bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ballast Water Management in Ports: Monitoring, Early Warning and Response Measures to Prevent Biodiversity Loss and Risks to Human Health
Authors: Kraus Romina
Published: November 2023

Ballast water is recognised as successfully transporting non-native (potentially) invasive alien species and other harmful organisms (human pathogens and toxic phytoplankton) from one region to another. Global warming enables the successful adaptation of non-native species in new areas. The early detection of harmful species increases the likelihood that the response will be effective and cause less damage to biodiversity, ecosystems, economies and human health. Scientific evidence strongly points to the importance of prevention. In this context, this refers to continuous port monitoring, carried out with the aim of detecting harmful species soon after their introduction. The objectives of rapid detection are (a) early warning and prevention of further spread of harmful species through ballast water or natural circulation, and (b) a timely response through eradication or other appropriate strategies to reduce the number or spatial extent of introduced species. This paper provides guidance for the development of ballast water management in ports based on a literature review. Available and new methods for identifying marine species and best practises in port monitoring for the early detection of harmful species, as well as early warning and response measures following the introduction of species in ports, are presented and discussed.
Four New Endophytic Apiospora Species Isolated from Three Dicranopteris Species in Guizhou, China
Authors: Zhang Jing-Yi , Chen Meng-Lan , Boonmee Saranyaphat , Wang Yu-Xuan , Lu Yong-Zhong
Published: November 2023

Endophytic fungi isolated from medicinal ferns serve as significant natural resources for drug precursors or bioactive metabolites. During our survey on the diversity of endophytic fungi from Dicranopteris species (a genus of medicinal ferns) in Guizhou, Apoiospora was observed as a dominant fungal group. In this study, seven Apiospora strains, representing four new species, were obtained from the healthy plant tissues of three Dicranopteris species—D. ampla, D. linearis, and D. pedata. The four new species, namely Apiospora aseptata, A. dematiacea, A. dicranopteridis, and A. globosa, were described in detail with color photographs and subjected to phylogenetic analyses using combined LSU, ITS, TEF1-α, and TUB2 sequence data. This study also documented three new hosts for Apiospora species.
Combination of Biological Therapy in Severe Asthma: Where We Are?
Authors: Carriera Lorenzo , Fantò Marta , Martini Alessia , D’Abramo Alice , Puzio Genesio , Scaramozzino Marco Umberto , Coppola Angelo
Published: November 2023

Biological drugs have revolutionized the management of severe asthma. However, a variable number of patients remain uncontrolled or only partially controlled even after the appropriate administration of a biologic agent. The combination of two biologics may target different inflammatory pathways, and it has been used in patients suffering from uncontrolled severe asthma with evidence of both allergic and eosinophilic phenotypes or severe asthma and type2 comorbidities. Combination therapy has also been used to handle anti-IL4/13R induced hypereosinophilia. There is insufficient data on combining biologics for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma and type 2 comorbidities, also because of the high cost, and currently no guideline recommends dual biologic therapy. A systematic search was performed using the Medline and Scopus databases. Published data on concurrent administration of two biological drugs in severe, uncontrolled asthma patients has been reported in 28 real-world studies and 1 clinical trial. Data extraction was followed by a descriptive and narrative synthesis of the findings. Future studies should be conducted to further assess the safety, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of this therapeutic strategy.
Measurements and Influencing Factors of New Rural Collective Economies’ Resilience toward Mountain Disasters in Indigent Areas: A Case Study of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, China
Authors: Yuan Ye , Li Ming , Tian Congshan , Xu Yun
Published: November 2023

Economic activities in disaster-prone areas are significantly susceptible to mountain disasters, and enhancing the resilience of new rural collective economies (RRCEs) is a pressing challenge that needs to be overcome in the areas of disaster risk management and sustainable development. The target research area comprises 48 representative villages in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (LP). An assessment framework based on the Resilience Index Measurement Analysis (RIMA) model is established to evaluate the RRCEs in the face of mountain disasters, and the influencing factors regarding the RRCEs are examined. The results show that (1) typical villages in the new rural collective economies (NRCE) have a low level of resilience. (2) Transformational capacity is the key to improving RRCEs. (3) Off-farm villages exhibit the highest level of collective economic resilience, followed by diversified villages, while the lowest resilience level is observed in purely agricultural villages. (4) Talent security and institutional security are important for achieving a high level of resilience. Both of these factors significantly influence RRCEs. (5) The combined influence of talent, financical, institutional, technological, and business security contributes to the diverse factors that shape RRCEs. In other words, the path to achieving resilience in the new rural collective economies is characterized by multiple routes that lead to a common goal. Building on this, we propose recommendations in five key areas, namely, encouraging scientific research and innovation, improving disaster insurance coverage, strengthening the emergency protection system, facilitating collective economic development, and selecting suitable strategies to enhance resilience based on local conditions. The aim is to offer valuable insights for disaster-prone areas to enhance RRCEs and realize sustainable development and rural revitalization.
The SmartLandMaps Approach for Participatory Land Rights Mapping
Authors: Lindner Claudia , Degbelo Auriol , Vassányi Gergely , Kundert Kaspar , Schwering Angela
Published: November 2023

Millions of formal and informal land rights are still undocumented worldwide and there is a need for scalable techniques to facilitate that documentation. In this context, sketch mapping based on printed high-resolution satellite or aerial imagery is being promoted as a fit-for-purpose land administration method and can be seen as a promising way to collect cadastral and land use information with the community in a rapid and cost-effective manner. The main disadvantage of paper-based mapping is the need for digitization to facilitate the integration with existing land administration information systems and the sustainable use of the data. Currently, this digitization is mostly done manually, which is time-consuming and error-prone. This article presents the SmartLandMaps approach to land rights mapping and digitization to address this gap. The recording involves the use of sketches during participatory mapping activities to delineate parcel boundaries, and the use of mobile phones to collect attribute information about spatial units and land rights holders. The digitization involves the use of photogrammetric techniques to derive a digital representation from the annotated paper maps, and the use of computer vision techniques to automate the extraction of parcel boundaries and stickers from raster maps. The approach was deployed in four scenarios across Africa, revealing its simplicity, versatility, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. It can be regarded as a scalable alternative to traditional paper-based participatory land rights mapping.
Effects of Transfer of Land Development Rights on Urban–Rural Integration: Theoretical Framework and Evidence from Chongqing, China
Authors: Wang Yu , Tian Li , Wang Ziyi , Wang Chenyue , Gao Yuan
Published: November 2023

The transfer of land development rights (TDR) is a significant policy tool for advancing urban–rural integration. This study establishes an analytical framework to examine the influence mechanism of TDR on urban–rural integration, considering the flow of land, capital, and population factors. Furthermore, an indicator system is developed to evaluate urban–rural integration across economic, social, and population dimensions. Using panel data from Chongqing, China (2013 to 2019), this article adopts the global principal component analysis (GPCA) method and time-varying difference-in-difference (TV-DID) model to analyze the effects of the land quota trading project, known as the ‘Dipiao’ policy. The results show that TDR can effectively promote urban–rural integration, though with a four-year time lag. Heterogeneous effects of TDR on urban–rural integration are observed across different districts and counties, with the more pronounced promotion in areas characterized by low agricultural land value or high industrial land value. This study further analyzes the influence mechanism of TDR on urban–rural integration. It concludes with policy implications on improving TDR to promote urban–rural integration.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Patients Exhibit Increased Levels of Lipocalin-2, Endothelin-1 and NT-proBNP
Authors: Cvetko Krajinović Lidija , Bodulić Kristian , Laškaj Renata , Žibrat Branka , Svoboda Karić Petra , Kurolt Ivan-Christian , Kordun Mihaela , Topić Antea , Čivljak Rok , Skuhala Tomislava , Markotić Alemka
Published: November 2023

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is an acute zoonotic disease caused by viruses of the Orthohantavirus genus. This syndrome is characterized by renal and cardiopulmonary implications detectable with different biomarkers. Here, we explored the role of serum and urine levels of lipocalin-2, endothelin-1 and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in HFRS pathology. A total of twenty-eight patients hospitalized due to a Puumala orthohantavirus infection were included, with serum and urine samples collected on patient admission (acute phase) and discharge (convalescent phase). In comparison to healthy individuals, patients exhibited significantly higher acute-phase serum and urine levels of lipocalin-2, serum levels of endothelin-1 and serum and urine levels of NT-proBNP. Patients in the convalescent phase showed a significant decrease in urine lipocalin-2, serum endothelin-1 and serum and urine NT-proBNP levels. We recorded a strong correlation between serum levels of lipocalin-2 and endothelin-1 and urine levels of lipocalin-2 with several kidney injury markers, such as serum creatinine, urea, urine white blood cell count and proteinuria. We also demonstrated an independent correlation of serum and urine lipocalin-2 levels with acute kidney injury in HFRS. All in all, our results show an involvement of NT-proBNP, lipocalin-2 and endothelin-1 in the renal and cardiac pathology of HFRS.
The Tribological Behavior of Cast Iron by Laser Surface Texturing under Oil-Lubricated Initial Line Contact for Rotary Compressor
Authors: Ding Shaopeng , Hu Yusheng , Wei Huijun , Mu Di , Zhan Xiangzhi , Wang Jun , Yang Ouxiang , Xu Jia
Published: November 2023

The tribological behaviors of cast iron by laser surface texturing were experimentally compared with the behavior of untextured by unidirectional rotary sliding friction and wear tests under oil-lubricated initial line contact. The friction coefficient and temperature rise were analyzed with the increasing load applied by block-on-ring tests. In addition, the wear loss and wear mechanism were also investigated through the surface topographies analysis. The results showed that the tribological improvement strongly depended on the contact form. For the oil-lubricated initial line contact in this work, the textured surface showed a better frictional advantage with a lower friction coefficient and lower temperature rise. The hydrodynamic effect enhanced the load-carrying capacity of the oil film and increased the film thickness. The friction coefficients were 11~64% lower than those on the untextured one. Meanwhile, the textured surface deteriorated the wear behavior due to the coupling effect between the micro-cutting effect of the texture edges and the material deformations of the counter surface. The material loss induced by abrasive wear and fatigue wear was the dominant wear mechanism. Namely, the laser surface texturing improved the friction properties but reduced the wear resistance.
Characterization of the Maximum Height of a Surface Texture
Authors: Pawlus Pawel , Reizer Rafal , Żelasko Wieslaw
Published: November 2023

Average surface height and maximum amplitude can affect surface functions. In the industry, these parameters can be obtained based on profile measurements. However, variability in maximum profile height is high. A more stable parameter can be obtained from the results of the areal surface topography measurements as the average value of the parallel profiles. The aim of this study is to establish this parameter directly from the result of the areal surface texture by correcting the maximum surface height to material ratios in the range of 0.13–99.87%. This method was tested by measuring 100 surface topographies with a stylus profilometer and a white light interferometer. It can be utilized correctly for deterministic textures and random one- and two-process surfaces for which the correlation between neighboring profile ordinates is not very high. In other cases, the method should be modified. Employing this method, the maximum profile amplitude Pt and parameters characterizing the average profile height Pq, Pa, and the ratios Pq/Pa and Pp/Pt describing the shape of the profile ordinate distribution can be correctly estimated. Pq/Pa and Pp/Pt were more stable than the kurtosis Pku and skewness Psk. The corrected maximum height S±3σ can be adopted as a parameter that characterizes the areal surface texture as more stable than the maximum surface height St. Pq/Pa and Pp/Pt were more steady than kurtosis Pku and skewness Psk.
Modeling of Charge Injection, Recombination, and Diffusion in Complete Perovskite Solar Cells on Short Time Scales
Authors: Szulc Krzysztof , Pydzińska-Białek Katarzyna , Ziółek Marcin
Published: November 2023

A model of charge population decay upon ultrafast optical pulse excitation in complete, working perovskite solar cells is proposed. The equation, including charge injections (extractions) from perovskite to contact materials, charge diffusion, and charge recombination via first-, second-, and third-order processes, is solved using numerical simulations. Results of simulations are positively verified by broadband transient absorption results of mixed halide, triple-cation perovskite (FA0.76MA0.19Cs0.05Pb(I0.81Br0.19)3). The combined analytical and experimental findings reveal the best approaches for the proper determination of the crucial parameters that govern charge transfer dynamics in perovskite solar cells on picosecond and single nanosecond time scales. Measurements from both electron and hole transporting layer sides under different applied bias potentials (zero and close to open circuit potential) and different pump fluence (especially below 5 μJ/cm2), followed by fitting of parameters using numerical modeling, are proposed as the optimal methodology for describing the processes taking place in efficient devices.
Thermomechanical Properties of Zeta (Ag3In) Phase
Authors: Liu Xunda , Tatsumi Hiroaki , Jin Zhi , Chen Zhong , Nishikawa Hiroshi
Published: November 2023

The thermomechanical properties of materials within die-attach joints play an essential role in assessing the reliability of high-power modules. Ag-In transient liquid phase (TLP) bonding serves as an alternative method for die attachment. However, relevant material data for the ζ (Ag3In) phase, one of the Ag-In intermetallic compound (IMC) products of TLP bonding, are limited. This paper proposes an approach to fabricate a densified and pure bulk sample of the ζ (Ag3In) phase. The thermomechanical properties of the ζ (Ag3In) phase were subsequently investigated at elevated temperatures and compared to those of other IMCs frequently observed in die-attach joints. As the temperature increased from 30 °C to 200 °C, the hardness of the ζ (Ag3In) phase decreased linearly from 1.78 GPa to 1.46 GPa. Similarly, the Young’s modulus also decreased linearly from 82.3 GPa to 66.5 GPa. These properties rank among the lowest levels compared to those of other IMCs. The average coefficient of thermal expansion within the temperature range of 70 °C to 250 °C was approximately 18.63 ± 0.61 μm/m/°C, placing the ζ (Ag3In) phase at a moderate level. When considering its potential for mitigating thermal stress, these combined properties render the ζ (Ag3In) phase an appropriate material choice for die-attach joints compared to other IMCs.
Lipschitz Transformations and Maurey-Type Non-Homogeneous Integral Inequalities for Operators on Banach Function Spaces
Authors: Arnau Roger , Sánchez-Pérez Enrique A.
Published: November 2023

We introduce a method based on Lipschitz pointwise transformations to define a distance on a Banach function space from its norm. We show how some specific lattice geometric properties (p-convexity, p-concavity, p-regularity) or, equivalently, some types of summability conditions (for example, when the terms of the terms in the sums in the range of the operator are restricted to the interval [−1,1]) can be studied by adapting the classical analytical techniques of the summability of operators on Banach lattices, which recalls the work of Maurey. We show a technique to prove new integral dominations (equivalently, operator factorizations), which involve non-homogeneous expressions constructed by pointwise composition with Lipschitz maps. As an example, we prove a new family of integral bounds for certain operators on Lorentz spaces.
Optimization Hybrid of Multiple-Lag LSTM Networks for Meteorological Prediction
Authors: Zhu Lin , Zhang Zhihua , Crabbe M. James C. , Das Lipon Chandra
Published: November 2023

Residences in poor regions always depend on rain-fed agriculture, so they urgently need suitable tools to make accurate meteorological predictions. Unfortunately, meteorological observations in these regions are usually sparse and irregularly distributed. Conventional LSTM networks only handle temporal sequences and cannot utilize the links of meteorological variables among stations. GCN-LSTM networks only capture local spatial structures through the simple structures of fixed adjacency matrices, and the CNN-LSTM can only mine gridded meteorological observations for further predictions. In this study, we propose an optimization hybrid of multiple-lag LSTM networks for meteorological predictions. Our model can make full use of observed data at partner stations under different time-lag windows and strong links among the local observations of meteorological variables to produce future predictions. Numerical experiments on the meteorological predictions of Bangladesh demonstrate that our networks are superior to the classic LSTM and its variants GCN-LSTM and CNN-LSTM, as well as the SVM and DT.
Employing a Fractional Basis Set to Solve Nonlinear Multidimensional Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Rahman Md. Habibur , Bhatti Muhammad I. , Dimakis Nicholas
Published: November 2023

Fractional-order partial differential equations have gained significant attention due to their wide range of applications in various fields. This paper employed a novel technique for solving nonlinear multidimensional fractional differential equations by means of a modified version of the Bernstein polynomials called the Bhatti-fractional polynomials basis set. The method involved approximating the desired solution and treated the resulting equation as a matrix equation. All fractional derivatives are considered in the Caputo sense. The resulting operational matrix was inverted, and the desired solution was obtained. The effectiveness of the method was demonstrated by solving two specific types of nonlinear multidimensional fractional differential equations. The results showed higher accuracy, with absolute errors ranging from 10−12 to 10−6 when compared with exact solutions. The proposed technique offered computational efficiency that could be implemented in various programming languages. The examples of two partial fractional differential equations were solved using Mathematica symbolic programming language, and the method showed potential for efficient resolution of fractional differential equations.
The Efficiency of a Uterine Isthmus Tourniquet in Minimizing Blood Loss during a Myomectomy—A Prospective Study
Authors: Balulescu Ligia , Brasoveanu Simona , Pirtea Marilena , Balint Oana , Ilian Aurora , Grigoras Dorin , Olaru Flavius , Margan Madalin-Marius , Alexandru Alexandru , Pirtea Laurentiu
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of using a peri-cervical tourniquet in reducing blood loss during a laparoscopic myomectomy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated the impact of performing a concomitant tourniquet placement during a laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: 30 patients who underwent an LM with a tourniquet placement (the TLM group) and 30 patients who benefited from a standard LM (the SLM group). This study’s main objective was to evaluate the impact of tourniquet use on perioperative blood loss, which is quantified as the difference in the pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels (Delta Hb) and the postoperative blood transfusion rate. Results: The mean Delta Hb was statistically lower in the TLM group compared to the SLM group: 1.38 g/dL vs. 2.41 g/dL (p < 0.001). The rate of postoperative iron perfusion in the TLM group was significantly lower compared to the SLM group (4 vs. 13 patients; p = 0.02). All four patients that required a blood transfusion were from the SLM group. On average, the peri-cervical tourniquet fastening time was 10.62 min (between 7 and 15 min), with no significant impact on the overall operative time: 98.50 min for the TLM group compared to 94.66 min for the SLM group. Conclusions: Fastening a tourniquet during a laparoscopic myomectomy is a valuable technique to effectively control intraoperative bleeding and enhance surgical outcomes.
Subjective Symptoms Linked to Sleep Duration: An Analysis from Japanese National Statistics
Authors: Kato Chikage , Komatsuzaki Akira , Ono Sachie , Iguchi Asami , Arashi Kiyoka , Motoi Shiho , Susuga Mio
Published: November 2023

Background: There is a high prevalence of sleep disorders in Japan, and they are a factor in a decreased quality of life. The main objective of this study was to clarify the background factors of sleep disorders that affect sleep duration, such as subjective symptoms and working hours. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study on the Japanese national statistics data. Answers from a household questionnaire were used to analyze risk factors for decreases in sleep duration. The subjects were a total of 3972 men and women aged 40–59 years, the age group that forms the core of the working population. For the analysis, a univariate analysis (contingency table) between sleep duration (two groups: sleep duration ≥ 6 h and <6 h) and 42 subjective symptoms was carried out. A multivariate analysis (binomial logistic regression) was conducted using sleep duration and subjective health assessment as objective variables, and odds ratios (ORs) adjusted for sex, working hours, and other factors were obtained. Results: The univariate analysis by subjective symptom showed significant ORs for eight symptoms, including poor sleep quality (OR: 2.24), constipation (OR: 2.24), and dizziness (OR: 1.77). In the multivariate analysis, the model with sleep duration as the objective variable showed significantly adjusted ORs for four variables, including constipation (1.72) and poor sleep quality (1.66). The model with subjective health assessment as the objective variable showed significantly adjusted ORs for eight variables, including dizziness (4.18), while poor sleep quality (1.45) was not significant. Conclusions: The present results suggest the presence of subjective symptoms that may be inferred to be related to decreases in sleep duration.
Serological Evidence of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Brazilian Equines
Authors: Salgado Caroline Roberta Soares , Silva Aldaleia do Nascimento e , Arruda Igor Falco , Millar Patrícia Riddell , Amendoeira Maria Regina Reis , Leon Luciane Almeida Amado , Teixeira Raffaella Bertoni Cavalcanti , de Lima Jorge Tiburcio Barbosa , Chalhoub Flávia Löwen Levy , Bispo de Filippis Ana Maria , Fonseca Ana Beatriz Monteiro , de Oliveira Jaqueline Mendes , Pinto Marcelo Alves , Figueiredo Andreza Soriano
Published: November 2023

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been demonstrated in various animal species; those recognized as potential zoonotic reservoirs pose a considerable risk to public health. In Brazil, HEV-3 is the only genotype identified in humans and swine nationwide, in a colony-breeding cynomolgus monkey and, recently, in bovines and capybara. There is no information regarding HEV exposure in the equine population in Brazil. This study aimed to investigate anti-HEV antibodies and viral RNA in serum samples from horses slaughtered for meat export and those bred for sport/reproduction purposes. We used a commercially available ELISA kit modified to detect species-specific anti-HEV, using an anti-horse IgG-peroxidase conjugate and evaluating different cutoff formulas and assay precision. Serum samples (n = 257) were tested for anti-HEV IgG and HEV RNA by nested RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. The overall anti-HEV seroprevalence was 26.5% (68/257) without the detection of HEV RNA. Most municipalities (53.3%) and farms (58.8%) had positive horses. Animals slaughtered for human consumption had higher risk of HEV exposure (45.5%) than those bred for sports or reproduction (6.4%) (p < 0.0001). The statistical analysis revealed sex and breeding system as possible risk-associated factors. The first serological evidence of HEV circulation in Brazilian equines reinforces the need for the surveillance of HEV host expansion in a one-health approach.
Feature Papers in Food Chemistry—2nd Edition
Authors: Nardini Mirella
Published: November 2023

This Special Issue entitled “Feature Papers in Food Chemistry—2nd edition” is a collection of relevant, open access, high-quality papers (original research articles or comprehensive review papers) [...]
IGF2 Peptide-Based LYTACs for Targeted Degradation of Extracellular and Transmembrane Proteins
Authors: Mikitiuk Michał , Barczyński Jan , Bielski Przemysław , Arciniega Marcelino , Tyrcha Urszula , Hec Aleksandra , Lipińska Andrea D. , Rychłowski Michał , Holak Tad A. , Sitar Tomasz
Published: November 2023

Lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) have recently been developed to facilitate the lysosomal degradation of specific extracellular and transmembrane molecular targets. However, the LYTAC particles described to date are based on glycopeptide conjugates, which are difficult to prepare and produce on a large scale. Here, we report on the development of pure protein LYTACs based on the non-glycosylated IGF2 peptides, which can be readily produced in virtually any facility capable of monoclonal antibody production. These chimeras utilize the IGF2R/CI-M6PR pathway for lysosomal shuttling and, in our illustrative example, target programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), eliciting physiological effects analogous to immune checkpoint blockade. Results from in vitro assays significantly exceed the effects of anti-PD-L1 antibodies alone.
Hierarchical Nickel Cobalt Phosphide @ Carbon Nanofibers Composite Microspheres: Ultrahigh Energy Densities of Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Zhang Jinqiao , Cen Meiling , Wei Tao , Wang Qianyun , Xu Jing
Published: November 2023

Supercapacitors (SCs) are widely used in energy storage devices due to their superior power density and long cycle lifetime. However, the limited energy densities of SCs hinder their industrial application to a great extent. In this study, we present a new combination of metallic phosphide–carbon composites, synthesized by directly carbonizing (Ni1−xCox)5TiO7 nanowires via thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technology. The new method uses one-dimensional (1D) (Ni1−xCox)TiO7 nanowires as precursors and supporters for the in situ growth of intertwined porous CNF microspheres. These 1D nanowires undergo microstructure transformation, resulting in the formation of CoNiP nanoparticles, which act as excellent interconnected catalytic nanoparticles for the growth of porous 3D CNF microspheres. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of a unique 1D/3D structure, the agglomeration of nanoparticles can effectively be prevented. The resulting CNF microspheres exhibit an interconnected conductive matrix and provide a large specific surface area with abundant ion/charge transport channels. Consequently, at a scanning rate of 10 mV s−1, its specific capacitance in 1.0 M Na2SO4 + 0.05 M Fe(CN)63−/4− aqueous solution is as high as 311.7 mF cm−2. Furthermore, the CoNiP@CNFs composite film-based symmetrical SCs show an ultrahigh energy density of 20.08 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 7.20 kW kg−1, along with outstanding cycling stability, with 87.2% capacity retention after 10,000 cycles in soluble redox electrolytes. This work provides a new strategy for designing and applying high-performance binary transition metal phosphide/carbon composites for next-generation energy storage devices.
Genomic Insights into Pluralibacter gergoviae Sheds Light on Emergence of a Multidrug-Resistant Species Circulating between Clinical and Environmental Settings
Authors: Furlan João Pedro Rueda , Stehling Eliana Guedes
Published: November 2023

Pluralibacter gergoviae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family that has been reported sporadically. Although P. gergoviae strains exhibiting multidrug-resistant profiles have been identified an in-depth genomic analysis focusing on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been lacking, and was therefore performed in this study. Forty-eight P. gergoviae strains, isolated from humans, animals, foods, and the environment during 1970–2023, were analyzed. A large number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms were found, indicating a highly diverse population. Whilst P. gergoviae strains were found to be circulating at the One Health interface, only human and environmental strains exhibited multidrug resistance genotypes. Sixty-one different antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) were identified, highlighting genes encoding mobile colistin resistance, carbapenemases, and extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Worryingly, the co-occurrence of mcr-9.1, blaKPC-2, blaCTX-M-9, and blaSHV-12, as well as mcr-10.1, blaNDM-5, and blaSHV-7, was detected. Plasmid sequences were identified as carrying clinically important ARGs, evidencing IncX3 plasmids harboring blaKPC-2, blaNDM-5, or blaSHV-12 genes. Virulence genotyping underlined P. gergoviae as being a low-virulence species. In this regard, P. gergoviae is emerging as a new multidrug-resistant species belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Therefore, continuous epidemiological genomic surveillance of P. gergoviae is required.
Synergistic Strategies of Heat and Peroxyacetic Acid Disinfection Treatments for Salmonella Control
Authors: Šovljanski Olja , Ranitović Aleksandra , Tomić Ana , Ćetković Nenad , Miljković Ana , Saveljić Anja , Cvetković Dragoljub
Published: November 2023

The food industry has recognized a pressing need for highly effective disinfection protocols to decrease the risk of pathogen emergence and proliferation in food products. The integration of antimicrobial treatments in food production has occurred as a potential strategy to attain food items of superior quality with respect to microbiological safety and sensory attributes. This study aims to investigate the individual and synergistic effects of heat and peroxyacetic acid on the inactivation of bacterial cells, considering various contact times and environmental conditions. Four Salmonella serotypes, isolated from industrial meat production surfaces, were employed as model organisms. By systematically assessing the impacts of individual factors and synergistic outcomes, the effectiveness of bacterial cell inactivation and the efficiency of heat and peroxyacetic acid could be predicted. To better approximate real-world food processing conditions, this study also incorporated a bovine albumin-rich condition as a simulation of the presence of organic loads in processing steps. The findings revealed the essential need for a synergistic interplay of investigated parameters with the following optimized values: 1.5% concentration of peroxyacetic acid, temperature range of 60–65 °C, and contact time of 3 min for the complete effect regardless of the degree of contamination.
Taking Abstract Artifacts Seriously—The Functioning and Malfunctioning of Fictional Characters
Authors: Terrone Enrico
Published: November 2023

This paper presents and discusses Simon Evnine’s hylomorphic account of fictional characters and proposes some amendments to it with the aim of explaining the functioning of fictional characters. The paper does so by relying on a case study, viz. Edgar Allan Poe’s short story Berenice. The amended hylomorphic account of fictional characters will also be capable of explaining the malfunctioning of fictional characters.
Collective Modes in the Luminescent Response of Si Nanodisk Chains with Embedded GeSi Quantum Dots
Authors: Zinovyev Vladimir A. , Smagina Zhanna V. , Zinovieva Aigul F. , Rodyakina Ekaterina E. , Kacyuba Aleksey V. , Astankova Ksenya N. , Volodin Vladimir A. , Baryshnikova Kseniia V. , Petrov Mihail I. , Mikhailovskii Mikhail S. , Verbus Valery A. , Stepikhova Margarita V. , Novikov Alexey V.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we study the effects of GeSi quantum dot emission coupling with the collective modes in the linear chains of Si disk resonators positioned on an SiO2 layer. The emission spectra as a function of the chain period and disk radius were investigated using micro-photoluminescence (micro-PL) spectroscopy. At optimal parameters of the disk chains, two narrow PL peaks, with quality factors of around 190 and 340, were observed in the range of the quantum dot emission. A numerical analysis of the mode composition allowed us to associate the observed peaks with two collective modes with different electric field polarization relative to the chain line. The theoretical study demonstrates the change of the far-field radiation pattern with increasing length of the disk chain. The intensive out-of-plane emission was explained by the appearance of the dipole mode contribution. The obtained results can be used for the development of Si-based near-infrared light sources.
Transcriptomics and Physiological Analyses Reveal Changes in Paclitaxel Production and Physiological Properties in Taxus cuspidata Suspension Cells in Response to Elicitors
Authors: Zhao Zirui , Zhang Yajing , Li Wenlong , Tang Yuanhu , Wang Shujie
Published: November 2023

In this research, the cell growth, physiological, and biochemical reactions, as well as the paclitaxel production, of Taxus cuspidata suspension cells after treatment with polyethylene glycol (PEG), cyclodextrin (CD), or salicylic acid (SA) (alone or in combination) were investigated. To reveal the paclitaxel synthesis mechanism of T. cuspidata suspension cells under elicitor treatment, the transcriptomics of the Control group and P + C + S group (PEG + CD + SA) were compared. The results show that there were no significant differences in cell biomass after 5 days of elicitor treatments. However, the content of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) after elicitor combination treatments were decreased compared with the single-elicitor treatment. Meanwhile, the antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (PO)) and the contents of soluble sugar and soluble protein were increased after combination elicitor treatments. Additionally, the paclitaxel yield after treatment with the combination of all three elicitors (P + C + S) was 6.02 times higher than that of the Control group, thus indicating that the combination elicitor treatments had a significant effect on paclitaxel production in T. cuspidata cell suspension culture. Transcriptomics analysis revealed 13,623 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the Control and P + C + S treatment groups. Both GO and KEGG analyses showed that the DEGs mainly affected metabolic processes. DEGs associated with antioxidant enzymes, paclitaxel biosynthesis enzymes, and transcription factors were identified. It can be hypothesized that the oxidative stress of suspension cells occurred with elicitor stimulation, thereby leading to a defense response and an up-regulation of the gene expression associated with antioxidant enzymes, paclitaxel synthesis enzymes, and paclitaxel synthesis transcription factors; this ultimately increased the production of paclitaxel.
Phlomidis Radix Extract Alleviates Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Modulating Spinal TRPV1 in Mice
Authors: Park Keun-Tae , Ko Seong-Gyu , Kim Woojin
Published: November 2023

Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic drug reported to have excellent activity against tumors; however, various side effects, including peripheral neuropathy, limit its use in some cases. In this study, the effect of Phlomidis radix (P.Radix) extract was assessed on paclitaxel-induced cold and mechanical peripheral neuropathy in mice. Multiple paclitaxel injections (accumulative dose of 8 mg/kg, i.p.) induced increased behavioral responses to cold and mechanical stimuli in mice from D10 to D21 after the first paclitaxel injection. Cold and mechanical stimuli were performed by acetone drop and von Frey filament, respectively. Oral administrations of 25% ethanol extract of P.Radix (300 and 500 mg/kg) relieved cold and mechanical pain in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, among the various transient receptor potential (TRP) cation channel subfamilies, paclitaxel upregulated the spinal gene expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) and melastatin 4 (TRPM4), but not ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). However, 500 mg/kg but not 300 mg/kg of P.Radix extract significantly downregulated the gene expression of TRPV1 but not TRPM4. Among the components of P.Radix, sesamoside was identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the administration of sesamoside (7.5 mg/kg, i.p.) showed a similar analgesic effect to 300 mg/kg P.Radix. These results suggest that P.Radix and sesamoside should be considered when treating paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain.
LRTransDet: A Real-Time SAR Ship-Detection Network with Lightweight ViT and Multi-Scale Feature Fusion
Authors: Feng Kunyu , Lun Li , Wang Xiaofeng , Cui Xiaoxin
Published: November 2023

In recent years, significant strides have been made in the field of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) ship detection through the application of deep learning techniques. These advanced methods have substantially improved the accuracy of ship detection. Nonetheless, SAR images present distinct challenges, including complex backgrounds, small ship targets, and noise interference, thereby rendering the detectors particularly demanding. In this paper, we introduce LRTransDet, a real-time SAR ship detector. LRTransDet leverages a lightweight vision transformer (ViT) and a multi-scale feature fusion neck to address these challenges effectively. First, our model implements a lightweight backbone that combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers, thus enabling it to simultaneously capture both local and global features from input SAR images. Moreover, we boost the model’s efficiency by incorporating the faster weighted feature fusion (Faster-WF2) module and coordinate attention (CA) mechanism within the feature fusion neck. These components optimize computational resources while maintaining the model’s performance. To overcome the challenge of detecting small ship targets in SAR images, we refine the original loss function and use the normalized Wasserstein distance (NWD) metric and the intersection over union (IoU) scheme. This combination improves the detector’s ability to efficiently detect small targets. To prove the performance of our proposed model, we conducted experiments on four challenging datasets (the SSDD, the SAR-Ship Dataset, the HRSID, and the LS-SSDD-v1.0). The results demonstrate that our model surpasses both general object detectors and state-of-the-art SAR ship detectors in terms of detection accuracy (97.8% on the SSDD and 93.9% on the HRSID) and speed (74.6 FPS on the SSDD and 75.8 FPS on the HRSID), all while demanding 3.07 M parameters. Additionally, we conducted a series of ablation experiments to illustrate the impact of the EfficientViT, the Faster-WF2 module, the CA mechanism, and the NWD metric on multi-scale feature fusion and detection performance.
Collaborative Use of Sensor Networks and Cyberinfrastructure to Understand Complex Ecosystem Interactions in a Tropical Rainforest: Challenges and Lessons Learned
Authors: Rundel Philip W. , Harmon Thomas C. , Fernandez-Bou Angel S. , Allen Michael F.
Published: November 2023

Collaborations between ecosystem ecologists and engineers have led to impressive progress in developing complex models of biogeochemical fluxes in response to global climate change. Ecology and engineering iteratively inform and transform each other in these efforts. Nested data streams from local sources, adjacent networks, and remote sensing sources together magnify the capacity of ecosystem ecologists to observe systems in near real-time and address questions at temporal and spatial scales that were previously unobtainable. We describe our research experiences working in a Costa Rican rainforest ecosystem with the challenges presented by constant high humidity, 4300 mm of annual rainfall, flooding, small invertebrates entering the tiniest openings, stinging insects, and venomous snakes. Over the past two decades, we faced multiple challenges and learned from our mistakes to develop a broad program of ecosystem research at multiple levels of integration. This program involved integrated networks of diverse sensors on a series of canopy towers linked to multiple belowground soil sensor arrays that could transport sensor data streams from the forest directly to an off-site location via a fiber optic cable. In our commentary, we highlight three components of our work: (1) the eddy flux measurements using canopy towers; (2) the soil sensor arrays for measuring the spatial and temporal patterns of CO2 and O2 fluxes at the soil–atmosphere interface; and (3) focused investigations of the ecosystem impact of leaf-cutter ants as “ecosystem engineers” on carbon fluxes.
Novel Straightening-Machine Design with Integrated Force Measurement for Straightening of High-Strength Flat Wire
Authors: Bathelt Lukas , Scurk Maximilian , Djakow Eugen , Henke Christian , Trächtler Ansgar
Published: November 2023

In a punch-bending machine, wire products are manufactured for a wide range of industrial sectors, such as the electronics industry. The raw material for this process is flat wire made of high-strength steel. During the manufacturing process of the flat wire, residual stresses and plastic deformations are induced into the wire. These residual stresses and deformations fluctuate over the length of the semi-finished product and have a negative effect on the final product quality. Straightening machines are used to reduce this influence to a minimum. So far, the adjustment of a straightening machine has been performed manually, which is a lengthy and complex task even for an experienced worker. This inevitably leads to the use of inefficient straightening strategies and causes high rejection rates in the entire production process. Due to a lack of sensor information from the straightening operation, application of modern feedback control methods has not been practicable. This paper presents a novel design for a straightening machine with an integrated, precise straightening force measurement. By simultaneously monitoring the position of the straightening rollers, state variables of the straightening operation can be derived. Additionally, a tension control for feeding the flat wire is introduced. This is implemented to mitigate the disturbing effects caused by irregularities in the wire-feeding process. In the results of this article, the high precision of the developed force measurement design and its possible applications are shown.
A Comprehensive Approach for Detecting Brake Pad Defects Using Histogram and Wavelet Features with Nested Dichotomy Family Classifiers
Authors: Gnanasekaran Sakthivel , Jakkamputi Lakshmi Pathi , Rakkiyannan Jegadeeshwaran , Thangamuthu Mohanraj , Bhalerao Yogesh
Published: November 2023

The brake system requires careful attention for continuous monitoring as a vital module. This study specifically focuses on monitoring the hydraulic brake system using vibration signals through experimentation. Vibration signals from the brake pad assembly of commercial vehicles were captured under both good and defective conditions. Relevant histograms and wavelet features were extracted from these signals. The selected features were then categorized using Nested dichotomy family classifiers. The accuracy of all the algorithms during categorization was evaluated. Among the algorithms tested, the class-balanced nested dichotomy algorithm with a wavelet filter achieved a maximum accuracy of 99.45%. This indicates a highly effective method for accurately categorizing the brake system based on vibration signals. By implementing such a monitoring system, the reliability of the hydraulic brake system can be ensured, which is crucial for the safe and efficient operation of commercial vehicles in the market.
Application of 1D ResNet for Multivariate Fault Detection on Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment
Authors: Tchatchoua Philip , Graton Guillaume , Ouladsine Mustapha , Christaud Jean-François
Published: November 2023

Amid the ongoing emphasis on reducing manufacturing costs and enhancing productivity, one of the crucial objectives when manufacturing is to maintain process tools in optimal operating conditions. With advancements in sensing technologies, large amounts of data are collected during manufacturing processes, and the challenge today is to utilize these massive data efficiently. Some of these data are used for fault detection and classification (FDC) to evaluate the general condition of production machinery. The distinctive characteristics of semiconductor manufacturing, such as interdependent parameters, fluctuating behaviors over time, and frequently changing operating conditions, pose a major challenge in identifying defective wafers during the manufacturing process. To address this challenge, a multivariate fault detection method based on a 1D ResNet algorithm is introduced in this study. The aim is to identify anomalous wafers by analyzing the raw time-series data collected from multiple sensors throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process. To achieve this objective, a set of features is chosen from specified tools in the process chain to characterize the status of the wafers. Tests on the available data confirm that the gradient vanishing problem faced by very deep networks starts to occur with the plain 1D Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based method when the size of the network is deeper than 11 layers. To address this, a 1D Residual Network (ResNet)-based method is used. The experimental results show that the proposed method works more effectively and accurately compared to techniques using a plain 1D CNN and can thus be used for detecting abnormal wafers in the semiconductor manufacturing industry.