ortega Víctor , Bravo-Sanchez Micael
Published: November 2022

Coronary atherosclerosis is the most common form of cardiovascular diseases, which represent the leading global cause of mortality in the adult population. The amount of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a robust predictor of this disease that can be measured using the medical workstations of computed tomography (CT) equipment or specialized tools included in commercial software for DICOM viewers, which is not available for all operating systems. This manuscript presents a web application that semiautomatically quantifies the amount of coronary artery calcium (CAC) on the basis of the coronary calcium score (CS) using the Agatston technique through digital image processing. To verify the correct functioning of this web application, 30 CTCSs were analyzed by a cardiologist and compared to those of commercial software (OsiriX DICOM Viewer).All the scans were correctly classified according to the cardiovascular event risk group, with an average error in the calculation of CS of 1.9% and a Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.9997, with potential clinical application.
Application of BP Neural Networks in Tide Forecasting
Authors: Xu Haotong , Shi Hongyuan , Ni Shiquan
Published: November 2022

Tidal phenomenon is a significant dynamical phenomenon in the ocean, and the accurate prediction of tide is an important task for various maritime activities. This paper proposes analysis method considering tidal periodicity and apply it to the actual tide prediction. The results prove that this method can solve the delay problem in tide prediction, improve the accuracy of prediction. Compared with the tidal harmonic analysis method, the prediction result of this method is more accurate and requires less data for short-term tidal forecast. Although this study can only provide an accurate forecast for 3 days, it is enough to deal with risks. How to improve the accuracy of long-term prediction is one of the future research directions.
Integrated SWAT-MODFLOW Modeling-Based Groundwater Adaptation Policy Guidelines for Lahore, Pakistan under Projected Climate Change, and Human Development Scenarios
Authors: Aslam Rana Ammar , Shrestha Sangam , Usman Muhammad Nabeel , Khan Shahbaz Nasir , Ali Sikandar , Sharif Muhammad Shoaib , Sarwar Muhammad Waqas , Saddique Naeem , Sarwar Abid , Ali Mohib Ullah , Arshad Arfan
Published: November 2022

Urban aquifers are experiencing increasing pressures from climate change, land-use change, and abstraction, consequently, altering groundwater levels and threatening sustainable water availability, consumption, and utilization. Sustainability in such areas requires the adaptation of groundwater resources to these stressors. Consequently, this research made projections about future climate, land use, and abstraction, examines how these drives will affect groundwater levels, and then proposes adaptation strategies to reduce the impact on Lahore’s groundwater resources. The objectives are achieved using an integrated modeling framework involving applications of Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and MODFLOW models. The results indicated a projected rise in Tmin by ~2.03 °C and Tmax by ~1.13 °C by 2100 under medium (RCP 4.5) and high-end (RCP 8.5) scenarios, respectively. Future precipitation changes for mid, near and far periods are projected to be −1.0%, 25%, and 24.5% under RCP4.5, and −17.5%, 27.5%, and 29.0% under RCP8.5, respectively. The built-up area in the Lahore division will dominate agricultural land in the future with an expansion from 965 m2 to 3716 km2 by the year 2100 under R1S1 (R2S2) land-use change scenarios (significant at p = 5%). The future population of the Lahore division will increase from 6.4 M to 24.6 M (28.7 M) by the year 2100 under SSP1 (SSP3) scenarios (significant at p = 5%). Groundwater level in bult-up areas will be projected to decline from 185 m to 125 m by 2100 due to increasing groundwater abstraction and expansion in the impermeable surface under all scenarios. In contrast, agricultural areas show a fluctuating trend with a slight increase in groundwater level due to decreasing abstraction and multiple recharge sources under combined scenarios. The results of this study can be a way forward for groundwater experts and related institutions to understand the potential situation of groundwater resources in the Lahore division and implement adaptation strategies to counteract diminishing groundwater resources.
Health Impacts of Surface Ozone in Outdoor and Indoor Environments of Hattar Industrial Units, KPK, Pakistan
Authors: Jadoon Suneela , Nawazish Shamyla , Majeed Zahid , Baig Ayesha , Bukhari Syed Majid , Faiz Abu ul Hassan , Ghanim Abdulnoor A. J. , Irfan Muhammad , Rahman Saifur , Ullah Farid
Published: November 2022

This research was carried out to analyze variations in indoor and outdoor ozone concentrations and their health impact on local communities of megacities in Pakistan. For indoor ozone measurements, industrial units of an economic zone, Hattar Industrial Estate, Haripur, KPK, Pakistan, were selected. For outdoor ozone measurements, maximum and minimum peaks from different selected stations of three megacities (Islamabad, Abbottabad, and Haripur Hattar) in Pakistan were analyzed for paired comparisons. The tropospheric ozone levels were measured with the help of a portable SKY 2000-WH-O3 meter from December 2018 to November 2019. According to the findings of this investigation, the indoor ozone concentrations at Hattar Industrial Estate exceeded the permissible limit devised by the WHO. The highest concentration (0.37 ppm) was recorded in the month of May in the food industry, while the lowest concentration (0.00 ppm) was recorded in the cooling area of the steel industry in the month of December. For outdoor ozone concentrations, the maximum concentration (0.23 ppm) was detected in Islamabad in the month of March 2019, whereas the rest of year showed comparatively lower concentrations. In Haripur, the maximum concentration (0.22 ppm) was detected in the month of February 2019 and a minimum concentration (0.11 ppm) was found in the month of November 2019. In Abbottabad, the maximum concentration (0.21 ppm) was detected in the month of March 2019 and the minimum concentration was 0.082 ppm. Increasing tropospheric ozone levels might be harmful for local communities and industrial laborers in the winter season because of the foggy weather. In the Abbottabad and Hattar regions, since COVID infection is indirectly related to low temperature and high emission of gases may compromise the respiratory systems of humans. The results of the present study were shared with industrialists to set precautions for ambient air quality and support the adoption of low emission techniques in industries for the safety of labour and nearby residents.
A Review: Comparison of Approaches to the Approval Process and Methodology for Estimation of Ammonia Emissions from Livestock Farms under IPPC
Authors: Kunes Radim , Havelka Zbynek , Olsan Pavel , Smutny Lubos , Filip Martin , Zoubek Tomas , Bumbalek Roman , Petrovic Bojana , Stehlik Radim , Bartos Petr
Published: November 2022

Ammonia (NH3) emissions have a negative impact on the welfare of breeding animals, human health, and the environment. These influences of modern intensive agriculture have led to numerous protocols, national regulations, and European Directives. Following previous regulatory measures, the Commission Implementing Decision European Union (EU) 2017/302 on 15 February 2017 has established best available technique (BAT) conclusions, under Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and the Council, for the intensive rearing of poultry and pigs. This applies to intensive poultry and pig producers with a capacity of over 40,000 poultry, 750 sows, or 2000 fattening pigs. Due to the application of this directive, air emissions have been reduced by between 40% and 75% over the last 15 years. The integrated permit monitors the entire environmental burden of the farm on its surroundings (air pollution, water, soil pollution, waste production, energy use). This review aims to provide a critical overview of how member states (including the United Kingdom) are approaching the implementation of IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) and the conclusions of BAT in their legislation and related documents, and how they monitor NH3 emissions from intensive livestock farming. The data for this review were obtained from 2019 to 2020.
Birch Pollen Deposition and Transport along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Bavarian Alps—A Case Study Using Gravimetric Pollen Traps in the Pollen Season 2020
Authors: Wörl Verena , Jetschni Johanna , Jochner-Oette Susanne
Published: November 2022

There is only little and partially contradicting knowledge on the variation of pollen abundance at different altitudes in mountainous regions. The aim of this work is to gain new insights on the influence of wind and surrounding trees on the deposition and transport of birch (Betula spec.) pollen in the Bavarian Alps, Germany. Data on birch pollen deposition were collected at five sites using gravimetric traps along an altitudinal gradient from Garmisch-Partenkirchen (720 m a.s.l.) to the Environmental Research Station Schneefernerhaus (2650 m a.s.l) in the pollen season 2020. We compared these data with birch pollen concentration derived from a volumetric trap at Schneefernerhaus and with phenological data, i.e., flowering onset times observed at 21 birch trees at different altitudes. Wind data were gathered directly at or near each pollen trap and surrounding birch trees were mapped in the field. Whereas the pollen load was lowest at the highest location, substantially higher values were measured at medium altitudes (1300–1600 m a.s.l.). This can be explained by the pronounced mountain-valley wind system, which ensured the transport of pollen to the corresponding altitudes. We conclude that pollen levels are influenced by topography, local wind systems and the availability of pollen. Pollen levels in complex mountainous environments are therefore not substantially affected by the occurrence of birch trees in the immediate vicinity.
Analysis of Changes in Vegetation Index during the Rapid Urban Spatial Development Period (1990–2020) in Tehran Metropolis, Iran
Authors: Zenouzi Alizadeh Shahin , Yenneti Komali , Teimouri Raziyeh , Abbasiyan Fatemeh , Palme Massimo
Published: November 2022

Rapid urbanisation, economic growth, and urban spatial development in developing countries, such as Iran, have resulted in tremendous loss of green cover and associated ecological problems. Any effort to achieve sustainable urban development should be supported by recognising and evaluating the ecological health of vegetation cover. This study investigates vegetation cover reduction and changes in the Tehran Metropolis, Iran and identifies the most important factors influencing the observed changes. The aim of this study is two-fold: first, to assess the spatio-temporal changes in vegetation cover in Tehran between 1990 and 2020, and second, to identify the factors contributing to the changes. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is used as an indicator of green cover. The spatial and statistical data used in this study were extracted from Landsat satellite imagery and the last approved Master Plan of Tehran (2006). Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) and geographical modelling methods were employed to analyse vegetation cover in all municipal districts of the Tehran metropolis. The results show that the vegetation density in the Tehran metropolis decreased significantly (from 38,936.80 hectares to 4663.23 hectares) between 1990 and 2020. The expansion of construction lands and the increase of population density were the most significant factors affecting the reduction in vegetation cover in Tehran. In contrast, the growth of industrial units in the urban areas of Tehran had no significant relationship with vegetation cover. The results of this study can help urban planners understand the significant drivers of vegetation loss and identify appropriate interventions to prevent it.
Measuring and Regression Modeling of Gas–Particle Partitioning of Atmospheric Oxidized Mercury at a Coastal Site in Shanghai
Authors: Han Deming , Wang Shuxiao , Wu Qingru , Tang Yi , Wen Minneng
Published: November 2022

Gas–particle partitioning between reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particle bound mercury (PBM) controls the fates of atmospheric oxidized mercury (namely reactive mercury, RM). We conducted a long-term observations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), RGM, PBM, and auxiliary parameters in Chongming Island, Shanghai, China, to understand the characteristics of speciated mercury and their gas–particle partitioning behaviors. The entire average abundances of GEM, RGM and PBM were 2.12 ± 0.94 ng/m3, 14.75 ± 9.94 pg/m3 and 21.81 ± 30.46 pg/m3, respectively. An observation data dependent empirical gas–particle partitioning relationship of partitioning coefficient and temperature log(1/KP) = −2692.20/T + 10.57 was obtained, and it varied in different season being by the temperature. To further evaluate the influences of temperature, particulate matter (PM), relative humidity on RGM and PBM partitioning process, the particulate fraction (φ = PBM/(PBM + RGM)) was used in this study. High φ values (φ > 0.8) mainly occurred at low temperature domain (<281 K), and high PM concentration enhanced this influence. In addition, high relative humidity shifts RGM from atmosphere partitioning to PBM in response to the diurnal valley φ values at 13:00–16:00 in the summer. Photochemical reactions were proposed to play important roles on partitioning processes between RGM and PBM. This study will benefit for the understanding of oxidized mercury fate and influencing factors in the complex atmospheric pollutants.
Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Sunshine Duration in China from 1970 to 2019
Authors: Tang Chaoli , Zhu Yidong , Wei Yuanyuan , Zhao Fengmei , Wu Xin , Tian Xiaomin
Published: November 2022

In order to alleviate global warming and the energy crisis, it is of great significance to develop and utilize solar energy resources. Sunshine duration (SD) is considered to be the best substitute for solar radiation and a key factor in evaluating solar energy resources. Therefore, the spatial and temporal characteristics of SD and the reasons for its changes have received extensive attention and discussion. Based on the data of 415 meteorological stations from 1970 to 2019, this paper uses linear trend analysis, Mann–Kendall mutation analysis, the Hurst index, empirical orthogonal decomposition, correlation analysis and partial correlation analysis to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of SD and its relationship with influencing factors. The results show that the annual SD in China shows a downward trend, with a climate trend rate of −37.93 h/10a, and a significant decline from 1982 to 2019. The seasonal SD shows a downward trend, and the downward trend is most obvious in summer. The annual and seasonal SD will still show a downward trend in the future. The spatial distribution of SD not only has an overall consistent distribution but also takes the Yellow River from Ningxia to Shandong as the boundary, showing a north–south opposite distribution. Annual SD has a significant positive correlation, a significant negative correlation, a positive correlation and a negative correlation with wind speed, precipitation, temperature and relative humidity, respectively, and it is most closely related to wind speed and precipitation. In addition, the change in SD may also be related to human activities.
Categorically Closed Unipotent Semigroups
Authors: Banakh Taras , Vovk Myroslava
Published: November 2022

Let C be a class of T1 topological semigroups, containing all Hausdorff zero-dimensional topological semigroups. A semigroup X is C-closed if X is closed in any topological semigroup Y∈C that contains X as a discrete subsemigroup; X is injectively C-closed if for any injective homomorphism h:X→Y to a topological semigroup Y∈C the image h[X] is closed in Y. A semigroup X is unipotent if it contains a unique idempotent. It is proven that a unipotent commutative semigroup X is (injectively) C-closed if and only if X is bounded and nonsingular (and group-finite). This characterization implies that for every injectively C-closed unipotent semigroup X, the center Z(X) is injectively C-closed.
Spatiotemporal Variability of Trace Elements Fingerprints in Otoliths of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica) and Its Use in Tracing Geographic Origin
Authors: Arai Takaomi , Kimura Shogo
Published: November 2022

To secure traceability along supply chains of foodstuffs, the spatiotemporal variability of trace elements’ fingerprints (TEF) in fish otoliths provides a powerful tool to determine and discriminate the origin. Spatiotemporal variability of TEF was examined in a commercially important seafood, Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica), by means of laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). Six elemental ratios (Na:Ca, Mg:Ca, P:Ca, K:Ca, Sr:Ca, and Ba:Ca) were determined in the otoliths of specimens originating from four aquaculture farms to examine the spatial variability and from one wild habitat over three years to examine the temporal variation. Significant temporal variation was found in Mg:Ca and Sr:Ca ratios; however, discriminant function analysis showed a lower temporal variation (50%) for the three years. Spatial variations were significant in Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios, and discriminant function analysis showed high (80%) spatial variation among the four farms. Otolith TEF in the Japanese eel showed specific spatial variation among aquaculture farms but intangible temporal variation, suggesting the otolith TEF reflect each aquaculture environment. The present study shows that otolith TEF can be a reliable tool to discriminate the geographic origin of the Japanese eel.
Evaluation of Biointegration and Inflammatory Response to Blood Vessels Produced by Tissue Engineering—Experimental Model in Rabbits
Authors: Secondo Mariana Thaís Silva , Rodrigues Lenize da Silva , Ramos Leandro Pereira Miranda , Bovolato Ana Lívia Carvalho , Rodriguez-Sanchez Diego Noé , Sobreira Marcone Lima , Moraes Marcelo Padovani de Toledo , Bertanha Matheus
Published: November 2022

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the main cause of mortality in the western population and requires surgical intervention with the use of vascular substitutes, such as autologous veins or Dacron or PTFE prostheses. When this is not possible, it progresses to limb amputation. For cases where there is no autologous vascular substitute, tissue engineering with the production of neovessels may be a promising option. Previous experimental studies have shown in vitro that rabbit vena cava can be decellularized and serve as a scaffold for receiving mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), with subsequent differentiation into endothelial cells. The current study aimed to evaluate the behavior of a 3D product structure based on decellularized rabbit inferior vena cava (IVC) scaffolds seeded with adipose-tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) and implanted in rabbits dorsally subcutaneously. We evaluated the induction of the inflammatory response in the animal. We found that stem cells were positive in reducing the inflammatory response induced by the decellularized scaffolds.
GRP75 Modulates Endoplasmic Reticulum–Mitochondria Coupling and Accelerates Ca2+-Dependent Endothelial Cell Apoptosis in Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Li Yan , Li Hong-Ying , Shao Jun , Zhu Lingpeng , Xie Tian-Hua , Cai Jiping , Wang Wenjuan , Cai Meng-Xia , Wang Zi-Li , Yao Yong , Wei Ting-Ting
Published: November 2022

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial dysfunction play fundamental roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, the interrelationship between the ER and mitochondria are poorly understood in DR. Here, we established high glucose (HG) or advanced glycosylation end products (AGE)-induced human retinal vascular endothelial cell (RMEC) models in vitro, as well as a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced DR rat model in vivo. Our data demonstrated that there was increased ER–mitochondria coupling in the RMECs, which was accompanied by elevated mitochondrial calcium ions (Ca2+) and mitochondrial dysfunction under HG or AGE incubation. Mechanistically, ER–mitochondria coupling was increased through activation of the IP3R1–GRP75–VDAC1 axis, which transferred Ca2+ from the ER to the mitochondria. Elevated mitochondrial Ca2+ led to an increase in mitochondrial ROS and a decline in mitochondrial membrane potential. These events resulted in the elevation of mitochondrial permeability and induced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, which further activated caspase-3 and promoted apoptosis. The above phenomenon was also observed in tunicamycin (TUN, ER stress inducer)-treated cells. Meanwhile, BAPTA-AM (calcium chelator) rescued mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in DR, which further confirmed of our suspicions. In addition, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), an ER stress inhibitor, was shown to reverse retinal dysfunction in STZ-induced DR rats in vivo. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that DR fueled the formation of ER–mitochondria coupling via the IP3R1–GRP75–VDAC1 axis and accelerated Ca2+-dependent cell apoptosis. Our results demonstrated that inhibition of ER–mitochondrial coupling, including inhibition of GRP75 or Ca2+ overload, may be a potential therapeutic target in DR.
Benzodiazepine Modulation of GABAA Receptors: A Mechanistic Perspective
Authors: Goldschen-Ohm Marcel P.
Published: November 2022

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are a class of widely prescribed psychotropic drugs that target GABAA receptors (GABAARs) to tune inhibitory synaptic signaling throughout the central nervous system. Despite knowing their molecular target for over 40 years, we still do not fully understand the mechanism of modulation at the level of the channel protein. Nonetheless, functional studies, together with recent cryo-EM structures of GABAA(α1)2(βX)2(γ2)1 receptors in complex with BZDs, provide a wealth of information to aid in addressing this gap in knowledge. Here, mechanistic interpretations of functional and structural evidence for the action of BZDs at GABAA(α1)2(βX)2(γ2)1 receptors are reviewed. The goal is not to describe each of the many studies that are relevant to this discussion nor to dissect in detail all the effects of individual mutations or perturbations but rather to highlight general mechanistic principles in the context of recent structural information.
Emerging Wearable Biosensor Technologies for Stress Monitoring and Their Real-World Applications
Authors: Wu Ju-Yu , Ching Congo Tak-Shing , Wang Hui-Min David , Liao Lun-De
Published: November 2022

Wearable devices are being developed faster and applied more widely. Wearables have been used to monitor movement-related physiological indices, including heartbeat, movement, and other exercise metrics, for health purposes. People are also paying more attention to mental health issues, such as stress management. Wearable devices can be used to monitor emotional status and provide preliminary diagnoses and guided training functions. The nervous system responds to stress, which directly affects eye movements and sweat secretion. Therefore, the changes in brain potential, eye potential, and cortisol content in sweat could be used to interpret emotional changes, fatigue levels, and physiological and psychological stress. To better assess users, stress-sensing devices can be integrated with applications to improve cognitive function, attention, sports performance, learning ability, and stress release. These application-related wearables can be used in medical diagnosis and treatment, such as for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), traumatic stress syndrome, and insomnia, thus facilitating precision medicine. However, many factors contribute to data errors and incorrect assessments, including the various wearable devices, sensor types, data reception methods, data processing accuracy and algorithms, application reliability and validity, and actual user actions. Therefore, in the future, medical platforms for wearable devices and applications should be developed, and product implementations should be evaluated clinically to confirm product accuracy and perform reliable research.
Application of VCSEL in Bio-Sensing Atomic Magnetometers
Authors: Zhou Peng , Quan Wei , Wei Kai , Liang Zihua , Hu Jinsheng , Liu Lu , Hu Gen , Wang Ankang , Ye Mao
Published: November 2022

Recent years have seen rapid development of chip-scale atomic devices due to their great potential in the field of biomedical imaging, namely chip-scale atomic magnetometers that enable high resolution magnetocardiography (MCG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG). For atomic devices of this kind, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) have become the most crucial components as integrated pumping sources, which are attracting growing interest. In this paper, the application of VCSELs in chip-scale atomic devices are reviewed, where VCSELs are integrated in various atomic bio-sensing devices with different operating environments. Secondly, the mode and polarization control of VCSELs in the specific applications are reviewed with their pros and cons discussed. In addition, various packaging of VCSEL based on different atomic devices in pursuit of miniaturization and precision measurement are reviewed and discussed. Finally, the VCSEL-based chip-scale atomic magnetometers utilized for cardiac and brain magnetometry are reviewed in detail. Nowadays, biosensors with chip integration, low power consumption, and high sensitivity are undergoing rapid industrialization, due to the growing market of medical instrumentation and portable health monitoring. It is promising that VCSEL-integrated chip-scale atomic biosensors as featured applications of this kind may experience extensive development in the near future.
Prefrontal Cerebral Oxygenated Hemoglobin Concentration during the Category Fluency and Finger-Tapping Tasks in Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Takahashi Shingo , Tomita Yosuke , Tanaka Shigeya , Sakurai Noriko , Kodama Naoki
Published: November 2022

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered to be the limit between the cognitive changes of aging and early dementia; thus, discriminating between participants with and without MCI is important. In the present study, we aimed to examine the differences in the cerebral oxyhemoglobin signal between individuals with and without MCI. The cerebral oxyhemoglobin signal was measured when the participants (young and elderly controls as well as patients with MCI) performed category fluency, finger tapping, and dual tasks using head-mounted near-infrared spectroscopy; the results were compared between the groups. The cerebral oxyhemoglobin signal trended toward the highest values during the category fluency task in young participants and during the finger-tapping task in elderly participants regardless of the MCI status. The area under the curve was approximately 0.5, indicating a low discrimination ability between elderly participants with and without MCI. The measurement of the blood flow in the prefrontal cortex may not accurately quantify cognitive and motor performance to detect MCI. Finger tapping may increase cerebral blood flow in individuals with and without MCI during the task.