bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of Potent Inhibitors Targeting the Main Protease of SARS-CoV-2 Using QSAR Modeling, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Oubahmane Mehdi , Hdoufane Ismail , Delaite Christelle , Sayede Adlane , Cherqaoui Driss , El Allali Achraf
Published: April 2023

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a serious global public health threat. The evolving strains of SARS-CoV-2 have reduced the effectiveness of vaccines. Therefore, antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 are urgently needed. The main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is an extremely potent target due to its pivotal role in virus replication and low susceptibility to mutation. In the present study, a quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) study was performed to design new molecules that might have higher inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. In this context, a set of 55 dihydrophenanthrene derivatives was used to build two 2D-QSAR models using the Monte Carlo optimization method and the Genetic Algorithm Multi-Linear Regression (GA-MLR) method. From the CORAL QSAR model outputs, the promoters responsible for the increase/decrease in inhibitory activity were extracted and interpreted. The promoters responsible for an increase in activity were added to the lead compound to design new molecules. The GA-MLR QSAR model was used to ensure the inhibitory activity of the designed molecules. For further validation, the designed molecules were subjected to molecular docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations along with an absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis. The results of this study suggest that the newly designed molecules have the potential to be developed as effective drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
Artificial Intelligence in Drug Metabolism and Excretion Prediction: Recent Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Tran Thi Tuyet Van , Tayara Hilal , Chong Kil To
Published: April 2023

Drug metabolism and excretion play crucial roles in determining the efficacy and safety of drug candidates, and predicting these processes is an essential part of drug discovery and development. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for predicting drug metabolism and excretion, offering the potential to speed up drug development and improve clinical success rates. This review highlights recent advances in AI-based drug metabolism and excretion prediction, including deep learning and machine learning algorithms. We provide a list of public data sources and free prediction tools for the research community. We also discuss the challenges associated with the development of AI models for drug metabolism and excretion prediction and explore future perspectives in the field. We hope this will be a helpful resource for anyone who is researching in silico drug metabolism, excretion, and pharmacokinetic properties.
Demonstrating the In Vitro and In Situ Antimicrobial Activity of Oxide Mineral Microspheres: An Innovative Technology to Be Incorporated into Porous and Nonporous Materials
Authors: Iskandar Katia , Pecastaings Sophie , LeGac Céline , Salvatico Sylvie , Feuillolay Catherine , Guittard Mylène , Marchin Loïc , Verelst Marc , Roques Christine
Published: April 2023

The antimicrobial activity of surfaces treated with zinc and/or magnesium mineral oxide microspheres is a patented technology that has been demonstrated in vitro against bacteria and viruses. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency and sustainability of the technology in vitro, under simulation-of-use conditions, and in situ. The tests were undertaken in vitro according to the ISO 22196:2011, ISO 20473:2013, and NF S90-700:2019 standards with adapted parameters. Simulation-of-use tests evaluated the robustness of the activity under worst-case scenarios. The in situ tests were conducted on high-touch surfaces. The in vitro results show efficient antimicrobial activity against referenced strains with a log reduction of >2. The sustainability of this effect was time-dependent and detected at lower temperatures (20 ± 2.5 °C) and humidity (46%) conditions for variable inoculum concentrations and contact times. The simulation of use proved the microsphere’s efficiency under harsh mechanical and chemical tests. The in situ studies showed a higher than 90% reduction in CFU/25 cm2 per treated surface versus the untreated surfaces, reaching a targeted value of <50 CFU/cm2. Mineral oxide microspheres can be incorporated into unlimited surface types, including medical devices, to efficiently and sustainably prevent microbial contamination.
Peptide Nanofiber System for Sustained Delivery of Anti-VEGF Proteins to the Eye Vitreous
Authors: Yaylaci Seher , Dinç Erdem , Aydın Bahri , Tekinay Ayse B. , Guler Mustafa O.
Published: April 2023

Ranibizumab is a recombinant VEGF-A antibody used to treat the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. It is intravitreally administered to ocular compartments, and the treatment requires frequent injections, which may cause complications and patient discomfort. To reduce the number of injections, alternative treatment strategies based on relatively non-invasive ranibizumab delivery are desired for more effective and sustained release in the eye vitreous than the current clinical practice. Here, we present self-assembled hydrogels composed of peptide amphiphile molecules for the sustained release of ranibizumab, enabling local high-dose treatment. Peptide amphiphile molecules self-assemble into biodegradable supramolecular filaments in the presence of electrolytes without the need for a curing agent and enable ease of use due to their injectable nature—a feature provided by shear thinning properties. In this study, the release profile of ranibizumab was evaluated by using different peptide-based hydrogels at varying concentrations for improved treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. We observed that the slow release of ranibizumab from the hydrogel system follows extended- and sustainable release patterns without any dose dumping. Moreover, the released drug was biologically functional and effective in blocking the angiogenesis of human endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, an in vivo study shows that the drug released from the hydrogel nanofiber system can stay in the rabbit eye’s posterior chamber for longer than a control group that received only a drug injection. The tunable physiochemical characteristics, injectable nature, and biodegradable and biocompatible features of the peptide-based hydrogel nanofiber show that this delivery system has promising potential for intravitreal anti-VEGF drug delivery in clinics to treat the wet form age-related macular degeneration.
The Balance between Hydrophobicity/Aromaticity and Positively Charged Residues May Influence the Cell Penetration Ability
Authors: Soltész Dóra , Szabó Ildikó , Bánóczi Zoltán
Published: April 2023

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are commonly modified to increase their cellular uptake, alter the mechanism of penetration or enhance their endosomal release. Earlier, we described the internalization enhancement ability of the 4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoyl (Dabcyl) group. We proved that this modification on the N-terminus of tetra- and hexaarginine enhanced their cellular uptake. The introduction of an aromatic ring 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid, AMBA) into the peptide backbone has a synergistic effect with Dabcyl, and the tetraarginine derivatives had outstanding cellular uptake. Based on these results, the effect of Dabcyl or Dabcyl-AMBA modification on the internalization of oligoarginines was studied. Oligoarginines were modified with these groups and their internalization was measured using flow cytometry. The concentration dependence of the cellular uptake of selected constructs was compared too. Their internalization mechanism was also examined by using different endocytosis inhibitors. While the effect of the Dabcyl group was optimal for hexaarginine, the Dabcyl-AMBA group increased the cellular uptake in the case of all oligoarginines. All derivatives, with the exception of only tetraarginine, were more effective than the octaarginine control. The internalization mechanism was dependent on the size of the oligoarginine and was independent of the modification. Our findings suggest that these modifications enhanced the internalization of oligoarginines and resulted in novel, very effective CPPs.
Genetic Diversity and Association Mapping of Grain-Size Traits in Rice Landraces from the Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System in Yunnan Province
Authors: Ma Mengli , Lei En , Wang Tiantao , Meng Hengling , Zhang Wei , Lu Bingyue
Published: April 2023

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces System (HHRTS) of Yunnan Province is an important agricultural and cultural heritage landscape. Until now, a large number of local rice landraces have been planted. Mining excellent genes contained in these landraces provides a reference for variety improvement and new variety breeding. In this study, 96 rice landraces collected from the Hani terraces were planted in Honghe Mengzi, Yunnan Province, in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2021, and five major grain traits were measured and analyzed. The genomic variation of 96 rice landraces was scanned by 201 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The genetic diversity, population structure, and genetic relationships of the natural population were analyzed. The mixed linear model (MLM) method of the TASSEL software was used to analyze the associations between markers and traits. A total of 936 alleles were amplified by 201 pairs of SSR primers. The average number of observed alleles (Na), the effective number of alleles (Ne), Shannon’s information index (I), heterozygosity (H), and the polymorphism information content (PIC) per marker were 4.66, 2.71, 1.08, 0.15, and 0.55, respectively. Ninety-six landraces were divided into two groups by population structure, clustering, and principal component analysis, and indica rice was the main group. The coefficients of variation of the five traits ranged from 6.80 to 15.24%, and their broad heritabilities were more than 70%. In addition, there were positive correlations among the same grain traits between different years. Through MLM analysis, 2, 36, 7, 7, and 4 SSR markers were significantly associated with grain length (GL), grain width (GW), grain thickness (GT), grain length–width ratio (LWR), and thousand-grain weight (TGW), respectively. The explanation rates of phenotypic variation were 16.31 (RM449, Chr. 1)—23.51% (RM316, Chr. 9), 10.84 (RM523, Chr. 3; RM161/RM305, Chr. 5)—43.01% (RM5496, Chr. 1), 11.98 (RM161/RM305, Chr. 5)—24.72% (RM275, Chr. 6), 12.68 (RM126, Chr. 8)—36.96% (RM5496, Chr. 1), and 17.65 (RM4499, Chr. 2)—26.32% (RM25, Chr. 8), respectively. The associated markers were distributed on 12 chromosomes of the genome.
Molecular Cloning and Expression Analysis of the Typical Class III Chitinase Genes from Three Mangrove Species under Heavy Metal Stress
Authors: Zhou Yue-Yue , Wang You-Shao , Sun Cui-Ci
Published: April 2023

Chitinases are considered to act as defense proteins when plants are exposed to heavy metal stresses. Typical class III chitinase genes were cloned from Kandelia obovate, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, and Rhizophora stylosa by using RT-PCR and RACE and named KoCHI III, BgCHI III, and RsCHI III. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the three genes encoding proteins were all typical class III chitinases with the characteristic catalytic structure belonging to the family GH18 and located outside the cell. In addition, there are heavy metal binding sites in the three-dimensional spatial structure of the type III chitinase gene. Phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that CHI had the closest relationship with chitinase in Rhizophora apiculata. In mangrove plants, the balance of the oxidative system in the body is disrupted under heavy metal stress, resulting in increased H2O2 content. Real-time PCR illustrated that the expression level under heavy metal stress was significantly higher than that in the control group. Expression levels of CHI III were higher in K. obovate than in B. gymnorrhiza and R. stylosa. With the increase in heavy metal stress time, the expression level increased continuously. These results suggest that chitinase plays an important role in improving the heavy metal tolerance of mangrove plants.
Comparative Coexpression Analysis of Indole Synthase and Tryptophan Synthase A Reveals the Independent Production of Auxin via the Cytosolic Free Indole
Authors: Abu-Zaitoon Yousef M. , Al-Ramamneh Ezz Al-Dein Muhammed , Al Tawaha Abdel Rahman , Alnaimat Sulaiman M. , Almomani Fouad A.
Published: April 2023

Indole synthase (INS), a homologous cytosolic enzyme of the plastidal tryptophan synthase A (TSA), has been reported as the first enzyme in the tryptophan-independent pathway of auxin synthesis. This suggestion was challenged as INS or its free indole product may interact with tryptophan synthase B (TSB) and, therefore, with the tryptophan-dependent pathway. Thus, the main aim of this research was to find out whether INS is involved in the tryptophan-dependent or independent pathway. The gene coexpression approach is widely recognized as an efficient tool to uncover functionally related genes. Coexpression data presented here were supported by both RNAseq and microarray platforms and, hence, considered reliable. Coexpression meta-analyses of Arabidopsis genome was implemented to compare between the coexpression of TSA and INS with all genes involved in the production of tryptophan via the chorismate pathway. Tryptophan synthase A was found to be coexpressed strongly with TSB1/2, anthranilate synthase A1/B1, phosphoribosyl anthranilate transferase1, as well as indole-3-glycerol phosphate synthase1. However, INS was not found to be coexpressed with any target genes suggesting that it may exclusively and independently be involved in the tryptophan-independent pathway. Additionally, annotation of examined genes as ubiquitous or differentially expressed were described and subunits-encoded genes available for the assembly of tryptophan and anthranilate synthase complex were suggested. The most probable TSB subunits expected to interact with TSA is TSB1 then TSB2. Whereas TSB3 is only used under limited hormone conditions to assemble tryptophan synthase complex, putative TSB4 is not expected to be involved in the plastidial synthesis of tryptophan in Arabidopsis.
Green Extracts and UPLC-TQS-MS/MS Profiling of Flavonoids from Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents/Ultrasound-Assisted and Supercritical Fluids
Authors: Bernal-Millán Manuel de Jesús , Carrasco-Portugal Miriam del Carmen , Heredia J. Basilio , Bastidas-Bastidas Pedro de Jesús , Gutiérrez-Grijalva Erick Paul , León-Félix Josefina , Angulo-Escalante Miguel Ángel
Published: April 2023

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is an important source of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. These have presented different therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, their functionality is related to the quantity and type of compounds, and these characteristics depend on the extraction method used. This study aimed to compare different extraction procedures to identify and quantify flavonoids from oregano (Lippia graveolens). Emerging and conventional technologies include maceration with methanol and water, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using deep eutectic solvents (DES) such as choline chloride-ethylene glycol, choline chloride-glycerol, and choline chloride-lactic acid. Supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 as a solvent was also studied. Six different extracts were obtained and the total reducing capacity, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity by ABTS•+, DPPH•, FRAP, and ORAC were evaluated. In addition, flavonoids were identified and quantified by UPLC-TQS-MS/MS. Results showed that UAE-DES had the best extraction effect and antioxidant capacity using colorimetric methods. However, maceration-methanol was superior in compound content, and highlighting naringenin and phloridzin were the major compounds. In addition, this extract was microencapsulated by spray drying, which provided a protection feature of their antioxidant potential. Oregano extracts are rich in flavonoids and the microcapsules present promising results for future research.
10th Anniversary of Plants—Recent Advances and Further Perspectives
Authors: Stanković Milan
Published: April 2023

Published for the first time in 2012, Plants will celebrate its 10th anniversary [...]
Synthesis of FeOOH-Loaded Aminated Polyacrylonitrile Fiber for Simultaneous Removal of Phenylphosphonic Acid and Phosphate from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Zhou Rui , Xu Wusong , Liu Peisen , Zhao Shangyuan , Xu Gang , Xiong Qizhong , Zhang Weifeng , Zhang Chaochun , Ye Xinxin
Published: April 2023

Phosphorus is one of the important metabolic elements for living organisms, but excess phosphorus in water can lead to eutrophication. At present, the removal of phosphorus in water bodies mainly focuses on inorganic phosphorus, while there is still a lack of research on the removal of organic phosphorus (OP). Therefore, the degradation of OP and synchronous recovery of the produced inorganic phosphorus has important significance for the reuse of OP resources and the prevention of water eutrophication. Herein, a novel FeOOH-loaded aminated polyacrylonitrile fiber (PANAF-FeOOH) was constructed to enhance the removal of OP and phosphate. Taking phenylphosphonic acid (PPOA) as an example, the results indicated that modification of the aminated fiber was beneficial to FeOOH fixation, and the PANAF-FeOOH prepared with 0.3 mol L−1 Fe(OH)3 colloid had the best performance for OP degradation. The PANAF-FeOOH efficiently activated peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the degradation of PPOA with a removal efficiency of 99%. Moreover, the PANAF-FeOOH maintained high removal capacity for OP over five cycles as well as strong anti-interference in a coexisting ion system. In addition, the removal mechanism of PPOA by the PANAF-FeOOH was mainly attributed to the enrichment effect of PPOA adsorption on the fiber surface’s special microenvironment, which was more conducive to contact with SO4•− and •OH generated by PDS activation. Furthermore, the PANAF-FeOOH prepared with 0.2 mol L−1 Fe(OH)3 colloid possessed excellent phosphate removal capacity with a maximal adsorption quantity of 9.92 mg P g−1. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of the PANAF-FeOOH for phosphate were best depicted by pseudo-quadratic kinetics and a Langmuir isotherm model, showing a monolayer chemisorption procedure. Additionally, the phosphate removal mechanism was mainly due to the strong binding force of iron and the electrostatic force of protonated amine on the PANAF-FeOOH. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for PANAF-FeOOH as a potential material for the degradation of OP and simultaneous recovery of phosphate.
The Structural Evolution of β-to-α Phase Transition in the Annealing Process of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)
Authors: Yang Jian , Liu Xianggui , Zhao Jinxing , Pu Xuelian , Shen Zetong , Xu Weiyi , Liu Yuejun
Published: April 2023

In this study, the structural and property changes induced in the highly ordered structure of preoriented poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) PHBV films containing the β-form during annealing were investigated. The transformation of the β-form was investigated by means of in situ wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) using synchrotron X-rays. The comparison of PHBV films with the β-form before and after annealing was performed using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The evolution mechanism of β-crystal transformation was elucidated. It was revealed that most of the highly oriented β-form directly transforms into the highly oriented α-form, and there might be two kinds of transformations: (1) The β-crystalline bundles may be transformed one by one rather than one part by one part during annealing before a certain annealing time. (2) The β-crystalline bundles crack or the molecular chains of the β-form are separated from the lateral side after annealing after a certain annealing time. A model to describe the microstructural evolution of the ordered structure during annealing was established based on the results obtained.
A Method of Reducing Friction and Improving the Penetration Rate by Safely Vibrating the Drill-String at Surface
Authors: Long Yuan , Wang Xueying , Wang Peng , Zhang Feifei
Published: April 2023

Drill-string axial vibration at the surface technology is proposed to reduce the friction between the drill-string and the borehole wall, and to improve load transfer efficiency, the rate of penetration (ROP), and the extended-reach limit of a horizontal well. An analytical framework utilizing the “soft-string” model is constructed. The results obtained from numerical simulations reveal that during the slide drilling operation, the drill-string experiences an axial stick–slip motion, and the weight on bit (WOB) undergoes periodic oscillations. The conventional calibration method of the WOB in the weight indicator gauge is not applicable when the ROP is low. After applying axial vibration on the drill-string at the surface, the WOB increases and becomes smooth because of a release of friction. The amplitude and frequency of the exciting force are the main factors affecting surface vibration effectiveness. There is an optimal frequency for a given case (10 Hz in this paper). This means that the conventional manual pick-up and slack-off by drillers with a high amplitude and a low frequency has little effect on friction reduction. In addition, the conventional method can bring in high risk because of its high root mean square (RMS) acceleration. Safety evaluation results indicate that the drill-string is in a safe state under most of the exciting parameters. The results verify the feasibility and advantages of the proposed technology, and lay a solid theoretical foundation for its application in real drilling applications.
Optimizing Pension Participation in Kenya through Predictive Modeling: A Comparative Analysis of Tree-Based Machine Learning Algorithms and Logistic Regression Classifier
Authors: Kemboi Yego Nelson , Kasozi Juma , Nkurunziza Joseph
Published: April 2023

Pension plans play a vital role in the economy by impacting savings, consumption, and investment allocation. Despite declining mortality rates and increasing life expectancy, pension enrollment remains low, affecting the long-term financial stability and well-being of populations. To address this issue, this study was conducted to explore the potential of predictive modeling techniques in improving pension participation. The study utilized three tree-based machine learning algorithms and a logistic regression classifier to analyze data from a nationally representative 2019 Kenya FinAccess Household Survey. The results indicated that ensemble tree-based models, particularly the random forest model, were the most effective in predicting pension enrollment. The study identified the key factors that influenced enrollment, such as National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) usage, monthly income, and bank usage. The findings suggest that collaboration among the NHIF, banks, and pension providers is necessary to increase pension uptake, along with increased financial education for citizens. The study provides valuable insight for promoting and optimizing pension participation.
Multi-Layer Beam Scanning Leaky Wave Antenna for Remote Vital Signs Detection at 60 GHz
Authors: Mingle Solomon , Kampouridou Despoina , Feresidis Alexandros
Published: April 2023

A multi-layer beam-scanning leaky wave antenna (LWA) for remote vital sign monitoring (RVSM) at 60 GHz using a single-tone continuous-wave (CW) Doppler radar has been developed in a typical dynamic environment. The antenna’s components are: a partially reflecting surface (PRS), high-impedance surfaces (HISs), and a plain dielectric slab. A dipole antenna works as a source together with these elements to produce a gain of 24 dBi, a frequency beam scanning range of 30°, and precise remote vital sign monitoring (RVSM) up to 4 m across the operating frequency range (58–66 GHz). The antenna requirements for the DR are summarised in a typical dynamic scenario where a patient is to have continuous monitoring remotely, while sleeping. During the continuous health monitoring process, the patient has the freedom to move up to one meter away from the fixed sensor position.The proposed multi-layer LWA system was placed at a distance of 2 m and 4 m from the test subject to confirm the suitability of the developed antenna for dynamic RVSM applications. A proper setting of the operating frequency range (58 to 66 GHz) enabled the detection of both heart beats and respiration rates of the subject within a 30° angular range.
Regression-Based Camera Pose Estimation through Multi-Level Local Features and Global Features
Authors: Xu Meng , Zhang Zhihuang , Gong Yuanhao , Poslad Stefan
Published: April 2023

Accurate and robust camera pose estimation is essential for high-level applications such as augmented reality and autonomous driving. Despite the development of global feature-based camera pose regression methods and local feature-based matching guided pose estimation methods, challenging conditions, such as illumination changes and viewpoint changes, as well as inaccurate keypoint localization, continue to affect the performance of camera pose estimation. In this paper, we propose a novel relative camera pose regression framework that uses global features with rotation consistency and local features with rotation invariance. First, we apply a multi-level deformable network to detect and describe local features, which can learn appearances and gradient information sensitive to rotation variants. Second, we process the detection and description processes using the results from pixel correspondences of the input image pairs. Finally, we propose a novel loss that combines relative regression loss and absolute regression loss, incorporating global features with geometric constraints to optimize the pose estimation model. Our extensive experiments report satisfactory accuracy on the 7Scenes dataset with an average mean translation error of 0.18 m and a rotation error of 7.44° using image pairs as input. Ablation studies were also conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method in the tasks of pose estimation and image matching using the 7Scenes and HPatches datasets.
Towards Real-Time Analysis of Gas-Liquid Pipe Flow: A Wire-Mesh Sensor for Industrial Applications
Authors: Wiedemann Philipp , de Assis Dias Felipe , Trepte Manuel , Schleicher Eckhard , Hampel Uwe
Published: April 2023

Real-time monitoring of gas-liquid pipe flow is highly demanded in industrial processes in the chemical and power engineering sectors. Therefore, the present contribution describes the novel design of a robust wire-mesh sensor with an integrated data processing unit. The developed device features a sensor body for industrial conditions of up to 400 °C and 135 bar as well as real-time processing of measured data, including phase fraction calculation, temperature compensation and flow pattern identification. Furthermore, user interfaces are included via a display and 4…20 mA connectivity for the integration into industrial process control systems. In the second part of the contribution, we describe the experimental verification of the main functionalities of the developed system. Firstly, the calculation of cross-sectionally averaged phase fractions along with temperature compensation was tested. Considering temperature drifts of up to 55 K, an average deviation of 3.9% across the full range of the phase fraction was found by comparison against image references from camera recordings. Secondly, the automatic flow pattern identification was tested in an air–water two-phase flow loop. The results reveal reasonable agreement with well-established flow pattern maps for both horizontal and vertical pipe orientations. The present results indicate that all prerequisites for an application in industrial environments in the near future are fulfilled.
Binary Chimp Optimization Algorithm with ML Based Intrusion Detection for Secure IoT-Assisted Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Aljebreen Mohammed , Alohali Manal Abdullah , Saeed Muhammad Kashif , Mohsen Heba , Al Duhayyim Mesfer , Abdelmageed Amgad Atta , Drar Suhanda , Abdelbagi Sitelbanat
Published: April 2023

An Internet of Things (IoT)-assisted Wireless Sensor Network (WSNs) is a system where WSN nodes and IoT devices together work to share, collect, and process data. This incorporation aims to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of data analysis and collection, resulting in automation and improved decision-making. Security in WSN-assisted IoT can be referred to as the measures initiated for protecting WSN linked to the IoT. This article presents a Binary Chimp Optimization Algorithm with Machine Learning based Intrusion Detection (BCOA-MLID) technique for secure IoT-WSN. The presented BCOA-MLID technique intends to effectively discriminate different types of attacks to secure the IoT-WSN. In the presented BCOA-MLID technique, data normalization is initially carried out. The BCOA is designed for the optimal selection of features to improve intrusion detection efficacy. To detect intrusions in the IoT-WSN, the BCOA-MLID technique employs a class-specific cost regulation extreme learning machine classification model with a sine cosine algorithm as a parameter optimization approach. The experimental result of the BCOA-MLID technique is tested on the Kaggle intrusion dataset, and the results showcase the significant outcomes of the BCOA-MLID technique with a maximum accuracy of 99.36%, whereas the XGBoost and KNN-AOA models obtained a reduced accuracy of 96.83% and 97.20%, respectively.
Knowledge Sharing through Social Media Platforms in the Silicon Age
Authors: Yaqub Muhammad , Alsabban Abdullah
Published: April 2023

While making an appeal to the social exchange theory, self-determination theory and the uses and gratification theory of motivation, the study seeks to investigate the efficacy of social media platforms in promoting knowledge sharing in contemporary times, which are marked by widespread digital transformation and knowledge-driven governance. Through a PLS-based structural equation modelling performed on a dataset obtained from 450 business professionals working at disparate managerial levels in diverse organizations and institutions, it has been found that the use of social media platforms significantly amplifies knowledge sharing. It has further been discovered that the efficacy of social media platforms in maturing knowledge sharing increases both with the elevation of motivation to share knowledge and the motivation to use social media. The study is one that offers rich theory-laden conceptualization and/or explanation grounded in diverse sets of theories encompassing individual as well as collective social and behavioral antecedents and contingencies of technology–human interaction dynamics regarding knowledge sharing in virtual environments, besides offering useful insights to researchers and practitioners alike to help them better understand and/or manage knowledge sharing through social media platforms.
Research on the Sustainable Development Path of Regional Economy Based on CO2 Reduction Policy
Authors: Qiu Ju , Wang Shumei , Lian Meihua
Published: April 2023

With the rapid growth of China’s economic growth, a large number of greenhouse gas emissions have led to a significant increase in environmental pressure. Currently, China has not yet achieved a good balance between greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth. To improve the sustainable development of China’s regional economy and effectively control domestic CO2 emissions, research is conducted to analyze the trend of regional economic change based on carbon emission policies. This study looks for suitable paths to achieve sustainable development of the regional economy. In this study, CO2 emissions were incorporated into an economic model to calculate the Green Total Factor Productivity (GTFP) efficiency value and its growth rate in each region of China. This was done to examine the productivity of each region in China. and it also aims to discuss the driving factors behind it, so as to give relevant policy suggestions that can help China’s sustainable economic development. The ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable RE development. The method used to measure the GTFP efficiency was the slacks-based measure (SBM) based on the data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique. The regression analysis of the relevant drivers was based on the regression analysis of the panel data model. The research results show that the level of urbanization and industrial structure were the main influencing factors for the increase of CO2 emissions. Consequently, macro-regulation can appropriately reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, the implementation of carbon emission reduction policies such as industrial structure optimization, education investment, and market-oriented reform also promote the sustainable development of the regional economy. Therefore, appropriate carbon emission reduction policies can improve the level of sustainable development of the regional economy. It also can ensure the stability of the regional environmental level.
Evaluation of End Effectors for Robotic Harvesting of Mango Fruit
Authors: Goulart Rafael , Jarvis Dennis , Walsh Kerry B.
Published: April 2023

The task of gripping has been identified as the rate-limiting step in the development of tree-fruit harvesting systems. There is, however, no set of universally adopted ‘specifications’ with standardized measurement procedures for the characterization of gripper performance in the harvest of soft tree fruit. A set of metrics were defined for evaluation of the performance of end effectors used in soft tree-fruit harvesting based on (i) laboratory-based trials using metrics termed ‘picking area’, which was the cross-sectional area in a plane normal to the direction of approach of the gripper to the fruit in which a fruit was successfully harvested by the gripper; ‘picking volume’, which was the volume of space in which fruit was successfully harvested by the gripper; and ‘grasp force’, which was the peak force involved in removing a fruit from the grasp of a gripper; (ii) orchard-based trials using metrics termed ‘detachment success’ and ‘harvest success’, i.e., the % of harvest attempts of fruit on tree (of a given canopy architecture) that resulted in stalk breakage and return of fruit to a receiving area, respectively; and (iii) postharvest damage in terms of a score based on the percentage of fruit and severity of the damage. Evaluations were made of external (skin) damage visible 1 h after gripping and of internal (flesh) damage after ripening of the fruit. The use of the metrics was illustrated in an empirical evaluation of nine gripper designs in the harvest of mango fruit in the context of fruit weight and orientation to the gripper. A design using six flexible fingers achieved a picking area of ~150 cm2 and a picking volume of 467 cm3 in laboratory trials involving a 636 g phantom fruit as well as detachment and harvest efficiency rates of 74 and 65%, respectively, in orchard trials with no postharvest damage associated with the harvest of unripe fruit. Additional metrics are also proposed. Use of these metrics in future studies of fruit harvesting is recommended for literature–performance comparisons.
Resilience Assessment and Influencing Factors of Chinese Megacities
Authors: Wang Tingting , Yao Cuiyou , Wei Qing
Published: April 2023

Urban resilience is one of the crucial components of sustainable urban development, yet challenges to sustainable urban development are created by the dangers of uncertainty in the context of global urbanization. Based on the perspective of the economic, social, ecological, infrastructural, and institutional components, this research constructs an indicator system to assess urban resilience. Using seven megacities in China as the research area, the evolution of the resilience level of China’s megacities is investigated, and its influencing factors are examined. The findings demonstrate an upward trend from 2010 to 2021 in the resilience of China’s seven megacities. Furthermore, the rising trend in the contribution of urban institutional resilience to overall resilience is most evident during the 2010–2021 period. Urban ecological resilience’s contribution to overall resilience declines most noticeably between 2010 and 2021. The contribution of each megacity subsystem resilience to overall resilience varies in different cities. Industry structure, market capacity, and urban maintenance positively affect the overall resilience of cities. Additionally, this work offers a strong, practical theoretical foundation for sustainable urban development. The research contents and findings of this study can support the decision-making procedures in the development of megacities.
Environmental Sustainability for Strategic Planning Effectiveness and Organizational Improvement
Authors: Gandrita Daniel Mandel , Gandrita Ana , Rosado David Pascoal , Carmo Manuel do
Published: April 2023

Organizations are continuously pushed to be more competitive, with a broader strategic planning framework that deals with sustainable dilemmas and creates new demands for inclusion. This study aims to investigate the relationship between environmental responsibility and workforce retention, as well as the role of environmental responsibility in strategic planning. The findings of this research will contribute to a greater understanding of how social responsibility can improve employee retention and lead to a more efficient and effective outcome. Using a quantitative method, we surveyed n = 311 respondents and conducted a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science and ScienceDirect databases to gather relevant information on the topic. The findings of this study will provide insights into how social responsibility can improve employee retention and enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The results address the value of implementing environmental guidelines in strategic planning, the contribution of top management, and pro-environmental policies with the intention to apply them, and encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices.
Large-Scale Systems: Sustainable Economy and Transport in the Modern World
Authors: Useche Sergio , An Jaehyung , Makarova Irina , Buyvol Polina
Published: April 2023

Key large-scale global changes have marked the last decades [...]
Non-Invasive Characterization of Subsurface Barriers Constructed via Deep Soil Mixing for Contaminated Land Containment
Authors: Wang Xiaohan , Cao Benyi , Jiang Guoqing , Shang Tongxiao , Xu Jian
Published: April 2023

Deep soil mixing has been widely used to construct subsurface barriers (cut-off walls) in contaminated sites for contamination containment. Non-invasive geophysical methods are promising for the characterization and assessment of such barriers. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the characterization performance of four geophysical methods (i.e., electrical resistivity tomography, ground-penetrating radar, seismic imaging, and the transient Rayleigh surface wave method) for a subsurface barrier built using soil-mixing technology. The electrical resistivity tomography results show that the overall resistivity of the stratum on the barrier wall increased markedly, and local defects such as pockets of clay appeared as low-resistance anomalies on the resistivity profile. In contrast, the ground radar method failed to make a reasonable evaluation of the quality of the barrier wall because the surrounding environment caused great noise interference. The seismic mapping method had a better performance when the lateral geological conditions were studied. It is also suggested that to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the surface wave signal, a vibrator with stronger energy should be used, and if conditions permit, the surrounding vibration sources should be shut down during geophysical tests. It is therefore recommended that decision makers and engineers consider using a combination of geophysical methods to evaluate the quality of barrier walls. They should also pay close attention to the specific geological conditions of a survey area, such as the presence of saltwater layers and interference from nearby structures, in order to choose the most appropriate method.
Vulnus Web: A Web-Based Procedure for the Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Masonry Buildings
Authors: Valluzzi Maria Rosa , Follador Veronica , Sbrogiò Luca
Published: April 2023

Masonry is a widespread construction system, but it is very prone to seismic damage. In Italy, almost 60% of residential buildings are constructed in masonry, and 85% of them were built before 1980 without specific design regulation; thus, there is the need for large-scale vulnerability assessment. When large stocks of residential buildings (>50–100) are involved, also in historical centers, seismic vulnerability analysis must resort to simplified and computer-aided methods. Among these, the best known analyze (i) the overall shear strength normalized to the weight; (ii) the activation coefficient of local mechanisms; and (iii) dimensionless indexes obtained from the weighted sum of scores associated with a set of vulnerability factors. The Vulnus procedure proposes a vulnerability function in the 3D space defined by these factors, namely VIP, VOP and VV. The ‘mechanical’ indexes VIP and VOP determine the capacity of the building (in-plane and out-of-plane, respectively), whereas the ‘empirical’ index VV sets the pace at which this capacity is reached and the uncertainty in its final value. The procedure considers the confidence level of the indexes by means of fuzzy set theory, which enables expression of the vulnerability in linguistic terms (e.g., ‘high’ or ‘low’), as well as through a fragility curve. In this paper, a web toolbox based on the Vulnus procedure, namely, Vulnus Web, is proposed. It enables the central archiving of data, improved interaction with the program code and a wider dissemination. The new procedure was applied to a masonry building hit by the Central Italy 2016 earthquake; both the vulnerability level assessed numerically and the damage prediction were in good accordance with the actual seismic performance of the building.
Behavioral Patterns That Influence the Financing Choice Models of Small Enterprises in Ecuador through Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Feijó-Cuenca Nilba , Ceular-Villamandos Nuria , Navajas-Romero Virginia
Published: April 2023

The presence of small enterprises in developing countries makes new information on these enterprises substantially valuable for these countries. Governments have put forward numerous action plans and public policies to improve access to external credit. However, despite all technological advances, there are still situations linked to the theory of asymmetric information between lenders and borrowers, which influences the granting of financing. Under this premise, the present research uses latent classes to analyze the financing decision behavior patterns of 1033 business owners who faced the financing process and the constraints faced by lenders based on the asymmetric information theory. The results allowed the construction of a model that identified five profiles of trust in financial institutions among entrepreneurs that affected their financing decisions.
Indigenous Peoples’ Psychological Wellbeing Amid Transitions in Shifting Cultivation Landscape: Evidence from the Indian Himalayas
Authors: Pandey Dileep Kumar , Dubey Shantanu Kumar , Verma Ashwani Kumar , Wangchu Lobsang , Dixit Sreenath , Devi Chabungbam Victoria , Sawargaonkar Gajanan
Published: April 2023

Recent changes in the shifting cultivation landscape (SCL) of the Indian Himalayan region—a global biodiversity hotspot—is of great concern due to their implication to conservation and economic development of the region and their impact on ecosystem services as well as the wellbeing of the region’s inhabitants. The present study investigated the changes in land use in the SCL and their impact on the psychological wellbeing of the indigenous people of the region. Longitudinal data for over 15 years on land-use patterns and cross-sectional data from 481 respondents across 52 villages representing six states in India’s North East that are part of the Indian Himalayas were utilized for the study. To analyze subjective wellbeing, Cantril’s self-anchoring scale was used, followed by focused group discussions to triangulate the self-reported responses. Results reveal that the respondents were aware of the effects of landscape changes on their psychological wellbeing. These changes mostly represented a decline in shifting cultivation (SC), land ownership, food systems, social cohesion, cultural fulfillment, the diversity of cultivated native plants, and the availability of wild edible plants. Although the decline in SCL led to a gain in the area under green cover, it led to a marked decline in the diversity of cultivated and wild edible plants. This, the respondents perceived as adversely impacting their wellbeing. Empirical analysis established positive effect of SC on the psychological wellbeing of the respondents. However, a decline in SC seemed to have had an adverse impact on the perception of their wellbeing and thus increasing the migration. Therefore, optimized and ecosystem-based approaches and frameworks of socio-ecological systems are essential to harmonize the ecosystem services with wellbeing of the people.
The Emerging Trends of Renewable Energy Communities’ Development in Italy
Authors: Tatti Anita , Ferroni Sibilla , Ferrando Martina , Motta Mario , Causone Francesco
Published: April 2023

Increasing concerns over climate change and energy poverty have triggered the transition toward a decentralized energy system through the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies. Although this transition was led, over past decades, mainly by major investors and large industrial players, citizens and local authorities are increasingly playing an active role in delivering clean energy investments. In particular, the current European Renewable Energy Directive introduced Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), which allow citizens to collectively organize their participation in the energy market, leading to a more distributed renewable energy system and new forms of sustainable, collaborative, and democratic economies. RECs currently under implementation show differences among European countries due to the different national contexts. A literature review exploring the peculiar Italian regulatory framework on RECs and its recent evolution has been carried out to identify available national and regional financial support mechanisms, barriers, and emerging trends in the diffusion of RECs across the country. The paper reviews and describes three main approaches that emerged in the development of RECs in Italy, discussing their strengths, and limitations. In addition, it provides a brief comparison of the regulatory framework in different European countries, highlighting the distinctive features of the Italian experience. Although the development of RECs in Italy involved a combination of both public and private initiatives, the leading role of local authorities as promoters and aggregators of RECs is evident. This role helps preserve the social impact of RECs but might slow down their implementation due to bureaucratic issues often linked to public procedures and procurement processes, as well as the lack of sufficient expertise within local authorities.