bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polypeptides-Based Nanocarriers in Tumor Therapy
Authors: You Juhua , Guo Yifei , Dong Zhengqi
Published: September 2024

Cancer remains a worldwide problem, and new treatment strategies are being actively developed. Peptides have the characteristics of good biocompatibility, strong targeting, functional diversity, modifiability, membrane permeable ability, and low immunogenicity, and they have been widely used to construct targeted drug delivery systems (DDSs). In addition, peptides, as endogenous substances, have a high affinity, which can not only regulate immune cells but also work synergistically with drugs to kill tumor cells, demonstrating significant potential for application. In this review, the latest progress of polypeptides-based nanocarriers in tumor therapy has been outlined, focusing on their applications in killing tumor cells and regulating immune cells. Additionally, peptides as carriers were found to primarily provide a transport function, which was also a subject of interest to us. At the end of the paper, the shortcomings in the construction of peptide nano-delivery system have been summarized, and possible solutions are proposed therein. The application of peptides provides a promising outlook for cancer treatment, and we hope this article can provide in-depth insights into possible future avenues of exploration.
Characterization of the Regulatory Network under Waterlogging Stress in Soybean Roots via Transcriptome Analysis
Authors: Yoo Yo-Han , Cho Seung-Yeon , Lee Inhye , Kim Namgeol , Lee Seuk-Ki , Cho Kwang-Soo , Kim Eun Young , Jung Ki-Hong , Hong Woo-Jong
Published: September 2024

Flooding stress caused by climate change is a serious threat to crop productivity. To enhance our understanding of flooding stress in soybean, we analyzed the transcriptome of the roots of soybean plants after waterlogging treatment for 10 days at the V2 growth stage. Through RNA sequencing analysis, 870 upregulated and 1129 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and characterized using Gene Ontology (GO) and MapMan software (version 3.6.0RC1). In the functional classification analysis, “alcohol biosynthetic process” was the most significantly enriched GO term in downregulated DEGs, and phytohormone-related genes such as ABA, cytokinin, and gibberellin were upregulated. Among the transcription factors (TFs) in DEGs, AP2/ERFs were the most abundant. Furthermore, our DEGs encompassed eight soybean orthologs from Arabidopsis and rice, such as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase. Along with a co-functional network consisting of the TF and orthologs, the expression changes of those genes were tested in a waterlogging-resistant cultivar, PI567343. These findings contribute to the identification of candidate genes for waterlogging tolerance in soybean, which can enhance our understanding of waterlogging tolerance.
Water Management Interventions, Organic Fertilization, and Harvest Time in Dry Land in the Biosaline Production of Cactus Pear
Authors: Nunes Tarcia Carielle Miranda Dantas , Araújo Gherman Garcia Leal de , Silva Thieres George Freire da , Voltolini Tadeu Vinhas , Gois Glayciane Costa , Araújo Cleyton de Almeida , Zanine Anderson de Moura , Ferreira Daniele de Jesus , Pereira Danillo Marte , Santos Francisco Naysson de Sousa , Parente Henrique Nunes , Turco Silvia Helena Nogueira , Parente Michelle de Oliveira Maia , Campos Fleming Sena
Published: September 2024

Brackish water can promote physicochemical changes in the soil. Aiming to mitigate the effect of excess salts in the soil, the use of organic matter promotes restructuring. The aim was to evaluate the productive and nutritional characteristics of cactus pear under different brackish water depths (ID) and levels of organic matter (OM). A factorial arrangement of 4 × 4 × 4 with four replications was utilized. Plots consisted of ID (0, 12, 20, and 28% reference evapotranspiration—ETo), and subplots were composed of OM levels (0, 15, 30, and 45 t/ha) and days after planting (DAP; 180, 270, 360, and 450 days). The growth, yield, and chemical composition of cactus pear were affected by ID and OM and/or by their interaction. The regular and increasing application of ID from 192 to 456 mm/year and a rainfall of 110 mm/year in cactus pear crops in biosaline systems improves the growth, freshness, dry matter yields, accumulation capacity per unit area, and chemical composition of cactus pear. The increase in OM up to the range from 30 to 45 Mg/ha linearly increases the agronomic performance of cactus pear. Biosaline systems with cactus pear should be adopted with the combined use of regular supplementary ID and OM, measuring at 304 mm/year and 45 Mg/ha, respectively.
Mechanism of Rice Resistance to Bacterial Leaf Blight via Phytohormones
Authors: Zhong Qianqian , Xu Yuqing , Rao Yuchun
Published: September 2024

Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world, and its yield restricts global food security. However, various diseases and pests of rice pose a great threat to food security. Among them, bacterial leaf blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is one of the most serious bacterial diseases affecting rice globally, creating an increasingly urgent need for research in breeding resistant varieties. Phytohormones are widely involved in disease resistance, such as auxin, abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid (JA), and salicylic acid (SA). In recent years, breakthroughs have been made in the analysis of their regulatory mechanism in BLB resistance in rice. In this review, a series of achievements of phytohormones in rice BLB resistance in recent years were summarized, the genes involved and their signaling pathways were reviewed, and a breeding strategy combining the phytohormones regulation network with modern breeding techniques was proposed, with the intention of applying this strategy to molecular breeding work and playing a reference role for how to further improve rice resistance.
Pleiotropic Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) Mining for Regulating Wheat Processing Quality- and Yield-Related Traits
Authors: Zhao Jie , Sun Lijing , Hu Mengyun , Liu Qian , Xu Junjie , Mu Liming , Wang Jianbing , Yang Jing , Wang Peinan , Li Qianying , Li Hui , Zhang Yingjun
Published: September 2024

To investigate the genetic basis of processing quality- and yield-related traits in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L., AABBDD), a systematic analysis of wheat processing quality- and yield-related traits based on genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of 285 regional test lines of wheat from Hebei province, China, was conducted. A total of 87 quantitative trait loci (QTL), including twenty-one for water absorption (WA), four for wet gluten content, eight for grain protein content, seventeen for dough stability time (DST), thirteen for extension area (EA), twelve for maximum resistance (MR), five for thousand-grain weight (TGW), one for grain length, and six for grain width were identified. These QTL harbored 188 significant single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Twenty-five SNPs were simultaneously associated with multiple traits. Notably, the SNP AX-111015470 on chromosome 1A was associated with DST, EA, and MR. SNPs AX-111917292 and AX-109124553 on chromosome 5D were associated with wheat WA and TGW. Most processing quality-related QTL and seven grain yield-related QTL identified in this study were newly discovered. Among the surveyed accessions, 18 rare superior alleles were identified. This study identified significant QTL associated with quality-related and yield-related traits in wheat, and some of them showed pleiotropic effects. This study will facilitate molecular designs that seek to achieve synergistic improvements of wheat quality and yield.
The Role of Salicylic, Jasmonic Acid and Ethylene in the Development of the Resistance/Susceptibility of Wheat to the SnTox1-Producing Isolate of the Pathogenic Fungus Stagonospora nodorum (Berk.)
Authors: Veselova Svetlana , Nuzhnaya Tatyana , Maksimov Igor
Published: September 2024

The SnTox1 effector is a virulence factor of the fungal pathogen Stagonospora nodorum (Berk.), which interacts with the host susceptibility gene Snn1 in a gene-for-gene manner and causes necrosis on the leaves of sensitive wheat genotypes. It is known that salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene are the key phytohormones involved in plant immunity. To date, effectors of various pathogens have been discovered that can manipulate plant hormonal pathways and even use hormone crosstalk to promote disease development. However, the role of SnTox1 in manipulating hormonal pathways has not been studied in detail. We studied the redox status and the expression of twelve genes of hormonal pathways and two MAPK genes in six bread wheat cultivars sensitive and insensitive to SnTox1 with or without treatment by SA, JA and ethephon (ethylene-releasing agent) during infection with the SnTox1-producing isolate S. nodorum 1SP. The results showed that SnTox1 controls the antagonism between the SA and JA/ethylene signaling pathways. The SA pathway was involved in the development of susceptibility, and the JA/ethylene pathways were involved in the development of wheat plants resistance to the Sn1SP isolate in the presence of a SnTox1-Snn1 interaction. SnTox1 hijacked the SA pathway to suppress catalase activity, increase hydrogen peroxide content and induce necrosis formation; it simultaneously suppresses the JA and ethylene hormonal pathways by SA. To do this, SnTox1 reprogrammed the expression of the MAPK genes TaMRK3 and TaMRK6 and the TF genes TaWRKY13, TaEIN3 and TaWRKY53b. This study provides new data on the role of SnTox1 in manipulating hormonal pathways and on the role of SA, JA and ethylene in the pathosystem wheat S. nodorum.
Use of Recycled Additive Materials to Promote Efficient Use of Resources While Acting as an Effective Toughness Modifier of Wood–Polymer Composites
Authors: Völtz Luísa Rosenstock , Berglund Linn , Oksman Kristiina
Published: September 2024

Wood–polymer composites (WPCs) with polypropylene (PP) matrix suffer from low toughness, and fossil-based impact modifiers are used to improve their performance. Material substitution of virgin fossil-based materials and material recycling are key aspects of sustainable development and therefore recycled denim fabric, and elastomer were evaluated to replace the virgin elastomer modifier commonly used in commercial WPCs. Microtomography images showed that the extrusion process fibrillated the denim fabric into long, thin fibers that were well dispersed within the WPC, while the recycled elastomer was found close to the wood fibers, acting as a soft interphase between the wood fibers and PP. The fracture toughness (KIC) of the WPC with recycled denim fabric matched the commercial WPC which was 1.4 MPa m1/2 and improved the composite tensile strength by 18% and E-modulus by 54%. Recycled elastomer resulted in slightly lower KIC, 1.1 MPa m1/2, as well as strength and modulus while increasing elongation and contributing to toughness. The results of this study showed that recycled materials can potentially be used to replace virgin fossil-based elastomeric modifiers in commercial WPCs, thereby reducing the CO2 footprint by 23% and contributing to more efficient use of resources.
Suitability of Test Procedures for Determining the Compatibility of Seal Materials with Ionic Hydraulic Fluids
Authors: Lovrec Darko , Tič Vito
Published: September 2024

The compatibility of seal materials with the working fluid is crucial for the flawless, energy-saving, environmentally sustainable, and safe operation of any technical system. This is especially true for hydraulic systems operating under high operating pressure. The problem of materials compatibility comes into play when either a new type of seal material or a new type of fluid comes into use. The paper discusses the research findings regarding material compatibility testing of new high-tech ionic hydraulic fluids with commonly used seal materials. Due to the completely different chemical composition of these new fluids compared to the classical mineral-based oil, for these fluids, there are no standardized testing procedures. In these cases, we can only lean on the Standards that apply to classical fluids, which can lead to incorrect results. In the forefront of the paper is the discrepancy between the results obtained by the standardized test, and the test under real operating conditions. FKM, an excellent material for seals, proved to be the most suitable in the case of using ionic hydraulic fluid, according to a standardized test. However, it failed in the comparison test under real operating conditions, as the cylinder leaked. NBR seals proved to be a better solution.
Material Performance Evaluation for Customized Orthoses: Compression, Flexural, and Tensile Tests Combined with Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Trindade Daniela , Habiba Rachel , Fernandes Cristiana , Costa André A. , Silva Rui , Alves Nuno , Martins Rui , Malça Cândida , Branco Ricardo , Moura Carla
Published: September 2024

Orthoses are commonly used for treating injuries to improve the quality of life of patients, with customized orthoses offering significant benefits. Additive manufacturing, especially fused deposition modelling, enhances these benefits by providing faster, more precise, and more comfortable orthoses. The present study evaluates nine polymeric materials printed in horizontal and vertical directions by assessing their performance through compressive, flexural, and tensile tests. Among all materials, polycarbonate, polylactic acid, and ULTEMTM 1010 showed the most promising results, not only because they had the highest mechanical values, but also due to their minimal or no difference in performance between printing directions, making them advantageous in orthoses fabrication. Based on this, a finite element model of an ankle–foot orthosis was developed to simulate the deformation, strain, and stress fields under static conditions. The findings aim to optimize material selection for orthotic fabrication, where ULTEMTM 1010 is presented as the material with improved performance and durability.
Research on Citrus Fruit Freshness Detection Based on Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Ling , Jia Youdong , Zhang Jianrong , Wang Lei , Yang Rui , Su Yun , Li Xinzhi
Published: September 2024

The study developed a novel method for evaluating the freshness of citrus fruits by integrating near-infrared spectroscopy with the non-linear data processing capabilities of a BP neural network. This approach utilizes specific wavelength analysis to distinguish between fresh and non-fresh fruits effectively. Advanced pre-processing techniques are employed to remove spectral anomalies, enhancing the network’s ability to accurately identify crucial quality indicators like sugar content. Concurrently, an experiment utilizing a mathematical computing software -based BP neural network optimized the number of hidden layer nodes, identifying 61 as optimal. This configuration achieves impressive indicators, including a mean square error of 0.0025665 and a root mean square error of 49.8214. More than 1000 training iterations were performed on 100 citrus samples, and the learning rate was 80%. The model demonstrated a high accuracy rate of 97.6275%, confirming its precision and reliability in assessing citrus freshness. This synergy between advanced neural network processing and spectroscopic techniques marks a significant advancement in agricultural quality assessment, setting new standards for speed and efficiency in data processing.
Empirical Predictions on Wave Overtopping for Overtopping Wave Energy Converters: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cao Deping , He Jie , Chen Hao
Published: September 2024

Over the past three decades, the development and testing of various overtopping wave energy converters (OWECs) have highlighted the importance of accurate wave run-up and overtopping predictions on those devices. This study systematically reviews the empirical formulas traditionally used for predicting overtopping across different types of breakwaters by assessing their strengths, limitations, and applicability to OWECs. This provides a foundation for future research and development in OWECs. Key findings reveal that empirical formulas for conventional breakwaters can be categorized as mild or steep slopes and vertical structures based on the angle of the slope. For the same relative crest freeboards, the dimensionless average overtopping discharge of mild slopes is larger than that of vertical structures. However, the formula features predictions within a similar range for small relative crest freeboards. The empirical formulas for predicting overtopping in fixed and floating OWECs are modified from the predictors developed for conventional breakwaters with smooth, impermeable and linear slopes. Different correction coefficients are introduced to account for the effects of limited draft, inclination angle, and low relative freeboard. The empirical models for floating OWECs, particularly the Wave Dragon model, have been refined through prototype testing to account for the unique 3D structural reflector’s influence and dynamic wave interactions.
Synthesis and Characterization of Coconut-Derived Graphene Nano Sheet (GNS) and Its Properties in Nickel/GNS and Zinc/GNS Hybrid Electrodes
Authors: Tarigan Kerista , Siburian Rikson , Anshori Isa , Widiarti Nuni , Alias Yatimah Binti , Goh Boon Tong , Huang Jingfeng , Bahfie Fathan , Manik Yosia Gopas Oetama , Goei Ronn , Tok Alfred Iing Yoong
Published: September 2024

This study introduces a sustainable method of producing a graphene nano sheet (GNS) from coconut shells and investigates its application in GNS, Ni/GNS, and Zn/GNS electrodes for advanced energy storage devices. The GNS was synthesized in a scalable manner using a pyrolysis and impregnation technique, with its successful synthesis verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, and electrical conductivity measurement characterizations. The study highlights the enhanced performance of Zn/GNS electrodes, which outperform both pure GNS and Ni/GNS variants. This superior performance is attributed to the smaller particle size of Zn (mean = 2.356 µm) compared to Ni (mean = 3.09 µm) and Zn’s more favourable electron configuration for electron transfer. These findings demonstrate the potential of bio-derived GNS composites as efficient, high-performance electrodes, paving the way for more sustainable and cost-effective energy storage solutions.
Hybrid System of Polystyrene and Semiconductor for Organic Electronic Applications
Authors: He Zhengran , Bi Sheng , Asare-Yeboah Kyeiwaa
Published: September 2024

While organic semiconductors hold significant promise for the development of flexible, lightweight electronic devices such as organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs), photodetectors, and gas sensors, their widespread application is often limited by intrinsic challenges. In this article, we first review these challenges in organic electronics, including low charge carrier mobility, susceptibility to environmental degradation, difficulties in achieving uniform film morphology and crystallinity, as well as issues related to poor interface quality, scalability, and reproducibility that further hinder their commercial viability. Next, we focus on reviewing the hybrid system comprising an organic semiconductor and polystyrene (PS) to address these challenges. By examining the interactions of PS as a polymer additive with several benchmark semiconductors such as pentacene, rubrene, 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl) pentacene (TIPS pentacene), 2,8-difluoro-5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene (diF-TES-ADT), and 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT), we showcase the versatility of PS in enhancing the crystallization, thin film morphology, phase segregation, and electrical performance of organic semiconductor devices. This review aims to highlight the potential of an organic semiconductor/PS hybrid system to overcome key challenges in organic electronics, thereby paving the way for the broader adoption of organic semiconductors in next-generation electronic devices.
The Chemical and Rheological Properties of Corn Extrudates Enriched with Zn- and Se-Fortified Wheat Flour
Authors: Kajić Nikolina , Babić Jurislav , Jozinović Antun , Lončarić Zdenko , Puljić Leona , Banožić Marija , Kovač Mario , Šoronja-Simović Dragana , Nikolić Ivana , Petrović Jovana
Published: September 2024

This paper analyzed the influence of the addition of Zn- and Se-fortified wheat flour to corn extrudates on viscosity, total starch content, starch damage, and bioavailability of zinc and selenium. Fortified wheat flour was added to corn grits in 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 ratios at three extrusion temperature profiles: 140/170/170 °C, 150/180/180 °C, and 160/190/190 °C. Viscosity values decreased significantly at different extrusion temperature profiles and at different proportions of wheat. The extrusion process increased the starch content, regardless of the extrusion temperature, and decreased it by adding different proportions of flour enriched with zinc and selenium. The starch damage increased with extrusion, without significant changes with extrusion temperature increment. The addition of different proportions of Zn- and Se-fortified wheat flour reduced starch damage values proportionally to the added content of enriched wheat. Increasing the temperature and the proportions, the total zinc content in the extrudates increased. Zinc bioavailability increased with increasing extrusion temperature. As for selenium, the total content increased by proportion increment but decreased with an increase in the extrusion temperature, though there were no significant differences in selenium bioavailability regardless of changes in extrusion temperature or the proportion of enriched wheat.
The Offence of Abduction in Canon Law and Kidnapping in Polish Penal Law—Selected Issues
Authors: Mikołajczuk Krzysztof , Maksymiuk Magdalena , Zielińska-Król Katarzyna
Published: September 2024

The article examines the issue of abduction and kidnapping in the modern world. This issue is analyzed in two legal systems: the canon law of the Latin Rite Catholic Church and Polish penal law. The choice of these two systems aims to highlight the consistency in understanding and penalizing the offence of abduction (kidnapping). A mixed-method approach, incorporating both analysis and synthesis, is employed in this study. The analysis is comprehensive and multifaceted, while the synthesis aids in organizing and integrating the findings on this topic.
Septic Abortion at 17 Weeks Gestation after Radical Trachelectomy and Transabdominal Cerclage: A Case Report
Authors: McNamee Lisa A. , Amir Sharon , Lau Kiger
Published: September 2024

Septic abortion can lead to severe maternal morbidity and mortality. The management of septic abortion can be complicated by a history of radical trachelectomy and transabdominal cerclage placement. A 33-year-old G1P0 at 17 weeks and 6 days gestation presented in severe septic shock after being diagnosed 6 days prior with previable rupture of membranes at an outside hospital and managed expectantly. History was notable for cervical adenocarcinoma status post radical trachelectomy and transabdominal cerclage placement. Due to uterine occlusion from the cerclage, the patient underwent emergent uterine evacuation via an abdominal approach. The risks and benefits of expectant management of pre-viable rupture of membranes in patients with abdominal cerclage should be weighed very cautiously. Among women with abdominal cerclage for whom uterine evacuation is indicated, a transabdominal approach may be necessary.
Coastal Sea Ice Concentration Derived from Marine Radar Images: A Case Study from Utqiaġvik, Alaska
Authors: St-Denis Felix , Tremblay L. Bruno , Mahoney Andrew R. , Takata-Glushkoff Kitrea Pacifica L. M.
Published: September 2024

We apply the Canny edge algorithm to imagery from the Utqiaġvik coastal sea ice radar system (CSIRS) to identify regions of open water and sea ice and quantify ice concentration. The radar-derived sea ice concentration (SIC) is compared against the (closest to the radar field of view) 25 km resolution NSIDC Climate Data Record (CDR) and the 1 km merged MODIS-AMSR2 sea ice concentrations within the ∼11 km field of view for the year 2022–2023, when improved image contrast was first implemented. The algorithm was first optimized using sea ice concentration from 14 different images and 10 ice analysts (140 analyses in total) covering a range of ice conditions with landfast ice, drifting ice, and open water. The algorithm is also validated quantitatively against high-resolution MODIS-Terra in the visible range. Results show a correlation coefficient and mean bias error between the optimized algorithm, the CDR and MODIS-AMSR2 daily SIC of 0.18 and 0.54, and ∼−1.0 and 0.7%, respectively, with an averaged inter-analyst error of ±3%. In general, the CDR captures the melt period correctly and overestimates the SIC during the winter and freeze-up period, while the merged MODIS-AMSR2 better captures the punctual break-out events in winter, including those during the freeze-up events (reduction in SIC). Remnant issues with the detection algorithm include the false detection of sea ice in the presence of fog or precipitation (up to 20%), quantified from the summer reconstruction with known open water conditions. The proposed technique allows for the derivation of the SIC from CSIRS data at spatial and temporal scales that coincide with those at which coastal communities members interact with sea ice. Moreover, by measuring the SIC in nearshore waters adjacent to the shoreline, we can quantify the effect of land contamination that detracts from the usefulness of satellite-derived SIC for coastal communities.
Comparative Study on the Vertical Column Concentration Inversion Algorithm of Tropospheric Trace Gas Based on the MAX-DOAS Measurement Spectrum
Authors: Wang Haoyue , Lu Yuehua , Yu Ke , Xiao Feihong , Guo Rongzhi , Yan Naicong , Wang Weiguo
Published: September 2024

The tropospheric vertical column concentration (VCDtrop) of NO2, SO2, and HCHO was retrieved, respectively, by employing the geometric method (Geomtry), simplified model method (Model), and look-up table method (Table) with the observation spectra of the multi-axis differential absorption spectroscopy instrument (MAX-DOAS). The correlation and relative differences of the inversion results obtained by these three algorithms, as well as the changes in quantiles, were explored. The comparative analysis reveals that the more concentrated the vertical distribution height of gas components is in the near-surface layer, the better the conformity of the VCDtrop retrieved by different algorithms. However, the increase in relative differences is also related to the diurnal variation of gas components. The influence of aerosols on the inversion of the VCDtrop is greater than the change in the vertical distribution height of the gas component itself. The near-surface concentration and distribution height of gas components are the internal factors that give rise to relative differences in the inversion of the VCDtrop by different algorithms, while aerosols are one of the extremely important external reasons. The VCDtrop inverted by Geomtry without considering the influence of aerosols is generally larger except for NO2. Model sets up aerosols in accordance with the height and meteorological conditions of the atmospheric environment. Table can invert the aerosol profile in real time. Compared with Model, it shows a significant improvement in the refined setting of aerosols. Moreover, while obtaining the vertical distribution of aerosols, it can invert the diurnal variation of the VCDtrop. The VCDtrop inverted by Table is the smallest, and the relative difference with Model is on average about 10% smaller. The relative difference of the VCDtrop for the same height (aerosol optical thickness) quantile is 7–15% (about 25% lower on average). When comparing the inversion results of Table with the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) satellite product, the MAX-DOAS inversion results of NO2, SO2, and HCHO are all larger than the OMI product. This is related to the different observation methods of the MAX-DOAS and OMI and the configuration between the aerosol layer and the distribution height of gas components.
Contribution of Climatic Change and Human Activities to Vegetation Dynamics over Southwest China during 2000–2020
Authors: Qi Gang , Cong Nan , Luo Man , Qiu Tangzhen , Rong Lei , Ren Ping , Xiao Jiangtao
Published: September 2024

Southwest China is an important carbon sink area in China. It is critical to track and assess how human activity (HA) and climate change (CC) affect plant alterations in order to create effective and sustainable vegetation restoration techniques. This study used MODIS NDVI data, vegetation type data, and meteorological data to examine the regional and temporal variations in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) in Southwest China from 2000 to 2020. Using trend analysis, the study looks at the temporal and geographical variability in the NDVI. Partial correlation analysis was also used to assess the effects of precipitation, extreme climate indicators, and mean temperature on the dynamics of the vegetation. A new residual analysis technique was created to categorize the effects of CC and HA on NDVI changes while taking extreme climate into consideration. The findings showed that the NDVI in Southwest China grew at a rate of 0.02 per decade between 2000 and 2020. According to the annual NDVI, there was a regional rise in around 85.59% of the vegetative areas, with notable increases in 36.34% of these regions. Temperature had a major influence on the northern half of the research region, but precipitation and extreme climate had a notable effect on the southern half. The rates at which climatic variables and human activity contributed to changes in the NDVI were 0.0008/10a and 0.0034/10a, respectively. These rates accounted for 19.1% and 80.9% of the variances, respectively. The findings demonstrate that most areas displayed greater HA-induced NDVI increases, with the exception of the western Sichuan Plateau. This result suggests that when formulating vegetation restoration and conservation strategies, special attention should be paid to the impact of human activities on vegetation to ensure the sustainable development of ecosystems.
Application of Attribute-Based Encryption in Military Internet of Things Environment
Authors: Pióro Łukasz , Sychowiec Jakub , Kanciak Krzysztof , Zieliński Zbigniew
Published: September 2024

The Military Internet of Things (MIoT) has emerged as a new research area in military intelligence. The MIoT frequently has to constitute a federation-capable IoT environment when the military needs to interact with other institutions and organizations or carry out joint missions as part of a coalition such as in NATO. One of the main challenges of deploying the MIoT in such an environment is to acquire, analyze, and merge vast amounts of data from many different IoT devices and disseminate them in a secure, reliable, and context-dependent manner. This challenge is one of the main challenges in a federated environment and forms the basis for establishing trusting relationships and secure communication between IoT devices belonging to different partners. In this work, we focus on the problem of fulfillment of the data-centric security paradigm, i.e., ensuring the secure management of data along the path from its origin to the recipients and implementing fine-grained access control mechanisms. This problem can be solved using innovative solutions such as applying attribute-based encryption (ABE). In this work, we present a comprehensive solution for secure data dissemination in a federated MIoT environment, enabling the use of distributed registry technology (Hyperledger Fabric), a message broker (Apache Kafka), and data processing microservices implemented using the Kafka Streams API library. We designed and implemented ABE cryptography data access control methods using a combination of pairings-based elliptic curve cryptography and lightweight cryptography and confirmed their suitability for the federations of military networks. Experimental studies indicate that the proposed cryptographic scheme is viable for the number of attributes typically assumed to be used in battlefield networks, offering a good trade-off between security and performance for modern cryptographic applications.
Application of IMU/GPS Integrated Navigation System Based on Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter Algorithm in 3D Positioning of Forest Rescue Personnel
Authors: Pang Shengli , Zhang Bohan , Lu Jintian , Pan Ruoyu , Wang Honggang , Wang Zhe , Xu Shiji
Published: September 2024

Utilizing reliable and accurate positioning and navigation systems is crucial for saving the lives of rescue personnel and accelerating rescue operations. However, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs), such as GPS, may not provide stable signals in dense forests. Therefore, integrating multiple sensors like GPS and Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) becomes essential to enhance the availability and accuracy of positioning systems. To accurately estimate rescuers’ positions, this paper employs the Adaptive Unscented Kalman Filter (AUKF) algorithm with measurement noise variance matrix adaptation, integrating IMU and GPS data alongside barometric altitude measurements for precise three-dimensional positioning in complex environments. The AUKF enhances estimation robustness through the adaptive adjustment of the measurement noise variance matrix, particularly excelling when GPS signals are interrupted. This study conducted tests on two-dimensional and three-dimensional road scenarios in forest environments, confirming that the AUKF-algorithm-based integrated navigation system outperforms the traditional Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), Unscented Kalman Filter (UKF), and Adaptive Extended Kalman Filter (AEKF) in emergency rescue applications. The tests further evaluated the system’s navigation performance on rugged roads and during GPS signal interruptions. The results demonstrate that the system achieves higher positioning accuracy on rugged forest roads, notably reducing errors by 18.32% in the north direction, 8.51% in the up direction, and 3.85% in the east direction compared to the EKF. Furthermore, the system exhibits good adaptability during GPS signal interruptions, ensuring continuous and accurate personnel positioning during rescue operations.
A Proposed Non-Destructive Method Based on Sphere Launching and Piezoelectric Diaphragm
Authors: Junior Cristiano Soares , Aguiar Paulo Roberto , D’Addona Doriana M. , Junior Pedro Oliveira Conceição , Junior Reinaldo Götz Oliveira
Published: September 2024

This work presents the study of a reproducible acoustic emission method based on the launching of a metallic sphere and low-cost piezoelectric diaphragm. For this purpose, tests were first conducted on a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer structure, and then on an aluminum structure for comparative analysis. The pencil-lead break (PLB) tests were also conducted for comparisons with the proposed method. Different launching heights and elastic deformations of the structures were investigated. The results show higher repeatability for the sphere impact method, as the PLB is more affected by human inaccuracy, and it was also effective in damage detection.
Realistic 3D Simulators for Automotive: A Review of Main Applications and Features
Authors: Silva Ivo , Silva Hélder , Botelho Fabricio , Pendão Cristiano
Published: September 2024

Recent advancements in vehicle technology have stimulated innovation across the automotive sector, from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to autonomous driving and motorsport applications. Modern vehicles, equipped with sensors for perception, localization, navigation, and actuators for autonomous driving, generate vast amounts of data used for training and evaluating autonomous systems. Real-world testing is essential for validation but is complex, expensive, and time-intensive, requiring multiple vehicles and reference systems. To address these challenges, computer graphics-based simulators offer a compelling solution by providing high-fidelity 3D environments to simulate vehicles and road users. These simulators are crucial for developing, validating, and testing ADAS, autonomous driving systems, and cooperative driving systems, and enhancing vehicle performance and driver training in motorsport. This paper reviews computer graphics-based simulators tailored for automotive applications. It begins with an overview of their applications and analyzes their key features. Additionally, this paper compares five open-source (CARLA, AirSim, LGSVL, AWSIM, and DeepDrive) and ten commercial simulators. Our findings indicate that open-source simulators are best for the research community, offering realistic 3D environments, multiple sensor support, APIs, co-simulation, and community support. Conversely, commercial simulators, while less extensible, provide a broader set of features and solutions.
Digital Twin Technology in Built Environment: A Review of Applications, Capabilities and Challenges
Authors: Mousavi Yalda , Gharineiat Zahra , Karimi Armin Agha , McDougall Kevin , Rossi Adriana , Gonizzi Barsanti Sara
Published: September 2024

Digital Twin (DT) technology is a pivotal innovation within the built environment industry, facilitating digital transformation through advanced data integration and analytics. DTs have demonstrated significant benefits in building design, construction, and asset management, including optimising lifecycle energy use, enhancing operational efficiency, enabling predictive maintenance, and improving user adaptability. By integrating real-time data from IoT sensors with advanced analytics, DTs provide dynamic and actionable insights for better decision-making and resource management. Despite these promising benefits, several challenges impede the widespread adoption of DT technology, such as technological integration, data consistency, organisational adaptation, and cybersecurity concerns. Addressing these challenges requires interdisciplinary collaboration, standardisation of data formats, and the development of universal design and development platforms for DTs. This paper provides a comprehensive review of DT definitions, applications, capabilities, and challenges within the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries. This paper provides important insights for researchers and professionals, helping them gain a more comprehensive and detailed view of DT. The findings also demonstrate the significant impact that DTs can have on this sector, contributing to advancing DT implementations and promoting sustainable and efficient building management practices. Ultimately, DT technology is set to revolutionise the AEC industries by enabling autonomous, data-driven decision-making and optimising building operations for enhanced productivity and performance.
Taxi Demand Method Based on SCSSA-CNN-BiLSTM
Authors: Guo Dudu , Sun Miao , Wang Qingqing , Zhang Jinquan
Published: September 2024

The randomness of passengers’ travel and the blindness of empty drivers seeking passengers can lead to a serious imbalance in the spatio-temporal distribution of taxi supply and demand. In order to realize the accurate prediction of taxi demand, promote a balance between taxi supply and demand, and respond to the requirements of the sustainable development of urban transportation, a travel demand prediction model based on Sparrow Search Algorithm incorporating sine-cosine and Cauchy variants (SCSSA), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) is proposed. The key factors affecting travel demand are identified by constructing a set of influencing factors for feature correlation analysis. In order to overcome the overfitting or underfitting phenomenon caused by the improper parameter configuration of the CNN-BiLSTM model, the SCSSA algorithm is utilized to optimize the model. By fine tuning the model parameters, the algorithm enhanced the model’s adaptability to dataset characteristics and improved the accuracy of the prediction results. Compared with CNN, LSTM, CNN- LSTM, CNN-BiLSTM, and SSA-CNN-BiLSTM models, the Root Mean Square Error is decreased by 10.77 on average.
Challenges in Applying System Dynamics to Address Scoping and Estimating Problems
Authors: Muthavhine Khumbelo Difference , Sumbwanyambe Mbuyu
Published: September 2024

System dynamics (SD) is a fundamental model that facilitates research by defining and modeling a project’s scope and estimation. Scoping and estimation is a set of approaches that ensure engineering managers that a project’s accuracy and cost estimation are properly specified and mapped. Engineering management’s primary project planning responsibilities include project scoping and estimating. Insufficient project scoping and estimation criteria significantly fail the project plan. The study authors collaborated with five distinctive journal institutions to address project scoping and estimation challenges. The authors thoroughly analyzed one core research issue and five secondary research questions from each article. In terms of core issues, most project managers dislike SD modeling because of its complexity, especially if they lacked engineering, programming, mathematical analysis, or IT expertise. The first secondary question revealed that project managers’ awareness of scoping and estimating problems ranges from 78.3333% to 91.6666%. The secondary question revealed that 83.3333% to 90% of managers are familiar with SD, which can help resolve scoping and estimation issues in project management. The third secondary question showed that 83.3333% to 91.6666% of managers are aware of SD during the project’s scoping and estimating phases. The fourth secondary question found that 83.333% to 91.6666% of managers can use mathematical equations and programming for SD design during the scoping and estimating phases. The authors developed a novel SD scoping and estimating model since the last question indicated that there were no downloadable models from the five journals.
Sustainability and Quality of Life in Marginalized Areas: An Impact Evaluation of a Community Center in Santa Fe, Mexico
Authors: Velazquez-Salazar Marisol , DelaTorre-Diaz Lorena
Published: September 2024

The aim of this paper is to present the results of an impact evaluation of a community center in health, capacity building, and digital access, which form an approximation of quality of life, in the population of Santa Fe town in Mexico City, from 2022 to 2024. The methodology is quantitative, using an impact index and the differences in differences (DD) technique. The data were obtained from primary sources with surveys undertaken via questionnaires. The center is operated by a private university and funded by private firms. The results show a positive impact of 0.287127 out of 1 on the weighted impact index, which allows us to consider this program successful in improving the quality of life of the target population. Through impact evaluation, the effectiveness of interventions and opportunities for improvement are identified, fostering collaboration among local actors, including community members, state-run public programs, and community centers. This collaborative effort improves the quality of life, creating a sustainable community wherein each actor addresses specific needs. Impact evaluation plays a crucial role in measuring sustainability because it is a continuous improvement process that, when combined with other actions, enhances the community’s overall well-being.
Investigating Flow around Submerged I, L and T Head Groynes in Gravel Bed
Authors: Priyanka  , Mall Manish Kumar , Sharma Shikhar , Ojha Chandra Shekhar Prasad , Prasad K. S. Hari
Published: September 2024

Riverbank erosion poses a significant threat to the stability and integrity of river training structures. River training structures such as groynes are important components of sustainable development as they play a crucial role in mitigating flood risks, controlling erosion, and supporting the habitat for aquatic organisms. The habitats vary largely according to the groyne type. A comprehensive comparative analysis of the flow field around the I, L, and T head groynes in the gravel bed is drawn. This study will be of immense use for riverbank protection in hilly terrain where streams are mostly dominated by the gravel bed. Laboratory experiments were conducted in a channel with a sediment bed as gravel of size 9.36 mm. Consistent flow conditions were maintained, with a flow depth (D) of 0.136 m and Froude no (Fr) of 0.61. The performance of these groynes, quantified using Lp (length of bank protection), was investigated. LHG and THG, notably, instigate more profound scour depths, recording values of 0.295 D and 0.29 D, respectively, while IHG trails with the value of 0.21 D. The complex flow field involving velocity peaks, decelerated, and negative flow is discussed and is attributed to flow separation at the groyne tip and the horseshoe vortex. The Lp for each groyne was estimated, with the IHG providing the maximum bank protection of 1.2 L1, L1 being the transverse length of the groyne. The cost–benefit analysis revealed IHG as the most cost-effective structure. These findings contribute to optimization of riverbank stabilization efforts, enhancing the resilience of hydraulic infrastructure and ensuring the safety and wellbeing of affected communities and ecosystems. The results also provide valuable insight into bank protection by various groynes and highlight their contribution to enhancing the resilience of river systems.
Estimating Unknown Parameters and Disturbance Term in Uncertain Regression Models by the Principle of Least Squares
Authors: Wang Han , Liu Yang , Shi Haiyan
Published: September 2024

In the field of statistics, uncertain regression analysis occupies an important position. It can thoroughly analyze data sets contained in complex uncertainties, aiming to quantify and reveal the intricate relationships between variables. It is worth noting that the traditional least squares method only takes into account the reduction in the deviations between predictions and observations, and fails to fully consider the inherent characteristics of the correlation uncertainty distributions under the uncertain regression framework. In light of this, this paper constructs a statistical invariant with symmetric uncertainty distribution based on the observations and the disturbance term. It also proposes the least squares estimation of unknown parameters and disturbance term in the uncertain regression model based on the least squares principle and, combined with the mathematical properties of the normal uncertainty distribution, gives a numerical algorithm for solving specific estimates. Finally, in order to verify the effectiveness of the least squares estimation method proposed in this paper, we also design two numerical examples and an empirical study of forecasting of electrical power output.