bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INFLUENCE OF POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE INNOVATIONS OF THE XX-XXI CENTURIES ON RELIGIOUS VIEWS OF SOCIETY: EXPERIENCE OF CROSS-NATIONAL RESEARCH
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ZUBOV V.V.
Published: June 2024

In this publication the author, using a systemic-structural approach, methods of analysis and synthesis, methods of political-comparative analysis (cross-national and cross-temporal analysis), as well as logical, doctrinal and analytical interpretation of legal norms, makes an attempt to identify and disclose political and legislative innovations of the XX-XXI centuries and establishing the impact of such innovations on religious ideas of society. The political and legal features of atheistic and godless states are revealed, secular states of a democratic plan are characterized, an appeal is made to the historical experience and modern functioning of theocracies and religious states, the principles of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion in Russian and international law are outlined, and problematic aspects of the relationship between religion and extremism are highlighted. It is established that atheistic and godless states in their fight against religion use the same techniques, methods and ways, but the difference is that atheistic states provide themselves with legitimation as public entities that prohibit religion at the constitutional level, while the godless states carry out identical activities without a legal basis. It turns out that secular states of the liberal-democratic plan are the embodiment of the principle of non-interference of religious institutions in public policy, known back in the Middle Ages, and at the same time create a legal and factual basis for secularized societies, which in many ways are far from unshakable religious postulates. It is determined that the domestic legal system fully recognizes those interpretations of freedom of conscience and freedom of religion that are present in international law. It also reveals three lines of anti-extremist activity in the religious sphere in Russia: presumptive, preventive and prohibitive.
SHAPING CHINA’S ARCTIC POLICY
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU), Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, LEE BO
Published: June 2024

The author of this article aims to identify the main directions of China’s policy in the Arctic in the 21st century. The author analyzes the change in China’s strategy and its relations with the countries of Northern Europe and Russia as important foundations of China’s activities in the Arctic region. The author notes how the policy in the region and issues of cooperation have changed, but at the same time notes the role and importance of China among non-Arctic countries. Of course, China cannot compete in the Arctic state, at least on the basis of geographical location. Nevertheless, China has huge potential to develop its participation in the Arctic region, from science to political and economic issues. The author concludes that China’s foreign policy aimed at peace and prosperity undoubtedly includes cooperation in the Arctic. Despite the policy changes of the leading Arctic and near-Arctic states, China will continue its work and has already come a long way in developing its Arctic path. In particular, one of the most important policy tools for China is the search for allies.
LEGAL STATUS OF NATIONAL MINORITIES IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Authors:   Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ERMAKOV D.N. ,   K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technologies and Management
Published: June 2024

We live in a world of different ethnic groups and peoples. About 3,000 ethnic groups live in more than 200 countries and regions of the modern world. The vast majority of countries are populated by multi-ethnic groups. Since the proclamation of the People’s Republic of China by the central government, about 56 ethnic groups have been identified and verified, namely Han, Mongols, Hui, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Miao, Yi, Zhuang, Buei, Koreans, Manchus, Dong Yao, Bai, Tujia, Hani , Cossack, Dai, Li, Lisu, Wa, She, Gaoshan, Lahu, Shui, Dongxiang, Nasi, Jingpo, Kyrgyz, Tu, Daur, Mulao, Qiang, Blang, Salar, Maonan, Gelao, Shibe, Achang, Pumi, Tajik , Well, Uzbek, Russian, Evenki, Deang, Bonan (also Baoan), Yugur, Jing, Tatarsky, Derung, Oroken, Hezhe, Monpa, Lhoba and Gino. The article, for the first time, comprehensively sets out the foundations of the constitutional law of the People’s Republic of China, highlights the experience of the formation and development of legal regulation of the status of national minorities in the PRC, formed since its formation and developing in connection with the reform of the country and the establishment of a political system “with Chinese characteristics.”
THE DECLINE OF INFORMATION RESISTANCE AS A PREREQUISITE FOR THE PRACTICE OF POLITICAL MANIPULATION
Authors:   Peoples’ Friendship University, Moscow, Russian Federation, FILIPPOV A.R. ,   HSE University
Published: June 2024

In this publication, based on the behavioral approach, conceptualization and discursive method, a study is carried out of the possibilities and characteristics of the influence of an objectively developing information array, distributed in accordance with modern communication trends, on the cognitive and emotional processes of the mentality of consumers of an information product in general and on the function of information resistance in particular. As a hypothesis, a statement is formulated according to which, in conditions of objective growth of generated information and the introduction of information (digital, network) addictions into the psyche, in combination with the inertia of perception inherent in the human brain, information resistance decreases, which increases the likelihood of the successful use of manipulative practices as a variation of suggestive communication. A definition of information resistance is given as resistance to the effects of unverified and/or unreliable information. The determinants of the vector of falling information resistance are revealed and studied, such as inertia of perception, pandemic dispersion of digital dependence, information overload. The validity of the correlation between the rate of decrease in information resistance and the effective dispersion of manipulations is substantiated. The leading varieties of modern manipulative practices, which are generated, among other things, by a decrease in information resistance, are characterized - the spread of deepfakes, the synthesis of cybersimulacra (including astroturfing and sockpuppeting), the imposition of behavioral patterns of reference groups, the cultivation and popularization of ersatz culture. Based on the results of the study, a position is formulated according to which a decrease in the level of information resistance, associated with a decline in the intellectual functions of human consciousness, activates primitive archaic forms of consciousness. It is noted that due to the reduction of cognitive methods of adaptation to the surrounding world to the simplest irrational forms, space opens up for the implementation of power relations through emotionally charged manipulations.
ADVANCED ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IMAGE PROCESSING FOR ANALYZING AMORPHOUS ALLOYS: ELECTRON MICROSCOPY IMAGE CLUSTER ANALYZER (EMICA). TOOL AND RESULTS
Authors:   Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russian Federation, DAGIM S. , PUSTOVALOV E.V. , FEDORETS A.N.
Published: June 2024

This article unveils EMICA, a Python-based software tool revolutionizing electron microscopy image processing for amorphous alloys. EMICA addresses the unique challenges posed by these materials, which lack long-range order, by providing specialized capabilities for cluster analysis and spatial pattern recognition. This research explored software tool development and application through illustrative examples, answering the key question of how they enhance amorphous alloy analysis. By integrating advanced image processing techniques and algorithms, EMICA uncovers hidden patterns, offering quantitative insights into cluster distributions. The key message emphasizes the application's transformative impact on material science research, providing a specialized solution for electron microscopy image analysis in the amorphous alloy domain. Our key findings, presented through real-world examples and case studies, attest to the efficacy of the software in revealing nuanced details of amorphous alloy structures. From identifying subtle variations in atomic configurations to quantifying cluster distributions, EMICA represents a significant leap forward in the field of advanced electron microscopy image processing, contributing significantly to the advancement of this domain.
DEVELOPMENT OF A VISUAL ODOMETRY MODEL BASED ON SENSORS AND VIDEO STREAM ANALYSIS
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, DANILOVA S.D.
Published: June 2024

The article is devoted to the development of a visual odometry model based on sensors of an inertial measuring device and the analysis of a video stream arriving in real time. Modeling is based on the analysis and evaluation of methods for measuring the correct coordinates of a moving object, systems for estimating the movement of an object in three-dimensional space, algorithms at intermediate stages of image processing, principles for selecting special points on the frame and optical flow for selected points.
MODELING THE PROCESSES OF INTERACTION BETWEEN TEAM MEMBERS DURING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMPLEX SOFTWARE PRODUCTS
Authors:   Bunin Yelets State University, Yelets, Russian Federation, KORNIENKO D.V. , BREEV A.A.
Published: June 2024

In the context of intensive development of information technology and increasing complexity of software products, the importance of effective interaction between members of work teams when implementing complex software solutions, such as enterprise automation systems based on the 1C platform, is increasing. This article is devoted to the study and modeling of interaction processes between members of project teams aimed at increasing the effectiveness of their joint activities during the implementation of projects for the implementation of corporate information systems. As part of the study, existing approaches and methods for organizing teamwork, as well as software systems that provide monitoring and management of collaboration of specialists, were analyzed. Particular attention is paid to considering the specifics of interaction when implementing 1C systems, characterized by a high degree of adaptability and variability depending on the characteristics of a particular enterprise. Research materials and methods include studying scientific literature on the issues of managing project teams, analyzing statistical data on the results of implementing corporate information systems in various sectors of the economy, as well as conducting interviews with managers and participants in 1C implementation projects at medium and large businesses. As part of this study, methods for modeling the work of a project team were studied. In the process of work, the analysis of her activities (business and interpersonal) was taken into account. In the course of the work, the conflict phase of team development was identified, and a model of effective motivation was created. For this purpose, game theory tools were used. As a result of the study, key factors were identified that influence the effectiveness of interaction between project team members, among which are a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities, well-established communications, and the use of modern collaboration and task management tools. Based on the data obtained, the authors proposed a conceptual model for organizing effective interaction between participants in 1C implementation projects, taking into account the specifics of this subject area and aimed at minimizing risks and improving the quality of the results of project activities.
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE A2C ALGORITHM IN RELATION TO CLASSICAL MODELS OF THE THEORY OF ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors:   Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, MOISEENKO A.M. , GRINEVA N.V. ,   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: June 2024

The relevance of the study is to identify the accuracy of the estimate obtained by the A2C algorithm, as well as the need for verification of reinforcement learning when working with optimization of economic processes. The purpose of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of the A2C algorithm, along with the specifics of its implementation, in solving optimization economic problems. The tasks considered were maximizing consumption in the Solow, Romer and Schumpeterian models of endogenous economic growth, and maximizing per capita income in the latter two, according to the consumption rate (in the latter two - saving rate) and the share of scientists in the economy, respectively. The results showed that for deterministic models (Solow model, Romer model), the variance of the parameter estimate is minimal and the average differs from the value obtained analytically by no more than a thousandth part with a sufficiently high number of time periods in the model. Nevertheless, in stochastic models (the Schumpeterian model), firstly, a high number of time periods in the model is required to match the estimate to the value obtained analytically, and secondly, the estimate obtained in this way, although biased by no more than a thousandth of a fraction, has a high variance.
THE MODERN POLICY OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF CHINA IN THE SPHERE OF IMPROVING THE WELFARE OF THE CHINESE VILLAGES
Authors:   Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou, Province of Guangdong, China, LIU H.
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes the content specifics of the concepts of «Earning a living» and «Enjoying life» from the standpoint of Marxist anthropology, indicates the need to move from the concept of «Earning a living» to the concept of «Enjoying life», discusses the practical path to the general well-being of Chinese villages. The source of the article is based on the materials of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and particularly the report of the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.
TO THE QUESTION OF THE CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF GUNPOWDER WEAPONS
Authors:   Institute of History and Archeology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, NEFEDOV S.A.
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes the current state of the problem of the creation and distribution of gunpowder weapons. A brief review of publications over the past twenty is given in the article. The evolution of gunpowder in China was traced in these works. The process of taking this weapon by the Mongols was explained, and its characters were indicated. Evidence of Mongol use of gunpowder in their western campaigns was analyzed. The proliferation of gunpowder weapons in the Middle East has been traced in more detail. In particular, it was shown that the concept of «naft» began to apply mainly to powder mixtures from the 12th century. This made it possible to evaluate information about the use of «naft» by the Mongols and about the sending of shooters with «naft» from Egypt to the Golden Horde. The opinion that the Golden Horde warriors used gunpowder was firmly substantiated.
THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS COMPLEX IN URAL HISTORIOGRAPHY
Authors:   Institute of History and Archeology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Yekaterinburg, Russian Federation, KUZNETSOV V.N. , KONSTANTINOVA A.G.
Published: June 2024

The article deals with the results and achievements of Ural scientists in studying the nuclear industry history. Public interest in detailed, scientifically based coverage of the construction, development and operation of enterprises in the nuclear weapons complex has always existed, but the development of this initiative was hampered by the special secrecy of archival materials on the activities of all enterprises and organizations related to the development and serial production of nuclear charges and ammunition. Only the socio-ideological changes caused by perestroika led to the declassification of archival funds, making them available for research. This situation has led to an increase in the number of publications on the nuclear project topic, including publications of Ural scientists.
FUNDO DE PENSÃO INGLÊS: POR QUÊ A CONTA NÃO FECHA
Authors:   Centro Paula Souza, CARVALHO Celso Almeida de , MARSON Sérgio José ,   Centro Paula Souza
Published: June 2024

In the United Kingdom, 'Pensions' emerged after World War II, concomitant with 'English Pension Funds', making workers prosper in the so-called 'Golden Age of Capitalism'. The aim of this work is to understand how pension funds, by investing in longer-term assets, have become more stable in the origin of their current sources of funds. The research is justified by the fact that, despite long term financing, in the 1970s the global financial scenario changed and Pension Funds also began to act as investors and financiers in the market, especially with a view to participating in the amounts invested in institutional players' resources. The methodology used is a bibliographic review of physical and digital collections, prioritizing publications indexed between 1997 and 2022. As a partial result of the review, we see that, with the advent of modern capitalism, British pension funds went from being solid, stable investors to financial market speculators, taking on a leading role in the international financial scene, prospecting and growing by acquiring securities from the British government and other governments, business groups and banks. The research hypothesis that emerges from this result is that, in this way, British pension funds have become financing agents in the new world capitalism, supporting the global economy, buying up public debts, investing in public and private companies, generating a large number of infrastructure projects and real estate parks. The main bibliographic contribution to this research is the work of Coggiola (2003).
Literary reading in Spanish as a foreign language (S/FL) classes in Brazil.
Authors: Moreira da Silva Girlene
Published: June 2024

We understand that the literary text (LT) provides the student with a familiarity with the forms and uses of the language studied, in addition to the chance to acquire practical, functional, communicative, cultural, discursive and literary knowledge. With this, it can be a strong ally for the success of teaching and learning foreign languages, in order to develop the communicative and especially reading competence of language learners. In Brazil, it has already taken fifteen years of teaching, research, extension and practices for the inclusion of literature in Spanish language classes, considering the activities carried out in the Research Group LEER - Literature: Study, Teaching and (Re)reading of the world (Grupo de Pesquisa LEER - Literatura: Estudo, Ensino e (Re)leitura do mundo), at the Research Center of Teaching and Languages (Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ensino e Linguagens - NUPEL) and at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN). This article presents data from a survey conducted with twenty-seven public school high school students in Brazil and a Spanish language teacher from these classes and aimed to investigate the perceptions of students after participation in a systematic work of literary reading practices in Spanish in Brazilian High School. The instruments that served as the basis for our reflections were: the class observation protocols carried out by the researcher, as well as the students' responses to the evaluation questionnaire applied at the end of the school year. After carrying out our study, we noticed that the students began to have more confidence and feel more capable to understand and interpret texts in Spanish. We also point out that, for most of the participating students, the novel was the text chosen as the one they liked the most, followed by theater, poetry and short story, respectively.
The visibilisation of teaching and learning Spanish to SL in Nijar´s settlements
Authors: Pérez Gómez Patricio , Asensio Pastor Margarita Isabel
Published: June 2024

This paper is the result carried out as part of a final degree research focuses on Spanish teaching-learning as a second language (SL), specifically, in an almost unknow context of language learning such as the migrant settlements in the Region of Níjar (to the East of the Province of Almeria, Andalusia). The main characteristic of these settlements is that their population lives in a precarious and irregular situation of residence in Spain. Learning Spanish is a necessity for social integration, but above all, in order to be able to work and to be able to do so with better guarantees of security, salary, etc.  On the other hand, it will allow them to regularise their residence status in this country. Therefore, based on this context, we present the results of this exploratory qualitative study to analyse, on the one hand, which entities are in charge of this type of teaching and, on the other, to find out about various aspects related to this complex teaching framework, such as the needs of these learners or the processes and resources used by teachers to teach Spanish as a SL, among other issues. For this purpose, we used participant observation, a survey and a semi-structured interview as research instruments. Among the findings, it is worth highlighting the diversity of the students, their resources (both in terms of time and the need to create flexible learning spaces, with materials adapted to their needs and possibilities and with teachers trained to deal with this type of teaching. Undoubtedly, this research provides information on a specific context which is very unknown in the academic field context yet unknown.
Presentation of Research Topic Language learning in plurilingual and multicultural educational environments.
Authors: Asensio-Pastor Margarita
Published: June 2024

Under the above title, we would like to present the monograph "Language Learning in Multilingual and Multicultural Educational Environments", which brings together a series of studies related to the teaching learning of additional languages.
Language plays an important role in gaining access to any community, whether it is the mother tongue or the host community. It is also the most direct expression of our culture. Learning a language is not only enriching, it can help us to see the world in a culturally multifaceted way, it can make us more open to the "other", to what is different from what we understand to be our group, among other things. Let us remember that learning non-mother tongues has been a social activity as old as humanity itself.
An Adaptive Similar Scenario Matching Method for Predicting Aircraft Taxiing Time
Authors: Qiao Peiran , Hu Minghua , Yin Jianan , Su Jiaming , Chen Yutong , Yin Mengxuan
Published: June 2024

Accurate prediction of taxiing time is important in ensuring efficient and safe operations on the airport surface. It helps improve ground operation efficiency, reduce fuel waste, and improve carbon emissions at the airport. In actual operations, taxiing time is influenced by various factors, including a large number of categorical features. However, few previous studies have focused on selecting such features. Additionally, traditional taxiing time prediction methods are often black-box models that only provide a single prediction result; they fail to provide effective practical references for controllers. Therefore, this paper analyses the features that affect taxiing time from different data types and forms a taxi feature set consisting of nine key features. We also propose a taxiing time prediction method based on adaptive scenario matching rules. This process classifies the scenarios into multiple typical historical scenario sets and adaptively matches the current target scenario to a typical scenario set based on quantified rules. Then, based on the matching results, a pre-trained model obtained from the corresponding scenario set is used to predict the taxiing time of an aircraft in the target scenario, aiming to mitigate the impact of data heterogeneity on prediction results. Experimental results show that compared to baseline methods, the mean absolute error and root mean square error of the proposed method decreased by 4.8% and 12.6%, respectively. This method significantly reduces the fluctuations in results caused by sample heterogeneity and enhances controllers’ acceptance of prediction results from the model. It can be used to further improve auxiliary decision making systems and enhance the precise control capabilities of airport surface operations.
Consumption of Chokeberry Bio-Products Improves Specific Metabolic Parameters and Increases the Plasma Antioxidant Status
Authors: Olechno Ewa , Puścion-Jakubik Anna , Socha Katarzyna , Pipino Caterina , Zujko Małgorzata Elżbieta
Published: June 2024

Because of its high antioxidant activity, chokeberry can be used both in the prevention and treatment of various metabolic disorders. In this study, for the first time, the synergistic effects of chokeberry juice and chokeberry fiber on selected metabolic and anthropometric parameters were assessed during a 90-day intervention including 102 people (67 women and 35 men). After 60 days of intervention with chokeberry juice, statistically significant increases in the muscle mass and antioxidant potential of the serum were observed. In turn, there were decreases in the waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, LDL cholesterol, eGFR, and ALT level. The addition of chokeberry fiber for the next 30 days resulted in stabilizations of the diastolic blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, glucose, and waist circumference, as well as reductions in the values of the heart rate, LDL cholesterol, insulin, and AST level. After 90 days, a significant increase in the FRAP value was also observed. This intervention indicates that chokeberry products may have a beneficial effect on metabolic health and serve as a foundation for developing functional foods.
Exogenous GABA Enhances Copper Stress Resilience in Rice Plants via Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms, Gene Regulation, Mineral Uptake, and Copper Homeostasis
Authors: Khan Zakirullah , Jan Rahmatullah , Asif Saleem , Farooq Muhammad , Kim Kyung-Min
Published: June 2024

The importance of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in plants has been highlighted due to its critical role in mitigating metal toxicity, specifically countering the inhibitory effects of copper stress on rice plants. This study involved pre-treating rice plants with 1 mM GABA for one week, followed by exposure to varying concentrations of copper at 50 μM, 100 μM, and 200 μM. Under copper stress, particularly at 100 μM and 200 μM, plant height, biomass, chlorophyll content, relative water content, mineral content, and antioxidant activity decreased significantly compared to control conditions. However, GABA treatment significantly alleviated the adverse effects of copper stress. It increased plant height by 13%, 18%, and 32%; plant biomass by 28%, 52%, and 60%; chlorophyll content by 12%, 30%, and 24%; and relative water content by 10%, 24%, and 26% in comparison to the C50, C100, and C200 treatments. Furthermore, GABA treatment effectively reduced electrolyte leakage by 11%, 34%, and 39%, and the concentration of reactive oxygen species, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), by 9%, 22%, and 27%, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) by 12%, 38%, and 30%, and superoxide anion content by 8%, 33, and 39% in comparison to C50, C100, and C200 treatments. Additionally, GABA supplementation led to elevated levels of glutathione by 69% and 80%, superoxide dismutase by 22% and 125%, ascorbate peroxidase by 12% and 125%, and catalase by 75% and 100% in the C100+G and C200+G groups as compared to the C100 and C200 treatments. Similarly, GABA application upregulated the expression of GABA shunt pathway-related genes, including gamma-aminobutyric transaminase (OsGABA-T) by 38% and 80% and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (OsSSADH) by 60% and 94% in the C100+G and C200+G groups, respectively, as compared to the C100 and C200 treatments. Conversely, the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid dehydrogenase (OsGAD) was downregulated. GABA application reduced the absorption of Cu2+ by 54% and 47% in C100+G and C200+G groups as compared to C100, and C200 treatments. Moreover, GABA treatment enhanced the uptake of Ca2+ by 26% and 82%, Mg2+ by 12% and 67%, and K+ by 28% and 128% in the C100+G and C200+G groups as compared to C100, and C200 treatments. These findings underscore the pivotal role of GABA-induced enhancements in various physiological and molecular processes, such as plant growth, chlorophyll content, water content, antioxidant capacity, gene regulation, mineral uptake, and copper sequestration, in enhancing plant tolerance to copper stress. Such mechanistic insights offer promising implications for the advancement of safe and sustainable food production practices.
Boosting the Performance of LLIE Methods via Unsupervised Weight Map Generation Network
Authors: Ji Shuichen , Xu Shaoping , Xiao Nan , Cheng Xiaohui , Chen Qiyu , Jiang Xinyi
Published: June 2024

Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made in low-light image enhancement (LLIE) methods due to the robust capabilities of deep learning in non-linear mapping, feature extraction, and representation. However, the pursuit of a universally superior method that consistently outperforms others across diverse scenarios remains challenging. This challenge primarily arises from the inherent data bias in deep learning-based approaches, stemming from disparities in image statistical distributions between training and testing datasets. To tackle this problem, we propose an unsupervised weight map generation network aimed at effectively integrating pre-enhanced images generated from carefully selected complementary LLIE methods. Our ultimate goal is to enhance the overall enhancement performance by leveraging these pre-enhanced images, therewith culminating the enhancement workflow in a dual-stage execution paradigm. To be more specific, in the preprocessing stage, we initially employ two distinct LLIE methods, namely Night and PairLIE, chosen specifically for their complementary enhancement characteristics, to process the given input low-light image. The resultant outputs, termed pre-enhanced images, serve as dual target images for fusion in the subsequent image fusion stage. Subsequently, at the fusion stage, we utilize an unsupervised UNet architecture to determine the optimal pixel-level weight maps for merging the pre-enhanced images. This process is adeptly directed by a specially formulated loss function in conjunction with the no-reference image quality algorithm, namely the naturalness image quality evaluator (NIQE). Finally, based on a mixed weighting mechanism that combines generated pixel-level local weights with image-level global empirical weights, the pre-enhanced images are fused to produce the final enhanced image. Our experimental findings demonstrate exceptional performance across a range of datasets, surpassing various state-of-the-art methods, including two pre-enhancement methods, involved in the comparison. This outstanding performance is attributed to the harmonious integration of diverse LLIE methods, which yields robust and high-quality enhancement outcomes across various scenarios. Furthermore, our approach exhibits scalability and adaptability, ensuring compatibility with future advancements in enhancement technologies while maintaining superior performance in this rapidly evolving field.
The Integral Reactive Strength Index: An Accurate Measurement for Evaluating Drop Jump Performance in Sprinter Athletes
Authors: Montoro-Bombú Raynier , Sarmento Hugo , Elferink-Gemser Marije T. , Costa Armando , Malico Sousa Paulo , Rama Luís
Published: June 2024

The reactive strength index (RSI) is a performance measure previously used to assess lower extremity performance; however, this study addresses limitations in its interpretation that need to be readdressed. The purpose of this study is twofold: to test the correlation of a new variable denominated integral reactive strength index (IRSI) with the RSI and to compare the flight time, ground contact time, jump height, RSI, reactive capacity, and IRSI between Olympic athletes in 100 m and 400 m. Ten elite male track and field athletes who qualified for the Olympics participated in this study (age = 24.9 ± 2.42 years; height = 1.75 ± 5.0 cm). They were divided into two groups, the first with five 100 m sprinters and the second group with five 400 m sprinters. The drop jump (DJ) attempts from 0.20 m were performed with the force plate 0.10 m away from the jump box. The DJ 0.30 m and DJ 0.40 m had a 0.15 m separation, and the DJ 0.50 m and DJ 0.60 m had a 0.20 m separation. The correlation analysis showed a high correlation (r = 0.805; p = 0.02) between the RSI and the IRSI. The comparisons between 400 m sprinters versus 100 m sprinters showed that there are no significant differences between the groups for any of the reactive strength variables (p > 0.05). Coaches of these sports’ specialties should take these criteria into account when developing plyometric programs and introduce the IRSI as an accurate measurement for evaluating DJ performance.
The Significance of Organic Horticulture in Mitigating Climate Change and Promoting the Production of Healthier Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Manyaku Awabo , Witbooi Hildegard , Laubscher Charles Petrus
Published: June 2024

Organic horticulture is a holistic management system that follows good production practices and should be considered the cornerstone of mitigating climate change and producing healthier fruits and vegetables. This agroecosystem practice not only benefits the green economy but promotes and enhances soil biological activity, biodiversity, and other biological cycles in the sphere. The last decade has observed a rise in the production and consumption of organically certified agricultural products, and the biggest growth was registered in France (18%) due to its higher nutritional value of vitamin C (27%) and polyphenol content (72%), with a lowered risk of exposure to harmful chemicals of up to 70% and improved organoleptic properties. Between 2012 and 2020, the European Union’s organic sector experienced significant growth, with a 56% expansion in organic land area, a 40% increase in organic producers, and a 114% increase in retail sales. The aim of this review was to evaluate the significant impact of organic horticulture on mitigating climate change and meeting consumer needs by examining key research areas, including Soil Health and Management, Pest and Disease Management, Climate Resilience and Adaptation, Carbon Sequestration and Climate Mitigation, Market and Consumer Preferences, and Policy and Institutional Support. The outcome of this review demonstrates that there are still numerous research studies required to evaluate how different farming systems and pedoclimatic conditions can contribute to more efficient horticultural practices.
2D Numerical Analysis of Prefabricated Vertical Drains Using Different Matching Methods
Authors: Théodore Abrasse , Demir Ahmet , Yildiz Abdulazim
Published: June 2024

A full-scale embankment on soft clays improved with prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) have to be analyzed in 3D conditions due to a great number of vertical drains under an embankment. However, 3D analysis is very complex, time-consuming, and needs a powerful computer. Therefore, axisymmetric vertical drains have to be converted into equivalent plane-strain conditions for 2D analysis. Different matching approaches based on unit cell concept have been developed in the literature and the matching can be achieved by modifying the drain distance and/or soil permeability according with relatively simple instructions. This paper investigates verification of three different matching approaches to be used in the numerical analysis of full-scale embankment built on multiple vertical drains. The elasto-plastic soft soil model was used in the numerical analysis, and the results are compared with the laboratory and field measurements. The results of numerical analysis demonstrate that the matching methods are in extremely good agreement with the measurements if the effect of both the smear zone and discharge capacity are taken into consideration. It is seen that these methods provide practical solutions and important advantages to geotechnical engineers.
Defect Identification for Mild Steel in Arc Welding Using Multi-Sensor and Neighborhood Rough Set Approach
Authors: Zeng Xianping , Feng Zhiqiang , Xiang Xiaohong , Li Xin , Huang Xiaohu , Pan Zufu , Li Bingqian , Li Quan
Published: June 2024

Welding technology plays a vital role in the manufacturing process of ships, automobiles, and aerospace vehicles because it directly impacts their operational safety and reliability. Hence, the development of an accurate system for identifying welding defects in arc welding is crucial to enhancing the quality of welding production. In this study, a defect recognition method combining the Neighborhood Rough Set (NRS) with the Dingo Optimization Algorithm Support Vector Machine (DOA-SVM) in a multisensory framework is proposed. The 195-dimensional decision-making system mentioned above was constructed to integrate multi-source information from molten pool images, welding current, and vibration signals. To optimize the system, it was further refined to a 12-dimensional decision-making setup through outlier processing and feature selection based on the Neighborhood Rough Set. Subsequently, the DOA-SVM is employed for detecting welding defects. Experimental results demonstrate a 98.98% accuracy rate in identifying welding defects using our model. Importantly, this method outperforms comparative techniques in terms of quickly and accurately identifying five common welding defects, thereby affirming its suitability for arc welding. The proposed method not only achieves high accuracy but also simplifies the model structure, enhances detection efficiency, and streamlines network training.
Feature Extraction and Recognition of Chinese Mitten Crab Carapace Based on Improved MobileNetV2
Authors: Peng Nengtian , Chen Ming , Feng Guofu
Published: June 2024

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), a species unique to Chinese aquaculture, holds significant economic value in the seafood market. In response to increasing concerns about the quality and safety of Chinese mitten crab products, the high traceability costs, and challenges for consumers in verifying the authenticity of individual crabs, this study proposes a lightweight individual recognition model for Chinese mitten crab carapace images based on an improved MobileNetV2. The method first utilizes a lightweight backbone network, MobileNetV2, combined with a coordinate attention mechanism to extract features of the Chinese mitten crab carapace, thereby enhancing the ability to recognize critical morphological features of the crab shell while maintaining the model’s light weight. Then, the model is trained using the ArcFace loss function, which effectively extracts the generalized features of the Chinese mitten crab carapace images. Finally, authenticity is verified by calculating the similarity between two input images of Chinese mitten crab carapaces. Experimental results show that the model, combined with the coordinate attention mechanism and ArcFace, achieves a high accuracy rate of 98.56% on the Chinese mitten crab image dataset, surpassing ShuffleFaceNet, MobileFaceNet, and VarGFaceNet by 13.63, 11.1, and 6.55 percentage points, respectively. Moreover, it only requires an average of 1.7 milliseconds per image for verification. While maintaining lightness, this model offers high efficiency and accuracy, offering an effective technical solution for enhancing the traceability of Chinese mitten crab products and combating counterfeit goods.
Dynamic Robust Optimization Method Based on Two-Stage Evaluation and Its Application in Optimal Scheduling of Integrated Energy System
Authors: Zhou Bo , Li Erchao
Published: June 2024

As an emerging energy allocation method, shared energy storage devices play an important role in modern power systems. At the same time, with the continuous improvement in renewable energy penetration, modern power systems are facing more uncertainties from the source side. Therefore, a robust optimization algorithm that considers both shared energy storage devices and source-side uncertainty is needed. Responding to the above issues, this paper first establishes an optimal model of a regional integrated energy system with shared energy storage. Secondly, the uncertainty problem is transformed into a dynamic optimization problem with time-varying parameters, and a modified robust optimization over time algorithm combined with scenario analysis is proposed to solve such optimization problems. Finally, an optimal scheduling objective function with the lowest operating cost of the system as the optimization objective is established. In the experimental part, this paper first establishes a dynamic benchmark test function to verify the validity of proposed method. Secondly, the multi-mode actual verification of the proposed algorithm is carried out through a regional integrated energy system. The simulation results show that the modified robust optimization over time (ROOT) algorithm could find solutions with better robustness in the same dynamic environment based on the two-stage evaluation strategy. Compared with the existing algorithms, the average fitness and survival time of the robust solution obtained by the modified ROOT algorithm are increased by 94.41% and 179.78%. At the same time, the operating cost of the system is reduced by 11.65% by using the combined optimization scheduling method proposed in this paper.
Solar Sail-Based Mars-Synchronous Displaced Orbits for Remote Sensing Applications
Authors: Bassetto Marco , Quarta Alessandro A.
Published: June 2024

A solar sail is a propellantless propulsion system that allows a spacecraft to use solar radiation pressure as a propulsive source for planetary and deep space missions that would be difficult, or even unfeasible, to accomplish with more conventional thrusters, either chemical or electric. A challenging application for these fascinating propulsion systems is a heliocentric mission that requires a displaced non-Keplerian orbit (DNKO), that is, a solar sail-induced closed trajectory in which the orbital plane does not contain the Sun’s center of mass. In fact, thanks to the pioneering work of McInnes, it is known that a solar sail is able to reach and maintain a family of heliocentric DNKOs of given characteristics. The aim of this paper is to analyze the properties of Mars-synchronous circular DNKOs, which have an orbital period matching that of the planet for remote sensing applications. In fact, those specific displaced orbits allow a scientific probe to continuously observe the high-latitude regions of Mars from a quasi-stationary position relative to the planet. In this context, this paper also analyzes the optimal (i.e., the minimum-time) heliocentric transfer trajectory from the Earth to circular DNKOs in two special mission scenarios taken as a reference.
Advancing Dental Diagnostics: A Review of Artificial Intelligence Applications and Challenges in Dentistry
Authors: Musleh Dhiaa , Almossaeed Haya , Balhareth Fay , Alqahtani Ghadah , Alobaidan Norah , Altalag Jana , Aldossary May Issa
Published: June 2024

The rise of artificial intelligence has created and facilitated numerous everyday tasks in a variety of industries, including dentistry. Dentists have utilized X-rays for diagnosing patients’ ailments for many years. However, the procedure is typically performed manually, which can be challenging and time-consuming for non-specialized specialists and carries a significant risk of error. As a result, researchers have turned to machine and deep learning modeling approaches to precisely identify dental disorders using X-ray pictures. This review is motivated by the need to address these challenges and to explore the potential of AI to enhance diagnostic accuracy, efficiency, and reliability in dental practice. Although artificial intelligence is frequently employed in dentistry, the approaches’ outcomes are still influenced by aspects such as dataset availability and quantity, chapter balance, and data interpretation capability. Consequently, it is critical to work with the research community to address these issues in order to identify the most effective approaches for use in ongoing investigations. This article, which is based on a literature review, provides a concise summary of the diagnosis process using X-ray imaging systems, offers a thorough understanding of the difficulties that dental researchers face, and presents an amalgamative evaluation of the performances and methodologies assessed using publicly available benchmarks.
Research on Multimodal Transport of Electronic Documents Based on Blockchain
Authors: Qian Xueqi , Shen Lixin , Yang Dong , Zhang Zhiwen , Jin Zhihong
Published: June 2024

Multimodal transport document collaboration is the foundation of multimodal transport operations. Blockchain technology can effectively address issues such as a lack of trust and difficulties in information sharing in current multimodal transport document collaboration. However, in current research on blockchain-based electronic documents, the bottleneck lies in the collaboration aspect of multimodal transport among multiple entities, known as the “one-bill coverage system” collaborative problem. The collaboration problem studied in this paper involves selecting suitable transport routes according to the shipper’s transport needs, and selecting the most suitable specific carrier from numerous carriers. To address the collaboration problem among multiple parties in the multimodal transport “one-bill coverage system”, a multiparty collaboration mechanism is designed. This mechanism includes two aspects: firstly, designing the architecture of the multimodal transport blockchain transport platform, which reengineers the operation process of the “one-bill coverage system” for container multimodal transport; secondly, constructing a multiparty collaboration decision-making model for the “one-bill coverage system” in multimodal transport. The model is solved and analyzed, and the collaboration strategy obtained is embedded in the application layer of the platform. Smart contracts related to the “one-bill coverage system” for multimodal transport are written in the Solidity language and deployed and executed on the Remix platform. The design of this mechanism can effectively improve the collaboration efficiency of participants in the “one-bill coverage system” for multimodal transport.