bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water voles of Lake Hula: assessing their past, present, and future
Authors: Marom Nimrod , Peretz Adva Olga , Lazagabaster Ignacio A. , Meiri Meirav , Meiri Shai
Published: March 2024

The southernmost population of Eurasian water vole (Arvicola amphibius) inhabited Lake Hula in the upper Jordan Valley until the lake was drained in the 1950s. Considering the continuous conservation and restoration initiatives in the Hula Valley, we set out to verify the extinction of the Hula water vole population using trap surveys, field sign surveys, and owl pellets’ content. Having confirmed its recent extirpation, we used museum and archaeological specimens to study the morphological and genetic similarity of the extirpated Hula water voles to both modern conspecifics in Eurasia and to local Pleistocene specimens. Our results suggest that the Hula population represented an admixture of extinct local Pleistocene and extant, probably European, ancestors. The recent anthropogenic extirpation of this unique population could justify its reintroduction. Species distribution modelling, however, suggests future deterioration of habitat suitability over the coming decades. This calls for careful consideration of how sustainable a reintroduction would be.
An innovative image encryption algorithm enhanced with the Pan-Tompkins Algorithm for optimal security
Authors: İhsan Ayşegül , Doğan Nurettin
Published: March 2024

This study introduces a cutting-edge image encryption algorithm aimed at elevating security standards. The Pan-Tompkins Algorithm (PTA) for key generation is proposed for the first time in this study. Additionally, employing steganography through the Least Significant Bit (LSB) method for embedding keys within the encrypted image enhances secure key distribution, thereby fortifying the encryption process. On the other hand, the integration of advanced algorithms, such as Zigzag scanning, the Affine Image Encryption Algorithm (AA), and the Vigenere Image Encryption Algorithm (VA), constitutes the fundamental innovation of the proposed image encryption algorithm. The proposed algorithm is named PanAAVA:Affine Algorithm and Vigenere Algorithm Encryption with PTA-Based Key Generation. The PanAAVA algorithm ensures unparalleled security by encrypting the positions and values of pixels using AA and VA. Notably, using PTA for key generation marks a distinctive and new key generation method feature of the algorithm. To assess the effectiveness of the PanAAVA, a comprehensive comparative analysis is conducted against well-established encryption methodologies, including Lena, Baboon, Airplane, and Pepper.

The PanAAVA demonstrates exceptional proficiency in histogram analysis. The PanAAVA demonstrates a Unified Average Changing Intensity (UACI) of 33.4044%. Additionally, the Number of Pixels Change Rate (NPCR) is measured at 99.7442%, showcasing the algorithm’s effectiveness in inducing significant pixel changes. The proposed algorithm’s Mean Square Error (MSE) is calculated at 3.20679E5%. The proposed algorithm’s Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR) is recorded at 9.512475. The Key Space Size of the proposed algorithm is measured at 2209. Regarding correlation analysis, the PanAAVA achieves a high correlation score of 7.9996. The proposed algorithm successfully passes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) analysis, demonstrating a remarkably strong correlation close to 0 and a Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) of 0.9977. Furthermore, regarding quantum communication, the proposed algorithm maintains stable key rates of 47.5 ± 0.8 kHz during the day and 50.9 ± 0.7 kHz at night. Additionally, PanAAVA achieves low Quantum Bit Error Rate (QBER) values of 4.77 ± 0.02, ensuring reliable and secure communication. The PanAAVA also demonstrates robust asymmetries at 49.81 ± 0.02 and 50.14 ± 0.03 for a crystal length of 20 mm. highlighting PanAAVA’s adaptability and effectiveness in different scenarios. PanAAVA outperforms other encryption algorithms concerning performance measurements and comparisons. In conclusion, the PanAAVA emerges as a beacon of superior security capabilities and innovation in image encryption, showcasing the potential to redefine standards in the field.
A New Optimization Model for MLP Hyperparameter Tuning: Modeling and Resolution by Real-Coded Genetic Algorithm
Authors: El-Hassani Fatima Zahrae , Amri Meryem , Joudar Nour-Eddine , Haddouch Khalid
Published: March 2024

This paper introduces an efficient real-coded genetic algorithm (RCGA) evolved for constrained real-parameter optimization. This novel RCGA incorporates three specially crafted evolutionary operators: Tournament Selection (RS) with elitism, Simulated Binary Crossover (SBX), and Polynomial Mutation (PM). The application of this RCGA is directed toward optimizing the MLPRGA+5 model. This model is designed to configure Multilayer Perceptron neural networks by optimizing both their architecture and associated hyperparameters, including learning rates, activation functions, and regularization hyperparameters. The objective function employed is the widely recognized learning loss function, commonly used for training neural networks. The integration of this objective function is supported by the introduction of new variables representing MLP hyperparameter values. Additionally, a set of constraints is thoughtfully designed to align with the structure of the Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and its corresponding hyperparameters. The practicality and effectiveness of the MLPRGA+5 approach are demonstrated through extensive experimentation applied to four datasets from the UCI machine learning repository. The results highlight the remarkable performance of MLPRGA+5, characterized by both complexity reduction and accuracy improvement.
Habitually breaking habits: Agency, awareness, and decision-making in musical improvisation
Authors: Bergamin Joshua A.
Published: March 2024

In this paper, I explore the question of agency in spontaneous action via a phenomenology of musical improvisation, drawing on fieldwork conducted with large contemporary improvising ensembles. I argue that musical improvisation is a form of ‘participatory sense-making’ in which musical decisions unfold via a feedback process with the evolving musical situation itself. I describe how musicians’ technical expertise is developed alongside a responsive expertise, and how these capacities complicate the sense in which habitual action can be viewed as pre-conscious or ‘automatic.’ Nevertheless, I shall argue that the self-awareness required for expert improvisation does not amount to highly reflective deliberation, arguing instead that the practice of musical improvisation involves an exercise of practical rationality, akin to what Aristotle called phronēsis. Musical decisions – as an expressive form of sense-making – are guided by feelings of ‘rightness’ that are experienced directly and intuitively, responding to the norms and reasons that are embedded in the instruments, sounds, and practices of a particular (sub)culture..
Socio-economic baseline for oil-impacted communities in Ogoniland: towards a restoration framework in Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Sam Kabari , Zabbey Nenibarini , Vincent-Akpu Ijeoma Favour , Komi Gentle , Onyagbodor Peter Oghogho , Babatunde Bolaji Bernard
Published: March 2024

This study documents the socio-economic baselines in selected oil-impacted communities prior to the commencement of the Ogoni clean-up and restoration project. Adopting mixed approach consisting of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and household surveys, we surveyed the pre-remediation socio-economic conditions in the Ogoniland communities between July 2018 and March 2019. Results indicated that almost all respondents (99.6%) agreed that the smell of petroleum products or crude oil was evident in the air they breathed even as there were visible black particles (soot) in the respondents’ nostrils, on their clothes, and in water. The respondents described the ambient air as smoky and choked with an offensive smell. The household waters were smelly, brownish, or oily, and most respondents (76%) cannot afford to treat their water. Forty-two percent of the respondents who relied on fishing and farming for a living sought for alternative means of subsistence and acknowledged that oil pollution caused stunted growth and low crop yield. The majority of respondents (91%) reported falling fish catches, while the fish caught smell and taste of oil, lowering their market value and posing a potential health risk to consumers. It is evident that oil pollution has impacted the socio-ecological values and sustainable livelihood in Ogoniland. This study provides baseline data for monitoring post-remediation socio-economic improvements in Ogoniland. It also highlights areas of urgent intervention to improve livelihood, and access to basic amenities (e.g., potable drinking water), waste management infrastructure, and statutory policy changes for sustainable development in Ogoniland.
Identifying Support Structures Associated with Informal Formative Evaluation in Instructional Design
Authors: Smith Suzanne , Luo Tian
Published: March 2024

Instructional designers perform informal formative evaluation in design practice. An evaluation may be used to locate errors in alignment of instructional objectives or to increase the quality or effectiveness of a design. An instructional design review is similar to peer reviews in higher education which are often structured, and tools are provided to contribute to the review. A study was performed to identify the support structures and tools that contribute to building a community of feedback within the practice of instructional design reviews. Six instructional designers and design managers were interviewed to gather the processes they use in design reviews and to understand their perceptions of the practice. There was an alignment between manager support and an environment that promotes a supportive review. The designers described a “culture of feedback” when there was structure and there were supports provided for reviews.
Test-time augmentation with synthetic data addresses distribution shifts in spectral imaging
Authors: Qasim Ahmad Bin , Motta Alessandro , Studier-Fischer Alexander , Sellner Jan , Ayala Leonardo , Hübner Marco , Bressan Marc , Özdemir Berkin , Kowalewski Karl Friedrich , Nickel Felix , Seidlitz Silvia , Maier-Hein Lena
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Surgical scene segmentation is crucial for providing context-aware surgical assistance. Recent studies highlight the significant advantages of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) over traditional RGB data in enhancing segmentation performance. Nevertheless, the current hyperspectral imaging (HSI) datasets remain limited and do not capture the full range of tissue variations encountered clinically.

Methods

Based on a total of 615 hyperspectral images from a total of 16 pigs, featuring porcine organs in different perfusion states, we carry out an exploration of distribution shifts in spectral imaging caused by perfusion alterations. We further introduce a novel strategy to mitigate such distribution shifts, utilizing synthetic data for test-time augmentation.

Results

The effect of perfusion changes on state-of-the-art (SOA) segmentation networks depended on the organ and the specific perfusion alteration induced. In the case of the kidney, we observed a performance decline of up to 93% when applying a state-of-the-art (SOA) network under ischemic conditions. Our method improved on the state-of-the-art (SOA) by up to 4.6 times.

Conclusion

Given its potential wide-ranging relevance to diverse pathologies, our approach may serve as a pivotal tool to enhance neural network generalization within the realm of spectral imaging.
Metallurgical and Mechanical Properties of Friction Stir-Welded Pure Titanium
Authors: Regev Michael , Spigarelli Stefano
Published: March 2024

Commercially pure titanium (CP-Ti) plates were friction stir welded (FSWed) using a welding tool with a tungsten carbide (WC) pin. The bead-on-plate technique was applied to reduce the effects of welding defects, such as incomplete penetration. Whereas many papers have reported on creep studies of CP-Ti as well as on FSW of CP-Ti, no paper has investigated the creep behavior of a CP-Ti FSW’ed joint. Consequently, the current study focuses on this topic. The current paper, which is part of a broader research project, focuses on the metallurgical processes occurring during the creep of a FSW’ed CP-Ti joint at the temperature range of 550-650 °C. Based on the current study and previous results obtained by the authors, it can be concluded that the weld is not the weakest link. In every case, necking and creep fracture occurred in the parent material (PM), rather than either the thermomechanically affected zone (TMAZ) or the stir zone (SZ), indicating that both zones are more creep-resistant than the parent material. Fractography showed that the fracture surface was typical of creep fracture and that the fracture mechanism was microvoid coalescence and also ruled out any preexisting defect. TEM study of broken crept specimens revealed randomly distributed dislocations but no evidence of grain refinement, hence leading to the conclusion that dislocation glide was the dominant creep mechanism. The technological implication of the current study is that the welding process is safe for use as far as its creep properties are concerned.
Adoption and performance outcome of digitalization in small and medium-sized enterprises
Authors: Kallmuenzer Andreas , Mikhaylov Alexey , Chelaru Mihaela , Czakon Wojciech
Published: March 2024

Digital transformation has a profound impact on businesses and various implications for firms. While some effectively navigate this digital shift, harnessing the benefits of modern technologies, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggle to seize the opportunities presented by this transformative process, despite its unprecedented potential. Decision-makers within SMEs often grapple with uncertainty surrounding the digitalization process, leading to hesitancy in embracing available technologies. This qualitative study endeavors to address this challenge by exploring the enablers and barriers of digitalization adoption within SMEs, while also assessing its impact on performance. In-depth interviews were conducted with SME managers, with the results revealing that several factors simplify the process of digitization in SMEs, including the appropriate technologies, and a workforce equipped with the right digital skills to use them. Conversely, we identified elements that pose barriers to digitalization, such as the risk-averse culture prevalent in many SMEs, and their reliance on outdated legacy systems. In summary, our research underscores the importance of a strategic interplay of these elements for effective digitization within SMEs. This study sheds light on the intricacies of the digitalization process, while also providing valuable insights into the factors influencing its adoption and the resulting performance outcomes in the SME context.
Dynamic relationship between green bonds, energy prices, geopolitical risk, and disaggregated level CO2 emissions: evidence from the globe by novel WLMC approach
Authors: Kartal Mustafa Tevfik , Taşkın Dilvin , Kılıç Depren Serpil
Published: March 2024

This research analyzes the dynamic relationship between green bonds, energy prices, geopolitical risk, and CO2 emissions. In doing so, the study examines the global scale at disaggregated (i.e., sectoral) level, applies a novel time and frequency-based approach (i.e., wavelet local multiple correlation-WLMC), and uses high-frequency daily data between 1st January 2020 and 28th April 2023. In doing so, the study considers the potential differences among sectors. So, aggregated and disaggregated level CO2 emissions on sectoral bases are investigated. Hence, the study comprehensively uncovers the effect of the aforementioned indicators on global CO2 emissions. The results reveal that on CO2 emissions (i) the most influential factor is the geopolitical risk (2020/1–2021/5), green bonds (2021/5–2021/7), energy prices (2021/7–2023/1), and green bonds (2023/1–2023/4); (ii) the effects of the influential factors are much weaker (stronger) at lower (higher) frequencies; (iii) the effect of the influential factors change based on times and frequencies; (iv) however, the effects of the influential factors on CO2 emissions do not differ at aggregated or disaggregated levels. Overall, the results present novel insights for time and frequency-varying effects as well as both aggregated and disaggregated level analyses of global CO2 emissions.
How Police Officers Experience Suspect Interviews: Beliefs and Practices in the Belgian Interview Room
Authors: Schell-Leugers Jennifer Maria , Vanderhallen Miet , Bogaard Glynis , Maegherman Enide , Jung Lara Gil , Nieuwkamp Veerle , Kassin Saul M.
Published: March 2024

The current study focuses on the beliefs and practices of Belgian police officers (N = 177) concerning suspect interviews. Enhancing and safeguarding the quality of suspect interviews can prevent miscarriages of justice, and a comprehensive understanding of the process is crucial. While prior research has explored suspects’ perspectives on this issue, there has been no comprehensive study on European police officers’ beliefs and practices. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the attitudes of Belgian officers in two studies. Study 1 included Flemish-speaking police officers (N = 130), and Study 2 included French and German-speaking officers (N = 47). Using a self-report survey, officers were questioned about the duration, frequency, and recording of suspect interviews, suspects’ use of legal rights, deception detection ability, (false) confession rates, and the use of various interviewing techniques. The findings suggest a positive shift in the Belgian approach to suspect interviewing, with more adherence to guidelines for minimizing false confessions. However, some officers still reported using accusatorial tactics, indicating that interviewing training in Belgium could benefit from more uniformity. By understanding the beliefs and practices of police officers, we can work towards developing effective interviewing techniques that protect the rights of suspects and promote justice.
Design, Synthesis, Characterization, and Antimicrobial Properties of New Azo Disperse Dyes Incorporating Quinazolinone-Pyrazolone Moieties and Their Applications for Dyeing of Polyester Fabrics
Authors: Ibrahim Seham A. , Selim Adel I. , Sakr Asmaa M. , Mahmoud Safia A. , Noser Ahmed A.
Published: March 2024

The current study outlines a straightforward and efficient method for creating new quinazolinone disperse dyes based on pyrazolone moieties, starting with quinazolinone and a variety of substituted pyrazolone as couplers. The synthesized dyes were characterized using a variety of spectroscopic and analytical methods. The synthesized dyes' ultraviolet–visible spectra showed bands brought on by several molecular transitions. We investigated in detail the multifunctional characteristics such color representation, dyeing duration, concentration, pH, buildup, and fastness properties of the dyed samples. Fastness properties and colorimetric data showed satisfactory results, demonstrating the effectiveness of these dyes in dyeing polyester fabrics. A pH of 5 and a dyeing temperature of 130 °C were the ideal conditions for dyeing polyester fabrics. Additionally, an ultraviolet protection factor test was performed on the dyed fabrics, and the results showed that these dyes provide the best UV protection. These dyes are suitable for industrial dyeing applications since they are easy to manufacture and scale up. Additionally, in-vitro testing was done to determine the dyes' antibacterial effectiveness against various bacteria and fungi. The antibacterial activity of the dyes was moderate to very good against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi.
Does household’s food and nutrient acquisition capacity predict linear growth in children? Analysis of longitudinal data from rural and small towns in Ethiopia
Authors: Mekonnen Daniel Ayalew
Published: March 2024

Nutritious foods are unaffordable to the majority of households in lower-income countries. Hence, starchy staples tend to be the main source of diets for men, women, and children, implying poor diet quality and deficiency in key nutrients that are crucial for child’s physical growth and cognitive development. Much of existing studies on child linear growth or stunting examined the impact of current dietary consumption on physical growth even though the effect of diets and nutrition would only be observed with time lag. This study examined the associations between sustained consumption of animal sourced foods (ASFs) and adequate nutrient intakes (measured by the mean nutrient adequacy (MPA)) and linear growth differences among children in rural and small towns in Ethiopia. Using nationally representative longitudinal data, results of fixed effects estimations suggested that a standard deviation increase in the household MPA was associated with a 10–11% increase in the height-for-age z-score; and a 10% increase in the household MPA was associated with a 3.2 – 5.6% reduction in stunting rate in children 6–59 months of age. Results also indicated some associations between past ASFs consumption and current linear growth outcomes in younger children. The gap in the household MPA was over 41%, indicating the need for nutrient-dense ASFs in the household diets despite the sustainability concerns around ASFs. Key implication is that policies and interventions aimed at improving linear growth outcomes of children in rural and small towns in Ethiopia should improve household’s access to ASFs and nutrient acquisition capacity.
Production of Medium Chain Length Polyhydroxyalkanoate from Waste Cannabis sativa Biomass
Authors: Pérez Aguilar Juan Alejandro , Franco Jaime Martin , Otero Iván Darío , Benítez Benítez Ricardo
Published: March 2024

This works aims to evaluate a process to convert residual medical Cannabis sativa stalks into medium chain length polyhydroxyalkanoate (mcl-PHA), using chemical pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis to obtain sugars as a carbon source for a fermentation process with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Chemical composition analysis revealed a content of structural polysaccharides of 57.64%. Thermochemical pretreatments with 2% sulfuric acid or 2% sodium hydroxide were capable of partially removing hemicellulose and lignin, as well as increasing cellulose crystallinity. Pretreated biomass was subjected to hydrolysis using commercial cellulase cocktails Celluclast® 1.5 L and Cellic® CTec3. Acid pretreatment showed an adverse effect on hydrolysis yield of holocellulose, decreasing to 39.5%; compared to 44.4% of untreated biomass. Alkaline pretreatment increased degree of hydrolysis up to 73.3%. Shake flask fermentation of hydrolysate with Pseudomonas aeruginosa produced cell growth of 1.65 g/L and a mcl-PHA titer of 0.41 g/L. Extracted polymer presented characteristic FTIR bands for PHAs, glass transition temperature of − 50.8 °C, melting temperature of 48.9 °C, possibly allowing its use in the biomedical industry. The developed process represents a potential way to valorize Cannabis waste stalks, using alkaline pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis with Celluclast® 1.5 L and fermentation with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Further work should focus on improving yield of the obtained polyhydroxyalkanoate in fermentation, in order to improve industrial feasibility of the entire process and, in turn, increasing revenue of the medical Cannabis industry.

Graphical Abstract
Plant compartment niche is more important in structuring the fungal community associated with alpine herbs in the subnival belt of the Qiangyong glacier than plant species
Authors: Sonam Wangchen , Liu Yongqin
Published: March 2024

The plant compartment niche (i.e., the host plant provides various microhabitats for the microbial community, such as the rhizosphere, root endosphere, leaf endosphere, and phylloplane) and plant species play a significant role in shaping the plant-associated microbial community assembly. However, in the mycobiome associated with alpine herbs in the subnival belt research, little work has been done to assess the contribution of plant compartment niches and plant species to fungal community variation and to reveal the plant compartment niche differentiation of fungal communities. In this study, we quantified the fungal communities associated with the rhizosphere soil, root endospheres, and leaf endospheres of three alpine herbs (Rheum spiciforme, Eriophyton wallichii, and Rhodiola bupleuroides) in the subnival belt of the Qiangyong glacier using high-throughput DNA sequencing. Our results revealed that the variation in diversity and composition of the fungal community was predominantly shaped by plant compartment niche rather than plant species. Rhizosphere soil exhibited the highest level of fungal diversity and niche breadth, while the lowest level was observed in the leaf endosphere. The fungal community composition significantly differed across different plant compartment niches. Fungal co-occurrence networks of the root endosphere and leaf endosphere were more complex and showed higher centrality and connectedness than the rhizosphere soil. Moreover, we also found that the deterministic process governed the fungal community assembly, and the host plant exerts stronger selection pressure on the leaf endophytes in comparison with the root endophytes. The root endophytes are the primary potential contributors to the leaf endophytes, compared with the fungal community associated with rhizosphere soil. Further, the Pleosporaceae, Davidiellaceae, and Chaetomiaceae were significantly enriched and overlapped in two plant compartment niches (root endosphere and leaf endosphere). Collectively, this study reveals that the variation in the diversity and composition of fungal communities associated with three alpine herbs were primarily affected by plant compartment niches rather than plant species. Additionally, this study also reveals that the diversity, composition, co-occurrence pattern, and assembly process of fungal communities associated with three alpine herbs exhibited plant compartment niche differentiation. These results provide a novel insight into the community assembly and ecological interactions of fungal communities associated with plants in harsh environments.
Plant-associated bacteria and enzymes support Canavalia rosea growth in coastal hypersaline soils
Authors: Mbonambi Sithabile , Motsomane Nqobile , Ramdhani Syd , Pérez-Fernández María A. , Magadlela Anathi
Published: March 2024

Canavalia rosea is an extremophilic legume that grows in hypersaline and nutrient-deficient ecosystems. The extremophilic nature of C. rosea may be attributed to its ability to establish symbiotic associations with nutrient mineralizing and plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria housed in the nodules. This study examined legume-microbe symbiosis and plant nutrition of C. rosea growing in subtropical coastal zone in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Canavalia rosea adult plants of the same age from Westbrook, Scottburgh and Durban were collected for plant biomass and plant nutrition and root nodules were used for bacterial extraction and identification. Rhizosphere soils sampled from the three localities were used for bacterial extraction and identification, extracellular enzyme assays and soil characteristics (pH, nutrient concentrations, total cation, and exchange acidity). Westbrook, Scottburgh and Durban soils were nutrient-deficient with varying total cations, acid saturation and a pH range of 7.3–7.6. Soil nutrient mineralizing extracellular enzyme activities varied across study sites. The culturable bacterial strains isolated from the sampled soils belonged to the Pseudomonas, Pantoea and Flavobacterium genera. Canavalia rosea root nodules were nodulated by Pseudomonas guariconensis, Pseudomonas fulva, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas chlororaphis and Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aurantiaca. Plants growing in Westbrook soils had a significantly higher total plant biomass compared to Scottburgh and Durban plants. Plant P concentration did not vary significantly between sites while plant N and C concentrations varied significantly. Plant-associated and soil bacteria with phosphorus (P) solubilising, nitrogen (N) cycling, and N fixing functions and associated enzymes seem to facilitate the mobilization of nutrients enabling C. rosea to thrive in hypersaline and low-nutrient environments.
Bismuthene@ZnAlBi LDHs structure as a novel nanosorbent for efficient uptake of arsenic (V)
Authors: Hassan Saad S. M. , Mahmoud Mohamed E. , Tharwat Rana M. , Abdelfattah Amir M.
Published: March 2024

Two-dimensional bismuthene material is characterized with promising and superior optical, electrical and other characteristics. The application of 2D-bismuthene or its composites in water remediation of As(V) was not previously investigated. Consequently, embedded bismuthene into zinc aluminum bismuth-layered double hydroxide (ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene) was simply fabricated as a novel nanosorbent. Bismuthene (Biene) was prepared by bottom up hydrothermal reaction, while ZnAlBi LDHs was synthesized by a coprecipitation method followed by hydrothermal treatment process. Characterization of ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene referred to a crystalline mesoporous structure of globular particles with 5–8 nm. It was confirmed that the nanosorbent exterior surface is functionalized with metal oxides and metal oxyhydroxide, while exchangeable carbonate anion existed in the nanosorbent inner layer. Therefore, arsenate uptake was favored by both exterior electrostatic attraction and anion exchange processes. The highest uptake capacity of As(V) by ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene was detected at pH 3 and contact time 30 min providing 94.67% removal by using 5 mg L−1 As(V) concentration. The ionic strength factor proved a good selectivity of the nanosorbent toward As(V) ions. Thermodynamic behavior of interaction between As(V) and nanosorbent was emphasized as exothermic and spontaneous process, while the kinetic evaluation indicated that the pseudo-second order was the best-fitting expression. The application of ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene in the adsorptive uptake process of As(V) ions from various water samples referred to elevated uptake percentages as 93.29% and 90.52% by 5 mg L−1 and 10 mg L−1 As(V), respectively. The adsorbed As(V) onto ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene exhibited excellent recyclability and re-usage up to five cycles to affirm that the designed ZnAlBi LDHs-embedded-Biene has a great prospect for utilization in water purification from As(V).
Effect of radioprotective curtain length on the scattered dose rate distribution and endoscopist eye lens dose with an over-couch fluoroscopy system
Authors: Matsubara Kosuke , Nakajima Asuka , Hirosawa Ayaka , Yoshikawa Ryo , Ichikawa Nao , Fukushima Kotaro , Fukuda Atsushi
Published: March 2024

Sufficient dose reduction may not be achieved if radioprotective curtains are folded. This study aimed to evaluate the scattered dose rate distribution and physician eye lens dose at different curtain lengths. Using an over-couch fluoroscopy system, dH*(10)/dt was measured using a survey meter 150 cm from the floor at 29 positions in the examination room when the curtain lengths were 0% (no curtain), 50%, 75%, and 100%. The absorbed dose rates in the air at the positions of endoscopist and assistant were calculated using a Monte Carlo simulation by varying the curtain length from 0 to 100%. The air kerma was measured by 10 min fluoroscopy using optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters at the eye surfaces of the endoscopist phantom and the outside and inside of the radioprotective goggles. At curtain lengths of 50%, 75%, and 100%, the ratios of dH*(10)/dt relative to 0% ranged from 80.8 to 104.1%, 10.5 to 61.0%, and 11.8 to 24.8%, respectively. In the simulation, the absorbed dose rates at the endoscopist’s and assistant’s positions changed rapidly between 55 and 75% and 65% and 80% of the curtain length, respectively. At the 0%, 50%, 75%, and 100% curtain lengths, the air kerma at the left eye surface of the endoscopist phantom was 237 ± 29, 271 ± 30, 37.7 ± 7.5, and 33.5 ± 6.1 μGy, respectively. Therefore, a curtain length of 75% or greater is required to achieve a sufficient eye lens dose reduction effect at the position of the endoscopist.
Connecting ideals in evolution algebras with hereditary subsets of its associated graph
Authors: Casado Yolanda Cabrera , Barquero Dolores Martín , González Cándido Martín , Tocino Alicia
Published: March 2024

In this article, we introduce a relation including ideals of an evolution algebra A and hereditary subsets of vertices of its associated graph and establish some properties among them. This relation allows us to determine maximal ideals and ideals having the absorption property of an evolution algebra in terms of its associated graph. In particular, the maximal ideals can be determined through maximal hereditary subsets of vertices except for those containing $$A^2$$

A
2

. We also define a couple of order-preserving maps, one from the sets of ideals of an evolution algebra to that of hereditary subsets of the corresponding graph, and the other in the reverse direction. Conveniently restricted to the set of absorption ideals and to the set of hereditary saturated subsets, this is a monotone Galois connection. According to the graph, we characterize arbitrary dimensional finitely-generated (as algebras) evolution algebras under certain restrictions of its graph. Furthermore, the simplicity of finitely-generated perfect evolution algebras is described on the basis of the simplicity of the graph.
Amplitude-modulated EM side-channel attack on provably secure masked AES
Authors: Wang Huanyu
Published: March 2024

Recently a new type of side channels was discovered, called amplitude-modulated electromagnetic (EM) emanations from mixed-signal circuits. Unlike power analysis or near field EM analysis, attacks based on amplitude-modulated EM emanations do not require the close physical access to the victim device, which makes the attack particularly threatening. However, all existing amplitude-modulated EM attacks on AES focus on implementations of unprotected TinyAES, which is less likely to be used when the implementation is not overly resource constrained. This paper presents the first deep learning based side-channel attack on AES-128 with a Rivain–Prouff masking scheme by using amplitude-modulated EM emanations as the side channel. Rivian–Prouff masking scheme is a provably secure higher-order masking scheme for AES. To bypass the theoretical strength of the addition-chain based Boolean masked SBox, we train neural networks on trace segments corresponding to the MixColumns operation in which the data loading instructions for SBox output leak information. By comparing two different training strategies, we show that it is feasible to recover the key from an ARM Cortex-M4 CPU implementation of AES-128 with a Rivain–Prouff masking scheme by using the amplitude-modulated EM emanations leaked from the victim device, which has a Bluetooth module embedded on the board.
Harnessing the power of functionalized biochar: progress, challenges, and future perspectives in energy, water treatment, and environmental sustainability
Authors: Yameen Muhammad Zubair , Naqvi Salman Raza , Juchelková Dagmar , Khan Muhammad Nouman Aslam
Published: March 2024

The swift advancement of sustainable energy technologies, coupled with the urgent need to address environmental challenges, has generated considerable interest in the multifaceted applications of biochar materials to promote energy, water, and environmental sustainability. This comprehensive review examines recent advancements in the production and applications of functionalized biochar materials, emphasizing their pivotal roles in energy conversion and storage, wastewater treatment, CO2 reduction, soil amelioration, and the promotion of carbon neutrality within a circular economy framework. The functionalization of biochar materials involves surface chemistry and porosity modifications, achieved through techniques like templating, chemical activation, metal impregnation, or heteroatom doping. These modifications substantially enhance the catalytic activity, energy storage capacity, and cycling stability of biochar materials, making them particularly effective in diverse energy applications such as water splitting, fuel cells, and supercapacitors. Additionally, functionalized biochar materials demonstrate remarkable efficacy as catalysts and adsorbents in wastewater treatment, proficiently removing pollutants like heavy metals, organic contaminants, and nutrients, thereby facilitating resource recovery from wastewater. The review also underscores the potential of functionalized biochar materials in CO2 capture and conversion, exploring innovative strategies to augment their CO2 adsorption capacity and state-of-the-art catalytic processes for transforming captured CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals. In summary, this review offers valuable insights into the recent advancements in biochar research, underscoring its substantial commercial potential as a versatile material contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Article Highlights

The current status of biochar research is comprehensively reviewed.

The potential of biochar in energy, water, and environmental fields is critically examined.

Technology readiness levels (TRLs) of various biochar-based technologies are evaluated.

Graphical Abstract
Biochemical constituents and the role of African wild medlar (Vangueria infausta) in human nutrition: a review
Authors: Maluleke Mdungazi K. , Ralulimi Tanyani Sylvia , Machete Machete
Published: March 2024

This publication presents the biochemical components, the botanical characteristics, and the significance of African medlar to human nutrition and developments on the fruits’ uses in biotechnology and the food industry. African wild medlar (Vangueria infausta subsp infausta) is one of the multitudes of underutilised wild edible indigenous fruit trees that grows naturally throughout Southern Africa. Available literature shows that almost every part of the tree, have known nutritional or medicinal benefits. In-depth literature search using keywords (Vangueria infausta subsp infausta, African wild medlar, biochemical constituents, underutilised crops of Africa, human nutrition and recommended daily intake) was used to source credible literature accessible from online sources such as Scopus, ResearchGate, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Science Direct. The degree of relevance to each item linked to the review were used as an inclusion and exclusion criteria for suitable literature and for data analysis purposes. The results of the study reveal that fresh or processed African wild medlar fruit is consumable. The fruit contains significant levels of vitamins, phenols, macro and micro-nutrients, that humans require in both large and small amounts. Due to its richness in biochemical constituents such as flavonoids, phenols, proteins, vitamin C and zinc, African medlar fruit has a potential to meet the human recommended daily intake (RDI), thus can be considered a potential functional food crop. Rural communities in Southern Africa use African medlar fruit as a raw material for value-added products including jam, juice, alcohol-based products, and medication. Therefore, commercialization of this crop could play a pivotal role in accelerating the sustainable development goals SDG 1 (no poverty), subsequently addressing SDG 2 (Zero hunger). The study unearthed a need for further research, in particular empirical studies and highlights a great potential for government interest in entrepreneurial projects of commercialisation and agro-processing of African medlar fruit tree.
An Improved Fusion-Based Semantic Similarity Measure for Effective Collaborative Filtering Recommendations
Authors: Al-Hassan Malak , Abu-Salih Bilal , Alshdaifat Esra’a , Aloqaily Ahmad , Rodan Ali
Published: March 2024

Semantic-enhanced recommendation systems are promising approaches to overcome the sparsity and cold-start problems, which are hard to handle using the conventional collaborative filtering (CF) approaches. Further research is needed to effectively integrate ontologies into collaborative filtering recommender systems. This paper proposes an ontology-based semantic similarity measure to evaluate similarities between items and eventually generate accurate recommendations. The proposed semantic similarity measure termed fusion-based semantic similarity takes into account the semantics of ontological instances (i.e. items) inferred from a specific domain ontology, which is determined by analyzing the hierarchical relationships among the instances, as well as the features of the instances and their relationships to other instances. The new measure comprehensively captures the semantic knowledge associated with instances by exploiting all possible shared semantics between instances in a given domain ontology. Furthermore, this paper proposes a new semantic-enhanced hybrid recommendation approach as a result of combining the new semantic similarity measure with the standard item-based CF to enhance the quality of generated recommendations. In order to assess the effectiveness of our semantic-enhanced hybrid collaborative filtering method, a series of experiments were conducted to compare the performance of the proposed approach against well-established benchmark techniques. The reported experimental results consistently emphasize its superiority, demonstrating enhanced predictive abilities and a notable improvement in the quality of recommendations. More specifically, the proposed approach achieved notable 6% reduction in Mean Absolute Error (MAE) in certain cases, outperforming other benchmark techniques. Additionally, this study highlights the potential of using semantic-based similarity to enhance the performance of recommendation systems. Such enhancements address challenges within collaborative filtering, potentially leading to advancements in recommendation system design and optimization.
A bibliometric review of barriers to circular economy implementation in solid waste management
Authors: Akomea-Frimpong Isaac , Tetteh Portia Atswei , Ofori Joshua Nsiah Addo , Tumpa Roksana Jahan , Pariafsai Fatemeh , Tenakwah Emmanuel Senior , Asogwa Ikenna Elias , Vanapalli Kumar Raja , Adu-Gyamfi Gibbson , Kukah Augustine Senanu , Tenakwah Emmanuel Junior
Published: March 2024

Circular economy (CE) has attracted considerable attention from governments, policymakers, and societies due to its potential to promote sustainable development goals while shifting away from linear economy models. Despite a growing body of research conducted in the CE, the barriers to its successful implementation for solid waste management (SWM) remain less explored especially in context of municipal solid wastes, and commercial and industrial wastes. The purpose of this current study is to identify the critical barriers to circular economy implementation in SWM. The scientometric analysis of literature is the research methodology in this study. A total of 1709 journal articles were searched and retrieved from Scopus database for the data analysis. The results show that circular economy has not gained much root in solid waste management in the global south. Countries such as China, United States, Australia, Italy, and United Kingdom (UK) are the topmost countries to fund research in this research area. The commonly used keywords in scholarly literature on this topic include sustainability, reuse, waste management and recycle. Further, the major findings of the study were grouped into clusters relating to challenges on macroeconomic policies, recycling and reuse of waste, stakeholder management, operation, and legal regulations, generated solid wastewater treatment, and construction and demolition waste. The contributions of this research are twofold: a comprehensive list of relevant gaps for further studies are provided for the scientific community to delve into this matter and proffer solutions. The findings could serve as a guide to understand and develop best practice framework on circular economy and its implementation in the SWM.
The Attitude of Agnosticism
Authors: Archer Avery
Published: March 2024

We often describe ourselves as agnostic on a wide range of topics, such as does God exist, is String Theory true, or will the President win re-election? But what, precisely, does it mean to be agnostic? This monograph employs the tools and techniques of analytic philosophy to offer a broad account of what it means to be agnostic in both theological and non-theological contexts, and offers a critical discussion of the major descriptive accounts of agnosticism in the contemporary analytic philosophical literature. Unlike most other volumes on the subject, which approach the question from a theological point of view, this is the first book-length discussion of agnosticism from a purely philosophical, as opposed to theological, point of view. It serves as a natural starting-point for students and specialists in philosophy and anyone who is interested in the topic of agnosticism through the lens of analytic philosophy.
Polytopes and Graphs
Authors: Pineda Villavicencio Guillermo
Published: March 2024

This book introduces convex polytopes and their graphs, alongside the results and methodologies required to study them. It guides the reader from the basics to current research, presenting many open problems to facilitate the transition. The book includes results not previously found in other books, such as: the edge connectivity and linkedness of graphs of polytopes; the characterisation of their cycle space; the Minkowski decomposition of polytopes from the perspective of geometric graphs; Lei Xue's recent lower bound theorem on the number of faces of polytopes with a small number of vertices; and Gil Kalai's rigidity proof of the lower bound theorem for simplicial polytopes. This accessible introduction covers prerequisites from linear algebra, graph theory, and polytope theory. Each chapter concludes with exercises of varying difficulty, designed to help the reader engage with new concepts. These features make the book ideal for students and researchers new to the field.
Empowering Labor
Authors: Bogliaccini Juan A.
Published: March 2024

Empowering Labor uses a comparative study of Chile, Portugal, and Uruguay to analyze the underlying political dynamics that shape the use of wage policy as a pre-distributive instrument of leftist parties in power in unequal democracies. The book theorizes that the unity of the Left and labor's political legitimacy are two main drivers for relating on wage policy as a pre-distributive instrument for promoting inclusion. These factors are shaped by elite long-term strategies towards labor. Such strategies, when dominant for long-enough periods, create path dependency, shaping differential opportunities for further options down the road. The book integrates large-scale historical processes with frequently analyzed short-term and agency-based factors to elucidate variation in the crafting of wage policies and reshapes the debate on the politics of pre-distribution in unequal democracies by situating the cases in a longer historical arc.