bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment with Glycyrrhiza glabra Extract Induces Anxiolytic Effects Associated with Reduced Salt Preference and Changes in Barrier Protein Gene Expression
Authors: Murck Harald , Karailiev Peter , Karailievova Lucia , Puhova Agnesa , Jezova Daniela
Published: February 2024

We have previously identified that low responsiveness to antidepressive therapy is associated with higher aldosterone/cortisol ratio, lower systolic blood pressure, and higher salt preference. Glycyrrhiza glabra (GG) contains glycyrrhizin, an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid-dehydrogenase type-2 and antagonist of toll-like receptor 4. The primary hypothesis of this study is that food enrichment with GG extract results in decreased anxiety behavior and reduced salt preference under stress and non-stress conditions. The secondary hypothesis is that the mentioned changes are associated with altered gene expression of barrier proteins in the prefrontal cortex. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to chronic mild stress for five weeks. Both stressed and unstressed rats were fed a diet with or without an extract of GG roots for the last two weeks. GG induced anxiolytic effects in animals independent of stress exposure, as measured in elevated plus maze test. Salt preference and intake were significantly reduced by GG under control, but not stress conditions. The gene expression of the barrier protein claudin-11 in the prefrontal cortex was increased in control rats exposed to GG, whereas stress-induced rise was prevented. Exposure to GG-enriched diet resulted in reduced ZO-1 expression irrespective of stress conditions. In conclusion, the observed effects of GG are in line with a reduction in the activity of central mineralocorticoid receptors. The treatment with GG extract or its active components may, therefore, be a useful adjunct therapy for patients with subtypes of depression and anxiety disorders with heightened renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system and/or inflammatory activity.
Profiles of Serum Fatty Acids in Healthy Women on Different Types of Vegetarian Diets
Authors: Gogga Patrycja , Mika Adriana , Janczy Agata , Sztendel Alicja , Sledzinski Tomasz , Małgorzewicz Sylwia
Published: February 2024

Background: Plant-based dietary patterns are a source of different amounts and proportions of fatty acids (FAs) from those in traditional diets. Information about the full FAs profile provided by plant-based diets is widely lacking. The aim of this study was to present the exact serum profiles of FAs among people on a plant-based diet compared with omnivorous subjects. Methods: FAs compositions and inflammation statuses (based on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels) were studied in serum samples obtained from 102 female volunteers (divided into four groups: vegans, vegetarians, pescatarians, and omnivores). The quality of the volunteers’ diets was assessed based on seven-day dietary records. Results: Both vegans and vegetarians had lower total n-3 PUFAs, EPA, and DHA serum levels than omnivores. Decreased levels of these FAs presumably did not cause inflammation in vegetarians and vegans, as vegetarians had similar serum levels of CRP compared to omnivores, and vegans had even lower levels. Conclusion: The analysis of serum FAs and CRP levels in vegetarians and vegans suggests that factors other than diet alone influence inflammation and overall health status. Further research on long-term plant-based diet users is needed to better understand this issue, and supplementation with EPA and DHA is worth considering in vegans and vegetarians.
Association between Maternal Birth Weight and Prevalence of Congenital Malformations in Offspring: The Japanese Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Hamada Hirotaka , Iwama Noriyuki , Tomita Hasumi , Tagami Kazuma , Kumagai Natsumi , Kudo Rie , Wang Hongxin , Izumi Seiya , Watanabe Zen , Ishikuro Mami , Obara Taku , Tatsuta Nozomi , Metoki Hirohito , Saito Masatoshi , Ota Chiharu , Kuriyama Shinichi , Arima Takahiro , Yaegashi Nobuo ,   The Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group
Published: February 2024

Congenital malformations are functional and structural alterations in embryonic or foetal development resulting from a variety of factors including maternal health status. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal birth weight (MBW) and the prevalence of congenital malformations in offspring using data from a nationwide birth cohort study in Japan including 103,060 pregnancies. A binary logistic regression model with adjustment for various covariates revealed that an MBW of <2500 g (low MBW) was associated with an increased risk of congenital heart disease (adjusted odds ratio: 1.388, [95% confidence interval: 1.075–1.792]), angioma (1.491 [1.079–2.059]), and inguinal hernia (1.746, [1.189–2.565]), while those with an MBW of ≥4000 g (high MBW) were associated with congenital anomalies of the urinary tract (2.194, [1.261–3.819]) and arrhythmia (1.775, [1.157–2.725]) compared with those with an MBW of 3000–3499 g. Low MBW was associated with cleft lip and/or palate (1.473, [1.052–2.064]), congenital heart disease (1.615, [1.119–2.332]), genital organs (1.648, [1.130–2.405]), hypospadias (1.804, [1.130–2.881]), and inguinal hernia (1.484, [1.189–1.851]) in male infants and CAKUT (1.619, [1.154–2.273]) in female infants, whereas high MBW was associated with congenital heart disease (1.745, [1.058–2.877]) and CAKUT (2.470, [1.350–4.517]) in male infants. The present study is the first to demonstrate a link between MBW and congenital malformations in Japanese children. While these results must be interpreted with caution, MBW should be considered a major predictor of congenital malformation risk.
Remdesivir and the Liver: A Concise Narrative Review of Remdesivir-Associated Hepatotoxicity in Patients Hospitalized Due to COVID-19
Authors: FakhriRavari Alireza , Malakouti Mazyar
Published: February 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has infected millions of people, but about 20% of infected individuals do not develop symptoms. COVID-19 is an inflammatory disease that affects a portion of individuals infected with the virus and it is associated with liver injury and other complications, leading to hospitalization, critical illness, and death. Remdesivir is an antiviral agent used for the treatment of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 to improve the time to recovery, reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, decrease the need for supplemental oxygen, and decrease the risk of mortality. Remdesivir-associated hepatotoxicity has been observed as increased transaminases more than five times the upper limit of normal in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, but causality has not been proven. It is generally difficult to distinguish between remdesivir-associated hepatotoxicity and COVID-19-induced hepatotoxicity. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the evidence for remdesivir-associated hepatotoxicity. Current evidence suggests that elevated liver enzymes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients are more likely to be due to the infection than remdesivir, and a 5-day course of remdesivir seems to be safe in regard to hepatotoxicity.
Silver Nanoparticles In Situ Synthesized and Incorporated in Uniaxial and Core–Shell Electrospun Nanofibers to Inhibit Coronavirus
Authors: de Freitas Camila F. , Souza Paulo R. , Jacinto Gislaine S. , Braga Thais L. , Ricken Yara S. , Souza Gredson K. , Caetano Wilker , Radovanovic Eduardo , Arns Clarice W. , Rai Mahendra , Muniz Edvani C.
Published: February 2024

In the present study, we sought to develop materials applicable to personal and collective protection equipment to mitigate SARS-CoV-2. For this purpose, AgNPs were synthesized and stabilized into electrospinning nanofiber matrices (NMs) consisting of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan (CHT), and poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL). Uniaxial nanofibers of PVA and PVA/CHT were developed, as well as coaxial nanofibers of PCL[PVA/CHT], in which the PCL works as a shell and the blend as a core. A crucial aspect of the present study is the in situ synthesis of AgNPs using PVA as a reducing and stabilizing agent. This process presents few steps, no additional toxic reducing agents, and avoids the postloading of drugs or the posttreatment of NM use. In general, the in situ synthesized AgNPs had an average size of 11.6 nm, and the incorporated nanofibers had a diameter in the range of 300 nm, with high uniformity and low polydispersity. The NM’s spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical properties were appropriate for the intended application. Uniaxial (PVA/AgNPs and PVA/CHT/AgNPs) and coaxial (PCL[PVA/CHT/AgNPs]) NMs presented virucidal activity (log’s reduction ≥ 5) against mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-3) genus Betacoronavirus strains. In addition to that, the NMs did not present cytotoxicity against fibroblast cells (L929 ATCC® CCL-1TM lineage).
Polymer–Metal Bilayer with Alkoxy Groups for Antibacterial Improvement
Authors: Idriss Hazem , Kutová Anna , Rimpelová Silvie , Elashnikov Roman , Kolská Zdeňka , Lyutakov Oleksiy , Švorčík Václav , Slepičková Kasálková Nikola , Slepička Petr
Published: February 2024

Many bio-applicable materials, medical devices, and prosthetics combine both polymer and metal components to benefit from their complementary properties. This goal is normally achieved by their mechanical bonding or casting only. Here, we report an alternative easy method for the chemical grafting of a polymer on the surfaces of a metal or metal alloys using alkoxy amine salt as a coupling agent. The surface morphology of the created composites was studied by various microscopy methods, and their surface area and porosity were determined by adsorption/desorption nitrogen isotherms. The surface chemical composition was also examined by various spectroscopy techniques and electrokinetic analysis. The distribution of elements on the surface was determined, and the successful bonding of the metal/alloys on one side with the polymer on the other by alkoxy amine was confirmed. The composites show significantly increased hydrophilicity, reliable chemical stability of the bonding, even interaction with solvent for thirty cycles, and up to 95% less bacterial adhesion for the modified samples in comparison with pristine samples, i.e., characteristics that are promising for their application in the biomedical field, such as for implants, prosthetics, etc. All this uses universal, two-step procedures with minimal use of energy and the possibility of production on a mass scale.
Influence of Aging on the Physical Properties of Knitted Polymeric Materials
Authors: Petrov Antonija , Salopek Čubrić Ivana , Čubrić Goran
Published: February 2024

Nowadays, as consumer expectations have increased worldwide, the importance of polymer materials performance has been raised to a new level. Efforts are required to produce a high-quality product that maintains its quality despite aging factors in certain geographical locations. In the experimental part of this study, polyester materials produced from conventional and recycled yarns, further intended for the production of sportswear, were exposed to natural weathering. Before and after the exposure, the following material properties were investigated: material surface appearance, material thickness, mass per unit area, horizontal and vertical density, surface roughness, tensile properties (force at break, elongation at break), water vapor permeability, liquid dispersion and drying of the material. The results indicate that the surface mass and thickness of all exposed polyester materials decreased after aging due to material shrinkage. The results indicated that prolonged aging negatively affected the values of elongation and force at break. The recycled material exhibited the highest overall decreases in elongation and force at break, but lower surface roughness. In addition, recycled material exhibited a shorter drying time than that of conventional material, both before and after aging.
Effect of Different Dental Implant Prosthetic Joints on Marginal Bone Loss: Emerging Findings from a Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis (NMA) and Systematic Review
Authors: Lorusso Felice , Alla Iris , Gehrke Sergio , Carmine Mariastella , Tari Sergio , Scarano Antonio
Published: February 2024

Background: A key point in assessing dental implant prosthetic joints is their mechanical strength and biological response under the masticatory loading. The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the marginal bone loss and prosthetic behaviour of different internal/external bi-phasic implants. Methods: Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs) have been considered for analytic purposes. The article screening was conducted on the Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholars databases through an electronic process. Eligibility and risk of bias assessments were conducted for an article to be included in the data process. A series of pairwise meta-regressions for continuous variables was conducted considering the mean differences and 95% CI at two different timepoints: baseline and 1-year follow-up. The meta-analysis was performed comparing the following groups: internal conical prosthetic joint with index (IC), external hexagon bone level position (EI), internal tri-channel connection bone level position (ITC), internal hexagon 1 mm below the bone level (HI), internal hexagon bone level position (HI crest), cone morse 1 mm below the bone level (CM), cone morse bone level position (CM crest) and internal octagon bone level position (IO). The following parameters were considered for descriptive data synthesis: sample size, implant manufacturer, prosthetic joint type, prosthetic complications, marginal bone loss, study outcomes. Results: A total of 247 papers were identified by the electronic screening and 241 were submitted for the full text assessment. The eligibility process excluded 209 articles, and 32 studies with a low risk of bias were considered for the qualitative synthesis and further statistical methods. At the baseline, the CM showed a more effective efficiency and reduced marginal bone loss compared to IC, EI, ITC, internal hexagon, cone morse and internal octagon (p < 0.05). CM showed the lower rate of prosthetic complications and structural device failure including abutments and joint components under the loading compared to other joint types. Conclusion: Within the limits of the present investigation, the heterogeneity, the weight of the study model considered and the inherent differences between the dental implant properties, the pure CM showed a more consistent control of marginal bone loss at short- and medium-term follow-up. Despite the low rate of cumulative complications for all joints considered, the CM abutment joints were less prone to prosthetic failure at an early and medium-term follow-up.
The Use of a Surgical Template for the Insertion of Dental Implants and Sinus Lift with the Summers Technique Based on Digital Planning: A Case Report
Authors: Speroni Stefano , Bosco Floriana , Ferrini Francesco , Pittari Laura , Nota Alessandro , Tecco Simona
Published: February 2024

(1) Background: Computer-guided surgery is now established as the main technique for implant placement, reducing intraoperative complications and helping the clinician avoid damaging sensitive anatomical structures, such as, for example, the maxillary sinus. (2) Methods: A complex case is discussed to suggest how computer-aided surgery can merge with freehand surgery, as a surgical guide can make a freehand surgical procedure less complicated and more predictable. (3) Results: A surgical procedure was executed following digital planning, except for sites 1.5 and 2.5, where a mixed approach was adopted: they were initially prepared with a milling depth of 1 mm from the base of the maxillary sinus and were then finished using osteotomes, according to the technique described by Summers. Radiography confirmed the correct positioning of the implants and the sinus lift. (4) Conclusions: A mixed digital/analogical approach used in complex cases increases the accuracy of the results and reduces complications and treatment time. The presence of a correctly digitally planned surgical guide helps in the freehand approach and not only in the digital approach.
Does the Blackbody Radiation Spectrum Suggest an Intrinsic Structure of Photons?
Authors: Khaneles Alex
Published: February 2024

Photons are considered to be elementary bosons in the Standard Model. The assumption that photons are not elementary particles is assessed from an outlook of computational statistical mechanics. A prediction of variations in the shape of the blackbody radiation spectrum with polarization is made. A better understanding of the origins of quantum statistics could be crucial for theories beyond the Standard Model.
Proton- and Neutron-Induced SEU Cross-Section Modeling and Simulation: A Unified Analytical Approach
Authors: Zebrev Gennady I. , Samotaev Nikolay N. , Useinov Rustem G. , Galimov Artur M. , Emeliyanov Vladimir V. , Sharapov Artyom A. , Kazyakin Dmitri A. , Rodin Alexander S.
Published: February 2024

A new physics-based compact model, which makes it possible to simulate in a unified way the neutrons and protons of cosmic ray-induced SEU cross-sections, including the effects from nuclear reaction products and from direct ionization by low-energy protons, has been proposed and validated. The proposed approach is analytical and based on explicit analytical relationships and approximations with physics-based fitting parameters. GEANT4 or SRIM numerical calculations can be used as an aid to adjust or refine the phenomenological parameters or functions included in the model, taking into account real geometrical configurations and chemical compositions of the devices. In particular, explicit energy dependencies of the soft error cross-sections for protons and neutrons over a wide range of nucleon energies were obtained and validated. The main application areas of the developed model include space physics, accelerator studies high energy physics and nuclear experiments.
Food and Monastic Space: From Routine Dining to Sacred Worship—Comparative Review of Han Buddhist and Cistercian Monasteries Using Guoqing Si and Poblet Monastery as Detailed Case Studies
Authors: Wang Weiqiao
Published: February 2024

Through an exploration of meal regulations, dining rituals, and monastic rules of Han Buddhist and Cistercian monks, this article discusses how food affects space formation, layout organization, and site selection in monastic venues using Guoqing Si and Poblet Monastery as detailed case studies. The dining rituals, such as guotang and the Refectory, transform daily routines into acts of worship and practice, particularly within the palace-like dining spaces. Monastic rules and the concept of cleanliness influence the layout of monastic spaces, effectively distinguishing between sacred and secular areas. The types of food, influenced by self-sufficiency and food taboos, impact the formation of monasteries in the surrounding landscape, while the diligent labor of monks in cultivating the wilderness contributes to the sanctity of the venues. By employing anthropology as a tool for field observation and considering architectural design as a holistic mindset, this article concludes that due to the self-sufficiency of monastic lives, monks establish a sustainable agri-food space system. This ensures that food production, waste management, water utilization, food processing, and meal consumption can be sustainable practices. Food taboos are determined by the understanding of purity in both religions, leading to the establishment of a distinct spatial order for food between the sacred and secular realms. Ultimately, ordinary meals are consumed within extraordinary dining spaces, providing monks with a silent and sacred eating atmosphere. Under the overall influence of food, both monasteries have developed their own food spatial systems, and the act of dining has transformed from a daily routine to a sacred worship.
Person Mobility Algorithm and Geographic Information System for Search and Rescue Missions Planning
Authors: Papić Vladan , Gudelj Ana Šarić , Milan Ante , Miličević Mario
Published: February 2024

In search and rescue (SAR) operations, up-to-date information on the terrain is critical because every additional hour required to search for a person reduces the likelihood of success. Therefore, it is necessary to provide quick access and the best possible input data for planners and search teams and to develop tools that can help them plan and monitor actions in real-time. This paper describes a novel system based on the use of GIS for planning actions and visualizing the situation on the ground. Special focus is devoted to the algorithm for assessing the mobility of the missing person. Using this algorithm, the area of the proposed search area is modeled based on obtained information about the type of terrain on which the searches are planned. The obtained results are presented as a new Geographic Information System layer and have proven to be a quality that helps in defining the search space. Further research is discussed, especially regarding the assessment of the passability of certain types of terrain.
Pseudo-L0-Norm Fast Iterative Shrinkage Algorithm Network: Agile Synthetic Aperture Radar Imaging via Deep Unfolding Network
Authors: Chen Wenjiao , Geng Jiwen , Meng Fanjie , Zhang Li
Published: February 2024

A novel compressive sensing (CS) synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) called AgileSAR has been proposed to increase swath width for sparse scenes while preserving azimuthal resolution. AgileSAR overcomes the limitation of the Nyquist sampling theorem so that it has a small amount of data and low system complexity. However, traditional CS optimization-based algorithms suffer from manual tuning and pre-definition of optimization parameters, and they generally involve high time and computational complexity for AgileSAR imaging. To address these issues, a pseudo-L0-norm fast iterative shrinkage algorithm network (pseudo-L0-norm FISTA-net) is proposed for AgileSAR imaging via the deep unfolding network in this paper. Firstly, a pseudo-L0-norm regularization model is built by taking an approximately fair penalization rule based on Bayesian estimation. Then, we unfold the operation process of FISTA into a data-driven deep network to solve the pseudo-L0-norm regularization model. The network’s parameters are automatically learned, and the learned network significantly increases imaging speed, so that it can improve the accuracy and efficiency of AgileSAR imaging. In addition, the nonlinearly sparsifying transform can learn more target details than the traditional sparsifying transform. Finally, the simulated and data experiments demonstrate the superiority and efficiency of the pseudo-L0-norm FISTA-net for AgileSAR imaging.
The Dynamic Monitoring and Driving Forces Analysis of Ecological Environment Quality in the Tibetan Plateau Based on the Google Earth Engine
Authors: Airiken Muhadaisi , Li Shuangcheng
Published: February 2024

As a region susceptible to the impacts of climate change, evaluating the temporal and spatial variations in ecological environment quality (EEQ) and potential influencing factors is crucial for ensuring the ecological security of the Tibetan Plateau. This study utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to construct a Remote Sensing-based Ecological Index (RSEI) and examined the temporal and spatial dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau’s EEQ from 2000 to 2022. The findings revealed that the RSEI of the Tibetan Plateau predominantly exhibited a slight degradation trend from 2000 to 2022, with a multi-year average of 0.404. Utilizing SHAP (Shapley Additive Explanation) to interpret XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting), the study identified that natural factors as the primary influencers on the RSEI of the Tibetan Plateau, with temperature, soil moisture, and precipitation variables exhibiting higher SHAP values, indicating their substantial contributions. The interaction between temperature and precipitation showed a positive effect on RSEI, with the SHAP interaction value increasing with rising precipitation. The methodology and results of this study could provide insights for a comprehensive understanding and monitoring of the dynamic evolution of EEQ on the Tibetan Plateau amidst the context of climate change.
A Review of Sensing Technologies for Indoor Autonomous Mobile Robots
Authors: Liu Yu , Wang Shuting , Xie Yuanlong , Xiong Tifan , Wu Mingyuan
Published: February 2024

As a fundamental issue in robotics academia and industry, indoor autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) have been extensively studied. For AMRs, it is crucial to obtain information about their working environment and themselves, which can be realized through sensors and the extraction of corresponding information from the measurements of these sensors. The application of sensing technologies can enable mobile robots to perform localization, mapping, target or obstacle recognition, and motion tasks, etc. This paper reviews sensing technologies for autonomous mobile robots in indoor scenes. The benefits and potential problems of using a single sensor in application are analyzed and compared, and the basic principles and popular algorithms used in processing these sensor data are introduced. In addition, some mainstream technologies of multi-sensor fusion are introduced. Finally, this paper discusses the future development trends in the sensing technology for autonomous mobile robots in indoor scenes, as well as the challenges in the practical application environments.
Data-Driven AI Models within a User-Defined Optimization Objective Function in Cement Production
Authors: Manis Othonas , Skoumperdis Michalis , Kioroglou Christos , Tzilopoulos Dimitrios , Ouzounis Miltos , Loufakis Michalis , Tsalikidis Nikolaos , Kolokas Nikolaos , Georgakis Panagiotis , Panagoulias Ilias , Tsolkas Alexandros , Ioannidis Dimosthenis , Tzovaras Dimitrios , Stankovski Mile
Published: February 2024

This paper explores the energy-intensive cement industry, focusing on a plant in Greece and its mill and kiln unit. The data utilized include manipulated, non-manipulated, and uncontrolled variables. The non-manipulated variables are computed based on the machine learning (ML) models and selected by the minimum value of the normalized root mean square error (NRMSE) across nine (9) methods. In case the distribution of the data displayed in the user interface changes, the user should trigger the retrain of the AI models to ensure their accuracy and robustness. To form the objective function, the expert user should define the desired weight for each manipulated or non-manipulated variable through the user interface (UI), along with its corresponding constraints or target value. The user selects the variables involved in the objective function based on the optimization strategy, and the evaluation is based on the comparison of the optimized and the active value of the objective function. The differential evolution (DE) method optimizes the objective function that is formed by the linear combination of the selected variables. The results indicate that using DE improves the operation of both the cement mill and kiln, yielding a lower objective function value compared to the current values.
Toward Establishing a Tourism Data Space: Innovative Geo-Dashboard Development for Tourism Research and Management
Authors: Ordóñez-Martínez Dolores , Seguí-Pons Joana Maria , Ruiz-Pérez Maurici
Published: February 2024

The data sharing strategy involves understanding the challenges and problems that can be solved through the collaboration of different entities sharing their data. The implementation of a data space in Mallorca is based on understanding the available data and identifying the problems that can be solved using them. The use of data through data spaces will contribute to the transformation of destinations into smart tourism destinations. Smart tourism destinations are considered as smart cities in which the tourism industry offers a new layer of complexity in which technologies, digitalization, and intelligence are powered by data. This study analyzes four scenarios in which geo-dashboards are developed: flood exposure of tourist accommodation, land-cover changes, human pressure, and tourist uses in urban areas. The results of applying the geo-dashboards to these different scenarios provide tourists and destination managers with valuable information for decision-making, highlighting the utility of this type of tool, and laying the foundations for a future tourism data space in Mallorca.
Proof-of-Concept Study on the Feasibility of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide-Assisted Consolidation Treatment for a Pair of Goalkeeper Gloves on Synthetic Latex-Based Foam Mock-Ups
Authors: Tomás Ferreira Joana , Bartoletti Angelica , França de Sá Susana , Quye Anita , Shashoua Yvonne , Casimiro Teresa , Ferreira Joana Lia
Published: February 2024

This work investigates the suitability of supercritical fluid technology for designing a safe, efficient and sustainable consolidation treatment for a pair of heavily degraded goalkeeper gloves. Traditional methods have revealed themselves as unsafe and inefficient, leading to material loss and a minimal enhancement of surface cohesion. To overcome these limitations, the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) was explored in a treatment, where scCO2 behaves as a green solvent and consolidant carrier. In-depth and homogeneous application of the consolidant, without the need for direct contact with the foam material, was sought. As a proof of concept, the procedure was tested on samples that mimic the synthetic latex-based foam composition and condition of the object. Poly(vinyl acetate) was selected as a consolidant because its behaviour and solubility in scCO2 are known. Several experimental conditions were explored to assess the impact and feasibility of the scCO2-assisted consolidation procedure. Empirical observations, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were used to monitor potential modifications in the samples and assess the treatment efficacy. The results highlighted the advantages and pitfalls of scCO2-assisted consolidation, paving the way for fine-tuning the process. It neither damaged the fragile surfaces of the foam samples nor increased material loss, which is an advantage compared to traditional treatments. The performed analysis suggested that homogeneous impregnation of the foams was achieved. This study might be a turning point in the conservation of foam-based museum objects, as the results indicate the suitability of the scCO2-assisted consolidation process as a non-toxic and more efficient alternative, being safer for the object.
Comparison between Post-Fire Analysis and Pre-Fire Risk Assessment According to Various Geospatial Data
Authors: Güngöroğlu Cumhur , İsmailoğlu İrem , Kapukaya Bekir , Özcan Orkan , Yanalak Mustafa , Musaoğlu Nebiye
Published: February 2024

Wildfires in forest ecosystems exert substantial ecological, economic, and social impacts. The effectiveness of fire management hinges on precise pre-fire risk assessments to inform mitigation efforts. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between predictions from pre-fire risk assessments and outcomes observed through post-fire burn severity analyses. In this study, forest fire risk was assessed through the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), in which fire-oriented factors were used as input. The degree of burn was determined by the Random Forest method using 11,519 training points and 400 test points on Sentinel-2 satellite images under three different classes. According to the results obtained from 266 selected test points located within the forest, all primary factors put forth increased high burn severity. Climate, in particular, emerged as the most significant factor, accounting for 52% of the overall impact. However, in cases of high fire severity, climate proved to be the most effective risk factor, accounting for 67%. This was followed by topography with 50% accuracy at a high fire intensity. In the risk assessment based on the FAHP method, climate was assigned the highest weight value among the other factors (32.2%), followed by topography (27%). To evaluate the results more comprehensively, both visually and statistically, two regions with different stand canopy characteristics were selected within the study area. While high burn severity had the highest accuracy in the Case 1 area, moderate burn severity had the highest in the Case 2 area. During the days of the fire, the direction of spreading was obtained from the MODIS images. In this way, the fire severity was also interpreted depending on the direction of fire progression. Through an analysis of various case studies and literature, this research underlines both the inherent strengths and limitations of predicting forest fire behavior-based pre-fire risk assessments. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of continuous improvement to increase the success of forest fire management.
Does Technological Innovation Efficiency Improve the Growth of New Energy Enterprises? Evidence from Listed Companies in China
Authors: Chen Junhua , Li Qiaochu , Zhang Peng , Wang Xinyi
Published: February 2024

With the implementation of “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” in China, new energy enterprises, as the vanguard in this strategy, have entered a new era of innovation-driven development. However, enterprises at different lifecycle stages will face different internal and external conditions, and there are differences in their internal mechanisms and business performance. In this case, whether technological innovation efficiency can have an obviously positive effect on their growth and what different effects it can have for enterprises at different lifecycle stages have become issues of great concern to company management, investors, governments, and other stakeholders. This research takes 81 new Chinese energy enterprises as the research objects. First, they are divided into growing, mature, and declining enterprises based on the cash flow combination method. Then, their technological innovation efficiencies from 2016 to 2021 are calculated based on the stochastic frontier method and their growth evaluations are performed by taking both financial and non-financial indicators into consideration. Finally, by taking mediating effects into consideration, the heterogeneity effects of technological innovation efficiency on their growth are studied from the perspective of enterprise lifecycles based on the fixed-effect model. The research results indicate that the technological innovation efficiency of new Chinese energy enterprises has fluctuated around 0.90 in recent years, and is generally at a high level. The efficiency ranking of enterprises at different lifecycle stages is mature period > growing period > declining period. Technological innovation efficiency has a positive impact on their growth, and market share plays a mediating role in this process. The effects of technological innovation efficiency on enterprises at different stages are different, with growing and mature enterprises showing a positive impact. Growing enterprises are more affected by technological innovation efficiency due to their demand for innovation-driven development, while declining enterprises often face difficulties such as unstable operating conditions and outdated equipment, and unreasonable technological innovations may actually accelerate their decline.
Perceived Value, Place Identity, and Behavioral Intention: An Investigation on the Influence Mechanism of Sustainable Development in Rural Tourism
Authors: Qian Jianwei , Li Xue
Published: February 2024

Rural tourism has been a hot spot in tourism studies in recent years. This research uses Attitude Theory to investigate the influence mechanism of tourists’ perceived value and place identity on their behavioral intention in rural tourism in Zhejiang Province, China. The study adopts the PLS-SEM method to process the data. The results indicate that tourists’ behavioral intention is positively influenced by their perceived value and place identity. Additionally, perceived value has a positive impact on tourists’ place identity, and place identity plays a positive intermediary role between perceived value and behavioral intention. Meanwhile, cultural value is perceived as having the greatest influence on place identity and behavioral intention. Therefore, rural tourist destinations should focus on cultural value and the tourists’ sense of place to promote sustainable rural tourism development.
Impact of Problem-Based Learning on the Perception, Understanding, and Application of Statistical Concepts in Business Administration and Management Students
Authors: Muerza Victoria , Gargallo Pilar , Salvador Manuel , Turón Alberto
Published: February 2024

We investigate the impact of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach supplemented by student-created videos on the teaching of Probability Calculation and Inference Statistics in Business Administration and Management Studies. To that aim, we analyse survey results gathered from a sample of students from the Business Administration and Management and Law-Business Administration and Management degrees at the University of Zaragoza who participated in the PBL experience, focusing on their perceptions, skill development, dynamics of collaboration, and communication with teachers and classmates. Additionally, a comparative study of their final grades is conducted, comparing them with that obtained by students who did not engage in PBL. Our findings reveal that PBL significantly enhances students’ understanding and motivation, along with their communication with teachers, particularly among repeating students, and teamwork skills, particularly among beginners. Furthermore, students participating in PBL activities tended to achieve significantly higher grades than their nonparticipating counterparts did. Moreover, our study contributes to the discourse on sustainable education by highlighting the potential of PBL as a pedagogical approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. By promoting active learning, collaborative problem solving, and communication skills, PBL fosters a culture of lifelong learning and empowers students to address real-world challenges in a sustainable manner. These findings have implications for educators, policymakers, and researchers seeking to promote sustainability in higher education through effective pedagogical practices.
Combination of Photo-Fenton and Granular Activated Carbon for the Removal of Microcontaminants from Municipal Wastewater via an Acidic Dye
Authors: Núñez-Tafalla Paula , Salmerón Irene , Venditti Silvia , Hansen Joachim
Published: February 2024

Combining photo-Fenton and granular activated carbon (GAC) is an alternative to increase the feasibility of using photo-Fenton in full scale. This work is a preliminary study of its viability at natural pH. Both technologies were applied separately and compared with their combination, GAC filtration instead of batch mode, to achieve an approach close to full scale. The target compound considered in this investigation was indigo carmine as a hydroxyl radicals’ probe. The results show that 80% removal of the target compound could be achieved when 20 min of the photo-Fenton treatment time was applied with the optimal dosing of the reagents (5 mg L−1 of iron and 40 mg L−1 of H2O2) working at natural conditions and using ethylenediamine-N,N-disuccinic acid as a chelating agent. Two GAC types, fresh GAC and regenerated, were evaluated on Rapid Small-Scale Columns showing similar breakthroughs and close capacity to adsorb the target compound per gram of GAC. Combining the technologies, with photo-Fenton as the first step and GAC as the second, was performed with 5 min of photo-Fenton treatment time. The 80% removal was maintained during 340 and 170 bed volumes for fresh and regenerated GAC, respectively. Aiming to achieve the maximum reduction of irradiation, 75% of the energy consumption was saved compared to the standalone photo-Fenton process, and the GAC life was extended to a maximum of 7 times.
Bi-Concave Functions Connected with the Combination of the Binomial Series and the Confluent Hypergeometric Function
Authors: Srivastava Hari M. , El-Deeb Sheza M. , Breaz Daniel , Cotîrlă Luminita-Ioana , Sălăgean Grigore Stefan
Published: February 2024

In this article, we first define and then propose to systematically study some new subclasses of the class of analytic and bi-concave functions in the open unit disk. For this purpose, we make use of a combination of the binomial series and the confluent hypergeometric function. Among some other properties and results, we derive the estimates on the initial Taylor-Maclaurin coefficients |a2| and |a3| for functions in these analytic and bi-concave function classes, which are introduced in this paper. We also derive a number of corollaries and consequences of our main results in this paper.
On the Hole Argument and the Physical Interpretation of General Relativity
Authors: de Haro Jaume de
Published: February 2024

Einstein presented the Hole Argument against General Covariance, understood as invariance with respect to a change in coordinates, as a consequence of his initial failure to obtain covariant equations that, in the weak static limit, contain Newton’s law. Fortunately, about two years later, Einstein returned to General Covariance, and found these famous equations of gravity. However, the rejection of his Hole Argument carries a totally different vision of space-time. Its substantivalism notion, which is an essential ingredient in Newtonian theory and also in his special theory of relativity, has to be replaced, following Descartes and Leibniz’s relationalism, by a set of “point-coincidences”.
Comparative Assessment for Holistic Evaluation of Drive Systems
Authors: Mieth Raphael , Gauterin Frank
Published: February 2024

The development of vehicle drive systems targets different goals, which are partly contradictory. While the focus is often on increasing efficiency and—depending on the type of drive system—performance, the aim is to simultaneously reduce costs, weight, and volume as much as possible. This goal generally presents a conflict of objectives; for example, a gain in efficiency usually correlates with higher costs, or an increase in performance reduces the maximum achievable efficiency. Therefore, each drive system represents a compromise among these goals, and depending on the main focus, the development can be influenced. The methods presented in this work serve as a methodological framework for the evaluation of vehicle drive systems. The procedure involves evaluating different drive concepts based on defined criteria and comparing these evaluations with one another. These criteria can be selected freely and weighted differently, depending on the individual focus. In the sense of a holistic assessment, a system evaluation factor ultimately serves as an indicator, which is composed of the rating values of the individual criteria, taking into account their specific weightings. With the help of the novel method presented in this paper, the complexity of comparing differently designed powertrains is reduced, and a holistic assessment covering relevant viewpoints is possible. Such an all-encompassing view is helpful in the early development phase and is required as an evaluation basis for further, groundbreaking decisions in concept development.
Model-Based Construction of Wastewater Treatment Plant Influent Data for Simulation Studies
Authors: Alex Jens
Published: February 2024

The quality of simulations for wastewater treatment plants is heavily dependent on the quality of the simulation input data. Inflow data from wastewater treatment plants collected by measurement cannot usually be used directly for a wastewater treatment plant simulation. A method is presented with which dynamic inflow descriptions for simulation studies can be generated from typical operational measurements. These are volume-proportional 24 h composite samples and continuously recorded inflow water flow rates. To derive the method, a deterministic model was first developed to describe typical dry weather daily inflow concentration patterns and validated for a larger number of measured daily inflow measurements (2 h composite samples). In the second part of the article, the method is then developed with which the dynamic wastewater treatment plant inflow can be calculated for a longer period of time from the modelled dry weather daily inflow and a high-resolution time series of measured flow rates. This dynamic inflow can be used to validate wastewater treatment plant models if additional online measurements for effluent concentrations (e.g., NH4-N and NO3-N) are available. The proposed method is highly suitable for calculating an online estimate of the influent concentrations, which can be used as input information for digital twins, such as observer models and predictive controllers, based solely on the online measurement of the influent flow rate.
Influence of propylene glycol and succinic acid on metabolism processes in pregnant ewes and their offspring
Authors:   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Kursk State Agrarian University named after I. I. Ivanova”, Russia, Kursk, Ryzhkova G. F. , Nikitaeva N. N. ,   Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Kursk State Agrarian University named after I. I. Ivanova”, Russia, Kursk
Published: February 2024

Sheep farming is an important branch of the world’s livestock industry producing valuable food products and raw materials for industry. In terms of the variety of products produced, it has no equal among productive livestock farming sectors. Sheep farming produces valuable types of raw materials for light industry (wool, lamb pelt, fur, fur coats and leather sheepskins) and food products (meat, dairy products, etc.). The purpose of the research was to study the characteristics of metabolic processes in Romanov breed ewes during pregnancy and their off spring using succinic acid and propylene glycol, both separately and in its combination. In order to carry out the experiment, 3 groups of ewes analogues at the age of fi rst pregnancy per 10 heads in each were formed. Pregnant ewes of the 1st experimental group received the basic diet + succinic acid, and those of the 2nd experimental group received the basic diet + succinic acid + propylene glycol. The control group received only the basic diet. By 5 months of age the live weight of lambs obtained from ewes of the 1st experimental group was 1,1 % more than in the control group. The live weight of young animals from ewes of the 2nd experimental group exceeded the control by 9,5 % (p ≤ 0,05) and the 1st experimental group by 8,3 % (p ≤ 0,05), respectively. Thus, the study of the characteristics of metabolic processes in Romanov breed ewes during pregnancy and their off spring using succinic acid and propylene glycol, both separately and in its combination showed the positive effect of the tested additives. The best effect was exerted by the combined use of succinic acid and propylene glycol, which was confirmed by the results of a production test.