bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of High Doses of Selenate, Selenite and Nano-Selenium on Biometrical Characteristics, Yield and Biofortification Levels of Vicia faba L. Cultivars
Authors: Sindireva Anna , Golubkina Nadezhda , Bezuglova Helene , Fedotov Mikhail , Alpatov Andrey , Erdenotsogt Erdene , Sękara Agnieszka , Murariu Otilia Cristina , Caruso Gianluca
Published: August 2023

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has spread worldwide as an excellent source of proteins. To evaluate the efficiency of Se biofortification, four cultivars of V. faba (Belorussian, Russian Black, Hangdown Grünkernig, and Dreifach Weiβe) were foliar treated with 1.27 mM solutions of nano-Se, sodium selenate, and sodium selenite. Yield, protein, and Se contents were greatly affected by genetic factors and chemical form of Se. Selenium biofortification levels were negatively correlated with Se concentration in control plants and increased according to the following sequence: nano-Se < sodium selenite < sodium selenate. Contrary to selenate and selenite, nano-Se showed a growth-stimulating effect, improving yield, seed weight, and pod number. Pod thickness decreased significantly as a result of nano-Se supply and increased by 1.5–2.3 times under selenate and selenite supply. The highest Se concentrations were recorded in the seeds of Se-fortified cv. Belorussian and the lowest one in those of Se-treated Hangdown Grünkernig. Protein accumulation was varietal dependent and decreased upon 1.27 mM selenate and selenite treatment in the cvs. Hangdown Grünkernig and Dreifach Weiβe. The results indicate the high prospects of nano-Se supply for the production of faba bean seeds with high levels of Se.
Chromosome-Wide Distribution and Characterization of H3K36me3 and H3K27Ac in the Marine Model Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Wu Yue , Tirichine Leila
Published: August 2023

Histone methylation and acetylation play a crucial role in response to developmental cues and environmental changes. Previously, we employed mass spectrometry to identify histone modifications such as H3K27ac and H3K36me3 in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, which have been shown to be important for transcriptional activation in animal and plant species. To further investigate their evolutionary implications, we utilized chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and explored their genome-wide distribution in P. tricornutum. Our study aimed to determine their role in transcriptional regulation of genes and transposable elements (TEs) and their co-occurrence with other histone marks. Our results revealed that H3K27ac and H3K36me3 were predominantly localized in promoters and genic regions indicating a high conservation pattern with studies of the same marks in plants and animals. Furthermore, we report the diversity of genes encoding H3 lysine 36 (H3K36) trimethylation–specific methyltransferase in microalgae leveraging diverse sequencing resources including the Marine Microbial Eukaryote Transcriptome Sequencing Project database (MMETSP). Our study expands the repertoire of epigenetic marks in a model microalga and provides valuable insights into the evolutionary context of epigenetic-mediated gene regulation. These findings shed light on the intricate interplay between histone modifications and gene expression in microalgae, contributing to our understanding of the broader epigenetic landscape in eukaryotic organisms.
Identification of QTLs Conferring Resistance to Bacterial Diseases in Rice
Authors: Fang Yuan , Ding Di , Gu Yujia , Jia Qiwei , Zheng Qiaolin , Qian Qian , Wang Yuexing , Rao Yuchun , Mao Yijian
Published: August 2023

Bacterial panicle blight, bacterial leaf streak, and bacterial brown stripe are common bacterial diseases in rice that represent global threats to stable rice yields. In this study, we used the rice variety HZ, Nekken and their 120 RIL population as experimental materials. Phenotypes of the parents and RILs were quantitatively analyzed after inoculation with Burkholderia glumae, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, and Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae. Genetic SNP maps were also constructed and used for QTL mapping of the quantitative traits. We located 40 QTL loci on 12 chromosomes. The analysis of disease resistance-related candidate genes in the QTL regions with high LOD value on chromosomes 1, 3, 4, and 12 revealed differential expression before and after treatment, suggesting that the identified genes mediated the variable disease resistance profiles of Huazhan and Nekken2. These results provide an important foundation for cloning bacterial-resistant QTLs of panicle blight, leaf streak, and brown stripe in rice.
Active Cellulose Acetate/Chitosan Composite Films Prepared Using Solution Blow Spinning: Structure and Electrokinetic Properties
Authors: Kramar Ana , Luxbacher Thomas , Moshfeghi Far Nasrin , González-Benito Javier
Published: August 2023

Cellulose acetate (CA), a very promising derivative of cellulose, has come into the focus of research due to its highly desired good film-forming ability for food packaging applications. Frequently, this derivative is used in combination with other compounds (polymers, nanoparticles) in order to obtain active materials. Here, we report the preparation of thin films made of cellulose acetate loaded with chitosan (CS) using the solution blow spinning (SBS) method. Films are prepared by SBS processing of the polymers mixture solution, considering the following variables: (i) the concentration of cellulose acetate and chitosan in the solution and (ii) the solvent system consisting of acetic or formic acid. The prepared materials are characterized in terms of physical properties, roughness (optical profilometer), porosity, wettability (contact angle measurements), chemical structure (Fourier transform infrared spectrometry), and electrokinetic properties (zeta potential). SBS enables the preparation of CA/CS films with high water vapor permeability, high porosity, and also higher water contact angle compared with pure CA films. The electrokinetic properties of composites are influenced by the inclusion of chitosan, which causes a shift of the isoelectric point (IEP) towards higher pH values, but the magnitude of the shift is not in correlation with chitosan concentration. Adsorption kinetic studies using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model protein reveal that chitosan modified cellulose acetate films manifest low affinity towards proteins that suggests prevention of biofilm formation on its surface.
Synthesis of a New Molecularly Imprinted Polymer and Optimisation of Phenylglyoxylic Acid Extraction from Human Urine Samples Using a Central Composite Design within the Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Qronfla Murad. M. , Jamoussi Bassem , Chakroun Radhouane , Al-Mur Bandar A. , Halawani Riyadh F. , Aloufi Fahed A.
Published: August 2023

Styrene, a chemical widely used in various industries, undergoes metabolic breakdown in the human body, resulting in the production of phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA). A novel molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesised for selective extraction and enrichment of PGA in urine samples prior to high-performance liquid chromatography. The MIP employed in this research was a 4-vinylpyridine molecularly imprinted polymer (4-VPMIP) prepared via mass polymerisation using a noncovalent method. The structural and morphological characteristics of the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and non-imprinted polymers (NIPs) were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The efficiency of the molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) process was optimised by investigating critical variables such as sample pH, sorbent mass, sample flow rate, and volume of the elution solvent. A central composite design (CCD) within the response surface methodology was utilised to develop separate models for the adsorption and desorption steps. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) confirmed the excellent fit of the experimental data to the proposed response models. Under the optimised conditions, the molecularly imprinted polymers exhibited a higher degree of selectivity and affinity for PGA, with a relative selectivity coefficient (α) of 2.79 against hippuric acid. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) for PGA were determined to be 0.5 mg/L and 1.6 mg/L, respectively. The recoveries of PGA ranged from 97.32% to 99.06%, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) lower than 4.6%. Furthermore, MIP(4VP)SPE demonstrated the potential for recycling up to three times without significant loss in analyte recovery.
Biocompatibility and Antimicrobial Profile of Acid Usnic-Loaded Electrospun Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)—Magnetite Nanofibers
Authors: Stoica (Oprea) Alexandra Elena , Bîrcă Alexandra Catalina , Mihaiescu Dan Eduard , Grumezescu Alexandru Mihai , Ficai Anton , Herman Hildegard , Cornel Baltă , Roșu Marcel , Gharbia Sami , Holban Alina Maria , Vasile Bogdan Ștefan , Andronescu Ecaterina , Hermenean Anca Oana
Published: August 2023

The highest amount of the world’s polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is designated for fiber production (more than 60%) and food packaging (30%) and it is one of the major polluting polymers. Although there is a great interest in recycling PET-based materials, a large amount of unrecycled material is derived mostly from the food and textile industries. The aim of this study was to obtain and characterize nanostructured membranes with fibrillar consistency based on recycled PET and nanoparticles (Fe3O4@UA) using the electrospinning technique. The obtained fibers limit microbial colonization and the development of biofilms. Such fibers could significantly impact modern food packaging and the design of improved textile fibers with antimicrobial effects and good biocompatibility. In conclusion, this study suggests an alternative for PET recycling and further applies it in the development of antimicrobial biomaterials.
Surface Roughness of Enamel and Dentin after Preparation Finishing with Rotary Burs or Piezoelectric Instruments
Authors: Rapani Antonio , Berton Federico , Tramontin Amedeo , Turco Gianluca , Marchesi Giulio , Di Lenarda Roberto , Stacchi Claudio
Published: August 2023

This study compares the effect of different handpieces (turbine, high-speed electric handpiece and piezoelectric device) on surface roughness of enamel and dentin when using diamond-coated working tips and burs of the same grit size. The experiment was conducted on 15 extracted first molars from patients aged 45 to 60 years. The occlusal portion was removed using a diamond-coated water wheel and then refined with a 120–130 μm grit bur in order to obtain a flat surface with an adequate exposition of the dentin core. Each surface was divided into three portions and every portion was finished with one of the three tested instruments. The rotary burs and piezoelectric tips had the same grit size (60 μm), and the load on handpiece during preparation never exceeded 150 g. Roughness parameters (Ra, Rsk, Rku) were recorded with a profilometer, and a SEM analysis of treated surfaces and working tips was conducted. Ra and Rsk differed significantly between enamel and dentin only after using turbine (p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively). No significant differences were observed in Ra, Rsk and Rku between enamel and dentin when using a high-speed electric handpiece or piezoelectric device. The turbine produced higher Ra and Rsk values on dentin than the other devices, while no significant differences were found between piezoelectric handpiece and high-speed electric contra-angle on both substrates. Summarizing, the findings of the present study demonstrated that turbine generated rougher surfaces on dentin compared to the other handpieces. Moreover, the turbine produced more asymmetrical surface profiles on both enamel and dentin. However, it should be considered that these differences in roughness (Ra) were within the range of 0.25–0.30 μm: it is still unclear if these variations, although statistically significant, will influence final clinical outcomes.
Pious Women Challenge Arrangements Anchored in the Dominancy of the Religious Discourse: Druze Women in Israel as a Case Study
Authors: Barakat Ebtesam Hasan
Published: August 2023

This qualitative study examines how the agency of religious Druze women in Israel affects professional identity and religious affiliation and how these, in turn, shape the gender religious perception in their community, especially in the fields of education and employment. Through semi-structured interviews with twenty women, the study identifies the factors that promote or inhibit the increasing legitimacy in community religious discourse for the integration of religious women in higher education and quality employment. The main finding of the study is that religious, professionally educated Druze women in Israel direct their agency to a complex and challenging interaction with the modern world. By doing so, these women challenge the boundaries of their ultra-religious community, thereby expanding them. The findings show that educated religious Druze women in Israel reject the binary division between “conservative religious” and “modern” and replace it with different definitions of what is considered religious, conservative, and modern. One of the main insights that emerged from the study is that the women are able to act autonomously to make their choices, acquire education, integrate into the poor local labor market in professional positions, accumulate economic and social resources through their professional and religious status, and negotiate their status in the religious community.
Using Double-Layer Patch-Based Contrast for Infrared Small Target Detection
Authors: Liu Liping , Wei Yantao , Wang Yue , Yao Huang , Chen Di
Published: August 2023

Detecting infrared (IR) small targets effectively and robustly is crucial for the tasks such as infrared searching and guarding. While methods based on the human vision system (HVS) have achieved great success in this field, detecting dim targets in complex backgrounds remains a challenge due to the multi-scale framework and over-simplified disparity calculations. In this paper, infrared small targets are detected with a novel local contrast measurement named double-layer patch-based contrast (DLPC). Firstly, we crafted an elaborated double-layer local contrast measure, to suppress the background, which can accurately measure the gray difference between the target and its surrounding complex background. Secondly, we calculated the absolute value of the grayscale difference between the target and the background in the diagonal directions as a weighting factor to further enhance the target. Then, an adaptive threshold on the DLPC was employed to extract the target from the IR image. The proposed method can detect small targets effectively with a fixed-scaled mask template while being computationally efficient. Experimental results in terms of background suppression factor (BSF), signal-to-clutter ratio gain (SCRG) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve on five IR image datasets demonstrated that the proposed method has better detection performance compared to six state-of-the-art methods and is more robust in addressing complex backgrounds.
Effective Factors for Reducing Land Surface Temperature in Each Local Climate Zone Built Type in Tokyo and Shanghai
Authors: Wang Zheng , Ishida Yasuyuki , Mochida Akashi
Published: August 2023

Identifying the main factors influencing the land surface temperature (LST) of each local climate zone (LCZ) built type is of great significance for controlling LST. This study investigated the main factors influencing the LST of each LCZ built type in two Asian megacities: Tokyo and Shanghai. Each area in both megacities was classified according to the LCZ scheme. The diurnal LST, pervious surface fraction (PSF), surface albedo (SA), average building height (⟨BH⟩), and gross building coverage ratio (λp) of each LCZ were also calculated. Finally, the influence of the properties of each LCZ built type on LST was investigated. The results demonstrated that the main factors influencing LST of different LCZ built types differed in Tokyo and Shanghai. ⟨BH⟩ was the main factor influencing LST for compact mid-rise and open high-rise types in Tokyo, and the compact mid-rise type in Shanghai; PSF was the main factor influencing LST for other LCZ built types. Moreover, both ⟨BH⟩ and PSF negatively correlated with LST. Based on the above results and characteristics of each LCZ built type, specific LST mitigation strategies for each LCZ built type were proposed for Tokyo and Shanghai. The approach in this study can contribute to perspectives for urban planners and policymakers to develop highly feasible and reasonable LST mitigation strategies.
Fusing Social Media, Remote Sensing, and Fire Dynamics to Track Wildland-Urban Interface Fire
Authors: Zhong Weiqi , Mei Xin , Niu Fei , Fan Xin , Ou Shengya , Zhong Shaobo
Published: August 2023

Wildfire is one of the main hazards affecting large areas and causes great damage all over the world, and the rapid development of the wildland-urban interface (WUI) increases the threat of wildfires that have ecological, social, and economic consequences. As one of the most widely used methods for tracking fire, remote sensing can provide valuable information about fires, but it is not always available, and needs to be supplemented by data from other sources. Social media is an emerging but underutilized data source for emergency management, contains a wealth of disaster information, and reflects the public’s real-time witness and feedback to fires. In this paper, we propose a fusion framework of multi-source data analysis, including social media data and remote sensing data, cellphone signaling data, terrain data, and meteorological data to track WUI fires. Using semantic web technology, the framework has been implemented as a Knowledge Base Service and runs on top of WUIFire ontology. WUIFire ontology represents WUI fire–related knowledge and consists of three modules: system, monitoring, and spread, and tracks wildfires happening in WUIs. It provides a basis for tracking and analyzing a WUI fire by fusing multi-source data. To showcase the utility of our approach in a real-world scenario, we take the fire in the Yaji Mountain Scenic Area, Beijing, China, in 2019 as a case study. With object information identified from remote sensing, fire situation information extracted from Weibo, and fire perimeters constructed through fire spread simulation, a knowledge graph is constructed and an analysis using a semantic query is carried out to realize situational awareness and determine countermeasures. The experimental results demonstrate the benefits of using a semantically improved multi-source data fusion framework for tracking WUI fire.
Remote Sensing of Soil Organic Carbon at Regional Scale Based on Deep Learning: A Case Study of Agro-Pastoral Ecotone in Northern China
Authors: Guo Zichen , Li Yuqiang , Wang Xuyang , Gong Xiangwen , Chen Yun , Cao Wenjie
Published: August 2023

The North China agro–pastoral zone is a large, ecologically fragile zone in the arid and semi-arid regions. Quantitative remote sensing inversion of soil organic carbon (SOC) in this region can facilitate understanding of the current status of degraded land restoration and provide data support for carbon cycling research in the region. Deep learning (DNN) for SOC inversion has been W.a hot topic over the past decade, but there have been few studies at the regional scale in the arid and semi-arid zones. In this study, a DNN model with five hidden layers and five skip connections was established using 644 spatially distributed SOC samples and Landsat 8 OLI imagery. The model was compared with the random forest algorithm in terms of generalization ability. The main conclusions were as follows: 1. The DNN algorithm can establish a high-precision SOC inversion model (R2 = 0.52, RMSE = 0.7), with 90% of errors concentrated in the range of −2.5 to 2.5 kg·C/m2; 2. the Boruta variable-screening algorithm can effectively improve the model accuracy of the random forest algorithm, but due to the DNN’s better ability to mine hidden information in the data, the improvement effect on the DNN model accuracy is limited; 3. the SOC samples in arid and semi-arid areas are highly positively skewed, with a significant impact on the modeling accuracy of DNN, and conversion is required to obtain a model with better generalization ability; and 4. in arid and semi-arid regions, SOC has a weak correlation with vegetation indices but a stronger correlation with temperature, elevation, and aridity. This study established a reliable deep learning model for SOC density in a large arid and semi-arid region, providing a reference and framework for the establishment of SOC inversion models in other regions.
The Spread of Multiple Droughts in Different Seasons and Its Dynamic Changes
Authors: Zhu Shuang , Huang Wenying , Luo Xiangang , Guo Jun , Yuan Zhe
Published: August 2023

Investigating the propagation and influencing mechanism that transitions a meteorological drought to a hydrological drought in a changing environment is crucial for understanding the formation process and mechanism of hydrological drought. Furthermore, it is essential to establish an effective hydrological drought warning system based on meteorological drought. To assess the dynamic changes in the spread of meteorological drought to hydrological drought during various seasons, this study employs the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Runoff Index (SRI), and Normalized Vegetation Index (NDVI) to represent meteorological, hydrological, and vegetation droughts, respectively, in the Ganjiang River Basin (GRB) from 2002 to 2020. Considering that meteorological drought can be caused not only by insufficient precipitation but also by excessive evaporation, an additional index, namely the Evaporative Demand Drought Index (EDDI), is constructed to quantify meteorological drought resulting from evaporation factors. The article analyzes the characteristics of the spatiotemporal evolution of meteorological, hydrological, and vegetation drought. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient is employed to calculate the propagation time of different seasons from meteorological drought to hydrological/vegetation drought and from hydrological drought to vegetation drought. Furthermore, we examine the propagation relationship among meteorological, hydrological, and vegetation drought in the time-frequency domain through cross-wavelet analysis and explore the key factors and physical mechanisms that influence the propagation of drought in various seasons. The result shows: The propagation time from meteorological to hydrological drought (SPI-SRI) is shortest in spring, extended during summer and autumn, and longest in winter. The meteorological drought arising from excessive evapotranspiration in autumn has the most substantial impact on hydrological drought. Vegetation drought and meteorological/hydrological drought exhibit significant intermittent resonance periods in 0~6 months and significant stable resonance periods in 7~15 months.
Design of a Dual-Mode Multispectral Filter Array
Authors: Ye Zhengnan , Xu Haisong , Huang Yiming , Yang Minhang
Published: August 2023

Multispectral imaging is valuable in many vision-related fields as it provides an additional modality to observe the world. Cameras equipped with multispectral filter arrays (MSFAs) are typically impractical for everyday use due to their intractable demosaicking and chromatic reproduction processes, which restrict their applicability beyond academic research. In this work, a novel MSFA design is proposed to enable dual-mode imaging for multispectral cameras. In addition to a conventional multispectral image, the camera is also able to produce a Bayer-formed RGB image from a single shot by grouping and merging adjacent pixels in the proposed MSFA, making it suitable for scenarios where display-ready RGB images are required. Furthermore, a two-stage optimization scheme is implemented to jointly optimize objective functions for both imaging modes. The evaluation results on multiple datasets suggest that the proposed MSFA design is able to simultaneously achieve competitive spectral reconstruction accuracy compared to elaborate multispectral cameras and chromatic accuracy compared to commercial RGB cameras.
An Adaptive Virtual Impedance Method for Grid-Connected Current Quality Improvement of a Single-Phase Virtual Synchronous Generator under Distorted Grid Voltage
Authors: Zhong Caomao , Zhang Zhi , Zhu Anan , Liang Benxin
Published: August 2023

The proportion of distributed generation systems in power grids is increasing, leading to the gradual emergence of weak grid characteristics. Moreover, using voltage-sourced grid-connected inverters can enhance the stability of a weak grid. However, due to the presence of background harmonics in weak grids, the grid voltage can cause significant distortions in the grid-connected current, which adversely affects the quality of the grid-connected current. This paper begins by briefly introducing the principle of the virtual synchronous generator (VSG). Then, the output current of the voltage source inverter is analyzed to elucidate the mechanism of harmonic current generation. Considering the distortion in the grid-connected current of the voltage source grid-connected inverter caused by background harmonics in the grid voltage, a harmonic current suppression strategy based on an adaptive virtual harmonic resistor is proposed. The proposed strategy employs a signal separation module based on multiple second-order generalized integrators connected through a cross-feedback network. This module effectively separates the fundamental and harmonic currents from the grid-connected current, extracts the amplitudes of the fundamental and harmonic currents through coordinate transformation, and adaptively adjusts the virtual harmonic resistance magnitude through the negative feedback control of the harmonic content (the ratio of the harmonic current amplitude to the fundamental current amplitude). These measures are used to enhance the quality of the grid-connected current. Additionally, the stability of the system is analyzed using the root locus of the open-loop transfer function. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated through a combination of MATLAB/Simulink simulations and experimental results.
The Prediction of Residual Electrical Life in Alternating Current Circuit Breakers Based on Savitzky-Golay-Long Short-Term
Authors: Ouyang Junfeng , Chi Changchun
Published: August 2023

In order to improve the accuracy of predicting the remaining electrical life of AC circuit breakers, ensure the safe operation of electrical equipment, and reduce economic losses caused by equipment failures, this paper studies a method based on the Savitzky–Golay convolution smoothing long short-term memory neural network for predicting the electrical life of AC circuit breakers. First, a full lifespan test is conducted to obtain degradation data throughout the entire life cycle of the AC circuit breaker, from which feature parameters that effectively reflect its operational state are extracted. Next, principal component analysis and the maximum information coefficient are used to remove redundancy in the feature parameters and choose the best subset of features. Subsequently, the Savitzky–Golay convolutional smoothing algorithm is employed to smooth the feature sequence, reducing the impact of noise and outliers on the feature sequence while preserving its main trends. Then, a secondary feature extraction is performed on the smoothed feature subset to obtain the optimal secondary feature subset. Finally, the remaining electrical lifespan of the AC circuit breaker is treated as a long-term sequence problem and the long short-term memory neural network method is used for precise time-series forecasting. The proposed model outperforms backpropagation neural networks and the gate recurrent unit in terms of prediction precision, achieving an impressive 97.4% accuracy. This demonstrates the feasibility of using time-series forecasting for predicting the residual electrical lifespan of electrical equipment and provides a reference for optimizing the method of predicting remaining electrical life.
Model Predictive Controller Approach for Automated Vehicle’s Path Tracking
Authors: Domina Ádám , Tihanyi Viktor
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a model predictive control (MPC) approach for controlling automated vehicle steering during path tracking is presented. A (linear parameter-varying) LPV vehicle plant model including steering dynamics is proposed to determine the system evolution matrices. The steering dynamics are modeled in two different ways by using first-order lag and a second-order lag; the application of the first-order system resulted in a slightly more accurate path-following. Additionally, a cascade MPC structure is applied in which two MPCs are used; the second-order steering dynamics are separated from the path-following controller in a second MPC. Both steering system models and the cascade MPC are evaluated in simulation and on a test vehicle. The reference trajectory is calculated based on a fixed predefined path by transforming the necessary path segment to the vehicle ego coordinate system, thereby describing the reference for the path-following task in a novel way. The MPC method computes the optimal steering angle vector at each time step for following the path. The longitudinal dynamics is controlled separately by a PI controller. After simulation evaluation, experimental tests were conducted on a test vehicle on an asphalt surface. Both simulation and experimental results prove the effectiveness of the proposed reference definition method. The effect of the applied steering system models is evaluated. The inclusion of the steering dynamics in the prediction model resulted in a significant increase in controller performance. Finally, the computational requirements of the proposed control and modeling methods are also discussed.
Strain Transfer Mechanism in Surface-Bonded Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors under Different Strain Fields
Authors: Du Wenbo , Zheng Xing , Shi Bin , Sun Mengya , Wu Hao , Ni Weida , Zheng Zhenming , Niu Meifeng
Published: August 2023

Mastering the strain transfer mechanism in distributed fiber optic (DFO) sensors holds the key to analyzing strain measurement errors from DFO sensing systems. However, the impact of the monitored structure’s strain distribution on the strain transfer mechanism in DFO sensors has often been overlooked in the existing research. To address this issue, a strain transfer model of surface-bonded DFO sensors with multilayered structures was established based on the shear lag theory. The closed-form solutions of the strain transfer coefficient of DFO sensors subjected to uniform, parabolic, single-linear gradient, and bilinear gradient strains were obtained. With a high-accuracy optical frequency-domain reflectometer (OFDR), the theoretical model was validated by laboratory tests. Upon parametric analysis, suggestions were further offered about designing and installing DFO sensors.
An Optically Pumped Magnetometer with Omnidirectional Magnetic Field Sensitivity
Authors: Schultze Volkmar , Scholtes Theo , Oelsner Gregor , Wittkaemper Florian , Wieduwilt Torsten , Stolz Ronny
Published: August 2023

In mobile applications such as geomagnetic surveying, two major effects hamper the use of optically pumped magnetometers: dead zones, sensor orientations where the sensors signal amplitude drops; and heading errors, a dependence of the measured magnetic field value on the sensor orientation. We present a concept for an omnidirectional magnetometer to overcome both of these effects. The sensor uses two cesium vapor cells, interrogated by circularly-polarized amplitude-modulated laser light split into two beams propagating perpendicular to each other. This configuration is experimentally investigated using a setup wherein the laser beam and magnetic field direction can be freely adjusted relative to each other within a magnetically shielded environment. We demonstrate that a dead-zone-free magnetometer can be realized with nearly isotropic magnetic-field sensitivity. While in the current configuration we observe heading errors emerging from light shifts and shifts due to the nonlinear Zeeman effect, we introduce a straightforward approach to suppress these systematic effects in an advanced sensor realization.
Optimization of Spatial and Temporal Configuration of a Pressure Sensing Array to Predict Posture and Mobility in Lying
Authors: Caggiari Silvia , Jiang Liudi , Filingeri Davide , Worsley Peter
Published: August 2023

Commercial pressure monitoring systems have been developed to assess conditions at the interface between mattress/cushions of individuals at risk of developing pressure ulcers. Recently, they have been used as a surrogate for prolonged posture and mobility monitoring. However, these systems typically consist of high-resolution sensing arrays, sampling data at more than 1 Hz. This inevitably results in large volumes of data, much of which may be redundant. Our study aimed at evaluating the optimal number of sensors and acquisition frequency that accurately predict posture and mobility during lying. A continuous pressure monitor (ForeSitePT, Xsensor, Calgary, Canada), with 5664 sensors sampling at 1 Hz, was used to assess the interface pressures of healthy volunteers who performed lying postures on two different mattresses (foam and air designs). These data were down sampled in the spatial and temporal domains. For each configuration, pressure parameters were estimated and the area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC) was used to determine their ability in discriminating postural change events. Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was employed to predict static postures. There was a non-linear decline in AUC values for both spatial and temporal down sampling. Results showed a reduction of the AUC for acquisition frequencies lower than 0.3 Hz. For some parameters, e.g., pressure gradient, the lower the sensors number the higher the AUC. Posture prediction showed a similar accuracy of 63−71% and 84−87% when compared to the commercial configuration, on the foam and air mattress, respectively. This study revealed that accurate detection of posture and mobility events can be achieved with a relatively low number of sensors and sampling frequency.
Chemometric Approach of Different Extraction Conditions on Scavenging Activity of Helichrisym italicum (Roth) G. Don Extracts
Authors: Teofilović Branislava , Balaž Filip , Karadžić Banjac Milica , Grujić-Letić Nevena , Gligorić Emilia , Kovačević Strahinja , Podunavac-Kuzmanović Sanja , Stojanović Srđan
Published: August 2023

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don is widely used as a liver stimulant and diuretic, as well as an antioxidant, antiallergenic, antimicrobial, antiviral, choleric, and antihypertensive agent. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the different extracts of H. italicum and to determine the relationship between total phenolic/flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. Plant material was pulverized to be 0.3 and 2 mm, and the extraction was obtained with 5 mL of different ethanol concentrations (30, 40, 50, 60, 96%, v/v) and water during different periods (10, 30, 60 min and 24 h) and with concentrated methanol (95%, v/v), dichloromethane, acetone, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hexane during 10 and 30 min due to solvents volatility. Extracts were evaporated on the rotary evaporator. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined via spectrophotometric measurement, and antioxidant capacity was investigated by the inhibitory activity of DPPH radicals. The group of 92 extracts described through their TPC, flavonoids, yield, and IC50 values were subjected to PCA and HCA analysis. PCA and HCA were performed using Statistica v 10.0 software. The number of phenolic compounds ranged from 2.58 ± 0.1 to 43.60 ± 0.3 mg GAE/g of dry extract, and total flavonoids content ranged from 0.25 ± 0.01 to 23.96 ± 0.19 mg QE/g of dry extract. All extracts showed good antioxidant activity with an IC50 value in the range from 4.92 ± 0.2 to 231.12 ± 1.9 μg/mL. PCA and HCA analysis were performed on the whole data set comprising 92 extracts for both particle sizes (s0.3 and s2) as well as heat map analysis. It was found that the increased time of extraction, concentration of ethanol, and degree of fragmentation enhances the quality of the extracts in terms of phenolic component content and antioxidant effects. Applied chemometric analysis contributed to the extraction conditions grouping, overview, and selection in order to distinguish the extracts with the promising TPC, flavonoids, yield, and IC50 values.
Comparison of the Structure of Soil Microbial Communities of Different Ecosystems Using the Microbiome Sequencing Approach
Authors: Kačergius Audrius , Sivojienė Diana , Gudiukaitė Renata , Bakšienė Eugenija , Masevičienė Aistė , Žičkienė Lina
Published: August 2023

In this study, we aimed to compare the functional and taxonomic composition of soil microbial communities in different ecosystems, agricultural, natural grasslands, and old-growth forests, in the context of different environmental conditions. In this research, cultivable microbial quantification was performed by conventional plate-count techniques using different selective media. The taxonomic structure of microbe communities was evaluated using NGS metagenomic sequencing on the Illumina platform NovaSeq. The taxonomic analysis showed that individual land uses are characterized by the specific structure of communities; some taxonomic groups are specific only to agricultural, grassland, or forest ecosystems. After determining the abundance of functional groups of culturable microorganisms by the conventional plate-count method, statistically significant quantitative differences in physiological groups between the individual ecosystems were revealed. The metagenomic analysis revealed that different ecosystems are characterized by specific taxonomic groups of microorganisms and that general alpha diversity varies among individual land-use samples. Since the most unstable soil systems are agricultural, they are likely to suffer the most and will suffer more in the future from climate change than natural ones.
Effect of Self-Myofascial Release of the Lower Back on Myofascial Gliding, Lumbar Flexibility, and Abdominal Trunk Muscle Strength: A Crossover Study
Authors: Nakai Yuki , Oe Katsutoshi , Matsuno Ryuko , Kiyama Ryoji , Kawada Masayuki , Takeshita Yasufumi , Miyazaki Takasuke , Araki Sota
Published: August 2023

Roller massage has been recognized as an effective intervention for managing various conditions. However, data on the effects of roller massage on the dynamic mechanisms of the myofascial and soft tissues of the lower back are limited. This study aimed to examine the effect of the self-myofascial release of the lower back on myofascial gliding, lumbar flexibility, and abdominal trunk muscle strength using a roller massager. This crossover study included 24 college athletes who underwent three interventions—roller massage, static stretching, and control (rest). Before and after the intervention, lumbar and fascial gliding were evaluated using ultrasonography. Long-seat anteflexion (lumbar flexibility) and abdominal trunk muscle strength were assessed. The movement velocities of the subcutaneous tissue and the multifidus muscle over time were calculated using echo video analysis software, and gliding was estimated using the cross-correlation coefficient between the velocities. Gliding, lumbar flexibility, and abdominal trunk muscle strength showed significant intervention-by-time interactions. Roller massage significantly improved gliding, lumbar flexibility, and abdominal trunk muscle strength. The self-myofascial release of the lower back using a roller massager improved the lumbar/fascia gliding, lumbar flexibility, and abdominal trunk muscle strength compared to static stretching.
Research on QoS Flow Path Intelligent Allocation of Multi-Services in 5G and Industrial SDN Heterogeneous Network for Smart Factory
Authors: Guo Qing , Jin Qibing , Liu Zhen , Luo Mingshi , Chen Liangchao , Dou Zhan , Diao Xu
Published: August 2023

In this paper, an intelligent multiple Quality of Service (QoS) constrained traffic path allocation scheme with corresponding algorithm is proposed. The proposed method modifies deep Q-learning network (DQN) by graph neural network (GNN) and prioritized experience replay to fit the heterogeneous network, which is applied for production management and edge intelligent applications of smart factory. Moreover, through designing the reward function, the learning efficiency of the agent is improved under the sparse reward condition, and the multi-object optimization is realized. The simulation results show that the proposed method has high learning efficiency, and strong generalization ability adapting the changing of topological structure of network caused by network error, which is more suitable than the compared methods. In addition, it is also verified that combining the field knowledge and deep reinforcement learning (DRL) can improve the performance of the agent. The proposed method can achieve good performance in the network slicing scenario as well.
Expanded Clay Production Waste as Supplementary Cementitious Material
Authors: Kaminskas Rimvydas , Savickaite Brigita
Published: August 2023

Global warming stands as one of the most significant challenges facing our planet, primarily due to the substantial emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Among the major contributors to these emissions is the cement industry, which ranks as one of the largest sources of CO2 pollutants. To address this issue, a potential solution involves partially substituting cement with alternative materials, particularly waste generated by other industries. The aim of this study was to investigate the opportunity of using an industrial waste which originates from the cleaning of flue gas in the production of expanded clay as a supplementary cementitious material. The influence of expanded clay kiln dust on the properties of Portland cement was estimated by XRD, thermal, calorimetry and compressive strength analysis. The expanded clay kiln dust was used as received and it was additionally thermally activated at 600 °C. It was determined that the original dust can be distinguished by average pozzolanic activity; meanwhile, the pozzolanic activity of additionally activated waste increased by one third. Portland cement was replaced with both types of waste in various proportions. It was found that the additive of the investigated waste accelerates the primary hydration of Portland cement, generates the pozzolanic reaction, and incites the formation of calcium silicate hydrates and hydrates containing aluminum compounds. The addition of up to 25 wt.% of activated expanded clay kiln dust leads to a higher compressive strength of samples of Portland cement.
Green Synthesis of Silver and Titanium Oxide Nanoparticles Using Tea and Eggshell Wastes, Their Characterization, and Biocompatibility Evaluation
Authors: Al Malki Jamila S. , Hussien Nahed Ahmed , Akkad Lamia M. , Al Thurmani Shatha O. , Al Motiri Anhal E.
Published: August 2023

Using biodegradable wastes represents a viable alternative to creating a sustainable economy that benefits all humans. The present study aimed to use daily used waste products, tea (TE) and eggshell (ES) wastes, to synthesize silver (AgNPs) and titanium oxide (TiO2NPs) nanoparticles, respectively. Firstly, the green-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS), Scanning (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Then, followed by their cytotoxic assessment against normal human skin fibroblast (HSF) cells using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay, AgNPs_TE (300 and 470 nm) and TiO2NPs_ESE (320 nm) formation was confirmed using UV-vis spectra. SEM and XRD showed their crystalline shape. TEM images determined the nano-size of AgNPs_TE (25 nm) and TiO2NPs_ESE (120 nm), which appeared smaller in comparison with DLS analysis (299.8 and 742.9 nm), with zeta potentials of −20.5 mV and −12.6 mV, respectively. There was a great difference in both NPs’ sizes using TEM and DLS measurements because DLS is known to be more sensitive to larger particles due to their light scattering. FTIR detected the functional groups found in TE and ESE that were responsible for the synthesis, capping, and stabilization of the synthesized AgNPs and TiO2NPs. The SRB assay reveals the safety of TiO2NPs on normal HSF cells with an IC50 > 100, while AgNPs have a high cytotoxic effect with an IC50 = 54.99 μg/mL.
Teachers’ Ideas and Educational Experiences Regarding Urban Environmental Sustainability in Bogotá, Colombia
Authors: Tuay-Sigua Rosa Nidia , Pérez-Mesa María Rocío , Porras-Contreras Yair Alexander
Published: August 2023

Teachers’ actions in sustainable development are guided by a way of conceiving the environment. This study sought to account for the ideas and experiences of teachers in education for sustainable development in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. Based on a qualitative study with an interpretive approach through an open questionnaire, the aim was to investigate educational proposals developed in institutions on urban environmental sustainability that allow the articulation of SDGs 4 and 11. The results intersect with the proposal of sustainability typologies from the epistemological, axiological, and ontological components. The findings showed that environmental training involves both the understanding of relationships and problems and the proposal of alternatives that allow us to offer new horizons as a possibility to build and promote other ways of being and developing, individually and collectively, in the places we inhabit and that we contribute to the world. This requires rethinking education, strengthening pedagogical proposals, and developing other alternatives to educate ourselves socio-environmentally, to train responsible citizens, and to achieve sustainable societies. Understanding the perceptions and practices of teachers in regard to sustainability can contribute to defining priority lines of research, proposing educational guidelines for teacher training, and guiding the development of public policies for curricular greening from a critical perspective. This makes it possible to promote educational actions to consolidate citizen training.
Recent Advancements in Geosynthetic Engineering for Sustainable Construction
Authors: Guo Wei , Nguyen Thanh T.
Published: August 2023

Sustainable construction has become increasingly crucial recently due to the massive negative impacts that construction, including various geotechnical activities, can have on the surrounding environment [...]