bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Personalized to Precision Medicine in Oncology: A Model-Based Dosing Approach to Optimize Achievement of Imatinib Target Exposure
Authors: Goutelle Sylvain , Guidi Monia , Gotta Verena , Csajka Chantal , Buclin Thierry , Widmer Nicolas
Published: March 2023

Imatinib is a targeted cancer therapy that has significantly improved the care of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). However, it has been shown that the recommended dosages of imatinib are associated with trough plasma concentration (Cmin) lower than the target value in many patients. The aims of this study were to design a novel model-based dosing approach for imatinib and to compare the performance of this method with that of other dosing methods. Three target interval dosing (TID) methods were developed based on a previously published PK model to optimize the achievement of a target Cmin interval or minimize underexposure. We compared the performance of those methods to that of traditional model-based target concentration dosing (TCD) as well as fixed-dose regimen using simulated patients (n = 800) as well as real patients’ data (n = 85). Both TID and TCD model-based approaches were effective with about 65% of Cmin achieving the target imatinib Cmin interval of 1000–2000 ng/mL in 800 simulated patients and more than 75% using real data. The TID approach could also minimize underexposure. The standard 400 mg/24 h dosage of imatinib was associated with only 29% and 16.5% of target attainment in simulated and real conditions, respectively. Some other fixed-dose regimens performed better but could not minimize over- or underexposure. Model-based, goal-oriented methods can improve initial dosing of imatinib. Combined with subsequent TDM, these approaches are a rational basis for precision dosing of imatinib and other drugs with exposure–response relationships in oncology.
ApoE Mimetic Peptides to Improve the Vicious Cycle of Malnutrition and Enteric Infections by Targeting the Intestinal and Blood-Brain Barriers
Authors: Oriá Reinaldo B. , Freitas Raul S. , Roque Cássia R. , Nascimento José Carlos R. , Silva Ana Paula , Malva João O. , Guerrant Richard L. , Vitek Michael P.
Published: March 2023

Apolipoprotein E (apoE) mimetic peptides are engineered fragments of the native apoE protein’s LDL-receptor binding site that improve the outcomes following a brain injury and intestinal inflammation in a variety of models. The vicious cycle of enteric infections and malnutrition is closely related to environmental-driven enteric dysfunction early in life, and such chronic inflammatory conditions may blunt the developmental trajectories of children with worrisome and often irreversible physical and cognitive faltering. This window of time for microbiota maturation and brain plasticity is key to protecting cognitive domains, brain health, and achieving optimal/full developmental potential. This review summarizes the potential role of promising apoE mimetic peptides to improve the function of the gut-brain axis, including targeting the blood-brain barrier in children afflicted with malnutrition and enteric infections.
Modulation Format Identification and OSNR Monitoring Based on Multi-Feature Fusion Network
Authors: Li Jingjing , Ma Jie , Liu Jianfei , Lu Jia , Zeng Xiangye , Luo Mingming
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we propose a multi-feature fusion network (MFF-Net) for a modulation format identification (MFI) and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) monitoring scheme. The constellation map data used in this work comes from five modulation formats, namely 56 Gbit/s 4/8 phase shift keying (PSK) and 16/32/64 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The constellation maps are input to one branch network of the MFF-Net, and then the constellation maps are processed by horizontal projection and used as input to another branch network as a way to fuse the two image features. The results show that the scheme achieves 100% MFI accuracy and 98.82% OSNR monitoring accuracy for the five modulation formats. In addition, the performance of MFF-Net and binarized convolutional neural network (B-CNN), visual geometry group network (VGG-Net), and traditional weighted multi-task learning (EW-MTL) are compared to present the superiority of the method. The effect of model structure on MFF-Net is also discussed. The robustness of the model is also evaluated for different transmission distances and bit rates.
Bandwidth Expansion of Zero-Power-Consumption Visible Light Communication System
Authors: Xu Yiwu , Chen Xiongbin , Wang Yufeng
Published: March 2023

The data rate of the zero-power-consumption visible light communication system is limited due to the solar cell bandwidth limit. A new method has been proposed to improve the data rate of communication systems. The predistortion circuit based on the nonlinear compensation principle of the communication system is added between the transmitter and the receiver to equalize the amplitude–frequency response of the solar cell. Based on the measurement of the original amplitude–frequency response of the system, the zero-pole of the predistortion circuit is calculated, and an accurate equalization circuit is designed by using separate components to expand the 3 dB bandwidth of the system. The test results show that the 3 dB bandwidth of the visible light self-powered communication system is increased from 85 kHz to 750 kHz, and the system bandwidth is expanded by nearly 10 times.
Marsupella lusitanica (Gymnomitriaceae, Marchantiophyta), a New Species of Sect. Ustulatae from Mountain Ranges of Portugal
Authors: Porley Ronald D. , Bell David , Kučera Jan
Published: March 2023

A new species of Marsupella sect. Ustulatae Müll. Frib. ex R.M. Schust. is described following an integrated morphological and molecular–phylogenetic study which examined the recently found dioicous plants growing epilithically on acidic substrates in several mountain ranges of Portugal between Peneda-Gerês in the north and Serra da Monchique in the extreme south. Employed molecular markers (plastid trnF–trnT region and nuclear ribosomal ITS) confirmed the distinctness of the lineage from other currently recognized species in the section, and furthermore, previously neglected diversity within M. sprucei (Limpr.) Bernet was signaled. Although not yet confirmed outside Portugal, the newly reported species is probably not rare in the region and has likely been overlooked as M. funckii (F. Weber & D. Mohr) Dumort. or M. profunda Lindb. in the past.
Characterization of microRNAs and Target Genes in Musa acuminata subsp. burmannicoides, var. Calcutta 4 during Interaction with Pseudocercospora musae
Authors: Rego Erica Cristina Silva , Pinheiro Tatiana David Miranda , Fonseca Fernando Campos de Assis , Gomes Taísa Godoy , Costa Erica de Castro , Bastos Lucas Santos , Alves Gabriel Sergio Costa , Cotta Michelle Guitton , Amorim Edson Perito , Ferreira Claudia Fortes , Togawa Roberto Coiti , Costa Marcos Mota Do Carmo , Grynberg Priscila , Miller Robert Neil Gerard
Published: March 2023

Endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that perform post-transcriptional regulatory roles across diverse cellular processes, including defence responses to biotic stresses. Pseudocercospora musae, the causal agent of Sigatoka leaf spot disease in banana (Musa spp.), is an important fungal pathogen of the plant. Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing of small RNA libraries derived from leaf material in Musa acuminata subsp. burmannicoides, var. Calcutta 4 (resistant) after inoculation with fungal conidiospores and equivalent non-inoculated controls revealed 202 conserved miRNAs from 30 miR-families together with 24 predicted novel miRNAs. Conserved members included those from families miRNA156, miRNA166, miRNA171, miRNA396, miRNA167, miRNA172, miRNA160, miRNA164, miRNA168, miRNA159, miRNA169, miRNA393, miRNA535, miRNA482, miRNA2118, and miRNA397, all known to be involved in plant immune responses. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of gene targets indicated molecular activity terms related to defence responses that included nucleotide binding, oxidoreductase activity, and protein kinase activity. Biological process terms associated with defence included response to hormone and response to oxidative stress. DNA binding and transcription factor activity also indicated the involvement of miRNA target genes in the regulation of gene expression during defence responses. sRNA-seq expression data for miRNAs and RNAseq data for target genes were validated using stem-loop quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). For the 11 conserved miRNAs selected based on family abundance and known involvement in plant defence responses, the data revealed a frequent negative correlation of expression between miRNAs and target host genes. This examination provides novel information on miRNA-mediated host defence responses, applicable in genetic engineering for the control of Sigatoka leaf spot disease.
Assessing Genetic Distinctness and Redundancy of Plant Germplasm Conserved Ex Situ Based on Published Genomic SNP Data
Authors: Fu Yong-Bi
Published: March 2023

Assessing genetic distinctness and redundancy is an important part of plant germplasm characterization. Over the last decade, such assessment has become more feasible and informative, thanks to the advances in genomic analysis. An attempt was made here to search for genebank germplasm with published genomic data and to assess their genetic distinctness and redundancy based on average pairwise dissimilarity (APD). The effort acquired 12 published genomic data sets from CIMMYT, IPK, USDA-ARS, IRRI, and ICRISAT genebanks. The characterized collections consisted of 661 to 55,879 accessions with up to 2.4 million genome-wide SNPs. The assessment generated an APD estimate for each sample. As a higher or lower APD is indicative of more genetic distinctness or redundance for an accession, respectively, these APD estimates helped to identify the most genetically distinct and redundant groups of 100 accessions each and a genetic outlier group with APD estimates larger than five standard deviations in each data set. An APD-based grouping of the conserved germplasm in each data set revealed among-group variances ranging from 1.5 to 53.4% across all data sets. Additional analyses showed that these APD estimations were more sensitive to SNP number, minor allele frequency, and missing data. Generally, 5000 to 10,000 genome-wide SNPs were required for an effective APD analysis. These findings together are encouraging and useful for germplasm management, utilization, and conservation, particularly in the genetic categorization of conserved germplasm.
Design of PEI and Amine Modified Metakaolin-Brushite Hybrid Polymeric Composite Materials for CO2 Capturing
Authors: Mirković Miljana , Yilmaz Muge Sari , Kljajević Ljiljana , Pavlović Vladimir , Ivanović Marija , Djukić Dunja , Eren Tarik
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the properties of organic-inorganic hybrid polymer materials, which were synthesized from an aluminosilicate inorganic matrix with the addition of brushite and aminosilane grafted on one side and PEI covalently bonded composites on the other side, were examined. The synthesized organic-inorganic hybrid polymers were examined in terms of a structural, morphological, thermo-gravimetric, and adsorption-desorption analysis and also as potential CO2 capturers. The structural and phase properties as well as the percentage contents of the crystalline and amorphous phase were determined by the X-ray diffraction method. The higher content of the amorphous phase in the structure of hybrid polymers was proven in metakaolin and metakaolin-brushite hybrid samples with the addition of amino silane and with 1,000,000 PEI in a structure. The DRIFT method showed the main band changes with the addition of an organic phase and inorganic matrix. Microstructural studies with the EDS analysis showed a uniform distribution of organic and inorganic phases in the hybrid geopolymers. The thermo-gravimetric analysis showed that organic compounds are successfully bonded to inorganic polymer matrix, while adsorption-desorption analysis confirmed that the organic phase completely covered the surface of the inorganic matrix. The CO2 adsorption experiments showed that the amine-modified composites have the higher capture capacity, which is 0.685 mmol·g−1 for the GM10 sample and 0.581 mmol·g−1 for the BGM10 sample, with 1,000,000 PEI in the structure.
Polymeric Interlayer Strengthening with Boron Neutron Capture Radiation Treatment for Laminated Glass
Authors: Philipps Joseph C. , Gahl John M. , Salim Hani A. , Brockman John D. , Newberry Michael C.
Published: March 2023

Polymer interlayer materials are utilized in laminated glass systems to provide increased resilience from blast incidents. The polymer chains within the interlayer material can benefit from material modifications that increase the crosslinking between adjacent chains. One theorized method of targeted crosslinking is made possible through a boron neutron capture process. This process utilizes neutron radiation that bombards boron material, thus producing emissions of highly energetic particles into the polymer. The method has been experimentally utilized for bulk material processing as well as surface treatment. The surface treatment process has been extensively investigated in this study to manipulate polymers commonly used as interlayer material. Comparison evaluation tests have been completed to show the material behavior change through static tensile loading, dynamic tensile loading, indentation testing, and scratch resistance testing. Results present the specific material behavior changes, effects on different interlayer material, and optimizations for the treatment processes. Data resulting from these tests will expand the understanding of the material behavior changes from treatment techniques and show evidence of the expected crosslinking. This understanding will lead to a quantifiable application of system capacities to improve the future designs of the window and building systems and lead to a safer, more secure, and resilient infrastructure. Polymer treatment by boron neutron capture radiation has produced polymer interlayers with the potential of increased resilience to blast. The research to date has evaluated treated polymers and shown that the hardening and increased elasticity of the material can be initiated through treatment, thus indicating crosslinking behavior. These results show distinct changes in the material behavior, particularly with the EVA interlayer material. The harder surface of the interlayer may resist the cutting of the interlayer surface by glass shards. Scratch resistance was 30% higher and the measured hardness was 100% on treated surfaces. Treated EVA exhibited a 40% higher stress capacity, a 35% higher toughness, and a 40% increase in the elasticity of the material. The overall toughness increase of the treated polymer material allows for a higher energy absorption, and an overall improvement of window performance in blast conditions. The treatment technique can be applied to a variety of window interlayer products for optimal material performance in blast conditions.
Synthesis and Characterization of Spirocyclic Mid-Block Containing Triblock Copolymer
Authors: Aswale Suraj , Kim Minji , Kim Dongwoo , Mohanty Aruna Kumar , Jeon Heung Bae , Cho Hong Y. , Paik Hyun-jong
Published: March 2023

Polymers containing cyclic derivatives are a new class of macromolecular topologies with unique properties. Herein, we report the synthesis of a triblock copolymer containing a spirocyclic mid-block. To achieve this, a spirocyclic polystyrene (cPS) mid-block was first synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using a tetra-functional initiator, followed by end-group azidation and a copper (I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition reaction. The resulting functional cPS was purified using liquid chromatography techniques. Following the esterification of cPS, a macro-ATRP initiator was obtained and used to synthesize a poly (methyl methacrylate)-block-cPS-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA-b-cPS-b-PMMA) triblock copolymer. This work provides a synthetic strategy for the preparation of a spirocyclic macroinitiator for the ATRP technique and as well as liquid chromatographic techniques for the purification of (spiro) cyclic polymers.
Influence of Fe2O3 Nanoparticles on the Anaerobic Digestion of Macroalgae Sargassum spp.
Authors: Paletta Rosy , Candamano Sebastiano , Filippelli Pierpaolo , Lopresto Catia Giovanna
Published: March 2023

The anaerobic digestion (AD) of biomass is a green technology with known environmental benefits for biogas generation. The biogas yield from existing substrates and the biodegradability of biomasses can be improved by conventional or novel enhancement techniques, such as the addition of iron-based nanoparticles (NPs). In this study, the effect of different concentrations of Fe2O3-based NPs on the AD of brown macroalga Sargassum spp. has been investigated by 30 days trials. The effect of NPs was evaluated at different concentrations. The control sample yielded a value of 80.25 ± 3.21 NmLCH4/gVS. When 5 mg/g substrate and 10 mg/g substrate of Fe2O3 NPs were added to the control sample, the yield increased by 24.07% and 26.97%, respectively. Instead, when 50 mg/g substrate of Fe2O3 NPs was added to the control sample, a negative effect was observed, and the biomethane yield decreased by 38.97%. Therefore, low concentrations of Fe2O3 NPs favor the AD process, whereas high concentrations have an inhibitory effect. Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) via Fe2O3 NPs and their insolubility play an important role in facilitating the methanogenesis process during AD.
Mechanical Behavior of Gas-Transmission Pipeline in a Goaf
Authors: Zhao Bin , Zhang Hailun , Wang Yu , Zhou Yutong , Zhang Jiaxin
Published: March 2023

To solve the safety hazard of a buried gas pipeline caused by subsidence of a mined-out area, a three-dimensional model of a buried pipeline in a mined-out area was established using geological parameters and the finite-element software ABAQUS. The effects of the friction coefficient of the pipe and soil, the coal-seam dip angle, and the horizontal angle on the mechanical behavior of the pipe under varying widths of goaf area were investigated. The results indicate that the maximum equivalent stress of the pipeline is negatively correlated with the horizontal angle. Concerning longitudinal mining, the pipeline exhibits a high-stress zone when the mining length is >200 m, the surface displacement appears in a small range when the mining length is 40 m, and the stratum displacement range increases gradually with the increase in the mining length. When the width of the goaf is constant, the maximum equivalent stress of the pipeline is positively correlated with the tube-soil friction coefficient and negatively correlated with the coal seam dip angle. The position of maximum stress gradually tends to appear near the uphill side of the coal seam, with an increase in the coal seam dip angle.
In Vitro Hypoglycemic Potential, Antioxidant and Prebiotic Activity after Simulated Digestion of Combined Blueberry Pomace and Chia Seed Extracts
Authors: Mihai Elena , Negreanu-Pirjol Bogdan-Stefan , Craciunescu Oana , Ciucan Teodora , Iosageanu Andreea , Seciu-Grama Ana-Maria , Prelipcean Ana-Maria , Utoiu Elena , Coroiu Viorica , Ghenea Ana-Maria , Negreanu-Pirjol Ticuta
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the hypoglycemic potential, antioxidant activity and prebiotic activity of a hydroalcoholic extract of blueberry pomace (BP), an aqueous extract of chia seeds (CS) and a novel combination of BP–CS extracts (BCM) for further use as ingredient of functional food. Spectrometric and HPLC analyses were used to characterize the total phenolic and flavonoid content and composition of BP, while CS was analyzed for total carbohydrate content. Data showed that the BCM mixture exerted an inhibition of α-amylase activity, which was 1.36 times higher than that of BP and 1.25 higher than CS extract. The mixture also showed better scavenging activity of free DPPH radicals than individual extracts, and had an IC50 value of 603.12 µg/mL. In vitro testing indicated that both serum- and colon-reaching products of simulated intestinal digestion of BCM presented the capacity to protect Caco-2 intestinal cells against oxidative stress by inhibition of reactive oxygen species production. In addition, the colon-reaching product of BCM digestion had the capacity to significantly (p < 0.05) stimulate the growth of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus acidophilus, revealing a prebiotic potential. All these results indicated that improved biological activity of the novel combination of BP and CS extracts could be due to the synergistic action of constituents. The combination is recommended for further testing and the development of novel functional food for controlling type 2 diabetes and gastrointestinal conditions.
An Improved YOLOv5 Method to Detect Tailings Ponds from High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Sun Zhenhui , Li Peihang , Meng Qingyan , Sun Yunxiao , Bi Yaxin
Published: March 2023

Tailings ponds’ failure and environmental pollution make tailings monitoring very important. Remote sensing technology can quickly and widely obtain ground information and has become one of the important means of tailings monitoring. However, the efficiency and accuracy of traditional remote sensing monitoring technology have difficulty meeting the management needs. At the same time, affected by factors such as the geographical environment and imaging conditions, tailings have various manifestations in remote sensing images, which all bring challenges to the accurate acquisition of tailings information in large areas. By improving You Only Look Once (YOLO) v5s, this study designs a deep learning-based framework for the large-scale extraction of tailings ponds information from the entire high-resolution remote sensing images. For the improved YOLOv5s, the Swin Transformer is integrated to build the Swin-T backbone, the Fusion Block of efficient Reparameterized Generalized Feature Pyramid Network (RepGFPN) in DAMO-YOLO is introduced to form the RepGFPN Neck, and the head is replaced with Decoupled Head. In addition, sample boosting strategy (SBS) and global non-maximum suppression (GNMS) are designed to improve the sample quality and suppress repeated detection frames in the entire image, respectively. The model test results based on entire Gaofen-6 (GF-6) high-resolution remote sensing images show that the F1 score of tailings ponds is significantly improved by 12.22% compared with YOLOv5, reaching 81.90%. On the basis of both employing SBS, the improved YOLOv5s boots the mAP@0.5 of YOLOv5s by 5.95%, reaching 92.15%. This study provides a solution for tailings ponds’ monitoring and ecological environment management.
Application of Free Satellite Imagery to Map Ecosystem Services in Ungwana Bay, Kenya
Authors: Mathai Daina , Cristina Sónia , Owuor Margaret Awuor
Published: March 2023

A major obstacle to mapping Ecosystem Services (ES) and the application of the ES concept has been the inadequacy of data at the landscape level necessary for their quantification. This study takes advantage of free satellite imagery to map and provide relevant information regarding ES and contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources in developing countries. The aim is to assess the flow of ES in mangrove ecosystem of Ungwana Bay, located on the northern coast of Kenya, by adopting the Land Use Land Cover (LULC) matrix approach. This study characterized LULC classes present in the study area, identified the most important ES, and collected data on expert opinions via a survey on ES flow supplied by the mangrove ecosystem. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the expert scoring produced a LULC matrix which, when integrated with the LULC maps, showed the spatial distribution of ES flow. The assessment indicates very high flow (5.0) for the regulating and supporting services, high flow (4.0) for the cultural services, and medium flow (3.0) for the provisioning services as supplied by mangroves. In addition, the analysis indicates there are sixteen major ES supplied by the mangrove ecosystem of Ungwana bay as of the year 2021. This study highlights the importance of mangroves as a coastal ecosystem and how the visualization of the spatial distribution of ES flow using maps can be useful in informing natural resource management. In addition, the study shows the possibilities of using freely accessible satellite imagery and software to bolster the ES assessment studies lacking in developing countries.
Head-Mounted Miniature Motorized Camera and Laser Pointer Driven by Eye Movements
Authors: Nourrit Vincent , Lamour Jean-Baptiste , Abiven Bernard , Fracasso Bruno , de Bougrenet de la Tocnaye Jean-Louis
Published: March 2023

Recording a video scene as seen by an observer, materializing where is focused his visual attention and allowing an external person to point at a given object in this scene, could be beneficial for various applications such as medical education or remote training. Such a versatile device, although tested at the experimental laboratory demonstrator stage, has never been integrated in a compact and portable way in a real environment. In this context, we built a low-cost, light-weight, head-mounted device integrating a miniature camera and a laser pointer that can be remotely controlled or servo-controlled by an eye tracker. Two motorizations were implemented and tested (pan/tilt and Rilsey-prisms-based). The video was both recorded locally and transmitted wirelessly. Risley prisms allowed finer remote control of camera or laser pointer orientation (0.1° vs. 0.35°), but data processing and Wi-Fi transmission incur significant latency (~0.5 s) limiting the servo-controlling by eye movements. The laser beam was spatially shaped by a Diffractive Optical Element to facilitate object illumination or recognition. With this first proof-of-concept prototype, the data stream needs to be optimized to make full use of the eye tracker, but this versatile device can find various applications in education, healthcare or research.
Benchmarking of Contactless Heart Rate Measurement Systems in ARM-Based Embedded Platforms
Authors: Manni Andrea , Caroppo Andrea , Rescio Gabriele , Siciliano Pietro , Leone Alessandro
Published: March 2023

Heart rate monitoring is especially important for aging individuals because it is associated with longevity and cardiovascular risk. Typically, this vital parameter can be measured using wearable sensors, which are widely available commercially. However, wearable sensors have some disadvantages in terms of acceptability, especially when used by elderly people. Thus, contactless solutions have increasingly attracted the scientific community in recent years. Camera-based photoplethysmography (also known as remote photoplethysmography) is an emerging method of contactless heart rate monitoring that uses a camera and a processing unit on the hardware side, and appropriate image processing methodologies on the software side. This paper describes the design and implementation of a novel pipeline for heart rate estimation using a commercial and low-cost camera as the input device. The pipeline’s performance was tested and compared on a desktop PC, a laptop, and three different ARM-based embedded platforms (Raspberry Pi 4, Odroid N2+, and Jetson Nano). The results showed that the designed and implemented pipeline achieved an average accuracy of about 96.7% for heart rate estimation, with very low variance (between 1.5% and 2.5%) across processing platforms, user distances from the camera, and frame resolutions. Furthermore, benchmark analysis showed that the Odroid N2+ platform was the most convenient in terms of CPU load, RAM usage, and average execution time of the algorithmic pipeline.
Impact of Motion-Dependent Errors on the Accuracy of an Unaided Strapdown Inertial Navigation System
Authors: Borodacz Krystian , Szczepański Cezary
Published: March 2023

The selection of an appropriate measurement system for an inertial navigation system requires an analysis of the impact of sensor errors on the position and orientation determination accuracy to ensure that the selected solution is cost-effective and complies with the requirements. In the current literature, this problem is solved based on the navigation duration only by considering the time-dependent errors due to sensor bias and random walk parameters or by conducting numerous simulations. In the former case, oversimplifying the analysis will not allow accurate values to be determined, while the latter method does not provide direct insight into the emerging dependencies. In contrast, this article introduces an analytic approach with a detailed model. This article presents general formulas, also written in detail for the measurement system model adopted and various manoeuvres. Although general equations are complicated, the use of piecewise constant motion variables allow us to discern fragments of equations corresponding to individual error sources. The results confirm the effect the carouseling has on the reduction of navigation errors. The general formulas presented extend the potential to analyse the influence of the entire host vehicle motion, while the detailed formulas make dependencies between motion and navigational errors evident.
A Method for Reconstructing Background from RGB-D SLAM in Indoor Dynamic Environments
Authors: Lu Quan , Pan Ying , Hu Likun , He Jiasheng
Published: March 2023

Dynamic environments are challenging for visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping, as dynamic elements can disrupt the camera pose estimation and thus reduce the reconstructed map accuracy. To solve this problem, this study proposes an approach for eliminating dynamic elements and reconstructing static background in indoor dynamic environments. To check out dynamic elements, the geometric residual is exploited, and the static background is obtained after removing the dynamic elements and repairing images. The camera pose is estimated based on the static background. Keyframes are then selected using randomized ferns, and loop closure detection and relocalization are performed according to the keyframes set. Finally, the 3D scene is reconstructed. The proposed method is tested on the TUM and BONN datasets, and the map reconstruction accuracy is experimentally demonstrated.
Modulations of Cortical Power and Connectivity in Alpha and Beta Bands during the Preparation of Reaching Movements
Authors: Borra Davide , Fantozzi Silvia , Bisi Maria Cristina , Magosso Elisa
Published: March 2023

Planning goal-directed movements towards different targets is at the basis of common daily activities (e.g., reaching), involving visual, visuomotor, and sensorimotor brain areas. Alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (13–30 Hz) oscillations are modulated during movement preparation and are implicated in correct motor functioning. However, how brain regions activate and interact during reaching tasks and how brain rhythms are functionally involved in these interactions is still limitedly explored. Here, alpha and beta brain activity and connectivity during reaching preparation are investigated at EEG-source level, considering a network of task-related cortical areas. Sixty-channel EEG was recorded from 20 healthy participants during a delayed center-out reaching task and projected to the cortex to extract the activity of 8 cortical regions per hemisphere (2 occipital, 2 parietal, 3 peri-central, 1 frontal). Then, we analyzed event-related spectral perturbations and directed connectivity, computed via spectral Granger causality and summarized using graph theory centrality indices (in degree, out degree). Results suggest that alpha and beta oscillations are functionally involved in the preparation of reaching in different ways, with the former mediating the inhibition of the ipsilateral sensorimotor areas and disinhibition of visual areas, and the latter coordinating disinhibition of the contralateral sensorimotor and visuomotor areas.
Battery-Powered RSU Running Time Monitoring and Prediction Using ML Model Based on Received Signal Strength and Data Transmission Frequency in V2I Applications
Authors: Katambire Vienna N. , Musabe Richard , Uwitonze Alfred , Mukanyiligira Didacienne
Published: March 2023

The application of the Internet of Things (IoT), vehicles to infrastructure (V2I) communication and intelligent roadside units (RSU) are promising paradigms to improve road traffic safety. However, for the RSUs to communicate with the vehicles and transmit the data to the remote location, RSUs require enough power and good network quality. Recent advances in technology have improved lithium-ion battery capabilities. However, other complementary methodologies including battery management systems (BMS) have to be developed to provide an early warning sign of the battery’s state of health. In this paper, we have evaluated the impact of the received signal strength indication (RSSI) and the current consumption at different transmission frequencies on a static battery-based RSU that depends on the global system for mobile communications (GSM)/general packet radio services (GPRS). Machine learning (ML) models, for instance, Random Forest (RF) and Support Vector Machine (SVM), were employed and tested on the collected data and later compared using the coefficient of determination (R2). The models were used to predict the battery current consumption based on the RSSI of the location where the RSUs were imposed and the frequency at which the RSU transmits the data to the remote database. The RF was preferable to SVM for predicting current consumption with an R2 of 98% and 94%, respectively. It is essential to accurately forecast the battery health of RSUs to assess their dependability and running time. The primary duty of the BMS is to estimate the status of the battery and its dynamic operating limits. However, achieving an accurate and robust battery state of charge remains a significant challenge. Referring to that can help road managers make alternative decisions, such as replacing the battery before the RSU power source gets drained. The proposed method can be deployed in other remote WSN and IoT-based applications.
The MotoNet: A 3 Tesla MRI-Conditional EEG Net with Embedded Motion Sensors
Authors: Levitt Joshua , van der Kouwe André , Jeong Hongbae , Lewis Laura D. , Bonmassar Giorgio
Published: March 2023

We introduce a new electroencephalogram (EEG) net, which will allow clinicians to monitor EEG while tracking head motion. Motion during MRI limits patient scans, especially of children with epilepsy. EEG is also severely affected by motion-induced noise, predominantly ballistocardiogram (BCG) noise due to the heartbeat. Methods: The MotoNet was built using polymer thick film (PTF) EEG leads and motion sensors on opposite sides in the same flex circuit. EEG/motion measurements were made with a standard commercial EEG acquisition system in a 3 Tesla (T) MRI. A Kalman filtering-based BCG correction tool was used to clean the EEG in healthy volunteers. Results: MRI safety studies in 3 T confirmed the maximum heating below 1 °C. Using an MRI sequence with spatial localization gradients only, the position of the head was linearly correlated with the average motion sensor output. Kalman filtering was shown to reduce the BCG noise and recover artifact-clean EEG. Conclusions: The MotoNet is an innovative EEG net design that co-locates 32 EEG electrodes with 32 motion sensors to improve both EEG and MRI signal quality. In combination with custom gradients, the position of the net can, in principle, be determined. In addition, the motion sensors can help reduce BCG noise.
Monodispersed NiO Nanoparticles into SBA-15: An Efficient Nanocatalyst to Produce Ketone-Alcohol (KA) Oil by the Oxidation of Cyclohexane in Mild Conditions
Authors: Abboud Mohamed , Alnefaie Reem S. , AL-Zahrani Asla A. , Al-Zaqri Nabil , Haija Mohammad Abu , Al-Ghamdi Azza , Alsaiari Mabkhoot , Jalalah Mohammed , Albormani Omeer , Hamdy Mohamed S.
Published: March 2023

A simple and efficient approach to preparing highly efficient and reusable NiO@SBA-15 nanocatalysts for the oxidation of cyclohexane to produce ketone-alcohol (KA) oil was reported. These nanocatalysts were prepared by the dispersion of NiO NPs into SBA-15 using a coordination-assisted grafting method. In this approach, four commercially available nickel salts were immobilized into amino-functionalized SBA-15. After washing and calcination, four new nanocatalysts were obtained. The high dispersion of NiO NPs into SBA-15 was confirmed by HR-TEM and XRD. Different oxidants such as O2, H2O2, t-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP), and meta-Chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) were evaluated. However, m-CPBA exhibited the highest catalytic activity. Compared to different catalysts reported in the literature, for the first time, 75–99% of cyclohexane was converted to KA oil over NiO@SBA-15. In addition, the cyclohexane conversion and K/A ratio were affected by the reaction time, catalyst dose, Ni content, and NiO dispersion. Moreover, NiO@SBA-15 maintained a high catalytic activity during five successive cycles.
Greek Semi-Hard and Hard Cheese Consumers’ Perception in the New Global Era
Authors: Skalkos Dimitris , Bamicha Katerina , Kosma Ioanna S. , Samara Elpida
Published: March 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic is almost over but has already left its mark and is changing the world fast and drastically in all social, economic, and cultural aspects of humanity, including consumers’ choices and motives for foods. Since cheese is a major dietary food consumed daily worldwide, motives for its purchase and consumption in the new era are an important parameter affecting current and future production and sustainable regional development. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on Greek consumers’ motives for quality semi-hard and hard cheese, including the “Ladotyri” hard cheese. Consumers’ motives were tested using variables of quality semi-hard and hard cheese, such as purchase and consumption, preference of choice, preference, and knowledge of the Ladotyri cheese. A self-response questionnaire survey was carried out in November and December 2022 on a sample of 860 participants, the majority being young people aged 18–25 (83.9%), through the Google platform. Basic statistical tools, combined with cross and chi-square tests, were used to analyze the collected data. The results indicate no significant changes in consumers’ motives except a significant decline in consumption, reaching up to 8.4%. Consumers continue to purchase the semi-hard and hard cheese from the supermarket (90%), with preference for the most known kinds, such as kasseri and graviera, consuming it at home (90.9%), daily (31.8%), or two times per week (38.3%), primarily with bread and olives (57.6%), followed by meat (53%). Price remains the most important information for the selection of semi-hard and hard cheese (73.5%), taste (97%) among the organoleptic parameters, texture (70.9%) among the appearance parameters, origin of milk (63.9%) among the sustainable parameters, and value for money (85.8%) among the general characteristics of the cheese. The participants expressed similar motives for the “Ladotyri” Mytilinis hard cheese, appreciating the olive oil combined with the cheese (79.7%) and the possible production as a non-refrigerated cheese (65.2%), even though the majority of them would not buy it today (57.4%). Our findings indicate that the sustainability and growth of the quality semi-hard and hard cheese in the new era should stick to the good practices of production, promotion, and sales developed before the pandemic, exploring, however, new avenues and practices to increase consumption, which is currently declining.
A Comprehensive Review on Recent Advancements in Absorption-Based Post Combustion Carbon Capture Technologies to Obtain a Sustainable Energy Sector with Clean Environment
Authors: Peu Susmita Datta , Das Arnob , Hossain Md. Sanowar , Akanda Md. Abdul Mannan , Akanda Md. Muzaffer Hosen , Rahman Mahbubur , Miah Md. Naim , Das Barun K. , Islam Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul , Salah Mostafa M.
Published: March 2023

CO2 capture, use, and storage have been identified as significant strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions induced by the usage of fossil fuels. The current review focuses on the concepts of post-combustion capture technologies based on absorption mechanisms. Among all other developed technologies, researchers have proposed absorption as the most mature carbon capture technology for industrial-scale application. Absorption-based carbon capture can be classified into chemical and physical absorption, and researchers have developed different solvents and absorbent materials to investigate their performance in CO2 capture. This paper comprehensively reviewed these established solvents and absorbents with their performance parameters in the CO2 absorption approach. Besides the improvement in widely applied absorbents such as amine-based absorbents, recently, researchers have been working to develop some advanced nanomaterials such as nanofluids and nano-emulsions. This review focuses on the application of such absorption mechanisms that can contribute to capturing CO2 in a compact, environment-friendly, and safe way. This paper also provides future research direction for further development in absorption-based CO2 capture.
A Time-and-Space-Network-Based Green Fleet Planning Model and Its Application for a Hub-and-Spoke Network
Authors: Wang Yu , Yuan Kaibo , Zhu Mengyuan , Li Shuijin
Published: March 2023

Most previous studies on airline fleet planning have focused solely on economic considerations, neglecting the impact of carbon reduction. This paper presents a novel method for green fleet planning, using a bi-level programming model to balance conflicts among stakeholders while considering uncertain parameters such as demand and operating costs. The upper model aims to reduce carbon emissions by taking into account government constraints, such as carbon allowances and carbon prices, as well as airline satisfaction. The lower model seeks to maximize airline revenue using a space-and-time network model based on given airline flight schedules. To verify the game model, a case study utilizing randomly generated scenarios is employed within the context of China’s aviation-specific emissions trading scheme. Results show that: (1) compared to the scenario without a policy aiming at reducing carbon emissions, this method reduces carbon emissions by 23.03% at the expense of a 6.96% reduction in terms of the airline’s operating profit; (2) when passenger demand levels increase to 160%, the profitability of the proposed fleet increases by 50.83%, while there were only insignificant changes in carbon emissions; (3) the proposed methodology can assist the airlines systematically to reduce carbon emissions and provide valuable strategic guidance for policy makers.
Small Municipalities Attracting Rural Newcomers and Fostering Local Cohesion: Innovative Approaches for Rural Regeneration in Italy
Authors: Conti Mauro , Sivini Silvia
Published: March 2023

The phenomenon of population decline—with all its associated economic, environmental and social consequences—characterizes many small rural municipalities. This study aims to discuss the role that small rural municipalities can have in addressing this phenomenon by promoting rural regeneration and attracting newcomers. The framework of the analysis is based on the neo-endogenous theories of rural development, which consider the interaction between endogenous and exogenous resources and forces. To analyse the role of small rural municipalities, this paper refers to the findings of a case study on the Italian rural village of Castel del Giudice and of the “confrontation” activities carried out in another village, Malito. The research suggests that a participatory process activated by a municipality can produce positive social and economic benefits for the local community. This process can enhance territorial cohesion, contribute to halting emigration, and favour the establishment of newcomers. Nevertheless, the research highlights that this approach requires adequate organizational knowledge, including political and administrative functionaries with appropriate skills who are also capable of experimenting with new modalities of fundraising. Moreover, it emerges that non-local resources and forces can support a solid participatory process focused on valorising local resources rather than having an extractive approach.
Bioremediation of Hydrocarbon Pollutants: Recent Promising Sustainable Approaches, Scope, and Challenges
Authors: Radhakrishnan Arathi , Balaganesh Pandiyan , Vasudevan Mangottiri , Natarajan Narayanan , Chauhan Abhishek , Arora Jayati , Ranjan Anuj , Rajput Vishnu D. , Sushkova Svetlana , Minkina Tatiana , Basniwal Rupesh Kumar , Kapardar Rajkishor , Srivastav Rajpal
Published: March 2023

The increasing population density and industrialization are adversely affecting the environment globally. The contamination of the soil, agricultural lands, and water bodies with petroleum wastes and other hydrocarbon pollutants has become a serious environmental concern as perceived by the impacts on the aquatic and marine ecosystem. Various investigations have provided novel insights into the significant roles of microbial activities in the cleanup of hydrocarbon contaminants. However, the burden of these pollutants is expected to increase many folds in the next decade. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate and develop low-cost technologies rapidly, focusing on eco-sustainable development. An understanding of the details of biodegradation mechanisms paves the way for enhancing the efficiency of bioremediation technology. The current article reviews the applicability of various bioremediation processes, biodegradation pathways, and treatments, and the role of microbial activities in achieving efficient eco-sustainable bioremediation of hydrocarbon pollutants. It is envisaged that an integrated bioremediation approach, including biostimulation and bioaugmentation is preferably advocated for the cost-effective removal of toxic petroleum hydrocarbons and their derivatives.
Nexus between Sustainability Reporting and Firm Performance: Considering Industry Groups, Accounting, and Market Measures
Authors: Dincer Banu , Keskin Ayşe İrem , Dincer Caner
Published: March 2023

The relationship between Sustainability Reporting and corporate financial performance is overlapping and multifaceted and it has been an interesting issue for both academics and professionals since the beginning of the millennium. Studies have found divergent results on this relation and the industrial differences are omitted in many papers. Moreover, studies considering developing countries are scarce. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the relationship between sustainability reporting and firm performance in a developing country context. The impact of sustainability reporting is investigated using pooled ordinary least square (OLS) method for panel data regression through two models based on Tobin’s Q and ROA. A total of 920 observations for 46 companies with 3 different impact levels based on their environmental effect and 5-year quarterly panel data between 2016–2020. The research used data from Borsa Istanbul (Istanbul Stock Exchange) and also independent variables such as leverage, risk, size, current ratio, growth, sustainability reporting, and the environmental impact level of companies. The results showed that sustainability reporting has a significant positive impact on financial performance according to the ROA model, and a significant negative correlation between risk and financial performance according to both ROA and Tobin’s Q models. Considering the environmental impact of companies, the results also reveal a positive relationship between high impact companies’ sustainability reporting and short-term financial performance as ROA is an accounting-oriented measure that reveals the company’s short-term financial performance. Further research should investigate the impact of sustainability reporting in different markets based on the impact level of companies and the development degree of countries.