bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glibenclamide-Loaded Nanoparticles Reduce NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and Modulate miR-223-3p/miR-7-1-5p Expression in THP-1 Cells
Authors: Mancuso Roberta , Citterio Lorenzo Agostino , Agostini Simone , Marventano Ivana , La Rosa Francesca , Re Francesca , Seneci Pierfausto , Saresella Marina , Clerici Mario
Published: November 2023

The anti-hyperglycemic drug glibenclamide (Glb) might represent an interesting therapeutic option in human neurodegenerative diseases because of its anti-inflammatory activity and its ability to downregulate activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Bi-functionalized liposomes that can cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) may be used to release Glb into the central nervous system (CNS), overcoming its poor solubility and bioavailability. Here, we analyzed in vitro the effect of Glb-loaded nanovectors (GNVs) and Glb itself on NLRP3 inflammasome activation using a lipopolysaccharide- and nigericine-activated THP-1 cell model. Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) aggregation and NLRP3-related cytokine (IL-1β, caspase 1, and IL-18) production and gene expression, as well as the concentration of miR-223-3p and miR-7-1-5p, known to modulate the NLRP3 inflammasome, were evaluated in all conditions. Results showed that both GNVs and Glb reduced significantly ASC-speck oligomerization, transcription and translation of NLRP3, as well as the secretion of caspase 1 and IL-1β (p < 0.05 for all). Unexpectedly, GNVs/Glb significantly suppressed miR-223-3p and upregulated miR-7-1-5p expression (p < 0.01). These preliminary results thus suggest that GNVs, similarly to Glb, are able to dampen NLRP3 inflammasome activation, inflammatory cytokine release, and modulate miR-223-3p/miR-7-1-5p. Although the mechanisms underlying the complex relation among these elements remain to be further investigated, these results can open new roads to the use of GNVs as a novel strategy to reduce inflammasome activation in disease and rehabilitation.
UNet-Based Framework for Predicting the Waveform of Laser Pulses of the Front-End System in a Current High-Power Laser Facility
Authors: Liao Yuzhen , Huang Xiaoxia , Geng Yuanchao , Yuan Qiang , Hu Dongxia
Published: November 2023

Performing data mining on large waveform datasets of a high-power laser facility is an important way to achieve precise regulation of a device. However, there are currently issues with missing values, noise, and inconsistency in this database of measuring pulse waveform in a current high-power laser facility. In this paper, a UNet of a series residual module is presented to predict the pulse waveform of a front-end chained system in a current high-power laser facility. The designed network is trained on grouped sequences formed by experimentally measuring pulse waveforms of a high-power laser facility. The strategies of relay output and relay loss are employed in training in order to enable the network to predict two kinds of pulse waveforms simultaneously. The trained network achieved an RMSE of 3.38% on the testing set of measuring pulse waveform at a frequency of 1 Hz, and an RMSE of 0.84% on the testing set of setting the voltage of the Arbitrary Waveform Generator (AWG). These results indicate that this method can accurately fill in paired missing values in the waveform database of a high-power laser facility. The main advantage of this method is that it can quickly couple operational parameters for prediction, and this method can be applied to predicting laser performance, cleaning one-dimensional sequences, and maintaining a waveform database.
Printing Parameter Optimization of Additive Manufactured PLA Using Taguchi Design of Experiment
Authors: Ahmed Bilal Anjum , Nadeem Uzair , Hakeem Abbas Saeed , Ul-Hamid Anwar , Khan Mohd Yusuf , Younas Muhammad , Saeed Hasan Aftab
Published: November 2023

Three-dimensional printing (3DP), known as additive layer manufacturing (ALM), is a manufacturing process in which a three-dimensional structure is constructed by successive addition of deposited layers. Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) has evolved as the most frequently utilized ALM process because of its cost-effectiveness and ease of operation. Nevertheless, layer adhesion, delamination, and quality of the finished product remain issues associated with the FDM process parameters. These issues need to be addressed in order to satisfy the requirements commonly imposed by the conventional manufacturing industry. This work is focused on the optimization of the FDM process and post-process parameters for Polylactic acid (PLA) samples in an effort to maximize their tensile strength. Infill density and pattern type, layer height, and print temperature are the process parameters, while annealing temperature is the post-process parameter considered for the investigation. Analysis based on the Taguchi L18 orthogonal array shows that the gyroid infill pattern and annealing cycle at 90 °C results in a maximum ultimate tensile strength (UTM) of 37.15 MPa. Furthermore, the regression model developed for the five variables under study was able to predict the UTS with an accuracy of more than 96%.
Structure Dependent Electrochemical Behaviors of Hard Carbon Anode Materials Derived from Natural Polymer for Next-Generation Sodium Ion Battery
Authors: Kim Jungpil , Han Sang-Don , Koo Bonwook , Lee Sang-Hyun , Yang Junghoon
Published: November 2023

Hard carbons are one of the most promising anode materials for next-generation sodium-ion batteries due to their high reversible capacity, long cycle life, and low cost. The advantage in terms of price of hard carbons can be further improved by using cheaper resources such as biomass waste as precursors. Lignin is one of the richest natural bio-polymer in the earth which can be obtained from woods. As the lignin has three-dimensional amorphous polymeric structure, it is considered as good precursor for producing carbonaceous materials under proper carbonization processes for energy storage devices. In this study, structural properties of lignin-derived hard carbons such as interlayer spacing, degree of disorder and surface defects are controlled. Specifically, lignin-derived hard carbons were synthesized at 1000 °C, 1250 °C, and 1500 °C, and it was confirmed that the structure gradually changed from a disordered structure to ordered structure through X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Hard carbons exhibit sloping regions at high voltage and plateau region at low voltage during the electrochemical processes for sodium ions. As the heat treatment temperature increases, the contribution to the overall reversible capacity of the sloping region decreases and the contribution of the plateau region increases. This trend confirms that it affects reversible capacity, rate-capability, and cycling stability, meaning that an understanding of structural properties and related electrochemical properties is necessary when developing hard carbon as a negative electrode material for sodium ion batteries.
Emerging Robust Polymer Materials for High-Performance Two-Terminal Resistive Switching Memory
Authors: Li Bixin , Zhang Shiyang , Xu Lan , Su Qiong , Du Bin
Published: November 2023

Facing the era of information explosion and the advent of artificial intelligence, there is a growing demand for information technologies with huge storage capacity and efficient computer processing. However, traditional silicon-based storage and computing technology will reach their limits and cannot meet the post-Moore information storage requirements of ultrasmall size, ultrahigh density, flexibility, biocompatibility, and recyclability. As a response to these concerns, polymer-based resistive memory materials have emerged as promising candidates for next-generation information storage and neuromorphic computing applications, with the advantages of easy molecular design, volatile and non-volatile storage, flexibility, and facile fabrication. Herein, we first summarize the memory device structures, memory effects, and memory mechanisms of polymers. Then, the recent advances in polymer resistive switching materials, including single-component polymers, polymer mixtures, 2D covalent polymers, and biomacromolecules for resistive memory devices, are highlighted. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of polymer memory materials and devices are discussed. Advances in polymer-based memristors will open new avenues in the design and integration of high-performance switching devices and facilitate their application in future information technology.
Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Potential of Beverages from Buckwheat and Side Streams after Beverages Production
Authors: Janiak Michał Adam , Karamać Magdalena , Sulewska Katarzyna , Amarowicz Ryszard , Denev Petko , Slavova-Kazakova Adriana
Published: November 2023

Plant-based milk alternatives are a fast-growing segment of food industry resulting in the generation of large amounts of by-products, often containing comparable and even higher amounts of valuable phytochemicals than the target products. Common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) Panda variety has been selected for this study, which aims to compare the antioxidant potential of beverages produced from buckwheat whole and dehulled grains, as well as cakes obtained as residues. After combining, evaporating and freeze-drying, extracts were subjected to RP-HPLC-DAD, total phenolics and in vitro antiradical and antioxidant assays (FRAP, ABTS, DPPH and lipid autoxidation). Flavonoids (3.09 mg/100 mL) exceeded the content of phenolic acids (2.35 mg/100 mL) in the beverages prepared from dehulled grains, but their content (1.69 mg/100 mL) in the beverages from whole grains was lower than that of phenolic acids (2.93 mg/100 mL). The antiradical capacity of beverages did not differ significantly, regardless of the method used. In case of by-products, a higher ferric-reducing capacity and scavenging activity towards DPPH• of cakes from whole grains compared to that from dehulled grains was established. The activity of cake extracts under lipid autoxidation conditions increased with the increase in their concentrations from 0.12 wt% to 0.16 wt% in the oxidizable substrate.
Being and Essence of Creation in Liber de Causis and Aquinas’s Reception
Authors: Gui Lingchang
Published: November 2023

Derived from Proclus’s Elementatio Theologica, Liber de Causis (LDC), with the concept of “creation” at its core, provides a substantial monotheistic adaptation of the former that was absorbed and criticized by medieval philosophers represented by Aquinas. Taking Aquinas’s classical distinction between being and essence as the axis of inquiry, this paper first points out that, in contrast to Proclus, LDC not only introduces the concept of creation but also includes in this concept the distinction between being and essence. By reviewing the different readings of Avicenna and Aquinas on the division, this paper then sketches out two different tendencies in the medieval Arab and Latin worlds to either accept the concept of creation in LDC that both being and essence of individua are given from the One via intelligence or to take a further monotheistical transformation, which declaims the One bestowing the being of creations directly. Through this case study, this paper attempts to show the influence of LDC on Aquinas’s thought and demonstrate the civilizational transitions, fusions, and exchanges that characterized medieval philosophy.
An Increasingly (In)visible Religion? The Italian Case
Authors: Marchetti Rita , Pagiotti Susanna
Published: November 2023

Scholars have for some years hypothesized a “new visibility” of religion, so that a relevant role in the publicization of religion is played by the media. However, while the public visibility of religion in the media has recently become a topic of great interest at the international level, in Italy, the literature on this topic is quite scarce. It is of particular interest in Italy due to the central role played by the Catholic Church, which, despite the changed socio-political context and the transformations of the media system, does not seem to have lost its capacity to intervene publicly. Therefore, this study intends to fill this gap through a longitudinal analysis of the coverage of the Catholic Church in the main Italian print newspapers in the last 17 years (2005–2021). In total, 202,788 articles were collected and analysed using a content analysis. Results show that, in Italy, we cannot speak of a greater visibility of religion, in particular of the Catholic Church today in print press than in the past, nor of a uniformity with respect to the way in which is spoken about it in terms of issues and religious actors.
AA-LMM: Robust Accuracy-Aware Linear Mixture Model for Remote Sensing Image Registration
Authors: Yang Jian , Li Chen , Li Xuelong
Published: November 2023

Remote sensing image registration has been widely applied in military and civilian fields, such as target recognition, visual navigation and change detection. The dynamic changes in the sensing environment and sensors bring differences to feature point detection in amount and quality, which is still a common and intractable challenge for feature-based registration approaches. With such multiple perturbations, the extracted feature points representing the same physical location in space may have different location accuracy. Most existing matching methods focus on recovering the optimal feature correspondences while they ignore the diversities of different points in position, which easily brings the model into a bad local extrema, especially when existing with the outliers and noises. In this paper, we present a novel accuracy-aware registration model for remote sensing. A soft weighting is designed for each sample to preferentially select more reliable sample points. To better estimate the transformation between input images, an optimal sparse approximation is applied to approach the transformation by multiple iterations, which effectively reduces the computation complexity and also improves the accuracy of approximation. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches in both matching accuracy and correct matches.
Hypobiosis and Development of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis Infection in Lambs under Different Levels of Nutrition
Authors: Carvalho Nadino , Neves José Henrique das , Pennacchi Caio Santos , Amarante Alessandro Francisco Talamini do
Published: November 2023

The influence of four levels of dietary supplementation on the development of the immune response and on the biology of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis was evaluated in Dorper lambs under serial artificial infections with 1000 infective larvae (L3) of each species; the supplement was given every 3 days for 12 weeks. For each of the four diets formulated, one infected group (n = 7) and one control group (n = 4) were set up. Diets 1, 2, 3, and 4 contained 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of concentrate, respectively. There was an evident immune response to infection in all groups, manifested through eosinophilia and the production of anti-L3 immunoglobulins. There was a significant inverse relationship between the levels of nutrients in the diets and the numbers of late fourth-stage larvae, immature adult stages, and adults of H. contortus. Following 12 weeks of serial infections, most of the H. contortus population was found at the early fourth stage, indicating the occurrence of hypobiosis. The early fourth stage represented 59.5%, 75.8%, 83.3%, and 86.3% of the total Haemonchus worm burden, respectively, in Diets 1, 2, 3, and 4. In the case of T. colubriformis, hypobiosis was not observed, and diet had no influence on the establishment of parasites.
A New Approach to the Degradation Stage Prediction of Rolling Bearings Using Hierarchical Grey Entropy and a Grey Bootstrap Markov Chain
Authors: Cheng Li , Ma Wensuo , Gao Zuobin
Published: November 2023

Degradation stage prediction, which is crucial to monitoring the health condition of rolling bearings, can improve safety and reduce maintenance costs. In this paper, a novel degradation stage prediction method based on hierarchical grey entropy (HGE) and a grey bootstrap Markov chain (GBMC) is presented. Firstly, HGE is proposed as a new entropy that measures complexity, considers the degradation information embedded in both lower- and higher-frequency components and extracts the degradation features of rolling bearings. Then, the HGE values containing degradation information are fed to the prediction model, based on the GBMC, to obtain degradation stage prediction results more accurately. Meanwhile, three parameter indicators, namely the dynamic estimated interval, the reliability of the prediction result and dynamic uncertainty, are employed to evaluate the prediction results from different perspectives. The estimated interval reflects the upper and lower boundaries of the prediction results, the reliability reflects the credibility of the prediction results and the uncertainty reflects the dynamic fluctuation range of the prediction results. Finally, three rolling bearing run-to-failure experiments were conducted consecutively to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, whose results indicate that HGE is superior to other entropies and the GBMC surpasses other existing rolling bearing degradation prediction methods; the prediction reliabilities are 90.91%, 90% and 83.87%, respectively.
Performance Comparison of Meta-Heuristics Applied to Optimal Signal Design for Parameter Identification
Authors: Santos Neto Accacio Ferreira dos , Santos Murillo Ferreira dos , Silva Mathaus Ferreira da , Honório Leonardo de Mello , Oliveira Edimar José de , Neto Edvaldo Soares Araújo
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a comparative study that explores the performance of various meta-heuristics employed for Optimal Signal Design, specifically focusing on estimating parameters in nonlinear systems. The study introduces the Robust Sub-Optimal Excitation Signal Generation and Optimal Parameter Estimation (rSOESGOPE) methodology, which is originally derived from the well-known Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Through a real-life case study involving an Autonomous Surface Vessel (ASV) equipped with three Degrees of Freedom (DoFs) and an aerial holonomic propulsion system, the effectiveness of different meta-heuristics is thoroughly evaluated. By conducting an in-depth analysis and comparison of the obtained results from the diverse meta-heuristics, this study offers valuable insights for selecting the most suitable optimization technique for parameter estimation in nonlinear systems. Researchers and experimental tests in the field can benefit from the comprehensive examination of these techniques, aiding them in making informed decisions about the optimal approach for optimizing parameter estimation in nonlinear systems.
Design and Fabrication of a High-Sensitivity and Wideband Cymbal Hydrophone
Authors: Kim Donghyun , Roh Yongrae
Published: November 2023

So far, cymbal transducers have been developed primarily for transmitting purposes, and even when used for receiving, the focus has been mostly on improving the receiving sensitivity. In this study, we developed a cymbal hydrophone with a higher sensitivity and a wider bandwidth than other existing hydrophones. First, the initial structure of the cymbal hydrophone was established, and then the effects of structural variables on the hydrophone’s performance were analyzed using the finite element method. Based on the analysis results, the structure having the highest sensitivity and widest bandwidth, with a receiving voltage sensitivity level above a certain threshold, was derived using optimal design techniques. A prototype of the cymbal hydrophone with the designed structure was fabricated, and its performance was measured, validating the effectiveness of the design by comparing the measurement results with the design values. The developed cymbal hydrophone is expected to be utilized in various underwater precision measurements, as it possesses a significantly broader reception frequency bandwidth when compared with other hydrophones used for the same purpose.
Improved YOLOv3 Integrating SENet and Optimized GIoU Loss for Occluded Pedestrian Detection
Authors: Zhang Qiangbo , Liu Yunxiang , Zhang Yu , Zong Ming , Zhu Jianlin
Published: November 2023

Occluded pedestrian detection faces huge challenges. False positives and false negatives in crowd occlusion scenes will reduce the accuracy of occluded pedestrian detection. To overcome this problem, we proposed an improved you-only-look-once version 3 (YOLOv3) based on squeeze-and-excitation networks (SENet) and optimized generalized intersection over union (GIoU) loss for occluded pedestrian detection, namely YOLOv3-Occlusion (YOLOv3-Occ). The proposed network model considered incorporating squeeze-and-excitation networks (SENet) into YOLOv3, which assigned greater weights to the features of unobstructed parts of pedestrians to solve the problem of feature extraction against unsheltered parts. For the loss function, a new generalized intersection over unionintersection over groundtruth (GIoUIoG) loss was developed to ensure the areas of predicted frames of pedestrian invariant based on the GIoU loss, which tackled the problem of inaccurate positioning of pedestrians. The proposed method, YOLOv3-Occ, was validated on the CityPersons and COCO2014 datasets. Experimental results show the proposed method could obtain 1.2% MR−2 gains on the CityPersons dataset and 0.7% mAP@50 improvements on the COCO2014 dataset.
Designing a Compact Dual-Band, Dual-Polarized Antenna for Biotelemetry Communications Using the Characteristic Mode Method
Authors: Xu Xiaoming , Song Zhiwei , Wang Yuchao
Published: November 2023

A compact dual-band, dual-polarized, implantable antenna was designed using the characteristic mode method for operation in the wireless medical telemetry service (WMTS) band (1.4 GHz) and the industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) band (2.45 GHz). By utilizing slotting techniques and materials with high dielectric constants, the antenna volume was minimized to 47.4 mm3, and circular polarization was gained in the WMTS band by using the characteristic mode method. A three-layer physical model of human tissues was constructed in a simulation, and a biogel and minced pork were used in the measurements. The measured peak gains are −20.85 dBi (1.4 GHz) and −22.15 dBi (2.45 GHz). The measured effective axis ratio bandwidth in the WMTS band is 170 MHz (1.33–1.50 GHz, 12.0%), and the impedance bandwidth in the ISM band is 390 MHz (2.21–2.60 GHz, 16.2%). At 1.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz, the largest 1 g average SAR values are 376 W/Kg and 318 W/Kg, which comply with IEEE C95.1-1999. Moreover, when the communication chain affinity exceeds 20 dB for 1.4 GHz and 2.4 GHz, the transceiver range reaches 8.2 m and 9.7 m. This antenna can be used for implantable wireless telemetry systems.
SignalFormer: Hybrid Transformer for Automatic Drone Identification Based on Drone RF Signals
Authors: Yan Xiang , Han Bing , Su Zhigang , Hao Jingtang
Published: November 2023

With the growing integration of drones into various civilian applications, the demand for effective automatic drone identification (ADI) technology has become essential to monitor malicious drone flights and mitigate potential threats. While numerous convolutional neural network (CNN)-based methods have been proposed for ADI tasks, the inherent local connectivity of the convolution operator in CNN models severely constrains RF signal identification performance. In this paper, we propose an innovative hybrid transformer model featuring a CNN-based tokenization method that is capable of generating T-F tokens enriched with significant local context information, and complemented by an efficient gated self-attention mechanism to capture global time/frequency correlations among these T-F tokens. Furthermore, we underscore the substantial impact of incorporating phase information into the input of the SignalFormer model. We evaluated the proposed method on two public datasets under Gaussian white noise and co-frequency signal interference conditions, The SignalFormer model achieved impressive identification accuracy of 97.57% and 98.03% for coarse-grained identification tasks, and 97.48% and 98.16% for fine-grained identification tasks. Furthermore, we introduced a class-incremental learning evaluation to demonstrate SignalFormer’s competence in handling previously unseen categories of drone signals. The above results collectively demonstrate that the proposed method is a promising solution for supporting the ADI task in reliable ways.
Effects of Rare Earth Doping on Structural and Electrocatalytic Properties of Nanostructured TiO2 Nanotubes/SnO2-Sb Electrode for Electrochemical Treatment of Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Yang Lisha , Guo Yanming
Published: November 2023

The solvothermal synthesis technique was employed to successfully fabricate a series of rare earth doped SnO2-Sb electrodes on the TNTs array substrate, serving as anode material for electrocatalytic degradation of phenol. The electrode doped with rare earth elements demonstrated superior electrocatalytic activity and stability in comparison to the undoped electrode. The influence of adding rare earth elements (i.e., Gd and Nd) into the precursor solution on the structural and property of TNTs/SnO2-Sb electrodes was studied in detail. The results obtained from SEM and XRD indicated that, compared to TNTs/SnO2-Sb-Nd, TNTs/SnO2-Sb-Gd exhibited a finer grain size due to the smaller ionic radius of the Gd element. This facilitated its incorporation into the SnO2 lattice interior and inhibited grain growth, resulting in a significant decrease in particle size for exposing more active sites. The influence mechanism of rare earth doping on electrochemical activity was investigated through XPS, EPR, LSV, EIS and Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) generation tests. The results demonstrated that the enhanced electrocatalytic activity can be attributed to an increased generation of oxygen vacancies on the electrode surface, which act as active sites for enhancing the adsorption of oxygen species and promoting •OH generation.
Powerful Knowledge as a Conceptual Frame for Teaching Controversial Issues in Ethics and Values Education in Social Studies Subjects
Authors: Franck Olof
Published: November 2023

Much has recently been written about how teaching on “controversial issues” may be designed and developed in accordance with various pedagogical and didactic guidelines and based on a democratic ethos. In this article, I develop an analysis of the theoretical prerequisites for a tenable and solid teaching on controversial ethical issues in social-studies subjects. With reference to Diana Hess’s research, which identifies four pedagogical strategies in teaching on controversial issues in a general sense, I critically examine how these strategies can be conceived in a context where ethics and values education are taught in school. I make a claim for the importance of exploring an ethical meta-language for the establishment of a theoretical framework, defined with regard to the concept of powerful knowledge, where teachers may find support for teaching on controversial ethical issues. This claim is supported by a critical discussion of Michael Hand’s well-known defence of the “epistemic criterion”.
An Experimental Study to Mitigate Environmental Impacts by Transforming Waste Plastic Bags into Paving Blocks and Roof Tiles
Authors: Butt Faizan Khalid , Shangguan Donghui , Butt Asim Qayyum , Arshad Muhammad Tausif , Raja Babar Nasim Khan , Khitab Anwar , Ding Yongjian , Li Da , Mukhtar Muhammad Ahsan
Published: November 2023

The world’s plastic bag problem adversely impacts the environment daily. Plastic bags decompose after years, and some may take centuries, leading to pollution. Society relies on plastic bags for every task, which causes many problems for humans and aquatic life. Focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), this research used waste plastic bags melted in a boilery to develop plastocrete to cast plastocrete paving blocks and roofing tiles. Compressive and split tensile strength tests were performed on plastocrete paving blocks, while a thermal insulation test was performed on roofing tiles in the Concrete Lab of our Department. The compressive strength test on plastocrete showed that it can easily replace concrete pavement blocks after giving good compressive strengths compared with concrete blocks. Being very low in tensile strength, plastocrete is not recommended for flexure members. The thermal insulation test results indicate that using plastic bags as roofing tiles decreases thermal conductivity compared with a controlled reinforced slab. Hence, it is concluded that plastocrete will help reduce pollution in the terrestrial and aquatic environment and can be an effective waste disposal solution. The plastocrete-led paving blocks and roofing tiles not only help economically but also help preserve nature and the environment from land pollution.
Derivation and Evaluation of a Business Model to Promote Carbon Farming That Generates Valid Carbon Removal
Authors: Geier Cecilia Roxanne , Bahrs Enno , Sponagel Christian
Published: November 2023

This contribution evaluates and examines the scope of 26 global carbon farming projects with a view to analyzing existing concepts for developing a business model for promoting carbon farming in order to generate valid carbon removal. It thus addresses an important aspect of the objectives of the European Green Deal. This study is based on a literature search analyzing four certification standards, an expert-based online survey, and an expert-based online workshop to evaluate different practice approaches identified by previous studies and additional information sources. The results highlight the theoretical potential of a result-based business model using agroforestry to fulfil the essential requirements to promote carbon farming for generating carbon removal. Although the study has limitations regarding the number of projects examined and experts consulted, there is a high probability that the underlying requirements could not be sufficiently fulfilled when translating them into practice. The identified concepts failed as a consequence of inadequate permanence assurance mechanisms, impractical measurement accuracy, poor precision in baseline scenarios, and lack of additionality. To remedy this, we recommend a shift away from a pure focus on promoting carbon farming to achieve carbon removal towards promoting the co-benefits of carbon farming. Further research should evaluate the extent to which stakeholders are interested in giving their financial backing to these co-benefits.
The Impact of Multi-Subjective Governance on Tea Farmers’ Green Production Behavior Based on the Improved Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: Ji Jinxiong , Zhuo Kaibin , Zeng Yuxin , Su Jinglin , Xie Yi
Published: November 2023

This study constructs a research framework to examine the decision-making process of tea farmers’ green production behavior based on the improved theory of planned behavior, incorporating external environmental factors such as government regulation, market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven environmental factors, and community governance. A structural equation model was employed to empirically analyze the influence paths and underlying mechanisms of multi-subjective governance on tea farmers’ green production behavior using survey data from 872 tea farmers in the main tea-producing areas of Fujian Province. The results showed that (1) government regulation, market mechanisms, and community governance significantly and directly impact the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior, with path coefficients of 0.676, 0.686, and 0.373, respectively, and market mechanisms also indirectly act on green production behavior through perceptual behavioral control, with a path coefficient of 0.459. (2) The market mechanisms had the greatest influence on the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior (total utility of 0.830), followed by government regulation (total utility of 0.676), community governance (total utility of 0.373), and finally, industrial organization-driven factors (total utility of 0.046), indicating that the market organization and the government departments are the most important external environmental forces affecting the decision-making of tea farmers’ green production behavior. The results provide valuable references for achieving effective multi-subjective governance and guiding/regulating tea farmers’ green production behavior. While strengthening the incentives and constraints of government regulations on tea farmers’ green production behavior, it is important to fully leverage the roles of market mechanisms, industrial organization-driven factors, and community governance in the governance of tea farmers’ green production behavior.
Technology Transfer Centers as Support Instruments for SMEs—Comparative Analysis of Poland and Malaysia
Authors: Woźniak Maciej , Matejun Marek , Azmi Fadhlur Rahim , Mior Harun Mior Harris , Hamzah Fazlena
Published: November 2023

The goal of the paper is to compare technology transfer centers in Poland and Malaysia. Therefore, the authors decided to use the comparative analysis method. The findings show that technology transfer and commercialization efforts both in Poland and Malaysia are on the right track. This demonstrates the universities’ persistent dedication to turning research and innovative ideas into concrete products, as seen by the university’s sustained growth in total product commercialization. It emphasizes the critical role that they play in promoting technological transfers, particularly for SMEs. The paper contributes to the macroeconomics theory in the area of public policy. Furthermore, it also provides insights into the theory of incentives, particularly in the field of non-financial support. The findings could be of interest to policymakers on macro and micro levels.
Competencies Needed for Guiding the Digital Transition of Agriculture: Are Future Advisors Well-Equipped?
Authors: Charatsari Chrysanthi , Michailidis Anastasios , Lioutas Evagelos D. , Bournaris Thomas , Loizou Efstratios , Paltaki Aikaterini , Lazaridou Dimitra
Published: November 2023

As the penetration of digital technologies in agriculture deepens, farm advisors have to cope with new roles, which generate the need for updating already possessed and developing new competencies. Although in-service advisors can build such skills through their involvement with the practice of digital agriculture, students of agronomy (and related) departments who will undertake the role of advisors in the future are expected to develop relevant competencies during their university education. Do current curricula supply them with such competencies? In pursuing this question, in the present study, we developed a theoretical scheme involving eight sets of competencies. After constructing a scale for each set, we collected data from students enrolled in an agronomy department of a Greek university. Our findings revealed that participants’ overall competency in dealing with digital agriculture was considerably low. Among the eight sets of competencies, the highest scores were observed for empathy and future orientation, while students had low levels of technology exploitation, technology integration, and transition facilitation competencies. A regression analysis indicated that the two last sets shape students’ overall competency. These results point out the need to integrate a farmer-centered philosophy in digitalization-related higher agronomic education and consider the critical role that social science can play in equipping future advisors with competencies needed to facilitate the digital agricultural transition.
Edible Carrageenan Films Reinforced with Starch and Nanocellulose: Development and Characterization
Authors: Dmitrenko Mariia , Kuzminova Anna , Cherian Reeba Mary , Joshy K. S. , Pasquini Daniel , John Maya Jacob , Hato Mpitloane J. , Thomas Sabu , Penkova Anastasia
Published: November 2023

Currently, from the sustainable development point of view, edible films are used as potential substitutes for plastics in food packaging, but their properties still have limitations and require further improvement. In this work, novel edible carrageenan films reinforced with starch granules and nanocellulose were developed and investigated for application as a bio-based food packaging system. The nanocellulose was used to improve film mechanical properties. Aloe vera gel was incorporated for antibacterial properties. Glycerol and sesame oil were added as plasticizers into the nanocomposite film to improve flexibility and moisture resistance. The interactions between charged polysaccharide functional groups were confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. The migration of starch particles on the upper film surface resulting in increased surface roughness was demonstrated by scanning electron and atomic force microscopy methods. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that all films were stable up to 200 °C. The increase in nanocellulose content in films offered improved mechanical properties and surface hydrophilicity (confirmed by measurements of contact angle and mechanical properties). The film with a carrageenan/starch ratio of 1.5:1, 2.5 mL of nanocellulose and 0.5 mL of glycerol was chosen as the optimal. It demonstrated water vapor permeability of 6.4 × 10−10 g/(s m Pa), oil permeability of 2%, water solubility of 42%, and moisture absorption of 29%. This film is promising as a biodegradable edible food packaging material for fruits and vegetables to avoid plastic.
How Gender, Culture, and Economy Influence Field of Study Preferences in Higher Education: Exploring Gender Gaps in STEM, AHSS, and Medicine among International Students
Authors: Tătar Corina Florina , Tătar Marius Ioan , Pénzes János , White George W.
Published: November 2023

International female and male students’ segregation per academic fields of study designates an important challenge for educational equity, diversity, and gender equality in tertiary education institutions worldwide. This study probes the determinants of study field choice among 984 students from 57 countries who enrolled at the University of Oradea, Romania, during 2022–2023. By incorporating gender approaches and concepts within broader economic and cultural theories, we utilized the bivariate analysis and multinominal regression models to scrutinize how students’ preferences for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), AHSS (arts, humanities, and social sciences), or medicine are influenced by their gender, and the more general cultural and economic attributes of their home country. Our findings enrich the knowledge and understanding of gendered patterns of academic study field choice, providing a cross-cultural and integrative viewpoint that enables us to set forth recommendations to bridge higher education gender gaps.
Geochemical and Isotopic Evidence for Investigating the Impacts of Landfills on Groundwater: A Case Study in the Campania Region (Southern Italy)
Authors: Stevenazzi Stefania , Del Gaudio Elena , Ruggiero Domenico , D’Aniso Ciro , Patelli Anna Maria , Ducci Daniela
Published: November 2023

In this study, we present the hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and isotopic characterisation and monitoring activity of a closed landfill located in the northern sector of the Phlegrean Fields groundwater body in the Campania Region (Southern Italy). The aim of the study is to distinguish between natural enrichments (e.g., geogenic sources) and anthropogenic pressures (e.g., leakages from the landfill body) causing anomalously high concentrations of some metals (As, F, Fe, Mn) in groundwater. Major anions, cations, metals, water-stable isotopes, carbon isotopes and tritium were analysed. The results show that high As, F and Fe concentrations are due to adsorption–desorption processes occurring in the aquifer hosted in the volcanic rocks/deposits or the occurrence of upwelling hydrothermal fluids related to the volcanic activity of the Phlegrean Fields, which may cause metal mobilisation. High localised Mn concentrations cannot be solely related to natural processes or to groundwater contamination due to leachate leakage from the landfill body. Instead, we hypothesise a leakage from the landfill gas system. The outcomes of this study show the advantages of the coupled use of physico-chemical and isotopic analyses in improving the comprehension of geochemical processes in areas characterised by the presence of municipal landfills.
Research on the Spatial Effect and Threshold Characteristics of New-Type Urbanization on Carbon Emissions in China’s Construction Industry
Authors: Chen Hanli , Lu Chunmei
Published: November 2023

As the strategic task of China’s modernization, the implementation of new-type urbanization has an important impact on carbon emissions from the construction industry. To fill the gap in considering the spatial correlation and threshold characteristics of new-type urbanization on carbon emissions from the construction industry, this paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation indicator of new-type urbanization, and the spatial economic model and the threshold regression model are adopted to analyze the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2002 to 2020. The results indicate that (1) carbon emissions from China’s construction industry exhibit a significant positive spatial correlation, with more than half of provinces distributed as H-H and L-L types. (2) New-type urbanization has significant positive direct and indirect effects on carbon emissions in the construction industry; the labor efficiency, energy intensity, and development level of the construction industry and trade openness also have a significant spillover effect on carbon emissions from the construction industry. (3) At this stage, new-type urbanization exhibits a threshold effect on carbon emissions from the construction industry due to the different levels of development and energy intensity of the construction industry. After crossing the threshold value, the promotion effect of new-type urbanization on carbon emissions from the construction industry gradually increases. This paper provides a reference for promoting carbon emission reduction in the construction industry in the process of new-type urbanization.
Enhancement or Impediment? How University Teachers’ Use of Smart Classrooms Might Impact Interaction Quality
Authors: Mao Qiming , Fang Xueqin , Jiang Libing , Zhu Liping
Published: November 2023

Technology’s involvement in teaching and learning is identified as an opportunity to bolster sustainable development in education. However, how it influences teaching quality and classroom interaction is a hotly debated subject, and the variations in interactions, by different technologies, between students and teachers in Smart Classrooms, particularly the ways in which interactions are impacted, are rarely discussed in existing research. The present study examines the effects of various degrees of technology on the quality of interactions in university-based Smart Classrooms based on an analysis of 38 courses, which were recorded and analysed over a three-year period. Also, an instrument to analyse interaction quality in a university Smart Classroom (USCIQAS) was developed. The results showed that advanced technological applications increase the quality of classroom interactions, particularly those involving student–teacher (ST) interactions, although it has a lower effect on the social–emotional outcomes of student–student (SS) interactions. Based on these findings, in order to maximize the potential of Smart Classrooms to improve classroom interactions, both teachers and students should be encouraged and trained to use technology. Teachers may also need to improve their pedagogy and technology use in tandem to avoid the risk of lower social–emotional outcomes of SS interaction.
A Shape Preserving Class of Two-Frequency Trigonometric B-Spline Curves
Authors: Albrecht Gudrun , Mainar Esmeralda , Peña Juan Manuel , Rubio Beatriz
Published: November 2023

This paper proposes a new approach to define two frequency trigonometric spline curves with interesting shape preserving properties. This construction requires the normalized B-basis of the space U4(Iα)=span{1,cost,sint,cos2t,sin2t} defined on compact intervals Iα=[0,α], where α is a global shape parameter. It will be shown that the normalized B-basis can be regarded as the equivalent in the trigonometric space U4(Iα) to the Bernstein polynomial basis and shares its well-known symmetry properties. In fact, the normalized B-basis functions converge to the Bernstein polynomials as α→0. As a consequence, the convergence of the obtained piecewise trigonometric curves to uniform quartic B-Spline curves will be also shown. The proposed trigonometric spline curves can be used for CAM design, trajectory-generation, data fitting on the sphere and even to define new algebraic-trigonometric Pythagorean-Hodograph curves and their piecewise counterparts allowing the resolution of C(3 Hermite interpolation problems.
Antiviral Effect and Mechanism of Edaravone against Grouper Iridovirus Infection
Authors: Kuang Jihui , Liu Mingzhu , Yu Qing , Cheng Yuan , Huang Jing , Han Shuyu , Shi Jingu , Huang Lin , Li Pengfei
Published: November 2023

Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) is a virus with high fatality rate in the grouper culture industry. The outbreak of SGIV is often accompanied by a large number of grouper deaths, which has a great impact on the economy. Therefore, it is of great significance to find effective drugs against SGIV. It has been reported that edaravone is a broad-spectrum antiviral drug, most widely used clinically in recent years, but no report has been found exploring the effect of edaravone on SGIV infections. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral effect of edaravone against SGIV, and the anti-SGIV mechanism of edaravone was also explored. It was found that the safe concentration of edaravone on grouper spleen (GS) cells was 50 µg/mL, and it possessed antiviral activity against SGIV infection in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, edaravone could significantly disrupt SGIV particles and interference with SGIV binding to host cells, as well as SGIV replication in host cells. However, edaravone was not effective during the SGIV invasion into host cells. This study was the first time that it was determined that edaravone could exert antiviral effects in response to SGIV infection by directly interfering with the processes of SGIV infecting cells, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for the control of grouper virus disease.