bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nurses’ Attitudes and Factors Affecting Use of Electronic Health Record in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alrasheeday Awatif M. , Alshammari Bushra , Alkubati Sameer A. , Pasay-an Eddieson , Albloushi Monirah , Alshammari Awayed M.
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Nurses’ attitudes toward electronic health records (EHRs) is a very valuable issue that needs to be evaluated, understood, and considered one of the main factors that can lead to its improvement or handicap its implementation. This study aimed to assess nurses’ attitudes toward EHRs and associated factors that affect the implementation of EHRs in different hospitals in Saudi Arabia. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was utilized to collect data from 297 nurses working in public hospitals and primary healthcare centers in Ha’il Province from January to May 2023. Data were collected using the Nurses’ Attitudes Towards Computerization questionnaire and a sociodemographic and work-related characteristics sheet. (3) Results: Most of the participants’ attitude scores (81.1%, n = 241) were more than or equal to 60, representing positive attitudes, whereas 18.9% (n = 56) of the nurses’ scores were less than 60, which is interpreted as negative attitudes. There was a significant relationship between nurses’ attitudes toward EHRs and a participants’ sex, where males had a more positive attitude than females (p < 0.001). Particularly, young nurses and those who had previous computer experience had a more positive attitude than older nurses and those who had no computer experience (p = 0.044 and < 0.001, respectively). Saudi nurses holding a master’s degree had significantly more positive attitudes toward EHRs than non-Saudi nurses holding a bachelor’s or diploma degree (p = 0.007 and 0.048, respectively). Nurses with less experience (less than five years) in the nursing field had a significantly positive attitude. Multiple linear regression showed that sex (p = 0.038), level of education (p = 0.001), and previous computer experience (p < 0.001) were independent factors of nurses’ knowledge of EHRs. (4) Conclusion: The majority of nurses had positive overall attitudes toward using EHRs. Nurses who are Saudi nationals, male, younger, have previous computer experience, and have less than five years of experience had a more positive attitude toward EHRs than nurses who are non-Saudi, female, older, have no computer experience, have bachelor’s or diploma degree, and have less than five years of experience, respectively. Sex, education level, and previous computer experience were independent factors of nurses’ knowledge of EHRs.
Estimation of the Total Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentration in Apple Trees Using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Kang Ye-Seong , Park Ki-Su , Kim Eun-Ri , Jeong Jong-Chan , Ryu Chan-Seok
Published: August 2023

The total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration is an important indicator of the growth period and health of fruit trees. Remote sensing can be applied to monitor the TNC concentration in crops in a non-destructive manner. In this study, hyperspectral imaging from an unmanned aerial vehicle was applied to estimate the TNC concentration in apple trees. Partial least-squares regression, ridge regression, and Gaussian process regression (GP) were used to develop estimation models, and their effectiveness using selected key bands as opposed to full bands was evaluated in an effort to reduce computational costs and improve reproducibility. Nine key bands were identified, and the GP-based model using these key bands performed almost as well as the models using full bands. These results can be combined with previous studies on estimating the nitrogen concentration to provide useful information for more precise nutrient management to improve the yield and quality of apple trees.
New Acylcarnitine Ratio as a Reliable Indicator of Long-Chain 3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency
Authors: Baydakova Galina V. , Tsygankova Polina G. , Pechatnikova Natalia L. , Bazhanova Olga A. , Nazarenko Yana D. , Zakharova Ekaterina Y.
Published: August 2023

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) and mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiencies are rare fatal disorders of fatty acid β-oxidation with no apparent genotype–phenotype correlation. The measurement of acylcarnitines by MS/MS is a current diagnostic workup in these disorders. Nevertheless, false-positive and false-negative results have been reported, highlighting a necessity for more sensitive and specific biomarkers. This study included 54 patients with LCHAD/MTP deficiency that has been confirmed by biochemical and molecular methods. The analysis of acylcarnitines in dried blood spots was performed using ESI-MS/MS. The established “HADHA ratio” = (C16OH + C18OH + C18:1OH)/C0 was significantly elevated in all 54 affected individuals in comparison to the control group. Apart from 54 LCHAD deficiency patients, the “HADHA ratio” was calculated in 19 patients with very-long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (VLCAD) deficiency. As VLCAD-deficient patients did not show increased “HADHA ratio”, the results emphasized the high specificity of this new ratio. Therefore, the “HADHA ratio” was shown to be instrumental in improving the overall performance of MS/MS-based analysis of acylcarnitine levels in the diagnostics of LCHAD/MTP deficiencies. The ratio was demonstrated to increase the sensitivity and specificity of this method and reduce the chances of false-negative results.
The Introduction and Establishment of Four Invasive Insect Species in Serbia
Authors: Kavran Mihaela , Konjević Aleksandra , Petrić Dušan , Ćupina Aleksandra Ignjatović
Published: August 2023

Urban areas are often populated by specific species of insects, some colorful and appealing, such as ladybugs and butterflies, and others irritating as nuisance bitters or as vectors of pathogens of public health importance. Mosquitoes in urban areas often utilize habitats adjacent to human residences, while phytophagous insect species such as stink bugs often colonize ornamental plants and utilize human-made structures including houses as overwintering shelters. This article discusses the early detection and the current distribution of two invasive mosquito species, Aedes albopictus Skuse 1894 and Ae. japonicus (Theobald 1901), in Serbia, introduced in 2009 and 2018, respectively. From the first findings until today, regular monitoring has been carried out and the establishment of both species in the newly invaded areas has been confirmed. Both species can become nuisance species, especially at high population densities, but more importantly, they are capable of transmitting a wide variety of arboviruses of public health importance. This article also discusses two invasive stink bug species Halyomorpha halys Stål 1855 and Nezara viridula Linnaeus 1758, introduced in Serbia in 2015 and 2008, respectively. These two stink bug species have also been monitored, and the establishment of their populations in the country has been confirmed. Both species have caused damage to a wide range of crops and ornamental plants and sometimes become nuisance pests in urban areas.
Cardiovascular Applications of Photon-Counting CT Technology: A Revolutionary New Diagnostic Step
Authors: Meloni Antonella , Cademartiri Filippo , Positano Vicenzo , Celi Simona , Berti Sergio , Clemente Alberto , La Grutta Ludovico , Saba Luca , Bossone Eduardo , Cavaliere Carlo , Punzo Bruna , Maffei Erica
Published: August 2023

Photon-counting computed tomography (PCCT) is an emerging technology that can potentially transform clinical CT imaging. After a brief description of the PCCT technology, this review summarizes its main advantages over conventional CT: improved spatial resolution, improved signal and contrast behavior, reduced electronic noise and artifacts, decreased radiation dose, and multi-energy capability with improved material discrimination. Moreover, by providing an overview of the existing literature, this review highlights how the PCCT benefits have been harnessed to enhance and broaden the diagnostic capabilities of CT for cardiovascular applications, including the detection of coronary artery calcifications, evaluation of coronary plaque extent and composition, evaluation of coronary stents, and assessment of myocardial tissue characteristics and perfusion.
Physical, Mechanical and Structural Characteristics of Sulfur Concrete with Bitumen Modified Sulfur and Fly Ash
Authors: Stel’makh Sergey A. , Shcherban’ Evgenii M. , Beskopylny Alexey N. , Mailyan Levon R. , Meskhi Besarion , Shilov Alexandr A. , Evtushenko Alexandr , Chernil’nik Andrei , El’shaeva Diana , Karalar Memduh , Özkılıç Yasin Onuralp , Aksoylu Ceyhun
Published: August 2023

Industrial waste usage in the technology of construction materials is currently in a relevant and promising direction. Materials made of industrial waste have a lower cost and are highly environmentally friendly. The objective of this study is to develop effective compositions of sulfur concrete based on the maximum possible number of various wastes of the local industry for this and to investigate the characteristics of this composite. Test samples of sulfur concrete were made from sulfur, fly ash, mineral aggregates and bitumen additive. The dosages of fly ash, sand and bitumen varied, while the content of sulfur and crushed stone remained constant. The following main characteristics of sulfur concrete were determined: density; compressive strength; and water absorption. Tests of sulfur concrete were carried out after 1 day and 28 days of hardening. The best values of compressive strength (24.8 MPa) and water absorption (0.9%) were recorded for the composition of sulfur concrete at the age of 28 days with the following content of components: sulfur—25%, modified with 4% bitumen of its mass; fly ash—10%; crushed stone—40%; and sand—25%. The optimal composition of modified sulfur concrete showed compressive strength up to 78% more and water absorption up to 53% less than the control composition. The characteristics of the sulfur concrete samples after 28 days of hardening differ slightly from the values after 1 day of hardening (up to 1.8%). An analysis of the structure confirmed the effectiveness of the developed composition of sulfur concrete in comparison with the control.
Influence of Load Conditions on the Propeller Wake Evolution
Authors: Yu Duo , Wang Liang , Liu Haitian , Cui Mingchao
Published: August 2023

The present work presents numerical research on the wake flows behind a propeller operating under three advance coefficients. Large eddy simulations are adopted to obtain the viscous flow information behind the propeller. In particular, the study highlights the comparison of the evolution characteristics and the flow physics within the propeller wakes with three advance coefficients. The predicted global force and moment coefficients and phase-average statistics of streamwise velocity agree well with the available experimental data. Compared to all other flow structures in the wake, the tip vortices are found to play the most significant role according to the results. During the pairing process of adjacent tip vortices, the tip vortices diffuse circumferentially, leading to enhanced mutual-induction effects. When the advance coefficient is low, the wake becomes distorted, and the pairing process takes place in the middle region of the flow field. As a result of their unstable motion, the four tip vortices generated by the propeller cannot be distinguished individually in the far field. Instead, they break down into smaller vortices and tend to distribute themselves uniformly in the azimuthal direction. The increase in the advance coefficient delays the pairing process. This study offers valuable insights for the design and optimization of marine propellers.
A Coupled Overlapping Finite Element Method for Analyzing Underwater Acoustic Scattering Problems
Authors: Jiang Bin , Yu Jian , Li Wei , Chai Yingbin , Gui Qiang
Published: August 2023

It is found that the classic finite element method (FEM) requires much time for adequate meshes to acquire satisfactory numerical solutions, and is restricted to acoustic problems with low and middle frequencies. In this work, a coupled overlapping finite element method (OFEM) is employed by combining the overlapping finite element and the modified Dirichlet-to-Neumann (mDtN) boundary condition to solve underwater acoustic scattering problems. The main difference between the OFEM and the FEM lies in the construction of the local field approximation. In the OFEM, virtual nodes are utilized to form the partition of unity functions while no degree of freedom is assigned to these virtual nodes, which suppresses the linear dependence issue in other generalized finite element methods. Moreover, the user-defined enrichment functions can be flexibly utilized in the local field, and thus the numerical dispersions can be significantly mitigated. To truncate the infinite problem domain and satisfy the Sommerfeld radiation condition, an artificial boundary is constructed by incorporating the mDtN technique. Several numerical examples are studied and it is shown that the proposed method can greatly diminish the numerical error and is insensitive to distorted meshes, indicating that the proposed method is promising in predicting underwater acoustic scattering.
Performance Evaluation of an H-VTOL Aircraft with Distributed Electric Propulsion and Ducted-Fans Using MIL Simulation
Authors: Bustamante Alarcon Juan Manuel , Sánchez Marmolejo José Leonel , Manjarrez Muñoz Luis Héctor , Espinoza Quesada Eduardo Steed , Osorio Cordero Antonio , García Carrillo Luis Rodolfo
Published: August 2023

This paper deals with the problem of increasing the energy efficiency of a hybrid vertical take-off and landing aircraft. To this end, an innovative aerial vehicle was developed, featuring a distributed electrical propulsion system with ducted-fan rotors. To compare and analyze the effectiveness of the proposed propulsion system, two configurations with a different number of ducted-fan rotors were examined: a four-rotor configuration and a six-rotor configuration. The mathematical model of the four-rotor configuration was derived using the Newton–Euler formalism, allowing the design and implementation of a control strategy for conducting model-in-the-loop simulations. These simulations enabled the evaluation and analysis of the performance of the proposed propulsion system, where the numerical results demonstrated the functionality of both designs and showed that, during the multirotor flight, the configuration with six rotors increased its energy efficiency by up to 11%, providing higher vertical lift with the same power consumption. This was achieved by distributing its weight among a higher number of engines. The incorporation of two additional ducted fans increased the weight and the drag of the six-rotor configuration, resulting in a low augmentation in power consumption of 1%. Finally, this caused a decrease in airspeed by up to 4% during the cruise speed phase.
On the Special Issue “Limit Theorems of Probability Theory”
Authors: Tikhomirov Alexander N. , Ulyanov Vladimir V.
Published: August 2023

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Macroeconomic Effects of Maritime Transport Costs Shocks: Evidence from the South Korean Economy
Authors: Ding Xingong , Choi Yong-Jae
Published: August 2023

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the dramatic increase in maritime transport costs might potentially exert detrimental impacts on the macroeconomy, especially for countries that heavily rely on international trade for their consumption and production activities. Our study employs a small open economy DSGE (Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium) model to analyze the impact of maritime transport costs on the South Korean macroeconomy, where maritime transport costs are considered as key factors impacting the law of one price. Positive shocks in maritime transport costs, according to the impulse response function, have positive repercussions on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), terms of trade, nominal exchange rates, and nominal interest rates, but can negatively affect real output and real exchange rate. To verify the validity of the our DSGE model, we utilize a Vector autoregression with exogenous variables (VARX) model to examine the dynamic relationship between maritime transport costs and South Korean macroeconomic variables, based on quarterly data from the first quarter of 2002 to the fourth quarter of 2022. The results of the VARX model coincide with those of the DSGE model. Our findings underline the importance of maritime transport costs in the macroeconomy and hold substantial implications for the considered design and selection of policies to mitigate such shocks.
Metal–Organic Framework/Polyvinyl Alcohol Composite Films for Multiple Applications Prepared by Different Methods
Authors: Liu Binyan , Zhang Shuhua , Li Ming , Wang Yu , Mei Dajiang
Published: August 2023

The incorporation of different functional fillers has been widely used to improve the properties of polymeric materials. The polyhydroxy structure of PVA with excellent film-forming ability can be easily combined with organic/inorganic multifunctional compounds, and such an interesting combining phenomenon can create a variety of functional materials in the field of materials science. The composite membrane material obtained by combining MOF material with high porosity, specific surface area, and adjustable structure with PVA, a non-toxic and low-cost polymer material with good solubility and biodegradability, can combine the processability of PVA with the excellent performance of porous filler MOFs, solving the problem that the poor machinability of MOFs and the difficulty of recycling limit the practical application of powdered MOFs and improving the physicochemical properties of PVA, maximizing the advantages of the material to develop a wider range of applications. Firstly, we systematically summarize the preparation of MOF/PVA composite membrane materials using solution casting, electrostatic spinning, and other different methods for such excellent properties, in addition to discussing in detail the various applications of MOF/PVA composite membranes in water treatment, sensing, air purification, separation, antibacterials, and so on. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of the difficulties that need to be overcome during the film formation process to affect the performance of the composite film and offer encouraging solutions.
Development of Novel Electrospun Fibers Based on Cyclic Olefin Polymer
Authors: Sabzekar Malihe , Pourafshari Chenar Mahdi , Khayet Mohamed , García-Payo Carmen , Mortazavi Seyed Mohammadmahdi , Golmohammadi Morteza
Published: August 2023

For the first time, a systematic study to investigate the electrospinnability of cyclic olefin polymer (COP) was performed. Different solvents and mixtures were tested together with different electrospinning parameters and post-treatment types to prepare bead-free fibers without defects. These were successfully obtained using a chloroform/chlorobenzene (40/60 wt.%) solvent mixture with a 15 wt.% COP polymer, a 1 mL/h polymer solution flow rate, a 15 cm distance between the needle and collector, and a 12 kV electric voltage. COP fibers were in the micron range and the hot-press post-treatment (5 MPa, 5 min and 120 °C) induced an integrated fibrous structure along with more junctions between fibers, reducing the mean and maximum inter-fiber space. When the temperature of the press post-treatment was increased (from 25 °C to 120 °C), better strength and less elongation at break of COP fibers were achieved. However, when applying a temperature above the COP glass temperature (Tg = 138 °C) the fibers coalesced, showing a mechanical behavior similar to a plastic film and a low elongation at break with a high strength. The addition of a high dielectric constant non-solvent, N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), resulted in a considerable reduction in the COP fiber diameter. Based on the cloud point approach, it was found that the use of DMAc and the solvent chloroform or chlorobenzene improved the electrospinnability of COP polymer solution.
Assessment of the Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status of Polish Professional Futsal Players: A Descriptive Study—Do Futsal Players Require Nutritional Education?
Authors: Gogojewicz Anna , Straburzyńska-Lupa Anna , Podgórski Tomasz , Frajtag Paulina , Bibrowicz Karol , Śliwicka Ewa
Published: August 2023

Futsal is a discipline with high training and nutritional requirements. Despite growing research interest in athletes’ diet and nutritional status, no studies have examined Polish male futsal players. Therefore, the aim of this descriptive study was an assessment of the dietary intake and nutritional status in a selected group of futsal players. The study comprised 11 members of a top Polish futsal team (aged 26 ± 3.62 years). Dietary intake was assessed using a standardized 3-day food record. Body composition, total energy expenditure, physical fitness level, and concentrations of the biochemical indices of each participant were estimated. The energy availability in the diet was lower than recommended. Moreover, low consumption of carbohydrates was stated, as well as an inadequate intake of Vitamins E and D. Higher protein and cholesterol intake than recommended were also observed. To conclude, our results point to the need for educating athletes and coaches, particularly teaching about proper food choices, promoting quality foods, and, in some cases, using individual dietary plans to meet energy and nutrient needs. Nutrition education would help to improve their dietary and health habits and optimize their performance in sports training.
Relationship of Iron Intake, Ferritin, and Hepcidin with the Transverse Relaxation Rate of Water Protons in the Pancreas
Authors: Kimita Wandia , Ko Juyeon , Petrov Maxim S.
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: There is a paucity of markers of iron metabolism in health and disease. The aim was to investigate the associations of iron metabolism with pancreas transverse water proton relaxation rate (R2water) in healthy individuals and people after an attack of pancreatitis. (2) Methods: All participants underwent a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen on the same scanner. High-speed T2-corrected multi-echo (HISTO) acquisition at single-voxel magnetic resonance spectroscopy and inline processing were used to quantify pancreas R2water. Habitual dietary intake of iron was determined using the EPIC-Norfolk food frequency questionnaire. Circulating levels of ferritin and hepcidin were measured. Generalised additive models were used, adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and haemoglobin A1c. (3) Results: A total of 139 individuals (47 healthy individuals, 54 individuals after acute pancreatitis, and 38 individuals after chronic pancreatitis) were included. Total dietary intake of iron was significantly associated with pancreas R2water, consistently in healthy individuals (p < 0.001), individuals after acute pancreatitis (p < 0.001), and individuals after chronic pancreatitis (p < 0.001) across all the statistical models. Ferritin was significantly associated with pancreas R2water, consistently in healthy individuals (p < 0.001), individuals after acute pancreatitis (p < 0.001), and individuals after chronic pancreatitis (p = 0.01) across all adjusted models. Hepcidin was significantly associated with pancreas R2water in individuals after acute pancreatitis (p < 0.001) and individuals after chronic pancreatitis (p = 0.04) in the most adjusted model. (4) Conclusions: Pancreas R2water, corrected for T2, is related to iron metabolism in both health and pancreatitis. This non-invasive marker could be used for automated in vivo identification of intra-pancreatic iron deposition.
The Mechanism of the Gut-Brain Axis in Regulating Food Intake
Authors: Li Shouren , Liu Mengqi , Cao Shixi , Liu Boshuai , Li Defeng , Wang Zhichang , Sun Hao , Cui Yalei , Shi Yinghua
Published: August 2023

With the increasing prevalence of energy metabolism disorders such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and anorexia, the regulation of feeding has become the focus of global attention. The gastrointestinal tract is not only the site of food digestion and absorption but also contains a variety of appetite-regulating signals such as gut-brain peptides, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids (BAs), bacterial proteins, and cellular components produced by gut microbes. While the central nervous system (CNS), as the core of appetite regulation, can receive and integrate these appetite signals and send instructions to downstream effector organs to promote or inhibit the body’s feeding behaviour. This review will focus on the gut-brain axis mechanism of feeding behaviour, discussing how the peripheral appetite signal is sensed by the CNS via the gut-brain axis and the role of the central “first order neural nuclei” in the process of appetite regulation. Here, elucidation of the gut-brain axis mechanism of feeding regulation may provide new strategies for future production practises and the treatment of diseases such as anorexia and obesity.
Synthetic Thyroid Hormone Receptor-β Agonists Promote Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation in the Presence of Inflammatory Challenges
Authors: Baldassarro Vito Antonio , Quadalti Corinne , Runfola Massimiliano , Manera Clementina , Rapposelli Simona , Calzà Laura
Published: August 2023

Oligodendrocytes and their precursors are the cells responsible for developmental myelination and myelin repair during adulthood. Their differentiation and maturation processes are regulated by a complex molecular machinery driven mainly by triiodothyronine (T3), the genomic active form of thyroid hormone, which binds to thyroid hormone receptors (TRs), regulating the expression of target genes. Different molecular tools have been developed to mimic T3 action in an attempt to overcome the myelin repair deficit that underlies various central nervous system pathologies. In this study, we used a well-established in vitro model of neural stem cell-derived oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) to test the effects of two compounds: the TRβ1 ligand IS25 and its pro-drug TG68. We showed that treatment with TG68 induces OPC differentiation/maturation as well as both the natural ligand and the best-known TRβ1 synthetic ligand, GC-1. We then described that, unlike T3, TG68 can fully overcome the cytokine-mediated oligodendrocyte differentiation block. In conclusion, we showed the ability of a new synthetic compound to stimulate OPC differentiation and overcome inflammation-mediated pathological conditions. Further studies will clarify whether the compound acts as a pro-drug to produce the TRβ1 ligand IS25 or if its action is mediated by secondary mechanisms such as AMPK activation.
Long-Term Survival and Induction of Operational Tolerance to Murine Islet Allografts by Co-Transplanting Cyclosporine A Microparticles and CTLA4-Ig
Authors: Kuppan Purushothaman , Wong Jordan , Kelly Sandra , Lin Jiaxin , Worton Jessica , Castro Chelsea , Paramor Joy , Seeberger Karen , Cuesta-Gomez Nerea , Anderson Colin C. , Korbutt Gregory S. , Pepper Andrew R.
Published: August 2023

One strategy to prevent islet rejection is to create a favorable immune-protective local environment at the transplant site. Herein, we utilize localized cyclosporine A (CsA) delivery to islet grafts via poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles to attenuate allograft rejection. CsA-eluting PLGA microparticles were prepared using a single emulsion (oil-in-water) solvent evaporation technique. CsA microparticles alone significantly delayed islet allograft rejection compared to islets alone (p < 0.05). Over 50% (6/11) of recipients receiving CsA microparticles and short-term cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4-Ig (CTLA4-Ig) therapy displayed prolonged allograft survival for 214 days, compared to 25% (2/8) receiving CTLA4-Ig alone. CsA microparticles alone and CsA microparticles + CTLA4-Ig islet allografts exhibited reduced T-cell (CD4+ and CD8+ cells, p < 0.001) and macrophage (CD68+ cells, p < 0.001) infiltration compared to islets alone. We observed the reduced mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, INF-γ, and TNF-α; p < 0.05) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CCL22, and CXCL10; p < 0.05) in CsA microparticles + CTLA4-Ig allografts compared to islets alone. Long-term islet allografts contained insulin+ and intra-graft FoxP3+ T regulatory cells. The rapid rejection of third-party skin grafts (C3H) in islet allograft recipients suggests that CsA microparticles + CTLA4-Ig therapy induced operational tolerance. This study demonstrates that localized CsA drug delivery plus short-course systemic immunosuppression promotes an immune protective transplant niche for allogeneic islets.
Innovative Polymer Composites with Natural Fillers Produced by Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)—A Literature Review
Authors: Anwajler Beata , Zdybel Ewa , Tomaszewska-Ciosk Ewa
Published: August 2023

In recent years, plastics recycling has become one of the leading environmental and waste management issues. Along with the main advantage of plastics, which is undoubtedly their long life, the problem of managing their waste has arisen. Recycling is recognised as the preferred option for waste management, with the aim of reusing them to create new products using 3D printing. Additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging and evolving rapid tooling technology. With 3D printing, it is possible to achieve lightweight structures with high dimensional accuracy and reduce manufacturing costs for non-standard geometries. Currently, 3D printing research is moving towards the production of materials not only of pure polymers but also their composites. Bioplastics, especially those that are biodegradable and compostable, have emerged as an alternative for human development. This article provides a brief overview of the possibilities of using thermoplastic waste materials through the application of 3D printing, creating innovative materials from recycled and naturally derived materials, i.e., biomass (natural reinforcing fibres) in 3D printing. The materials produced from them are ecological, widely available and cost-effective. Research activities related to the production of bio-based materials have gradually increased over the last two decades, with the aim of reducing environmental problems. This article summarises the efforts made by researchers to discover new innovative materials for 3D printing.
Bioinspired Artificial Muscles Based on Sodium Alginate-Wrapped Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Molybdenum Disulfide Composite Electrode Membrane
Authors: Ji Yingxin , Wang Keyi , Zhao Gang
Published: August 2023

Using a naturally extracted polymer sodium alginate extracted from natural seaweed as the primary raw material, we have successfully developed an electroactive actuator known as biomimetic artificial muscle (BMAM). In comparison to conventional synthetic materials, this BMAM aligns more coherently with the prevailing principles of environmentally friendly development. During the preparation of the BMAM electrode membrane, we employed ultrasonic oscillation to adsorb varying quantities of MoS2 onto a reticulated structure formed by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), thus enhancing the mechanical and electrochemical performance of the BMAM. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the successful encapsulation of MoS2 by the MWCNTs network in the composite. To measure the output force of the BMAM fabricated with different masses of MoS2 doping, we established a self-built experimental platform and conducted tests on the electrode membranes doped with varying quantities of MoS2 using an electrochemical workstation. The results revealed that the BMAM exhibited optimal mechanical performance when doped with 1.5 g of MoS2, with a maximum output force of 7.81 mN, an output force density of 34.36 mN/g, and a response rate of 0.09 mN/s. These performances were improved by 309%, 276%, and 175%, respectively, compared to the samples without MoS2 doping, with a mass-specific capacitance enhancement of 151%.
Numerical Simulation and Experiment on Pill Coating of Red Clover Seeds under the Action of Vibrating Force Field
Authors: Guo Mengjun , Cai Xuyang , Ma Xuejie , Hou Zhanfeng , Tong Xin , Liu Haiyang
Published: August 2023

In order to solve the problem of the low qualification rate of the pilling and coating of small-grain forage seeds, a vibration force field is introduced to the traditional vertical disk coating machine to promote the mixing of materials and improve the qualification rate of the pilling. Using the typical small-grain forage seed red clover as an example, we used the vibration force field after adding seed powder particles to a coating pot for the theoretical analysis of the force situation, using the discrete element software EDEM to construct a red clover seed simulation model with the coefficient of discretization as the evaluation index. We studied the effects of the rotational speed of the coating pot, the vibration frequency of the pot, the amplitude of the vibration of the pot, and the other operating parameters of the pot on the uniformity of the seed powder mixing, with the pelletization of the pass rate as the physical evaluation standard, using a one-way test to study the effect of operating parameters on the pelletization pass rate. We used the qualified rate as the physical evaluation standard, through a single-factor test, to study the influence of the working parameters on the qualification rate of the pilling. The results show that the simulation test evaluation index of the discrete coefficient and the physical test evaluation index of the pilling qualification rate with the change rule of the working parameters is consistent with the discrete coefficient, and can be used as an indirect evaluation index of the quality of pilling. To further determine the optimal combination of working parameters, a quadratic regression orthogonal design test was conducted with the discrete coefficients as the evaluation index, and the second-order regression equations of the red clover seeds were established and analyzed by ANOVA using Design-Expert software. The study shows that, when the rotational speed of the coating pot is 307.204 rpm, the vibration frequency is 2.526 Hz, and the vibration amplitude of the coating pot is 5.843 mm, the predicted coefficient of dispersion at this time is 8.1%. Simulation using the best combination of parameters to obtain the average value of the dispersion coefficient of 8.4%, relative to the predicted value of 3.7%, indicated that the optimization of the experimental regression model is accurate, and the results obtained for the vibration of small seeds under the conditions of the design of the pellet granulation coating machine and the optimization of the pelletization coating process parameters have a certain degree of reference significance.
Hierophany and Sport
Authors: Jirásek Ivo
Published: August 2023

A deeper understanding of sport cannot remain only in rational discourse that transforms reality into quantified data but must descend into philosophical areas that also accept the multiple figurativeness of symbols. By means of not literal but metaphorical truthfulness, sport can then be examined as a potential space of hierophany, that is, the manifestation of the sacred in the sphere of the profane. The paper argues in favor of the thesis that a more precise description of hierophany can highlight the difference between the presentation and representation of the sacred. While the physical activities that were part of the religious cult of archaic societies can be considered hierophanies in the mode of presentation (making present) of the sacred, no such direct parallel can be drawn for modern sport. Sport can be seen through the lens of implicit religion as a representation (an agency), not a presentation of the sacred.
Real-Time Retrieval of Daily Soil Moisture Using IMERG and GK2A Satellite Images with NWP and Topographic Data: A Machine Learning Approach for South Korea
Authors: Lee Soo-Jin , Sohn Eunha , Kim Mija , Park Ki-Hong , Park Kyungwon , Lee Yangwon
Published: August 2023

Soil moisture (SM) is an indicator of the moisture status of the land surface, which is useful for monitoring extreme weather events. Representative global SM datasets include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP), the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS), and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis 5 (ERA5), but due to their low spatial resolutions, none of these datasets well describe SM changes in local areas, and they tend to have a low accuracy. Machine learning (ML)-based SM predictions have demonstrated high accuracy, but obtaining semi-real-time SM information remains challenging, and the dependence of the validation accuracy on the data sampling method used, such as random or yearly sampling, has led to uncertainties. In this study, we aimed to develop an ML-based model for real-time SM estimation that can capture local-scale variabilities in SM and have reliable accuracy, regardless of the sampling method. This study was conducted in South Korea, and satellite image data, numerical weather prediction (NWP) data, and topographic data provided within one day were used as the input data. For SM modeling, 13 input variables affecting the surface SM status were selected: 10- and 20-day cumulative standardized precipitation indexes (SPI10 and SPI20), a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), downward shortwave radiation (DSR), air temperature (Tair), land surface temperature (LST), soil temperature (Tsoil), relative humidity (RH), latent heat flux (LE), slope, elevation, topographic ruggedness index (TRI), and aspect. Then, SM models based on random forest (RF) and automated machine learning (AutoML) were constructed, trained, and validated using random sampling and leave-one-year-out (LOYO) cross-validation. The RF- and AutoML-based SM models had significantly high accuracy rates based on comparisons with in situ SM (mean absolute error (MAE) = 2.212–4.132%; mean bias error (MBE) = −0.110–0.136%; root mean square error (RMSE) = 3.186–5.384%; correlation coefficient (CC) = 0.732–0.913), while the AutoML-based SM model tended to have a higher accuracy than the RF-based SM model, regardless of the data sampling method used. In addition, when compared to in situ SM data, the SM models demonstrated the highest accuracy, outperforming both GLDAS and ERA5 SM data and well representing changes in the dryness/wetness of the land surface according to meteorological events (heatwave, drought, and rainfall). The SM models proposed in this study can, thus, offer semi-real-time SM data, aiding in the monitoring of moisture changes in the land surface, as well as short-term meteorological disasters, like flash droughts or floods.
Evaluation of HY-2C and CFOSAT Satellite Retrieval Offshore Wind Energy Using Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Simulations
Authors: Li Zheng , Wan Bingcheng , Duan Zexia , He Yuanhong , Yu Yingxin , Chen Huansang
Published: August 2023

This study simulated the spatial distribution of wind speeds and wind energy density by using the WRF model, and we used the WRF-simulated results to evaluate the sea surface wind speeds retrieved from the HY-2C and CFOSAT satellite-borne microwave scatterometers over the Yellow Sea region. The main conclusions were as follows: (1) The combination of the MRF boundary layer parameterization scheme, the MM5 near-surface parameterization scheme, and the Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS) initial field demonstrated the best performance in simulating the 10 m wind speed in the Yellow Sea region, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 1.57, bias of 1.24 m/s, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 17%. (2) The MAPE of the HY-2C inversion data was 9%, while the CFOSAT inversion data had an MAPE of 6%. The sea surface wind speeds derived from the HY-2C and CFOSAT satellite scatterometer inversions demonstrated high accuracy and applicability in this region. (3) The wind speed was found to increase with altitude over the Yellow Sea, with higher wind speeds observed in the southern region compared to the northern region. The wind power density increased with altitude, and the wind power density in the southern area of the Yellow Sea was higher than in the northern region. (4) The CFOSAT satellite inversion products were in good agreement with the WRF simulation results under low wind speed conditions. In contrast, the HY-2C satellite inversion products showed better agreement under moderate wind speed conditions. Under high wind speed conditions, both satellite inversion products exhibited minor deviations, but the HY-2C product had an overall overestimation, while the CFOSAT product remained within the range of −1 to 1 m/s. (6) The wind power density increased with the satellite-inverted 10 m wind speed. When the 10 m wind speed was less than 9 m/s, the wind power density exhibited a roughly cubic trend of increase. However, when the 10 m wind speed exceeded 9 m/s, the wind power density no longer increased with the rise in 10 m wind speed. These findings provide valuable insights into wind energy resources in the Yellow Sea region and demonstrate the effectiveness of satellite scatterometer inversions for wind speed estimation. The results have implications for renewable energy planning and management in the area.
Road Extraction from High-Resolution Remote Sensing Images via Local and Global Context Reasoning
Authors: Chen Jie , Yang Libo , Wang Hao , Zhu Jingru , Sun Geng , Dai Xiaojun , Deng Min , Shi Yan
Published: August 2023

Road extraction from high-resolution remote sensing images is a critical task in image understanding and analysis, yet it poses significant challenges because of road occlusions caused by vegetation, buildings, and shadows. Deep convolutional neural networks have emerged as the leading approach for road extraction because of their exceptional feature representation capabilities. However, existing methods often yield incomplete and disjointed road extraction results. To address this issue, we propose CR-HR-RoadNet, a novel high-resolution road extraction network that incorporates local and global context reasoning. In this work, we introduce a road-adapted high-resolution network as the feature encoder, effectively preserving intricate details of narrow roads and spatial information. To capture multi-scale local context information and model the interplay between roads and background environments, we integrate multi-scale features with residual learning in a specialized multi-scale feature representation module. Moreover, to enable efficient long-range dependencies between different dimensions and reason the correlation between various road segments, we employ a lightweight coordinate attention module as a global context-aware algorithm. Extensive quantitative and qualitative experiments on three datasets demonstrate that CR-HR-RoadNet achieves superior extraction accuracy across various road datasets, delivering road extraction results with enhanced completeness and continuity. The proposed method holds promise for advancing road extraction in challenging remote sensing scenarios and contributes to the broader field of deep-learning-based image analysis for geospatial applications.
Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Remote Sensing Data Based on Multiple Satellite Sources for Forest Fire Smoke Segmentation
Authors: Liang Haotian , Zheng Change , Liu Xiaodong , Tian Ye , Zhang Jianzhong , Cui Wenbin
Published: August 2023

Forest fires are one of the most devastating natural disasters, and technologies based on remote sensing satellite data for fire prevention and control have developed rapidly in recent years. Early forest fire smoke in remote sensing images, on the other hand, is thin and tiny in area, making it difficult to detect. Satellites with high spatial resolution sensors can collect high-resolution photographs of smoke, however the impact of the satellite’s repeat access time to the same area means that forest fire smoke cannot be detected in time. Because of their low spatial resolution, photos taken by satellites with shorter return durations cannot capture small regions of smoke. This paper presents an early smoke detection method for forest fires that combines a super-resolution reconstruction network and a smoke segmentation network to address these issues. First, a high-resolution remote sensing multispectral picture dataset of forest fire smoke was created, which included diverse years, seasons, areas, and land coverings. The rebuilt high-resolution images were then obtained using a super-resolution reconstruction network. To eliminate data redundancy and enhance recognition accuracy, it was determined experimentally that the M11 band (2225–2275 nm) is more sensitive to perform smoke segmentation in VIIRS images. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated experimentally that improving the accuracy of reconstructed images is more effective than improving perceptual quality for smoke recognition. The final results of the super-resolution image segmentation experiment conducted in this paper show that the smoke segmentation results have a similarity coefficient of 0.742 to the segmentation results obtained using high-resolution satellite images, indicating that our method can effectively segment smoke pixels in low-resolution remote sensing images and provide early warning of forest fires.
Multi-Attention Multi-Image Super-Resolution Transformer (MAST) for Remote Sensing
Authors: Li Jiaao , Lv Qunbo , Zhang Wenjian , Zhu Baoyu , Zhang Guiyu , Tan Zheng
Published: August 2023

Deep-learning-driven multi-image super-resolution (MISR) reconstruction techniques have significant application value in the field of aerospace remote sensing. In particular, Transformer-based models have shown outstanding performance in super-resolution tasks. However, current MISR models have some deficiencies in the application of multi-scale information and the modeling of the attention mechanism, leading to an insufficient utilization of complementary information in multiple images. In this context, we innovatively propose a Multi-Attention Multi-Image Super-Resolution Transformer (MAST), which involves improvements in two main aspects. Firstly, we present a Multi-Scale and Mixed Attention Block (MMAB). With its multi-scale structure, the network is able to extract image features from different scales to obtain more contextual information. Additionally, the introduction of mixed attention allows the network to fully explore high-frequency features of the images in both channel and spatial dimensions. Secondly, we propose a Collaborative Attention Fusion Block (CAFB). By incorporating channel attention into the self-attention layer of the Transformer, we aim to better establish global correlations between multiple images. To improve the network’s perception ability of local detailed features, we introduce a Residual Local Attention Block (RLAB). With the aforementioned improvements, our model can better extract and utilize non-redundant information, achieving a superior restoration effect that balances the global structure and local details of the image. The results from the comparative experiments reveal that our approach demonstrated a notable enhancement in cPSNR, with improvements of 0.91 dB and 0.81 dB observed in the NIR and RED bands of the PROBA-V dataset, respectively, in comparison to the existing state-of-the-art methods. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the method proposed in this paper can provide a valuable reference for solving multi-image super-resolution tasks for remote sensing.