bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Selective Inhibitor of Cardiac Troponin I Phosphorylation by Delta Protein Kinase C (δPKC) as a Treatment for Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Qvit Nir , Lin Amanda J. , Elezaby Aly , Ostberg Nicolai P. , Campos Juliane C. , Ferreira Julio C. B. , Mochly-Rosen Daria
Published: February 2022

Myocardial infarction is the leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, with myocardial injury occurring during ischemia and subsequent reperfusion (IR). We previously showed that the inhibition of protein kinase C delta (δPKC) with a pan-inhibitor (δV1-1) mitigates myocardial injury and improves mitochondrial function in animal models of IR, and in humans with acute myocardial infarction, when treated at the time of opening of the occluded blood vessel, at reperfusion. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a key sarcomeric protein in cardiomyocyte contraction, is phosphorylated by δPKC during reperfusion. Here, we describe a rationally-designed, selective, high-affinity, eight amino acid peptide that inhibits cTnI’s interaction with, and phosphorylation by, δPKC (ψTnI), and prevents tissue injury in a Langendorff model of myocardial infarction, ex vivo. Unexpectedly, we also found that this treatment attenuates IR-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. These data suggest that δPKC phosphorylation of cTnI is critical in IR injury, and that a cTnI/δPKC interaction inhibitor should be considered as a therapeutic target to reduce cardiac injury after myocardial infarction.
Evaluation of a Multifunctional Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Hyaluronic Acid-Based Bilayer Film Patch with Anti-Inflammatory Properties as an Enhancer of the Wound Healing Process
Authors: Contardi Marco , Summa Maria , Picone Pasquale , Brancato Ornella Roberta , Di Carlo Marta , Bertorelli Rosalia , Athanassiou Athanassia
Published: February 2022

The management of acute and chronic wounds is still a socioeconomic burden for society due to the lack of suitable tools capable of supporting all the healing phases. The exponential spread of diabetes worldwide and the consequent increase of complicated diabetic ulcers require further efforts to develop scalable, low-cost, and easy-to-use treatments for tackling this emergency. Recently, we explored the fabrication of a polyvinylpyrrolidone/hyaluronic acid-based bilayer wound dressing, characterizing its physicochemical features and detailing its excellent antimicrobial activity. Here, we further demonstrate its biocompatibility on fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and red blood cells. The bilayer shows anti-inflammatory properties, statistically reducing the level of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, and a capacity to accelerate wound healing in vitro and in healthy and diabetic mice models compared to untreated mice. The outcomes suggest that this bilayer material can be an effective tool for managing different skin injuries.
Emerging Concepts in Nuclear Structure Based on the Shell Model
Authors: Otsuka Takaharu
Published: February 2022

Some emerging concepts of nuclear structure are overviewed. (i) Background: the many-body quantum structure of atomic nucleus, a complex system comprising protons and neutrons (called nucleons collectively), has been studied largely based on the idea of the quantum liquid (à la Landau), where nucleons are quasiparticles moving in a (mean) potential well, with weak “residual” interactions between nucleons. The potential is rigid in general, although it can be anisotropic. While this view was a good starting point, it is time to look into kaleidoscopic aspects of the nuclear structure brought in by underlying dynamics and nuclear forces. (ii) Methods: exotic features as well as classical issues are investigated from fresh viewpoints based on the shell model and nucleon–nucleon interactions. The 70-year progress of the shell–model approach, including effective nucleon–nucleon interactions, enables us to do this. (iii) Results: we go beyond the picture of the solid potential well by activating the monopole interactions of the nuclear forces. This produces notable consequences in key features such as the shell/magic structure, the shape deformation, the dripline, etc. These consequences are understood with emerging concepts such as shell evolution (including type-II), T-plot, self-organization (for collective bands), triaxial-shape dominance, new dripline mechanism, etc. The resulting predictions and analyses agree with experiment. (iv) Conclusion: atomic nuclei are surprisingly richer objects than initially thought.
Comparative Phenotyping of Two Commonly Used Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Background Strains: CC-1690 (21gr) and CC-5325 (The CLiP Mutant Library Background)
Authors: Zhang Ningning , Pazouki Leila , Nguyen Huong , Jacobshagen Sigrid , Bigge Brae M. , Xia Ming , Mattoon Erin M. , Klebanovych Anastasiya , Sorkin Maria , Nusinow Dmitri A. , Avasthi Prachee , Czymmek Kirk J. , Zhang Ru
Published: February 2022

The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an excellent model organism to investigate many essential cellular processes in photosynthetic eukaryotes. Two commonly used background strains of Chlamydomonas are CC-1690 and CC-5325. CC-1690, also called 21gr, has been used for the Chlamydomonas genome project and several transcriptome analyses. CC-5325 is the background strain for the Chlamydomonas Library Project (CLiP). Photosynthetic performance in CC-5325 has not been evaluated in comparison with CC-1690. Additionally, CC-5325 is often considered to be cell-wall deficient, although detailed analysis is missing. The circadian rhythms in CC-5325 are also unclear. To fill these knowledge gaps and facilitate the use of the CLiP mutant library for various screens, we performed phenotypic comparisons between CC-1690 and CC-5325. Our results showed that CC-5325 grew faster heterotrophically in dark and equally well in mixotrophic liquid medium as compared to CC-1690. CC-5325 had lower photosynthetic efficiency and was more heat-sensitive than CC-1690. Furthermore, CC-5325 had an intact cell wall which had comparable integrity to that in CC-1690 but appeared to have reduced thickness. Additionally, CC-5325 could perform phototaxis, but could not maintain a sustained circadian rhythm of phototaxis as CC1690 did. Finally, in comparison to CC-1690, CC-5325 had longer cilia in the medium with acetate but slower swimming speed in the medium without nitrogen and acetate. Our results will be useful for researchers in the Chlamydomonas community to choose suitable background strains for mutant analysis and employ the CLiP mutant library for genome-wide mutant screens under appropriate conditions, especially in the areas of photosynthesis, thermotolerance, cell wall, and circadian rhythms.
Understanding the Postharvest Phytochemical Composition Fates of Packaged Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) Grown in a Floating System and Treated with Bacillus subtilis as PGPR
Authors: Pignata Giuseppe , Ertani Andrea , Casale Manuela , Niñirola Diana , Egea-Gilabert Catalina , Fernández Juan A. , Nicola Silvana
Published: February 2022

The physiological changes and phytochemical pathways of processed watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. Br.) undergone during storage are not well known. The objective of this work was to evaluate the respiration rate and the inherent and external quality of watercress inoculated with B. subtilis and packaged as a fresh-cut product and stored at 4 °C for 11 days. Watercress was grown using continuous flotation (FL) in a greenhouse using substrate disinfection and inoculated or not with Bacillus subtilis as a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The fresh-cut watercress respiration rate and phytochemical profile changed during the shelf life. The inherent phytochemical compounds were retained during the storage of the fresh-cut salad bags. The best results were found in watercress grown in a disinfected substrate but were less satisfactory when seeds and substrates were inoculated with PGPR. In general, the external quality and the pigment contents progressively decreased during the shelf life and the browning enzyme activities responsible for phenolic oxidation increased at different intensities throughout storage. At the end of the shelf-life period, the fresh weight loss of the fresh-cut product was less than 1% of the original weight. The results demonstrated that watercress grown in FL is a standardised baby leaf vegetable that is suitable for processing in the fresh-cut industry and for storing for more than 10 days. Unclear results were obtained for Bacillus subtilis in the postharvest period due to the inconsistent responses of the different analysed parameters.
Optimization of Different Acid-Catalyzed Pretreatments on Co-Production of Xylooligosaccharides and Glucose from Sorghum Stalk
Authors: Yang Xiaocui , Liu Xiaoliu , Sheng Yequan , Yang Hanzhou , Xu Xinshuai , Tao Yuheng , Zhang Minglong
Published: February 2022

There is an increasing emphasis on the transformation of lignocellulosic biomass into versatile products. The feasibility of preparing xylooligosaccharides (XOS) by hydrolysis of sorghum stalk (SS) using organic and inorganic acids was studied. The influences of different acids (gluconic acid, acetic acid, sulfuric acid, and oxalic acid), process time and temperature on the hydrolysis of SS were explored. The findings indicated XOS yield can be maintained at a high level under different conditions with organic acid pretreatments. Optimum yield of XOS (39.4%) was obtained using sulfuric acid (pH 2.2) at 170 °C and 75 min of process time. It is suggested when reaction temperature and time were increased, both X5 and X6 are cracked into XOS with lower molecular mass such as X2, X3, and X4. Moreover, the results based on mass balance showed that up to 110 g (XOS) plus 117 g (glucose) can be recovered from 1000 g of SS. Results will give insights into establishing an efficient acid pretreatment of sorghum stalk to coproduction of XOS and glucose.
Tactile Sensing Using Magnetic Foam
Authors: Diguet Gildas , Froemel Joerg , Muroyama Masanori , Ohtaka Koichi
Published: February 2022

For biomedical applications, smart materials that are used as sensors or actuators have to match some criteria, especially bio-compatibility and softness. Smart polymers are candidates that fulfill these two criteria. A sensitivity to compression is created by adding magnetic particles to a compressible foam polymer. A foam-based composite is fabricated for its small Poisson’s ratio, which enables significant compression, up to 50%. This large compression induces a change in its magnetic properties, which can be detected using coils. By setting the sensing coils as a compact array of 3 × 3, the sensor successfully detected and localized an applied deformation.
Lightweight Polyethylene/Hexagonal Boron Nitride Hybrid Thermal Conductor Fabricated by Melt Compounding Plus Salt Leaching
Authors: Pi He-Jie , Liu Xiao-Xiao , Liao Jian-Yu , Zhou Yue-Yun , Meng Cong
Published: February 2022

Application of porous polymeric materials is severely limited by their ultralow thermal conductivities. Herein, by promoting the formation of thermal conduction pathways, we fabricated open-cellular structured polyethylene/hexagonal boron nitride hybrid thermal conductors via melt compounding plus salt leaching. The structural analyses indicate that the inclusion of hBN can enhance the open-cell level of resultant materials. X-ray diffractions confirm the high in-plane alignments of hBN in each sample. Consequently, the test results evidence the superior thermal conductivities of our samples, and the thermal conductivities of each sample are characterized as functions of hBN loadings. Ultimately, our advanced porous thermal conductor with a low hBN loading of 3.1 vol% exhibits a high specific thermal conductivity of 0.75 (W/mk)/(g/cm3), which is 82.9% higher than virgin PE and far higher than bulk PE/hBN composites. Our work also intends to reveal the architectural advantages of open-cellular, as compared with the close-one, in fabricating porous materials with highly interconnected fillers.
Effects of Steam Heat and Dry Heat Sterilization Processes on 3D Printed Commercial Polymers Printed by Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Fuentes Jorge Mauricio , Arrieta Marina Patricia , Boronat Teodomiro , Ferrándiz Santiago
Published: February 2022

Fused deposition modeling (FDM), the most widely used additive manufacturing (AM) technology, is gaining considerable interest in the surgical sector for the production of single-use surgical devices that can be tailor-made according to specific requirements (e.g., type of patient surgery, specific shapes, etc.) due to its low cost, ease of access to materials (3D-printing filament), and the relatively low complexity. However, surgical 3D-printing parts should resist sterilization treatments without losing structural, mechanical, and dimensional accuracy. Thus, in this work, 3D-filaments based on poly(lactic acid) (PLA), poly(ethylene glycol-co-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol terephthalate) (PETG), and a modified PETG material (CPE) were used to produce 3D-printed parts and further subjected to moist heat (MH) and dry heat (DH) sterilization processes as affordable and widely used sterilization processes in the medical field. The effect of MH and DH was evaluated by performing a complete mechanical, structural, thermal, and morphological characterization before and after both treatments. In general, the moist heat treatment produced a higher degradation of the polymeric matrix of PETG and CPE due to hydrolytic and thermal degradation, particularly affecting the tensile test and flexural properties. For instance, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion (LCTE) before glass transition temperature (Tg) increased 47% and 31% in PETG samples due to the MH and DH, respectively, while it increased 31% in CPE due to MH and was mainly maintained after the DH process. Nevertheless, in PLA, the MH produced an increase of 20% in LCTE value and the DH showed an increase of 33%. Dry heat treatment resulted in being more suitable for medical applications in which dimensional accuracy is not a key factor and there are no great mechanical demands (e.g., surgical guides).
One-Pot Method to Synthesize Silver Nanoparticle-Modified Bamboo-Based Carbon Aerogels for Formaldehyde Removal
Authors: Jing Wenxiang , Yang Chai , Luo Shuang , Lin Xiaoyan , Tang Min , Zheng Renhong , Lian Dongming , Luo Xuegang
Published: February 2022

The present study demonstrated a freeze-drying-carbonization method to synthesize silver nanoparticle-modified bamboo-based carbon aerogels to remove formaldehyde. The bamboo-based carbon aerogel (BCA) has the advantages of controllable pore size and rich oxygen-containing groups, which can provide a good foundation for surface modification. BCA can greatly enhance the purification of formaldehyde by loading silver nanoparticles. The maximum adsorption capacity of 5% Ag/BCA for formaldehyde reached 42 mg/g under 25 ppm formaldehyde concentration, which is 5.25 times more than that of BCA. The relevant data were fitted by the Langmuir model and the pseudo 2nd-order model and good results were obtained, indicating that chemical absorption occurred between the carbonyl of formaldehyde and the hydroxyl of BCA. Therefore, silver nanoparticle-modified bamboo-based carbon aerogels play a positive role in the selective removal of formaldehyde. Silver nanoparticles promoted the activation of oxygen and strengthened the effect of BCA on HCHO adsorption.
Investigations on the Morphological, Mechanical, Ablative, Physical, Thermal, and Electrical Properties of EPDM-Based Composites for the Exploration of Enhanced Thermal Insulation Potential
Authors: Arshad Nasima , Qasim Ghulam , Beagan Abeer M.
Published: February 2022

The most widely used filler in EPDM-based thermal insulation materials is asbestos which is hazardous to health and environment. The main motivation of this study was to develop improved EPDM-based materials by partially or completely replacing asbestos with other fillers. EPDM-Esprene501A and EPDM-Keltan®4869DE were used and the effect of three fillers (vulkasil-C, asbestos, carbon fiber fabric) on mechanical, ablative, physical, thermal, and electrical performances have been investigated. Samples were divided into phase -1, -2, and -3 by compounding EPDM with various percentages of fillers and other necessary ingredients. It was observed that asbestos and carbon fiber in the absence of vulkasil-C did not import enough reinforcement to EPDM-matrix. Experimental evidence showed that presence of vulkasil-C has not only enhanced mechanical properties but also improved thermal and ablation performance of EPDM-based composites. The swelling index was found comparatively lower with vulkasil-C than that with other fillers. Among two EPDMs, EPDM-Esprene based composites have shown comparatively better performance. Among all (phase-1–3) samples, E100K0VA (phase-2) has shown greater mechanical (stress 3.89 MPa; strain 774%), ablative (linear 0.1 mm/s; mass 0.05 g/s), and thermal (material left 91.0%) properties. Overall findings indicated improved properties of EPDM in the presence of vulkasil-C and may help to develop better heat resistant materials.
Development of a Multifunctional Wet Laid Nonwoven from Marine Waste Posidonia oceanica Technical Fiber and CMC Binder
Authors: Zannen Saoussen , Halimi Mohamed Taher , Hassen Mohamed Ben , Abualsauod Emad Hashim , Othman Asem Majed
Published: February 2022

A Posidonia oceanica waste marine plant was used to produce a wet-laid nonwoven web for multifunction applications. To study the effect of some parameters related to the web characteristics (sheet weight, binder ratio, and pulp ratio) on the mechanical and physical properties of the web, we used a Box–Behnken design plan with three levels. The diagram of the superposed contours graphic method was used to find the optimum parameters of the process for the application of the Posidonia nonwoven fiber on an insulation field. With the measurement of the thermal conductivity properties using the box method, the results demonstrated that the nonwoven fiber from Posidonia oceanica marine waste had good insulation properties in comparison with other classical natural fibers (hemp, flax) used in the field of insulation with the big advantage of being a natural product.
Study on an Oscillating Water Column Wave Power Converter Installed in an Offshore Jacket Foundation for Wind-Turbine System Part II: Experimental Test on the Converting Efficiency
Authors: Lee Hsien Hua , Wen Chen-Yen , Chen Guan-Fu
Published: February 2022

This study is an experimental study corresponding to an analytical study presented previously, where a scaled-down model was built and tested in a water tank by following the size and shape of the structure applied in the analytical study. In this study, a wave energy converter of an oscillating water column (OWC) system is integrated with the infrastructure of a jacket-type offshore platform applied to an offshore wind turbine system. The purpose is to conduct a combination system through the simultaneous utilization of both wind power and wave power so that sustainable energy can be maximized. During the analytical study’s analysis, the airflow response and the converting efficiency of wave energy from an OWC system integrated with an offshore template structural system were evaluated. By following the analytical study’s analysis, the performance of all the systems is tested, including the airflow velocity, pneumatic power, and the converting efficiency of the power from waves. The experimental data are analyzed and discussed in terms of the variations of the OWC system’s geometrical parameters. The parameters under consideration include the exhale orifice-area of airflow, gate-openings of inflow water, and the submerged chamber depth. It is found from the experimental results that, through the comparison between the experimental data and the analytical results, the results of the analytical study’s analysis are countable, and an open sea OWC system can be successfully applied to the template structure of offshore wind power infrastructure as a secondary generating system for the multi-purpose utilization of the structure.
Amine-Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Adsorbent for CO2 Capture in Confined-Fluidized Bed: Study of the Breakthrough Adsorption Curves as a Function of Several Operating Variables
Authors: Girimonte Rossella , Testa Flaviano , Turano Maria , Leone Giuseppe , Gallo Marta , Golemme Giovanni
Published: February 2022

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is one of the key promising technologies that can reduce GHG emissions from those industries that generate CO2 as part of their production processes. Compared to other effective CO2 capture methods, the adsorption technique offers the possibility of reducing the costs of the process by setting solid sorbent with a high capacity of adsorption and easy regeneration and, also, controlling the performance of gas-solid contactor. In this work, an amine-functionalized mesoporous sorbent was used to capture CO2 emissions in a confined-fluidized bed. The adoption of a confined environment allows the establishment of a homogeneous expansion regime for the sorbent and allows to improve the exchange of matter and heat between gas and solid phase. The results illustrate how the different concentration of the solution adopted during the functionalization affects the adsorption capacity. That, measured as mg of CO2 per g of sorbent, was determined by breakthrough curves from continuous adsorption tests using different concentrations of CO2 in air. Mesoporous silica functionalized with a concentration of 20% of APTES proves to be the best viable option in terms of cost and ease of preparation, low temperature of regeneration, and effective use for CO2 capture.
Novel Green Approaches for the Preparation of Gold Nanoparticles and Their Promising Potential in Oncology
Authors: Bhattacharya Tanima , Das Debashrita , Borges e Soares Giselle A. , Chakrabarti Prasun , Ai Zhaoquan , Chopra Hitesh , Hasan Madalin Alexandru , Cavalu Simona
Published: February 2022

The difficulty of achieving targeted drug delivery following administration of currently marketed anticancer therapeutics is a still a concern. Metallic nanoparticles (NPs) developed through nanotechnology breakthroughs appear to be promising in this regard. Research studies pertaining to gold NPs have indicated their promising applicability in cancer diagnosis, drug delivery and therapy. These NPs have also recently paved the path for precise drug delivery and site-specific targeting. Our review paper thus highlights the scope and impact of biogenetically generated gold nanoparticles (NPs) in cancer therapy. In a critical, constructive, and methodical manner, we compare the advantages offered by gold NPs over other metal NPs. Moreover, we also focus on novel ‘greener’ strategies that have been recently explored for the preparation of gold NPs and shed light on the disadvantages of conventional NP synthesis routes. Future prospects pertaining to the use of gold NPs in oncotherapy and domains that require further investigation are also addressed.
Influence of Sparger Type on Mass Transfer in a Pilot-Scale Internal Loop Airlift Reactor
Authors: Wang Zongliang , Guo Hongshan , Zhou Tong , Cheng Zhenmin , Huang Zibin
Published: February 2022

In a pilot-scale internal loop airlift reactor with a height of 5.5 m and a main column diameter of 0.484 m, the influence of three gas sparger structures (ladder distributor, tri-nozzle sparger and perforated plate) on the volumetric mass transfer coefficient kLa was investigated. It was found that the perforated plate produces the highest gas holdup difference and circulating liquid velocity between the riser and the downcomer. The perforated plate provides the most efficient mass transfer due to the more uniform gas distribution and higher circulating liquid velocity, followed by the ladder distributor and tri-nozzle spargers. Compared with the tri-nozzle sparger, the perforated plate increases the value of kLa by up to 16% at a superficial velocity of 0.15 m/s. Interestingly, the analysis of the liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kL and specific area a with respect to gas velocity shows that the mass transfer rate is primarily controlled by a. By comparing the predictions of different mass transfer models, the slip velocity model based on penetration theory yields a satisfactory agreement with the experimental results within ±15% error. Meanwhile, empirical correlations regarding gas holdup and kLa were developed and were found to have good consistency with experimental values.
New Approach for Failure Prognosis Using a Bond Graph, Gaussian Mixture Model and Similarity Techniques
Authors: Mebarki Nassima , Benmoussa Samir , Djeziri Mohand , Mouss Leïla-Hayet
Published: February 2022

This paper proposes a new approach for remaining useful life prediction that combines a bond graph, the Gaussian Mixture Model and similarity techniques to allow the use of both physical knowledge and the data available. The proposed method is based on the identification of relevant variables that carry information on degradation. To this end, the causal properties of the bond graph (BG) are first used to identify the relevant sensors through the fault observability. Then, a second stage of analysis based on statistical metrics is performed to reduce the number of sensors to only the ones carrying useful information for failure prognosis, thus, optimizing the data to be used in the prognosis phase. To generate data in the different system state, a simulator based on the developed BG is used. A Gaussian Mixture Model is then applied on the generated data for fault diagnosis and clustering. The Remaining Useful Life is estimated using a similarity technique. An application on a mechatronic system is considered for highlighting the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Using New Spare Parts for Repair of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment? The Material Footprint of Individual Components
Authors: von Gries Nadja , Bringezu Stefan
Published: February 2022

The growing production of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) requires close loop management to protect the environment and save resources. Repair and reuse can extend the product’s life span. However, debates on the differences seen in resource consumption linked to the different ways of repairing devices have received a limited amount of attention. This article demonstrates quantification of the resource consumption (cradle-to-gate) of five types of appliances on a component level based on life-cycle assessment within the framework of the product-material-footprint. The data for this assessment is based on the dismantling of these products, weighing their components, and determining their material composition. The results show that the resource relevance of all devices is dominated by a few individual components. For example, for flat-screen monitors, 5 out of 17 components per device account for more than 90% of resource consumption (abiotic total material requirement). Hence, repairing devices while using new spare parts is not always the most resource-efficient way of handling WEEE. The results of this investigation suggest that the resource consumption in repairs should be taken into account at different levels, e.g., regulatory, with regard to eco-design requirements, or for informational purposes with a view to the consideration of the repair and reuse practices.
Impact of Vertical Profiles of Aerosols on the Photolysis Rates in the Lower Troposphere from the Synergy of Photometer and Ceilometer Measurements in Raciborz, Poland, for the Period 2015–2020
Authors: Pietruczuk Aleksander , Fernandes Alnilam , Szkop Artur , Krzyścin Janusz
Published: February 2022

The effect of the aerosol vertical distribution on photolysis frequencies of O3 and NO2 is studied. Aerosol measurements in Raciborz (50.08° N, 18.19° E), Poland, made using the CIMEL Sun photometer and collocated CHM-15k “Nimbus” ceilometer are analyzed for the period 2015–2020. Vertical profiles of the aerosol extinction are derived from the Generalized Retrieval of Atmosphere and Surface Properties (GRASP) algorithm combining the ceilometer measurements of the aerosol backscattering coefficient with the collocated CIMEL measurements of the columnar characteristics of aerosols. The photolysis frequencies are calculated at the three levels in the lower troposphere (the surface and 0.5 and 2 km above the surface) using a radiative transfer model, Tropospheric Ultraviolet and Visible (TUV), for various settings of aerosol optical properties in the model input. The importance of the aerosol vertical distribution on photolysis frequencies is inferred by analyzing statistics of the differences between the output of the model, including the extinction profile from the GRASP algorithm, and the default TUV model (based on columnar aerosol characteristics by the CIMEL Sun photometer and Elterman’s extinction profile). For model levels above the surface, standard deviation, 2.5th percentile, 97.5th percentile, and the extremes, calculated from relative differences between these input settings, are comparable with the pertaining statistical values for the input pair providing changes of photolysis frequencies only due to the variability of the columnar aerosol characteristics. This indicates that the vertical properties of aerosols affect the distribution of the photolysis frequencies in the lower troposphere on a similar scale to that due to variations in columnar aerosol characteristics.
Unraveling the Spatio-Temporal Relationship between Ecosystem Services and Socioeconomic Development in Dabie Mountain Area over the Last 10 years
Authors: Liu Jianfeng , Chen Lin , Yang Zhonghua , Zhao Yifan , Zhang Xiwang
Published: February 2022

The Dabie Mountain area is a typical poverty-stricken area in China. It is of great significance to evaluate the ecosystem service value and its impact mechanism toward optimizing the ecological structure and coordinating ecological protection and economic development. This study determined the ecosystem service value coefficient and calculated the ecosystem service value (ESV) according to the regional economic development in the past ten years, and the ESV was spatialized based on NPP, which is closely related to ecological function. The temporal and spatial variation of ESV was then analyzed, and an RDE index was proposed to describe its response to land cover change. Further, the relationship between ESV and several parameters that reflect socioeconomic development was researched and analyzed. The results show that the total ESV in the study area first decreased and then increased, with an overall increase of CNY 3.895 billion. Among the land cover types, forest land had the greatest impact, contributing more than 70%. In the ecosystem service functions, the contribution of regulation function exceeded 50%. ESV was found to be sensitive to land cover change. On average, every 1 km2 change leads to an ESV change of about CNY 1 million. Socioeconomic-related parameters were negatively correlated with ESV, among which the correlation with per capita disposable income was the weakest, indicating that there was no obvious contradiction between human well-being and ESV. Therefore, a path for harmonious symbiotic development can be found between man and nature.
Centennial Total Solar Irradiance Variation
Authors: Dewitte Steven , Cornelis Jan , Meftah Mustapha
Published: February 2022

Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) quantifies the solar energy received by the Earth and therefore is of direct relevance for a possible solar influence on climate change on Earth. We analyse the TSI space measurements from 1991 to 2021, and we derive a regression model that reproduces the measured daily TSI variations with a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.17 W/m2. The daily TSI regression model uses the MgII core to wing ratio as a facular brightening proxy and the Photometric Sunspot Index (PSI) as a measure of sunspot darkening. We reconstruct the annual mean TSI backwards to 1700 based on the Sunspot Number (SN), calibrated on the space measurements with an RMSE of 0.086 W/m2. The analysis of the 11 year running mean TSI reconstruction confirms the existence of a 105 year Gleissberg cycle. The TSI level of the current grand minimum is only about 0.15 W/m2 higher than the TSI level of the grand minimum in the beginning of the 18th century.
The Ratio of the Land Consumption Rate to the Population Growth Rate: A Framework for the Achievement of the Spatiotemporal Pattern in Poland and Lithuania
Authors: Calka Beata , Orych Agata , Bielecka Elzbieta , Mozuriunaite Skirmante
Published: February 2022

Indicator 11.3. 1 of the 2030 sustainable development goals (SDG) 11, i.e., the ratio of the land use to the population growth rate, is currently classified by the United Nations as a Tier II indicator, as there is a globally-accepted methodology for its calculation, but the data are not available, nor are not regularly updated. Recently, the increased availability of remotely sensed data and products allows not only for the calculation of the SDG 11.3. 1, but also for its monitoring at different levels of detail. That is why this study aims to address the interrelationships between population development and land use changes in Poland and Lithuania, two neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Europe, using the publicly available remotely sensed products, CORINE land cover and GHS-POP. The paper introduces a map modelling process that starts with data transformation through GIS analyses and results in the geovisualisation of the LCRPGR (land use efficiency), the PGR (population growth rate), and the LCR (land use rate). We investigated the spatial patterns of the index values by utilizing hotspot analyses, autocorrelations, and outlier analyses. The results show how the indicators’ values were concentrated in both countries; the average value of SDG 11.3. 1, from 2000 to 2018 in Poland amounted to 0.115 and, in Lithuania, to −0.054. The average population growth ratio (PGR) in Poland equaled 0.0132, and in Lithuania, it was −0.0067, while the average land consumption ratios (LCRs) were 0.0462 and 0.0067, respectively. Areas with an increase in built-up areas were concentrated mainly on the outskirts of large cities, whereas outliers of the LCRPGR index were mainly caused by the uncertainty of the source data and the way the indicator is interpreted.
Multi-Controller Deployment in SDN-Enabled 6G Space–Air–Ground Integrated Network
Authors: Liao Zhan , Chen Chen , Ju Ying , He Ci , Jiang Jiange , Pei Qingqi
Published: February 2022

The space–air–ground Integrated Network (SAGIN) is considered to be a significant framework for realizing the vision of “6G intelligent connection of all things”. The birth of 6G SAGIN also brings many problems, such as ultra-dense dense networks, leading to a decrease in the efficiency of traditional flat network management, and traditional satellite networking solidified network functions, etc. Therefore, combining the 6G SAGIN network with the software-defined network (SDN) is an excellent solution. However, the satellite network topology changes dynamically and the ground user unbalanced distribution leads to the unbalanced load of the SDN controller, which further leads to the increased communication delay and throughput drop, etc. For these problems, a hierarchical multi-controller deployment strategy of an SDN-based 6G SAGIN is proposed. Firstly, the delay model of the network, the load model of the SDN controller, and a loss value as a measure of whether the network delay and controller load are optimal are defined. Then, using the distribution relationship between the SDN controller and the switch node as the solution space, and taking the loss value as the optimization goal, a multi-controller deployment strategy based on the simulated annealing algorithm is used to search for the optimal solution space. Lastly, considering the network topology changes dynamically and the SDN controller imbalance, a switch migration strategy oriented toward load balancing is proposed. We aimed to determine the controller deployment plan through the above two points, balance the controller load, and then improve the network performance. The simulation results show that the controller load is increased by about 7.71% compared to OCLDS, and the running time is increased by 17.7% compared to n-k-means.
Computer Vision-Based Path Planning for Robot Arms in Three-Dimensional Workspaces Using Q-Learning and Neural Networks
Authors: Abdi Ali , Ranjbar Mohammad Hassan , Park Ju Hong
Published: February 2022

Computer vision-based path planning can play a crucial role in numerous technologically driven smart applications. Although various path planning methods have been proposed, limitations, such as unreliable three-dimensional (3D) localization of objects in a workspace, time-consuming computational processes, and limited two-dimensional workspaces, remain. Studies to address these problems have achieved some success, but many of these problems persist. Therefore, in this study, which is an extension of our previous paper, a novel path planning approach that combined computer vision, Q-learning, and neural networks was developed to overcome these limitations. The proposed computer vision-neural network algorithm was fed by two images from two views to obtain accurate spatial coordinates of objects in real time. Next, Q-learning was used to determine a sequence of simple actions: up, down, left, right, backward, and forward, from the start point to the target point in a 3D workspace. Finally, a trained neural network was used to determine a sequence of joint angles according to the identified actions. Simulation and experimental test results revealed that the proposed combination of 3D object detection, an agent-environment interaction in the Q-learning phase, and simple joint angle computation by trained neural networks considerably alleviated the limitations of previous studies.
The Desirable Systemic Uncertainty in Complex IoT Sensor Networks—General Anticipatory Foresight Perspective
Authors: Magruk Andrzej
Published: February 2022

A wide methodological spectrum regarding future research is offered by anticipation studies, with a special role of foresight studies. Many studies of this type focus on generating the desired future, taking into account the fact that it is accompanied by uncertainty. The author of this publication postulates treating uncertainty as an equivalent—in relation to the future—research object. This approach allows us to formulate general assumptions for a model of the anticipatory management of systemic uncertainty in IoT networks. The goal of such a model will not be to eliminate or even minimize uncertainty, but to regulate it to a desired level. Such an action can bring many more benefits than trying to zero out uncertainty. On the general side, uncertainty can be studied in two ways: (1) as an abstract idea, or (2) as a feature of a particular structure, also with elements of research on its abstract component. In this paper the attention is focused on the second approach. The main research area is the IoT network in its broadest sense, with a particular role of the social construct, in the context of the study of systemic uncertainty in relation to selected anticipatory actions. The overarching goal is to define a desired state, or to determine what such a desired state is, of anticipatory IoT uncertainty.
Antenna/Propagation Domain Self-Interference Cancellation (SIC) for In-Band Full-Duplex Wireless Communication Systems
Authors: Chen Yuenian , Ding Can , Jia Yongtao , Liu Ying
Published: February 2022

In-band full duplex (IBFD) is regarded as one of the most significant technologies for addressing the issue of spectrum scarcity in 5G and beyond systems. In the realization of practical IBFD systems, self-interference, i.e., the interference that the transmitter causes to the collocated receiver, poses a major challenge to antenna designers; it is a prerequisite for applying other self-interference cancellation (SIC) techniques in the analog and digital domains. In this paper, a comprehensive survey on SIC techniques in the antenna/propagation (AP) domain is provided and the pros and cons of each technique are studied. Opportunities and challenges of employing IBFD antennas in future wireless communications networks are discussed.
A Comparative Analysis Applied to the Partial Discharges Identification in Dry-Type Transformers by Hall and Acoustic Emission Sensors
Authors: de Castro Bruno Albuquerque , dos Santos Vitor Vecina , Lucas Guilherme Beraldi , Ardila-Rey Jorge Alfredo , Riehl Rudolf Ribeiro , Andreoli André Luiz
Published: February 2022

Dry-type insulated transformers stand out for their higher applicability in substations, high-voltage instrumentation systems, and electrical installations. In this machine, the insulation system is constituted of dielectric materials such as epoxy resin and Nomex paper. Some critical issues in the operation of this equipment, such as overload, moisture, or heat, can induce a slow degradation of the physical–chemical properties of the dielectric materials, which can culminate in the total failure of the transformer. However, before the transformer’s shutdown, it is common to detect discharge activity in the insulation system. Based on this issue, this work proposes an experimental and comparative analysis between acoustic emission and Hall-effect sensors, aiming at differentiating discharges in epoxy resin and Nomex paper, materials that constitute the insulation of the dry-type insulated transformers. Two signal processing techniques were studied: traditional frequency analysis and discrete wavelet transform. The objective is to develop signal processing techniques to differentiate each type of discharge since different discharges require different maintenance actions. The results obtained indicate that acoustic emission sensors and Hall sensors are promising in differentiating discharge in epoxy resin and Nomex paper. Furthermore, the pattern recognition tools presented by this work, which associated the wavelet levels energies and the energy of the full signals with the average band and the equivalent bandwidth, were effective to perform feature extraction of power transformer condition.
Robots in Eldercare: How Does a Real-World Interaction with the Machine Influence the Perceptions of Older People?
Authors: Tobis Slawomir , Piasek Joanna , Cylkowska-Nowak Miroslawa , Suwalska Aleksandra
Published: February 2022

(1) Background: Using autonomous social robots in selected areas of care for community-dwelling older adults is one of the promising approaches to address the problem of the widening care gap. We posed the question of whether a possibility to interact with the technology to be used had an impact on the scores given by the respondents in various domains of needs and requirements for social robots to be deployed in care for older individuals. (2) Methods: During the study, the opinions of older people (65+; n = 113; with no severe cognitive impairment) living in six social care institutions about a robot in care for older people were collected twice using the Users’ Needs, Requirements and Abilities Questionnaire (UNRAQ): after seeing a photo of the robot only and after a 90–150 min interaction with the TIAGo robot. (3) Results: Mean total scores for both assistive and social functions were higher after the interaction (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between opinion changes in social and assistive functions (r = 0.4842; p = 0.0000). (4) Conclusions: Preimplementation studies and assessments should include the possibility to interact with the robot to provide its future users with a clear idea of the technology and facilitate necessary customisations of the machine.
Defining Continuous Walking Events in Free-Living Environments: Mind the Gap
Authors: Gbadamosi Abolanle R. , Griffiths Benjamin N. , Clarke-Cornwell Alexandra M. , Granat Malcolm H.
Published: February 2022

In free-living environments, continuous walking can be challenging to achieve without encountering interruptions, making it difficult to define a continuous walking event. While limited research has been conducted to define a continuous walking event that accounts for interruptions, no method has considered the intensity change caused by these interruptions, which is crucial for achieving the associated health outcomes. A sample of 24 staff members at the University of Salford were recruited. The participants wore an accelerometer-based device (activPAL™) for seven days continuously and completed an activity diary, to explore a novel methodological approach of combining short interruptions of time between walking events based on an average walking cadence. The definition of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) used was a minimum walking cadence of either 76, 100, or 109 steps/min. The average daily time spent in MVPA increased from 75.2 ± 32.6 min to 86.5 ± 37.4 min using the 76 steps/min, 48.3 ± 29.5 min to 53.0 ± 33.3 min using the 100 steps/min threshold, and 31.4 ± 20.5 min to 33.9 ± 22.6 min using the 109 steps/min threshold; the difference before grouping and after grouping was statistically significant (p < 0.001). This novel method will enable future analyses of the associations between continuous walking and health-related outcomes.
Multiracial Race Self-Labeling Decisions: The Influence of Gender, Social Class, and Political Party Affiliation
Authors: Castillo Sarah Elizabeth
Published: February 2022

The growing prominence of the multiracial population in the United States is prompting new questions about the importance of social identities on race self-labeling decisions. I review and expand on a growing body of research on this population that focuses on identifying and describing nonracial categories important to shaping racial identities. Specifically, I utilized a national survey of U.S. adults administered by the Pew Research Center to investigate how social identities defined by nonracial categories such as gender, social class, and political party affiliation impact the race self-labels of multiracial people. In addition, I consider factors of racial identity, discrimination, and social pressure and their potential influence on race self-labeling decisions. The findings indicate that gender, social class, and political party affiliation are potential predictors of race self-labeling decisions of multiracial people. After adding the factors of racial identity, discrimination, and social pressure, the results remain significant. In addition, the results for social class and political party affiliation reinforce the actuality that a pervasive racial hierarchy and social stratification system, situated in the context of White supremacy, is embedded within U.S. society.