bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Curriculum-reinforcement learning on simulation platform of tendon-driven high-degree of freedom underactuated manipulator
Authors: Or Keung , Wu Kehua , Nakano Kazashi , Ikeda Masahiro , Ando Mitsuhito , Kuniyoshi Yasuo , Niiyama Ryuma
Published: July 2023

A high degree of freedom (DOF) benefits manipulators by presenting various postures when reaching a target. Using a tendon-driven system with an underactuated structure can provide flexibility and weight reduction to such manipulators. The design and control of such a composite system are challenging owing to its complicated architecture and modeling difficulties. In our previous study, we developed a tendon-driven, high-DOF underactuated manipulator inspired from an ostrich neck referred to as the Robostrich arm. This study particularly focused on the control problems and simulation development of such a tendon-driven high-DOF underactuated manipulator. We proposed a curriculum-based reinforcement-learning approach. Inspired by human learning, progressing from simple to complex tasks, the Robostrich arm can obtain manipulation abilities by step-by-step reinforcement learning ranging from simple position control tasks to practical application tasks. In addition, an approach was developed to simulate tendon-driven manipulation with a complicated structure. The results show that the Robostrich arm can continuously reach various targets and simultaneously maintain its tip at the desired orientation while mounted on a mobile platform in the presence of perturbation. These results show that our system can achieve flexible manipulation ability even if vibrations are presented by locomotion.
Optimizing human-robot handovers: the impact of adaptive transport methods
Authors: Käppler Marco , Mamaev Ilshat , Alagi Hosam , Stein Thorsten , Deml Barbara
Published: July 2023

Humans are increasingly coming into direct physical contact with robots in the context of object handovers. The technical development of robots is progressing so that handovers can be better adapted to humans. An important criterion for successful handovers between robots and humans is the predictability of the robot for the human. The better humans can anticipate the robot’s actions, the better they can adapt to them and thus achieve smoother handovers. In the context of this work, it was investigated whether a highly adaptive transport method of the object, adapted to the human hand, leads to better handovers than a non-adaptive transport method with a predefined target position. To ensure robust handovers at high repetition rates, a Franka Panda robotic arm with a gripper equipped with an Intel RealSense camera and capacitive proximity sensors in the gripper was used. To investigate the handover behavior, a study was conducted with n = 40 subjects, each performing 40 handovers in four consecutive runs. The dependent variables examined are physical handover time, early handover intervention before the robot reaches its target position, and subjects’ subjective ratings. The adaptive transport method does not result in significantly higher mean physical handover times than the non-adaptive transport method. The non-adaptive transport method does not lead to a significantly earlier handover intervention in the course of the runs than the adaptive transport method. Trust in the robot and the perception of safety are rated significantly lower for the adaptive transport method than for the non-adaptive transport method. The physical handover time decreases significantly for both transport methods within the first two runs. For both transport methods, the percentage of handovers with a physical handover time between 0.1 and 0.2 s increases sharply, while the percentage of handovers with a physical handover time of >0.5 s decreases sharply. The results can be explained by theories of motor learning. From the experience of this study, an increased understanding of motor learning and adaptation in the context of human-robot interaction can be of great benefit for further technical development in robotics and for the industrial use of robots.
Application of machine learning and deep neural networks for spatial prediction of groundwater nitrate concentration to improve land use management practices
Authors: Karimanzira Divas , Weis Jonas , Wunsch Andreas , Ritzau Linda , Liesch Tanja , Ohmer Marc
Published: July 2023

The prediction of groundwater nitrate concentration's response to geo-environmental and human-influenced factors is essential to better restore groundwater quality and improve land use management practices. In this paper, we regionalize groundwater nitrate concentration using different machine learning methods (Random forest (RF), unimodal 2D and 3D convolutional neural networks (CNN), and multi-stream early and late fusion 2D-CNNs) so that the nitrate situation in unobserved areas can be predicted. CNNs take into account not only the nitrate values of the grid cells of the observation wells but also the values around them. This has the added benefit of allowing them to learn directly about the influence of the surroundings. The predictive performance of the models was tested on a dataset from a pilot region in Germany, and the results show that, in general, all the machine learning models, after a Bayesian optimization hyperparameter search and training, achieve good spatial predictive performance compared to previous studies based on Kriging and numerical models. Based on the mean absolute error (MAE), the random forest model and the 2DCNN late fusion model performed best with an MAE (STD) of 9.55 (0.367) mg/l, R2= 0.43 and 10.32 (0.27) mg/l, R2= 0.27, respectively. The 3DCNN with an MAE (STD) of 11.66 (0.21) mg/l and largest resources consumption is the worst performing model. Feature importance learning from the models was used in conjunction with partial dependency analysis of the most important features to gain greater insight into the major factors explaining the nitrate spatial variability. Large uncertainties in nitrate prediction have been shown in previous studies. Therefore, the models were extended to quantify uncertainty using prediction intervals (PIs) derived from bootstrapping. Knowledge of uncertainty helps the water manager reduce risk and plan more reliably.
Study on Low-Velocity Impact Performance of Coal-Based Carbon Foam Sandwich Structures in Thermal Protection Systems
Authors: Zhuang Qikai , Yue Peijie , Li Kai , Guo Xin , Cheng Xiaoquan
Published: July 2023

Coal-based carbon foam (CCF) has been widely used in the hypersonic vehicles’ thermal protection system (TPS) due to its good thermal insulation and mechanical properties. In addition, CCF can absorb large quantities of energy when crushed so that the CCF sandwich structure can effectively improve the impact resistance of the TPS. However, there are few studies on the impact performance of CCF sandwich structures, even the mechanical constitutive model (MCM) of CCF. This research work built the CCF MCM and studied the low-velocity impact properties. A large number of experiments were implemented to establish an effective and comprehensive CCF MCM which has three parts: basic mechanical properties, multiaxial loading failure criteria, and hardening rules. A series of tests on the low-velocity impact performance of two CCF sandwich structures were carried out, and finite element models (FEMs) were established according to the CCF MCM to simulate these tests. The experimental and simulation results were in good agreement. The impact damage mechanism was revealed by the tests and the FEMs. The MCM can be used not only for the simulation of low-velocity impact process but also for failure analysis of other CCF structures, which will help to design CCF structures at a low cost.
Trichosporon asahii Infective Endocarditis of Prosthetic Valve: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Mulè Alice , Rossini Francesco , Sollima Alessio , Lenzi Angelica , Fumarola Benedetta , Amadasi Silvia , Chiari Erika , Lorenzotti Silvia , Saccani Barbara , Van Hauwermeiren Evelyn , Lanza Paola , Matteelli Alberto , Castelli Francesco , Signorini Liana
Published: July 2023

Trichosporon spp. endocarditis is a severe and hard-to-treat infection. Immunosuppressed subjects and carriers of prosthetic valves or intracardiac devices are at risk. This article presents the case of an immunocompetent 74-year-old man affected by endocarditis of the prosthetic aortic valve. After Bentall surgery, cultures of the removed valve demonstrated Trichosporon ashaii as the etiological agent. The patient was treated with amphotericin B at first and subsequently with fluconazole. Given the fragility of the patient and the aggressiveness of the pathogen, life-long prophylactic therapy with fluconazole was prescribed. After 5 years follow-up, no drug-related toxicities were reported and the patient never showed any signs of recurrence. The review of the literature illustrates that Trichosporon spp. endocarditis may present even many years after heart surgery, and it is often associated with massive valve vegetations, severe embolic complications, and unfavorable outcome. Due to the absence of international guidelines, there is no unanimous therapeutic approach, but amphotericin B and azoles are usually prescribed. Additionally, a prompt surgical intervention seems to be of paramount importance. When dealing with a life-threatening disease, such as mycotic endocarditis of prosthetic valves, it is essential to consider and treat even rare etiological agents such as Trichosporon spp.
Placental-Derived Biomaterials and Their Application to Wound Healing: A Review
Authors: Protzman Nicole M. , Mao Yong , Long Desiree , Sivalenka Raja , Gosiewska Anna , Hariri Robert J. , Brigido Stephen A.
Published: July 2023

Chronic wounds are associated with considerable patient morbidity and present a significant economic burden to the healthcare system. Often, chronic wounds are in a state of persistent inflammation and unable to progress to the next phase of wound healing. Placental-derived biomaterials are recognized for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifibrotic, immunomodulatory, and immune privileged properties. As such, placental-derived biomaterials have been used in wound management for more than a century. Placental-derived scaffolds are composed of extracellular matrix (ECM) that can mimic the native tissue, creating a reparative environment to promote ECM remodeling, cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Reliable evidence exists throughout the literature to support the safety and effectiveness of placental-derived biomaterials in wound healing. However, differences in source (i.e., anatomical regions of the placenta), preservation techniques, decellularization status, design, and clinical application have not been fully evaluated. This review provides an overview of wound healing and placental-derived biomaterials, summarizes the clinical results of placental-derived scaffolds in wound healing, and suggests directions for future work.
Semi-Supervised Segmentation of Interstitial Lung Disease Patterns from CT Images via Self-Training with Selective Re-Training
Authors: Cai Guang-Wei , Liu Yun-Bi , Feng Qian-Jin , Liang Rui-Hong , Zeng Qing-Si , Deng Yu , Yang Wei
Published: July 2023

Accurate segmentation of interstitial lung disease (ILD) patterns from computed tomography (CT) images is an essential prerequisite to treatment and follow-up. However, it is highly time-consuming for radiologists to pixel-by-pixel segment ILD patterns from CT scans with hundreds of slices. Consequently, it is hard to obtain large amounts of well-annotated data, which poses a huge challenge for data-driven deep learning-based methods. To alleviate this problem, we propose an end-to-end semi-supervised learning framework for the segmentation of ILD patterns (ESSegILD) from CT images via self-training with selective re-training. The proposed ESSegILD model is trained using a large CT dataset with slice-wise sparse annotations, i.e., only labeling a few slices in each CT volume with ILD patterns. Specifically, we adopt a popular semi-supervised framework, i.e., Mean-Teacher, that consists of a teacher model and a student model and uses consistency regularization to encourage consistent outputs from the two models under different perturbations. Furthermore, we propose introducing the latest self-training technique with a selective re-training strategy to select reliable pseudo-labels generated by the teacher model, which are used to expand training samples to promote the student model during iterative training. By leveraging consistency regularization and self-training with selective re-training, our proposed ESSegILD can effectively utilize unlabeled data from a partially annotated dataset to progressively improve the segmentation performance. Experiments are conducted on a dataset of 67 pneumonia patients with incomplete annotations containing over 11,000 CT images with eight different lung patterns of ILDs, with the results indicating that our proposed method is superior to the state-of-the-art methods.
Biomimetics Design of Tooth Root Zone at Cylindrical Gears Profile
Authors: Atanasovska Ivana , Momcilovic Dejan , Lazovic Tatjana , Marinkovic Aleksandar , Soldat Natasa
Published: July 2023

During the last few decades, the requirements for modern machine elements in terms of size reduction, increasing the energy efficiency, and a higher load capacity of standard and non-standard gears have been very prevalent issues. Within these demands, the main goals are the optimization of the gears’ tooth profiles, as well as the investigation of new tooth profile designs. The presented design idea is based on the optimal solutions inspired by nature. Special attention is paid to the new design of the tooth root zones of spur gears in order to decrease the stress concentration values and increase the tooth root fatigue resistance. The finite element method is used for stress and strain state calculations, and the particular gear pair is modeled and optimized for these purposes. For tooth root strength analysis, the estimations are based on the theory of critical distances and the stress gradients obtained through finite element analysis. The obtained stress gradients have shown important improvements in the stress distribution in the transition zone optimized by biomimetics. An analysis of the material variation influence is also performed. Based on the investigations of a particular gear pair, a significant stress reduction of about 7% for steel gears and about 10.3% for cast iron gears is obtained for tooth roots optimized by bio-inspired design.
Study of the Effects of Physical-Activity Practice and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet on Emotional Intelligence in Elementary School Education Students
Authors: Melguizo-Ibáñez Eduardo , Ubago-Jiménez José Luis , González-Valero Gabriel , Badicu Georgian , Al-Mhanna Sameer Badri , Puertas-Molero Pilar
Published: July 2023

Research shows that regular physical exercise and a healthy lifestyle have a beneficial effect on the health of adolescents. Other studies have also shown that gender is also a determining factor when it comes to leading an active and healthy lifestyle. The aims of this study are (a) to develop a structural-equation model formed by the variables of emotional intelligence, physical-activity practice, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet and (b) to consider that model through a multigroup analysis. A descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample consisted of 567 primary school students. The KIDMED, PAQ-C, and TMMS-24 questionnaires were used for data collection. We found that there are differences in the effects of the practice of physical activity and adherence to the Mediterranean diet on the emotional domain. We also concluded that, during adolescence, gender is a key element in acquiring a healthy and active lifestyle.
The Role of Blockchain in Medical Data Sharing
Authors: Taherdoost Hamed
Published: July 2023

As medical technology advances, there is an increasing need for healthcare providers all over the world to securely share a growing volume of data. Blockchain is a powerful technology that allows multiple parties to securely access and share data. Given the enormous challenge that healthcare systems face in digitizing and sharing health records, it is not unexpected that many are attempting to improve healthcare processes by utilizing blockchain technology. By systematically examining articles published from 2017 to 2022, this review addresses the existing gap by methodically discussing the state, research trends, and challenges of blockchain in medical data exchange. The number of articles on this issue has increased, reflecting the growing importance and interest in blockchain research for medical data exchange. Recent blockchain-based medical data sharing advances include safe healthcare management systems, health data architectures, smart contract frameworks, and encryption approaches. The evaluation examines medical data encryption, blockchain networks, and how the Internet of Things (IoT) improves hospital workflows. The findings show that blockchain can improve patient care and healthcare services by securely sharing data.
Modeling of Evaporation Rate for Peatland Fire Prevention Using Internet of Things (IoT) System
Authors: Li Lu , Sali Aduwati , Noordin Nor Kamariah , Ismail Alyani , Hashim Fazirulhisyam , Rasid Mohd Fadlee A. , Hanafi Marsyita , Razali Sheriza Mohd , Aziz Nurizana Amir , Sukaesih Sitanggang Imas , Syaufina Lailan , Nurhayati Ati Dwi
Published: July 2023

Peatland refers to the peat soil and wetland biological environment growing on the surface. However, unexpected fires in peatlands frequently have brought severe greenhouse gas emissions and transboundary haze to Southeast Asia. To alleviate this issue, this paper first establishes an Internet of Things (IoT) system for peatland monitoring and management in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve (RMFR) in Selangor, Malaysia, and proposes a more efficient and low-complexity model for calculating the Duff Moisture Code (DMC) in peatland forests using groundwater level (GWL) and relative humidity. The feasibility of the IoT system is verified by comparing its data with those published by Malaysian Meteorological Department (METMalaysia). The proposed Linear_DMC Model and Linear_Mixed_DMC Model are compared with the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) model, and their performance is evaluated using IoT measurement data and actual values published by METMalaysia. The results show that the correlation between the measured data of the IoT system and the data from METMalaysia within the same duration is larger than 0.84, with a mean square error (MSE) of 2.56, and a correlation of 0.91 can be achieved between calculated DMC using the proposed model and actual values. This finding is of great significance for predicting peatland forest fires in the field and providing the basis for fire prevention and decision making to improve disaster prevention and reduction.
Brand Equity, Tourist Satisfaction and Travel Intentions in a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy: A Case Study of Yangzhou, China
Authors: Jiang Fei , Huang Rong , Chen Qian , Zhang Jinhua
Published: July 2023

Food is an indispensable part of destination tourism resources and attractions, playing a vital role in the marketing and promotion of the destination. Food can also be viewed as an important brand that the destination can develop. Yangzhou has been listed as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy since 2019, and the government aims to enhance the food brand for the city. This study attempts to assess the impact of a destination’s food brand equity on tourist satisfaction and travel intentions, and to evaluate the potential of developing food tourism. Questionnaires were conducted with 481 tourists, followed by semi-structured interviews with 29 tourists. A structural equation modelling analysis addressed the positive relationships among destination food brand equity, tourist satisfaction and travel intentions. A qualitative analysis contributes to further clarifying the relationships of the model. Implications for theory, research and practice are discussed.
Complexation of Boron and Aluminum with a Bidentate Hydroxy-BN-naphthalene Ligand
Authors: Appiarius Yannik , Puylaert Pim , Werthschütz Julius , Neudecker Tim , Staubitz Anne
Published: July 2023

The isoelectronic relationship of 1,2-azaborinine (B=N structural motif) and benzene (C=C) is well documented. Upon deprotonation of the former, the anionic 1,2-azaboratabenzene is obtained, which is isosteric with pyridine (C=N) and has a similar capability as an aromatic N-donor. We present the complexation of boron and aluminum precursors with a κ2-N,O-donating 8-hydroxy-BN-naphthalene ligand (H2(BQ), 1). Six chelate complexes with 1:1 and 2:1 stoichiometries were isolated and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis and NMR spectroscopy. Comparing the isosteric dimethylaluminum complexes of H2(BQ) and an 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ’, 2) as a reference allowed us to quantify the influence of a formal substitution of carbon by boron on the structure and the electronic properties: While the structural parameters of the ligands were similar, the electropositive boron atom affected the electron density distributions within the complexes substantially. As the consequence, the Al–N bond was significantly shortened, and the aluminum atom showed a different coordination geometry than in the quinoline analog. Moreover, strong hypsochromic shifts of both the absorption and the emission were observed. The results highlight that the differences between CN and BN polyaromatic complexes are more distinct than between equally charged BN and CC congeners.
Anthraquinone-Quinizarin Copolymer as a Promising Electrode Material for High-Performance Lithium and Potassium Batteries
Authors: Shchurik Elena V. , Kraevaya Olga A. , Vasil’ev Sergey G. , Zhidkov Ivan S. , Kurmaev Ernst Z. , Shestakov Alexander F. , Troshin Pavel A.
Published: July 2023

The growing demand for cheap, safe, recyclable, and environmentally friendly batteries highlights the importance of the development of organic electrode materials. Here, we present a novel redox-active polymer comprising a polyaniline-type conjugated backbone and quinizarin and anthraquinone units. The synthesized polymer was explored as a cathode material for batteries, and it delivered promising performance characteristics in both lithium and potassium cells. Excellent lithiation efficiency enabled high discharge capacity values of >400 mA g−1 in combination with good stability upon charge–discharge cycling. Similarly, the potassium cells with the polymer-based cathodes demonstrated a high discharge capacity of >200 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 and impressive stability: no capacity deterioration was observed for over 3000 cycles at 11 A g−1, which was among the best results reported for K ion battery cathodes to date. The synthetic availability and low projected cost of the designed material paves a way to its practical implementation in scalable and inexpensive organic batteries, which are emerging as a sustainable energy storage technology.
The Versatile Biocatalyst of Cytochrome P450 CYP102A1: Structure, Function, and Engineering
Authors: Sun Yudong , Huang Xiaoqiang , Osawa Yoichi , Chen Yuqing Eugene , Zhang Haoming
Published: July 2023

Wild-type cytochrome P450 CYP102A1 from Bacillus megaterium is a highly efficient monooxygenase for the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids. The unique features of CYP102A1, such as high catalytic activity, expression yield, regio- and stereoselectivity, and self-sufficiency in electron transfer as a fusion protein, afford the requirements for an ideal biocatalyst. In the past three decades, remarkable progress has been made in engineering CYP102A1 for applications in drug discovery, biosynthesis, and biotechnology. The repertoire of engineered CYP102A1 variants has grown tremendously, whereas the substrate repertoire is avalanched to encompass alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, organic solvents, pharmaceuticals, drugs, and many more. In this article, we highlight the major advances in the past five years in our understanding of the structure and function of CYP102A1 and the methodologies used to engineer CYP102A1 for novel applications. The objective is to provide a succinct review of the latest developments with reference to the body of CYP102A1-related literature.
Store-Operated Calcium Entry Inhibition and Plasma Membrane Calcium Pump Upregulation Contribute to the Maintenance of Resting Cytosolic Calcium Concentration in A1-like Astrocytes
Authors: Poejo Joana , Berrocal María , Saez Lucía , Gutierrez-Merino Carlos , Mata Ana M.
Published: July 2023

Highly neurotoxic A1-reactive astrocytes have been associated with several human neurodegenerative diseases. Complement protein C3 expression is strongly upregulated in A1 astrocytes, and this protein has been shown to be a specific biomarker of these astrocytes. Several cytokines released in neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to upregulate the production of amyloid β protein precursor (APP) and neurotoxic amyloid β (Aβ) peptides in reactive astrocytes. Also, aberrant Ca2+ signals have been proposed as a hallmark of astrocyte functional remodeling in Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. In this work, we induced the generation of A1-like reactive astrocytes after the co-treatment of U251 human astroglioma cells with a cocktail of the cytokines TNF-α, IL1-α and C1q. These A1-like astrocytes show increased production of APP and Aβ peptides compared to untreated U251 cells. Additionally, A1-like astrocytes show a (75 ± 10)% decrease in the Ca2+ stored in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), (85 ± 10)% attenuation of Ca2+ entry after complete Ca2+ depletion of the ER, and three-fold upregulation of plasma membrane calcium pump expression, with respect to non-treated Control astrocytes. These altered intracellular Ca2+ dynamics allow A1-like astrocytes to efficiently counterbalance the enhanced release of Ca2+ from the ER, preventing a rise in the resting cytosolic Ca2+ concentration.
Engineered Lipidic Nanomaterials Inspired by Sphingomyelin Metabolism for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Zhu Han , Chen Hua-Jie , Wen Hai-Yan , Wang Zhi-Gang , Liu Shu-Lin
Published: July 2023

Sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites are crucial regulators of tumor cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and programmed cell death. With the rise in lipid-based nanomaterials, engineered lipidic nanomaterials inspired by SM metabolism, corresponding lipid targeting, and signaling activation have made fascinating advances in cancer therapeutic processes. In this review, we first described the specific pathways of SM metabolism and the roles of their associated bioactive molecules in mediating cell survival or death. We next summarized the advantages and specific applications of SM metabolism-based lipidic nanomaterials in specific cancer therapies. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of this emerging and promising SM metabolism-based nanomaterials research area.
Pathological Role of Oxidative Stress in Aflatoxin-Induced Toxicity in Different Experimental Models and Protective Effect of Phytochemicals: A Review
Authors: Jobe Martha Cebile , Mthiyane Doctor M. N. , Dludla Phiwayinkosi V. , Mazibuko-Mbeje Sithandiwe E. , Onwudiwe Damian C. , Mwanza Mulunda
Published: July 2023

Aflatoxin B1 is a secondary metabolite with a potentially devastating effect in causing liver damage in broiler chickens, and this is mainly facilitated through the generation of oxidative stress and malonaldehyde build-up. In the past few years, significant progress has been made in controlling the invasion of aflatoxins. Phytochemicals are some of the commonly used molecules endowed with potential therapeutic effects to ameliorate aflatoxin, by inhibiting the production of reactive oxygen species and enhancing intracellular antioxidant enzymes. Experimental models involving cell cultures and broiler chickens exposed to aflatoxin or contaminated diet have been used to investigate the ameliorative effects of phytochemicals against aflatoxin toxicity. Electronic databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to identify relevant data sources. The retrieved information reported on the link between aflatoxin B1-included cytotoxicity and the ameliorative potential/role of phytochemicals in chickens. Importantly, retrieved data showed that phytochemicals may potentially protect against aflatoxin B1-induced cytotoxicity by ameliorating oxidative stress and enhancing intracellular antioxidants. Preclinical data indicate that activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), together with its downstream antioxidant genes, may be a potential therapeutic mechanism by which phytochemicals neutralize oxidative stress. This highlights the need for more research to determine whether phytochemicals can be considered a useful therapeutic intervention in controlling mycotoxins to improve broiler health and productivity.
A Fitting Method of Inverting Ozone Concentration Profile Using Ultraviolet Differential Charge-Coupled Device Imaging Lidar
Authors: Shan Huihui , Zhang Hui , Ma Xiaomin , Cao Kaifa , Ji Chengli , Tao Zongming , Han Jiajia , Wang Shenhao , Zhao Shaoqing , Qi Junli , Wang Zhenzhu , Liu Dong
Published: July 2023

Ozone near the surface of the atmosphere directly stimulates the human respiratory tract and affects human health. In recent years, ozone pollution in China has become a serious problem, so controlling ozone pollution is an urgent task. Differential absorption lidar is a useful tool for detecting ozone concentration, but it cannot receive complete signals in the lower hundreds of meters because of the overlap factor. CCD imaging lidar technology can effectively solve this problem. A fitting method of inverting the ozone concentration profile using ultraviolet differential CCD imaging lidar is proposed in this paper. The effect of three different types of aerosol extinction coefficient, three different types of ozone concentration, and five different types of aerosol wavelength index on retrieving ozone concentrations was analyzed using simulation. For clean aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 5%. As to polluted aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 10%. As to heavily polluted aerosol, the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration is less than 25%. The results show that the larger the value of the aerosol extinction coefficient, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration; meanwhile, the lower the ozone concentration, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration; at the same time, the further the aerosol wavelength index deviates from 1, the larger the relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration. The relative error of the retrieved ozone concentration in this case was about 4%. It is shown that this fitting method of retrieving ozone concentrations is reasonable and feasible.
Resolution and Remote Real Presence: How Does Preaching Relate to the Eucharist in Remote Worship?
Authors: Leitzke Timothy Andrew
Published: July 2023

Liturgical renewal has emphasized the partnership of preaching and Eucharist. What does this partnership look like in the new reality of remote preaching and worship? The church has largely ignored this partnership in conversations about remote worship. Official statements treat preaching as necessary while discouraging or forbidding remote celebrations of the Eucharist. The work of pre-pandemic theologians to foster this partnership suggests that not only is remote Eucharist possible, but it is preferable to holding remote worship without Eucharist. This article makes that claim, emphasizing preaching and Eucharist as two pieces of a single liturgical action. In doing so, it breaks with theologians who emphasized the partnership between preaching and Eucharist before the pandemic but have opposed remote Eucharist once it was being practiced widely.
A Comparison of Quantitative Composition and Bioactivity of Oils Derived from Seven North American Varieties of Hops (Humulus lupulus L.)
Authors: Móricz Ágnes M. , Bartoszek Mariola , Polak Justyna , Marczewska Patrycja , Knaś Magdalena , Böszörményi Andrea , Fodor József , Kowalska Teresa , Sajewicz Mieczysław
Published: July 2023

Seven commercial hop (Humulus lupulus L.) oils originating from a selection of North American hop varieties (Amarillo, Azacca, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Saaz, and Ahhhroma) and six homemade hop oils hydrodistilled from the same commercial hop pellets (except Ahhhroma) were compared. Seven terpenes regarded as hop oil markers (i.e., α-pinene, β-pinene, β-myrcene, β-ocimene, limonene, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene) and methyl heptanoate were identified and quantified by GC–MS and GC-FID. The antioxidant potential of the commercial hop oil samples was evaluated using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, while their components’ antibacterial (against Aliivibrio fischeri) and enzyme (α-glucosidase and lipase) inhibition activities were screened using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-based assays. A distinct feature of five of the commercial hop oils (except Saaz and Ahhhroma) was relatively high contents of β-myrcene (between 4.21 and 6.40 µg mg−1 hop oil). Azacca, Cascade, and Centennial hydrodistilled oils had perceptibly higher contents of β-caryophyllene than the rest, and most of them (except Chinook) contained relatively high amounts of α-humulene. Differences between the terpene profiles of the commercial and homemade hydrodistilled hop oils suggested that the commercial hop oils were derived from hop cones in a process different from hydrodistillation. The oils showed relatively low antioxidant potential, comparable to that of popular beers and white wines. The highest antioxidant potential was observed in Ahhhroma oil, while it was very low in Centennial oil, and no antioxidant potential was observed in Cascade and Saaz oils. The developed streamlined workflow, including parallel HPTLC-directed bioassays and HPTLC—TLC–MS Interface—SPME–GC–MS, enabled the identification of β-myrcene, dimyrcenes, β-farnesene, and 2-methylbutyl isobutyrate as anti-obesity compounds and β-farnesene, β-myrcene, and 2-methylbutyl isobutyrate as weak antibacterial hop oil components.
A Food Policy Council Guide for Extension Professionals
Authors: Fitzgerald Nurgul , Morgan Kathleen
Published: July 2023

Public interest in food systems and national prevention strategies focusing on cross-sectoral, community and systems level approaches paved the way for growing numbers of food policy councils. These councils function as organizations to discuss food-related problems, foster coordination across sectors, and influence food policies. Extension professionals can serve as "change agents," bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, form cross-sectoral collaborations, take leadership roles, and build community capacity through food policy councils. Based on expert interviews and our experiences in establishing a council, we present practice recommendations to serve as a concise how to guide for Extension professionals.
Virtual Focus Groups in Extension: A Useful Approach to Audience Analysis
Authors: Warner Laura
Published: July 2023

As change agents, Extension educators may begin their program planning by identifying the audience's perceived barriers and benefits to adopting some behavior that will benefit the community. Extension professionals and researchers have used in-person focus groups to understand an audience, and they can also administer them as technology-based virtual focus groups. This article discusses the benefits and disadvantages of using this methodology and presents recommended best management practices.
Developing a Promotional Video
Authors: Epley Hannah
Published: July 2023

There is a need for Extension professionals to show clientele the benefits of their program. This article shares how promotional videos are one way of reaching audiences online. An example is given on how a promotional video has been used and developed using iMovie software. Tips are offered for how professionals can create a promotional video and share it with audiences.
Calculating the "Green" Impact of Online Extension Programs
Authors: Bardon Robert , Taylor Eric , Hubbard William , Gharis Laurie
Published: July 2023

The environmental and economic benefits achieved by participants in an e-learning event are often overlooked by Extension educators, even though they are easy to calculate based on some basic information often collected from participants. To help make it easier to calculate these benefits, which are referred to as "Green" savings, a "Green" savings model has been developed. This model calculates the sum of savings realized by e-learning participants who do not have to travel to face-to-face events. These savings are based on savings related to e-learning participants' travel, time, and vehicles carbon emissions.
Hydrilla Infestations in Florida Freshwater Bodies: How Results from a Management Needs Assessment Survey Helped Develop Suitable Information Delivery Platforms
Authors: Kaufman Jennifer , Lietze Verena , Bradshaw Joan , Gioeli Kenneth
Published: July 2023

Hydrilla is an invasive aquatic plant that is expensive to control and exhibits increasing resistance to commonly used herbicides. Alternative control tactics for implementation in novel integrated management strategies are being investigated, but information needs to be delivered to stakeholders so new tactics can be adopted and used. Here, we report results from a low-cost, Web-based survey that assessed stakeholder access to hydrilla management information in Florida. We highlight the general benefits of needs assessment surveys for project development and exemplify how results from such surveys can be used by Extension professionals to tailor their information platforms to stakeholder-preferred outlets.
La vida religiosa en la ciudad romano-nabatea de Zoora entre los siglos IV-V d.C.
Authors: Martínez Carrasco Carlos
Published: July 2023

A partir de los restos epigráficos y los testimonios de las fuentes historiográficas, hagiográficas y legales —leyes civiles y actas conciliares— abordamos la reconstrucción de la vida religiosa de la ciudad romano-nabatea de Zoora. Partimos del lugar que ocupa en la tradición bíblica y su posterior encaje en la cristiana como destino de peregrinación, para ocuparnos a continuación del eco e impacto que tuvieron las grandes disputas teológicas del momento, con especial atención al concilio de Calcedonia (451). Especial atención merecen los epitafios que nos permiten abordar el papel activo de la mujer en esta comunidad cristiana y la existencia de un colegio de diaconisas. Finalmente, se presta atención a la influencia del judaísmo y la religión tradicional nabatea en la construcción de la identidad cristiana de Zoora.
Fray Alfonso de Mella y el milenarismo espiritual joaquinista en el Señorío de Vizcaya a finales de la Edad Media
Authors: Bazán Díaz Iñaki
Published: July 2023

En este artículo se analizan los orígenes intelectuales y las tesis doctrinales del líder de los herejes de Durango, fray Alfonso de Mella. En relación a la primera cuestión, se expone someramente el surgimiento y condena de las tesis franciscanas espirituales de raíz joaquinista y su posterior asunción por grupos de observantes radicales entre finales del siglo XIV y primer tercio del XV, como el liderado por fray Felipe de Berbegal, con importantes vínculos con la secta duranguesa. Y en relación a la segunda cuestión, se analizan dos testimonios documentales: la carta que fray Alfonso de Mella remitió al monarca de Castilla, la única fuente directa conservada; y la respuesta a la misma realizada por un anónimo impugnador de su contenido, texto editado por primera vez en 2022. De la confrontación de ambos documentos se comprueba la difusión de esas tesis franciscanas espirituales en el Señorío de Vizcaya entre las décadas de los años 30 y 40 del siglo XV.
PENGARUH PERPUTARAN MODAL KERJA TERHADAP PROFITABILITAS
Authors: Susilawati Ewi , Fatururrahman Mujtabah
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to see the effect of working capital turnover on profitability. The population used in this study are all coal mining companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sampling technique used purposive sampling technique. In accordance with the predetermined criteria, there were 21 companies that entered according to the criteria and financial reporting period under study, namely 2015-2019. The type of data in this study uses secondary data obtained by the documentation method through the website www.idx.co.id. The technical analysis used in this research is simple regression analysis. The results of this study indicate that working capital turnover has a positive and significant effect on profitability. It can be seen that tcount is 4.446 and ttable is 1.65950, which means tcount> ttable (4.446> 1.65950) and the significance level is 0.000. Thus it can be stated that H0 is rejected and Ha is accepted. And the correlation coefficient value is 0.401, which means that the level of relationship between variables is moderate because it is located in the interval 0.40-0.599. And the coefficient of determination (R2) is 16.1% for profitability. While the remaining 89.9% is influenced by other factors or variables not examined in this study.

Keywords: Working Capital Turnover, Profitability, Return On Assets (ROA), Coal Mining
Peningkatan Penjualan Produk Berdasarkan Analisis Komentar Pelanggan di Marketplace: Shopee
Authors: Saidata Aesyi Ulfi , Cahyo Puji Winar
Published: July 2023

Transaksi secara online mulai digemari karena dirasa mudah dan tidak berbatas waktu. Hal ini yang membuat transaksi secara online mulai meningkat sehingga menyebabkan munculnya persaingan penjualan antar toko online. Toko yang sudah lama berdiri dan memiliki banyak produk yang ditawarkan umumnya cukup kesulitan untuk mengidentifikasi dan menyimpulkan isi keseluruhan komentar berdasar rating yang telah diberikan oleh pelanggan. Kesulitan tersebut biasanya terjadi pada pemberian rating yang tidak sesuai dengan isi komentar yang telah ditulis. Oleh karena itu, diciptakan platform Customer Comment Analysis (Cuscoma) untuk dilakukan analisis terkait isi komentar pelanggan. Isi komentar pelanggan terhadap suatu produk dikelompokan berdasarkan komentar sejenis menggunakan metode rule based. Metode rule based yang diterapkan dapat mengelompokan data komentar yang terbagi dalam pembahasan produk, pengiriman, packing, pelayanan dan harga. Mengambil contoh kasus toko pada marketplace shopee dengan nama akun Seagate Official menunjukan bahwa pembahasan produk mencapai 180 data komentar, sedangkan pada akun toko Mixacc mencapai 574 data komentar. Melalui data komentar yang telah dikelompokan tersebut maka dilanjutkan analisis berfokus pada isi komentar. Analisis isi konten komentar menunjukan bahwa pembahasan komentar mengenai produk mempunyai irisan yang cukup tinggi dengan pelayanan toko dan pengiriman. Dengan melihat pembahasan komentar pada masing-masing group dan diketahuinya pembahasan produk yang memiliki irisan maka dapat digunakan sebagai dasar evaluasi untuk peningkatan penjualan produk oleh masing-masing toko online.
Perbaikan Jalan Angkut Menggunakan Geotextile untuk Meningkatkan Produktivitas HD 785 pada Site Gurimbang Mine Operation, PT. Berau Coal
Authors: Asof Marwan , Purbasari Diana , Agustian Putra M. Andra
Published: July 2023

PT. Berau Coal is one of the mining companies in Indonesia that focuses on coal mining and sales. This research was carried out on the haul road at Site Gurimbang Mine Operation, where the condition of the haul road is currently undulating and located above a swamp area. This condition reduces the speed of HD 785, resulting in the unit's productivity not achieving the company's target. The effort to improve the condition of the haul road is by using geotextile as a method of strengthening the haul road. The aim of this research is to determine the changes in soil density and soil bearing capacity after the geotextile reinforcement and to identify its impact on HD 785 productivity. The research was conducted by analyzing and processing data from the results of the DCP in-situ test to determine the soil density and soil bearing capacity in the initial and post-geotextile installation conditions. Actual field data collection in the form of HD 785 cycle time and speed data was used to evaluate the unit's productivity before and after geotextile installation. The results indicated that the utilizing geotextile can increase the soil density and soil bearing capacity to meet the CBR standards and soil bearing capacity for HD 785 units. The use of geotextile also increased the speed of HD 785 by 3 km/hour, both during load and empty travel, resulting in an increase in HD 785 productivity by 26% from the initial 43,821.63 bcm/month to 55,375.62 bcm/month.
Desarrollo Turístico en el Delta de Tigre (Argentina). Mitos y Realidades
Authors: Halpin Matías
Published: July 2023

El Delta de Tigre se encuentra en el tramo inferior del Río Paraná, junto al Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires; desde los años noventa, ha vivido un proceso de turistificación. Inspeccionamos dicho proceso en relación con las transformaciones globales en la industria turística y la implementación de políticas neoliberales en el país. Repasamos las estrategias de construcción de atractividad utilizadas y las modalidades turísticas actualmente desplegadas, así como sus impactos sobre la población local. Examinamos la experiencia de una red de artesanos que montó un parador y se encontró con importantes dificultades para integrarse en los circuitos dominantes. A partir de lo expuesto, sostenemos que el desarrollo turístico, lejos de erradicar la pobreza, ha generado gentrificación.
Principal risks in designing wastewater treatment facilities. Calculation of aeration tanks (part 1)
Authors: Харькина О.В.
Published: July 2023

Представлен детальный расчет значений аэробного возраста активного ила для обеспечения требуемого качества очищенной воды как по аммонийному азоту, так и по азоту нитритов с примерами. Проведен расчет аналогичных показателей по эмпирической, в большинстве своем, методике Даниловича-Эпова и показано на основании этих расчетов, почему методика Даниловича–Эпова дает заниженные значения аэробного возраста ила. Показано, что расчеты объемов аэротенков в нашей стране всегда (с 1974 г.) основывались на формулах ферментативной кинетики и представляли собой теоретические (математические) модели. Большинство технологов в нашей стране всегда рассчитывали и рассчитывают сооружения биологической очистки сточных вод по формулам ферментативной кинетики, при этом такой подход является всегда следующим шагом по сравнению с эмпирическими моделями.

A detailed calculation of the values of the aerobic age of activated sludge is presented to ensure the required quality of the effluent, both in terms of ammonium nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen, with examples. Similar indicators have been calculated, for the most part, by the Danilovich–Epov empirical method, and on the basis of the calculations it is shown why the Danilovich–Epov method gives underestimated values of the sludge aerobic age. It is shown that calculations of the aeration tank volumes in our country have always (since 1974) been based on the formulas of enzymatic kinetics and, hence, have been theoretical (mathematical) models. Most process engineers in our country have always calculated and still are calculating biological wastewater treatment facilities using the formulas of enzymatic kinetics; therewith, this approach is always the next step compared to empirical models.