bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation Modeling and Temperature Over-Advance Perception of Mine Hoist System Based on Digital Twin Technology
Authors: Liang Xuejun , Wu Juan , Ruan Kaiyi
Published: October 2023

The temperature prediction of hoist motor is one of the effective ways to ensure the safe production of mine hoist. Digital twin technology is a technology that combines the physical system of the real world with the digital model of the virtual world. Through digital twin technology, the physical system in the real world can be monitored and simulated in a virtual environment, and the state information of these systems can be monitored in real time. Recurrent neural network is a kind of neural network suitable for processing sequence data, which can automatically extract and learn the feature information in sequential data. To achieve online monitoring and over-advance perception of the temperature of the mine hoist motor, a temperature prediction and advance sensing method based on digital twins and recurrent neural network is proposed. To begin with, a high-fidelity digital twin monitoring system for mine hoists is constructed, enabling the acquisition of real-time temperature data. These temperature data are then fed into a neural network for feature extraction and precise prediction of the motor’s state. Subsequently, based on the temperature prediction module in the digital twin hoist monitoring system, a user interface (UI) is developed, and a fully functional digital twin temperature monitoring system is built and experimentally validated. The experimental results demonstrate that the digital twin system effectively monitors the real-time temperature state of the motor during the operation of the mine hoist. Furthermore, the integration of digital twin and recurrent neural network enables the accurate prediction and proactive detection of temperature variations in the motor of the mine hoist. This innovative approach introduces a novel perspective for implementing predictive maintenance in the mining industry, enhancing the safety and reliability of mine hoists. Additionally, it offers valuable technical support in improving maintenance efficiency and reducing associated costs.
Implementation of Physical Reservoir Computing in a TaOx/FTO-Based Memristor Device
Authors: Ju Dongyeol , Ahn Junyoung , Ho Jungwoo , Kim Sungjun , Chung Daewon
Published: October 2023

As one of the solutions to overcome the current problems of computing systems, a resistive switching device, the TiN/TaOx/fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) stacked device, was fabricated to investigate its capability in embodying neuromorphic computing. The device showed good uniformity during the resistive switching phenomenon under time and cycle-to-cycle dependent switching, which may be due to the oxygen reservoir characteristics of the FTO bottom electrode, storing oxygen ions during resistive switching and enhancing the device property. Based on the uniform switching phenomenon of the TiN/TaOx/FTO device, the pulse applications were performed to seek its ability to mimic the biological brain. It was revealed that the volatile and non-volatile nature of the device can be altered by controlling the pulse stimuli, where strong stimuli result in long-term memory while weak stimuli result in short-term memory. To further investigate the key functions of the biological brain, various learning rules such as paired-pulse facilitation, excitatory postsynaptic current, potentiation and depression, spike-rate dependent plasticity, and spike-time dependent plasticity were tested, with reservoir computing implemented based on the volatile characteristic of the TiN/TaOx/FTO device.
Effect of Rotary Swaging on Microstructure and Properties of Cr-Ni-Ti Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Rybalchenko Olga , Torganchuk Vladimir , Rybalchenko Georgy , Martynenko Natalia , Lukyanova Elena , Tokar Alexey , Prosvirnin Dmitry , Yusupov Vladimir , Dobatkin Sergey
Published: October 2023

In this study, Cr-Ni-Ti austenitic stainless steel was subjected to rotary swaging in various modes, followed by annealing. The effect of processing conditions on the resulting microstructure and, therefore, on the mechanical properties under static and cyclic loading was studied. After RS the formation of an ultrafine-grained predominantly twinned structure, with structural elements sized between 100–250 nm in Cr-Ni-Ti stainless steel, was observed. The stepwise temperature reduction during rotary swaging allows the manipulation of the microstructure transformations, which eventually leads to the desired properties of the steel. As a result, the ultimate tensile strength increased from 610 MPa to 1304 MPa when the elongation decreased from 40% to 10.5%, and the fatigue limit increased from 425 MPa to 700 MPa. The Cr-Ni-Ti steel is strengthened through the formation of an ultrafine-grained structure, twinning in austenite, and martensitic transformation. Subsequent annealing at a temperature 475 °C triggers the active precipitation of nanosized TiC carbides in the deformed steel. On one hand, the presence of these carbides increases the tensile strength up to 1938 Mpa, while on the other hand, slows down crack propagation with a slight decrease in ductility (ε = 8%) of the deformed sample. At the same time, dispersion hardening does not affect the fatigue limit of steel.
Animal Metabolite Database: Metabolite Concentrations in Animal Tissues and Convenient Comparison of Quantitative Metabolomic Data
Authors: Yanshole Vadim V. , Melnikov Arsenty D. , Yanshole Lyudmila V. , Zelentsova Ekaterina A. , Snytnikova Olga A. , Osik Nataliya A. , Fomenko Maxim V. , Savina Ekaterina D. , Kalinina Anastasia V. , Sharshov Kirill A. , Dubovitskiy Nikita A. , Kobtsev Mikhail S. , Zaikovskii Anatolii A. , Mariasina Sofia S. , Tsentalovich Yuri P.
Published: October 2023

The Animal Metabolite Database (AMDB, https://amdb.online) is a freely accessible database with built-in statistical analysis tools, allowing one to browse and compare quantitative metabolomics data and raw NMR and MS data, as well as sample metadata, with a focus on the metabolite concentrations rather than on the raw data itself. AMDB also functions as a platform for the metabolomics community, providing convenient deposition and exchange of quantitative metabolomic data. To date, the majority of the data in AMDB relate to the metabolite content of the eye lens and blood of vertebrates, primarily wild species from Siberia, Russia and laboratory rodents. However, data on other tissues (muscle, heart, liver, brain, and more) are also present, and the list of species and tissues is constantly growing. Typically, every sample in AMDB contains concentrations of 60–90 of the most abundant metabolites, provided in nanomoles per gram of wet tissue weight (nmol/g). We believe that AMDB will become a widely used tool in the community, as typical metabolite baseline concentrations in tissues of animal models will aid in a wide variety of fundamental and applied scientific fields, including, but not limited to, animal modeling of human diseases, assessment of medical formulations, and evolutionary and environmental studies.
The Effects of Lactobacillus johnsonii on Diseases and Its Potential Applications
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Zhao Lanlan , Wu Jiacheng , Pan Yingmiao , Zhao Guoping , Li Ziyun , Zhang Lei
Published: October 2023

Lactobacillus johnsonii has been used as a probiotic for decades to treat a wide range of illnesses, and has been found to have specific advantages in the treatment of a number of ailments. We reviewed the potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of L. johnsonii in various diseases based on PubMed and the Web of Science databases. We obtained the information of 149 L. johnsonii from NCBI (as of 14 February 2023), and reviewed their comprehensive metadata, including information about the plasmids they contain. This review provides a basic characterization of different L. johnsonii and some of their potential therapeutic properties for various ailments. Although the mechanisms are not fully understood yet, it is hoped that they may provide some evidence for future studies. Furthermore, the antibiotic resistance of the various strains of L. johnsonii is not clear, and more complete and in-depth studies are needed. In summary, L. johnsonii presents significant research potential for the treatment or prevention of disease; however, more proof is required to justify its therapeutic application. An additional study on the antibiotic resistance genes it contains is also needed to reduce the antimicrobial resistance dissemination.
The Activities of the Slovenian Strategic Council for Nutrition 2023/24 to Improve the Health of the Slovenian Population and the Sustainability of Food: A Narrative Review
Authors: Fras Zlatko , Jakše Boštjan , Kreft Samo , Malek Žiga , Kamin Tanja , Tavčar Nika , Fidler Mis Nataša
Published: October 2023

The health status of individuals in Slovenia across age groups is a matter of concern, as current unsustainable lifestyle choices are already leading to various chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Outdated national dietary guidelines, their inconsistent implementation, and a lack of structural changes represent obstacles to promoting healthy and sustainable nutrition. Limited access to and rising prices of healthy, sustainable foods, in addition to the high availability of low-priced, highly processed foods, increase the risk of NCDs. The lack of systematic health monitoring and early disease detection poses a challenge. Global and local environmental issues, resistance, and/or the inability to adopt healthier diets hinder individuals from changing their nutritional behaviours. In this narrative review, we provide an overview of the current situation in Slovenia as well as planned activities initiated by the Slovenian government and the Prime Minister’s Strategic Council for Nutrition, aiming to make progress in supporting healthy and sustainable nutrition, limiting food waste, and increasing the availability of healthier foods for all. Improving the sustainability of the Slovenian food system can contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring Slovenia’s commitment to internationally agreed-upon targets. This could lead Slovenia to take a role as a pilot country in testing and implementing the necessary systemic changes, which could be further applied in other countries.
Turmeric Bioactive Compounds Alleviate Spinal Nerve Ligation-Induced Neuropathic Pain by Suppressing Glial Activation and Improving Mitochondrial Function in Spinal Cord and Amygdala
Authors: Santos Julianna , Wang Rui , Bhakta Viren , Driver Zarek , Vadim Yakhnitsa , Kiritoshi Takaki , Ji Guangchen , Neugebauer Volker , Shen Chwan-Li
Published: October 2023

This study examined the effects of turmeric bioactive compounds, curcumin C3 complex® (CUR) and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), on mechanical hypersensitivity and the gene expression of markers for glial activation, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress in the spinal cord and amygdala of rats with neuropathic pain (NP). Twenty-four animals were randomly assigned to four groups: sham, spinal nerve ligation (SNL, an NP model), SNL+100 mg CUR/kg BW p.o., and SNL+50 mg BDMC/kg BW p.o. for 4 weeks. Mechanical hypersensitivity was assessed by the von Frey test (VFT) weekly. The lumbosacral section of the spinal cord and the right amygdala (central nucleus) were collected to determine the mRNA expression of genes (IBA-1, CD11b, GFAP, MFN1, DRP1, FIS1, PGC1α, PINK, Complex I, TLR4, and SOD1) utilizing qRT-PCR. Increased mechanical hypersensitivity and increased gene expression of markers for microglial activation (IBA-1 in the amygdala and CD11b in the spinal cord), astrocyte activation (GFAP in the spinal cord), mitochondrial dysfunction (PGC1α in the amygdala), and oxidative stress (TLR4 in the spinal cord and amygdala) were found in untreated SNL rats. Oral administration of CUR and BDMC significantly decreased mechanical hypersensitivity. CUR decreased CD11b and GFAP gene expression in the spinal cord. BDMC decreased IBA-1 in the spinal cord and amygdala as well as CD11b and GFAP in the spinal cord. Both CUR and BDMC reduced PGC1α gene expression in the amygdala, PINK1 gene expression in the spinal cord, and TLR4 in the spinal cord and amygdala, while they increased Complex I and SOD1 gene expression in the spinal cord. CUR and BDMC administration decreased mechanical hypersensitivity in NP by mitigating glial activation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
Dietary Supplements and Musculoskeletal Health and Function
Authors: Bogdanis Gregory C. , Giannaki Christoforos D.
Published: October 2023

This Special Issue of Nutrients ‘Dietary Supplements and Musculoskeletal Health and Function’ provides new insights into the use of a wide range of dietary supplements, such as zinc, creatine, Vitamin D, HMB, BCAA, betaine, glucoraphanin, citrulline and collagen, to improve bone and muscle structure and function [...]
Dietary Patterns in Acne and Rosacea Patients—A Controlled Study and Comprehensive Analysis
Authors: Guertler Anne , Volsky Arina , Eijkenboom Quirine , Fiedler Tobias , French Lars E. , Reinholz Markus
Published: October 2023

As the relationship between exposome factors and inflammatory skin diseases is gaining increasing attention, the objective of this study was to investigate dietary patterns among acne and rosacea patients and to establish the disease risk attributable to nutrition. In this cross-sectional, controlled study, patients’ dietary habits were assessed via subjective ratings of beneficial and trigger foods, followed by standardized food frequency surveys (FFS). Scores for disease-specific risk stratification based on dietary habits were proposed. Clinical assessments, dermatologic examinations, and laboratory analyses were performed. A total of 296 patients (acne group (AG) n = 120, control group (ACG) n = 32; rosacea group (RG) n = 105, control group (RCG) n = 39) were included. The significant impact of diet on disease severity was self-reported by 80.8% of the AG and 70.5% of the RG. Leading dietary triggers were found in both groups, while beneficial food items were identified more clearly by the AG. FFS revealed significant dietary differences between the AG, RG, and control groups. Disease-specific scores showed greater precision for acne (odds ratio 14.5 AG, 5.5 RG). The AG had higher insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 levels correlating with dairy intake (p = 0.006). Overall, this study underlines the influence of diet on acne and rosacea, providing valuable disease-specific scores for dietary risk stratification. Consuming vegetables, legumes, oily fish, olive oil, and nuts, and limiting meat, cheese, and alcohol appear to be beneficial for both acne and rosacea. Future studies can build on these data to further improve preventive and therapeutic strategies.
A Concept Analysis of the Social Responsibility of Nursing Organizations Based on Walker and Avant’s Method
Authors: Kim Jong Gun
Published: October 2023

Social responsibility has been a core value of the nursing profession, particularly in the area of health disparity. Nevertheless, it is unclear what is meant by social responsibility. This study examined ways to define the concept of the social responsibility of nursing organizations to understand the meaning of social responsibility in the nursing profession. Methods: The concept analysis process reported by Walker and Avant was used to clarify the meaning of social responsibility in nursing organizations. Results: Defining the attributes of the social responsibility of nursing organizations included accessing, educating, and practicing as approaches for strategizing the social and structural change in inequity, caring for oppressed groups suffering socially from those with privilege and power, and taking action for health policy changes in social and political unequal contexts. The antecedents of social responsibility in nursing organizations included recognizing personal characteristics, the perspective of vulnerable populations, and the social and environmental status quo, as well as educating public services on the ethical and moral reasoning of social issues. The consequences of the social responsibility of nursing organizations were achieving social justice as equal access to basic human health needed at a societal level, equal access to effective nursing practices, and the development of health promotion policies for world health administrative practices in nursing. Conclusion: This study provides guidance to direct future studies by identifying conceptual attributes in the context of the social responsibility of nursing organizations.
In Vivo Relevance of a Biphasic In Vitro Dissolution Test for the Immediate Release Tablet Formulations of Lamotrigine
Authors: Incecayir Tuba , Demir Muhammed Enes
Published: October 2023

Biphasic in vitro dissolution testing is an attractive approach to reflect on the interplay between drug dissolution and absorption for predicting the bioperformance of drug products. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vivo relevance of a biphasic dissolution test for the immediate release (IR) formulations of a Biopharmaceutics Classification System (BCS) Class II drug, lamotrigine (LTG). The biphasic dissolution test was performed using USP apparatus II with the dual paddle modification. A level A in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) was constructed between the in vitro partition into the octanol and absorption data of the reference product. A good relation between in vitro data and absorption was obtained (r2 = 0.881). The one-compartment open model was introduced to predict the human plasma profiles of the test product. The generic product was found to be bioequivalent to the original product in terms of 80–125% bioequivalence (BE) criteria (85.9–107% for the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) and 82.7–97.6% for the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) with a 90% confidence interval (CI)). Overall, it was revealed that the biphasic dissolution test offers a promising ability to estimate the in vivo performance of IR formulations of LTG, providing considerable time and cost savings in the development of generic drug products.
Recent Advances of Tumor Microenvironment-Responsive Nanomedicines-Energized Combined Phototherapy of Cancers
Authors: Liu Kehan , Yao Yao , Xue Shujuan , Zhang Mengyao , Li Dazhao , Xu Tao , Zhi Feng , Liu Yang , Ding Dawei
Published: October 2023

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a powerful tumor treatment tool due to its advantages including minimal invasiveness, high selectivity and thus dampened side effects. On the other side, the efficacy of PDT is severely frustrated by the limited oxygen level in tumors, thus promoting its combination with other therapies, particularly photothermal therapy (PTT) for bolstered tumor treatment outcomes. Meanwhile, nanomedicines that could respond to various stimuli in the tumor microenvironment (TME) provide tremendous benefits for combined phototherapy with efficient hypoxia relief, tailorable drug release and activation, improved cellular uptake and intratumoral penetration of nanocarriers, etc. In this review, we will introduce the merits of combining PTT with PDT, summarize the recent important progress of combined phototherapies and their combinations with the dominant tumor treatment regimen, chemotherapy based on smart nanomedicines sensitive to various TME stimuli with a focus on their sophisticated designs, and discuss the challenges and future developments of nanomedicine-mediated combined phototherapies.
Ethnobotanical Insights into Medicinal and Culinary Plant Use: The Dwindling Traditional Heritage of the Dard Ethnic Group in the Gurez Region of the Kashmir Valley, India
Authors: Ahad Laraib , Hassan Musheerul , Amjad Muhammad Shoaib , Mir Rayees Afzal , Vitasović-Kosić Ivana , Bussmann Rainer W. , Binish Zakia
Published: October 2023

This ethnobiological study addresses the complicated relationship between the Dard ethnic group and their natural environment in the Gurez region of the Kashmir Valley. The study documents their traditional knowledge of the use of plant species for medicinal and culinary purposes. A total of 87 plant species from 41 different families were cataloged, with the Asteraceae family (15 species) and the Lamiaceae family (12 species) being the most commonly used. These plants were found to be used to treat 20 different ailments, with menstrual cramps being the most common (12 species). The fidelity values for these plants ranged from 11.10 to 71.42, demonstrating their importance in traditional medicine. In addition, 17 plant species were found to be useful for gastronomic purposes, with Juglans regia being the most valuable (use value of 0.73). The study also evaluated the conservation status of these plants and found that seven of them are considered critically endangered, ten endangered, and four endangered according to the IUCN classification. This study offers insights into the Dard people’s deep connection to their natural environment and has significant implications for policy formulation, cultural conservation, and sustainable use of endemic species, as well as potential applications in pharmaceutical research for therapeutic compounds.
Ralstonia solanacearum Suppresses Tomato Root Growth by Downregulation of a Wall-Associated Receptor Kinase
Authors: Liu Sushuang , Xue Qi , Zhu Shuying , Liu Yanmin , Zou Huasong
Published: October 2023

The root architecture of a range of host plants is altered in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection. This work aimed to identify host genes involved in root development during R. solanacearum infection. A deficient mutant of the type III secretion system regulator hrpB was created in R. solanacearum GMI1000. The hrpB mutant was impaired in virulence but showed a similar suppressive effect as wild-type GMI1000 on tomato root development. Based on comparative transcriptome analysis, 209 genes were found that showed the same changed expression pattern in GMI1000 and hrpB mutant infected roots relative to uninoculated roots. Among them, the wall-associated receptor kinase WAKL20 was substantially downregulated in GMI1000 and hrpB mutant infected roots. Knockdown of WAKL20 led to a shorter primary root length and fewer lateral roots in tomato as well as in Nicotiana benthamiana. The WAKL20 is a pivotal target suppressed by R. solanacearum to shape the altered root development during infection.
Exploring the Phenotypic and Genetic Variabilities in Yield and Yield-Related Traits of the Diallel-Crossed F5 Population of Aus Rice
Authors: Khan Md. Arifur Rahman , Mahmud Apple , Ghosh Uttam Kumar , Hossain Md. Saddam , Siddiqui Md. Nurealam , Islam A. K. M. Aminul , Anik Touhidur Rahman , Rahman Md. Mezanur , Sharma Anket , Abdelrahman Mostafa , Ha Chien Van , Mostofa Mohammad Golam , Tran Lam-Son Phan
Published: October 2023

Rice (Oryza sativa) is a major crop and a main food for a major part of the global population. Rice species have derived from divergent agro-climatic regions, and thus, the local germplasm has a large genetic diversity. This study investigated the relationship between phenotypic and genetic variabilities of yield and yield-associated traits in Aus rice to identify short-duration, high-yielding genotypes. Targeting this issue, a field experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of 51 Aus rice genotypes, including 50 accessions in F5 generation and one short-duration check variety BINAdhan-19. The genotypes exhibited a large and significant variation in yield and its associated traits, as evidenced by a wide range of their coefficient of variance. The investigated traits, including days to maturity (DM), plant height (PH), panicle length (PL) and 1000-grain weight (TW) exhibited a greater genotypic coefficient of variation than the environmental coefficient of variation. In addition, the high broad-sense heritability of DM, PH, PL and TW traits suggests that the genetic factors significantly influence the observed variations in these traits among the F5 Aus rice accessions. This study also revealed that the grain yield per hill (GY) displayed a significant positive correlation with PL, number of filled grains per panicle (FG) and TW at both genotype and phenotype levels. According to the hierarchical and K-means cluster analyses, the accessions BU-R-ACC-02, BU-R-ACC-08 and R2-36-3-1-1 have shorter DM and relatively higher GY than other Aus rice accessions. These three accessions could be employed in the ongoing and future breeding programs for the improvement of short-duration and high-yielding rice cultivars.
Tribological Characterisation and Modelling for the Fused Deposition Modelling of Polymeric Structures under Lubrication Conditions
Authors: He Feiyang , Xu Chenyan , Khan Muhammad
Published: October 2023

In recent years, additive manufacturing technology, particularly in plastic component fabrication, has gained prominence. However, fundamental modelling of the influence of materials like ABS, PC, and PLA on tribological properties in fused deposition modeling (FDM) remains scarce, particularly in non-lubricated, oil-lubricated, and grease-lubricated modes. This experimental study systematically investigates the effects of material type, lubrication method, layer thickness, and infill density on FDM component tribology. A tribology analysis is conducted using a TRB3 tribometer. The results indicate a coefficient of friction (CoF) range between 0.04 and 0.2, generally increasing and decreasing with layer thickness and filler density. The lubrication impact hinges on the material surface texture. The study models the intricate relationships between these variables via full-factor analysis, showing a strong alignment between the modelled and measured friction coefficients (an average error of 3.83%). Validation tests on different materials affirm the model’s reliability and applicability.
Effect of Process Parameters on the Crystallinity and Geometric Quality of Injection Molded Polymer Gears and the Resulting Stress State during Gear Operation
Authors: Zorko Damijan
Published: October 2023

The quality of gear manufacturing significantly influences the way load is distributed in meshing gears. Despite this being well-known from practical experience, gear quality effects were never systematically characterized for polymer gears in a manner able to account for them in a standard calculation process. The present study employs a novel combination of numerical and experimental methods, leading to a successful determination of these effects. The findings of the study enhance existing gear design models and contribute to a more optimized polymer gear design. The study first explores the effect of injection-molding parameters on the gear quality and secondly the effect of resulting gear quality on the stress conditions in a polymer gear pair. For the gear sample production, different combinations of process parameters were investigated, and a classic injection-molding and the Variotherm process were utilized. Gear quality and crystallinity measurements were conducted for all produced gears, providing insights into the correlation between them. Based on the evaluated gear quality of produced samples, the effect of gear quality was further studied by numerical means within a meaningful range of quality grades and transmitted loads. Special attention was dedicated to lead and pitch deviations, which were found to exert a noteworthy influence on the stress state (both root and flank) of the gear. The effect of lead deviation was most pronounced when improving the gear quality from grade Q12 to grade Q10 (30% to 80% stress reduction, depending on the load). However, enhancing the quality grade from Q10 to Q8 yielded less improvement (5% to 20% stress reduction, depending on the load). A similar pattern was evident also for pitch deviations.
The Vertical Distribution of Ice-Nucleating Particles over the North China Plain: A Case of Cold Front Passage
Authors: He Chuan , Yin Yan , Huang Yi , Kuang Xiang , Cui Yi , Chen Kui , Jiang Hui , Kiselev Alexei , Möhler Ottmar , Schrod Jann
Published: October 2023

Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) are crucial for cloud freezing processes in the atmosphere. Given the limited knowledge about the vertical distribution of INPs and its relation to aerosols in China, we present two aircraft observations of INPs over the North China Plain on 23 October 2019 and 25 October 2019, before and after a cold front passage. We used a well-established method to identify the INPs on a silicon wafer and then performed single-particle chemical composition analysis using an environmental scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (ESEM-EDS). The INP concentrations range from 0.1 to 9.2 L−1 within activation temperatures from −20 to −29 °C. INPs are mostly concentrated within the boundary layer, and their concentration shows a decreasing trend with height (0.5~6 km) before the cold front passage. However, the highest INP concentration always appears at higher altitudes (4~5 km) after the cold front passage. The cold front passage also significantly weakens the correlations between the concentrations of INPs and aerosol particles at different sizes. The activated fraction (AF) of total aerosols increases from 10−6 to 10−4 with height from near ground to 6 km, reflecting a better nucleating capacity of the aerosols at higher altitudes. There is no obvious variation in AF after the cold front passage. Chemical analysis reveals that the INPs containing mineral dust components comprise the majority of total INPs during both flights. The proportion of pure mineral dust declines from 52.2% to 43.5% after the cold front passage while the proportion of mixed mineral dust increases from 23.9% to 45.7%, suggesting that an increased probability of aging or coating of INPs is introduced by the cold front during their long-distance transport. In addition, 88% of INPs have a diameter larger than 1 μm. This indicates that larger aerosols (>1 μm) are the major contributors to INPs at high altitudes despite their relatively low abundance. Our results demonstrate a significant impact of transport events on the sources and vertical distribution of INPs in the atmosphere.
Hyperspectral Images Weakly Supervised Classification with Noisy Labels
Authors: Liu Chengyang , Zhao Lin , Wu Haibin
Published: October 2023

The deep network model relies on sufficient training samples to achieve superior processing performance, which limits its application in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification. In order to perform HSI classification with noisy labels, a robust weakly supervised feature learning (WSFL) architecture combined with multi-model attention is proposed. Specifically, the input noisy labeled data are first subjected to multiple groups of residual spectral attention models and multi-granularity residual spatial attention models, enabling WSFL to refine and optimize the extracted spectral and spatial features, with a focus on extracting clean samples information and reducing the model’s dependence on labels. Finally, the fused and optimized spectral-spatial features are mapped to the multilayer perceptron (MLP) classifier to increase the constraint of the model on the noisy samples. The experimental results on public datasets, including Pavia Center, WHU-Hi LongKou, and HangZhou, show that WSFL is better at classifying noise labels than excellent models such as spectral-spatial residual network (SSRN) and dual channel residual network (DCRN). On Hangzhou dataset, the classification accuracy of WSFL is superior to DCRN by 6.02% and SSRN by 7.85%, respectively.
An Interactive Framework of Cross-Lingual NLU for In-Vehicle Dialogue
Authors: Li Xinlu , Fang Liangkuan , Zhang Lexuan , Cao Pei
Published: October 2023

As globalization accelerates, the linguistic diversity and semantic complexity of in-vehicle communication is increasing. In order to meet the needs of different language speakers, this paper proposes an interactive attention-based contrastive learning framework (IABCL) for the field of in-vehicle dialogue, aiming to effectively enhance cross-lingual natural language understanding (NLU). The proposed framework aims to address the challenges of cross-lingual interaction in in-vehicle dialogue systems and provide an effective solution. IABCL is based on a contrastive learning and attention mechanism. First, contrastive learning is applied in the encoder stage. Positive and negative samples are used to allow the model to learn different linguistic expressions of similar meanings. Its main role is to improve the cross-lingual learning ability of the model. Second, the attention mechanism is applied in the decoder stage. By articulating slots and intents with each other, it allows the model to learn the relationship between the two, thus improving the ability of natural language understanding in languages of the same language family. In addition, this paper constructed a multilingual in-vehicle dialogue (MIvD) dataset for experimental evaluation to demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the IABCL framework in cross-lingual dialogue. With the framework studied in this paper, IABCL improves by 2.42% in intent, 1.43% in slot, and 2.67% in overall when compared with the latest model.
Microsurgery Robots: Applications, Design, and Development
Authors: Wang Tiexin , Li Haoyu , Pu Tanhong , Yang Liangjing
Published: October 2023

Microsurgical techniques have been widely utilized in various surgical specialties, such as ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and otolaryngology, which require intricate and precise surgical tool manipulation on a small scale. In microsurgery, operations on delicate vessels or tissues require high standards in surgeons’ skills. This exceptionally high requirement in skills leads to a steep learning curve and lengthy training before the surgeons can perform microsurgical procedures with quality outcomes. The microsurgery robot (MSR), which can improve surgeons’ operation skills through various functions, has received extensive research attention in the past three decades. There have been many review papers summarizing the research on MSR for specific surgical specialties. However, an in-depth review of the relevant technologies used in MSR systems is limited in the literature. This review details the technical challenges in microsurgery, and systematically summarizes the key technologies in MSR with a developmental perspective from the basic structural mechanism design, to the perception and human–machine interaction methods, and further to the ability in achieving a certain level of autonomy. By presenting and comparing the methods and technologies in this cutting-edge research, this paper aims to provide readers with a comprehensive understanding of the current state of MSR research and identify potential directions for future development in MSR.
Deep Learning Tone-Mapping and Demosaicing for Automotive Vision Systems
Authors: Stojkovic Ana , Aelterman Jan , Van Hamme David , Shopovska Ivana , Philips Wilfried
Published: October 2023

High dynamic range (HDR) imaging technology is increasingly being used in automated driving systems (ADS) for improving the safety of traffic participants in scenes with strong differences in illumination. Therefore, a combination of HDR video, that is video with details in all illumination regimes, and (HDR) object perception techniques that can deal with this variety in illumination is highly desirable. Although progress has been made in both HDR imaging solutions and object detection algorithms in the recent years, they have progressed independently of each other. This has led to a situation in which object detection algorithms are typically designed and constantly improved to operate on 8 bit per channel content. This makes these algorithms not ideally suited for use in HDR data processing, which natively encodes to a higher bit-depth (12 bits/16 bits per channel). In this paper, we present and evaluate two novel convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures that intelligently convert high bit depth HDR images into 8-bit images. We attempt to optimize reconstruction quality by focusing on ADS object detection quality. The first research novelty is to jointly perform tone-mapping with demosaicing by additionally successfully suppressing noise and demosaicing artifacts. The first CNN performs tone-mapping with noise suppression on a full-color HDR input, while the second performs joint demosaicing and tone-mapping with noise suppression on a raw HDR input. The focus is to increase the detectability of traffic-related objects in the reconstructed 8-bit content, while ensuring that the realism of the standard dynamic range (SDR) content in diverse conditions is preserved. The second research novelty is that for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a thorough comparative analysis against the state-of-the-art tone-mapping and demosaicing methods is performed with respect to ADS object detection accuracy on traffic-related content that abounds with diverse challenging (i.e., boundary cases) scenes. The evaluation results show that the two proposed networks have better performance in object detection accuracy and image quality, than both SDR content and content obtained with the state-of-the-art tone-mapping and demosaicing algorithms.
Evaluation of the Relative Phase Comparison Method at Its Limits Used for Absolute Phase Determination of an AC Cage Current Shunt Group
Authors: Gašparini Stipe , Mostarac Petar , Konjevod Jure , Malarić Roman
Published: October 2023

AC current shunts are used for precise current measurements. The application of AC current shunts requires that their amplitude phase characteristics are known. A group of three geometrically identical current shunts and a reference shunt are observed in this paper. The phase characteristics of the reference shunt have been previously obtained. A relative phase comparison has been made between the three geometrically identical shunts, and phase displacement values for each have been obtained. After this, the results are verified with the reference shunt. The relative method is most suitable for shunts, where their respective RC and L/R values are small (compared with 1/ω) and of the same order. The ratios of the nominal resistance values of the shunts used in this paper are at the limit of the given statement. The conclusion is that the method applied at the mentioned limits, in terms of the metrology-grade phase angle determination of current shunts, is not to be considered reliable at frequencies higher than 1 kHz.
3D Gas Sensing with Multiple Nano Aerial Vehicles: Interference Analysis, Algorithms and Experimental Validation
Authors: Ercolani Chiara , Jin Wanting , Martinoli Alcherio
Published: October 2023

Within the scope of the ongoing efforts to fight climate change, the application of multi-robot systems to environmental mapping and monitoring missions is a prominent approach aimed at increasing exploration efficiency. However, the application of such systems to gas sensing missions has yet to be extensively explored and presents some unique challenges, mainly due to the hard-to-sense and expensive-to-model nature of gas dispersion. For this paper, we explored the application of a multi-robot system composed of rotary-winged nano aerial vehicles to a gas sensing mission. We qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed the interference between different robots and the effect on their sensing performance. We then assessed this effect, by deploying several algorithms for 3D gas sensing with increasing levels of coordination in a state-of-the-art wind tunnel facility. The results show that multi-robot gas sensing missions can be robust against documented interference and degradation in their sensing performance. We additionally highlight the competitiveness of multi-robot strategies in gas source location performance with tight mission time constraints.
Propellant Mass Gauging in a Spherical Tank under Micro-Gravity Conditions Using Capacitance Plate Arrays and Machine Learning
Authors: Chowdhury Shah M. , Charleston Matthew A. , Marashdeh Qussai M. , Teixeira Fernando L.
Published: October 2023

Propellant mass gauging under micro-gravity conditions is a challenging task due to the unpredictable position and shape of the fuel body inside the tank. Micro-gravity conditions are common for orbiting satellites and rockets that operate on limited fuel supplies. Capacitance sensors have been investigated for this task in recent years; however, the effect of various positions and shapes of the fuel body is not analyzed in detail. In this paper, we investigate this with various fill types, such as annular, core-annular, and stratified fills at different positions. We compare the performance among several curve-fitting-based approaches and a machine-learning-based approach, the latter of which offers superior performance in estimating the fuel content.
Resonant Gas Sensing in the Terahertz Spectral Range Using Two-Wire Phase-Shifted Waveguide Bragg Gratings
Authors: Cao Yang , Nallappan Kathirvel , Xu Guofu , Skorobogatiy Maksim
Published: October 2023

The development of low-cost sensing devices with high compactness, flexibility, and robustness is of significance for practical applications of optical gas sensing. In this work, we propose a waveguide-based resonant gas sensor operating in the terahertz frequency band. It features micro-encapsulated two-wire plasmonic waveguides and a phase-shifted waveguide Bragg grating (WBG). The modular semi-sealed structure ensures the controllable and efficient interaction between terahertz radiation and gaseous analytes of small quantities. WBG built by superimposing periodical features on one wire shows high reflection and a low transmission coefficient within the grating stopband. Phase-shifted grating is developed by inserting a Fabry–Perot cavity in the form of a straight waveguide section inside the uniform gratings. Its spectral response is optimized for sensing by tailoring the cavity length and the number of grating periods. Gas sensor operating around 140 GHz, featuring a sensitivity of 144 GHz/RIU to the variation in the gas refractive index, with resolution of 7 × 10−5 RIU, is developed. In proof-of-concept experiments, gas sensing was demonstrated by monitoring the real-time spectral response of the phase-shifted grating to glycerol vapor flowing through its sealed cavity. We believe that the phase-shifted grating-based terahertz resonant gas sensor can open new opportunities in the monitoring of gaseous analytes.
Factors Influencing Vietnamese Generation MZ’s Adoption of Metaverse Platforms
Authors: Lee Young-Chan , Nguyen Minh Ngoc , Yang Qin
Published: October 2023

The Metaverse is a blend of our tangible and digital worlds, marking the upcoming direction of the internet sector. This study strives to identify the elements that affect the uptake of Metaverse platforms in Vietnam. To that end, we pinpointed the factors influencing usage intentions using the Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model and added a new “switching cost” variable. We gathered and examined data from 520 participants, with 230 from Generation Y (Gen Y) and 290 from Generation Z (Gen Z) using the multi-group analysis in structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that elements such as effort expectancy, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation, and value price positively affect the intent to embrace Metaverse platforms. While social influence does not impact the entire dataset, it positively influences Gen Y’s intention. On the other hand, the switching cost acts as a hindrance to adopting Metaverse platforms. It is also noteworthy that significant variations exist between Gen Y and Gen Z concerning these factors. These observations are crucial for industry leaders looking to capitalize on the immense opportunities of Metaverse platforms for sustainable growth in the internet sector.
Determining Priorities in Infrastructure Management Using Multicriteria Decision Analysis
Authors: Bošnjak Ana , Jajac Nikša
Published: October 2023

This paper aims to form a concept of infrastructure management based on a multicriteria approach to determining management priorities. As the complexity of infrastructure construction and maintenance management requires looking at this problem from different aspects, the proposed multicriteria approach in this paper is based on the application of a two-phase analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method and technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. Using the two-phase AHP method, the process of determining the relative weights of the criteria is improved with the aim of providing better management of stakeholders as one of the essential preconditions for the success of the entire management process. In this way, it is desired to simulate the decision-making process as realistically as possible, in which the opinions and interests of all stakeholders are respected, but the key decision-maker is responsible for the final decision. Furthermore, with the help of the TOPSIS method, a ranking list of maintenance management priorities is formed, based on which it is possible to distribute limited financial resources intended for annual maintenance more rationally. The stability of the TOPSIS results was confirmed by a sensitivity analysis when changing the relative weights of the criteria. The proposed allocation of financial resources represents the basis for a better design of the maintenance management plan of the analyzed infrastructure elements, thus completing the observed gap in the existing literature. The aim of the above is to improve the planning function and at the same time to improve the implementation, monitoring, and control management functions, which creates a more efficient management system that can preserve the value of the analyzed infrastructure elements and extend their lifetime.
Comparison of the Properties of Coal Gasification Fly Ash and Pulverized Coal Fly Ash as Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Authors: Luo Feng , Jin Yujie
Published: October 2023

Using industrial waste as part of the raw material to produce cement-based materials is considered to be a sustainable cement and concrete materials production method. Coal gasification fly ash (hereafter CGFA) is a solid waste produced during the coal gasification process. Similar to pulverized coal fly ash (hereafter PCFA), it is also a kind of fly ash discharged from combustion coal furnaces. With the development of coal gasification technology, more and more CGFA needs to be treated. Based on the successful experience of PCFA as a supplementary cementitious material in cement-based materials, CGFA is used as a supplementary cementitious material in this paper. A comparison of the performance of two coal-based fly ashes as a supplementary cementitious material (hereafter SCM) was conducted. The effects of two fly ashes on the fluidity and strength of cement mortar were discussed, and the mechanism was analyzed from the mineral composition and morphology of hydration products. At the same time, the properties of CGFA and ultrafine CGFA (UFCGFA) as an SCM were compared. The results show that CGFA has more negative effects on the fluidity of cement mortar than PCFA. But it has a greater contribution to the strength of cement mortar than PCFA. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results show that the active components of CGFA participate in the hydration reaction faster, showing a stronger pozzolanic reactivity than PCFA. Ultrafine treatment of CGFA not only improves the pozzolanic activity but also reduces the negative effect on the fluidity of cement mortar. The contribution of UFCGFA to the fluidity and strength of cement mortar can be greatly improved.