bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel Konjac Powder with High Compressibility, High Water-Holding Capacity, and High Expansion Force
Authors: Li Qianru , Qin Jiabin , Liang Hongshan , Li Jing , Ye Shuxin , Youssef Mahmoud , Chen Yuanyuan , Li Bin
Published: January 2025

The inherent physico-chemical properties of commercial konjac powders often limited their application across various industries. While existing modification techniques had produced konjac powders with diverse physical attributes, these methods were frequently associated with high costs and environmental concerns. Hence, there was a critical need to develop a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and straightforward method for modifying konjac powders. This study investigated the effects of limited moisture modification combined with drying methods on the key physical properties of konjac powders using a comprehensive set of analytical techniques. The results demonstrated that the processed konjac powders exhibited enhanced hydration properties and compressibility. Notably, moisture modification at 54.04%, combined with vacuum freeze-drying (VFD), resulted in konjac powders with a loose, porous microstructure (porosity: 75.54%) and good tablet-forming properties, significantly exceeding that of the control group. Additionally, the combination of vacuum drying (VD, 17 h) and VFD (2 h) significantly improved the water-holding capacity (154.54 g/g) and expansion force (109.97 mL/g) of the konjac powders. This study provided a sustainable, safe, economical, and easily scalable method for tailoring the physical properties of konjac powders. The modified konjac powders developed here were suitable for applications requiring high hydration properties or direct powder compression.
Testing for Bias in Forecasts for Independent Multinomial Outcomes
Authors: Franses Philip Hans , Paap Richard
Published: January 2025

This paper deals with a test on forecast bias in predicting independent multinomial outcomes where the predictions are probabilities. The new Likelihood Ratio (and Wald) test extends the familiar Mincer Zarnowitz regression to a multinomial logit model instead of a linear regression. The test is evaluated using various simulation experiments, which indicate that the size and power properties are good, even for small sample sizes, in the sense that the size is close to the used 5% level, and the power quickly reaches 1. We implement the test in an empirical setting on brand choice by individual households.
Peanut and Soy Protein-Based Emulsion Gels Loaded with Curcumin as a New Fat Substitute in Sausages: A Comparative Study
Authors: Yan Hong-Yan , Zhang Shao-Bing
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the complete or partial substitution (0, 20, 40, and 100%) of the pork backfat in prepared sausage with protein emulsion gels loaded with curcumin. The effects of three protein emulsion gels (i.e., peanut proteins, ultrasound-modified peanut proteins, and soy proteins) on sausage characteristics (cooking loss, textural properties, microstructure, sensory characteristics, and antioxidant activity) were investigated and compared using a one-way analysis of variance and Duncan’s multiple tests. The results revealed that the addition of each emulsion gel reduced cooking loss and improved the textural properties of the sausages in a dose-dependent manner. When 20% of pork backfat was substituted with untreated or ultrasound-modified peanut protein emulsion gel (PPEG), cooking loss decreased to a greater extent than when soy protein emulsion gel (SPEG) was used. However, the latter yielded higher cohesiveness and resilience at the same substitution levels. Compared with untreated PPEG, the sausages containing modified PPEG (at 200 W for 20 min) had significantly greater resilience and a denser microstructure. In addition, when 100% of pork backfat was substituted with modified PPEG, the sausages had desirable sensory characteristics. All sausages enriched with protein emulsion gels loaded with curcumin presented higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacities than the control sausages. The sausages prepared with the modified PPEG had the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH: 37.43 ± 0.35%; ABTS: 39.48 ± 0.50%; TBARS: 0.65 ± 0.05 mg MDA/Kg), which may be attributed to the increased stability of curcumin in the modified PPEG with a denser network structure. Therefore, ultrasound-modified PPEG loaded with curcumin can be used as a new fat substitute in functional sausages or other healthy meat products.
Self-Assembled Peptide Hydrogels PPI45 and PPI47: Novel Drug Candidates for Staphylococcus aureus Infection Treatment
Authors: Wu Quanlong , Deng Mengyin , Mao Ruoyu , Yang Na , Hao Ya , Cao Manli , Teng Da , Wang Jianhua
Published: January 2025

Staphylococcus aureus, a prevalent zoonotic pathogen, poses a significant threat to skin wound infections. This study evaluates the bactericidal efficacy of self-assembled peptide hydrogels, PPI45 and PPI47, derived from the defensin-derived peptide PPI42, against S. aureus ATCC43300. The high-level preparation of PPI45 and PPI47 was achieved with yields of 1.82 g/L and 2.13 g/L, which are 2.19 and 2.60 times the yield of PPI42. Additionally, the critical micelle concentrations (CMCs) of the peptides at pH 7.4 for PPI42, PPI45, and PPI47 were determined to be 245 µg/mL, 973 µg/mL, and 1016 µg/mL, respectively. At a concentration of 3 mg/mL, the viscosities of the gels were 52,500 mPa·s, 33,700 mPa·s, and 3480 mPa·s for PPI42, PPI45, and PPI47. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that all peptides exhibited long, pearl necklace-like protofibrils. These peptides demonstrated potent bactericidal activity, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4–16 µg/mL against S. aureus, and a sustained effect post-drug clearance. Flow cytometry analysis after 2×MIC peptides treatment for 2 h revealed a 20–38% membrane disruption rate in bacteria, corroborated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations of membrane damage and bacterial collapse. The peptide treatment also led to reduced hyperpolarized membrane potential. In vitro safety assessments indicated minimal hemolytic activity on murine red blood cells and low cytotoxicity on human immortalized epidermal cells (HaCaT). In summary, this work lays a valuable cornerstone for the future design and characterization of self-assembling antimicrobial peptides hydrogels to combat S. aureus infection.
Chromosome 4 Duplication Associated with Strabismus Leads to Gene Expression Changes in iPSC-Derived Cortical Neurons
Authors: Martinez-Sanchez Mayra , Skarnes William , Jain Ashish , Vemula Sampath , Sun Liang , Rockowitz Shira , Whitman Mary C.
Published: January 2025

Background/Objectives: Strabismus is the most common ocular disorder of childhood. Three rare, recurrent genetic duplications have been associated with both esotropia and exotropia, but the mechanisms by which they contribute to strabismus are unknown. This work aims to investigate the mechanisms of the smallest of the three, a 23 kb duplication on chromosome 4 (hg38|4:25,554,985-25,578,843). Methods: Using CRISPR and bridging oligos, we introduced the duplication into the Kolf2.1J iPSC line. We differentiated the parent line and the line with the duplication into cortical neurons using a three-dimensional differentiation protocol, and performed bulk RNASeq on neural progenitors (day 14) and differentiated neurons (day 63). Results: We successfully introduced the duplication into Kolf2.1J iPSCs by nucleofecting a bridging oligo for the newly formed junction along with cas9 ribonucleoparticles. We confirmed that the cells had a tandem duplication without inversion or deletion. The parent line and the line with the duplication both differentiated into neurons reliably. There were a total of 37 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at day 63, 25 downregulated and 12 upregulated. There were 55 DEGs at day 14, 18 of which were also DEGs at day 63. The DEGs included a number of protocadherins, several genes involved in neuronal development, including SLITRK2, CSMD1, and VGF, and several genes of unknown function. Conclusions: A copy number variant (CNV) that confers risk for strabismus affects gene expression of several genes involved in neural development, highlighting that strabismus most likely results from abnormal neural development, and identifying several new genes and pathways for further research into the pathophysiology of strabismus.
Association of Control Service Types with Aviation Medical Examination Results and Sick Leave in Air Traffic Controllers in Korea
Authors: Choi Ju-Hyun , Jung Hye-Sun , Choi Eun-Hi
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between the characteristics of air traffic controllers, their aviation medical examination results, and their sick leave, with the ultimate aim of promoting their health and contributing to the enhancement of aviation safety. Methods: The subjects of this study were air traffic controllers affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Airport Corporation in various regions of Korea. Data collection was conducted through a survey from 10 May 2023 to 10 December 2023. Results: A total of 220 participants were included in the final analysis. An analysis of the factors associated with the aviation medical examination results revealed that approach controllers were 3.044 times more likely to receive a non-fit result (conditionally fit or unfit) compared to area controllers. An analysis of the factors associated with sick leave showed that approach controllers were 3.891 times more likely to take sick leave than area controllers. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to implement regular job rotation to eliminate monotony, enhance job satisfaction, and provide diverse career experiences, considering the varying workloads and characteristics of different control tasks. Furthermore, various organizational support initiatives must be introduced to enhance both the physical and mental health of air traffic controllers.
Advancing Slope Stability and Hydrological Solutions Through Biocementation: A Bibliometric Review
Authors: Omoregie Armstrong Ighodalo , Ouahbi Tariq , Kan Fock-Kui , Sirat Qurratu Aini , Raheem Hafsat Omolara , Rajasekar Adharsh
Published: January 2025

Biocementation is an innovative and sustainable technique with wide-ranging applications in slope stabilization, watershed management, and erosion control. Despite its potential, comprehensive evaluations of its use in hydrology and geotechnical engineering are limited. This study addresses this gap through a bibliometric analysis of 685 articles (2013–2023) from the Scopus database, employing VOSviewer and RStudio to explore global research trends, key contributors, and emerging themes. The analysis reveals that China, the United States, and Japan are leading contributors to this field, with significant advancements in microbial-induced (MICP) and enzyme-induced calcium carbonate precipitation (EICP) techniques. These methods have demonstrated effectiveness in improving soil strength, reducing erosion, and enhancing hydrological properties such as infiltration, runoff control, and water retention. Co-occurrence analysis identifies interdisciplinary connections between geotechnics and hydrology, highlighting research clusters focused on biomineralization, erosion resistance, and durability. The findings underscore biocementation’s pivotal role in addressing sustainability challenges by providing environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional soil stabilization techniques. This study not only maps the current research landscape but also offers valuable insights into the practical implications of biocementation for slope stability and hydrological management, laying the foundation for future advancements in sustainable engineering practices.
Work Psychology and Occupational Health: An Editorial
Authors: Fushimi Masahito
Published: January 2025

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted workers’ health, particularly their mental well-being [...]
Effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation in Postural Changes and Postural Stability in Young Adults
Authors: Pacheco Maria Paula , Morais Sara , Carvalho Paulo José , Cavalheiro Luís , Sousa Filipa
Published: January 2025

Background: Postural changes are considered a public health issue and have gathered significant interest in both research and clinical practice. Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) in improving postural changes and postural stability in healthy young adults. Additionally, this study aims to identify the main postural changes in the sample population. Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted with a sample of students (n = 38) from the 2nd and 3rd years of undergraduate programs at Coimbra Health School, divided into an experimental group (EG) with 20 subjects and a control group (CG) with 18 subjects. The EG underwent a GPR intervention, while the CG received no intervention. Postural changes were assessed using a 3D motion analysis system (Qualisys), and stabilometry was evaluated using a Bertec force platform. Results: At baseline (T0), the groups were homogeneous regarding sample characterization variables, as well as postural and stabilometric variables (p > 0.05). After four weeks of the intervention (T1), no significant differences were observed between the EG and CG for any of the variables studied (p > 0.05). However, within-group analysis for the experimental group revealed a significant difference (p = 0.04) in anterior-posterior velocity, indicating a reduction in this parameter from T0 to T1. In the control group, a significant difference was observed (p = 0.03) in the left knee valgus, indicating a reduction in valgus alignment. Conclusions: GPR does not appear to be effective in improving postural changes or center of pressure displacement in healthy young students.
Pathogenetic Mechanisms Linking Sarcoidosis to Lymphoma
Authors: Voutidou Styliani , Eleftheriadis Dimitrios , Drakopanagiotakis Fotios , Papanikolaou Ilias C. , Steiropoulos Paschalis
Published: January 2025

Sarcoidosis and lymphoma share immunopathological characteristics that suggest a complex, interconnected relationship. This article examines the multi-faceted mechanisms linking sarcoidosis to lymphoma, a phenomenon called sarcoidosis-lymphoma syndrome (SLS). SLS is hard to diagnose, requiring distinct criteria and imaging to differentiate overlapping features and histological differences. The co-occurrence of these diseases may be explained by genetic predispositions, immune dysregulation, and environmental factors that enhance malignancy risk. In active sarcoidosis, chronic inflammation and granuloma formation induce the production of cytokines that can contribute to lymphoma development. The role of macrophage polarization is also discussed. Immunosuppressive treatment prescribed in sarcoidosis patients, particularly corticosteroids and biological agents, may increase the susceptibility to lymphoproliferative malignancies. These common mechanisms emphasize the need for vigilant monitoring of lymphoma in patients with sarcoidosis, as this granulomatous disease can mimic and promote the development of lymphoma.
Gene Expression Profiles Reveal Distinct Mechanisms Driving Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations
Authors: Bello-Perez Melissa , García-Pachón Eduardo , Gonzalo-Jimenez Nieves , Ruiz-García Montserrat , Zamora-Molina Lucía , Baeza-Martinez Carlos , Galiana Antonio
Published: January 2025

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are major contributors to morbidity and mortality, highlighting the need to better understand their molecular mechanisms to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This study investigated differential gene expression profiles and key biological processes in COPD exacerbations categorized based on sputum microbiome profiling. An observational study was performed on a cohort of 16 COPD patients, who provided blood and sputum samples during exacerbations, along with five stable-state samples as controls. Exacerbations were classified using 16S rRNA sequencing to analyze the sputum microbiota and multiplex PCR to detect respiratory viruses. Blood transcriptomic profiling was conducted using Oxford Nanopore technology, followed by differential gene expression and pathway enrichment analyses. A total of 768 regulated genes were identified across the exacerbation groups, with 35 shared genes associated with neutrophil activation. Bacterial exacerbations activated pathways related to phagocytosis and toll-like receptor signaling, while viral exacerbations were linked to pro-inflammatory responses and mitochondrial damage. Exacerbations of unknown origin showed activation of pathways involved in protozoan defense and neutrophilic asthma. Biomarkers such as IFITM3 and ISG15 for bacterial exacerbations, DEFA3 for viral, and CD47 for unknown-origin exacerbations were identified. These findings highlight distinct transcriptomic profiles and biological pathways in COPD exacerbations, emphasizing the central role of neutrophil-driven inflammation and identifying potential biomarkers for improved differential diagnosis and personalized management.
Low-Power Wake-Up Receivers for Resilient Cellular Internet of Things
Authors: Wang Siyu , Odelberg Trevor J. , Crary Peter W. , Obery Mason P. , Wentzloff David D.
Published: January 2025

Smart Cities leverage large networks of wirelessly connected nodes embedded with sensors and/or actuators. Cellular IoT, such as NB-IoT and 5G RedCap, is often preferred for these applications thanks to its long range, extensive coverage, and good quality of service. In these networks, wireless communication dominates power consumption, motivating research on energy-efficient yet resilient and robust wireless systems. Many IoT use cases require low latency but cannot afford high-power radios continuously operating to accomplish this. In these cases, wake-up receivers (WURs) are a promising solution: while the high-power main radio (MR) is turned off/idle, a lightweight WUR is continuously monitoring the RF channel; when it detects a wake-up sequence, the WUR will turn on the MR for subsequent communications. This article provides an overview of WUR hardware design considerations and challenges for 4G and 5G cellular IoT, summarizes the recent 3GPP activities to standardize NB-IoT and 5G wake-up signals, and presents a state-of-the-art WUR chip.
Comprehensive Analysis of Sustainability Rating Systems for Road Infrastructure
Authors: Mehraban Rajab Ali , Tsantilis Lucia , Riviera Pier Paolo , Santagata Ezio
Published: January 2025

Sustainability rating systems (SRSs) have emerged as indispensable frameworks for advancing the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of road infrastructure. Despite their growing adoption, their integration as authoritative tools within infrastructure planning and development remains limited. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of eight leading SRSs—CEEQUAL, Greenroads, GreenLITES, GreenPave, I-LAST, INVEST, BE2ST-in-Highways, and Envision—focusing on their structural frameworks, criteria weightings, adherence to the three pillars of sustainability, and alignment with international benchmarks such as ISO, EN, and ASTM standards. By considering the three pillars of sustainability, the analysis of the eight SRSs reveals a disproportionate focus on environmental well-being (43%) and social well-being (42%), with economic well-being receiving minimal emphasis (15%). Furthermore, this study identifies notable deficiencies in the integration of critical international standards, including ISO, EN, and ASTM, which constrains the comprehensiveness and global applicability of these frameworks. Key findings suggest that the current SRSs inadequately address the principles of a circular economy, risk management, and social equity, highlighting areas for methodological enhancement. This review offers critical insights for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners seeking to refine sustainability rating systems for road infrastructure. By consolidating existing knowledge and proposing methodological advancements, this study contributes to the evolution of SRSs into comprehensive, globally relevant tools for sustainable infrastructure development.
Involvement of Inwardly Rectifying Potassium (Kir) Channels in the Toxicity of Flonicamid to Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Liu Xuan , Gao Yuying , Liu Tengfei , Guo Hailiang , Qiao Jizu , Su Jianya
Published: January 2025

Inwardly rectifying potassium (Kir) channels regulate essential physiological processes in insects and have been identified as potential targets for developing new insecticides. Flonicamid has been reported to inhibit Kir channels, disrupting the functions of salivary glands and renal tubules. However, the precise molecular target of flonicamid remains debated. It is unclear whether flonicamid directly targets Kir channels or acts on other sites involved in the activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid (TRPV) channels. In this study, we observed that flonicamid is more toxic to flies than its metabolite, flumetnicam. This higher toxicity is difficult to reconcile if nicotinamidase is the active target, as flonicamid does not inhibit nicotinamidase. An alternative explanation is that flonicamid and flumetnicam may have distinct targets or act on multiple targets. Furthermore, reducing the expression of three individual Kir genes in the salivary glands of D. melanogaster significantly decreased the flies’ susceptibility to both flonicamid and flumetnicam. The double knockdown of Kir1 with Kir3 or Kir2 with Kir3 further reduced the flies’ sensitivity to both compounds. These findings confirm the involvement of Kir channels in mediating the toxic effects of flonicamid on flies. Overall, this study offers new insights into the physiological roles of insect Kir channels and flonicamid toxicity.
Efficient State Synchronization in Distributed Electrical Grid Systems Using Conflict-Free Replicated Data Types
Authors: Prymushko Arsentii , Puchko Ivan , Yaroshynskyi Mykola , Sinko Dmytro , Kravtsov Hryhoriy , Artemchuk Volodymyr
Published: January 2025

Modern electrical grids are evolving towards distributed architectures, necessitating efficient and reliable state synchronization mechanisms to maintain structural and functional consistency. This paper investigates the application of conflict-free replicated data types (CRDTs) for representing and synchronizing the states of distributed electrical grid systems (DEGSs). We present a general structure for DEGSs based on CRDTs, focusing on the Convergent Replicated Data Type (CvRDT) model with delta state propagation to optimize the communication overhead. The Observed Remove Set (ORSet) and Last-Writer-Wins Register (LWW-Register) are utilized to handle concurrent updates and ensure that only the most recent state changes are retained. An actor-based framework, “Vigilant Hawk”, leveraging the Akka toolkit, was developed to simulate the asynchronous and concurrent nature of DEGSs. Each electrical grid node is modelled as an independent actor with isolated state management, facilitating scalability and fault tolerance. Through a series of experiments involving 100 nodes under varying latency degradation coefficients (LDK), we examined the impact of network conditions on the state synchronization efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that CRDTs effectively maintain consistency and deterministic behavior in DEGSs, even with increased network latency and node disturbances. An effective LDK range was identified (LDK effective = 2 or 4), where the network remains stable without significant delays in state propagation. The linear relationship between the full state distribution time (FSDT) and LDK indicates that the system can scale horizontally without introducing complex communication overhead. The findings affirm that using CRDTs for state synchronization enhances the resilience and operational efficiency of distributed electrical grids. The deterministic and conflict-free properties of CRDTs eliminate the need for complex concurrency control mechanisms, making them suitable for real-time monitoring and control applications. Future work will focus on addressing identified limitations, such as optimizing message routing based on the network topology and incorporating security measures to protect state information in critical infrastructure systems.
Unexpected Clinically Relevant Findings Detected via Computed Tomography in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis Who Are Candidates for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Bianchi Nicola , Frascaro Federica , Zanarelli Luca , Marchini Federico , Sanguettoli Federico , Meossi Sofia , Serenelli Matteo , Leone Alessandro , Penzo Carlo , Tumscitz Carlo , Campo Gianluca , Pavasini Rita
Published: January 2025

Background: The detection of unexpected findings (UF) during CT scans of patients undergoing TAVR is frequent; however, it is unclear whether such findings have a clinical impact on the TAVR pathway. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study enrolling patients who were candidates for TAVR. All enrolled patients underwent a CT scan before valve implantation. The primary outcome of this study was all-cause mortality, while the secondary outcome was to determine whether the diagnosis of clinically relevant UF on CT scans results in a significant delay in the TAVR procedure. Results: A total of 284 patients were enrolled. Clinically relevant UF were identified in 15% of the patients, with the most common types being pulmonary masses or nodules. During the follow-up period, 83 patients (29.2%) died. The prognosis was worsened by chronic kidney disease (HR 1.76, p = 0.03) and left ventricular dilatation (HR 1.74, p = 0.04), while the diagnosis of clinically relevant UF did not impact all-cause mortality (p = 0.38). No statistically significant differences were found in the delay from the diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis to TAVR between patients with and without clinically relevant UF (p = 0.07), although patients with clinically relevant UF experienced a median delay of approximately 37 days in the TAVR procedure. Conclusions: The presence of clinically relevant UF on preoperative CT scans does not affect all-cause mortality but shows a trend toward increasing the time from diagnosis to the procedure in patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVR. Further studies are required to confirm these findings in larger patient cohorts.
Efficient Generative-Adversarial U-Net for Multi-Organ Medical Image Segmentation
Authors: Wang Haoran , Wu Gengshen , Liu Yi
Published: January 2025

Manual labeling of lesions in medical image analysis presents a significant challenge due to its labor-intensive and inefficient nature, which ultimately strains essential medical resources and impedes the advancement of computer-aided diagnosis. This paper introduces a novel medical image-segmentation framework named Efficient Generative-Adversarial U-Net (EGAUNet), designed to facilitate rapid and accurate multi-organ labeling. To enhance the model’s capability to comprehend spatial information, we propose the Global Spatial-Channel Attention Mechanism (GSCA). This mechanism enables the model to concentrate more effectively on regions of interest. Additionally, we have integrated Efficient Mapping Convolutional Blocks (EMCB) into the feature-learning process, allowing for the extraction of multi-scale spatial information and the adjustment of feature map channels through optimized weight values. Moreover, the proposed framework progressively enhances its performance by utilizing a generative-adversarial learning strategy, which contributes to improvements in segmentation accuracy. Consequently, EGAUNet demonstrates exemplary segmentation performance on public multi-organ datasets while maintaining high efficiency. For instance, in evaluations on the CHAOS T2SPIR dataset, EGAUNet achieves approximately 2% higher performance on the Jaccard metric, 1% higher on the Dice metric, and nearly 3% higher on the precision metric in comparison to advanced networks such as Swin-Unet and TransUnet.
Identification and Removal of Light Pollution in Maritime Night-Time Images Based on Spatial Frequency Blocks
Authors: Sun Hui , Wang Jingyang , Pan Mingyang , Liu Zongying , Li Shaoxi , Zhang Ruolan , Wei Yang
Published: January 2025

The safety of ships during nighttime navigation has always been a major concern. With the widespread application of technologies such as intelligent recognition, intelligent detection, and unmanned ship navigation at night, nighttime maritime light pollution has significantly affected the effectiveness of these intelligent technologies and navigation safety. Therefore, effectively eliminating nighttime maritime light pollution has become an urgent challenge that needs to be addressed. This paper presents a model based on spatial frequency blocks (SFBs) to solve the problem of light pollution in nighttime sea images. The model includes ResNet-50, an encoder, a decoder, and a discriminator. To enable the model to better remove the influence of light pollution, this study designs a method of first detecting the light pollution area and then removing it. It extracts image information from the space–frequency domain to help eliminate light pollution and retain more image information. The experimental results show that on the nighttime light pollution dataset, the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of the model is improved to 24.91 compared to the current state-of-the-art image restoration model, while the Frechet inception distance (FID) is reduced to 64.85. At the same time, in the real night environment, the model can better remove light pollution to recover the original nighttime information. It has excellent performance and provides a certain reference value for advancing the safety of nighttime maritime navigation.
Fatigue Analysis for Shaft of Inland River Ship Under Ice Load
Authors: Yang Kai , Feng Guoqing
Published: January 2025

Inland river ships navigating in an ice area cannot avoid contact between the propeller and ice block. In addition to ensuring the safety of propeller blades, the fatigue strength of the propulsion shaft system under ice load excitation must also be considered. This paper first studies how to calculate the natural frequency of free torsional vibration of the system, then uses Newmark integral programing to calculate the maximum torsional stress of shaft system under ice load at resonance speed. Low cycle stress and high cycle stress are studied according to fatigue analysis theory. The method of determining S–N curve and ice load stress spectrum is given and the cumulative damage ratio is calculated based on Palmgren–Miner linear cumulative damage theory. Finally, taking a real inland river vessel propulsion shaft system as an example, the fatigue strength of the shaft system under different working conditions of ice load excitation is studied. Therefore, this study has practical significance and engineering application value in conducting fatigue research on the propulsion shaft system of an inland waterway vessel sailing in an ice area.
Chemical Detection Using Mobile Platforms and AI-Based Data Processing Technologies
Authors: Noh Daegwon , Oh Eunsoon
Published: January 2025

The development of reliable gas sensors is very important in many fields such as safety, environment, and agriculture, and is especially essential for industrial waste and air pollution monitoring. As the performance of mobile platforms equipped with sensors such as smartphones and drones and the technologies supporting them (wireless communication, battery performance, data processing technology, etc.) are spreading and improving, a lot of efforts are being made to perform these tasks by using portable systems such as smartphones or installing them on unmanned wireless platforms such as drones. For example, research is continuously being conducted on chemical sensors for field monitoring using smartphones and rapid monitoring of air pollution using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In this paper, we review the measurement results of various chemical sensors available on mobile platforms including drones and smartphones, and the analysis of detection results using machine learning. This topic covers a wide range of specialized fields such as materials engineering, aerospace engineering, physics, chemistry, environmental engineering, electrical engineering, and machine learning, and it is difficult for experts in one field to grasp the entire content. Therefore, we have explained various concepts with relatively simple pictures so that experts in various fields can comprehensively understand the overall topics.
Data-Driven Decision Support to Guide Sustainable Grazing Management
Authors: Reeves Matthew , Swisher Joseph , Krebs Michael , Warnke Kelly , Hanberry Brice , Hudson Tip , Hall Sonia
Published: January 2025

Data-driven decision support can help guide sustainable grazing management by providing an accurate estimate of grazing capacity, in coproduction with managers. Here, we described the development of a decision support model to estimate grazing capacity and illustrated its application on two sites in the western United States. For the Montgomery Pass Wild Horse Territory in California and Nevada, the upper limit estimated in the capacity assessment was 398 horses and the current population was 654 horses. For the Eagle Creek watershed of the Apache–Sitgreaves National Forest of eastern Arizona, the lower end of capacity was estimated at 1560 cattle annually, compared to the current average of 1090 cattle annually. In addition to being spatio-temporally comprehensive, the model provides a repeatable, cost-effective, and transparent process for establishing and adjusting capacity estimates and associated grazing plans that are supported by scientific information, in order to support livestock numbers at levels that are sustainable over time, including levels that are below average forage production during drought conditions. This modeling process acts as a decision support tool because it enables different assumptions to be used and explored to accommodate multiple viewpoints during the planning process.
Facilitating or Hindering? The Impact of Low-Carbon Pilot Policies on Socio-Ecological Resilience in Resource-Based Cities
Authors: Peng Yanran , Wang Zhong , Zhang Yunhui , Wang Wei
Published: January 2025

Low-carbon pilot policies are essential for the green transformation of resource-based cities, helping them mitigate the “carbon curse” and the “resource curse” while promoting sustainable socio-ecological development. Focusing on a panel of 114 resource-based cities in China, spanning from 2003 to 2022, this study employs a range of methodologies, including kernel density estimation, the Difference-in-Differences Model, Spatial Difference-in-Differences, Mediation Analysis, K-means Clustering, and Dual Machine Learning to assess the consequences of low-carbon pilot policies on socio-ecological resilience. The findings indicate that the socio-ecological resilience of the study area has generally improved, though there is noticeable polarization. Low-carbon pilot policies significantly enhance the resilience of resource-based cities by 0.4%, and they exhibit a positive spatial spillover effect of 1.1%. However, the long-term effects of the policies on economic resilience were not significant, and the policies did not have a direct impact on the social resilience of the pilot cities; however, they did promote social resilience in neighboring regions. Finally, the effectiveness of low-carbon pilots varies, with more pronounced benefits in declining and mature resource cities, particularly in those with medium ecological and economic resilience, and low social resilience. Green finance, industrial transformation, and carbon emission efficiency are identified as key strategies for improving socio-ecological resilience. The above findings provide insights for policymakers seeking to foster inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development in China.
The Impact of Farmland Transfer on Urban–Rural Integration: Causal Inference Based on Double Machine Learning
Authors: Lu Yuchen , Zhuang Jiakun , Chen Jun , Yang Chenlu , Kong Mei
Published: January 2025

Urban–rural fragmentation represents a significant challenge encountered by nations globally, particularly in both developing and developed contexts, during the modernisation process. This study examines the effects of rural land system reform on facilitating integrated development between urban and rural areas. The analysis of the impact of the 2010 liberalisation of the land transfer policy employs a dual machine learning model, utilising provincial-level data from China spanning 2005 to 2022, to address the limitations of traditional causal inference models while ensuring estimation accuracy. The findings indicate that the reform of the rural land system significantly enhances integrated urban–rural development, particularly in demographic, economic, and ecological dimensions. The mechanisms encompass the facilitation of extensive land and agricultural service operations, the development of new business entities, the migration of rural labour, and the enhancement of agricultural capital. Furthermore, notable disparities exist in the effects of reforms across various regions, particularly concerning urban–rural integration development and land transfer levels. The policy effects of land transfer exhibit a marginally diminishing trend. The influence of land transfer on urban–rural integration varies with economic development levels, demonstrating a nonlinear relationship, with the most pronounced effects observed in regions with moderate economic development. Additionally, the policy effects of land transfer differ based on geographic location. The impact of land transfer policies varies across geographic regions, with the central region exhibiting the most significant effect, followed by the north-eastern region, the western region, and the eastern region, which shows the least effect. This study provides a reference for advancing the reform of the marketisation of land factors, improving the efficiency of land resource allocation, and regionally and in multiple layers advancing the reform of the rural land system.
International Perspectives on Skid Resistance Requirements for Pavement Markings: A Comprehensive Synthesis and Analysis
Authors: Bao Jieyi , Zhao Hua , Jiang Yi , Li Shuo
Published: January 2025

Pavement (or road) markings play an important role in road safety, influencing the dynamics of road users through their skid resistance properties. This study provides a comprehensive synthesis and analysis of international perspectives on the skid resistance of pavement markings and their requirements. It examines marking skid test results across various regions, including North America, Europe, and other parts of the world, and emphasizes the impact of different materials and test environments on skid resistance. The study also reviews current skid resistance standards and guidelines, from North American state-level standards to European and global specifications. Furthermore, it discusses the safety implications of these standards for diverse road users, especially motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. In conclusion, this paper highlights the importance of further innovation and consistency in skid resistance testing and standards to improve road safety.
All-Fiber Micro-Ring Resonator Based p-Si/n-ITO Heterojunction Electro-Optic Modulator
Authors: Zhu Yihan , Wang Ziqian , Chen Xing , Zhu Honghai , Zhou Lizhuo , Zhou Yujie , Liu Yi , Zhang Yule , Tian Xilin , Sun Shuo , Li Jianqing , Jiang Ke , Zhang Han , Wang Huide
Published: January 2025

With the rapid advancement of information technology, the data demands in transmission rates, processing speed, and storage capacity have been increasing significantly. However, silicon electro-optic modulators, characterized by their weak electro-optic effect, struggle to balance modulation efficiency and bandwidth. To overcome this limitation, we propose an electro-optic modulator based on an all-fiber micro-ring resonator and a p-Si/n-ITO heterojunction, achieving high modulation efficiency and large bandwidth. ITO is introduced in this design, which exhibits an ε-near-zero (ENZ) effect in the communication band. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index of ITO undergo significant changes in response to variations in carrier concentration induced by the reverse bias voltage, thereby enabling efficient electro-optic modulation. Additionally, the design of the all-fiber micro-ring eliminates coupling losses associated with spatial optical-waveguide coupling, thereby resolving the high insertion loss of silicon waveguide modulators and the challenges of integrating MZI modulation structures. The results demonstrate that this modulator can achieve significant phase shifts at low voltages, with a modulation efficiency of up to 3.08 nm/V and a bandwidth reaching 82.04 GHz, indicating its potential for high-speed optical chip applications.
Comparison of the Modified CTOD Measurement Method with the Double Clip Gauge Method in a Compact Tension Specimen
Authors: Park Jeong Yeol , Kim Myung Hyun , Ji Chang Wook
Published: January 2025

For allowable defect analyses, the fracture toughness of materials needs to be accurately predicted. In this regard, a lower fluctuation of fracture toughness can lead to reduction in safety and economic risks. Crack tip opening displacement (CTOD), which is the representative parameter for fracture toughness, can be measured by various methods, such as the δ5, the J-conversion method, the single clip gauge method, and the double clip gauge method. When calculating CTOD from test results, the principle of similar triangles, which adopts the plastic hinge model, is influenced by the rotation factor, rp. Therefore, in order to reduce the fluctuation of CTOD, the exact value of rp must be defined. This study investigates various methods to predict fracture toughness in metallic materials, and assess the pros and cons of each method. Moreover, the equation of rp is modified by using a double clip gauge in compact tension (CT) to reduce the fluctuation of CTOD. The rp value is derived from 0.55 to 0.68, using the double clip gauge method. Finite element analysis is used to derive the rp values, which range from 0.50 to 0.66, in order to verify the validity of the derived rp values. This ensures the validity of the rp value derived from the experiment. In addition, the fluctuation of CTOD, based on the modified equation of rp, is lower than that using the single clip gauge method, according to BS 7448.
Bearing Fault Feature Extraction Method Based on Adaptive Time-Varying Filtering Empirical Mode Decomposition and Singular Value Decomposition Denoising
Authors: E Xuezhuang , Wang Wenbo , Yuan Hao
Published: January 2025

Aiming to address the difficulty in extracting the early weak fault features of bearings under complex operating conditions, a fault diagnosis method is proposed based on the adaptive fusion of time-varying filtering empirical mode decomposition (TVF-EMD) modal components and singular value decomposition (SVD) noise reduction. First, the snake optimization (SO) technique is used to optimize the TVF-EMD algorithm in order to determine the optimal parameters that match the input signal. Then, the bearing signal is divided into a number of intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) using TVF-EMD in order to reduce the nonlinearity and non-stationary characteristics of the fault signal. An index for the envelope fault information energy ratio (EFIER) is created to overcome the drawback of there being too many IMF components after TVF-EMD decomposition. The IMF components are ranked in descending order according to the EFIER, and they are fused according to the maximum principle of the energy ratio of envelope fault information until the optimal fusion component is determined. Finally, the fault feature is extracted when the optimal fusion component is denoised using SVD. Two measured bearing fault signals and simulation signals are used to validate the performance of the proposed method. The experimental findings demonstrate that the approach has good sensitive feature screening, fusion, and noise reduction capabilities. The proposed method can more precisely extract the early fault features of bearings and accurately identify fault types.
Finite Element Research of Cup Wheel Grinding Heat Based on Trochoid Scratch Model
Authors: Zhao Pengcheng , Lin Bin , Zhou Jingguo , Lv Bingrui , Sui Tianyi
Published: January 2025

Grinding is a highly precise machining process. However, excessive temperatures during grinding can result in adverse thermal effects on the machined material. In this study, cup wheel grinding was analyzed using a model that represents heat generation as a trochoid discrete heat source formed by the interactions between abrasive particles and the workpiece surface. With this approach, certain assumptions were made to facilitate analysis, including the modeling of abrasive grains as rigid point heat sources. Finite element simulations and experimental validations based on the trochoid model were conducted using COMSOL 6.2 software. These analyses evaluated the thermal behavior of cup wheel grinding under varying wheel speeds and feed rate ratios. The results revealed an asymmetrical distribution of the temperature field in cup wheel grinding. By examining both surface and subsurface temperature fields, this study provided a more comprehensive understanding of grinding heat. Furthermore, this investigation explored the influence of trochoid trajectories and process parameters on the temperature field, highlighting intersection and curvature thermal effects. These findings contribute valuable analytical methods and theoretical insights for controlling grinding heat in precision machining processes.
Polyphenol–Macromolecule Interactions by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry
Authors: Karonen Maarit
Published: January 2025

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) is a widely used and valuable technique for studying the binding interactions and the formation and dissociation of molecular complexes. ITC directly measures the energetics associated with the interactions and allows for a precise and complete thermodynamic description of association and binding processes, thereby providing an understanding of the interaction mechanisms. In this review, the role, practical aspects related to the experimental design and setup, advantages, and challenges of using ITC to evaluate polyphenol–macromolecule binding are discussed in detail. The focus is on the possibilities offered by ITC, but at the same time, its limitations are taken into account, especially in the study of complex biological processes and in the subsequent reliable determination of thermodynamic parameters. Polyphenols and proteins typically exhibit exothermic interactions, producing strong signals and distinctive titration curves that can be fitted by one- or two-site binding models; of course, there are exceptions to this. Tannins and tannin fractions usually have a high binding stoichiometry and stronger interactions with proteins than the smaller polyphenols. The driving forces behind these interactions vary, but in many cases, both hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions have been reported. The interactions between polyphenols and polysaccharides or lipid bilayers have been far less studied by ITC in comparison to polyphenol–protein interactions. ITC could be utilized more extensively to study polyphenol–macromolecule interactions, as it is an excellent tool for evaluating the thermodynamic parameters of these interactions, and when used together with other techniques, ITC can also help understand how these interactions affect bioavailability, food applications, and other uses of polyphenols.