bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Critical Role of Soil Ecological Stoichiometric Ratios: How Does Reforestation Improve Soil Nitrogen and Phosphorus Availability?
Authors: Chen Zhixuan , Xu Xia , Wen Yongli , Cheng Man , Wang Xiao
Published: August 2024

The ecological stoichiometric characteristics of soil elements have greatly enhanced our understanding of the circulation of soil nutrients. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the alteration of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometric ratios in deep soil after afforestation. To examine the variations in stoichiometric ratios of soil elements with different vegetation types, restoration times, and soil depths, we collected soil samples from grassland, Caragana korshinskii shrubland, and Picea asperata forestland at different stand ages (10a, 25a, and 40a) in Xining City, which is located on the Loess Plateau. Our results showed that, at 25a, the carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) and carbon-to-phosphorus (C:P) ratios were significantly higher in the grassland soil than under other vegetation types, whereas the nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) ratio had no significant difference among the three vegetation types. At 40a, the ratios of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P in the shrubland were the highest. With the increasing of the restoration time, the ratios of soil C:N, C:P, and N:P in grassland with 25a became higher than for 40a or 10a. The ratios in the shrubland were highest at 40a, followed by 25a and then 10a, while the ratios in the forestland showed no significant difference. At 40a, the soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios of shrubland were highest at the soil depth of 40–100 cm. The soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios showed positive correlations with soil ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen, and the soil N:P ratios showed a negative correlation with soil available phosphorus. Plant diversity significantly influenced the soil stoichiometric ratio of the upper soil layer. In the upper soil layer (0–40 cm), species richness showed a positive correlation with soil C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios, and the Margalef index exhibited a positive correlation with soil C:N and C:P ratios. The results of this study indicate that the stoichiometric ratio and nutrient availability of Caragana korshinskii shrubland were the highest over time. Therefore, these findings can be served as a valuable reference for local revegetation and ecological restoration.
Study on the Effect of Sooty Mould Disease in Tea Plants
Authors: Liu Renjian , Liu Hongmei , Wang Yuyuan , Chen Jiahao , Qiu Zihao , Zheng Yanchun , Sun Binmei , Tan Xindong , Shu Canwei , Liu Shaoqun , Zheng Peng
Published: August 2024

Sooty mould (SM) disease affects the growth, development and metabolism of plants and reduces the commodity and economic value of crops. SM disease is one of the important leaf diseases in tea plants. Nonetheless, studies on the effect of SM disease in tea plants are rare. Herein, we found that SM disease disrupted the cell morphology and structure and reduced the contents of caffeine, theanine, and catechins in the mature leaves of tea plants. Transcriptome analysis revealed that SM disease inhibited the biosynthesis of lignin, chlorophyll, catechin, caffeine, and theanine and affected the plant-pathogen interactions in the mature leaves of tea plants by downregulating gene expression. In addition, two fungal isolates, MTzyqA and MTzyqB, were obtained from the mature leaves of diseased tea plants. These strains were identified as Cladosporium pseudocladosporioides by mulitgene phylogenetic analysis, and they grew epiphytically on the leaves of tea plants. The biocontrol bacteria JT68, ZGT5, and BX1 had obvious inhibitory effect on MTzyqA and MTzyqB. These results provide a basis for understanding the effect of SM disease in tea plants.
Preparation of Functionalized Ethylene–Vinyl-Alcohol Nanofibrous Membrane Filter for Rapid and Cyclic Removing of Organic Dye from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Ding Jiachen , Li Tingting , Wang Xiangyi , Li Mengyang , Li Tianyu , Zhang Zhiming
Published: August 2024

A functionalized ethylene–vinyl-alcohol (EVOH) nanofibrous membrane (NFM) was fabricated via co-electrospinning H4SiW12O40 (SiW12) and EVOH first, and then grafting citric acid (CCA) on the electrospun SiW12@EVOH NFM. Characterization with FT-IR, EDX, and XPS confirmed that CCA was introduced to the surface of SiW12@EVOH NFM and the Keggin structure of SiW12 was maintained well in the composite fibers. Due to a number of carboxyl groups introduced by CCA, the as-prepared SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM can form a high number of hydrogen bonds with CR, and thus can be used to selectively absorb congo red (CR) in aqueous solutions. More importantly, the CR enriched in the NFM can be rapidly degraded via photocatalysis. SiW12 in the NFM acted as a photocatalyst, and the hydroxyl groups in the NFM acted as an electron donor to accelerate the photodegradation rate of CR. Meanwhile, the SiW12@EVOH-CCA NFM was regenerated and then exhibited a relatively stable adsorption capacity in five cycles of filtration–regeneration. The bifunctional nanofibrous membrane filter showed potential for use in the thorough purification of dye wastewater.
Charge Phenomena in the Elastic Backscattering of Electrons from Insulating Polymers
Authors: Dapor Maurizio
Published: August 2024

Elastic peak electron spectroscopy (EPES) analyzes the line shape of the elastic peak. The reduction in energy of the elastic peak electrons is the result of energy transfer to the target atoms, a phenomenon known as recoil energy. EPES differs from other electron spectroscopies in its unique ability to identify hydrogen in polymers and hydrogenated carbon-based materials. This feature is particularly noteworthy as lighter elements exhibit stronger energy shifts. The energy difference between the positions of the elastic peak of carbon and the elastic peak of hydrogen tends to increase as the kinetic energy of the incident electrons increases. During electron irradiation of an insulating polymer, if the number of secondary electrons emitted from the surface is less than the number of electrons absorbed in the sample, the surface floats energetically until it stabilizes at a potential energy eVs. As a result, the interaction energy changes and modifies the energy difference between the elastic peaks of hydrogen and carbon. In this study, the charge effects are evaluated using the Monte Carlo method to simulate the EPES spectra of electrons interacting with polystyrene and polyethylene.
(Bio)degradable Biochar Composites of PLA/P(3HB-co-4HB) Commercial Blend for Sustainable Future—Study on Degradation and Electrostatic Properties
Authors: Musioł Marta , Rydz Joanna , Janeczek Henryk , Andrzejewski Jacek , Cristea Mariana , Musioł Krzysztof , Kampik Marian , Kowalczuk Marek
Published: August 2024

Interesting alternatives to expensive biodegradable polymers are their composites with natural fillers. The addition of biochar to a blend of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) was studied, and the resulting materials were evaluated for their properties and changes during degradation. Introducing biochar as a filler brought a noticeable improvement in electrostatic properties. Surface resistivity decreased from 3.80 × 1012 for the sample without biochar to 1.32 × 1012 for the sample with 30% filler content. Degradation tests revealed distinct differences in the degradation profile for composites due to the presence of filler. Composites with a lower biochar content displayed curling crack edges during hydrolytic degradation, and when the filler content reached 20 wt%, PLA loss accelerated. This study suggests that biochar-based composites have potential to be used as sustainable materials with improved properties.
Flame-Retardant Glass Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Resins with Phosphorus-Containing Bio-Based Benzoxazines and Graphene
Authors: Trubachev Stanislav , Paletsky Alexander , Sosnin Egor , Tuzhikov Oleg , Buravov Boris , Shmakov Andrey , Chernov Anatoliy , Kulikov Ilya , Sagitov Albert , Hu Yuan , Wang Xin
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a study of the flammability and thermal decomposition products of glass fiber-reinforced epoxy resin (GFRER) with the addition of cardanol-based phosphorus-containing benzoxazine monomer (CBz) and graphene and their combinations in different proportions (up to 20 wt.%). The addition of CBz alone or in combination with graphene resulted in an increase in the limiting oxygen index (LOI) and self-extinguishing in the UL-94 HB test. The flame-retardant samples had better tensile mechanical properties than the sample without additives. The differential mass-spectrometric thermal analysis (DMSTA) of the thermal decomposition products of GFRER without additives and with the addition of CBz and graphene was carried out. CBz addition promoted the thermal decomposition of high-molecular-weight products of epoxy resin decomposition in the condensed phase and at the same time decreased the time of release of low-molecular-weight thermal decomposition products into the gas phase. Graphene addition resulted in an increase in the relative intensities of high-molecular-mass peaks compared to GFRER without additives.
Polyvinylimidazole-Based Cryogel as an Efficient Tool for the Capture and Release of Oleuropein in Aqueous Media
Authors: Giglio Valentina , Zagni Chiara , Spina Emanuela Teresa Agata , Cunsolo Francesca , Carroccio Sabrina Carola
Published: August 2024

A polyvinylimidazole-based cryogel is presented as a pioneering solution for efficient extraction and release of partially water-soluble polyphenols from olive byproducts. Specifically, oleuropein was used as model molecule to evaluate its recovery from water. The material merges the properties of interconnected cryogel structure in adsorbing molecules via fast diffusion flux, with the strong electrostatic interactions acted by imidazole moiety. Such cryogel achieves effective oleuropein binding likely through hydrogen bonding and π–π interactions. Comprehensive assessments of static adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and desorption kinetics underscore the cryogel’s efficacy in oleuropein extraction and release, highlighting its pivotal role in valorizing olive wastewater through sustainable biotechnological applications.
Research Status of Lignin-Based Polyurethane and Its Application in Flexible Electronics
Authors: Hu Jingbo , Huang Mengmeng , Zhou Xing , Luo Rubai , Li Lu , Li Xiaoning
Published: August 2024

Polyurethanes (PU) have drawn great attention due to their excellent mechanical properties and self-healing and recyclable abilities. Lignin is a natural and renewable raw material in nature, composed of a large number of hydroxyl groups, and has a great potential to replace petroleum polyols in PU synthesis. This review summarizes the recent advances in modification methods such as the liquefaction, alkylation, and demethylation of lignin, and a systematic analysis of how to improve the reactivity and monomer substitution of lignin during polyurethane synthesis for the green manufacturing of high-performance polyurethanes was conducted. Polyurethane can be used in the form of films, foams, and elastomers instead of conventional materials as a dielectric or substrate material to improve the reliability and durability of flexible sensors; this review summarizes the green synthesis of polyurethanes and their applications in flexible electronics, which are expected to provide inspiration for the wearable electronics sector.
Design and Optimization of Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Targeting Epinephrine Molecule: A Theoretical Approach
Authors: Adeleke Victoria T. , Ebenezer Oluwakemi , Lasich Madison , Tuszynski Jack , Robertson Scott , Mugo Samuel M.
Published: August 2024

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a growing highlight in polymer chemistry. They are chemically and thermally stable, may be used in a variety of environments, and fulfill a wide range of applications. Computer-aided studies of MIPs often involve the use of computational techniques to design, analyze, and optimize the production of MIPs. Limited information is available on the computational study of interactions between the epinephrine (EPI) MIP and its target molecule. A rational design for EPI-MIP preparation was performed in this study. First, density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation were used for the screening of functional monomers suitable for the design of MIPs of EPI in the presence of a crosslinker and a solvent environment. Among the tested functional monomers, acrylic acid (AA) was the most appropriate monomer for EPI-MIP formulation. The trends observed for five out of six DFT functionals assessed confirmed AA as the suitable monomer. The theoretical optimal molar ratio was 1:4 EPI:AA in the presence of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) and acetonitrile. The effect of temperature was analyzed at this ratio of EPI:AA on mean square displacement, X-ray diffraction, density distribution, specific volume, radius of gyration, and equilibrium energies. The stability observed for all these parameters is much better, ranging from 338 to 353 K. This temperature may determine the processing and operating temperature range of EPI-MIP development using AA as a functional monomer. For cost-effectiveness and to reduce time used to prepare MIPs in the laboratory, these results could serve as a useful template for designing and developing EPI-MIPs.
Facile Fabrication of Hierarchical Structured Anodic Aluminum Oxide Molds for Large-Scale Production of Superhydrophobic Polymer Films
Authors: Balasankar Athinarayanan , Venkatesan Raja , Jeong Dae-Yeong , Oh Tae Hwan , Kim Seong-Cheol , Vetcher Alexandre A. , Ramasundaram Subramaniyan
Published: August 2024

Anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) molds were used for the production of large-area and inexpensive superhydrophobic polymer films. A controlled anodization methodology was developed for the fabrication of hierarchical micro–nanoporous (HMN) AAO imprint molds (HMN-AAO), where phosphoric acid was used as both an electrolyte and a widening agent. Heat generated upon repetitive high-voltage (195 V) anodization steps is effectively dissipated by establishing a cooling channel. On the HMN-AAO, within the hemispherical micropores, arrays of hexagonal nanopores are formed. The diameter and depth of the micro- and nanopores are 18/8 and 0.3/1.25 µm, respectively. The gradual removal of micropatterns during etching in both the vertical and horizontal directions is crucial for fabricating HMN-AAO with a high aspect ratio. HMN-AAO rendered polycarbonate (PC) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) films with respective water contact angles (WCAs) of 153° and 151°, respectively. The increase in the WCA is 80% for PC (85°) and 89% for PMMA (80°). On the PC and PMMA films, mechanically robust arrays of nanopillars are observed within the hemispherical micropillars. The micro–nanopillars on these polymer films are mechanically robust and durable. Regular nanoporous AAO molds resulted in only a hydrophobic polymer film (WCA = 113–118°). Collectively, the phosphoric acid-based controlled anodization strategy can be effectively utilized for the manufacturing of HMN-AAO molds and roll-to-roll production of durable superhydrophobic surfaces.
Enhancing Blue Polymer Light-Emitting Diode Performance by Optimizing the Layer Thickness and the Insertion of a Hole-Transporting Layer
Authors: Saad A. , Hamad N. , Redoy Rasul Al Foysal , Zhao Suling , Wageh S.
Published: August 2024

Polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) hold immense promise for energy-efficient lighting and full-color display technologies. In particular, blue PLEDs play a pivotal role in achieving color balance and reducing energy consumption. The optimization of layer thickness in these devices is critical for enhancing their efficiency. PLED layer thickness control impacts exciton recombination probability, charge transport efficiency, and optical resonance, influencing light emission properties. However, experimental variations in layer thickness are complex and costly. This study employed simulations to explore the impact of layer thickness variations on the optical and electrical properties of blue light-emitting diodes. Comparing the simulation results with experimental data achieves valuable insights for optimizing the device’s performance. Our findings revealed that controlling the insertion of a layer that works as a hole-transporting and electron-blocking layer (EBL) could greatly enhance the performance of PLEDs. In addition, changing the active layer thickness could optimize device performance. The obtained results in this work contribute to the development of advanced PLED technology and organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs).
Surface Treatment of Additively Manufactured Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) by Centrifugal Disc Finishing Process: Identification of the Key Parameters
Authors: Zentgraf Jan , Nützel Florian , Mühlbauer Nico , Schultheiss Ulrich , Grad Marius , Schratzenstaller Thomas
Published: August 2024

Polyetheretherketone is a promising material for implants due to its good mechanical properties and excellent biocompatibility. Its accessibility to a wide range of applications is facilitated by the ability to process it with an easy-to-use manufacturing process such as fused filament fabrication. The elimination of disadvantages associated with the manufacturing process, such as a poor surface quality, is a main challenge to deal with. As part of the mass finishing process, centrifugal disc finishing has demonstrated good results in surface optimization, making it a promising candidate for the post-processing of additively manufactured parts. The objective of this study is to identify the key parameters of the centrifugal disc finishing process on the waviness of additively manufactured PEEK specimens, which has not been investigated previously. The waviness of the specimen was investigated by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), while weight loss was additionally tracked. Six parameters were investigated: type, amount and speed of media, use of compound, amount of water and time. Type of media, time and speed were found to significantly influence waviness reduction and weight loss. Surface electron microscopy images demonstrated the additional effects of deburring and corner rounding. Results on previous studies with specimens made of metal showed similar results. Further investigation is required to optimize waviness reduction and polish parts in a second post-processing step.
Quantification of the Influence of Charge Variations on the Flow Behavior of Sheet Molding Compounds
Authors: Imbsweiler Anna Julia , Wang Junyan , Sharwalla Reem , Hoffelner Julius , Colin David , Zaremba Swen , Drechsler Klaus
Published: August 2024

Using a newly developed flow test bench, several charge configurations were analyzed to quantify the influence of the charge configuration in the mold in sheet molding compound (SMC) manufacturing. A test bench was developed to satisfy the industrial needs for the incoming goods inspection as well as the need for the flow characterization of rheological models in the simulation. The test setup has a cylindrical opening for the charge placement, from where the material is pressed into a thin flow channel, forcing the material to reorient. A comparison was performed by juxtaposing the resulting compression pressure recorded during the process. The charge for this test series, placed into the cylindrical opening, has two basal configurations, one consisting of a stack of disks, and the second in a rectangular sheet rolled up into a spiral. Six charge variations were tested in total. The amount of material, the batch, the layering and the production direction of the sheet proved to have a significant influence on the necessary compression pressure. Guidelines about the recommended charge configurations could be derived for optimized production settings, such as a reduction in the compression pressure and modifications to the charge.
Waterborne Intumescent Fire-Retardant Polymer Composite Coatings: A Review
Authors: Li Yang , Cao Cheng-Fei , Chen Zuan-Yu , Liu Shuai-Chi , Bae Joonho , Tang Long-Cheng
Published: August 2024

Intumescent fire-retardant coatings, which feature thinner layers and good decorative effects while significantly reducing heat transfer and air dispersion capabilities, are highly attractive for fire safety applications due to their effective prevention of material combustion and protection of materials. Particularly, the worldwide demand for improved environmental protection requirements has given rise to the production of waterborne intumescent fire-retardant polymer composite coatings, which are comparable to or provide more advantages than solvent-based intumescent fire-retardant polymer composite coatings in terms of low cost, reduced odor, and minimal environmental and health hazards. However, there is still a lack of a comprehensive and in-depth overview of waterborne intumescent fire-retardant polymer composite coatings. This review aims to systematically and comprehensively discuss the composition, the flame retardant and heat insulation mechanisms, and the practical applications of waterborne intumescent fire-retardant polymer composite coatings. Finally, some key challenges associated with waterborne intumescent fire-retardant polymer composite coatings are highlighted, following which future perspectives and opportunities are proposed.
Cleaner and Sustainable Production of Core–Sheath Polymer Fibres
Authors: Amarakoon Manul , Harker Anthony , Homer-Vanniasinkam Shervanthi , Edirisinghe Mohan
Published: August 2024

The amalgamation of sustainable practises throughout the fabrication process with advanced material engineering holds promise not only for eco-conscious manufacturing but also for promoting technological advancements in versatile material design and application. Moreover, technological innovation serves as a catalyst for sustainability initiatives, driving innovation and enabling the adoption of greener practises across industries. This study investigates redefining the production protocol of pressure spinning to produce core–sheath polymer fibres, deepening sustainable practises. It aims to explore innovative approaches such as modifying spinning parameters, optimising polymer solvent configurations and understanding fluid behaviour to curtail material wastage and maintain minimal energy consumption without compromising production efficiency. Utilising Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) for the core and Polyethylene oxide (PEO) for the sheath, production rates of up to 64 g/h were achieved with a fibre diameter range of 3.2 ± 1.7 µm to 4.6 ± 2.0 µm. Energy consumption per mass of fibres produced showed a decreasing trend overall with increasing applied gas pressure. These findings highlight the potential for the efficient and scalable production of core–sheath fibres with applications in various advanced materials fields.
Polygonatum sibiricum Polysaccharides Alleviate Depressive-like Symptoms in Chronic Restraint Stress-Induced Mice via Microglial Regulation in Prefrontal Cortex
Authors: Yuan Zhong-Yu , Zhang Xuan , Yu Zong-Zhong , Wang Xin-Yu , Zeng Zi-Heng , Wei Meng-Xuan , Qiu Meng-Ting , Wang Jun , Cheng Jie , Yi Li-Tao
Published: August 2024

Microglia respond to stressors by secreting cytokines or growth factors, playing a crucial role in maintaining brain homeostasis. While the antidepressant-like effects of Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharides (PSPs) have been observed in mice, their potential effectiveness involving microglial regulation remains unknown. This study investigates the antidepressant-like mechanism of PSP by regulating microglial phenotype and signaling pathways in the prefrontal cortex of chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced mice. PSP was extracted, purified, characterized, and orally administered to CRS mice. High-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) revealed that PSP has a molecular weight of 5.6 kDa. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that PSP exhibited a layered structure with densely packed, irregular surfaces. PSP treatment significantly increased sucrose preference (low: 71%, p < 0.01; medium: 69%, p < 0.05; high: 75%, p < 0.001 vs. CRS: 58%) and reduced immobility time (low: 74 s, p < 0.01; medium: 68 s, p < 0.01; high: 79 s, p < 0.05 vs. CRS: 129 s), indicating the alleviation of depressive-like behaviors. PSP inhibited microglial activation (PSP, 131/mm2 vs. CRS, 173/mm2, p = 0.057), reversing CRS-induced microglial hypertrophy and hyper-ramification. Furthermore, PSP inactivated microglial activation by inhibiting NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1/IL-1β signaling pathways, increasing BDNF synthesis and activating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-mediated neurogenesis (PSP, 80/per DG vs. CRS, 49/per DG, p < 0.01). In conclusion, PSP exerts antidepressant-like effects through the regulation of microglial activity and neuroinflammatory pathways, indicating it as a potential natural compound for depression treatment.
Examining the Flexural Behavior of Thermoformed 3D-Printed Wrist–Hand Orthoses: Role of Material, Infill Density, and Wear Conditions
Authors: Vlăsceanu Daniel , Popescu Diana , Baciu Florin , Stochioiu Constantin
Published: August 2024

This paper examined the mechanical properties of wrist–hand orthoses made from polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), produced through material extrusion with infill densities of 55% and 80%. These orthoses, commonly prescribed for wrist injuries, were 3D-printed flat and subsequently thermoformed to fit the user’s hand. Experimental and numerical analyses assessed their mechanical resistance to flexion after typical wear conditions, including moisture and long-term aging, as well as their moldability. Digital Imaging Correlation investigations were performed on PLA and PETG specimens for determining the characteristics required for running numerical analysis of the mechanical behavior of the orthoses. The results indicated that even the orthoses with the lower infill density maintained suitable rigidity for wrist immobilization, despite a decrease in their mechanical properties after over one year of shelf life. PLA orthoses with 55% infill density failed at a mean load of 336 N (before aging) and 215 N (after aging), while PETG orthoses did not break during tests. Interestingly, PLA and PETG orthoses with 55% infill density were less influenced by aging compared to their 80% density counterparts. Additionally, moisture and aging affected the PLA orthoses more, with thermoforming, ongoing curing, and stress relaxation as possible explanations related to PETG behavior. Both materials proved viable for daily use, with PETG offering better flexural resistance but posing greater thermoforming challenges.
Short-Term Wind Speed Prediction Study Based on Variational Mode Decompositions–Sparrow Search Algorithm–Gated Recurrent Units
Authors: Yang Tongrui , Guo Xihao , Qian Guowei
Published: August 2024

Improving the accuracy of short-term wind speed predictions is crucial for mitigating the impact on power systems when integrating wind power into an electricity grid. This study developed a hybrid short-term wind speed prediction method, termed VMD–SSA–GRU, by combining variational mode decomposition (VMD) with gated recurrent units (GRUs) and optimizing it using a sparrow search algorithm (SSA). Initially, VMD was used to decompose the wind speed time series into subtime series. After reconstructing these subtime series, a GRU model was employed to establish separate prediction models for each series. Furthermore, an enhanced SSA was proposed to optimize the hyperparameters of the GRU model, which improved the prediction accuracy. Ultimately, the sub-series predictions were aggregated to produce the final wind speed prediction values. The predictive accuracy of this model was validated using the wind speed data measured at a meteorological station near a bridge site. The performance of the VMD–SSA–GRU model was compared with several other hybrid models, including those using wavelet transform, long short-term memory, and other neural networks. Comparably, the RMSE value of the VMD-SSA-GRU model was lower by 25.3%, 60.2%, and 61.7% in comparison to the VMD–SSA–LSTM, VMD–GRU, and VMD–LSTM models, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method achieved higher prediction accuracy than traditional methods.
Improving the Decision-Making for Sustainable Demolition Waste Management by Combining a Building Information Modelling-Based Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Framework and Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding Approach
Authors: Han Dongchen , Rajabifard Abbas
Published: August 2024

Increasing efforts have been devoted to promoting sustainable demolition waste management (DWM) from a life cycle thinking perspective. To this end, facilitating sustainability-oriented decision-making for DWM planning requires a sustainability assessment framework for assessing the trade-offs among multifaceted criteria. This study develops a BIM-based DWM sustainability assessment approach to facilitate the life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) and decision-making by integrating LCSA-related properties and hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Aiding (MCDA) methods into a BIM environment using Dynamo visual scripting. A dynamic linkage is developed in the streamlined BIM-based LCSA process, where the enriched Industry Foundation Class (IFC) models are coupled with custom LCSA data templates to achieve seamless data exchange between the BIM platform and external LCA tools. Subsequently, hybrid MCDA methods convert the assessment results into DWM scenario ranking. A pilot study verifies the applicability of the BIM-based framework. The results unveil that the sustainability score ascended with the recycling rate. The optimal DWM alternative with the highest recycling rate yields the highest sustainability score at 91.63. Conversely, a DWM alternative reflecting the ‘status quo’ in China’s recycling industry has the lowest score at 8.37, significantly lower than the baseline scenario with a 50% recycling rate. It is worth noting that the ‘growth curve’ of the sustainability score continuously flattens as the target recycling rate escalates. The increment in recycling rate from the “Australian standard” scenario to the optimal scenario is 18.4%, whereas the sustainability score merely increases by 2.3%, implying that the former scenario arrived at an optimum point for maximising the cost-efficiency of DWM under the predefined settings.
Fading Landscapes of Rural Cemeteries around Wooden Churches on the Polish–Czech Border in Lower Silesia (Poland)
Authors: Dzikowska Anna , Krzemińska Alicja Edyta , Zaręba Anna Danuta , Pawłowski Kamil
Published: August 2024

The aim of the article was to compare the landscape and cultural value of cemeteries located around wooden churches on the Polish–Czech border in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Research regarding the history of the villages was undertaken, describing their development and the construction of the churches and the cemeteries so as to compare changes in cemetery spatial layout, architecture, and landscape. The villages involved were Grzmiąca, Kamieńczyk, Międzygórze, Nowa Bystrzyca, Rybnica Leśna, and Zalesie. The following analyses were conducted: assessment of the visual aspects of the landscape, evaluation of the architectural value, and assessment of land use. In the landscape of Lower Silesia, churchyard cemeteries, which bear witness to the rich past of this region, are gradually but remorselessly deteriorating. Adverse changes are occurring to their spatial layout, to church buildings, as well as in architecture and greenery. The article presents a new approach to the subject of sacred sites through multi-faceted research aimed at protecting the fragile and changing religious landscape.
The Silence of God and the Witness of the Christian Soldier through Kenosis
Authors: Rugani Marc V.
Published: August 2024

The moral status of soldiers as agent-instruments of polities has been long debated among Christians. Recognizing soldiers’ moral vulnerability, Stanley Hauerwas has argued for a pastoral rather than a missiological shape of what Oliver O’Donovan has called evangelical counter-praxis through a Christian’s participation in war. To reframe the complications of this dilemma, this essay argues that the Christian soldier has the potential to actively witness the love of Jesus Christ through a kenotic repudiation of one’s unwillingness to kill. Through an interpretation of Shusaku Endo’s novel Silence, a correspondence between the Christian soldier and the apostate-cum-martyr Fr. Rodrigues is arguable through an act of paradoxical faith in Jesus, where killing the enemy becomes an imitation of his self-emptying on the cross for the sake of others. Christian soldiers may find self-understanding, healing, and forgiveness by naming their acts truthfully with the intention to move through confession to gratitude and a deeper love for God and neighbor.
From Sacred Doctrine to Confucian Moral Practice: Giulio Aleni’s Cross-Cultural Interpretation of “Goodness and Evil of Human Nature”
Authors: Che Xiangqian
Published: August 2024

This paper explores the cross-cultural interpretation of “the goodness and evil of human nature” by Jesuit missionary Giulio Aleni in the late Ming Dynasty, and it examines the intersections and complementarity between Catholicism and Confucianism in moral ethics based on Aleni’s integration. The study finds that Aleni, while basically adhering to the Catholic “original sin”, connected the “spirituality” endowed to humans at the beginning of God’s creation with the Confucian ontological concepts such as “ultimate good” (zhishan 至善); centering on “self-mastery” (zizhuan 自專), “sharpening” (dili 砥礪), and “overcoming nature” (kexing 克性), he actively guided the goodness–evil debate towards a Confucian practical morality, and sacred doctrines are served as an impetus of moral practices. The redemption, together with reward and punishment of God, further intensifies the ultimate concern and the way of transcendence. Aleni’s bridging and synthesizing of the two traditions is highly significant: concerning both sanctity and practicality of ethics can to some extent overcome the risks brought by the instrumentalization of ethics or the illusory issues of existence. This has important implications for the self-development and integration of Christian and Confucian morality.
Sikh Diasporic Approaches in Anti-Caste Activism
Authors: Singh Jasleen
Published: August 2024

This article looks at how Sikh ethical principles are informing how Sikh diasporic activists approach contemporary social justice issues around caste abolition. The article is divided into three different sections that look at the history of castes within Punjab and the North American Sikh diaspora, especially in the late 19th c. but with some reference to contemporary history. Later, I utilized my interviews with Sikh activists who have supported recent legislation in Seattle and California around caste discrimination. Finally, the article discusses the work of a Sikh queer collective, a group I have worked with over a period of two years, to examine how notions of queerness and anti-caste politics within Sikh principles might be a path forward towards caste abolition.
Utilizing Visible Band Vegetation Indices from Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images for Maize Phenotyping
Authors: Coswosk Guilherme Gonçalves , Gonçalves Vivane Mirian Lanhellas , de Lima Valter Jário , de Souza Guilherme Augusto Rodrigues , Teixeira do Amaral Junior Antônio , Pereira Messias Gonzaga , de Oliveira Evandro Chaves , Leite Jhean Torres , Kamphorst Samuel Henrique , de Oliveira Uéliton Alves , Crevelari Jocarla Ambrosim , dos Santos Késia Dias , Marques Frederico César Ribeiro , Campostrini Eliemar
Published: August 2024

Recent advancements in high-throughput phenotyping have led to the use of drones with RGB sensors for evaluating plant traits. This study explored the relationships between vegetation indices (VIs) with grain yield and morphoagronomic and physiological traits in maize genotypes. Eight maize hybrids, including those from the UENF breeding program and commercial varieties, were evaluated using a randomized block design with four replications. VIs were obtained at various stages using drones and Pix4D Mapper 4.7.5 software. Analysis revealed significant differences in morphoagronomic traits and photosynthetic capacity. At 119 days after planting (DAP), the RGB vegetation index VARI showed a significant correlation (r = 0.99) with grain yield. VARI also correlated with female flowering (r = −0.87), plant height (r = −0.79), 100-grain weight (r = −0.77), and anthocyanin concentration (r = −0.86). PCA showed a clear separation between local and commercial hybrids, explaining 46.7% of variance at 91 DAP, 52.3% at 98 DAP, 64.2% at 112 DAP, and 66.1% at 119 DAP. This study highlights the utility of VIs in maize phenotyping and genotype selection during advanced reproductive stages.
Refined Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Considering Land Use Changes and InSAR Deformation: A Case Study of Yulin City, Guangxi
Authors: Li Pengfei , Wang Huini , Li Hongli , Ni Zixuan , Deng Hongxing , Sui Haigang , Xu Guilin
Published: August 2024

Landslide susceptibility maps (LSMs) are valuable tools typically used by local authorities for land use management and planning activities, supporting decision-makers in urban and infrastructure planning. To address this, we proposed a refined method for landslide susceptibility assessment, which comprehensively considered both static and dynamic factors. Neural network methods were used for susceptibility analysis. Land use and land cover (LULC) change and InSAR deformation were then integrated into the traditional susceptibility zoning to obtain a refined susceptibility map with higher accuracy. Validation was conducted on the improved landslide susceptibility map using site landslide data. The results showed that the LULC were proven to be the core driving factors for landslide occurrence in the study area. The GRU model achieved the highest model performance (AUC = 0.886). The introduction of InSAR surface deformation and land use and land cover change data could rationalize the inappropriateness of traditional landslide susceptibility zoning, correcting the false positive and false negative areas in the traditional landslide susceptibility map caused by human activities. Ultimately, 12.25% of the study area was in high-susceptibility zones, with 3.10% of false positive and 0.74% of false negative areas being corrected. The proposed method enabled refined analysis of landslide susceptibility over large areas, providing technical support and disaster prevention and mitigation references for geological hazard susceptibility assessment and land management planning.
Improving Radiometric Block Adjustment for UAV Multispectral Imagery under Variable Illumination Conditions
Authors: Wang Yuxiang , Yang Zengling , Khan Haris Ahmad , Kootstra Gert
Published: August 2024

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with multispectral cameras offer great potential for applications in precision agriculture. A critical challenge that limits the deployment of this technology is the varying ambient illumination caused by cloud movement. Rapidly changing solar irradiance primarily affects the radiometric calibration process, resulting in reflectance distortion and heterogeneity in the final generated orthomosaic. In this study, we optimized the radiometric block adjustment (RBA) method, which corrects for changing illumination by comparing adjacent images and from incidental observations of reference panels to produce accurate and uniform reflectance orthomosaics regardless of variable illumination. The radiometric accuracy and uniformity of the generated orthomosaic could be enhanced by improving the weights of the information from the reference panels and by reducing the number of tie points between adjacent images. Furthermore, especially for crop monitoring, we proposed the RBA-Plant method, which extracts tie points solely from vegetation areas, to further improve the accuracy and homogeneity of the orthomosaic for the vegetation areas. To validate the effectiveness of the optimization techniques and the proposed RBA-Plant method, visual and quantitative assessments were conducted on a UAV-image dataset collected under fluctuating solar irradiance conditions. The results demonstrated that the optimized RBA and RBA-Plant methods outperformed the current empirical line method (ELM) and sensor-corrected approaches, showing significant improvements in both radiometric accuracy and homogeneity. Specifically, the average root mean square error (RMSE) decreased from 0.084 acquired by the ELM to 0.047, and the average coefficient of variation (CV) decreased from 24% (ELM) to 10.6%. Furthermore, the orthomosaic generated by the RBA-Plant method achieved the lowest RMSE and CV values, 0.039 and 6.8%, respectively, indicating the highest accuracy and best uniformity. In summary, although UAVs typically incorporate lighting sensors for illumination correction, this research offers different methods for improving uniformity and obtaining more accurate reflectance values from orthomosaics.
Enhancing the Resolution of Satellite Ocean Data Using Discretized Satellite Gridding Neural Networks
Authors: Liu Shirong , Jia Wentao , Wang Qianyun , Zhang Weimin , Wang Huizan
Published: August 2024

Ocean satellite data are often impeded by intrinsic limitations in resolution and accuracy. However, conventional data reconstruction approaches encounter substantial challenges when facing the nonlinear oceanic system and high-resolution fusion of variables. This research presents a Discrete Satellite Gridding Neural Network (DSGNN), a new machine learning method that processes satellite data within a discrete grid framework. By transforming the positional information of grid elements into a standardized vector format, the DSGNN significantly elevates the accuracy and resolution of data fusion through a neural network model. This method’s innovative aspect lies in its discretization and fusion technique, which not only enhances the spatial resolution of oceanic data but also, through the integration of multi-element datasets, better reflects the true physical state of the ocean. A comprehensive analysis of the reconstructed datasets indicates the DSGNN’s consistency and reliability across different seasons and oceanic regions, especially in its adept handling of complex nonlinear interactions and small-scale oceanic features. The DSGNN method has demonstrated exceptional competence in reconstructing global ocean datasets, maintaining small error variance, and achieving high congruence with in situ observations, which is almost equivalent to 1/12° hybrid coordinate ocean model (HYCOM) data. This study offers a novel and potent strategy for the high-resolution reconstruction and fusion of ocean satellite datasets.
Joint Luminance-Saliency Prior and Attention for Underwater Image Quality Assessment
Authors: Lin Zhiqiang , He Zhouyan , Jin Chongchong , Luo Ting , Chen Yeyao
Published: August 2024

Underwater images, as a crucial medium for storing ocean information in underwater sensors, play a vital role in various underwater tasks. However, they are prone to distortion due to the imaging environment, which leads to a decline in visual quality, which is an urgent issue for various marine vision systems to address. Therefore, it is necessary to develop underwater image enhancement (UIE) and corresponding quality assessment methods. At present, most underwater image quality assessment (UIQA) methods primarily rely on extracting handcrafted features that characterize degradation attributes, which struggle to measure complex mixed distortions and often exhibit discrepancies with human visual perception in practical applications. Furthermore, current UIQA methods lack the consideration of the perception perspective of enhanced effects. To this end, this paper employs luminance and saliency priors as critical visual information for the first time to measure the enhancement effect of global and local quality achieved by the UIE algorithms, named JLSAU. The proposed JLSAU is built upon an overall pyramid-structured backbone, supplemented by the Luminance Feature Extraction Module (LFEM) and Saliency Weight Learning Module (SWLM), which aim at obtaining perception features with luminance and saliency priors at multiple scales. The supplement of luminance priors aims to perceive visually sensitive global distortion of luminance, including histogram statistical features and grayscale features with positional information. The supplement of saliency priors aims to perceive visual information that reflects local quality variation both in spatial and channel domains. Finally, to effectively model the relationship among different levels of visual information contained in the multi-scale features, the Attention Feature Fusion Module (AFFM) is proposed. Experimental results on the public UIQE and UWIQA datasets demonstrate that the proposed JLSAU outperforms existing state-of-the-art UIQA methods.
Digital Twin of Space Environment: Development, Challenges, Applications, and Future Outlook
Authors: Liu Wei , Wu Mengwei , Wan Gang , Xu Minyi
Published: August 2024

This paper explores and discusses the revolutionary applications of digital twin technology in space environments and its profound impact on future space exploration activities. Originating from a proposal by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 2002, digital twin technology aims to enhance the safety and reliability of space missions by creating precise virtual models. As the technology has evolved, its applications have successfully expanded beyond aerospace to include Industry 4.0, healthcare, and urban management, demonstrating remarkable cross-industry adaptability and broad impact. In space applications, digital twin technology can not only improve spacecraft design and maintenance processes but also enhance the efficiency of mission planning and execution. It plays a crucial role in astronaut training and emergency response as well. Particularly in extreme space conditions, this technology provides real-time monitoring and fault prediction, significantly enhancing mission safety and success rates. However, despite its recognized potential, the implementation of digital twins in space environments faces numerous challenges, including data transmission delays, model accuracy, and the design of user–system interactions. In the future, as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies become mature and integrated, the digital twin will play a more central role in space missions, especially in remote operations, complex system management, and deep space exploration. This article is to overview key technical features, application examples, and challenges of digital twin technology, aiming to provide a comprehensive reference framework for researchers and developers while inspiring further in-depth studies and innovative applications.