bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Improved Mixture Density Network for 3D Human Pose Estimation with Ordinal Ranking
Authors: Wu Yiqi , Ma Shichao , Zhang Dejun , Huang Weilun , Chen Yilin
Published: July 2022

Estimating accurate 3D human poses from 2D images remains a challenge due to the lack of explicit depth information in 2D data. This paper proposes an improved mixture density network for 3D human pose estimation called the Locally Connected Mixture Density Network (LCMDN). Instead of conducting direct coordinate regression or providing unimodal estimates per joint, our approach predicts multiple possible hypotheses by the Mixture Density Network (MDN). Our network can be divided into two steps: the 2D joint points are estimated from the input images first; then, the information of human joints correlation is extracted by a feature extractor. After the human pose feature is extracted, multiple pose hypotheses are generated via the hypotheses generator. In addition, to make better use of the relationship between human joints, we introduce the Locally Connected Network (LCN) as a generic formulation to replace the traditional Fully Connected Network (FCN), which is applied to a feature extraction module. Finally, to select the most appropriate 3D pose result, a 3D pose selector based on the ordinal ranking of joints is adopted to score the predicted pose. The LCMDN improves the representation capability and robustness of the original MDN method notably. Experiments are conducted on the Human3.6M and MPII dataset. The average Mean Per Joint Position Error (MPJPE) of our proposed LCMDN reaches 50 mm on the Human3.6M dataset, which is on par or better than the state-of-the-art works. The qualitative results on the MPII dataset show that our network has a strong generalization ability.
Real Time Water-In-Oil Emulsion Size Measurement in Optofluidic Channels
Authors: Schianti Juliana N. , Abe Igor Y. , Alayo Marco I. , Carvalho Daniel O.
Published: July 2022

In this work, we investigated a platform for real-time emulsion droplet detection and size measurement in optofluidic platforms. An 8.2 µm core diameter input optical fiber and a multi-mode Gradient Refractive Index (GRIN) output fiber were integrated into an acrylic microfluidic channel platform consisting of three layers. Water-in-oil emulsions were investigated, since relevant applications have emerged in the recent past for these types of emulsions, such as drug encapsulation as well as droplet-based Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA, among others. The main contribution of this work is in understanding the main physical phenomena (i.e., total internal reflection, refraction, and interference) behind the complex transmittance pattern obtained for these droplets. For this purpose, a frequency domain electromagnetic wave propagation modelling of the structure using the Finite Element Method (FEM) was used along with experimental measurements.
Sustainable Development of Olympic Sport Participation Legacy: A Scoping Review Based on the PAGER Framework
Authors: Shi Pengfei , Bairner Alan
Published: July 2022

After the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Chinese officials claimed that the goal of “driving 300 million people to participate in ice and snow sports” had been achieved. Historically, the London 2012 Olympic Games had a similar goal: to increase sports participation for all by hosting the Olympic Games. Given these goals, the impact of the Olympic Games on sports participation has clearly become significant. These impacts can be referred to as the Olympic sport participation legacy, an intangible Olympic legacy. The Olympic sport participation legacy has attracted a lot of researchers’ interest in the academic field in recent years. This paper aims to conduct a scoping review of Olympic sport participation legacy studies between 2000 and 2021 to identify the progress of studies on the sustainability of Olympic sport participation legacies. Unlike previous scoping reviews on sport participation legacies, this review adopts a Patterns, Advances, Gaps, Evidence of Practice, and Research Recommendations (PAGER) framework at the results analysis stage to improve the quality of the findings. The results from the scoping review contained 54 peer-reviewed articles on three levels of research: the population level, social level, and intervention processes. Many studies indicate that achieving a sustainable Olympic sport participation legacy requires joint collaboration and long-term planning between governments, community organisations, and other stakeholders.
Patterns and Influencing Factors of Express Outlets in China
Authors: Li Xin , Zhang Peng
Published: July 2022

China’s express delivery industry has developed rapidly in the past decade, and the spatial distribution of express delivery outlets can reflect variations in regional development to a certain extent. Previous studies lacked point of interest (POI) data as the research object to analyze the limitations of express delivery outlets, and also lack a focus on the patterns that specifically occur in China. This study implemented spatial analysis methods such as nearest neighbor index, kernel density, and exploratory spatial data analysis to explore the spatial distribution patterns and characteristics of China’s express outlets, and used geographic detector factor detection to objectively analyze the factors that affect their distribution. The following are the main conclusions of this study: (1) in China, express delivery outlets are more abundant in the east and sparser in the west; (2) the local agglomeration of express outlets presents a concentric structure, and outlier clusters appeared in the northeast and central regions; (3) the distribution of the express outlets resulted from the combined action of multiple factors (e.g., population factors, etc.). Our study not only explores and analyzes the overall situation in China but also broadens the scope of express outlet research.
Investigation of the Impact Resistance Behavior of Customized Hair Clipper Comb Fabricated by Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Ali Uzair , Saeed Hasan Aftab , Ahmed Bilal Anjum , Butt Sajid Ullah , Khan Rehan
Published: July 2022

This study consists of the development of a hair clipper comb finite element (FE) model, impact test analysis on the FE model, fabrication of the product using commercially available materials, followed by physical impact testing of the comb. Moreover, microscopic examination of the combs was performed to analyze the quality of the product and correlate the defects with the failure mechanism. The 3D model of comb for a Philips hair clipper was developed using ONSHAPE software, followed by a design study to understand the impact resistance of the product. The design study was performed using finite element analysis (FEA) explicit dynamic module, where two hair clipper comb designs, one with a solid body and the other with a shell were subjected to drop test simulation in two orientations: leg and head drop. Two readily available 3D printable plastic materials, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Polylactic acid (PLA) were selected for the FEA simulation while the comb was subjected to free fall from a height of 5 ft (1.67 m). The comb was dropped in two orientations: the head drop configuration and the leg drop configuration. For all combinations, the maximum stresses generated as a result of impact were noted and experiments performed to validate the simulation results. The four models were fabricated using fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique and were manually dropped from the same height. In line with the simulated results, models prepared from PLA material failed upon the impact while ABS samples having a comparatively better impact resistance sustained the impact without failure. Finally, fracture surface morphologies of the failed PLA component and the surface of ABS in as-printed condition were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Based on the obtained results, the shell model made of ABS material turns out to be the most suitable choice out of all the designs considered.
Effect of Low Concentration of SiO2 Nanoparticles on Grape Seed Essential Oil/PBAT Composite Films for Sustainable Food Packaging Application
Authors: Arumugam Soundhar , Kandasamy Jayakrishna , Thiyaku Thendral , Saxena Prateek
Published: July 2022

Active packaging material has been used in the food industry to maintain the quality of packaged foods. The use of conventional polymers has serious environmental consequences due to improper disposal or recycling methods. Therefore, active packaging films based on biopolymers have been developed due to their excellent biocompatibility, degradability, and eco-friendliness. Amongst all essential oils, grape seed oil is considered to be a promising antimicrobial agent. It comprises large quantities of flavonoids, tocopherols, and other antimicrobial compounds. Grape seed essential oil has good antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. As a film, it is used to preserve food items such as poultry products, fish, and tomatoes. This work aimed to develop a polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) biocomposite film incorporated with natural grape seed essential oil (GEO) in addition to silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) using the solution casting process. To achieve the desired packaging properties of the prepared PBAT-based film, the concentrations of grape seed essential oil as a plasticizer and nanosilica as a filler material were varied. The optical, physical, barrier, mechanical, surface hydrophobicity, and antibacterial properties of the PBAT/GEO/SiO2NP films were assessed. The FT-IR and XRD results indicated that GEO had effective miscibility with the PBAT/SiO2NP matrix. The addition of GEO increased the film flexibility, opacity, and antimicrobial activity, but the incorporation of SiO2NPs in the PBAT/GEO blend increased the tensile strength, thermal stability, and antimicrobial activities. The PBAT/GEO/SiO2NP films exhibited excellent antibacterial activity against food spoilage microorganisms. Finally, due to improved antimicrobial activities, film flexibility, optical, and heat resistance properties, the PBAT/GEO/NP nanocomposite films were found to have high potential for usage in active food packaging applications.
High-Performance Flywheel Hybrid Powertrain
Authors: Li Hong , Chu Jiangwei , Sun Shufa
Published: July 2022

The high efficiency of the flywheel hybrid powertrain, as well as its power characteristics, can help to meet high energy/power conversion needs, which may prove to be promising. Moreover, the flywheel hybrid powertrain may reduce dependence on batteries. This paper presents the EC-BERS in order to capture more mechanical power than its rated power, and to reduce the charge/discharge cycles of the battery. In this new energy recovery system, maximum torque can be obtained in the higher speed zone, leading to two marked improvements in terms of improving the braking efficiency. The working point of the system changes and shifts to the high-speed zone to meet the maximum torque at higher speeds. Furthermore, this powertrain can transfer the vehicle kinetic energy into the flywheel directly in the same form. Only the slip energy needs to be dealt with in the electrical form, which is beneficial to prolonging the battery life. Two typical systems were emulated under the same conditions to verify this feature, and a small prototype was designed to prove the concept.
A Two-Step Fuzzy MCDM Method for Implementation of Sustainable Precision Manufacturing: Evidence from China
Authors: Guan Xiaowei , Zhao Jun
Published: July 2022

Despite that products of precision manufacturing are widely used in many fields involving the national economy, precision manufacturing processes are more unfriendly to the environment, resources and social development than general manufacturing. Hence, the implementation of sustainable precision manufacturing (SPM) is of great strategic significance. There is no literature identifying and ranking the drivers of implementation of SPM and the impact on sustainability owing to the application of advanced manufacturing technologies in SPM has not been explored. To resolve these problems, drivers of SPM are identified based on combined support of prior studies and six groups of experts consisting of 71 individuals from six precision manufacturing enterprises. The drivers are calculated and ranked by a two-step fuzzy MCDM method which integrated the fuzzy AHP (fuzzy analytic hierarchy process) and fuzzy TOPSIS (fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution) algorithms. The evaluation of drivers is based on the basic principles of sustainable development (environmental criterion, social criterion and economic criterion). The paper concludes that technological innovation, government support and current legislation are the most critical drivers during SPM implementation. Additionally, the result of sensitivity verification of the proposed method conducted proves the robustness and correctness of the algorithm and results.
L2 Motivational Self System, International Posture and the Sustainable Development of L2 Proficiency in the COVID-19 Era: A Case of English Majors in China
Authors: Zhao Xi , Xiao Wei , Zhang Jiajia
Published: July 2022

The L2 motivation self system (L2MSS) has been extensively researched in a variety of contexts, but few studies have delved into its relationship with international posture and the sustainable development of L2 proficiency in the COVID-19 era. To address this issue, we surveyed 156 English majors in China and analyzed their response data with structural equation modelling. The results show that the ideal L2 self positively predicts the L2 learning experience, while the ought-to L2 self has a negative predictive power. The international posture exerts a positive influence on the ideal L2 self and L2 experience, and a negative insignificant influence on the ought-to L2 self. The L2 experience and ideal L2 self have a positive influence on L2 proficiency, while the ought-to L2 self has a negative influence. Our results not only contribute to the generalizability of L2MSS but also deepen the understanding of possible contextual variations of L2 motivation, as well as the uniqueness in the sustainable development of English majors in China during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minimum Safety Factor Evaluation of Slopes Using Hybrid Chaotic Sand Cat and Pattern Search Approach
Authors: Iraji Amin , Karimi Javad , Keawsawasvong Suraparb , Nehdi Moncef L.
Published: July 2022

This study developed an efficient evolutionary hybrid optimization technique based on chaotic sand cat optimization (CSCO) and pattern search (PS) for the evaluation of the minimum safety factor of earth slopes under static and earthquake loading conditions. To improve the sand cat optimization approach’s exploration ability, while also avoiding premature convergence, the chaotic sequence was implemented. The proposed hybrid algorithm (CSCPS) benefits from the effective global search ability of the chaotic sand cat optimization, as well as the powerful local search capability of the pattern search method. The suggested CSCPS algorithm’s efficiency was confirmed by using mathematical test functions, and its findings were compared with standard SCO, as well as some efficient optimization techniques. Then the CSCPS was applied for the calculation of the minimum safety factors of the earth slope exposed to both static and seismic loads, and the objective function was modeled based on the Morgenstern–Price limit equilibrium method, along with the pseudo-static approach. The CSCPS’s efficacy for the evaluation of the minimum safety factor of slopes was investigated by considering two case studies from the literature. The numerical experiments demonstrate that the new algorithm could generate better optimal solutions via calculating lower values of safety factors by up to 10% compared with some other methods in the literature. Furthermore, the results show that, through an increase in the acceleration coefficient to 0.1 and 0.2, the factor of safety decreased by 19% and 32%, respectively.
Landslide Hazard Assessment Methods along Fault Zones Based on Multiple Working Conditions: A Case Study of the Lixian–Luojiabu Fault Zone in Gansu Province (China)
Authors: Feng Wei , Tang Yaming , Hong Bo
Published: July 2022

Traditional landslide hazard assessment methods generally use the same evaluation model to carry out assessments under different working conditions. Due to the differences in landslide influence factors and model calculation methods considered under different working conditions, the evaluation results obtained using traditional methods are different from those of real-world scenarios. Therefore, research on optimal landslide hazard assessment methods for different working conditions is important for disaster prevention and mitigation in areas along fault zones. Taking the section along the Lixian–Luojiabu fault zone in Gansu province in China as the research area, a landslide hazard assessment was carried out under rainfall and earthquake conditions. A method based on the fractal theory–information coupling model is proposed for the rainfall condition, and a method based on an improved Newmark model considering matric suction is proposed for the earthquake condition. Under the rainfall condition, a landslide hazard assessment was carried out using the information model, the logistic regression model, the fractal theory model, the logistic regression–information coupling model and the fractal theory–information coupling model. Meanwhile, under the earthquake condition, an assessment was carried out using the traditional Newmark model and the improved Newmark model considering matric suction. Finally, the ROC curve and Kappa coefficient were used to test the accuracy of these evaluation models and to determine the optimal model under different working conditions. The results showed that the fractal theory–information coupling model had the largest AUC value and Kappa coefficient value under the rainfall condition (0.856 and 0.807, respectively). The test value of the logistic regression–information coupling model was second, and the values of the other three models were all lower than 0.8. This shows that the evaluation of the fractal theory–information coupling model is better than those of the other models under the rainfall condition. The AUC value and Kappa coefficient of the improved Newmark model under the earthquake condition were 0.805 and 0.794, respectively, which were larger than the test values of the traditional Newmark model. This shows that the evaluation of the proposed model is better than that of the traditional Newmark model under the earthquake condition. These research results provide a reference for landslide hazard assessments in areas with similar characteristics.
A Unified Solution for Surrounding Rock of Roadway Considering Seepage, Dilatancy, Strain-Softening and Intermediate Principal Stress
Authors: Yuan Zhigang , Zhao Jintao , Li Shuqing , Jiang Zehua , Huang Fei
Published: July 2022

The analytic solution for surrounding rock of roadway is of significance for stability analysis and roadway support. However, analytical solution for surrounding rock of roadway which took influences of water seepage, strain softening, dilatancy and intermediate principal stress all into account did not receive much reporting. To promote research in this aspect, a mechanical model simultaneously considering water seepage, strain softening, rock dilatancy, and intermediate principal stress was established based on porous elastoplastic mechanics, and then unified analytical solution for surrounding rock of roadway was obtained. Based on an example, influences of water seepage, strain softening, rock dilatancy, residual cohesion and intermediate principal stress on surrounding rock of roadway were thoroughly investigated using single factor analysis. The obtained results are as follows: radii of plastic zones and surface displacement of roadway would increase exponentially with water pressure increasing and their magnitudes are greater than corresponding values without water seepage considered; with softening modulus increasing, peak circumferential stress location would slightly shift to deeper surrounding rock, while broken zone radius and surface displacement of roadway would increase in a decay velocity; rock dilatancy has little effect on peak circumferential stress and plastic softening zone radius, while broken zone radius and surface displacement of roadway increase linearly with dilatancy coefficient α1 increasing indicating their magnitudes are overestimated if associated flow rule is adopted; with weighted coefficient increasing, stress components in plastic zones at the same distance from roadway center would increase, while radii of two plastic zones and surface displacement of roadway are reduced, i.e., self-bearing capacity of rock is enhanced considering intermediate principal stress effect compared to Mohr–Coulomb criterion; with residual cohesion increasing, peak circumferential stress remains unchanged, while stress components in plastic zones at the same distance from roadway center would increase and radii of two plastic zones decrease significantly. The above results implicated that water seepage effect should be carefully considered for roadway stability under groundwater environment; strain-softening and flow rule of rock should be reasonably analyzed and chosen to accurately predict surface displacement and broken zone radius of roadway; rock bolt length should be increased with softening modulus increasing, while it can be decreased with intermediate principal stress effect considered; grouting measure is an effective measure to improve roadway stability. In short, the research provides a theoretical basis and some practical engineering implication for roadway support.
Citizen Science Impact on Environmental Monitoring towards SDGs Indicators: The CASE of SIMILE Project
Authors: Biraghi Carlo Andrea , Carrion Daniela , Brovelli Maria Antonia
Published: July 2022

This study presents the ongoing activities of citizen science (CS) monitoring of lake water quality that was developed in the SIMILE project. After presenting the tools and the initiatives that were implemented to gather volunteer contributions, the CS data are analyzed: to understand the main factors driving the contribution provided by citizens, through a proximity analysis using hierarchical clustering; to evaluate their added value and complementary nature in view of the proposed integrated lake monitoring with respect to remote sensing (RS) water quality parameters maps and in situ high-frequency monitoring (HFM) data that were acquired in the framework of SIMILE project, through an intercomparison of temperature data; and to highlight water quality patterns in the lakes under study. It is then discussed how the project outcomes could directly or indirectly contribute to the measurement of specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators highlighting the potential impact of CS activities. The conclusions highlight the complementary nature of CS and the need of supporting activities for a continuous lake water quality monitoring. The possibility for the partner local authorities to maintain the CS monitoring establishing a Citizen Observatory (CO) and the opportunity to extend the SIMILE approach to neighboring lakes and beyond is also discussed.
Smart Cities and Transportation: Reviewing the Scientific Character of the Theories
Authors: Burlacu Mihai , Boboc Răzvan Gabriel , Butilă Eugen Valentin
Published: July 2022

The concept “smart city” nowadays designates a plethora of things. The multiple meanings associated with the smart city, and its imperfect synonym the “robotic city”, continue to provide a topic of debate. In this paper we aim to present an epistemologically grounded review of articles focused on the concept of “smart city” and its correlatives. The goal of this article is to ascertain whether the scientific character of the theories employed in such articles is discussed and/or ascertained. For this purpose, we used Popper’s method of falsification: a theory’s scientific character is determined by its falsifiability and eventual falsification. Papers from the literature were extracted using the PRISMA method, and 15 studies were assessed as eligible for analysis. Most conclusions and results expounded in the articles reviewed that claim to be scientific are arguably based on the unsound logic of verification and confirmation rather than falsification. This has the detrimental effect of reducing to the category of logically false universal instantiations the majority of conclusions about (a) smart city services and infrastructures, (b) intelligent transportation systems and (c) blockchain/Internet of Things.
Determinants of Food Expenditure Patterns: Evidence from U.S. Consumers in the Context of the COVID-19 Price Shocks
Authors: Codjia Clement O. , Saghaian Sayed H.
Published: July 2022

This study examined the factors that determine U.S. household expenditure patterns for food products in the context of exceptional price shocks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research relied on the Consumer Expenditure Diary Survey (CEX) for the year 2020, where households or consumer units represent units of observation. With a sample size of 10,453 observations, the empirical estimation of the Heckman two-step model yields interesting results. Consistent with the inelastic nature of food products, we found conditional expenditure elasticities of income were less than one for all kinds of food, including food away from home (FAFH). The results showed both food and FAFH to be highly price elastic in this special period of higher food prices. For instance, a 1% increase in own price implied a 7.78% decrease in the probability to spend on food and a 20.93% decrease in propensity to purchase FAFH. This study provides business managers and marketing experts with insights on the consumer profile and food product price strategy.
Analyzing the Concept of Corporate Sustainability in the Context of Sustainable Business Development in the Mining Sector with Elements of Circular Economy
Authors: Blinova Ekaterina , Ponomarenko Tatyana , Knysh Valentin
Published: July 2022

Promoting the concept and principles of sustainable development at the micro level requires that industrial companies understand and improve approaches to managing corporate sustainability. Currently, economics does not provide a universal definition of what corporate sustainability is. With regard to the mining sector, corporate sustainability issues reflecting the viability, value, and sustainable development potential of companies have not yet been studied extensively. The article discusses the conceptual foundations of corporate sustainability; the characteristics and a classification of approaches to defining corporate sustainability; and the relationship between corporate sustainability, sustainable development at the micro level, and circular economy. By analyzing the example of Russia, the influence of the mining industry on the environmental, economic, and social development of both a country with a resource-based economy and individual mining regions is shown from the viewpoint of sustainability. The distinguishing features of mining companies, which include natural capital and mineral assets, are studied in the context of promoting corporate sustainability. It is proven that the effective corporate management of ESG factors results in environmental and social influence that goes in line with sustainable development requirements and serves as a foundation for corporate sustainability. A refined definition of corporate sustainability has been formulated, the specific features of corporate sustainability management in mining companies have been determined, and the specific features of corporate social responsibility have been studied. The issue of integrating circular economy elements into the corporate sustainability concept is discussed, and it is claimed that the inclusion of circular business models in the corporate strategies of mining companies will contribute to their corporate sustainable development and boost their contribution to the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Modeling the Car-Following Behavior with Consideration of Driver, Vehicle, and Environment Factors: A Historical Review
Authors: Han Junyan , Wang Xiaoyuan , Wang Gang
Published: July 2022

Car-following behavior is the result of the interaction of various elements in the specific driver-vehicle-environment aggregation. Under the intelligent and connected condition, the information perception ability of vehicles has been significantly enhanced, and abundant information about the driver-vehicle-environment factors can be obtained and utilized to study car-following behavior. Therefore, it is necessary to comprehensively take into account the driver-vehicle-environment factors when modeling car-following behavior under intelligent and connected conditions. While there are a considerable number of achievements in research on car-following behavior, a car-following model with comprehensive consideration of driver-vehicle-environment factors is still absent. To address this gap, the literature with a focus on car-following behavior research with consideration of the driver, vehicle, or environment were reviewed, the contributions and limitations of the previous studies were analyzed, and the future exploration needs and prospects were discussed in this paper. The results can help understand car-following behavior and the traffic flow characteristics affected by various factors and provide a reference for the development of traffic flow theory towards smart transportation systems and intelligent and connected driving.
Solving Quaternion Linear System Based on Semi-Tensor Product of Quaternion Matrices
Authors: Fan Xueling , Li Ying , Liu Zhihong , Zhao Jianli
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we use semi-tensor product of quaternion matrices, L-representation of quaternion matrices, and GH-representation of special quaternion matrices such as quaternion (anti)-centrosymmetric matrices to solve the special solutions of quaternion matrix equation. Based on semi-tensor product of quaternion matrices and the structure matrix of the multiplication of quaternion, we propose the vector representation operation conclusion of quaternion matrices, and study the different matrix representations of quaternion matrices. Then the problem of the quaternion matrix equation is transformed into the corresponding problem in the real number fields by using vector representation and L-representation of quaternion matrices, combined with the special structure of (anti)-centrosymmetric matrices, the independent elements are extracted by GH-representation method, so as to reduce the number of variables to be calculated and improve the calculation accuracy. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified by numerical examples, and the time comparison with the two existing algorithms is carried out. The algorithm in this paper is also applied in a centrosymmetric color digital image restoration model.
V-Quasi-Bi-Slant Riemannian Maps
Authors: Kumar Sushil , Bilal Mohd , Prasad Rajendra , Haseeb Abdul , Chen Zhizhi
Published: July 2022

In this work, we define a v-quasi-bi-slant Riemannian map (in brief, v-QBSR map) from almost Hermitian manifolds to Riemannian manifolds. This notion generalizes both a v-hemi slant Riemannian map and a v-semi slant Riemannian map. The geometry of leaves of distributions that are associated with the definition of such maps is studied. The conditions for v-QBSR maps to be integrable and totally geodesic are also obtained in the paper. Finally, we provide the examples of v-QBSR maps.
Channel Pruning Base on Joint Reconstruction Error for Neural Network
Authors: Li Bin , Xiong Shimin , Xu Huixin
Published: July 2022

In this paper, we propose a neural network channel pruning method based on the joint reconstruction error (JRE). To preserve the global discrimination ability of a pruned neural network, we propose the global reconstruction error. To ensure the integrity of information in the forward propagation process of a neural network, we propose the local reconstruction error. Finally, through normalization, the two magnitude mismatched losses are combined to obtain the joint error. The baseline network and pruned network are symmetrical structures. The importance of each channel in the pruned network is determined by the joint error between the channel and the corresponding channel in the baseline network. The proposed method prunes the channels in the pruned network according to the importance score and then restores its accuracy. The proposed method reduces the scale of the neural network and speeds up the model inferring speed without losing the accuracy of the neural network. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the method. For example, on the CIFAR-10 dataset, the proposed method prunes 50% of the channels of the VGG16 model, and the accuracy of the pruned model is 0.46% higher than that of the original model.
Multi-Objective Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network Design Considering Multiple Products with Different Quality Levels
Authors: Soon Amirhossein , Heidari Ali , Khalilzadeh Mohammad , Antucheviciene Jurgita , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Zahedi Farbod
Published: July 2022

International laws and increasing consumer awareness have led to drastic changes in traditional supply chain network designs. Moreover, because of environmental and social requirements, traditional supply chain networks have changed to sustainable supply chain networks. On the other hand, reverse logistics can be effective in terms of environmental and economic aspects, so the design of the supply chain network as a closed loop is necessary. In addition, customers have a demand for different products with different quality levels. Considering different types of customers with a variety of consumption trends can be a challenging issue, and is addressed in this study. The main contributions of this research are considering different quality levels for products as well as different tendencies of customers towards environmental issues. In this study, a sustainable closed-loop supply chain model is designed that seeks to balance economic, environmental, and social responsibilities. In this paper, costs and customer demands for different types of products at different quality levels are considered under uncertain conditions using a robust possibilistic programming method. The proposed multi-objective model is solved using the Augmented Epsilon Constraint (AEC) method that provides an efficient set of solutions for all decision-making levels. The results show that the robust possibilistic programming method is more effective in dealing with uncertainties than the possibilistic programming method.
Photochromic Textiles Based upon Aqueous Blends of Oxygen-Deficient WO3-x and TiO2 Nanocrystals
Authors: Giannuzzi Roberto , Primiceri Vitantonio , Scarfiello Riccardo , Pugliese Marco , Mariano Fabrizio , Maggiore Antonio , Prontera Carmela Tania , Carallo Sonia , De Vito Cristian , Carbone Luigi , Maiorano Vincenzo
Published: July 2022

With the main objective being to develop photochromic smart textiles, in this paper, we studied the photochromic behavior of WO3-x nanocrystals (NCs) cooperatively interacting with variable amounts of TiO2 NCs. We tested several blends of WO3-x:TiO2 NCs, admixed in different compositions (relative molar ratio of 4:0, 3:1, 2:2, 1:3, 0:4) and electrostatically interfacing because of opposite values of Z-potential, for photo-induced chromogenic textiles. We further monitored the photochromic sensitivity of NC-impregnated textiles after exposure to a few solvents (i.e., methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol) or when over-coated with different polymeric matrices such as natural cellulose or ionic conductive Nafion. The optimization of the compositions of the WO3-x:TiO2 blends embedded in polymeric matrices, allowed the nanostructured photochromic textiles to show rapid and tunable coloration (<5 min) and bleaching kinetics (~5 in at 75 °C or 6 h at room temperature) along with good recovery and cycling stability. This study features a simple strategy for the widespread application of WO3-x:TiO2-based photochromic smart textiles.
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in the Environment: Occupational and Exposure Events, Effects on Human Health and Fertility
Authors: Montano Luigi , Pironti Concetta , Pinto Gabriella , Ricciardi Maria , Buono Amalia , Brogna Carlo , Venier Marta , Piscopo Marina , Amoresano Angela , Motta Oriana
Published: July 2022

In the last decade or so, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) garnered renewed attention in the scientific community due to new evidence pointing at their continued presence in the environment and workplaces and the potential human risks related to their presence. PCBs move from the environment to humans through different routes; the dominant pathway is the ingestion of contaminated foods (fish, seafood and dairy products), followed by inhalation (both indoor and outdoor air), and, to a lesser extent, dust ingestion and dermal contact. Numerous studies reported the environmental and occupational exposure to these pollutants, deriving from building materials (flame-retardants, plasticizers, paints, caulking compounds, sealants, fluorescent light ballasts, etc.) and electrical equipment. The highest PCBs contaminations were detected in e-waste recycling sites, suggesting the need for the implementation of remediation strategies of such polluted areas to safeguard the health of workers and local populations. Furthermore, a significant correlation between PCB exposure and increased blood PCB concentrations was observed in people working in PCB-contaminated workplaces. Several epidemiological studies suggest that environmental and occupational exposure to high concentrations of PCBs is associated with different health outcomes, such as neuropsychological and neurobehavioral deficits, dementia, immune system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. In addition, recent studies indicate that PCBs bioaccumulation can reduce fertility, with harmful effects on the reproductive system that can be passed to offspring. In the near future, further studies are needed to assess the real effects of PCBs exposure at low concentrations for prolonged exposure in workplaces and specific indoor environments.
Developmental Toxic Effects of Thiram on Developing Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos
Authors: Vasamsetti Bala Murali Krishna , Chon Kyongmi , Kim Juyeong , Oh Jin-A , Yoon Chang-Young , Park Hong-Hyun
Published: July 2022

Thiram, an oxidized dimer of dithiocarbamate, has fungicidal and ectoparasiticidal roles. This study aimed to determine the effects of thiram on the development of zebrafish (ZF) embryos. The developmental toxicity test was performed in accordance with the OECD 236 test guidelines, and ZF embryos were subjected to several thiram concentrations and a DMSO (0.01%) control. Subsequently, embryo mortalities and developmental anomalies were evaluated at different hours post fertilization (hpf). Thiram was highly toxic to ZF, with calculated median lethal concentrations (LC50) of thiram at 48 and 96 h as 13.10 ± 2.17 and 8.87 ± 2.09 μg/L, respectively. Thiram-treated embryos/larvae exhibited a variety of deformities, such as abnormal somites, reduced eye pigment, abnormal tail shape, yolk sac edema, hatching defects, and curved spines, with a median effective concentration (EC50) of 3.88 ± 1.23, 5.04 ± 1.82, 6.23 ± 0.92, 5.24 ± 2.22, 1.39 ± 0.25, and 2.60 ± 0.82 μg/L, respectively. Teratogenic index (TI) values ranged from 1.42 to 6.66 for the scored deformities. At 48 hpf, the average heartbeat of the control group was 177.20 ± 5.63 per minute, while the highest thiram-treated group (40 μg/L) was 99.50 ± 18.12 per minute. In addition, cardiac-related issues, such as pericardial edema and abnormal blood flow, were observed in thiram-treated ZF embryos. Overall, these findings suggest that thiram is teratogenic to ZF.
Zearalenone-14-Glucoside Is Hydrolyzed to Zearalenone by β-Glucosidase in Extracellular Matrix to Exert Intracellular Toxicity in KGN Cells
Authors: Ruan Haonan , Wang Yunyun , Hou Yong , Zhang Jing , Wu Jiashuo , Zhang Fangqing , Sui Ming , Luo Jiaoyang , Yang Meihua
Published: July 2022

As one of the most important conjugated mycotoxins, zearalenone-14-glucoside (Z14G) has received widespread attention from researchers. Although the metabolism of Z14G in animals has been extensively studied, the intracellular toxicity and metabolic process of Z14G are not fully elucidated. In this study, the cytotoxicity of Z14G to human ovarian granulosa cells (KGN) and the metabolism of Z14G in KGN cells were determined. Furthermore, the experiments of co-administration of β-glucosidase and pre-administered β-glucosidase inhibitor (Conduritol B epoxide, CBE) were used to clarify the mechanism of Z14G toxicity release. Finally, the human colon adenocarcinoma cell (Caco-2) metabolism model was used to verify the toxicity release mechanism of Z14G. The results showed that the IC50 of Z14G for KGN cells was 420 μM, and the relative hydrolysis rate of Z14G on ZEN was 35% (25% extracellular and 10% intracellular in KGN cells). The results indicated that Z14G cannot enter cells, and Z14G is only hydrolyzed extracellularly to its prototype zearalenone (ZEN) by β-glucosidase which can exert toxic effects in cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the cytotoxicity of Z14G and clarified the toxicity release mechanism of Z14G. Different from previous findings, our results showed that Z14G cannot enter cells but exerts cytotoxicity through deglycosylation. This study promotes the formulation of a risk assessment and legislation limit for ZEN and its metabolites.
Durability of Humoral and Cellular Immunity after an Extended Primary Series with Heterologous Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Prime-Boost and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in Dialysis Patients (ICON3)
Authors: Boongird Sarinya , Setthaudom Chavachol , Kitpermkiat Rungthiwa , Prasongtanakij Somsak , Srisala Supanart , Chuengsaman Piyatida , Nongnuch Arkom , Assanatham Montira , Kiertiburanakul Sasisopin , Malathum Kumthorn , Phuphuakrat Angsana , Bruminhent Jackrapong
Published: July 2022

The durability of a three-dose extended primary series of COVID-19 vaccine in dialysis patients remains unknown. Here, we assessed dynamic changes in SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral and cell-mediated immunity at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after the extended primary series in 29 hemodialyzed (HD), 28 peritoneal dialyzed (PD) patients, and 14 healthy controls. Participants received two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine followed by a dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. At 6 months, median anti-RBD IgG titers (IQR) significantly declined from baseline in the HD (1741 (1136–3083) BAU/mL vs. 373 (188–607) BAU/mL) and PD (1093 (617–1911) BAU/mL vs. 180 (126–320) BAU/mL) groups, as did the mean percent inhibition of neutralizing antibodies (HD: 96% vs. 81%; PD: 95% vs. 73%) (all p < 0.01). Age and post-vaccination serological response intensity were predictors of early humoral seroprotection loss. In contrast, cell-mediated immunity remained unchanged. In conclusion, humoral immunity declined substantially in dialysis patients, while cell-mediated immunity remained stable 6 months after the extended heterologous primary series of two inactivated SARS-CoV-2/ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. A booster dose could be considered in dialysis patients 3 months after this unique regimen, particularly in the elderly or those with a modest initial humoral response.
The COVID-19 Vaccination Still Matters: Omicron Variant Is a Final Wake-Up Call for the Rich to Help the Poor
Authors: Rzymski Piotr , Szuster-Ciesielska Agnieszka
Published: July 2022

By June 2022, COVID-19 vaccine coverage in low-income countries remained low, while the emergence of the highly-transmissible but less clinically-severe Omicron lineage of SARS-CoV-2 has led to the assumption expressed outside the academic realm that Omicron may offer a natural solution to the pandemic. The present paper argues that this assumption is based on the false premise that this variant could be the final evolutionary step of SARS-CoV-2. There remains a risk of the emergence of novel viral subvariants and recombinants, and entirely novel lineages, the clinical consequences of which are hard to predict. This is particularly important for regions with a high share of immunocompromised individuals, such as those living with HIV/AIDS, in whom SARS-CoV-2 can persist for months and undergo selection pressure. The vaccination of the least-vaccinated regions should remain the integral strategy to control viral evolution and its potential global consequences in developed countries, some of which have decided to ease sanitary and testing measures in response to the rise and dominance of the Omicron variant. We argue that low-income countries require help in improving COVID-19 vaccine availability, decreasing vaccine hesitancy, and increasing the understanding of long-term vaccination goals during the circulation of a viral variant that causes milder disease.
Electronic Package Leaflets for Vaccines: What Are People’s Perceptions in Italy?
Authors: Bechini Angela , Chiesi Fabrizio , Giammarco Barbara , Gori Eleonora , Di Tommaso Mariarosaria , Strambi Noemi , Alti Elisabetta , Picciolli Paola , Mereu Giovanna , Mori Maria Grazia , Vitali Rosati Giovanni , Van Damme Pierre , Bamberger Martina , Bonanni Paolo , Boccalini Sara
Published: July 2022

In Italy, the paper package leaflet (PPL) is the official document that is approved by the Italian Medicines Agency (AIFA) for each medicine. PPLs of all medicines, including vaccines, are freely available online by accessing the AIFA website. To investigate people’s attitudes toward possible access to the PPLs of vaccines and the acceptability of switching to an electronic package leaflet (e-leaflet) in the future, we surveyed three target groups (pregnant women, young parents, and older people) in Italy, via an online survey. We collected 321 questionnaires from the cohorts, which comprised 104 pregnant women, 105 young parents, and 112 older people. The results indicate in all target groups that health care professionals (HCPs) do not usually offer the vaccine PPL during the vaccination session: only about 10.7% of respondents receive the PPL without asking for it, with pregnant women receiving it the most frequently. The acceptance rate for switching from a PPL to an e-leaflet is fairly high in all target groups (76.9% in pregnant women, 81.9% in young parents, and 66.1% in the elderly), especially if the option exists to request a paper print, to make sure that people with a low level of digital skills can access the PPL information as well. HCPs have an important role in ensuring access to the PPLs of vaccines. HCPs should be trained to inform their patients about the different options for accessing the PPLs (as well as online access) to increase their patients’ knowledge and satisfaction.