bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonic–Thermal Regeneration of Spent Powdered Activated Carbon
Authors: Zhang Tingting , Yang Yanling , Li Xing , Zhou Zhiwei , Wei Bigui
Published: June 2023

This study investigated the ultrasonic–thermal regeneration of powdered activated carbon (PAC) spent using 4-chlorophenol (4-CP). Similarly, a thermal regeneration process was also studied and the reaction conditions (i.e., regeneration temperature, heating rate, regeneration time) were tested. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were applied to characterize the regenerated PACs under different treatments (thermal, ultrasonic and ultrasonic–thermal) and also compare them with the fresh and exhausted PACs. According to our regeneration observations, the ideal regeneration parameters were determined to be a 40 kHz frequency, 0.18 W/mL sonication power, 0.1 M NaOH and 50% (v/v) ethyl alcohol as the regeneration solution, and 1 g/L of saturated PAC mass with thermal regeneration as the second stage at 500 °C, desorbed for 30 min with a heating rate of 20 °C min−1. Under these conditions, the RE value achieved 90.99% and the η value reached 5.6%. The results of FTIR, XPS and XRD revealed that the oxygen functional group content of ultrasonic–thermal regenerated PAC significantly increased. These oxygenous groups exerted a positive effect on the adsorption process of the regenerated PAC and the subsequent adsorption–regeneration process.
Using Knowledge Granularity Entropy to Measure Eco-Environmental Impacts of Land Cover Changes in ASEAN from 2001 to 2020
Authors: Liao Weihua
Published: June 2023

The eco-environment is the basis for the political, economic and social development of any nation or group of nations, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). There is an inseparable association between land cover change (LCC) and eco-environmental change. The effects of the regional eco-environment are seen in the spatial and temporal variations in the eco-environment of different land cover types (LCTs). The Remote Sensing Ecological Index (RSEI), which is based on information granulation and spatial information granules, is used in this study to characterize the ecosystem. This issue is solved by breaking down the intricate ecosystem structure into straightforward spatially granular computational units; this approach greatly reduces the complexity of spatial data computation. The main contributions of this study are as follows: (1) A model based on the concept of “granularity entropy” of the RSEI values of the different LCTs has been proposed by condensing and combining the spatial information granules. This model seeks to evaluate the stability or change of the eco-environment over time. (2) The main LCC factors for the decline in eco-environmental quality in ASEAN from 2001 to 2020 are the interval changes in eco-environmental indicator values caused by the decrease in forest area and the increase in grassland area; climate alteration is also a significant contributor to changes in regional eco-environmental quality.
Spatial Characteristics of Coupling Development of Ecological Protection and Agricultural Economy in China
Authors: Wang Yuan , Chen Hui , Zhang Yihua
Published: June 2023

[Purpose] To explore the coupling coordination evolution law of China’s agricultural ecological environment and economic development, and provide reference and a decision-making basis for coordinating the relationship between the ecological environment and agricultural economy in the process of China’s agricultural economic development. [Method] Based on the coupling coordination mechanism between ecological protection and agricultural economy, this paper constructs an evaluation index system for agricultural ecological environment and economic growth, and explores the spatiotemporal evolution law of the coupling coordination between the agricultural ecological economic system in China’s 31 province administrative regions from 2010 to 2020. [Result] From 2010 to 2020, the overall development level of China’s agricultural ecology and economy was gradually improving; the level of coupling coordination increased significantly before 2015, but then the growth remained stable; the global Moran’s I index of coordination is “first descending and then ascending”; and the LISA cluster diagram of the local Moran’s I index was “east high and west low” before 2015, but then “west high and east low”. [Conclusions] The level of coupling and coordination development of agricultural ecological economic systems in various provinces has steadily increased, but the development level between regions is uneven. It is necessary to strengthen natural disaster management, increase investment in agricultural development, and enhance regional cooperation between regions to promote high-quality and green sustainable development of agricultural ecological economic systems. [Innovation] A new evaluation index system was constructed, the indicator data are complete and comprehensive (including data from 31 different province administrative regions from 2010 to 2020), and the analysis perspective is rich and diverse (through the comparison and changes of the time and space perspectives, the results from different perspectives were comprehensively analyzed). This paper finds that the coordination degree shows significant periodicity with 2015 as the boundary; the growth rate is “west fast and east slow”.
Optimization of Composite Grouting Material Proportioning Based on Regression Analysis Method
Authors: Qin Tao , Ni Yaozu , Chen Weixin , Tao Lei
Published: June 2023

In order to improve the impermeability of ordinary “cement–water glass” double-liquid grouting material, this study prepares a composite grouting material with sodium bentonite, cement, and water glass as the main materials, water-reducing agent, and early strength agent as activators. In this study, orthogonal tests were conducted using an L16(45) orthogonal table and the test results were analyzed using regression analysis. Using bentonite instead of partial cement, the experimental factors of the bentonite ratio, glass slurry ratio, water-reducing agent admixture, and early strength agent admixture were used to study the laws of single-factor and two-factor interactions on the initial apparent viscosity, setting time, and compressive strength of composite grouting materials. After obtaining the optimal ratio of composite grouting materials, the mechanism of formation of material strength and seepage resistance properties was revealed. The results show that the mass ratio of bentonite to cement and the mass ratio of water glass to slurry have a large effect on the material properties, and there is an interactive effect of several factors at the same time. The optimal ratio of the material is 28.42% water, 36.58% cement, 6.20% bentonite, 0.04% water-reducing agent, 0.9% early strength agent, and 27.85% water glass. The microstructural analysis shows that the denseness of the stone body structure is enhanced, and thus the strength and impermeability of the material are improved. This composite grouting material improves injectability and seepage resistance and is more suitable for underpinning grouting of weakly cemented soft rocks, but the ratio optimization method and model used in this study can be applied to other materials.
Blockchain-Based Architecture for a Sustainable Supply Chain in Cloud Architecture
Authors: Radmanesh Seyyed-Alireza , Haji Alireza , Fatahi Valilai Omid
Published: June 2023

Blockchain technology, as a well-known technology in financial spaces, has many advantages in non-financial industries and supply chains. Two of the main benefits of blockchain technology are smart contracts and distributed decision-making processes. These features can be especially useful in implementing Industry 4.0. Moreover, this technology can increase productivity in supply chains by enhancing transparency, reducing operational costs, and improving monitoring and supervision throughout the lifecycle of products. In this paper, we introduce a blockchain-based architecture for a supply chain in cloud architecture. This approach leads to the more efficient implementation of Industry 4.0 and increases sustainability in the supply chain. In this study, we aim to investigate whether the proposed blockchain-based platform affects sustainability in the supply chain. From a sustainability perspective, we solve the large-scale problem of a cloud-based production–distribution system in centralized and distributed states. The results of the solution indicate a significant improvement in the decentralized state compared to the centralized state and this improvement enhances sustainability in the supply chain. We verify the proposed model by considering an axiomatic design algorithm. In the distributed model, the system cost is reduced by up to 45%, and the solving time is decreased by approximately 51% in pessimistic conditions and by about 87% in optimistic conditions. These improvements directly enhance economic and environmental sustainability, resulting in reduced energy consumption.
The Regime Complexes for Global Climate Governance
Authors: Zhang Lihua , Bai Erhai
Published: June 2023

Climate change is a major challenge for human society in the 21st century and an important issue in the context of sustainable development governance. As the density of institutions in global climate governance increases, so does the potential for overlap and interaction between the various elements of institutions. The current global climate governance issue is no longer solely a state-centric governance model but presents a complex manifestation of a complex of mechanisms. Taking a global climate governance perspective, this paper finds that the institutional complex of global climate governance is shaped by internal factors, such as self-attribution, rights, and interest linkages. External factors include the rapid development of globalization and the non-governmental state of the international community. The internal logic of the institutional complex is based on the institutional fragmentation of multiple interested parties involved in the governance process and the interaction patterns of internal actors. The institutional complex of global climate governance has the following implications for policy-making: the strength of the institutional complex refers to the framework of decision-making; the flexibility of the arguments provides stakeholders with demands related to their interests and inspires different countries to join in the governance of global climate change.
Novel Application of MnO2–H2O2 System for Highly Efficient Arsenic Adsorption and Oxidation
Authors: Liu Qingliang , Wang Yu , Zhao Ying , Sun Zhiqiang , Ma Jun , He Xu
Published: June 2023

A novel manganese dioxide–hydrogen peroxide (MnO2–H2O2) system was developed for effective Arsenic (As) removal. Under the specified conditions of no external mechanical stirring, a trace H2O2 concentration of 0.015 wt%, and a MnO2 concentration of 25 mg/L, high removal efficiency (88%) of As (100 µg/L) was achieved by the MnO2–H2O2 system within 30 min, which differs from conventional adsorption processes that require external mechanical stirring and conventional arsenite (As (III)) oxidation–adsorption processes that require high quantities of oxidants (such as ozone) and specially synthesized adsorbents/catalysts. The high removal efficiency of As (III) by the MnO2–H2O2 system was attributed to the turbulent conditions precipitated by the extensively generated oxygen (O2) from the catalytic decomposition of H2O2, the efficient adsorption of As on the surface of MnO2, and the effective generation of reactive radicals including hydroxyl and superoxide radicals (•OH and •O2−). Moreover, the MnO2 adsorbents before and after As removal were characterized systematically, and the generated radicals were verified using electron spin resonance (ESR). The results showed that the formation of inner-sphere surface complexes by the surface hydroxyl groups of MnO2 particles and As was responsible for the effective As adsorption process, and the oxidation of As (III) to arsenate (As (V)) was achieved via the generated radicals. The influences of representative environmental factors on As removal performance and the application of the MnO2–H2O2 system in river water and ground water were further studied and tested. In conclusion, the MnO2–H2O2 system offers several advantages, including low cost, ease of operation, and strong environmental adaptability, making it highly promising for practical water treatment applications.
The Convergence between Digital Industrialization and Industrial Digitalization and Export Technology Complexity: Evidence from China
Authors: Xu Yaozhi , Xu Liling
Published: June 2023

The wave of digitalization is driving the restructuring of the global value chain, providing an excellent opportunity for China to leapfrog into the digital era. The convergence between digital industrialization and industrial digitalization (hereinafter referred to as CDIID) is an indicator to measure the sustainability of the digital economy. The main objective of this paper is to measure the level of CDIID in China and verify the impact of CDIID on export technology complexity and its mechanism. The nonparametric stochastic frontier method is used to measure the level of CDIID of each province in China from 2013 to 2019, and the fixed-effect model is used to investigate the impact effect and mechanism of CDIID on export technology complexity. Empirical research finds that the level of CDIID plays a positive role in promoting the export technology complexity, and in the short term, more attention should be paid to the development of industrial digitalization to enhance export technology complexity. The mechanism test results show that CDIID enhances export technology complexity through the channels of industrial structure upgrading and innovation ability improvement. In terms of industrial digitalization driven by digital industrialization, the channel of innovation ability improvement has a significant impact. In terms of the path of industrial digitalization to promote digital industrialization, it has an inhibitory effect on both channels in the short run. This paper provides empirical evidence and a decision-making basis for China to promote the sustainable development of the digital economy and build new advantages in international competition.
Peat-Based Organo-Mineral Fertilizer Improves Nitrogen Use Efficiency, Soil Quality, and Yield of Baby Corn (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Uddin Md. Kafil , Yeasmin Sanjida , Mohiuddin K. M. , Chowdhury Md. Akhter Hossain , Saha Biplob Kumar
Published: June 2023

The application of organo-mineral fertilizers (OMFs) is gaining popularity day by day because of their potential effect on crop productivity and soil fertility enhancement. Therefore, this research was conducted to observe the effect of a peat soil–urea (PSU) fertilizer on baby corn yield, quality, nitrogen (N) use efficiency, and soil quality compared with commercial urea. A completely randomized design (CRD) with four replicates was used to set up the experiment. In this trial, N was applied from three sources, viz., urea, PSU-L (low N = 15%), and PSU-H (high N = 25%) at a rate of 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended N application dose. The growth, yield, quality, and N use efficiency of baby corn were significantly impacted by the application of PSU fertilizer to the soil. Substantially higher leaf chlorophyll, cob vitamin C, and protein content were found in PSU-treated plants compared with commercial urea. The application of PSU produced about 21% higher cob and a 14% fodder yield over commercial urea. On average, the N uptake by baby corn was 22% higher in PSU-treated plants than urea-treated plants, resulting in 24 and 33% higher N use efficiency and fertilizer N use efficiency, respectively, in PSU than commercial urea. Therefore, the N application rate could be reduced by around 30% using PSU as an alternate N source compared with using commercial urea. In addition, the application of PSU to soil substantially increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, whereas SOC decreased in urea-treated soil.
GIS-Based Analysis of the Spatial Distribution and Influencing Factors of Traditional Villages in Hebei Province, China
Authors: Jia Anqiang , Liang Xiaoxu , Wen Xuan , Yun Xin , Ren Lijian , Yun Yingxia
Published: June 2023

Traditional villages are a valuable cultural asset that occupy an important position in Chinese traditional culture. This study focuses on 206 traditional villages in Hebei Province and aims to explore their spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors using ArcGIS spatial analysis. The analysis shows that traditional villages in Hebei Province were distributed in clusters during different historical periods, and eventually formed three core clusters in Shijiazhuang, Zhangjiakou and Xingtai-Handan after different historical periods. Moreover, the overall distribution of traditional villages in Hebei Province is very uneven, with clear regional differences, and most of them are concentrated in the eastern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. To identify the factors influencing traditional villages, natural environmental factors, socio-economic factors, and historical and cultural factors are considered. The study finds that socio-economic and natural environmental factors alternate in the spatial distribution of traditional villages in Hebei Province. The influence of the interaction of these factors increases significantly, and socio-economic factors have a stronger influence on the spatial distribution. Specifically, the spatial distribution of traditional villages in Hebei Province is influenced by natural environmental factors, while socio-economic factors act as drivers of spatial distribution. Historical and cultural factors act as catalysts of spatial distribution, and policy directions are external forces of spatial distribution. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of traditional villages in Hebei Province, which can be used to develop effective strategies for rural revitalisation in China.
Perception of Green Product Consumption in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic in an Emerging Economy
Authors: Gómez-Bayona Ledy , Valencia-Arias Alejandro , García-Salirrosas Elizabeth Emperatriz , Espinoza-Requejo Cinthy Catheryne , Moreno-López Gustavo
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in consumer behavior and has created new opportunities and challenges for the provisioning of green products in emerging economies. The objective of this study was to identify how perceptions on COVID-19 affected the variables of planned behavior and responsible purchase intention during the pandemic in Colombia. A total of 320 consumers participated in an online survey, and the responses were analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM) and AMOS 24 statistical software. The results were positive regarding the development of better environmental awareness, indicating that COVID-19 (COV) influenced the attitude (ATT) of individuals and contributed to subjective norms (SNs) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), and that SNs and ATT influence eco-friendly purchase intention (EFPI). However, PBC does not contribute to EFPI. Colombian consumers have become aware of the importance to society of buying eco-friendly products, and planned behavior is an opportunity for organizations to formulate new portfolios relevant to the needs of the market. This is an important opportunity to sensitize consumers to the purchase of environmentally friendly products and for the identification of commercial strategies by companies that bet on the formulation and commercialization of eco-friendly portfolios that generate value for society.
Third-Party Governance of Groundwater Ammonia Nitrogen Pollution: An Evolutionary Game Analysis Considering Reward and Punishment Distribution Mechanism and Pollution Rights Trading Policy
Authors: Sun Wenzhuo , Liu Zheng
Published: June 2023

With the acceleration of Chinese industrialization, industrial wastewater is discharged in large quantities, leading to a groundwater environment with high ammonia nitrogen characteristics in many places, which seriously endangers people’s health and makes the treatment of ammonia nitrogen by enterprises an urgent issue. Therefore, based on the principle of “no-fault responsibility”, this paper combines China’s pollution trading rights policy and the reward and punishment distribution mechanism to provide a three-party governance model for groundwater ammonia nitrogen treatment under the benefit sharing of emissions trading. By constructing a tripartite evolutionary game model of groundwater ammonia nitrogen pollution treatment among sewage discharge enterprises, third-party governance enterprises and local governments, the role mechanisms of the strategic choices of different participating actors are analyzed. Finally, the validity of the model is verified via simulation, and the influence of key variables on the evolutionary stability of the system and the strategic choices of the participating parties under different situations are discussed. The research results show that setting reasonable reward and punishment allocation coefficients is the basis for promoting active pollution treatment among sewage discharge enterprises and third-party governance enterprises; a change in pollution rights trading revenue is a key factor affecting the strategic choices of the three parties; sewage discharge enterprises show stronger revenue sensitivity than third-party governance enterprises; and an environmental treatment credit system built by the government can effectively enhance the enthusiasm of enterprises to control pollution. Based on the research results of this paper, the participation of third-party governance enterprises in pollution rights trading is explored, which effectively promotes enterprises to actively carry out groundwater ammonia nitrogen treatment and provides a reference for the government to improve the construction of a sustainable development system for the water environment.
Far-Field Influences Shadow the Effects of a Nuclear Power Plant’s Discharges in a Semi-Enclosed Bay
Authors: Chen Chen-Tung (Arthur) , Jan Sen , Chen Meng-Hsien , Liu Li-Lian , Huang Jung-Fu , Yang Yiing-Jang
Published: June 2023

The sustainable development of society depends on the reliable supply of electricity while keeping impacts on the environment to a minimum. A 951 MWe nuclear power plant in the semi-enclosed Nanwan Bay at the southern tip of Taiwan began operating in May 1984. Part of the bay is in Kenting National Park, which is known for its coral reefs and abundant marine life; thus, thermal pollution from the cooling water discharge is a great concern. Fortunately, the bay opens south to face the Luzon Strait, where the world’s strongest internal tides are generated. Because the bay is deep enough, internal waves bring up cold deep water and reduce the surface temperature by as much as 10 °C for a few hours every day. These internal waves and topographically generated upwelling also bring nutrients to the euphotic layer from the depths, but the upwelled waters quickly leave the bay along with the cooling water. As a result, a thermal plume with a temperature of 1 °C or higher than the ambient temperature only covers 1 km. By way of comparison, El Niño—Southern Oscillation- or Pacific Decadal Oscillation-related interannual variations in temperature are as high as 5 °C. The rapid turnover of the upwelled waters also helps to prevent heat released by the power plant from accumulating and diminishes the thermal stress, thus sustaining corals and other marine life forms. Typhoons, even hundreds of kilometers away, could also induce the upwelling of cold subsurface water. Consecutive typhoons have been observed to reduce the water surface temperature by up to 10 °C for two weeks or longer. Furthermore, the currents are such that the thermal plume flows out of the bay most of the time. All of these factors make the surface waters in the bay about 0.5 °C cooler than the waters outside of the bay, despite the operation of a nearby nuclear power plant.
Running a Sustainable Social Media Business: The Use of Deep Learning Methods in Online-Comment Short Texts
Authors: Lin Weibin , Zhang Qian , Wu Yenchun Jim , Chen Tsung-Chun
Published: June 2023

With the prevalence of the Internet in society, social media has considerably altered the ways in which consumers conduct their daily lives and has gradually become an important channel for online communication and sharing activities. At the same time, whoever can rapidly and accurately disseminate online data among different companies affects their sales and competitiveness; therefore, it is urgent to obtain consumer public opinions online via an online platform. However, problems, such as sparse features and semantic losses in short-text online reviews, exist in the industry; therefore, this article uses several deep learning techniques and related neural network models to analyze Weibo online-review short texts to perform a sentiment analysis. The results show that, compared with the vector representation generated by Word2Vec’s CBOW model, BERT’s word vectors can obtain better sentiment analysis results. Compared with CNN, BiLSTM, and BiGRU models, the improved BiGRU-Att model can effectively improve the accuracy of the sentiment analysis. Therefore, deep learning neural network systems can improve the quality of the sentiment analysis of short-text online reviews, overcome the problems of the presence of too many unfamiliar words and low feature density in short texts, and provide an efficient and convenient computational method for improving the ability to perform sentiment analysis of short-text online reviews. Enterprises can use online data to analyze and immediately grasp the intentions of existing or potential consumers towards the company or product through deep learning methods and develop new services or sales plans that are more closely related to consumers to increase competitiveness. When consumers experience the use of new services or products again, they may provide feedback online. In this situation, companies can use deep learning sentiment analysis models to perform additional analyses, forming a dynamic cycle to ensure the sustainable operation of their enterprises.
State Estimation of Membrane Water Content of PEMFC Based on GA-BP Neural Network
Authors: Huo Haibo , Chen Jiajie , Wang Ke , Wang Fang , Jin Guangzhe , Chen Fengxiang
Published: June 2023

Too high or too low water content in the proton exchange membrane (PEM) will affect the output performance of the proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) and shorten its service life. In this paper, the mathematical mechanisms of cathode mass flow, anode mass flow, water content in the PEM and stack voltage of the PEMFC are deeply studied. Furthermore, the dynamic output characteristics of the PEMFC under the conditions of flooding and drying membrane are reported, and the influence of water content in PEM on output performance of the PEMFC is analyzed. To effectively diagnose membrane drying and flooding faults, prolong their lifespan and thus to improve operation performance, this paper proposes the state assessment of water content in the PEM based on BP neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (GA). Simulation results show that compared with LS-SVM, GA-BP neural network has higher estimation accuracy, which lays a foundation for the fault diagnosis, life extension and control scheme design of the PEMFC.
The Relationships between Food, Recreation Expense, Subjective Health, and Life Satisfaction: Case of Korean People with Disability
Authors: Shim Hyein , Lee Won Seok , Moon Joonho
Published: June 2023

The influence of subjective health and life satisfaction among disabled individuals is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of food and recreation expenditure on subjective health and life satisfaction among disabled individuals in Korea. Data from the Panel Survey of Employment for the Disabled from 2016–2018 was utilized. Econometric analyses, least squares, fixed effect, and random affect models were applied. Results showed that monthly food and recreation cost exerted an inverted U-shaped impact on both subjective health and life satisfaction. These findings have policy implications showing a relationship between social and economic variables and health outcomes. This study also sheds light on the literature by clarifying the relationship among four attributes employing the disabled.
Leaf Shape and Self-Mulching by Trees: A Hypothesis
Authors: Graham John H. , Christopher Rachel
Published: June 2023

The simple leaves of deciduous forest trees in temperate zones have more irregular and asymmetric shapes than comparable non-deciduous leaves of trees in the tropics and subtropics. These shapes manifest as the irregular lobes and sinuses of temperate species of Quercus and Acer, as well as the greater bilateral asymmetry of Ulmaceae and Betulaceae, the serrated margins of many species, and the greater frequency of compound leaves generally (Fraxinus and Carya). These modifications may contribute to an early transition from laminar to turbulent flow, thus reducing the lateral movement of leaves when they drop during the onset of either winter or the dry season, or when they are simply shed for replacement. Such leaves are more likely to drop over the critical root zone than large, thin, broadly elliptic, and symmetric leaves. Here, we evaluate evidence for and against self-mulching as an explanation for differences in leaf shape between temperate and tropical forests. We suggest that the main evolutionary trade-offs are between competition for (1) light among tropical trees and temperate subcanopy trees, and (2) competition for water and soil nutrients among temperate canopy trees.
Symmetry-Adapted Domination Indices: The Enhanced Domination Sigma Index and Its Applications in QSPR Studies of Octane and Its Isomers
Authors: Wazzan Suha , Ahmed Hanan
Published: June 2023

Molecular descriptors are essential in mathematical chemistry for studying quantitative structure–property relationships (QSPRs), and topological indices are a valuable source of information about molecular properties, such as size, cyclicity, branching degree, and symmetry. Graph theory has played a crucial role in the development of topological indices and dominating parameters for molecular descriptors. A molecule graph, under graph isomorphism conditions, represents an invariant number, and the graph theory approach considers dominating sets, which are subsets of the vertex set where every vertex outside the set is adjacent to at least one vertex inside the set. The dominating sigma index, a topological index that incorporates the mathematical principles of domination topological indices and the sigma index, is applicable to some families of graphs, such as book graphs and windmill graphs, and some graph operations, which have exact values for this new index. To evaluate the effectiveness of the domination sigma index in QSPR studies, a comparative analysis was conducted to establish an appropriate domination index that correlates with the physicochemical properties of octane and its isomers. Linear and non-linear models were developed using the QSPR approach to predict the properties of interest, and the results show that both the domination forgotten and domination first Zagreb indices exhibited satisfactory performance in comparison testing. Further research into QSAR/QSPR domination indices is required to build more robust models for predicting the physicochemical properties of organic compounds while maintaining the importance of symmetry.
Iterative Solutions for the Nonlinear Heat Transfer Equation of a Convective-Radiative Annular Fin with Power Law Temperature-Dependent Thermal Properties
Authors: Kumar R. S. Varun , Sarris Ioannis E. , Sowmya G. , Abdulrahman Amal
Published: June 2023

The temperature distribution in a conductive-radiative rectangular profiled annular fin with internal heat generation is scrutinized in the present investigation. The nonlinear variation of thermal conductivity and heat transfer coefficient governed by the power law is considered. The analytical approximation for the non-dimensional temperature profile is obtained using the differential transform method (DTM)-Pade approximant. The nondimensionalization of the governing energy equation using dimensionless terms yields a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) with corresponding boundary conditions. The resulting ODE is analytically solved with the assistance of the DTM-Pade approximant procedure. Furthermore, the impact of thermal parameters on the temperature field and thermal stress is elaborated with graphs. The important results of the report divulge that temperature distribution greatly enhances with an augmentation of the heat generation parameter, but it gradually reduces with an increment in the magnitude of the thermogeometric and radiative-conductive parameter.
Real-Time Anomaly Detection of Network Traffic Based on CNN
Authors: Liu Haitao , Wang Haifeng
Published: June 2023

Network traffic anomaly detection mainly detects and analyzes abnormal traffic by extracting the statistical features of network traffic. It is necessary to fully understand the concept of symmetry in anomaly detection and anomaly mitigation. However, the original information on network traffic is easily lost, and the adjustment of dynamic network configuration becomes gradually complicated. To solve this problem, we designed and realized a new online anomaly detection system based on software defined networks. The system uses the convolutional neural network to directly extract the original features of the network flow for analysis, which can realize online real- time packet extraction and detection. It utilizes SDN to flexibly adapt to changes in the network, allowing for a zero-configuration anomaly detection system. The packet filter of the anomaly detection system is used to automatically implement mitigation strategies to achieve online real-time mitigation of abnormal traffic. The experimental results show that the proposed method is more accurate and can warn the network manager in time that security measures can be taken, which fully demonstrates that the method can effectively detect abnormal traffic problems and improve the security performance of edge clustering networks.
Replacement Name for Paracis (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Paramuriceidae) with a Revision and Re-Description of the Japanese Species and Description of Two New Genera and Species from the Indo-Pacific
Authors: Matsumoto Asako K. , Ofwegen Leen P. van
Published: June 2023

In this paper, the type material of all five Japanese Paracis species (P. ijimai (Kinoshita, 1909), P. miyajimai (Kinoshita, 1909), P. pustulata (Wright and Studer, 1889), P. spinifera (Nutting, 1912), P. squamata (Nutting, 1910)), two Placogorgia species (P. japonica (Nutting, 1912) and P. placoderma (Nutting, 1910)), Pseudothesea foliata Aurivillius, 1931, and the type of the genus Paracis, P. orientalis (Ridley, 1882) are re-examined and re-described. The sclerites of the different species are depicted using scanning electron microscopy. All Japanese Paracis and related species treated here belong to four genera: Paracis, Kükenthal, 1919, Imbricacis Matsumoto and Ofwegen gen. nov., Pseudoparacis Matsumoto and Ofwegen gen. nov., and Pseudothesea Kükenthal, 1919. A replacement name for the genus Paracis as Neoacis is introduced because there is a senior homonym. A total of eight new species are described: Neoacis bayeri sp. nov., N. marianaensis sp. nov., N. ofwegeni sp. nov., Imbricacis foliata sp. nov., I. hawaiiensis sp. nov., Pseudoparacis tanseii sp. nov., Pseudothesea satsumaensis sp. nov., and Pseudothesea tokaraensis sp. nov. Pseudothesea foliata Aurivillius, 1931 is synonymised with Pseudoparacis japonica (Nutting, 1912). We have designated a lectotype for Paracis squamata (Nutting, 1910), which is now revised as Imbricacis squamata. Keys to the genera Neoacis, Imbricacis, Pseudoparacis, and Pseudothesea are presented.
Toxicological and Mutagenic Effects of Particulate Matter from Domestic Activities
Authors: Figueiredo Daniela , Vicente Estela D. , Vicente Ana , Gonçalves Cátia , Lopes Isabel , Alves Célia A. , Oliveira Helena
Published: June 2023

People spend most of their time indoors, particularly in their houses where daily activities are carried out, enhancing particulate matter (PM) emissions with consequent adverse health impacts. This study intended to appraise the toxicological and mutagenic responses of particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 μm (PM10) released from cooking and ironing activities under different conditions. The cytotoxicity of the PM10 total organic extracts was tested in A549 cells using the WST-8 and the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, while the interference in cell cycle dynamics and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was analysed by flow cytometry. The S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 Ames tester strains with and without metabolic activation were employed to determine the mutagenic potential of the PM10-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PM10 organic extracts decreased the metabolic activity of A549 cells; however, no effects in the LDH release were observed. An increase in ROS levels was registered only for cells treated with PM10 at IC20 from steam ironing, in low ventilation conditions, while cell cycle dynamics was only affected by exposure to PM10 at IC20 from frying horse mackerel and grilling boneless pork strips. No mutagenic effects were observed for all the PM10-bound PAHs samples.
Outcomes of IncobotulinumtoxinA Injection on Myalgia and Arthralgia in Patients Undergoing Temporomandibular Joint Arthroscopy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ângelo David Faustino , Sanz David , Maffia Francesco , Cardoso Henrique José
Published: June 2023

Background: Several studies have considered Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A injections effective in treating temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) symptoms. A double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial investigated the benefit of complementary incobotulinumtoxinA (inco-BoNT/A) injections in the masticatory muscles of patients submitted to bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthroscopy. Methods: Fifteen patients with TMD and an indication for bilateral TMJ arthroscopy were randomized into inco-BoNT/A (Xeomin, 100 U) or placebo groups (saline solution). Injections were carried out five days before TMJ arthroscopy. The primary outcome variable was a Visual Analogue Scale for TMJ arthralgia, and secondary outcomes were the myalgia degree, maximum mouth opening, and joint clicks. All outcome variables were assessed preoperatively (T0) and postoperatively (T1—week 5; T2—6-month follow-up). Results: At T1, the outcomes in the inco-BoNT/A group were improved, but not significantly more than in the placebo group. At T2, significant improvements in the TMJ arthralgia and myalgia scores were observed in the inco-BoNT/A group compared to the placebo. A higher number of postoperative reinterventions with further TMJ treatments were observed in the placebo group compared to inco-BoNT/A (63% vs. 14%). Conclusions: In patients submitted to TMJ arthroscopy, statistically significant long-term differences were observed between the placebo and inco-BoNT/A groups.
Recombinant Production, NMR Solution Structure, and Membrane Interaction of the Phα1β Toxin, a TRPA1 Modulator from the Brazilian Armed Spider Phoneutria nigriventer
Authors: Lyukmanova Ekaterina N. , Mironov Pavel A. , Kulbatskii Dmitrii S. , Shulepko Mikhail A. , Paramonov Alexander S. , Chernaya Elizaveta M. , Logashina Yulia A. , Andreev Yaroslav A. , Kirpichnikov Mikhail P. , Shenkarev Zakhar O.
Published: June 2023

Phα1β (PnTx3–6) is a neurotoxin from the spider Phoneutria nigriventer venom, originally identified as an antagonist of two ion channels involved in nociception: N-type voltage-gated calcium channel (CaV2.2) and TRPA1. In animal models, Phα1β administration reduces both acute and chronic pain. Here, we report the efficient bacterial expression system for the recombinant production of Phα1β and its 15N-labeled analogue. Spatial structure and dynamics of Phα1β were determined via NMR spectroscopy. The N-terminal domain (Ala1–Ala40) contains the inhibitor cystine knot (ICK or knottin) motif, which is common to spider neurotoxins. The C-terminal α-helix (Asn41–Cys52) stapled to ICK by two disulfides exhibits the µs–ms time-scale fluctuations. The Phα1β structure with the disulfide bond patterns Cys1–5, Cys2–7, Cys3–12, Cys4–10, Cys6–11, Cys8–9 is the first spider knottin with six disulfide bridges in one ICK domain, and is a good reference to other toxins from the ctenitoxin family. Phα1β has a large hydrophobic region on its surface and demonstrates a moderate affinity for partially anionic lipid vesicles at low salt conditions. Surprisingly, 10 µM Phα1β significantly increases the amplitude of diclofenac-evoked currents and does not affect the allyl isothiocyanate (AITC)-evoked currents through the rat TRPA1 channel expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Targeting several unrelated ion channels, membrane binding, and the modulation of TRPA1 channel activity allow for considering Phα1β as a gating modifier toxin, probably interacting with S1–S4 gating domains from a membrane-bound state.
Mycotoxin Determination and Occurrence in Pseudo-Cereals Intended for Food and Feed: A Review
Authors: Vila-López María Vanessa , Pallarés Noelia , Ferrer Emilia , Tolosa Josefa
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, pseudo-cereals’ consumption is increasing due to their health benefits as they possess an excellent nutrient profile. Whole pseudo-cereal grains are rich in a wide range of compounds, namely flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, and vitamins with known beneficial effects on human and animal health. Mycotoxins are common contaminants in cereals and by-products; however, the study of their natural occurrence in pseudo-cereals is currently scarce. Pseudo-cereals are similar to cereal grains; thus, mycotoxin contamination is expected to occur in pseudo-cereals. Indeed, mycotoxin-producing fungi have been reported in these matrices and, consequently, mycotoxin contents have been reported too, especially in buckwheat samples, where ochratoxin A and deoxynivalenol reached levels up to 1.79 μg/kg and 580 μg/kg, respectively. In comparison to cereal contamination, mycotoxin levels detected in pseudo-cereal samples are lower; however, more studies are necessary in order to describe the mycotoxin pattern in these samples and to establish maximum levels that ensure human and animal health protection. In this review, mycotoxin occurrence in pseudo-cereal samples as well as the main extraction methods and analytical techniques to determine them are described, showing that mycotoxins can be present in pseudo-cereal samples and that the most employed techniques for their determination are liquid and gas chromatography coupled to different detectors.
Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology in Middle Aged and Older People with HIV: Comparisons with Non-HIV Controls on a Healthy Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease Trajectory and Relationships with Cognitive Function
Authors: Sundermann Erin E. , Campbell Laura M. , Villers Olivia , Bondi Mark W. , Gouaux Ben , Salmon David P. , Galasko Douglas , Soontornniyomkij Virawudh , Ellis Ronald J. , Moore David J.
Published: June 2023

We determined the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathological hallmarks, amyloid-β and phosphorylated-Tau, in autopsied brains of 49 people with HIV (PWH) (ages: 50–68; mean age = 57.0) from the National NeuroAIDS Tissue Consortium and in a comparative cohort of 55 people without HIV (PWoH) from the UC San Diego Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (17 controls, 14 mild cognitive impairment, 24 AD; ages: 70–102, mean age = 88.7). We examined how AD pathology relates to domain-specific cognitive functions in PWH overall and in sex-stratified samples. Amyloid-β and phosphorylated-Tau positivity (presence of pathology of any type/density) was determined via immunohistochemistry in AD-sensitive brain regions. Among PWH, amyloid-β positivity ranged from 19% (hippocampus) to 41% (frontal neocortex), and phosphorylated-Tau positivity ranged from 47% (entorhinal cortex) to 73% (transentorhinal cortex). Generally, AD pathology was significantly less prevalent, and less severe when present, in PWH versus PWoH regardless of cognitive status. Among PWH, positivity for AD pathology related most consistently to memory-related domains. Positivity for p-Tau pathology related to memory-related domains in women with HIV only, although the sample size of women with HIV was small (n = 10). Results indicate that AD pathology is present in a sizable portion of middle aged and older PWH, although not to the extent in older PWoH. Studies with better age-matched PWoH are needed to examine the effect of HIV status on AD pathology.
COVID-19 Attitudes and Vaccine Hesitancy among an Agricultural Community in Southwest Guatemala: A Cross-Sectional Survey
Authors: Rojop Neudy , Calvimontes Diva M. , Barrios Edgar , Lamb Molly M. , Paniagua-Avila Alejandra , Monzon Jose , Duca Lindsey M. , Iwamoto Chelsea , Chard Anna N. , Gomez Melissa , Arias Kareen , Roell Yannik , Bolanos Guillermo Antonio , Zielinski-Gutierrez Emily , Azziz-Baumgartner Eduardo , Lopez Maria Renee , Cordon-Rosales Celia , Asturias Edwin J. , Olson Daniel
Published: June 2023

Despite offering free-of-charge COVID-19 vaccines starting July 2021, Guatemala has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Latin America. From 28 September 2021 to 11 April 2022, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of community members, adapting a CDC questionnaire to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine access and hesitancy. Of 233 participants ≥ 12 years, 127 (55%) received ≥1 dose of COVID-19 and 4 (2%) reported prior COVID-19 illness. Persons ≥ 12 years old who were unvaccinated (n = 106) were more likely to be female (73% vs. 41%, p < 0.001) and homemakers (69% vs. 24%, p < 0.01) compared with vaccinated participants (n = 127). Among those ≥18 years, the main reported motivation for vaccination among vaccinated participants was to protect the health of family/friends (101/117, 86%); on the other hand, 40 (55%) unvaccinated persons reported little/no confidence in public health institutions recommending COVID-19 vaccination. Community- and/or home-based vaccination programs, including vaccination of families through the workplace, may better reach female homemakers and reduce inequities and hesitancy.
Modernization of Fire Vehicles with New Technologies and Chemicals
Authors: Un Cagri , Aydın Kadir
Published: June 2023

Fire is a stable exothermic chain reaction of flammable materials brought together with oxygen or other oxidizing substances under certain conditions, occurring uncontrollably. Fire vehicles interfere with many types of fire, such as wildfires, factory fires, building fires, etc. During this intervention, fire vehicles generally use water or foam. In this study, new effective fire suppression applications are investigated. Thermal camera applications in fire trucks and also new extinguishing agents—boron-based chemicals—were tested in forest fire simulations. In these experiments, it was observed that the thermal camera detected the fire as soon as it occurred. It seemed appropriate to use thermal cameras for all types of fire vehicles (foam trucks, water tankers, rescue trucks, etc.). It was seen that the thermal camera application could detect and monitor the fire during the fire-extinguishing work of the firefighters. The boron-based fire suppressant had a better extinguishing and cooling effect than water in the experiments. Compared to the water used as a traditional method, the liquid boron-based extinguisher provided 22% faster—while the solid boron-based extinguisher provided 42% faster—suppression and cooling. With three separate experiments, it is predicted that thermal camera applications and the use of boron-based extinguishers in fire vehicles can lead to an effective and positive transformation in the coming years.