bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molluscicidal and Cercaricidal Effects of Myrciaria floribunda Essential Oil Nanoemulsion
Authors: Machado Francisco Paiva , Folly Diogo , Esteves Ricardo , Ruppelt Bettina Monika , da Silva Victoria Marques , Matos Ana Paula dos Santos , Santos José Augusto Albuquerque dos , Rangel Leonardo da Silva , Santos Marcelo Guerra , von Ranke Natalia Lidmar , Rodrigues Carlos Rangel , Ricci-Junior Eduardo , Rocha Leandro , Faria Robson Xavier
Published: August 2023

Schistosomiasis is a tropical disease transmitted in an aqueous environment by cercariae from the Schistosoma genus. This disease affects 200 million people living in risk areas around the world. The control of schistosomiasis is realized by chemotherapy, wastewater sanitation, health education, and mollusk control using molluscicidal agents. This work evaluates the effects of a nanoemulsion containing essential oil from Myrciaria floribunda leaves as a molluscicidal and cercaricidal agent against Biomphalaria glabrata mollusks and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. The Myrciaria floribunda essential oil from leaves showed nerolidol, β-selinene, 1,8 cineol, and zonarene as major constituents. The formulation study suggested the F3 formulation as the most promising nanoemulsion with polysorbate 20 and sorbitan monooleate 80 (4:1) with 5% (w/w) essential oil as it showed a smaller droplet size of approximately 100 nm with a PDI lower than 0.3 and prominent bluish reflection. Furthermore, this nanoemulsion showed stability after 200 days under refrigeration. The Myrciaria floribunda nanoemulsion showed LC50 values of 48.11 µg/mL, 29.66 µg/mL, and 47.02 µg/mL in Biomphalaria glabrata embryos, juveniles, and adult mollusks, respectively, after 48 h and 83.88 µg/mL for Schistosoma mansoni cercariae after 2 h. In addition, a survival of 80% was observed in Danio rerio, and the in silico toxicity assay showed lower overall human toxicity potential to the major compounds in the essential oil compared to the reference molluscicide niclosamide. These results suggest that the nanoemulsion of Myrciaria floribunda leaves may be a promising alternative for schistosomiasis control.
Enhancement of Electrocatalytic and Pseudocapacitive Properties as a Function of Structural Order in A2Fe2O5 (A = Sr, Ba)
Authors: Karki Surendra B. , Ramezanipour Farshid
Published: August 2023

Significant enhancements of electrocatalytic activities for both half-reactions of water-electrolysis, i.e., oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), as well as pseudocapacitive charge-storage properties are demonstrated upon changing the structural order in a perovskite-type system. The structural change is prompted by the increase in the ionic radius of the A-site ion in A2Fe2O5. The structure of Sr2Fe2O5 consists of alternating layers of FeO6 octahedra and FeO4 tetrahedra, whereas Ba2Fe2O5 comprises seven different coordination geometries for Fe. We note that the catalytically active metal, i.e., iron, and the oxygen stoichiometry are the same for both materials. Nevertheless, the change in the structural order results in significantly greater electrocatalytic activity of Ba2Fe2O5, manifested in smaller overpotentials, smaller charge-transfer resistance, greater electrocatalytic current, and faster reaction kinetics. In addition, this material shows significantly enhanced pseudocapacitive properties, with greater specific capacitance and energy density compared to Sr2Fe2O5. These findings indicate the important role of structural order in directing the electrochemical properties.
Smart Targeted Delivery Systems for Enhancing Antitumor Therapy of Active Ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Kang Chenglong , Wang Jianwen , Li Ruotong , Gong Jianing , Wang Kuanrong , Wang Yuxin , Wang Zhenghua , He Ruzhe , Li Fengyun
Published: August 2023

As a therapeutic tool inherited for thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exhibits superiority in tumor therapy. The antitumor active components of TCM not only have multi-target treatment modes but can also synergistically interfere with tumor growth compared to traditional chemotherapeutics. However, most antitumor active components of TCM have the characteristics of poor solubility, high toxicity, and side effects, which are often limited in clinical application. In recent years, delivering the antitumor active components of TCM by nanosystems has been a promising field. The advantages of nano-delivery systems include improved water solubility, targeting efficiency, enhanced stability in vivo, and controlled release drugs, which can achieve higher drug-delivery efficiency and bioavailability. According to the method of drug loading on nanocarriers, nano-delivery systems can be categorized into two types, including physically encapsulated nanoplatforms and chemically coupled drug-delivery platforms. In this review, two nano-delivery approaches are considered, namely physical encapsulation and chemical coupling, both commonly used to deliver antitumor active components of TCM, and we summarized the advantages and limitations of different types of nano-delivery systems. Meanwhile, the clinical applications and potential toxicity of nano-delivery systems and the future development and challenges of these nano-delivery systems are also discussed, aiming to lay the foundation for the development and practical application of nano-delivery systems of TCM in clinical settings.
Vitamin D Intake and Serum Levels in Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Authors: Meija Laila , Piskurjova Anna , Nikolajeva Ksenija , Aizbalte Olga , Rezgale Roberta , Lejnieks Aivars , Cauce Vinita
Published: August 2023

Maternal vitamin D deficiency, which is highly prevalent in pregnant women in Europe, is linked to adverse health effects for both the mother and child. The objective was to assess vitamin D status in pregnant women by evaluating their dietary and supplemental vitamin D intake, serum vitamin D levels, parathyroid hormone levels, and lifestyle factors. This cross-sectional study, with a total of 735 participants (145 pregnant and 590 up to the seventh day postpartum), took place in Latvia. Blood samples, a food frequency questionnaire, and medical documentation were used for data collection. The median serum vitamin D concentration was 34.0 ng/mL, with pregnant women having higher levels (42.9 ng/mL) than postpartum women (31.8 ng/mL). There was no association between vitamin D serum concentration and dietary intake of vitamin D (p > 0.05), whereas there was a significant correlation with use of vitamin D supplements (r = 0.41; p < 0.001 in pregnant women and r = 0.35; p < 0.001 in postpartum women). This study demonstrated that a minority of pregnant women (21.9%) had optimal serum vitamin D concentration (>45 ng/mL), and diet had no significant impact on vitamin D levels. Thus, our proposed recommendation for vitamin D intake during pregnancy was 63 mcg (2500 IU) year-round for optimal levels in pregnant women in Northeastern Europe.
Molecular Survey of Piroplasmids and Hemosporidians in Vampire Bats, with Evidence of Distinct Piroplasmida Lineages Parasitizing Desmodus rotundus from the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: de Mello Victória Valente Califre , Calchi Ana Cláudia , de Oliveira Laryssa Borges , Coelho Taciana Fernandes Souza Barbosa , Lee Daniel Antônio Braga , Franco Eliz Oliveira , Machado Rosangela Zacarias , André Marcos Rogério
Published: August 2023

Although bats can serve as reservoirs for several viruses and bacteria, there is limited knowledge regarding the diversity of apicomplexan protozoan belonging to the Piroplasmida and Haemosporida orders within this group of mammals. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and phylogenetic assessment of piroplasmids and hemosporidians in spleen samples collected from 229 vampire bats (228 Desmodus rotundus and 1 Diaemus youngii) in the states of Pará, Roraima, Amapá, and Amazonas, northern Brazil. Out of 229 bat spleen samples, 43 (18.77%) tested positive in a nested PCR for piroplasmids based on the 18S rRNA gene. Thirteen sequences (ranging from 474 to 828 base pairs) of the partial 18S rRNA gene showed 91.04–100% identity to Theileria sp., Babesia sp., and Piroplasmida previously detected in deer, tapirs, opossums, and crab-eating raccoons. The phylogenetic analysis based on the near-complete 18S rRNA gene positioned the obtained sequences from three D. rotundus in distinct clades (Theileria sensu stricto, Tapirus terrestris, and “South America Marsupialia”). All bat spleen DNA samples tested negative in a nested PCR assay for hemosporidians based on the cytB gene. The present study reported, for the first time, the presence Babesia sp. and Theileria sp. DNA in D. rotundus. The distinct positioning of the 18S rRNA gene sequences within different clades demonstrates the occurrence of different piroplasmid species in vampire bats.
Vegetation Dynamics and Megaherbivore Presence of MIS 3 Stadials and Interstadials 10–8 Obtained from a Sediment Core from Auel Infilled Maar, Eifel, Germany
Authors: Britzius Sarah , Sirocko Frank
Published: August 2023

We present a record of pollen and spores of coprophilous fungi from a sediment core from Auel infilled maar, Eifel, Germany, covering the period from 42,000 to 36,000 yr b2k. We can show that vegetation cover was dominated by a boreal forest with components of steppe and cold-temperate wood taxa. The proportion of wood taxa was higher during interstadials, whereas steppe-vegetation became more prominent during stadials. During Heinrich stadial 4, temperate taxa are mostly absent. Spores of coprophilous fungi show that megaherbivores were continuously present, albeit in a larger number during stadials when steppe environment with abundant steppe herbs expanded. With the onset of Greenland stadial 9, forests became more open, allowing for steppe-environment to evolve. The shift in vegetation cover coincides with the highest values of herbivore biomass at the time that Neanderthal humans demised and Anatomically Modern Humans most probably arrived in Central and Western Europe. Megaherbivore biomass was a direct consequence of vegetation cover/availability of food resources and thus an indirect consequence of a changing climate. Herds of large herbivores following suitable (steppe) habitats may have been one cause of the migration of AMH into Europe, going along with their prey to productive hunting grounds.
What about Abraham? Abraham as Ingroup Exemplar and “Children of Abraham” as Superordinate Identity in Romans 4
Authors: Zoccali Christopher
Published: August 2023

In Paul’s eschatologically informed reading of Scripture, the Torah was never intended by God to be itself sufficient to secure membership in Abraham’s family. Because membership here had always been secured on the most fundamental level by God’s ḥesed, a future move of divine initiative is what the Torah and the prophets had all along anticipated. The redemption and reconciliation wrought by Christ has happened then in order to fulfill the original promise to Abraham, as seen through the lens of a broader salvation–historical matrix, in which the restoration of Israel and consequent ingathering of the nations envisaged by the prophets is integral. Romans 4 centrally concerns this new social phenomenon—the coming together of Jews and gentiles into a single, unified, eschatological covenant community, in which previous social identities necessarily retain their fundamental significance. The crucial implication of Paul’s theologizing is that to be a child of Abraham neither eradicates the import of traditional ethnic markers of Judaism, nor, wholesale, the ethnic distinctiveness of the varied people groups of the non-Jewish world. However, both groups are also therein transformed and united as one renewed humanity in Christ. Moreover, as the first person to be brought into a covenant relationship with God on the basis of God’s ḥesed, which was then met by the appropriate response of faithfulness toward God, Abraham functions for Paul as an ingroup exemplar for the Christ community.
Spasm of Near Reflex in a Patient with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case Report
Authors: Ueki Satoshi , Hasegawa Yukari , Hatase Tetsuhisa , Hanyu Takako , Egawa Jun , Miki Atsushi , Fukuchi Takeo
Published: August 2023

Spasm of near reflex (SNR) involves intermittent spasm of one or more of the three near reflex components. Psychiatric disorders are one cause of SNR. We describe a patient with SNR diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A 36-year-old male with esotropia since childhood was referred due to headache and dizziness. The alternate prism cover test showed 30 prism diopters at both near and distant fixation. Four months after his first visit, he was diagnosed with ASD. Twenty-nine months after his first visit, he underwent strabismus surgery to treat concomitant esotropia. Postoperatively, the angle of strabismus improved but remained variable. Because the angle of strabismus varied, we suspected SNR; the diagnosis was performed after evaluating the patient’s microfluctuations in accommodation with Speedy-K. However, it was difficult to distinguish convergence spasm from concomitant esotropia in this patient because he has had a history of esotropia since childhood. In a patient with concomitant esotropia, if the symptoms are not exclusively due to strabismus, SNR should be suspected. Although the relationship between SNR and the pathology of ASD is unknown, it is possible that patients with ASD are more likely to develop SNR.
Synthesis of Synthetic Hyperspectral Images with Controllable Spectral Variability Using a Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Palsson Burkni , Ulfarsson Magnus O. , Sveinsson Johannes R.
Published: August 2023

In hyperspectral unmixing (HU), spectral variability in hyperspectral images (HSIs) is a major challenge which has received a lot of attention over the last few years. Here, we propose a method utilizing a generative adversarial network (GAN) for creating synthetic HSIs having a controllable degree of realistic spectral variability from existing HSIs with established ground truth abundance maps. Such synthetic images can be a valuable tool when developing HU methods that can deal with spectral variability. We use a variational autoencoder (VAE) to investigate how the variability in the synthesized images differs from the original images and perform blind unmixing experiments on the generated images to illustrate the effect of increasing the variability.
Multi-Objective Multi-Satellite Imaging Mission Planning Algorithm for Regional Mapping Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Chen Yaxin , Shen Xin , Zhang Guo , Lu Zezhong
Published: August 2023

Satellite imaging mission planning is used to optimize satellites to obtain target images efficiently. Many evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been proposed for satellite mission planning. EAs typically require evolutionary parameters, such as the crossover and mutation rates. The performance of EAs is considerably affected by parameter setting. However, most parameter configuration methods of the current EAs are artificially set and lack the overall consideration of multiple parameters. Thus, parameter configuration becomes suboptimal and EAs cannot be effectively utilized. To obtain satisfactory optimization results, the EA comp ensates by extending the evolutionary generation or improving the evolutionary strategy, but it significantly increases the computational consumption. In this study, a multi-objective learning evolutionary algorithm (MOLEA) was proposed to solve the optimal configuration problem of multiple evolutionary parameters and used to solve effective imaging satellite task planning for region mapping. In the MOLEA, population state encoding provided comprehensive population information on the configuration of evolutionary parameters. The evolutionary parameters of each generation were configured autonomously through deep reinforcement learning (DRL), enabling each generation of parameters to gain the best evolutionary benefits for future evolution. Furthermore, the HV of the multi-objective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA) was used to guide reinforcement learning. The superiority of the proposed MOLEA was verified by comparing the optimization performance, stability, and running time of the MOLEA with existing multi-objective optimization algorithms by using four satellites to image two regions of Hubei and Congo (K). The experimental results showed that the optimization performance of the MOLEA was significantly improved, and better imaging satellite task planning solutions were obtained.
Estimation of Reference Evapotranspiration in a Semi-Arid Region of Mexico
Authors: Delgado-Ramírez Gerardo , Bolaños-González Martín Alejandro , Quevedo-Nolasco Abel , López-Pérez Adolfo , Estrada-Ávalos Juan
Published: August 2023

Reference evapotranspiration (ET0) is the first step in calculating crop irrigation demand, and numerous methods have been proposed to estimate this parameter. FAO-56 Penman–Monteith (PM) is the only standard method for defining and calculating ET0. However, it requires radiation, air temperature, atmospheric humidity, and wind speed data, limiting its application in regions where these data are unavailable; therefore, new alternatives are required. This study compared the accuracy of ET0 calculated with the Blaney–Criddle (BC) and Hargreaves–Samani (HS) methods versus PM using information from an automated weather station (AWS) and the NASA-POWER platform (NP) for different periods. The information collected corresponds to Module XII of the Lagunera Region Irrigation District 017, a semi-arid region in the North of Mexico. The HS method underestimated the reference evapotranspiration (ET0) by 5.5% compared to the PM method considering the total ET0 of the study period (26 February to 9 August 2021) and yielded the best fit in the different evaluation periods (daily, 5-day mean, and 5-day cumulative); the latter showed the best values of inferential parameters. The information about maximum and minimum temperatures from the NP platform was suitable for estimating ET0 using the HS equation. This data source is a suitable alternative, particularly in semi-arid regions with limited climatological data from weather stations.
Determining Magnitudes of Forces at Known Locations through a Strain Gauge Force Transducer
Authors: Bednarz Edward , Dietrich Christian , Hepner Brad , Patel Jay , Sabouni Abas
Published: August 2023

A novel strain gauge force transducer was developed to minimize the number of strain gauges needed to determine the magnitudes of loads when the locations are known. This innovative methodology requires only one strain gauge for each force magnitude desired, reducing the complexity and cost associated with traditional approaches. The theory was verified with laboratory experiments. Seven uniaxial strain gauges were attached to the underside of a simply supported, slender, aluminum beam. One or more loads were applied either directly atop strain gauges or in known positions between strain gauges. Experiments were conducted on several different single and double-load configurations to evaluate the extent of the new methodology which yielded average errors under 5% for the cases where loads were direct atop strain gauges and 6.6% for the cases where the loads were between strain gauges. These findings indicate the potential of this novel strain gauge force transducer to revolutionize load measurement in scenarios where load locations are predetermined.
A Multi-Task Fusion Strategy-Based Decision-Making and Planning Method for Autonomous Driving Vehicles
Authors: Liu Weiguo , Xiang Zhiyu , Fang Han , Huo Ke , Wang Zixu
Published: August 2023

The autonomous driving technology based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) has been confirmed as one of the most cutting-edge research fields worldwide. The agent is enabled to achieve the goal of making independent decisions by interacting with the environment and learning driving strategies based on the feedback from the environment. This technology has been widely used in end-to-end driving tasks. However, this field faces several challenges. First, developing real vehicles is expensive, time-consuming, and risky. To further expedite the testing, verification, and iteration of end-to-end deep reinforcement learning algorithms, a joint simulation development and validation platform was designed and implemented in this study based on VTD–CarSim and the Tensorflow deep learning framework, and research work was conducted based on this platform. Second, sparse reward signals can cause problems (e.g., a low-sample learning rate). It is imperative for the agent to be capable of navigating in an unfamiliar environment and driving safely under a wide variety of weather or lighting conditions. To address the problem of poor generalization ability of the agent to unknown scenarios, a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) decision-making and planning method was proposed in this study in accordance with a multi-task fusion strategy. The main task based on DRL decision-making planning and the auxiliary task based on image semantic segmentation were cross-fused, and part of the network was shared with the main task to reduce the possibility of model overfitting and improve the generalization ability. As indicated by the experimental results, first, the joint simulation development and validation platform built in this study exhibited prominent versatility. Users were enabled to easily substitute any default module with customized algorithms and verify the effectiveness of new functions in enhancing overall performance using other default modules of the platform. Second, the deep reinforcement learning strategy based on multi-task fusion proposed in this study was competitive. Its performance was better than other DRL algorithms in certain tasks, which improved the generalization ability of the vehicle decision-making planning algorithm.
Development of a 2 μm Solid-State Laser for Lidar in the Past Decade
Authors: Li Kuan , Niu Chao , Wu Chunting , Yu Yongji , Ma Yao
Published: August 2023

The 2 μm wavelength belongs to the eye-safe band and has a wide range of applications in the fields of lidar, biomedicine, and materials processing. With the rapid development of military, wind power, sensing, and other industries, new requirements for 2 μm solid-state laser light sources have emerged, especially in the field of lidar. This paper focuses on the research progress of 2 μm solid-state lasers for lidar over the past decade. The technology and performance of 2 μm pulsed single longitudinal mode solid-state lasers, 2 μm seed solid-state lasers, and 2 μm high power solid-state lasers are, respectively, summarized and analyzed. This paper also introduces the properties of gain media commonly used in the 2 μm band, the construction method of new bonded crystals, and the fabrication method of saturable absorbers. Finally, the future prospects of 2 μm solid-state lasers for lidar are presented.
Detection of Audio Tampering Based on Electric Network Frequency Signal
Authors: Hsu Hsiang-Ping , Jiang Zhong-Ren , Li Lo-Ya , Tsai Tsai-Chuan , Hung Chao-Hsiang , Chang Sheng-Chain , Wang Syu-Siang , Fang Shih-Hau
Published: August 2023

The detection of audio tampering plays a crucial role in ensuring the authenticity and integrity of multimedia files. This paper presents a novel approach to identifying tampered audio files by leveraging the unique Electric Network Frequency (ENF) signal, which is inherent to the power grid and serves as a reliable indicator of authenticity. The study begins by establishing a comprehensive Chinese ENF database containing diverse ENF signals extracted from audio files. The proposed methodology involves extracting the ENF signal, applying wavelet decomposition, and utilizing the autoregressive model to train effective classification models. Subsequently, the framework is employed to detect audio tampering and assess the influence of various environmental conditions and recording devices on the ENF signal. Experimental evaluations conducted on our Chinese ENF database demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method, achieving impressive accuracy rates ranging from 91% to 93%. The results emphasize the significance of ENF-based approaches in enhancing audio file forensics and reaffirm the necessity of adopting reliable tamper detection techniques in multimedia authentication.
Large-Scale Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything Deployments Based on 5G—Critical Challenges, Solutions, and Vision towards 6G: A Survey
Authors: Ficzere Dániel , Varga Pál , Wippelhauser András , Hejazi Hamdan , Csernyava Olivér , Kovács Adorján , Hegedűs Csaba
Published: August 2023

The proliferation of fifth-generation (5G) networks has opened up new opportunities for the deployment of cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) systems. However, the large-scale implementation of 5G-based C-V2X poses critical challenges requiring thorough investigation and resolution for successful deployment. This paper aims to identify and analyze the key challenges associated with the large-scale deployment of 5G-based C-V2X systems. In addition, we address obstacles and possible contradictions in the C-V2X standards caused by the special requirements. Moreover, we have introduced some quite influential C-V2X projects, which have influenced the widespread adoption of C-V2X technology in recent years. As the primary goal, this survey aims to provide valuable insights and summarize the current state of the field for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers involved in the advancement of C-V2X. Furthermore, this paper presents relevant standardization aspects and visions for advanced 5G and 6G approaches to address some of the upcoming issues in mid-term timelines.
YOLOv5-Atn: An Algorithm for Residual Film Detection in Farmland Combined with an Attention Mechanism
Authors: Lin Ying , Zhang Jianjie , Jiang Zhangzhen , Tang Yiyu
Published: August 2023

The application of mulching film has significantly contributed to improving agricultural output and benefits, but residual film has caused severe impacts on agricultural production and the environment. In order to realize the accurate recycling of agricultural residual film, the detection of residual film is the first problem to be solved. The difference in color and texture between residual film and bare soil is not obvious, and residual film is of various sizes and morphologies. To solve these problems, the paper proposes a method for detecting residual film in agricultural fields that uses the attention mechanism. First, a two-stage pre-training approach with strengthened memory is proposed to enable the model to better understand the residual film features with limited data. Second, a multi-scale feature fusion module with adaptive weights is proposed to enhance the recognition of small targets of residual film by using attention. Finally, an inter-feature cross-attention mechanism that can realize full interaction between shallow and deep feature information to reduce the useless noise extracted from residual film images is designed. The experimental results on a self-made residual film dataset show that the improved model improves precision, recall, and mAP by 5.39%, 2.02%, and 3.95%, respectively, compared with the original model, and it also outperforms other recent detection models. The method provides strong technical support for accurately identifying farmland residual film and has the potential to be applied to mechanical equipment for the recycling of residual film.
Effects of Catha edulis (Khat) on the Pharmacokinetics of Metformin in Diabetic Rats Using UPLC/MS/MS Analysis and Its Impact on Hepatic CYP450 Enzymes
Authors: Alqahtani Ali S. , Parvez Mohammad Khalid , Alqahtani Abdulaziz M. , Fantoukh Omer I. , Herqash Rashed N. , Elzayat Ehab M. , Nasr Fahd A. , Ezzeldin Essam , Almousallam Mousallam M. , Raish Mohammad
Published: August 2023

Catha edulis Forsk., commonly known as Khat, is a stimulant plant that is chewed in the Horn of Africa and the southern regions of the Arabian Peninsula. It is often used alongside conventional drugs, but there is a lack of research on its interactions with other drugs. In this study, our aim was to investigate the possibility of an herb–drug interaction between KT extract and metformin (MT) by exploring the effect of KT on the in vivo pharmacokinetics of MT in diabetic Wistar albino rats and monitoring blood glucose levels through time intervals, comparing when MT was given alone and co-administered with KT. Rats were given 500 mg/kg of KT extract and 300 mg/kg of MT daily for 7 days. The pharmacokinetic parameters of MT were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. The quantification was conducted using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in positive ion mode. The transitions used were (m/z) 130.006→59.939 for MT and 260.125→116.018 for propranolol as an internal standard (IS). An Acquity UPLC BEH HSS T3 C18 column was used with isocratic elution, and the mobile phase was formic acid (0.1%): acetonitrile (70:30 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.25 mL/min. In addition, the study delved into the in vitro impact of KT on the CYP3A4 enzyme, seeking to identify any potential disruptions in MT’s metabolism that could alter its pharmacokinetics. The effect of KT extract on CYP3A4 enzyme activity was investigated using fluorescence-based enzyme assays and a CYP3A4 Inhibitor Screening Kit. The results indicated that the combined treatment showed increased systemic exposure to MT, with Cmax and AUC levels increasing by 33.42% and 45.23%, respectively. Additionally, the combination treatment led to significantly lower fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels compared to the groups treated with MT alone. It was found that at a concentration of 500 µg/mL, the CYP3A4 enzyme activity was maximally suppressed by approximately 57%, while at 250 µg/mL, it was inhibited by almost 50%. In comparison, the standard Ketoconazole only inhibited CYP3A4 activity by approximately 58%. Therefore, the in vitro results suggest that KT extract has the potential to affect CYP3A4 activity at high doses. In conclusion, the combination treatment resulted in a significant increase in MT’s blood sugar-lowering effects. Therefore, it is important to be aware of this potential interaction and to monitor blood sugar levels closely when using KT alongside MT.
Resilience of Living Streets in Small and Medium-Sized Towns: A Grounded Theory Study of Yixing, China
Authors: Liu Chen , Liu Jia
Published: August 2023

In the context of the global fine-grained urban renewal initiative, living streets closely related to people’s lives have become a hot topic. This study provides a comprehensive framework for addressing prominent issues such as the limited adaptability and inability to accommodate development in living streets. It explores the value and design innovation points of incorporating resilience concepts in the renewal of living streets. Taking the living streets in Yixing, Jiangsu Province, as an example, the grounded theory approach was employed to conduct in-depth interviews and three-level coding of the data to systematically elucidate the influencing factors and implementation paths of resilience in living streets. The study reveals that the resilient development of living streets is influenced and constrained by six factors: positive values, demand factors, spatial environment, contextual factors, operation and management, and resilience characteristics. Each of these six main dimensions encompasses multiple subcategories and the factors influencing living streets’ resilience through different mechanisms. Building upon the guidance-demand-design-context-operation pathway model for enhancing the resilience of living streets in small and medium-sized towns in the Jiangnan region, the study proposes new perspectives such as correct orientation, adaptability to change, and a balance between rigidity and flexibility tailored explicitly to the enhancement of resilience in living streets. These novel perspectives contribute to the theoretical research achievements on the resilience development of living streets in small and medium-sized towns in the Jiangnan region of China to a certain extent. Furthermore, these findings hold significant implications for attaining SDG11, which emphasizes sustainable urban development.
Urban Green Development and Resilient Cities: A First Insight into Urban Forest Planning in Italy
Authors: Battisti Luca , Aimar Fabrizio , Giacco Giovanni , Devecchi Marco
Published: August 2023

The research proposes an application of a modification of the 3–30–300 rule to identify areas that require Urban Forestry implementation in small and medium-sized Roman and/or medieval urban areas. The selected case study is that of Asti in Piedmont, Italy. An open source, cross-platform desktop geographic information system is used to process geospatial datasets via qualitative analyses of electoral sections (or wards). An analysis of the number and distribution of trees around each building is performed, in addition to the calculation of tree canopy cover and distance between buildings and green spaces. Findings reveal that 64 out of 70 wards have an average of at least three trees per building and sufficient green areas of at least 0.5 hectares within 300 m of the buildings. Additionally, the tree canopy cover ranges from approximately 0.6% (lowest) to about 55% (highest) for the electoral sections. Lastly, findings suggest that the highly built-up urban fabric in these areas may significantly affect the availability and quality of green spaces. In conclusion, the case study proves the benefits of applying the 3–30–300 rule to small and medium-sized urban areas using an integrated assessment approach based on nature-based solutions and ecosystem services.
Sustainable SMEs Performance and Green Competitive Advantage: The Role of Green Creativity, Business Independence and Green IT Empowerment
Authors: Setyaningrum Retno Purwani , Kholid Muamar Nur , Susilo Priyo
Published: August 2023

This study aims to examine and analyze the influence of green creativity and business independence on competitive advantage moderated by green IT empowerment. The research population is all creative SMEs in the Tangerang, Yogyakarta and West Java regions. Samples were taken from part of the population using purposive sampling technique. The target sample in this study is 400 SMEs. However, there were only 272 SMEs who completely filled out the questionnaire and were thus analyzed. The results of the study concluded that green creativity had a significant negative influence on the performance of sustainable SMEs and a significant positive influence on green competitive advantage. Business independence had a significant positive influence on the performance of sustainable SMEs and a significant positive influence on green competitive advantage. The research results indicate that green IT Empowerment did not moderate the relationship between green creativity and sustainable SME performance and weakened the relationship between green creativity and green competitive advantage. Likewise, the research results indicate that green IT empowerment did not moderate the relationship between business independence and sustainable business performance; it moderated the positive relationship between independence and green competitive advantage.
Risk Assessment of Single-Gully Debris Flow Based on Dynamic Changes in Provenance in the Wenchuan Earthquake Zone: A Case Study of the Qipan Gully
Authors: Su Na , Xu Linrong , Yang Bo , Li Yongwei , Gu Fengyu
Published: August 2023

After the Wenchuan earthquake on 12 May 2008, a huge amount of loose deposits was generated on the mountain surface in the earthquake zone, and vegetation was severely damaged, providing a rich source of material for debris flow, greatly increasing the danger. For many years, researchers have mainly considered the recovery of slope vegetation in assessing the risk of debris flow post-earthquake. However, field investigations have found that large amounts of the dynamic reserve materials in the gully have an important impact on the risk. Thus, based on field survey data, this paper takes the Qipan gully in Wenchuan County as an object and uses multi-source and multi-scale monitoring methods (Landsat series, Quickbird, and Unmanned Air Vehicle) to analyze and statistically study the provenance of the slope and gully both pre- and post- the earthquake. By comprehensively using game theory combination weighting and the cloud model, a dynamic risk assessment model for debris flow was constructed to evaluate the risk of debris flow from 2005 to 2019. The results show that the slope provenance post-earthquake was 7.7 times that of pre-earthquake, and by 2019 the slope provenance had recovered to the pre-earthquake level. Based on the statistical estimation of the amount of debris flow outbreak and the dredging of the blocking dam recorded in relevant data, the dynamic provenance of debris flow had decreased by about 781.3 × 104 m3 by 2019. Compared with considering slope provenance only, the assessment result of debris flow risk considering both slope and gully provenance is more realistic. The results are expected to provide reference and guidance for dynamic assessment of the risk of debris flow faced by increasing projects in high-seismic-intensity mountainous areas and to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property effectively.
Modeling the Impacts of Soil Management on Avoided Deforestation and REDD+ Payments in the Brazilian Amazon: A Systems Approach
Authors: Brasil Alexandre Anders , Angelo Humberto , de Almeida Alexandre Nascimento , Matricardi Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli , Chaves Henrique Marinho Leite , de Paula Maristela Franchetti
Published: August 2023

An Integrated Assessment Model (IAM) was employed to develop a Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and a quantitative model to investigate the changes in land use within the Brazilian Amazon. The process began by creating a theoretical NPF using a ‘systems thinking’ approach. Subsequently, a ‘system dynamic model’ was built based on an extensive review of the literature and on multiple quantitative datasets to simulate the impacts of the NPF, specifically focusing on the conversion of forests into open land for ranching and the implementation of soil management practices as a macro-level policy aimed at preserving soil quality and ranching yields. Various fallow scenarios were tested to simulate their effects on deforestation patterns. The results indicate that implementing fallow practices as a policy measure could reduce deforestation rates while simultaneously ensuring sustainable long-term agricultural productivity, thus diminishing the necessity to clear new forest land. Moreover, when combined with payments for avoided deforestation, such as REDD+ carbon offsets, the opportunity costs associated with ranching land can be utilized to compensate for the loss of gross income resulting from the policy. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the significance of different model variables, revealing that lower cattle prices require resources for REDD+ payments, and vice-versa. The findings indicate that, at the macro level, payments between USD 2.5 and USD 5.0 per MgC ha−1 have the potential to compensate the foregone cattle production from not converting forest into ranching land. This study demonstrates that employing an IAM with a systems approach facilitates the participation of various stakeholders, including farmers and landowners, in policy discussions. It also enables the establishment of effective land use and management policies that mitigate deforestation and soil degradation, making it a robust initiative to address environmental, climate change, and economic sustainability issues.
Towards a Reasoned Glossary of Green Conservation: A Semantic Review of Green-Oriented Terms in the Field of Cultural Heritage
Authors: Del Curto Davide , Turrina Anna
Published: August 2023

The concept of green conservation has become a popular expression in parallel to the inflated development of innovative green practices and products for cultural heritage. However, the absence of a consistent definition of emerging green concepts does not prevent the dilution of the terms in scientific research and commercial propaganda. On this basis, this article discusses the several meanings of the concept of green conservation and its related terms toward a viable and comprehensive definition. The semantic analysis relies on the identification of different sources to evaluate the coherence of the meanings in usage in scientific and non-scientific domains. Search terms—such as “bio”, “eco”, and “green”—were collected and classified into lemmas of emerging constructs. Lastly, two glossaries resulting from the two main sources provide a comparative analysis to evaluate the degree of intersection and divergence among equal terms. The research drew from over 100 studies and five international databases to generate a hierarchical classification among 220 constructs and to identify six definitions of green conservation. This paper contributes to greater clarity and encourages a semantic discussion toward a common vision for a green conservation perspective for future research and informed preservation practice.
Analysis of Water and Salt Spatio-Temporal Distribution along Irrigation Canals in Ningxia Yellow River Irrigation Area, China
Authors: Wang Weihong , Jing Hefang , Guo Xinxia , Dou Bingyan , Zhang Wensheng
Published: August 2023

The large amount of salinized soil in the Yellow River irrigation area is a threat to the sustainable development of agriculture, and in order to efficiently control the soil salinization trend, it is necessary to research water and salt variations and the distribution of soil in the area. In this study, soil salinization along two typical canals (West Main Canal and Tanglai Canal) in the Ningxia Yellow River irrigation area in China is investigated using data regarding water content, salt ions and pH from soil samples collected at 165 points along these canals. At each of these points, soil samples from various layers were collected for measurement from August 2019 to December 2020. Various methods, such as Pearson’s correlation analysis and Kriging interpolation, were employed to obtain the temporal and spatial distributions of water content, pH value and salt ions from the soil samples. It was found that the mean total salt value is 2.75 g/kg, which indicates that the soil in the study area is moderately salinized soil. The average value of soil pH is 8.5, indicating that the soil in this area is alkaline. Furthermore, it is evident that the coefficient of variation for certain soil ions, including HCO3−, Cl−, Ca2+, Na+ and K+, is greater than one, which indicates that their spatial distribution in the study area is severely uneven. Moreover, the soil salt content in the study area gradually increases from the southwest to the northeast, in the flow direction of the West Main Canal and the Tanglai Canal. The water content distribution along the two canals also exhibits notable non-uniformity, displaying a pattern higher in the north and east and less in the south and west. Moreover, the annual distribution of total salt content in the surface layer demonstrates an initial increase followed by a decrease, with the peak value typically occurring in August or September. The research results have an important significance on agriculture in the Ningxia Yellow River irrigation area.
Comparative Analysis of Hotspot Stress Endurance in Pristine and Thermal Cycled Prestressed Glass–Glass Photovoltaic Modules
Authors: Afridi Muhammad , Kumar Akash , Mahmood Farrukh ibne , TamizhMani GovindaSamy
Published: August 2023

Hotspots pose a significant long-term reliability challenge in photovoltaic (PV) modules that can have a detrimental impact on the efficiency, safety, and financial viability of a PV system. This paper aims to evaluate the endurance of hotspot stress in pristine and prestressed glass–glass (GG) modules. The accelerated prestressing was conducted for 600 thermal cycles (TC600) to represent decades of field exposure. GG modules are quickly becoming an alternative to the traditional glass–backsheet (GB) modules that have been the industry standard. Unlike other conventional studies that subject only pristine modules to hotspot stress, this paper evaluates the performance of an accelerated/simulated field-aged GG module (using TC600) and a pristine GG module. Pre- and post-characterizations were performed before and after each test to determine changes in electrical performance and observe any defects in GG modules. During the hotspot test, an approximately 200 °C maximum cell temperature was observed with a cell shading of 25% (the worst-case shading ratio). After the hotspot test, electroluminescence imaging indicated that most cells in the prestressed GG module exhibited severe damage whereas no significant defects were evident in the pristine GG module where the prestressed GG module degraded 8.2% and the pristine GG module degraded 1.5% in maximum power. These findings are critical for the industry, considering that GG bifacial modules will dominate the market.
Impact of Food Safety and Nutrition Knowledge on the Lifestyle of Young Poles—The Case of the Lublin Region
Authors: Soroka Andrzej , Mazurek-Kusiak Anna Katarzyna , Trafiałek Joanna , Godlewska Agnieszka , Hawlena Joanna , Nair Surya Sasikumar , Kachniarz Katarzyna , Kolanowski Wojciech
Published: August 2023

The aim of the study was to show the differences in healthy lifestyle and healthy food choices between high school and college students. The study was conducted in the Lublin region, Poland, with a group of 200 high school and college students using purposive sampling with the following four subgroups of 50 students, broken down by gender and type of school. Respondents completed a questionnaire concerning healthy lifestyle, healthy food choices, and barriers preventing a healthy lifestyle. Using discriminant analysis, the factors and barriers to practicing a healthy lifestyle and the factors of healthy food choices were identified by the respondent group and by gender. A multidimensional exploratory technique was also used to interpret the results. The surveyed high school and college students were not very committed to practicing a healthy lifestyle. Multidimensional exploratory technique was also used to interpret the lifestyle and healthy food choices questions. There was variation between the attitudes of college and high school students toward a healthy lifestyle. High school students paid more attention to physical activity and eating breakfast than did college students. On the other hand, college students, at a greater level than high school students, ate a healthy diet and checked the composition of the products they consumed, including the presence of preservatives and artificial additives, and the expiration date of the products. The main barriers to practicing a healthy lifestyle were, for college students, a lack of time and, for high school students, a lack of healthy food offerings in high school canteens.
Evaluation of Occupational Safety Courses Given in Undergraduate Departments in Turkey and Investigation of the Effect on Working Life
Authors: Ozen Ismail , Yilmaz Mustafa , Kartal Ilyas
Published: August 2023

In this study, using the general survey model, which is one of the quantitative research methods, the evaluation of the occupational safety courses given in undergraduate departments in Turkey and their effects on working life were examined for 440 people who received their undergraduate education and started their working life. An appropriate sampling method was preferred in the sample selection of the study. According to the research, the effect of occupational health and safety courses on working life, the contribution of occupational health and safety education, and occupational health and safety education’s contribution to awareness show significant differences according to age, gender, department, and work experience. When the relationship between them is examined, these relationships are positive and moderate. The results and survey average scores show that the theoretical courses on occupational health and safety in undergraduate programs of universities in Turkey are insufficient and should be supported by practice and training in working life.