bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Salicylic Acid Spray Delays Sand Pear Fruit Senescence during Room Temperature Shelf Life by Regulating Antioxidant Capacity and Senescence-Related Genes
Authors: Wang Huiying , Li Yawei , Wassie Misganaw , Huo Liyue , Shi Haiyan
Published: March 2024

‘Whangkeumbae’ (Pyrus pyrifolia) is a variety of sand pear fruit well-known for its smooth surface and good taste. However, the fruit quality is adversely affected by postharvest ethylene production. Therefore, improving postharvest shelf life by regulating fruit senescence is critical to promoting the ‘Whangkeumbae’ fruit industry. Here, we investigated the effect of salicylic acid (SA) spray on fruit senescence in sand pears during room temperature shelf life. Exogenous SA reduced polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content during room temperature shelf life. Additionally, SA effectively maintained the fruit skin coloration and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). SA treatment inhibited PpPPO1 expression and upregulated PpSOD1, PpAPX6, and PpGST2 expression. Furthermore, SA application downregulated the expression of PpACO2, PpEIN3a, PpNCED1, and PpAOC2, while upregulating PpNPR-1, PpTAR2, and PpCOMT1 during room temperature shelf life. SA treatment also influenced cell wall metabolism and modification genes by inhibiting PpPG1, PpPME2, and PpCEL3 and inducing PpPGIP1 expression. Additionally, SA treatment affected sugar and acid metabolism genes and increased the expression of PpSPS1, PpSUS1, PpSOT1, PpTMT4, PpSWEET15, and PpcyNAD-MDH, but suppressed the expression of PpcyNADP-ME. The Pearson correlation analysis indicated that PPO activity and MDA content were positively correlated with the expression of PpPPO1, PpACO2, PpEIN3a, PpNCED1, PpAOC2, PpPG1, PpPME2, PpCEL3, and PpcyNDA-MDH. Conversely, these factors were negatively associated with the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX, as well as the expression levels of PpSOD1, PpPOD1, PpCAT1, PpAPX6, PpGST2, PpNPR-1, PpTAR2, PpCOMT1, PpPGIP1, PpSPS1, PpSUS1, PpSOT1, PpTMT4, PpSWEET15, and PpcyNAD-MDH. Our results reveal that exogenous SA could delay fruit senescence in sand pear fruit by regulating various biochemical and molecular mechanisms and can be used to effectively extend fruit shelf life during room temperature storage. However, further research is necessary to determine whether the fruits sprayed with SA are suitable for direct human consumption.
Positive Regulatory Roles of Manihot esculenta HAK5 under K+ Deficiency or High Salt Stress
Authors: Luo Minghua , Chu Jing , Wang Yu , Chang Jingyan , Zhou Yang , Jiang Xingyu
Published: March 2024

HAK/KUP/KT family members have been identified as playing key roles in K+ uptake and salt tolerance in numerous higher plants. However, their functions in cassava (Manihot esculenta Cantz) remain unknown. In this study, a gene encoding for a high-affinity potassium transporter (MeHAK5) was isolated from cassava and its function was investigated. Subcellular localization analysis showed that MeHAK5 is a plasma membrane-localized transporter. RT-PCR and RT-qPCR indicated that MeHAK5 is predominantly expressed in cassava roots, where it is upregulated by low potassium or high salt; in particular, its highest expression levels separately increased by 2.2 and 2.9 times after 50 µM KCl and 150 mM NaCl treatments. When heterologously expressed in yeast, MeHAK5 mediated K+ uptake within the cells of the yeast strain CY162 and rescued the salt-sensitive phenotype of AXT3K yeast. MeHAK5 overexpression in transgenic Arabidopsis plants exhibited improved growth and increased shoot K+ content under low potassium conditions. Under salt stress, MeHAK5 transgenic Arabidopsis plants accumulated more K+ in the shoots and roots and had reduced Na+ content in the shoots. As a result, MeHAK5 transgenic Arabidopsis demonstrated a more salt-tolerant phenotype. These results suggest that MeHAK5 functions as a high-affinity K+ transporter under K+ starvation conditions, improving K+/Na+ homeostasis and thereby functioning as a positive regulator of salt stress tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis. Therefore, MeHAK5 may be a suitable candidate gene for improving K+ utilization efficiency and salt tolerance.
Extraction of Mechanical Parameters via Molecular Dynamics Simulation: Application to Polyimides
Authors: Rosenauer Philipp , Kratzer Christoph , Larisegger Silvia , Radl Stefan
Published: March 2024

Polyimides feature a vast number of industrial applications due to their high thermal stability and insulation properties. These polymers exhibit an exceptional combination of thermal stability and mechanical toughness, which allows the semiconductor industry to use them as a mechanical stress buffer. Here, we perform all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations for such materials to assess their predictive capability with respect to their mechanical properties. Specifically, we demonstrate that the OPLS-AA force field can be used to successfully describe an often-used polyimide (i.e., Kapton®) with respect to its Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Two different modes to extract these mechanical properties from MD simulations are presented. In particular, our continuous deformation mode simulations almost perfectly replicate the results from real-world experimental data and are in line with predictions using other MD force fields. Our thorough investigation of Kapton® also includes an analysis of the anisotropy of normal stresses, as well as the effect of simulation properties on the predicted Young’s moduli. Furthermore, the polyimide pyromellitic dianhydride/2-(4-aminophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-amine (PMDA-BIA) was investigated to draw a more thorough picture of the usability of the OPLS-AA force field for polyimides.
Depletion Interactions at Interfaces Induced by Ferromagnetic Colloidal Polymers
Authors: Cerdà Joan Josep , Batle Josep , Bona-Casas Carles , Massó Joan , Sintes Tomàs
Published: March 2024

The pair-interaction force profiles for two non-magnetic colloids immersed in a suspension of ferromagnetic colloidal polymers are investigated via Langevin simulations. A quasi-two-dimensional approach is taken to study the interface case and a range of colloidal size ratios (non-magnetic:magnetic) from 6:1 up to 20:1 have been considered in this work. Simulations show that when compared with non-magnetic suspensions, the magnetic polymers strongly modify the depletion force profiles leading to strongly oscillatory behavior. Larger polymer densities and size ratios increase the range of the depletion forces, and in general, also their strength; the force barrier peaks at short distances show more complex behavior. As the length of the ferromagnetic polymers increases, the force profiles become more regular, and stable points with their corresponding attraction basins develop. The number of stable points and the distance at which they occur can be tuned through the modification of the field strength H and the angle θ formed by the field and the imaginary axis joining the centers of the two non-magnetic colloids. When not constrained, the net forces acting on the two colloids tend to align them with the field till θ=0∘. At this angle, the force profiles turn out to be purely attractive, and therefore, these systems could be used as a funneling tool to form long linear arrays of non-magnetic particles. Torsional forces peak at θ=45∘ and have minimums at θ=0∘ as well as θ=90∘ which is an unstable orientation as slight deviations will evolve towards θ→0∘. Nonetheless, results suggest that the θ=90∘ orientation could be easily stabilized in several ways. In such a case, the stable points that the radial force profiles exhibit for this orthogonal orientation to the field could be used to control the distance between the two large colloids: their position and number can be controlled via H. Therefore, suspensions made of ferromagnetic colloidal polymers can be also useful in the creation of magnetic colloidal tweezers or ratchets. A qualitative explanation of all the observed phenomena can be provided in terms of how the geometrical constraints and the external field modify the conformations of the ferromagnetic polymers near the two large particles, and in turn, how both factors combine to create unbalanced Kelvin forces that oscillate in strength with the distance between the two non-magnetic colloids.
Strategies for Software and Hardware Compatibility Testing in Industrial Controllers
Authors: Rothhaupt Marcus , Vogt Lucas , Urbas Leon
Published: March 2024

Mass customization, small batch sizes, high variability of product types and a changing product portfolio during the life cycle of an industrial plant are current trends in the industry. Due to an increasing decoupling of the development of software and hardware components in an industrial context, compatibility problems within industrial control systems arise more and more frequently. In this publication, a strategy concept for compatibility testing is derived and discussed by means of a literature review and applied research. This four-phase strategy concept identifies incompatibilities between software and hardware components in the industrial control environment and enables test engineers to detect problems at an early stage. By automating the compatibility test on an external I-PC, the test can be run both when new software is installed on the industrial controller and when the controller is restarted. Thus, changes to the components are constantly detected and incompatibilities are avoided. Furthermore, early incompatibility detection can ensure that a system remains permanently operational. Based on a discussion, additional strategies are identified to consolidate the robustness and applicability of the presented concept.
Seeking Optimal Extraction Method for Augmenting Hibiscus sabdariffa Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Kourelatou Athanasia , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Kotsou Konstantina , Makrygiannis Ioannis , Bozinou Eleni , Lalas Stavros I.
Published: March 2024

The dried flowers of Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS), available worldwide, have various applications in both non-medicinal and medicinal fields. The growing global interest in the health benefits of HS is linked to its potential prevention or management of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this research was to find the optimal extraction method that ensures the maximum yield of multiple beneficial bioactive components, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, β-carotene, antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity DPPH and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). To this end, stirring, pulsed electric field, and ultrasound-assisted extraction were evaluated, either alone or in combination. Under optimized extraction conditions, the obtained extract exhibited an elevated total polyphenol content (37.82 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight (dw)), total anthocyanin content (610.42 μg of cyanidin equivalents/g dw), total carotenoids content (921.84 μg of β-carotene equivalents/g dw), and ascorbic acid content (507.44 mg/100 g dw). Remarkably, the extracts exhibited strong antioxidant properties (487.51 μmol of ascorbic acid equivalents (AAE)/g dw and 243.42 μmol AAE/g dw as evidenced by FRAP and DPPH assays, respectively). This research advances the parameters that should be employed to produce the optimal and nutritionally enhanced HS flower extracts, that can be used in the commercial sector.
Adaptation of Symbolic Discrete Control Synthesis for Energy-Efficient Multi-Pocket Milling
Authors: Çaşka Serkan , Özbaltan Mete
Published: March 2024

In engineering, cost minimization, especially in Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining like pocket milling, is crucial. Existing tool path definition software often lacks optimization, particularly at critical starting and ending points. This study optimizes CNC machine tool paths for energy-efficient multi-pocket milling, utilizing the Symbolic Discrete Control Synthesis (SDCS) method for formal correctness. In our work, the tool path generation is formulated as a traveling salesman problem. We introduce a modeling framework to adapt SDCS to multi-pocket-milling processes, aiming to enhance precision and efficiency for potential cost savings, including energy and time, in engineering applications. This study reports experimental and comparative results, where comparative evaluations were made using metaheuristic algorithms. Our proposed approach improves CNC machining processes for multi-pocket milling. We experimentally evaluate our control algorithms and demonstrate and validate our approach through case studies.
A Novel Ensemble Machine Learning Model for Oil Production Prediction with Two-Stage Data Preprocessing
Authors: Fan Zhe , Liu Xiusen , Wang Zuoqian , Liu Pengcheng , Wang Yanwei
Published: March 2024

Petroleum production forecasting involves the anticipation of fluid production from wells based on historical data. Compared to traditional empirical, statistical, or reservoir simulation-based models, machine learning techniques leverage inherent relationships among historical dynamic data to predict future production. These methods are characterized by readily available parameters, fast computational speeds, high precision, and time–cost advantages, making them widely applicable in oilfield production. In this study, time series forecast models utilizing robust and efficient machine learning techniques are formulated for the prediction of production. We have fused the two-stage data preprocessing methods and the attention mechanism into the temporal convolutional network-gated recurrent unit (TCN-GRU) model. Firstly, the random forest (RF) algorithm is employed to extract key dynamic production features that influence output, serving to reduce data dimensionality and mitigate overfitting. Next, the mode decomposition algorithm, complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN), is introduced. It employs a decomposition–reconstruction approach to segment production data into high-frequency noise components, low-frequency regular components and trend components. These segments are then individually subjected to prediction tasks, facilitating the model’s ability to capture more accurate intrinsic relationships among the data. Finally, the TCN-GRU-MA model, which integrates a multi-head attention (MA) mechanism, is utilized for production forecasting. In this model, the TCN module is employed to capture temporal data features, while the attention mechanism assigns varying weights to highlight the most critical influencing factors. The experimental results indicate that the proposed model achieves outstanding predictive performance. Compared to the best-performing comparative model, it exhibits a reduction in RMSE by 3%, MAE by 1.6%, MAPE by 12.7%, and an increase in R2 by 2.6% in Case 1. Similarly, in Case 2, there is a 7.7% decrease in RMSE, 7.7% in MAE, 11.6% in MAPE, and a 4.7% improvement in R2.
Development of Thin-Layer Chromatography–Densitometric Procedure for Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses and Stability Studies of Cefazolin
Authors: Żandarek Joanna , Starek Małgorzata , Dąbrowska Monika
Published: March 2024

Cefazolin is a first-generation cephalosporin used to treat severe infections of the respiratory tract, urinary tract, skin, and soft tissues. This study presents the optimal conditions for the determination of cefazolin by thin-layer chromatography with densitometric detection. A chloroform–methanol–glacial acetic acid mixture (6:4:0.5, v/v/v) was selected as the mobile phase, while TLC silica gel 60F254 plates were used as the stationary phase. Next, the developed procedure was validated in accordance with ICH guidelines. The obtained results showed that the method is selective, precise, and accurate in a linearity range of 0.04–1.00 µg/spot (r > 0.99). Subsequently, qualitative and quantitative analyses of formulations containing cefazolin were performed. It was found that the amount of antibiotic is highly consistent with the content declared by manufacturers. The suitability of the developed method for stability testing under varying environmental conditions was also verified. It was found that under the tested conditions, the degradation process follows first-order kinetics. The lowest stability was registered in an alkaline environment and in the presence of an oxidizing agent, and the highest stability was recorded in water, and these results were confirmed by the calculated kinetic parameters. The developed method can be used in qualitative and quantitative analyses and stability studies of the analyzed antibiotic.
Simulation of Ni2+ Chelating Peptides Separation in IMAC: Prediction of Langmuir Isotherm Parameters from SPR Affinity Data
Authors: Irankunda Rachel , Jambon Pauline , Marc Alexandra , Camaño Echavarría Jairo Andrés , Muhr Laurence , Canabady-Rochelle Laetitia
Published: March 2024

Chromatography modeling for simulation is a tool that can help to predict the separation of molecules inside the column. Knowledge of sorption isotherms in chromatography modeling is a crucial step and methods such as frontal analysis or batch are used to obtain sorption isotherm parameters, but they require a significant quantity of samples. This study aims to predict Langmuir isotherm parameters from Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) affinity data (requiring less quantity of sample) to simulate metal chelating peptides (MCPs) separation in Immobilized Metal ion Affinity Chromatography (IMAC), thanks to the analogy between both techniques. The validity of simulation was evaluated by comparing the peptide’s simulated retention time with its experimental retention time obtained by IMAC. Results showed that the peptide affinity constant (KA) can be conserved between SPR and IMAC. However, the maximal capacity (qmax) must be adjusted by a correction factor to overcome the geometry differences between IMAC (spherical particles) and SPR (plane sensor ship). Therefore, three approaches were studied; the best one was to use qmax,IMAC imidazole determined experimentally while a correction factor was applied on qmax,SPR to obtain the qmax,IMAC of the peptide, thus minimizing the discrepancy between the experimental and simulated retention times of a peptide.
A Comprehensive Performance Evaluation of GGBS-Based Geopolymer Concrete Activated by a Rice Husk Ash-Synthesised Sodium Silicate Solution and Sodium Hydroxide
Authors: Oti Jonathan , Adeleke Blessing O. , Mudiyanselage Prageeth R. , Kinuthia John
Published: March 2024

Commercial sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate (SS) are commonly used as alkaline activators in geopolymer concrete production despite concerns about their availability and associated CO2 emissions. This study employs an alternative alkaline activator (AA) synthesized from a sodium silicate alternative (SSA) solution derived from rice husk ash (RHA) and a 10 M sodium hydroxide solution. The initial phase established an optimal water-to-binder (W/B) ratio of 0.50, balancing workability and structural performance. Subsequent investigations explored the influence of the alkali/precursor (A/P) ratio on geopolymer concrete properties. A control mix uses ordinary Portland cement (OPC), while ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)-based geopolymer concrete—GPC mixes (GPC1, GPC2, GPC3, GPC4) vary the A/P ratios (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) with a 1:1 ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide (SS: SH). The engineering performance was evaluated through a slump test, and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) and tensile splitting (TS) tests in accordance with the appropriate standards. The geopolymer mixes, excluding GPC3, offer suitable workability; UCS and TS, though lower than the control mix, peak at an A/P ratio of 0.4. Despite lower mechanical strength than OPC, geopolymers’ environmental benefits make them a valuable alternative. GPC2, with a 0.4 A/P ratio and 0.5 W/B (water to binder) ratio, is recommended for balanced workability and structural performance. Future research should focus on enhancing the mechanical properties of geopolymer concrete for sustainable, high-performance mixtures.
A Fast Forward Modelling Method for Simulating Satellite Observations Using Observing Path Tracking
Authors: Guo Xiaofang , Yang Zongru , Ma Gang , Yu Yi , Zhang Peng , Zhang Banglin
Published: March 2024

The higher the atmosphere is, the larger the deviations in atmospheric temperature and humidity are between the vertical column atmosphere above the cross-section of a satellite instrument and a ray’s trajectory from the cross-section to the satellite. In general, satellite instruments that observe using cross-orbit scanning result in the difference between the observed radiance and the simulations using this method becoming incrementally larger and larger as the cross-section moves to the edge of the satellite’s orbit. The deviations depend on the distance from the column to the ray trajectory and on the horizontal gradient of variables in the distance. In fact, the horizontal gradient of water vapour is larger than the gradient of temperature in clear scenarios, which could introduce an impact of temperature and water vapour on the simulated radiance of a satellite. In this study, a new method to simulate upgoing and downgoing radiation synchronously was developed, using the observing path tracking method. The conventional vertical initial atmospheric profile (Exp.1) and the profiles along the upgoing and downgoing rays of the satellite’s observation (Exp.2) were established, in order to simulate the observed radiance of MWHS-II of FY-3D using global numerical forecasts with resolutions of 15 km and 25 km. The results showed that, for channels in the oxygen and water vapour absorption line on the microwave spectrum, deviations of the two atmospheric profiles were larger at the scan edge (0.01 K) than those at the nadir (0.001 K), and were larger in the upper atmosphere than in the lower atmosphere. The deviation was usually negative in low-latitude regions and was positive in southern high-latitude regions. Such results were obtained in experiments using both the numerical forecast method with 15 km grids and the forecast method with 25 km grids. Deviations were analysed for representative channels at 118 GHz and 183 GHz. Then, the results indicated that bigger deviations between the two experiments were observed in the water vapour absorption line than in the oxygen absorption line in the microwave spectrum. In conclusion, this indicates that, because of the greater horizontal gradient of water vapour, the stronger localisation of water vapour makes the atmospheric profile along the satellite’s observing ray have more increments in the simulated radiance at the scan edge, compared to the atmospheric column profile.
SCCMDet: Adaptive Sparse Convolutional Networks Based on Class Maps for Real-Time Onboard Detection in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Tan Qifan , Yang Xuqi , Qiu Cheng , Jiang Yanhuan , He Jinze , Liu Jingshuo , Wu Yahui
Published: March 2024

Onboard, real-time object detection in unmaned aerial vehicle remote sensing (UAV-RS) has always been a prominent challenge due to the higher image resolution required and the limited computing resources available. Due to the trade-off between accuracy and efficiency, the advantages of UAV-RS are difficult to fully exploit. Current sparse-convolution-based detectors only convolve some of the meaningful features in order to accelerate the inference speed. However, the best approach to the selection of meaningful features, which ultimately determines the performance, is an open question. This study proposes the use of adaptive sparse convolutional networks based on class maps for real-time onboard detection in UAV-RS images (SCCMDet) to solve this problem. For data pre-processing, SCCMDet obtains the real class maps as labels from the ground truth to supervise the feature selection process. In addition, a generate class map network (GCMN), equipped with a newly designed loss function, identifies the importance of features to generate a binary class map which filters the image for its more meaningful sparse features. Comparative experiments were conducted on the VisDrone dataset, and the experimental results show that our method accelerates YOLOv8 by 41.94% at most and increases the performance by 2.52%. Moreover, ablation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Night-Time Vessel Detection Based on Enhanced Dense Nested Attention Network
Authors: Zuo Gao , Zhou Ji , Meng Yizhen , Zhang Tao , Long Zhiyong
Published: March 2024

Efficient night-time vessel detection is of significant importance for maritime traffic management, fishery activity monitoring, and environmental protection. With the advancement in object-detection approaches, the method of night-time vessel detection has gradually shifted from traditional threshold segmentation to deep learning that balances efficiency and accuracy. However, the restricted spatial resolution of night-time light (NTL) remote sensing data (e.g., VIIRS/DNB images) results in fewer discernible features and insufficient training performance when detecting vessels that are considered small targets. To address this, we establish an Enhanced Dense Nested-Attention Network (DNA-net) to improve the detection of small vessel targets under low-light conditions. This approach effectively integrates the original VIIRS/DNB, spike median index (SMI), and spike height index (SHI) images to maintain deep-level features and enhance feature extraction. On this basis, we performed vessel detection based on the Enhanced DNA-net using VIIRS/DNB images of the Japan Sea, the South China Sea, and the Java Sea. It is noteworthy that the VIIRS Boat Detection (VBD) observations and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data were cross-matched as the actual status of the vessels (VBD-AIS). The results show that the proposed Enhanced DNA-net achieves significant improvements in the evaluation metrics (e.g., IOU, Pd, Fa, and MPD) compared to the original DNA-net, achieving performance of 87.81%, 96.72%, 5.42%, and 0.36 Wpx, respectively. Meanwhile, we validated the detection performance of Enhanced DNA-net and strong VBD detection against VBD-AIS, showing that the Enhanced DNA-net achieves 1% better accuracy than strong VBD detection.
Suitability Index for the Placement of Solar Plants Based on Inequality Measurements and on Satellite Images
Authors: Trincado Estrella , Vindel Jose María
Published: March 2024

The selection of a certain location for the placement of a solar facility depends on the solar resource availability, which is generally assessed though exceedance probabilities. However, the choice of the specific exceedance probability is arbitrary and the assessment will be different depending on the choice taken. Furthermore, exceedance probabilities do not reflect seasonal variability, which affects radiation availability. Therefore, in this work we present a new index, the suitability index based on Theil (SIT), which allows us to assess with a single value the degree of suitability of a site for installing a solar plant. Obtained from the Theil index, it considers the availability of the resource and its seasonal variability, based as it is on the proportion of the given radiation in each month. As we will see, the new index is clearly more sensitive to the amount of radiation expressed in terms of the 50th percentile than to the variability, as given by the interquartile range. This is a quality to be pondered since scarcity of radiation will always be a greater disadvantage for a solar installation than high variability. The results obtained in the study, grounded in the application of satellite images, show that the index adequately reflects the radiation characteristics in the study area. The territory is broken into areas associated with such characteristics through a cluster analysis, so that geographical and economic elements can be considered when choosing the final location for a solar installation. Furthermore, the new index may include the effects of energy storage during the months in which a certain demand is exceeded.
Iterative Pulse–Echo Tomography for Ultrasonic Image Correction
Authors: Zengqiu Yuchen , Wu Wentao , Xiao Ling , Zhou Erlei , Cao Zheng , Hua Jiadong , Wang Yue
Published: March 2024

Acoustic aberration, caused by the uneven distribution of tissue speed-of-sound (SoS), significantly reduces the quality of ultrasound imaging. An important approach to mitigate this issue is imaging correction based on local SoS estimation. Computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (CUTE) is an SoS estimation method that utilizes phase-shift information from ultrasound pulse–echo signals, offering both practical utility and computational efficiency. However, the traditional single-pass CUTE often suffers from poor accuracy and robustness. In this paper, an advanced approach known as iterative CUTE is introduced, which refines SoS estimates through iterative correction of errors and noise, addressing the limitations of traditional single-pass methods. It is argued that traditional precision indicators like root mean square error (RMSE) fall short in adequately reflecting the quality of SoS estimates for imaging correction, and coherence factor (CF) is proposed as a more indicative metric. Performance validation of the iterative CUTE algorithm was conducted using a simulation and agar phantom experiment. The results indicated that the iterative CUTE approach surpasses the single-pass approach, enhancing the average CF for SoS estimates by up to 18.2%. In phantom experiments, imaging corrected with SoS estimates from iterative CUTE reduced the Array Performance Index (API) by up to 40% compared to traditional methods.
Corrosive Comparisons and the Memory Politics of “Saming”: Threat and Opportunity in the Age of Apology
Authors: James Matt
Published: March 2024

This article contributes to the interdisciplinary fields of memory and historical justice studies by analyzing one, particularly troublesome kind of competitive comparison that sometimes happens in memory politics in the so-called age of apology. The article calls this kind of competitive comparison, “saming”. Saming involves the attempt, via far-fetched or otherwise wrongheaded comparison, to exploit the recognition of some well-known case of historical injustice. Further, saming involves pursuing this comparison in ways that both trivialize the original injustice and undermine the framework from which the recognition of that injustice derives. The article develops its arguments and analysis by studying Budapest’s House of Terror museum and two Canadian redress campaigns, which sought historical recognition for the wartime internments of persons of Italian and Ukrainian ancestry, respectively. Saming is a recurrent problem, ubiquitous and probably inevitable in memory politics because the recognition of historical injustice brings with it unavoidable and indeed often valuable incentives to comparison. Thus, the overall aim of this article is to analyze the threat of saming in order to better defend the cause of comparison in introspective collective remembrance.
The Context of the Spectroscopy Journal—Today and in the Future
Authors: Burda Clemens
Published: March 2024

As a scientific discipline at the intersection between physics and chemistry, spectroscopy is historically grounded in curiosity-driven experiments of splitting sunlight into its spectral components [...]
Garden on the Great Wall—A Sustainable Solution for the Plants on the Top Surface of the Great Wall Heritage Site
Authors: Pan Jianbin , Tao Tao , Huang Tiantian , Tang Yuyang , Xu Nuo , Li Zihan , Tang Zihui , Chen Xiaoyu
Published: March 2024

The Great Wall is a world-renowned cultural heritage site and a national key protected cultural relic in China. The plants on the top surface of the Great Wall heritage site are one of the factors leading to the occurrence and continuous deterioration of the Great Wall. Therefore, there is ongoing academic controversy on how to scientifically dispose of the plants on the top surface of the Great Wall heritage site. Taking Beijing Dazhuangke Great Wall as an example, the preliminary field research was completed. This paper further describes the key technology for the disposal of remaining roots after removing the ground part of the plants from the top surface of the Great Wall heritage site and clarifies the basic idea of using the original covered soil on the top surface of the Great Wall heritage site, back-filling the original covered soil stripped via reparation of the layers and the regenerated plants in a seed bank to create ‘soft capping’ protection. This study provides a basic framework for ‘soft capping’ on the top surface of the Great Wall heritage site and construction of the cultural landscape of the ‘Garden on the Great Wall’.
Understanding the Barriers to Consumer Purchasing of Electric Vehicles: The Innovation Resistance Theory
Authors: Xue Yixi , Zhang Xiaoyan , Zhang Yi , Luo Exiang
Published: March 2024

In the context of sustainable transition, the factors that impact the decision to purchase electric vehicles (EVs) have garnered significant interest. However, existing research predominantly concentrates on the promotional factors while disregarding an examination of the resistance effects. Drawing on the innovation resistance theory (IRT), this study aims to investigate the influence of three functional barriers (usage, value, and risk) and two psychological barriers (tradition and image) on consumers’ intention to purchase EVs. Additionally, we also analyze the moderating effect of environmental concern and incentive policy. Based on a survey of 297 respondents in China, we used SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0 to verify our hypothesis. Our findings indicate that usage, value, risk, and tradition barriers negatively affect EV purchase intentions. Moreover, the negative relationship between functional barriers and EV purchase intentions is weaker for a strong incentive policy. Furthermore, we found that Gen Y and households with private car consumers are more willing to purchase EVs. These findings contribute to extending the applicability of IRT to the sustainable transportation field. They also offer practical guidance for EV enterprises with regard to marketing strategies that effectively mitigate the functional and psychological barriers to enhance profits, and for policymakers to better stimulate the development of the EV market.
Seismic–Energy Retrofit as Information-Value: Axiological Programming for the Ecological Transition
Authors: Trovato Maria Rosa , Ventura Vittoria , Lanzafame Monia , Giuffrida Salvatore , Nasca Ludovica
Published: March 2024

The research deals with the issue of the seismic and energy retrofit of historic building fabrics having as reference a historic district of Syracuse (Italy). The prospect of the ecological transition on the one hand and the public support funding on the other claim for a valuation programming approach implying the creation of multiple scenarios, each of which is inspired by a different and complementary degree of “saliency and urgency”. These two dimensions of “being worth” by a building aggregation having an its own shape and belonging to a larger and more complex urban system need to be addressed according to some axiological reference, in this case, the concerns of the efficiency and fairness of public spending. This experience concerns the creation of a value-based programming pattern of the seismic–energy retrofit process framed in a Building Information Modelling (BIM) environment aimed at identifying the best intervention strategy among the several ones that can be generated in the logic of the parametric design. Both seismic and energy retrofit expected performances, in fact, can be scaled, complementing the extension and intensity of the interventions. This experiment takes advantage of the BIM multidimensional logic in line with the multiple scales and purposes implied by the relationships between individual/communal axiological profiles and present/future prospects. The experiment consists of the creation of an additive cost-oriented design platform based on which the different and progressive combinations of intensity and extension of the interventions can be compared and selected.
Nondestructive Quantification of Isoflavones in Cotyledons by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Potential and Limits for Sustainable Soybean Breeding
Authors: Brustel Jean , Berger Monique , Arnal Amandine , Jeanson Patrice , Dayde Jean , Levasseur-Garcia Cecile
Published: March 2024

The isoflavones in the cotyledon of soybean seeds mimic human estrogen in structure, conferring them complex effects on health. Their regulation represents a major challenge for the sustainable breeding of new varieties with lower levels of potential endocrine disruptors. To develop a rapid, nondestructive, and eco-friendly analysis method, this study explores how sample grinding affects the results of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the preprocessing methods. The prediction of the daidzein and genistein content would help the specific reduction in isoflavones in the cotyledon without harming seed development. The potential of a nonlinear approach (artificial neural network) is also compared with the more conventional partial least squares (PLS) regression. The isoflavone content of cotyledons from 529 soybean samples (65 genotypes) was quantified by HPLC, and the NIR spectra of these samples were collected using a Brucker multi-purpose analyzer. The spectra of whole and ground cotyledons were also collected for 155 samples. The results show that grain fragmentation improves the model calibration, although spectral preprocessing can harmonize this effect. Although the best PLS regression in cross-validation did not suffice to quantify the daidzein and genistein percentages, the artificial neural network (ANN) approach allowed us to develop much more reliable models than PLS. The performance of ANNs in external validation is remarkable in terms of both precision and applicability (R2 = 0.89 and a ratio of prediction to deviation of 2.92), making ANNs suitable in the breeding context for screening soybean grains regarding their isoflavone content.
Willing or Not? Rural Residents’ Willingness to Pay for Ecosystem Conservation in Economically Underdeveloped Regions: A Case Study in China’s Qinling National Park
Authors: An Ruikun , Wang Feng , Sakurai Jiro , Kitagawa Hideki
Published: March 2024

Implementing payments for ecosystem service (PES) programs in national parks has proven effective in balancing the conflicts between ecosystem conservation and economic development, achieving long-term sustainability. Residents’ participation and financial contributions are crucial prerequisites for establishing PES programs in national parks. Hence, it is necessary to investigate residents’ willingness to participate in and pay before its official operation in China’s Qinling National Park. By adopting a contingent valuation method, this study collects 1431 face-to-face, one-to-one questionnaire answers from rural residents in the region. The results show that 76.7% of the sample are willing to participate in the ecosystem conservation of Qinling National Park, although their willingness to pay is relatively low, with the average being RMB 136.5 (USD 20.3) per household per year. Moreover, informal institutions maintained by social trust continue to play an essential role in this rural area. Residents’ willingness to participate is positively influenced by their social trust, which includes both institutional and interpersonal trust. Additionally, their willingness to pay is positively affected by their household income and cultural preferences. Finally, residents’ occupation as farmers exhibits a negative moderating effect on the direct influence of their household income on their willingness to pay, while their education level positively moderates the impact of their cultural preferences on their willingness to pay.
Assessing Environmental Sustainability of Phytoremediation to Remove Copper from Contaminated Soils
Authors: Espada Juan J. , Rodríguez Rosalía , Delgado Andrea , Vicente Gemma , Bautista Luis Fernando
Published: March 2024

Phytoremediation stands out as a promising technology for removing heavy metals from contaminated soils. This work focuses on studying the environmental performance of phytoremediation in removing copper from contaminated soil located in an old Spanish mine using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. For this purpose, Brassica juncea (brown mustard), Medicago sativa (alfalfa) and their rotary cultivation were assessed along with different options for managing biomass (landfill disposal and biomass cogeneration). In addition, soil excavation and soil washing treatments were also compared to phytoremediation. M. sativa proved superior to B. juncea and their rotary cultivation, regardless of the biomass disposal option, achieving impact reductions of 30–100%. This is due to the ability of M. sativa to fix nitrogen, which reduces fertiliser requirements. Among the biomass management alternatives, cogeneration was superior to landfill disposal in all cases by allowing for energy recovery, thereby reducing environmental impacts by 60–100%. M. sativa + cogeneration is the option that presents the best environmental performance of all the studied treatments, achieving reductions up to negligible values in four of eight impact categories due to the impacts avoided by energy production. On the contrary, soil excavation is the less desirable option, followed by soil washing treatment.
Shot-Earth as Sustainable Construction Material: Chemical Aspects and Physical Performance
Authors: Barbieri Luisa , Lanzoni Luca , Marchetti Roberta , Iotti Simone , Tarantino Angelo Marcello , Lancellotti Isabella
Published: March 2024

Soil has long been one of the most widely used building materials globally. The evolution of soil-based construction materials has seen steady improvement over the centuries, even as traditional materials have given way to newer options like reinforced concrete. Nonetheless, soil-based construction has maintained its relevance and, in recent decades, has garnered increased attention due to sustainability concerns and renewed research interest. Among the innovative earth-based materials, shot-earth (SE) stands out as one of the most advanced. Research on SE has facilitated efficient handling of soil variability in mix design and provided structural engineers with relevant models for dimensioning and detailing reinforced SE constructions. This paper focuses on studying the durability characteristics of various types of SE to ascertain their ability to withstand environmental degradation over their intended lifespan. The tests conducted indicate that SE can serve as a viable construction material in numerous real-life scenarios, offering a sustainable alternative to existing materials.
Evaluation of Atmospheric Environmental Efficiency and Spatiotemporal Differences in the Yangtze River Delta Region of China
Authors: Yang Chuanming , Shen Jie , Jiang Zhonghua , Chen Junyu , Xie Yi
Published: March 2024

The scientific measurement of regional atmospheric environmental efficiency is an important prerequisite for achieving energy conservation and haze reduction and regional green and high-quality development. Taking the cities in the Yangtze River Delta region from 2012 to 2021 as the research object, the atmospheric environmental efficiency is measured from both static and dynamic perspectives using the three-stage DEA model and the Malmquist index to analyze the characteristics of spatial and temporal differences. The study finds that the real atmospheric environmental efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta region is 0.915, and the elimination of environmental factors and random errors is crucial to the assessment of the efficiency. The atmospheric environmental efficiency of the Yangtze River Delta region is not 1, and there is still room for improvement, in which the pure technical efficiency is the main factor that leads to the overall low efficiency. Different environmental variables have different impacts on the atmospheric environmental efficiency, in which the positive impact of the industrial structure is the most significant. Urban agglomerations can be categorized into “high–high–high”, “high–low–high”, “low–low–high”, and “low–high–low”. The total factor productivity of the atmospheric environment showed a gradual growth trend during the study period, in which technological progress played the most important role. Based on this, countermeasures are proposed to better enhance the level of atmospheric environment management in the Yangtze River Delta region.
Examining the Effect of Organizational Justice on Turnover Intention and the Moderating Role of Generational Differences: Evidence from Korean Public Employees
Authors: Moon Kuk-Kyoung , Lim Jaeyoung , Kim Jeong-Seo
Published: March 2024

The government sector in South Korea is witnessing a significant increase in employee turnover rates, a phenomenon that challenges the notion of organizational sustainability. This trend is particularly influenced by the influx of Generation MZ public employees who possess professional values distinct from those of older generations, thereby eroding the longstanding view of public service as a lifelong commitment. This shift necessitates the implementation of human resource management strategies that prioritize organizational justice to effectively reduce turnover intention in public employees, especially among the MZ generation, whose members strongly demand fair compensation and treatment. This study delves into the impact of distributive, procedural, and interactional justice on the turnover intentions of public employees while also exploring how these effects vary between Generation MZ and older generations. The study’s findings indicate that all three dimensions of justice inversely affect turnover intention. Interestingly, while generational differences do not significantly moderate the effects of distributive justice and interactional justice on turnover intentions, the influence of procedural justice in mitigating turnover intention is more pronounced among Generation MZ employees compared to their older counterparts. These insights highlight the critical need for human resource practices that bolster organizational justice. In public organizations with a significant number of Generation MZ employees, enhancing procedural justice can effectively reduce their intentions to leave. Additionally, the study underscores the importance of devising generational management strategies, particularly those that focus on fair processes for compensation distribution and supervisor treatment, to curb turnover intention, especially within the Generation MZ cohort of public employees in South Korea.