bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
System Reform: The Ever-Elusive Quest—An Australian Study of How System Middle Leaders’ Role Enactment Influences the Attainment of Policy Coherence
Authors: Leach Tania
Published: June 2024

Within an educational context, the current aim of policy translation is to achieve policy coherence by strategically and structurally aligning components, enabling whole system reform. While acknowledging the importance of this coherence conceptualisation, the current literature perspective primarily emphasises message conveyance, and lacks a dimension that identifies policy coherence as the result of how individuals, including middle leaders, interpret and translate policy into actions, both individually and collectively. System middle leaders occupy a unique position within organisational structures, as they bridge the gap between executive system leaders and school- based leaders. To investigate how policy is interpreted and translated within their roles and the impact this has on attaining policy coherence, this study employed an interpretivist approach to exploratory case study methodology, grounded in a review of authoritative literature. The aim was twofold; first, to enhance understanding of policy coherence development at the system middle level by exploring the role enactment of system middle leaders within a large Australian government education system; and second, to examine the interconnectedness and impact of leaders’ role enactment on policy coherence for system reform. Findings suggest that achieving policy coherence is hindered by a lack of role clarity among system leaders, in relation to policy implementation, stemming from the inconsistent interpretation and translation of policy into system strategy documentation and a deficiency in formal policy interpretation and role induction practices. As a result, individual system leaders often turn to informal policy interpretations and interactions with peers to clarify roles, leading to role tensions, accountability ambiguity and partial policy implementation. As a result, this study concludes that the integration of role theory, policy implementation theory and organisational alignment theory offers an interpretivist insight into the development of policy coherence for system reform, illuminating a theoretical pathway and practical recommendations for systems to attain policy coherence.
Supercritical CO2-Assisted Electroless Plating of Ultrahigh-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene Filaments for Weavable Device Application
Authors: Kondo Hikaru , Kurioka Tomoyuki , Chiu Wan-Ting , Chen Chun-Yi , Wu Jhen-Yang , Chang Tso-Fu Mark , Yamaguchi Machiko , Kurosu Hiromichi , Sone Masato
Published: June 2024

This study reports on the use of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) for the metallization of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) filaments, which are used as functional components in weavable devices. UHMW-PE is well known for its chemical and impact resistance, making it suitable for use in bulletproof clothing and shields. However, its chemical resistance poses a challenge for metallization. By utilizing scCO2 as the solvent in the catalyzation process, a uniform and defect-free layer of Ni-P is successfully deposited on the UHMW-PE filaments. The deposition rate of Ni-P is enhanced at higher temperatures during the scCO2 catalyzation. Importantly, the durability of the Ni-P-metalized UHMW-PE filaments is improved when the scCO2 catalyzation is carried out at 120 °C, as evidenced by minimal changes in electrical resistivity after a rolling test.
Robust H∞ Static Output Feedback Control for TCP/AQM Routers Based on LMI Optimization
Authors: Kim Changhyun
Published: June 2024

This paper proposes a new H∞ static output feedback control method to address the congestion control problem in transmission control protocol networks using active queue management routers. Based on linear matrix inequality optimization, this method determines a static output feedback control law to minimize the H∞ norm of the transfer function between the controlled queue length of the buffer and the exogenous disturbance affecting the available link bandwidth. A linear matrix inequality formulation is presented as a sufficient condition to guarantee the closed-loop system’s asymptotic stability while maintaining disturbance rejection within a specified level, regardless of round-trip time delays. The proposed robust static output feedback control eliminates the need to measure or estimate all system states, thus simplifying practical implementation. The effectiveness of the proposed design method is demonstrated by applying it in a practical process, as illustrated through a numerical example.
Underwater Coherent Source Direction-of-Arrival Estimation Method Based on PGR-SubspaceNet
Authors: Guo Tuo , Xu Yunyan , Bi Yang , Ding Shaochun , Huang Yong
Published: June 2024

In the field of underwater acoustics, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is generally low, and the underwater environment is complex and variable, making target azimuth estimation highly challenging. Traditional model-based subspace methods exhibit significant performance degradation when dealing with coherent sources, low SNR, and small snapshot data. To overcome these limitations, an improved model based on SubspaceNet, called PConv-GAM Residual SubspaceNet (PGR-SubspaceNet), is proposed. This model embeds the global attention mechanism (GAM) into residual blocks that fuse PConv convolution, making it possible to capture richer cross-channel and positional information. This enhancement helps the model learn signal features in complex underwater conditions. Simulation results demonstrate that the underwater target azimuth estimation method based on PGR-SubspaceNet exhibits lower root mean square periodic error (RMSPE) values when handling different numbers of narrowband coherent sources. Under low SNR and limited snapshot conditions, its RMSPE values are significantly better than those of traditional methods and SubspaceNet-based enhanced subspace methods. PGR-SubspaceNet extracts more features, further improving the accuracy of direction-of-arrival estimation. Preliminary experiments in a pool validate the effectiveness and feasibility of the underwater target azimuth estimation method based on PGR-SubspaceNet.
Robust Tensor Learning for Multi-View Spectral Clustering
Authors: Xie Deyan , Li Zibao , Sun Yingkun , Song Wei
Published: June 2024

Tensor-based multi-view spectral clustering methods are promising in practical clustering applications. However, most of the existing methods adopt the ℓ2,1 norm to depict the sparsity of the error matrix, and they usually ignore the global structure embedded in each single view, compromising the clustering performance. Here, we design a robust tensor learning method for multi-view spectral clustering (RTL-MSC), which employs the weighted tensor nuclear norm to regularize the essential tensor for exploiting the high-order correlations underlying multiple views and adopts the nuclear norm to constrain each frontal slice of the essential tensor as the block diagonal matrix. Simultaneously, a novel column-wise sparse norm, namely, ℓ2,p, is defined in RTL-MSC to measure the error tensor, making it sparser than the one derived by the ℓ2,1 norm. We design an effective optimization algorithm to solve the proposed model. Experiments on three widely used datasets demonstrate the superiority of our method.
Moisture and Temperature Profiles of Heartwood Pinus pinaster Ait. Wood Specimens during Microwave Drying
Authors: Mascarenhas Fernando Júnior Resende , Simões Rogério Manuel dos Santos , Dias Alfredo Manuel Pereira Geraldes , Christoforo André Luis , Cunha André Eduardo Palos
Published: June 2024

Microwave (MW) drying of wood has gained popularity in the field of wood modification. The rise in temperature during MW drying leads to increased steam pressure, enhancing wood permeability but potentially decreasing mechanical properties. Understanding temperature and moisture behaviors during MW drying is crucial for its industrial application in wood drying. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the temperature and moisture behaviors during MW drying of small Portuguese maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton.) wood samples to support a wider use of this technology. The effects on water uptake and the compressive strength parallel to the grain were also investigated. The results indicated three distinct phases in the MW drying rates, with an average of 0.085% of water removed per second. Moreover, the temperature underwent three distinct stages: an initial rapid increase, a period of constant temperature, and a slight decrease until drying was complete. At the beginning of MW drying, the temperatures were below 100 °C, with average temperatures ranging from 126 to 145 °C. Specimens with lower initial moisture content had higher temperatures, and a positive correlation was found between initial moisture content and drying time. In contrast, negative correlations were found between the initial moisture content and average temperature, as well as average temperature and MW drying time. Additionally, the operating condition parameters used in MW drying of pine samples enhanced water impregnability by 65%, generating a slight reduction of 11% in compressive strength. It was also noticed that the initial moisture content did not impact MW-dried samples’ water uptake or compressive strength. Finally, although small clear wood samples of maritime pine were utilized, the temperature and moisture patterns observed closely matched real-scale specimens. Thus, the findings corroborate a wide utilization of MW technology for wood drying, mainly demonstrating positive possibilities for structural-sized wood specimens.
Decomposition of Foliar Litter from Dominant Plants of Desert Riparian Forests in Extremely Arid Regions
Authors: Jiang Xuewei , Chen Fei , Yang Jingjing , Zhou Zhengli , Han Lu , Lyu Ruiheng
Published: June 2024

Litter decomposition is important for understanding the effects of habitat on nutrient cycling. In this study, we investigated the decomposition characteristics, decomposition variability, and regulatory factors restricting the decomposition rates of leaf litter in three different habitats: a flood disturbance habitat, an arid habitat, and a high-salinity habitat. The litter decomposition rates of the habitats decreased in the following order: flood disturbance habit > arid habitat > high-salinity habitat. The organic carbon, total nitrogen, and lignin residues of the litter during the decomposition period were highest in the high-salinity habitat. The litter quality was the main regulator of the release of phosphorus and cellulose residues, which exhibited different release processes and patterns in these three habitats. The litter decomposition coefficient was negatively correlated with litter carbon residue in the flood disturbance habitats, the lignocellulose index in the arid habitats, and soil urease in the high-salinity habitats. It was positively correlated with the lignocellulose index in flood disturbance habitats and litter carbon residue in high-salinity habitats. The litter quality in the flood disturbance area played a significant role in litter decomposition, while environmental quality and litter quality were the dominant factors under arid and high-salt conditions. Litter quality in the flood disturbance area played a significant role in litter decomposition, while both environmental quality and litter quality were the dominant factors under arid and salt conditions.
A New Species of Biscogniauxia Associated with Pine Needle Blight on Pinus thunbergii in China
Authors: Qiao Changxia , Zhao Ruiwen , Li Dewei , Ding Xiaolei
Published: June 2024

In June 2020, needle blight symptoms on Pinus thunbergii were discovered in Bazhong City, Sichuan Province, China. Fungal isolates were obtained from the pine needles of P. thunbergii. After examining morphological characteristics and conducting multi-locus (ITS, ACT, TUB2 and RPB2) phylogenetic analyses, the isolates SC1–SC5 were determined to be a new species, Biscogniauxia sinensis. Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition with a pairwise homoplasy index test was used to further verify the results of the phylogenetic analyses. The morphology and phylogenetic relationships between this new species and other related Biscogniauxia species were discussed. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of Biscogniauxia sinensis associated with pine needle blight on P. thunbergii in China. The needle damage of P. thunbergii associated with Biscogniauxia sinensis will detrimentally affect the carbon absorption and photosynthetic efficiency of P. thunbergii, further reduce the absorption of nutrients by Japanese black pine and may lead to the imbalance of pine forest conditions, which will have a negative impact on the forest ecological system.
Effects of Canopy Nitrogen Addition and Understory Vegetation Removal on Nitrogen Transformations in a Subtropical Forest
Authors: Ullah Saif , Liu Wenfei , Shah Jawad Ali , Shen Fangfang , Liao Yingchun , Duan Honglang , Huang Guomin , Wu Jianping
Published: June 2024

The management of understory vegetation and anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition has significantly resulted in a nutrient imbalance in forest ecosystems. However, the effects of canopy nitrogen addition and understory vegetation removal on N transformation processes (mineralization, nitrification, ammonification, and leaching) along with seasonal variations (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) remain unclear in subtropical forests. To fill this research gap, a field manipulation experiment was conducted with four treatments, including: (i) CK, control; (ii) CN, canopy nitrogen addition (25 kg N ha−1 year−1); (iii) UR, understory vegetation removal; and (iv) CN+UR, canopy nitrogen addition plus understory vegetation removal. The results revealed that CN increased net mineralization and nitrification by 294 mg N m−2 month−1 in the spring and 126 mg N m−2 month−1 in the winter, respectively. UR increased N mineralization and nitrification rates by 618 mg N m−2 month−1 in the summer. In addition, CN effectively reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn, while UR increased it in the spring and winter. UR increased annual nitrification rates by 93.4%, 90.3%, and 38.9% in the winter, spring, and summer, respectively. Additionally, both net N ammonification and annual nitrification rates responded positively to phosphorus availability during the autumn. Overall, UR potentially boosted nitrification rates in the summer and ammonification in the spring and winter, while CN reduced N leaching in the spring, winter, and autumn. Future research should integrate canopy nitrogen addition, understory vegetation removal, and phosphorus availability to address the global N deposition challenges in forest ecosystems.
Enhancing Forest Fire Risk Assessment: An Ontology-Based Approach with Improved Continuous Apriori Algorithm
Authors: Dong Yumin , Li Ziyang , Xie Changzuo
Published: June 2024

Forest fires are sudden and difficult to extinguish, so early risk assessment is crucial. However, there are currently a lack of suitable knowledge-mining algorithms for forest fire risk assessment. This article proposes an improved continuous Apriori algorithm to mining forest fire rules by introducing prior knowledge to classify input data and enhance its ability to process continuous data. Meanwhile, it constructs an ontology to provide a standardized expression platform for forest fire risk assessment. The improved continuous Apriori algorithm cooperates with ontology and applies the mining rules to the forest fire risk assessment results. The proposed method is validated using the forest fire data from the Bejaia region in Algeria. The results show that the improved continuous Apriori algorithm is superior to the raw Apriori algorithm and can mine the rules ignored by the raw Apriori algorithm. Compared to the raw Apriori algorithm, the number of generated rules increased by 191.67%. The method presented here can be used to enhance forest fire risk assessments and contribute to the generation and sharing of forest-fire-related knowledge, thereby alleviating the problem of insufficient knowledge in forest fire risk assessment.
Infrared/Visible Light Fire Image Fusion Method Based on Generative Adversarial Network of Wavelet-Guided Pooling Vision Transformer
Authors: Wei Haicheng , Fu Xinping , Wang Zhuokang , Zhao Jing
Published: June 2024

To address issues of detail loss, limited matching datasets, and low fusion accuracy in infrared/visible light fire image fusion, a novel method based on the Generative Adversarial Network of Wavelet-Guided Pooling Vision Transformer (VTW-GAN) is proposed. The algorithm employs a generator and discriminator network architecture, integrating the efficient global representation capability of Transformers with wavelet-guided pooling for extracting finer-grained features and reconstructing higher-quality fusion images. To overcome the shortage of image data, transfer learning is utilized to apply the well-trained model to fire image fusion, thereby improving fusion precision. The experimental results demonstrate that VTW-GAN outperforms the DenseFuse, IFCNN, U2Fusion, SwinFusion, and TGFuse methods in both objective and subjective aspects. Specifically, on the KAIST dataset, the fusion images show significant improvements in Entropy (EN), Mutual Information (MI), and Quality Assessment based on Gradient-based Fusion (Qabf) by 2.78%, 11.89%, and 10.45%, respectively, over the next-best values. On the Corsican Fire dataset, compared to data-limited fusion models, the transfer-learned fusion images enhance the Standard Deviation (SD) and MI by 10.69% and 11.73%, respectively, and compared to other methods, they perform well in Average Gradient (AG), SD, and MI, improving them by 3.43%, 4.84%, and 4.21%, respectively, from the next-best values. Compared with DenseFuse, the operation efficiency is improved by 78.3%. The method achieves favorable subjective image outcomes and is effective for fire-detection applications.
Modelling Diameter at Breast Height Distribution for Eight Commercial Species in Natural-Origin Mixed Forests of Ontario, Canada
Authors: Rijal Baburam , Sharma Mahadev
Published: June 2024

Diameter at breast height (DBH) is a unique attribute used to characterize forest growth and development for forest management planning and to understand forest ecology. Forest managers require an array of DBHs of forest stands, which can be reconstructed using selected probability distribution functions (PDFs). However, there is a lack of practices that fit PDFs of sub-dominating species grown in natural mixed forests. This study aimed to fit PDFs and develop predictive models for PDF parameters, so that the predicted distribution would represent dynamic forest structures and compositions in mixed forest stands. We fitted three of the simplest forms of PDFs, log-normal, gamma, and Weibull, for the DBH of eight tree species, namely balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera Marshall), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), red pine (Pinus resinosa Aiton), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall), trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx), and white spruce (Picea glauca [Moench] Voss), all grown in natural-origin mixed forests in Ontario province, Canada. We estimated the parameters of the PDFs as a function of DBH mean and standard deviation for these species. Our results showed that log-normal fit the best among the three PDFs. We demonstrated that the predictive model could estimate the recovered parameters unbiasedly for all species, which can be used to reconstruct the DBH distributions of these tree species. In addition to prediction, the cross-validated R2 for the DBH mean ranged between 0.76 for red maple and 0.92 for red pine. However, the R2 for the regression of the standard deviation ranged between 0.00 for red pine and 0.69 for sugar maple, although it produced unbiased predictions and a small mean absolute bias. As these mean and standard deviations are regressed with dynamic covariates (such as stem density and stand basal area), in addition to climate and static geographic variables, the predicted DBH distribution can reflect change over time in response to management or any type of disturbance in the regime of the given geography. The predictive model-based DBH distributions can be applied to the design of appropriate silviculture systems for forest management planning.
Remote-Controlled Activation of the Release through Drug-Loaded Magnetic Electrospun Fibers
Authors: Ziegler Richard , Ilyas Shaista , Mathur Sanjay , Goya Gerardo F. , Fuentes-García Jesús Antonio
Published: June 2024

The integration of magnetic nanoparticles within fibrillar structures represents an interesting avenue for the remotely controlled release of therapeutic agents. This work presents a novel drug release platform based on electrospun magnetic fibers (EMFs) combining drugs, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for controlled drug delivery via alternating magnetic fields (AMF). The platform was demonstrated to be versatile and effective for hydrophilic ketorolac (KET) and hydrophobic curcumin (CUR) encapsulation and the major response observed for AMF-triggered release was reached using drug-loaded MSNs within the fibers, providing fine control over drug release patterns. The EMFs exhibited excellent inductive heating capabilities, showing a temperature increase of ∆T up to 8 °C within a 5 min AMF pulse. The system is shown to be promising for applications like transdermal pain management, oncological drug delivery, tissue engineering, and wound healing, enabling precise control over drug release in both spatial and temporal dimensions. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into the development of the next generation of smart drug delivery systems, based in multifunctional materials that can be remotely regulated and potentially revolutionize the field of nanomedicine.
Cheap Talk with Transparent and Monotone Motives from a Seller to an Informed Buyer
Authors: Jung Jeahan , Kim Jeong Yoo
Published: June 2024

We develop a model of cheap talk with transparent and monotone motives from a seller to an informed buyer. By transparent and monotone motives, we mean that the seller’s preference does not depend on the state of the world and is increasing in the choice(s) of the buyer regardless of the state of the world. We first show that if the buyer is completely uninformed, only the babbling equilibrium exists. Then, we obtain our main result that even if the buyer has the slightest information, full revelation can be supported by using the crosschecking strategy of the buyer if and only if the seller has a CARA (constant absolute risk aversion) utility function unless the buyer has too much information. In this equilibrium, the buyer can punish the seller who sends a message far above the buyer’s information by ignoring the seller’s message. Paradoxically, no information and too much information of the buyer both eliminate the fully revealing equilibrium with the crosschecking strategy. We also obtain a counterintuitive result that the seller prefers a more informed buyer than a less informed buyer.
A Comprehensive Review of Radiation-Induced Hydrogels: Synthesis, Properties, and Multidimensional Applications
Authors: Ahmed Md. Shahriar , Islam Mobinul , Hasan Md. Kamrul , Nam Kyung-Wan
Published: June 2024

At the forefront of advanced material technology, radiation-induced hydrogels present a promising avenue for innovation across various sectors, utilizing gamma radiation, electron beam radiation, and UV radiation. Through the unique synthesis process involving radiation exposure, these hydrogels exhibit exceptional properties that make them highly versatile and valuable for a multitude of applications. This paper focuses on the intricacies of the synthesis methods employed in creating these radiation-induced hydrogels, shedding light on their structural characteristics and functional benefits. In particular, the paper analyzes the diverse utility of these hydrogels in biomedicine and agriculture, showcasing their potential for applications such as targeted drug delivery, injury recovery, and even environmental engineering solutions. By analyzing current research trends and highlighting potential future directions, this review aims to underscore the transformative impact that radiation-induced hydrogels could have on various industries and the advancement of biomedical and agricultural practices.
Innovations in Phenotyping and Diagnostics Create Opportunities for Improved Treatment and Genetic Counseling for Rare Diseases
Authors: Thompson Miles D.
Published: June 2024

Genetic counseling and treatment options for rare developmental disabilities (DDs) have been revolutionized by the opportunities made possible by using massively parallel sequencing for diagnostic purposes [...]
Robertsonian Translocation between Human Chromosomes 21 and 22, Inherited across Three Generations, without Any Phenotypic Effect
Authors: Federico Concetta , Brancato Desiree , Bruno Francesca , Galvano Daiana , Caruso Mariella , Saccone Salvatore
Published: June 2024

Chromosomal translocations can result in phenotypic effects of varying severity, depending on the position of the breakpoints and the rearrangement of genes within the interphase nucleus of the translocated chromosome regions. Balanced translocations are often asymptomatic phenotypically and are typically detected due to a decrease in fertility resulting from issues during meiosis. Robertsonian translocations are among the most common chromosomal abnormalities, often asymptomatic, and can persist in the population as a normal polymorphism. We serendipitously discovered a Robertsonian translocation between chromosome 21 and chromosome 22, which is inherited across three generations without any phenotypic effect, notably only in females. In situ hybridization with alpha-satellite DNAs revealed the presence of both centromeric sequences in the translocated chromosome. The reciprocal translocation resulted in a partial deletion of the short arm of both chromosomes 21, and 22, with the ribosomal RNA genes remaining present in the middle part of the new metacentric chromosome. The rearrangement did not cause alterations to the long arm. The spread of an asymptomatic heterozygous chromosomal polymorphism in a population can lead to mating between heterozygous individuals, potentially resulting in offspring with a homozygous chromosomal configuration for the anomaly they carry. This new karyotype may not produce phenotypic effects in the individual who presents it. The frequency of karyotypes with chromosomal rearrangements in asymptomatic heterozygous form in human populations is likely underestimated, and molecular karyotype by array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (array-CGH) analysis does not allow for the identification of this type of chromosomal anomaly, making classical cytogenetic analysis the preferred method for obtaining clear results on a karyotype carrying a balanced rearrangement.
RNF213 Polymorphisms in Intracranial Artery Dissection
Authors: Zedde Marialuisa , Grisendi Ilaria , Assenza Federica , Napoli Manuela , Moratti Claudio , Pavone Claudio , Bonacini Lara , Di Cecco Giovanna , D’Aniello Serena , Stoenoiu Maria Simona , Persu Alexandre , Valzania Franco , Pascarella Rosario
Published: June 2024

The ring finger protein 213 gene (RNF213) is involved in several vascular diseases, both intracranial and systemic ones. Some variants are common in the Asian population and are reported as a risk factor for moyamoya disease, intracranial stenosis and intracranial aneurysms. Among intracranial vascular diseases, both moyamoya disease and intracranial artery dissection are more prevalent in the Asian population. We performed a systematic review of the literature, aiming to assess the rate of RNF213 variants in patients with spontaneous intracranial dissections. Four papers were identified, providing data on 53 patients with intracranial artery dissection. The rate of RNF213 variants is 10/53 (18.9%) and it increases to 10/29 (34.5%), excluding patients with vertebral artery dissection. All patients had the RNF213 p.Arg4810Lys variant. RNF213 variants seems to be involved in intracranial dissections in Asian cohorts. The small number of patients, the inclusion of only patients of Asian descent and the small but non-negligible coexistence with moyamoya disease familiarity might be limiting factors, requiring further studies to confirm these preliminary findings and the embryological interpretation.
Prognostic Role of Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles and Cytokine Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Drugs
Authors: Birru Samuel Kinde , Doxiadis Ilias , Howe Rawleigh , Kelemu Tsehayneh , Chala Saifu Hailu , Sherif Abdulaziz , Tadesse Fisihatsion , Tsegaye Aster , Gebremedhin Amha , Lehmann Claudia
Published: June 2024

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) drugs have significantly improved chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) outcomes. Neopeptides from CML cells may induce specific immune responses, which are crucial for deep molecular (DMR) and treatment-free remission (TFR). In this study of Ethiopian patients with CML (n = 162), the HLA alleles and single-nucleotide polymorphisms of five cytokines revealed significant associations with clinical outcomes. Clinically unfavorable outcomes correlated with HLA alleles A*03:01/02, A*23:17:01, B*57:01/02/03, and HLA-DRB4*01:01 (p-value = 0.0347, p-value = 0.0285, p-value = 0.037, and p-value = 0.0127, respectively), while HLA-DRB4*01:03:01 was associated with favorable outcomes (p-value = 0.0058). After assigning values for the ‘low’, ‘intermediate’, and ‘high’ gene expression of the SNPs’ respective cytokine genes, Kaplan–Meier estimates for relapse-free survival, adjusted for age, treatment duration, and relapse risk among patients after the administration of TKIs, indicated that a gene expression ratio above the overall median of TNF-α, IL-6, and the combination of TGF-β1/IL-10, IFNγ, and IL-6/IL-10 TGF-β1 was correlated with a higher likelihood of treatment failure ((RR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.1–8.3; p-value = 0.0261) and (RR: 2.4; 95% CI: 1.1–5.2; p-value = 0.022), respectively). Multi-SNPs, surpassing single-SNPs, and HLA allele polymorphisms showed promise in predicting outcomes of patients with CML during TKI treatment, prompting further exploration into their potential utility.
“Dantes Dicit.” Notes on Dante as Auctoritas in the Medieval Academic Community
Authors: Rosso Paolo
Published: June 2024

Dante’s articulate and sometimes critical attitude towards the academic community is evident in several of his works, specifically in Paradiso. To understand the actual extent of this ‘anti-academic’ attitude, this study considers the magistri of the higher schools and the holders of university chairs to observe their position regarding the Commedia. The study aims to ascertain whether the poem was regarded as a teaching text in the 14th and 15th centuries, and particularly whether it was referred to in the textual hermeneutics practiced in lectio. The analysis examined the utilization of the Commedia within schools and universities as an authoritative text in the commentary on the canon of the auctores maiores. The inclusion of Dante’s glosses in various manuscripts recalled to provide erudite data, lexical interpretations, exempla, and sententiae, reflects the progressive integration of the poem within the academic community. This integration signifies its acknowledgment among the auctores employed in exegetical practices, a phenomenon observed across various geographical regions as evidenced by the analyzed manuscripts.
Wood Chipper Design for Biofuel Production in a Global Catastrophic Loss of Infrastructure Scenario
Authors: Vennard Henry , Pearce Joshua M. , Denkenberger David
Published: June 2024

A variety of events such as high-altitude electromagnetic pulses, extreme solar storms, and coordinated cyber attacks could result in a catastrophic loss of infrastructure on a continental or global scale. The lengthy repair of critical infrastructure creates a need for alternative fuels such as wood gas. Wood gas is produced by heating wood in a low-oxygen environment and can be used to power combustion engines. This work investigates a novel wood chipper, designed as an energy-efficient tool for producing wood gas stock, wood chips, aiming to speed up the transition to alternative fuel. A prototype is built and tested to determine the energy efficiency and production rate of the device. The results suggest that the wood chipper could produce one cord of wood chips, 3.6 m3, in less than a day and is a viable alternative to other manual wood-processing methods. In addition, the global scaling up of production of the wood chipper is considered, indicating that the mass production of the wood chipper could accelerate the transition of wood gas production methods from manual to machine-driven immediately after a catastrophic event.
A Characterisation of the Protrusions on Liu Kang’s Boat scene (1974) from the National Gallery Singapore
Authors: Lizun Damian , Kurkiewicz Teresa
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the oil on canvas painting Boat scene (1974) by Liu Kang (1911–2004), belonging to the National Gallery Singapore (NGS). The focus is on disfiguring paint protrusions in a specific area and colour in the composition. Moreover, in search of the possible factors responsible for the creation of the protrusions, the structure and composition of the paint layers were determined. Three possible reasons were put forward to explain this phenomenon: deliberate textural effects, the expansion of metal soaps and unintentional paint contamination during the artistic process. Investigative techniques such as technical photography, digital microscopy, optical microscopy (OM), polarised light microscopy (PLM), field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM-EDS) and attenuated total reflectance micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR μ-FTIR) were employed to analyse paint layers, including protrusion samples. The analyses revealed that the protrusions resulted from an unintentional contamination of the oil paint during the artistic process by dry fragments of different pigment mixtures bound in drying oil. Zinc soaps were found in significant concentrations within the protrusions and other parts of the painted scene. Nevertheless, the metal soaps do not pose a direct risk to the integrity of the paint layers at the time of this research. The analyses highlight the potential challenges caused by the protrusions that conservators may face while caring for the painting. The research contributes to our ongoing comprehension of the artist’s working process.
Evaluating the Quality of Architectural Heritage Reuse Projects Using a Well-Being and NEB Approach: The Case Study of IPIM in Turin (Italy)
Authors: Dabbene Daniele , Bartolozzi Carla , Coscia Cristina
Published: June 2024

International conservation approaches recognise architectural heritage as crucial in promoting sustainable development and enhancing human well-being. This has been highlighted by the recent New European Bauhaus (NEB) movement. As for the reuse of architectural heritage, this debate has led to the formulation of new guidelines that aim to maximise the tangible and intangible values of the assets from a long-term and circular economy perspective. In turning theory into operational practice, it is essential to reuse heritage structures while keeping these principles in mind and remaining within the boundaries of conservation objectives. To achieve this, evaluation tools that can aid in the decision-making process need to be identified. This research presents a novel model of indicators that can monitor and evaluate the quality of architectural heritage reuse projects, proposing a perspective that considers both the concept of well-being and the NEB principles. The proposed model is tested on Turin’s IPIM (Provincial Institute for Childhood and Maternity). This structure has been transformed from an uncomfortable heritage into a cultural centre for contemporary art called Flashback Habitat. The case study tests the model’s practical applicability and demonstrates its effectiveness in identifying the most challenging principles to apply in practice.
Modelling and Stability Assessment of the Rock Cliffs and Xrobb l-Ġħaġin Neolithic Structure in Malta
Authors: Volanis George , Galanakis Demitrios , Bolanakis Nikolaos , Maravelakis Emmanuel , Borg Ruben Paul , Stavroulakis Georgios E.
Published: June 2024

The stability of rock cliffs is a longstanding issue and is of practical significance. This case study demonstrates the application and use of advanced 3D modeling techniques, concentrating on the geological formations of the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin peninsula on the south-east coast of Malta, where the Xrobb l-Ġħaġin Neolithic site is located. In order to utilize a static and dynamic analysis of the investigated scenario, a 3D finite element model (FEM) of the geological formation in which the monument is set had to be created. To this end, 3D scanning, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and oblique photogrammetry were first used with state-of-the-art commercial packages for mesh reconstruction. As a result, a geometric and finite element model (FEM) was created, suitable for both static and dynamic analysis. In the second stage, a parametric investigation of the material properties of the structural system of the geological substrate was sought. The structural response of the system was evaluated for different loading scenarios assuming nonlinear finite element analysis. Collapse case scenarios were investigated for standard and weakened materials, predicting which components would collapse first and under which case of weakened materials the collapse occurs. Among other aspects, the main novelty of this paper lies in the integrated approach and multidisciplinary paradigm that supplement the available historical knowledge for this specific cultural heritage Neolithic site towards its conservation.
Changes in Fatty Acid Profiles in Seeds of Camellia oleifera Treated by Mycorrhizal Fungi and Glomalin
Authors: Wu Wei-Jia , Zou Ying-Ning , Xiao Zhi-Yan , Wang Fang-Ling , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Wu Qiang-Sheng
Published: June 2024

Camellia oleifera is an important oilseed forest tree, but it is unknown whether and how inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, as well as spraying easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EG), regulates the fatty acid profile in seeds of this species. This study explored how inoculation with Rhizophagus intraradices (800 g inoculum/tree) and spraying EG (2.5 L/tree, four times in total, once a week) modulated the fatty acid profile for potential nutritional qualities in the seeds of 20-year-old C. oleifera. Spraying exogenous EG significantly increased fruit transverse diameter, longitudinal diameter, fruit weight, number of seeds, and seed weight but had no significant effect on the root mycorrhizal colonization rate. Inoculation with R. intraradices had no significant effect on these fruit traits but significantly boosted the root mycorrhizal colonization rate. A total of 11 saturated fatty acids and 12 unsaturated fatty acids were detected from the seeds, with the unsaturated fatty acids consisting primarily of C18:1N-12, C18:1N-9C, and C18:2-N6. Spraying exogenous EG significantly increased the levels of major unsaturated fatty acid components such as C18:1N-12, C18:1N-9C, C18:1N-7, and C18:2N-6 by 140.6%, 59.7%, 97.6%, and 60.6%, respectively, while decreasing the level of C16:0. Inoculation with R. intraradices only decreased the levels of C16:0 and C18:0, while increased the level of C18:2N-6. Both treatments increased the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids in total fatty acids, resulting in an increase in the unsaturation index of fatty acids. In addition, inoculation with R. intraradices significantly up-regulated the expression of CoFAD2, spraying exogenous EG significantly increased the expression of CoSAD, CoFAD2, and CoFAD3, and both treatments also significantly suppressed the expression of CoFAE. These findings suggested that exogenous EG as a biostimulant, is more suitable to regulate the nutritional values of fatty acids in seeds of 20-year-old C. oleifera.
Toward a Brighter Future: Enhanced Sustainable Methods for Preventing Algal Blooms and Improving Water Quality
Authors: Hwang Su-Ok , Cho In-Hwan , Kim Ha-Kyung , Hwang Eun-A , Han Byung-Hun , Kim Baik-Ho
Published: June 2024

This comprehensive review explores the escalating challenge of nutrient enrichment in aquatic ecosystems, spotlighting the dire ecological threats posed by harmful algal blooms (HABs) and excessive particulate organic matter (POM). Investigating recent advancements in water treatment technologies and management strategies, the study emphasizes the critical need for a multifaceted approach that incorporates physical, chemical, and biological methods to effectively address these issues. By conducting detailed comparative analyses across diverse aquatic environments, it highlights the complexities of mitigating HABs and underscores the importance of environment-specific strategies. The paper advocates for sustainable, innovative solutions and international cooperation to enhance global water quality and ecosystem health. It calls for ongoing advancement, regular monitoring, and comprehensive research to adapt to emerging challenges, thus ensuring the preservation of aquatic biodiversity and the protection of communities reliant on these vital resources. The necessity of integrating technological innovation, ecological understanding, and global cooperation to safeguard aquatic ecosystems for future generations is paramount.
Evaluation of Phosphate and E. coli Attenuation in a Natural Wetland Receiving Drainage from an Urbanized Catchment
Authors: Humphrey Charles , Underwood Jarrod , Iverson Guy , Etheridge Randall , O’Driscoll Mike , White Avian
Published: June 2024

A natural wetland receiving drainage from a 24-ha urbanized catchment in the Falls Lake Watershed of North Carolina was evaluated to determine if it was providing ecosystem services with regards to phosphate and Escherichia coli (E. coli) attenuation. Inflow and outflow characteristics including nutrient and bacteria concentrations along with physicochemical properties (discharge, pH, oxidation reduction potential, temperature, and specific conductance) were assessed approximately monthly for over 2 years. The median exports of phosphate (0.03 mg/s) and E. coli (5807 MPN/s) leaving the wetland were 85% and 57% lower, respectively, relative to inflow loadings, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Hydraulic head readings from three piezometers installed at different depths revealed the wetland was a recharge area. Phosphate and E. coli concentrations were significantly greater in the shallowest piezometer relative to the deepest one, suggesting treatment occurred during infiltration. However, severe erosion of the outlets is threatening the stability of the wetland. Upstream drainageway modifications were implemented to slow runoff, and septic system repairs and maintenance activities were implemented to improve water quality reaching the wetland and Lick Creek. However, more work will be needed to conserve the ecosystem services provided by the wetland.
Trend Analysis of Hydro-Meteorological Variables in the Wadi Ouahrane Basin, Algeria
Authors: Achite Mohammed , Caloiero Tommaso , Wałęga Andrzej , Ceppi Alessandro , Bouharira Abdelhak
Published: June 2024

In recent decades, a plethora of natural disasters, including floods, storms, heat waves, droughts, and various other weather-related events, have brought destruction worldwide. In particular, Algeria is facing several natural hydrometeorological and geological hazards. In this study, meteorological parameters (precipitation, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and sunshine) and runoff data were analyzed for the Wadi Ouahrane basin (northern Algeria), into which drains much of the surrounding agricultural land and is susceptible to floods. In particular, a trend analysis was performed using the Mann–Kendall (MK) test, the Sen’s slope estimator, and the Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) method to detect possible trends in the time series over the period 1972/73–2017/2018. The results revealed significant trends in several hydro-meteorological variables. In particular, neither annual nor monthly precipitation showed a clear tendency, thus failing to indicate potential changes in the rainfall patterns. Temperature evidenced a warming trend, indicating a potential shift in the local climate, while streamflow revealed a decreasing trend, reflecting the complex interaction between precipitation and other hydrological factors.
Comparative Study of Low Flow Frequency Analysis Using Bivariate Copula Model at Soyanggang Dam and Chungju Dam
Authors: Sung Jiyoung , Kang Boosik
Published: June 2024

A univariate analysis that relies solely on precipitation data in low flow frequency analysis is a technique to express meteorological drought, so it is limited to analyzing the characteristics of hydrological drought related to available water resources. In addition, if the data for the model calibration are insufficient, the uncertainty of a single variable limits the construction of a reliable model. To improve this problem, a frequency analysis was performed by constructing a bivariate copula model as a multivariate model with a high correlation between variables targeting reservoir inflows. The methodology utilizes the theory of runs to identify low flow events, establishing a threshold based on the mandatory regional water supply plan, and determining the low flow duration and cumulative water deficit. The Gumbel copula function, effective in capturing correlations between hydrological variables, was applied to derive a joint bivariate probability distribution, facilitating the calculation of combined low flow event return periods. This study compared low flow frequencies at Soyanggang dam (’74–’22) and Chungju dam (’86–’22), which are in the same Han River basin but have different capacities and water demands, using a bivariate copula model. The top four extreme low flow events for the two adjacent dam basins did not occur in the same year and, in the years of the extreme low flow events at one of the two dam basins, there was an insignificant magnitude at the remaining dam basin. This result is noteworthy because it shows that the possibility of extreme low flow events appearing simultaneously in both watersheds is not as high as expected. The operational efficiency can be improved by setting the coordinated operation rules of the two reservoirs using the copula dependency structure.