bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optical and Electrochemical Properties of a Nanostructured ZnO Thin Layer Deposited on a Nanoporous Alumina Structure via Atomic Layer Deposition
Authors: Cuevas Ana L. , Dominguez Antonia , Zamudio-García Javier , Vega Victor , González Ana Silvia , Marrero-López David , Prida Victor M. , Benavente Juana
Published: March 2024

This study explores the optical and electrochemical properties of a ZnO coating layer deposited on a nanoporous alumina structure (NPAS) for potential multifunctional applications. The NPAS, synthesized through an electrochemical anodization process, displays well-defined nanochannels with a high aspect ratio (~3000). The ZnO coating, achieved via atomic layer deposition, enables the tuning of the pore diameter and porosity of the NPAS, thereby influencing both the optical and electrochemical interfacial properties. A comprehensive characterization using photoluminescence, spectroscopy ellipsometry and impedance spectroscopy (with the sample in contact with NaCl solutions) provides insights into optical and electrochemical parameters, including the refractive index, absorption coefficient, and electrolyte–ZnO/NPAS interface processes. This research demonstrates potential for tailoring the optical and interfacial properties of nanoporous structures by selecting appropriate coating materials, thus opening avenues for their utilization in various technological applications.
Preload and Removal Torque of Two Different Prosthetic Screw Coatings—A Laboratory Study
Authors: Coelho Lara , Mendes José Manuel , Mendes Joana , Aroso Carlos , Silva António Sérgio , Manzanares-Céspedes Maria-Cristina
Published: March 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two coating materials, a silicone sealing gel and a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tape, on the screw preload and removal torque value (RTV) to develop strategies to prevent prosthetic screw loosening. We examined 45 complexes comprising an implant, abutment, and prosthetic screw, of which 15 samples were uncoated, 15 were coated with GapSeal® (Hager & Werken GmbH & Co., Duisburg, Germany), and 15 were coated with PTFE tape (MIARCO®, Valencia, Spain). The screws were tightened to register the preload and then untightened to register the RTV. The preload values showed a statistically significant difference only in the PTFE group, suggesting that this lubricant negatively affects the preload. The RTVs showed statistically significant differences among all groups, with the GapSeal® group and PTFE group showing the highest and lowest values, respectively. It can be concluded that the application of the PTFE tape on the screw significantly reduced the preload and RTV. The silicone sealing gel did not affect the preload but increased the RTV. Therefore, the use of GapSeal® should be considered to prevent prosthetic screw loosening, while the use of PTFE tape should be avoided.
Mn Cluster-Embedded N/F Co-Doped Carbon toward Mild Aqueous Supercapacitors
Authors: Zheng Chen , Han Xu , Sun Fangfang , Zhang Yue , Huang Zihang , Ma Tianyi
Published: March 2024

Aqueous supercapacitors have occupied a significant position among various types of stationary energy storage equipment, while their widespread application is hindered by the relatively low energy density. Herein, N/F co-doped carbon materials activated by manganese clusters (NCM) are constructed by the straightforward experimental routine. Benefiting from the elevated conductivity structure at the microscopic level, the optimized NCM-0.5 electrodes exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance of 653 F g−1 at 0.4 A g−1 and exceptional cycling stability (97.39% capacity retention even after 40,000 cycles at the scanning rate of 100 mV s−1) in a neutral 5 M LiCl electrolyte. Moreover, we assembled an asymmetric device pairing with a VOx anode (NCM-0.5//VOx), which delivered a durable life span of 95% capacity retention over 30,000 cycles and an impressive energy density of 77.9 Wh kg−1. This study provides inspiration for transition metal element doping engineering in high-energy storage equipment.
Antifungal Susceptibility Assessment of Innovative and Non-Conventional Lime Mortars Incorporating Almond-Shell Powder Bio-Waste Subjected to Particle-Dispersion Technique
Authors: Jerónimo Alexandre , Loureiro Mafalda , Fernandes Mariana , De Zea Bermudez Verónica , Briga-Sá Ana
Published: March 2024

A favorable environment for fungi colonization in building materials’ surfaces can emerge when certain hygrothermal conditions occur. Thus, reducing fungal growth susceptibility is of major interest. Furthermore, if the integration of bio-wastes is performed in parallel with the development of innovative materials for this purpose, a more sustainable and environmentally friendly material can be obtained. In this study, the fungal susceptibility of lime mortars incorporating almond-shell powder (ASP) microparticles (2 and 4%, wt.–wt. in relation to the binder content) was evaluated. The particle-dispersion technique was employed to prepare the bio-waste introduced in the mixtures. The fungal susceptibility of ASP samples was compared with nanotitania (n-TiO2) with recognized antifungal properties. Mechanical strength, water absorption, and wettability tests were also performed for a better characterization of the composites. Although the addition of 2% ASP led to mechanical properties reduction, an increase in the compressive and flexural strength resulted for 4% of the ASP content. Difficulties in fungal growth were observed for the samples incorporating ASP. No fungal development was detected in the mortar with 2% of ASP, which may be correlated with an increase in the surface hydrophobic behavior. Furthermore, mortars with ASP revealed a reduction in water absorption by capillarity ability, especially with 4% content, suggesting changes in the microstructure and pore characteristics. The results also demonstrated that an improvement in the physical and mechanical properties of the lime mortars can be achieved when ASP microparticles are previously subjected to dispersion techniques.
A Study of the Adsorption Properties of Individual Atoms on the Graphene Surface: Density Functional Theory Calculations Assisted by Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Huang Jingtao , Chen Mo , Xue Jingteng , Li Mingwei , Cheng Yuan , Lai Zhonghong , Hu Jin , Zhou Fei , Qu Nan , Liu Yong , Zhu Jingchuan
Published: March 2024

In this research, the adsorption performance of individual atoms on the surface of monolayer graphene surface was systematically investigated using machine learning methods to accelerate density functional theory. The adsorption behaviors of over thirty different atoms on the graphene surface were computationally analyzed. The adsorption energy and distance were extracted as the research targets, and the basic information of atoms (such as atomic radius, ionic radius, etc.) were used as the feature values to establish the dataset. Through feature engineering selection, the corresponding input feature values for the input-output relationship were determined. By comparing different models on the dataset using five-fold cross-validation, the mathematical model that best fits the dataset was identified. The optimal model was further fine-tuned by adjusting of the best mathematical ML model. Subsequently, we verified the accuracy of the established machine learning model. Finally, the precision of the machine learning model forecasts was verified by the method of comparing and contrasting machine learning results with density functional theory. The results suggest that elements such as Zr, Ti, Sc, and Si possess some potential in controlling the interfacial reaction of graphene/aluminum composites. By using machine learning to accelerate first-principles calculations, we have further expanded our choice of research methods and accelerated the pace of studying element–graphene interactions.
Coupling a Simple and Generic Membrane Fouling Model with Biological Dynamics: Application to the Modeling of an Anaerobic Membrane BioReactor (AnMBR)
Authors: Benyahia Boumediene , Charfi Amine , Lesage Geoffroy , Heran Marc , Cherki Brahim , Harmand Jérôme
Published: March 2024

A simple model is developed for membrane fouling, taking into account two main fouling phenomena: cake formation, due to attached solids on the membrane surface, and pore clogging, due to retained compounds inside the pores. The model is coupled with a simple anaerobic digestion model for describing the dynamics of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). In simulations, we investigate its qualitative behavior: it is shown that the model exhibits satisfying properties in terms of a flux decrease due to membrane fouling. Comparing simulation and experimental data, the model is shown to predict quite well the dynamics of an AnMBR. The simulated flux best fits the experimental flux with a correlation coefficient r2=0.968 for the calibration data set and r2=0.938 for the validation data set. General discussions are given on possible control strategies to limit fouling and optimize the flux production. We show in simulations that these strategies allow one to increase the mean production flux to 33 L/(h·m2),whereas without control, it was 18 L/(h·m2).
Effects of Different CaO/Al2O3 Ratios on the Phase Composition and Desulfurization Ability of CaO-Based Desulfurizers in Hot Metal
Authors: Shen Jyun-Ming , Lin Chi-Ming , Chang Yu-En , Lin Hui-Jan , Wu Weite
Published: March 2024

In response to the development of low-carbon smelting technology, reducing the use of fluor-containing materials in desulfurizers is an important research topic. The development of new-generation KR (Kambara Reactor) desulfurizers is shifting towards a higher Al2O3 content rather than CaF2, yet there is currently an absence of thorough and comprehensive mechanisms for desulfurization. Consequently, this research provides an extensive comparison using a specially constructed small-scale KR desulfurization hot model test, alongside FactSage simulation and SEM analysis (of desulfurization process). The findings indicate that at 1400 °C, for the desulfurization of molten iron, the capacity for desulfurization initially increases and then diminishes as the Al2O3 content in the KR desulfurizer rises. With Al2O3 content in the desulfurizer below 22 wt.%, the phase composition predominantly consists of C3A, employing a solid(slag)–liquid(metal) diffusion method for desulfurization. The optimal desulfurization capacity (Ls: 64.1) is observed when the Al2O3 content is 15 wt.%, attributed to the simultaneous presence of CaO particle precipitation and C3A. However, as the Al2O3 content reaches 20 wt.%, all the oversaturated CaO integrates into C3A, leading to a reduction in Ls from 64.1 to 10.7, thereby diminishing the desulfurization capacity by approximately sixfold. When Al2O3 exceeds 22 wt.%, the phase composition transitions from the C3A to C12A7 phase, and the desulfurization approach shifts from solid(slag)–liquid(metal) to liquid(slag)–liquid(metal) diffusion, with Ls decreasing to 23.4. This reduction is due to C12A7’s lower sulfur capacity compared to C3A and the absence of saturated CaO particle precipitation. Therefore, for Al2O3 to effectively replace fluorite in KR desulfurizers, a higher presence of C3A phases and CaO particle precipitation are essential. The desulfurizer must contain over 65 wt.% CaO and maintain Al2O3 levels at 10~16.2 wt.%.
Relationships and Mendelian Randomization of Gut Microbe-Derived Metabolites with Metabolic Syndrome Traits in the METSIM Cohort
Authors: Mirzaei Sahereh , DeVon Holli , Cantor Rita , Cupido Arjen , Pan Calvin , Ha Sung , Fernandes Silva Lilian , Hilser James , Hartiala Jaana , Allayee Hooman , Rey Federico , Laakso Markku , Lusis Aldons
Published: March 2024

The role of gut microbe-derived metabolites in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the associations of gut microbe-derived metabolites and MetS traits in the cross-sectional Metabolic Syndrome In Men (METSIM) study. The sample included 10,194 randomly related men (age 57.65 ± 7.12 years) from Eastern Finland. Levels of 35 metabolites were tested for associations with 13 MetS traits using lasso and stepwise regression. Significant associations were observed between multiple MetS traits and 32 metabolites, three of which exhibited particularly robust associations. N-acetyltryptophan was positively associated with Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistant (HOMA-IR) (β = 0.02, p = 0.033), body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.025, p = 1.3 × 10−16), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (β = 0.034, p = 5.8 × 10−10), triglyceride (0.087, p = 1.3 × 10−16), systolic (β = 0.012, p = 2.5 × 10−6) and diastolic blood pressure (β = 0.011, p = 3.4 × 10−6). In addition, 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) lactate yielded the strongest positive associations among all metabolites, for example, with HOMA-IR (β = 0.23, p = 4.4 × 10−33), and BMI (β = 0.097, p = 5.1 × 10−52). By comparison, 3-aminoisobutyrate was inversely associated with HOMA-IR (β = −0.19, p = 3.8 × 10−51) and triglycerides (β = −0.12, p = 5.9 × 10−36). Mendelian randomization analyses did not provide evidence that the observed associations with these three metabolites represented causal relationships. We identified significant associations between several gut microbiota-derived metabolites and MetS traits, consistent with the notion that gut microbes influence metabolic homeostasis, beyond traditional risk factors.
A Novel Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Earcanal Dynamic Motion Exploitation Using a Bistable Resonator Cycled by Coupled Hydraulic Valves Made of Collapsed Flexible Tubes
Authors: Avetissian Tigran , Formosa Fabien , Badel Adrien , Delnavaz Aidin , Voix Jérémie
Published: March 2024

Scavenging energy from the earcanal’s dynamic motion during jaw movements may be a practical way to enhance the battery autonomy of hearing aids. The main challenge is optimizing the amount of energy extracted while working with soft human tissues and the earcanal’s restricted volume. This paper proposes a new energy harvester concept: a liquid-filled earplug which transfers energy outside the earcanal to a generator. The latter is composed of a hydraulic amplifier, two hydraulic cylinders that actuate a bistable resonator to raise the source frequency while driving an amplified piezoelectric transducer to generate electricity. The cycling of the resonator is achieved using two innovative flexible hydraulic valves based on the buckling of flexible tubes. A multiphysics-coupled model is established to determine the system operation requirements and to evaluate its theoretical performances. This model exhibits a theoretical energy conversion efficiency of 85%. The electromechanical performance of the resonator coupled to the piezoelectric transducer and the hydraulic behavior of the valves are experimentally investigated. The global model was updated using the experimental data to improve its predictability toward further optimization of the design. Moreover, the energy losses are identified to enhance the entire proposed design and improve the experimental energy conversion efficiency to 26%.
Optimization of a Rare Earth and Aluminum Leaching Process from Weathered Crust Elution-Deposited Rare Earth Ore with Surfactant CTAB
Authors: Wu Xiaoyan , Feng Jian , Zhou Fang , Liu Chufan , Chi Ruan
Published: March 2024

Ammonium sulfate is typically employed as a leaching agent in the in situ leaching of weathered crust elution-deposited rare earth ore. However, it is associated with challenges such as low efficiency in mass transfer for rare earth (RE) leaching, high usage of the leaching agent, and prolonged leaching duration. To address the issues mentioned above, the surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) was compounded with 2% ammonium sulfate to form a leaching agent in this paper. The effects of CTAB concentration, temperature, pH, and leaching agent flow rate on the rare earth (RE) and aluminum (Al) leaching mass transfer process from RE ore were investigated using chromatographic plate theory. The results revealed that CTAB addition improved the RE mass transfer process while moderately inhibiting the Al mass transfer efficiency. Increasing the temperature and pH of the leaching solution led to higher theoretical plate numbers for RE and Al leaching, lowered theoretical plate height (HETP), and enhanced leaching mass transfer efficiency. However, under high temperature and alkaline conditions, the mass transfer efficiency begins to decrease, indicating that high temperature and alkaline conditions are not conducive to the synergistic enhancement of RE and Al leaching by CTAB. Considering that clay minerals have good pH buffering properties, adjusting the pH of the leaching solution during rare earth ore leaching operations was deemed unnecessary. The optimal mass transfer conditions for leaching RE and Al were identified as 2% ammonium sulfate concentration, 0.00103 mol/L CTAB concentration, pH range of 5.2–5.5 for the leaching solution, 0.6 mL/min leaching solution flow rate, and room temperature. The rare earth leaching mass transfer effect could be enhanced during summer operations.
Kinetics of Estonian Phosphate Rock Dissolution in Hydrochloric Acid
Authors: Azeez Ruhany Sheherazad , Tõnsuaadu Kaia , Kaljuvee Tiit , Trikkel Andres
Published: March 2024

The kinetics of the dissolution of Estonian phosphate rock and the governing reaction mechanisms in hydrochloric acid in technological processes were investigated. The influences of particle size and acid concentrations of 0.5–1.5 M on the reaction rate and the pH variation during the process were studied at a dosage of 2.1 moles of HCl per mole of calcium for 60 min. The results indicated that the solubility of phosphorus reached 94%–100% for the fine samples and 82%–99% for the coarse samples. The time required to achieve an apparent steady-state pH reduced with the increasing acid concentrations and decreasing particle sizes. It was determined that the CaF2 precipitation in solutions starting at 1 M was faster at higher concentrations. The SEM surface analysis of the insoluble particles proved the existence of etch pit formation. The XPS and EDX analyses affirmed that the dissolution was incongruent. The surface composition of the unreacted particles gave a stoichiometry of CaF1.8, showing the formation of CaF2 on the surface. The dissolution kinetics were analyzed using the shrinking core model and showed a combination of chemical reaction, diffusion or interfacial transfer, and diffusion, sequentially for coarse particles or simultaneously for fine fractions.
Flow Field Characteristics and Flotation Efficacy in a Pulse Jet Flotation Machine: A Comprehensive Investigation
Authors: Duan Xuqin , He Chen , Shen Dandan , Song Meng , Sun Chunbao
Published: March 2024

The design and optimization of flotation machines hold significant importance in enhancing the industrial-grade coal beneficiation process. In this research, the flow field characteristics and flotation performance of a novel pulse jet flotation machine (PJFM) were investigated. The results showed that a PJFM equipped with an innovative pulse cavity can improve the mineralization efficiency of coal due to the coupling of multiple jet shapes. The aeration performance of this PJFM also exceeds the usual desired targets of coal flotation machines, which are characterized by an aeration uniformity coefficient higher than 70% and dominant bubbles of 100~200 μm and 200~300 μm, including a small amount of −100 μm bubbles. The cavitation of the pulse jet achieved the modification of the coal particle surface, and subsequently, the electric potential of the coal largely decreased in absolute value, and the floatability of the coal significantly improved. The concentrate yield of step release flotation increased by 12.42%, while the ash content was only 0.45% higher. Furthermore, in the early stage of flotation, the flotation rate of 0~0.074 mm coal slurry is the fastest and is preferentially floated; in the later stage, the flotation of 0.25–0.5 mm particles dominates. The PJFM demonstrates enhanced particle size selectivity and superior performance in selective flotation.
Cobalt Ferrite Nanorods Synthesized with a Facile “Green” Method in a Magnetic Field
Authors: Kwiatkowski Alexander L. , Shvets Petr V. , Timchenko Ivan S. , Kessel Darya E. , Shipkova Elizaveta D. , Maslakov Konstantin I. , Kuznetsov Ivan A. , Muravlev Dmitry A. , Philippova Olga E. , Shibaev Andrey V.
Published: March 2024

We report a new facile method for the synthesis of prolate cobalt ferrite nanoparticles without additional stabilizers, which involves a co-precipitation reaction of Fe3+ and Co2+ ions in a static magnetic field. The magnetic field is demonstrated to be a key factor for the 1D growth of cobalt ferrite nanocrystals in the synthesis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy are applied to characterize the morphology and structure of the obtained nanoparticles. According to TEM, they represent nanorods with a mean length of 25 nm and a diameter of 3.4 nm that have a monocrystalline structure with characteristic plane spacing of 2.9 Å. XRD and Raman spectroscopy confirm the spinel CoFe2O4 structure of the nanorods. After aging, the synthesized nanorods exhibit maximum saturation magnetization and coercivity equal to 30 emu/g and 0.3 kOe, respectively. Thus, the suggested method is a simple and “green” way to prepare CoFe2O4 nanorods with high aspect ratios and pronounced magnetic properties, which are important for various practical applications, including biomedicine, energy storage, and the preparation of anisotropic magnetic nanocomposites.
One-Step Synthesis of 3D Graphene Aerogel Supported Pt Nanoparticles as Highly Active Electrocatalysts for Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Wo Xiaoye , Yan Rui , Yu Xiao , Xie Gang , Ma Jinlong , Cao Yanpeng , Li Aijun , Huang Jian , Huo Caixia , Li Fenghua , Wang Yu , Luo Liqiang , Zhang Qixian
Published: March 2024

Nowadays, two of the biggest obstacles restricting the further development of methanol fuel cells are excessive cost and insufficient catalytic activity of platinum-based catalysts. Herein, platinum nanoparticle supported graphene aerogel (Pt/3DGA) was successfully synthesized by a one-step hydrothermal self-assembly method. The loose three-dimensional structure of the aerogel is stabilized by a simple one-step method, which not only reduces cost compared to the freeze-drying technology, but also optimizes the loading method of nanoparticles. The prepared Pt/3DGA catalyst has a three-dimensional porous structure with a highly cross-linked, large specific surface area, even dispersion of Pt NPs and good electrical conductivity. It is worth noting that its catalytic activity is 438.4 mA/mg with long-term stability, which is consistent with the projected benefits of anodic catalytic systems in methanol fuel cells.. Our study provides an applicable method for synthesizing nano metal particles/graphene-based composites.
Bias-Tunable Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector
Authors: Biswal Gyana , Yakimov Michael , Tokranov Vadim , Sablon Kimberly , Tulyakov Sergey , Mitin Vladimir , Oktyabrsky Serge
Published: March 2024

With the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence-driven object recognition, the development of cognitive tunable imaging sensors has become a critically important field. In this paper, we demonstrate an infrared (IR) sensor with spectral tunability controlled by the applied bias between the long-wave and mid-wave IR spectral regions. The sensor is a Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP) containing asymmetrically doped double QWs where the external electric field alters the electron population in the wells and hence spectral responsivity. The design rules are obtained by calculating the electronic transition energies for symmetric and antisymmetric double-QW states using a Schrödinger–Poisson solver. The sensor is grown and characterized aiming detection in mid-wave (~5 µm) to long-wave IR (~8 µm) spectral ranges. The structure is grown using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) and contains 25 periods of coupled double GaAs QWs and Al0.38Ga0.62As barriers. One of the QWs in the pair is modulation-doped to provide asymmetry in potential. The QWIPs are tested with blackbody radiation and FTIR down to 77 K. As a result, the ratio of the responsivities of the two bands at about 5.5 and 8 µm is controlled over an order of magnitude demonstrating tunability between MWIR and LWIR spectral regions. Separate experiments using parameterized image transformations of wideband LWIR imagery are performed to lay the framework for utilizing tunable QWIP sensors in object recognition applications.
Nutri-Score of Meat, Fish, and Dairy Alternatives: A Comparison between the Old and New Algorithm
Authors: Huybers Sylvie , Roodenburg Annet J. C.
Published: March 2024

Nutri-Score is a front-of-pack label that visualizes the nutritional quality of food products from most healthy (A, dark green) to least healthy (E, red). However, concerns have been raised about discrepancies between Nutri-Score labels and dietary recommendations. Therefore, the Nutri-Score algorithm has recently been adapted. To investigate the effect of the new algorithm, the Nutri-Score of plant-based meat, fish, and dairy alternatives (n = 916) was calculated with the old and new algorithms. In addition, the nutritional values of meat and milk alternatives with Nutri-Score labels A and B were compared under the old and new conditions and subsequently assessed for alignment with the criteria of Dutch dietary guidelines. The new algorithm resulted in a reduction in the number of products with labels A and B, ranging from 5% (cold cuts alternatives) to 55% (milk alternatives). The nutritional composition of products with labels A and B improved for meat alternatives (lower energy and saturated fatty acid contents; higher protein content) and milk alternatives (lower energy, salt, and sugar contents; higher protein and fiber contents). Overall, the new Nutri-Score algorithm is more in line with the Dutch dietary guidelines for plant-based meat and dairy alternatives, though challenges remain with respect to micronutrient (iron, calcium, vitamin B12), salt, and protein contents.
Impact of Dietary Coparenting and Parenting Strategies on Picky Eating Behaviors in Young Children
Authors: Chen Jo-Lin , Doong Jia-Yau , Tu Miao-Ju , Huang Shou-Chi
Published: March 2024

Many studies have demonstrated that coparenting and parenting behaviors have a substantial effect on the behaviors of young children. Research has indicated that young children may exhibit picky eating behaviors, which pose challenges for parents in terms of coparenting and parenting. This study examined how dietary coparenting and parenting strategies directly affect young children’s picky eating behaviors and explored the mediating role of parenting strategies in the relations between parental dietary coparenting and young children’s picky eating behaviors. More specifically, this study focused on parents of three- to six-year-old children in northern Taiwan. A total of 408 valid completed questionnaires were collected, and the research tools included scales measuring dietary coparenting, parenting strategies, and young children’s picky eating behaviors. The results revealed that supportive and undermining dietary coparenting and parenting strategies had a significant direct effect on young children’s picky eating behaviors. Furthermore, supportive and undermining dietary coparenting partially mediated young children’s picky eating behaviors through parenting strategies. Specifically, among parenting strategies, both “encouraging and facilitating the trying of new foods” and “guiding and modeling” proper eating behaviors had significant indirect effects on reducing young children’s picky eating behaviors.
Safety of Repeated Administration of Xenogeneic Human Apoptotic State (Allocetra-OTS) in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Ankri Chen , Hershkovitz Oren , Hershkovitz Liat , Brami Meital , Levy Ronnie , Sarig Hadar , Souli Einat , Reicher Barak , Amor-Baroukh Veronique , Mevorach Dror , Nyska Abraham
Published: March 2024

Apoptotic cells possess immunomodulatory effects that can be utilized to treat imbalanced immune conditions. Information on the preclinical safety of such treatment is sparse. In this study, the safety of apoptotic cells (Allocetra-OTS) was assessed in a GLP toxicological study on Sprague Dawley rats. Three doses of Allocetra-OTS or vehicle were administered intravenously (IV) for 3 consecutive days. Animals in the main study were sacrificed on day 4, while animals from the recovery groups were kept for 14 or 28 days. Allocetra-OTS was well tolerated, and no adverse effects were observed in terms of body weight, clinical signs, food consumption, or ophthalmologic observation. Thus, the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) dose was determined as the highest dose administered. An observed elevation in immune cells was suspected to be due to Allocetra-OTS, similarly to other clinical chemistry parameters; however, it was resolved in the recovery phases. Splenomegaly and dose-related extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in the red pulp were observed, with no adverse events, and were considered to be a normal and expected reaction following the IV administration of cell-based therapies. In conclusion, under the conditions of this study, Allocetra-OTS was concluded to be safe, further supporting its potential candidacy for clinical studies.
Ability of Different Growth Indicators to Detect Salt Tolerance of Advanced Spring Wheat Lines Grown in Real Field Conditions
Authors: Mubushar Muhammad , El-Hendawy Salah , Dewir Yaser Hassan , Al-Suhaibani Nasser
Published: March 2024

Plant growth indicators (GIs) are important for evaluating how different genotypes respond to normal and stress conditions separately. They consider both the morphological and physiological components of plants between two successive growth stages. Despite their significance, GIs are not commonly used as screening criteria for detecting salt tolerance of genotypes. In this study, 36 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) along with four genotypes differing in their salt tolerance were grown under normal and 150 mM NaCl in a two-year field trial. The performance and salt tolerance of these germplasms were assessed through various GIs. The analysis of variance showed highly significant variation between salinity levels, genotypes, and their interaction for all GIs and other traits in each year and combined data for two years, with a few exceptions. All traits and GIs were significantly reduced by salinity stress, except for relative growth rate (RGR), net assimilation rate (NAR), and specific leaf weight (SLW), which increased under salinity conditions. Traits and GIs were more correlated with each other under salinity than under normal conditions. Principal component analysis organized traits and GIs into three main groups under both conditions, with RGR, NAR, and specific leaf area (SLA) closely associated with grain yield (GY) and harvest index, while leaf area duration (LAD) was closely associated with green leaf area (GLA), plant dry weight (PDW), and leaf area index (LAI). A hierarchical clustering heatmap based on GIs and traits organized germplasms into three and four groups under normal and salinity conditions, respectively. Based on the values of traits and GIs for each group, the germplasms varied from high- to low-performing groups under normal conditions and from salt-tolerant to salt-sensitive groups under salinity conditions. RGR, NAR, and LAD were important factors determining genotypic variation in GY of high- and low-performing groups, while all GIs, except leaf area duration (LAR), were major factors describing genotypic variation in GY of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive groups. In conclusion, different GIs that reveal the relationship between the morphological and physiological components of genotypes could serve as valuable selection criteria for evaluating the performance of genotypes under normal conditions and their salt tolerance under salinity stress conditions.
Effects of Nutrient Solution Application Rates on Yield, Quality, and Water–Fertilizer Use Efficiency on Greenhouse Tomatoes Using Grown-in Coir
Authors: Liu Shengxing , Qiang Xiaoman , Liu Hao , Han Qisheng , Yi Ping , Ning Huifeng , Li Huanhuan , Wang Chunting , Zhang Xianbo
Published: March 2024

The yield, quality, and water–fertilizer use efficiency of crops are important parameters for assessing rational water and fertilizer management. For an optimal water and fertilizer system with respect to the nutrient solution irrigation of greenhouse tomatoes using cultivation substrates, a two-year greenhouse cultivation experiment was conducted from 2022 to 2023. Three drip fertigation treatments (T1, T2, and T3) were implemented in the experiment, where nutrient solutions were supplied when the substrate’s water content reached 60%, 70%, and 80%. The frequency of nutrient solution applications is based on weighing coconut coir strips in the morning and evening at 7:00 to determine the daily water consumption of plants. Nutrient solutions were supplied when the substrate’s water content reached the lower limit, and the upper limit for nutrient supply was set at 100% of the substrate water content. The nutrient solution application was carried out multiple times throughout the day, avoiding the midday heat. The nutrient solution formula used was the soilless tomato cultivation formula from South China Agricultural University. The results show that plant height and the leaf area index rapidly increased in the early and middle stages, and later growth tended to stabilize; the daily transpiration of tomatoes increased with an increase in nutrient solution supply, and it was the greatest in the T3 treatment. Between the amount of nutrient solution application and the number of years, the yield increased with the increase of the amount of nutrient solution, showing T3 > T2 > T1. Although the average yield of the T2 treatment was slightly lower than that of the T3 treatment by 3.65%, the average irrigation water use efficiency, water use efficiency, and partial fertilizer productivity of the T2 treatment were significantly higher than those of the T3 treatment by 29.10%, 19.99%, and 28.89%, respectively (p < 0.05). Additionally, soluble solid, vitamin C, and soluble sugar contents and the sugar–acid ratio of tomatoes in the T2 treatment were greater than those in the other two treatments (p < 0.05). Using the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution) method, it was concluded that the nutrient solution application rate of 70% can significantly increase water and fertilizer use efficiency and markedly improve the nutritional and flavor quality of the fruit without a significant reduction in yield. This finding provides significant guidance for the high-yield, high-quality, and efficient production of coconut coir-based cultivated tomatoes in greenhouses.
From Pagoda to Pavilion: The Transition of Spatial Logic and Visual Experience of Multi-Story Buddhist Buildings in Medieval China
Authors: Xie Yifeng
Published: March 2024

Pagodas and pavilions (ge 閣) are the most popular and representative multi-story buildings since Buddhism was introduced to China. While providing visitors with a new visual experience, they have also largely reshaped the urban space and skyline in medieval China. The former originated from India and Central Asia and was transformed in China, developing a unique style; The latter originated more from the creation of Chinese architects and became a model of typical Chinese-style Buddhist architecture. Briefly, the pagoda matured earlier than the pavilion, and continuously developed while maintaining its basic style; the pavilion-style Buddhist architecture gradually developed later and finally matured after the Tang and Song dynasties (618–1276), partially presenting a different spatial logic from the pagoda, and bringing a new visual experience. In my opinion, although the pavilion may not necessarily be as large as the pagoda in terms of volume and absolute height, it can provide believers with greater visual impact in the internal space for worship, due to the cross-story giant Buddhist statues; the closer integration of Buddha statues and architecture makes it replace or share the core position of the pagoda in some monasteries and even become the visual center of the entire religious space. Due to the existence of the pavilion, viewers can not only worship the Buddhist statues on a two-dimensional plane or by looking up at the statues from the bottom, but have also gained a three-dimensional perspective, to worship directly at the Buddha’s shoulders, neck, and head. In the Buddhist grottoes, the layout of the early single-layer or multi-layer horizontally distribution of caves on cliff was also changed due to the excavation of the cross-layer giant statue grottoes, covered by multi-story pavilion-style buildings, providing viewers with a visual experience similar to that of the pavilions of great statues. Additionally, there is a new visual experience of worshiping the Buddha in a vertical circle, in cases such as Bamiyan and the Leshan Giant Buddha.
A Christian Moses in the Transfiguration Mosaics Created during the Reign of Justinian
Authors: Nam Sung Hyun
Published: March 2024

This essay examines various aspects of how Moses was represented as a Christian in artistic depictions of the Transfiguration produced during Justinian’s reign (527–565), particularly discussing mosaics in the apses of the Church of Sant’Apollinare and St. Catherine’s Monastery. First, this essay demonstrates the existence of an earlier type of the Metamorphosis, the St. Sabina-Brescia Lipsanotheca type. Second, this essay focuses on the exegetical tradition of the Transfiguration, which, until the first half of the fourth century, was relatively mild, but was later aggravated by Christian writers during the Theodosian Dynasty. Ultimately, a new type of Transfiguration was created, of which the central theme was the creation of a Christian Moses. The motivation behind this new type was the contradiction attributable to Maximian, the archbishop of Ravenna, the contradiction between his typological iconography visualized in the sanctuary of the Church of San Vitale and Justinian’s severe persecution against the Jews. This contradiction was dissolved through the creation of an image of a Christian Moses in the Transfiguration mosaics in the apses of Sant’Apollinare.
LinkNet-Spectral-Spatial-Temporal Transformer Based on Few-Shot Learning for Mangrove Loss Detection with Small Dataset
Authors: Panuntun Ilham Adi , Jamaluddin Ilham , Chen Ying-Nong , Lai Shiou-Nu , Fan Kuo-Chin
Published: March 2024

Mangroves grow in intertidal zones in tropical and subtropical regions, offering numerous advantages to humans and ecosystems. Mangrove monitoring is one of the important tasks to understand the current status of mangrove forests regarding their loss issues, including deforestation and degradation. Currently, satellite imagery is widely employed to monitor mangrove ecosystems. Sentinel-2 is an optical satellite imagery whose data are available for free, and which provides satellite imagery at a 5-day temporal resolution. Analyzing satellite images before and after loss can enhance our ability to detect mangrove loss. This paper introduces a LSST-Former model that considers the situation before and after mangrove loss to categorize non-mangrove areas, intact mangroves, and mangrove loss categories using Sentinel-2 images for a limited number of labels. The LSST-Former model was developed by integrating a fully convolutional network (FCN) and a transformer base with few-shot learning algorithms to extract information from spectral-spatial-temporal Sentinel-2 images. The attention mechanism in the transformer algorithm may effectively mitigate the issue of limited labeled samples and enhance the accuracy of learning correlations between samples, resulting in more successful classification. The experimental findings demonstrate that the LSST-Former model achieves an overall accuracy of 99.59% and an Intersection-over-Union (IoU) score of 98.84% for detecting mangrove loss, and the validation of universal applicability achieves an overall accuracy of more than 92% and a kappa accuracy of more than 89%. LSST-Former demonstrates superior performance compared to state-of-the-art deep-learning models such as random forest, Support Vector Machine, U-Net, LinkNet, Vision Transformer, SpectralFormer, MDPrePost-Net, and SST-Former, as evidenced by the experimental results and accuracy metrics.
Improvements in the Estimation of Air Temperature with Empirical Models on Livingston and Deception Islands in Maritime Antarctica (2000–2016) Using C6 MODIS LST
Authors: Corbea-Pérez Alejandro , Recondo Carmen , Calleja Javier F.
Published: March 2024

Temperature analysis is of special interest in polar areas because temperature is an essential variable in the energy exchange between the Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Although land surface temperature (LST) obtained using satellites and air temperature (Ta) have different physical meanings and are measured with different techniques, LST has often been successfully employed to estimate Ta. For this reason, in this work, we estimated Ta from LST MODIS collection 6 (C6) and used other predictor variables. Daily mean Ta was calculated from Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) stations data on the Livingston and Deception Islands, and from the PERMASNOW project stations on Livingston Island; both islands being part of the South Shetland Islands (SSI) archipelago. In relation to our previous work carried out in the study area with collection 5 (C5) data, we obtained higher R2 values (R2CV = 0.8, in the unique model with Terra daytime data) and lower errors (RMSECV = 2.2 °C, MAECV = 1.6 °C). We corroborated significant improvements in MODIS C6 LST data. We analyzed emissivity as a possible factor of discrepancies between C5 and C6, but we did not find conclusive results, therefore we could not affirm that emissivity is the factor that causes differences between one collection and another. The results obtained with the applied filters indicated that MODIS data can be used to study Ta in the area, as these filters contribute to the reduction of uncertainties in the modeling of Ta from satellites.
Altimeter Calibrations in the Preliminary Four Years’ Operation of Wanshan Calibration Site
Authors: Zhai Wanlin , Zhu Jianhua , Peng Hailong , Chen Chuntao , Yan Longhao , Wang He , Huang Xiaoqi , Zhou Wu , Guo Hai , Zhang Yufei
Published: March 2024

In order to accomplish the calibration and validation (Cal/Val) of altimeters, the Wanshan calibration site (WSCS) has been used as a calibration site for satellite altimeters since its completion in August 2019. In this paper, we introduced the WSCS and the dedicated equipment including permanent GNSS reference stations (PGSs), acoustic tide gauges (ATGs), and dedicated GNSS buoys (DGB), etc. placed on Zhi’wan, Wai’ling’ding, Dan’gan, and Miao’Wan islands of the WSCS. The PGSs data of Zhi’wan and Wai’ling’ding islands were processed and analyzed using the GAMIT/GLOBK (Version 10.7) and Hector (Version 1.9) software to define the datum for Cal/Val of altimeters in WSCS. The DGB was used to transfer the datum from the PGSs to the ATGs of Zhi’wan, Wai’ling’ding, and Dan’gan islands. Separately, the tidal and mean sea surface (MSS) corrections are needed in the Cal/Val of altimeters. We evaluated the global/regional tide models of FES2014, HAMTIDE12, DTU16, NAO99jb, GOT4.10, and EOT20 using the three in situ tide gauge data of WSCS and Hong Kong tide gauge data (No. B329) derived from the Global Sea Level Observing System. The HAMTIDE12 tide model was chosen to be the most accurate one to maintain the tidal difference between the locations of the ATGs and the altimeter footprints. To establish the sea surface connections between the ATGs and the altimeter footprints, a GPS towing body and a highly accurate ship-based SSH measurement system (HASMS) were used to measure the sea surface of this area in 2018 and 2022, respectively. The global/regional mean sea surface (MSS) models of DTU 2021, EGM 2008 (mean dynamic topography minus by CLS_MDT_2018), and CLS2015 were accurately evaluated using the in situ measured data and HY-2A altimeter, and the CLS2015 MSS model was used for Cal/Val of altimeters in WSCS. The data collected by the equipment of WSCS, related auxiliary models mentioned above, and the sea level data of the hydrological station placed on Dan’gan island were used to accomplish the Cal/Val of HY-2B, HY-2C, Jason-3, and Sentinel-3A (S3A) altimeters. The bias of HY-2B (Pass No. 375) was −16.7 ± 45.2 mm, with a drift of 0.5 mm/year. The HY-2C biases were −18.9 ± 48.0 mm with drifts of 0.0 mm/year and −5.6 ± 49.3 mm with −0.3 mm/year drifts for Pass No. 170 and 185, respectively. The Jason-3 bias was −4.1 ± 78.7 mm for Pass No. 153 and −25.8 ± 85.5 mm for Pass No. 012 after it has changed its orbits since April 2022, respectively. The biases of S3A were determined to be −16.5 ± 46.3 mm with a drift of −0.6 mm/year and −9.8 ± 30.1 mm with a drift of 0.5 mm/year for Pass No. 260 and 309, respectively. The calibration results show that the WSCS can commercialize the satellite altimeter calibration. We also discussed the calibration potential for a wide swath satellite altimeter of WSCS.
Comparison of ASI-PRISMA Data, DLR-EnMAP Data, and Field Spectrometer Measurements on “Sale ‘e Porcus”, a Salty Pond (Sardinia, Italy)
Authors: Musacchio Massimo , Silvestri Malvina , Romaniello Vito , Casu Marco , Buongiorno Maria Fabrizia , Melis Maria Teresa
Published: March 2024

A comparison between the ASI-PRISMA (Agenzia Spaziale Italiana-PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) DLR-EnMAP (German Aerospace Center—Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program) data and field spectrometer measurements has been performed. The test site, located at the “Sale ‘e Porcus” pond (hereafter SPp) in Western Sardinia, Italy, offers particularly homogenous characteristics, making it an ideal location not only for experimentation but also for calibration purposes. Three remote-sensed data acquisitions have been performed by these agencies (ASI and DLR) starting on 14 July 2023 and continuing until 22 July 2023. The DLR-EnMAP data acquired on 22 July overestimates both that of the ASI-PRISMA and the 14 July DLR-EnMAP radiance in the VNIR region, while all the datasets are close to each other, up to 2500 nm, for all considered days. The average absolute mean difference between the reflectance values estimated by the ASI-PRISMA and DLR-EnMAP, in the test area, is around 0.015, despite the small difference in their time of acquisition (8 days); their maximum relative difference value occurs at about 2100 nm. In this study, we investigate the relationship between the averaged ground truth value of reflectance, acquired by means of a portable ASD FieldSpec spectoradiometer, characterizing the test site and the EO reflectance data derived from the official datasets. FieldSpec measurements confirm the quality of both the ASI-PRISMA and DLR-EnMAP’s reflectance estimations.