bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trust-Based Optimized Reporting for Detection and Prevention of Black Hole Attacks in Low-Power and Lossy Green IoT Networks
Authors: Khan Muhammad Ali , Rais Rao Naveed Bin , Khalid Osman , Ahmad Sanan
Published: March 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) is empowering various sectors and aspects of daily life. Green IoT systems typically involve Low-Power and Lossy Networks (LLNs) with resource-constrained nodes. Lightweight routing protocols, such as the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL), are increasingly being applied for efficient communication in LLNs. However, RPL is susceptible to various attacks, such as the black hole attack, which compromises network security. The existing black hole attack detection methods in Green IoT rely on static thresholds and unreliable metrics to compute trust scores. This results in increasing false positive rates, especially in resource-constrained IoT environments. To overcome these limitations, we propose a delta-threshold-based trust model called the Optimized Reporting Module (ORM) to mitigate black hole attacks in Green IoT systems. The proposed scheme comprises both direct trust and indirect trust and utilizes a forgetting curve. Direct trust is derived from performance metrics, including honesty, dishonesty, energy, and unselfishness. Indirect trust requires the use of similarity. The forgetting curve provides a mechanism to consider the most significant and recent feedback from direct and indirect trust. To assess the efficacy of the proposed scheme, we compare it with the well-known trust-based attack detection scheme. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme has a higher detection rate and low false positive alarms compared to the existing scheme, confirming the applicability of the proposed scheme in green IoT systems.
Spherical Silver Nanoparticles Located on Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites as Sensitive Electrochemical Sensors for Detection of L-Cysteine
Authors: Hua Fei , Yao Tiancheng , Yao Youzhi
Published: March 2024

A new, simple, and effective one-step reduction method was applied to prepare a nanocomposite with spherical polycrystalline silver nanoparticles attached to the surface of reduced graphene oxide (Ag@rGO) at room temperature. Equipment such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterize the morphology and composition of the Ag@rGO nanocomposite. A novel electrochemical sensor for detecting L-cysteine was proposed based on fixing Ag@rGO onto a glassy carbon electrode. The electrocatalytic behavior of the sensor was studied via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The results indicate that due to the synergistic effect of graphene with a large surface area, abundant active sites, and silver nanoparticles with good conductivity and high catalytic activity, Ag@rGO nanocomposites exhibit significant electrocatalytic activity toward L-cysteine. Under optimal conditions, the constructed Ag@rGO electrochemical sensor has a wide detection range of 0.1–470 μM for L-cysteine, low detection limit of 0.057 μM, and high sensitivity of 215.36 nA M−1 cm−2. In addition, the modified electrode exhibits good anti-interference, reproducibility, and stability.
Research on Delamination Damage Quantification Detection of CFRP Bending Plate Based on Lamb Wave Mode Control
Authors: Yu Quanpeng , Zhou Shiyuan , Cheng Yuhan , Deng Yao
Published: March 2024

The carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bending structure is widely used in aviation. The emergence and spread of delamination damage will decrease the safety of in-service bending structures. Lamb waves can effectively identify delamination damage as a high-damage-sensitivity detection tool. For this present study, the signal difference coefficient (SDC) was introduced to quantify delamination damage and evaluate the sensitivity of A0-mode and S0-mode Lamb waves to delamination damage. The simulation results show that compared with the S0-mode Lamb wave, the A0-mode Lamb wave exhibits higher delamination damage sensitivity. The delamination damage can be quantified based on the strong correlation between the SDC and the delamination damage size. The control effect of the linear array PZT phase time-delay method on the Lamb wave mode was investigated by simulation. The phase time-delay method realizes the generation of a single-mode Lamb wave, which can separately excite the A0-mode and S0-mode Lamb wave to identify delamination damage of different sizes. The A0-mode Lamb wave was excited by the developed one-dimensional miniaturized linear comb transducer (LCT), which was used to conduct the detection experiment on the CFRP bending plate with delamination damage sizes of Φ6.0 mm, Φ10.0 mm, and Φ15.0 mm. The experimental results verify the correctness of the simulation. According to the Hermite interpolation results of the finite-element simulation data, the relationship between the delamination damage size and the SDC was fitted by the Gaussian function and Rational function, which can accurately quantify the delamination damage. The absolute error of the delamination damage quantification with Gaussian and Rational fitting expression does not exceed 0.8 mm and 0.7 mm, and the percentage error is not more than 8% and 7%. The detection and signal processing methods employed in the present research are easy to operate and implement, and accurate delamination damage quantification results have been obtained.
Spectrogram Inversion for Reconstruction of Electric Currents at Industrial Frequencies: A Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Lalla Abderraouf , Albini Andrea , Di Barba Paolo , Mognaschi Maria Evelina
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we present a deep learning approach for identifying current intensity and frequency. The reconstruction is based on measurements of the magnetic field generated by the current flowing in a conductor. Magnetic field data are collected using a magnetic probe capable of generating a spectrogram, representing the spectrum of frequencies of the magnetic field over time. These spectrograms are saved as images characterized by color density proportional to the induction field value at a given frequency. The proposed deep learning approach utilizes a convolutional neural network (CNN) with the spectrogram image as input and the current or frequency value as output. One advantage of this approach is that current estimation is achieved contactless, using a simple magnetic field probe positioned close to the conductor.
Editorial to the Special Issue “Vision Sensors: Image Processing Technologies and Applications”
Authors: Fernandes Leandro A. F.
Published: March 2024

Computer vision and optical technologies have become attractive alternatives for metrology, chemical analysis, and non-destructive structural health monitoring and the evaluation of aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering structures [...]
3D Point Cloud Object Detection Method Based on Multi-Scale Dynamic Sparse Voxelization
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Liu Ye , Zhu Yongjian , Wang Dong , Zhang Yu
Published: March 2024

Perception plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and reliability of autonomous driving systems. However, the recognition and localization of small objects in complex scenarios still pose challenges. In this paper, we propose a point cloud object detection method based on dynamic sparse voxelization to enhance the detection performance of small objects. This method employs a specialized point cloud encoding network to learn and generate pseudo-images from point cloud features. The feature extraction part uses sliding windows and transformer-based methods. Furthermore, multi-scale feature fusion is performed to enhance the granularity of small object information. In this experiment, the term “small object” refers to objects such as cyclists and pedestrians, which have fewer pixels compared to vehicles with more pixels, as well as objects of poorer quality in terms of detection. The experimental results demonstrate that, compared to the PointPillars algorithm and other related algorithms on the KITTI public dataset, the proposed algorithm exhibits improved detection accuracy for cyclist and pedestrian target objects. In particular, there is notable improvement in the detection accuracy of objects in the moderate and hard quality categories, with an overall average increase in accuracy of about 5%.
A New Permanent Scatterer Selection Method Based on Gaussian Mixture Model for Micro-Deformation Monitoring Radar Images
Authors: Tan Weixian , Li Jing , Hou Ting , Huang Pingping , Qi Yaolong , Xu Wei , Li Chunming , Chen Yuejuan
Published: March 2024

The micro-deformation monitoring radar is usually based on Permanent Scatterer (PS) technology to realize deformation inversion. When the region is continuously monitored for a long time, the radar image amplitude and pixel variance will change significantly with time. Therefore, it is difficult to select phase-stable scatterers by conventional amplitude deviation methods, as they can seriously affect the accuracy of deformation inversion. For different regions studied within the same scenario, using a PS selection method based on the same threshold often increases the size of the deformation error. Therefore, this paper proposes a new PS selection method based on the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM). Firstly, PS candidates (PSCs) are selected based on the pixels’ amplitude information. Then, the amplitude deviation index of each PSC is calculated, and each pixel’s probability values in different Gaussian distributions are acquired through iterations. Subsequently, the cluster types of pixels with larger probability values are designated as low-amplitude deviation pixels. Finally, the coherence coefficient and phase stability of low-amplitude deviation pixels are calculated. By comparing the probability values of each of the pixels in different Gaussian distributions, the cluster type with the larger probability, such as high-coherence pixels and high-phase stability pixels, is selected and designated as the final PS. Our analysis of the measured data revealed that the proposed method not only increased the number of PSs in the group, but also improved the stability of the number of PSs between groups.
Combined Effects of Rice Husk Biochar and Organic Manures on Soil Chemical Properties and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Two Different Paddy Soils
Authors: Mon War War , Toma Yo , Ueno Hideto
Published: March 2024

The application of biochar is considered an alternative amendment strategy for improving soil fertility. In this study, we performed pot experiments using soils of low and medium fertility to assess the effects of different combinations of biochar and organic manure on the chemical properties of paddy rice soils and determined the best combination to improve the grain yield without increasing N2O and CH4 emissions. The applied treatments were without biochar (control), the application of rice husk biochar alone (5 and 10 t ha−1), and biochar combined with chicken or cow manure. The results indicated that for both soils, the application of 5 t ha−1 biochar combined with 5 t ha−1 chicken manure increased grain yield by improving soil total nitrogen and soil NH4+-N without increasing cumulative N2O and CH4 emissions. Multiple regression analysis showed that when combined with biochar, chicken manure significantly contributed to a higher grain yield and was negatively associated with cumulative CH4, N2O emissions, and total GWP. Furthermore, regardless of soil type, combined applications of biochar and cow manure promoted significant increases in soil available P. Our findings indicate that the C/N ratio of organic manure influences CH4 fluxes, and soil type was identified as a factor driving greenhouse gas emissions.
Development of n-Type, Passivating Nanocrystalline Silicon Oxide Films via Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition
Authors: Kaur Gurleen , Olivares Antonio J. , Roca i Cabarrocas Pere
Published: March 2024

Nanocrystalline silicon oxide (nc-SiOx:H) is a multipurpose material with varied applications in solar cells as a transparent front contact, intermediate reflector, back reflector layer, and even tunnel layer for passivating contacts, owing to the easy tailoring of its optical properties. In this work, we systematically investigate the influence of the gas mixture (SiH4, CO2, PH3, and H2), RF power, and process pressure on the optical, structural, and passivation properties of thin n-type nc-SiOx:H films prepared in an industrial, high-throughput, plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) reactor. We provide a detailed description of the n-type nc-SiOx:H material development using various structural and optical characterization techniques (scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Raman spectroscopy, and spectroscopic ellipsometry) with a focus on the relationship between the material properties and the passivation they provide to n-type c-Si wafers characterized by their effective carrier lifetime (τeff). Furthermore, we also outline the parameters to be kept in mind while developing different n-type nc-SiOx:H layers for different solar cell applications. We report a tunable optical gap (1.8–2.3 eV) for our n-type nc-SiOx:H films as well as excellent passivation properties with a τeff of up to 4.1 ms (implied open-circuit voltage (iVoc)~715 mV) before annealing. Oxygen content plays an important role in determining the crystallinity and hence passivation quality of the deposited nanocrystalline silicon oxide films.
The Impact of Technology Mergers and Acquisitions on Enterprise Sustainable Competitiveness
Authors: Li Xinao
Published: March 2024

In the context of global competition, enterprises are increasingly adopting technology mergers and acquisitions (M&As) as a strategic approach to enhance their sustainable competitiveness. This study investigates the impact of technology M&As on the sustainable competitiveness of enterprises, focusing on Chinese A-share listed companies from 2007 to 2021. Employing a staggered difference-in-difference (DID) model for empirical analysis, the findings reveal that technology M&As significantly boost the sustainable competitiveness of enterprises by 6.2% compared to non-technology M&A firms. Moreover, the study employs a mediation effect model to demonstrate that technology M&As contribute to improved enterprise productivity levels and market power. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that the positive effects are more pronounced in firms with a strong ESG performance and those with lower levels of digital development. The study offers valuable insights for corporate strategic planning and policy-making, emphasizing the role of technology M&As in fostering enterprise sustainability and competitiveness.
Granular Skeleton Optimisation and the Influence of the Cement Paste Content in Bio-Based Oyster Shell Mortar with 100% Aggregate Replacement
Authors: Pinto Dabés Guimarães Ana Cláudia , Nouailletas Olivier , Perlot Céline , Grégoire David
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology to optimise the granular skeleton assembly of cementitious materials containing non-spherical aggregates. The method is general and can be applied to any granular skeleton whatever the aggregate shape, size, or composition because it is simply based on the direct minimisation of the intergranular porosity to consequently increase the skeleton’s compactness. Based on an experimental design approach, this method was applied to and validated for bio-based oyster shell (OS) mortar with 100% aggregate replacement. First, the best combination of seven crushed oyster shell particle classes was determined and compared with a standardised sand skeleton (0/4 mm) and three other non-optimised OS gradings in terms of intergranular porosity. In particular, it is shown that simply mimicking a reference grading curve initially designed for spherical particles with non-spherical particles led to poor performances. Then, different mortars were cast with the standardised sand skeleton, the optimised OS grading, and the three other non-optimised OS gradings by keeping the water-to-cement ratio (0.5), the aggregate bulk volume, and the cement paste content constant. Mechanical tests in compression confirmed the higher performance of the optimised OS mortar, validating the global optimisation approach. However, the high elongation of the oyster shell aggregates led to high skeleton intergranular porosities—even after optimisation—and the cement paste content needed to be adapted. For a given granular skeleton and for a constant aggregate bulk volume, the increase of the cement paste content led to an increase of both the filling ratio and the mechanical properties (compressive and flexural strengths). Finally, it is shown that the proposed skeleton optimisation and a cement paste content adjustment allowed recovering good mechanical properties for an oyster shell mortar with 100% aggregate replacement, especially in flexural tension.
Investigating the Impact of Heterogeneous Environmental Regulation on the Ecological Efficiency of Industrial Enterprises: A Multivariate Adjustment Approach Using the CLAD Spatial Durbin Model
Authors: Xu Yuxuan , Qiang Fengjiao , Luo Wenchun
Published: March 2024

The ecoefficiency of industrial enterprises serves as an indicator of regional industry’s capacity for sustainable development, with judicious environmental regulations being essential for facilitating green industrial transformation and the realization of high-quality development. In this investigation, a global Super-SBM model is utilized to assess the ecoefficiency of industrial firms in 30 Chinese provinces from 2003 to 2021. Furthermore, we examine how environmental regulations affect industrial ecoefficiency using a moderating effect model and we determine spatial implications using the Clad-SDM model. The findings are as follows: (1) The ecoefficiency of China’s industrial enterprises has increased from approximately 0.2 to nearly 0.4, with command-based environmental regulations augmenting ecoefficiency in contrast to the limited impact of market-based regulations. (2) Economic advancement amplifies the positive influence of command-based regulations on industrial ecoefficiency and heightens the negative effects of market-based regulations; concurrently, international trade and the technological milieu positively moderate the influence exerted by market-based and command-based regulations, respectively. (3) Both regulatory types exhibit significant spatial spillover effects, with clear regional differences in their impact on industrial ecoefficiency.
Analysis of Waste Tire Particle Movement in a Single Horizontal-Axis Stirred Reactor Based on the Eulerian Discrete Element Method
Authors: Hou Litong , Wu Yicheng , Chen Xiaomin , Liu Junrong , Ma Yongzhi
Published: March 2024

The pyrolysis of waste tires has been considered a potential sustainable solution in light of escalating carbon dioxide emissions. Nevertheless, current research indicates a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the movement of waste tire particles in a single horizontal-axis stirred pyrolysis reactor. This study employed EDEM 2021.2 software to perform comprehensive numerical simulations of a single horizontal-axis stirred pyrolysis reactor, examining the impact of three main production factors—particle size, feed rate, and central axis speed—on particle motion. By acquiring contact data between particles and reactor walls, we illustrated the persistent motion of particles during the operation of the equipment. The research findings suggest that with the rise in rotational speed, there is a corresponding increase in particle accumulation. In high-speed conditions, the interaction between particles and the reactor wall is intensified. The contact level increased by 15.54% (at 3 r/min) and 25.66% (at 5 r/min) with the rise in rotational speed. Furthermore, at an identical rotational speed, the interaction between the larger particle group and the wall surpassed that of the smaller particle group. Doubling the feed rate led to a reduction of over 10% in the contact level between particles and the reaction wall at varying speeds. Through a thorough analysis of various factors influencing particle motion, our objective is to elucidate the motion traits of particles in the reactor, offering crucial theoretical direction and technical assistance to enhance production efficiency and ensure the secure and steady operation of pyrolysis reactors.
Bus Voltage Stabilization of a Sustainable Photovoltaic-Fed DC Microgrid with Hybrid Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Uswarman Rudi , Munawar Khalid , Ramli Makbul A. M. , Mehedi Ibrahim M.
Published: March 2024

Renewable energy sources play a great role in the sustainability of natural resources and a healthy environment. Among these, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are becoming more economically viable. However, as the utility of solar energy conversion systems is limited by the availability of sunlight, they need to be integrated with electrical energy storage systems to be more sustainable. This paper aims to improve the control performance of a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) with PV power generation as the primary power source. HESSs stabilize DC microgrid systems by compensating for demand generation mismatches. Batteries and supercapacitors are chosen as energy storage elements; batteries have a high energy density and are capable of supplying and absorbing energy over a long duration, while supercapacitors can store and deliver energy very quickly. To enhance the stability of the system, each storage element is connected to the DC bus using a bidirectional Ćuk converter, which offers high efficiency, a continuous current, and minimal switching losses. This study proposes a proportional–integral (PI) controller combined with the fast nonsingular integral terminal sliding mode control (FNITSMC) for HESSs to adjust the power balance in a DC microgrid. FNITSMC has the advantage of enhancing the system states to reach the equilibrium point of a long sliding surface with a fast convergence rate. The reference current for FNITSMC is obtained using a PI controller combined with a low-pass filter (LPF), which eliminates the peaking current spikes on the battery and diverts them towards the supercapacitor. The effectiveness of the proposed control scheme is validated through the real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulations on Typhoon™ HIL-402 with added uncertainties, including load variations at various temperatures and irradiances.
Informative Transparency on Entrepreneurship by Spanish Local Governments
Authors: Durán Maria Pache , Gil María Teresa Nevado , Abelaira Triana Arias , Sanguino Ángel Sabino Mirón
Published: March 2024

In recent decades, city councils have become a powerful tool used to “motivate” entrepreneurship. Through a content analysis of the webpages of 50 Spanish city councils corresponding to the period 2015–2019, the evolution of the degree of disclosure of information on entrepreneurship has been analysed. A series of population, economic and political explanatory factors have researched the disclosure of this type of information in two ways. First, a cluster analysis was carried out based on a previously calculated disclosure index. Second, an analysis of variance was performed to verify the existence of an association between the proposed determining factors. The results show that the information disclosed on entrepreneurship by municipalities is related to the size of the population, municipal debt, institutional capacity, the unemployed population and political competition.
Implicit and Explicit Preferences for Golden Ratio
Authors: Salera Claudia , Vallebella Camilla , Iosa Marco , Pecchinenda Anna
Published: March 2024

The golden ratio, also known as Phi (ϕ ≈ 1.618034), attracted the interest of mathematicians, artists, and intellectuals for many centuries, probably from when it was discovered in human anthropometry. Even in recent times, researchers found the presence of the golden ratio in Renaissance paintings and aesthetic preferences. The reasons behind the fascination with the golden ratio remain unclear, but it has been suggested that stimuli containing this proportion are often perceived as beautiful. However, evidence is conflicting, and the literature struggles to establish the existence of individual preferences for the golden ratio. To gain new insights into the nature of these preferences, one hundred participants completed an implicit association task, with either golden ratio or random stimuli presented with positive or negative words. Participants initially categorized the stimuli based on their assigned categories. Then, we assessed their explicit preferences by asking them to rate the stimuli in terms of pleasantness and by completing a line bisection task and the Ultimatum Game. The results revealed the typical effects observed in implicit association tasks, with improved response times and accuracy when golden ratio stimuli were associated with positive word categories. In contrast, explicit ratings yielded mixed results. We discuss our findings in relation to previous studies that have explored this issue, highlighting the ongoing debate surrounding preferences for the golden ratio.
Mercury in Fish and Human Hair and Estimated Dietary Intake in a Riverside Community of the Madeira River Basin in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Canela Thayson Araujo , Monteiro Lucas Cabrera , Cabral Cássio da Silva , Ximenes Fábio da Silva , Oliveira Iuri Aparecida da Silva , Bernardi José Vicente Elias , Almeida Ronaldo de , Bastos Wanderley Rodrigues
Published: March 2024

Mercury (Hg) is a chemical element that poses risks to human health due to its high toxicity and environmental persistence. We determined the total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations in hair samples from residents of the Demarcação District (Porto Velho, Rondônia) in the Brazilian Amazon, as well as in water and fish samples, to evaluate factors influencing human exposure. The average THg concentration in human hair was 7.86 ± 6.78 mg kg−1 and it was significantly higher in men, with an increasing trend related to age. There was no significant difference between female age groups. Human exposure to Hg through water was negligible compared to fish consumption. The average weekly intake estimates in the community varied between 1.54 and 4.62 μg kg−1, substantially higher than the recommended limit. The fish species with the highest amounts safe for daily consumption were herbivores and detritivores. Our results contribute to an understanding of how exposure to Hg affects the health of riverside populations and provide insights for new research to develop methods to mitigate such exposure and thus improve the quality of life of Amazonian people.
Ambient Air Pollution and Vision Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Han Zhuo , Zhao Chao , Li Yuhua , Xiao Meng , Yang Yuewei , Zhao Yizhuo , Liu Chunyu , Liu Juan , Li Penghui
Published: March 2024

The effects of air pollution on physical health are well recognized, with many studies revealing air pollution’s effects on vision disorder, yet no relationship has been established. Therefore, a meta-analysis was carried out in this study to investigate the connection between vision disorder and ambient particles (diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), diameter ≤ 10 µm (PM10)) and gaseous pollutants (nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3)). Twelve relevant studies published by 26 February 2024 were identified in three databases. A pooled odds ratios (ORs) of 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained using random-effects meta-analysis models. Meta-analysis results revealed that for every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and NO2 exposure, a substantially higher incidence of vision disorder was observed (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.19; OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.16). No significant correlation existed between exposure to PM10, SO2 and CO and vision disorder. However, O3 exposure was negatively associated with vision disorder. In addition, subgroup analyses revealed that PM2.5 exposure was significantly correlated with the risk of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration and that children and adolescents were more susceptible to NO2 and PM2.5 than adults. Overall, exposure to air pollutants, especially PM2.5 and NO2, may increase the incidence of vision disorder.
HIV-1 Vpr Functions in Primary CD4+ T Cells
Authors: Vanegas-Torres Carlos Alberto , Schindler Michael
Published: March 2024

HIV-1 encodes four accesory proteins in addition to its structural and regulatory genes. Uniquely amongst them, Vpr is abundantly present within virions, meaning it is poised to exert various biological effects on the host cell upon delivery. In this way, Vpr contributes towards the establishment of a successful infection, as evidenced by the extent to which HIV-1 depends on this factor to achieve full pathogenicity in vivo. Although HIV infects various cell types in the host organism, CD4+ T cells are preferentially targeted since they are highly permissive towards productive infection, concomitantly bringing about the hallmark immune dysfunction that accompanies HIV-1 spread. The last several decades have seen unprecedented progress in unraveling the activities Vpr possesses in the host cell at the molecular scale, increasingly underscoring the importance of this viral component. Nevertheless, it remains controversial whether some of these advances bear in vivo relevance, since commonly employed cellular models significantly differ from primary T lymphocytes. One prominent example is the “established” ability of Vpr to induce G2 cell cycle arrest, with enigmatic physiological relevance in infected primary T lymphocytes. The objective of this review is to present these discoveries in their biological context to illustrate the mechanisms whereby Vpr supports HIV-1 infection in CD4+ T cells, whilst identifying findings that require validation in physiologically relevant models.
CRISPR RNA-Guided Transposases Facilitate Dispensable Gene Study in Phage
Authors: Liu Yanmei , Liang Zizhen , Yu Shuting , Ye Yanrui , Lin Zhanglin
Published: March 2024

Phages provide a potential therapy for multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. However, a significant portion of viral genes often remains unknown, posing potential dangers. The identification of non-essential genes helps dissect and simplify phage genomes, but current methods have various limitations. In this study, we present an in vivo two-plasmid transposon insertion system to assess the importance of phage genes, which is based on the V. cholerae transposon Tn6677, encoding a nuclease-deficient type I-F CRISPR–Cas system. We first validated the system in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and its phage S1. We then used the selection marker AcrVA1 to protect transposon-inserted phages from CRISPR-Cas12a and enriched the transposon-inserted phages. For a pool of selected 10 open-reading frames (2 known functional protein genes and 8 hypothetical protein genes) of phage S1, we identified 5 (2 known functional protein genes and 3 hypothetical protein genes) as indispensable genes and the remaining 5 (all hypothetical protein genes) as dispensable genes. This approach offers a convenient, site-specific method that does not depend on homologous arms and double-strand breaks (DSBs), holding promise for future applications across a broader range of phages and facilitating the identification of the importance of phage genes and the insertion of genetic cargos.
Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in Renal Transplant Recipients: Species Diversity and Variability
Authors: Reyes Noelia Soledad , Spezia Pietro Giorgio , Jara Raquel , Filippini Fabio , Boccia Natalia , García Gonzalo , Hermida Eliana , Poletta Fernando Adrian , Pistello Mauro , Laham Gustavo , Maggi Fabrizio , Echavarria Marcela
Published: March 2024

Torque Teno Virus (TTV) is a nonpathogenic and ubiquitous ssDNA virus, a member of the Anelloviridae family. TTV has been postulated as a biomarker in transplant patients. This study aimed to determine the TTV species diversity and variability in renal transplant recipients and to associate species diversity with the corresponding TTV viral load. From 27 recipients, 30 plasma samples were selected. Viral load was determined using two real-time PCR assays, followed by RCA-NGS and ORF1 phylogenetic analysis. The TTV diversity was determined in all samples. Variability was determined in three patients with two sequential samples (pre- and post-transplantation). Most of the samples presented multiple TTV species, up to 15 different species were detected. In the pre-transplant samples (n = 12), the most prevalent species were TTV3 (75%) and TTV13 (75%), and the median number of species per sample was 5 (IQR: 4–7.5). TTV3 was also the most prevalent (56%) in the post-transplant samples (n = 18), and the median number of species was 2 (IQR: 1.8–5.5). No significant correlation between the number of species and viral load was found. The number and type of TTV species showed total variability over time. We report high TTV species diversity in Argentinian recipients, especially in pre-transplant period, with total intra-host variability. However, we found no significant correlation between this high diversity and TTV viral load.
Reduction in Interferon-Stimulated Genes Contributes to High-Yield Production of Influenza Virus in Suspension MDCK Cells
Authors: Wang Qi , Luo Jian , Li Beibei , Ye Qian , Xu Wenting , Gao Feixia , Zhou Linting , Lu Wenyue , Tan Wen-Song , Li Xiuling
Published: March 2024

Compared with the traditional vaccine produced in embryonated chicken eggs, cell-based manufacturing represented by the Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line has a larger production scale and reduces the risk of egg shortage in a pandemic. Establishing a culture system that enables high production of the influenza virus is a key issue in influenza vaccine production. Here, a serum-free suspension culture of MDCK (sMDCK) cells was obtained from adherent MDCK (aMDCK) cells by direct adaptation. Viral infection experiments showed that viral yields of influenza A/B virus in sMDCK cells were higher than in aMDCK cells. Transcriptome analysis revealed that numerous interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) exhibited reduced expression in sMDCK cells. To further clarify the mechanism of high viral production in sMDCK cells, we demonstrated the antiviral role of RIG-I and IFIT3 in MDCK cells by knockdown and overexpression experiments. Furthermore, suppression of the JAK/STAT pathway enhances the viral accumulation in aMDCK cells instead of sMDCK cells, suggesting the reduction in the JAK/STAT pathway and ISGs promotes viral replication in sMDCK cells. Taken together, we elucidate the relationship between the host innate immune response and the high viral productive property of sMDCK cells, which helps optimize cell production processes and supports the production of cell-based influenza vaccines.
Study on Varicella-Zoster Virus Antibody Levels among Children Aged 1–7 Years in Changzhou, China
Authors: Wu Dan , Han Changlei , Xiong Suting , Zhang Peipei , Gao Han , Li Junhong , Wang Fengming , Xu Qinwen , Dong Xin
Published: March 2024

We aim to understand the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) antibody levels in children after vaccination and to construct VZV-IgG centile curves and reference values for children aged 1–7 years. From September to October 2023, a total of 806 children were recruited according to the time intervals of 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after vaccination, as well as age groups. A generalized additive model for location, shape, and scale (GAMLSS) was applied to estimate P3, P10, P25, P50, P75, P90, and P97 centile reference values of VZV-IgG, and 95% reference intervals were calculated. A total of 785 children were included in the analysis, with an overall positivity rate of 70.3%, a median antibody concentration of 192.05 (82.89–571.14) mIU/mL, and a positivity rate of 57.7% for one dose of vaccine and 84.2% for two doses. Antibody positivity rates at 1 month, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years after vaccination were 65.1%, 74.4%, 80.4%, 67.7%, and 63.0%, respectively. The GAMLSS results showed that VZV-IgG had a tendency to increase and then decrease after vaccination, and the second dose of vaccination could significantly increase VZV-IgG. Two doses of varicella vaccine should be administered to children in a timely manner and included in the routine vaccination programs.
Intraoperative Isoflurane End-Tidal Concentration during Infusion of Fentanyl, Tramadol, or Fentanyl–Tramadol Combination in Cats
Authors: Interlandi Claudia , Bruno Fabio , Tabbì Marco , Macrì Francesco , Di Pietro Simona , Giudice Elisabetta , Licata Patrizia , Macrì Daniele , Zappone Viola , Costa Giovanna Lucrezia
Published: March 2024

The aim of this study was to evaluate the end-tidal concentration of isoflurane required, clinical parameters, intraoperative antinociceptive effect, and postoperative analgesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy, receiving fentanyl, tramadol, or fentanyl/tramadol. Sixty-six cats in three groups, were premedicated with dexmedetomidine and infused with one of the following treatments: fentanyl, tramadol, or fentanyl/tramadol combination. Anesthesia was induced with alfaxolone and maintained with isoflurane, titrated to keep heart rate, respiratory rate and systolic arterial pressure within target values recorded at endotracheal intubation. An intraoperative cumulative scale was performed. Postoperatively, a short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale Feline was used at 2, 12, and 24 h. The groups were similar for age, weight, dose of dexmedetomidine, and alfaxalone administered. A greater reduction in the end-tidal isoflurane fraction was observed with the combined fentanyl/tramadol infusion than with either fentanyl or tramadol alone. No differences in the end-tidal isoflurane fraction were found between fentanyl or tramadol alone. Hemodynamic stability associated with minimal cardiopulmonary changes, low response to noxious intraoperative stimulation, and low postoperative pain scores were also observed with the fentanyl/tramadol combination. The fentanyl/tramadol combination provided a reduction in the end-tidal isoflurane fraction compared with fentanyl or tramadol alone.
An Alternative Approach Using the Firefly Algorithm and a Hybrid Method Based on the Artificial Bee Colony and Cultural Algorithm for Reservoir Operation
Authors: Phumiphan Anujit , Kosasaeng Suwapat , Sivanpheng Ounla , Hormwichian Rattana , Kangrang Anongrit
Published: March 2024

In reservoir operation rule curves, it is necessary to apply rule curves to guide long-term reservoir management. This study proposes an approach to optimizing reservoir operation rule curves (RORCs) using intelligent optimization techniques from the firefly algorithm (FA) and a unique combination method utilizing the artificial bee colony and cultural algorithm (ABC-CA). The aim is to establish a connection with the simulation model to determine the optimal RORCs for flood control. The proposed model was used to determine the optimal flood control RORC for the Nam-Oon Reservoir (NOR) in northeastern Thailand. A minimum frequency and minimum average of excess water were provided as an objective function for assessing the efficiency of the search process. The evaluation of the effectiveness of flood control RORCs involved expressing water scarcity and excess water situations in terms of frequency, magnitude, and duration using historical inflow data synthesized from 1000 events. The results demonstrated that when using the obtained RORC to simulate the NOR system for reducing flooding in long-term operations, excess water scenarios were smaller than those using the current RORC. The results showed that the excess water scenario using the RORC obtained from the proposed model can reduce the excess water better than the current RORC usage scenario. In decreasing flood situations, the newly acquired RORC from the suggested FA and ABC-CA models performed better than the current RORC.
Forest Fire Risk Mapping Using GIS Based Analytical Hierarchy Process Approach
Authors: Demir Ahmet , Akay Abdullah Emin
Published: March 2024

Turkiye is located in a region sensitive to forest fires due to its climate, vegetation characteristics, and topography. Every year, forest fires, for various reasons, cause burning of thousands of hectares of forest area. Fires damage the ecosystem and have economic consequences. The Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara coasts, where the Mediterranean climate and fire-sensitive tree species dominate, are at primary risk against forest fires. For an effective fight against forest fires, it is crucial to identify zones with fire risk based on various parameters such as forest structures (tree species, crown closure, stand development class), topographic features (slope, aspect), climate, and proximity to certain points (such as roads, settlements, agricultural areas). Fire risk data will shed light on the measures that can be taken against fire. In this study, GIS (Geographic Information Systems) based Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, one of the well know Multi-Criteria Decision Making Analysis (MCDA) methods, was used to develop the fire risk map of Mersin Forestry Regional Directorate (FRD) within the Mediterranean region of Turkiye. Then, the accuracy of the fire risk map was evaluated by taking into account the previous fires in the regional directorate. As a result, the findings showed that 13.87% of the study area was classified as very high, 25.87% as high, 24.68% as medium, 22.44% a low, and 13.14% as very low risk areas. The results also indicated that tree species are the most influential risk factor in forest fires, and followed by stand development class factor. The accuracy of the fire risk map was evaluated by using the location information of a total of 562 forest fires in Mersin FRD between 2003-2022. In order to determine the accuracy of the fire risk map, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve method was used in the ArcGIS environment. As a result, the Area Under Curve (AUC) value was approximately 74%, which showed that the fire risk map developed for Mersin FRD was moderately reliable. With this study, it has been demonstrated that it is possible to produce reliable fire risk maps in a short time using the GIS-based AHP method.
Prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus infections and cervical pathology in women with ASC-US cervical cytology
Authors: Ho Quang Nhat , Le Quang Thanh , Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy
Published: March 2024

Background and aims: This study identified the prevalence of high-risk human papillomaviruses (hrHPV) and pathological diagnosis variation among patients with ASC-US.

Materials and Methods: This Cross-sectional descriptive study recruited 569 female participants aged 21-68 years who attended Tu Du Hospital from 10/2019 to 12/2020 and performed PAP smear tests diagnosed as ASC-US.

Results: The prevalent rate of hrHPV infection was 44.8%. Regardless of HPV 16 and HPV 18, the infection rate of the remaining hrHPV was predominant (71.4%, 182/255), followed by the 10.6% of HPV 16 and the 4.3% HPV 18. Among 175 patients having cervical pathology, the rate of squamous cell carcinoma, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia CIN 1, CIN 2, and CIN 3 was 1.15%, 4.0%, 5.7%, and 1.15%, respectively. HPV 16 was present in all patients (2/2, 100%) who developed squamous cell carcinoma, and in six of twelve patients (50%) who acquired CIN 2 and 3. The subjects who had been exposed to more than one hrHPV genotype (HPV 16, HPV 18, and others) were diagnosed CIN 2 (40.0%). Despite the high likelihood of infection with other HPVs other than HPV 16 and 18 (75.9%), the majority of participants had normal cervical histology.

Conclusion: Patients carrying hrHPV with ASC-US seem to appear diverse histopathological findings in which the incidence of CIN2+ accounts for a large proportion (8%).

Key words: ASC-US, high-risk HPV, CIN, cervical cancer.
SENTIMENTOS QUE A MATEMÁTICA DESPERTA: O QUE COMPARTILHAM ESTUDANTES DO CURSO DE PEDAGOGIA
Authors: Nogueira Uilma do Bonfim , Alves de Oliveira Sandra , Reis Sônia Maria Alves de Oliveira
Published: March 2024

Este artigo relata uma investigação biográfico-narrativa com estudantes do 7.° semestre do curso de Pedagogia do Campus XII da Universidade do Estado da Bahia no segundo semestre de 2017. Busca-se analisar, nas suas histórias de vida, sentimentos compartilhados em relação à matemática na educação básica: mágoas, encantamentos, vivências e lembranças. Os dados foram recolhidos e analisados em entrevistas narrativas de cinco desses estudantes, que relatam suas vivências e experiências com a matemática – as marcas que ficaram; os sentimentos despertados; as motivações durante sua trajetória estudantil; a importância da matemática em suas vidas. Tais histórias, que reportam idas e vindas, fazem um traçado da trajetória de seus autores e revelam também como um professor de matemática pode marcar a vida do estudante de forma negativa ou positiva e como o ambiente escolar, do qual advêm vencedores, é fundamental para a vida humana.
Palavras-chave: Histórias de vida. Matemática. Trajetória formativa. Aprendizagens.
NÍVEIS DE PENSAMENTO ALGÉBRICO DE LICENCIANDOS EM MATEMÁTICA: O CASO DOS PROBLEMAS DE PARTILHA
Authors: Dos Santos Ferreira Tharsis , Ramos de Almeida Jadilson
Published: March 2024

Esse trabalho teve por objetivo identificar o nível de desenvolvimento do pensamento algébrico de licenciandos em matemática ao resolverem problemas de partilha. Para tanto foi utilizado como base o modelo desenvolvido por Almeida (2016), que propõe quatro níveis de desenvolvimento do pensamento algébrico em relação aos problemas de partilha. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram 64 alunos do 1º período do curso de licenciatura em matemática de uma universidade pública. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de um teste composto por seis problemas de partilha. Verificamos que a maior parte dos participantes, 73%, se encontram com o pensamento algébrico consolidado. Entretanto, ainda foi possível perceber que alguns alunos chegam no curso de licenciatura em matemática com essa forma de pensar sem estar plenamente desenvolvida, uma vez que 14% dos sujeitos da pesquisa se encontram no nível 0, ou seja, não conseguem estabelecer as relações necessárias para responder a um problema de partilha.
Palavras-chave: Educação algébrica. Pensamento algébrico. Problemas de partilha. Licenciatura em matemática.
Transformative Horizons: Navigating the Evolution of HR through AI and Cloud Technologies
Authors: Nalini M
Published: March 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are transforming human resources (HR) throughout the digital revolution. This white paper examines how these technologies are converging and how they affect HR practices. First, the report charts the evolution of HR technology from manual methods to complex digital ecosystems. This essay stresses the vital moment when AI and cloud technologies drive HR innovation, altering talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, and other areas. This article discusses AI’s position in HR and its applications throughout HR. Real-world case studies show how AI-powered recruitment improves candidate screening and predictive analytics informs HR decisions. Cloud HR solutions, fundamental to modern HR technology, are targeted. This article discusses cloud-based HR systems’ versatility, cost savings, and ability to adapt to changing demands. Additionally, this section features companies that have improved HR procedures using cloud technology. Cloud platforms provide AI-powered HR solutions, according to the paper. Addressing bias and ensuring AI fairness are ethical considerations in the analysis. It also stresses cloud-based HR system data privacy and security. HR experts are crucial to this transformation. The paper discusses HR teams’ changing roles in an AI and cloud-centric HR world and offers upskilling and reskilling techniques to maximise HR functions’ strategic value.