bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantifying the Enhanced Performance of Multifamily Residential Passive House over Conventional Buildings in Terms of Energy Use
Authors: Mirhosseini Homeira , Li Jie , Iulo Lisa D. , Freihaut James D.
Published: June 2024

In response to escalating energy demands and global warming concerns, the Passive House Standard has emerged as a solution in residential construction, aiming to drastically reduce energy consumption and operational costs primarily through high-performance building envelopes. While a considerable volume of the literature has focused on the Passivhaus Institute (PHI) standards, predominantly in European contexts, there is a gap in research on the Passive House Institute US (Phius) standards, particularly in North American climates. This study conducts a quantitative comparative analysis of two adjacent multifamily residential buildings in Central Pennsylvania, Climate Zone 5A—one built using conventional construction methods and the other following Passive House (PHIUS+ 2015) certification standards—to validate the energy efficiency improvements attributed to Passive House designs. A comparative analysis of the whole building energy use over two years reveals that the Passive House building consumes approximately 50% less energy than its conventional counterpart in terms of whole building energy use and the national median recommended benchmark metric defined by the Energy Star Portfolio Manager. These findings emphasize the potential for significant energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions in residential buildings, highlighting the necessity for policymakers and governments to incentivize the adoption of Passive House standards to achieve environmental sustainability and reduce energy costs for society.
Interface Interaction of Waste Rubber–Asphalt System
Authors: Su Jinfei , Li Peilong , Zhu Guangxin , Wang Xiaoxu , Dong Shihao
Published: June 2024

Asphalt pavement construction is a large-volume project, with the ability to recycle the industrial waste and reduce carbon emissions. Rubber-modified asphalt is a carbon-neutralized asphalt-based material, facilitating the recycling of waste rubber materials and improving the road performance of the asphalt mixture. To evaluate the interface interaction of the rubber–asphalt system and its effect on the viscosity characteristics of rubber-modified asphalt, the contact properties of rubber particles in asphalt were analyzed on a microscopic level. Rubber swelling tests and solvent elution tests were conducted on the rubber–asphalt system under different preparation conditions. The swelling ratio, degradation ratio, and swelling–degradation ratio were proposed to evaluate the interface interaction. The results show that the interface interaction of the rubber–asphalt system can be divided into the following three stages: swelling, effective degradation, and over-degradation. The degree of swelling is mainly affected by the content and size of the rubber particles and it is physically condensed, while the degradation is mainly affected by the preparation temperature and preparation time. The effective interface interaction greatly affects the viscosity with the building of the stable three-dimensional network structure. The stronger the interface interaction, the greater the viscosity of the rubber-modified asphalt, except for the 25% content of rubber particles. The gel film will be generated on the surface of the rubber particles throughout the swelling and effective degradation, increasing the viscosity of the rubber-modified asphalt.
Experimental and Analytical Study on Shear Lag Effect of T-Shaped Reinforced Concrete Shear Walls
Authors: Liu Jianzhao , Hou Yonghui , Wang Hongyan , Ni Xiangyong
Published: June 2024

Because of the flanges on T-shaped shear walls (TSSWs), the shear force acting on such walls results in a shear lag effect, making it impossible to forecast with accuracy the normal stresses of the flanges using the Bernoulli–Euler assumption. Shear lag (SL) in flanged walls has, however, received less attention from researchers, particularly in experimental studies. Understanding the SL in T-shaped reinforced concrete shear walls under shear and axial force is the main goal of this work. First, a SL model is suggested for TSSWs. In this model, the SL deflection is considered to be the generalized displacement and the SL warping deformation, and it is assumed to be a quadratic nonlinear function. Then, experimental and numerical simulation studies are, respectively, conducted to investigate SL effect of TSSWs, and also to evaluate the accuracy of the SL method. Finally, the parameter analysis is conducted to investigate the influence of axial load, shear force, and flange length on the SL effect of TSSWs. The results show that the SL of the TSSW is significant, the normal stress distribution (NSD) of the flange is uneven, and the normal stresses near the web are higher, according to the results of the analytical, simulated, and experimental results. The SL model can accurately predict the normal stresses of the flange of TSSWs, and the quadratic parabola assumption of the SL warp displacement of TSSWs is reasonable. Parameter analysis shows that axial force has little effect on the SL effect of TSSWs. The TSSWs under larger shear force have the more obvious SL effect. A more obvious SL effect occurs in the TSSWs with longer flanges.
Phase II Clinical Trial of Second Course of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Spinal Metastases
Authors: Ito Kei , Nakajima Yujiro , Taguchi Kentaro , Ogawa Hiroaki , Saito Makoto , Murofushi Keiko Nemoto
Published: June 2024

Purpose: The optimal method for the second course of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for spinal metastases remains poorly established. This single-center, single-arm, phase II trial was conducted to propose a safe and effective salvage spine SBRT. Methods: The patients initially treated with SBRT for spine-targeted protocol treatment, or for areas adjacent to the spine, were enrolled. The second SBRT dose was 30 Gy delivered in five fractions; the spinal cord dose constraint was 15.5 Gy at the maximum point dose. The brachial or lumbosacral plexuses were dose-constrained to <30 Gy if the boundary between the nerves and tumors was detected. The primary endpoint was dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) (grade ≥ 3 severe radiation-related toxicity) within a year after the second SBRT. Results: The second SBRT was administered to the same spinal level in 12 patients and to an adjacent spinal level in 8 patients. SBRT2 was performed for 14 painful lesions, 10 MESCC, and 6 oligometastases, with some lesions having multiple indications. The median interval between SBRT sessions was 21 months (range: 6–51 months). The median follow-up duration was 14 months. No radiation myelopathy or local failure was reported during the follow-up period. DLT was confirmed in two patients (10%) within a year, both of whom developed grade 3 lumbosacral plexopathy. These two patients received SBRT twice to the S1–2 and S1–5 vertebrae, respectively, and both experienced paralysis of the tibialis anterior muscle (L5 level). Grade 3 late adverse effects (including lumbosacral plexopathy and vertebral compression fracture) were observed in 25% of the patients throughout the entire follow-up period. Conclusions: The second spine SBRT achieved good local control without causing myelopathy. However, one-quarter of the patients experienced grade 3 late adverse effects, suggesting that the treatment protocol carries a risk of toxicity.
Resveratrol Induces Myotube Development by Altering Circadian Metabolism via the SIRT1-AMPK-PP2A Axis
Authors: Avital-Cohen Natalie , Chapnik Nava , Froy Oren
Published: June 2024

Resveratrol is a polyphenol known to have metabolic as well as circadian effects. However, there is little information regarding the metabolic and circadian effect of resveratrol on muscle cells. We sought to investigate the metabolic impact of resveratrol throughout the circadian cycle to clarify the associated signaling pathways. C2C12 myotubes were incubated with resveratrol in the presence of increasing concentrations of glucose, and metabolic and clock proteins were measured for 24 h. Resveratrol led to SIRT1, AMPK and PP2A activation. Myotubes treated with increasing glucose concentrations showed higher activation of the mTOR signaling pathway. However, resveratrol did not activate the mTOR signaling pathway, except for P70S6K and S6. In accordance with the reduced mTOR activity, resveratrol led to advanced circadian rhythms and reduced levels of pBMAL1 and CRY1. Resveratrol increased myogenin expression and advanced its rhythms. In conclusion, resveratrol activates the SIRT1-AMPK-PP2A axis, advances circadian rhythms and induces muscle development.
Use of FRET-Sensor ‘Mermaid’ to Detect Subtle Changes in Membrane Potential of Primary Mouse PASMCs
Authors: Dartsch Ruth C. , Kraut Simone , Mayer Tim , Gabel Andreas , Dietrich Alexander , Weissmann Norbert , Fuchs Beate , Knoepp Fenja
Published: June 2024

Subtle changes in the membrane potential of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are pivotal for controlling pulmonary vascular tone, e.g., for initiating Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction, a vital mechanism of the pulmonary circulation. In our study, we evaluated the ability of the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based voltage-sensor Mermaid to detect such subtle changes in membrane potential. Mouse PASMCs were isolated and transduced with Mermaid-encoding lentiviral vectors before the acceptor/donor emission ratio was assessed via live cell FRET-imaging. Mermaid’s sensitivity was tested by applying specific potassium chloride (KCl) concentrations. These KCl concentrations were previously validated by patch clamp recordings to induce depolarization with predefined amplitudes that physiologically occur in PASMCs. Mermaid’s emission ratio dose-dependently increased upon depolarization with KCl. However, Mermaid formed unspecific intracellular aggregates, which limited the usefulness of this voltage sensor. When analyzing the membrane rim only to circumvent these unspecific signals, Mermaid was not suitable to resolve subtle changes in the membrane potential of ≤10 mV. In summary, we found Mermaid to be a suitable alternative for reliably detecting qualitative membrane voltage changes of more than 10 mV in primary mouse PASMCs. However, one should be aware of the limitations associated with this voltage sensor.
ScRNA-Seq Analyses Define the Role of GATA3 in iNKT Cell Effector Lineage Differentiation
Authors: Tai Tzong-Shyuan , Yang Huang-Yu , Chuang Wan-Chu , Huang Yu-Wen , Ho I-Cheng , Tsai Ching-Chung , Chuang Ya-Ting
Published: June 2024

While the transcription factor GATA-3 is well-established for its crucial role in T cell development, its specific influence on invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells remains relatively unexplored. Using flow cytometry and single-cell transcriptomic analysis, we demonstrated that GATA-3 deficiency in mice leads to the absence of iNKT2 and iNKT17 cell subsets, as well as an altered distribution of iNKT1 cells. Thymic iNKT cells lacking GATA-3 exhibited diminished expression of PLZF and T-bet, key transcription factors involved in iNKT cell differentiation, and reduced production of Th2, Th17, and cytotoxic effector molecules. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed a comprehensive absence of iNKT17 cells, a substantial reduction in iNKT2 cells, and an increase in iNKT1 cells in GATA-3-deficient thymi. Differential expression analysis highlighted the regulatory role of GATA-3 in T cell activation signaling and altered expression of genes critical for iNKT cell differentiation, such as Icos, Cd127, Eomes, and Zbtb16. Notably, restoration of Icos, but not Cd127, expression could rescue iNKT cell development in GATA-3-deficient mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the pivotal role of GATA-3 in orchestrating iNKT cell effector lineage differentiation through the regulation of T cell activation pathways and Icos expression, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms governing iNKT cell development and function.
Development and Verification of Coupled Fluid–Structure Interaction Solver
Authors: Schemmel Avery , Palakurthy Seshendra , Zope Anup , Collins Eric , Bhushan Shanti
Published: June 2024

Recent trends in aeroelastic analysis have shown a great interest in understanding the role of shock boundary layer interaction in predicting the dynamic instability of aircraft structural components at supersonic and hypersonic flows. The analysis of such complex dynamics requires a time-accurate fluid-structure interaction solver. This study focuses on the development of such a solver by coupling a finite-volume Navier-Stokes solver for fluid flow with a finite-element solver for structural dynamics. The coupled solver is then verified for the prediction of several panel instability cases in 2D and 3D uniform flows and in the presence of an impinging shock for a range of subsonic and supersonic Mach numbers, dynamic pressures, and shock strengths. The panel deflections and limit cycle oscillation amplitudes, frequencies, and bifurcation point predictions were compared within 10% of the benchmark results; thus, the solver was deemed verified. Future studies will focus on extending the solver to 3D turbulent flows and applying the solver to study the effect of turbulent load fluctuations and shock boundary layer interactions on the fluid-structure coupling and structural dynamics of 2D panels.
A Contextual Model for Visual Information Processing
Authors: Khurtin Illia , Prasad Mukesh
Published: June 2024

Despite significant achievements in the artificial narrow intelligence sphere, the mechanisms of human-like (general) intelligence are still undeveloped. There is a theory stating that the human brain extracts the meaning of information rather than recognizes the features of a phenomenon. Extracting the meaning is finding a set of transformation rules (context) and applying them to the incoming information, producing an interpretation. Then, the interpretation is compared to something already seen and is stored in memory. Information can have different meanings in different contexts. A mathematical model of a context processor and a differential contextual space which can perform the interpretation is discussed and developed in this paper. This study examines whether the basic principles of differential contextual spaces work in practice. The model is developed with Rust programming language and trained on black and white images which are rotated and shifted both horizontally and vertically according to the saccades and torsion movements of a human eye. Then, a picture that has never been seen in the particular transformation, but has been seen in another one, is exposed to the model. The model considers the image in all known contexts and extracts the meaning. The results show that the program can successfully process black and white images which are transformed by shifts and rotations. This research prepares the grounding for further investigations of the contextual model principles with which general intelligence might operate.
Development of an Antioxidant, Anti-Aging, and Photoprotective Phytocosmetic from Discarded Agave sisalana Perrine Roots
Authors: Mazo Guilherme dos Santos , Fracasso Julia Amanda Rodrigues , da Costa Luísa Taynara Silvério , Farias Ximenes Valdecir , Zoppe Natália Alves , Viel Amanda Martins , Guarnier Lucas Pires , Silva Beatriz de Castro , de Almeida Luan Victor Coelho , dos Santos Lucinéia
Published: June 2024

The primary source of hard fiber globally is Agave sisalana Perrine, also known as sisal. In areas where sisal is grown, the roots of the plant are usually left in the field after it has stopped producing, which leads to soil degradation and decreased sisal productivity. It is, therefore, critical to find alternatives to reuse this waste. This study explores the potential use of sisal waste in the cosmetic industry by incorporating a hydroethanolic extract (HER) into a cream–gel formulation, taking advantage of the plant’s recognized ethnopharmacological value. The study involves analyzing the extract’s phytochemical composition (flavonoids) and evaluating its cytotoxicity. Subsequently, the antioxidant and antiglycation activities of the extract and cream–gel are evaluated, as well as ex vivo ocular toxicity, photoprotective activity, and preliminary stability analyses. The HER extract showed a flavonoid composition (catechin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, and chrysin) and maintained cell viability above 70% throughout all time points analyzed in the MTT assay. Furthermore, the extract and the formulation demonstrated proven antioxidant and antiglycation activities. The cream–gel’s UVB and UVA protection effectiveness with the HER was comparable to that of synthetic UVB/UVA sunscreens, with the samples proving nonirritating and stable. In conclusion, the extract has a significant presence of flavonoids, and the cream–gel developed with it did not present cytotoxicity and met the stability requirements, indicating phytocosmetic potential with antioxidant, antiglycation, and photoprotective properties.
The Effect of Varying Parameters of Laser Surface Alloying Post-Treatment on the Microstructure and Hardness of Additively Manufactured 17-4PH Stainless Steel
Authors: Chaus Alexander S. , Devoino Oleg G. , Sahul Martin , Vančo Ľubomír , Buranský Ivan
Published: June 2024

In the present work, the evolution of the microstructure in additively manufactured 17-4PH stainless steel, which was subjected to laser surface alloying with amorphous boron and nitrogen at the varying process parameters, was studied. The main aim was to improve surface hardness and hence potential wear resistance of the steel. Scanning electron microscopy, wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (WDS), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were used. It was shown that the final microstructure developed in the laser-melted zone (LMZ) is dependent on a variety of processing parameters (1 and 1.5 mm laser beam spot diameters; 200, 400, and 600 mm/min laser scan speeds), which primarily influence the morphology and orientation of the eutectic dendrites in the LMZ. It was metallographically proven that a fully eutectic microstructure, except for one sample containing 60 ± 4.2% of the eutectic, was revealed in the LMZ in the studied samples. The results of WDS and AES also confirmed alloying the LMZ with nitrogen. The formation of the boron eutectic and the supersaturation of the α-iron solid solution with boron and nitrogen (as a part of the eutectic mixture) led to enhanced microhardness, which was significantly higher compared with that of the heat-treated substrate (545.8 ± 12.59–804.7 ± 19.4 vs. 276.8 ± 10.1–312.7 ± 11.7 HV0.1).
Effect of Different Primers on the Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets Bonded to Reinforced Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) Substrate
Authors: EL-Awady Ahmed Akram , ElHabbak Khaled Samy , Mohamed Hussein Ramadan , Elwan Ahmed Elsayed , Adly Karim Sherif , Abdalla Moamen Ahmed , Kamal Ehab Mohamed , Alameldin Ahmed Leithy
Published: June 2024

This in vitro study assessed the effect of different primers on the shear bond strength (SBS) and adhesive remnant index (ARI) of orthodontic brackets bonded to reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) substrate. A total of 40 specimens were randomly distributed to two groups based on the primer used for orthodontic bonding: group 1 (control)—Transbond XT adhesive with Visio.link primer and group 2 (test)—orthodontic adhesive (Transbond XT) with traditional orthodontic primer. After bonding, specimens were thermocycled followed by SBS testing and ARI scoring of debonded specimens. Data were analyzed using the unpaired independent t-test and the Chi-square test. Group 1 specimens showed significantly higher SBS values (21.38 ± 1.48 MPa) compared to group 2 specimens (18.63 ± 1.29 MPa) (p < 0.0001). Adhesive remnant index scores showed no significant variations in bond failure modes and distributions between groups. The SBS obtained by the tested primers exceeded the clinically recommended value. Consequently, there is a comparable clinical application for both tested primers in orthodontic bonding, especially the traditional orthodontic primer, where the availability of Visio.link in clinical practice is not ensured.
Evaluation of Ilex guayusa and Piper marginatum Extract Cytotoxicity on Human Dental Pulp Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Sequeda-Castañeda Luis G. , Suárez-Carvajal Luisa F. , Téllez-Corral Mayra A. , Gutiérrez-Prieto Sandra J. , Méndez-Pinzón Henry A.
Published: June 2024

Background: Amelogenesis imperfecta is a hereditary disorder affecting dental enamel. Among its phenotypes, hypocalcified AI is characterized by mineral deficiency, leading to tissue wear and, consequently, dental sensitivity. Excessive fluoride intake (through drinking water, fluoride supplements, toothpaste, or by ingesting products such as pesticides or insecticides) can lead to a condition known as dental fluorosis, which manifests as stains and teeth discoloration affecting their structure. Our recent studies have shown that extracts from Colombian native plants, Ilex guayusa and Piper marginatum, deposit mineral ions such as phosphate and orthophosphate into the dental enamel structure; however, it is unknown whether these extracts produce toxic effects on the dental pulp. Objective: To assess cytotoxicity effects on human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) exposed to extracts isolated from I. guayusa and P. marginatum and, hence, their safety for clinical use. Methods: Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry techniques were employed. For Raman spectroscopy, hDPSCs were seeded onto nanobiochips designed to provide surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS effect), which enhances their Raman signal by several orders of magnitude. After eight days in culture, I. guayusa and P. marginatum extracts at different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ppm) were added. Raman measurements were performed at 0, 12, and 24 h following extract application. Fluorescence microscopy was conducted using an OLIMPUS fv1000 microscope, a live–dead assay was performed using a kit employing a BD FACS Canto TM II flow cytometer, and data analysis was determined using a FlowJo program. Results: The Raman spectroscopy results showed spectra consistent with viable cells. These findings were corroborated using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry techniques, confirming high cellular viability. Conclusions: The analyzed extracts exhibited low cytotoxicity, suggesting that they could be safely applied on enamel for remineralization purposes. The use of nanobiochips for SERS effect improved the cell viability assessment.
Trabecular Bone Component Assessment under Orthodontic Loads and Movements during Periodontal Breakdown—A Finite Elements Analysis
Authors: Moga Radu-Andrei , Olteanu Cristian Doru , Delean Ada Gabriela
Published: June 2024

This numerical analysis, by employing Tresca and Von Mises failure criteria, assessed the biomechanical behavior of a trabecular bone component subjected to 0.6, 1.2, and 2.4 N orthodontic forces under five movements (intrusion, extrusion, tipping, rotation, and translation) and during a gradual horizontal periodontal breakdown (0–8 mm). Additionally, they assessed the changes produced by bone loss, and the ischemic and resorptive risks. The analysis employed eighty-one models of nine patients in 405 simulations. Both failure criteria showed similar qualitative results, with Tresca being quantitatively higher by 1.09–1.21. No qualitative differences were seen between the three orthodontic loads. Quantitatively, a doubling (1.2 N) and quadrupling (2.4 N) were visible when compared to 0.6 N. Rotation and translation followed by tipping are the most stressful, especially for a reduced periodontium, prone to higher ischemic and resorptive risks. In an intact periodontium, 1.2 N can be safely applied but only in a reduced periodontium for extrusion and intrusion. More than 0.6 N is prone to increasing ischemic and resorptive risks for the other three movements. In an intact periodontium, stress spreads in the entire trabecular structure. In a reduced periodontium, stress concentrates (after a 4 mm loss—marker for the stress change distribution) and increases around the cervical third of the remaining alveolar socket.
The Impact of School Classroom Chair Depth and Height on Learning Tasks
Authors: Chen Hsiu-Feng , Tsai Chih-Yung
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the seating condition on learning tasks. This physical setting and these cognitive activities (that participants then test) are not the totality of education practice and context, but desks and chairs are important physical elements for students to learn, because students always spend so much time learning at their seats. At present, the chairs purchased by the school have uniform specifications, so they cannot be customized. To provide students with more comfort, their sitting condition and backrest are commonly adjusted. This study investigated the effects of the sitting condition on the performance of short learning tasks that require high concentration, namely short-term number memorization, mathematical calculations, and logical judgment, through a two-way within-subjects design (seat depth and backrest height). Thirty adults over 20 years old, with visual acuity (including corrected visual acuity) greater than 0.7 and no history of musculoskeletal disease, participated in this experiment. The results indicated that seat depth and backrest height had an interaction effect on task performance. Sitting on the front third of a chair with a lower backrest produced excellent learning tasks outcomes; seat configuration may affect student performance on learning tasks. Thus, schools and educational institutions can try to require students to temporarily sit in this sitting condition to perform such tasks. In addition, schools can purchase chairs with a lower backrest and require that students use lumbar pads to adjust the seat depth to achieve superior learning task outcomes in classrooms.
Navigating the Evolution of Game-Based Educational Approaches in Secondary STEM Education: A Decade of Innovations and Challenges
Authors: Fante Chiara , Ravicchio Fabrizio , Manganello Flavio
Published: June 2024

The need to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning in secondary education is reflected in the ongoing investigation of innovative pedagogical practices, including game-based learning (GBL). Using an analysis of scholarly publications based on word co-occurrence, this study aimed to identify the main research themes addressed in the past decade by the scholarly community on game-based teaching and learning solutions in the context of STEM education in secondary schools, their evolution over time, and the key issues addressed in recent years. After a systematic selection, the titles and abstracts of the publications were collected in a text corpus and analyzed using T-LAB software version 7.2.1.4 (2022). A preliminary visual exploration of the keywords was performed to obtain an overall view of the issues addressed by the research. Specificity analysis was then applied to identify, for each subset of the corpus identified by the years of publication, the evolution of themes reflected in a change in the frequency of lemma use. Finally, to explore the most recent topics, the main thematic clusters of publications in the last three years were identified (thematic analysis of elementary contexts). The results suggest some changes in the issues addressed over the past decade, such as a shift in focus from the specific technologies and competitive elements of games to understanding how GBL can support engagement, motivation, and understanding of complex scientific concepts. The five key thematic clusters identified (“Experience”, “Application”, “Validation”, “Emotion”, and “Programming”) also indicate a stronger emphasis by the latest publications on the experiential and emotional components of learning, the need for empirical studies, and the integration of computational thinking and coding into GBL. Overall, this study indicates that GBL has the potential to become an integrated component of STEM education, evolving with pedagogical and technological innovations.
Unravelling Time in Higher Education: Exploring the Mediating Role of Psychological Capital in Burnout and Academic Engagement
Authors: Nabais Ana Raquel , Chambel Maria José , Carvalho Vânia Sofia
Published: June 2024

The present study aims to understand the influence of time spent in higher education on academic burnout and engagement, exploring the mediating role of psychological capital (PsyCap). To this end, a data analysis was conducted on a sample of 4242 Portuguese undergraduate students. The results support a significant and negative relationship between time spent in higher education and PsyCap, a significant negative relationship between PsyCap and academic burnout, and a significant positive relationship between PsyCap and academic engagement. Additionally, a mediating effect of PsyCap was observed between time spent in higher education and academic burnout and engagement, to the extent that more time spent in higher education was associated with lower PsyCap, which, in turn, was related to higher burnout and lower academic engagement. However, this mediation was only fully evident in the relationship with burnout. These findings contribute to a better understanding of well-being in the university context, specifically in terms of how PsyCap changes over the time spent in higher education and its potential impact on student well-being. Limitations, suggestions for future studies, and implications derived from the results are also discussed.
The Effect of Drones in the Educational Process: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pergantis Pantelis , Drigas Athanasios
Published: June 2024

Due to COVID-19, Industry 4.0 technologies have been deeply integrated into our lives, making it possible to interact, learn, and be productive. The rise of ICT has been established for a lot of years, transforming the educational process of many students with more and more educators applying them in school settings and considering them an essential part of teaching. ICT constantly evolves incorporates and utilizes all the recent and cutting-edge technology to help learners interact and learn in the most engaging and motivating way. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate a very fascinating and promising piece of robotic technology called a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle and how it has been integrated and utilized in the educational process of students to date. In the introduction, the main adoptions of ICT and drones are discussed. In the main part, we explore the possibilities and the applications of drone technology in the educational path from analysis of included studies and research, as well as discussing the students’ and teachers’ perceptions of their use. The results of this study of the application of drones in education show promising effects among students and teachers, but several limitations were identified, making it still difficult to generalize their use in the educational process. Furthermore, a need for a unified framework for reference is needed to be able to accommodate their use in school and academic environments.
School Leader Well-Being: Perceptions of Canada’s Outstanding Principals
Authors: Kutsyuruba Benjamin , Arghash Nadia , Al Makhamreh Maha
Published: June 2024

The decrease in well-being of school leaders has become an area of concern among scholars and practitioners around the world. Globally, increasing social, political, economic, educational, and professional demands faced by school administrators have led to an unmanageable workload, stress, burnout, and a lack of work–life balance. However, some principals thrive amidst challenges and are recognized by various national and international awards as outstanding school leaders. Examining the challenges that award-winning school principals face can both prevent conditions that decrease their well-being and help understand coping strategies and support systems necessary for successful school leadership. Our study examined the sense of flourishing among the national award-winning principals in the Canada’s Outstanding Principals (COP) program that recognizes outstanding contributions of principals in publicly funded schools. In this article, we describe participants’ perceptions regarding the significance of principal well-being, barriers and challenges to their well-being, coping strategies to promote and sustain their well-being, and necessary policy and school system supports for enhanced principal well-being.
An 18–40 GHz Ridge Waveguide Magic-T Using Stepped Conducting T-Junction Transition
Authors: Peng Wenchao , Li Chao , Wang Hailong , Ye Longfang
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a wideband ridge waveguide Magic-T based on an E- and an H-arm waveguide power divider using a stepped conducting T-junction transition. The Magic-T is designed to cover the full band of 18–40 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 76%. This bandwidth cannot be achieved by a Magic-T based on a conventional rectangular waveguide. Thus, the ridge waveguide ports have been employed and an 18–40 GHz ridge waveguide Magic-T has been fabricated and measured. It is demonstrated that the proposed Magic-T achieves better than 0.3 dB insertion loss and 15 dB return loss, less than 0.2 dB magnitude imbalance, and 2.5° phase imbalance. In addition, the measured data show good agreement with the simulation results, and high isolation is also obtained.
Temporal Knowledge Graph Reasoning Based on Entity Relationship Similarity Perception
Authors: Feng Siling , Zhou Cong , Liu Qian , Ji Xunyang , Huang Mengxing
Published: June 2024

Temporal knowledge graphs (TKGs) are used for dynamically modeling facts in the temporal dimension, and are widely used in various fields. However, existing reasoning models often fail to consider the similarity features between entity relationships and static attributes, making it difficult for them to effectively handle these temporal attributes. Therefore, these models have limitations in dealing with previously invisible entities that appear over time and the implicit associations of static attributes between entities. To address this issue, we propose a temporal knowledge graph reasoning model based on Entity Relationship Similarity Perception, known as ERSP. This model employs the similarity measurement method to capture the similarity features of entity relationships and static attributes, and then fuses these features to generate structural representations. Finally, we provide a decoder with entity relationship representation, static attribute representation, and structural representation information to form a quadruple. Experiments conducted on five common benchmark datasets show that ERSP surpasses the majority of TKG reasoning methods.
UBO-EREX: Uncertainty Bayesian-Optimized Extreme Recurrent EXpansion for Degradation Assessment of Wind Turbine Bearings
Authors: Berghout Tarek , Benbouzid Mohamed
Published: June 2024

Maintenance planning is crucial for efficient operation of wind turbines, particularly in harsh conditions where degradation of critical components, such as bearings, can lead to costly downtimes and safety threats. In this context, prognostics of degradation play a vital role, enabling timely interventions to prevent failures and optimize maintenance schedules. Learning systems-based vibration analysis of bearings stands out as one of the primary methods for assessing wind turbine health. However, data complexity and challenging conditions pose significant challenges to accurate degradation assessment. This paper proposes a novel approach, Uncertainty Bayesian-Optimized Extreme Recurrent EXpansion (UBO-EREX), which combines Extreme Learning Machines (ELM), a lightweight neural network, with Recurrent Expansion algorithms, a recently advanced representation learning technique. The UBO-EREX algorithm leverages Bayesian optimization to optimize its parameters, targeting uncertainty as an objective function to be minimized. We conducted a comprehensive study comparing UBO-EREX with basic ELM and a set of time-series adaptive deep learners, all optimized using Bayesian optimization with prediction errors as the main objective. Our results demonstrate the superior performance of UBO-EREX in terms of approximation and generalization. Specifically, UBO-EREX shows improvements of approximately 5.1460 ± 2.1338% in the coefficient of determination of generalization over deep learners and 5.7056% over ELM, respectively. Moreover, the objective search time is significantly reduced with UBO-EREX with 99.7884 ± 0.2404% over deep learners, highlighting its effectiveness in real-time degradation assessment of wind turbine bearings. Overall, our findings underscore the significance of incorporating uncertainty-aware UBO-EREX in predictive maintenance strategies for wind turbines, offering enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and robustness in degradation assessment.
A Novel Dataset and Approach for Adversarial Attack Detection in Connected and Automated Vehicles
Authors: Kim Tae Hoon , Krichen Moez , Alamro Meznah A. , Sampedro Gabreil Avelino
Published: June 2024

Adversarial attacks have received much attention as communication network applications rise in popularity. Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) must be protected against adversarial attacks to ensure passenger and vehicle safety on the road. Nevertheless, CAVs are susceptible to several types of attacks, such as those that target intra- and inter-vehicle networks. These harmful attacks not only cause user privacy and confidentiality to be lost, but they also have more grave repercussions, such as physical harm and death. It is critical to precisely and quickly identify adversarial attacks to protect CAVs. This research proposes (1) a new dataset comprising three adversarial attacks in the CAV network traffic and normal traffic, (2) a two-phased adversarial attack detection technique named TAAD-CAV, where in the first phase, an ensemble voting classifier having three machine learning classifiers and one separate deep learning classifier is trained, and the output is used in the next phase. In the second phase, a meta classifier (i.e., Decision Tree is used as a meta classifier) is trained on the combined predictions from the previous phase to detect adversarial attacks. We preprocess the dataset by cleaning data, removing missing values, and adjusting the Z-score normalization. Evaluation metrics such as accuracy, recall, precision, F1-score, and confusion matrix are employed to evaluate and compare the performance of the proposed model. Results reveal that TAAD-CAV achieves the highest accuracy with a value of 70% compared with individual ML and DL classifiers.
Enhanced Multi-View Low-Rank Graph Optimization for Dimensionality Reduction
Authors: Li Haohao , Wang Huibing
Published: June 2024

In the last decade, graph embedding-based dimensionality reduction for multi-view data has been extensively studied. However, constructing a high-quality graph for dimensionality reduction is still a significant challenge. Herein, we propose a new algorithm, named multi-view low-rank graph optimization for dimensionality reduction (MvLRGO), which integrates graph optimization with dimensionality reduction into one objective function in order to simultaneously determine the optimal subspace and graph. The subspace learning of each view is conducted independently by the general graph embedding framework. For graph construction, we exploit low-rank representation (LRR) to obtain reconstruction relationships as the affinity weight of the graph. Subsequently, the learned graph of each view is further optimized throughout the learning process to obtain the ideal assignment of relations. Moreover, to integrate information from multiple views, MvLRGO regularizes each of the view-specific optimal graphs such that they align with one another. Benefiting from this term, MvLRGO can achieve flexible multi-view communication without constraining the subspaces of all views to be the same. Various experimental results obtained with different datasets show that the proposed method outperforms many state-of-the-art multi-view and single-view dimensionality reduction algorithms.
A Method for In-Loop Video Coding Restoration
Authors: Salazar Carlos , Trujillo Maria , Branch-Bedoya John
Published: June 2024

In-loop restoration is a post-processing task aiming to reduce losses caused by the quantization and the inverse quantization phases in a video coding process. Emerging in-loop restoration methods, most of them based on deep learning, have reported higher quality gains than classical filters. However, the complexity at the decoder side remains a challenge. The Sparse Restoration Method (SRM) is presented as a low-complexity method that utilizes sparse representation and Natural Scene Statistic metrics to enhance visual quality at the block level. Our method shows potential restoration benefits when applied to synthetic video sequences.
The Antilisterial Effect of Latilactobacillus sakei CTC494 in Relation to Dry Fermented Sausage Ingredients and Temperature in Meat Simulation Media
Authors: Ferrer-Bustins Núria , Costa Jean Carlos Correia Peres , Pérez-Rodríguez Fernando , Martín Belén , Bover-Cid Sara , Jofré Anna
Published: June 2024

Listeria monocytogenes, the causative agent of listeriosis, is a relevant pathogen in dry fermented sausages (DFSs), and the application of antilisterial starter cultures is an effective intervention strategy to control the pathogen during DFS production. The effect of factors in relation to DFS formulation and production, NaCl (0–40 g/L), Mn (0.08–0.32 g/L), glucose (0–40 g/L) and temperature (3–37 °C), on the behaviour of L. monocytogenes when cocultured with Latilactobacillus sakei 23K (non-bacteriocinogenic) and CTC494 (bacteriocinogenic) strains was studied through a central composite design in meat simulation media. L. sakei and L. monocytogenes counts, pH, lactic acid production and bacteriocin activity were determined in mono and coculture. The pH decrease and lactic acid production were highly influenced by glucose, while production of sakacin K by L. sakei CTC494 was observed at moderate (10 and 20 °C), but not at the lowest (3 °C) and highest (37 °C), temperatures. Coculture growth had no effect on the acidification and bacteriocin production but inhibited and inactivated L. monocytogenes when L. sakei 23K entered the early stationary phase and when L. sakei CTC494 produced sakacin K. Optimal conditions for achieving a 5-log units reduction of L. monocytogenes were at 20 °C, 20 g/L of NaCl, 0.20 g/L of Mn and 40 g/L of glucose, those highlighting the importance of considering product formulation and fermentation conditions for bioprotective starter cultures application.
Nutrient Composition and Quality Assessment of Royal Jelly Samples Relative to Feed Supplements
Authors: Ghosh Sampat , Jang Hyeonjeong , Sun Sukjun , Jung Chuleui
Published: June 2024

Royal jelly is a substance secreted by the hypopharyngeal and mandibular glands of nurse honey bees, serving as crucial nutritional source for young larvae, queen honey bees, and also valuable product for humans. In this study, the effect of the feed supplements on the nutritional composition and qualities of royal jelly was investigated. Two types of royal jelly samples were acquired: one from honey bees fed with sugar syrup as a feed supplement and the other from honey bees fed with honey. The production, harvesting, and storage of all royal jelly samples followed standard procedures. Parameters for quality assessment and nutritional value, including stable carbon isotopic ratio, moisture content, 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA) level, carbohydrate composition, amino acid composition, and mineral contents, were analyzed. The results revealed that despite variability in moisture content and carbohydrate composition, fructose was lower (2.6 and 4.1 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) and sucrose was higher (7.5 and 2.7 g/100 g as is for sugar-fed and honey-fed royal jelly, respectively) in the sugar-fed group. The stable isotope ratio (−16.4608‰ for sugar-fed and −21.9304‰ for honey-fed royal jelly) clearly distinguished the two groups. 10-HDA, amino acid composition, and total protein levels were not significantly different. Certain minerals, such as potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, and phosphorus were higher in the honey-fed group. Hierarchical analysis based on moisture, sugar composition, 10-HDA, and stable carbon isotopes categorized the samples into two distinct groups. This study demonstrated that the feed source could affect the nutritional quality of royal jelly.
Enhancement of Calcium Chelating Activity in Peptides from Sea Cucumber Ovum through Phosphorylation Modification
Authors: Han Lingyu , Li Yaoyao , Hu Bing , Wang Wei , Guo Jianming , Yang Jixin , Dong Nuo , Li Yingmei , Li Tingting
Published: June 2024

Recently, phosphorylation has been applied to peptides to enhance their physiological activity, taking advantage of its modification benefits and the extensive study of functional peptides. In this study, water-soluble peptides (WSPs) of sea cucumber ovum were phosphorylated in order to improve the latter’s calcium binding capacity and calcium absorption. Enzymatic hydrolysis methods were screened via ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis), the fluorescence spectrum, and calcium chelating ability. Phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs) were characterized via high-performance liquid chromatography, the circular dichroism spectrum, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–Vis spectroscopy, surface hydrophobicity, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The phosphorus content, calcium chelation rate and absorption rate were investigated. The results demonstrated that phosphorylation enhanced the calcium chelating capacity of WSPs, with the highest capacity reaching 0.96 mmol/L. Phosphate ions caused esterification events, and the carboxyl, amino, and phosphate groups of WSPs and P-WSPs interacted with calcium ions to form these bonds. Calcium-chelated phosphorylated water-soluble peptides (P-WSPs-Ca) demonstrated outstanding stability (calcium retention rates > 80%) in gastrointestinal processes. Our study indicates that these chelates have significant potential to develop into calcium supplements with superior efficacy, bioactivity, and stability.
Fabrication and Stability Improvement of Monoglyceride Oleogel/Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate-Stabilized W/O High Internal Phase Pickering Emulsions
Authors: Zhang Yingzhu , Xu Jinqi , Gong Jinhua , Li Yan
Published: June 2024

To decrease the lipid content in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions, high internal phase Pickering W/O emulsions (HIPPE) were fabricated using magnetic stirring using a combination of monoglyceride (MAG) oleogel and polyglycerol polyacrylate oleate (PGPR) as stabilizers. Effects of MAGs (glyceryl monostearate-GMS, glycerol monolaurate-GML and glycerol monocaprylate-GMC) and internal phase components on the formation and properties of HIPPEs were investigated. The results showed that milky-white stabilized W/O HIPPE with up to 85 wt% aqueous phase content was successfully prepared, and the droplet interfaces presented a network of MAG crystals, independent of the MAG type. All HIPPEs exhibited great stability under freeze–thaw cycles but were less plastic. Meanwhile, GML-oleogel-based HIPPEs had larger particle size and were less thermal stable than GMS and GMC-based HIPPEs. Compared to guar gum, the internal phase components of sodium chloride and sucrose were more effective in reducing the particle size of HIPPEs, improving their stability and plasticity, and stabilizing them during 100-day storage. HIPPEs presented great spreadability, ductility and plasticity after whipping treatment. This knowledge provides a new perspective on the use of oleogels as co-stabilizers for the formation of W/O HIPPEs, which can be used as a potential substitute for creams.