bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical simulation of hot soak in cabin based on ventilation strategy
Authors: Chen Deyu , Chen Suifan , Ge Qing
Published: May 2024

To address the issue of excessive heat within the vehicle’s cabin, this study employs transient simulation methods to explore and analyze how various ventilation tactics and parameters influence the cabin’s temperature distribution and air quality. Findings indicate that the optimal thermal comfort and air quality conditions are achieved through the implementation of a top ventilation strategy. Specifically, with an air supply velocity of 3 m/s, a supply air temperature of 19°C, and an airflow direction of 15°, the air age at the driver’s breathing zone is measured at 18.92 seconds, while it stands at 20.35 seconds at the child passenger’s breathing zone. This ventilation setup achieves an air exchange efficiency of up to 80.1%, nearly complete pollutant removal efficiency, and places the thermal comfort at monitored human body points within a range deemed satisfactory or comfortable. Overall, this configuration yields the most favorable conditions for the comfort of the driver and passengers compared to other scenarios examined.
Performance analysis of a novel solar Linear Fresnel concentrator system based on spectral beam splitting
Authors: Xu Ning , Qiu Zhongzhu , Zhang Jingkui , Zhu Qunzhi , Zhang Tao , Cai Jingyong , Ni Xingrui , Zhang Miaomiao , Tan Guoheng , Lu Tianrui
Published: May 2024

Photothermal and photovoltaic are the most common and commercialized ways of utilizing solar energy. However, they cannot use solar energy efficiently. SBS (spectral beam splitting) technology is an efficient solar energy utilization technology that can realize the full spectrum utilization of solar energy. The current work involved: (1) Proposing a SBS-LFCs (linear Fresnel concentrator system) based on spectral beam splitting. In this system, the SBS photovoltaic panel replaces the conventional linear Fresnel concentrator lens, which can realize photovoltaic and photothermal utilization at the same time; (2) Developing a spectral splitting thin films configuration using the Needle method whose transmittance is higher than 90% against 380 nm-1100 nm band range; (3) Designing the SBS photovoltaic panel structure. The cover glass surface is covered with a SBS thin film. The SBS photovoltaic panel replaces the concentrator lens of LFCs; (4) Taking four typical days as examples, the annual power generation of a SBS linear Fresnel focusing system was predicted. The outcome indicates that the total conversion efficiency of solar thermal power in the system is 23.8%, 23.5%, 23.5%, and 23.6% on the spring equinox, summer solstice, autumn equinox, and winter solstice, respectively. Compared to conventional monocrystalline silicon cells, the photoelectric conversion efficiency has been improved by 14.6%, 12.8%, 12.5%, and 14.1%, respectively.
Multi-distributed resource coordination based on GAMS (general algebraic modeling system)
Authors: Huang Yuqi , Leng Zhenglong , Ye Wei , Zhou Zhaozheng
Published: May 2024

To achieve the economic operation of distributed energy resources in the grid, a GAMS-based multi-distributed resource optimization and control method is proposed. Firstly, considering the coexistence of electricity load and heat load in the grid system, a virtual power plant structure involving heat generation from distributed energy is established. Secondly, the General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS) is utilized to create a detailed mathematical model for the distributed resources within the virtual grid. Subsequently, considering the influence of various uncertain factors, the CLPEX solver is employed for optimization and solution. Research results indicate that during the operation of the virtual power plant, the introduction of system heat load significantly enhances the expected profit and improves the economic efficiency of the operation.
Single-phase photovoltaic off-grid inverter based on quasi-PR control
Authors: Wang Pujie
Published: May 2024

Given the rapid growth of renewable energy generation, photovoltaic inverters have gained widespread adoption in power generation systems. To achieve improved precision in control and enhanced quality in the output waveform of the inverters, this article presents a single-phase photovoltaic inverter designed for both grid-connected and off-grid systems. It utilizes a quasi-proportional-resonant control technique. Initially, the mathematical representation of the grid-connected and off-grid inverter is established. Following this, the quasi-proportional resonant control strategy is introduced, with the corresponding implementation method of the controller derived from its equivalent block diagram. Furthermore, the control block diagrams of the grid-connected and off-grid inverters undergo a detailed analysis, and the system’s transfer function is obtained from the control block diagram. The incorporation of grid voltage feedforward control is introduced for examining the system’s tracking performance. Ultimately, the proposed control approach is validated for its effectiveness and practicality through Simulink simulation.
A novel approach to data analysis for lithium-ion batteries using higher-order spectral analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhi , Bai Shuhua , He Baiqing , Huang Jinliang , Wu Lei , Zhou Donglan , Liao Dan
Published: May 2024

The usage of lithium-ion batteries has become widespread across various applications, such as electronic devices, electric vehicles, and integrated renewable energy systems. Hence, there is a pressing need to enhance analytical techniques to optimize their performance and prolong their operational lifespan. This study introduces an innovative methodology that utilizes higher-order spectral analysis (HOSA) for evaluating data collected from lithium-ion batteries. The objective is to capture the inherent nonlinear and non-stationary behaviors displayed by battery data. The proposed approach mainly uses Bispectrum and Bicoherence to establish hypothesis tests for nonlinearity and non-Gaussianity of data. Through a customized algorithm, the higher-order spectrum of these refined data is calculated, uncovering intricate characteristics that may go unnoticed by conventional analytical methods. These findings have a wide range of potential applications, including battery modeling, fault detection, state-of-charge estimation, state-of-health estimation and the enhancement of battery performance. Finally, an experiment is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the method.
Development of the interferometer control system on HFRC
Authors: Wang Yajun , Gao Li , Wang Liye , Zheng Wei , Yang Jingmin , Yang Zhoujun , Chen Zhipeng
Published: May 2024

The CO2 laser interferometer is an important diagnostic
system in the HUST Field Reversed Configuration (HFRC) and can
provide routine electron density measurement for plasma
experiments. A commercial laser (λ = 10.6 μm) with a
maximum output power of 20 watts is used as the laser source for the
interferometer, which can pose a threat to the safety of
experimenters and experimenters' experimental environment. Moreover,
most of the components of the system are sensitive to the
temperature and humidity of the environment. For the aim of safe and
stable operation, it is necessary to develop a CO2 interferometer control system (CICS). A module was innovatively
designed with a servo to regulate power according to commands and
protect timely when a fault takes place. Additionally, a special
device using a stepper motor can automatically regulate and release
the laser according to the different stages of the experiment. The
hardware design of the CO2 control system incorporates the
ESP32 microcontroller, servo and stepper motor, which can
automatically monitor, regulate and protect in case a fault takes
place. The software implementation of the interaction is based on
the OneNET platform and is first used on the CO2 interferometer, linking in the Internet based on Internet of Things
(IoT) technologies to each sensor and device in the control system,
which can achieve visualization monitoring and remote control. With
the operation of CICS, the CO2 interferometer can run stably
and be timely protected.
A model for photon counting X-ray event reconstruction uncertainty
Authors: Jones L.S. , Crews C. , Ivory J. , Holland A.
Published: May 2024

Evaluation of detectors for a soft X-ray imaging
spectrometer has resulted in the need to understand the effect of
charge spreading on apparent detector noise properties, and
therefore achievable energy resolution. This paper presents a
mathematical model for the processes leading to increased
uncertainty within a simplified X-ray reconstruction process. This
is a description for additional uncertainty introduced by the
process of collecting X-ray generated electrons into a region of
noisy pixels and reconstructing the recorded pixels values back into
an estimated X-ray energy value. The predictions of the model, and
preliminary experimental verification are shown.
Real-time position and pose prediction for a self-propelled undulatory swimmer in 3D space with artificial lateral line system
Authors: Liu Ruosi , Ding Yang , Xie Guangming
Published: May 2024

This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using an artificial lateral line (ALL) system for predicting the real-time position and pose of an undulating swimmer with Carangiform swimming patterns. We established a 3D computational fluid dynamics simulation to replicate the swimming dynamics of a freely swimming mackerel under various motion parameters, calculating the corresponding pressure fields. Using the simulated lateral line data, we trained an artificial neural network to predict the centroid coordinates and orientation of the swimmer. A comprehensive analysis was further conducted to explore the impact of sensor quantity, distribution, noise amplitude and sampling intervals of the ALL array on predicting performance. Additionally, to quantitatively assess the reliability of the localization network, we trained another neural network to evaluate error magnitudes for different input signals. These findings provide valuable insights for guiding future research on mutual sensing and schooling in underwater robotic fish.
Evapotranspiration increment was underestimated in China due to underrepresented land cover changes
Authors: Wu Xinyue , Han Wangya , Yu Zhen
Published: May 2024

Numerous evapotranspiration (ET) products have been produced using various approaches and diverse forcing data even as the magnitude and trends of ET show divergence. We simulated ET using updated land use and cover change (LUCC) data in China from 1900 to 2020. We found that China’s ET increased slightly from 1900 to 1980, but it increased rapidly after 1980 due to LUCC characterized by forest expansion (2.05 mm yr−1, P < 0.01). We also found that the ET trends derived from our simulation were significantly higher than other ET products (−0.70–1.47 mm yr−1, P < 0.01), implying that existing, long-term ET products might have underestimated ET trends in China during the post-1980 period because of underrepresented LUCC. These underestimated ET trends could introduce biases in the regional water budget and water resources management. We advocate for future studies to take into account the impacts of LUCC in global ET simulations.
Skillful seasonal prediction of the 2022–23 mega soil drought over the Yangtze River basin by combining dynamical climate prediction and copula analysis
Authors: Wang Yumiao , Yuan Xing , Liu Yuxiu , Wang Wenyan
Published: May 2024

An unprecedented soil moisture drought broke out over the Yangtze River basin (YRB) in the summer of 2022 and lasted until the spring of 2023, caused great economic losses and serious environmental issues. With the rapid onset and long-lasting duration, the mega soil drought challenges the current seasonal prediction capacity. Whether the state-of-the-art climate models provide skillful predictions of the onset, persistence and recovery of the 2022–23 mega soil drought needs to be assessed. Identified by the drought area percentage, here we show that the mega soil drought over the YRB started from July, 2022, reached the peak in August, and diminished in April, 2023. Combined with real-time predictions of monthly precipitation released by three climate models participating in the North American multi-model ensemble (NMME) project, we predict the monthly evolution of the 2022–23 soil drought through a joint distribution between precipitation and soil moisture established by the copula method. The results indicate that the NMME/copula prediction well reproduced the spatiotemporal evolution of the mega soil drought at 1 month lead. Using the climatological prediction that relies on the information of initial soil moisture conditions as the reference forecast, the Brier skill score (BSS) values for NMME multi-model ensemble are 0.26, 0.23 and 0.2 for the forecast lead times increased from 1 to 3 months during the entire soil drought period. Specifically, the BSS is 0.14 at 2 months lead during drought onset stage, and 0.26 at 3 months lead during persistence stage, while it is close to zero at all leads during the recovery stage. Our study implies that climate models have great potential in probabilistic seasonal prediction of the onset and persistency of mega soil drought through combining with the copula method.
Integrable systems in magnetic fields: the generalized parabolic cylindrical case
Authors: Kubů O , Marchesiello A , Šnobl L
Published: May 2024

This article is a contribution to the classification of quadratically integrable systems with vector potentials whose integrals are of the nonstandard, nonseparable type. We focus on generalized parabolic cylindrical case, related to non-subgroup-type coordinates. We find three new systems, two with magnetic fields polynomial in Cartesian coordinates and one with unbounded exponential terms. The limit in the parameters of the integrals yields a new parabolic cylindrical system; the limit of vanishing magnetic fields leads to the free motion. This confirms the conjecture that non-subgroup type integrals can be related to separable systems only in a trivial manner.
Effect of temperature on the ability to synthesize SiC from rice husks
Authors: Kieu Do Trung Kien , Nguyen Cam Thuy , Huynh Ngoc Minh
Published: May 2024

Agricultural production in Vietnam annually generates a substantial volume of by-products and waste, with rice husks constituting the predominant fraction. Due to their meager economic value, rice husks are typically deemed agricultural waste and are commonly disposed of through incineration or discharge into rivers, contributing significantly to environmental pollution. In this investigation, rice husks were employed as the principal raw material for synthesizing silicon carbide. A blend of rice husks and silica gel in a ratio of 1.4/1 was subjected to sintering in a CO2 environment within the temperature range of 800 °C–1300 °C for 30 min. The chemical composition of the resultant product post-pyrolysis was ascertained in accordance with the ISO 21068–2:2008 standard. The capacity for SiC formation was further assessed utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction. The outcomes revealed that the optimal temperature for SiC synthesis was 1200 °C. The composition of the sample post-pyrolysis was determined as 20.4% SiC, 51.2% SiO2, and 26.4% C (%wt). The primary phase constituents encompass amorphous carbon, cristobalite, α-SiC, and β-SiC. Scanning Electron Microscopy/ Energy Dispersive x-ray imaging of the product at 1200 °C exhibited dispersed SiC crystals on a SiO2-C substrate. The presence of SiC suggests the potential application of the product as a wear-resistant material.
Sketching phase diagrams using low-depth variational quantum algorithms
Authors: Lukas Bosse Jan , Santos Raul A , Montanaro Ashley
Published: May 2024

Mapping out phase diagrams of quantum systems using classical simulations can be challenging or intractable due to the computational resources required to simulate even small quantum systems far away from the thermodynamic limit. We investigate using quantum computers and the variational quantum eigensolver (VQE) for this task. In contrast to the task of preparing the exact ground state using VQE, sketching phase diagrams might require less quantum resources and accuracy, because low fidelity approximations to the ground state may be enough to correctly identify different phases. We used classical numerical simulations of low-depth VQE circuits to compute order parameters for four well-studied spin and fermion models which represent a mix of 1D and 2D, and exactly-solvable and classically hard systems. We find that it is possible to predict the location of phase transitions up to reasonable accuracy using states produced by VQE even when their overlap with the true ground state is small. Further, we introduce a model-agnostic predictor of phase transitions based on the speed with which the VQE energy improves with respect to the circuit depth, and find that in some cases this is also able to predict phase transitions.
CSIU-Net+: Pepper and corn leaves classification and severity identification using hybrid optimization
Authors: Begum Shaik Salma Asiya , Syed Hussain
Published: May 2024

An agricultural product plays a major role in the economical growth of developing countries. Agricultural products like pepper and corn are the essential crops with respect to human health food security. But, these two crops are prone to different diseases such as gray leaf spot, common rust and fruit rot which affects the productivity of crops. Further, the severity identification is also a challenging one. To address these limitations, this work presents different approaches for identifying the crop lesions and predicting the severity and thereby increasing the productivity of crops. The development of the proposed model includes steps such as dataset collection, noise removal, segmentation, feature extraction, classification and severity prediction. Initially, the crop images are pre-processed by the median filter and the pre-processed images are processed are segmented, extracted and classified by the optimized U-Net model. Moreover, hybrid optimizer which is the integration of GJA (Golden jackal algorithm) and RDA (Red deer algorithm) are utilized for precise segmentation and classification. Finally, the severity prediction is computed for the diseased leaves by the measuring the size of image pixels. The experimentation is carried out on the benchmark PlantVillage dataset; the accuracy and precision values achieved are 99.2% and 99.1%. Thus, the experimental outcomes show the effectiveness and stability of the model.
Insights to the water balance of a Boreal watershed using a SWAT model
Authors: Islam Kamal , Daraio Joseph , Sabau Gabriela , Cheema Mumtaz , Galagedara Lakshman
Published: May 2024

The hydrological characteristics of a watershed play a crucial role in shaping ecosystems within the Boreal zone and have a significant impact on regional environments. Knowing these characteristics, such as the distinctive topography, vegetation, soil composition, and climatic conditions in the Canadian Boreal ecozone, is essential for implementing sustainable water management. This study focuses on assessing the hydrological dynamics of the Upper Humber River Watershed (UHRW) in western Newfoundland, Canada, using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. The UHRW includes sub-basins and hydrological response units (HRUs), with diverse land uses, soil types, and slope characteristics. Key parameters influencing streamflow simulation were identified through sensitivity analysis, including the runoff curve number, the effective hydraulic conductivity, the temperature lapse rate, the soil evaporation compensation factor, and the available water capacity of the soil layer. The SWAT model, using data from the Reidville hydrometric station, shows favorable performance metrics, with R2 values of 0.79 and 0.83 during the calibration and evaluation periods, respectively. The model effectively captures seasonal and monthly flow patterns, displaying right-skewed distributions and seasonal variations. The analyzed hydrological parameters, such as precipitation, evaporation, transpiration, surface runoff, and groundwater flow, reveal their significant contributions to the water balance. The flow duration curve analysis indicates the model’s capability to estimate peak and low flows, with slight under-prediction during the recession phase. Seasonal analysis further supports the model’s performance, with positive Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) values ranging from 0.65 to 0.91. The study concludes that the SWAT model is suitable for simulating the hydrological processes in the studied watershed providing valuable insights for sustainable water resource management and decision-making in the UHRW. The results can be useful for other Boreal ecozone watersheds.
Surveying the landscape of environmental social science: a bibliometric and network analysis
Authors: Theis Nicholas G , Light Ryan
Published: May 2024

Social science research on the environment has grown exponentially in the past four decades alongside increasing awareness that environmental risks, such as climate change, cannot be understood by natural science interventions alone. While prior research examines how specific disciplines, like sociology, have attended to the environment or how specific problems have been engaged across disciplines, less attention has been offered to the entire landscape of research on the environment in the social sciences. In this article, we ask: What is the landscape of environmental social science? Focusing on 124,906 social scientific articles from the Web of Science, we analyze the relationship between journals publishing research on the environment. Specifically, we construct journal citation networks and topic models on bibliographic records from 1990 to 2022. Results suggest that journals form coherent communities associated with both disciplinary and interdisciplinary research topics, indicating that journal communities may be a central organizing feature of ESS. Moreover, research topics prevalent in this field have changed over time, potentially in relation to the ongoing neoliberalization of climate change politics. As scholars want to influence policy and industrial practice, their research implicitly reflects values consistent with the current political economic order. We conclude by highlighting the implications of these findings for the field of environmental social science.
Predictors of solar water heater purchasing intention: an empirical analysis of residential behaviors in Hanoi city, Vietnam
Authors: Truong Dinh Duc
Published: May 2024

Solar energy is a field that has grown rapidly in the world in recent years to solve the energy crisis and respond to climate change. Vietnam is a country with renewables energy potential including solar power and is pursuing net zero emissions target by 2050. This study explores factors affecting the residents’ intention to buy solar water heater in Hanoi, Vietnam. We used theory of planned behaviors and technology acceptance model to build research model and hypotheses. A community survey was conducted with 450 households in 3 districts using cluster sampling method to collect information. We conducted descriptive statistical analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha test, exploring factor analysis, conformity factor analysis and regression to identify and evaluate the impact of factors on solar water heater consumption intention. The results showed that there were significant factors affecting people’s intention to buy solar water heater including attitude, perceived usefulness, price perception, social influence and financial support in which attitude is the most influential factor. Regarding social characteristic of respondents, we also found positively significant relationship between income, education level and intention to use solar heater. Recommendations for government and business included increasing awareness of the benefits and economic feasibility of renewable energy devices to consumers through social media, implementing financial incentives to support clean energy consumption behavior, and strengtheing the emergence of local solar evangelist groups in the communities. Future research can expand to other cities and explore more indirect factors affecting the green energy consumption behavior of Vietnamese residents.
Paper mill wastes and biochar improve physiochemical properties and reduce heavy metals leaching risks in podzolic soils
Authors: Farhain Muhammad , Cheema Mumtaz , Nadeem Muhammad , Katanda Yeukai , Thomas Raymond , Javed Bilal , Galagedara Lakshman
Published: May 2024

Background: The incorporation of industrial wastes, such as wood ash and paper sludge, as soil amendments is vital for both environmental sustainability and agroecosystem productivity. Herein, we evaluated the effects of wood ash and paper sludge alone and in combination with biochar on the physicochemical properties and heavy metal leaching risks in podzolic soils. Methods: The treatments included limestone (control), wood ash, paper sludge, wood ash+paper sludge, limestone+biochar, wood ash+biochar, paper sludge+biochar and wood ash+paper sludge+biochar, arranged in a 4 × 2 factorial design with three replicates. The Hydrus-1D model was employed to simulate the water movement under these soil amendments using leaching colums. Results: Overall, wood ash, paper sludge and biochar application significantly increased the pH of amended soil compared to control. Paper sludge amended treatments alone or in combination with biochar significantly decreased bulk density (8%–17%) and increased the total porosity (14%–25%). While biochar addition to wood ash and paper sludge significantly reduced the concentrations of Cd (by 6.42%), Co (by 10.95%), Cu (by 11.76%), Pb (by 30%) and Ni (by 3.75%) in the collected leachates. The treatment paper sludge + biochar was found to be the most effective treatment to retain the heavy metals, with maximum plant available water (0.28 cm3 cm−3) and field capacity (0.36 cm3 cm−3) compared to control treatment. The predictions from Hydrus-1D showed that paper mill wastes with biochar has a significant potential to increase the volumetric moisture contents of amended podzolic soil, with the simulated leaching times and saturation levels closely aligning with the measured values. Conclusion: paper sludge + biochar treatment showed improved soil physicochemical properties and displayed lower heavy metals than allowed limits to be used in soil. Further, experiments are needed to assess the effects of papermill waste products on podzolic soil properties under variable field conditions.
Computation of the expectation value of the spin operator

S
^

2

for the spin-flip Bethe–Salpeter equation
Authors: Barker B A , Seshappan A , Strubbe D A
Published: May 2024

Spin-flip (SF) methods applied to excited-state approaches like the Bethe–Salpeter equation allow access to the excitation energies of open-shell systems, such as molecules and defects in solids. The eigenstates of these solutions, however, are generally not eigenstates of the spin operator

S
^

2

. Even for simple cases where the excitation vector is expected to be, for example, a triplet state, the value of

⟨

S
^

2

⟩

may be found to differ from 2.00; this difference is called ‘spin contamination’. The expectation values

⟨

S
^

2

⟩

must be computed for each excitation vector, to assist with the characterization of the particular excitation and to determine the amount of spin contamination of the state. Our aim is to provide for the first time in the SF methods literature a comprehensive resource on the derivation of the formulas for

⟨

S
^

2

⟩

as well as its computational implementation. After a brief discussion of the theory of the SF Bethe–Salpeter equation (BSE) and some examples further illustrating the need for calculating

⟨

S
^

2

⟩

, we present the derivation for the general equation for computing

⟨

S
^

2

⟩

with the eigenvectors from an SF-BSE calculation, how it is implemented in a Python script, and timing information on how this calculation scales with the size of the SF-BSE Hamiltonian.
A theoretical analysis to reveal the prospects of MoS2 as a back surface field layer in TiS3-based near infrared photodetector
Authors: Miah Md. Rashed , Ebon Md. Islahur Rahman , Abir Ahnaf Tahmid , Hossain Jaker
Published: May 2024

In this article, a photodetector based on TiS3 absorber material, featuring a narrow direct bandgap of 1 eV, has been simulated. Throughout this research, the J-V (current–voltage) curves and spectral responses have been explored by systematically varying the thickness, doping concentration, and defect density of specific layers. The JSC (short circuit current) and VOC (open circuit voltage) of the heterostructure photodetector are found to be 45.77 mA cm−2 and 0.693 V respectively. Also, the responsivity (R) and detectivity (D*) are 0.81 A W−1 and 2.19 × 1014 Jones at a light wavelength of 1100 nm. The spectral response exhibits significantly elevated values within the wavelength range of 800 nm to 1200 nm, indicating the device’s ability to detect light in the near-infrared (NIR) region effectively. The novel research offers valuable insights, emphasizing the material’s suitability for photodetector (PD) applications and signaling a promising direction for further research interest in photodetector development.
A short time series rolling bearing fault diagnosis method based on FMTF-CNN
Authors: Chen Xuejiang , Zhang Yansong , Su Yang , Zhou Yan , Gong Wuqi
Published: May 2024

The signal characteristics are extracted directly from the convolutional level when the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used as a fault diagnosis method in most instances. Some scholars have proposed to use the Markov Transition Field (MTF) to extract the signal characteristics before convolution. However, for time-domain signals, the fault characteristics extraction is difficult, and the training process of the neural network parameters is slow. Therefore, in this paper, based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and MTF algorithm, the Fourier Markov Transition Field (FMTF) characteristics extraction method in frequency domain is proposed, and a large number of experiments are carried on the public bearing data set of Jiangnan University. The final verification shows that the FMTF-CNN method has higher accuracy, faster training process and more accurate characteristics extraction than the traditional MTF-CNN diagnosis method.
Digital banking fortification: a real-time isolation forest architecture for detecting online transaction fraud
Authors: Abbassi Hanae , E L Mendili Saida , Gahi Youssef
Published: May 2024

Since the use of the Internet has increased exponentially, numerous organizations, including the financial industry, offer services online. As a result, financial scams are expanding in quantity and complexity worldwide, resulting in massive revenue losses and making digital fraudulent transactions a severe issue. Abnormal attempts and illegal access are instances of these dangers that fraudulent activity detection systems must identify. Machine learning and data mining approaches have been extensively used to address this issue in recent years. However, these approaches must be enhanced regarding real-time detection speed, tackling enormous amounts of data, and finding undiscovered attack patterns. Consequently, the present study provides a real-time architecture for averting and identifying digital transaction fraud, which relies on the Isolation Forest (IForest) approach and big data analytic tools, including Spark Streaming, sparkling water, Kafka, and PostgreSQL. This architecture seeks to improve present detection strategies by increasing accuracy for detection when considering enormous amounts of data. Two real datasets of online transactional fraud are used to assess the proposed architecture, and the findings are compared to relevant studies. The investigation results showed that IForest performed flawlessly, achieving an accuracy of 0.99 in two datasets.
Kofi Annan and Global Leadership at the United Nations
Authors: Williams Abiodun
Published: May 2024

Kofi Annan was the most significant and influential Secretary-General of the United Nations. Kofi Annan and Global Leadership at the United Nations explores how Annan conceived his role as Secretary-General and exercised global leadership at a turbulent period in world affairs. It sheds light on the importance of leadership for the performance of a global institution. It discusses the challenges he faced during his tenure from 1997 to 2006 and how he dealt with them. It examines such issues as Conflict Prevention, Peacekeeping, Peacebuilding, the Millennium Development Goals, HIV/AIDS, the Responsibility to Protect, Human Rights, Climate Change, and Migration. It provides insight into how Annan led the UN during several international crises, including the terrorist attacks of 9/11, conflicts in Kosovo and East Timor, and the war in Iraq. It illustrates how he built partnerships with nonstate actors, including nongovernmental organizations, the private sector, universities, think tanks, and Nobel laureates in order to advance the UN’s mission without relying exclusively on state power and interstate cooperation. It recounts how he used the bully pulpit to articulate a global agenda, speak to a global public, and shape norms. The book charts Annan’s ambitious efforts to reform and adapt the UN to the needs of the twenty-first century.
Development
Authors: Williams Abiodun
Published: May 2024

Chapter 3 deals with the challenge of development, which Kofi Annan saw as central to his mandate. It discusses one of his main achievements as Secretary-General: spearheading the adoption of the Millennium Development Goals, an ambitious time-bound, integrated, and measurable framework for development cooperation. It examines his advocacy on HIV/AIDS, which he argued was not just a health issue but a threat to development in many parts of the world, and his role in the creation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The chapter also provides an account of his calls for the world to come together to find fair and just solutions to the existential climate crisis. It analyzes his role in setting up the Global Commission on International Migration, which emphasized the potential benefits of migration for development; convening the General Assembly’s first High-Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development; and creating the Global Forum on Migration and Development.
UN Reform
Authors: Williams Abiodun
Published: May 2024

Chapter 7 considers Kofi Annan’s reforms of the UN to adapt the organization to the needs and demands of the twenty-first century. It examines his three major waves of reforms: at the beginning of his tenure in 1997; at the beginning of his second term in 2002; and during his last two years in office from 2005 to 2006. It gives particular attention to his management reforms, and his efforts to persuade member states to reform the Security Council. Annan played four reform roles: conceptualizing; lobbying; brokering deals; and implementing. He tried to balance the interests of the Global North and the Global South and was attentive to the agendas of both groups. The larger point here is that many states do not want the UN to be effective, nor want the Secretary-General to be able to manage autonomously. The differences of opinion among the UN membership on the merits of reform were deep. Reforms that impinged on the core interests of states often descended into a power struggle.
Conclusion
Authors: Williams Abiodun
Published: May 2024

During Annan’s ten years as Secretary-General, he metamorphosed from an international civil servant little known beyond the confines of UN diplomatic circles into a global leader and internationalist icon. He combined a realistic humility about the UN’s purposes with bold and visionary leadership, thereby maximizing the organization’s potential where it had a special role to play. His vision reflected his strong personal commitment to the principles and objectives of the UN. His leadership should remind us that realism about the UN’s deficiencies does not entail fatalism about the opportunities it presents. At a time of American hegemony, it was necessarily one of Annan’s priorities to maintain a working relationship with the US. But he had to work with the US while not alienating the other members of the UN. A committed internationalist, Annan believed that no country could achieve its objectives on its own and global problems needed multilateral solutions. The Secretary-General who ushered the UN into the twenty-first century, Kofi Annan encouraged the world to forge a collective response to the many interconnected global challenges of the new millennium. He played a decisive role in renewing and adapting the UN to the realities of a changing world.
Effectiveness of Interventions for Changing More Than One Behavior at a Time to Manage Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Silva Carolina C , Presseau Justin , van Allen Zack , Schenk Paulina M , Moreto Maiara , Dinsmore John , Marques Marta M
Published: May 2024

Background

Health behaviors play a significant role in chronic disease management. Rather than being independent of one another, health behaviors often co-occur, suggesting that targeting more than one health behavior in an intervention has the potential to be more effective in promoting better health outcomes.

Purpose

We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials of interventions that target more than one behavior to examine the effectiveness of multiple health behavior change interventions in patients with chronic conditions.

Methods

Five electronic databases (Web of Science, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane) were systematically searched in November 2023, and studies included in previous reviews were also consulted. We included randomized trials of interventions aiming to change more than one health behavior in individuals with chronic conditions. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data, and used Cochrane’s Risk of Bias 2 tool. Meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the effects of interventions on change in health behaviors. Results were presented as Cohen’s d for continuous data, and risk ratio for dichotomous data.

Results

Sixty-one studies were included spanning a range of chronic diseases: cardiovascular (k = 25), type 2 diabetes (k = 15), hypertension (k = 10), cancer (k = 7), one or more chronic conditions (k = 3), and multiple conditions (k = 1). Most interventions aimed to change more than one behavior simultaneously (rather than in sequence) and most targeted three particular behaviors at once: “physical activity, diet and smoking” (k = 20). Meta-analysis of 43 eligible studies showed for continuous data (k = 29) a small to substantial positive effect on behavior change for all health behaviors (d = 0.081–2.003) except for smoking (d = −0.019). For dichotomous data (k = 23) all analyses showed positive effects of targeting more than one behavior on all behaviors (RR = 1.026–2.247).

Conclusions

Targeting more than one behavior at a time is effective in chronic disease management and more research should be directed into developing the science of multiple behavior change.
Anthropogenic land-use change decreases pollination and male and female fitness in terrestrial flowering plants
Authors: Aguilar Ramiro , Cristóbal-Pérez E Jacob , Marquez Victoria , Carbone Lucas M , Paglia Isis , Freitas Leandro , Ashworth Lorena , Martén-Rodríguez Silvana , Wilson Fernandes Geraldo , Lobo Jorge , Fuchs Eric J , Quesada Mauricio
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

The majority of the Earth’s land area is currently occupied by humans. Measuring how terrestrial plants reproduce in these pervasive environments is essential for understanding their long-term viability and their ability to adapt to changing environments.

Methods

We conducted hierarchical and phylogenetically independent meta-analyses to assess the overall effects of anthropogenic land-use changes on pollination, and male and female fitness in terrestrial plants.

Key Results

We found negative global effects of land-use change (i.e. mainly habitat loss and fragmentation) on pollination and on female and male fitness of terrestrial flowering plants. Negative effects were stronger in plants with self-incompatibility systems and in plants pollinated by invertebrates, regardless of life form and sexual expression. Pollination and female fitness of pollination-generalist and pollination-specialist plants were similarly negatively affected by land-use change, whereas male fitness of specialist plants showed no effects.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that angiosperm populations remaining in fragmented habitats negatively affect pollination, and female and male fitness, which will probably decrease the recruitment, survival and long-term viability of plant populations remaining in fragmented landscapes. We underline the main current gaps of knowledge for future research agendas and call not only for a decrease in the current rates of land-use changes across the world but also to embark on active restoration efforts to increase the area and connectivity of remaining natural habitats.
Investigating the role of mitochondrial membrane potential in paternal inheritance of mitochondria
Authors: Pouliot-Drouin Ariane , Niaison Thierry , Breton Sophie , Bettinazzi Stefano
Published: May 2024

The process of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in mitochondria depends on an electrochemical gradient known as the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm). Reflecting high functionality, elevated Δψm usually depicts healthy mitochondria and contributes to organelle selection. This study investigates whether mitochondrial properties linked with bioenergetics, such as Δψm, play a role in paternal inheritance of mitochondria. More specifically, the study looks at how sperm Δψm responds to egg chemoattractants in bivalves characterized by distinct mitochondrial inheritance patterns: strict maternal inheritance (SMI) and doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI), the latter displaying sex-specific transmission of paternal mitochondrial DNA. Sperm Δψm was examined in four bivalve species: the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and the Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) (DUI), plus the hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and the soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) (SMI). In the absence of egg chemoattractants, sperm Δψm did not vary between the two groups. However, there was a trend of increase in Δψm following egg detection only in sperm bearing paternally derived mitochondria (DUI). This suggests, along with bioenergetic changes, that Δψm modulation might be a specific property of at least some DUI species, possibly implicated in their unique ability to transmit their mitochondria in a sex-specific fashion.
Assessment of heart-substructures auto-contouring accuracy for application in heart-sparing radiotherapy for lung cancer
Authors: Marchant Tom , Price Gareth , McWilliam Alan , Henderson Edward , McSweeney Dónal , van Herk Marcel , Banfill Kathryn , Schmitt Matthias , King Jennifer , Barker Claire , Faivre-Finn Corinne
Published: May 2024

Objectives

We validated an auto-contouring algorithm for heart substructures in lung cancer patients, aiming to establish its accuracy and reliability for radiotherapy (RT) planning. We focus on contouring an amalgamated set of subregions in the base of the heart considered to be a new organ at risk, the cardiac avoidance area (CAA), to enable maximum dose limit implementation in lung RT planning.

Methods

The study validates a deep-learning model specifically adapted for auto-contouring the CAA (which includes the right atrium, aortic valve root, and proximal segments of the left and right coronary arteries). Geometric, dosimetric, quantitative, and qualitative validation measures are reported. Comparison with manual contours, including assessment of interobserver variability, and robustness testing over 198 cases are also conducted.

Results

Geometric validation shows that auto-contouring performance lies within the expected range of manual observer variability despite being slightly poorer than the average of manual observers (mean surface distance for CAA of 1.6 vs 1.2 mm, dice similarity coefficient of 0.86 vs 0.88). Dosimetric validation demonstrates consistency between plans optimized using auto-contours and manual contours. Robustness testing confirms acceptable contours in all cases, with 80% rated as “Good” and the remaining 20% as “Useful.”

Conclusions

The auto-contouring algorithm for heart substructures in lung cancer patients demonstrates acceptable and comparable performance to human observers.

Advances in knowledge

Accurate and reliable auto-contouring results for the CAA facilitate the implementation of a maximum dose limit to this region in lung RT planning, which has now been introduced in the routine setting at our institution.
A pathway linking pulse pressure to dementia in adults with Down syndrome
Authors: Rizvi Batool , Lao Patrick J , Sathishkumar Mithra , Taylor Lisa , Queder Nazek , McMillan Liv , Edwards Natalie C , Keator David B , Doran Eric , Hom Christy , Nguyen Dana , Rosas H Diana , Lai Florence , Schupf Nicole , Gutierrez Jose , Silverman Wayne , Lott Ira T , Mapstone Mark , Wilcock Donna M , Head Elizabeth , Yassa Michael A , Brickman Adam M
Published: May 2024

Adults with Down syndrome are less likely to have hypertension than neurotypical adults. However, whether blood pressure measures are associated with brain health and clinical outcomes in this population has not been studied in detail. Here, we assessed whether pulse pressure is associated with markers of cerebrovascular disease and is linked to a diagnosis of dementia in adults with Down syndrome via structural imaging markers of cerebrovascular disease and atrophy. The study included participants with Down syndrome from the Alzheimer’s Disease - Down Syndrome study (n = 195, age = 50.6 ± 7.2 years, 44% women, 18% diagnosed with dementia). Higher pulse pressure was associated with greater global, parietal and occipital white matter hyperintensity volume but not with enlarged perivascular spaces, microbleeds or infarcts. Using a structural equation model, we found that pulse pressure was associated with greater white matter hyperintensity volume, which in turn was related to increased neurodegeneration, and subsequent dementia diagnosis. Pulse pressure is an important determinant of brain health and clinical outcomes in individuals with Down syndrome despite the low likelihood of frank hypertension.