bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biostimulants Enhance the Nutritional Quality of Soilless Greenhouse Tomatoes
Authors: Dasgan Hayriye Yildiz , Aksu Kahraman S. , Zikaria Kamran , Gruda Nazim S.
Published: September 2024

The application of biostimulants in vegetable cultivation has emerged as a promising approach to enhance the nutritional quality of crops, particularly in controlled environment agriculture and soilless culture systems. In this study, we employed a rigorous methodology, applying various biostimulants amino acids, Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), fulvic acid, chitosan, and vermicompost along with mineral fertilizers, both foliar and via the roots, to soilless greenhouse tomatoes during spring cultivation. The experiment, conducted in a coir pith medium using the ‘Samyeli F1’ tomato cultivar, demonstrated that plants treated with biostimulants performed better than control plants. Notable variations in nutritional components were observed across treatments. PGPR had the best effects on the physical properties of the tomato fruit, showing the highest fruit weight, fruit length, equatorial diameter, fruit volume, fruit skin elasticity, and fruit flesh hardness while maintaining high color parameters L, a, and b. PGPR and fulvic acid demonstrated significant enhancements in total phenolics and flavonoids, suggesting potential boosts in antioxidant properties. Amioacid and vermicompost notably elevated total soluble solids, indicating potential fruit sweetness and overall taste improvements. On the other hand, vermicompost stood out for its ability to elevate total phenolics and flavonoids while enhancing vitamin C content, indicating a comprehensive enhancement of nutritional quality. In addition, vermicompost had the most significant impact on plant growth parameters and total yield, achieving a 43% increase over the control with a total yield of 10.39 kg/m2. These findings underline the specific nutritional benefits of different biostimulants, offering valuable insights for optimizing tomato cultivation practices to yield produce with enhanced health-promoting properties.
The F-Box Protein TaFBA1 Positively Regulates Drought Resistance and Yield Traits in Wheat
Authors: Li Qinxue , Zhao Xiaoyu , Wu Jiajie , Shou Huixia , Wang Wei
Published: September 2024

Environmental stresses, including drought stress, seriously threaten food security. Previous studies reported that wheat F-box protein, TaFBA1, responds to abiotic stresses in tobacco. Here, we generated transgenic wheat with enhanced (overexpression, OE) or suppressed (RNA interference, RNAi) expression of TaFBA1. The TaFBA1-OE seedlings showed enhanced drought tolerance, as measured by survival rate and fresh weight under severe drought stress, whereas the RNAi plants showed the opposite phenotype. Furthermore, the OE plants had stronger antioxidant capacity compared to WT and RNAi plants and maintained stomatal opening, which resulted in higher water loss under drought stress. However, stronger water absorption capacity in OE roots contributed to higher relative water contents in leaves under drought stress. Moreover, the postponed stomatal closure in OE lines helped to maintain photosynthesis machinery to produce more photoassimilate and ultimately larger seed size. Transcriptomic analyses conducted on WT and OE plants showed that genes involved in antioxidant, fatty acid and lipid metabolism and cellulose synthesis were significantly induced by drought stress in the leaves of OE lines. Together, our studies determined that the F-box protein TaFBA1 modulated drought tolerance and affected yield in wheat and the TaFBA1 gene could provide a desirable target for further breeding of wheat.
Deciphering the Mechanism of Melatonin-Induced Enhancement of Photosystem II Function in Moderate Drought-Stressed Oregano Plants
Authors: Moustaka Julietta , Sperdouli Ilektra , İşgören Sumrunaz , Şaş Begüm , Moustakas Michael
Published: September 2024

Melatonin (MT) is considered as an antistress molecule that plays a constructive role in the acclimation of plants to both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. In the present study, we assessed the impact of 10 and 100 μM MT foliar spray, on chlorophyll content, and photosystem II (PSII) function, under moderate drought stress, on oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) plants. Our aim was to elucidate the molecular mechanism of MT action on the photosynthetic electron transport process. Foliar spray with 100 μM MT was more effective in mitigating the negative impact of moderate drought stress on PSII function, compared to 10 μM MT. MT foliar spray significantly improved the reduced efficiency of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC), and PSII photoinhibition (Fv/Fm), which were caused by drought stress. Under moderate drought stress, foliar spray with 100 μM MT, compared with the water sprayed (WA) leaves, increased the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) by 31%, at the growth irradiance (GI, 205 μmol photons m−2 s−1), and by 13% at a high irradiance (HI, 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1). However, the lower NPQ increase at HI was demonstrated to be more effective in decreasing the singlet-excited oxygen (1O2) production at HI (−38%), in drought-stressed oregano plants sprayed with 100 μM MT, than the corresponding decrease in 1O2 production at the GI (−20%), both compared with the respective WA-sprayed leaves under moderate drought. The reduced 1O2 production resulted in a significant increase in the quantum yield of PSII photochemistry (ΦPSII), and the electron transport rate (ETR), in moderate drought-stressed plants sprayed with 100 μM MT, compared with WA-sprayed plants, but only at the HI (+27%). Our results suggest that the enhancement of PSII functionality, with 100 μM MT under moderate drought stress, was initiated by the NPQ mechanism, which decreased the 1O2 production and increased the fraction of open PSII reaction centers (qp), resulting in an increased ETR.
A Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway Is Required for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PMB05 to Enhance Disease Resistance to Bacterial Soft Rot in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Li Ai-Ting , Liu Shang-Kai , Li Jia-Rong , Blanco Sabrina Diana , Tsai Hsin-Wei , Xie Jia-Xin , Tsai Yun-Chen , Tzean Yuh , Lin Yi-Hsien
Published: September 2024

When a plant is infected by a pathogen, endogenous immune responses are initiated. When the initiation of these defense responses is induced by a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) of a pathogen, it is called PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI). Previous studies have shown that Bacillus amyloliquefaciens PMB05 can enhance PTI signals and improve disease control of bacterial soft rot and wilt in Arabidopsis thaliana. In the context of controlling bacterial wilt disease, the involvement of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway has been established. Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether this pathway is also required for B. amyloliquefaciens PMB05 in controlling bacterial soft rot. In this study, A. thaliana ecotype Columbia (Col-0) and its mutants on a MAPK pathway-related pathway were used as a model and established that the ability of B. amyloliquefaciens PMB05 to control soft rot requires the participation of the MAPK pathway. Moreover, the enhancement of disease resistance by PMB05 is highly correlated with the activation of reactive oxygen species generation and stomata closure, rather than callose deposition. The spray inoculation method was used to illustrate that PMB05 can enhance stomatal closure, thereby restricting invasion by the soft rot bacterium. This control mechanism has also been demonstrated to require the activation of the MAPK pathway. This study demonstrates that B. amyloliquefaciens PMB05 can accelerate stomata closure via the activation of the MAPK pathway during PTI, thereby reducing pathogen invasion and achieving disease resistance against bacterial soft rot.
Exploiting the Properties of Non-Wood Feedstocks to Produce Tailorable Lignin-Containing Cellulose Nanofibers
Authors: Lamm Meghan E. , Johnson Donna A. , Copenhaver Katie , Bhagia Samarthya , Hubbard Amber M. , Walker Colleen C. , Doyle Kevin , Ozcan Soydan
Published: September 2024

Lignin-containing cellulose nanofibrils (LCNFs) are mainly produced commercially from treated wood pulp, which can decrease some of the carbon-negative benefits of utilizing biomass feedstock. In this work, LCNFs are prepared from non-wood feedstocks, including agricultural residues such as hemp, wheat straw, and flax. These feedstocks allowed for the preparation of LCNFs with a variety of properties, including tailored hydrophobicity. The feedstocks and their subsequent LCNFs are extensively characterized to determine the roles that feedstocks play on the morphology and properties of their resultant LCNFs. The LCNFs were then incorporated into paper handsheets to study their usefulness in papermaking applications, which indicated good potential for the use of wheat straw LCNFs as a surface additive to improve the oil resistance coating.
Bacterial Cellulose-Derived Sorbents for Cr (VI) Remediation: Adsorption, Elution, and Reuse
Authors: Sayago Uriel Fernando Carreño , Ballesteros Vladimir Ballesteros , Aguilar Angelica María Lozano
Published: September 2024

The search for adsorbents that are non-toxic and low cost with a high adsorption capacity and excellent recyclability is a priority to determine the way to reduce the serious environmental impacts caused by the discharge of effluents loaded with heavy metals. Bacterial cellulose (BC) biomass has functional groups such as hydroxyl and carbonyl groups that play a crucial role in making this cellulose so efficient at removing contaminants present in water through cation exchange. This research aims to develop an experimental process for the adsorption, elution, and reuse of bacterial cellulose biomass in treating water contaminated with Cr (VI). SEM images and the kinetics behavior were analyzed with pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models together with isothermal analysis after each elution and reuse process. The adsorption behavior was in excellent agreement with the Langmuir model along with its elution and reuse; the adsorption capacity was up to 225 mg/g, adding all the elution processes. This study presents a novel approach to the preparation of biomass capable of retaining Cr (VI) with an excellent adsorption capacity and high stability. This method eliminates the need for chemical agents, which would otherwise be difficult to implement due to their costs. The viability of this approach for the field of industrial wastewater treatment is demonstrated.
Applications of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) Networks in Polymeric Sciences: A Review
Authors: Malashin Ivan , Tynchenko Vadim , Gantimurov Andrei , Nelyub Vladimir , Borodulin Aleksei
Published: September 2024

This review explores the application of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, a specialized type of recurrent neural network (RNN), in the field of polymeric sciences. LSTM networks have shown notable effectiveness in modeling sequential data and predicting time-series outcomes, which are essential for understanding complex molecular structures and dynamic processes in polymers. This review delves into the use of LSTM models for predicting polymer properties, monitoring polymerization processes, and evaluating the degradation and mechanical performance of polymers. Additionally, it addresses the challenges related to data availability and interpretability. Through various case studies and comparative analyses, the review demonstrates the effectiveness of LSTM networks in different polymer science applications. Future directions are also discussed, with an emphasis on real-time applications and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration. The goal of this review is to connect advanced machine learning (ML) techniques with polymer science, thereby promoting innovation and improving predictive capabilities in the field.
Melatonin and Bacterial Cellulose Regulate the Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines, VEGF, PCNA, and Collagen in Cutaneous Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats
Authors: da Silva Jaiurte Gomes Martins , de Melo Ismaela Maria Ferreira , Alves Érique Ricardo , de Oliveira Glícia Maria , da Silva Anderson Arnaldo , Cavalcanti Isabela Macário Ferro , Araujo Diego Neves , Pinto Flávia Cristina Morone , de Andrade Aguiar José Lamartine , Wanderley Teixeira Valéria , Coelho Teixeira Álvaro Aguiar
Published: September 2024

The poor healing of diabetic wounds is characterized by prolonged inflammation and decreased collagen deposition. Diabetic patients exhibit changes in the plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the role of specific dressings may have an impact on healing. This study aims to evaluate the effects of a combined treatment comprising a bacterial cellulose dressing and melatonin application on the regulation and expression of inflammatory cytokines, VEGF, PCNA, and collagen in the healing of cutaneous wounds of diabetic rats. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF, along with PCNA and type I and III collagen, were evaluated after 14 days. Immunohistochemistry showed decreased levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and VEGF, along with an increased expression of PCNA and type I collagen, in the groups treated exclusively with melatonin and bacterial cellulose associated with melatonin compared to the control and the commercial healing agent. It was concluded that treating the skin lesions of diabetic animals supplemented with melatonin using a bacterial cellulose-based dressing has positive effects in regulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factor, and collagen, showing that this association could be a viable therapy approach in wound healing.
Opacification Kinetics of PLA during Liquid Water Sorption
Authors: Liparoti Sara , Pantani Roberto
Published: September 2024

When in contact with water, poly(lactic acid), PLA, undergoes several physical changes. A very evident one is opacification, namely the change from the typical transparent appearance to a white opaque color. This phenomenon is particularly significant for many applications, including packaging, since opacity hinders the possibility of a clear look of the packed goods and also worsens the consumers’ perceptions. In this work, we report an analysis of the time evolution of the phenomenon in different conditions of temperature and water concentration. The results allow us to define a time-scale of the phenomenon and to put it in relationship with the temperature and water content inside the material. In particular, opacification proceeds from the outer surface of the specimens toward the center. Both craze formation due to hydrolysis and crystallization contribute to the opacification phenomenon. Opacification becomes faster as temperature increases, whereas the increase in the solution density has the opposite effect. A model for describing the evolution of opacification was proposed and found to be consistent with the experimental data.
Research on the Energy-Absorbing and Cushioning Performance of a New Half-Bowl Ball Rubber Body in Tunnel Support
Authors: Ma Jian , Xiao Yaomeng , Ma Bin , Zheng Canguang , Hu Xiangpeng , Tian Dan , Du Mingchao , Zhang Kun
Published: September 2024

As coal mine underground operating conditions are harsh, strengthening and optimizing the support structure is conducive to the safety of mining work and personnel. Currently, underground support devices face problems such as poor environmental adaptability and unbalanced performance of shockproof and energy absorption. At the same time, the energy absorption mechanism and impact dynamic analysis of the support structure are still imperfect. This paper proposes a simple and effective bionic half-bowl spherical rubber energy-absorbing structure based on the actual production needs of coal mines, with energy-absorbing rubber as the main structural interlayer. A combination of experimental testing and simulation was used to reveal the dynamic response and mechanism of simulated energy absorption of a half-bowl-shaped rubber layer under different working conditions. Abaqus software was used to simulate and analyze the dynamic response of the half-bowl spherical rubber structure under the impact condition, and the simulation data were compared with the experimental results. In addition, the relationship between energy absorption and stress at the rubber structure and the base plate under different impact velocities was investigated. The results show that the simulated and experimental results of the rubber structure have almost the same pressure vs. time trend within 0.1 s at an impact velocity of 64 m/s, and there is no significant wear on the rubber surface after impact. Due to the energy-absorbing effect of the rubber structure, the maximum stress of the bottom member plate-2 of the mechanism is lower than 9 × 104 N. The maximum amount of compression of the half-bowl ball is 37.56 mm at an impact velocity of 64 m/s. The maximum amount of compression of the half-bowl ball is 37.56 mm.
Key Components Degradation in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells: Unraveling Mechanisms through Accelerated Durability Testing
Authors: Yao Keguang , Wang Li , Wang Xin , Xue Xiaowu , Li Shuai , Zhang Hanwen , Li Zhengnan , Li Yanpu , Peng Gangping , Wang Min , Wang Haijiang
Published: September 2024

In the process of promoting the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells, the long-term durability of the fuel cell has become a key consideration. While existing durability tests are critical for assessing cell performance, they are often time-consuming and do not quickly reflect the impact of actual operating conditions on the cell. In this study, improved testing protocols were utilized to solve this problem, which is designed to shorten the testing cycle and evaluate the degradation of the cell performance under real operating conditions more efficiently. Accelerated durability analysis for evaluating the MEA lifetime and performance decay process was carried out through two testing protocols—open circuit voltage (OCV)-based accelerated durability testing (ADT) and relative humidity (RH) cycling-based ADT. OCV-based ADT revealed that degradation owes to a combined mechanical and chemical process. RH cycling-based ADT shows that degradation comes from a mainly mechanical process. In situ fluoride release rate technology was employed to elucidate the degradation of the proton exchange membrane during the ADT. It was found that the proton exchange membrane suffered more serious damage under OCV-based ADT. The loss of F− after the durability test was up to 3.50 × 10−4 mol/L, which was 4.3 times that of the RH cycling-based ADT. In addition, the RH cycling-based ADT had a significant effect on the catalyst layer, and the electrochemically active surface area decreased by 48.6% at the end of the ADT. Moreover, it was observed that the agglomeration of the catalysts was more obvious than that of OCV-based ADT by transmission electron microscopy. It is worth noting that both testing protocols have no obvious influence on the gas diffusion layer, and the contact angle of gas diffusion layers does not change significantly. These findings contribute to understanding the degradation behavior of proton exchange membrane fuel cells under different working conditions, and also provide a scientific basis for developing more effective testing protocols.
The Influence of Pre-Lift Gate Opening on the Internal and External Flow Characteristics During the Startup Process of an Axial Flow Pump
Authors: Fu You , Deng Lingling
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on a vertical axial flow pump and employs a 1D-3D coupling method to investigate the effects of different gate pre-opening angles on the internal and external flow characteristics of the axial flow pump during startup. Through comparative analysis, the following conclusions are drawn: In the study, a fully open gate is defined as 1, while a fully closed gate is defined as 0. When starting the axial flow pump with different valve pre-opening degrees, backflow occurs within the first 20 s of startup, and the backflow rate inside the pump gradually increases with the increase in the valve pre-opening degree. At a valve pre-opening degree of 0.6, the maximum backflow rate inside the pump reaches 5.89% of the rated flow rate. When starting the pump with the valve fully open, the maximum backflow rate reaches 10.98% of the rated flow rate, and the efficiency is affected by the backflow rate. The valve pre-opening degree has little impact on the axial force acting on the impeller during startup. When starting with a valve pre-opening degree of 0.6, the internal pressure difference in the pump is minimized. Within the first 20 s of startup, the internal pressure difference in the impeller is 28.96% higher and the flow velocity is 14.62% higher with valve pre-opening degrees of 0.8 and 1.0 compared to a 0.6 degree opening. During the initial stage of pump startup, with valve pre-opening degrees of 0.8 and 1.0, the pressure fluctuation amplitude inside the pump is minimal, with maximum relative amplitudes of only 0.621 and 0.525, which are 41.00% and 28.51% lower than the maximum amplitudes at 0 and 0.2 degrees, respectively. In summary, the peak pressure inside the pump is minimized when the valve pre-opening degree is around 0.8, while the pressure difference and flow velocity are relatively lower at a pre-opening degree of 0.6. It is recommended to start the pump with a valve pre-opening degree of around 0.6 to 0.8.
A Novel Nonsingular Fast Terminal Sliding Mode Control with Sliding Mode Disturbance Observer for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Servo Control
Authors: Shi Difen , Bodemann Kai , Wang Yao , Xu Changliang , Liu Lulu , Feng Chungui
Published: September 2024

This article proposes a novel nonsingular fast terminal sliding mode control (N-NFTSMC) with a sliding mode disturbance observer (SDOB) for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo control. Firstly, to reduce the chattering issue, a new sliding mode reaching law (NSRL) is proposed for the N-NFTSMC. Secondly, to further improve the dynamic tracking accuracy, we introduce a sliding disturbance observer to estimate unknown disturbances for feedforward compensation. Comparative simulations via Matlab/Simulink 2018 are conducted using the traditional NFTSMC and N-NFTSMC; the step simulation results show that the chattering phenomenon was suppressed well via the N-NFTSMC scheme. The sine wave tracking simulation proves that the N-NFTSMC has better dynamic tracking performance when compared with traditional NFTSMC. Finally, we carry out experiments to validate that the N-NFTSMC adequately suppresses the chattering issue and possesses better anti-disturbance performance.
Impacts of Polyvinyl Alcohol and Chitosan-Modified Biochar on the Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge and Valuable Resource Recovery
Authors: Chiang Ping Fa , Zhang Teng Ling , Maurice Ndungutse Jean , Claire Mugabekazi Joie , Gentil Bigirimana , Memon Abdul Ghaffar , Giwa Abdulmoseen Segun
Published: September 2024

The accumulation of organic dyes and heavy metals (HMs) in sewage sludge (SS) after wastewater treatment is a significant problem due to the non-degradable nature of these pollutants. Moreover, the simultaneous removal of HMs and dyes in the complex process of SS treatment, such as anaerobic digestion (AD), has become attractive. HMs and dyes present in SS can have a detrimental effect on anaerobic digesters. These pollutants not only inhibit the production of methane, which is crucial for biogas generation, but also affect the stability of AD treatment, which can result in failure or inadequate performance of the AD process. This review highlights a novel method of removing HMs and dyes from the AD process of SS through the use of biochar modified with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (CTS). The applications of conventional biochar have been limited due to poor adsorption capacity. However, modification using PVA/CTS composites enhances properties such as surface functional groups, adsorption capacity, porosity, surface area selectivity, and stability. Furthermore, this modified version can function as an additive in AD of SS treatment to boost biogas production, which is a viable source for heat generation or electricity supply. In addition, the digestates can be further processed through plasma pyrolysis for the removal of HMs and dyes bound to the modified biochar. Plasma pyrolysis generates two major products: syngas and slag. The syngas produced can then be used as a source of hydrogen, heat, and electricity, while the slag can potentially be reused as an AD additive or as a biofertilizer in the agricultural sector. Additionally, this study addresses the challenges associated with this integration and biochar modifications, and offers an outlook on understanding the interactions between the modified biochar properties, microbial dynamics, and the presence of micropollutants to ensure the economic viability and scalability of this technology. This comprehensive review provides insights into the potential of PVA/CTS-modified biochar as an effective additive in AD systems, offering a sustainable approach to SS treatment and valuable resource recovery.
Evaluating Policy Efficacy in Higher Education: A Synthetic Control Analysis of Ecuador’s Higher Education Law on Research Productivity
Authors: Álvarez-Munoz Patricio , Faytong-Haro Marco , Peralta Gamboa Dennis Alfredo , Aviles Valenzuela Angelo Marcos , Pacheco-Olea Fernando
Published: September 2024

Background: This paper investigates the impact of Ecuador’s Ley Orgánica de Educación Superior (LOES), enacted in 2010, which mandated comprehensive reforms in higher education. Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether the implementation of the LOES has led to a significant increase in academic publications in Ecuador, thereby contributing to sustainable educational practices and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In this context, sustainability refers to the ongoing capacity of higher education institutions to generate research that contributes to the long-term development of knowledge, aligns with global sustainability goals, and ensures educational practices that are responsive to societal needs. Methods: Using a synthetic control method, this study evaluates the impact of the LOES on the number of academic publications recorded in Scopus. A synthetic control consisting of data from countries with similar educational and economic profiles serves as a counterfactual to Ecuador’s situation. Results: Before the LOES, the average annual number of publications was stable at 253.4 per year. Post-2010, this number surged, reaching an average of 3645.84 publications per year, representing a 358.41% increase. By 2023, the actual number of publications in Ecuador rose to approximately 6584, significantly surpassing the synthetic control estimate of 1431 publications. Conclusions: The findings confirm that the LOES has been effective in increasing research output and advancing educational sustainability in Ecuador. This analysis not only contributes to the literature on the impact of educational policies but also demonstrates the utility of synthetic control methods in assessing policy effectiveness, underscoring the potential of targeted interventions to promote academic excellence and sustainability in education.
A Systems Firm-Centered Perspective on the Environmental Assessment of Recyclable PET and Glass Soft Drink Containers
Authors: Adamides Emmanuel D. , Syrigos Antonios D.
Published: September 2024

This paper adopts a systems firm-centered perspective on the environmental assessment of recyclable glass and PET soft drink containers. We employ LCA and discrete-event simulation modeling for the environmental assessment of the two soft drinks packaging alternatives in operational terms over the entire supply chain over a period of three years. The assessment is based on real data collected from a large soft drink producer and its suppliers. The research and practice contribution of the paper is twofold: first, it introduces a methodological framework for environmental assessment of companies’ packaging environmental impact under different product and operations strategies; and secondly, it provides a holistic environmental assessment of the two packaging materials (PET and glass) taking into account specific operational issues, such as product mix and recycling and reuse options, as well as activity interdependences and stochasticity. The results of the simulation experiments confirm at the operations system level, for glass, the importance for sustainability, to increase the number of reuse cycles (for the particular case, for significant improvement, seven reuses) and the percentage of used bottles collected for refilling (80% recovery rate), whereas for PET, to increase the percentage of recycled PET in new bottles (towards 30%).
Harnessing the Potential of Whey in the Creation of Innovative Food Products: Contributions to the Circular Economy
Authors: Tița Mihaela Adriana , Moga Valentina-Mădălina , Constantinescu Maria Adelina , Bătușaru Cristina Maria , Tița Ovidiu
Published: September 2024

Food waste and by-products are intricately linked to sustainable food production, as reducing waste can play a significant role in achieving a more sustainable and efficient food system. Sustainable utilization and recovery of by-products can significantly contribute by creating strategies that can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency across the food supply chain. Worldwide, more than 40% of whey from cheese production is discarded, resulting in the loss of valuable nutrients and potentially polluting the environment. Effective use of whey reduces environmental impact and enhances manufacturing sustainability. Thus, a circular approach to food waste management in the dairy industry supports sustainability goals and creates opportunities for innovation. Whey contains most of the soluble components of milk, including a large number of serum proteins and all the essential amino acids, making it suitable for producing beverages with high nutritional value. This study aims to produce whey-based beverages with different additions to obtain dairy products with high nutritional value. Three different ingredients, sea buckthorn, ginger, and cinnamon, were chosen for their numerous health benefits to the consumer. Six samples were prepared utilizing both unmodified and deproteinized whey in a 75% proportion, with the addition of 25% sea buckthorn juice, 0.75% ginger juice, and 0.2% cinnamon powder. The resultant samples were packaged in 200 mL bottles and maintained at a controlled temperature of 6 °C to ensure optimal preservation. Given the paramount importance of consumer acceptability in novel beverage development, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to assess the sensory properties of the formulated beverages. In addition, physico-chemical properties and their evolution over 14 days of storage were examined. The sample containing whey, sea buckthorn juice, ginger juice, and cinnamon powder received the highest marks from the tasters. The values of the physico-chemical parameters varied depending on the type of whey used and the storage period. Thus, a pH of approximately 5 and an acidity between 30 and 80 °T were recorded. The average lactose content was 4%, the average protein content was 2.5%, and the total soluble solids content was 11.5 °Brix. The beverages developed in this study represent viable alternatives for diversifying food production through sustainable, environmentally friendly technological variants. By applying circular economy principles, these products contribute to reducing food waste in the dairy industry.
Cancer Stem Cell Marker CD147 Expression in Erosive Oral Lichen Planus Compared to Moderately and Severely Dysplastic Leukoplakia
Authors: Zisis Vasileios , Giannakopoulos Nikolaos Nikitas , Poulopoulos Athanasios , Schmitter Marc , Andreadis Dimitrios
Published: September 2024

Oral lichen planus is a frequent, chronic autoimmune disease that affects the oral mucosa and is characterized as an oral potentially malignant disorder. The aim of our study is to examine the presence of CSCs bearing CD147 (a marker related to local inflammation and associated with various cancers) through immunohistochemistry in oral lichen planus (OLP) compared to oral leukoplakia (OL) and healthy tissues. These findings could contribute to clinical practice by providing a marker for the prognostic assessment of OLP lesions with regards to their potentially malignant nature. The study sample consisted of paraffin-embedded oral mucosa specimens from the archives of the Department of Oral Medicine/Pathology, School of Dentistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece during the period 2009–2019. The study sample contained 24 cases of OLP (14 erosive and 10 reticular) and 30 cases of oral leukoplakia, which were compared to 5 normal oral epithelium samples derived from healthy epithelium adjacent to fibromas from other cases. Cell membrane staining of CD147 was observed mostly in the basal and parabasal cell layer. The statistically significantly higher expression of CD147 in the erosive lichen planus subgroup than in the moderately and severely dysplastic leukoplakia subgroup (p = 0.01) constituted the most important finding of this study. The characteristic expression of CD147 in erosive OLP suggests the presence of epithelial cells with CSC characteristics, but its lower expression in oral leukoplakias suggests a more intense relation of the CD147 marker with inflammation rather than with oral dysplastic progression.
High-Efficiency Forward Modeling of Gravitational Fields in Spherical Harmonic Domain with Application to Lunar Topography Correction
Authors: Zhao Guangdong , Liang Shengxian
Published: September 2024

Gravity forward modeling as a basic tool has been widely used for topography correction and 3D density inversion. The source region is usually discretized into tesseroids (i.e., spherical prisms) to consider the influence of the curvature of planets in global or large-scale problems. Traditional gravity forward modeling methods in spherical coordinates, including the Taylor expansion and Gaussian–Legendre quadrature, are all based on spatial domains, which mostly have low computational efficiency. This study proposes a high-efficiency forward modeling method of gravitational fields in the spherical harmonic domain, in which the gravity anomalies and gradient tensors can be expressed as spherical harmonic synthesis forms of spherical harmonic coefficients of 3D density distribution. A homogeneous spherical shell model is used to test its effectiveness compared with traditional spatial domain methods. It demonstrates that the computational efficiency of the proposed spherical harmonic domain method is improved by four orders of magnitude with a similar level of computational accuracy compared with the optimized 3D GLQ method. The test also shows that the computational time of the proposed method is not affected by the observation height. Finally, the proposed forward method is applied to the topography correction of the Moon. The results show that the gravity response of the topography obtained with our method is close to that of the optimized 3D GLQ method and is also consistent with previous results.
Combining KAN with CNN: KonvNeXt’s Performance in Remote Sensing and Patent Insights
Authors: Cheon Minjong , Mun Changbae
Published: September 2024

Rapid advancements in satellite technology have led to a significant increase in high-resolution remote sensing (RS) images, necessitating the use of advanced processing methods. Additionally, patent analysis revealed a substantial increase in deep learning and machine learning applications in remote sensing, highlighting the growing importance of these technologies. Therefore, this paper introduces the Kolmogorov-Arnold Network (KAN) model to remote sensing to enhance efficiency and performance in RS applications. We conducted several experiments to validate KAN’s applicability, starting with the EuroSAT dataset, where we combined the KAN layer with multiple pre-trained CNN models. Optimal performance was achieved using ConvNeXt, leading to the development of the KonvNeXt model. KonvNeXt was evaluated on the Optimal-31, AID, and Merced datasets for validation and achieved accuracies of 90.59%, 94.1%, and 98.1%, respectively. The model also showed fast processing speed, with the Optimal-31 and Merced datasets completed in 107.63 s each, while the bigger and more complicated AID dataset took 545.91 s. This result is meaningful since it achieved faster speeds and comparable accuracy compared to the existing study, which utilized VIT and proved KonvNeXt’s applicability for remote sensing classification tasks. Furthermore, we investigated the model’s interpretability by utilizing Occlusion Sensitivity, and by displaying the influential regions, we validated its potential use in a variety of domains, including medical imaging and weather forecasting. This paper is meaningful in that it is the first to use KAN in remote sensing classification, proving its adaptability and efficiency.
Seismic Imaging of the Arctic Subsea Permafrost Using a Least-Squares Reverse Time Migration Method
Authors: Kim Sumin , Kang Seung-Goo , Choi Yeonjin , Hong Jong-Kuk , Kwak Joonyoung
Published: September 2024

High-resolution seismic imaging allows for the better interpretation of subsurface geological structures. In this study, we employ least-squares reverse time migration (LSRTM) as a seismic imaging method to delineate the subsurface geological structures from the field dataset for understanding the status of Arctic subsea permafrost structures, which is pertinent to global warming issues. The subsea permafrost structures in the Arctic continental shelf, located just below the seafloor at a shallow water depth, have an abnormally high P-wave velocity. These structural conditions create internal multiples and noise in seismic data, making it challenging to perform seismic imaging and construct a seismic P-wave velocity model using conventional methods. LSRTM offers a promising approach by addressing these challenges through linearized inverse problems, aiming to achieve high-resolution, subsurface imaging by optimizing the misfit between the predicted and the observed seismic data. Synthetic experiments, encompassing various subsea permafrost structures and seismic survey configurations, were conducted to investigate the feasibility of LSRTM for imaging the Arctic subsea permafrost from the acquired seismic field dataset, and the possibility of the seismic imaging of the subsea permafrost was confirmed through these synthetic numerical experiments. Furthermore, we applied the LSRTM method to the seismic data acquired in the Canadian Beaufort Sea (CBS) and generated a seismic image depicting the subsea permafrost structures in the Arctic region.
Mapping Natural Populus euphratica Forests in the Mainstream of the Tarim River Using Spaceborne Imagery and Google Earth Engine
Authors: Zou Jiawei , Li Hao , Ding Chao , Liu Suhong , Shi Qingdong
Published: September 2024

Populus euphratica is a unique constructive tree species within riparian desert areas that is essential for maintaining oasis ecosystem stability. The Tarim River Basin contains the most densely distributed population of P. euphratica forests in the world, and obtaining accurate distribution data in the mainstream of the Tarim River would provide important support for its protection and restoration. We propose a new method for automatically extracting P. euphratica using Sentinel-1 and 2 and Landsat-8 images based on the Google Earth Engine cloud platform and the random forest algorithm. A mask of the potential distribution area of P. euphratica was created based on prior knowledge to save computational resources. The NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) time series was then reconstructed using the preferred filtering method to obtain phenological parameter features, and the random forest model was input by combining the phenological parameter, spectral index, textural, and backscattering features. An active learning method was employed to optimize the model and obtain the best model for extracting P. euphratica. Finally, the map of natural P. euphratica forests with a resolution of 10 m in the mainstream of the Tarim River was obtained. The overall accuracy, producer’s accuracy, user’s accuracy, kappa coefficient, and F1-score of the map were 0.96, 0.98, 0.95, 0.93, and 0.96, respectively. The comparison experiments showed that simultaneously adding backscattering and textural features improved the P. euphratica extraction accuracy, while textural features alone resulted in a poor extraction effect. The method developed in this study fully considered the prior and posteriori information and determined the feature set suitable for the P. euphratica identification task, which can be used to quickly obtain accurate large-area distribution data of P. euphratica. The method can also provide a reference for identifying other typical desert vegetation.
First-Principles Investigation on Ru-Doped Janus WSSe Monolayer for Adsorption of Dissolved Gases in Transformer Oil: A Novel Sensing Candidate Exploration
Authors: Cao Liang , Ma Ruilong , Ran Mingxin , Cui Hao
Published: September 2024

Using first-principles theory, this work purposes Ru-doped Janus WSSe (Ru-WSSe) monolayer as a potential gas sensor for detection of three typical gas species (CO, C2H2, and C2H4), in order to evaluate the operation status of the oil-immersed transformers. The Ru-doping behavior on the WSSe surface is analyzed, giving rise to the preferred doping site by the replacement of a Se atom with the formation energy of 0.01 eV. The gas adsorption of three gas species onto the Ru-WSSe monolayer is conducted, and chemisorption is identified for all three gas systems with the adsorption energy following the order: CO (−2.22 eV) > C2H2 (−2.01 eV) > C2H4 (−1.70 eV). Also, the modulated electronic properties and the frontier molecular orbital are investigated to uncover the sensing mechanism of Ru-WSSe monolayer upon three typical gases. Results reveal that the sensing responses of the Ru-WSSe monolayer, based on the variation of energy gap, to CO, C2H2, and C2H4 molecules are calculated to be 1.67 × 106, 2.10 × 105, and 9.61 × 103, respectively. Finally, the impact of the existence of O2 molecule for gas adsorption and sensing is also analyzed to uncover the potential of Ru-WSSe monolayer for practical application in the air atmosphere. The obtained high electrical responses manifest strong potential as a resistive sensor for detection of three gases. The findings hold practical implications for the development of novel gas sensing materials based on Janus WSSe monolayer. We anticipate that our results will inspire further research in this domain, particularly for applications in electrical engineering where the reliable detection of fault gases is paramount for maintaining the integrity and safety of power systems.
How Effective Are Forecasting Models in Predicting Effects of Exoskeletons on Fatigue Progression?
Authors: Kuber Pranav Madhav , Kulkarni Abhineet Rajendra , Rashedi Ehsan
Published: September 2024

Forecasting can be utilized to predict future trends in physiological demands, which can be beneficial for developing effective interventions. This study implemented forecasting models to predict fatigue level progression when performing exoskeleton (EXO)-assisted tasks. Specifically, perceived and muscle activity data were utilized from nine recruited participants who performed 45° trunk flexion tasks intermittently with and without assistance until they reached medium-high exertion in the low-back region. Two forecasting algorithms, Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Facebook Prophet, were implemented using perceived fatigue levels alone, and with external features of low-back muscle activity. Findings showed that univariate models without external features performed better with the Prophet model having the lowest mean (SD) of root mean squared error (RMSE) across participants of 0.62 (0.24) and 0.67 (0.29) with and without EXO-assisted tasks, respectively. Temporal effects of BSIE on delaying fatigue progression were then evaluated by forecasting back fatigue up to 20 trials. The slope of fatigue progression for 20 trials without assistance was ~48–52% higher vs. with assistance. Median benefits of 54% and 43% were observed for ARIMA (with external features) and Prophet algorithms, respectively. This study demonstrates some potential applications for forecasting models for workforce health monitoring, intervention assessment, and injury prevention.
Ultrasensitive Detection of Trace Silver Ions Using MoS42−-Intercalated LDH Nanosheets Enhanced SPR Sensor
Authors: Tang Linlong , Lan Guilian , Ma Penglei , Jia Yu , Zhang Xiaojian , Luo Peng , Wei Wei
Published: September 2024

The widespread use of silver raises concerns about environmental and health risks, necessitating highly sensitive detection methods for trace silver ions (Ag+). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors offer benefits like label-free detection and rapid response, but their sensitivity for Ag+ detection is limited due to weak ion adsorption. Here, we developed an SPR sensor with MoS42−-intercalated NiAl-layered double hydroxide (LDH) as the adsorption layer of Ag+ to enhance detection sensitivity. Our sensor achieves a sensitivity of 254.75 nm/μg/L and detects Ag+ at a low concentration of 2.8 pM, outperforming various existing sensors. It also shows excellent repeatability, long-term stability, and selectivity, proving effective in real-world environmental samples. This work advances high-performance SPR sensors for heavy metal ion detection.
Novel Multi-Classification Dynamic Detection Model for Android Malware Based on Improved Zebra Optimization Algorithm and LightGBM
Authors: Zhou Shuncheng , Li Honghui , Fu Xueliang , Han Daoqi , He Xin
Published: September 2024

With the increasing popularity of Android smartphones, malware targeting the Android platform is showing explosive growth. Currently, mainstream detection methods use static analysis methods to extract features of the software and apply machine learning algorithms for detection. However, static analysis methods can be less effective when faced with Android malware that employs sophisticated obfuscation techniques such as altering code structure. In order to effectively detect Android malware and improve the detection accuracy, this paper proposes a dynamic detection model for Android malware based on the combination of an Improved Zebra Optimization Algorithm (IZOA) and Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) model, called IZOA-LightGBM. By introducing elite opposition-based learning and firefly perturbation strategies, IZOA enhances the convergence speed and search capability of the traditional zebra optimization algorithm. Then, the IZOA is employed to optimize the LightGBM model hyperparameters for the dynamic detection of Android malware multi-classification. The results from experiments indicate that the overall accuracy of the proposed IZOA-LightGBM model on the CICMalDroid-2020, CCCS-CIC-AndMal-2020, and CIC-AAGM-2017 datasets is 99.75%, 98.86%, and 97.95%, respectively, which are higher than the other comparative models.