bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel and Highly Selective Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor, SMUZ106, for the Treatment of Glioblastoma
Authors: Jiang Ying , Huang Chunhui , Huang Yaqi , Long Lifan , Wu Guowu , Guo Fengqiu , Huang Chuan , Liu Siming , Zhu Zhengguang , Wu Shaoyu , Li Zhonghuang , Zhang Jiajie , Wan Shanhe
Published: May 2023

Targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the potential ways to treat glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, we investigate the anti-GBM tumor effects of the EGFR inhibitor SMUZ106 in both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The effects of SMUZ106 on the growth and proliferation of GBM cells were explored through MTT and clone formation experiments. Additionally, flow cytometry experiments were conducted to study the effects of SMUZ106 on the cell cycle and apoptosis of GBM cells. The inhibitory activity and selectivity of SMUZ106 to the EGFR protein were proved by Western blotting, molecular docking, and kinase spectrum screening methods. We also conducted a pharmacokinetic analysis of SMUZ106 hydrochloride following i.v. or p.o. administration to mice and assessed the acute toxicity level of SMUZ106 hydrochloride following p.o. administration to mice. Subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models of U87MG-EGFRvIII cells were established to assess the antitumor activity of SMUZ106 hydrochloride in vivo. SMUZ106 could inhibit the growth and proliferation of GBM cells, especially for the U87MG-EGFRvIII cells with a mean IC50 value of 4.36 μM. Western blotting analyses showed that compound SMUZ106 inhibits the level of EGFR phosphorylation in GBM cells. It was also shown that SMUZ106 targets EGFR and presents high selectivity. In vivo, the absolute bioavailability of SMUZ106 hydrochloride was 51.97%, and its LD50 exceeded 5000 mg/kg. SMUZ106 hydrochloride significantly inhibited GBM growth in vivo. Furthermore, SMUZ106 inhibited the activity of U87MG-resistant cells induced by temozolomide (TMZ) (IC50: 7.86 μM). These results suggest that SMUZ106 hydrochloride has the potential to be used as a treatment method for GBM as an EGFR inhibitor.
The Management of Parkinson’s Disease: An Overview of the Current Advancements in Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Nakmode Deepa D. , Day Candace M. , Song Yunmei , Garg Sanjay
Published: May 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) has significantly affected a large proportion of the elderly population worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 8.5 million people worldwide are living with PD. In the United States, an estimated one million people are living with PD, with approximately 60,000 new cases diagnosed every year. Conventional therapies available for Parkinson’s disease are associated with limitations such as the wearing-off effect, on-off period, episodes of motor freezing, and dyskinesia. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in DDSs used to reduce the limitations of current therapies will be presented, and both their promising features and drawbacks will be discussed. We are also particularly interested in the technical properties, mechanism, and release patterns of incorporated drugs, as well as nanoscale delivery strategies to overcome the blood–brain barrier.
A Current Update on the Role of HDL-Based Nanomedicine in Targeting Macrophages in Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Alankrita Rani , Marsche Gunther
Published: May 2023

High-density lipoproteins (HDL) are complex endogenous nanoparticles involved in important functions such as reverse cholesterol transport and immunomodulatory activities, ensuring metabolic homeostasis and vascular health. The ability of HDL to interact with a plethora of immune cells and structural cells places it in the center of numerous disease pathophysiologies. However, inflammatory dysregulation can lead to pathogenic remodeling and post-translational modification of HDL, rendering HDL dysfunctional or even pro-inflammatory. Monocytes and macrophages play a critical role in mediating vascular inflammation, such as in coronary artery disease (CAD). The fact that HDL nanoparticles have potent anti-inflammatory effects on mononuclear phagocytes has opened new avenues for the development of nanotherapeutics to restore vascular integrity. HDL infusion therapies are being developed to improve the physiological functions of HDL and to quantitatively restore or increase the native HDL pool. The components and design of HDL-based nanoparticles have evolved significantly since their initial introduction with highly anticipated results in an ongoing phase III clinical trial in subjects with acute coronary syndrome. The understanding of mechanisms involved in HDL-based synthetic nanotherapeutics is critical to their design, therapeutic potential and effectiveness. In this review, we provide a current update on HDL-ApoA-I mimetic nanotherapeutics, highlighting the scope of treating vascular diseases by targeting monocytes and macrophages.
Analysis of the Dissolution Mechanism of Drugs into Polymers: The Case of the PVP/Sulindac System
Authors: Latreche Mansour , Willart Jean-François
Published: May 2023

This paper is dealing with the dissolution mechanism of crystalline sulindac into amorphous Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) upon heating and annealing at high temperatures. Special attention is paid on the diffusion mechanism of drug molecules in the polymer which leads to a homogeneous amorphous solid dispersion of the two components. The results show that isothermal dissolution proceeds through the growth of polymer zones saturated by the drug, and not by a progressive increase in the uniform drug concentration in the whole polymer matrix. The investigations also show the exceptional ability of temperature Modulated Differential Scanning Calorimetry (MDSC) to identify the equilibrium and out of equilibrium stages of dissolution corresponding to the trajectory of the mixture into its state diagram.
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) Adsorption and Detoxification Mechanisms in Cell Wall Polysaccharides of Phytolacca americana L.
Authors: Guo Yingying , Chen Keyi , Lei Shihan , Gao Yuan , Yan Shengpeng , Yuan Ming
Published: May 2023

The cell wall (CW) is critical for the accumulation of heavy metals in metal-tolerant plants. Polysaccharides, the main component of the CW, contribute significantly to the immobilization of heavy metals. However, the mechanisms of rare earth elements (REEs) adsorption and detoxification by polysaccharides in the cell walls of Phytolacca americana L. (P. americana) remain unclear. In this work, we explored the binding sites of REEs and the modifications to polysaccharides in the cell walls of roots and leaves in P. americana, in order to elucidate the adsorption and fixation mechanism of REEs by the cell wall. Our findings indicated that up to 40.7% and 48.1% of cell-wall-bound REEs were present in the root and leaf pectin, respectively. The removal of pectin led to a 39.8% and 23.6% decrease in the maximum adsorption of REEs in the CW, suggesting that pectin was the main binding site for REEs in the cell walls of P. americana. Hydroxyl (-OH) and carboxyl (-COOH) groups in the cell wall interacted mainly with REEs ions under stress conditions, which played a key role in REEs binding. An obvious REEs fractionation was found during the various fractions of the CW, and all fractions of the root cell wall were enriched with HREEs, whereas all fractions of the leaf cell wall were enriched with LREEs. Moreover, P. americana modulated cell wall composition in reaction to REEs stress. In conclusion, cell wall pectin is the main binding site of REEs, and the functional groups on the cell wall play a significant role in the binding of REEs. At the same time, plants can control the selective adsorption and fixation of REEs by adjusting the composition of cell walls. This study offers valuable insights into the mechanisms of REEs adsorption and fixation in cell walls of P. americana, contributing to a theoretical basis for the bioremediation of REEs pollution.
Priorities for Bark Anatomical Research: Study Venues and Open Questions
Authors: Shtein Ilana , Gričar Jožica , Lev-Yadun Simcha , Oskolski Alexei , Pace Marcelo R. , Rosell Julieta A. , Crivellaro Alan
Published: May 2023

The bark fulfils several essential functions in vascular plants and yields a wealth of raw materials, but the understanding of bark structure and function strongly lags behind our knowledge with respect to other plant tissues. The recent technological advances in sampling and preparation of barks for anatomical studies, along with the establishment of an agreed bark terminology, paved the way for more bark anatomical research. Whilst datasets reveal bark’s taxonomic and functional diversity in various ecosystems, a better understanding of the bark can advance the understanding of plants’ physiological and environmental challenges and solutions. We propose a set of priorities for understanding and further developing bark anatomical studies, including periderm structure in woody plants, phloem phenology, methods in bark anatomy research, bark functional ecology, relationships between bark macroscopic appearance, and its microscopic structure and discuss how to achieve these ambitious goals.
Response to Cadmium Toxicity: Orchestration of Polyamines and microRNAs in Maize Plant
Authors: Hassani Seyedeh Batool , Latifi Mojgan , Aliniaeifard Sasan , Bonab Shabnam Sohrabi , Almanghadim Neda Nasiri , Jafari Sara , Mohebbifar Elham , Ahangir Anahita , Seifikalhor Maryam , Rezadoost Hassan , Bosacchi Massimo , Rastogi Anshu , Bernard Françoise
Published: May 2023

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that is widely contaminating the environment due to its uses in industries as corrosive reagents, paints, batteries, etc. Cd can easily be absorbed through plant roots and may have serious negative impacts on plant growth. To investigate the mechanisms utilized by plants to cope with Cd toxicity, an experiment was conducted on maize seedlings. We observed that the plant growth and photosynthetic mechanism were negatively influenced during 20 days of Cd stress. The expression levels of ornithine decarboxylase (ORDC) increased in the six seedlings under Cd exposure compared to the control. However, Cd toxicity led to an increase in putrescine (Put) content only on day 15 when compared to the control plants. In fact, with the exception of day 15, the increases in the ORDC transcript levels did not show a direct correlation with the observed increases in Put content. Spermidine and Spermine levels were reduced on day 6 by Cd application, which was parallel with suppressed Spermidine synthase gene. However, an increase in Spermidine and Spermine levels was observed on day 12 along with a significant elevation in Spermidine synthase expression. On day 6, Cd was observed to start accumulating in the root with an increase in the expression of microRNA 528; while on day 15, Cd started to be observed in the shoot part with an increase in microRNA 390 and microRNA 168. These results imply that different miRNAs may regulate polyamines (PAs) in maize under Cd toxicity, suggesting a plant-derived strategy to commit a PAs/miRNA-regulated mechanism/s in different developmental stages (time points) in response to Cd exposure.
Differentially Expressed Conserved Plant Vegetative Phase-Change-Related microRNAs in Mature and Rejuvenated Silver Birch In Vitro Propagated Tissues
Authors: Krivmane Baiba , Ruņģe Kaiva Solvita , Samsone Ineta , Ruņģis Dainis Edgars
Published: May 2023

In plants, phase change from the juvenile stage to maturity involves physiological and anatomical changes, which are initiated and controlled by evolutionary highly conserved microRNAs. This process is of particular significance for the in vitro propagation of woody plant species, as individuals or tissues that have undergone the transition to vegetative maturity are recalcitrant to propagation. Conserved miRNAs differentially expressed between juvenile (including rejuvenated) and mature silver birch tissues were identified using high-throughput sequencing of small RNA libraries. Expression of some miR156 isoforms was high in juvenile tissues and has been previously reported to regulate phase transitions in a range of species. Additional miRNAs, such as miR394 and miR396, that were previously reported to be highly expressed in juvenile woody plant tissues were also differentially expressed in this study. However, expression of miR172, previously reported to be highly expressed in mature tissues, was low in all sample types in this study. The obtained results will provide insight for further investigation of the molecular mechanisms regulating vegetative phase change in silver birch and other perennial woody plant species, by analysing a wider range of genotypes, tissue types and maturation stages. This knowledge can potentially assist in identification of rejuvenated material at an earlier stage than currently possible, increasing the efficiency of silver birch in vitro propagation.
Intraspecific Variation in Functional Traits of Medicago sativa Determine the Effect of Plant Diversity and Nitrogen Addition on Flowering Phenology in a One-Year Common Garden Experiment
Authors: Ma Yue , Zhao Xiang , Li Xiaona , Hu Yanxia , Wang Chao
Published: May 2023

Nitrogen deposition and biodiversity alter plant flowering phenology through abiotic factors and functional traits. However, few studies have considered their combined effects on flowering phenology. A common garden experiment with two nitrogen addition levels (0 and 6 g N m−2 year−1) and five species richness levels (1, 2, 4, 6, and 8) was established. We assessed the effects of nitrogen addition and plant species richness on three flowering phenological events of Medicago sativa L. via changes in functional traits, soil nutrients, and soil moisture and temperature. The first flowering day was delayed, the last flowering day advanced, and the flowering duration shortened after nitrogen addition. Meanwhile, the last flowering day advanced, and flowering duration shortened along plant species richness gradients, with an average of 0.64 and 0.95 days change per plant species increase, respectively. Importantly, it was observed that plant species richness affected flowering phenology mainly through changes in plant nutrient acquisition traits (i.e., leaf nitrogen and carbon/nitrogen ratio). Our findings illustrate the non-negligible effects of intraspecific variation in functional traits on flowering phenology and highlight the importance of including functional traits in phenological models to improve predictions of plant phenology in response to nitrogen deposition and biodiversity loss.
Dyes Confinement in the Nano Scale and Converting Poly Vinyl Alcohol to Be Optical-Active Polymeric Nanocomposites with High Thermal Stability
Authors: Alshoaibi Adil
Published: May 2023

In the present research, groups of nanolayered structures and nanohybrids based on organic green dyes and inorganic species are designated to act as fillers for PVA to induce new optical sites and increase its thermal stability through producing polymeric nanocomposites. In this trend, different percentages of naphthol green B were intercalated as pillars inside the Zn-Al nanolayered structures to form green organic-inorganic nanohybrids. The two-dimensional green nanohybrids were identified by X-ray diffraction, TEM and SEM. According to the thermal analyses, the nanohybrid, which has the highest amount of green dyes, was used for modifying the PVA through two series. In the first series, three nanocomposites were prepared depending on the green nanohybrid as prepared. In the second series, the yellow nanohybrid, which was produced from the green nanohybrid by thermal treatment, was used to produce another three nanocomposites. The optical properties revealed that the polymeric nanocomposites depending on green nanohybrids became optical-active in UV and visible regions because the energy band gap decreased to 2.2 eV. In addition, the energy band gap of the nanocomposites which depended on yellow nanohybrids was 2.5 eV. The thermal analyses indicated that the polymeric nanocomposites are thermally more stable than that of the original PVA. Finally, the dual functionality of organic-inorganic nanohybrids that were produced from the confinement of organic dyes and the thermal stability of inorganic species converted the non-optical PVA to optical-active polymer in a wide range with high thermal stability.
A New Colorimetric Test for Accurate Determination of Plastic Biodegradation
Authors: Mattelin Valérie , Verfaille Lennert , Kundu Kankana , De Wildeman Stefaan , Boon Nico
Published: May 2023

As plastic waste is accumulating in both controlled waste management settings and natural settings, much research is devoted to search for solutions, also in the field of biodegradation. However, determining the biodegradability of plastics in natural environments remains a big challenge due to the often very low biodegradation rates. Many standardised test methods for biodegradation in natural environments exist. These are often based on mineralisation rates in controlled conditions and are thus indirect measurements of biodegradation. It is of interest for both researchers and companies to have tests that are more rapid, easier, and more reliable to screen different ecosystems and/or niches for their plastic biodegradation potential. In this study, the goal is to validate a colorimetric test, based on carbon nanodots, to screen biodegradation of different types of plastics in natural environments. After introducing carbon nanodots into the matrix of the target plastic, a fluorescent signal is released upon plastic biodegradation. The in-house-made carbon nanodots were first confirmed regarding their biocompatibility and chemical and photostability. Subsequently, the effectivity of the developed method was evaluated positively by an enzymatic degradation test with polycaprolactone with Candida antarctica lipase B. Finally, validation experiments were performed with enriched microorganisms and real environmental samples (freshwater and seawater), of which the results were compared with parallel, frequently used biodegradation measures such as O2 and CO2, dissolved organic carbon, growth and pH, to assess the reliability of the test. Our results indicate that this colorimetric test is a good alternative to other methods, but a combination of different methods gives the most information. In conclusion, this colorimetric test is a good fit to screen, in high throughput, the depolymerisation of plastics in natural environments and under different conditions in the lab.
Fireproof Nanocomposite Polyurethane Foams: A Review
Authors: Cherednichenko Kirill , Kopitsyn Dmitry , Smirnov Egor , Nikolaev Nikita , Fakhrullin Rawil
Published: May 2023

First introduced in 1954, polyurethane foams rapidly became popular because of light weight, high chemical stability, and outstanding sound and thermal insulation properties. Currently, polyurethane foam is widely applied in industrial and household products. Despite tremendous progress in the development of various formulations of versatile foams, their use is hindered due to high flammability. Fire retardant additives can be introduced into polyurethane foams to enhance their fireproof properties. Nanoscale materials employed as fire-retardant components of polyurethane foams have the potential to overcome this problem. Here, we review the recent (last 5 years) progress that has been made in polyurethane foam modification using nanomaterials to enhance its flame retardance. Different groups of nanomaterials and approaches for incorporating them into foam structures are covered. Special attention is given to the synergetic effects of nanomaterials with other flame-retardant additives.
Excellent Energy Storage Performance in Epoxy Resin Dielectric Polymer Films by a Facile Hot−Pressing Method
Authors: Pan Zhe , Mao Minmin , Zhang Bin , Li Zhongyu , Song Kaixin , Li Hai-Feng , Mao Zhu , Wang Dawei
Published: May 2023

Epoxy resin (EP), as a kind of dielectric polymer, exhibits the advantages of low-curing shrinkage, high-insulating properties, and good thermal/chemical stability, which is widely used in electronic and electrical industry. However, the complicated preparation process of EP has limited their practical applications for energy storage. In this manuscript, bisphenol F epoxy resin (EPF) was successfully fabricated into polymer films with a thickness of 10~15 μm by a facile hot−pressing method. It was found that the curing degree of EPF was significantly affected by changing the ratio of EP monomer/curing agent, which led to the improvement in breakdown strength and energy storage performance. In particular, a high discharged energy density (Ud) of 6.5 J·cm−3 and efficiency (η) of 86% under an electric field of 600 MV·m−1 were obtained for the EPF film with an EP monomer/curing agent ratio of 1:1.5 by hot pressing at 130 °C, which indicates that the hot−pressing method could be facilely employed to produce high−quality EP films with excellent energy storage performance for pulse power capacitors.
Research Progress on Fiber-Reinforced Recycled Brick Aggregate Concrete: A Review
Authors: Zhang Zhenya , Ji Yongcheng , Wang Dayang
Published: May 2023

The addition of fibers to strengthen recycled concrete can strengthen the inherent deficits and deficiencies of concrete containing recycled aggregates to some extent and enlarge the concrete’s application range. In order to further promote the development and application of fiber-reinforced brick aggregate recycled concrete, the research results regarding its mechanical properties are reviewed in this paper. The effect of the content of broken brick on the mechanical properties of recycled concrete and the effects of different categories and contents of fiber on the basic mechanical properties of recycled concrete are analyzed. The problems to be solved in research on the mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced recycled brick aggregate concrete are presented, and the related research suggestions and prospects are summarized. This review provides a reference for further research in this field and the popularization and application of fiber-reinforced recycled concrete.
Hyaluronic Acid-Based Nanocarriers for Anticancer Drug Delivery
Authors: Fu Chao-Ping , Cai Xing-Yu , Chen Si-Lin , Yu Hong-Wei , Fang Ying , Feng Xiao-Chen , Zhang Li-Ming , Li Chang-Yong
Published: May 2023

Hyaluronic acid (HA), a main component of the extracellular matrix, is widely utilized to deliver anticancer drugs due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity and numerous modification sites, such as carboxyl and hydroxyl groups. Moreover, HA serves as a natural ligand for tumor-targeted drug delivery systems, as it contains the endocytic HA receptor, CD44, which is overexpressed in many cancer cells. Therefore, HA-based nanocarriers have been developed to improve drug delivery efficiency and distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissues, resulting in reduced residual toxicity and off-target accumulation. This article comprehensively reviews the fabrication of anticancer drug nanocarriers based on HA in the context of prodrugs, organic carrier materials (micelles, liposomes, nanoparticles, microbubbles and hydrogels) and inorganic composite nanocarriers (gold nanoparticles, quantum dots, carbon nanotubes and silicon dioxide). Additionally, the progress achieved in the design and optimization of these nanocarriers and their effects on cancer therapy are discussed. Finally, the review provides a summary of the perspectives, the lessons learned so far and the outlook towards further developments in this field.
Animism and Science
Authors: Van Eyghen Hans
Published: May 2023

I discuss whether animism, the worldview that (some) objects, plants and animals are capable of communication, rational reflection and intentional action, is in conflict with contemporary science. I distinguish two conflicts. The first points to conflicting claims regarding the abilities of objects, plants and animals made by scientists and animists (agential vs. non-agential). I argue that the alleged conflict can be diffused by noting that science and animism advance different ways of looking at the world. The second conflict notes discrepancies between how animists treat nature and all therein (with respect and reverence) and how science does (instrumentalized). I argue that this conflict is more difficult, if not impossible, to overcome.
‘We’re Islam in Their Eyes’: Using an Interpellation Framework to Understand Why Being a Woman Matters When Countering Islamophobia
Authors: Carland Susan
Published: May 2023

Australian Muslim women are far more likely to be the target of Islamophobic attacks than men, and common narratives often paint Muslim women merely as victims of Islamophobia. This article takes a new approach and considers how Muslim women may counter Islamophobia and the various audiences they must contend with in their work. Using de Koning’s interpellation framework, this research investigates why Australian Muslim women believe gender matters in public countering Islamophobia work and proposes new developments to the framework based on the way Australian Muslim women must mediate the ascriptions of both non-Muslims and Muslim men. This research draws on in-depth interviews with Sunni, Shi’i, and Ahmadiyya women from around Australia who are active in public countering Islamophobia education initiatives.
How Did Bhikṣuṇī Meet Indian Astrology? Viewing the Buddhist Narration and Logic from the Story of the Mātaṅga Girl
Authors: Zhou Liqun
Published: May 2023

The story of Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna consists of stories of the present life and past life. The former is about a girl from the low-caste Mātaṅga tribe who pursues Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha, but her pursuit ends in vain, and she eventually converts to Buddhism. The latter is about a low-caste king demonstrating his knowledge of the Vedas and astrology in a bid to marry the daughter of a great Brahmin for his son. The story could be seen in various Buddhist texts, such as the Divyavadāna from Nepal and the Mātaṅga Sutra in China. This paper studies the narration and logic of Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna stories, and it makes conclusions on the commonalities in the compilation of Buddhist narratives by analyzing the beginning and end of the story, as well as its narrator, narratee, and the four conflicts (i.e., the caste barriers, the violation of precepts, the use of incantations, and the use of expertise in seeking marriage).
Ionospheric Perturbations Due to Large Thunderstorms and the Resulting Mechanical and Acoustic Signatures
Authors: Ogunsua Babalola O. , Qie Xiushu , Srivastava Abhay , Abe Oladipo Emmanuel , Owolabi Charles , Jiang Rubin , Yang Jing
Published: May 2023

Perturbations from thunderstorms can play a notable role in the dynamics of the ionosphere. In this work, ionospheric perturbation effects due to thunderstorms were extracted and studied. Thunderstorm-associated lightning activities and their locations were detected by the World-Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN). The mechanical components of ionospheric perturbations due to thunderstorms were extracted from the total electron content (TEC), which was measured at selected thunderstorm locations using the polynomial filtering method. Further analyses were conducted using wavelet analysis and Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) to study the frequency modes and periodicities of TEC deviation. It was revealed that the highest magnitudes of TEC deviations could reach up to ~2.2 TECUs, with dominant modes of frequency in the range of ~0.2 mHz to ~1.2 mHz, falling within the gravity wave range and the second dominant mode in the acoustic range of >1 mHz to <7.5 mHz. Additionally, a 20–60 min time delay was observed between the sprite events, the other high-energy electrical discharges, and the time of occurrence at the highest peak of acoustic-gravity wave perturbations extracted from TEC deviations. The possible mechanism responsible for this phenomenon is further proposed and discussed.
Low-Cost Object Detection Models for Traffic Control Devices through Domain Adaption of Geographical Regions
Authors: Oh Dahyun , Kang Kyubyung , Seo Sungchul , Xiao Jinwu , Jang Kyochul , Kim Kibum , Park Hyungkeun , Won Jeonghun
Published: May 2023

Automated inspection systems utilizing computer vision technology are effective in managing traffic control devices (TCDs); however, they face challenges due to the limited availability of training datasets and the difficulty in generating new datasets. To address this, our study establishes a benchmark for cost-effective model training methods that achieve the desired accuracy using data from related domains and YOLOv5, a one-stage object detector known for its high accuracy and speed. In this study, three model cases were developed using distinct training approaches: (1) training with COCO-based pre-trained weights, (2) training with pre-trained weights from the source domain, and (3) training with a synthesized dataset mixed with source and target domains. Upon comparing these model cases, this study found that directly applying source domain data to the target domain is unfeasible, and a small amount of target domain data is necessary for optimal performance. A model trained with fine-tuning-based domain adaptation using pre-trained weights from the source domain and minimal target data, proved to be the most resource-efficient approach. These results contribute valuable guidance for practitioners aiming to develop TCD models with limited data, enabling them to build optimal models while conserving resources.
A Novel Deep Learning Network with Deformable Convolution and Attention Mechanisms for Complex Scenes Ship Detection in SAR Images
Authors: Peng Chen , Hui Zhou , Li Ying , Peng Liu , Bingxin Liu
Published: May 2023

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) can detect objects in various climate and weather conditions. Therefore, SAR images are widely used for maritime object detection in applications such as maritime transportation safety and fishery law enforcement. However, nearshore ship targets in SAR images are often affected by background clutter, resulting in a low detection rate, high false alarm rate, and high missed detection rate, especially for small-scale ship targets. To address this problem, in this paper, we propose a novel deep learning network with deformable convolution and attention mechanisms to improve the Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) model for nearshore ship target detection in SAR images with complex backgrounds. The proposed model uses a deformable convolutional neural network in the feature extraction network to adapt the convolution position to the target sampling point, enhancing the feature extraction ability of the target, and improving the detection rate of the ship target against the complex background. Moreover, this model uses a channel attention mechanism to capture the feature dependencies between different channel graphs in the feature extraction network and reduce the false detection rate. The designed experiments on a public SAR image ship dataset show that our model achieves 87.9% detection accuracy for complex scenes and 95.1% detection accuracy for small-scale ship targets. A quantitative comparison of the proposed model with several classical and recently developed deep learning models on the same SAR images dataset demonstrated the superior performance of the proposed method over other models.
The Culturally Competent Healthcare Professional: The RESPECT Competencies from a Systematic Review of Delphi Studies
Authors: Constantinou Costas S. , Nikitara Monica
Published: May 2023

Background: In the existing literature, there are many guidelines regarding cultural competencies for healthcare professionals and many instruments aiming to measure cultural competence. However, there is no consensus on which core cultural competencies are necessary for healthcare professionals. Aim and Methods: This study employed the PRISMA 2020 statement to systematically review Delphi studies and identify the core cultural competencies on which experts, who have been working with diverse populations in the fields of healthcare and allied healthcare, have reached a consensus. For this purpose, we searched, retrieved, and reviewed all Delphi studies conducted between 2000 and 2022 in the databases Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Medline, and PsycInfo and coded and synthesised the results qualitatively. Results: The systematic search resulted in 15 Delphi studies that met eligibility criteria and in which 443 experts from 37 different countries around the globe had participated. The review of these Delphi studies showed that the core competencies necessary for healthcare professionals to ensure that they provide culturally congruent care were: Reflect, Educate, Show Interest and Praise, Empathise, and Collaborate for Therapy. Discussion and Conclusion: These competencies make the abbreviation and word RESPECT, which symbolically places emphasis on respect as the overarching behaviour for working effectively with diversity. The study also provides a new, comprehensive definition of the cultural competence of healthcare professionals and opens new directions in formulating standardised guidelines and research in cultural competence in healthcare and allied healthcare.
Energy Management and Optimization of a Standalone Renewable Energy System in Rural Areas of the Najran Province
Authors: Alzahrani Ahmad
Published: May 2023

Electricity demand is increased due to the exponential rise in consumption in the residential, industrial, and transportation sectors as the human comfort level increases with each passing year. Most countries rely on conventional fuels, especially natural gas, to fulfill their energy demand, which increases the risk of reservoir depletion of conventional fuels. In this regard, the adoption of energy generation through free and environment-friendly renewable energy resources such as wind turbines and solar photovoltaics is increasing rapidly. However, the fluctuating and intermittent nature of renewable resources requires the integration of advanced control mechanisms and power electronics to ensure power quality and system resilience towards disturbances. Standalone microgrids comprising renewable source-based distributed generation systems are becoming the ideal solution to fulfill the need for decentralized small residential communities. This research work focuses on the optimal design and techno-economic analysis of a standalone microgrid for a small residential community in Sharurah City in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. HOMER Pro and MATLAB/Simulink have been used for the optimal design of microgrids and energy management using intelligence-based control mechanisms in between generation and load, respectively. The electricity price obtained from the optimized microgrid system is 0.18 SAR/kWh, which is quite low in comparison to generation through a base system (0.38 SAR/kWh) and a diesel generator, respectively. A simulation of the optimized system was modeled and verified using MATLAB/Simulink. The obtained results show the robustness of the presented system against the change in load demand and meteorological conditions.
Cupressus sempervirens Essential Oil, Nanoemulsion, and Major Terpenes as Sustainable Green Pesticides against the Rice Weevil
Authors: Almadiy Abdulrhman A. , Nenaah Gomah E. , Albogami Bader Z. , Shawer Dalia M. , Alasmari Saeed
Published: May 2023

In order to find effective, biorational, and eco-friendly pest control tools, Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis essential oil (EO) was produced using hydrodistillation, before being analyzed with gas chromatography, specifically, using flame ionization detection. The monoterpene components α-pinene (46.3%), δ-3-carene (22.7%), and α-cedrol, a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon, (5.8%), were the main fractions. An oil-in-water nanoemulsion was obtained following a green protocol. The EO, its nanoemulsion, and its terpenes each exhibited both insecticidal and insect repellent activities against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae. In a contact bioassay, the nanoemulsion induced a 100% adult mortality rate in a concentration of 10.0 µL/cm2 after 4 days of treatment, whereas 40 µL/cm2 of EO and α-cedrol was required to kill 100% of weevils. Using fumigation, nanoemulsion and EO at 10 µL/L air caused a 100% adult mortality rate after 4 days of treatment. The LC50 values of botanicals ranged between 5.8 and 53.4 µL/cm2 for contact, and between 4.1 and 19.6 µL/L for fumigation. The phytochemicals strongly repelled the weevil at concentrations between 0.11 and 0.88 µL/cm2, as well as considerably inhibiting AChE bioactivity. They were found to be safe for earthworms (Eisenia fetida) at 200 mg/kg, which also caused no significant alteration in wheat grain viability. This study provides evidence for the potential of using the EO of C. sempervirens and its nanoemulsion as natural, eco-friendly grain protectants against S. oryzae.
A Seismic Fragility Assessment Method for Urban Function Spatial Units: A Case Study of Xuzhou City
Authors: Fei Zhitao , Guo Xiaodong , Odongo Janes Ouma , Ma Donghui , Ren Yuanyuan , Wu Jiajia , Wang Wei , Zhu Junyi
Published: May 2023

Cities that experience earthquake disasters face a lot of uncertainties and unsustainability resulting from the fragility of their infrastructure, which should be considered in engineering. This study proposes a seismic fragility assessment framework for urban functional spatial units in order to improve the traditional structural fragility assessment criteria that are currently applied in urban planning. First, appropriate spatial units are classified for the study area, the functional categories of the study area are determined using urban Point of Interest (POI) data, and the functional proportion of the spatial units is calculated. Secondly, considering the classification of different seismic fortification levels represented by different construction ages, and considering the possible building forms and HAZUS’s classification system of building structures in order to establish the correlation between building functions and building structures, the methods of a field survey and a questionnaire survey are adopted to match the functions with the most likely building structures. After this, based on the assumption of the lognormal distribution of ground motion intensity, a mixed method is adopted to calculate the mean value μ¯ for the fragility of functional space units. The Monte Carlo method is then used to discretize the data and statistically obtain the standard deviation β¯ for the fragility of functional space units, and the fragility curve is then fitted. A district in Xuzhou City, China, was used as a case study to verify this assessment framework. The results showed that: (1) the fragility of functional space units was greatly affected by the proportion of defense standards in different periods in the unit, which reflected the average level of fragility within the unit. (2) The unit loss index of units built after 2001 with a proportion of less than 50% is basically above the average loss level of the study area. (3) The simulated damage ratio of the assessment results under the three levels, namely frequent earthquake, fortified earthquake and rare earthquake, is consistent with the previously experienced earthquake damage. The paper concludes that it is helpful to design and utilize seismic fragility predicting formulas and technologies at the functional spatial unit level for urban planning, which is meaningful for the formulation of planning strategies, reducing risks to infrastructure and delivering sustainable development.
Does the Environmental Tax Reform Positively Impact Corporate Environmental Performance?
Authors: Peng Manru , Wei Chendie , Jin Youliang , Ran Hangxin
Published: May 2023

The environmental tax reform implemented in 2018 is an important initiative of Chinese tax reform, which is deemed a valuable opportunity to encourage firms to improve their environmental performance. This study empirically investigates the impact of the environmental tax reform on corporate environmental performance based on data from Chinese A-share listed firms with heavy pollution from 2016 to 2020 by the differences-in-differences method. It is found that the environmental tax reform can effectively improve corporate environmental performance, and the environmental supervision of local governments is an important channel to realize this. Heterogeneity tests show that the environmental tax reform better impacts the corporate environmental performance of non-state-owned enterprises and firms in western areas. This paper enriches the application scenarios of institutional theory, provides micro evidence for the impact of implementing the Environmental Protection Tax, and provides a decision-making basis for strengthening the environmental supervision of local governments, which has practical guidance significance in forcing corporations to modernize their green technology and realize sustainable economic growth.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Environmental Interpretation in National Parks Based on Visitors’ Spatiotemporal Behavior and Emotional Experience: A Case Study of Pudacuo National Park, China
Authors: Xie Chunwen , Zhao Minyan , Li Yu , Tang Tiantian , Meng Zichao , Ding Yan
Published: May 2023

Problems such as global environmental pollution and climate change have made the public’s desire for nature and closeness to greenery increasingly strong amid rapid urbanization. Improving the ability of experiential environmental interpretation products and services is the basis for national parks to meet the public’s needs, and the evaluation of their effectiveness is a necessary basis for optimizing the quality of environmental interpretation services in response to the current problems of unsynchronized environmental interpretation facilities and service levels. Using Pudacuo National Park as a case study, 365 visitors’ spatio-temporal trajectories with GPS devices and questionnaire data were collected, and the interaction changes of visitors’ external spatiotemporal behaviors and internal emotional experiences were analyzed using cluster analysis, GPS geoprocessing model construction, and emotional mean calculation methods, and the results showed that (1) Pudacuo National Park visitors mainly comprise four types of visitor clusters, which are the sightseeing type, trekking + sightseeing type, cruise type, and hiking + cruise type, as well as four types of spatio-temporal behavior patterns; the differences of visitors’ spatiotemporal behavior patterns are reflected in spatial movement, time allocation, and stopping behavior, and correspond to different emotional experience intensity. (2) Emotional experience value is positively correlated with location stay time, and emotional experience intensity is higher, corresponding to spatio-temporal behavior patterns with longer trajectory distance, longer dwell time, and more stopping behaviors, indicating that environmental services promote longer visitor stopping time and generate high-quality recreation experiences. (3) Finally, we proposed the optimization of environmental interpretation mode according to the spatiotemporal emotional differences of different types of visitor clusters. This study provides a basis for improving the quality of visitor experience and optimizing the quality of environmental interpretation services and provides a useful reference for guiding the construction of high-quality and diverse ecological experiences in national parks.
Factors Affecting Emergency Evacuation: Floor Plan Cognition and Distance
Authors: Chang Bang-Lee , Chang Hsiao-Tung , Lin Beckham Shih-Ming , Hsiao Gary Li-Kai , Lin Yong-Jun
Published: May 2023

People tend to take their spatial cognition and wayfinding behaviors for granted while moving about in familiar spaces or traversing regular routes (e.g., the way to work). However, when an emergency occurs, even if people evacuate from a familiar venue, they are still likely to experience unexpected and irreparable tragedy. This study conducted an on-site experiment and a survey investigation. First-person view (FPV) floor plans were adopted to develop a relevant experiment, which was then used to investigate the relationship between wayfinding behavior and two influencing factors: floor plan cognition and distance. The t-tests for the accompanying questionnaire indicated that women (31%) are better than men (5.3%) in legend recognition and men (25.5%) outperform women (7.1%) in orientation; both findings achieved significance and are consistent with the results of previous studies conducted by neuroscientists. One-way ANOVA showed that when participants read a floor plan that was difficult to understand (not FPV), they took considerably more time (153.82 s) to reach the closer staircase than those who read a floor plan that was easy to understand and headed to the farther staircase (113.40 s). The understandability of floor plans is key to affecting the public’s evacuation time.
Intelligent Fuzzy Models: WM, ANFIS, and Patch Learning for the Competitive Forecasting of Environmental Variables
Authors: Korkidis Panagiotis , Dounis Anastasios
Published: May 2023

This paper focuses on the application of fuzzy modeling methods in the field of environmental engineering. Since predicting meteorological data is considered to be a challenging task, the current work aimed to assess the performance of various fuzzy models on temperature, solar radiation, and wind speed forecasting. The models studied were taken from the fuzzy systems literature, varying from well-established to the most recent methods. Four cases were considered: a Wang–Mendel (WM)-based fuzzy predictive model, an adaptive network fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), a fuzzy system ensemble, and patch learning (PL). The prediction systems were built from input/output data without any prior information, in a model-free approach. The ability of the models to display high performance on complex real datasets, provided by the National Observatory of Athens, was demonstrated through numerical studies. Patch learning managed to not only display a similar approximation ability to that of strong machine learning models, such as support vector machines and Gaussian processes, but also outperform them on the highly demanding problem of wind speed prediction. More accurately, as far as wind speed prediction is concerned, patch learning produced a 0.9211 root mean squared error for the training data and a value of 0.9841 for the testing data. The support vector machine provided a 0.9306 training root mean squared error and a 0.9891 testing value. The Gaussian process model resulted in a 0.9343 root mean squared error for the training data and a value of 0.9861 for the testing data. Finally, as shown by the numerical experiments, the fuzzy system ensemble exhibited the highest generalisation performance among all the intelligent models.
A Quantitative Study on Driving Behavior Economy Based on Big Data from the Pure Electric Bus
Authors: Liu Hongli , Yun Weiguo , Li Bin , Dai Mengling , Wang Yangyuhang
Published: May 2023

In order to help improve the economy, energy savings and emission reductions of pure electric buses, based on the driving data, a new driving cycle construction method is proposed. Through the dividing of short trips and the calculation of characteristic parameter values, two typical driving conditions (weekday driving condition and weekend driving condition) are constructed via principal components analysis and the k-means clustering method, and both have a high degree of compatibility with the actual conditions. Based on the two typical driving conditions, the CRITIC (Criteria Importance Though Intercriteria Correlation) method and the quantitative analysis are used to establish a quantitative evaluation model to score the economy of the driver’s driving behavior. The result shows that the weekend working condition with the better traffic environment promotes the generation of aggressive driving behavior and increases the random fluctuation seen in the driver’s driving process: for the weekend driving condition, the proportion of low economic efficiency is about 4.5 times bigger than the proportion on weekdays, and the former’s fluctuation range for the driving behavior score is 37% higher than that of the latter, meaning that the overall economy of the pure electric bus is much worse on weekends.