bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tool for Assessment of the Green Technology Transfer Structure in Brazilian Public Universities
Authors: Santos Silva Luan Carlos , Ten Caten Carla Schwengber , Gaia Silvia , de Oliveira Souza Rodrigo
Published: April 2023

Green technologies have assumed an important role in combating global climate change. The process of transferring environmentally sustainable technologies from universities is crucial to mitigate climate change and for promoting sustainable development. This study aims to propose a tool to evaluate the transfer structure of the green technologies that are generated within universities. The tool has the purpose of supporting managers in the dissemination and absorption of these technologies in the market. The research methodology is established as applied and exploratory, with a quantitative approach. To analyze and validate the developed tool, a diagnosis was conducted in the Brazilian scenario. The research identified 255 groups registered in universities that develop research in green areas. To analyze the information collected in the Green Technology Transfer Radar survey, Pearson’s linear correlation coefficients between the dimensions were checked, followed by multivariate statistical techniques and factor analysis. The factor extraction method considered was that of principal components, and factor rotation was performed using the varimax orthogonal method with Kaiser’s criterion. As results were obtained, the evaluation tool contains eleven dimensions (People, Process, Budget, Relationship, Integrated Management, Research, and Development “R&D” in Green Technologies, Intellectual Property, Valuation, Commercialization, Environment, and Society) and seven stages for operationalizing the tool. The results revealed gaps in the transfer process, and universities should develop strategies to reduce the gaps pointed out in the application of the tool. Additionally, joint action with the TTOs and research groups within their institutions is necessary.
A Review of Macroscopic Carbon Emission Prediction Model Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Zhao Yuhong , Liu Ruirui , Liu Zhansheng , Liu Liang , Wang Jingjing , Liu Wenxiang
Published: April 2023

Under the background of global warming and the energy crisis, the Chinese government has set the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutralization. With the rapid development of machine learning, some advanced machine learning algorithms have also been applied to the control and prediction of carbon emissions due to their high efficiency and accuracy. In this paper, the current situation of machine learning applied to carbon emission prediction is studied in detail by means of paper retrieval. It was found that machine learning has become a hot topic in the field of carbon emission prediction models, and the main carbon emission prediction models are mainly based on back propagation neural networks, support vector machines, long short-term memory neural networks, random forests and extreme learning machines. By describing the characteristics of these five types of carbon emission prediction models and conducting a comparative analysis, we determined the applicable characteristics of each model, and based on this, future research ideas for carbon emission prediction models based on machine learning are proposed.
Thai Local Chicken Breeds, Chee Fah and Fah Luang, Originated from Chinese Black-Boned Chicken with Introgression of Red Junglefowl and Domestic Chicken Breeds
Authors: Budi Trifan , Singchat Worapong , Tanglertpaibul Nivit , Wongloet Wongsathit , Chaiyes Aingorn , Ariyaraphong Nattakan , Thienpreecha Worawit , Wannakan Wannapa , Mungmee Autchariyapron , Thong Thanyapat , Wattanadilokchatkun Pish , Panthum Thitipong , Ahmad Syed Farhan , Lisachov Artem , Muangmai Narongrit , Chuenka Rattanaphon , Prapattong Pollavat , Nunome Mitsuo , Chamchumroon Wiyada , Han Kyudong , Pornpipatsiri Santi , Supnithi Thepchai , Peng Min-Sheng , Han Jian-Lin , Matsuda Yoichi , Duengkae Prateep , Noinafai Phuechphol , Srikulnath Kornsorn
Published: April 2023

Knowledge of the genetic characteristics, origin, and local adaptation of chickens is essential to identify the traits required for chicken breeding programs. Chee Fah and Fah Luang are black-boned chicken breeds reared in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Chickens are an important part of the local economy and socio-culture; however, the genetic diversity, characteristics, and origins of these two breeds have been poorly studied. Here, we investigated the genetic diversity, gene pool, and origin of the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens using mitochondrial DNA D-loop (mtDNA D-loop) sequencing and microsatellite genotyping, as well as habitat suitability analysis using maximum entropy modeling. The MtDNA D-loop sequencing and microsatellite genotype analyses indicated that the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens shared haplogroups A, B, and CD with Chinese black-boned chickens. Gene pool analysis revealed that the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens have distinct genetic patterns compared to Thai domestic chickens and red junglefowl. Some gene pools of red junglefowl and other Thai domestic chickens were observed within the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chicken gene pool structures, suggesting genetic exchange. The data indicate that the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens originated from Chinese indigenous black-boned chicken breeds and experienced crossbreeding/hybridization and introgression with red junglefowl and other domestic breeds during domestication. Interestingly, the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens from Chiang Rai shared the same allelic gene pool, which was not shared with the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens from Mae Hong Son, suggesting at least two gene pool origins in the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chicken populations. Alternatively, different gene pools in the Chee Fah and Fah Luang chickens from different localities might be caused by differences in environmental factors, especially elevation.
An Insight into Underground Hydrogen Storage in Italy
Authors: Barison Erika , Donda Federica , Merson Barbara , Le Gallo Yann , Réveillère Arnaud
Published: April 2023

Hydrogen is a key energy carrier that could play a crucial role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. Hydrogen-related technologies are considered flexible solutions to support the large-scale implementation of intermittent energy supply from renewable sources by using renewable energy to generate green hydrogen during periods of low demand. Therefore, a short-term increase in demand for hydrogen as an energy carrier and an increase in hydrogen production are expected to drive demand for large-scale storage facilities to ensure continuous availability. Owing to the large potential available storage space, underground hydrogen storage offers a viable solution for the long-term storage of large amounts of energy. This study presents the results of a survey of potential underground hydrogen storage sites in Italy, carried out within the H2020 EU Hystories “Hydrogen Storage In European Subsurface” project. The objective of this work was to clarify the feasibility of the implementation of large-scale storage of green hydrogen in depleted hydrocarbon fields and saline aquifers. By analysing publicly available data, mainly well stratigraphy and logs, we were able to identify onshore and offshore storage sites in Italy. The hydrogen storage capacity in depleted gas fields currently used for natural gas storage was estimated to be around 69.2 TWh.
Public Policies for Territorial Cohesion and Sustainability in Europe: An Overview
Authors: Chamusca Pedro
Published: April 2023

This paper provides an analysis of public policies for territorial cohesion and sustainability in Europe, using a conceptual framework that takes into account theoretical approaches and empirical studies. Three case studies were examined, including the Tâmega e Sousa region in Portugal, the Jaén region in Spain, and the Province of Avellino in Italy. The analysis revealed similarities and differences between these territories in terms of the effectiveness of public policies for territorial cohesion and sustainability. Positive points included the creation of networks and partnerships, the use of smart specialization strategies, and the promotion of sustainable tourism. Negative points included a lack of coordination between different levels of government, insufficient investment in infrastructure, and a lack of awareness of the potential benefits of sustainability. Based on these findings, the paper suggests several recommendations for public policies and research on territorial cohesion and sustainability. These include the need for greater collaboration between different levels of government and stakeholders, increased investment in infrastructure and innovation, and the development of more sustainable tourism strategies. Overall, this paper highlights the importance of public policies for territorial cohesion and sustainability in promoting economic development, social cohesion, and environmental sustainability in Europe.
Do Sustainability Activities Affect the Financial Performance of Banks? The Case of Indonesian Banks
Authors: Gutiérrez-Ponce Herenia , Wibowo Sigit Arie
Published: April 2023

The disclosure of information on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks is increasingly important in financial and banking entities and the evaluation of its impact by supervisors. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between sustainability and financial performance in a geographical context that has not been studied. Specifically, this study examines the relationship of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance to the financial performance of Indonesian banking companies during the period 2010–20. As a methodology, we used panel data (ESG data from Thomson Reuters), statistical correlations, and regression models. Financial performance was measured by Return on Assets (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Tobin’s Q (TQ). The findings show that ESG is negatively related to all dependent variables (ROA, ROE, and TQ), but each ESG pillar (environmental, social, and governance) yields different results. The social pillar has a significant positive effect on ROA and ROE, governance has a significant negative effect on TQ, and business environment has no significant impact on financial performance. As to the study’s limitations/implications, the findings advance decision makers’ understanding of the quality of organizations’ contributions to improving ESG reporting in financial reporting. The study’s findings on the relationship between ESG reporting and banks’ financial performance also have implications for stakeholders, ESG policymakers, academics, and assurance providers. While the specific research gap addressed is the relationship between ESG and financial performance in Indonesian banking companies, other interesting issues are the voluntary vs. mandatory nature of these reports and the impact of each modality on the variables considered.
Locating Tea Bud Keypoints by Keypoint Detection Method Based on Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Cheng Yifan , Li Yang , Zhang Rentian , Gui Zhiyong , Dong Chunwang , Ma Rong
Published: April 2023

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the whole world. Premium tea is a kind of tea with high nutrition, quality, and economic value. This study solves the problem of detecting premium tea buds in automatic plucking by training a modified Mask R-CNN network for tea bud detection in images. A new anchor generation method by adding additional anchors and the CIoU loss function were used in this modified model. In this study, the keypoint detection branch was optimized to locate tea bud keypoints, which, containing a fully convolutional network (FCN), is also built to locate the keypoints of bud objects. The built convolutional neural network was trained through our dataset and obtained an 86.6% precision and 88.3% recall for the bud object detection. The keypoint localization had a precision of 85.9% and a recall of 83.3%. In addition, a dataset for the tea buds and picking points was constructed in study. The experiments show that the developed model can be robust for a range of tea-bud-harvesting scenarios and introduces the possibility and theoretical basis for fully automated tea bud harvesting.
Thermal Loads Map and Overall Energy Analysis Depending on Low-Effort Parameters Change: A Commercial Building Case Study
Authors: Sannino Raniero
Published: April 2023

Starting from the second half of 2022, the energy market, in particular, the European natural gas supply, passed through an eventful period. The sanctions imposed on Russia because of the Ukrainian war rearranged the steadiness of the natural gas suppliers to the continent, and major concerns arose regarding the reduction in primary energy consumption, particularly for heating and cooling purposes. This study proposes a method for mapping the heating and cooling loads of a building as a function of effortlessly changeable boundary conditions (i.e., heating/cooling temperature set-point, infiltration rate and work shift); the simulation of the building thermal loads as well as the final and primary energy estimation was carried out with DesignBuilder, an Energyplus-based software, with a dynamic calculation approach. Thermal load maps provide an immediate picture of the achievable energy savings and represents an effective tool for energy monitoring; in addition, the maps can support energy managers and policymakers for rapidly complying with unexpected scenarios. The mapping method has been applied to a non-residential building and the results showed that energy savings up to 40% could be reached, ensuring an adequate indoor thermal comfort. Finally, the final and primary energy analysis showed the benefit of switching from fossil fuel boilers to electric heat pumps for space heating due to a minimum primary energy saving of 70%.
Energy Use and Indoor Environment Performance in Sustainably Designed Refugee Shelters: Three Incremental Phases
Authors: Ibrahim Rojhat , Baranyai Bálint , Abdulkareem Haval , Katona Tamás János
Published: April 2023

Globally, natural and man-made disasters continue to force the displacement of masses of people. Existing studies show that several aspects have not been integrated into constructing refugee camps and shelters to achieve sustainability, such as long lifespan, indoor thermal comfort and air quality, energy efficiency, socio-cultural aspects, integration with local planning and design systems, and environmental impact. This study integrates the above factors in six refugee core shelters, designed based on the Middle Eastern cultural context using locally available sustainable construction materials and techniques. The prototypes are situated on two different building plots, i.e., terraced and end-of-terrace, and undergo three development phases, known as the incremental improvement strategy. The study focuses on their energy and indoor environment performance and provides empirical assessments undertaken using dynamic building simulations. It shows that the adopted approach to design and construction leads to remarkable improvements in their overall performance. Concerning energy use, compared to the base case scenarios built with conventional materials, the proposed prototypes show an opportunity to save energy up to 10,000 kWh per unit per year, equivalent to almost 2500 USD savings in energy bills. This is while achieving accepted level for almost 89–94% of thermal comfort hours and 74–85% predicted mean vote (PMV), respectively. However, the CO2 concentration level remains relatively low, ranging from 29 to 51%.
How Does Each ESG Dimension Predict Customer Lifetime Value by Segments? Evidence from U.S. Industrial and Technological Industries
Authors: Segarra-Moliner José Ramón , Bel-Oms Inmaculada
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study is to analyse the research gap regarding the relationship between environmental, social and governance dimensions (ESG) of corporate sustainability initiatives and customer lifetime value (CLV). We divide an entire data sample (547 U.S. listed firms from the Refinitiv Thomson Reuters Eikon database) of both industrial and technological industries into three segments, using prediction-oriented modelling segmentation to test the hypotheses and evaluate the predictive validity of a partial least squares (PLS) model. As a result, we show that environmental, social and governance dimensions (ESG) encompass ten sustainability initiatives that, in turn, are the precursors of future financial firm performance, represented by CLV. Moreover, we found different poor-to-medium effects of each ESG dimension on CLV in segment 1. However, a stronger effect of the social dimension on CLV in segment 3 is completed with a poor effect, both positive by governance and negative by environmental dimensions, on CLV, while only the environmental dimension had greater effects on CLV in segment 2. The contribution of this research to the body of literature is twofold. First, it deepens the impact of each ESG dimension instead of considering sustainability initiatives as a whole. Second, it evaluates sustainability initiatives with a customer-based corporate firm valuation approach.
Dynamic Analysis and Simulation of the Feasibility and Stability of Innovative Carbon Emission Reduction Projects Entering the Carbon-Trading Market
Authors: Jiang Haotong , Yao Liuyang , Bai Xueru , Li Hua
Published: April 2023

Designing green agricultural production projects as CER projects is attractive, as it can play a role in promoting the spread of green production technologies and reducing carbon emissions based on market-based compensation. This research constructed a generic analytical framework using evolutionary game methods to evaluate the feasibility and stability of innovative CER projects by numerical analysis or simulation. Finally, two complex scenarios were analysed using simulations based on the framework. The simulation analysis results show that when the profits of VER and CER projects are close, the government’s direct intervention will lead to instability in market development, and the development of VER projects should be focused on. Government subsidies to promote the agricultural sector to participate in CER construction can be gradually reduced with the development of the market. When the reduction speed is slow enough, the effectiveness of subsidies will not be affected. The framework will be helpful to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of CER mechanism innovation and development, and to formulate more targeted policies to promote the popularization of green agricultural production technologies.
Field Comprehensive Testing and Study on New Subgrade Structure of High-Speed Railway in Diatomaceous Earth Region
Authors: Guo Huiqin , Su Qian , Li Taifeng , Zhang Qianli , Nadakatti Mahantesh M. , Yan Hongye , Chen Feng
Published: April 2023

Part of the Hang-Tai High-speed Railway (Hangzhou via Shaoxing to Taizhou in Zhejiang Provence) in China passes through the diatomaceous earth area, which is the first time in the history of Chinese high-speed railway construction. This type of soil has significant compressibility, swelling and disintegration. Diatomaceous earth also shows a sharp reduction in strength when exposed to water, which severely impacts the safety of the project. However, no studies have been carried out on the engineering practice of building a high-speed railway in the diatomaceous earth area in China. Moreover, there is limited experience in the construction of ballastless track through the diatomaceous earth area. In order to ensure the stability of the high-speed railway subgrade in diatomaceous earth area, and considering the high level of precipitation in the location of this railway, a kind of waterproof and drainage subgrade (WDS) is proposed to reduce the influence of precipitation on the strength of the diatomaceous earth foundation. The subgrade has a flexible waterproof and drainage layer (WDL) inside, which consists of capillary waterproof and drainage plates and medium-coarse sand. In the present study, field tests including immersion tests and excitation test are carried out on a subgrade test section to verify the subgrade structure. The tests mainly focus on construction technology, waterproof performance and dynamic characteristics. The studies show that the subgrade bed with the WDL can effectively avoid the diatomaceous earth foundation from rainfall interference and maintain the long-term stability of the subgrade. The flexible WDL in WDS has a significant energy dissipation effect in comparison with the traditional subgrade (TS) filler and can play a key role in vibration damping, promoting the attenuation of dynamic response in the downward and cross-sectional directions within the subgrade. The dynamic response of the WDS attenuates along the depth. In comparison with the existing high-speed railway subgrade measured data, its dynamic response attenuation coefficient is within acceptable limits. The laying of the WDL does not change the subgrade dynamic characteristics transfer law. The proposed structure meets the requirements of ballastless track construction for high-speed railways, and the WDL can be used in the design of high-speed railways for enhanced drainage protection in diatomaceous soil areas or other special soil areas.
On the Conversion of Paper Waste and Rejects into High-Value Materials and Energy
Authors: Abushammala Hatem , Masood Muhammad Adil , Ghulam Salma Taqi , Mao Jia
Published: April 2023

The pulp and paper industry (PPI) is a major contributor to the global economy, but it also poses a challenge for waste disposal, as it generates large amounts of several waste streams. Among these, paper rejects are generated during the papermaking process and could account for up to 25% of the produced paper. Moreover, hundreds of millions of tons of paper are produced annually that end up in landfills if not burnt or recycled. Furthermore, the PPI significantly contributes to climate change and global warming in the form of deforestation and water and air pollution. Therefore, the impact of this industry on the sustainability of natural resources and its adverse environmental health effects requires special attention. This review focuses on discussing the sustainable routes to utilize paper waste and rejects from the PPI towards a circular economy. At first, it discusses the industry itself and its environmental impact, followed by the possible sustainable approaches that can be implemented to improve papermaking processes as well as waste management systems, including paper recycling. The literature indicates that paper recycling is crucial because, if appropriately designed, it significantly lowers greenhouse gas emissions, water and resources consumption, and manufacturing costs. However, several concerns have surfaced about the different chemicals that are used to improve recycling efficiency and recycled paper quality. Furthermore, paper recycling is limited to up to seven times. This review, therefore, goes on to highlight several sustainable waste management routes for paper waste utilization other than recycling by emphasizing the concept of converting paper waste and rejects into energy and high-value materials, including biofuels, biohydrogen, biomethane, heat, nanocellulose, hydrochar, construction materials, and soil amendments. Both the benefits and shortcomings of these waste management routes and their applications are discussed. It becomes clear from this review that sustainable management solutions for paper waste and rejects are implementable, but further research and development are still needed.
A Trust-Based Secure Parking Allocation for IoT-Enabled Sustainable Smart Cities
Authors: Ali Javed , Khan Mohammad Faisal
Published: April 2023

Smart parking is a crucial component of smart cities that aims to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of urban environments. It employs technology such as sensors and IoT devices to optimize the use of parking resources and improve drivers’ experiences. By reducing traffic congestion, decreasing air pollution, and enhancing accessibility, smart parking systems can contribute to the overall well-being of urban areas. IoT-enabled smart parking refers to the application of IoT technology to optimize and improve parking efficiency in smart cities. However, security and privacy challenges in IoT-enabled smart parking pose risks and concerns related to the collection and use of data by parking systems, such as unauthorized access or misuse of data, potential data breaches, and the need to ensure responsible data collection and usage to maintain user trust and confidence. To address these challenges, we propose a novel hybrid approach to trust management using machine learning algorithms to enhance the security and privacy of the system. Our approach consists of SVM and ANNs, taking into account credibility, availability, and honesty as key parameters. Furthermore, we use ensemble machine learning to select the best-predicted model from different trained models, leading to efficient performance and a trustworthy environment. Our results show that the proposed hybrid SVM classifier with a trust parameters approach achieved an accuracy of 96.43% in predicting and eliminating malicious or compromised nodes.
An Empirical Investigation into Students’ Actual Use of MOOCs in Saudi Arabia Higher Education
Authors: Alturki Uthman , Aldraiweesh Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Massive Open Online Courses, or MOOCs, are a type of educational innovation where enrollment in the courses given is free and available online. The MOOCs course selection is extensive and may accommodate hundreds or thousands of students at once. The current study, however, aims to look into how the academic self-efficacy of real MOOC users affects learning engagement and perseverance in higher education in Saudi Arabia. This study added the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to social cognitive theory. Therefore, the primary goal is to create a new model by examining the variables that affect the perceived utility and perceived service quality, as well as the students’ general perceptions of MOOCs that are really used. Therefore, this research used a quantitative approach and distributed the questionnaire online through a Google Form. It collected data from 276 King Saud University students and used it to test the hypothesized correlations using structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The study’s findings showed that perceptions of perceived benefits and service quality consistently had a significant influence on social interaction, influence, networks of support, and social identity. A further finding was that reported utility and perceived service quality have always been significantly influenced by academic self-efficacy in actual MOOC use. Because of this, learning engagement and perseverance in Saudi Arabian higher education are significantly impacted by the academic self-efficacy of real MOOC users. According to the findings, MOOC programs generally have a positive influence on the kingdom’s higher education system. As a result, it is almost certain that this research model will assist university decision-makers in determining whether or not MOOC usage is prevalent at Saudi educational institutions.
Valorization of Human Urine with Mixed Microalgae Examined through Population Dynamics, Nutrient Removal, and Biogas Content
Authors: Ermis Hande , Guven Gulhan Unzile , Akca Mehmet Sadik , Cakir Tunahan , Altinbas Mahmut
Published: April 2023

The majority of nutrients in municipal wastewater originate from urine. However, when flush water is used, the urine is diluted and mixed with other organic household waste, losing its high-value stream content. This study investigated the effect of source-separated human urine on the population dynamics, nutrient removal, growth, and biogas content of mixed microalgae grown in 250 L raceway ponds. Overall, a maximum biomass concentration of 1847 mg/L was reached, with up to 90% nitrogen and 80% phosphorus removal efficiencies, along with 254.96 L/kg vs. biogas production. The microbial community analysis identified Chlorella sorokiniana (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae) as the species with the highest abundance, after confirmation with four different markers (16S rRNA, 18S rRNA, 23S rRNA, and tufA). Moreover, principal component analysis was applied to capture the effect of environmental factors on culture diversity. The abundance of Chlorella sorokiniana increased almost sevenfold when the culture was exposed to open systems compared to the small-scale study carried out in 1 L Erlenmeyer bottles in laboratory conditions, both grown in urine and synthetic media (BBM). In conclusion, the present study contributes to the potential to valorize urine with microalgae by showing its high biogas content, and reveals that microalgae can adapt to adverse environmental conditions by fostering their diversity.
How the Rural Digital Economy Drives Rural Industrial Revitalization—Case Study of China’s 30 Provinces
Authors: Tian Ye , Liu Qin , Ye Yiting , Zhang Zhaofang , Khanal Ribesh
Published: April 2023

The Chinese government is implementing a rural revitalization strategy and speeding up rural modernization. The rapid development of the rural digital economy has become a new driving force for the revitalization of rural industries. By analyzing how rural industrial revitalization is driven by the rural digital economy, this study constructs a rural digital economy from the three dimensions of optimal allocation of rural resource elements, the effective connection of urban–rural markets, and the integrated development of rural industries. The entropy value method was used to assess the comprehensive level of development of the rural digital economy and industrial revitalization. Based on the agricultural and rural development data of 30 provinces in China from 2014 to 2019, we construct a dual fixed effect model to empirically analyze how the rural digital economy drives rural industrial revitalization. The results show that, first, the rural digital economy promotes the revitalization of rural industries through the following main approaches: optimal allocation and utilization of rural resources, effective connection of urban–rural markets, and industrial integration development. Second, using the benchmark regression test, it can be concluded that if the development level of the rural digital economy is increased by 1 percent, the development of rural industrial revitalization will increase by 0.066 percent, indicating that the development of the rural digital economy can significantly drive the revitalization of rural industries. Third, the driving effect of the rural digital economy on the revitalization of rural industries is heterogeneous in different regions and industrial structures. The effect of the rural digital economy on the revitalization of rural industries in the western region, the region with a high proportion of the output value of the primary industry, is higher than in the east and central regions, which have a low proportion of the output value of the primary industry.
Long-Range ACEO Phenomena in Microfluidic Channel
Authors: Dutta Diganta , Smith Keifer , Palmer Xavier
Published: April 2023

Microfluidic devices are increasingly utilized in numerous industries, including that of medicine, for their abilities to pump and mix fluid at a microscale. Within these devices, microchannels paired with microelectrodes enable the mixing and transportation of ionized fluid. The ionization process charges the microchannel and manipulates the fluid with an electric field. Although complex in operation at the microscale, microchannels within microfluidic devices are easy to produce and economical. This paper uses simulations to convey helpful insights into the analysis of electrokinetic microfluidic device phenomena. The simulations in this paper use the Navier–Stokes and Poisson Nernst–Planck equations solved using COMSOL to determine the maximum attainable fluid velocity with an electric potential applied to the microchannel and the most suitable frequency or voltage to use for transporting the fluid. Alternating current electroosmosis (ACEO) directs and provides velocity to the ionized fluid. ACEO can also mix the fluid at low frequencies for the purpose of dispersing particles. DC electroosmosis (DCEO) applies voltage along the microchannel to create an electric field that ionizes fluid within the microchannel, making it a cost-effective method for transporting fluid. This paper explores a method for an alternate efficient utilization of microfluidic devices for efficient mixing and transportation of ionized fluid and analyzes the electrokinetic phenomena through simulations using the Navier–Stokes and Poisson Nernst–Planck equations. The results provide insights into the parameters at play for transporting the fluid using alternating current electroosmosis (ACEO) and DC electroosmosis (DCEO).
The n-Point Composite Fractional Formula for Approximating Riemann–Liouville Integrator
Authors: Batiha Iqbal M. , Alshorm Shameseddin , Al-Husban Abdallah , Saadeh Rania , Gharib Gharib , Momani Shaher
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we aim to present a novel n-point composite fractional formula for approximating a Riemann–Liouville fractional integral operator. With the use of the definite fractional integral’s definition coupled with the generalized Taylor’s formula, a novel three-point central fractional formula is established for approximating a Riemann–Liouville fractional integrator. Such a new formula, which emerges clearly from the symmetrical aspects of the proposed numerical approach, is then further extended to formulate an n-point composite fractional formula for approximating the same operator. Several numerical examples are introduced to validate our findings.
Results on Second-Order Hankel Determinants for Convex Functions with Symmetric Points
Authors: Ullah Khalil , Al-Shbeil Isra , Faisal Muhammad , Arif Muhammad , Alsaud Huda
Published: April 2023

One of the most important problems in the study of geometric function theory is knowing how to obtain the sharp bounds of the coefficients that appear in the Taylor–Maclaurin series of univalent functions. In the present investigation, our aim is to calculate some sharp estimates of problems involving coefficients for the family of convex functions with respect to symmetric points and associated with a hyperbolic tangent function. These problems include the first four initial coefficients, the Fekete–Szegö and Zalcman inequalities, and the second-order Hankel determinant. Additionally, the inverse and logarithmic coefficients of the functions belonging to the defined class are also studied in relation to the current problems.
Cell-Dependent Mechanical Properties of Asymmetric Crosslinked Metallic Wire Mesh with Hybrid Patterns Based on Arbitrary Poisson’s Ratio
Authors: Wu Fang , Li Zeyu , Lin Congcong , Ge Shaoxiang , Xue Xin
Published: April 2023

Metallic wire mesh has gained attention as a potential material for lightweight aircraft structures, e.g., a metallic frame of morphing wings, due to its customizable mechanical properties associated with cell structures. However, the relationship between the pattern design of cell structures and the mechanical characteristics of metallic wire mesh remains unclear. The present work aims to investigate the mechanical behavior of asymmetric crosslinked metallic wire mesh with a hybrid Poisson’s ratio pattern, which has the potentials of arbitrary Poisson’s ratios. Two typical designs of cell arrangement for asymmetric crosslinked metallic wire mesh were proposed, namely negative Poisson’s ratio cells (NPRC) and positive Poisson’s ratio cells (PPRC). The in-plane Poisson’s ratio of asymmetric crosslinked metallic wire mesh was calculated based on the Euler beam theory. The effects of hybrid Poisson’s pattern and interwoven joint on mechanical properties, including macroscopic Poisson’s ratio and elastic bending recovery, were analyzed using numerical and experimental methods. The results demonstrate that the analytical Poisson’s ratio obtained from the proposed theoretical model agrees well with the simulation result. The hybrid structure which consisted of NPRC and PPRC could effectively control transverse shrinkage and become one of the most efficient potentials for promising structures with the arbitrary Poisson’s ratio phenomenon.
Chromatic Differentiation of Functional Mappings of the Composition of Nucleic Acids
Authors: Stepanyan Ivan V. , Lednev Mihail Y.
Published: April 2023

Color visualization of the DNA of diverse living beings can help in the exploration of the issue of chromatic differentiation of functional mappings of the nucleotide composition of DNA molecules. By “chromatic differentiation”, we mean the coloring of these mappings. Algorithms for coloring genetic representations improve the perception of complex genetic information using color. Methodologically, to build the chromatic differentiation of functional mappings of the nucleotide composition of DNA, we employed the system of nucleotide Walsh functions and the Chaos Game Representation (CGR) algorithm. The authors compared these two approaches and proposed a modified CGR algorithm. The work presents various algorithms of chromatic differentiation based on the nucleotide Walsh functions at a specific location of the fragment in the nucleotide chain and on the frequencies of those fragments. The results of the analysis provide examples of chromatic differentiation in a variety of parametric spaces. The paper describes various approaches to coloring and video animation of DNA molecules in their chromatically differentiated spans of physicochemical parameters.
The Impact of Intellectual Property Rights City Policy on Firm Green Innovation: A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on a Staggered DID Model
Authors: Xia Xingneng , Huang Tao , Zhang Sheng
Published: April 2023

Green innovation is considered an important way to promote low-carbon society formation and the sustainable development of environmental engineering. However, few quantitative studies have focused on the impact of intellectual property rights (IPR) on firm green innovation (FGI). This paper constructs a quasi-natural experiment based on the IPR pilot city policy in China. We empirically investigated the influence of IPR policy on FGI using a staggered difference-in-differences (DID) model and Chinese listed company data from 2007 to 2020. The findings of this research are as follows: (1) IPR policy significantly promotes FGI, and its effectiveness is confirmed by a variety of robustness tests. (2) The IPR policy supports both green product and green process innovation, with a stronger effect on green product innovation. (3) The IPR policy encourages green independent R&D but has little influence on green joint R&D. (4) The IPR policy promotes FGI with a high knowledge intensity, state-owned enterprises, and firms in key city groups. (5) The IPR policy supports FGI primarily via two institutional channels: increasing R&D investment and easing financing constraints. This paper broadens the study of green innovation city policy and FGI development, offering new perspectives for achieving social and environmental sustainability.
Natural Antioxidant By-Product Mixture Counteracts the Effects of Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A Exposure of Piglets after Weaning: A Proteomic Survey on Liver Microsomal Fraction
Authors: Popescu Roua Gabriela , Marinescu George Cătălin , Rădulescu Andreea Luminița , Marin Daniela Eliza , Țăranu Ionelia , Dinischiotu Anca
Published: April 2023

Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by certain strains of fungi that can contaminate raw feed materials. Once ingested, even in small doses, they cause multiple health issues for animals and, downstream, for people consuming meat. It was proposed that inclusion of antioxidant-rich plant-derived feed might diminish the harmful effects of mycotoxins, maintaining the farm animals’ health and meat quality for human consumption. This work investigates the large scale proteomic effects on piglets’ liver of aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A mycotoxins and the potential compensatory effects of grapeseed and sea buckthorn meal administration as dietary byproduct antioxidants against mycotoxins’ damage. Forty cross-bred TOPIGS-40 hybrid piglets after weaning were assigned to three (n = 10) experimental groups (A, M, AM) and one control group (C) and fed with experimental diets for 30 days. After 4 weeks, liver samples were collected, and the microsomal fraction was isolated. Unbiased label-free, library-free, data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry SWATH methods were able to relatively quantify 1878 proteins from piglets’ liver microsomes, confirming previously reported effects on metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, TCA cycle, glutathione synthesis and use, and oxidative phosphorylation. Pathways enrichment revealed that fatty acid metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, regulation of gene expression by spliceosomes, membrane trafficking, peroxisome, thermogenesis, retinol, pyruvate, and amino acids metabolism pathways are also affected by the mycotoxins. Antioxidants restored expression level of proteins PRDX3, AGL, PYGL, fatty acids biosynthesis, endoplasmic reticulum, peroxisome, amino acid synthesis pathways, and, partially, OXPHOS mitochondrial subunits. However, excess of antioxidants might cause significant changes in CYP2C301, PPP4R4, COL18A1, UBASH3A, and other proteins expression levels. Future analysis of proteomics data corelated to animals growing performance and meat quality studies are necessary.
Synthesis of Qualitative Evidence on Malaria in Pregnancy, 2005–2022: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cardona-Arias Jaiberth Antonio
Published: April 2023

Qualitative research on malaria in pregnancy (MiP) is incipient, therefore its contextual, experiential and symbolic associated factors are unknown. This study systematizes the qualitative research on MiP, describes knowledge, perceptions and behaviors about MiP, and compiles individual, socioeconomic, cultural and health system determinants of MiP through a meta-synthesis in 10 databases. A total of 48 studies were included with 2600 pregnant women, 1300 healthcare workers, and 2200 relatives or community members. Extensive knowledge was demonstrated on ITN and case management, but it was lacking on SP-IPTp, risks and consequences of MiP. Attitudes were negative towards ANC and MiP prevention. There were high trustfulness scores and preference for traditional medicine and distrust in the safety of drugs. The main determinants of the Health System were rationing, copayments, delay in payment to clinics, high out-of-pocket expenses, shortage, low workforce and work overload, shortcomings in care quality, low knowledges of healthcare workers on MiP and negative attitude in care. The socioeconomic and cultural determinants were poverty and low educational level of pregnant women, distance to the hospital, patriarchal–sexist gender roles, and predominance of local conceptions on maternal–fetal–neonatal health. The meta-synthesis demonstrates the difficulty to detect MiP determinants and the importance of performed qualitative research before implementing MiP strategies to understand the multidimensionality of the disease.
Stabilization of the Quadruplex-Forming G-Rich Sequences in the Rhinovirus Genome Inhibits Uncoating—Role of Na+ and K+
Authors: Real-Hohn Antonio , Groznica Martin , Kontaxis Georg , Zhu Rong , Chaves Otávio Augusto , Vazquez Leonardo , Hinterdorfer Peter , Kowalski Heinrich , Blaas Dieter
Published: April 2023

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major cause of common cold, a respiratory disease that generally takes a mild course. However, occasionally, RV infection can lead to serious complications in patients debilitated by other ailments, e.g., asthma. Colds are a huge socioeconomic burden as neither vaccines nor other treatments are available. The many existing drug candidates either stabilize the capsid or inhibit the viral RNA polymerase, the viral proteinases, or the functions of other non-structural viral proteins; however, none has been approved by the FDA. Focusing on the genomic RNA as a possible target for antivirals, we asked whether stabilizing RNA secondary structures might inhibit the viral replication cycle. These secondary structures include G-quadruplexes (GQs), which are guanine-rich sequence stretches forming planar guanine tetrads via Hoogsteen base pairing with two or more of them stacking on top of each other; a number of small molecular drug candidates increase the energy required for their unfolding. The propensity of G-quadruplex formation can be predicted with bioinformatics tools and is expressed as a GQ score. Synthetic RNA oligonucleotides derived from the RV-A2 genome with sequences corresponding to the highest and lowest GQ scores indeed exhibited characteristics of GQs. In vivo, the GQ-stabilizing compounds, pyridostatin and PhenDC3, interfered with viral uncoating in Na+ but not in K+-containing phosphate buffers. The thermostability studies and ultrastructural imaging of protein-free viral RNA cores suggest that Na+ keeps the encapsulated genome more open, allowing PDS and PhenDC3 to diffuse into the quasi-crystalline RNA and promote the formation and/or stabilization of GQs; the resulting conformational changes impair RNA unraveling and release from the virion. Preliminary reports have been published.
Prevalence of Human Papillomavirus in Different Mucous Membranes in HIV Concordant Couples in Rwanda
Authors: Uwamungu Schifra , Nigussie Bethelehem , Muvunyi Claude Mambo , Hasséus Bengt , Andersson Maria , Giglio Daniel
Published: April 2023

Background: The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in other anatomical sites besides the uterine cervix is unknown in East Africa. Here, we assessed the prevalence and concordance of HPVs in different anatomical sites in HIV concordant couples in Rwanda. Methods: Fifty HIV-positive concordant male-female couples at the HIV clinic at the University Teaching Hospital of Kigali in Rwanda were interviewed, swabbed from the oral cavity (OC), oropharynx (OP), anal canal (AC), vagina (V), uterine cervix (UC) and penis. A pap smear test and a self-collected vaginal swab (Vself) were taken. Twelve high-risk (HR)-HPVs were analyzed. Results: HR-HPVs occurred in 10%/12% in OC, 10%/0% in OP and 2%/24% in AC (p = 0.002) in men and women, respectively. HR-HPVs occurred in 24% of UC, 32% of Vself, 30% of V and 24% of P samples. Only 22.2% of all HR-HPV infections were shared by both partners (κ −0.34 ± 0.11; p = 0.004). The type-specific HR-HPV concordance was significant between male to female OC-OC (κ 0.56 ± 0.17), V-VSelf (κ 0.70 ± 0.10), UC-V (κ 0.54 ± 0.13), UC-Vself (κ 0.51 ± 0.13) and UC-female AC (κ 0.42 ± 0.15). Conclusions: HPV infections are prevalent in HIV-positive couples in Rwanda but concordance within couples is low. Vaginal self-sampling for HPV is representative of cervical HPV status.