bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maximizing the Reliability and Precision of Measures of Prefrontal Cortical Oxygenation Using Frequency-Domain Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Fletcher Elizabeth K. S. , Burma Joel S. , Javra Raelyn M. , Friesen Kenzie B. , Emery Carolyn A. , Dunn Jeff F. , Smirl Jonathan D.
Published: April 2024

Frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) has been used for non-invasive assessment of cortical oxygenation since the late 1990s. However, there is limited research demonstrating clinical validity and general reproducibility. To address this limitation, recording duration for adequate validity and within- and between-day reproducibility of prefrontal cortical oxygenation was evaluated. To assess validity, a reverse analysis of 10-min-long measurements (n = 52) at different recording durations (1–10-min) was quantified via coefficients of variation and Bland–Altman plots. To assess within- and between-day within-subject reproducibility, participants (n = 15) completed 2-min measurements twice a day (morning/afternoon) for five consecutive days. While 1-min recordings demonstrated sufficient validity for the assessment of oxygen saturation (StO2) and total hemoglobin concentration (THb), recordings ≥4 min revealed greater clinical utility for oxy- (HbO) and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) concentration. Females had lower StO2, THb, HbO, and HHb values than males, but variability was approximately equal between sexes. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.50–0.96. The minimal detectable change for StO2 was 1.15% (95% CI: 0.336–1.96%) and 3.12 µM for THb (95% CI: 0.915–5.33 µM) for females and 2.75% (95%CI: 0.807–4.70%) for StO2 and 5.51 µM (95%CI: 1.62–9.42 µM) for THb in males. Overall, FD-NIRS demonstrated good levels of between-day reliability. These findings support the application of FD-NIRS in field-based settings and indicate a recording duration of 1 min allows for valid measures; however, data recordings of ≥4 min are recommended when feasible.
SSFLNet: A Novel Fault Diagnosis Method for Double Shield TBM Tool System
Authors: Zhou Peng , Liu Chang , Xu Jiacan , Ma Dazhong , Wang Zinan , He Enguang
Published: April 2024

In tunnel boring projects, wear and tear in the tooling system can have significant consequences, such as decreased boring efficiency, heightened maintenance costs, and potential safety hazards. In this paper, a fault diagnosis method for TBM tooling systems based on SAV−SVDD failure location (SSFL) is proposed. The aim of this method is to detect faults caused by disk cutter wear during the boring process, which diminishes the boring efficiency and is challenging to detect during construction. This paper uses SolidWorks to create a complete three−dimensional model of the TBM hydraulic thrust system and tool system. Then, dynamic simulations are performed with Adams. This helps us understand how the load on the propulsion hydraulic cylinder changes as the TBM tunneling tool wears to different degrees during construction. The hydraulic propulsion system was modeled and simulated using AMESIM software. Utilizing the load on the hydraulic propulsion cylinder as an input signal, pressure signals from the two chambers of the hydraulic cylinder and the system’s flow signal were acquired. This enabled an in−depth exploration of the correlation between these acquired signals and the extent of the tooling system failure. Following this analysis, a collection of normal sample data and sample data representing different degrees of disk cutter abrasions was amassed for further study. Next, an SSFL network model for locating the failure area of the cutter was established. Fault sample data were used as the input, and the accuracy of the fault diagnosis model was tested. The test results show that the performance of the SSFL network model is better than that of the SAE−SVM and SVDD network models. The SSFL model achieves 90% accuracy in determining the failure area of the cutter head. The model effectively identifies the failure regions, enabling timely tool replacement to avoid decreased boring efficiency under wear conditions. The experimental findings validate the feasibility of this approach.
Learning Ground Displacement Signals Directly from InSAR-Wrapped Interferograms
Authors: Moualla Lama , Rucci Alessio , Naletto Giampiero , Anantrasirichai Nantheera
Published: April 2024

Monitoring ground displacements identifies potential geohazard risks early before they cause critical damage. Interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) is one of the techniques that can monitor these displacements with sub-millimeter accuracy. However, using the InSAR technique is challenging due to the need for high expertise, large data volumes, and other complexities. Accordingly, the development of an automated system to indicate ground displacements directly from the wrapped interferograms and coherence maps could be highly advantageous. Here, we compare different machine learning algorithms to evaluate the feasibility of achieving this objective. The inputs for the implemented machine learning models were pixels selected from the filtered-wrapped interferograms of Sentinel-1, using a coherence threshold. The outputs were the same pixels labeled as fast positive, positive, fast negative, negative, and undefined movements. These labels were assigned based on the velocity values of the measurement points located within the pixels. We used the Parallel Small Baseline Subset service of the European Space Agency’s GeoHazards Exploitation Platform to create the necessary interferograms, coherence, and deformation velocity maps. Subsequently, we applied a high-pass filter to the wrapped interferograms to separate the displacement signal from the atmospheric errors. We successfully identified the patterns associated with slow and fast movements by discerning the unique distributions within the matrices representing each movement class. The experiments included three case studies (from Italy, Portugal, and the United States), noted for their high sensitivity to landslides. We found that the Cosine K-nearest neighbor model achieved the best test accuracy. It is important to note that the test sets were not merely hidden parts of the training set within the same region but also included adjacent areas. We further improved the performance with pseudo-labeling, an approach aimed at evaluating the generalizability and robustness of the trained model beyond its immediate training environment. The lowest test accuracy achieved by the implemented algorithm was 80.1%. Furthermore, we used ArcGIS Pro 3.3 to compare the ground truth with the predictions to visualize the results better. The comparison aimed to explore indications of displacements affecting the main roads in the studied area.
Vehicle-Type Recognition Method for Images Based on Improved Faster R-CNN Model
Authors: Bai Tong , Luo Jiasai , Zhou Sen , Lu Yi , Wang Yuanfa
Published: April 2024

The rapid increase in the number of vehicles has led to increasing traffic congestion, traffic accidents, and motor vehicle crime rates. The management of various parking lots has also become increasingly challenging. Vehicle-type recognition technology can reduce the workload of humans in vehicle management operations. Therefore, the application of image technology for vehicle-type recognition is of great significance for integrated traffic management. In this paper, an improved faster region with convolutional neural network features (Faster R-CNN) model was proposed for vehicle-type recognition. Firstly, the output features of different convolution layers were combined to improve the recognition accuracy. Then, the average precision (AP) of the recognition model was improved through the contextual features of the original image and the object bounding box optimization strategy. Finally, the comparison experiment used the vehicle image dataset of three vehicle types, including cars, sports utility vehicles (SUVs), and vans. The experimental results show that the improved recognition model can effectively identify vehicle types in the images. The AP of the three vehicle types is 83.2%, 79.2%, and 78.4%, respectively, and the mean average precision (mAP) is 1.7% higher than that of the traditional Faster R-CNN model.
Robust Cooperative Fault-Tolerant Control for Uncertain Multi-Agent Systems Subject to Actuator Faults
Authors: Shi Jiantao , Chen Xiang , Xing Shuangqing , Liu Anning , Chen Chuang
Published: April 2024

This article investigates the robust cooperative fault-tolerant control problem of multi-agent systems subject to mismatched uncertainties and actuator faults. During the design process of the intermediate variable estimator, there is no need to satisfy fault estimation matching conditions, and this overcomes a crucial constraint of traditional observers and estimators. The feedback term of the designed estimator contains the centralized estimation errors and the distributed estimation errors of the agent, and this further improves the design freedom of the proposed estimator. A novel fault-tolerant control protocol is designed based on the fault estimation information. In this work, the bounds of the fault and its derivatives are unknown, and the considered method is applicable to both directed and undirected multi-agent systems. Furthermore, the parameters of the estimator are determined through the resolution of a linear matrix inequality (LMI), which is decoupled by employing coordinate transformation and Schur decomposition. Lastly, a numerical simulation result is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Reengineering Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems to Improve End-User Experience
Authors: Pietraru Radu Nicolae , Olteanu Adriana , Adochiei Ioana-Raluca , Adochiei Felix-Constantin
Published: April 2024

This paper presents an indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring system designed for a better end-user experience. The monitoring system consists of elements, from the monitoring sensor to the monitoring interface, designed and implemented by the research team, especially for the proposed monitoring system. The monitoring solution is intended for users who live in houses without automatic ventilation systems. The air quality sensor is designed at a minimum cost and complexity to allow multi-zone implementation without significant effort. The user interface uses a spatial graphic representation that facilitates understanding areas with different air quality levels. Presentation of the outdoor air quality level supports the user’s decision to ventilate a space. An innovative element of the proposed monitoring interface is the real-time forecast of air quality evolution in each monitored space. The paper describes the implementation of an original monitoring solution (monitoring device, Edge/Cloud management system, innovative user monitoring interface) and presents the results of testing this system in a relevant environment. The research conclusions show the proposed solution’s benefits in improving the end-user experience, justified both by the technical results obtained and by the opinion of the users who tested the monitoring system.
Fungal Necrotrophic Interaction: A Case Study of Seed Immune Response to a Seed-Borne Pathogen
Authors: Ortega-Cuadros Mailen , Aligon Sophie , Arias Tatiana , Vasco-Palacios Aída M. , Rosier--Pennevert Cassandre , Guschinskaya Natalia , Rolland Aurélia , Grappin Philippe
Published: April 2024

Seeds play a vital role in the perpetuation of plant species, both in natural environments and agriculture. However, they often face challenges from biotic stresses, such as seed-borne pathogenic fungi. The transgenerational transmission of these seed-borne fungi, along with their dissemination during seed commercialization, can contribute to the emergence of global epidemic diseases, resulting in substantial economic losses. Despite the recognized impact of seed-borne pathogens on agriculture, our understanding of seed–pathogen interactions remains limited. This review establishes parallels between the current state of knowledge regarding seed responses to pathogen interactions and well-established plant defense models, primarily derived from typical physiological conditions observed during leaf infections. Examining fragmented results from various pathosystems, this review seeks to offer a comprehensive overview of our current understanding of interactions during seed development and germination. The necrotrophic interactions in Brassicaceae are described using recent transcriptomic and genetic studies focused on the Arabidopsis/Alternaria pathosystem, which illustrates original response pathways in germinating seeds that markedly differ from the general concept of plant–pathogen interactions. The co-existence of regulatory mechanisms affecting both seed resistance and susceptibility, potentially promoting fungal colonization, is examined. The vulnerable response during germination emerges as a crucial consideration in the context of sustainable plant health management in agriculture.
Exploring Narratives of Teachers Working with Culturally Diverse Students: Any Insights about Inclusion?
Authors: Samsari Eleni , Palaiologou Nektaria , Nikolaou Georgios
Published: April 2024

The aim of the present study is to capture the teachers’ reflections and lived experiences on the inclusion of culturally diverse students in Greek school settings. Through a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, teachers share their personal accounts and stories about their efforts, initiatives, and moves towards more inclusive schooling, as well as the barriers they face in the school environment. Five (n = 5) primary school teachers were recruited purposefully because of their work experience with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in mainstream, integration or reception classes. Narrative-discursive analysis unravels the effectiveness of inclusive practice in Greece for culturally diverse students according to specific aspects of inclusive pedagogy such as progressive education, transformative learning, innovative practices, and strategies, as well as school–family partnership. Teachers’ experiences revealed their complex work to handle the increasing diversity in schools and to respond to all students’ needs in a context of slow but steady measures towards inclusion.
Is It Worth Buying a Second-Hand Shell Jacket? An Evaluation of Shell Jackets’ Functionality and Price over Time
Authors: Nilsson Louisa , Björklund Anna , Waller Judith H. , Bäckström Mikael
Published: April 2024

Global textile production and consumption has increased steadily over the past 15 years, which has caused significant impacts on the climate and the environment. In 2022, the EU launched a strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, stating that extending the life of textile products is the most efficient way to reduce their impact on the climate and the environment. Shell jackets for outdoor use are textile products that are frequently discarded by their first users and re-sold on the second-hand market. This study evaluates the performance of 16 second-hand shell jackets from three second-hand stores in Sweden via material testing of four key functional aspects. Comparing the results with the jackets’ original performance, this study describes the change in functionality over time. The results indicate that air permeability does not change significantly, whereas water repellency, water penetration resistance, and breathability decrease over time, although they do so at different rates. With the aim of promoting circularity and encouraging longer product use, this study also compares the price evolution of jackets with their functionality over time. The results reveal that the resale price of the jackets is lower than could be expected based on the level of remaining functionality in the jackets.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Factors of Ecosystem Services in the Yellow River Delta, China
Authors: Xue Shuqi , Yao Lei , Xu Ying , Li Chunfang
Published: April 2024

Exploring the dynamic variation in ecosystem services and clarifying the driving mechanism will help with the formulation of effective ecological environment protection policies. Accordingly, this study sought to reveal the complex variability in ecosystem services in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) at a higher temporal resolution and the transition between the main driving factors in different periods. To this end, we used the economic equivalent factor valuation method to quantify the ecosystem service value from 2000 to 2019 at 5-year intervals. Furthermore, the Geo-detector model was used to identify the main driving factors and interaction between the driving factors of ecosystem service value variations. Then, we analyzed the temporal and spatial dynamic variations in the ecosystem service value and the transitions between the main driving factors in different periods. The main results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2019, the ecosystem service value of the YRD showed an increasing trend followed by a decline, whereby water and construction land increased and the other classes of land decreased. Overall, the inland and coastal distribution patterns exhibited low and high values, respectively. (2) The main driving factors of ecosystem service value variations were the NDVI and topographical factors (aspect, slope, elevation), which had q values that were stable and greater than those of the other factors. Although human activity, tourist resource concentration and traffic convenience factors had a comparatively minor effect on ecosystem services, we noted a trend where their effects increased from 2000 to 2019. (3) The detection of interactions revealed complex mechanisms affecting the variation in the YRD. Interactions between variables had a stronger influence than individual effects. The interactions between the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and other factors consistently had the most significant impact. These interactions primarily shaped the spatial and temporal distribution of ecosystem services. The NDVI and human activities exhibited nonlinear enhancement. These results contribute to improving our cognition of the factors and mechanisms influencing ecosystem services, offering theoretical support for the improvement of ecosystem services in the YRD.
Mapping and Characterizing Eelgrass Meadows Using UAV Imagery in Placentia Bay and Trinity Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Authors: Sneep Aaron , Devillers Rodolphe , Robert Katleen , Le Bris Arnault , Edinger Evan
Published: April 2024

Sustainable coastal social–ecological systems rely on healthy ecosystems known to provide benefits to both nature and people. A key ecosystem found globally is seagrass, for which maps at a scale relevant to inform conservation and management efforts are often missing. Eelgrass (Zostera marina), a species of seagrass found throughout the northern hemisphere, has been declining in Placentia Bay, an ecologically and biologically significant area of Canada’s east coast subject to an increasing human impact. This research provides baseline information on the distribution of eelgrass meadows and their anthropogenic stressors at seven sites of Placentia Bay and three sites of the adjacent Trinity Bay, on the island of Newfoundland. High-resolution maps of eelgrass meadows were created by combining ground-truth underwater videos with unmanned aerial vehicle imagery classified with an object-based image analysis approach. Visual analyses of the imagery and underwater videos were conducted to characterize sites based on the presence of physical disturbances and the semi-quantitative cover of epiphytes, an indication of nutrient enrichment. A total eelgrass area of ~1 km2 was mapped across the 10 sites, with an overall map accuracy of over 80% for 8 of the 10 sites. Results indicated minimum pressures of physical disturbance and eutrophication affecting eelgrass in the region, likely due to the small population size of the communities near the eelgrass meadows. These baseline data will promote the sustainability of potential future coastal development in the region by facilitating the future monitoring and conservation of eelgrass ecosystems.
Multi-Temporal Analysis of the Impact of Summer Forest Dynamics on Urban Heat Island Effect in Yan’an City
Authors: Wang Xinyi , Chen Yuan , Wang Zhichao , Xu Bo , Feng Zhongke
Published: April 2024

In this study, MODIS land products and China land cover datasets were used to extract normalized difference vegetation index, land surface temperature, and vegetation cover type in Yan’an City during the summers of 2017–2022. On this basis, analysis of spatial change and correlation were carried out as a way to study the mitigation effect on urban heat islands in Yan’an City with forest. The study showed that: (1) The coverage of normalized difference vegetation index over 0.4 in summer in Yan’an City increased from 59.38% to 69.12%, and the vegetation showed good growth conditions. It has a spatial distribution pattern of more in the south and less in the north. (2) The proportion of the urban heat island in Yan’an City increased from 15.51% to 16.86%. Urban heat island intensity fluctuated year by year, with the maximum urban heat island intensity of 6.26 °C appearing in 2019. It has a spatial distribution pattern of less in the south and less in the north. The transition rate of temperature field grade from low to high is 73.32%, and the transition rate to low is only 0.31%. (3) There is a negative correlation between land surface temperature and normalized difference vegetation index in Yan’an City. Vegetation has a mitigating effect on the UHI and the best cooling effect among the vegetation is shown by forest. The cooling effect of forest in Yan’an City is attenuated by an increase in distance, and the effective range is greater than 1000 m. In this study, the regulation effect of forest on the urban heat island was obtained by digging deeper into the intrinsic connection between spatial change in vegetation cover and land surface temperature change in Yan’an City. It provides an important reference for the formulation of meteorological protection policy as well as the promotion of sustainable development of the urban ecological environment and is of guiding significance for future urban planning and ecological construction.
Preliminary Tests of Tomato Plant Protection Method with Ozone Gas Fumigation Supported with Hydrogen Peroxide Solution and Its Effect on Some Fruit Parameters
Authors: Zardzewiały Miłosz , Matłok Natalia , Piechowiak Tomasz , Saletnik Bogdan , Balawejder Maciej , Gorzelany Józef
Published: April 2024

The aim of this research was to determine the impact of hydrogen peroxide spraying and ozone gas fumigation during the growing season of tomato plants grown under cover on the mechanical and chemical parameters of fruit harvested from these plants. Tomato plants were grown under cover in accordance with the principles of good agricultural practice in the soil and climatic conditions of southeastern Poland. During the growing season, tomato fruits were collected for testing in order to determine the impact of the applied variable factors on the modification of selected metabolic pathways of bioactive compounds. As part of the tests on the chemical properties of the fruits, the content of ascorbic acid, the total content of polyphenols, and the antioxidant potential were determined. Additionally, the influence of the tested variable factors on the mechanical properties of tomato fruits was determined. In the case of the total polyphenol content, the most beneficial effects were observed for fruits collected from plants treated with ozonation at a dose of 2 ppm for 3 min and spraying the plants with 1% hydrogen peroxide. The highest antioxidant potential was recorded for fruits of the variants ozonated with doses of 2 ppm for 1 min, 2 ppm for 1.5 min, and 2 ppm for 3 min compared to the remaining variants and controls. In turn, the vitamin C content increased significantly in the tested fruits after the ozonation of plants with a dose of 2 ppm for 1 min and ozonation with a dose of 2 ppm for 3 min combined with spraying plants with 3% hydrogen peroxide. In the case of the mechanical properties of tomato fruits, only the ozonation dose of 2 ppm for 3 min significantly improved them.
Evaluation of Urban Land Suitability under Multiple Sea Level Rise Scenarios
Authors: Ruan Chenxin , Wei Fang
Published: April 2024

Anticipated sea level rises from global climate change pose a significant flood risk to urban land. Evaluating urban land suitability under sea level rise scenarios is crucial for promoting sustainable development. Recent research has advanced the application of artificial intelligence and the integration of GIS with models, yet the impact of climate change on land suitability has often been overlooked. This study focuses on Xihu District in Hangzhou, utilizing the entropy weight and matter-element model to evaluate land suitability for urban development. The evaluation results were cross-verified with land use plans. A comprehensive analysis of potential flood risk to urban land in 2100 was conducted, considering varying degrees of sea level rise under Sustainable Development Scenario SSP1-2.6 and High-end Emission Scenario SSP5-8.5, as well as the scenario reflecting the most severe sea level rise during extreme climate events. The results indicate that more than half of the land in the study area is suitable for construction, aligning spatially with the current planned urban land. The analysis process of the matter-element model reflects the impact level of each indicator on urban land suitability, conveying information both spatially and numerically, thus enhancing accuracy. Scenario analysis reveals that approximately 10% to 20% of urban land in the study area could face flooding threats due to future sea level rises, primarily in the northern and southeastern regions. Recommendations for future land development and spatial planning strategies to address flood risk are discussed, aiming to alleviate the pressure on urban land in response to future climate change.
Can Civilized City Construction Promote Enterprise Green Innovation?
Authors: Tang Xuwei , Zhang Qi , Li Chunxin , Zhang Haitao , Xu Haiyun
Published: April 2024

The existing research shows that when facing the trade-off between economic benefits and green innovation, enterprises often prioritize economic gains, and how to promote enterprise green innovation (EGI) has become a pressing issue that needs to be solved at this stage. Against this backdrop, China’s Civilized City Construction (CCC) policy, which emphasizes the coordinated development of economic, political, ecological, and spiritual civilization, places higher demands on enterprise environmental behaviors. This creates an opportune moment to investigate the relationship between urban governance policies and EGI. In this study, we employ a Difference-in-Differences (DID) model to examine whether the CCC policy can promote EGI and reveal its underlying mechanisms. The research findings indicate that CCC significantly promotes EGI. The policy improves EGI levels by strengthening regional environmental regulations and increasing environmental subsidy levels. This finding provides lessons for advancing enterprise sustainability strategies and new perspectives for global urban governance policy formulation and implementation.
An Integrated Framework for Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problems with Pick-up and Delivery Time Windows and Shared Fleet Capacity Planning
Authors: Küp Eyüp Tolunay , Cebeci Salih , Bayram Barış , Aydın Gözde , Bozkaya Burcin , Akhavan-Tabatabaei Raha
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a novel route optimization framework to solve the problem of instant pick-up and delivery for e-grocery orders. The proposed framework extends the traditional time-windowed package delivery problem. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach for this integrated problem using actual delivery data from HepsiJet, a leading e-commerce logistics provider in Turkey. We first employ several machine learning algorithms and simulations to investigate the capacity of the courier. Subsequently, a dynamic route planning workflow is executed with a highly specialized and novel routing algorithm. Our proposed heuristic approach considers combined fleet operations for delivering regular packages originating from a central depot and dynamic e-grocery orders picked up at local supermarkets and delivered to the customers. The heuristic algorithm constitutes k-opt and node transfer operation variations customized for this integrated problem. We report the performance of our approach in problem instances from the literature and instances from HepsiJet’s daily operations, which we also publicly share as new route optimization problem instances. Our results suggest that, despite the more complex nature of the integrated problem, our proposed algorithm and solution framework produce more efficient and cost-effective solutions that offer additional business opportunities for companies such as HepsiJet. The computational analyses reveal that implementing our proposed approach yields significant efficiency gains and cost reductions for the company, with a distance reduction of over 30%, underscoring our approach’s effectiveness in achieving substantial cost savings and enhanced efficiency through integrating two distinct delivery operations.
The Non-Linear Impact of Digitalization on the Performance of SMEs: A Hypothesis Test Based on the Digitalization Paradox
Authors: Chen Xinqiang , Zhang Xiu-e , Cai Zhiwen , Chen Jiangjie
Published: April 2024

While digitalization offers new opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it also introduces the phenomenon of the “digitalization paradox”. This paper develops a theoretical model comprising digitalization, digital technology–business alignment, external social capital, and SMEs’ performance, rooted in strategic alignment theory (SAT) and social capital theory (SCT). The necessary data for the study were obtained by distributing questionnaires to 352 small and medium-sized enterprises engaged in digital practices in China, and hierarchical regression analysis was employed to investigate the impact of digitalization on the performance of SMEs and its boundaries of influence. The results indicate an inverted U-shaped relationship between digitalization and SME performance, with both digital technology–business alignment and external social capital serving as positive moderators. Specifically, digital technology–business alignment and external social capital both enhance the positive impact of digitalization on the performance of SMEs and mitigate its negative effects. The findings enhance comprehension of the “digitalization paradox” and offer new insights and solutions for SMEs to navigate the opportunities and challenges of digitalization.
Changes in the Biology and Susceptibility of Weevil (Cylas formicarius) to the Insecticide Spinetoram as a Response to Cadmium Contamination
Authors: Xu Jin , Tang An , Liu Jun-Yan , Yao Chang-Long , Liu Ke-Ping , Huang Xiao-Sheng , Shi Pei-Qiong
Published: April 2024

The sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius is a notorious underground pest in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). However, little is known about the effects of cadmium (Cd) stress on weevil biology and resistance to pesticides and biotic agents. Therefore, we fed sweet potato weevils with Cd-contaminated sweet potato and assessed adult food intake and survival and larval developmental duration and mortality rates, as well as resistance to the insecticide spinetoram and susceptibility to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. With increasing Cd concentration, the number of adult weevil feeding holes, adult survival and life span, and larval developmental duration decreased significantly, whereas larval mortality rates increased significantly. However, at the lowest Cd concentration (30 mg/L), adult feeding was stimulated. Resistance of adult sweet potato weevils to spinetoram increased at low Cd concentration, whereas Cd contamination did not affect sensitivity to B. bassiana. Thus, Cd contamination affected sweet potato weevil biology and resistance, and further studies will investigate weevil Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms.
Isolation and Functional Characterization of Erythrofibrase: An Alfa-Fibrinogenase Enzyme from Trimeresurus erythrurus Venom of North-East India
Authors: Thakur Susmita , Yasmin Rafika , Malhotra Anita , Lalremsanga Hmar Tlawmte , Santra Vishal , Giri Surajit , Doley Robin
Published: April 2024

Green pit viper bites induce mild toxicity with painful local swelling, blistering, cellulitis, necrosis, ecchymosis and consumptive coagulopathy. Several bite cases of green pit vipers have been reported in several south-east Asian countries including the north-eastern region of India. The present study describes isolation and characterization of a haemostatically active protein from Trimeresurus erythrurus venom responsible for coagulopathy. Using a two-step chromatographic method, a snake venom serine protease erythrofibrase was purified to homogeneity. SDS-PAGE of erythrofibrase showed a single band of ~30 kDa in both reducing and non-reducing conditions. The primary structure of erythrofibrase was determined by ESI LC-MS/MS, and the partial sequence obtained showed 77% sequence similarity with other snake venom thrombin-like enzymes (SVTLEs). The partial sequence obtained had the typical 12 conserved cysteine residues, as well as the active site residues (His57, Asp102 and Ser195). Functionally, erythrofibrase showed direct fibrinogenolytic activity by degrading the Aα chain of bovine fibrinogen at a slow rate, which might be responsible for causing hypofibrinogenemia and incoagulable blood for several days in envenomated patients. Moreover, the inability of Indian polyvalent antivenom (manufactured by Premium Serum Pvt. Ltd., Maharashtra, India) to neutralize the thrombin-like and plasmin-like activity of erythrofibrase can be correlated with the clinical inefficacy of antivenom therapy. This is the first study reporting an α-fibrinogenase enzyme erythrofibrase from T. erythrurus venom, which is crucial for the pathophysiological manifestations observed in envenomated victims.
Future Perspectives for Gamma-ray Burst Detection from Space
Authors: Bozzo Enrico , Amati Lorenzo , Baumgartner Wayne , Chang Tzu-Ching , Cordier Bertrand , De Angelis Nicolas , Doi Akihiro , Feroci Marco , Froning Cynthia , Gaskin Jessica , Goldstein Adam , Götz Diego , Grove Jon E. , Guiriec Sylvain , Hernanz Margarita , Hui C. Michelle , Jenke Peter , Kocevski Daniel , Kole Merlin , Kouveliotou Chryssa , Maccarone Thomas , McConnell Mark L. , Matsuhara Hideo , O’Brien Paul , Produit Nicolas , Ray Paul S. , Roming Peter , Santangelo Andrea , Seiffert Michael , Sun Hui , van der Horst Alexander , Veres Peter , Wei Jianyan , White Nicholas , Wilson-Hodge Colleen , Yonetoku Daisuke , Yuan Weimin , Zhang Shuang-Nan
Published: April 2024

Since their first discovery in the late 1960s, gamma-ray bursts have attracted an exponentially growing interest from the international community due to their central role in the most highly debated open questions of the modern research of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, and fundamental physics. These range from the intimate nuclear composition of high-density material within the core of ultra-dense neuron stars, to stellar evolution via the collapse of massive stars, the production and propagation of gravitational waves, as well as the exploration of the early universe by unveiling the first stars and galaxies (assessing also their evolution and cosmic re-ionization). GRBs in the past ∼50 years have stimulated the development of cutting-edge technological instruments for observations of high-energy celestial sources from space, leading to the launch and successful operations of many different scientific missions (several of them still in data-taking mode currently). In this review, we provide a brief description of the GRB-dedicated missions from space being designed and developed for the future. The list of these projects, not meant to be exhaustive, shall serve as a reference to interested readers to understand what is likely to come next to lead the further development of GRB research and the associated phenomenology.
Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSP)-Bound Carbonaceous Components in a Roadside Area in Eastern Indonesia
Authors: Amin Muhammad , Ramadhani Andi Annisa Tenri , Zakaria Rasdiana , Hanami Zarah Arwieny , Putri Rahmi Mulia , Phairuang Worradorn , Hata Mitsuhiko , Furuuchi Masami
Published: April 2024

To evaluate carbonaceous components in the ambient air in the eastern region of Indonesia, 35 Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSP) samples were collected on four characteristic roadsides on Sultan Alauddin Street, in Makassar City, using a high-volume air sampler. The average TSP concentration was 279.7 μg/m3, which exceeded both the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) of Indonesia and the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The highest concentration reached 838.6 μg/m3 in the GR (gravel) site, which had the highest number of vehicles and was near a U-turn. TSP concentration was higher during peak hours (morning and late afternoon) than off-peak hours (noon). The main component of the total carbon (TC) fraction was organic carbon (OC), which showed a strong correlation with elemental carbon (EC) (r values for the morning, noon, and late afternoon were 0.89, 0.87, and 0.97, respectively), indicating that the carbon components were derived from common sources. TSP had a strong correlation with carbon components, except for char-EC. OC vs. soot-EC and EC vs. soot-EC also correlated well, suggesting the dominant influence of vehicle exhaust emissions. Non-exhaust emissions had a slight influence during peak hours, particularly at the GR site.
Contribution of the Cultural and Creative Industries to Regional Development and Revitalization: A European Perspective
Authors: Kalfas Dimitrios , Kalogiannidis Stavros , Ambas Vasilios , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios
Published: April 2024

Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) have emerged as powerful drivers of regional development and revitalization in Europe in recent years. This study explores the impact of CCIs on European regions, focusing on their economic, social, and cultural contributions. Drawing on extensive literature review and empirical research, this study examines the role of CCIs in job creation, GDP growth, innovation, social cohesion, cultural identity, urban regeneration, and the revitalization of declining areas. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed to 345 key players in the Cultural and Creative Industry of Greece. The findings reveal that CCIs significantly enhance job opportunities in European regions, with 74.4% of participants acknowledging their role in reducing unemployment and underemployment. Moreover, 71.4% recognized the substantial contribution of CCIs to regional GDP, highlighting that their economic importance is comparable to traditional industries. CCIs are seen as catalysts for social cohesion and cultural identity, as 75.6% of respondents attested to their role in uniting diverse communities. These results emphasize the sensitivity of CCIs to the existing cultural and historical context of these areas. Furthermore, this study identifies outcomes of regional development and revitalization, including improved education facilities (21.7%), preservation of regional cultural heritage (14.6%), and enhanced business relations (26.7%). Regression analysis demonstrated a strong association between CCIs and regional development and revitalization. This study provides comprehensive insights into the contributions of CCIs to regional development and revitalization in Europe. Policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders can use these findings to harness the full potential of CCIs for sustainable and inclusive regional development.
The Dual-Targeted Fusion Inhibitor Clofazimine Binds to the S2 Segment of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein
Authors: Freidel Matthew R. , Vakhariya Pratiti A. , Sardarni Shalinder K. , Armen Roger S.
Published: April 2024

Clofazimine and Arbidol have both been reported to be effective in vitro SARS-CoV-2 fusion inhibitors. Both are promising drugs that have been repurposed for the treatment of COVID-19 and have been used in several previous and ongoing clinical trials. Small-molecule bindings to expressed constructs of the trimeric S2 segment of Spike and the full-length SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein were measured using a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) binding assay. We demonstrate that Clofazimine, Toremifene, Arbidol and its derivatives bind to the S2 segment of the Spike protein. Clofazimine provided the most reliable and highest-quality SPR data for binding with S2 over the conditions explored. A molecular docking approach was used to identify the most favorable binding sites on the S2 segment in the prefusion conformation, highlighting two possible small-molecule binding sites for fusion inhibitors. Results related to molecular docking and modeling of the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of a newly reported series of Clofazimine derivatives support the proposed Clofazimine binding site on the S2 segment. When the proposed Clofazimine binding site is superimposed with other experimentally determined coronavirus structures in structure–sequence alignments, the changes in sequence and structure may rationalize the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of Clofazimine in closely related coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV, MERS, hCoV-229E, and hCoV-OC43.
Integrating Microseismic Monitoring for Predicting Water Inrush Hazards in Coal Mines
Authors: Lian Huiqing , Zhang Qing , Yin Shangxian , Yan Tao , Yao Hui , Yang Songlin , Kang Jia , Xia Xiangxue , Li Qixing , Huang Yakun , Ren Zhengrui , Wu Wei , Xu Baotong
Published: April 2024

The essence of roof water inrush in coal mines fundamentally stems from the development of water-bearing fracture zones, facilitating the intrusion of overlying aquifers and thereby leading to water hazard incidents. Monitoring rock-fracturing conditions through the analysis of microseismic data can, to a certain extent, facilitate the prediction and early warning of water hazards. The water inflow volume stands as the most characteristic type of data in mine water inrush accidents. Hence, we investigated the feasibility of predicting water inrush events through anomalies in microseismic data from the perspective of water inflow volume variations. The data collected from the microseismic monitoring system at the 208 working face were utilized to compute localization information and source parameters. Based on the hydrogeological conditions of the working face, the energy screening range and its calculation grid characteristics were determined, followed by the generation of kernel density cloud maps at different depths. By observing these microseismic kernel density cloud maps, probabilities of roof water-conducting channel formation and potential locations were inferred. Subsequently, based on the positions of these roof water-conducting channels on the planar domain, the extension depth and expansion direction of the water-conducting channels were determined. Utilizing microseismic monitoring data, a quantitative assessment of water inrush risk was conducted, thereby establishing a linkage between microseismic data and water (inrush) data, which are two indirectly related datasets. The height of microseismic events was directly proportional to the trend of water inflow in the working face. In contrast, the occurrence of water inflow events and microseismic events exhibited a specific lag effect, with microseismic events occurring prior to water inrush events. Abnormalities in microseismic monitoring data partially reflect changes in water-conducting channel patterns. When connected with coal seam damage zones, water inrush hazards may occur. Therefore, abnormalities in microseismic monitoring data can be regarded as one of the precursor signals indicating potential floor water inrushes in coal seams.
Capillary Imbibition Laws of Fresh–Brackish Waters in Sandstone
Authors: Jia Hailiang , Yang Xiaoyu , Wei Yao , Sun Qiang , Tang Liyun
Published: April 2024

Understanding the capillary imbibition laws of brackish water in rocks is necessary to reveal the mechanism of fluid, salt, and ion transport. In this study, we investigated the capillary imbibition laws of a Na2SO4 solution of different concentrations in sandstone by measuring the parameters of water absorption mass, water migration front height, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) T2 spectra, and stratified moisture distribution. The results indicate the following: (1) With an increase in the salt solution concentration, the water absorption rate of samples increases, specifically manifested in an increase in the rate of absorption mass and a rising rate of the absorption front. (2) With an increase in the salt solution concentration, the total NMR signals in samples measured at the end of water absorption decreases; that is, the total amount of water absorption decreases. (3) When the solution concentration exceeds 0.50 g/L, variations in the NMR signal of samples and the absorbed water mass over time are not synchronic and are even opposite at some stages. Based on the capillary dynamic theories of liquid, the influence of salts on solution properties and the modification of the pore structure by crystallization are considered when discussing the underlying mechanism of capillary imbibition in sandstone. By calculating the physical properties such as the density, viscosity, surface tension, and contact angle of solutions with different concentrations, the imbibition process does not exhibit any significant variation with the difference in the properties of the liquid. The equivalent capillary radii of the samples at varying salt concentrations are obtained by fitting the capillary dynamics curves with the theoretically calculated values. The equivalent capillary radii of samples in higher salt concentrations are larger, i.e., the difference in capillary imbibition laws introduced by the salt concentration should be attributed to modifications to the pore structure caused by salt crystallization.