bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Antifungal Activities of Silver Nano-Aggregates Biosynthesized from the Aqueous Extract and the Alkaline Aqueous Fraction of Rhazya stricta against Some Fusarium Species
Authors: Al-Otibi Fatimah
Published: December 2023

Rhazya stricta is a major medicinal species used in indigenous medicinal herbal medications in South Asia, the Middle East, Iran, and Iraq to treat a variety of ailments. The current study aimed to investigate the antifungal properties of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) made from R. stricta aqueous extract and its alkaline aqueous fraction. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis spectrophotometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize AgNPs. The produced extracts and AgNPs were tested for their antifungal efficacy against four Fusarium spp. All of the characterization experiments proved the biosynthesis of targeted AgNPs. FTIR showed a wide distribution of hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, and alkyl functional groups among all preparations. The DLS results showed that the produced Aq-AgNPs and the Alk-AgNPs had an average size of 95.9 nm and 54.04 nm, respectively. On the other hand, TEM results showed that the Aq-AgNPs and Alk-AgNPs had average diameters ranging from 21 to 90 nm and 7.25 to 25.32 nm. Both AgNPs absorbed UV light on average at 405 nm and 415 nm, respectively. Regarding the fungicidal activity, the highest doses of Aq-extract and Aq-AgNPs inhibited the mycelial growth of F. incarnatum (19.8%, 87.5%), F. solani (28.1%, 72.3%), F. proliferatum (37.5%, 75%), and F. verticillioides (27.1%, 62.5%), respectively (p < 0.001). Interestingly, the Alk-fraction had stronger inhibition than the biosynthesized AgNPs, which resulted in complete inhibition at the doses of 10% and 20% (p < 0.001). Furthermore, microscopic analysis demonstrated that both AgNPs caused obvious morphological alterations in the treated organisms when compared to the control. In conclusion, R. stricta’s Aq-extract, alkaline fraction, and their biosynthesized AgNPs show substantial antifungal efficacy against several Fusarium spp. It is the first study to highlight the prospective biological activities of R. stricta Aq-extract and its alkaline fraction against F. incarnatum, F. proliferatum, and F. verticillioides. In addition, it is the first opportunity to deeply investigate the ultrastructural changes induced in the Fusarium species treated with R. stricta crude Aq-extract and its biosynthesized AgNPs. More studies are required to investigate their biological effect against other Fusarium or fungal species.
Intense Testing and Use of Vitamin D Supplements Leads to Slow Improvement in Vitamin D Adequacy Rates: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Real-World Data
Authors: Paparodis Rodis D. , Bantouna Dimitra , Karvounis Evangelos , Zoupas Ioannis , Livadas Sarantis , Angelopoulos Nicholas , Imam Shahnawaz , Papadimitriou Dimitrios T. , Jaume Juan C.
Published: December 2023

Background: Vitamin D testing (VDT) and supplement use (VDS) are on the rise, but most patients remain deficient (<30 ng/mL-VDD). We designed the present real-world study to assess this paradox. Methods: We reviewed data from all patients visiting our clinics between 2014 and 2022. We estimated the rate of patients with vitamin D adequacy (≥30 ng/mL) (VDA) by year and month of testing, the dose of VDS (low (≤1200 IU/day), medium (1201–3000 I/day) and high dose (>3000 IU/day)), intake duration (short-term (<12 months) and long-term use (≥12 months)), and timing of use (current use, former use, no use). Results: We enrolled n = 6912 subjects with vitamin D measurements: n = 5195 females (75.2%), age 44.0 ± 16.8 years, BMI 27.9 ± 6.5 kg/m2; never users: n = 5553 (80.3%), former users: n = 533 (7.7%), current users: n = 826 (12.0%). Current use of VDS was higher in females. VDT rose from 42.1% in 2014 to 92.7% in 2022, and VDA rose from 14.8% to 25.5% for the same time. VDA was found overall in n = 1511 (21.9%); Never users: n = 864 (15.6%), Former users: n = 123 (23.2%); and Current users: n = 370 (44.8%). The maximal VDA (67.9%) was found in subjects using high-dose VDS in the long term. Conclusions: Despite the significant rise in VDT and VDS use, VDA was found in a minority of patients. Prolonged use of high-dose supplements produces modest improvements in VDA.
Triterpenes Drug Delivery Systems, a Modern Approach for Arthritis Targeted Therapy
Authors: Faustino Célia , Duarte Noélia , Pinheiro Lídia
Published: December 2023

Arthritis is a major cause of disability. Currently available anti-arthritic drugs, such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), have serious side-effects associated with long-term use. Triterpenoids are natural products with known anti-inflammatory properties, and many have revealed efficiency against arthritis both in vitro and in vivo in several animal models, with negligible cytotoxicity. However, poor bioavailability due to low water solubility and extensive metabolism upon oral administration hinder the therapeutic use of anti-arthritic triterpenoids. Therefore, drug delivery systems (DDSs) able to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of triterpenoids and achieve sustained drug release are useful alternatives for targeted delivery in arthritis treatment. Several DDSs have been described in the literature for triterpenoid delivery, including microparticulate and nanoparticulate DDSs, such as polymeric micro and nanoparticles (NPs), polymeric micelles, liposomes, micro and nanoemulsions, and hydrogels. These systems have shown superior therapeutic effects in arthritis compared to the free drugs and are similar to currently available anti-arthritic drugs without significant side-effects. This review focuses on nanocarriers for triterpenoid delivery in arthritis therapy, including osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and gout that appeared in the literature in the last ten years.
Development of Liposomes That Target Axon Terminals Encapsulating Berberine in Cultured Primary Neurons
Authors: Hori Ikuma , Harashima Hideyoshi , Yamada Yuma
Published: December 2023

Most of the energy in neurons is produced in mitochondria. Mitochondria generate the ATP that is essential for neuronal growth, function, and regeneration. Mitochondrial axonal transport plays a crucial role in maintaining neuronal homeostasis and biological activity. Decreased mitochondrial axonal transport at axon terminals, where the metabolism of substances is likely to be delayed, may contribute to neurological dysfunction. Therefore, regulation of mitochondrial dynamics at axon terminals has attracted considerable interest as a strategy to modulate neuronal function. Nanoparticles may be useful in controlling local mitochondrial dynamics. Nevertheless, there are few reports on the influence of drug delivery that nanoparticles impart on the mitochondrial dynamics in neurons. This paper reports the results of a study using liposomes (LPs) to examine local drug delivery and pharmacological actions on neurons. We tested berberine (BBR), which is an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), to examine the utility of this drug as a cellular energy sensor. Axon terminals targeting LPs were prepared. The amount of axon terminals targeting LPs was increased compared with treatment using cationic LPs. Moreover, axon terminal-targeting LPs increased anterograde transport by about 40% compared with that of either naked BBR or cationic LPs and suppressed axonal retraction. Our findings suggest that local drug delivery to neurons is important for enhancing pharmacological activity in axon terminals.
Melting Behaviors of Bio-Based Poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) Co Polymers Related to Their Crystal Morphology
Authors: Shi Ouyang , Li Peng , Yang Chao , Jiang Haitian , Qin Liyue , Liu Wentao , Li Xiaolin , Chen Zhenming
Published: December 2023

In this experiment, a series of poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PPFEG) copolymers with different ratios were synthesized using melt polycondensation of dimethylfuran-2,5-dicarboxylate (DMFD), 1,3-propanediol (PDO) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). The effect of PEG content on the crystallization behavior of the poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PPF) copolymers was investigated. For PPF, the nucleation density of the β-crystals was higher than that of α-crystals. As Tc increases, the β crystals are suppressed more, but at Tc = 140 °C, the bulk of PPF has already been converted to α crystals, which crystallize faster at higher nucleation densities, resulting in a difference in polymer properties. For this case, we chose to add a soft segment material, PEG, which led to an early multi–melt crystallization behavior of the PPF. The addition of PEG led to a decrease in the crystallization temperature of PPF, as well as a decrease in the cold crystallization peak of PPF. From the crystalline morphology, it can be seen that the addition of PEG caused the transformation of the PPF crystalline form to occur earlier. From the crystalline morphology of PPF at 155 °C, it can be observed that the ring-banded spherical crystals of the PPF appear slowly with increasing time. With the addition of PEG, spherical crystals of the ring band appeared earlier, and even appeared first, and then disappeared slowly.
The Effect of MoS2 and MWCNTs Nanomicro Lubrication on the Process of 7050 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Xiao Bohan , Zhang Changming , Cao Xuan
Published: December 2023

Nanofluid Minimum Quantity Lubrication (NMQL) is a resource-saving, environmentally friendly, and efficient green processing technology. Therefore, this study employs Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) technology to conduct milling operations on aerospace 7050 aluminum alloy using soybean oil infused with varying concentrations of MoS2 and MWCNTs nanoparticles. By measuring cutting forces, cutting temperatures, and surface roughness under three different lubrication conditions (dry machining, Minimum Quantity Lubrication, and nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication), the optimal lubricating oil with the best lubrication performance is selected. Under the conditions of hybrid nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication (NMQL), as compared to dry machining and Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL) processing, surface roughness was reduced by 48% and 36% respectively, cutting forces were decreased by 35% and 29% respectively, and cutting temperatures were lowered by 44% and 40%, respectively. Under the conditions of hybrid nanofluid minimum quantity lubrication, the optimal parameter combination is cutting speed (Vc) of 199.93 m/min, feed rate (f) of 0.18 mm, cutting depth (ap) of 0.49 mm, and nanofluid mass fraction (wt) of 0.51%. The hybrid nanofluid can significantly enhance heat exchange capacity and lubrication performance, thereby improving machining characteristics.
Simulation Analysis of the Influence of Amplitude on Deformation and Fracture Characteristics of Hard Rock under Ultrasonic Vibration Load
Authors: Zhang Lei , Wang Xufeng , Niu Zhijun , Dai Jianbo
Published: December 2023

The utilization of auxiliary tools employing ultrasonic high-frequency vibration to enhance rock breaking efficiency holds significant potential for application in underground hard rock excavation engineering. To investigate the failure mechanism of rocks under high frequency ultrasonic vibration load, this study employs particle flow software PFC2D for numerical simulation. By incorporating boundary conditions from actual ultrasonic vibration rock breaking experiments and utilizing a parallel bond model to construct the rock, we analyze the deformation, damage, fracture, and energy evolution process of hard rocks subjected to vibrational loads. The results demonstrate that the maximum displacement in hard rocks increases nearly linearly with vibrations until reaching 5.0199 × 10−3 m, after which it plateaus. Additionally, macroscopic fissures formed during rock failure exhibit an X-shaped pattern. Furthermore, based on our model, we examine the impact of amplitude variation on hard rocks with an equal number of cycles (5,000,000 cycles). Under ultrasonic vibration loads, amplitude influences the total input energy within the rock system. While increasing amplitude does not alter maximum deformation in rocks, it enhances fragmentation degree, fracture degree and energy dissipation coefficient—thereby improving rock breaking efficiency.
Magnetic Anisotropy of FeNi Multilayer Films with Different Orientations of the Magnetic Anisotropy Axes in Adjacent Layers
Authors: Svalov Andrey V. , Lepalovskij Vladimir N. , Rusalina Anastasia S. , Kudyukov Egor V. , Feshchenko Anastasia A. , Pasynkova Anna A. , Yushkov Anton A. , Kurlyandskaya Galina V.
Published: December 2023

FeNi films were prepared using the DC magnetron sputtering technique with an oblique deposition arrangement. Multilayers with different orientations of the magnetic anisotropy axes were obtained thanks to a rotary sample holder inside the vacuum chamber. Magnetic properties were studied using magneto–optical Kerr microscopy and a vibrating sample magnetometer. Single-layered FeNi films having thicknesses as high as 10 nm and 40 nm show in-plane uniaxial easy magnetization axes produced by the oblique incidence of incoming components of the beams. Magnetic anisotropy field for four-layered samples with orthogonal uniaxial magnetic anisotropy axes in the adjacent layers and the thickness of individual layers of 10 nm and 40 nm turned out to be less than in single-layered films. The magnetic properties peculiarities of the eight-layered sample FeNi (10 nm) × 8 obtained by rotation of the sample holder by 45° before deposition of each subsequent layer suggest the formation of a helix-like magnetic structure through the thickness of the multilayered sample similar to the magnetization arrangement in the Bloch-type magnetic domain wall.
Sustainable WPC Production: A Novel Method Using Recycled High-Density Polyethylene and Wood Veneer
Authors: Canto-Borges Leslie Cristell , Cruz Julio César , Nahuat-Sansores Javier Rodrigo , Domínguez-Lepe José Antonio , Gurrola Mayra Polett
Published: December 2023

This research work is focused on the development of an alternative method for manufacturing Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) panels based on Wood Veneers (WVs) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) through compression molding, which enhances the physical properties, particularly, water absorption and moisture content. The aim of the present research was to develop alternative panels to replace commercial ones, which are heavily affected by hot, humid climates. In this context, the study began with the design process, which consisted of the collection and processing of primary material, production of the additional components necessary for the manufacturing process, determination of the WV ratio, and preparation of the samples. Thereafter, physical and mechanical tests were carried out on WPC, HDPE (control), commercial gypsum boards (GBs), plywood (PW), and medium density fiberboard (MDF) samples. The results indicate that the method applied to manufacture the WPC samples improved physical properties, achieving a water uptake of less than 4% in both proportions of replacement tested, in contrast to commercial panels, which reached values between 10% and 40%. In addition, a greater load capacity was achieved for lower thick elements.
Operational Aspects of Landsat 8 and 9 Geometry
Authors: Choate Michael J. , Rengarajan Rajagopalan , Hasan Md Nahid , Denevan Alexander , Ruslander Kathryn
Published: December 2023

Landsat 9 (L9) was launched on 27 September 2021. This spacecraft contained two instruments, the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) and Thermal Infrared Sensor-2 (TIRS-2), that allow for a continuation of the Landsat program and the mission to acquire multi-spectral observations of the globe on a moderate scale. Following a period of commissioning, during which time the spacecraft and instruments were initialized and set up for operations, with the initial calibration performed, the mission moved to an operational mode This operational mode involved the same cadence and methods that were performed for the Landsat 8 (L8) spacecraft and the two instruments onboard, the Operational Land Imager-1 (OLI-1) and Thermal Infrared Sensor-1 (TIRS-1), with respect to calibration, characterization, and validation. This paper discusses the geometric operational aspects of the L9 instruments during the first year of the mission and post-commissioning, and compares these same geometric activities performed for L8 during the same time frame. During this time, optical axes of the two sensors, OLI-1 and OLI-2, were adjusted to stay aligned with the spacecraft’s Attitude Control System (ACS), and the TIRS-1 and TIRS-2 instruments were adjusted to stay aligned with the OLI-1 and OLI-2 instruments, respectively. In this paper, the L9 operational adjustments are compared to the same operational aspects of L8 during this same time frame. The comparisons shown in this paper will demonstrate that both instruments aboard L8 and L9 performed very similar geometric qualities while fully meeting the expected requirements. This paper describes the geometric differences between the L9 imagery that was made available to the public prior to the reprocessing campaign that was performed using the new calibration updates to the sensor and to ACS and TIRS-to-OLI alignment parameters. This reprocessing campaign of L9 products involved data acquired from the launch of the spacecraft up to early 2023.
Scalable Retrieval of Similar Landscapes in Optical Satellite Imagery Using Unsupervised Representation Learning
Authors: Karatsiolis Savvas , Padubidri Chirag , Kamilaris Andreas
Published: December 2023

Global Earth observation is becoming increasingly important in understanding and addressing critical aspects of life on our planet, including environmental issues, natural disasters, sustainable development, and others. Finding similarities in landscapes may provide useful information regarding applying contiguous policies, by making similar decisions or learning from best practices for events and occurrences that previously occurred in similar landscapes in the past. However, current applications of similar landscape retrieval are limited by a moderate performance and the need for time-consuming and costly annotations. We propose splitting the similar landscape retrieval task into a set of smaller tasks that aim to identify individual concepts inherent to satellite images. Our approach relies on several models trained using unsupervised representation learning on Google Earth images to identify these concepts. We show the efficacy of matching individual concepts for retrieving landscape(s) similar to a user-selected satellite image of the geographical territory of the Republic of Cyprus. Our results demonstrate the benefits of breaking up the landscape similarity task into individual concepts closely related to remote sensing, instead of applying a single model targeting all underlying concepts.
Edge-Oriented Compressed Video Super-Resolution
Authors: Wang Zheng , Quan Guancheng , He Gang
Published: December 2023

Due to the proliferation of video data in Internet of Things (IoT) systems, in order to reduce the data burden, most social media platforms typically employ downsampling to reduce the resolution of high-resolution (HR) videos before video coding. Consequently, the loss of detail and the introduction of additional artifacts seriously compromise the quality of experience (QoE). Recently, the task of compressive video super-resolution (CVSR) has garnered significant attention, aiming to simultaneously eliminate compression artifacts and enhance the resolution of compressed videos. In this paper, we propose an edge-oriented compressed video super-resolution network (EOCVSR), which focuses on reconstructing higher-quality details, to effectively address the CVSR task. Firstly, we devised a motion-guided alignment module (MGAM) to achieve precise bi-direction motion compensation in a multi-scale manner. Secondly, we introduced an edge-oriented recurrent block (EORB) to reconstruct edge information by combining the merits of explicit and implicit edge extraction. In addition, benefiting from the recurrent structure, the receptive field of EOCVSR can be enhanced and the features can be effectively refined without introducing additional parameters. Extensive experiments conducted on benchmark datasets demonstrate that our method surpasses the performance of state-of-the-art (SOTA) approaches in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations. Our approach can provide users with high-quality and cost-effective HR videos by integrating with sensors and codecs.
RIS-Assisted Cooperative Time-Division Multiple Access
Authors: Son Hyukmin , Kwon Beom
Published: December 2023

Reconfigurable intelligent surface-aided communication systems have been intensively investigated to improve capacity, coverage, and energy efficiency via optimal controlling of phase shifts for passive reflecting elements. However, there are few studies on cooperative transmission incorporating RIS in TDMA systems, because RIS reflects all the incident signals, and it inadvertently leads to a boost in interference signals. In this paper, we propose RIS-assisted cooperative time-division multiple access, in which the required SINR of all users is guaranteed as much as possible by opportunistic use of RIS for cooperative transmission. The proposed scheme’s primary function is that some time slots, i.e., cooperative time slots, serve a pair of users, i.e., a strong- and a weak-channel-conditioned user, using RIS. To support this functionality, we propose scheduling for non-cooperative and cooperative time slots, user pairing for scheduled cooperative time slots, and transmit beamforming vector design for the pair of UEs in each cooperative time slot. The simulation and numerical results demonstrate that the proposed scheme guarantees QoS for all UE as much as possible and minimizes the remaining required capacity indicating the amount of capacity that was not achieved compared with the required capacity.
Angularly Cascaded Long-Period Fiber Grating for Curvature and Temperature Detection
Authors: Xiao Anping , Du Jie , Ling Qiang , Chen Yao , Gu Zhengtian , Chen Haiyun , Yu Zhangwei , Mao Barerem-Melgueba , Guan Zuguang , Chen Daru
Published: December 2023

A high-sensitivity curvature sensor with dual-parameter measurement ability based on angularly cascaded long-period fiber grating (AC-LPFG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated, which consists of two titled LPFGs (TLPFGs) with different tilt angles and the same grating period. AC-LPFG was fabricated by using a deep ultraviolet laser and an amplitude-mask in our laboratory. The experimental results show that simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature can be achieved by monitoring the wavelengths of two resonant peaks for different TLPFGs. The two peaks show opposite shifts with increasing curvature and has a maximum curvature sensitivity of 16.392 nm/m−1. With the advantages of low cost, high sensitivity, and dual-parameter measurements, our sensor has more potential for engineering applications.
Development of Liquid-Phase Plasmonic Sensor Platforms for Prospective Biomedical Applications
Authors: Sayin Sezin , Zhou You , Wang Sheng , Acosta Rodriguez Andres , Zaghloul Mona
Published: December 2023

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) is an optical method for detecting changes in refractive index by the interaction between incident light and delocalized electrons within specific metal thin films’ localized “hot spots”. LSPR-based sensors possess advantages, including their compact size, enhanced sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for point-of-care applications. This research focuses on the development of LSPR-based nanohole arrays (NHAs) as a platform for monitoring probe/target binding events in real time without labeling, for low-level biomolecular target detection in biomedical diagnostics. To achieve this objective, this study involves creating a liquid-phase setup for capturing target molecules. Finite-difference time-domain simulations revealed that a 75 nm thickness of gold (Au) is ideal for NHA structures, which were visually examined using scanning electron microscopy. To illustrate the functionality of the liquid-phase sensor, a PDMS microfluidic channel was fabricated using a 3D-printed mold with a glass slide base and a top glass cover slip, enabling reflectance-mode measurements from each of four device sectors. This study shows the design, fabrication, and assessment of NHA-based LSPR sensor platforms within a PDMS microfluidic channel, confirming the sensor’s functionality and reproducibility in a liquid-phase environment.
Impact of Transport Trends on Sustainability in the Western Balkans: A Future-Oriented Business Sector Perspective
Authors: Letnik Tomislav , Hanžič Katja , Mencinger Matej , Sever Drago
Published: December 2023

This study examines the impact of emerging transport trends on the Western Balkans and their potential to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the transport sector in the region. In the context of global efforts to reduce environmental impacts and improve transport safety, the study aims to better understand the perspective of the business sector in order to align strategic planning for the introduction of new transport technologies and practices with the expectations of the business sector. Using a questionnaire-based survey on the Mentimeter platform, the study gathers insights from 49 transport and logistics experts. The analysis uses violin plots and heat maps to visualise the expected impact of the identified trends. The results show a consensus among the experts that the emerging trends are likely to lead to a reduction in accidents, congestion, and emissions, while at the same time increasing operating costs and investment in infrastructure. In particular, trends such as alternative fuels, electrification, and smart city initiatives are highlighted as important drivers for reducing emissions. The study concludes that while these trends are likely to lead to the achievement of environmental and safety goals, they also lead to economic challenges as operating costs increase and significant infrastructure investment is required. The study emphasises the need for strategic investment, policy adjustments, and capacity building to lead the Western Balkans towards a sustainable transport future.
Green Entrepreneurship: Knowledge and Perception of Students and Professionals from Poland and Slovakia
Authors: Niemczyk Agata , Gródek-Szostak Zofia , Adler Donata , Niewiadomski Michał , Benková Eva
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this paper is to review the understanding of the term “green entrepreneurship” in contemporary management sciences and its interpretation by people who are or soon will be professionally active. Investigating the phenomenon from a historical perspective will allow an evolutionary approach to the category to indicate contemporary challenges. Apart from a review of the literature on the subject, the interpretations of the term by the target group are recognized in the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) context. The research methods used in the article include a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and field research presented in the empirical part. Primary research was carried out in two countries: Poland and Slovakia, among students and professionals working, as well as those professionally active in the private and public sectors. The study aimed to generally identify the knowledge of the concept of “green entrepreneurship”. Based on the results, the responses were delimited and those indicated by less than 5% of the respondents were considered irrelevant. Based on the remaining answers, a new survey questionnaire was created, which was used to conduct the second stage of the research. To simplify the research tool, it was assumed that the questions would be binary (“yes” or “no” answers), and the resulting survey would consist of 22 phrases (marked with alphanumeric symbols) and a form. The respondents’ answers from the second stage of the study allowed us to identify characteristic groups of variables with which the respondents associated the term “green entrepreneurship” and the groups of respondents who indicated an understanding of green entrepreneurship in a specific aspect. It also allowed for the identification the determinants of these indications, as well as similarities and differences between Poles and Slovaks in this respect. For this purpose, the classification and regression tree method (C&RT) was used. For the purposes of this study, JASP 0.18.1 software was used to create the tree. The results show that perceptions and knowledge of green entrepreneurship differ in both surveyed countries.
Balancing Forest Regulations and Stakeholder Needs in Latvia: Modeling the Long-Term Impacts of Forest Management Strategies on Standing Volume and Carbon Storage
Authors: Zute Daiga , Samariks Valters , Šņepsts Guntars , Donis Jānis , Jansons Āris
Published: December 2023

Forest ecosystems are significant carbon pools on a global scale, and also a source of renewable raw materials. Moreover, the European Union (EU) aims to tackle climate change and reach climate neutrality; therefore, forest regulations are designed to promote sustainable forest management practices and ensure the long-term health and productivity of forests. It is important to balance regulatory requirements with the economic, social, and environmental needs of forest stakeholders. This study analyses four theoretical scenarios (business as usual, green deal, intensive forestry, and intensive forestry with afforestation) and prognoses the management impact on standing volume and carbon stock in living trees and harvested wood products (HWPs). Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate different theoretical forest management scenarios to predict changes in standing volume and carbon stock in living tree biomass and HWPs for the 100 next years. The results suggest that intensive targeted forestry practices may enhance carbon sequestration and were found to be the most suitable strategy for Latvia’s hemiboreal zone, as they balance economic benefits with carbon sequestration and ecosystem services. The obtained results can be valuable for policymakers and forest managers to promote sustainability and balance the diverse needs of society and forest stakeholders.
Is Food Consumption Sustainable? Clues from Case Studies All over the World
Authors: Burny Philippe , Petrescu-Mag Ruxandra Malina , Petrescu Dacinia Crina
Published: December 2023

Food always has been, and continues to be, a very sensitive topic [...]
Bio-Nanoparticles Mediated Transesterification of Algal Biomass for Biodiesel Production
Authors: Verma Madan L. , Dhanya B. S. , Wang Bo , Thakur Meenu , Rani Varsha , Kushwaha Rekha
Published: December 2023

Immense use of fossil fuels leads to various environmental issues, including greenhouse gas emissions, reduced oil reserves, increased energy costs, global climate changes, etc. These challenges can be tackled by using alternative renewable fuels such as biodiesel. Many studies reported that biodiesel production from microalgae biomass is an environment-friendly and energy-efficient approach, with significantly improved fuel quality in terms of density, calorific value and viscosity. Biodiesel is produced using the transesterification process and the most sustainable method is utilizing enzymes for transesterification. Lipase is an enzyme with excellent catalytic activity, specificity, enantio-selectivity, compatibility and stability and hence it is applied in microalgae biodiesel production. But, difficulty in enzymatic recovery, high enzyme cost and minimal reaction rate are some of its drawbacks that have to be addressed. In this aspect, the nanotechnological approach of lipase immobilization in producing microalgae biodiesel is a promising way to increase production yield and it is due to the adsorption efficiency, economic benefit, recyclability, crystallinity, durability, stability, environmental friendliness and catalytic performance of the bio-nanoparticles used. Through increasing post-harvest biomass yield, absorption of CO2 and photosynthesis in the photobioreactor, the use of nanoparticle immobilized lipase during the generation of biodiesel from microalgae has the potential to also remove feedstock availability constraints. This review article discusses the production of microalgae biodiesel, and effect of nanoparticles and immobilized lipase nanoparticles on biodiesel production. The advantages of using lipase nanoparticles and the challenges in introducing the immobilized lipase on nanoparticles in large-scale microalgae biodiesel production are also discussed. Reducing the water and land use, energy and nutrient footprints of integrated algae-based operations must be the main goal of larger-scale experiments as well as ongoing research and development in order to expedite the adoption of microalgae-based biodiesel production. Also, the cost-effectiveness and large-scale availability of nanoparticles and the impact of lipase nanoparticles on engine performance should be analyzed for commercialization of microalgae biodiesel.
Sustainable Medical Waste Management Using an Intuitionistic Fuzzy-Based Decision Support System
Authors: Kokkinos Konstantinos , Lakioti Evangelia , Moustakas Konstantinos , Tsanaktsidis Constantinos , Karayannis Vayos
Published: December 2023

The growing urban population and increased use of healthcare services have brought significant attention to the safe and sustainable management of medical waste. Selecting the proper technology in medical waste management (MWM) represents one of the most critical challenges for decision-makers to ensure public health. In order to evaluate and choose the best MWM methodology, the current research provides a novel multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) strategy for a variety of social stakeholders, to compute criteria weights, decision-making weights, and alternative ranking algorithms. The suggested structure addresses uncertain assessments of alternatives by extending weighting and ranking methods to acquire the decision-making weight and rank the MWM alternatives based on uncertain conditions. It also uses ‘intuitionistic fuzzy’ linguistic variables to indicate criteria weights. To assess all the factors pertaining to the sustainability of MWM actions, this study suggests the creation of a decision support system (DSS). Our DSS is built upon a novel strategy that utilizes a collection of MCDM models that are grounded on contemporary intuitionistic fuzzy logic methodologies. Alternative scenarios have been assessed for the instance of Greece, after specialists in the healthcare management field imposed 17 criteria and sub-criteria. The IF-MCDM methodologies used were the Intuitionistic Fuzzy DEMATEL, TOPSIS, and CORPAS. The alternative scenarios ranged from the prioritizing of safety laws and regulations to public acceptance and awareness, with the handling of hazardous risks and transportation playing a crucial part in the process. All ensemble methods produced the same ranking of the alternatives, demonstrating that safety and risk avoidance is the most significant scenario for sustainable urban development and public health.
Morpho-Quantitative Traits and Interrelationships between Environmental Factors and Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary Attack in Tomato
Authors: Sabo Roxana Alexandra , Racz Csaba-Pál , Oroian Ioan , Burduhos Petru , Mîrza Camelia Manuela , Balint Claudia , Mălinaș Cristian , Odagiu Antonia Cristina Maria
Published: December 2023

The growing imperative for sustainable development generates research in the field and explores innovative approaches to manage vegetable crops to reduce the usage of synthetic inputs commonly associated with conventional practices as well as to promote the undertaking of organic solutions. Tomatoes are universally recognized as a highly significant and popular fruit vegetable due to their large use palette. Trials were carried out in the Gâlgău area, Transylvania, Romania. Bifactorial experiments were organized to quantify the influence of fertilization and treatments on the morpho-productive and quantitative traits of the Ruxandra tomato cultivar and on Phytophthora infestans levels of infection. The use of mixed fertilization resulted in the best performances of morphological traits (highest leaf area, highest number of leaves and fruits, highest chlorophyll content) and part of the productive traits (highest content of dry matter), and the lowest levels of infection in cv. Ruxandra, while the use of NPK soil fertilization led to the best performances in fruit weight and NUE, whatever the administered treatment. The treatment with herbal extracts showed a similar efficacy in increasing the averages of morpho-productive traits and diminishing the P. infestans level of infection compared with the conventional treatment. The treatment efficacy was mainly influenced by temperature and relative air humidity, regardless of the fertilization strategies applied.
Numerical Evaluation of Lateral Torsional Buckling of PFRP Channel Beams under Pure Bending
Authors: Zeinali Elahe , Nazari Ali , Showkati Hossein
Published: December 2023

The use of pultruded fiber reinforced polymers (PFRPs) in strengthening and sustainable design of bridges and other structures exposed to corrosion and resistance reduction factors is growing rapidly. However, a comprehensive understanding of the structural behavior of these materials under various loading conditions is crucial to unlock their full potential and promote their wider use in diverse structural and industrial applications. Pultrusion profiles can be also used as beams in bridges. One important aspect of the structural behavior of PFRPs is their buckling behavior, particularly in thin-walled open cross sections. Lateral torsional buckling is a probable instability mode for beams with thin-walled open cross sections that are not laterally restrained along their span. Therefore, research on the buckling behavior of PFRP members is essential. In this study, the analytical responses of channel-shaped PFRP beams in bridges under pure bending are calculated using an equation in the Eurocode 3 regulation. The buckling behavior of these beams is then investigated through numerical modeling using the finite element package Abaqus. A total of 75 specimens of PFRP channel profiles with different thicknesses in various spans and lateral restraint conditions are studied for their lateral-torsional buckling behavior. This study uniquely explores the behavior of PFRP beams with lateral restraints, a novel aspect in the field of lateral-torsional buckling research of PFRP beams. The results show that the analytical equation used for these beams needs to be modified to more accurately estimate the buckling loads of FRP beams under the conditions studied in this paper.
Geometry of Warped Product Hemi-Slant Submanifolds of an S-Manifold
Authors: Al-Mutairi Ahlam , Al-Ghefari Reem , Al-Jedani Awatif
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a warped product of hemi-slant submanifolds on an S-manifold. We prove many interesting results for the existence of warped product hemi-slant submanifold of the type Mθ×fM⊥ with ξα∈Mθ of an S-manifold. For such submanifolds, a characterization theorem is proven. In addition, we form an inequality for the squared norm of the second fundamental form in terms of the warping function and the slant angle. We also provide some examples, and the equality case is also considered.
Neutrosophic 𝔑-Structures in Semimodules over Semirings
Authors: Muhiuddin Ghulam , Abughazalah Nabilah , Elavarasan Balasubramanian , Porselvi Kasi , Al-Kadi Deena
Published: December 2023

The study of symmetry is a fascinating and unifying subject that connects various areas of mathematics in the twenty-first century. Algebraic structures offer a framework for comprehending the symmetries of geometric objects in pure mathematics. This paper introduces new concepts in algebraic structures, concentrating on semimodules over semirings and analysing the neutrosophic structure in this context. We explore the properties of neutrosophic subsemimodules and neutrosophic ideals after defining them. We discuss, utilizing neutrosophic products, the representations of neutrosophic ideals and subsemimodules, as well as the relationship between neutrosophic products and intersections. Finally, we derive equivalent criteria in terms of neutrosophic structures for a semiring to be fully idempotent.
Determination of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in the Indoor Dust Matter of the Sicily (Italy) Area: Analysis and Exposure Evaluations
Authors: Barreca Salvatore , Mancuso Michele Marco Mizio , Sacristán Daniel , Pace Andrea , Savoca Dario , Orecchio Santino
Published: December 2023

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in environmental matrices is increasingly being studied due to its environmental persistence, global occurrence, bioaccumulation, and associated human health risks. Some indoor environments can significantly impact the health of occupants due to pollutants in indoor air and household dust. To investigate the potential exposure of individuals to PFOA in specific confined environments, this study reports an analytical method and results concerning the determination of PFOA in household dust, used as a passive sampler. To the best of our knowledge, this paper represents one of the first studies concerning PFOA concentrations in indoor dust collected in the south of Italy, within the European region. A total of twenty-three dust samples were collected from two different areas of Sicily (Palermo and Milena), extracted, and analyzed by an UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS system. Finally, PFOA exposure was estimated using a new index (Indoor PFOA Exposure Index, IPEX) that incorporates the PFOA levels in dust, exposure time, and the correlation between the PFOA in dust and blood. It was then compared across four different exposure groups, revealing that PFOA exposure for people working in chemistry laboratories was evaluated to be ten times higher than the exposure for homemakers.
Quantitative Synthesis of Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Vaccine Hesitancy in 185 Countries
Authors: Dinga Jerome Nyhalah , Kabakama Severin , Njimoh Dieudonne Lemuh , Chia Julius Ebua , Morhason-Bello Imran , Lumu Ivan
Published: December 2023

Mass vaccination against COVID-19 is the best method to ensure herd immunity in order to curb the effect of the pandemic on the global economy. It is therefore important to assess the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy on a global scale. Factors were recorded from cross-sectional studies analyzed with t-Test, ANOVA, correlation, and meta-regression analyses and synthesized to identify global trends in order to inform policy. We registered the protocol (ID: CRD42022350418) and used standard Cochrane methods and PRISMA guidelines to collect and synthesize cross-sectional articles published between January 2020 and August 2023. A total of 67 articles with 576 studies from 185 countries involving 3081,766 participants were included in this synthesis. Global COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was 65.27% (95% CI; 62.72–67.84%), while global vaccine hesitancy stood at 32.1% (95% CI; 29.05–35.17%). One-Way ANOVA showed that there was no significant difference in the percentage Gross Domestic Product spent on vaccine procurement across the World Bank income levels (p < 0.187). There was a significant difference of vaccine acceptance (p < 0.001) and vaccine hesitancy (p < 0.005) across the different World Bank Income levels. World Bank income level had a strong influence on COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (p < 0.0004) and hesitancy (p < 0.003) but percentage Gross Domestic Product spent on vaccine procurement did not. There was no correlation between percentage Gross Domestic Product spent on vaccine procurement and COVID-19 vaccine acceptance (r = −0.11, p < 0.164) or vaccine hesitancy (r = −0.09, p < 0.234). Meta-regression analysis showed that living in an urban setting (OR = 4.83, 95% CI; 0.67–212.8), rural setting (OR = 2.53, 95% CI; 0.29–119.33), older (OR = 1.98, 95% CI; 0.99–4.07), higher education (OR = 1.76, 95% CI; 0.85–3.81), and being a low income earner (OR = 2.85, 95% CI; 0.45–30.63) increased the odds of high COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Factors that increased the odds of high COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy were no influenza vaccine (OR = 33.06, 95% CI; 5.03–1395.01), mistrust for vaccines (OR = 3.91, 95% CI; 1.92–8.24), complacency (OR = 2.86, 95% CI; 1.02–8.83), pregnancy (OR = 2.3, 95% CI; 0.12–141.76), taking traditional herbs (OR = 2.15, 95% CI; 0.52–10.42), being female (OR = 1.53, 95% CI; 0.78–3.01), and safety concerns (OR = 1.29, 95% CI; 0.67–2.51). We proposed a number of recommendations to increase vaccine acceptance and ensure global herd immunity against COVID-19.
Mineralization Reduces the Toxicity and Improves Stability and Protective Immune Response Induced by Toxoplasma gondii
Authors: Li Ling , Guan Yong-Chao , Bai Shao-Yuan , Jin Qi-Wang , Tao Jian-Ping , Zhu Guo-Ding , Huang Si-Yang
Published: December 2023

Vaccination is an ideal strategy for the control and prevention of toxoplasmosis. However, the thermostability and effectiveness of vaccines limit their application. Here, calcium mineralization was used to fabricate Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites as immunogenic core–shell particles with improved immune response and thermostability. In the current study, T. gondii RH particles coated with mineralized shells were fabricated by calcium mineralization. The mineralized shells could maintain the T. gondii tachyzoites structural integrity for at least 12 months and weaken the virulence. Immunization of mice with mineralized tachyzoites induced high levels of T. gondii-specific antibodies and cytokines. The immunized mice were protected with a 100% survival rate in acute and chronic infection, and brain cyst burdens were significantly reduced. This study reported for the first time the strategy of calcium mineralization on T. gondii and proved that mineralized tachyzoites could play an immune protective role, thus expanding the application of biomineralization in T. gondii vaccine delivery.
Predictors of Breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 Infection after Vaccination
Authors: Walmsley Sharon , Nabipoor Majid , Lovblom Leif Erik , Ravindran Rizani , Colwill Karen , McGeer Alison , Dayam Roya Monica , Manase Dorin , Gingras Anne-Claude ,   on behalf of the STOPCoV Team
Published: December 2023

The initial two-dose vaccine series and subsequent booster vaccine doses have been effective in modulating SARS-CoV-2 disease severity and death but do not completely prevent infection. The correlates of infection despite vaccination continue to be under investigation. In this prospective decentralized study (n = 1286) comparing antibody responses in an older- (≥70 years) to a younger-aged cohort (aged 30–50 years), we explored the correlates of breakthrough infection in 983 eligible subjects. Participants self-reported data on initial vaccine series, subsequent booster doses and COVID-19 infections in an online portal and provided self-collected dried blood spots for antibody testing by ELISA. Multivariable survival analysis explored the correlates of breakthrough infection. An association between higher antibody levels and protection from breakthrough infection observed during the Delta and Omicron BA.1/2 waves of infection no longer existed during the Omicron BA.4/5 wave. The older-aged cohort was less likely to have a breakthrough infection at all time-points. Receipt of an original/Omicron vaccine and the presence of hybrid immunity were associated with protection of infection during the later Omicron BA.4/5 and XBB waves. We were unable to determine a threshold antibody to define protection from infection or to guide vaccine booster schedules.