bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined Turmeric, Vitamin C, and Vitamin D Ready-to-Drink Supplements Reduce Upper Respiratory Illness Symptoms and Gastrointestinal Discomfort in Elite Male Football Players
Authors: Clayton David J. , Burbeary Ross , Parker Connor , James Ruth M. , Saward Chris , Procter Eleanor L. , Mode William J. A. , Baker Carla , Hough John , Williams Neil C. , Rossington Harry , Varley Ian
Published: January 2024

Elite football is associated with the increased risk of illness, although targeted supplementation can reduce illness risk. This study assessed the effects of a supplement containing turmeric root within a black pepper and fat-soluble blend, vitamin C and vitamin D, on upper respiratory symptoms (URS), gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS), muscle soreness, and markers of inflammation and gut permeability in elite male footballers. Twenty-three footballers completed 3 weeks of no intervention (CON), followed by 16 weeks of daily consuming 60 mL of a commercially available supplement containing raw turmeric root (17.5 g, estimated to contain 700 mg of curcumin), vitamin C (1000 mg), and vitamin D3 (3000 IU/75 mcg) (SUP). URS and GIS were measured daily. Immediately (0 h), 40, and 64 h after six competitive matches (two in CON, four in SUP), the subjective soreness and plasma concentrations of creatine kinase [CK], c-reactive protein [CRP], and intestinal fatty-acid binding protein [I-FABP] were assessed. URS incidence (p < 0.001), GIS (p < 0.05), and plasma [I-FABP] at 0 h (p < 0.05) were greater during CON versus SUP. At 40 h, [CRP] was greater than 0 h during CON (p < 0.01) but not SUP (p = 0.204). There were no differences in soreness or [CK]. This study indicates that turmeric root, vitamin C, and vitamin D supplementation over 16 weeks can reduce URS, GIS, and post-match [I-FABP] in elite footballers.
Safety and Suitability of Infant Formula Manufactured from Extensively Hydrolyzed Whey Protein Compared to Intact Protein: A Combined Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Studies
Authors: Fleddermann Manja , Knoll Anette , Koletzko Berthold
Published: January 2024

Our aim was to assess the nutritional safety and suitability of an infant formula manufactured from extensively hydrolyzed protein in comparison to infant formula manufactured from intact protein (both with low and standard protein content). We performed a combined analysis of raw data from two randomized infant feeding studies. An analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model was used to determine the non-inferiority of daily weight gain (primary outcome; margin −3 g/day), with the intervention group as a fixed factor and geographic region, sex, and baseline weight as covariates (main model). The data of 346 infants exposed to the formula were included in the analysis. The sample size of the per-protocol analysis with 184 infants was too small to achieve sufficient statistical power. The lower limit of the 97.5% confidence interval (−0.807) of the mean group difference in daily weight gain (i.e., 2.22 g/day) was above the −3 g/day margin (full analysis set). Further anthropometric parameters did not differ between the infant formula groups throughout the study. Growth was comparable to breastfed infants. We conclude that the infant formula manufactured from extensively hydrolyzed protein meets infant requirements for adequate growth and does not raise any safety concerns.
Authentication of Fennel, Star Anise, and Anise Essential Oils by Gas Chromatography (GC/MS) and Stable Isotope Ratio (GC/IRMS) Analyses
Authors: Murphy Brett J. , Wilson Tyler M. , Ziebarth Emma A. , Bowerbank Christopher R. , Carlson Richard E.
Published: January 2024

The aromatic compound (E)-anethol is widely used in the flavor, fragrance, and medicinal industries. This compound is commonly produced through steam distillation of fennel, star anise, and anise seed. Given the cost of production, these natural and authentic essential oils are commonly adulterated with lower-cost natural materials or synthetic alternatives. The current study investigates essential oil profiles (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) and stable isotope ratios (gas chromatography/isotope ratio mass spectrometry) of the abundant compound (E)-anethol in both authentic reference standards (n = 15) and commercially available samples (n = 30). This multifaceted analytical approach establishes techniques for ensuring the authenticity of essential oil sources of (E)-anethol and was then used to evaluate the current essential oil market sources of (E)-anethol. These findings report that adulteration of (E)-anethol-containing natural products takes various forms, and a multifaceted analytical approach is recommended for authentication. Of the commercial samples analyzed for this report, 27% were adulterated.
Effects of Exogenous Isosteviol on the Physiological Characteristics of Brassica napus Seedlings under Salt Stress
Authors: Xia Wenjing , Meng Wangang , Peng Yueqin , Qin Yutian , Zhang Liang , Zhu Nianqing
Published: January 2024

In this paper, the effect of isosteviol on the physiological metabolism of Brassica napus seedlings under salt stress is explored. Brassica napus seeds (Qinyou 2) were used as materials, and the seeds were soaked in different concentrations of isosteviol under salt stress. The fresh weight, dry weight, osmotic substance, absorption and distribution of Na+, K+, Cl−, and the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured, and these results were combined with the changes shown by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed that isosteviol at an appropriate concentration could effectively increase the biomass and soluble protein content of Brassica napus seedlings and reduce the contents of proline, glycine betaine, and ROS in the seedlings. Isosteviol reduces the oxidative damage to Brassica napus seedlings caused by salt stress by regulating the production of osmotic substances and ROS. In addition, after seed soaking in isosteviol, the Na+ content in the shoots of the Brassica napus seedlings was always lower than that in the roots, while the opposite was true for the K+ content. This indicated that under salt stress the Na+ absorbed by the Brassica napus seedlings was mainly accumulated in the roots and that less Na+ was transported to the shoots, while more of the K+ absorbed by the Brassica napus seedlings was retained in the leaves. It is speculated that this may be an important mechanism for Brassica napus seedlings to relieve Na+ toxicity. The spectroscopy analysis showed that, compared with the control group (T1), salt stress increased the absorbance values of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, etc., indicating structural damage to the plasma membrane and cell wall. The spectra of the isosteviol seed soaking treatment group were nearly the same as those of the control group (T1). The correlation analysis shows that under salt stress the Brassica napus seedling tissues could absorb large amounts of Na+ and Cl− to induce oxidative stress and inhibit the growth of the plants. After the seed soaking treatment, isosteviol could significantly reduce the absorption of Na+ by the seedling tissues, increase the K+ content, and reduce the salt stress damage to the plant seedlings. Therefore, under salt stress, seed soaking with isosteviol at an appropriate concentration (10−9~10−8 M) can increase the salt resistance of Brassica napus seedlings by regulating their physiological and metabolic functions.
Enhanced Lutetium Ion Sorption from Aqueous Solutions Using Activated Ion Exchangers
Authors: Jumadilov Talkybek , Khimersen Khuangul , Haponiuk Józef , Totkhuskyzy Bakytgul
Published: January 2024

The growing demand for rare earth elements (REE) requires the search for economically viable materials to efficiently recover REE from various solutions. Our research aims to investigate the potential of using a combination of the ion exchangers Lewatit CNP LF (in H+ form) and AV-17-8 (in OH− form) as an interpolymer system, “Lewatit CNP LF@AV-17-8” (X:Y), with varying mass ratios of X:Y to enhance the sorption efficiency of lutetium ions from nitrate solution. During the study, we used a range of analytical methodologies, including gravimetry, ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Our findings demonstrate that the interpolymer system “Lewatit CNP LF@AV-17-8” (X:Y), with a mass ratio of 4:2, exhibited a significantly enhanced sorption rate of Lu3+ ions (42%) compared to the individual Lewatit CNP LF (6:0) (25%) and the individual AV-17-8 (0:6) (21%) over a 48 h period. Moreover, this interpolymer system has demonstrated notable conformity to the Freundlich adsorption model, highlighting its performance as an effective sorbent for lutetium (III) ions. Notably, our study presents a novel utilization of the interpolymer system “Lewatit CNP LF@AV-17-8” (4:2), with an adsorption capacity of 221.05 mg/g, to enhance the recovery of lutetium ions. The research findings demonstrate its potential for enhancing the recovery of REE.
Potentiating Gilteritinib Efficacy Using Nanocomplexation with a Hyaluronic Acid–Epigallocatechin Gallate Conjugate
Authors: Bae Ki Hyun , Lai Fritz , Chen Qingfeng , Kurisawa Motoichi
Published: January 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia carrying FMS-like tyrosine kinase receptor-3 (FLT3) mutations is a fatal blood cancer with a poor prognosis. Although the FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib has recently been approved, it still suffers from limited efficacy and relatively high nonresponse rates. In this study, we report the potentiation of gilteritinib efficacy using nanocomplexation with a hyaluronic acid–epigallocatechin gallate conjugate. The self-assembly, colloidal stability, and gilteritinib loading capacity of the nanocomplex were characterized by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and dynamic light scattering technique. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the nanocomplex efficiently internalized into FLT3-mutated leukemic cells via specific interactions between the surface-exposed hyaluronic acid and CD44 receptor overexpressed on the cells. Moreover, this nanocomplex was found to induce an eradication of the leukemic cells in a synergistic manner by elevating the levels of reactive oxygen species and caspase-3/7 activities more effectively than free gilteritinib. This study may provide a useful strategy to design nanomedicines capable of augmenting the therapeutic efficacy of FLT3 inhibitors for effective leukemia therapy.
Systematic Investigation of the Degradation Properties of Nitrile-Butadiene Rubber/Polyamide Elastomer/Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites in Thermo-Oxidative and Hot Oil Environments
Authors: Liu Guangyong , Wang Huiyu , Ren Tianli , Chen Yuwei , Liu Susu
Published: January 2024

The physical blending method was used in order to prepare nitrile-butadiene rubber/polyamide elastomer/single-walled carbon nanotube (NBR/PAE/SWCNT) composites with better thermal-oxidative aging resistance. The interactions between SWCNTs and NBR/PAE were characterized using the Moving Die Rheometer 2000 (MDR 2000), rheological behavior tests, the equilibrium swelling method, and mechanical property tests. The 100% constant tensile stress and hardness of NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites increased from 2.59 MPa to 4.14 MPa and from 62 Shore A to 69 Shore A, respectively, and the elongation decreased from 421% to 355% with increasing SWCNT content. NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites had improved thermal-oxidative aging resistance due to better interactions between SWCNTs and NBR/PAE. During the aging process, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with the increase in aging time compared to the unaged samples, and the constant tensile stress gradually increased. There was a more significant difference in the degradation of mechanical properties when aged in a variety of oils. The 100% constant tensile stress of NBR/PAE/SWCNT composites aged in IRM 903 gradually increased with aging time while it gradually decreased in biodiesel. The swelling index gradually increased with increasing SWCNT content. Interestingly, the swelling index of the composites in cyclohexanone decreased with the increase in SWCNT content. The reasons leading to different swelling behaviors when immersed in different kinds of liquids were investigated using the Hansen solubility parameter (HSP) method, which provides an excellent guide for the application of some oil-resistant products.
Elicitation as a Process of Enhancing Bioactive Compounds Concentration in Sprouts
Authors: Szulc Joanna , Czaczyk Katarzyna , Dobrowolska Anna , Gozdecka Grażyna , Błaszak Błażej
Published: January 2024

During growth, plants produce bioactive compounds—secondary metabolites. Their concentration can be stimulated by the presence of a stressful factor—an elicitor. Since chlorine dioxide is commonly used in water plants to disinfect drinking water, its application as a plant elicitor seems to be very attractive. The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of a new elicitor, ClO2, on the quality of seeds and bioactive compounds of sprouts. Elicitation of radish and broccoli seeds using ClO2 solutions did not significantly reduce their germination percentage (GP remained over 90%). Radish sprouts sprouted from seeds elicited in chlorine dioxide solutions with concentrations up to 800 ppm did not differ statistically significantly in terms of polyphenol content. Sprouts which were grown in the presence of ClO2 contained significantly fewer polyphenolic compounds. Elicitation of broccoli seeds in 800–1000 ppm ClO2 solutions causes an increase in total phenolic content and concentration of ascorbic acid in sprouts. Elicitation in chlorine dioxide solutions not only increased concentrations of selected bioactive compounds but also improved the microbiological quality of sprouts.
Rural Integrated Energy System Based on Bibliometric Analysis: A Review of Recent Progress
Authors: Yu Aofang , Li Zheng , Liu Pei
Published: January 2024

In rural areas with higher agricultural energy consumption, ensuring low-carbon transformation and rapid penetration is crucial; therefore, the importance of rural energy system in energy transformation is even more prominent. In order to better understand the research progress of rural integrated energy system, the existing structure of rural energy system and design method are briefly introduced, and the bibliometric method is applied to analyze publications from 2013 to 2023. Based on the Scopus database, 915 publications have been retrieved. These publications are analyzed from the perspective of citation, author, address, and published journal. It is concluded that existing researches mostly use conventional energy technologies to achieve power supply in rural areas, lacking analysis of the potential application of emerging energy technologies and research on multi-energy demand. Furthermore, the review reveals the economy of grid-connected rural energy system is mainly related to geographical location, system configuration, and resource endowment. The bibliometric analysis indicated that these publications are mainly from India and China; the average citation is 24.98, and each article is co-published by 3.66 authors, 2.26 institutes, and 1.46 countries. This work is helpful for scholars to understand the research status on the rural integrated energy system.
Narrating Serranos Bridge Evolution in Valencia (1500–2022) Using Historic Building Information Modelling and Historical Data
Authors: Gómez Antonio , Adineh Ali , Rahrig Max , Lerma José Luis
Published: January 2024

The city of Valencia (Spain) is famous for its Gothic bridges, built in the 16th century. Today, the bridges no longer cross over the Turia River but have become walkways over one of the most extensive gardens in Europe. One of these bridges is the Serranos Bridge, the oldest bridge in the city and for centuries, it was the only one that existed. This research narrates the evolution of the historical changes related to this bridge, using Historic Building Information Modelling (HBIM) technology. The Serranos Bridge (and related Serranos Towers) were recorded with the help of terrestrial laser scanning, and parametric 3D modelling was followed after scan-to-HBIM. By referring to historical documents and traces from the past, the height of the historic wall of the city was obtained and used to recreate the urban footprint of the area. In addition, the details of the historical bridge components and the subsequent volumetric changes were reconstructed through HBIM. This investigation shows that there is a common symbol in the historical bridges of Valencia, called Casilicium, of which no traces can be identified in the present bridge. The effective integration of historical data, geomatics and HBIM can be used to understand the past and its complex transformation over six centuries with unprecedented expectations.
Correction: Begouen Demeaux, C.; Boss, E. Validation of Remote-Sensing Algorithms for Diffuse Attenuation of Downward Irradiance Using BGC-Argo Floats. Remote Sens. 2022, 14, 4500
Authors: Begouen Demeaux Charlotte , Boss Emmanuel
Published: January 2024

There was an error in the original publication [...]
Impacts of Extreme Precipitation and Diurnal Temperature Events on Grassland Productivity at Different Elevations on the Plateau
Authors: An Hexuan , Zhai Jun , Song Xiaoyan , Wang Gang , Zhong Yu , Zhang Ke , Sun Wenyi
Published: January 2024

The impact of extreme climate events on vegetation growth and ecosystem function has garnered widespread attention, particularly in plateau regions, which are facing increasingly severe environmental pressures. This study employs the Events Coincidence Analysis (ECA) method to examine the impacts of extreme climate events on the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) of vegetation in plateau regions. Specifically, we focus on the unique phenomenon of asymmetric daytime and nighttime warming and evaluate the compounding effect of extreme precipitation with extreme temperature events. The results indicate that grassland NPP has higher overall sensitivity and Coincidence Rates (CR) to extreme precipitation events compared to extreme temperature events. Specifically, extreme drought events significantly negatively impact grassland NPP, and the sensitivity of NPP increases with the severity of extreme drought events. In lower elevations (<3200 m), grassland NPP shows a strong response to extreme precipitation events, with sensitivity decreasing with increasing elevation, especially for alpine meadows. Extreme high-temperature events contributed significantly to NPP in mid to high elevations (3000–5000 m). Compound extreme climate events amplify the average coincidence degree with NPP anomalies, with extreme precipitation events playing a major role in compound effects. The CR of compound climate events can reach above 0.6, reflected in the anomaly increase of NPP in temperate grasslands at higher elevations caused by compound events of extremely wet and extremely high temperatures.
Downlink Analysis of a Low-Earth Orbit Satellite Considering an Airborne Interference Source Moving on Various Trajectory
Authors: Kang Eunjung , Park YoungJu , Kim JungHoon , Choo Hosung
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite downlinks when an airborne interference source moves parallel to the satellite trajectory by considering the relative angle differences between the satellites and the interference sources. To make the experimental interference situations more like actual environments, the LEO trajectories are obtained from two-line element set (TLE) data. Airborne interference sources with various altitudes move parallel to the LEO trajectories, and a jamming to signal (J/S) ratio is calculated based on the relative angle differences between the ground station, the LEO satellite, and the interference source. To accurately calculate the J/S ratio, we should apply the sidelobe gain from which the interference signal enters to the ground station antenna. In order to calculate the relative angle difference ψ, the coordinates of the satellite and the interference source are converted from the World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84) to the ground station-centered east–north-up (ENU) system. The resulting J/S ratio demonstrates that the distance and the relative angle difference ψ between the ground stations, LEO satellite, and airborne interference source appear to be important factors causing changes in the J/S ratio. Among them, the relative angle difference ψ, which determines the sidelobe gain of the ground station antenna, is the most significant factor affecting the J/S ratio variation.
Tracking-by-Detection Algorithm for Underwater Target Based on Improved Multi-Kernel Correlation Filter
Authors: Yue Wenrong , Xu Feng , Yang Juan
Published: January 2024

Joint detection and tracking of weak underwater targets are challenging problems whose complexity is intensified when the target is disturbed by reverberation. In the low signal-to-reverberation ratio (SRR) environment, the traditional detection and tracking methods perform poorly in tracking robustness because they only consider the target motion characteristics. Recently, the kernel correlation filter (KCF) based on target features has received lots of attention and gained great success in visual tracking. We propose an improved multi-kernel correlation filter (IMKCF) tracking-by-detection algorithm by introducing the KCF into the field of underwater weak target detection and tracking. It is composed of the tracking-by-detection, the adaptive reliability check, and the re-detection modules. Specifically, the tracking-by-detection part is built on the multi-kernel correlation filter (MKCF), and it uses multi-frame data weighted averaging to update. The reliability check helps keep the tracker from corruption. The re-detection module, integrated with a Kalman filter, identifies target positions when the tracking is unreliable. Finally, the experimental data processing and analysis show that the proposed method outperforms the single-kernel methods and some traditional tracking methods.
Efficient Defect Detection of Rotating Goods under the Background of Intelligent Retail
Authors: Hu Zhengming , Zeng Xuepeng , Xie Kai , Wen Chang , He Jianbiao , Zhang Wei
Published: January 2024

Dynamic visual vending machines are rapidly growing in popularity, offering convenience and speed to customers. However, there is a prevalent issue with consumers damaging goods and then returning them to the machine, severely affecting business interests. This paper addresses the issue from the standpoint of defect detection. Although existing industrial defect detection algorithms, such as PatchCore, perform well, they face challenges, including handling goods in various orientations, detection speeds that do not meet real-time monitoring requirements, and complex backgrounds that hinder detection accuracy. These challenges hinder their application in dynamic vending environments. It is crucial to note that efficient visual features play a vital role in memory banks, yet current memory repositories for industrial inspection algorithms do not adequately address the problem of location-specific feature redundancy. To tackle these issues, this paper introduces a novel defect detection algorithm for goods using adaptive subsampling and partitioned memory banks. Firstly, Grad-CAM is utilized to extract deep features, which, in combination with shallow features, mitigate the impact of complex backgrounds on detection accuracy. Next, graph convolutional networks extract rotationally invariant features. The adaptive subsampling partitioned memory bank is then employed to store features of non-defective goods, which reduces memory consumption and enhances training speed. Experimental results on the MVTec AD dataset demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves a marked improvement in detection speed while maintaining accuracy that is comparable to state-of-the-art models.
A Novel Robotic Controller Using Neural Engineering Framework-Based Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Marrero Dailin , Kern John , Urrea Claudio
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates spiking neural networks (SNN) for novel robotic controllers with the aim of improving accuracy in trajectory tracking. By emulating the operation of the human brain through the incorporation of temporal coding mechanisms, SNN offer greater adaptability and efficiency in information processing, providing significant advantages in the representation of temporal information in robotic arm control compared to conventional neural networks. Exploring specific implementations of SNN in robot control, this study analyzes neuron models and learning mechanisms inherent to SNN. Based on the principles of the Neural Engineering Framework (NEF), a novel spiking PID controller is designed and simulated for a 3-DoF robotic arm using Nengo and MATLAB R2022b. The controller demonstrated good accuracy and efficiency in following designated trajectories, showing minimal deviations, overshoots, or oscillations. A thorough quantitative assessment, utilizing performance metrics like root mean square error (RMSE) and the integral of the absolute value of the time-weighted error (ITAE), provides additional validation for the efficacy of the SNN-based controller. Competitive performance was observed, surpassing a fuzzy controller by 5% in terms of the ITAE index and a conventional PID controller by 6% in the ITAE index and 30% in RMSE performance. This work highlights the utility of NEF and SNN in developing effective robotic controllers, laying the groundwork for future research focused on SNN adaptability in dynamic environments and advanced robotic applications.
Intensification of Hate Speech, Based on the Conversation Generated on TikTok during the Escalation of the War in the Middle East in 2023
Authors: González-Esteban José-Luis , Lopez-Rico Carmen Maria , Morales-Pino Loraine , Sabater-Quinto Federico
Published: January 2024

The present research has been carried out concurrently with the conversation that took place on the social network TikTok during the most recent escalation of the war between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East (Gaza-Palestine) during the month of October 2023. The main objective of this article is to analyze of how young audiences are informed about complex problems, the quality of that information, and the consequences of the intensification of uncontrolled hate speech. Regarding the methodology, data were extracted from TikTok using the open-source tool tiktok-hashtag-analysis—hosted on GitHub—which facilitated the analysis of hashtags within the posts collected from this social network, starting with an initial sample of 17,654 comments. The article draws and reaches conclusions related to the fact that young audiences indeed are interested in the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, as it is evident that the conversation—which is polarized—on TikTok about this issue has escalated considerably. Similarly, analysis of the extracted and filtered sample shows that the variable “hate speech” intensified on the platform during the analyzed conversation.
Research on Optimized Design of Rural Housing in Cold Regions Based on Parametrization and Machine Learning
Authors: Sun Minghui , Xue Yibing , Wang Lei
Published: January 2024

With the rapid development of urbanization, the emergence of more self-built buildings in the countryside has brought about energy waste problems and decreased comfort. Achieving the low-carbon goal and improving the quality of the human living environment through architectural and planning means have become vital issues. In this study, from a parametric perspective, model building and performance simulation are carried out using Rhino and Grasshopper, and a multi-objective optimization method and a neural network model are used as the theoretical basis to train the prediction model after data collection and processing. The model validation of R2 = 0.988 and MSE = 0.0148 indicates that the model can accurately reflect the program’s performance. By establishing a rapid prediction model for the performance of rural residential buildings, decision-makers can perform performance predictions under various parameter combinations at the early design stage, facilitating the screening of building types with high energy consumption and costs. The method can improve the efficiency of decision-making at the early stage of design, help save decision-making costs by screening high-energy-consuming building types, improve the living conditions of residents, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to the sustainable development of residential building renewal design in rural areas.
City 4.0: Digital Transformation of Urban Settlements
Authors: Yigitcanlar Tan , Xia Bo , Cortese Tatiana Tucunduva Philippi , Sabatini-Marques Jamile
Published: January 2024

The combination of the computer and distributed networks during the recent decades has led to two ‘Digital Revolutions’ that today allow anyone to create, disseminate, and access any information anywhere, any time, and from any smart device [...]
Does Firm Size Matter for ESG Risk? Cross-Sectional Evidence from the Banking Industry
Authors: Bolibok Piotr M.
Published: January 2024

The ambiguous evidence regarding the linkages between firm size and ESG risk in the relevant literature justifies the need for their further scientific investigation. A particularly interesting context for this task is offered by the banking industry, where financial institutions face both strong incentives to expand the scale of their activities and high reputational risk sensitivity. Given the above, this paper aims to systematize and enhance the theoretical underpinnings of the relationship between firm size and ESG risk in banks, highlighting its likely non-linear character, and to investigate it empirically in the cross-section of the international banking industry. This research employs uni- and multivariate, and linear and non-linear regression analyses applied to a sample of 668 banks that were assigned the Morningstar Sustainalytics ESG Risk Rating for the year 2021. The results demonstrate that, although, on average, size seems to be associated negatively with ESG risk in the cross-section, the relationship is in fact non-linear and follows a U-shaped pattern. The findings are robust regarding the impact of both country-specific contextual factors and outliers. This study emphasizes the importance of diseconomies of scale in ESG risk management, thus offering some important lessons and recommendations for bank executives and equity investors.
Remediation of Arsenic and Cadmium Co-Contaminated Soil: A Review
Authors: Lin Mengting , Ma Sairu , Liu Jie , Jiang Xusheng , Dai Demin
Published: January 2024

The concurrent presence of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) contamination in soil is widespread and severe, highlighting the need for remediation. However, remediating As and Cd co-contaminated soils is more complex than remediating soils contaminated with a single heavy metal due to the opposite properties of As and Cd in soil. Thus, the different forms of As and Cd in co-contaminated soils and their transformation rules have been systematically reviewed in this paper. Simultaneously, hyperaccumulators and immobilization amendments used in the remediation of As–Cd co-contaminated soil were reviewed. Moreover, the mechanisms of phytoremediation and chemical immobilization techniques in the treatment of As and Cd co-contaminated soil and the remediation effects were expounded in detail. To promote the development of ecological civilization, this paper proposes further remediation strategies and guidance for the remediation of As–Cd co-contaminated soil.
Composting and Mechanical Biological Treatment for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Bizerte, Tunisia
Authors: Mathlouthi Oumaima , Trabelsi Ayadi Malika , Ghorbel Abid Ibtissem , Nassour Abdallah
Published: January 2024

This study seeks to develop effective solutions and strategies for waste management in the Tunisian municipality of Bizerte by addressing the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices in light of the global imperative to mitigate climate change. With a specific focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, this investigation aligns with Tunisia’s commitment to international agreements, including the Paris Agreement and the Global Methane Pledge. This study begins with an exploration of background information, followed by data collection and waste characterization to determine the current situation and to detect gaps that exist in terms of waste management in Bizerte municipality. Two scenarios are proposed as potential solutions for the municipality. The first examines a green waste composting facility with a 1000-ton yearly capacity, which has been operational since 2020. This study describes the compost production process and evaluates the quality of compost derived from green waste. This approach demonstrates its potential for delivering significant environmental and economic benefits. The second scenario delves into the implementation of a mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant for sustainable handling of residual waste while contributing to a reduction in the municipality’s overall environmental footprint. Using the Sweet software, version 4.0.2, July 2022. this study quantifies the potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions resulting from composting to be 3%, while the MBT achieves a reduction of 28%.
A Sustainable Approach Using Beef and Pig Bone Waste as a Cement Replacement to Produce Concrete
Authors: Palomino-Guzmán Elkin Ronaldo , González-López Alejandra , Olmedo-Montoya Jorge , Sanchez-Echeverri Luz Adriana , Tovar-Perilla Nelson Javier
Published: January 2024

Owing to the ongoing accumulation of industrial by-products, the management and disposal of waste have emerged as a significant issue. Employing these industrial wastes as an alternative to replace cement holds potential as a promising solution for conserving energy and reducing CO2 emissions. In this study, pig and beef bone powder were used as cement replacements in concrete, and the mechanical properties were studied. Bone powders were prepared from random bones collected from local slaughterhouses, butchers, and restaurants. The pig bone powder (PBP) and beef bone powder (BBP) were prepared by direct fire contact, oven-calcined for 4 h at 300 °C, crushed, and sieved to size 0.4 to 2 mm. A concrete mix design was formulated for a target compressive strength of 21 MPa at 28 days of curing. This design included three different levels of cement replacement with each type of bone powder (10%, 15%, and 20% by mass). These mixes were then evaluated and compared to a control mix without any bone powder replacement (PB-0). This study evaluated the mechanical properties via compressive strength and flexural testing. The results showed that the workability of the mixtures decreased with the increase in bone powder content. Bone powder functions as a pozzolanic substance, engaging in a chemical reaction with the calcium hydroxide in concrete to produce compounds that exhibit cement-like properties; however, an increase in bone powder content worsened the mechanical properties. The most promising results were obtained for a 10% replacement percentage of BBP and PBP, obtaining strengths of 21.15 MPa and 22.78 MPa, respectively. These are both above the design strength, with PBP concrete even exceeding the strength of PB-0 (21.75 MPa). These results showed a good agreement with the standard values and allow to use these wastes as a replacement for cement, becoming a sustainable solution to the exploitation of quarry materials and, in turn, to the problem of contamination by biological waste from the meat industry.
The Fate of Microplastics, Derived from Disposable Masks, in Natural Aquatic Environments
Authors: Zhang Wei , Chai Senyou , Duan Changhui , Sun Xueliang , Zuo Qiting , Gong Lin
Published: January 2024

This paper mainly reviews the fate of microplastics, released from used face masks, in the water environment. Through previous experiments, the amount of fiber microplastics released from used face masks into aqueous environments was not negligible, with the maximum microplastics releasing amount reaching 10,000 piece·day−1 for each mask. Microplastic derived from these masks often occurred in the shape of polymeric fibers that resulted from the breakage of the chemical bonds in the plastic fibers by the force of water flow. The potential contact forces between microplastics (originating from face masks) with other pollutants, primarily encompass hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. This critical review paper briefly illustrates the fate of microplastics derived from disposable face masks, further devising effective strategies to mitigate the environmental impact of plastic particle release from the used personal protective equipment.
Arrival Time from Hamiltonian with Non-Hermitian Boundary Term
Authors: Jurić Tajron , Nikolić Hrvoje
Published: January 2024

In this study, we developed a new method for finding the quantum probability density of arrival at the detector. The evolution of the quantum state restricted to the region outside of the detector is described by a restricted Hamiltonian that contains a non-Hermitian boundary term. The non-Hermitian term is shown to be proportional to the flux of the probability current operator through the boundary, which implies that the arrival probability density is equal to the flux of the probability current.
HPV16 E6 Oncogene Contributes to Cancer Immune Evasion by Regulating PD-L1 Expression through a miR-143/HIF-1a Pathway
Authors: Konstantopoulos Georgios , Leventakou Danai , Saltiel Despoina-Rozi , Zervoudi Efthalia , Logotheti Eirini , Pettas Spyros , Karagianni Korina , Daiou Angeliki , Hatzistergos Konstantinos , Dafou Dimitra , Arsenakis Minas , Psyrri Amanda , Kottaridi Christine
Published: January 2024

Human Papillomaviruses have been associated with the occurrence of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer that affects women globally, while 70% of cases are caused by infection with the high-risk types HPV16 and HPV18. The integration of these viruses’ oncogenes E6 and E7 into the host’s genome affects a multitude of cellular functions and alters the expression of molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate how these oncogenes contribute to the expression of immune system control molecules, using cell lines with integrated HPV16 genome, before and after knocking out E6 viral gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, delivered with a lentiviral vector. The molecules studied are the T-cell inactivating protein PD-L1, its transcription factor HIF-1a and the latter’s negative regulator, miR-143. According to our results, in the E6 knock out (E6KO) cell lines an increased expression of miR-143 was recorded, while a decrease in the expression of HIF-1a and PD-L1 was exhibited. These findings indicate that E6 protein probably plays a significant role in enabling cervical cancer cells to evade the immune system, while we propose a molecular pathway in cervical cancer, where PD-L1’s expression is regulated by E6 protein through a miR-143/HIF-1a axis.
Investigating Flood Characteristics and Mitigation Measures in Plain-Type River-Connected Lakes: A Case Study of Poyang Lake
Authors: Deng Shupan , Wu Qiuqin , Wang Zhichao , Wu Longhua , Huang Zhiwen , Zhang Guangming
Published: January 2024

The flow of plain-type river-connected lakes is affected by both upstream and downstream rivers, and the hydrological conditions are very complex. Poyang Lake, situated in Jiangxi Province, is the largest river-connected lake in the Yangtze River Basin. Its unique geographical features and complex hydrological conditions have made it a heavy disaster area and a frequent area of floods since ancient times. As typical mitigation measures of Poyang Lake, semi-restoration polder areas and flood storage and detention areas play a crucial role in the flood control of Poyang Lake. Taking Poyang Lake as an example, this article studies the flood characteristics of Poyang Lake based on the measured hydrological data. Furthermore, by using the weir (gate) outflow formula to construct the hydraulic model of semi-restoration polder areas and DHI MIKE to construct the hydrodynamic model of Kangshan flood storage and detention area, the flood diversion capacity of the two, and the flood diversion effect under the super-historical flood in 2020 are analyzed. The results show that compared with the non-use of mitigation measures, the maximum cumulative reduction in Xingzi water level can be reduced by 0.68 m and 0.48 m when semi-restoration polder areas and Kangshan flood storage and detention areas are used alone. Finally, the article puts forward some thoughts and suggestions on the flood control of Poyang Lake. The research results can offer some reference to the flood risk management of plain-type river-connected lakes.
Satellite-Observed Increase in Aboveground Carbon over Southwest China during 2013-2021
Authors: Fan Lei , Dong Guanyu , Frappart Frédéric , Wigneron Jean-Pierre , Yue Yuemin , Xiao Xiangming , Zhang Yao , Tao Shengli , Cao Lin , Li Yuechen , Ma Mingguo , Fang Hongqian , Yu Ling , Xing Zanpin , Li Xiaojun , Shi Weiyu , Chen Xiuzhi , Fensholt Rasmus
Published: January 2024

Over the past 4 decades, Southwest China has the fast vegetation growth and aboveground biomass carbon (AGC) accumulation, largely attributed to the active implementation of ecological projects. However, Southwest China has been threatened by frequent extreme drought events recently, potentially countering the expected large AGC increase caused by the ecological projects. Here, we used the L-band vegetation optical depth to quantify the AGC dynamics over Southwest China during the period 2013-2021. Our results showed a net AGC sink of 0.064 [0.057, 0.077] Pg C year
−1
(the range represents the maximum and minimum AGC values), suggesting that Southwest China acted as an AGC sink over the study period. Note that the AGC loss of 0.113 [0.101, 0.136] Pg C year
−1
was found during 2013-2014, which could mainly be attributed to the negative influence of extreme droughts on AGC changes in Southwest China, particularly in the Yunnan province. For each land use type (i.e., dense forests, persistent forests, nonforests, afforestation, and forestry), the largest AGC stock increase of 0.032 [0.028, 0.036] Pg C year
−1
was found in nonforests, owing to their widespread land cover rate over Southwest China. For AGC density (i.e., AGC per unit area), the afforestation areas showed the largest AGC density increase of 0.808 [0.724, 0.985] Mg C ha
−1
year
−1
, reflecting the positive effect of afforestation on AGC increase. Moreover, the karst areas exhibited a higher increasing rate of AGC density than nonkarst areas, suggesting that the karst ecosystems have a high carbon sink capacity over Southwest China.
СТРАТЕГІЇ КОМАНДОТВОРЕННЯ У ПРОЦЕСІ НАВЧАННЯ КУРСАНТІВ-ДЕСАНТНИКІВ
Authors: Костюшко І. А.
Published: January 2024

Командотворення у процесі навчання курсантів-десантників у сучасних умовах військової діяльності належить до актуальних проблем військової науки і практики. Мета статті – визначити і проаналізувати стратегії командотворення у процесі навчання курсантів-десантників. Було визначено чотири основні стратегії формування навичок командотворення курсантів-десантників: організаційно-методологічна, комунікативна, розвитку лідерства і соціальних навичок, тактично-групова.
Організаційно-методологічна стратегія визначається як система підходів, спрямованих на ефективне формування і розвиток навичок командотворення майбутніх військових. Однією з ключових складових стратегії є створення комплексних освітніх програм, які поєднують фізичну, психологічну і тактичну підготовку. Ключовим елементом організаційно-методологічної стратегії є індивідуальний підхід до розвитку кожного курсанта.
Реалізація комунікативної стратегії визначає успішність підготовки майбутніх офіцерів. Ключовою характеристикою комунікативної стратегії є встановлення чітких комунікативних завдань, спрямованих на підтримання ефективного обміну інформацією та розуміння мети команди. На практиці, здійснення комунікативної стратегії передбачає проведення комунікативних тренувань, у яких курсанти отримають можливість вдосконалити свої навички.
Розвиток лідерських і соціальних навичок визначається як складний та взаємопов’язаний процес, спрямований на формування сильної і ефективної команди. Теоретично, лідерство в контексті військової діяльності тлумачиться як здатність особистості впливати на інших для досягнення спільних цілей. Розвиток соціальних навичок базується на розумінні принципів міжособистісної комунікації, емпатії та вміння співпрацювати в групі.
Ключовим елементом є тактично-групова стратегія командотворення, яка орієнтована на розвиток та удосконалення тактичних і групових навичок курсантів-десантників. Реалізація цієї стратегії визначається комплексним підходом, який враховує важливість тактичного мислення і ефективної групової динаміки у військових операціях. Практична реалізація стратегії включає проведення тактичних сценаріїв і симуляцій військових операцій, що дозволяє курсантам відчути реальність тактичних викликів і виробити стратегії вирішення проблем.
Analisis Model Grover, Altman, Springate dan Zmijewski Dalam Memprediksi Financial Distress Pada Perusahaan Sektor Transportasi, Logistik, Real Estate, dan Property
Authors: Aulia Fatmawati  , Ferdawati  , Lisa Amelia Herman  , Reni Endang Sulastri
Published: January 2024

This final assignment aims to determine the financial condition of companies in the logistics transportation, real estate and property sectors listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2018-2022 period, using a purposive sampling method with a total sample of 36 companies (180 data per company year). The type of data used is secondary data obtained from the company's financial reports. This research uses 4 financial distress analysis models, namely the Grover, Altman, Springate, and Zmijewski models. The results of this research show that the Grover and Altman model produces the same pattern, where the transportation and logistics sector is predicted to be in a distressed condition, while the real estate and property sector is predicted to be in a non-distressed condition. The Springate model produces a different pattern where the transportation logistics, real estate and property sectors are more dominantly predicted to be in distress. Meanwhile, the Zmijewski model for companies in the transportation logistics, real estate and property sectors is predicted to be in a non-distress condition. Overall, the transportation and logistics sector experienced distress of 67% and 34% for the real estate and property sectors.
A Method for Searching for Defective Solar Panels in Telemetry Data of a Power Plant Based on the Results of a Digital Twin
Authors: Dzik K. S.
Published: January 2024

Searching for faulty, and therefore operating in abnormal mode, solar panels at a power plant is an urgent task in the context of the development and growth of the share of solar energy in electricity generation. The research is aimed at developing and evaluating the effectiveness of a new methodology and software algorithm for searching for anomalies in the operation of solar panels based on the results of a digital twin created and trained using telemetry data from a solar power plant. The methodology is based on studies of deviations in power values at the point of maximum efficient operation of the solar panel, calculated by the digital twin, from the average statistical values for the power plant. Using the proposed methodology, over six months of direct observations, 16 anomalies in the operation of the solar panels of the power plant were discovered and confirmed. It has been established that when analyzing deviations of normalized power values at the maximum power point PN, it is possible to detect solar panels that have defects or operate with loss of efficiency.