bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Luminous Flux in Ex-Vivo Porcine Eyes during Endoillumination and during Transscleral Illumination Depending on the Transmission Properties of the Eyewall
Authors: Fehler Nicole , Heßling Martin
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: During eye surgery, it is important that sufficient light enlightens the inside of the eye for small structures to become visible. The intraocular brightness is influenced by the luminous flux of the illumination system. However, the intraocular luminous flux during surgery has not been investigated so far. Insufficient luminous flux makes vision difficult for the surgeon, whereas excessive luminous flux can cause damage to the retina. Therefore, the luminous flux in lightly and strongly pigmented eyes is determined by endoillumination and diaphanoscopic illumination. (2) Methods: First, the luminous flux emitted from a diaphanoscopic illumination fiber is measured. For determining the intraocular luminous flux, this is multiplied with the transmission properties of the eyewall, which are determined for ex vivo porcine eyes. In order to compare the luminous flux of transscleral illumination with that of endoillumination, the luminous flux of various endoillumination fibers is examined. (3) Results: The results reveal that the total transmission of the eyewall is up to 2.5 times higher for blue/lightly pigmented eyes than for brown/strongly pigmented eyes. With this, the intraocular luminous flux in ex vivo porcine eyes is around 95% higher for less pigmented eyes than for strong pigmented eyes, considering intraocular reflections. (4) Conclusion: To obtain the same brightness in blue and brown eyes, the surgeon can reduce the intensity of the light source when illuminating blue eyes to reduce their retinal risk.
Population Assessments of Federally Threatened Everglades Bully in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida, USA, Using Habitat Suitability Modeling and Micromorphology
Authors: Lange James J. , Angelo Courtney L. , Revuelta Erick , Possley Jennifer
Published: March 2023

In Big Cypress National Preserve, the federally threatened Everglades bully (Sideroxylon reclinatum subsp. austrofloridense) is sympatric with its conspecific, more widespread relative, the Florida bully (Sideroxylon reclinatum subsp. reclinatum). In this area of overlap, the only reliable characters to distinguish the two are cryptic, micromorphological traits of the abaxial laminar surface. In order to better understand the distribution of the federally threatened taxon, we used a combination of habitat suitability modeling (HSM), field surveys, and microscopy. Using models to inform initial surveys, we collected leaf material of 96 individuals in the field, 86 of which we were able to identify to subspecies. Of these, 73 (85%) were identified as the threatened taxon, expanding both the known range and population size within Big Cypress. We used these 73 new occurrences to rerun HSMs to create a more accurate picture of where the taxon is likely to occur. A total of 15,015 hectares were predicted to be suitable habitat within Big Cypress, with 34,069 hectares across the entire study area. These model results could be used to inform the critical habitat designation for this taxon. For at-risk, cryptic taxa, such as the Everglades bully, multiple approaches are needed to inform management and conservation priorities, including the consideration of a hybridization zone.
Multimodal Interaction of MU Plant Landscape Design in Marine Urban Based on Computer Vision Technology
Authors: Yuan Jingwen , Zhang Longlong , Kim Chul-Soo
Published: March 2023

At present, there is a growing focus on the landscape and environment of ocean cities, with an increasing demand for improved ecological sustainability and aesthetic appeal. With the emergence of computer vision design technologies such as 3D and VR, people have overcome the limitations of traditional paper-based design materials. Through the use of computer software, various forms of expression, such as drawings and animations, can be produced, thereby meeting the diverse demands for showcasing plant landscapes. The purpose of this paper is to study the design of marine urban (MU) botanical landscapes based on computer vision technology (CVT) and multimodal interaction design (MID) theory, so that the design of MU botanical landscape can meet people’s psychological behavior and visual needs, and at the same time enable people to participate in and experience the landscape, so as to better meet people’s needs for viewing, leisure, and entertainment. At the same time, it is hoped that the research of this paper will play a role in promoting the innovation and development of the concept of MU landscape design (LD) in the future, specifically from two levels of theoretical and practical significance. First, at the level of theoretical research: Based on the theory of MID, this paper explores the application of communication and interaction among humans and between humans and the landscape in the design of MU planting, and tries to explore and summarize the content and methods of interactive LD in marine cities with a theoretical basis and research value. The goal is to both enhance the theoretical level of interactive LD, and also provide new reference for future marine city (MC) LD. Second, at the level of practical application: In the field of LD, the new concept of computer vision is introduced to fully understand the visual needs of people and increase the practicality and pleasantness of the MU landscape, hoping to attract more people to come to play and rest. Through the attraction of MU landscapes to tourists, the design and construction of the landscape no longer focus on its appearance, but rather on the participation and experience of people.
Cross-Talk and Physiological Role of Jasmonic Acid, Ethylene, and Reactive Oxygen Species in Wound-Induced Phenolic Biosynthesis in Broccoli
Authors: Torres-Contreras Ana Mariel , Nair Vimal , Senés-Guerrero Carolina , Pacheco Adriana , González-Agüero Mauricio , Ramos-Parra Perla A. , Cisneros-Zevallos Luis , Jacobo-Velázquez Daniel A.
Published: March 2023

Wounding induces phenolic biosynthesis in broccoli. However, there is scarce information about the physiological and molecular mechanisms governing this stress response. In the present study, a chemical-genetics approach was used to elucidate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) as stress-signaling molecules in the wound-induced phenolic biosynthesis in broccoli. Wounding activated the biosynthesis of ET and JA. Likewise, the wound-induced biosynthesis of ET and JA was regulated by ROS. JA activated primary metabolism, whereas the three signaling molecules activated phenylpropanoid metabolism. The signaling molecules inhibited the wound-induced activation of the hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HQT) gene, which is involved in caffeoylquinic acids biosynthesis, and the main phenolics accumulated in wounded broccoli, suggesting that an alternative caffeoylquinic biosynthesis pathway is activated in the tissue due to wounding. ROS mediated the biosynthesis of most individual phenolic compounds evaluated. In conclusion, ROS, ET, and JA are essential in activating broccoli’s primary and secondary metabolism, resulting in phenolic accumulation.
Studies on the Composition and Diversity of Seagrass Ruppia sinensis Rhizosphere Mmicroorganisms in the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Shang Shuai , Li Liangyu , Xiao Hui , Chen Jun , Zang Yu , Wang Jun , Tang Xuexi
Published: March 2023

Seagrass is a significant primary producer of coastal ecosystems; however, the continued degradation of seagrass beds is a serious problem that has attracted widespread attention from researchers. Rhizosphere microorganisms affect seagrass and participate in many life activities of seagrass. This study explored the relationship between the composition of microbes in the rhizosphere and the surrounding environment of Ruppia sinensis by using High-throughput sequencing methods. The dominant bacterial groups in the rhizosphere surface sediments of R. sinensis and the surrounding environment are Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Firmicutes. Moreover, the dominant fungal groups are Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Chytridiomycota. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were identified in microbial communities among different groups (rhizosphere, bulk sediment, and surrounding seawater). Seventy-four ASVs (For bacteria) and 48 ASVs (For fungal) were shared among seagrass rhizosphere, surrounding sediment, and seawater. The rhizosphere was enriched in sulfate-reducing bacteria and nitrogen-fixing bacteria. In general, we obtained the rhizosphere microbial community of R. sinensis, which provided extensive evidence of the relative contribution of the seagrass rhizosphere and the surrounding environment.
Stimulation of PGP Bacteria on the Development of Seeds, Plants and Cuttings of the Obligate Halophyte Arthrocaulon (Arthrocnemum) macrostachyum (Moric.) Piirainen & G. Kadereit
Authors: Barcia-Piedras José-María , Pérez-Romero Jesús-Alberto , Mateos-Naranjo Enrique , Parra Raquel , Rodríguez-Llorente Ignacio-David , Camacho María , Redondo-Gómez Susana
Published: March 2023

The Earth is undergoing alterations at a high speed, which causes problems such as environmental pollution and difficulty in food production. This is where halophytes are interesting, due to their high potential in different fields, such as remediation of the environment and agriculture. For this reason, it is necessary to deepen the knowledge of the development of halophytes and how plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGP) can play a fundamental role in this process. Therefore, in this work were tested the effects of five PGP bacteria on its rhizosphere and other endophytic bacteria at different concentrations of NaCl on seed germination, plant growth (0 and 171 mM) and cutting growth (0 mM) of Arthrocaulon macrostachyum. The growth promotion in this strict halophyte is highlighted due to the presence of PGP bacteria and the fact that no salt is needed. Thus, without salt, the bacterial strains Kocuria polaris Hv16, Pseudarthrobacter psychrotolerans C58, and Rahnella aceris RTE9 enhanced the biomass production by more than 60% in both stems and roots. Furthermore, germination was encouraged by more than 30% in the presence of both R. aceris RTE9 and K. polaris Hv16 at 171 mM NaCl; the latter also had a biocontrol effect on the fungi that grew on the seeds. Additionally, for the first time in cuttings of this perennial species, the root biomass was improved thanks to the consortium of K. polaris Hv16 and P. psychrotolerans C58. Finally, this study demonstrates the potential of PGPs for optimising the development of halophytes, either for environmental or agronomic purposes.
Seasonal Effects on Phenolic Contents and In Vitro Health-Promoting Bioactivities of Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Authors: On-nom Nattira , Thangsiri Sirinapa , Inthachat Woorawee , Temviriyanukul Piya , Sahasakul Yuraporn , Chupeerach Chaowanee , Pruesapan Kanchana , Trisonthi Piyapat , Siriwan Dalad , Suttisansanee Uthaiwan
Published: March 2023

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is a commercial product in Asian countries. Almost all parts of the lotus plant are consumed as food or used as traditional medicine due to their high contents of secondary metabolites such as phenolics and alkaloids. However, agricultural management of the sacred lotus occurs during the rainy season, and the plant enters a resting stage during the dry season. Thus, seasonal variation (beginning, middle and end of the rainy season) was investigated for total phenolic contents (TPCs), antioxidant capacities and inhibitions of the key enzymes relevant to chronic diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (β-secretase, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase), hypertension (angiotensin-converting enzyme), obesity (lipase) and diabetes (α-glucosidase) of different sacred lotus parts (seed embryo, petal, stamen, old leaf, leaf stalk and flower stalk). Results indicated that an aqueous extract of stamen in all harvesting seasons exhibited potentially high TPCs, which led to high antioxidant activities and most enzyme inhibitions (up to 53.7-fold higher) than the others collected in the same harvesting period. The phenolic content and biochemical activities in stamen harvested at the beginning of the rainy season were up to 4-fold higher than during other harvesting periods. This information benefits the agricultural management of sacred lotus and supports consumption of different sacred lotus parts for health promotion. Results can be used as an initial database for future product development from different sacred lotus parts.
Towards Electrochemical Sensor Based on Molecularly Imprinted Polypyrrole for the Detection of Bacteria—Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Liustrovaite Viktorija , Pogorielov Maksym , Boguzaite Raimonda , Ratautaite Vilma , Ramanaviciene Almira , Pilvenyte Greta , Holubnycha Viktoriia , Korniienko Viktoriia , Diedkova Kateryna , Viter Roman , Ramanavicius Arunas
Published: March 2023

Detecting bacteria—Listeria monocytogenes—is an essential healthcare and food industry issue. The objective of the current study was to apply platinum (Pt) and screen-printed carbon (SPCE) electrodes modified by molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) in the design of an electrochemical sensor for the detection of Listeria monocytogenes. A sequence of potential pulses was used to perform the electrochemical deposition of the non-imprinted polypyrrole (NIP-Ppy) layer and Listeria monocytogenes-imprinted polypyrrole (MIP-Ppy) layer over SPCE and Pt electrodes. The bacteria were removed by incubating Ppy-modified electrodes in different extraction solutions (sulphuric acid, acetic acid, L-lysine, and trypsin) to determine the most efficient solution for extraction and to obtain a more sensitive and repeatable design of the sensor. The performance of MIP-Ppy- and NIP-Ppy-modified electrodes was evaluated by pulsed amperometric detection (PAD). According to the results of this research, it can be assumed that the most effective MIP-Ppy/SPCE sensor can be designed by removing bacteria with the proteolytic enzyme trypsin. The LOD and LOQ of the MIP-Ppy/SPCE were 70 CFU/mL and 210 CFU/mL, respectively, with a linear range from 300 to 6700 CFU/mL.
Characterization of Composite Film of Gelatin and Squid Pen Chitosan Obtained by High Hydrostatic Pressure
Authors: Huang Ya-Ling , Wang Da-Ming
Published: March 2023

In the present study, gelatin-based films incorporating squid pen chitosan obtained by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP chitosan) at varying proportions were prepared and their properties were compared with films containing untreated chitosan. The resulting films were characterized by analyzing the physical, morphological, mechanical and barrier properties. The addition of different ratios of HHP chitosan to the gelatin-based film yielded significant improvements in mechanical and moisture barrier properties. The reason for this might be that HHP chitosan contributed to a regular and dense microstructure of the composite films due to forming a three-dimensional network structure in gelatin-based films with enhanced intermolecular interactions. The FTIR spectra showed no new chemical bond formed by incorporating HHP chitosan into gelatin-based film. The SEM micrographs showed that the gelatin-based film fabricated with three types of chitosan had a homogeneous surface morphology, indicating good compatibility of the materials. Compared to the gelatin-based films containing untreated chitosan, films containing HHP chitosan significantly delayed oxidative deterioration in oil during storage. Therefore, the chitosan obtained by HHP treatment could have a potential application in edible gelatin-based films as packaging materials.
Development and Characterization of Bio-Composites from the Plant Wastes of Water Hyacinth and Sugarcane Bagasse: Effect of Water Repellent and Gamma Radiation
Authors: Motaleb K. Z. M. Abdul , Abakevičienė Brigita , Milašius Rimvydas
Published: March 2023

Plant waste is a huge source of natural fibers and has great potential in the field of reinforced polymer composites to replace the environmentally harmful synthetic composites. In this study, fibers were extracted from water hyacinth (WH) petiole and sugarcane bagasse (SB) to make nonwovens by wet-laid web formation, and reinforced on the polyester (P) and epoxy (E) resins to make four types of composites namely, water hyacinth nonwoven reinforced epoxy (WH + E), water hyacinth nonwoven reinforced polyester (WH + P), sugarcane bagasse nonwoven reinforced epoxy (SB + E) and sugarcane bagasse nonwoven reinforced polyester (SB + P) composites. Water repellent (WR) on the nonwovens and gamma radiation (GR) on the composites were applied to improve the hydrophobicity and mechanical properties, such as tensile strength (TS), elongation at break and tensile modulus (TM) of the composites. The morphological structure of the fiber surfaces and tensile fractures were analyzed by SEM. FTIR spectra showed changes in functional groups before and after treatment. XRD analysis exhibited an increase in crystallinity for gamma-irradiated composites and a decrease in crystallinity for WR-treated composites compared to untreated composites. The SB composites (SB + E, SB + P) and polyester composites (WH + P, SB + P) showed higher water absorbency and lower mechanical properties than the WH composites (WH + E, WH + P) and epoxy composites (WH + E, SB + E), respectively. Hydrophobicity improved significantly by approximately 57% (average) at a concentration of 10% WR. However, TS and TM were reduced by approximately 24% at the same concentration. Thus, 5% WR is considered an optimum concentration due to the very low deterioration of TS and TM (<10%) but significant improvement in hydrophobicity (~39%) at this dose. On the other hand, GR treatment significantly improved TS, TM and hydrophobicity by 41, 32 and 25%, respectively, and decreased Eb% by 11% at a dose of 200 krd. However, mechanical properties and hydrophobicity deteriorated with further increase in dose at 300 krd. Thus, 200 krd is considered the optimum dose of GR.
Physical, Mechanical, and Structural Properties of the Polylactide and Polybutylene Adipate Terephthalate (PBAT)-Based Biodegradable Polymer during Compost Storage
Authors: Myalenko Dmitry , Fedotova Olga
Published: March 2023

Today, packaging is an integral part of any food product, preserving its quality and safety. The use of biodegradable packaging as an alternative to conventional polymers reduces the consumption of synthetic polymers and their negative impacts on the environment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the properties of a biodegradable compound based on polylactide (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT). Test samples were made by blown extrusion. The structural, physical, and mechanical properties of the PLA/PBAT material were studied. The property variations during compost storage in the lab were monitored for 365 days. The physical and mechanical properties were measured in accordance with the GOST 14236-2017 (ISO 527-2:2012) standard. We measured the tensile strength and elongation at rupture. We used attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared microscopy (ATR-FTIR) to analyze the changes in the material structure. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the strengths of a biodegradable material and grade H polyethylene film (manufactured to GOST 10354-82). PLA/PBAT’s longitudinal and transverse tensile strengths are 14.08% and 32.59% lower than those of LDPE, respectively. Nevertheless, the results indicate that, given its physical and mechanical properties, the PLA/PBAT material can be an alternative to conventional PE film food packaging. The structural study results are in good agreement with the physical and mechanical tests. Micrographs clearly show the surface deformations of the biodegradable material. They increase with the compost storage duration. The scanning microscopy (SEM) surface analysis of the original PLA/PBAT films indicated that the PLA structure is similar to that of a multilayer shell or sponge, which is visible at medium and especially high magnification. We conclude that PLA/PBAT-based biodegradable materials are potential substitutes for conventional PE polymer films.
CFRP U-Wraps and Spike Anchors for Enhancing the Flexural Performance of CFRP-Plated RC Beams
Authors: Abdalla Jamal A. , Mhanna Haya H. , Ali Alnadher B. , Hawileh Rami A.
Published: March 2023

Deterioration of infrastructure is a major challenge in the civil engineering industry. One of the methods that has been deemed effective in upgrading reinforced concrete (RC) structures is using externally bonded fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. However, the efficacy of this retrofitting technique is limited by the premature debonding failure of the FRP at the concrete-FRP interface; thus, the full capacity of the FRP is rarely utilized. Anchorage systems were proposed as a feasible solution to suppress or delay debonding failure. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the use of end U-wraps and carbon FRP (CFRP) spike anchors to anchor CFRP plates bonded to flexure-deficient RC beams. The experimental program consisted of seven RC beams with the length of the CFRP plate, type of anchorage, and the number of anchors as experimental variables. Test results indicated a remarkable enhancement in the ultimate load-carrying capacity when longer CFRP plates were used to strengthen the beams. In addition, anchoring the plates enhanced the strength of the CFRP-plated beams by 16–35% compared to the unanchored specimen, depending on the anchorage type and scheme. Finally, fib Bulletin 90 (2019) provisions provided the most accurate predictions of the moment capacity of the strengthened specimens.
A Solid-State Wire-Shaped Supercapacitor Based on Nylon/Ag/Polypyrrole and Nylon/Ag/MnO2 Electrodes
Authors: Zhang Ruirong , Wang Xiangao , Cai Sheng , Tao Kai , Xu Yanmeng
Published: March 2023

In this work, a novel wire-shaped supercapacitor based on nylon yarn with a high specific capacitance and energy density was developed by designing an asymmetric configuration and integrating pseudocapacitive materials for both electrodes. The nylon/Ag/MnO2 yarn was prepared as a positive electrode by electrochemically depositing MnO2 on a silver-paste-coated nylon yarn. Additionally, PPy was prepared on nylon/Ag yarn by chemical polymerization firstly to enlarge the surface roughness of nylon/Ag, and then the PPy could be easily coated on the chemically polymerized nylon/Ag/PPy by electrochemical polymerization to obtain a nylon/Ag/PPy yarn-shaped negative electrode. The wire-shaped asymmetric supercapacitor (WASC) was fabricated by assembling the nylon/Ag/MnO2 electrode, nylon/Ag/PPy electrode and PAANa/Na2SO4 gel electrolyte. This WASC showed a wide potential window of 1.6 V and a high energy density varying from 13.9 to 4.2 μWh cm−2 with the corresponding power density changing from 290 to 2902 μW cm−2. Meanwhile, because of the high flexibility of the nylon substrate and superior adhesion of active materials, the WASC showed a good electrochemical performance stability under different bending conditions, suggesting its good flexibility. The promising performance of this novel WASC is of great potential for wearable/portable devices in the future.
Effects of Cathode GDL Gradient Porosity Distribution along the Flow Channel Direction on Gas–Liquid Transport and Performance of PEMFC
Authors: Zhu Ruijie , Zhan Zhigang , Zhang Heng , Du Qing , Chen Xiaosong , Xiang Xin , Wen Xiaofei , Pan Mu
Published: March 2023

The gas diffusion layer (GDL) is an important component of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), and its porosity distribution has considerable effects on the transport properties and durability of PEMFCs. A 3-D two-phase flow computation fluid dynamics model was developed in this study, to numerically investigate the effects of three different porosity distributions in a cathode GDL: gradient-increasing (Case 1), gradient-decreasing (Case 3), and uniform constant (Case 2), on the gas–liquid transport and performance of PEMFCs; the novelty lies in the porosity gradient being along the channel direction, and the physical properties of the GDL related to porosity were modified accordingly. The results showed that at a high current density (2400 mA·cm−2), the GDL of Case 1 had a gas velocity of up to 0.5 cm·s−1 along the channel direction. The liquid water in the membrane electrode assembly could be easily removed because of the larger gas velocity and capillary pressure, resulting in a higher oxygen concentration in the GDL and the catalyst layer. Therefore, the cell performance increased. The voltage in Case 1 increased by 8% and 71% compared to Cases 2 and 3, respectively. In addition, this could ameliorate the distribution uniformity of the dissolved water and the current density in the membrane along the channel direction, which was beneficial for the durability of the PEMFC. The distribution of the GDL porosity at lower current densities had a less significant effect on the cell performance. The findings of this study may provide significant guidance for the design and optimization of the GDL in PEMFCs.
Heparin in Acid and Alkaline Environments—A Study of the Correlations between Hydrodynamic Properties and Desulphation
Authors: Kozlowski Aleksandra Maria , Dinu Vlad , MacCalman Thomas , Smith Alan Mark , Roubroeks Johannes Peter , Yates Edwin Alexander , Harding Stephen Ernest , Morris Gordon Alistair
Published: March 2023

This work evaluated the hydrodynamic properties of heparin hydrolysed at temperatures ranging from 40 °C to 80 °C in buffered acid and alkaline environments. The correlation between hydrodynamic parameters led to the conclusion that polymer conformational changes appeared to be minimal until chain depolymerisation, initiated at pH 1 and 80 °C. However, the synergy of conformational changes, even if minimal, and sulphate loss observed at pH 1, pH 3 and pH 12 (various temperatures) resulted in a loss of the antifactor Xa activity. Therefore, the ‘contribution’ of conformational changes should be added to the generally recognized effect of desulphation towards the activity of heparin. This is of significance as the processing of medical heparin is complex, and requires adjustment of several physical and chemical factors, including pH and temperature.
Fundamentals and Manipulation of Bare Droplets and Liquid Marbles as Open Microfluidic Platforms
Authors: Huang Zheng , Xie Yuanhao , Chen Huaying , Yu Zhihang , Shi Liuyong , Jin Jing
Published: March 2023

Microfluidics, as one of the most valuable analytical technologies of this century, has played an important role in various fields. Particularly, out-of-channel microfluidics, often referred to as open microfluidics (OMF) has recently drawn wide research attention among scholars for its great potential in convenient manual intervention. Much recent research has been geared toward bare droplets and particle-armed droplets (namely liquid marbles, LMs), which could serve as independent systems in OMF. Their versatile applications include but are not limited to nanomaterials preparation, energy harvesting, cell culture and environment monitoring. These applications are mainly attributed to the excellent independence, low reagent consumption and short reaction time of separate droplets and LMs. In addition, more operation features, such as diverse handling options, flexible controllability and high precision, further enable droplets and LMs carrying small liquid biochemical samples to be manipulated in an open environment freely. Considering the emergence of important research on bare droplets and LMs, this paper systematically reviews the state of the art in the fundamentals and manipulation of the two novel platforms under the frame of OMF. First, the intrinsic property of bare droplets on solid substrates, especially on superhydrophobic ones, is discussed, followed by the formation mechanism of nonwetting LMs and the effect of coating particles on LMs’ performance. Then, friction obstacles and actuation principles raised in driving droplets and LMs are further analyzed theoretically. Subsequently, several classical types of manipulation tasks for both droplets and LMs, namely transportation, coalescence, mixing and splitting, are discussed with a focus on key techniques to accomplish the tasks aforementioned. Finally, the fundamental and manipulation similarities and differences between bare droplets and LMs are summarized and future developments towards droplet- or LM-based microreactors and microsensors are recommended accordingly.
Numerical Investigation of Air Flow in Goaf While Mapping Its Flow Parameters
Authors: Janus Jakub
Published: March 2023

Recent work has presented a numerical model of a longwall ventilated by a U-system, considering the real shape of an adjacent goaf in addition to parameters characterizing the distribution of porosity and permeability. Analogous distributions are used in the two-dimensional model implemented in VentZroby software. A comparison of the results of the three-dimensional flow calculations with the two-dimensional calculations can be used to verify the simpler description and evaluate the impact of simplifications on the simulation results. Air flow calculations were carried out using the selected turbulence model. The obtained results present the possibility of conducting extensive numerical calculations for flow problems in underground mines, considering more precise descriptions and the interpretation of the calculation results carried out using a simpler description.
Prediction of Oxygen Content in Boiler Flue Gas Based on a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Zhenhua , Li Guanghong , Shi Bin
Published: March 2023

As one of the core pieces of equipment of the thermal power generation system, the economic and environmental performance of a boiler determines the energy efficiency of the thermal power generation unit. The oxygen content in boiler flue gas is an important parameter reflecting the combustion status of the furnace, and accurate prediction of flue gas oxygen content is of great significance for online boiler optimization. In order to solve the online prediction problem of the oxygen content in boiler flue gas, a CNN is applied to build a time series prediction model, which takes the time series samples within a fixed time window as the input of the model and uses several feature extraction modules containing convolutional, activation, and pooling layers for feature extraction and compression, and the model output is the oxygen content in boiler flue gas. Since the oxygen content in boiler flue gas is not only correlated with other variables but also influenced by its own historical trend, the input of the CNN model is improved, and an oxygen content in boiler flue gas time series prediction model (TS-CNN) is established, which takes the historical values of the boiler flue gas oxygen content as the input of the model. The comparison test results show that the R2 and RMSE of the TS-CNN model are 0.8929 and 0.1684, respectively. The prediction accuracy is higher than the CNN model, LSSVM model, and BPNN model by 18.6%, 31.2%, and 54.6%, respectively.
Separation of D-Limonene and Other Oxygenated Compounds from Orange Essential Oil by Molecular Distillation and Fractional Distillation with a Wiped Film Evaporator
Authors: García-Fajardo Jorge Alberto , Flores-Méndez David Antonio , Suárez-Jacobo Ángela , Torres-Martínez Lilia Guadalupe , Granados-Vallejo Miriam , Corona-González Rosa Isela , Guatemala-Morales Guadalupe María , Arriola-Guevara Enrique
Published: March 2023

Orange essential oil (OEO) is mainly composed of D-Limonene and other oxygenated compounds that contribute to the orange flavor and aroma. However, D-Limonene is unstable in the presence of heat, light, and water, affecting the quality of the OEO. Therefore, the objective of this study was to fractionate OEO by distillation, both molecular and fractionated (hybrid), producing a D-Limonene-rich fraction. The OEO was characterized by physicochemical tests and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The fractionation of the OEO was carried out by molecular distillation and fractional distillation following, in both cases, a factorial design (23) with central points, considering the D-Limonene percentage in the distillate and the residue as a response variable. According to the physicochemical characterization, the predominant optical isomer was dextrorotatory, where D-Limonene is the main component of OEO (92.584%). For molecular distillation, the D-Limonene content was reduced to 47.964% in the residue or deterpenated fraction, while for fractional distillation, it was 86.779%. For this study, molecular distillation was considered a non-thermal process (use of low temperatures) that promoted the efficient recovery of oxygenated compounds. In contrast, fractional distillation favored the recovery of D-Limonene in the light fraction.
A Review of Automobile Brake-by-Wire Control Technology
Authors: Hua Xuehui , Zeng Jinbin , Li Haoxin , Huang Jingkai , Luo Maolin , Feng Xiaoming , Xiong Huiyuan , Wu Weibin
Published: March 2023

Brake-by-wire (BBW) technology is crucial in driverless cars. The BBW technology, which has a faster reaction time and greater stability, can improve passenger safety in driverless cars. BBW technology refers to the removal of some complicated mechanical and hydraulic components from the traditional braking system in favor of using wires to transmit braking signals, which improves braking performance. Firstly, this paper summarized BBW’s development history as well as its structure, classification, and operating principles. Subsequently, various control strategies of the BBW system were analyzed, and the development trend and research status of the motor brake-control strategy and wheel-cylinder pressure-control strategy in the braking force-distribution strategy were analyzed respectively, and the brake fault-tolerance technology and regenerative-braking technology were also analyzed and summarized. Finally, this paper summarized the various technologies of BBW, taking the electromechanical brake (EMB) in the braking system as an example to discuss the current challenges and the way forward.
Authorship in Communication Science Journals: Mapping Romanian Practices
Authors: Cernicova-Buca Mariana
Published: March 2023

Scientific authorship is an evolving concept, being challenged by the numerous varieties in definition and practice of its ideational form. Variations in interpretation occur not only along the traditional demarcation line between hard sciences and the social sciences and humanities but also within the same science branch, along parameters such as geography or institutional representation. This article explores the websites of internationally indexed communication science journals in Romania, from the point of view of authorship definitions, authorship requirements, and author-related ethical provisions. The web-based analysis is supplemented by opinions shared by editors of seven journal publishing venues. Findings show that less than half of the Romanian communication science journals allude to the international debate concerning authorship vs. contributorship models. A data-based critique of the self-presentation of the selected journals on their main page is also formulated. The findings of this study can help improve the journals’ self-presentation and self-promotion and set a benchmark for science communication among disciplines in SSH. In addition, it opens the floor for debate on scientific publishing patterns and practices in the given domain in Romania, making room for comparisons and filling in gaps in information on the topic.
The Role of Moscow Patriarchs in the Promotion of the Imperial Culture of Sobornost’: Thematic Analysis of Religious Leaders’ Speeches at the World Russian People’s Council 1993–2022
Authors: Kilp Alar , Pankhurst Jerry G.
Published: March 2023

In post-soviet Russia, sobornost’ has been a historic ideal and cultural resource that diverse actors have used in order to construct anew the nation’s dignity and status. This study analyses the promotion of the (imperial) culture of sobornost’ by Patriarch Kirill and Patriarch Alexy based on 36 speeches they delivered from 1993 to 2022 at the World Russian People’s Council, in a forum purposefully established to enhance the culture of sobornost’/solidarity in Russian society. The findings of a qualitative thematic analysis of the speeches identified common themes (such as ‘true historical path’), thematic changes (such as the adoption of geopolitical discourse on family), thematic emphases uniquely present at particular ‘times’ (such as at the EU enlargement of 2004), themes related to the promotion of sobornost’ at the level of the trans-national church, and its correlates—Russian state-civilization, globalization, and confrontation with the West. The findings demonstrate agreement in the messages of Patriarch Alexy and Patriarch Kirill as well as specific content and style that were articulated only by the latter. In the conclusion, we compare Kirill’s culture of sobornost’ with Roman Catholic synodality and with Russian 19th century applications of the same concept, and Kirill’s entrepreneurial construction of national identity from the perspective of glocalization.
Evading Secularization: Prophecy as a Theological-Political Figure
Authors: Molina Almudena
Published: March 2023

Carl Schmitt proposes a political theology founded on the paradigm of secularization. In an attempt to evade secularization, Strauss responds to Schmitt’s approach in Philosophy and Law by subtly recovering the Maimonidean prophet. By doing so, Strauss points to the prophet as a theological–political figure who, as a ruler, survives the secularization of the Enlightenment. Following the trajectory laid out by Strauss, this article explores prophecy as an unsecularizable figure. By approaching the prophet as an unsecularizable figure, the objective of this paper is to: (1) explore prophecy as a theological–political figure through Strauss’s particular interpretation of Maimonides’ prophetology in Philosophy and Law; (2) examine the Enlightenment secularization thesis in the light of prophecy; and (3) vindicate the anarchic character of prophecy in postmodern and post-secular times.
Openness, Commitment, and Confidence in Interreligious Dialogue: A Cultural Analysis of a Western Debate
Authors: van den Toren Benno
Published: March 2023

In Western theological reflection, the relationship between openness and commitment in interreligious dialogue is often construed as a relationship between two ends of a seesaw or two arms of a balance; raising one end lowers the other, and one cannot therefore be simultaneously fully committed and open. In critical conversation with the work of Catherine Cornille and Marianne Moyaert, this paper argues that this perspective is related to a specific understanding of the “subject position” of the religious subject in late-modernity which is characterized by the subject–object divide. This divide characterizes many modern and postmodern epistemologies of religion, so that both commitment and openness are primarily rooted in the capacities of the religious subject. However, the Christian faith understands faith as a response to the divine initiative of God in Christ, and therefore understands commitment as grounded in confidence in this decisive divine salvific event. From this standpoint, both full confidence and openness are reconcilable and can even strengthen each other rather than being considered incompatible and in competition.
Adat Law, Ethics, and Human Rights in Modern Indonesia
Authors: Ardhana I Ketut , Puspitasari Ni Wayan Radita Novi
Published: March 2023

The fact that legal issues support local wisdom, ethics, and human rights and the way in which they operate in the nation-state are not well-understood; however, this is a significant issue. Indonesian independence, achieved on 17 August 1945, initiated substantial changes in the religious life of Indonesians. While most of Indonesia is Islamic, other religious beliefs include Hinduism and Christianity. Indonesia did not consider the Balinese a formal religious group in 1945. However, because of the Mount Agung eruption in Bali, many Balinese migrated outside the island. They lived in Lampung (Sumatra), certain places in Java, Palangkaraya (Borneo), Palu (Celebes), and other areas in the Indonesian archipelago, and have lived there for a long time. The total number of Balinese at the present day is around three million, but outside Bali, their number is 10 million. Their number increased throughout the Old Regime, the New Order, and the Reformation periods until the present time. They face many significant problems regarding the marriage and divorce laws juxtaposed with national law, as is the case with other religious communities, such as the Islamic community in Indonesia. Several important questions need to be addressed in this paper. First, what is adat law, or customary law, in Bali and outside Bali regarding the concept of Hindu Nusantara? Second, how should customary law be implemented, for example, relating to marriage and divorce issues in the building of the nation-state? Third, what is the customary law relating to the present situation of the Hindu communities in Indonesia? These are some significant questions. By using interdisciplinary approaches to customary laws, religious history, anthropology, and sociology, we expect to have a better understanding of how the Balinese customary law can become part of the formal law in modern Indonesia. By understanding these issues, it will be possible to strengthen national regulations by adopting certain values of customary law in modern Indonesia.
How Do Religious “Ask the Expert Sites” Shape Online Religious Authorities? From Clerics to Online Influencers
Authors: Berger Akiva , Baram-Tsabari Ayelet , Golan Oren
Published: March 2023

Over the past two decades, religious websites have gained immense popularity and have become dynamic platforms for sparking discourse, practice, and modes of leadership. The internet has allowed religious leaders to reach more believers than ever before and compete for online followership. How do religious leaders negotiate their authority through online information outlets? This study explores religious “Ask the Rabbi” websites specializing in religious Jewish knowledge. The corpus is composed of 50,799 Q&A public messages between rabbis and laypeople, asked and posted from 2005 to 2019. The findings point to a shift in the authority of religious Q&A websites from the initial authority endowed to the websites through the institutionally well-known rabbis who participated on the platform. Over time, however, these websites became public spheres of learning where little-known rabbis could establish their popularity. Textual analysis revealed that the writing style evolved from short answers with few cited sources to richly sourced essays. This may suggest that online religious Q&As have shifted from being viewed as a way to contact well-known rabbis to a legitimate forum for religious discourse and selecting spiritual guidance. The discussion centers on this socio-religious change in the information age where clerics harness the web to hone their craft, recruit their flock, and ultimately, constitute their authority.
Indoor Positioning Systems of Mobile Robots: A Review
Authors: Huang Jiahao , Junginger Steffen , Liu Hui , Thurow Kerstin
Published: March 2023

Recently, with the in-depth development of Industry 4.0 worldwide, mobile robots have become a research hotspot. Indoor localization has become a key component in many fields and the basis for all actions of mobile robots. This paper screened 147 papers in the field of indoor positioning of mobile robots from 2019 to 2021. First, 12 mainstream indoor positioning methods and related positioning technologies for mobile robots are introduced and compared in detail. Then, the selected papers were summarized. The common attributes and laws were discovered. The development trend of indoor positioning of mobile robots is obtained.
RV4JaCa—Towards Runtime Verification of Multi-Agent Systems and Robotic Applications
Authors: Engelmann Debora C. , Ferrando Angelo , Panisson Alison R. , Ancona Davide , Bordini Rafael H. , Mascardi Viviana
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a Runtime Verification (RV) approach for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) using the JaCaMo framework. Our objective is to bring a layer of security to the MAS. This is achieved keeping in mind possible safety-critical uses of the MAS, such as robotic applications. This layer is capable of controlling events during the execution of the system without needing a specific implementation in the behaviour of each agent to recognise the events. In this paper, we mainly focus on MAS when used in the context of hybrid intelligence. This use requires communication between software agents and human beings. In some cases, communication takes place via natural language dialogues. However, this kind of communication brings us to a concern related to controlling the flow of dialogue so that agents can prevent any change in the topic of discussion that could impair their reasoning. The latter may be a problem and undermine the development of the software agents. In this paper, we tackle this problem by proposing and demonstrating the implementation of a framework that aims to control the dialogue flow in a MAS; especially when the MAS communicates with the user through natural language to aid decision-making in a hospital bed allocation scenario.
Mapping the Tilt and Torsion Angles for a 3-SPS-U Parallel Mechanism
Authors: Venkateswaran Swaminath , Chablat Damien
Published: March 2023

This article presents the analysis of a parallel mechanism of type 3-SPS-U. The usual singularity approach is carried out with respect to the Euler angles of the universal joint. However, this approach is computationally expensive especially when stacked structures are analyzed. Thus, the positioning of the mobile platform for the mechanism is analyzed using the theory of Tilt and Torsion (T&T). The singularity-free workspace and the tilt limits of the mechanism are disclosed through this method. These workspaces can then be mapped to the Euler angles of the universal joint and the relation between the T&T space and the Euler space is demonstrated and validated in this study. Initially, simulations are performed using the results of singularity analysis to have a comparison between the T&T space and the Euler space. Experimental validation is then carried out on the prototype of the mechanism to perform a circular trajectory, in line with the simulations. The outcome of this study will be helpful for the integration of the mechanism for a piping inspection robot and also for the analysis of stacked architectures.