bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Recent Developments in Graphene-Based Cathode Materials for Fuel Cell Applications: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Samantaray Somya , Mohanty Debabrata , Satpathy Santosh Kumar , Hung I-Ming
Published: June 2024

Fuel cells are at the forefront of modern energy research, with graphene-based materials emerging as key enhancers of performance. This overview explores recent advancements in graphene-based cathode materials for fuel cell applications. Graphene’s large surface area and excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical strength make it ideal for use in different solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) as well as proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). This review covers various forms of graphene, including graphene oxide (GO), reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and doped graphene, highlighting their unique attributes and catalytic contributions. It also examines the effects of structural modifications, doping, and functional group integrations on the electrochemical properties and durability of graphene-based cathodes. Additionally, we address the thermal stability challenges of graphene derivatives at high SOFC operating temperatures, suggesting potential solutions and future research directions. This analysis underscores the transformative potential of graphene-based materials in advancing fuel cell technology, aiming for more efficient, cost-effective, and durable energy systems.
N-Containing Porous Carbon-Based MnO Composites as Anode with High Capacity and Stability for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Cheng Yi , Li Shiyue , Luo Wenbin , Li Kuo , Yang Xiaofei
Published: June 2024

MnO has attracted much attention as the anode for Li-ion batteries (LIBs) owing to its high specific capacity. However, the low conductivity limited its large application. An effective solution to solve this problem is carbon coating. Biomass carbon materials have aroused much interest for being low-cost and rich in functional groups and hetero atoms. This work designs porous N-containing MnO composites based on the chemical-activated tremella using a self-templated method. The tremella, after activation, could offer more active sites for carbon to coordinate with the Mn ions. And the as-prepared composites could also inherit the special porous nanostructures of the tremella, which is beneficial for Li+ transfer. Moreover, the pyrrolic/pyridinic N from the tremella can further improve the conductivity and the electrolyte wettability of the composites. Finally, the composites show a high reversible specific capacity of 1000 mAh g−1 with 98% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 100 mA g−1. They also displayed excellent long-cycle performance with 99% capacity retention (relative to the capacity second cycle) after long 1000 cycles under high current density, which is higher than in most reported transition metal oxide anodes. Above all, this study put forward an efficient and convenient strategy based on the low-cost biomass to construct N-containing porous composite anodes with a fast Li+ diffusion rate, high electronic conductivity, and outstanding structure stability.
KCNT1 Channel Blockers: A Medicinal Chemistry Perspective
Authors: Di Matteo Francesca , Mancuso Francesca , Turcio Rita , Ciaglia Tania , Stagno Claudio , Di Chio Carla , Campiglia Pietro , Bertamino Alessia , Giofrè Salvatore Vincenzo , Ostacolo Carmine , Iraci Nunzio
Published: June 2024

Potassium channels have recently emerged as suitable target for the treatment of epileptic diseases. Among potassium channels, KCNT1 channels are the most widely characterized as responsible for several epileptic and developmental encephalopathies. Nevertheless, the medicinal chemistry of KCNT1 blockers is underdeveloped so far. In the present review, we describe and analyse the papers addressing the issue of KCNT1 blockers’ development and identification, also evidencing the pros and the cons of the scientific approaches therein described. After a short introduction describing the epileptic diseases and the structure–function of potassium channels, we provide an extensive overview of the chemotypes described so far as KCNT1 blockers, and the scientific approaches used for their identification.
A Zn(II) Coordination Polymer for Fluorescent Turn-Off Selective Sensing of Heavy Metal Cation and Toxic Inorganic Anions
Authors: Li Yaxin , Zhang Mouyi , Wang Ying , Guan Lei , Zhao Di , Hao Xinyu , Guo Yuting
Published: June 2024

A novel coordination polymer [Zn(atyha)2]n (1) (Hatyha = 2-(2-aminothiazole-4-yl)-2- hydroxyiminoacetic acid) was constructed by hydrothermal reaction of Zn2+ with Hatyha ligand. CP 1 exhibits a 2D (4,4)-connected topological framework with Schläfli symbol of {44·62}, where atyha− anions serve as tridentate ligands, bridging with Zn2+ through carboxylate, thiazole and oxime groups. CP 1 displays a strong ligand-based photoluminescence at 390 nm in the solid state, and remains significantly structurally stable in water. Interestingly, it can be utilized as a fluorescent probe for selective and sensitive sensing of Fe3+, Cr2O72− and MnO4− through the fluorescent turn-off effect with limit of detection (LOD) of 3.66 × 10−6, 2.38 × 10−5 and 2.94 × 10−6 M, respectively. Moreover, the efficient recyclability for detection of Fe3+ and Cr2O72− is better than that for MnO4−. The mechanisms of fluorescent quenching involve reversible overlap of UV-Vis absorption bands of the analytes (Fe3+, Cr2O72− and MnO4−) with fluorescence excitation and emission bands for CP 1, respectively.
The RNA Helicase Ded1 from Yeast Is Associated with the Signal Recognition Particle and Is Regulated by SRP21
Authors: Yeter-Alat Hilal , Belgareh-Touzé Naïma , Le Saux Agnès , Huvelle Emmeline , Mokdadi Molka , Banroques Josette , Tanner N. Kyle
Published: June 2024

The DEAD-box RNA helicase Ded1 is an essential yeast protein involved in translation initiation that belongs to the DDX3 subfamily. The purified Ded1 protein is an ATP-dependent RNA-binding protein and an RNA-dependent ATPase, but it was previously found to lack substrate specificity and enzymatic regulation. Here we demonstrate through yeast genetics, yeast extract pull-down experiments, in situ localization, and in vitro biochemical approaches that Ded1 is associated with, and regulated by, the signal recognition particle (SRP), which is a universally conserved ribonucleoprotein complex required for the co-translational translocation of polypeptides into the endoplasmic reticulum lumen and membrane. Ded1 is physically associated with SRP components in vivo and in vitro. Ded1 is genetically linked with SRP proteins. Finally, the enzymatic activity of Ded1 is inhibited by SRP21 in the presence of SCR1 RNA. We propose a model where Ded1 actively participates in the translocation of proteins during translation. Our results provide a new understanding of the role of Ded1 during translation.
Magnetic Particle Imaging-Guided Thermal Simulations for Magnetic Particle Hyperthermia
Authors: Carlton Hayden , Arepally Nageshwar , Healy Sean , Sharma Anirudh , Ptashnik Sarah , Schickel Maureen , Newgren Matt , Goodwill Patrick , Attaluri Anilchandra , Ivkov Robert
Published: June 2024

Magnetic particle hyperthermia (MPH) enables the direct heating of solid tumors with alternating magnetic fields (AMFs). One challenge with MPH is the unknown particle distribution in tissue after injection. Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) can measure the nanoparticle content and distribution in tissue after delivery. The objective of this study was to develop a clinically translatable protocol that incorporates MPI data into finite element calculations for simulating tissue temperatures during MPH. To verify the protocol, we conducted MPH experiments in tumor-bearing mouse cadavers. Five 8–10-week-old female BALB/c mice bearing subcutaneous 4T1 tumors were anesthetized and received intratumor injections of Synomag®-S90 nanoparticles. Immediately following injection, the mice were euthanized and imaged, and the tumors were heated with an AMF. We used the Mimics Innovation Suite to create a 3D mesh of the tumor from micro-computerized tomography data and spatial index MPI to generate a scaled heating function for the heat transfer calculations. The processed imaging data were incorporated into a finite element solver, COMSOL Multiphysics®. The upper and lower bounds of the simulated tumor temperatures for all five cadavers demonstrated agreement with the experimental temperature measurements, thus verifying the protocol. These results demonstrate the utility of MPI to guide predictive thermal calculations for MPH treatment planning.
Microstructural, Electrical, and Tribomechanical Properties of Mo-W-C Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Smyrnova Kateryna , Ivashchenko Volodymyr I. , Sahul Martin , Čaplovič Ľubomír , Skrynskyi Petro , Kozak Andrii , Konarski Piotr , Koltunowicz Tomasz N. , Galaszkiewicz Piotr , Bondariev Vitalii , Zukowski Pawel , Budzynski Piotr , Borba-Pogrebnjak Svitlana , Kamiński Mariusz , Bónová Lucia , Beresnev Vyacheslav , Pogrebnjak Alexander
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the phase composition, microstructure, and their influence on the properties of Mo-W-C nanocomposite films deposited by dual-source magnetron sputtering. The synthesised films consist of metal carbide nanograins embedded in an amorphous carbon matrix. It has been found that nanograins are composed of the hexagonal β-(Mo2 + W2)C phase at a low carbon source power. An increase in the power results in the change in the structure of the carbide nanoparticles from a single-phase to a mixture of the β-(Mo2 + W2)C and NaCl-type α-(Mo + W)C(0.65≤k≤1) solid-solution phases. The analysis of electrical properties demonstrates that the nanograin structure of the films favours the occurrence of hopping conductivity. The double-phase structure leads to a twofold increase in the relaxation time compared to the single-phase one. Films with both types of nanograin structures exhibit tunnelling conductance without the need for thermal activation. The average distance between the potential wells produced by the carbide nanograins in nanocomposite films is approximately 3.4 ± 0.2 nm. A study of tribomechanical properties showed that Mo-W-C films composed of a mixture of the β-(Mo2 + W2)C and α-(Mo + W)C(0.65≤k≤1) phases have the highest hardness (19–22 GPa) and the lowest friction coefficient (0.15–0.24) and wear volume (0.00302–0.00381 mm2). Such a combination of electrical and tribomechanical properties demonstrates the suitability of Mo-W-C nanocomposite films for various micromechanical devices and power electronics.
Oral Administration of Efavirenz Dysregulates the Tph2 Gene in Brain Serotonergic Areas and Alters Weight and Mood in Mice
Authors: Rojas-Osornio Sandra Angélica , Crespo-Ramírez Minerva , Paredes-Cervantes Vladimir , Mata-Marín Antonio , Martínez-Lara Ricardo , Pérez de la Mora Miguel , Tesoro-Cruz Emiliano
Published: June 2024

Most HIV-antiretroviral drugs have adverse effects. Efavirenz (EFV) is an example of a drug with neuropsychiatric effects, such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts, in people living with HIV (PLWH). The mechanisms by which EFV causes neuropsychiatric alterations in PLWH are complex, multifactorial, and not fully understood, although several studies in animals have reported changes in brain energy metabolism, alterations in monoamine turnover, GABA, and glutamate levels, and changes in 5-HT receptors. In this report, we studied the effects of EFV on the serotonergic system in healthy mice, specifically, whether EFV results in alterations in the levels of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) gene in the brain. EFV (10 mg/kg) and distilled water (1.5 µL/kg) (control group) were orally administered to the mice for 36 days. At the end of the treatment, Tph2 expression levels in mouse brains were measured, and mood was evaluated by three trials: the forced swim test, elevated plus maze, and open field test. Our results revealed dysregulation of Tph2 expression in the brainstem, amygdala, and hypothalamus in the EFV group, and 5-HT levels increased in the amygdala in the EFV group. In the behavioral tests, mice given EFV exhibited a passive avoidance response in the forced swim test and anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, and they lost weight. Herein, for the first time, we showed that EFV triggered dysregulation of the Tph2 gene in the three serotonergic areas studied; and 5-HT levels increased in the amygdala using the ELISA method. However, further studies will be necessary to clarify the increase of 5-HT in the amygdala as well as understand the paradoxical decrease in body weight with the simultaneous increase in food consumption. It will also be necessary to measure 5-HT by other techniques different from ELISA, such as HPLC.
Amoebicidal Effect of COVID Box Molecules against Acanthamoeba: A Study of Cell Death
Authors: Sifaoui Ines , Rodríguez-Expósito Rubén L. , Reyes-Batlle María , Sutak Robert , Piñero José E. , Lorenzo-Morales Jacob
Published: June 2024

Acanthamoeba spp. can cause a sight threatening disease. At present, the current treatments used to treat Acanthamoeba spp. Infections, such as biguanide-based antimicrobials, remain inefficacious, with the appearance of resistant forms and high cytotoxicity to host cells. In this study, an initial screening was conducted against Acanthamoeba castellanii Neff and murine macrophages J774A.1 using alamarBlue™. Among the 160 compounds included in the cited box, 90% exhibited an inhibition of the parasite above 80%, while only 18.75% of the compounds inhibited the parasite with a lethality towards murine macrophage lower than 20%. Based on the amoebicidal activity, the cytotoxicity assay, and availability, Terconazole was chosen for the elucidation of the action mode in two clinical strains, Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Acanthamoeba castellanii L10. A fluorescence image-based system and proteomic techniques were used to investigate the effect of the present azole on the cytoskeleton network and various programmed cell death features, including chromatin condensation and mitochondria dysfunction. Taking all the results together, we can suggest that Terconazole can induce programmed cell death (PCD) via the inhibition of sterol biosynthesis inhibition.
Constitutional DNA Polymorphisms Associated with the Plasma Imatinib Concentration in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Patients
Authors: Bruzzoni-Giovanelli Heriberto , Zouali Habib , Sahbatou Mourad , Maneglier Benjamin , Cayuela Jean-Michel , Rebollo Angelita , Marin Gustavo H. , Geromin Daniela , Tomczak Carole , Alberdi Antonio , Deleuze Jean-Francois , Rousselot Philippe
Published: June 2024

The tyrosine kinase Inhibitor (TKI) imatinib is approved for the treatment of the chronic phase of chronic myeloid leukemia (CP-CML). Pharmacokinetic studies have highlighted the importance of inter-patient variability on imatinib plasma trough concentrations (ima[C]min). In the OPTIM-imatinib trial, we demonstrated that therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is able to improve the molecular response of CP-CML patients treated with imatinib. Here, we analyzed the constitutional exomes and RNAseq data of these patients. We performed an association analysis between the constitutional genetic variants of the patients and their ima[C]min, measured after 12 weeks of treatment with 400 mg once daily. Using linear regression, we identified 50 SNPs that showed excess heterozygosity depending on the ima[C]min. Ten SNPs were from non-coding sequences, and among the 40 remaining, 30 (from 25 genes) could be split into two categories. The first group of 16 SNPs concerns genes encoding extracellular matrix, cell junction, and membrane proteins. Coincidentally, cell adhesion proteins were also identified by RNA-seq as being overexpressed in patients with high ima[C]min. The other group of 14 SNPs were from genes encoding proteins involved in transcription/translation. Although most of the SNPs are intronic variants (28), we also identified missense (3), synonymous (4), 5′/3′ (2), splicing (1), and upstream (4) variants. A haplotype analysis of four genes showed a significant association with high ima[C]min. None of the SNPs were significantly associated with the response. In conclusion, we identified a number of ima[C]min-associated SNPs, most of which correspond to genes encoding proteins that could play a role in the diffusion and transit of imatinib through membranes or epithelial barriers.
Spectral-Kinetic Characterization of YF3: Eu3+ and YF3: (Eu3+, Nd3+) Nanoparticles for Optical Temperature Sensing
Authors: Oleynikova Ekaterina I. , Morozov Oleg A. , Korableva Stella L. , Pudovkin Maksim S.
Published: June 2024

YF3: (Eu3+, Nd3+) nanoparticles (orthorhombic phase, D~130 nm) were synthesized via the co-precipitation method, with subsequent hydrothermal treatment and annealing. The Eu3+ τdecay linearly descends with the increase of temperature in the 80–320 K range. The τdecay (T) slope values of the annealed YF3: Eu3+ (2.5 and 5.0 mol.%) nanoparticles were the highest (110·10−4 and 67·10−4, μs/K) in the whole 80–320 K range, respectively. Thus, these samples were chosen for further doping with Nd3+. The maximum Sa and Sr values based on the LIR (IEu/INd) function were 0.067 K−1 (at 80 K) and 0.86%·K−1 (at 154 K), respectively. As mentioned above, the single-doped YF3: Eu3+ (2.5%) nanoparticles showed the linearly decreasing τdecay (T) function (5D0–7F1 emission). The main idea of Nd3+ co-doping was to increase this slope value (as well as the sensitivity) by increasing the rate of τdecay (T) descent via the addition of one more temperature-dependent channel of 5D0 excited state depopulation. Indeed, we managed to increase the slope (Sa) to 180·10−4 K−1 at 80 K. This result is one of the highest compared to the world analogs.
The Optimization Design of a Lightweight 2 m SiC Mirror for Ground-Based Telescopes
Authors: Wang Zhichen , Chen Tao , Cao Yuyan , Fan Wenqiang , Wang Honghao , Wang Wenpan
Published: June 2024

The weight of the primary mirror increases as the aperture of ground-based telescopes increases, making it more challenging to maintain the positional stability and surface accuracy of the solid primary mirror. Consequently, a 2 m lightweight silicon carbide (SiC) mirror and an optimization method were proposed in this study. The relationship between the gravitational deformation of the mirror and its thickness and number of supports was derived based on force analysis of the mirror; the thickness of the mirror and the appropriate number of supports were obtained as initial parameters for optimization. The back structure of the mirror was designed in a lotus pattern to improve its rigidity. Numerous structural parameters were classified into major and non-major parameters based on the results of a sensitivity analysis. The non-major and major structural parameters were optimized using a Latin hypercube design method and a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm, respectively. The optimized 2 m lightweight SiC mirror had a mass of 119 kg and an areal density of 38.7 kg/m2. The surface figure error root-mean-square (RMS) in the vertical state of the optical axis and the first modal resonance of the mirror assembly calculated using finite element analysis were 11.3 nm and 76.5 Hz, respectively. Modal tests of the mirror assembly were conducted using the hammering method, achieving a maximum relative frequency error of 7.4% compared with the simulation results. The optimized 2 m SiC mirror was over 50% lighter than traditional passive Zerodur mirrors of the same size.
Identification of the New GmJAG1 Transcription Factor Binding Motifs Using DAP-Seq
Authors: Wang Jinxing , Pu Zigang , Zhang Weiyao , Qu Mengnan , Gao Lusi , Pan Wenjing , Sun Yanan , Fu Chunxu , Zhang Ling , Huang Mingkun , Hu Yufang
Published: June 2024

Interaction between transcription factors (TFs) and motifs is essential for gene regulation and the subsequent phenotype formation. Soybean (Glycine max) JAGGEED 1 (GmJAG1) is a key TF that controls leaf shape, seed number and flower size. To understand the GmJAG1 binding motifs, in this study, we performed the GmJAG1 DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) experiment, which is a powerful tool for the de novo motif prediction method. Two new significant GmJAG1 binding motifs were predicted and the EMSA experiments further verified the ability of GmJAG1 bound to these motifs. The potential binding sites in the downstream gene promoter were identified through motif scanning and a potential regulatory network mediated by GmJAG1 was constructed. These results served as important genomic resources for further understanding the regulatory mechanism of GmJAG1.
Modern Breeding Strategies and Tools for Durable Late Blight Resistance in Potato
Authors: Berindean Ioana Virginia , Taoutaou Abdelmoumen , Rida Soumeya , Ona Andreea Daniela , Stefan Maria Floriana , Costin Alexandru , Racz Ionut , Muntean Leon
Published: June 2024

Cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a major crop worldwide. It occupies the second place after cereals (corn, rice, and wheat). This important crop is threatened by the Oomycete Phytophthora infestans, the agent of late blight disease. This pathogen was first encountered during the Irish famine during the 1840s and is a reemerging threat to potatoes. It is mainly controlled chemically by using fungicides, but due to health and environmental concerns, the best alternative is resistance. When there is no disease, no treatment is required. In this study, we present a summary of the ongoing efforts concerning resistance breeding of potato against this devastating pathogen, P. infestans. This work begins with the search for and selection of resistance genes, whether they are from within or from outside the species. The genetic methods developed to date for gene mining, such as effectoromics and GWAS, provide researchers with the ability to identify genes of interest more efficiently. Once identified, these genes are cloned using molecular markers (MAS or QRL) and can then be introduced into different cultivars using somatic hybridization or recombinant DNA technology. More innovative technologies have been developed lately, such as gene editing using the CRISPR system or gene silencing, by exploiting iRNA strategies that have emerged as promising tools for managing Phytophthora infestans, which can be employed. Also, gene pyramiding or gene stacking, which involves the accumulation of two or more R genes on the same individual plant, is an innovative method that has yielded many promising results. All these advances related to the development of molecular techniques for obtaining new potato cultivars resistant to P. infestans can contribute not only to reducing losses in agriculture but especially to ensuring food security and safety.
Geological Controls on Gas Content of Deep Coal Reservoir in the Jiaxian Area, Ordos Basin, China
Authors: Xu Shaobo , Li Qian , Sun Fengrui , Yin Tingting , Yang Chao , Wang Zihao , Qiu Feng , Zhou Keyu , Chen Jiaming
Published: June 2024

Deep coalbed methane (DCBM) reservoirs hold exceptional potential for diversifying energy sources. The Ordos Basin has attracted much attention due to its enormous resource reserves of DCBM. This work focuses on the Jiaxian area of the Ordos basin, and the multi-factor quantitative evaluation method on the sealing of cap rocks is established. The abundant geologic and reservoir information is synthesized to explore variable factors affecting the gas content. Results indicate that the sealing capacity of the coal seam roof in the Jiaxian area, with a mean sealing index of 3.12, surpasses the floor’s sealing capacity by 13.87%, which averages 2.74. The sealing of the coal seam roof has a more positive impact on the enrichment of coalbed methane (CBM). In addition, the conditions for preserving gas would be boosted as coal seam thickness increased, leading to enhanced gas content in coal seams. The CH4 content increases by an average of ~2.38 m3/t as coal seam thickness increases with the interval of 1 m. The increasing burial depth represents the incremental maturity of organic matter and the gas generation ability in coal seams, which contributes to improving the gas content in coal seams. There is a positive correlation between the degree of coal fragmentation and the gas content of the coal seam to a certain extent. These findings provide valuable insights for targeted drilling strategies and enhancing natural gas production capacity in the Jiaxian area of the Ordos Basin.
Ammoides pusilla Aerial Part: GC-MS Profiling and Evaluation of In Vitro Antioxidant and Biological Activities
Authors: Belaiba Meriam , Saoudi Mohamed Marouane , Abedrabba Manef , Bouajila Jalloul
Published: June 2024

The study of Ammoides pusilla, a Tunisian medicinal plant, explored its chemical composition and biological activities, highlighting its under-exploited therapeutic potential. The essential oil, obtained by steam distillation, reveals twenty major compounds, including perilic aldehyde, β-phellandrene, and o-cymene. Two new natural constituents were identified in the cyclohexane extract and four in the dichloromethane extract. DPPH and ABTS tests showed that methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, giving values of 78.9% and 65.5%, respectively, at 50 µg/mL. Its anti-diabetic activity (IC50 = 25.0 µg/mL) exceeds that of acarbose. The anti-SOD activity of methanol extract also showed promise, at 73.3% at 50 µg/mL. Essential oil and ethyl acetate extract showed notable inhibition of xanthine oxidase activity, reaching 69.0%. In addition, the essential oil demonstrated strong anti-AChE (63.23% at 50 µg/mL) and anti-inflammatory (IC50 = 31.0 µg/mL) activity. In terms of cytotoxicity, the methanol extract was effective against the HCT116 cell line (IC50 = 20.9 µg/mL), and all extracts showed activity against MCF7, OVCAR-3, and IGROV-1 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 4.0 to 25.0 µg/mL. This result underlines the potential of Ammoides pusilla extracts as important sources of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications. Further research is needed to fully exploit these activities in drug development.
Optimal Scheduling of Microgrids Considering Offshore Wind Power and Carbon Trading
Authors: Fang Jian , Li Yu , Zou Hongbo , Ma Hengrui , Wang Hongxia
Published: June 2024

Offshore wind energy entering the grid in coastal areas creates issues with the safe and stable operation of power systems. To control the carbon emission of power systems and increase the proportion of offshore wind consumption, a microgrid optimization model considering offshore wind power and carbon trading is proposed in this paper. To avoid the defect of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) falling into the local optimum prematurely, the PSO algorithm is improved by dynamically decreasing inertia weights and chaos factors. Combined with the powerful optimization capability of the genetic algorithm (GA), the improved PSO-GA algorithm is used to solve the model. The simulation results show that the improved algorithm iterates 11 times before the parameters reach the optimal value, with high convergence accuracy. The proposed approach can increase the proportion of offshore wind consumption and ensure the optimal economic performance of the system while reducing the carbon emission.
Multilayered Faith and Interreligious Dialogue: A Case of Religious Hybridity in Korea and Its Implications for Formation
Authors: Lee Joung Chul
Published: June 2024

Comprehending and discussing Koreans’ experiences of inter-religious dialogue requires a precise understanding of their religious hybridity. To this end, this article first delves into South Korea’s multireligious and syncretic landscape. Subsequently, it focuses on the concept of chungch’ŭng-sinang, or multilayered faith, highlighting how Koreans have constructed their own religiously multilayered and open internal structures based on their historical encounters with various religions. Finally, building on this understanding, this article examines how an in-depth understanding of Korean religious hybridity transforms our understanding of their experiences in inter-religious dialogue. Acknowledging their hybridity facilitates an understanding of experiences that go beyond mere acquisition of knowledge about others and a deepening sense of their identities—involving the discovery of internal otherness. While this approach may weaken the logic of religion, it can foster dialogue that is more liberating, formative, and humanizing.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church as Religious Other in Contemporary Ethiopia: Discursive Practices of Three Selected Religious Authorities
Authors: Kumlachew Sileshie Semahagne
Published: June 2024

Through critical discourse analysis of widely circulated and debated video speeches by three selected religious authorities in Ethiopia—representing the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), Islam, and Protestantism—this paper examines how religious authority and social media complimentarily help to reach geographically and religiously diverse audiences and to draw politico-religious boundaries. It shows how the politicisation of religion, mainly by a supportive Protestant and calculative Muslim groups, with different intentions, on the one hand and a religiously motivated and repressive government on the other have created a “religious other” (i.e., the EOTC). Perceived discourse of historical marginalisation is used to justify both supportive and calculative tendencies of continued religious repression in the reconstructed new Ethiopia. On the other hand, a struggle for justice to curb this development is religiously justified by the EOTC, which elevates tensions to the level of a holy war against the religious other.
The Re-Discovery of the Bulletin of Chinese Studies and the Development of Traditional Chinese Studies at Christian Universities in Huaxiba
Authors: Zhang Kai , Liu Nianye
Published: June 2024

During the Second World War, the integration of science and humanities, as well as the integration of Guoxue (Traditional Chinese Studies) and Western learning, became a central issue in academia in China. With the support of the Harvard–Yenching Institute, Christian universities such as Cheeloo University, Ginling College, Nanking University, West China Union University, and Yenching University, which had gathered in Huaxiba in Chengdu during the war, were committed to bridging the gap between science and Guoxue. They founded the “East-West Cultural Studies Society” with the aim of attracting scholars from both domestic and international backgrounds, facilitating dialogue and the convergence of Chinese and Western academic traditions. Pioneering a novel approach that infused traditional Guoxue with scientific inquiry, they established the Bulletin of Chinese Studies, which swiftly rose to a distinguished position within Guoxue research amid the tumultuous wartime milieu. This article endeavors to, within the diverse context of the modern evolution of the origins of and changes in Guoxue research, undertake a comprehensive examination of the objectives and scope of the Bulletin of Chinese Studies through a nuanced perspective that fuses globalization and localization. The overarching goal is to delve into the profound significance of Guoxue research within Christian universities, with a central focus on propelling substantial progress in the potential fusion of Chinese and Western academic disciplines.
A Re-Examination of Pelliot Tibétain 1257: A Workbook for Chinese Learning Tibetan?
Authors: Pei Changchun
Published: June 2024

Pelliot tibétain 1257, a manuscript discovered in Dunhuang and now housed in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, contains a Bilingual Tibetan–Chinese glossary that compiles some of the most fundamental Buddhist terminology and vocabulary excerpted from the Saṃdhi-nirmocana-sūtra. The Tibetan terms within this glossary were initially completed by one person, while the Chinese terms were subsequently filled in by three individuals. This vocabulary list may have served as a workbook prepared by a Tibetan teacher for Chinese students learning Tibetan vocabulary. The workbook, with Chinese vocabulary filled in by Chinese students, remained in their possession and use thereafter. The learning of Tibetan by these Chinese individuals in Dunhuang was likely closely related to the Buddhist sutra-copying project initiated by the Tibetan king at that time.
Thinking about Feelings: The Study of Emotions in the New Testament Writings
Authors: Neumann Nils
Published: June 2024

Growing attention has been directed towards affects and emotions in the New Testament texts within recent scholarship over the course of the past two decades. Although biblical exegesis of the 20th century suspected psychological interpretations of New Testament texts of being highly subjective and hence frail, recent research has developed a number of approaches that allow for addressing the subject in a methodologically controlled way. The aim of the present article is to review important monographs from the field of New Testament emotion research with special attention to their particular focuses and research methods. Despite some degree of overlap between these perspectives, six major areas of scholarly work can be identified: (1) “text psychology” that explains New Testament findings against the backdrop of modern psychological theories; (2) historical psychology that explores ancient notions of the affects; (3) narratology that observes recurring a narrative pattern in ancient descriptions of the affects; (4) rhetorical criticism that traces the rhetorical presentation of affects as well as the capability of rhetorical language to evoke affects in the addressees; (5) philosophy of the body that examines the bodily aspects of psychological dynamics; and finally (6) social history that identifies social functions of collective affects, e.g., in the formation and stabilization of social groups. After introducing each of these approaches briefly, the affect of desire (gr. ἐπιθυμία) will serve as a test case to demonstrate the possibilities and usefulness that the different perspectives offer. This way, it becomes clear that affects are by no means a by-product of theological teaching in the New Testament, but in fact indicators of true relevance.
Tracking Loop Current Eddies in the Gulf of Mexico Using Satellite-Derived Chlorophyll-a
Authors: Trott Corinne B. , Subrahmanyam Bulusu , Hiron Luna , Zavala-Romero Olmo
Published: June 2024

During the period of 2018–2022, there were six named Loop Current Eddy (LCE) shedding events in the central Gulf of Mexico (GoM). LCEs form when a large anticyclonic eddy (AE) separates from the main Loop Current (LC) and propagates westward. In doing so, each LCE traps and advects warmer, saltier waters with lower Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations than the surrounding Gulf waters. This difference in water mass permits the study of the effectiveness of using Chl-a from satellite-derived ocean color to identify LCEs in the GoM. In this work, we apply an eddy-tracking algorithm to Chl-a to detect LCEs, which we have validated against the traditional sea surface height-(SSH) based eddy-tracking approach with three datasets. We apply a closed-contour eddy-tracking algorithm to the SSH of two model products (HYbrid Coordination Ocean Model; HYCOM and Nucleus for European Modelling of the Ocean; NEMO) and absolute dynamic topography (ADT) from altimetry, as well as satellite-derived Chl-a data to identify the six named LCEs from 2018 to 2022. We find that Chl-a best characterizes LCEs in the summertime due to a basin-wide increase in the horizontal gradient of Chl-a, which permits a more clearly defined eddy edge. This study demonstrates that Chl-a can be effectively used to identify and track LC and LCEs in the GoM, serving as a promising source of information for regional data assimilative models.
Estimating Pavement Condition by Leveraging Crowdsourced Data
Authors: Gu Yangsong , Khojastehpour Mohammad , Jia Xiaoyang , Han Lee D.
Published: June 2024

Monitoring pavement conditions is critical to pavement management and maintenance. Traditionally, pavement distress is mainly identified via accelerometers, videos, and laser scanning. However, the geographical coverage and temporal frequency are constrained by the limited amount of equipment and labor, which sometimes may delay road maintenance. By contrast, crowdsourced data, in a manner of crowdsensing, can provide real-time and valuable roadway information for extensive coverage. This study exploited crowdsourced Waze pothole and weather reports for pavement condition evaluation. Two surrogate measures are proposed, namely, the Pothole Report Density (PRD) and the Weather Report Density (WRD). They are compared with the Pavement Quality Index (PQI), which is calculated using laser truck data from the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). A geographically weighted random forest (GWRF) model was developed to capture the complicated relationships between the proposed measures and PQI. The results show that the PRD is highly correlated with the PQI, and the correlation also varies across the routes. It is also found to be the second most important factor (i.e., followed by pavement age) affecting the PQI values. Although Waze weather reports contribute to PQI values, their impact is significantly smaller compared to that of pothole reports. This paper demonstrates that surrogate pavement condition measures aggregated by crowdsourced data could be integrated into the state decision-making process by establishing nuanced relationships between the surrogated performance measures and the state pavement condition indices. The endeavor of this study also has the potential to enhance the granularity of pavement condition evaluation.
Optimized Parameters for Detecting Multiple Forest Disturbance and Recovery Events and Spatiotemporal Patterns in Fast-Regrowing Southern China
Authors: Tu Yuwei , Liao Kaiping , Chen Yuxuan , Jiao Hongbo , Chen Guangsheng
Published: June 2024

The timing, location, intensity, and drivers of forest disturbance and recovery are crucial for developing effective management strategies and policies for forest conservation and ecosystem resilience. Although many algorithms and improvement methods have been developed, it is still difficult to guarantee the detection accuracy for forest disturbance and recovery patterns in southern China due to the complex climate and topography, faster forest recovery after disturbance, and the low availability of noise-free Landsat images. Here, we improved the LandTrendr parameters for different provinces to detect forest disturbances and recovery trajectories based on the LandTrendr change detection algorithm and time-series Landsat images on the GEE platform, and then applied the secondary random forest classifier to classify the forest disturbance and recovery patterns in southern China during 1990–2020. The accuracy evaluation indicated that our approach and improved parameters of the LandTrendr algorithm can increase the detection accuracy for both the spatiotemporal patterns and multiple events of forest disturbance and recovery, with an overall accuracy greater than 86% and a Kappa coefficient greater than 0.91 for different provinces. The total forest loss area was 1.54 × 105 km2 during 1990–2020 (4931 km2/year); however, most of these disturbed forests were recovered and only 6.39 × 104 km2 was a net loss area (converted to other land cover types). The area with two or more times of disturbance events accounted for 11.50% of the total forest loss area. The total forest gain area (including gain after loss and the afforestation area) was 5.44 × 105 km2, among which, the forest gain area after loss was 8.94 × 104 km2, and the net gain area from afforestation was 4.55 × 105 km2. The timing of the implementation of forestry policies significantly affected the interannual variations in forest disturbance and recovery, with large variations among different provinces. The detected forest loss and gain area was further compared against with inventory and other geospatial products, and proved the effectiveness of our method. Our study suggests that parameter optimization in the LandTrendr algorithm could greatly increase the accuracy for detecting the multiple and lower rate disturbance/recovery events in the fast-regrowing forested areas. Our findings also offer a long-term, moderate spatial resolution, and precise forest dynamic data for achieving sustainable forest management and the carbon neutrality goal in southern China.
An Ensemble Machine Learning Model to Estimate Urban Water Quality Parameters Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Multispectral Imagery
Authors: Lei Xiangdong , Jiang Jie , Deng Zifeng , Wu Di , Wang Fangyi , Lai Chengguang , Wang Zhaoli , Chen Xiaohong
Published: June 2024

Urban reservoirs contribute significantly to human survival and ecological balance. Machine learning-based remote sensing techniques for monitoring water quality parameters (WQPs) have gained increasing prominence in recent years. However, these techniques still face challenges such as inadequate band selection, weak machine learning model performance, and the limited retrieval of non-optical active parameters (NOAPs). This study focuses on an urban reservoir, utilizing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) multispectral remote sensing and ensemble machine learning (EML) methods to monitor optically active parameters (OAPs, including Chla and SD) and non-optically active parameters (including CODMn, TN, and TP), exploring spatial and temporal variations of WQPs. A framework of Feature Combination and Genetic Algorithm (FC-GA) is developed for feature band selection, along with two frameworks of EML models for WQP estimation. Results indicate FC-GA’s superiority over popular methods such as the Pearson correlation coefficient and recursive feature elimination, achieving higher performance with no multicollinearity between bands. The EML model demonstrates superior estimation capabilities for WQPs like Chla, SD, CODMn, and TP, with an R2 of 0.72–0.86 and an MRE of 7.57–42.06%. Notably, the EML model exhibits greater accuracy in estimating OAPs (MRE ≤ 19.35%) compared to NOAPs (MRE ≤ 42.06%). Furthermore, spatial and temporal distributions of WQPs reveal nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient pollution in the upstream head and downstream tail of the reservoir due to human activities. TP, TN, and Chla are lower in the dry season than in the rainy season, while clarity and CODMn are higher in the dry season than in the rainy season. This study proposes a novel approach to water quality monitoring, aiding in the identification of potential pollution sources and ecological management.
LiDAR Point Cloud Augmentation for Adverse Conditions Using Conditional Generative Model
Authors: Zhang Yuxiao , Ding Ming , Yang Hanting , Niu Yingjie , Ge Maoning , Ohtani Kento , Zhang Chi , Takeda Kazuya
Published: June 2024

The perception systems of autonomous vehicles face significant challenges under adverse conditions, with issues such as obscured objects and false detections due to environmental noise. Traditional approaches, which typically focus on noise removal, often fall short in such scenarios. Addressing the lack of diverse adverse weather data in existing automotive datasets, we propose a novel data augmentation method that integrates realistically simulated adverse weather effects into clear condition datasets. This method not only addresses the scarcity of data but also effectively bridges domain gaps between different driving environments. Our approach centers on a conditional generative model that uses segmentation maps as a guiding mechanism to ensure the authentic generation of adverse effects, which greatly enhances the robustness of perception and object detection systems in autonomous vehicles, operating under varied and challenging conditions. Besides the capability of accurately and naturally recreating over 90% of the adverse effects, we demonstrate that this model significantly improves the performance and accuracy of deep learning algorithms for autonomous driving, particularly in adverse weather scenarios. In the experiments employing our augmented approach, we achieved a 2.46% raise in the 3D average precision, a marked enhancement in detection accuracy and system reliability, substantiating the model’s efficacy with quantifiable improvements in 3D object detection compared to models without augmentation. This work not only serves as an enhancement of autonomous vehicle perception systems under adverse conditions but also marked an advancement in deep learning models in adverse condition research.
Generating 10-Meter Resolution Land Use and Land Cover Products Using Historical Landsat Archive Based on Super Resolution Guided Semantic Segmentation Network
Authors: Wen Dawei , Zhu Shihao , Tian Yuan , Guan Xuehua , Lu Yang
Published: June 2024

Generating high-resolution land cover maps using relatively lower-resolution remote sensing images is of great importance for subtle analysis. However, the domain gap between real lower-resolution and synthetic images has not been permanently resolved. Furthermore, super-resolution information is not fully exploited in semantic segmentation models. By solving the aforementioned issues, a deeply fused super resolution guided semantic segmentation network using 30 m Landsat images is proposed. A large-scale dataset comprising 10 m Sentinel-2, 30 m Landsat-8 images, and 10 m European Space Agency (ESA) Land Cover Product is introduced, facilitating model training and evaluation across diverse real-world scenarios. The proposed Deeply Fused Super Resolution Guided Semantic Segmentation Network (DFSRSSN) combines a Super Resolution Module (SRResNet) and a Semantic Segmentation Module (CRFFNet). SRResNet enhances spatial resolution, while CRFFNet leverages super-resolution information for finer-grained land cover classification. Experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed method in five different testing datasets, achieving 68.17–83.29% and 39.55–75.92% for overall accuracy and kappa, respectively. When compared to ResUnet with up-sampling block, increases of 2.16–34.27% and 8.32–43.97% were observed for overall accuracy and kappa, respectively. Moreover, we proposed a relative drop rate of accuracy metrics to evaluate the transferability. The model exhibits improved spatial transferability, demonstrating its effectiveness in generating accurate land cover maps for different cities. Multi-temporal analysis reveals the potential of the proposed method for studying land cover and land use changes over time. In addition, a comparison of the state-of-the-art full semantic segmentation models indicates that spatial details are fully exploited and presented in semantic segmentation results by the proposed method.
Keeping It Real: Insights from a Sport-Based Living Lab
Authors: Moustakas Louis , Breed Marieke , Burgers Nynke , Carney Sarah , Greven Ties , Grove Patricia , Kalina Lisa , Ogden Perry , Petry Karen , Šafaříková Simona , Sanders Ben , Svoboda Arnost , Wittmannová Julie , van Limbeek Pim , van Marle Fenna
Published: June 2024

Sport for development (SFD) initiatives have faced numerous criticisms around the focus on individual-level (micro) outcomes and lack of integration at the community (meso) and structural (macro) levels. As a result, there is growing recognition that programmes need to find ways to work with and engage a wide range of community members and stakeholders through more inclusive, participatory approaches. One such approach is known as Living Labs. In the following conceptual article, we present the Sport and Social Cohesion Lab (SSCL) project, which implemented a Living Lab approach in various sport-based programmes from four different European countries. The main components of the Living Lab framework are presented, and practical insights are derived from the project. In addition, the unique and sometimes critical role of sport is reflected upon in relation to the Living Lab context. Through this, this article provides practitioners and academics with potential building blocks to implement Living Labs and/or embed participatory approaches in sport and physical activity contexts and social settings more generally.