bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Initial Post-Release Performance of Cultured Cyprinus chilia Juveniles in a Shallow Lake in Southwestern China
Authors: Zhu Tingbing , Yang Deguo , Gong Jinling , Wang Chunyong , Miao Xiangjun , Liang Yongben , Li Xuemei
Published: October 2023

The post-release performance of cultured fish is crucial for understanding the viability of cultured fish and assessing the effects of stock enhancement programs. This study aimed to investigate the initial post-release performance of cultured Cyprinus chilia juveniles by examining their movement, spatial distribution, gut fullness, and gut microbiota in nature. In July 2022, a total of 20,000 C. chilia juveniles, tagged with visible implant fluorescence (VIE), were released into Qilu Lake, a shallow lake in southwestern China. Subsequently, continuous recapture was conducted at fixed recapture sites using trap nets during the first 7 days, one month and three months after release. Out of the released fish, 512 were recaptured, resulting in a recapture rate of 2.56%. The recaptured fish had a 100% tag retention rate. The majority (98.05%) of the recaptured fish were found in the recapture sites located on the eastern or western lakeshore, while only 10 fish were recaptured from the recapture sites in the northern lake area. The water depth range where the recaptured fish were found ranged from 190 to 350 cm, with most fish preferring depths less than 300 cm. The majority of the released fish migrated towards the eastern and western lakeshore, with long-distance movement (greater than 100 m) primarily occurring within the first four days after release. The level of gut fullness in the released fish initially decreased and then increased over time following release. Regarding gut microbiota, the dominant phyla observed in most samples were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Fusobacteria. Furthermore, significant variations in the dominant genera were observed across different samples. Principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) revealed clear separation between the microbial communities of pre-release and post-release C. chilia juveniles. This study demonstrated that VIE tagging was a suitable method for short-term marking of C. chilia juveniles. Lakeshores with water depths less than 300 cm were identified as preferred habitats for C. chilia juveniles. The primary adaptation period for cultured C. chilia juveniles released into the natural environment was found to be approximately 4–5 days. These findings contribute to our understanding of the post-release performance of cultured fish and may provide guidance for the management and evaluation of relevant stock enhancement programs.
Spatial Ecology of an Arboreal Iguana (Oplurus cyclurus) in a Treeless Landscape
Authors: Licata Fulvio , Eusebio Bergò Paolo , Edmonds Devin , Andreone Franco , Rosa Gonçalo M.
Published: October 2023

Understanding the spatial ecology of species has important implications for conservation, as it helps identify suitable habitats and minimum requirements for biodiversity monitoring and management. The spiny-tailed lizard Oplurus cyclurus is a widespread endemic iguanid occurring in dry areas of southern and western Madagascar. While the species is known to be mostly arboreal, populations of the Isalo sandstone massif suggest local adaptation to a less forested savannah and a more exposed habitat. We radio-tracked 19 spiny-tailed lizards to investigate the species’ rock-dwelling behaviour and spatial ecology at Isalo National Park. Tracked individuals showed high site and burrow fidelity, and a basking behaviour mostly tied to the accessibility of their burrow, the time of day, and their life stage. Activity peaked during the sunniest hours, while juveniles were more active than adults with unfavourable weather conditions. Despite high burrow fidelity, lizards used shelters non-exclusively, regularly changing (approx. once a week) with neighbouring burrows (average distance between burrows = 13.6 m). However, there was no obvious relation between lizards’ body and/or tail size and the width and depth of selected burrows. Dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models estimated frequented areas over 247.8 m2 (95% isopleth), where territorial overlap is common. Our results challenge the notion that burrow-site fidelity is the sole driving factor behind space utilization in the studied population. We argue that the apparently unusual saxicolous habits imposed by habitat features (the absence of trees) may lead to local behavioural adjustments influencing antipredatory and foraging strategies, as well as intraspecific interactions.
Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) in Dogs—Reference Interval and Correlation with Hematological and Biochemical Parameters
Authors: Lapsina Sandra , Nagler Nicole , Müller Simon Franz , Holtdirk Annette , Kottmann Tanja , Müller Elisabeth , Schäfer Ingo
Published: October 2023

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) is a phosphaturic hormone used to monitor chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the intra- and interassay precision of the FGF-23 concentrations in dogs as measured via the Kainos ELISA FGF-23 kit, (2) to calculate a reference interval, and (3) to assess the correlation of the FGF-23 concentration with the hematological and biochemical parameters. The coefficient of variation was below 15% for both the intra- and interassay precision, indicating good reproducibility. The reference interval ranged between 95.8 (90% confidence interval: 44.6; 139.2) and 695.1 pg/mL (598.7; 799.1) based on 136 clinically healthy dogs, classified as such according to the information of treating veterinarians as well as the unremarkable results of hematology and biochemistry. The FGF-23 concentration differed significantly between dogs aged <9 and ≥9 years (p = 0.045). Four groups of 10 dogs each were retrospectively formed based on the creatinine concentration classification according to the IRIS staging. Correlation was the strongest for the renal parameters. Statistically significant differences in the FGF-23 concentration were demonstrated between the study groups I and III (p < 0.001), I and IV (p < 0.001), and II and IV (p = 0.005). There was a trend for a rising FGF-23 concentration in older dogs. Due to the wide reference interval, diagnostic cut-offs and/or subject-based FGF-23 reference values in each dog are needed for monitoring and clinical interpretation.
Multi-Level Site Selection of Mobile Emergency Logistics Considering Safety Stocks
Authors: Zhang Ruochen , Li Jianxun , Shang Yanying
Published: October 2023

With the increasing frequency of emergencies in recent years, the emergency response capacity of the emergency management system needs to be improved. Based on safety stock strategy, this paper proposes a multilevel siting model on the topic of mobile emergency response. We modeled the emergency response needs during emergencies by incorporating the population distribution of each region. The uncertainty of emergencies is modeled by aggregating the frequency of crises in each region over the past 20 years. The site selection model minimizes contingency logistics costs that include transshipment, deployment, inventory, and safety stock costs. In this paper, the IA (Immune Algorithm) is optimized to solve the constructed emergency site selection model. The experiments on the model were carried out with data from the area of Chongqing, Sichuan Province. The number of logistics centers and distribution storage warehouses was tested. The influence of safety stock strategy on the total cost of emergency logistics was analyzed. The research results found that the cost of safety stock is negatively related to the cost of transshipment. In addition, the total cost of emergency logistics has a lower bound. Adding distribution and storage warehouses does not further reduce the total emergency logistics cost.
Development and Implementation of a Flexibility Platform for Active System Management at Both Transmission and Distribution Level in Greece
Authors: Zafeiropoulou Magda , Sijakovic Nenad , Zarkovic Mileta , Ristic Vladan , Terzic Aleksandar , Makrygiorgou Dimitra , Zoulias Emmanouil , Vita Vasiliki , Maris Theodoros I. , Fotis Georgios
Published: October 2023

This work focused on prescribing, designing, implementing, and evaluating a pilot project conducted in the Greek power system that addressed balancing and congestion management issues that system operators (SOs) face within the clean energy era. The considered pilot project fully focused on the development of the F-channel platform, including the idea behind this application, the steps that were taken in the process, and the outcomes of the performed activities fitting into the overall picture of the OneNet project. The specified F-channel platform is a web-based, client-server application that uses artificial intelligence (AI) techniques and cloud computation engines to improve the management of the active power for the TSO-DSO coordination. The flexibility of the grid’s resources was identified, and an integrated monitoring system based on the precise forecasting of variable generation and demand was implemented. The focus areas were congestion management, frequency control, and voltage control services, for which corresponding network models were created in close cooperation with system operators. The obtained results are essential for the remaining demonstration results because they offer an incredibly accurate basis for further research into their use in congestion management and other weather-related enhanced transmission and distribution system planning and operation practices.
A Study on the Performance Evaluation of the Convolutional Neural Network–Transformer Hybrid Model for Positional Analysis
Authors: Lee Sang-Hyun
Published: October 2023

In this study, we identified the different causes of odor problems and their associated discomfort. We also recognized the significance of public health and environmental concerns. To address odor issues, it is vital to conduct precise analysis and comprehend the root causes. We suggested a hybrid model of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Transformer called the CNN–Transformer to tackle this challenge and assessed its effectiveness. We utilized a dataset containing 120,000 samples of odor to compare the performance of CNN+LSTM, CNN, LSTM, and ELM models. The experimental results show that the CNN+LSTM hybrid model has an accuracy of 89.00%, precision of 89.41%, recall of 91.04%, F1-score of 90.22%, and RMSE of 0.28, with a large prediction error. The CNN+Transformer hybrid model had an accuracy of 96.21%, precision and recall of 94.53% and 94.16%, F1-score of 94.35%, and RMSE of 0.27, showing a low prediction error. The CNN model had an accuracy of 87.19%, precision and recall of 89.41% and 91.04%, F1-score of 90.22%, and RMSE of 0.23, showing a low prediction error. The LSTM model had an accuracy of 95.00%, precision and recall of 92.55% and 94.17%, F1-score of 92.33%, and RMSE of 0.03, indicating a very low prediction error. The ELM model performed poorly with an accuracy of 85.50%, precision and recall of 85.26% and 85.19%, respectively, and F1-score and RMSE of 85.19% and 0.31, respectively. This study confirms the suitability of the CNN–Transformer hybrid model for odor analysis and highlights its excellent predictive performance. The employment of this model is expected to be advantageous in addressing odor problems and mitigating associated public health and environmental concerns.
Multiauthority Ciphertext Policy-Attribute-Based Encryption (MA-CP-ABE) with Revocation and Computation Outsourcing for Resource-Constraint Devices
Authors: Yan Xiaodan , Tu Shanshan , Alasmary Hisham , Huang Fengming
Published: October 2023

Fog computing accredits by utilizing the network edge while still rendering the possibility to interact with the cloud. Nevertheless, the features of fog computing are encountering several security challenges. The security of end users and/or fog servers brings a significant dilemma in implementing fog computing. The computational power of the resources constrains Internet of Things (IoT) devices in the fog-computing environment. Therefore, an attacker can easily attack. The traditional methods like attribute-based encryption (ABE) techniques are inappropriate for resource-constraint devices with protracted computing and limited computational capabilities. In this regard, we investigate a multiauthority ciphertext policy-attribute-based encryption (MA-CP-ABE) method that enables multiauthority attribute revocation and computation outsourcing. Moreover, the encryption and decryption processes of resource-constraint IoT devices are outsourced to the fog nodes. In this way, it also reduces the computational burden of the resource-constraint IoT devices. Hence, we propose MA-CP-ABE for encryption and decryption, attribute revocation and outsourcing by reducing the computational burden and securing the system. We compare the computational offloading approach with the existing techniques to prove that the proposed approach outperforms the existing approaches. The proposed method reduces the operation time for the encryption and decryption process. We outsource cryptography operations to the fog node, reducing the end user’s computational cost. Eventually, simulated outcomes are used to assess the algorithm’s computational cost.
A Certain Class of Equi-Statistical Convergence in the Sense of the Deferred Power-Series Method
Authors: Srivastava Hari Mohan , Jena Bidu Bhusan , Paikray Susanta Kumar
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we expose the ideas of point-wise statistical convergence, equi-statistical convergence and uniform statistical convergence in the sense of the deferred power-series method. We then propose a relation connecting them, which is followed by several illustrative examples. Moreover, as an application viewpoint, we establish an approximation theorem based upon our proposed method for equi-statistical convergence of sequences of positive linear operators. Finally, we estimate the equi-statistical rates of convergence for the effectiveness of the results presented in our study.
Cognitive Assessment Based on Electroencephalography Analysis in Virtual and Augmented Reality Environments, Using Head Mounted Displays: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gramouseni Foteini , Tzimourta Katerina D. , Angelidis Pantelis , Giannakeas Nikolaos , Tsipouras Markos G.
Published: October 2023

The objective of this systematic review centers on cognitive assessment based on electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR) and Mixed Reality (MR) environments, projected on Head Mounted Displays (HMD), in healthy individuals. A range of electronic databases were searched (Scopus, ScienceDirect, IEEE Explore and PubMed), using PRISMA research method and 82 experimental studies were included in the final report. Specific aspects of cognitive function were evaluated, including cognitive load, immersion, spatial awareness, interaction with the digital environment and attention. These were analyzed based on various aspects of the analysis, including the number of participants, stimuli, frequency bands range, data preprocessing and data analysis. Based on the analysis conducted, significant findings have emerged both in terms of the experimental structure related to cognitive neuroscience and the key parameters considered in the research. Also, numerous significant avenues and domains requiring more extensive exploration have been identified within neuroscience and cognition research in digital environments. These encompass factors such as the experimental setup, including issues like narrow participant populations and the feasibility of using EEG equipment with a limited number of sensors to overcome the challenges posed by the time-consuming placement of a multi-electrode EEG cap. There is a clear need for more in-depth exploration in signal analysis, especially concerning the α, β, and γ sub-bands and their role in providing more precise insights for evaluating cognitive states. Finally, further research into augmented and mixed reality environments will enable the extraction of more accurate conclusions regarding their utility in cognitive neuroscience.
Successful Mechanical Thrombectomy for Basilar Artery Occlusion in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Teivāne Agnete , Naļivaiko Inga , Jurjāns Kristaps , Vētra Jānis , Veiss Andris , Novaša Arina , Dzelzīte Sarmīte , Krieviņš Dainis , Miglāne Evija
Published: October 2023

Studies have shown the benefits of endovascular treatment (EVT) in adult stroke cases, but its application in pediatric stroke remains controversial. Despite evidence of improved outcomes in adults, there are no established recommendations for EVT in children. Conducting individual case reports and case series is vital to understanding its potential advantages and disadvantages in this context. In this case report, a 9-year-old male initially diagnosed with gastroenteritis developed sudden left-sided weakness 1 day after admission. Comprehensive imaging revealed acute ischemia in the cerebellum, indicating a basilar artery thrombus. Urgent endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed 8.5 h after the onset of neurological symptoms, achieving successful revascularization. The patient underwent rehabilitation and was later discharged with improved neurological status. Despite extensive investigations, the stroke’s origin remained unknown. After six months, the patient exhibited complete neurological recovery, highlighting the patient’s remarkable resilience.
In Silico Approaches to Developing Novel Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3β (GSK-3β)
Authors: Goyal Shuchi , Singh Manjinder , Thirumal Divya , Sharma Pratibha , Mujwar Somdutt , Mishra Krishna Kumar , Singh Thakur Gurjeet , Singh Ravinder , Singh Varinder , Singh Tanveer , Ahmad Sheikh F.
Published: October 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is caused by plaque agglomeration and entanglement in several areas of the neural cells, which leads to apoptosis. The main etiology of AD is senile dementia, which is linked to amyloid-beta (Aβ) deregulation and tau perivascular pathogeny. Hyperphosphorylated tau has a propensity for microtubules, which elevate the instability and tau-protein congregates, leading to accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Tau hyperphosphorylation is susceptible to GSK-3, which has led to an emerging hypothesis regarding the pathogenesis of AD. Accordingly, attempts have been made to conduct investigations and achieve further advancements on new analogues capable of inhibiting the GSK-3 protein, which are currently in the clinical trials. In this analysis, we have evaluated certain GSK-3 inhibitor variants utilising scaffolding and framework devised techniques with pharmacological characteristics, accompanied by computational screenings (pharmacokinetics and docking). The structure-based designed analogues interacted effectively with the active amino acids of GSK-3β target protein. The in silico pharmacokinetic studies revealed their drug-like properties. The analogues with best interactions and binding scores will be considered in the future to completely demonstrate their potential relevance as viable GSK-3 inhibitors.
Potential Benefits of Thermal Insulation in Public Buildings: Case of a University Building
Authors: Kaya Reyhan , Caglayan Semih
Published: October 2023

Global energy demand continues to rise due to advances in both developed and developing countries. Energy-efficient technologies and eco-friendly policies have been insufficient to counterbalance the increasing demand and, thus, the national strategies of many countries have been shaped by energy conservation considerations. Buildings are responsible for more than one third of the global final energy consumption and the energy use in buildings is expected to grow more than 40% in the next 20 years. Even though the energy-efficient retrofits and thermal insulation of the building envelope have been widely studied in academia, the case of existing public buildings has been largely neglected. To fill the gap, this study investigates the thermal insulation of existing public buildings and unveils its potential benefits. An administrative building of a public university has been the subject of financial analysis to observe the feasibility of insulation applications and to identify the most feasible insulation application. The results reveal that (i) the most feasible application depends considerably on the financial scenarios and (ii) the feasibility of insulation applications is greatly influenced by the building geometry. This study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the feasibility of energy retrofits in an administrative public building and proposing an alternative way to achieve national energy efficiency objectives.
Role of Phytochromes in Red Light-Regulated Alternative Splicing in Arabidopsis thaliana: Impactful but Not Indispensable
Authors: Careno Daniel Alejandro , Assaf Constanza Helena , Eggermont Eline Dieuwerke Catharina , Canelo Micaela , Cerdán Pablo Diego , Yanovsky Marcelo Javier
Published: October 2023

Light is both the main source of energy and a key environmental signal for plants. It regulates not only gene expression but also the tightly related processes of splicing and alternative splicing (AS). Two main pathways have been proposed to link light sensing with the splicing machinery. One occurs through a photosynthesis-related signal, and the other is mediated by photosensory proteins, such as red light-sensing phytochromes. Here, we evaluated the relative contribution of each of these pathways by performing a transcriptome-wide analysis of light regulation of AS in plants that do not express any functional phytochrome (phyQ). We found that an acute 2-h red-light pulse in the middle of the night induces changes in the splicing patterns of 483 genes in wild-type plants. Approximately 30% of these genes also showed strong light regulation of splicing patterns in phyQ mutant plants, revealing that phytochromes are important but not essential for the regulation of AS by R light. We then performed a meta-analysis of related transcriptomic datasets and found that different light regulatory pathways can have overlapping targets in terms of AS regulation. All the evidence suggests that AS is regulated simultaneously by various light signaling pathways, and the relative contribution of each pathway is highly dependent on the plant developmental stage.
Responsive DNA Nanostructures for Bioanalysis and Therapy
Authors: Wang Yingfei , Zhang Yue , Ju Huangxian , Liu Ying
Published: October 2023

DNA nanostructures have been widely explored as an encouraging tool for bioanalysis and cancer therapy due to its structural programmability and good biocompatibility. The incorporation of stimulus-responsive modules enables the accurate targeting and flexible control of structure and morphology, which is benefit to precise bioanalysis and therapy. This mini review briefly discusses the advancements in stimuli-responsive DNA nanostructures construction and their applications in biomolecules sensing and cancer treatment.
Magnetically Tunable Goos–Hänchen Shift of Reflected Beam in Multilayer Structures Containing Anisotropic Graphene
Authors: Ye Yunyang , Zhang Xinye , Jiang Leyong
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the magnetically tunable Goos–Hänchen (GH) shift of a reflected beam at terahertz frequencies is achieved by using a multilayer structure where three layers of anisotropic graphene are inserted. The enhanced GH shift phenomenon results from the local field enhancement owing to the excitation of graphene surface plasmon polaritons at the interface between two dielectric materials. By considering the quantum response of graphene, the GH shift can be switched from negative to positive by harnessing the anisotropic conductivity of graphene, and the GH shift can be actively tuned through the external magnetic field or by controlling the structural parameters. By setting appropriate magnetic field and structural parameters, we can obtain GH values of −140 microns to 220 microns in the terahertz band. This enhanced and tunable GH shift is promising for fabricating graphene-based terahertz shift devices and other applications in nanophotonics.
A Luminescent MOF Based on Pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate Ligand and Lead(II) with Unprecedented Topology
Authors: Razquin-Bobillo Laura , Pajuelo-Corral Oier , Zabala-Lekuona Andoni , Vitorica-Yrezabal Iñigo , García Jose Angel , Moreno Jose M. , Rodríguez-Diéguez Antonio , Cepeda Javier
Published: October 2023

In the present work, we report on a 3D MOF of {[Pb5(μ3-OH)(μ3-NO3)3(μ6-pmdc)3]·H2O}n formula (pmdc = pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylate) synthesized by an oven-heated, solvent-free procedure. The large connectivity afforded by the three ligands in their coordination to lead(II) ions grows cubic building units characterized by a central Pb atom with an unusual coordination index of 12 and 6 pmdc ligands occupying the faces. These cubic units are linked to one another giving rise to a quite condensed structure that represents an unprecedented topology showing the (4·62)6(43)2(45·610)3(45·68·82)6(46·69)6(612·83) point symbol. The crystalline material has been characterized by routine physico-chemical techniques to confirm its purity, and its thermal behaviour has been also studied by thermogravimetric and thermodiffractometric analyses. The solid presents a greenish blue photoluminescent emission based on pmdc ligands, as revealed by time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, which is substantially more intense than in the free H2pmdc ligand according to its improved quantum yield. The emissive capacity of the material is further analysed according to decreasing temperature of the polycrystalline sample, finding that sizeable, long-lasting phosphorescence is present.
A Study on Metallographic and Machining Characteristics of Functionally Graded Material Produced by Directed Energy Deposition
Authors: Noh Inwoong , Jeon Jaehun , Lee Sang Won
Published: October 2023

Directed energy deposition (DED) stands as a key process in metal additive manufacturing (AM) and offers the unique capability of creating functionally graded materials (FGMs). FGMs have garnered significant interest in high-value industries by advantages such as performance optimization, reducing material defects, and resolving joining issues. However, post-processing remains a crucial step, indicating a need for further research to understand the machinability of FGMs. This paper focuses on the characteristics analysis of fabricating and machining an FGM based on stainless steel 316L (SAE 316L) and Inconel 718. The FGM was fabricated by starting with SAE 316L at 100 wt.% and adjusting the composition ratio by incrementally increasing Inconel 718 by 20 wt.% while simultaneously decreasing SAE 316L. Following the FGM fabrication, microstructure and mechanical properties were comprehensively analyzed by hardness testing, optical microstructure measurements, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). To investigate the post-processing aspects, end-milling experiments were conducted using two distinct milling methods (upward and downward milling) and machining paths (from SAE 316L towards Inconel 718, and vice versa). The mean cutting force peaked at 148.4 N in upward milling and dipped to 70.5 N in downward milling, and tool wear measurements further provided insights into the optimal milling direction when working with an FGM of SAE 316L and Inconel 718.
Comparative Analysis of the Fracture Resistance of a Polymeric Material for 3D Printing and a Milled Polymethylmethacrylate Material as Interim Material for Fixed Partial Dentures: New Material Updated
Authors: Abad-Coronel Cristian , Córdova Johanna , Merchán Andrea , Larriva Jaime , Bravo Ariana , Bernal Bryam , Paltán Cesar A. , Fajardo Jorge I.
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the fracture resistance of a temporary three-unit fixed dental prosthesis (FDP) made of a new polymeric material obtained by an additive technique (3DPP) using a computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system, comparing the prosthesis to the respective outcomes of temporary polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) FDPs obtained by a subtractive technique (milling). Methods: Three-unit FDPs were 3D printed using a polymeric material (n = 20) or milled using polymethylmethacrylate (n = 20). After thermocycling at 5000 cycles at extreme temperatures of 5 °C and 55 °C in distilled water, each specimen was subjected to a compression test on a universal testing machine at a rate of 0.5 mm/min until failure occurred, recording the value in newtons (N). Results: There were statistically significant differences (p-value < 0.005) between the PMMA material (2104.7 N; SD = 178.97 N) and 3DPP (1000.8 N; SD = 196.4 N). Conclusions: The fracture resistance of the PDFs manufactured from milled PMMA showed higher values for fracture resistance. However, the resistance of the 3DPP showed acceptable values under mechanical load; this notable advance in the resistance of printed materials consolidates them as an important alternative to use in interim indirect restorations.
Re-Evaluating Trust and Privacy Concerns When Purchasing a Mobile App: Re-Calibrating for the Increasing Role of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Zarifis Alex , Fu Shixuan
Published: October 2023

Mobile apps utilize the features of a mobile device to offer an ever-growing range of functionalities. This vast choice of functionalities is usually available for a small fee or for free. These apps access the user’s personal data, utilizing both the sensors on the device and big data from several sources. Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is enhancing the ability to utilize more data and gain deeper insight. This increase in the access and utilization of personal information offers benefits but also challenges to trust. Using questionnaire data from Germany, this research explores the role of trust from the consumer’s perspective when purchasing mobile apps with enhanced AI. Models of trust from e-commerce are adapted to this specific context. A model is proposed and explored with quantitative methods. Structural Equation Modeling enables the relatively complex model to be tested and supported. Propensity to trust, institution-based trust, perceived sensitivity of personal information, and trust in the mobile app are found to impact the intention to use the mobile app with enhanced AI.
Systematic Evaluation of the Distribution of Immune Cells following Subcutaneous Administration of Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine to Mice
Authors: He Yao , Zhao Yuxiu , Liang Hongyang , Wang Xue , Lan Haoyue , Tian Dongyang , Li Yan , Wang Hui
Published: October 2023

The Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) conjugate vaccine is the most effective way to prevent Hib infection in infants and young children, and it is designed to induce the production of antibodies against polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP) to protect babies from infection. However, the mechanism of immunity induced by the Hib vaccine is not fully understood. Recently, with the development of the combination diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccines (DTaP), increasing numbers of manufacturers have begun to develop DTaP-based combination vaccines, like the combination vaccine diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis and Hib conjugate vaccine (DTaP-Hib), which contains adjuvants. However, the Hib vaccine does not contain adjuvants. It was theorized that the Hib antigen has poor compatibility with aluminum adjuvants for unclear reasons. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of the Hib-vaccine-induced immune response and the influence of adjuvants on the Hib vaccine is of great significance. In this paper, we immunized BalBc mice with either the Hib vaccine or the Hib vaccine that adsorbs aluminum adjuvants (Hib-Al). Here, we analyzed the anti-PRP antibody level and immune response of different cells using cell and cytokine levels. We found that the Hib vaccine could induce a humoral and cellular immune response, and the Hib-Al vaccine could induce greater quantities of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-6 and more antigen-specific antibodies through B cells, Th1, Th2, and ILC3s in the spleen. Together, our findings demonstrate the serologic responses and immune response in terms of cell and cytokine levels induced by the Hib vaccine, and they also imply that the addition of aluminum hydroxide adjuvant could enhance the function of the Hib vaccine, which preliminarily reveals the mechanism of immune response induced by the Hib-related vaccine.
Jeffreys Divergence and Generalized Fisher Information Measures on Fokker–Planck Space–Time Random Field
Authors: Zhang Jiaxing
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we present the derivation of Jeffreys divergence, generalized Fisher divergence, and the corresponding De Bruijn identities for space–time random field. First, we establish the connection between Jeffreys divergence and generalized Fisher information of a single space–time random field with respect to time and space variables. Furthermore, we obtain the Jeffreys divergence between two space–time random fields obtained by different parameters under the same Fokker–Planck equations. Then, the identities between the partial derivatives of the Jeffreys divergence with respect to space–time variables and the generalized Fisher divergence are found, also known as the De Bruijn identities. Later, at the end of the paper, we present three examples of the Fokker–Planck equations on space–time random fields, identify their density functions, and derive the Jeffreys divergence, generalized Fisher information, generalized Fisher divergence, and their corresponding De Bruijn identities.
From Policies to Practices: Factors Related to the Use of Inclusive Practices in Portugal
Authors: Cruz Joana , Azevedo Helena , Carvalho Marisa , Fonseca Helena
Published: October 2023

Inclusion is considered a foundation for quality education, and teachers’ inclusive practices are essential for success in mainstream classrooms. Portugal has been making progressive improvements in its policies for inclusive education, although there is little consistency in school practices within or between schools. Moreover, data identifying the personal and career variables relevant to teachers’ inclusive practices in Portugal are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between teachers’ inclusive practices and personal and career-based characteristics, including gender, level of teaching, years of experience, roles performed at school, and perception of inclusive resources. The participants were 924 teachers who worked in private and public schools in Portugal. Regression analysis showed that perceived inclusive resources, level of teaching, and gender predicted variance in inclusive practices. Mean difference analyses revealed that teachers at the lower levels of teaching, females, and teachers reporting more inclusive resources had the highest scores for inclusive practices. These findings are discussed in terms of their practical relevance for inclusive school systems.
Evaluation of Electromagnetic Exposure of the Human with a Coronary Stent Implant from an Electric Vehicle Wireless Power Transfer Device
Authors: Wang Tianhao , Li Bo , Zhao Kaifeng , Yu Quanyi , Xu Linlin , Chi Yaodan , Guan Shanshan
Published: October 2023

The aim of this paper is to analyze in depth the coupling between leakage electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by an electric vehicle wireless power transfer (EV-WPT) device under misaligned operating conditions and metallic coronary stents, which could be potentially hazardous to human electromagnetic safety. In this paper, we established that a standing human with a coronary stent implant and a sitting human with a coronary stent implant are exposed to the leaked EMFs of an EV-WPT device with a transmission power of 11 kW and 22 kW and a transmission frequency of 85 kHz, and we quantified the induced E-field strength of the human body by considering the x- and z-axis misalignment ranges of the WPT device as [−75 mm, 75 mm]. The results showed that the enhancement of the induced E-field in the human tissues near the sharp edges of the implant is significant. Meanwhile, the larger the WPT device misalignment generated, the higher the transmission power, and the closer the human body is to the WPT device, the larger the induced E-fieldmax value of the human body is, which has the possibility of exceeding the ICNIRP safety limit, and there is a potential human body electromagnetic safety problem.
How Far Have We Progressed in the Sampling Methods for Imbalanced Data Classification? An Empirical Study
Authors: Sun Zhongbin , Zhang Jingqi , Zhu Xiaoyan , Xu Donghong
Published: October 2023

Imbalanced data are ubiquitous in many real-world applications, and they have drawn a significant amount of attention in the field of data mining. A variety of methods have been proposed for imbalanced data classification, and data sampling methods are more prevalent due to their independence from classification algorithms. However, due to the increasing number of sampling methods, there is no consensus about which sampling method performs best, and contradictory conclusions have been obtained. Therefore, in the present study, we conducted an extensive comparison of 16 different sampling methods with four popular classification algorithms, using 75 imbalanced binary datasets from several different application domains. In addition, four widely-used measures were employed to evaluate the corresponding classification performance. The experimental results showed that none of the employed sampling methods performed the best and stably across all the used classification algorithms and evaluation measures. Furthermore, we also found that the performance of the different sampling methods was usually affected by the classification algorithms employed. Therefore, it is important for practitioners and researchers to simultaneously select appropriate sampling methods and classification algorithms, for handling the imbalanced data problems at hand.
Recovery Effect of Hot-Carrier Stress on γ-ray-Irradiated 0.13 μm Partially Depleted SOI n-MOSFETs
Authors: Lin Lan , Cong Zhongchao , Jia Chunlei
Published: October 2023

Many silicon-on-insulator (SOI) metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) are used in deep space detection systems because they have higher radiation resistance than bulk silicon devices. However, SOI devices have to face the double challenge of radiation and conventional reliability problems, such as hot carrier stress, at the same time. Thus, we wondered whether there is any interaction between reliability degradation and irradiation damage. In this paper, the effect of hot-carrier injection (HCI) on γ-ray-irradiated partially depleted (PD) SOI n-MOSFETs with a T-shaped gate structure is investigated. A strange phenomenon that accelerated the annealing effect on irradiation devices caused by HCI in 5 s was observed. That is, HCI has fast recovery ability on the irradiated narrow-channel n-MOSFETs. We explain the physical mechanism of this recovery effect qualitatively. Moreover, we designed a comparable experiment to evaluate the effect on the wide-channel devices. These results show that the narrow-channel devices are more sensitive to irradiation and HCI effects than wide-channel devices.
ESTUGAN: Enhanced Swin Transformer with U-Net Discriminator for Remote Sensing Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Yu Chunhe , Hong Lingyue , Pan Tianpeng , Li Yufeng , Li Tingting
Published: October 2023

Remote sensing image super-resolution (SR) is a practical research topic with broad applications. However, the mainstream algorithms for this task suffer from limitations. CNN-based algorithms face difficulties in modeling long-term dependencies, while generative adversarial networks (GANs) are prone to producing artifacts, making it difficult to reconstruct high-quality, detailed images. To address these challenges, we propose ESTUGAN for remote sensing image SR. On the one hand, ESTUGAN adopts the Swin Transformer as the network backbone and upgrades it to fully mobilize input information for global interaction, achieving impressive performance with fewer parameters. On the other hand, we employ a U-Net discriminator with the region-aware learning strategy for assisted supervision. The U-shaped design enables us to obtain structural information at each hierarchy and provides dense pixel-by-pixel feedback on the predicted images. Combined with the region-aware learning strategy, our U-Net discriminator can perform adversarial learning only for texture-rich regions, effectively suppressing artifacts. To achieve flexible supervision for the estimation, we employ the Best-buddy loss. And we also add the Back-projection loss as a constraint for the faithful reconstruction of the high-resolution image distribution. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superior perceptual quality and reliability of our proposed ESTUGAN in reconstructing remote sensing images.
A Surface Potential Model for Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Transistors Operating near the Threshold Voltage
Authors: Chow Hwang-Cherng , Lee Bo-Wen , Cheng Shang-Ying , Huang Yung-Hsuan , Chang Ruey-Dar
Published: October 2023

Device physics and accurate transistor modeling are necessary to reduce the operating voltage near the threshold for power-constrained circuits. Conventional device modeling for metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistors focuses on operations in either strong or weak inversion regimes, and the electrostatics at gate biases near the threshold voltage is rarely studied. This research proposed an analytical model to describe the distribution of the surface potential along the channel for near-threshold operation. Numerical device simulations were also performed to investigate the electrostatics near the threshold voltage. The numerical simulation with constant carrier mobility showed an overshoot in the transconductance due to decay of the lateral electric field with gate bias. The decay of the lateral electric field was predicted by the proposed analytical surface potential model which considered widening the channel length with flooding of the inversion carriers in the channel and gate overlap regions. The channel length widening effect saturated as the gate bias further increased. Therefore, evident transconductance overshoot was observed near the threshold voltage in short-channel devices.
Risk Spillovers and Network Connectedness between Clean Energy Stocks, Green Bonds, and Other Financial Assets: Evidence from China
Authors: Chen Guorong , Fang Shiyi , Chen Qibo , Zhang Yun
Published: October 2023

As climate change impacts energy consumption, investments in clean energy are now associated with increased levels of risk and uncertainty. Consequently, the management of risk for clean energy investors has garnered significant academic attention. This study was designed to explore the risk transfers among clean energy markets, how they respond to market volatility, and how exceptional events impact the risk spillover. This was performed by examining the risk spillover of and asymmetric connectedness between clean energy markets, green bonds, and other financial markets in China, in line with the connectedness framework and minimum spanning tree technique. The findings revealed that clean energy markets exhibit heterogeneity in terms of the direction and magnitude of net risk spillover, the types of hedging assets involved, and their response to market volatility. Exceptional events, such as the Russian–Ukrainian conflict and COVID-19 pandemic, have an impact on the spillover relationships. During stable market conditions, green bonds experience fewer spillovers from clean energy markets, whereas, in times of volatility, gold markets are subjected to fewer spillovers. In the time domain, the overall long-term spillover is stronger compared to the short and medium terms. In the frequency domain, there is a significant risk of low-frequency transmission. These findings hold practical implications for energy investors in portfolio construction and for policymakers in pursuing sustainability objectives.
Tariff-Based Optimal Scheduling Strategy of Photovoltaic-Storage for Industrial and Commercial Customers
Authors: Zeng Zhiyuan , Li Tianyou , Su Jun , Sun Longyi
Published: October 2023

Photovoltaic (PV) power generation exhibits stochastic and uncertain characteristics. In order to improve the economy and reliability of a photovoltaic-energy storage system (PV-ESS), it is crucial to optimize both the energy storage capacity size and the charging and discharging strategies of the ESS. An optimal scheduling model for PV-ESS is proposed in this paper, comprehensively considering factors in terms of energy cost and charging/discharging constraints of the PV-ESS. Moreover, the model employs a particle swarm optimization-backpropagation (PSO-BP) neural network to predict the PV power using historical generation data from a factory in Xiamen. The proposed two PV-ESS scheduling strategies are compared under three weather conditions. In the demand management strategy, the ESS can flexibly respond to different weather conditions and load demand changes, and effectively reduce the electricity cost for users.
Limitations Imposed Using an Iodide/Triiodide Redox Couple in Solar-Powered Electrochromic Devices
Authors: Syrrokostas George , Tsamoglou Sarantis , Leftheriotis George
Published: October 2023

In the present study, an iodide/triiodide (I−/I3−) redox couple is used in hybrid electrochromic devices (ECDs), and the effects of the applied bias potential and bias time on device performance are studied. An applied bias potential of ~1 V is sufficient to achieve an initial contrast ratio of 8:1 in less than 5 min. Increasing both the bias potential and bias time results in an enhancement in loss reactions at the WO3/electrolyte interface, rather than improving optical performance. Moreover, long-term performance depends on the testing procedure (regularly cycling or after storage), while the formation of iodine (I2) decreases the initial transparency of the ECDs and affects their overall performance. However, its formation cannot be avoided, even without cycling the ECDs, and the restoration of the optical performance can take place only when the electrolyte is replaced with a fresh one. Finally, a new methodology is applied for calculating the loss current, and a suggestion is made to avoid a common mistake in calculating the coloration efficiency of these hybrid ECDs.