bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-Inflammatory Effect and Signaling Mechanism of Glycine max Hydrolyzed with Enzymes from Bacillus velezensis KMU01 in a Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Colitis Mouse Model
Authors: Lee Seung-Hyeon , Kim Ha-Rim , Noh Eun-Mi , Park Jae Young , Kwak Mi-Sun , Jung Ye-Jin , Yang Hee-Jong , Ryu Myeong Seon , Seo Hyang-Yim , Jang Hansu , Kim Seon-Young , Park Mi Hee
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect that Glycine max hydrolyzed with enzymes from Bacillus velezensis KMU01 has on dextran-sulfate-sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Hydrolysis improves functional health through the bioconversion of raw materials and increase in intestinal absorption rate and antioxidants. Therefore, G. max was hydrolyzed in this study using a food-derived microorganism, and its anti-inflammatory effect was observed. Enzymatically hydrolyzed G. max (EHG) was orally administered once daily for four weeks before DSS treatment. Colitis was induced in mice through the consumption of 5% (w/v) DSS in drinking water for eight days. The results showed that EHG treatment significantly alleviated DSS-induced body weight loss and decreased the disease activity index and colon length. In addition, EHG markedly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 production, and increased that of IL-10. EHG improved DSS-induced histological changes and intestinal epithelial barrier integrity in mice. Moreover, we found that the abundance of 15 microorganisms changed significantly; that of Proteobacteria and Escherichia coli, which are upregulated in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, decreased after EHG treatment. These results suggest that EHG has a protective effect against DSS-induced colitis and is a potential candidate for colitis treatment.
Carvacrol Improves Vascular Function in Hypertensive Animals by Modulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Gonçalves Tays Amanda Felisberto , Lima Viviane Silva , de Almeida Arthur José Pontes Oliveira , de Arruda Alinne Villar , Veras Ana Caroline Meneses Ferreira , Lima Thaís Trajano , Soares Evyllen Myllena Cardoso , Santos Adhonias Correia dos , Vasconcelos Maria Eduarda Costa de , de Almeida Feitosa Mathania Silva , Veras Robson Cavalcante , de Medeiros Isac Almeida
Published: July 2023

Carvacrol, a phenolic monoterpene, has diverse biological activities, highlighting its antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity. However, there is little evidence demonstrating its influence on vascular regeneration. Therefore, we evaluated the modulation of carvacrol on endothelial repair induced by endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in hypertension. Twelve-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were treated with a vehicle, carvacrol (50 or 100 mg/kg/day), or resveratrol (10 mg/kg/day) orally for four weeks. Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as the normotensive controls. Their systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured weekly through the tail cuff. The EPCs were isolated from the bone marrow and peripherical circulation and were quantified by flow cytometry. The functionality of the EPC was evaluated after cultivation through the quantification of colony-forming units (CFU), evaluation of eNOS, intracellular detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and evaluation of senescence. The superior mesenteric artery was isolated to evaluate the quantification of ROS, CD34, and CD31. Treatment with carvacrol induced EPC migration, increased CFU formation and eNOS expression and activity, and reduced ROS and senescence. In addition, carvacrol reduced vascular ROS and increased CD31 and CD34 expression. This study showed that treatment with carvacrol improved the functionality of EPC, contributing to the reduction of endothelial dysfunction.
Identification and Biological Characterization of the Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine Derivative SI388 Active as Src Inhibitor
Authors: Contadini Claudia , Cirotti Claudia , Carbone Anna , Norouzi Mehrdad , Cianciusi Annarita , Crespan Emmanuele , Perini Cecilia , Maga Giovanni , Barilà Daniela , Musumeci Francesca , Schenone Silvia
Published: July 2023

Src is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase (TK) whose involvement in cancer, including glioblastoma (GBM), has been extensively demonstrated. In this context, we started from our in-house library of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines that are active as Src and/or Bcr-Abl TK inhibitors and performed a lead optimization study to discover a new generation derivative that is suitable for Src kinase targeting. We synthesized a library of 19 compounds, 2a-s. Among these, compound 2a (SI388) was identified as the most potent Src inhibitor. Based on the cell-free results, we investigated the effect of SI388 in 2D and 3D GBM cellular models. Interestingly, SI388 significantly inhibits Src kinase, and therefore affects cell viability, tumorigenicity and enhances cancer cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation.
Scaling the Andean Shilajit: A Novel Neuroprotective Agent for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Andrade Víctor , Wong-Guerra Maylin , Cortés Nicole , Pastor Gabriela , González Andrea , Calfío Camila , Guzmán-Martínez Leonardo , Navarrete Leonardo P. , Ramos-Escobar Nicolas , Morales Inelia , Santander Rocío , Andrades-Lagos Juan , Bacho Mitchell , Rojo Leonel E. , Maccioni Ricardo Benjamín
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder without a cure, despite the enormous number of investigations and therapeutic approaches. AD is a consequence of microglial responses to “damage signals”, such as aggregated tau oligomers, which trigger a neuro-inflammatory reaction, promoting the misfolding of cytoskeleton structure. Since AD is the most prevalent cause of dementia in the elderly (>60 years old), new treatments are essential to improve the well-being of affected subjects. The pharmaceutical industry has not developed new drugs with efficacy for controlling AD. In this context, major attention has been given to nutraceuticals and novel bioactive compounds, such as molecules from the Andean Shilajit (AnSh), obtained from the Andes of Chile. Primary cultures of rat hippocampal neurons and mouse neuroblastoma cells were evaluated to examine the functional and neuroprotective role of different AnSh fractions. Our findings show that AnSh fractions increase the number and length of neuronal processes at a differential dose. All fractions were viable in neurons. The AnSh fractions inhibit tau self-aggregation after 10 days of treatment. Finally, we identified two candidate molecules in M3 fractions assayed by UPLC/MS. Our research points to a novel AnSh-derived fraction that is helpful in AD. Intensive work toward elucidation of the molecular mechanisms is being carried out. AnSh is an alternative for AD treatment or as a coadjuvant for an effective treatment.
Multifunctional Polymeric Biodegradable and Biocompatible Coatings Based on Silver Nanoparticles: A Comparative In Vitro Study on Their Cytotoxicity towards Cancer and Normal Cell Lines of Cytostatic Drugs versus Essential-Oil-Loaded Nanoparticles and on Their Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities
Authors: Puiu Rebecca Alexandra , Bîrcă Alexandra Cătălina , Grumezescu Valentina , Duta Liviu , Oprea Ovidiu Cristian , Holban Alina Maria , Hudiță Ariana , Gălățeanu Bianca , Balaure Paul Cătălin , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Andronescu Ecaterina
Published: July 2023

We report on a comparative in vitro study of selective cytotoxicity against MCF7 tumor cells and normal VERO cells tested on silver-based nanocoatings synthesized by the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were loaded with five representative cytostatic drugs (i.e., doxorubicin, fludarabine, paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and carboplatin) and with five essential oils (EOs) (i.e., oregano, rosemary, ginger, basil, and thyme). The as-obtained coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry coupled with differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy, IR mapping, and scanning electron microscopy. A screening of the impact of the prepared nanocoatings on the MCF7 tumor and normal VERO cell lines was achieved by means of cell viability MTT and cytotoxicity LDH assays. While all nanocoatings loaded with antitumor drugs exhibited powerful cytotoxic activity against both the tumor and the normal cells, those embedded with AgNPs loaded with rosemary and thyme EOs showed remarkable and statistically significant selective cytotoxicity against the tested cancercells. The EO-loaded nanocoatings were tested for antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. For all studied pathogens, the cell viability, assessed by counting the colony-forming units after 2 and 24 h, was significantly decreased by all EO-based nanocoatings, while the best antibiofilm activity was evidenced by the nanocoatings containing ginger and thyme EOs.
Astronomical Camera Based on a CCD261-84 Detector with Increased Sensitivity in the Near-Infrared
Authors: Afanasieva Irina , Murzin Valery , Ardilanov Valery , Ivaschenko Nikolai , Pritychenko Maksim , Moiseev Alexei , Shablovinskaya Elena , Malygin Eugene
Published: July 2023

Herein, we describe the design, implementation and operation principles of an astronomical camera system, based on a large-format CCD261-84 detector with an extremely thick 200 μm substrate. The DINACON-V controller was used with the CCD to achieve high performance and low noise. The CCD system photometric characteristics are presented. A spatial autocorrelation analysis of flat-field images was performed to reveal the dependence of substrate voltage on the lateral charge spreading. The investigation of the dispersion index for the optimal choice of exposure time is discussed. Studies of the patterns of fringes were carried out in comparison with previous detectors. The amplitude of fringes with CCD261-84 was significantly lower, compared to previous-generation detectors. The results of using a new camera for imaging and spectral observations at the Russian 6 m telescope with the SCORPIO-2 multimode focal reducer are considered. The developed CCD camera system makes it possible to significantly increase the sensitivity in the 800–1000 spectral range.
Meta-Surface Slide for High-Contrast Dark-Field Imaging
Authors: Shao Jianan , Chen Ruiyi , Zhu Dehua , Cao Yu , Liu Wenwen , Xue Wei
Published: July 2023

A label-free microscopy technology, dark-field microscopy, is widely used for providing high-contrast imaging for weakly scattering materials and unstained samples. However, traditional dark-field microscopes often require additional components and larger condensers as the numerical aperture increases. A solution to this is the use of a meta-surface slide. This slide utilizes a multilayer meta-surface and quantum dots to convert incident white light into a red glow cone emitted at a larger angle. This enables the slide to be used directly with conventional biological microscopy to achieve dark-field imaging. This paper focuses on the design and preparation of the meta-surface and demonstrates that using the meta-surface in a standard transmission optical microscope results in a dark-field image with higher contrast than a bright-field image, especially when observing samples with micron-sized structures.
Generation of Flat Terahertz Noise by Mixing Incoherent Light Fields
Authors: Zhang Youwen , Liu Wenjie , Guo Ya , Liu Junbin , Jia Zhiwei , Sun Yuehui , Wang Anbang , Wang Yuncai
Published: July 2023

Terahertz (THz) noise sources play an irreplaceable role in testing THz devices and evaluating THz application systems, and the flatness of their radio frequency (RF) spectra is an important technical parameter. In this paper, a scheme for generating flat THz noise by mixing multiple filtered incoherent light fields is proposed. A theoretical analysis is conducted to investigate the impact of different spectral linewidths and central wavelength differences of incoherent light fields on the noise power and RF spectrum flatness, and an optimized experimental scheme is obtained. The results show that the proposed method can generate a 280–380 GHz flat THz noise signal with an RF spectrum flatness of ±0.5 dB in simulation and ±2.7 dB in our experiments. This article provides an excellent technical solution to the demand for flat THz noise in the THz field.
Particle Shape Recognition with Interferometric Particle Imaging Using a Convolutional Neural Network in Polar Coordinates
Authors: Abad Alexis , Fahy Alexandre , Frodello Quentin , Delestre Barbara , Talbi Mohamed , Brunel Marc
Published: July 2023

A convolutional neural network (CNN) was used to identify the morphology of rough particles from their interferometric images. The tested particles had the shapes of sticks, crosses, and dendrites as well as Y-like, L-like, and T-like shapes. A conversion of the interferometric images to polar coordinates enabled particle shape recognition despite the random orientations and random sizes of the particles. For the non-centrosymmetric particles (Y, L, and T), the CNN was not disturbed by the twin image problem, which would affect some classical reconstructions based on phase retrieval algorithms. A 100% recognition rate was obtained.
High-Performance Normal-Incidence Ge/Si Meta-Structure Avalanche Photodetector
Authors: Song Jinwen , Bin Shangwu , Zhou Chaobiao , Qin Binyi
Published: July 2023

A high-speed and high-sensitivity avalanche photodetector (APD) is a critical component of a high-data-rate and low-power optical-communication link. In this paper, we study a high-speed and high-efficiency Ge/Si heterostructure APD. First, we numerically study the speed performance of the APD by analyzing frequency response. An optimized epitaxial structure of the high-speed APD is designed. In the absence of RC time effects, the APD exhibits a fast pulse response (full-width at half-maximum) of 10 ps and a high 3 dB bandwidth of 33 GHz at a high-gain value of 10. Taking device size and the corresponding RC time effects into account, the APD still achieves a high 3 dB bandwidth of 29 GHz at a gain value of 10. Moreover, a novel subwavelength periodic hole array is designed on the normal-incidence APD for enhancing light absorption without sacrificing speed performance. Near-perfect absorption is almost achieved by an infinite-period hole array due to the coupling of dual-resonance modes. A high-absorption efficiency of 64% is obtained by a limited-sized hole array in the high-speed APD. This work provides a promising method to design high-speed and high-efficiency normal-incidence Ge/Si heterostructure APDs for optical interconnect systems.
Mercury Intake Estimation in Adult Individuals from Trieste, Italy: Hair Mercury Assessment and Validation of a Newly Developed Food Frequency Questionnaire
Authors: Giovanni Andrea De , Iannuzzi Vincenzo , Gallello Gianni , Giuliani Cristina , Marini Mauro , Cervera M. Luisa , Luiselli Donata
Published: July 2023

Seafood constitutes the primary source of exposure to the organic form of mercury in the general population, and the Trieste Gulf is considered a hotspot of mercury contamination. We used a newly developed quantitative food frequency questionnaire to obtain an estimation of the intake of mercury through seafood consumption in a sample of 32 individuals from Trieste. Then, we validated the results obtained from the questionnaire against those of the analysis of total mercury measured in the hair of the same individuals through Spearman rank correlation coefficients, Cohen’s weighted Kappa statistic, and a Bland–Altman plot. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient and Cohen’s weighted Kappa statistic were 0.76 and 0.69, respectively. In the Bland–Altman plot, 93.75% of the data points lay within the acceptability range. The plot revealed an ever-increasing overestimation of mercury intake by the questionnaires as the hair mercury increased. By applying a standardized filtering procedure to the results of the questionnaires, we obtained a Spearman rank correlation coefficient and Cohen’s weighted Kappa statistic of 0.69 and 0.57, respectively. In this Bland–Altman plot, 93.75% of the data points lay within the acceptability range. In this latter plot, the proportionality between the mean difference and the magnitude of the measurement was more subtle compared to that observed in the plot built upon the non-filtered questionnaires. This preliminary study shows the high accuracy of the reported questionnaire in the estimation of habitual mercury intake, similar to the one measured through the analysis of hair.
Preparation and Characterization of a Novel Tragacanth Gum/Chitosan/Sr-Nano-Hydroxyapatite Composite Membrane
Authors: Tang Shuo , Jiang Liuyun , Jiang Zhihong , Ma Yingjun , Zhang Yan , Su Shengpei
Published: July 2023

It is a great challenge to obtain an ideal guided bone regeneration (GBR) membrane. In this study, tragacanth gum (GT) was introduced into a chitosan/nano-hydroxyapatite (CS/n-HA) system. The effects of different component ratios and strontium-doped nano-hydroxyapatite (Sr-HA) on the physical-chemical properties and degradation behavior of the CS/Sr-n-HA/GT ternary composite membrane were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), contact angle, electromechanical universal tester and in vitro soaking in simulated body fluid (SBF). The results showed that CS could be ionically crosslinked with GT through electrostatic interaction, and Sr-n-HA was loaded via hydrogen bond, which endowed the GT/CS/n-HA composite membrane with good tensile strength and hydrophilicity. In addition, the results of immersion in SBF in vitro showed that CS/n-HA/GT composite membranes had different degradation rates and good apatite deposition by investigating the changes in pH value, weight loss, water absorption ratio, SEM morphology observation and tensile strength reduction. All results revealed that the CS/Sr-n-HA/GT (6:2:2) ternary composite membrane possessed the strongest ionic crosslinking of GT and CS, which was expected to obtain more satisfactory GBR membranes, and this study will provide new applications of GT in the field of biomedical membranes.
Preparation of Porous Scaffold Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) and FucoPol
Authors: Pereira João Ricardo , Rafael Ana Margarida , Esmail Asiyah , Morais Maria , Matos Mariana , Marques Ana Carolina , Reis Maria A. M. , Freitas Filomena
Published: July 2023

This work focused on the development of porous scaffolds based on biocomposites comprising two biodegradable and biocompatible biopolymers: a terpolyester, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHVHHx), and the bacterial polysaccharide FucoPol. The PHBHVHHx terpolymer was composed of 3-hydroxybutyrate (55 wt%), 3-hydroxyvalerate (21 wt%), and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (24 wt%). This hydrophobic polyester has low crystallinity and can form elastic and flexible films. Fucopol is a fucose-containing water-soluble polysaccharide that forms viscous solutions with shear thinning behavior and has demonstrated emulsion-forming and stabilizing capacity and wound healing ability. Emulsion-templating was used to fabricate PHA-based porous structures in which FucoPol acted as a bioemulsifier. Compared with the scaffolds obtained from emulsions with only water, the use of FucoPol aqueous solutions resulted in structures with improved mechanical properties, namely higher tensile strength (4.4 MPa) and a higher Young’s Modulus (85 MPa), together with an elongation at break of 52%. These features, together with the scaffolds’ high porosity and pore interconnectivity, suggest their potential to sustain cell adhesion and proliferation, which is further supported by FucoPol’s demonstrated wound healing ability. Therefore, the developed PHBHVHHx:FucoPol scaffolds arise as innovative porous bioactive structures with great potential for use in tissue engineering applications.
Synergistic Effect of Zinc-Chitosan Nanoparticles and Hydroxychloroquine to Inhibit Buffalo Coronavirus
Authors: Manuja Anju , Kumar Balvinder , Chhabra Dharvi , Brar Basanti , Thachamvally Riyesh , Pal Yash , Prasad Minakshi
Published: July 2023

Zinc ions can hinder the synthesis of proteins required for accomplishing several stages of the viral life cycle. The intracellular zinc concentration can be increased by using zinc ionophores which transport zinc ions into the cells and hinder viral replication. (Hydroxy)chloroquine is an example of a zinc ionophore, but both zinc and (hydroxy)chloroquine can be toxic to the host organism. The nanocarriers may serve as camouflage to evade the adverse effects of drugs, chemicals, and nanoparticles on the host. We formulated ZnO nanoparticles with flower-like morphology (ZnONFs). It was further decorated with chitosan along with hydroxychloroquine (as a zinc ionophore) (CHCZnO NPs). We have chosen the cationic polymer chitosan since it is biocompatible, biodegradable and binds easily with the cells, and enhances the transport of drugs across cell membranes. The formulation was investigated for size, shape, surface charge, and interaction of chemicals used. We evaluated the formulations for cytotoxicity, and biocompatibility in embryonated chicks and their efficacy against bovine coronavirus (BCoV) isolated from a buffalo calf, and pneumo-enteric coronaviruses isolated from a buffalo calf with promising results in comparison to ZnONFs/hydroxychloroquine alone. Furthermore, we elucidate the mechanism underlying the lysosomotropic effect of various formulations on Vero cells infected with the buffalo coronavirus.
Crucial Adoption Factors of Renewable Energy Technology: Seeking Green Future by Promoting Biomethane
Authors: Wu Juan , Atchike Desire Wade , Ahmad Munir
Published: July 2023

To reduce the dependence on fossil fuels to fulfill energy needs and give rural areas better access to energy, biomethane generation technology (BG-TECH) can help in these situations. However, several crucial factors might influence BG-TECH’s acceptance by households. In order to eradicate the barriers to and strengthen the driving forces of BG-TECH acceptance, it becomes inevitable to explore those crucial factors. Therefore, the core objective of this research is to analyze the factors impacting BG-TECH acceptance by households in rural Pakistan. This research will enrich the existing literature by comprehensively analyzing factors driving or impeding BG-TECH acceptance. To collect relevant data, a questionnaire was developed and distributed in four districts of Pakistan. In this respect, 150 users and 150 non-users of biomethane were selected through stratified random sampling. To analyze the factors affecting the acceptance of BG-TECH, a logistic regression model was utilized. As per our empirical results, age, ownership of cattle, aftersales service, education, household income, and loan accessibility were revealed to be the driving forces of BG-TECH. However, small farmers’ age and household size impeded the acceptance of BG-TECH. However, occupation, ownership of land, and working experience did not influence the acceptance of BG-TECH. Thus, for BG-TECH approval, it is recommended that governments bring about a change in approaches as well as the development of aftersales services, improved promotions, the qualification of adults, and better loan facilities. On the one hand, our theoretical implications would prove powerful tools for the follow-up studies to dig deeper into the crucial factors of BG-TECH acceptance and transcribe those implications for other green energy technologies. On the other hand, our practical implications would empower policymakers and practitioners to guide improved policy implementation to realize the green energy revolution.
Influence of the Coriolis Force on Spreading of River Plumes
Authors: Osadchiev Alexander , Alfimenkov Ivan , Rogozhin Vladimir
Published: July 2023

Wind is the main external force that governs the spreading of river plumes in the sea. Many previous studies demonstrated that the spreading direction of river plumes (especially small plumes) generally coincides with wind direction. At the same time, the majority of river plumes are strongly affected by the Coriolis force, which is also among the baseline knowledge about the plumes. In this study, we focus on the deflection of plumes from wind direction induced by the Coriolis force, which received little attention before. For this purpose, we analyzed an extensive set of Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 satellite images of multiple small- and medium-sized river plumes at different parts of the World Ocean and synchronous wind reanalysis data. We demonstrated that the deflection angle is stable for individual river plumes for different wind directions, albeit with certain limitations related to wind speed and coastal morphology. Moreover, the deflection angle is similar for river plumes located at similar latitudes and varies from ~0° near the Equator to 15–25° in temperate zones and ~30° in polar zones. Finally, we derived a direct relation between latitude and the deflection angle. The obtained results contribute to our understanding of universal features of river plume dynamics, which is important for monitoring and forecasting of delivery and fate of fluvial water and river-borne matter in different coastal regions of the World Ocean.
A Preliminary Analysis of Typical Structures and Microphysical Characteristics of Precipitation in Northeastern China Cold Vortexes
Authors: Wang Jingshi , Zhuge Xiaoyong , Chen Fengjiao , Chen Xu , Wang Yuan
Published: July 2023

The northeastern China cold vortex (NCCV) is the main weather system affecting Northeast China. Based on the precipitation products from the dual-frequency precipitation radar (DPR) onboard the Global Precipitation Measurement core observatory (GPM) satellite, the precipitation structures and microphysical properties for different rain types in 6432 NCCVs from 2014 to 2019 were studied using dynamic composite analysis. Our results show that the precipitation in NCCVs is dominated by stratiform precipitation. Regions with high stratiform and convective precipitation frequency have a comma shape. The growth mechanism of precipitation particles changes at ~4 km in altitude, the lower particles grow through collision (more pronounced in convective precipitation), and the upper hydrometeors grow through the Bergeron process. Additionally, the precipitation structures and microphysical properties exhibit great regional variations in NCCVs. The rainfall for all rain types is the strongest in the southeast region within an NCCV, mainly characterized by higher near-surface droplet concentration, while precipitation events occur more frequently in the southeast region for all rain types. There are active rimming growth processes above the melting layer for convective precipitation in the western region of an NCCV. In the southeast region of an NCCV, the collision growth of droplets in both types of precipitation is the most obvious.
Hyperspectral Image Classification Based on Fusing S3-PCA, 2D-SSA and Random Patch Network
Authors: Chen Huayue , Wang Tingting , Chen Tao , Deng Wu
Published: July 2023

Recently, the rapid development of deep learning has greatly improved the performance of image classification. However, a central problem in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification is spectral uncertainty, where spectral features alone cannot accurately and robustly identify a pixel point in a hyperspectral image. This paper presents a novel HSI classification network called MS-RPNet, i.e., multiscale superpixelwise RPNet, which combines superpixel-based S3-PCA with two-dimensional singular spectrum analysis (2D-SSA) based on the Random Patches Network (RPNet). The proposed frame can not only take advantage of the data-driven method, but can also apply S3-PCA to efficiently consider more global and local spectral knowledge at the super-pixel level. Meanwhile, 2D-SSA is used for noise removal and spatial feature extraction. Then, the final features are obtained by random patch convolution and other steps according to the cascade structure of RPNet. The layered extraction superimposes the different sparial information into multi-scale spatial features, which complements the features of various land covers. Finally, the final fusion features are classified by SVM to obtain the final classification results. The experimental results in several HSI datasets demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of MS-RPNet, which outperforms several current state-of-the-art methods.
Multielectrode Arrays at Wafer-Level for Miniaturized Sensors Applications: Electrochemical Growth of Ag/AgCl Reference Electrodes
Authors: Wu Haosheng , Krause Robert , Gogoi Eshanee , Reck André , Graf Alexander , Wislicenus Marcus , Hild Olaf R. , Guhl Conrad
Published: July 2023

In this study, a range of miniaturized Ag/AgCl reference electrodes with various layouts were successfully fabricated on wafer-level silicon-based substrates with metallic intermediate layers by precisely controlling the electrochemical deposition of Ag, followed by electrochemical chlorination of the deposited Ag layer. The structure, as well as the chemical composition of the electrode, were characterized with SEM & EDS. The results showed that the chlorination is very sensitive to the applied electric field and background solution. Potentiostatic chlorination, in combination with an adjusted mushroom-shaped Ag sealing deposition, enabled the formation of electrochemical usable Ag/AgCl layers. The stability of the electrodes was tested using open circuit potential (OCP) measurement. The results showed that the reference electrodes stayed stable for 300 s under 3 M KCl solution. The first stage study showed that the stability of the Ag/AgCl reference electrode in a chip highly depends on chip size design, chlorination conditions, and a further protection layer.
Tools for Ground-Truth-Free Passive Client Density Mapping in MAC-Randomized Outdoor WiFi Networks
Authors: Yang Feifei , Ahriz Iness , Denby Bruce
Published: July 2023

In the past few years, data privacy legislation has hampered the ability of WiFi network operators to count and map client activity for commercial and security purposes. Indeed, since client device MAC devices are now randomized at each transmission, aggregating client activity using management frames such as Probe Requests, as has been common practice in the past, becomes problematic. Recently, researchers have demonstrated that, statistically, client counts are roughly proportional to raw Probe Request counts, thus somewhat alleviating the client counting problem, even if, in most cases, ground truth measurements from alternate sensors such as cameras are necessary to establish this proportionality. Nevertheless, localizing randomized MAC clients at a network site is currently an unsolved problem. In this work, we propose a set of nine tools for extending the proportionality between client counts and Probe Requests to the mapping of client densities in real-world outdoor WiFi networks without the need for ground truth measurements. The purpose of the proposed toolkit is to transform raw, randomized MAC Probe Request counts into a density map calibrated to an estimated number of clients at each position.
Smart Contract Broker: Improving Smart Contract Reusability in a Blockchain Environment
Authors: Park Joonseok , Jeong Sumin , Yeom Keunhyuk
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we propose a smart contract broker to improve the reusability of smart contracts in a blockchain environment. The current blockchain platform lacks a standard approach to sharing and managing smart contracts, which makes it difficult for developers to reuse them and leads to efficiency issues. The proposed smart contract broker uses tags to identify and organize smart contracts, and it provides an environment for comparing and reusing smart contracts. This improves the reusability of smart contracts and efficiency. The proposed smart contract broker can be applied as a reference model that increases the flexibility and reusability of smart contract management in a blockchain environment.
The Extraction and Characterization of Pseudorange Multipath Based on BDS-3 Multi-Frequency Observations
Authors: Guo Zhongchen , Yu Xuexiang , Hu Chao , Jiang Chuang , Tan Hao , Zhu Mingfei , Xie Shicheng
Published: July 2023

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) observations are subject to various errors during their propagation process. A reasonable correction of these errors can improve the positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) service capability. The impact of multipaths on pseudorange observations can reach a decimeters or even meters level. However, their mechanism is complex and there is currently no universally accepted high-precision correction model. The correlation between the pseudorange multipaths (MP) of BDS-2 satellites and satellite elevation has been confirmed, while there have been fewer analyses of the MP characteristics for different frequencies of BDS-3 satellites. The broadcasting of multi-frequency observations in BDS-3 should theoretically make the extracted MP more accurate compared to traditional methods. Based on this, in this contribution, a multi-frequency MP extraction algorithm based on the least squares principle is proposed, which can simultaneously eliminate the influence of higher-order ionospheric delay. The analytical expression for only eliminating first-order ionospheric delay is successfully derived. Subsequently, the characteristics of the MPs extracted from different frequency combinations and the impact of combination noise on the extraction accuracy are discussed. The influence of second-order ionospheric delay on the MPs for each frequency under different combination noises, as well as the periodic behavior exhibited in long-term observations of the BDS-3 medium earth orbit (MEO) and inclined geosynchronous orbit (IGSO) satellites, are also analyzed. Finally, the correlations between the MPs of each frequency of BDS satellite and elevation are quantitatively analyzed based on observations from 35 stations. Overall, this work has positive implications for the study of the MP characteristics of BDS-3 and subsequent modeling efforts.
Research on the Tripartite Evolutionary Game of Zero-Waste City Construction in China
Authors: Qiao Xinpei , Lee Hyukku , Shen Qi , Li Yuchao
Published: July 2023

The aim in mind in the construction of a zero-waste city is to recycle municipal solid waste in a more reasonable way in order to achieve the sustainable development of the urban environment. This goal is widely used internationally as a green development concept in urban management. However, when only the government takes the lead in the construction process, neglecting to engage and guide the participation of the public and of enterprises, the realization of a zero-waste city becomes challenging. Therefore, effective collaboration among all stakeholders would be a more effective approach to dealing with solid waste and creating an eco-friendly and livable urban environment. In this study, we adopted an evolutionary game model and selected three typical stakeholders—the government, the public, and enterprises—in order to examine the choice of tripartite strategies and their primary influencing factors based on prospect theory. This study found the following: (1) the selection of tripartite strategies at different stages of a zero-waste city’s construction is influenced by the expected benefits and costs; (2) the government’s leading role and related subsidies can promote the enthusiasm of enterprises and the public to participate in the construction of a zero-waste city; (3) tripartite participation in a zero-waste city’s construction can maximize benefits, and after a sustainable development model has been established, each stakeholder can choose to participate actively, even without government intervention; and (4) the construction of a zero-waste city requires long-term exploration and practice, and China is currently in a transition period from government-led to government-directed planning. Establishing a perfect reward and punishment mechanism is beneficial in promoting the active participation of the public and of enterprises. The authors of this paper studied the game process of stakeholders at each stage of a zero-waste city’s construction through prospect theory and explored the influences of important parameters on the strategic choice of each subject at the current stage by conducting numerical simulations, which has implications for the construction and sustainable development of a zero-waste city.
Commons of the South: Ecologies of Interdependence in Local Territories of Chile
Authors: Ibarra María Ignacia , Guasch Aurelia , Ojeda Jaime , Riquelme Maulen Wladimir , Ibarra José Tomás
Published: July 2023

In a context of global social–ecological crises, a growing number of researchers, policymakers, activists and politicians have given importance to the “commons”. This is mainly because the commons are associated with a logic of regulation and collective organization over the use and conservation of those goods considered essential for both human and ecosystem co-existence. This article seeks to draw attention to the commons from the standpoint of an ecology of interdependence and understand their modes of co-existence in the Global South. We analyze four case studies along with the tensions and junctures faced by the communities and the goods that sustain their continuity over time in southern Chile, a territory where extractivism and resource exploitation have increased over the last decades. The case studies use a combination of qualitative methodologies, including document analysis, literature review, ethnographies, participant observation, interviews and other means of participatory action research with community actors. Integrative analysis and discussion of the results reveal the fluidity and dynamism of the commons of southern Chile in contexts where there is pressure for their institutionalization and/or privatization, as well as various forms of resistance on the part of the territories for their protection and revitalization.
Sustainable Development of Agriculture of Ukraine in the Context of Climate Change
Authors: Moldavan Lubov , Pimenowa Olena , Wasilewski Mirosław , Wasilewska Natalia
Published: July 2023

The purpose of the article is to actualize the challenges faced by Ukrainian agriculture in the context of climate change and the impact of the economic activity of enterprises on the state of natural resources, as well as to consider the ways and mechanisms of the post-war transition of Ukrainian agriculture to sustainable development. In the study, we used monographic, comparative analysis, empirical, abstract, and logical methods. The first consequences of climate change in agricultural sectors of the planet are characterized. Increasing temperatures to a maximum level, longer periods of extreme heat, more intense droughts, increased moisture deficit during the growing season, winter thaws, the spread of pests and diseases, and other manifestations of climate change have a negative impact on agricultural production. In the context of climate change, as highlighted in the paper, these negative processes will significantly intensify, requiring an immediate transition from ecologically and socially destructive monoculture to agroecological agriculture, which is recognized as one of the most affordable, low-cost, socially oriented, and environmentally relevant ways to transition to sustainable development of the industry. The principles and institutional support for such a transition are revealed, taking into account the expected climate change and post-war consequences for Ukrainian agriculture.
Analysis and Application of Hydraulic Fracturing to Control Hard and Stable Roof in Initial Mining Stage
Authors: Zhang Hanrui , Liu Changyou , Chen Zhenhua , Yu Xin , Zhang Kun , Liu Huaidong
Published: July 2023

Previously conducted studies have established that the sudden collapse of large areas of overhanging roofs in longwall working faces can cause shock loads and wind blast. In order to solve the problem of the hard and stable roof (HSR) being difficult to collapse in the initial mining stage, a combination of theoretical analysis and numerical simulation is used, taking Dongqu coal mine as the engineering background. The mechanical model of the initial fracture of the main roof is established, the relationship between the thickness-to-span ratio of main roof, the internal stress of the roof is analyzed, and the relationship between the thickness of the roof and the initial weighting step is revealed. The method of hydraulic fracturing (HF) is proposed to pre-crack the main roof in order to achieve controllability of the roof. The effect of HF on the control of the HSR is analyzed. The main conclusions are as follows: under the condition of a certain span of the rock beam, a smaller thickness of the rock beam makes for a larger tensile stress inside of it, increasing the likelihood that the rock beam will fracture. It is possible to reduce the initial weighting interval of the main roof by decreasing the thickness of the HSR and increasing the thickness of the load layer. The abutment pressure in the initial mining stage is obviously reduced after HF. The technical scheme of HF was proposed and applied in the field, and the field observations show that after HF, the HSR can collapse in time at the initial mining stage, leading to remarkable results being achieved.
Evaluating Wheat Suppliers Using Fuzzy MCDM Technique
Authors: Magableh Ghazi M.
Published: July 2023

Wheat has significantly impacted food security in numerous countries. Like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Jordan’s daily diet contains a sizable amount of wheat. Further, Jordan is dealing with several issues, including rapid population growth, water scarcity, widespread urbanization, and limited agricultural wheat production. Thus, it imports most of its wheat and wheat products. Moreover, the method of selecting suppliers in Jordan is unique, as private importers import for the benefit of the government, and thus, the selection of suppliers is carried out by importers. This study aims to examine the various supplier selection approaches to determine Jordan’s primary wheat suppliers and rank them according to specified criteria. The fuzzy-VIKOR approach was used to assess, select, and rank the best wheat suppliers in Jordan. The findings suggest that Romania is the best supplier of wheat for Jordan. It is recognized as the most affordable and trustworthy supplier since it is nearby, has strong links through official channels, and is flexible. Suppliers are subject to change or adjust their offerings as a result of changes in the global economy, wheat prices at the source, exchange rates, transportation and handling costs, crises, and national export levies. This study will help importers, decision-makers, and others concerned with wheat imports as a strategic commodity identify and select suppliers.
Determinants of Demand in Digital Platform-Mediated Service Work in Turkey: An Empirical Study
Authors: Balkaya Ensar , Yarbaşı İkram Yusuf , Tepeler Muhammed İkbal
Published: July 2023

Despite claims that digital platform-mediated jobs may have negative consequences for the labor market, empirical evidence supports the existence of positive effects, especially for low-paid and low-skilled service jobs. Comparative studies on the characteristics, working conditions, and earnings of workers who perform these jobs on digital platforms are becoming widespread. However, there needs to be more literature regarding the demand side of digital platform-mediated service jobs. This study aims to determine the factors affecting the demand for digital platform-mediated services using a dataset obtained from a comprehensive survey conducted by Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) throughout Turkey. The study uses the probit econometric model with a qualitative dependent variable. The results show that the income level of the individuals, the characteristics of the region where they live, and the familiarity of individuals with digital platforms significantly affect the demand for digital platform-mediated services. The findings demonstrate that specifically middle-income individuals, compared to individuals in other income groups, individuals residing in areas with high population density, compared to individuals in other regions, and individuals with Internet familiarity, compared to other individuals, exhibit a higher demand for digital platform-mediated services.
Identification and Prioritization of Green Lean Supply Chain Management Factors Using Fuzzy DEMATEL
Authors: Hossain Md. Ismail , Al Amin Md , Baldacci Roberto , Rahman Md. Habibur
Published: July 2023

Green–lean supply chain management (GLSCM) refers to strategically adopting and coordinating environmentally sustainable practices and lean concepts in supply chain operations. A considerable set of factors needs to be identified to implement GLSCM successfully. This study examined the factors influencing green lean supply chain management implementation in the Readymade Garments Industries of Bangladesh through a literature review and discussions with field experts. The fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (fuzzy DEMATEL) approach is employed to analyze these factors to implement GLSCM effectively. This research identifies capacity utilization, green purchasing, and demand variation as the most influential factors in GLSCM, while quality improvement and the Kanban system are considered the least important factors. This study explored categorizing factors into the cause-and-effect group, the degree of interaction, and the interrelationship of the factors under consideration. The findings of this study may help managers develop an effective GLSCM system, hence increasing an organization’s total profitability.