bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-Server End-to-End Patient Key Agreement Protocol for DNA-Based U-Healthcare in the Internet of Living Things
Authors: Le Tuan-Vinh
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Third-generation sequencing (TGS) technique directly sequences single deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules, enabling real-time sequencing and reducing sequencing time from a few days to a few hours. Sequencing devices can be miniaturized and DNA-reading sensors placed on the body to monitor human health and vital signs, building an “internet of living things” (IoLT) facilitating ubiquitous healthcare services. In many cases, patients may wish to directly connect to each other for purposes of sharing real-time sequencing data, medical status or trading genomic data, etc. (2) Problems: User registration for a specific service may be limited due to some reason. Registering for multiple redundant services would also result in wasted money and possible wasteful communication overhead. In addition, since medical data and health information are very sensitive, security and privacy issues in the network are of paramount importance. (3) Methods: In this article, I propose a cross-server end-to-end (CS-E2E) patient authenticated key agreement protocol for DNA-based healthcare services in IoLT networks. My work allows two patients to mutually authenticate each other through assistance of respective servers, so that they can establish a reliable shared session key for securing E2E communications. The design employs multiple cost-saving solutions and robust cryptographic primitives, including smart-card-based single sign-on, elliptic curve cryptography, biohash function, etc. (4) Results: My proposed protocol is proven to be secure against various attacks and to incur reasonable communication cost compared to its predecessor works. The protocol also provides the support for more security properties and better functionalities. (5) Conclusions: The E2E communications between the patients are properly protected using the proposed approach. This assures a secure and efficient cross-server patient conversation for multiple purposes of healthcare communication.
Exploring the Dynamics of COVID-19 with a Novel Family of Models
Authors: Alghamdi Abdulaziz S. , Abd El-Raouf M. M.
Published: March 2023

Much effort has recently been expended in developing efficient models that can depict the true picture for COVID-19 mortality data and help scientists choose the best-fit models. As a result, this research intends to provide a new G family for both theoretical and practical scientists that solves the concerns typically encountered in both normal and non-normal random events. The new-G distribution family is able to generate efficient continuous univariate and skewed models that may outperform the baseline model. The analytic properties of the new-G family and its sub-model are investigated and described, as well as a theoretical framework. The parameters were estimated using a classical approach along with an extensive simulation study to assess the behaviour of the parameters. The efficiency of the new-G family is discussed using one of its sub-models on COVID-19 mortality data sets.
Microfiltration Membranes Modified with Zinc by Plasma Treatment
Authors: Kacprzyńska-Gołacka Joanna , Łożyńska Monika , Barszcz Wioletta , Sowa Sylwia , Wieciński Piotr
Published: March 2023

Polymer membranes play an important role in various filtration processes. The modification of a polyamide membrane surface by one-component Zn and ZnO coatings and two-component Zn/ZnO coatings is presented in this work. The technological parameters of the Magnetron Sputtering-Physical Vapor Deposition method (MS-PVD) for the coatings deposition process show an impact on the influence on the membrane’s surface structure, chemical composition, and functional properties. The characterization of surface structure and morphology were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, surface roughness and wettability measurements were also made. For checking the antibacterial activity, the two representative strains of bacteria Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) were used. The filtration tests showed that polyamide membranes covered with three types of coatings, one-component Zn coatings, ZnO coatings, and two-component Zn/ZnO coatings, presented similar properties. The obtained results show that using the MS-PVD method for modification of the membrane’s surface is a very promising perspective in the prevention of biofouling.
An X-ray Microscopy Study of the Microstructural Effects on Thermal Conductivity in Cast Aluminum-Copper Compounds
Authors: Fromm Andreas Christopher , Kahra Christoph , Selmanovic Armin , Maier Hans Jürgen , Klose Christian
Published: March 2023

A metallurgical joint between aluminum and copper established by compound casting provides for high thermal conductivity, which is required for lightweight cooling solutions in applications such as high-power light-emitting diodes or computer processors. If casting is employed in a silane-doped inert gas atmosphere whose oxygen partial pressure is adequate to extreme high vacuum, reoxidation of the active surfaces of aluminum and copper is prevented, and thus a metallurgical bond can be created directly between aluminum and copper. With this approach, thermal conductivities as high as 88.3 W/m·K were realized. In addition, X-ray microscopy was used to shed light on the microstructure–thermal property relationship. It is demonstrated that both porosity and non-bonded areas have a substantial impact on the thermophysical properties of the compound zone. Based on the data obtained, casting parameters can be developed that provide for defect-free bonding zones and optimal heat transfer between the joining partners.
Notes from the 2022 Folate, Vitamin B12, and One-Carbon Metabolism Conference
Authors: Maynard Adam G. , Petrova Boryana , Kanarek Naama
Published: March 2023

Here, we present notes from the Folate, Vitamin B12, and One-Carbon Metabolism Conference organized by The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), held in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, 14–19 August 2022. We aim to share the most recent findings in the field with members of our scientific community who did not attend the meeting and who are interested in the research that was presented. The research described includes discussions of one-carbon metabolism at the biochemical and physiological levels and studies of the role of folate and B12 in development and in the adult, and from bacteria to mammals. Furthermore, the summarized studies address the role of one-carbon metabolism in disease, including COVID-19, neurodegeneration, and cancer.
Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency Associates with Growth Faltering and Environmental Enteric Dysfunction in Children
Authors: Narvaez-Rivas Monica , Setchell Kenneth D. R. , Galandi Stephanie L. , Zhao Xueheng , Iqbal Najeeha Talat , Ahmed Sheraz , Iqbal Junaid , Syed Sana , Ali Syed Asad , Moore Sean R.
Published: March 2023

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is characterized by intestinal inflammation, malabsorption and growth-faltering in children with heightened exposure to gut pathogens. The aim of this study was to characterize serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), in association with childhood undernutrition and EED, as potential biomarkers to predict growth outcomes. The study comprised a cohort of undernourished rural Pakistani infants (n = 365) and age-matched controls followed prospectively up to 24 months of age. Serum NEFA were quantified at ages 3–6 and 9 months and correlated with growth outcomes, serum bile acids and EED histopathological biomarkers. Serum NEFA correlated with linear growth-faltering and systemic and gut biomarkers of EED. Undernourished children exhibited essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD), with low levels of linoleic acid and total n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, compensated by increased levels of oleic acid and increased elongase and desaturase activities. EFAD correlated with reduced anthropometric Z scores at 3–6 and 9 months of age. Serum NEFA also correlated with elevated BA and liver dysfunction. Essential fatty acid depletion and altered NEFA metabolism were highly prevalent and associated with acute and chronic growth-faltering in EED. The finding suggests that targeting early interventions to correct EFAD and promote FA absorption in children with EED may facilitate childhood growth in high-risk settings.
Chronometabolism: The Timing of the Consumption of Meals Has a Greater Influence Than Glycemic Index (GI) on the Postprandial Metabolome
Authors: Yong Yi Ning , Dong Jiangwen , Pakkiri Leroy Sivappiragasam , Henry Christiani Jeyakumar , Haldar Sumanto , Drum Chester Lee
Published: March 2023

Eating late in the day is associated with circadian desynchrony, resulting in dysregulated metabolism and increased cardiometabolic disease risk. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using targeted metabolomics of postprandial plasma samples from a secondary analysis of a randomised 2 × 2 crossover study in 36 healthy older Chinese adults, we have compared postprandial metabolic responses between high (HI) glycemic index (GI) or low-GI (LO) meals, consumed either at breakfast (BR) or at dinner (DI). 29 out of 234 plasma metabolites exhibited significant differences (p < 0.05) in postprandial AUC between BR and DI sessions, whereas only five metabolites were significantly different between HI and LO sessions. There were no significant interactions between intake timing and meal GI. Lower glutamine: glutamate ratio, lower lysine and higher trimethyllysine (TML) levels were found during DI compared with BR, along with greater postprandial reductions (δAUC) in creatine and ornithine levels during DI, indicating a worse metabolic state during the evening DI period. Greater reductions (δAUC) in postprandial creatine and ornithine were also observed during HI compared with LO (both p < 0.05). These metabolomic changes may indicate potential molecular signatures and/or pathways linking metabolic responses with cardiometabolic disease risk between different meal intake timings and/or meals with variable GI.
Direct Numerical Simulation of Surface Wrinkling for Extraction of Thin Metal Film Material Properties
Authors: Seok Seonho , Park HyungDal , Coste Philippe , Kim Jinseok
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a direct numerical simulation for the extraction of material properties based on thin-film wrinkling on scotch tape. Conventional FEM-based buckling simulation sometimes requires complex modeling techniques concerning mesh element manipulation or boundary conditions. The direct numerical simulation differs from FEM (finite element method)-based conventional two-step linear–nonlinear buckling simulation in that mechanical imperfections are directly applied into the elements of the simulation model. Hence, it can be performed in one step to find the wrinkling wavelength and amplitude, which are key parameters to extract the material mechanical properties. Moreover, the direct simulation can reduce simulation time and modeling complexity. Using the direct model, the effect of the number of imperfections on wrinkling characteristics was first studied, and then wrinkling wavelengths depending on the elastic moduli of the associated materials were prepared for the extraction of material properties. Thin-film wrinkling test patterns on scotch tape were fabricated using the transfer technique with low adhesion between metal films and the polyimide substrate. The material properties of the thin metal films were determined by comparing the measured wrinkling wavelengths and the proposed direct simulation results. By consequence, the elastic moduli of 300 nm thick gold film and 300 nm thick aluminum were determined as 250 GPa and 300 GPa, respectively.
The Gut Microbiota of Broilers Reared with and without Antibiotic Treatment
Authors: Greene Genevieve , Koolman Leonard , Whyte Paul , Burgess Catherine , Bolton Declan
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the microbiota in broilers reared with and without antibiotics and to investigate differences between the upper, middle and lower sections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). One of two commercial flocks was treated with an antibiotic (T) (20 mg trimethoprim and 100 mg sulfamethoxazole per ml in the drinking water for 3 days) and the other was left untreated (UT). The GIT contents of 51 treated and untreated birds were aseptically removed from the upper (U), middle (M) and lower (L) sections. These were pooled in triplicate (n = 17 per section per flock), the DNA extracted and purified, 16S amplicon metagenomic sequencing performed and the resultant data analysed using a range of bioinformatics software. There were significant differences in the microbiota of the upper, middle and lower GIT, and treatment with the antibiotic significantly affected the microbiota in each of these sections. This study provides new data on broiler GIT microbiota and suggests that GIT location is a more important determinant of the constituent bacterial flora rather than the use or otherwise of antimicrobial treatments, at least when applied early in the production cycle.
Fluorination Improves the Electro-Optical Properties of Benzoxazole-Terminated Liquid Crystals in High Birefringence Liquid Crystal Mixtures: Experimental and Theoretical Investigations
Authors: Chen Ran , Mao Zihao , An Zhongwei , Chen Xinbing , Chen Pei
Published: March 2023

Aromatic heterocyclic liquid crystal (LC) materials have received much attention from LC chemists for their high birefringence and large dielectric anisotropy, yet few have reported their properties in LC mixtures. In this work, a series of fluorinated benzoxazole liquid crystal compounds were synthesized to evaluate their electro-optical properties in high birefringence LC mixtures, with the expectation of further establishing the theoretical basis and experimental evidence for their applications in LC photonics. Firstly, the effects of the lateral fluorine substituent positions on the molecular synthetic yield, mesomorphic and solubility properties were comparatively investigated. Afterwards, we focused on the fluorination effects on the core electro-optical properties, including birefringence, dielectric anisotropy and further investigation of the viscoelastic coefficient of high birefringence LC mixtures. Research results showed that the benzoxazole liquid crystal compounds possess low melting points, wide nematic phase intervals and good solubility by appropriate lateral fluorine substitution, which is beneficial to further improve the electro-optical properties of high birefringence LC mixtures. Meanwhile, the theoretical and experimental results corroborate each other to well reveal the structure–property relationship. This study demonstrates that fluorination would promote promising applications of benzoxazole-terminated liquid crystals in emerging LC optical devices.
Confined Silver Nanoparticles in Ionic Liquid Films
Authors: Alves Alexandre C. P. M. , Santos Luís M. N. B. F. , Bastos Margarida , Costa José C. S.
Published: March 2023

This work reports the formation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by sputter deposition in thin films of three different ionic liquids (ILs) with the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and cation (imidazolium), but with different alkyl chain lengths and symmetries in the cationic moiety ([C4C1im][NTf2], [C2C2im][NTf2], and [C5C5im][NTf2]). Ionic liquid (IL) films in the form of microdroplets with different thicknesses (200 to 800 monolayers) were obtained through vacuum thermal evaporation onto glass substrates coated with indium tin oxide (ITO). The sputtering process of the Ag onto the ILs when conducted simultaneously with argon plasma promoted the coalescence of the ILs’ droplets and the formation, incorporation, and stabilization of the metallic nanoparticles in the coalesced IL films. The formation/stabilization of the AgNPs in the IL films was confirmed using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. It was found that the IL films with larger thicknesses (600 and 800 monolayers) were better media for the formation of AgNPs. Among the ILs used, [C5C5im][NTf2] was found to be particularly promising for the stabilization of AgNPs. The use of larger IL droplets as capture media was found to promote a better stabilization of the AgNPs, thereby reducing their tendency to aggregate.
Cornus mas L. Extract Targets the Specific Molecules of the Th17/Treg Developmental Pathway in TNBS-Induced Experimental Colitis in Rats
Authors: Szandruk-Bender Marta , Nowak Beata , Merwid-Ląd Anna , Kucharska Alicja Z. , Krzystek-Korpacka Małgorzata , Bednarz-Misa Iwona , Wiatrak Benita , Szeląg Adam , Piórecki Narcyz , Sozański Tomasz
Published: March 2023

Given that one of the crucial events in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease is the loss of homeostasis between Th17 and Treg cells, targeting the specific molecules of the Th17/Treg axis developmental pathway is a promising strategy for inflammatory bowel disease prevention and treatment. The current study aimed to assess the impact of cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) extract, rich in iridoids and polyphenols known for their potential anti-inflammatory activity, at two doses (20 or 100 mg/kg) on the crucial factors for Th17/Treg cell differentiation in the course of experimental colitis and compare this action with that of sulfasalazine. This study was conducted on the biobank colon tissue samples collected during the previous original experiment, in which colitis in rats was induced by trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The levels of IL-6, RORγt, total STAT3, p-STAT3, and Foxp3 were determined by ELISA. The expression of PIAS3 mRNA was quantified by qPCR. Cornelian cherry extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg counteracted the TNBS-induced elevation of IL-6, RORγt, and p-STAT3 levels and a decrease in Foxp3 level and PIAS3 mRNA expression, while given concomitantly with sulfasalazine was more effective than sulfasalazine alone in reversing the TNBS-induced changes in IL-6, RORγt, total STAT3, p-STAT3, Foxp3 levels, and PIAS3 mRNA expression. The beneficial effect of cornelian cherry extract on experimental colitis may be due to its immunomodulatory activity reflected by the influence on factors regulating the Th17/Treg axis.
Numerical Study on the Buckling Behavior of FG Porous Spherical Caps Reinforced by Graphene Platelets
Authors: Zhou Zhimin , Wang Yun , Zhang Suying , Dimitri Rossana , Tornabene Francesco , Asemi Kamran
Published: March 2023

The buckling response of functionally graded (FG) porous spherical caps reinforced by graphene platelets (GPLs) is assessed here, including both symmetric and uniform porosity patterns in the metal matrix, together with five different GPL distributions. The Halpin–Tsai model is here applied, together with an extended rule of mixture to determine the elastic properties and mass density of the selected shells, respectively. The equilibrium equations of the pre-buckling state are here determined according to a linear three-dimensional (3D) elasticity basics and principle of virtual work, whose solution is determined from classical finite elements. The buckling load is, thus, obtained based on the nonlinear Green strain field and generalized geometric stiffness concept. A large parametric investigation studies the sensitivity of the natural frequencies of FG porous spherical caps reinforced by GPLs to different parameters, namely, the porosity coefficients and distributions, together with different polar angles and stiffness coefficients of the elastic foundation, but also different GPL patterns and weight fractions of graphene nanofillers. Results denote that the maximum and minimum buckling loads are reached for GPL-X and GPL-O distributions, respectively. Additionally, the difference between the maximum and minimum critical buckling loads for different porosity distributions is approximately equal to 90%, which belong to symmetric distributions. It is also found that a high weight fraction of GPLs and a high porosity coefficient yield the highest and lowest effects of the structure on the buckling loads of the structure for an amount of 100% and 12.5%, respectively.
Is Maternal Carbohydrate Intake Having an Impact on Newborn Birth Weight? A Systematic Review
Authors: Pathirathna Malshani L. , Nandasena Hapugahapitiye M. R. K. G. , Samarasekara Buddhini P. P. , Dasanayake Thakshila S. , Weerasekara Ishanka , Haruna Megumi
Published: March 2023

Glucose is a vital fuel for fetal growth, and carbohydrates are the primary source of glucose in the diet. The effects of carbohydrate intake during pregnancy on neonatal birth weight have not been fully investigated or systematically reviewed. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to collate the available evidence to determine whether carbohydrate intake during pregnancy impacts newborn birth weight. A literature search was performed from inception to March 2022 in Embase, Medline, and PsycInfo. Articles published in English were independently screened for the title and abstracts, and then for full texts. Out of 17 studies included, a significant relationship between the intake of maternal carbohydrate or its subcomponents and neonatal birth weight was reported in six studies. Of them, one study reported that higher carbohydrate intake in early pregnancy was associated with lower birth weight. The two other studies reported a positive correlation between maternal carbohydrate intake and neonatal birth weight regarding first- and second-trimester intake. Maternal carbohydrate intake may have an impact on birth weight, as suggested by the included studies in this systematic review. However, the overall review indicates contradictory findings concerning the relationship between carbohydrate intake and neonatal birth weight. Studies assessing the type of carbohydrate and the amount consumed with improved methodological quality are recommended.
Analysis of Feeding Behavior Characteristics in the Cu/Zn Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) SOD1G93A Mice Model for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Authors: Kitaoka Yoshihiro , Seki Soju , Kawata Sou , Nishiura Akira , Kawamura Kohei , Hiraoka Shin-ichiro , Kogo Mikihiko , Tanaka Susumu
Published: March 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons. Feeding disorders are observed in patients with ALS. The mastication movements and their systemic effects in patients with ALS with feeding disorders remain unclear. Currently, there is no effective treatment for ALS. However, it has been suggested that treating feeding disorders and improving nutritional status may prolong the lives of patients with ALS. Therefore, this study elucidates feeding disorders observed in patients with ALS and future therapeutic agents. We conducted a temporal observation of feeding behavior and mastication movements using an open-closed mouth evaluation artificial intelligence (AI) model in an ALS mouse model. Furthermore, to determine the cause of masticatory rhythm modulation, we conducted electrophysiological analyses of mesencephalic trigeminal neurons (MesV). Here, we observed the modulation of masticatory rhythm with a prolonged open phase in the ALS mouse model from the age of 12 weeks. A decreased body weight was observed simultaneously, indicating a correlation between the prolongation of the open phase and the decrease observed. We found that the percentage of firing MesV was markedly decreased. This study partially clarifies the role of feeding disorders in ALS.
Developing Performance-Based Mix Design Framework Using Asphalt Mixture Performance Tester and Mechanistic Models
Authors: Lee Jong-Sub , Lee Sang-Yum , Le Tri Ho Minh
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes a performance-based mix design (PBMD) framework to support performance-related specifications (PRS) needed to establish relationships between acceptable quality characteristics (AQCs) and predicted performance, as well as to develop fatigue-preferred, rutting-preferred, and performance-balanced mix designs. The framework includes defining performance tests and threshold values, developing asphalt mix designs, identifying available performance levels, conducting sensitivity analysis, establishing the relationships between AQCs and predicted performance, and determining performance targets and AQC values for the three PBMDs using predicted performance criteria. Additionally, the framework recommends selecting the PBMD category for each asphalt layer to minimize pavement distresses. In this study, the proposed PBMD protocol was applied to FHWA accelerated loading facility (ALF) materials using asphalt mixture performance tester (AMPT) equipment coupled with mechanistic models. The study developed nine mix designs with varying design VMAs and air voids using the Bailey method. The cracking and rutting performance of the mix designs were determined by direct tension cyclic (DTC) fatigue testing, triaxial stress sweep (TSS) testing, and viscoelastic continuum damage (S-VECD) and viscoplastic shift models for temperature and stress effects. The study found that adjusting the design VMA was the primary way to achieve required performance targets. For fatigue-preferred mix design, the recommended targets were a cracking area of 0 to 1.9%, a rut depth of 10 mm, and a design VMA of 14.6 to 17.6%. For rutting-preferred mix design, the recommended targets were a cracking area of 18%, a rut depth of 0 to 3.8 mm, and a design VMA of 10.1 to 13.1%. For performance-balanced mix design, the recommended targets were a cracking area of 8.1 to 10.7%, a rut depth of 4.6 to 6.4 mm, and a design VMA of 12.6 to 14.3%. Finally, pavement simulation results verified that the proposed PBMD pavement design with fatigue-preferred mix in the bottom layer, performance-balanced mix in the intermediate layer, and rutting-preferred mix in the surface mix could minimize bottom-up cracking propagation without exceeding the proposed rutting performance criterion for long-life.
Development of Polyurethane/Peptide-Based Carriers with Self-Healing Properties
Authors: Gradinaru Luiza Madalina , Bercea Maria , Lupu Alexandra , Gradinaru Vasile Robert
Published: March 2023

In situ-forming gels with self-assembling and self-healing properties are materials of high interest for various biomedical applications, especially for drug delivery systems and tissue regeneration. The main goal of this research was the development of an innovative gel carrier based on dynamic inter- and intramolecular interactions between amphiphilic polyurethane and peptide structures. The polyurethane architecture was adapted to achieve the desired amphiphilicity for self-assembly into an aqueous solution and to facilitate an array of connections with peptides through physical interactions, such as hydrophobic interactions, dipole-dipole, electrostatic, π–π stacking, or hydrogen bonds. The mechanism of the gelation process and the macromolecular conformation in water were evaluated with DLS, ATR-FTIR, and rheological measurements at room and body temperatures. The DLS measurements revealed a bimodal distribution of small (~30–40 nm) and large (~300–400 nm) hydrodynamic diameters of micelles/aggregates at 25 °C for all samples. The increase in the peptide content led to a monomodal distribution of the peaks at 37 °C (~25 nm for the sample with the highest content of peptide). The sol–gel transition occurs very quickly for all samples (within 20–30 s), but the equilibrium state of the gel structure is reached after 1 h in absence of peptide and required more time as the content of peptide increases. Moreover, this system presented self-healing properties, as was revealed by rheological measurements. In the presence of peptide, the structure recovery after each cycle of deformation is a time-dependent process, the recovery is complete after about 300 s. Thus, the addition of the peptide enhanced the polymer chain entanglement through intermolecular interactions, leading to the preparation of a well-defined gel carrier. Undoubtedly, this type of polyurethane/peptide-based carrier, displaying a sol–gel transition at a biologically relevant temperature and enhanced viscoelastic properties, is of great interest in the development of medical devices for minimally invasive procedures or precision medicine.
One-Pot Syntheses of PET-Based Plasticizer and Tetramethyl Thiuram Monosulfide (TMTS) as Vulcanization Accelerator for Rubber Production
Authors: Milentijević Goran , Milošević Milena , Milojević Svetomir , Marković Smiljana , Rančić Milica , Marinković Aleksandar , Milosavljević Milutin
Published: March 2023

Styrene-butadiene (SBR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene (NBR) rubber blends with tetramethyl thiuram disulfide (TMTD) and tetramethyl thiuram monosulfide (TMTS) accelerators and environmentally friendly plasticizers, obtained from PET recycling and biobased resources (LA/PG/PET/EG/LA), were prepared. The mechanical properties of the obtained rubber products were tested and compared with those of commercial dioctyl terephthalate (DOTP). TMTS was prepared by simple and efficient one-pot synthesis from dimethylamine, carbon disulfide, potassium cyanide, and ammonium chloride as catalysts in recycled isopropanol/water azeotrope as solvent. In a comparative study, methoxide, ethoxide, iodide, and amide ions were also used. The two-step reaction mechanism of TMTS synthesis involves the oxidation of the amine salt of dimethyldithiocarbamic acid to TMTD by hydrogen peroxide and sulfur elimination from the TMTD disulfide bond. Potassium cyanide appears to be the most efficient nucleophile. The simplicity of operation, mild reaction conditions, solvent recycling, high yields, and applicability to the industrial level are the advantages of this process. Shore hardness, tensile strength, and compression test results of vulcanized blends before and after aging showed similar properties for both accelerators, while somewhat better results were obtained with LA/PG/PET/EG/LA plasticizer.
The Nexus of Competition, Loan Quality, and Ownership Structure for Risk-Taking Behaviour
Authors: Moudud-Ul-Huq Syed , Halim Md. Abdul , Sobhani Farid Ahammad , Karim Ziaul , Nesa Zinnatun
Published: March 2023

“The core purpose is to explore the relationship between competition, loan quality, ownership structure, and risk for MENA economies.” In addition, this study examines the financial stability level of dual banking and explores the bidirectional causality of competition and risk concerning the impact of ownership structure. This study uses 748 observations from 2011 to 2020 in MENA countries. The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) is an econometric technique used to estimate the parameters of a statistical model. The study findings indicate a negative (positive) relationship between MENA bank competition and risk (financial stability). It indicates that lower bank competition reduces bank credit risk and increases financial stability in MENA countries. Regarding ownership structure, Islamic banks display a stronger position in MENA economies than that of Commercial banks and Specialized Government Institutions. In contrast, specialized government institutions are riskier than commercial banks and Islamic banks. Loan quality shows the two-way causality between the degree to which banks compete and the quality of their loans to customers in the MENA markets. This study sets itself apart from other studies by creating a new segmented literature review portion. Finally, a significant policy implication is provided for academics, researchers, and policymakers interested in applying these findings.
Assessment of the Urban Extreme Precipitation by Satellite Estimates over Mainland China
Authors: Li Yu , Pang Bo , Zheng Ziqi , Chen Haoming , Peng Dingzhi , Zhu Zhongfan , Zuo Depeng
Published: March 2023

The accurate estimation of urban extreme precipitation is essential for urban design and risk management, which is hard for developing countries, due to the fast urbanization and sparse rain gauges. Satellite precipitation products (SPPs) have emerged as a promising solution. Not only near real-time SPPs can provide critical information for decision making, but post-processed SPPs can also offer essential information for climate change adaption, risk management strategy development, and related fields. However, their ability in urban extreme precipitation estimation has not been examined in detail. This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of four recent SPPs that are post-processed, including IMERG, GSMaP_Gauge, MSWEP, and CMFD, for their ability to capture urban extreme precipitation in mainland China at the national, city, and inner-city scales. The performance of the four SPPs was assessed using daily observations from the 821 urban gauges from 2001 to 2018. The assessment includes: (1) the extreme precipitation estimates from the four SPPs in the total urbanized areas of mainland China were evaluated using correlation coefficients (CC), absolute deviation (AD), relative deviation (RB), and five extreme precipitation indices; (2) The extreme precipitation estimates over 21 Chinese major cities were assessed with the two most important extreme indices, namely the 99th percentile of daily precipitation on wet days (R99) and total precipitation when daily precipitation exceeding R99 (R99TOT); and (3) Bivariate Moran’s I (BMI) was adopted to assess the inner-city spatial correlation of R99 and R99TOT between SPPs and gauge observations in four major cities with most gauges. The results indicate that MSWEP has the highest CC of 0.79 and the lowest AD of 1.61 mm at the national scale. However, it tends to underestimate urban precipitation, with an RB of −8.5%. GSMaP_Gauge and IMERG performed better in estimating extreme values, with close extreme indices with gauge observations. According to the 21 major cities, GSMaP_Gauge also shows high accuracy in estimating R99 and R99TOT values, with the best RB and AD in these cities, while CMFD and MSWEP exhibit the highest CC values for R99 and R99TOT, respectively, indicating a strong correlation between their estimates and those obtained from gauge observations. At the inner-city scale, MSWEP shows advantages in monitoring the spatial distribution of urban extreme precipitation in most of cities. The study firstly provided the multiscale assessment of urban extreme precipitation by SPPs over mainland China, which is useful for their applications.
Ground Displacements in NY Using Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar and Comparison of X- and C-Band Data
Authors: Eshqi Molan Yusuf , Lohman Rowena , Pritchard Matthew
Published: March 2023

In this study, we investigated the quality of Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data to measure surface displacements in upstate New York, an area with dense vegetation, snowy winters, and strong seasonal signals. We used data from the German Space Agency’s TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X satellites (X-band, 3.1 cm radar wavelength) as well as the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellite (C-band, 5.6 cm radar wavelength); both datasets covered a ~3-year time period from 2018 to 2021. Using persistent scatterer interferometry (PSI), we were able to observe several deforming features in the region with sub-centimeter/year deformation rates. We also examined a version of the X-band data that we spatially averaged to the same pixel size as the Sentinel-1 imagery in order to separate out the effects of wavelength and pixel size on PSI accuracy and coverage. Overall, the largest number of stable PS points was found in the full-resolution X-band data, which was followed by the C-band data and then by the downsampled X-band data. Our analysis also included a subset of snow-free imagery so that we could assess the effect that snow-covered images had on the distribution and accuracy of PS points and the resulting time series. This analysis revealed that PS populations increased by 50–60% for the snow-free data when compared with analyses using the full datasets. The average deformation rates inferred from the time series generated using only snow-free images were nearly identical to those estimated from the full time series. We assessed the accuracy of the inferred rates through comparisons between the results of different datasets and with limited ground survey data. We found that all of the inferred deformation rates from each of the datasets agreed with in situ measurements in an area of known ground subsidence above an underground salt mine in Lansing, NY. The S1 datasets, however, had higher levels of noise.
Long-Term Changes in Water Body Area Dynamic and Driving Factors in the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Wang Wei , Teng Hongfen , Zhao Liu , Han Lingyu
Published: March 2023

The accurate monitoring of long-term spatial and temporal changes in open-surface water bodies offers important guidance for water resource security and management. In the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the monitoring of water body changes is especially critical due to the dense population and drastic climate change. Due to the complexity of the physical environment in which the water bodies are located, the advantages and disadvantages of various water body detection rules can vary in large-scale areas. In this paper, we use Landsat 5/7/8 data to extract the area of water bodies in the study area and analyze their spatial and temporal trends from 1984 to 2020 using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. We propose an improved water body extraction rule based on an existing multi-indicator water body algorithm that combines impervious surface data and digital elevation model data. In this study, the performance of the improved algorithm was cross-validated using seven other water body indicator algorithms, and the results showed the following: (1) the rule accurately retained information about the water body while minimizing the interference of shadows on the extracted water body. (2) On the annual scale from 1984 to 2020, the open-surface water body dataset extracted using this improved rule showed that the turning point for the area of each water body type was 2011, with an overall decreasing trend in area before 2011 and an increasing trend in area after 2011, with the exception of special years, such as 1998. (3) The driving mechanism analysis showed that, overall, precipitation was positively correlated with the water body area and temperature was negatively correlated with the water body area. Additionally, human activities can have an impact on surface water dynamics. The key influencing factors are diverse for each water body type; it was found that seasonal water bodies were correlated with precipitation and paddy fields and permanent water bodies were correlated with temperature and urban construction. The accurate monitoring of the spatial and temporal dynamics of open-surface water performed in this study can shed light on the sustainable development of water resources and the environment.
Carbon Fiber Paper Sensor for Determination of Trimethoprim Antibiotic in Fish Samples
Authors: Torrinha Álvaro , Tavares Miguel , Dibo Vitória , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Morais Simone
Published: March 2023

The increase in anthropogenic pollution raises serious concerns regarding contamination of water bodies and aquatic species with potential implications on human health. Pharmaceutical compounds are a type of contaminants of emerging concern that are increasingly consumed and, thus, being frequently found in the aquatic environment. In this sense, an electrochemical sensor based on an unmodified and untreated carbon fiber paper (CPS—carbon paper sensor) was simply employed for the analysis of trimethoprim antibiotic in fish samples. First, the analytical conditions were thoroughly optimized in order for the CPS to achieve maximum performance in trimethoprim determination. Therefore, an electrolyte (0.1 M Britton–Robinson buffer) pH of 7 was selected and for square wave voltammetry parameters, optimum values of amplitude, frequency and step potential corresponded to 0.02 V, 50 Hz, and 0.015 V, respectively, whereas the deposition of analyte occurred at +0.7 V for 60 s. In these optimum conditions, the obtained liner range (0.05 to 2 µM), sensitivity (48.8 µA µM−1 cm−2), and LOD (0.065 µM) competes favorably with the commonly used GCE-based sensors or BDD electrodes that employ nanostructuration or are more expensive. The CPS was then applied for trimethoprim determination in fish samples after employing a solid phase extraction procedure based on QuEChERS salts, resulting in recoveries of 105.9 ± 1.8% by the standard addition method.
Evaluation of the Impact of the Sustainable Development Goals on an Activity Recognition Platform for Healthcare Systems
Authors: López José L. , Espinilla Macarena , Verdejo Ángeles
Published: March 2023

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. The 17 SDGs have been designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and girls. Despite the clear SDG framework, there is a significant gap in the literature to establish the alignment of systems, projects or tools with the SDGs. In this research work, we assess the SDG alignment of an activity recognition platform for healthcare systems, called ACTIVA. This new platform, designed to be deployed in environments inhabited by vulnerable people, is based on sensors and artificial intelligence, and includes a mobile application to report anomalous situations and ensure a rapid response from healthcare personnel. In this work, the ACTIVA platform and its compliance with each of the SDGs is assessed, providing a detailed evaluation of SDG 7—ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all. In addition, a website is presented where the ACTIVA platform’s compliance with the 17 SDGs has been evaluated in detail. The comprehensive assessment of this novel platform’s compliance with the SDGs provides a roadmap for the evaluation of future and past systems in relation to sustainability.
A Review of Homomorphic Encryption for Privacy-Preserving Biometrics
Authors: Yang Wencheng , Wang Song , Cui Hui , Tang Zhaohui , Li Yan
Published: March 2023

The advancement of biometric technology has facilitated wide applications of biometrics in law enforcement, border control, healthcare and financial identification and verification. Given the peculiarity of biometric features (e.g., unchangeability, permanence and uniqueness), the security of biometric data is a key area of research. Security and privacy are vital to enacting integrity, reliability and availability in biometric-related applications. Homomorphic encryption (HE) is concerned with data manipulation in the cryptographic domain, thus addressing the security and privacy issues faced by biometrics. This survey provides a comprehensive review of state-of-the-art HE research in the context of biometrics. Detailed analyses and discussions are conducted on various HE approaches to biometric security according to the categories of different biometric traits. Moreover, this review presents the perspective of integrating HE with other emerging technologies (e.g., machine/deep learning and blockchain) for biometric security. Finally, based on the latest development of HE in biometrics, challenges and future research directions are put forward.
Decriminalization and What Else? Alternative Structural Interventions to Promote the Health, Safety, and Rights of Sex Workers
Authors: Benoit Cecilia , Mellor Andrea
Published: March 2023

Researchers have argued that the current punitive approaches to regulating sex work expose underlying structures that seek to preserve a social order embedded with stigmas related to the race, gender, sexuality, class, and migration status of sex sellers (Benoit et al [...]
Rainfall Prediction Using an Ensemble Machine Learning Model Based on K-Stars
Authors: Tuysuzoglu Goksu , Birant Kokten Ulas , Birant Derya
Published: March 2023

Predicting the rainfall status of a region has a great impact on certain factors, such as arranging agricultural activities, enabling efficient water planning, and taking precautionary measures for possible disasters (flood/drought). Due to the seriousness of the subject, the timely and accurate prediction of rainfall is highly desirable and critical for environmentally sustainable development. In this study, an ensemble of K-stars (EK-stars) approach was proposed to predict the next-day rainfall status using meteorological data, such as the temperature, humidity, pressure, and sunshine, that were collected between the years 2007 and 2017 in Australia. This study also introduced the probability-based aggregating (pagging) approach when building and combining multiple classifiers for rainfall prediction. In the implementation of the EK-stars, different experimental setups were carried out, including the change of input parameter of the algorithm, the use of different methods in the pagging step, and whether the feature selection was performed or not. The EK-stars outperformed the original K-star algorithm and the recently proposed studies in terms of the classification accuracy by making predictions that were the closest to reality. This study shows that the proposed method is promising for generating accurate predictions for the sustainable development of environmental systems.
Influence of Paternalistic Leadership on Employee Innovation Behavior and New Venture Performance: The Moderating Role of Leader Humility
Authors: Yao Meifang , Hao Meiqiang
Published: March 2023

This study examines how paternalistic leadership in new ventures influences employee innovation behavior and new venture performance. Three dimensions of paternalistic leadership in leader humility have a positive moderating effect on employee innovation behavior. To this end, we proposed and tested the supporting roles of the social cognition theory, social exchange theory, social learning theory, and interpersonal attraction theory. A total of 248 valid questionnaires were collected through a professional survey company for analysis, which revealed that among the three dimensions of paternalistic leadership, benevolent leadership and moral leadership both have a positive impact on employee innovation behavior and new venture performance, while authoritarian leadership has a negative impact. We also discovered that leader humility plays a significantly positive role in moderating the influence of authoritarian leadership, benevolent leadership, and moral leadership on employee innovation behavior. The results demonstrate that paternalistic leaders increase their effectiveness by maintaining humility as a management strategy, creating a superior, innovative atmosphere, and contributing to the progress of employee innovation behavior.