bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of P-Glycoprotein Asymmetrically Alters the In Vivo Exposure Profile of SGC003F: A Novel Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator
Authors: Lou Jinle , Li Nan , Jiang Xue , Cai Xu , Wang Lingchao , Wu Xia , Zhang Wenpeng , Jin Chunmei , Zhuang Xiaomei
Published: August 2024

As a novel guanylate cyclase stimulator, SGC003F is being developed for the treatment of heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study aimed to assess the effect of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibition on SGC003F exposure in vivo, comparing plasma and tissue levels, and evaluating the role of P-gp in the small intestine, blood–brain barrier (BBB), and kidney in impacting the tissue exposure. Tariquidar, a P-gp inhibitor, was added to monolayer transport assays to observe the changes in the transmembrane characteristics of SGC003F. Rats were given SGC003F with tariquidar via various routes to measure plasma, tissue, urine, and fecal concentrations. The inclusion of tariquidar significantly altered the pharmacokinetics of SGC003F. In LLC-PK1-MDR1 cells, tariquidar reduced the efflux ratio of SGC003F from 6.56 to 1.28. In rats, it enhanced the plasma AUC by 3.05 or 1.61 times, increased the Cmax by 2.13 or 1.07 times, and notably improved bioavailability from 46.4% to 95%. Additionally, co-administration with tariquidar led to a decrease in fecal excretion and an increase in tissue exposure, with only a moderate effect on the partition ratios in the small intestine and brain. P-gp inhibition impacts SGC003F exposure, with plasma levels not fully reflecting tissue levels. P-gp in the small intestine and BBB affects SGC003F’s pharmacokinetics, warranting further clinical drug–drug interaction (DDI) studies.
Drug Nanocrystals in Oral Absorption: Factors That Influence Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Macedo Luiza de Oliveira , Masiero Jéssica Fagionato , Bou-Chacra Nádia Araci
Published: August 2024

Despite the safety and convenience of oral administration, poorly water-soluble drugs compromise absorption and bioavailability. These drugs can exhibit low dissolution rates, variability between fed and fasted states, difficulty permeating the mucus layer, and P-glycoprotein efflux. Drug nanocrystals offer a promising strategy to address these challenges. This review focuses on the opportunities to develop orally administered nanocrystals based on pharmacokinetic outcomes. The impacts of the drug particle size, morphology, dissolution rate, crystalline state on oral bioavailability are discussed. The potential of the improved dissolution rate to eliminate food effects during absorption is also addressed. This review also explores whether permeation or dissolution drives nanocrystal absorption. Additionally, it addresses the functional roles of stabilizers. Drug nanocrystals may result in prolonged concentrations in the bloodstream in some cases. Therefore, nanocrystals represent a promising strategy to overcome the challenges of poorly water-soluble drugs, thus encouraging further investigation into unclear mechanisms during oral administration.
Lipid-Based Nanoparticles Fused with Natural Killer Cell Plasma Membrane Proteins for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Won Eun-Jeong , Lee Myungchul , Lee Eui-Kyung , Baek Seung-Hoon , Yoon Tae-Jong
Published: August 2024

Immunotherapy combined with chemicals and genetic engineering tools is emerging as a promising strategy to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is more aggressive with poorer progress than other breast cancer subtypes. In this study, lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) possessed an NK cell-like function that could deliver tumor-specific therapeutics and inhibit tumor growth. LNPs fused with an NK cell membrane protein system (NK-LNP) have three main features: (i) hydrophilic plasmid DNA can inhibit TNBC metastasis when encapsulated within LNPs and delivered to cells; (ii) the lipid composition of LNPs, including C18 ceramide, exhibits anticancer effects; (iii) NK cell membrane proteins are immobilized on the LNP surface, enabling targeted delivery to TNBC cells. These particles facilitate the targeted delivery of HIC1 plasmid DNA and the modulation of immune cell functions. Delivered therapeutic genes can inhibit metastasis of TNBC and then induce apoptotic cell death while targeting macrophages to promote cytokine release. The anticancer effect is expected to be applied in treating various difficult-to-treat cancers with LNP fused with NK cell plasma membrane proteins, which can simultaneously deliver therapeutic chemicals and genes.
Synergizing Immunotherapy and Antibody–Drug Conjugates: New Horizons in Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Pinto Antonello , Guarini Chiara , Giampaglia Marianna , Sanna Valeria , Melaccio Assunta , Lanotte Laura , Santoro Anna Natalizia , Pini Francesca , Cusmai Antonio , Giuliani Francesco , Gadaleta-Caldarola Gennaro , Fedele Palma
Published: August 2024

The advent of immunotherapy and antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs) have revolutionized breast cancer treatment, offering new hope to patients. However, challenges, such as resistance and limited efficacy in certain cases, remain. Recently, the combination of these therapies has emerged as a promising approach to address these challenges. ADCs play a crucial role by delivering cytotoxic agents directly to breast cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissue and enhancing the tumor-killing effect. Concurrently, immunotherapies harness the body’s immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. This integration offers potential to overcome resistance mechanisms and significantly improve therapeutic outcomes. This review explores the rationale behind combining immunotherapies with ADCs, recent advances in this field, and the potential implications for breast cancer treatment.
Re-Thinking Subjectivation beyond Work and Appropriation: The Yanomami Anti-Production Strategies
Authors: Gomes Ana Suelen Tossige
Published: August 2024

Western culture has assigned an essential role to productive activity in defining our lives. In Locke’s and Hegel’s thought, we see the model that became dominant in modern political philosophy: that of conceiving the subject as a result of, and only possible within, the triad of work–property–subject. Nowadays, this has reached the level of shaping the meaning of living, and our entire existences seem to be subjected to a concept of lives-as-work. Combining anthropology and philosophy, this article seeks to rethink subjectivation beyond the process of work and appropriation, delving into worldviews different from those of the West. Specifically, we will focus on the Yanomami form of life, a non-stratified indigenous people living in the Brazilian Amazon. We will analyze how the Yanomami prevent the process of subjectification by the objectification of one’s own work through a sort of anti-work and anti-property apparatus. This is achieved through specific techniques of underproduction, which constitute another approach to work, as well as through a completely different way of conceiving subjectivity. Furthermore, the Yanomami’s view of all entities as subjects endowed with intentionality appears as de-ontologizing the subject position and deactivating the dyads of subject/object and own/common. The result is a worldview where, with everyone being subjects—humans and non-humans, living and dead, entities and things of nature—no one can be dominus of anyone.
Research and Improvement in Magnetic Field Sensors Using Mach–Zehnder Interferometer with Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles
Authors: de Vasconcelos Francisco Willame Coelho , Araújo Matheus Rodrigues , Maia Luana Samara Paulino , Rodrigues Lidia Quirino , da Silva Ianna Karollayne Alencar , Miranda João Isaac Silva , Sasaki José Marcos , Miranda Marcus Aurélio Ribeiro , de Andrade Joacir Soares , Camejo Yosdan Martinez , Guimarães Glendo de Freitas
Published: August 2024

In this work, a current and magnetic field sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated utilizing a fiber-optic Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) structure. In our setup, one of the interferometer arms is coated with magnetic nanoparticles. The MZI comprises a laser source emitting an optical signal, split by a coupler into two signals propagated by a reference fiber and a sensor fiber. The sensing fiber is encased in cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4). Upon exposure to a magnetic field, CoFe2O4 induces vibration in the fiber, modifying the sensor’s transmission and causing an imbalance between the optical signals of the interferometer arms. This enables us to evaluate the sensor performance regarding sensitivity, accuracy, and saturation. The nanoparticles were synthesized using the protein sol–gel method, resulting in an average crystallite size of 8, 27, and 67 nm for 623, 773, and 1073 K, respectively. Sample characterizations were conducted through X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, VSM magnetic measurements, and Mössbauer spectroscopy for further analysis of the performance. The sensor exhibited a linear response, achieving a maximum regression between 93.0% and 98.6% across all sample points in the 0 to 150 Oe range, with an output power of approximately 20 dBm, correlated with the applied magnetic field. Sensitivity was measured at 1.15, 0.93, and 1.41 dB/Oe. Previous studies have correlated the horizontal width of the hysteresis loop with sensor saturation. However, by employing a different coating in this work, we complement these findings by demonstrating that the sensor does not saturate if the maximum applied field is smaller than the hysteresis loop width.
Design of Gallium Nitride-Based Photodetector for Enhanced Accuracy in Solar Ultraviolet Index Monitoring
Authors: Li Hanlin , Li Wenhao , Liu Tianxiang , Xu Yiman , He Dongze , Wang Jun
Published: August 2024

Monitoring the solar ultraviolet index (UVI) is of great significance to protect human health. The monitoring of UVI faces several challenges: the accuracy is difficult to control, the complexity of the filter, the increase in volume and price, the decrease in response sensitivity, and the low accuracy of measurement. Considering the limitations and insufficiencies in the current technology, this paper proposes a miniature gallium nitride (GaN)-based erythema response detector. The detector utilizes a double-diode integrated chip for accurate detection of the erythema response, enabling it to closely match the spectral response of the erythema spectrum curve determined by the World Health Organization. This ensures precise correspondence between the output current and ultraviolet index. The measurement error of each UV detector is determined by analyzing eight sets of UV radiation spectra. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed detector exhibits a measurement error below 0.4 for each group of UV index measurements. The experimental results show that the measurement accuracy of the detector on the ultraviolet index is at the advanced level compared to the current mainstream commercial ultraviolet detector.
Simplified Laser Frequency Noise Measurement Using the Delayed Self-Heterodyne Method
Authors: Dúill Seán P. Ó , Barry Liam P.
Published: August 2024

Here, we report on a simplified laser frequency noise measurement technique employing an acousto-optic modulator, a delay line, and a real-time oscilloscope. The technique is a slight modification of the typical delayed heterodyne method. Instead of using a swept frequency spectrum to analyze the laser emission spectrum, the waveform captured on a real-time oscilloscope is used to directly calculate the laser frequency noise. The oscilloscope bandwidth and sampling requirements can be kept modest by choosing a modulator driven at a few hundred megahertz, making this technique attractive for a large number of laboratories. We show the frequency noise measurements of two different lasers with linewidths at 2.7 kHz and 2 MHz. We took the opportunity to investigate the noise floor of the frequency noise measurement system, and we found that the noise floor of the frequency noise measurement depends on the power level of the laser that is being characterized, with the kilohertz linewidths laser requiring more power to reduce the noise floor to acceptable levels.
Monitoring Soybean Soil Moisture Content Based on UAV Multispectral and Thermal-Infrared Remote-Sensing Information Fusion
Authors: Shi Hongzhao , Liu Zhiying , Li Siqi , Jin Ming , Tang Zijun , Sun Tao , Liu Xiaochi , Li Zhijun , Zhang Fucang , Xiang Youzhen
Published: August 2024

By integrating the thermal characteristics from thermal-infrared remote sensing with the physiological and structural information of vegetation revealed by multispectral remote sensing, a more comprehensive assessment of the crop soil-moisture-status response can be achieved. In this study, multispectral and thermal-infrared remote-sensing data, along with soil-moisture-content (SMC) samples (0~20 cm, 20~40 cm, and 40~60 cm soil layers), were collected during the flowering stage of soybean. Data sources included vegetation indices, texture features, texture indices, and thermal-infrared vegetation indices. Spectral parameters with a significant correlation level (p < 0.01) were selected and input into the model as single- and fuse-input variables. Three machine learning methods, eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Random Forest (RF), and Genetic Algorithm-optimized Backpropagation Neural Network (GA-BP), were utilized to construct prediction models for soybean SMC based on the fusion of UAV multispectral and thermal-infrared remote-sensing information. The results indicated that among the single-input variables, the vegetation indices (VIs) derived from multispectral sensors had the optimal accuracy for monitoring SMC in different soil layers under soybean cultivation. The prediction accuracy was the lowest when using single-texture information, while the combination of texture feature values into new texture indices significantly improved the performance of estimating SMC. The fusion of vegetation indices (VIs), texture indices (TIs), and thermal-infrared vegetation indices (TVIs) provided a better prediction of soybean SMC. The optimal prediction model for SMC in different soil layers under soybean cultivation was constructed based on the input combination of VIs + TIs + TVIs, and XGBoost was identified as the preferred method for soybean SMC monitoring and modeling, with its R2 = 0.780, RMSE = 0.437%, and MRE = 1.667% in predicting 0~20 cm SMC. In summary, the fusion of UAV multispectral and thermal-infrared remote-sensing information has good application value in predicting SMC in different soil layers under soybean cultivation. This study can provide technical support for precise management of soybean soil moisture status using the UAV platform.
Study on the Polymer Morphology and Electro-Optical Performance of Acrylate/Epoxy Resin-Based Polymer-Stabilized Liquid Crystals Based on Stepwise Photopolymerization
Authors: Wu Yishuo , Shang Guangyang , Ma Cong , Shi Yingjie , Song Zhexu , Wang Peixiang , Gao Yanzi , Wang Qian , Yu Meina , Xiao Jiumei , Zou Cheng
Published: August 2024

Stepwise photopolymerization is a miraculous strategy modulating the polymer skeleton and electro-optical properties of light modulators based on liquid crystal/polymer composites. However, owing to the indistinct polymerization mechanism and curing condition discrepancy, the required polymer structures and electro-optical properties are hard to be controlled precisely. Herein, a novel polymer-stabilized liquid crystal film based on acrylate/epoxy resin is proposed, fabricated and the relationships between preparation process, polymer content, polymer morphology and electro-optical properties are studied. The in-situ photopolymerization of acrylate/epoxy resin liquid crystalline polymer is fulfilled using cation photo-initiator UV 6976. The distinct photopolymerization speed between acrylate and epoxy resin benefits the polymer morphology control, and with accurate containment of the polymerization process and polymer composition, the superior electro-optical properties at a higher polymer content are acquired. The polymer morphology and electro-optical properties are influenced by the polymer content and mass ratio between acrylate and epoxy resin. The best electro-optical properties among samples are attained by controlling the mass ratio between acrylate and epoxy resin to 1:1, integrating higher densities of scattering centers and lower anchoring effect. With higher polymer content, the strategy of increasing the mass ratio of E6M benefits the improvement of E-O properties for alleviating polymer density. This work provides insights to stepwise polymerization of liquid crystalline monomers and offers a fancy strategy for the preparation of novel liquid crystal dimming films.
Novel Design of Eco-Friendly High-Performance Thermoplastic Elastomer Based on Polyurethane and Ground Tire Rubber toward Upcycling of Waste Tires
Authors: He Maoyong , Li Ruiping , Hao Mingzheng , Tao Ying , Wang Peng , Bian Xiangcheng , Dang Haichun , Wang Yulong , Li Zhenzhong , Zhang Tao
Published: August 2024

Waste rubber tires are an area of global concern in relation to reducing the consumption of petrochemical products and environmental pollution. Herein, eco-friendly high-performance thermoplastic polyurethane (PU) elastomers were successfully in-situ synthesized through the incorporation of ground tire rubber (GTR). The excellent wet-skid resistance of PU/GTR elastomer was achieved by using mixed polycaprolactone polyols with Mn = 1000 g/mol (PCL-1K) and PCL-2K as soft segments. More importantly, an efficient solution to balance the contradiction between dynamic heat build-up and wet-skid resistance in PU/GTR elastomers was that low heat build-up was realized through the limited friction between PU molecular chains, which was achieved with the help of the network structure formed from GTR particles uniformly distributed in the PU matrix. Impressively, the tanδ at 60 °C and the DIN abrasion volume (Δrel) of the optimal PU/GTR elastomer with 59.5% of PCL-1K and 5.0% of GTR were 0.03 and 38.5 mm3, respectively, which are significantly lower than the 0.12 and 158.32 mm3 for pure PU elastomer, indicating that the PU/GTR elastomer possesses extremely low rolling resistance and excellent wear resistance. Meanwhile, the tanδ at 0 °C of the above-mentioned PU/GTR elastomer was 0.92, which is higher than the 0.80 of pure PU elastomer, evidencing the high wet-skid resistance. To some extent, the as-prepared PU/GTR elastomer has effectively solved the “magic triangle” problem in the tire industry. Moreover, this novel research will be expected to make contributions in the upcycling of waste tires.
Investigation of Partial Discharge Transformation Characteristics in Polyimide (PI) Insulations under High-Frequency Electric Stress
Authors: Ayubi Bilal Iqbal , Zhang Li , Zhou Shengrui , Wang Yiwei , Zou Liang
Published: August 2024

This research delves into the primary issue of polyimide (PI) insulation failures in high-frequency power transformers (HFPTs) by scrutinizing partial discharge development under high-frequency electrical stress. This study employs an experimental approach coupled with a plasma simulation model for a ball–sphere electrode structure. The simulation model integrates the particle transport equation, Poisson equation, and complex chemical reactions to ascertain microscopic parameters, including plasma distribution, electric field, electron density, electron temperature, surface, and space charge distribution. The effect of the voltage polarity and electrical energy on the PD process is also discussed. The contact point plays a pivotal role in triggering partial discharges and culminating in the breakdown of PI insulation. Asymmetry phenomena were found between positive and negative half-cycles by analyzing the PD data stage by stage. A significant number of PDs increased at every stage and the PD amplitude was higher during the negative cycle at the initial stage, but in later stages, the PD amplitude was found to be higher in the positive half-cycle, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the maximum damage occurred near the contact point junction. The simulation results show that the plasma initially accumulates the electron density near the contact point junction. Under the action of the electric field, plasma starts traveling at the PI surface outward from the contact point. Before the PD activity, all parameters have higher values in the plasma head. The microscopic parameters reveal maximum values near the contact point junction, during PD activities where significant damage takes place. These parameter distributions exhibit a decreasing trend over time as when the PD activity ends. The model’s predictions are consistent with the experimental data. The paper lays the foundation for future research in polymer insulation design under high-frequency electrical stress.
Structural Rheology in the Development and Study of Complex Polymer Materials
Authors: Ilyin Sergey O.
Published: August 2024

The progress in polymer science and nanotechnology yields new colloidal and macromolecular objects and their combinations, which can be defined as complex polymer materials. The complexity may include a complicated composition and architecture of macromolecular chains, specific intermolecular interactions, an unusual phase behavior, and a structure of a multi-component polymer-containing material. Determination of a relation between the structure of a complex material, the structure and properties of its constituent elements, and the rheological properties of the material as a whole is the subject of structural rheology—a valuable tool for the development and study of novel materials. This work summarizes the author’s structural–rheological studies of complex polymer materials for determining the conditions and rheo-manifestations of their micro- and nanostructuring. The complicated chemical composition of macromolecular chains and its role in polymer structuring via block segregation and cooperative hydrogen bonds in melt and solutions is considered using tri- and multiblock styrene/isoprene and vinyl acetate/vinyl alcohol copolymers. Specific molecular interactions are analyzed in solutions of cellulose; its acetate butyrate; a gelatin/carrageenan combination; and different acrylonitrile, oxadiazole, and benzimidazole copolymers. A homogeneous structuring may result from a conformational transition, a mesophase formation, or a macromolecular association caused by a complex chain composition or specific inter- and supramolecular interactions, which, however, may be masked by macromolecular entanglements when determining a rheological behavior. A heterogeneous structure formation implies a microscopic phase separation upon non-solvent addition, temperature change, or intense shear up to a macroscopic decomposition. Specific polymer/particle interactions have been examined using polyethylene oxide solutions, polyisobutylene melts, and cellulose gels containing solid particles of different nature, demonstrating the competition of macromolecular entanglements, interparticle interactions, and adsorption polymer/particle bonds in governing the rheological properties. Complex chain architecture has been considered using long-chain branched polybutylene-adipate-terephthalate and polyethylene melts, cross-linked sodium hyaluronate hydrogels, asphaltene solutions, and linear/highly-branched polydimethylsiloxane blends, showing that branching raises the viscosity and elasticity and can result in limited miscibility with linear isomonomer chains. Finally, some examples of composite adhesives, membranes, and greases as structured polymeric functional materials have been presented with the demonstration of the relation between their rheological and performance properties.
Application Progress of Multi-Functional Polymer Composite Nanofibers Based on Electrospinning: A Brief Review
Authors: Ma Shuai , Li An , Pan Ligang
Published: August 2024

Nanomaterials are known as the most promising materials of the 21st century, among which nanofibers have become a hot research and development topic in academia and industry due to their high aspect ratio, high specific surface area, high molecular orientation, high crystallinity, excellent mechanical properties, and many other advantages. Electrospinning is the most important preparation method for nanofibers and their thin membranes due to its controllability, versatility, low cost, and simplicity. Adding nanofillers such as ceramics, metals, and carbon materials to the electrospinning polymer solutions to prepare composites can further improve the mechanical strength and multi-functionality of nanofibers and their thin membranes and also provide possibilities for their widespread applications. Based on the rapid development in the field of polymer composite nanofibers, this review focuses on polyurethane (PU)-based composite nanofibers as the main representative and reviews their latest practical applications in many fields such as sound-absorbing materials, biomedical materials (including tissue engineering implants, drug delivery systems, wound dressings and other anti-bacterial materials, health materials, etc.), wearable sensing devices and energy harvesters, adsorbent materials, electromagnetic shielding materials, and reinforcement materials. Finally, a summary of their performance–application relationship and prospects for further development are given. This review is expected to provide some practical experience and theoretical guidance for further developments in related fields.
Influence of Infill Patterns on the Shape Memory Effect of Cold-Programmed Additively Manufactured PLA
Authors: Barrera-Quintero Vladimir , Correa-Gómez Erasmo , Caballero-Ruiz Alberto , Ruiz-Huerta Leopoldo
Published: August 2024

In four-dimensional additive manufacturing (4DAM), specific external stimuli are applied in conjunction with additive manufacturing technologies. This combination allows the development of tailored stimuli-responsive properties in various materials, structures, or components. For shape-changing functionalities, the programming step plays a crucial role in recovery after exposure to a stimulus. Furthermore, precise tuning of the 4DAM process parameters is essential to achieve shape-change specifications. Within this context, this study investigated how the structural arrangement of infill patterns (criss-cross and concentric) affects the shape memory effect (SME) of compression cold-programmed PLA under a thermal stimulus. The stress–strain curves reveal a higher yield stress for the criss-cross infill pattern. Interestingly, the shape recovery ratio shows a similar trend across both patterns at different displacements with shallower slopes compared to a higher shape fixity ratio. This suggests that the infill pattern primarily affects the mechanical strength (yield stress) and not the recovery. Finally, the recovery force increases proportionally with displacement. These findings suggest a consistent SME under the explored interval (15–45% compression) despite the infill pattern; however, the variations in the mechanical properties shown by the stress–strain curves appear more pronounced, particularly the yield stress.
Comparison of Hybrid Machine Learning Approaches for Surrogate Modeling Part Shrinkage in Injection Molding
Authors: Wenzel Manuel , Raisch Sven Robert , Schmitz Mauritius , Hopmann Christian
Published: August 2024

Machine learning (ML) methods present a valuable opportunity for modeling the non-linear behavior of the injection molding process. They have the potential to predict how various process and material parameters affect the quality of the resulting parts. However, the dynamic nature of the injection molding process and the challenges associated with collecting process data remain significant obstacles for the application of ML methods. To address this, within this study, hybrid approaches are compared that combine process data with additional process knowledge, such as constitutive equations and high-fidelity numerical simulations. The hybrid modeling approaches include feature learning, fine-tuning, delta-modeling, preprocessing, and using physical constraints, as well as combinations of the individual approaches. To train and validate the hybrid models, both the experimental and simulated shrinkage data of an injection-molded part are utilized. While all hybrid approaches outperform the purely data-based model, the fine-tuning approach yields the best result in the simulation setting. The combination of calibrating a physical model (feature learning) and incorporating it implicitly into the training process (physical constraints) outperforms the other approaches in the experimental setting.
Publisher’s Note: Announcing the Launch of Populations—A New Open Access Journal
Authors: Wee Colin
Published: August 2024

Population research is an evergreen topic of interest for governments across the world and accurate measurement of the demographic, environmental, and economic variables associated with a region’s population is invaluable in terms of informing governmental decision-making, planning, and policy [...]
Evaluation of Various Facial Measurements as an Adjunct in Determining Vertical Dimension at Occlusion in Dentate Individuals—A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bhadel Reecha , Kinra Manish Sen , Jain Saurabh , Sayed Mohammed E. , Aggarwal Aparna , Marrapodi Maria Maddalena , Cervino Gabriele , Minervini Giuseppe
Published: August 2024

Background: For optimal clinical outcomes in full mouth rehabilitations, it is vital to determine the optimal jaw relations and confirm the appropriate vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). The current study aims to evaluate various facial measurements as an adjunct in determining VDO in dentate individuals. Methods: A total of one hundred and twenty subjects, sixty males and sixty females, of the age group 19-30 were selected for the study. VDO (chin–nose distance) and other facial measurements like the glabella to subnasion (G-S) distance, both right and left pupil to rima oris (P-R) distance, both right and left corner of mouth to outer canthus of eye (M-E) distance, and both right and left ear to eye (E-e) distance were measured using a Vernier caliper. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of the C-N distance, G-S distance, right P-R distance, right M-E distance, left M-E distance, right E-e distance, and left E-e distance were 67.70 mm ± 3.22 mm, 60.29 mm ± 3.67 mm, 65.99 mm ± 3.72 mm, 66.00 mm ± 3.91 mm, 69.51 mm ± 3.71 mm, 69.48 mm ± 3.68 mm, 69.59 mm ± 3.98 mm, and 69.51 mm ± 3.95 mm, respectively. Pearson’s correlation coefficient between the C-N distance and M-E distance was found to be 0.739 (right), 0.730 (left); that between the C-N distance and E-e distance was found to be 0.738 (right), 0.732 (left); that between the C-N distance and P-R distance was found to be 0.660(right), 0.670(left); and that between the C-N distance and G-s distance was found to be 0.417. Conclusions: The present study reported a high positive correlation between the chin to nose distance and the distance between both the right and left lateral corner of the mouth to the outer canthus of the eye, and the distance between both the right and left ear to the eye. Hence, these measurements can be used as an adjunct for establishing VDO in the edentulous patient.
Religious Communities and Their Closures in Ireland during the Sixteenth Century
Authors: Scott Brendan
Published: August 2024

The closure of religious communities throughout England, commonly known as the ‘dissolution of the monasteries’, was commenced in 1536 and completed to all intents and purposes by 1540, resulting in what one commentator has recently described as ‘the greatest dislocation of people, property and daily life since the Norman Conquest’. This was an important part of Henry VIII’s break with Rome and served as a means not only of further establishing his new authority as supreme head of the Church of England but also as a fundraising mechanism. Ireland’s religious communities, as part of the Tudor kingdoms, now also fell (in theory, at least) under the control of the Crown and were therefore due for closure from the mid-1530s onwards. But in reality, due to the limited power held by the Crown throughout much of Ireland, the only religious houses to be dissolved were those in the Pale, the most English part of Ireland (inter Anglicos, encompassing mainly Counties Dublin, Meath, Tipperary and Kildare, as well as some other areas). In the Gaelic part of Ireland (inter Hibernicos), the king’s writ, which in theory was law, did not actually run, so much so that in one case, the commissioners appointed to inspect a religious house in Granard, County Longford, merely noted that they did not do so, ‘for fear of the wild Irish’. The dissolution process in Ireland was drawn out and took place in two stages, with a second wave of monastic dissolutions in the 1570s and 1580s, long into Elizabeth’s reign. This was just one arm of the queen’s expansionist movement into parts of the island hitherto out of the reach of Tudor administration. Although the Reformation process in Ireland as a whole can ultimately be said to have been a failure, the dissolution process (in parts of the island, at least) was a success, one of the very few triumphs of Henry’s Irish Reformation programme. Vast tracts of property and land exchanged hands, a land grab that was facilitated by characters such as William Brabazon, the Irish vice-treasurer whose corruption was notorious. Despite this, a small number of communities managed to escape closure and continued on, protected by their local communities and gentry. Since the early 1970s, Brendan Bradshaw and others have written of the Henrician ‘first wave’ of dissolutions, but little consideration has been given to the later wave of closures that took place in parts of Gaelic Ireland that had previously been out of the Crown’s reach. This essay will survey the closures of the 1530s before discussing the dissolutions that took place in the later sixteenth century, and by doing so, it is hoped, will present a new consideration of these events that irrevocably altered Ireland’s landscape and society.
Integration of Multi-Source Datasets for Assessing Ground Swelling/Shrinking Risk in Cyprus: The Case Studies of Pyrgos–Parekklisia and Moni
Authors: Argyriou Athanasios V. , Prodromou Maria , Theocharidis Christos , Fotiou Kyriaki , Alatza Stavroula , Loupasakis Constantinos , Pittaki-Chrysodonta Zampela , Kontoes Charalampos , Hadjimitsis Diofantos G. , Tzouvaras Marios
Published: August 2024

The determination of swelling/shrinking phenomena, from natural and anthropogenic activity, is examined in this study through the synergy of various remote sensing methodologies. For the period of 2016–2022, a time-series InSAR analysis of Sentinel-1 satellite images, with a Coherent Change Detection procedure, was conducted to calculate the Normalized Coherence Difference. These were combined with Sentinel-2 multispectral data by exploiting the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index to create multi-temporal image composites. In addition, ALOS-Palsar DEM derivatives highlighted the geomorphological characteristics, which, in conjunction with the satellite imagery outcomes and other auxiliary spatial datasets, were embedded within a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) model. The synergy of the remote sensing and GIS techniques’ applicability within the MCDA model highlighted the zones undergoing seasonal swelling/shrinking processes in Pyrgos–Parekklisia and Moni regions in Cyprus. The accuracy assessment of the produced final MCDA outcome provided an overall accuracy of 72.4%, with the Kappa statistic being 0.66, indicating substantial agreement of the MCDA outcome with the results from a Persistent Scatterer Interferometry analysis and ground-truth observations. Thus, this study offers decision-makers a powerful procedure to monitor longer- and shorter-term swelling/shrinking phenomena.
Evaluating the Performance of Pulsed and Continuous-Wave Lidar Wind Profilers with a Controlled Motion Experiment
Authors: Malekmohammadi Shokoufeh , Duscha Christiane , Jenkins Alastair D. , Kelberlau Felix , Gottschall Julia , Reuder Joachim
Published: August 2024

While floating wind lidars provide reliable and cost-effective measurements, these measurements may be inaccurate due to the motion of the installation platforms. Prior studies have not distinguished between systematic errors associated with lidars and errors resulting from motion. This study will fill this gap by examining the impact of platform motion on two types of profiling wind lidar systems: the pulsed WindCube V1 (Leosphere) and the continuous-wave ZephIR 300 (Natural Power). On a moving hexapod platform, both systems were subjected to 50 controlled sinusoidal motion cases in different degrees of freedom. Two reference lidars were placed at a distance of five meters from the platform as reference lidars. Motion-induced errors in mean wind speed and turbulence intensity estimation by lidars are analyzed. Additionally, the effectiveness of a motion correction approach in reducing these errors across various scenarios is evaluated. The results indicate that presence of rotational motion leads to higher turbulence intensity (TI) estimation by moving lidars. The absolute percentage error between lidars is the highest when lidars are exposed to yaw and heave motion and is the lowest when exposed to surge motion. The correlation between lidars, though it is the lowest in the presence of pitch, yaw, and heave motion. Furthermore, applying motion compensation can compensate the correlation drop and erroneous TI estimation.
Predicting Ground Cover with Deep Learning Models—An Application of Spatio-Temporal Prediction Methods to Satellite-Derived Ground Cover Maps in the Great Barrier Reef Catchments
Authors: Mao Yongjing , Turner Ryan D. R. , McMahon Joseph M. , Correa Diego F. , Chamberlain Debbie A. , Warne Michael St. J.
Published: August 2024

Livestock grazing is a major land use in the Great Barrier Reef Catchment Area (GBRCA). Heightened grazing density coupled with inadequate land management leads to accelerated soil erosion and increased sediment loads being transported downstream. Ultimately, these increased sediment loads impact the water quality of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. Ground cover mapping has been adopted to monitor and assess the land condition in the GBRCA. However, accurate prediction of ground cover remains a vital knowledge gap to inform proactive approaches for improving land conditions. Herein, we explored two deep learning-based spatio-temporal prediction models, including convolutional LSTM (ConvLSTM) and Predictive Recurrent Neural Network (PredRNN), to predict future ground cover. The two models were evaluated on different spatial scales, ranging from a small site (i.e., <5 km2) to the entire GBRCA, with different quantities of training data. Following comparisons against 25% withheld testing data, we found the following: (1) both ConvLSTM and PredRNN accurately predicted the next-season ground cover for not only a single site but also the entire GBRCA. They achieved this with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) under 5% and a Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) exceeding 0.65; (2) PredRNN superseded ConvLSTM by providing more accurate next-season predictions with better training efficiency; (3) The accuracy of PredRNN varies seasonally and spatially, with lower accuracy observed for low ground cover, which is underestimated. The models assessed in this study can serve as an early-alert tool to produce high-accuracy and high-resolution ground cover prediction one season earlier than observation for the entire GBRCA, which enables local authorities and grazing property owners to take preventive measures to improve land conditions. This study also offers a new perspective on the future utilization of predictive spatio-temporal models, particularly over large spatial scales and across varying environmental sites.
Thermal Profile Dynamics of a Central European River Based on Landsat Images: Natural and Anthropogenic Influencing Factors
Authors: Mohsen Ahmed , Kiss Tímea , Baranya Sándor , Balla Alexia , Kovács Ferenc
Published: August 2024

River temperature is a critical parameter influencing aquatic ecosystems and water quality. However, it can be changed by natural (e.g., flow and depth conditions) and human factors (e.g., waste and industrial water drainage). Satellite-based monitoring offers a valuable tool for assessing river temperature on a large scale, elucidating the impacts of various factors. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of surface water temperature (SWT) in the medium-sized Tisza River in response to natural and anthropogenic influences, employing Landsat satellites and in situ water temperature data. The validity of the Landsat-based SWT estimates was assessed across different channel sections with varying sizes. The longitudinal thermal profile of the Tisza was analyzed by mosaicking, monthly, four Landsat 9 images, covering the entire 962 km length of the Tisza in 2023. The impact of climate change was evaluated by analyzing SWT trends at a specific site from 1984 to 2024, utilizing 483 Landsat 4–9 images. The findings indicated elevated accuracy for Landsat-based SWT estimation (R2 = 0.94; RMSE = 3.66 °C), particularly for channel sizes covering ≥ 3 pixels. Discharge, microclimatic conditions, and channel morphology significantly influence SWT, demonstrating a general increasing trend downstream with occasional decreases during the summer months. Dams were observed to lower the SWT downstream due to cooler bottom reservoir water discharge, with more pronounced differences during the summer months (1–3 °C). Tributaries predominantly (75%) elevated the SWT in the Tisza River, albeit with varying magnitudes across different months. Over the 40-year study period, an increasing trend in SWT was discerned, with an annual rise rate of 0.0684 °C. While the thermal band of Landsat satellites proved valuable for investigating the Tisza River’s thermal profile at a broad scale, finer spatial resolution bands are necessary for detecting small-scale phenomena such as thermal plumes and localized temperature variations in rivers.
A Comparative Performance Evaluation of YOLO-Type Detectors on a New Open Fire and Smoke Dataset
Authors: Catargiu Constantin , Cleju Nicolae , Ciocoiu Iulian B.
Published: August 2024

The paper introduces a new FireAndSmoke open dataset comprising over 22,000 images and 93,000 distinct instances compiled from 1200 YouTube videos and public Internet resources. The scenes include separate and combined fire and smoke scenarios and a curated set of difficult cases representing real-life circumstances when specific image patches may be erroneously detected as fire/smoke presence. The dataset has been constructed using both static pictures and video sequences, covering day/night, indoor/outdoor, urban/industrial/forest, low/high resolution, and single/multiple instance cases. A rigorous selection, preprocessing, and labeling procedure has been applied, adhering to the findability, accessibility, interoperability, and reusability specifications described in the literature. The performances of the YOLO-type family of object detectors have been compared in terms of class-wise Precision, Recall, Mean Average Precision (mAP), and speed. Experimental results indicate the recently introduced YOLO10 model as the top performer, with 89% accuracy and a mAP@50 larger than 91%.
Autonomic Responses Associated with Olfactory Preferences of Fragrance Consumers: Skin Conductance, Respiration, and Heart Rate
Authors: Tang Bangbei , Zhu Mingxin , Wu Yingzhang , Guo Gang , Hu Zhian , Ding Yongfeng
Published: August 2024

Assessing the olfactory preferences of consumers is an important aspect of fragrance product development and marketing. With the advancement of wearable device technologies, physiological signals hold great potential for evaluating olfactory preferences. However, there is currently a lack of relevant studies and specific explanatory procedures for preference assessment methods that are based on physiological signals. In response to this gap, a synchronous data acquisition system was established using the ErgoLAB multi-channel physiology instrument and olfactory experience tester. Thirty-three participants were recruited for the olfactory preference experiments, and three types of autonomic response data (skin conductance, respiration, and heart rate) were collected. The results of both individual and overall analyses indicated that olfactory preferences can lead to changes in skin conductance (SC), respiration (RESP), and heart rate (HR). The trends of change in both RESP and HR showed significant differences (with the HR being more easily distinguishable), while the SC did not exhibit significant differences across different olfactory perception preferences. Additionally, gender differences did not result in significant variations. Therefore, HR is more suitable for evaluating olfactory perception preferences, followed by RESP, while SC shows the least effect. Moreover, a logistic regression model with a high accuracy (84.1%) in predicting olfactory perception preferences was developed using the changes in the RESP and HR features. This study has significant implications for advancing the assessment of consumer olfactory preferences.
Impact of Pay Gap on Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Top Management Team Diversity
Authors: Tan Ziyan , Wu Xiaobo , Chu Ruhui
Published: August 2024

The pursuit of innovation and the motivation of personnel have long been crucial considerations for sustainable development of organizations. However, an insufficiently addressed issue lies in the optimization of managerial and employee motivation through compensation structures. Drawing on tournament theory and social comparison theory, this research investigates the influence of both the top management team (TMT) pay gap and the TMT-employee pay gap on firms’ innovation performance. Leveraging an empirical analysis of a longitudinal dataset comprising 2517 firms with 12,052 observations spanning from 2004 to 2020, this study reveals an inverted U-shaped relationship between the TMT team pay gap and firm innovation performance. Additionally, this effect is found to be significantly mitigated in firms characterized by highly homogeneous management teams. Furthermore, our investigation indicates that a wider pay gap between executives and employees positively correlates with improved firm innovation performance. The findings from this study contribute novel theoretical explanations and empirical evidence, offering valuable insights into the nuanced ways in which pay gaps impact innovation performance within distinct organizational contexts. A better system of incentives within organizations directly promotes the development of technological innovation, contributing to social progress, human harmony, and sustainable development.
Conjoint Analysis Study to Examine Consumer’s Preferences for Hybrid Yogurt
Authors: Marlapati Likhitha , Kinchla Amanda J. , Nolden Alissa A.
Published: August 2024

Plant-based alternatives have a lower environmental impact than animal-derived proteins, but many consumers hesitate to try them. An alternative strategy is partially substituting animal proteins with plant proteins, creating hybrid products with improved characteristics. This study investigates consumer perception of hybrid yogurt using choice-based conjoint analysis (CBC) with five attributes: protein source, protein content, flavor, price, and claims. Results showed protein source was the most significant factor (27.5%), followed by protein content (22.4%), flavor (20.3%), price (16.5%), and claims (13.3%). Dairy and hybrid yogurts had positive utility scores, while plant-based yogurt had a negative score, indicating a preference for dairy and hybrid options.