bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Site Form as a Site Productive Indicator in Temperate Uneven-Aged Multispecies Forests in Durango, Mexico
Authors: Padilla-Martínez Jaime Roberto , Paul Carola , Corral-Rivas José Javier , Husmann Kai , Diéguez-Aranda Ulises , von Gadow Klaus
Published: October 2022

Even though the site index is a popular method for describing forest productivity, its use is limited in uneven-aged multispecies forests. Accordingly, the site form (SF) is an alternative measure of productivity to the site index based on the tree height–diameter relationship. Our study aims to evaluate SF as a measure of productivity in the temperate uneven-aged multispecies forests of Durango, Mexico, applying three methods to estimate SF: (i) as the mean height of dominant trees at a reference diameter (SFH-D); (ii) as the expected mean height of dominant trees at a reference mean diameter (SFMH-MD), and (iii) as the expected height at a reference diameter for a given site (SFh-dbh). We assess the effectiveness of the SF based on two hypotheses: (i) the SF correlates to the total volume production, and (ii) the SF is independent of stand density. The SFH-D and the SFh-dbh showed a high correlation with productivity. However, they also did so with density. Contrary to this, the SFMH-MD had a weak correlation with density and productivity. We conclude that the SF is a suitable approach to describe site quality. Nonetheless, its effectiveness as a site quality indicator may be affected according to the method used.
Temperature Sensitivity of Topsoil Organic Matter Decomposition Does Not Depend on Vegetation Types in Mountains
Authors: Komarova Alexandra , Ivashchenko Kristina , Sushko Sofia , Zhuravleva Anna , Vasenev Vyacheslav , Blagodatsky Sergey
Published: October 2022

Rising air temperatures caused by global warming affects microbial decomposition rate of soil organic matter (SOM). The temperature sensitivity of SOM decomposition (Q10) may depend on SOM quality determined by vegetation type. In this study, we selected a long transect (3.6 km) across the five ecosystems and short transects (0.1 km) from grazed and ungrazed meadows to forests in the Northwest Caucasus to consider different patterns in Q10 changes at shift of the vegetation belts. It is hypothesized that Q10 will increase along altitudinal gradient in line with recalcitrance of SOM according to kinetics-based theory. The indicators of SOM quality (BR:C, respiration per unit of soil C; MBC:C, ratio of microbial biomass carbon to soil carbon; soil C:N ratio) were used for checking the hypothesis. It was shown that Q10 did not differ across vegetation types within long and short transects, regardless differences in projective cover (14–99%) and vegetation species richness (6–12 units per plot). However, Q10 value differed between the long and short transects by almost two times (on average 2.4 vs. 1.4). Such a difference was explained by environmental characteristics linked with terrain position (slope steepness, microclimate, and land forms). The Q10 changes across studied slopes were driven by BR:C for meadows (R2 = 0.64; negative relationship) and pH value for forests (R2 = 0.80; positive relationship). Thus, proxy of SOM quality explained Q10 variability only across mountain meadows, whereas for forests, soil acidity was the main driver of microbial activity.
Salt Tolerant Bacillus Strains Improve Plant Growth Traits and Regulation of Phytohormones in Wheat under Salinity Stress
Authors: Ayaz Muhammad , Ali Qurban , Jiang Qifan , Wang Ruoyi , Wang Zhengqi , Mu Guangyuan , Khan Sabaz Ali , Khan Abdur Rashid , Manghwar Hakim , Wu Huijun , Gao Xuewen , Gu Qin
Published: October 2022

Soil salinity is a major constraint adversely affecting agricultural crops including wheat worldwide. The use of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to alleviate salt stress in crops has attracted the focus of many researchers due to its safe and eco-friendly nature. The current study aimed to study the genetic potential of high halophilic Bacillus strains, isolated from the rhizosphere in the extreme environment of the Qinghai–Tibetan plateau region of China, to reduce salt stress in wheat plants. The genetic analysis of high halophilic strains, NMCN1, LLCG23, and moderate halophilic stain, FZB42, revealed their key genetic features that play an important role in salt stress, osmotic regulation, signal transduction and membrane transport. Consequently, the expression of predicted salt stress-related genes were upregulated in the halophilic strains upon NaCl treatments 10, 16 and 18%, as compared with control. The halophilic strains also induced a stress response in wheat plants through the regulation of lipid peroxidation, abscisic acid and proline in a very efficient manner. Furthermore, NMCN1 and LLCG23 significantly enhanced wheat growth parameters in terms of physiological traits, i.e., fresh weight 31.2% and 29.7%, dry weight 28.6% and 27.3%, shoot length 34.2% and 31.3% and root length 32.4% and 30.2%, respectively, as compared to control plants under high NaCl concentration (200 mmol). The Bacillus strains NMCN1 and LLCG23 efficiently modulated phytohormones, leading to the substantial enhancement of plant tolerance towards salt stress. Therefore, we concluded that NMCN1 and LLCG23 contain a plethora of genetic features enabling them to combat with salt stress, which could be widely used in different bio-formulations to obtain high crop production in saline conditions.
Extracts of Fruits and Plants Cultivated In Vitro of Aristotelia chilensis (Mol.) Stuntz Show Inhibitory Activity of Aldose Reductase and Pancreatic Alpha-Amylase Enzymes
Authors: Pineda Adriana , Arenas Andrea , Balmaceda Juan , Zúñiga Gustavo E.
Published: October 2022

Aristotelia chilensis is a plant whose fruit is considered a powerful natural antioxidant. During the last years, some investigations of the fruit have been carried out, finding antioxidant properties in the juice or the phenolic fraction. The antioxidant properties of the plant are useful in the inhibition of enzymes related to diabetes such as pancreatic aldose reductase and alpha-amylase. Because many synthetic drugs used today have limitations and potentially harmful side effects, the use of naturally occurring compounds, such as flavonoids, is clinically attractive. In this study, the characterization of aqueous extracts of fruits and in vitro plants of A. chilensis was carried out based on their content of anthocyanins and total phenols, the antioxidant capacity by the antiradical activity 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhydrazil (DPPH), and the profile of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Subsequently, the effect of these extracts on the inhibition of bovine aldose reductase and pancreatic alpha-amylase enzymes was determined. According to our results, extracts of fruits and in vitro plants of A. chilensis achieved inhibition of the bovine aldose reductase enzyme of 85.54 ± 1.86% and 75.67 ± 1.21%, respectively. Likewise, the percentage of inhibition of the pancreatic alpha-amylase enzyme for fruit extracts was 29.64 ± 0.63%, while for in vitro plant extracts it was 47.66 ± 0.66%. The antioxidant and enzymatic inhibition activity of the extracts were related to the content of anthocyanins, such as delphinidin and cyanidin glycosides as well as the phenols derived from quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol. The results obtained allow us to suggest that the in vitro culture of plants of A. chilensis represents a viable biotechnological alternative to obtain phenolic compounds for the inhibition of aldose reductase and pancreatic alpha-amylase enzymes.
Unravelling Phytochemical and Bioactive Potential of Three Hypericum Species from Romanian Spontaneous Flora: H. alpigenum, H. perforatum and H. rochelii
Authors: Babotă Mihai , Frumuzachi Oleg , Mocan Andrei , Tămaș Mircea , Dias Maria Inês , Pinela José , Stojković Dejan , Soković Marina , Bădărău Alexandru Sabin , Crișan Gianina , Barros Lillian , Păltinean Ramona
Published: October 2022

Hypericum perforatum L., also known as St. John’s Wort, is recognized worldwide as a valuable medicinal herb; however, other Hypericum species were intensively studied for their bioactive potential. To fill the research gap that exists in the scientific literature, a comparative evaluation between H. alpigenum Kit., H. perforatum L. and H. rochelii Griseb. & Schenk was conducted in the present study. Two types of herbal preparations obtained from the aerial parts of these species were analyzed: extracts obtained through maceration and extracts obtained through magnetic-stirring-assisted extraction. LC-DAD-ESI-MSn analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavonoid derivatives as the main constituents of the above-mentioned species. Moreover, all extracts were tested for their antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory and antimicrobial potential. Our work emphasizes for the first time a detailed description of H. rochelii phenolic fractions, including their phytochemical and bioactive characterization. In comparison with the other two studied species, H. rochelii was found as a rich source of phenolic acids and myricetin derivatives, showing important antioxidant, anticholinesterase and antibacterial activity. The study offers new perspectives regarding the chemical and bioactive profile of the less-studied species H. alpigenum and H. rochelii.
A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Soil Disinfestation Methods against Root-Knot Nematodes in Mediterranean Intensive Horticulture
Authors: Talavera-Rubia Miguel , Vela-Delgado María Dolores , Verdejo-Lucas Soledad
Published: October 2022

Losses caused by phytoparasitic nematodes in crops depend directly on their soil densities at the start of the crop, so reducing their populations before planting is the main aim of nematological management. Efficacies in reducing Meloidogyne soil populations of soil disinfestation methods, such as agrochemicals, botanicals, or biosolarization were estimated on multiple field trials conducted over fourteen years in intensive horticultural crops. Soil nematode populations were reduced by 87 to 78% after fumigation with 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin and dimethyl-disulphide, respectively. Non-fumigant nematicides such as azadirachtin, dazomet, fenamiphos, fluopyram, fosthiazate, metam-sodium, and oxamyl showed efficacies ranging from 51 to 64%, whereas the efficacy of natural products, such as abamectin, garlic extracts, or essential oils was 41 to 48%. Biosolarization with chicken manure had an efficacy of 73%. An economic cost-benefit study of nematode management methods was performed for seven vegetable–M. incognita pathosystems. Fumigation with 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin and biosolarization with chicken manure were the only treatments able to reduce RKN populations above 1000 and 750 J2 per 100 cm3 of soil, respectively, to levels below the nematode economic damage threshold, keeping profitability. Fumigation was able to manage RKN soil densities up to 350 J2 per 100 cm3 of soil in most susceptible crops as aubergine or cucumber and up to 1000 J2 per 100 cm3 of soil for more tolerant crops, such as other cucurbits, pepper, or tomato. Other nematicidal treatments were not able to reduce RKN populations above 200–300 J2/100 cm3 of soil below the economic thresholds but were profitable when RKN densities were below the limits of 200–300 J2/100 cm3 of soil.
The Use of 3D Optical Coherence Tomography to Analyze the Architecture of Cyanobacterial Biofilms Formed on a Carbon Nanotube Composite
Authors: Romeu Maria J. , Lima Marta , Gomes Luciana C. , Jong Ed. D. de , Morais João , Vasconcelos Vítor , Pereira Manuel F. R. , Soares Olívia S. G. P. , Sjollema Jelmer , Mergulhão Filipe J.
Published: October 2022

The development of environmentally friendly antifouling strategies for marine applications is of paramount importance, and the fabrication of innovative nanocomposite coatings is a promising approach. Moreover, since Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful imaging technique in biofilm science, the improvement of its analytical power is required to better evaluate the biofilm structure under different scenarios. In this study, the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified surfaces in cyanobacterial biofilm development was assessed over a long-term assay under controlled hydrodynamic conditions. Their impact on the cyanobacterial biofilm architecture was evaluated by novel parameters obtained from three-dimensional (3D) OCT analysis, such as the contour coefficient, total biofilm volume, biovolume, volume of non-connected pores, and the average size of non-connected pores. The results showed that CNTs incorporated into a commercially used epoxy resin (CNT composite) had a higher antifouling effect at the biofilm maturation stage compared to pristine epoxy resin. Along with a delay in biofilm development, a decrease in biofilm wet weight, thickness, and biovolume was also achieved with the CNT composite compared to epoxy resin and glass (control surfaces). Additionally, biofilms developed on the CNT composite were smoother and presented a lower porosity and a strictly packed structure when compared with those formed on the control surfaces. The novel biofilm parameters obtained from 3D OCT imaging are extremely important when evaluating the biofilm architecture and behavior under different scenarios beyond marine applications.
Fractional Calculus Approach to Reproduce Material Viscoelastic Behavior, including the Time–Temperature Superposition Phenomenon
Authors: Genovese Andrea , Farroni Flavio , Sakhnevych Aleksandr
Published: October 2022

The design of modern products and processes cannot prescind from the usage of viscoelastic materials that provide extreme design freedoms at relatively low cost. Correct and reliable modeling of these materials allows effective use that involves the design, maintenance, and monitoring phase and the possibility of reuse and recycling. Fractional models are becoming more and more popular in the reproduction of viscoelastic phenomena because of their capability to describe the behavior of such materials using a limited number of parameters with an acceptable accuracy over a vast range of excitation frequencies. A particularly reliable model parametrization procedure, using the poles–zeros formulation, allows researchers to considerably reduce the computational cost of the calibration process and avoid convergence issues typically occurring for rheological models. The aim of the presented work is to demonstrate that the poles–zeros identification methodology can be employed not only to identify the viscoelastic master curves but also the material parameters characterizing the time–temperature superposition phenomenon. The proposed technique, starting from the data concerning the isothermal experimental curves, makes use of the fractional derivative generalized model to reconstruct the master curves in the frequency domain and correctly identify the coefficients of the WLF function. To validate the methodology, three different viscoelastic materials have been employed, highlighting the potential of the material parameters’ global identification. Furthermore, the paper points out a further possibility to employ only a limited number of the experimental curves to feed the identification methodology and predict the complete viscoelastic material behavior.
Combined Triboelectric and Piezoelectric Effect in ZnO/PVDF Hybrid-Based Fiber-Structured Nanogenerator with PDMS:Carbon Black Electrodes
Authors: Thakur Vikas Narayan , Han Jeong In
Published: October 2022

We report a fiber-structured hybrid nanogenerator wearable device fabricated on a single polyethylene terephthalate (PET) textile cylindrical substrate. The device can be described as a capacitor with inner and outer carbon-black-dispersed poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS:Carbon black) electrodes, and zinc oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as the dielectric medium between the electrodes. The compositional analysis in terms of X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy of the synthesized ZnO/PVDF has been measured and analyzed. The combined effect of triboelectricity between PDMS:Carbon black and PVDF, and piezoelectricity in a ZnO/PVDF hybrid, was investigated. Current–voltage characteristics were observed with varying load from 0–20 g, and resistance was observed to be decreased with load. Compared to earlier reports, there was a significant enhancement in voltage (≈5.1 V) and current (≈92.5 nA) at 10 g. Due to the introduction of interfacial polarization between PVDF and ZnO, the piezoelectric properties and pressure sensitivity of the hybrid ZnO/PVDF is enhanced. The hysterical behavior in the device’s response while measuring voltage and current with varying time shows the signature of the triboelectric effect between PVDF and ZnO, as well as PDMS:Carbon black and ZnO/PVDF layers. Reduction of triboelectric behavior was confirmed with increasing relaxation time. Because of the enhancement in piezoelectricity, fiber-structured nanogenerator (FNG) ZnO/PVDF proved to a potential candidate to be used for wearable computing devices, such as smart watches and sports bracelets.
Chemical Recycling of Polyolefins Waste Materials Using Supercritical Water
Authors: Čolnik Maja , Kotnik Petra , Knez Željko , Škerget Mojca
Published: October 2022

In the following work, the hydrothermal degradation of polypropylene waste (PP) using supercritical water (SCW) has been studied. The procedure was carried out in a high-pressure, high-temperature batch reactor at 425 °C and 450 °C from 15 to 240 min. The results show a high yield of the oil (up to 95%) and gas (up to 20%) phases. The gained oil phase was composed of alkanes, alkenes, cycloalkanes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and alcohols. Alkanes and alcohols predominated at 425 °C and shorter reaction times, while the content of aromatic hydrocarbons sharply increased at higher temperatures and times. The higher heating values (HHVs) of oil phases were in the range of liquid fuel (diesel, gasoline, crude and fuel oil), and they were between 48 and 42 MJ/kg. The gas phase contained light hydrocarbons (C1–C6), where propane was the most represented component. The results for PP degradation obtained in the present work were compared to the results of SCW degradation of colored PE waste, and the potential degradation mechanism of polyolefins waste in SCW is proposed. The results allowed to conclude that SCW processing technology represents a promising and eco-friendly tool for the liquefaction of polyolefin (PE and PP) waste into oil with a high conversion rate.
Preparation of Biocidal Nanocomposites in X-ray Irradiated Interpolyelectolyte Complexes of Polyacrylic Acid and Polyethylenimine with Ag-Ions
Authors: Mkrtchyan Kristina V. , Pigareva Vladislava A. , Zezina Elena A. , Kuznetsova Oksana A. , Semenova Anastasia A. , Yushina Yuliya K. , Tolordava Etery R. , Grudistova Maria A. , Sybachin Andrey V. , Klimov Dmitry I. , Abramchuk Sergey S. , Yaroslavov Alexander A. , Zezin Alexey A.
Published: October 2022

Due to the presence of cationic units interpolyelectrolyte complexes (IPECs) can be used as a universal basis for preparation of biocidal coatings on different surfaces. Metallopolymer nanocomposites were successfully synthesized in irradiated solutions of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polyethylenimine (PEI), and dispersions of non-stoichiometric IPECs of PAA–PEI containing silver ions. The data from turbidimetric titration and dynamic light scattering showed that pH 6 is the optimal value for obtaining IPECs. Metal polymer complexes based on IPEC with a PAA/PEI ratio equal to 3/1 and 1/3 were selected for synthesis of nanocomposites due to their aggregative stability. Studies using methods of UV–VIS spectroscopy and TEM have demonstrated that the size and spatial organization of silver nanoparticles depend on the composition of polymer systems. The average sizes of nanoparticles are 5 nm and 20 nm for complexes with a molar ratio of PAA/PEI units equal to 3/1 and 1/3, respectively. The synthesized nanocomposites were applied to the glass surface and exhibited high antibacterial activity against both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella). It is shown that IPEC-Ag coatings demonstrate significantly more pronounced biocidal activity not only in comparison with macromolecular complexes of PAA–PEI, but also coatings of PEI and PEI based nanocomposites.
Recycled Multi-Material Packaging Reinforced with Flax Fibres: Thermal and Mechanical Behaviour
Authors: Bavasso Irene , Sergi Claudia , Valente Teodoro , Tirillò Jacopo , Sarasini Fabrizio
Published: October 2022

In this work, the use of a recycled mix stemming from the treatment of multilayer aseptic packaging used in the food and beverage industry is proposed as the matrix for short fibre composites reinforced with flax fibres, to generate value-added materials in contrast to the more common end-of-life scenario including energy recovery. This is expected to be a preferred choice in the waste hierarchy at the European level. A commercially available material (EcoAllene) obtained from multilayer packaging recycling was compounded with short flax fibres up to 30 wt.% by twin screw extrusion, with a view to enhancing its poor mechanical profile and broadening its applications. Composites were in depth analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, which highlighted the complex nature of this recycled product, a limited nucleation ability of flax fibres and a lower thermal stability due to the premature degradation of natural hemicellulose and cellulose, though featuring in any case onset degradation temperatures higher than 300 °C. Composites’ mechanical properties were assessed in tension, bending and impact conditions, with remarkable improvements over the neat matrix in terms of stiffness and strength. In particular, at 30 wt.% fibre content and with 5 wt.% of maleated coupling agent, an increase in tensile and flexural strength values by 92% and 138% was achieved, respectively, without compromising the impact strength. The effectiveness of flax fibres confirmed by dynamo-mechanical analysis is beneficial to the exploitation of these composites in automotive interiors and outdoor decking applications.
Immobilization of Active Antibodies at Polymer Melt Surfaces during Injection Molding
Authors: Hobæk Thor Christian , Pranov Henrik J. , Larsen Niels B.
Published: October 2022

We demonstrate the transfer and immobilization of active antibodies from a low surface- energy mold surface to thermoplastic replica surfaces using injection molding, and we investigate the process at molecular scale. The transfer process is highly efficient, as verified by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the mold and replica surfaces. AFM analysis reveals partial nanometer-scale embedding of the protein into the polymer matrix as a possible mechanism of permanent immobilization. Replicas with rabbit anti-mouse IgG immobilized as capture antibody at the hot polymer melt surface during injection molding show similar affinity for their antigen (mouse IgG) in sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as capture antibodies deposited by passive adsorption onto a bare thermoplastic replica. The transferred antibodies retain their functionality after incubation in serum-containing cell medium for >1 week. A mold coating time of 10 min prior to injection molding is sufficient for producing highly sensitive ELISA assays, thus enabling the short processing cycle times required for mass production of single-use biodevices relying on active immobilized antibodies.
Vapor–Liquid Equilibrium in Binary and Ternary Azeotropic Solutions Acetonitrile-Ethanol-Water with the Addition of Amino Esters of Boric Acid
Authors: Davletbaeva Ilsiya M. , Klinov Alexander V. , Khairullina Alina R. , Malygin Alexander V. , Madaminov Nikolay V.
Published: October 2022

The effect of amino esters of boric acid (AEBA) on the conditions of vapor–liquid equilibrium in binary mixtures of acetonitrile–water, ethanol–acetonitrile and a three-component mixture of ethanol-acetonitrile-water was investigated. Residual curves and vapor–liquid phase equilibrium conditions (TPXY data) were experimentally measured at atmospheric pressure for a binary mixture of acetonitrile-AEBA and a triple mixture of acetonitrile-water-AEBA. Previously unknown energy binary parameters of groups B, CH2N with group CH3CN were determined for the UNIFAC model. The correction of the value of the binary parameter water—acetonitrile was carried out. On the basis of thermodynamic modeling, the degree of influence of AEBA on the relative volatility of acetonitrile in binary and ternary mixtures was analyzed. It is shown that the use of AEBA removes all azeotropic points in the studied mixtures. In this case, acetonitrile turns out to be a volatile component, and water is a non-volatile component in the entire concentration range.
Kinetic Study of 4-Chlorophenol Biodegradation by Acclimated Sludge in a Packed Bed Reactor
Authors: Lin Yen-Hui
Published: October 2022

In this study, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the degradation of 4-CP using acclimated sludge. The Monod and Haldane models were employed to fit the specific growth rate with various initial 4-CP concentrations of 67–412 mg/L in the batch experiments. Haldane kinetics showed a better fit to experimental results than Monod kinetics. The kinetic parameters were obtained from a comparison of Monod and Haldane kinetics with batch experimental data. The values of μm and KS were found to be 0.691 d−1 and 5.62 mg/L, respectively, for Monod kinetics. In contrast, the values of μm, KS, and KI were 1.30 d−1, 8.38 mg/L, and 279.4 mg/L, respectively, for Haldane kinetics. The kinetic parameters in Haldane kinetics were used as input parameters for the kinetic model system of the packed bed reactor (PBR). The continuous flow PBR was conducted to validate the kinetic model system. The model-simulated results agreed well with experimental data in the PBR performance operation. At the steady-state stage, the removal efficiency of 4-CP was 70.8–96.1%, while the hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 2.5 to 12.4 h. The corresponding removal of 4-CP was assessed to be 94.6 and 96.1% when the inlet 4-CP loading rate was increased from 0.11 to 0.51 kg/m3-d. The approaches of kinetic models and experiments presented in this study can be applied to design a PBR for 4-CP treatment in wastewater from the effluents of various industries.
Commentarial Interpretations of the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa in the Controversy over Requiring Buddhist Monastics to Pay Homage to the Emperor during the Sui and Tang Dynasties
Authors: Sheng Kai
Published: October 2022

Once Buddhism had become established in China, one of the central issues in the relations between the Saṃgha and the state was the ongoing controversy over requiring Buddhist monastics to pay homage to the emperor. When this controversy resurfaced at the end of the Sui dynasty and the beginning of the Tang dynasty, the participants in the debate frequently referred to the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa to support their arguments. In this paper, I discuss these references to the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa and how they were interpreted by various participants. I argue that the ideas of “the distinction between expedient means and monastic conventions” and “the distinction between individual realization and general ethics” prevalent in the Buddhist circles of the Sui and Tang dynasties are in line with the concepts of “veneration out of gratitude” and “signless veneration” used for interpreting the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa, indicating that the Sui and Tang Buddhist communities had a common understanding on this issue. A more extreme position was that of Kuiji, who interprets the relevant passages in the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa in terms of “forgetting decorum out of ignorance” in his arguments against the institutional feasibility of requiring monastics to pay homage to the emperor. The arguments put forth in this debate clearly reflect the interaction between Buddhism, absolute monarchy, and historical events in China, in a fusion of intellectual and social history.
Benchmarking Dynamic Balancing Controllers for Humanoid Robots
Authors: Castano Juan A. , Humphreys Joseph , Mingo Hoffman Enrico , Fernández Talavera Noelia , Rodriguez Sanchez Maria Cristina , Zhou Chengxu
Published: October 2022

This paper presents a comparison study of three control design approaches for humanoid balancing based on the Center of Mass (CoM) stabilization and body posture adjustment. The comparison was carried out under controlled circumstances allowing other researchers to replicate and compare our results with their own. The feedback control from state space design is based on simple models and provides sufficient robustness to control complex and high Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) systems, such as humanoids. The implemented strategies allow compliant behavior of the robot in reaction to impulsive or periodical disturbances, resulting in a smooth and human-like response while considering constraints. In this respect, we implemented two balancing strategies to compensate for the CoM deviation. The first one uses the robot’s capture point as a stability principle and the second one uses the Force/Torque sensors at the ankles to define a CoM reference that stabilizes the robot. In addition, was implemented a third strategy based on upper body orientation to absorb external disturbances and counterbalance them. Even though the balancing strategies are implemented independently, they can be merged to further increase balancing performance. The proposed strategies were previously applied on different humanoid bipedal platforms, however, their performance could not be properly benchmarked before. With this concern, this paper focuses on benchmarking in controlled scenarios to help the community in comparing different balance techniques. The key performance indicators (KPIs) used in our comparison are the CoM deviation, the settling time, the maximum measured orientation, passive gait measure, measured ankles torques, and reconstructed Center of Pressure (CoP). The benchmarking experiments were carried out in simulations and using the facility at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia on the REEM-C humanoid robot provided by PAL robotics inside the EU H2020 project EUROBENCH framework.
Quantification of Underwater Sargassum Aggregations Based on a Semi-Analytical Approach Applied to Sentinel-3/OLCI (Copernicus) Data in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Schamberger Léa , Minghelli Audrey , Chami Malik
Published: October 2022

“Sargassum” is a pelagic species of algae that drifts and aggregates in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. The number of Sargassum aggregations increased in the Caribbean Sea during the last decade. The aggregations eventually wash up on shores thus leading to a socio-economic issue for the population and the coastal ecosystem. Satellite ocean color data, such as those provided by the Sentinel-3/OLCI satellite sensor (Copernicus), can be used to detect the occurrences of Sargassum and to estimate their abundance per pixel using the Maximum Chlorophyll Index (noted MCI). Such an index is, however, ineffective if the algae are located beneath the sea surface, which frequently happens, considering the rough Caribbean oceanic waters. The objective of this study is to propose a relevant methodology that enables the detection of underwater Sargassum aggregations. The methodology relies on the inversion of the radiative transfer equation in the water column. The inverted model provides the immersion depth of the Sargassum aggregations (per pixel) and their fractional coverage from the above water reflectances. The overall methodology has been applied to Sentinel-3/OLCI data. The comparison with the MCI method, which is solely devoted to the sea surface retrieval of Sargassum aggregations, shows that the proposed methodology allows retrieving about twice more Sargassum aggregation occurrences than the MCI estimates. A relative increase of 31% of the fractional coverage over the entire study area is observed when using the proposed method in comparison to MCI method. For the satellite scenes considered here, the rate of Sargassum aggregations immersed between 2 m and 5 m depth ranges between 30% and 51% over the total amount (i.e., surface + in-water), which clearly demonstrates the importance of considering the retrieval of in-water aggregations to gain understanding on Sargassum spatial variability in the oceanic and coastal ecosystems.
Ground Positioning Method of Spaceborne SAR High-Resolution Sliding-Spot Mode Based on Antenna Pointing Vector
Authors: Li Yingying , Wu Hao , Meng Dadi , Gao Gemengyue , Lian Cuiping , Wang Xueying
Published: October 2022

As a new high-resolution spaceborne SAR observation mode, sliding-spot imaging has the characteristics of a large squint, long aperture time, and azimuth aliasing, and because of the dechirp operation in the imaging algorithm of this mode, it is difficult to construct a direct range–Doppler equation for its geometric processing. In this paper a conformation model based on an antenna pointing vector is presented, which fully considers the influence of the dechirp operation on the range image, starts from the relative position of the dechirped range image points and the satellite, and establishes a strict conversion model between the image coordinates and geographic coordinates using the accurate satellite–ground geometric conditions. Then the forward and reverse formulas for geometric processing of the sliding-spot mode are given based on this model. Finally, geometric calibration and positioning experiments under different conditions and field spaceborne SAR data are executed. Results show that after geometric errors caused by the SAR payload have been calibrated and other factors such as atmospheric delay, platform position, and elevation error have been compensated, the uncontrolled geometric positioning accuracy can reach within 1 m–2 m, which fully proves the effectiveness of this method in the geometric positioning of high-resolution sliding-spot images.
Local Path Planning of Autonomous Vehicle Based on an Improved Heuristic Bi-RRT Algorithm in Dynamic Obstacle Avoidance Environment
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Zhu Tong , Du Lei , Hu Yueqi , Liu Haoxue
Published: October 2022

The existing variants of the rapidly exploring random tree (RRT) cannot be effectively applied in local path planning of the autonomous vehicle and solve the coherence problem of paths between the front and back frames. Thus, an improved heuristic Bi-RRT algorithm is proposed, which is suitable for obstacle avoidance of the vehicle in an unknown dynamic environment. The vehicle constraint considering the driver’s driving habit and the obstacle-free direct connection mode of two random trees are introduced. Multi-sampling biased towards the target state reduces invalid searches, and parent node selection with the comprehensive measurement index accelerates the algorithm’s execution while making the initial path gentle. The adaptive greedy step size, introducing the target direction, expands the node more effectively. Moreover, path reorganization minimizes redundant path points and makes the path’s curvature continuous, and path coherence makes paths between the frames connect smoothly. Simulation analysis clarifies the efficient performance of the proposed algorithm, which can generate the smoothest path within the shortest time compared with the other four algorithms. Furthermore, the experiments on dynamic environments further show that the proposed algorithm can generate a differentiable coherence path, ensuring the ride comfort and stability of the vehicle.
Energy and Sustainable Development in Smart Cities: An Overview
Authors: Almihat Mohamed G. Moh , Kahn M. T. E. , Aboalez Khaled , Almaktoof Ali M.
Published: October 2022

Smart cities are an innovative concept for managing metropolitan areas to increase their residents’ sustainability and quality of life. This article examines the management and evolution of energy generation, various storage systems and the applications they serve, and infrastructure technology’s current condition and future prospects. Additionally, the study also examines energy-related construction and transportation systems and technologies. The Smart Cities Energy Prediction Task Force predicts electrical usage using STLF, SVM, and e-learning machines. To keep a system working well throughout the year, fossil fuels must be utilised as a backup energy source. Technologies can only benefit if integrated into the city’s infrastructure. By 2050, it is anticipated that the global population will surpass 10 billion, with most people settling in metropolitan regions. Between 2020 and 2027, the global market for smart energy is anticipated to expand by 27.1% annually, from USD 122.2 billion in 2020 to USD 652 billion in 2026. In 2020, Europe will account for 31.8 per cent of total smart energy product sales. China’s GDP is projected to grow by 33.0 per cent annually, reaching USD 176.1 billion by the conclusion of the analysis period. Consequently, smart cities are expanding and blooming worldwide, yet there are no permanent standards.
Application of Classic and Novel Metaheuristic Algorithms in a BIM-Based Resource Tradeoff in Dam Projects
Authors: Baghalzadeh Shishehgarkhaneh Milad , Moradinia Sina Fard , Keivani Afram , Azizi Mahdi
Published: October 2022

In recent years, dam construction has become more complex, requiring an effective project management method. Building Information Modeling (BIM) affects how construction projects are planned, designed, executed, and operated. Therefore, reducing execution time, cost, and risk and increasing quality are the primary goals of organizations. In this paper, first, the time and cost of the project were obtained via the BIM process. Subsequently, optimization between the components of the survival pyramid (time, cost, quality, and risk) in construction projects was completed in a case study of the Ghocham storage dam in five different modes, including contractor’s offers, BIM, actual, and two other modes based on the expert’s opinions. For this aim, five different meta-heuristic optimization algorithms were utilized, including two classical algorithms (Genetic and Simulated Annealing) and three novel algorithms (Black Widow Optimization, Battle Royale Optimization, and Black Hole Mechanics Optimization). In four cases, once each element of the survival pyramid was optimized separately, all four cases were traded off simultaneously. Moreover, the results were obtained from all the mentioned algorithms in five scenarios based on the number of function evaluation (Nfe), Standard Deviation (SD), Computation Time (CT), and Best Cost (BC). MATLAB software completed the coding related to the objective functions and optimization algorithms. The results indicated the appropriate performance of GA and BHMO algorithms in some scenarios. However, only the GAs should be considered effective algorithms in a dam construction projects’ time–cost–quality–risk (TCQR) tradeoff.
Two-Dimensional Quantum Dots: From Photoluminescence to Biomedical Applications
Authors: Costa Mariana C. F. , Echeverrigaray Sergio G. , Andreeva Daria V. , Novoselov Kostya S. , Neto Antonio H. Castro
Published: October 2022

Quantum dots (QDs) play a fundamental role in nanotechnology because of their unique optical properties, especially photoluminescence (PL). Quantum confinement effects combined with tailor-made materials make QDs extremely versatile for understanding basic physical phenomena intrinsic to them as well as defining their use in a vast range of applications. With the advent of graphene in 2004, and the discovery of numerous other two-dimensional (2D) materials subsequently, it became possible to develop novel 2D quantum dots (2DQDs). Intensive research of the properties of 2DQDs over the last decade have revealed their outstanding properties and grabbed the attention of researchers from different fields: from photonics and electronics to catalysis and medicine. In this review, we explore several aspects of 2DQDs from their synthesis, functionalization, and characterization to applications, focusing on their bioimaging, biosensing, and theranostic solutions
Stepping Stone Wetlands, Last Sanctuaries for European Mudminnow: How Can the Human Impact, Climate Change, and Non-Native Species Drive a Fish to the Edge of Extinction?
Authors: Bănăduc Doru , Marić Saša , Cianfaglione Kevin , Afanasyev Sergey , Somogyi Dóra , Nyeste Krisztián , Antal László , Koščo Ján , Ćaleta Marko , Wanzenböck Josef , Curtean-Bănăduc Angela
Published: October 2022

Throughout their history humans “tamed” not only the Danube River basin land, but also the river and its associated wetlands, drastically influencing their characteristic habitats, associations, communities, and species. One of these flagship endemic fish species in this respect is the European mudminnow (Umbra krameri Walbaum, 1792), influenced by Danube Basin geography, history, politics, and ecology. A study about this European community concern species in the context of long term human impact on its specific habitats, with potential synergic negative effects of climate change, was treated as highly needed, in an international researchers group initiative to support the efforts to provide hope for preserving this fish species and its ecosystems, and brought it back from the brink of extinction. All the characteristic inventoried wetlands which were or some of them still are natural, semi-natural, or accidental anthropogenic habitats, reveal an accentuated diminishing trend of this species areal continuity; fragmentation being the force which skewed it drastically untill now, and inducing diminishing the specific habitats quantitative and qualitative characteristics in the Danube Basin where these fish fight for survival. The main categories of human activities which impacted the climate changes in the context of this species’ habitats are: water regulation, pollution, dredging, draining, and introduction of non-native species. Overall, the diverse human impact in a climate changes in the context of this species’ habitats, Umbra krameri wetlands, creates serious perspectives on negatively influencing this at a very high scale and level. All the inventoried wetlands where Umbra krameri still survive can be considered an ecologically managed as a refuge and stepping stone wetlands, especially in the increasing climate change trend situation. Supplementary inventory studies in the field should be done for the identification of some may be unknown Umbra krameri habitats and populations.
Characteristics and Sources of Air Pollution in Southern Shanxi Province
Authors: Liu Qiangjun , Liang Suping , Xu Junlin
Published: October 2022

To study the characteristics and potential sources region of air pollution in Jincheng, Southern Shanxi Province, the potential source areas and transport routes of pollutants were investigated using AQI (air quality index) data from 2018 to 2020 and National Centers for Environmental (NCEP) reanalysis data, combined with cluster analysis, potential source contribution function (PSCF), and concentration weight trajectory (CWT). The results show that the AQI of Jincheng in wintertime from 2018 to 2020 showed a “gradual N-shaped decline” trend. The primary pollutants throughout the year were particulate pollutants PM10 and PM2.5, and the number of days in which O3 was the primary pollutant accounted for about 40%. The trajectory cluster analysis showed that there were eight types of transmission trajectories in winter. The northwest trajectories of categories 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7 accounted for 52.84%, the northerly trajectories of categories 5 and 6 accounted for 17.61%, and the southeast trajectories of category 8 accounted for 1.14%. The trajectory results were basically consistent with the geographical location and monsoon characteristics of Jincheng. The potential pollution source areas with great impact on AQI in Jincheng were mainly located in Northern Shanxi, Luliang and Linfen in Shanxi, and Xingtai and Handan in Hebei. Fenwei River Valley was another significant source of air pollution in Jincheng. Therefore, the pollution of Jincheng was affected by both pollution transmission and local exhaust sources. The impact of air pollution was mutual, and the findings from this research could be helpful for building an effective joint mechanism for environmental control in Jincheng.
Challenges of Renewable Energy Sourcing in the Process Industries: The Example of the German Chemical Industry
Authors: Riedel Norman Hendrik , Špaček Miroslav
Published: October 2022

The ongoing move toward carbon neutrality in Europe and, more recently, towards reducing Russian natural gas as an energy source poses a significant challenge to energy-intensive processes such as the German chemical industry. While many current research studies focus on the transformation of the electrical grid required for the transition to renewable energy sources and the related technical problems and market design, little research has been conducted on the practical feasibility and requirements of energy transformation in energy-intensive process industries. This publication addresses this gap using the projected future energy demand of the German chemical industry and simulation of its coverage by different renewable energy production scenarios using past data on power outputs from renewable energies. Ten-gigawatt offshore wind power installed without additional storage would reduce the natural gas consumption of inflexible large-scale processes in the German chemical industry by 63% or fossil energy consumption by 42%. Hydrogen energy storage has little effect unless employed at sizes comparable to the entire current German storage volume for natural gas. In consequence, while the substitution of fossil energies is technically feasible, the undertaking of reaching a high level of substitution is of a magnitude that makes the time frames currently set seem somewhat optimistic without massive reductions in energy consumption by shutting down large parts of the industry.
Social Media and Destination Branding in Tourism: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Tran Nguyet Luong , Rudolf Wawrzyniec
Published: October 2022

Under the impact of technological innovations, particularly the Internet, ways of communication have been changing. In fact, social media has been offering virtual communities and networks that enable the creation and dissemination of information, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression. Furthermore, it clearly plays an important role in the communication strategy of the various stakeholders of the tourism industry. It is vital to create and maintain destination branding not only traditionally but also in the virtual society. This study conducted a systematic review of the literature in order to synthesize the contributions of scholars within the field of place branding and social media, explore current lines of inquiry, and propose avenues for future research. The findings pointed out that there has been a steady extension of the number of the related publications during the last 11 years. Multiple tourist destinations and platforms are included in the research, which leads to a better understanding of different points of view. A total of 114 English-language peer-reviewed academic journal articles are included in this review and categorized into five key themes, examining: (1) destination brand strategy, (2) user-generated content, (3) cognitive dimensions, (4) affective dimensions, and (5) behavioural dimensions. This study also outlines some future research trends.