bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Breeding Plumage in the Making: The Unique Process of Plumage Coloration in the Crested Ibis in Terms of Chemical Composition and Sex Hormones
Authors: Liu Danni , Tong Yiwei , Dong Rong , Ye Xinping , Yu Xiaoping
Published: December 2023

The Crested Ibis (Nipponia nippon) has long fascinated ornithologists with its enigmatic plumage color change. After more than a century of curiosity, the mystery was finally unraveled in the 1970s, unveiling the mechanism behind this remarkable transformation. Unlike other bird species, the Crested Ibis achieves its nuptial plumage coloration through a unique daubing behavior. After a water-bathing, it applies a sticky black substance secreted by a patch of skin in the neck and throat region. However, the chemical components of this black substance have not been studied in detail until now. To address this issue, we conducted a study to detect the components of the black substance and explore the relationship between sex hormone levels and the secretion of the black substance. We used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the monthly changes in steroid hormone levels (estradiol E2, testosterone T, and progesterone PROG) levels in feces. We also analyzed the correlation between sex hormone levels and daubing behavior. The results showed that the sex hormone levels are closely related to the secretion and application of the black substance. In addition, we qualitatively analyzed the chemical components of the black substance using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), uncovering the presence of 117 distinct chemical components. We assume that the black coloration results from the polymerization of selected chemical constituents among these components. These findings provide a groundwork for further exploration into the biological significance of the black substance. Overall, our study detected components in the black substance and studied how sex hormone levels relate to its secretion. Understanding the hormone effects on coloration helps in precise habitat management, like wetland preservation, crucial for Crested Ibis survival. Implementing hormone-boosting measures during breeding seasons enhances reproduction and health, vital for their conservation.
The Effect of Low Temperature on Laying Performance and Physiological Stress Responses in Laying Hens
Authors: Kim Da-Hye , Song Ju-Yong , Park Jina , Kwon Byung-Yeon , Lee Kyung-Woo
Published: December 2023

The present study investigated the effect of low temperature on laying performance, egg quality, body temperature, yolk malondialdehyde, yolk corticosterone, and serum biochemistry in laying hens. A total of 40 laying hens (Hy-Line Brown) aged 36 weeks were housed in one of two environmental chambers kept at 12 ± 4.5 °C (low temperature) or 24 ± 3 °C (normal temperature) for 4 weeks. Low vs. normal temperature significantly increased (p < 0.05) live body weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio in laying hens. Skin surface temperature, but not rectal temperature, was decreased in laying hens exposed to low vs. normal temperature. Hens exposed to low temperature laid an intense eggshell color compared with those raised in a normal temperature. Malondialdehyde concentrations in yolk were increased in low-temperature-exposed laying hens compared with those at normal temperature conditions, but this effect was only noted on day 7, post the low-temperature exposure (p = 0.04). Finally, low vs. normal temperature increased the concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride in serum. Collectively, this study indicates that exposure to low temperature in laying hens initially disrupted antioxidant system and altered lipid metabolism in laying hens without inducing stress responses.
From Child to Old Man: A Slowly Evolving Case of Chromoblastomycosis Caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides
Authors: Rodríguez-Cerdeira Carmen , Hernández-Castro Rigoberto , Arenas Roberto , Sandoval-Tress Cecilia , Gutiérrez-Murillo Fidencio , Martínez-Chavarría Luary Carolina , Xicohtencatl-Cortes Juan , Fida Monika , Martinez-Herrera Erick
Published: December 2023

Chromoblastomycosis is a chronic granulomatous mycosis of the skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by traumatic inoculation with dematiaceous fungi. This disease primarily affects agricultural workers, who are mostly men. We present a case of chromoblastomycosis in a 63-year-old male farmer patient with dermatosis over 50 years of evolution, with warty, erythematous, and scaly plaques that predominate on the left hemithorax. Direct examination with potassium hydroxide (KOH) revealed numerous fumagoid cells. Amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1a) gene revealed that chromoblastomycosis was caused by Cladosporium cladosporioides. The chromoblastomycosis was treated with itraconazole and fluconazole without any improvement, and amphotericin B was administered with partial improvement.
Excessive Substitution of Fish Meal with Fermented Soybean Meal Induces Oxidative Stress by Impairing Glutathione Metabolism in Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)
Authors: Chen Qiang , Wang Congcong , Sun Yulong , Chen Yan , Chen Songming , Han Tao , Wang Jiteng
Published: December 2023

The application of fermented soybean meal (FSBM) is an effective strategy to alleviate the shortage of fish meal (FM) in aquaculture. However, an excessive substitution ratio often reduces fish growth and induces liver oxidative stress, while the mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, an 8-week feeding trial was conducted in largemouth bass (initial weight: 6.82 ± 0.09 g) to establish an oxidative stress model by replacing 50% of FM with FSBM (fermented by Bacillus subtilis). The results showed that FSBM substitution significantly reduced the growth performance of largemouth bass, including the weight gain rate and specific growth rate. Moreover, FSBM significantly reduced the contents of essential amino acids and total free amino acids in muscle, along with the mRNA expression of amino acids and small peptide transporters. Enzyme activity detection and liver sections showed that FSBM substitution caused liver oxidative stress, indicating the successful construction of an oxidative stress model. An integrated analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic data revealed that FSBM substitution impaired glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, as well as glutathione metabolism. In addition, the ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was decreased in the FSBM group, which may explain the mechanism of oxidative stress caused by FSBM substitution. Considering that glycine is an important component of glutathione synthesis, key genes involved in glycine metabolism (glya, gnmt and agxt) and dietary glycine supplementation should be valued to improve the availability of FSBM. This study reveals for the first time the importance of non-essential amino acids in improving the utilization of plant-based protein sources and provides original insight for the optimization of aquatic feeds.
Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Novel Thiazole and Thiazolidinone Derivatives with Phenolic Fragments
Authors: Koshelev Vladimir N. , Primerova Olga V. , Vorobyev Stepan V. , Stupnikova Anna S. , Ivanova Ludmila V.
Published: December 2023

In this work, a series of thiosemicarbazones with phenol fragments were used as starting compounds for the synthesis of new effective antioxidants containing both a phenol substituent and a heterocyclic fragment: thiazole and thiazolidinone. To determine the most stable conformation of thiosemicarbazone, a potential energy scan was used, along with NOESY NMR spectroscopy data. A number of thiazole derivatives were obtained due the interaction of thiosemicarbazones with several bromoketones: bromoacetophenone, bromodimedone, and bromoacetylcoumarin. The product yields varied from 71 to 94%. Thiazolidinone derivatives were obtained through the reaction between thiosemicarbazones and chloroacetic acid or maleic anhydride with good yields of 82–95%. The antioxidant activities of all the products were determined in vitro: the radical cation scavenging activity was estimated using 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate), while the ferric reducing capacity was determined using the ferricyanide/Prussian blue method. It was found that the antioxidant activity of most synthesized substances in both tests exceeds the activity of 4-methyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, while derivatives with a fragment of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol have the highest activity.
Field Test Study of Performance of Bored Piles in Collapsible Loess
Authors: Wang Xingwei , Wang Xu , Li Jiandong , Liu Deren , Zhang Yanjie , Jiang Daijun
Published: December 2023

Bored piles comprise an advanced pile foundation technology that has the advantages of high bearing capacity, fast construction speed, stable construction technology, and no noise or mud pollution. To study the applicability of bored piles to collapsible loess sites, the compaction effect and load-bearing characteristics of bored piles before and after immersion were studied via a full-scale field test combined with the theory of hole expansion. The results indicate that when the pile spacing is 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 m, the average dry density of the soil between piles increases by 23.8%, 18.5%, and 3.1%, respectively, compared with that of untreated foundation soil. When bored piles are used to treat deep collapsible loess foundations, the reasonable pile spacing to eliminate the collapsibility of the loess foundation is 2.5 times the pile diameter. It is feasible to estimate the effective compaction range using the pore expansion theory, and the effective compaction coefficients of similar sites are given. The positive friction of bored piles in the collapsible loess area is more than 95.5 kPa, which increases by more than 48.5% compared with that of non-extruded piles. Therefore, the bearing capacity of a single pile is significantly improved, and it is an effective treatment method for collapsible loess areas. Under immersion, the pile side negative friction did not change significantly with a pile diameter of approximately 27 kPa, and the increase was approximately 14% compared with that of non-extruded piles. Consequently, to avoid the adverse effects of negative friction resistance on the bearing capacity of pile foundations and to fully utilize the technical advantages of bored piles, it is necessary to eliminate or partially eliminate site collapsibility before applying bored piles. The results can provide experimental support and theoretical guidance for the popularization and application of screw–squeeze piles in deep, collapsible loess areas.
Optimal Control for a Three-Rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in Programmed Flights
Authors: Salwa Maciej , Krzysztofik Izabela
Published: December 2023

In this study, we propose a new approach to selecting PID controller parameters for a UAV tricopter during programmed flights. The approach uses optimization techniques to determine the optimal values of the PID controller parameters based on the desired performance of the UAV. The proposed method is particularly effective for repeated programmed flights in which the UAV follows a defined flight path. The use of a PID control provides a reliable and robust control system that can cope with various disturbances and uncertainties in UAV dynamics. The proposed method provides an alternative to adaptive control, which requires a significant amount of system identification and parameter tuning. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been verified in simulation studies, and the results show its ability to achieve satisfactory performance with low tracking error and fast response time. The result of the work is an improvement in control for a specific object at a specific mission. We present how the recipients can perform this procedure for their object and their mission to be able to improve the control gain in the physical controller.
Cross-Condition Fault Diagnosis of an Aircraft Environmental Control System (ECS) by Transfer Learning
Authors: Jia Lilin , Ezhilarasu Cordelia Mattuvarkuzhali , Jennions Ian K.
Published: December 2023

Fault diagnosis models based on machine learning are often subjected to degradation in performance when dealing with data that are differently distributed than the training data. Such an occasion is common in reality because machines usually operate under various conditions. Transfer learning is a solution for the performance degradation of cross-condition fault diagnosis problems. This paper studies how transfer learning algorithms transfer component analysis (TCA) and joint distribution alignment (JDA) improve the cross-condition fault diagnosis accuracy of an aircraft environmental control system (ECS). Both methods work by transforming the source and target domain data into a feature space where their distributions are aligned to allow a uniform classifier to act accurately in both domains. This paper discovered that both TCA and JDA produce significantly more accurate results than traditional methods on target domains with unlabelled ECS data taken at different operating conditions than the source domain. Additionally, when dealing with unlabelled data from unknown conditions bearing a different composition of classes in the target domain, TCA is found to be more robust and accurate, generating an average predictive accuracy of 95.22%, which demonstrates the ability of transfer learning in solving similar problems in the real-world application of fault diagnosis.
ReMAHA–CatBoost: Addressing Imbalanced Data in Traffic Accident Prediction Tasks
Authors: Li Guolian , Wu Yadong , Bai Yulong , Zhang Weihan
Published: December 2023

Using historical information from traffic accidents to predict accidents has always been an area of active exploration by researchers in the field of transportation. However, predicting only the occurrence of traffic accidents is insufficient for providing comprehensive information to relevant authorities. Therefore, further classification of predicted traffic accidents is necessary to better identify and prevent potential hazards and the escalation of accidents. Due to the significant disparity in the occurrence rates of different severity levels of traffic accidents, data imbalance becomes a critical issue. To address the challenge of predicting extremely imbalanced traffic accident events, this paper introduces a predictive framework named ReMAHA–CatBoost. To evaluate the effectiveness of ReMAHA–CatBoost, we conducted experiments on the US–Accidents traffic accident dataset, where the class label imbalance reaches up to 91.40 times. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model in this paper exhibits exceptional predictive performance in the domain of imbalanced traffic accident prediction.
Experiments on the Coal Measures Sandstone’s Dynamic Mechanical Parameter Characteristics under the Combined Action of Temperature and Dynamic Load
Authors: Zhao Enlai , Wang Enyuan , Chen Haopeng
Published: December 2023

This paper conducts impact dynamics experiments on coal measures sandstone in a deep mine via the established dynamic load and temperature split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) experimental system. Firstly, the experimental conditions for the impact dynamics of fine sandstone were determined, with temperatures of 18, 40, 60, 80, and 100 °C, an axial static load range of 1–9 MPa, and a preset bullet incidence velocity of 1.0–5.0 m/s. Secondly, based on the analysis of the basic parameters and physical composition, the dynamic stress and strain responses of fine sandstone under different experimental conditions were obtained, and the change mechanism of its dynamic mechanical process was theoretically analyzed. When the temperature rose from 18 °C to 100 °C, the dynamic peak stress of fine sandstone increased from 36.04 MPa to 73.41 MPa, with an increase of 103.7%. At a temperature of 40 °C, when the axial static load increased from 1 MPa to 9 MPa, the dynamic stress peak of fine sandstone increased from 57.25 MPa to 80.01 MPa, and the corresponding peak strain also showed an increasing trend. The experiment analyzed the variation characteristics of dynamic stress in fine sandstone under the combined action of different strain rates or bullet incidence velocities and different temperatures. In the strain rate range of 47.1 s−1 to 140.9 s−1, there was a significant strain rate effect on the dynamic peak stress and peak strain of fine sandstone, which increased with the increase of strain rate. The study found a polynomial relationship between the dynamic mechanical parameters of fine sandstone and the impact of experimental parameters, with a coefficient of determination greater than 0.9. A dynamic stress constitutive model for fine sandstone under one-dimensional stress state under dynamic load and temperature action was established, and the model validation and parameter determination of dynamic stress changes in fine sandstone under different temperature conditions were carried out. The research results provide a new experimental method for the static and dynamic mechanical analysis of coal and rock masses under complex geological conditions and can provide a basic reference for the prevention and control of dynamic disasters in deep mining processes.
Robustness Evaluation of Aerodynamic Flutter Stability and Aerostatic Torsional Stability of Long-Span Suspension Bridges
Authors: Xia Qing , Ge Yaojun
Published: December 2023

Structural robustness is defined by the international engineering community as the capabilities of structural systems that enable them to survive unforeseen or unusual circumstances. In order to highlight the unforeseen and unusual characteristics of wind hazards, this study introduces the concept of structural robustness into the wind-resistant design and evaluation of bridges and proposes the robustness evaluation of aerodynamic flutter and aerostatic torsional stability of long-span bridges. Furthermore, the return period of the design wind speed that a bridge can resist is used to represent wind-resistant robustness. Aiming at the problem of aerodynamic and aerostatic stability, the analysis methods of aerodynamic flutter stability robustness and aerostatic torsional stability robustness of long-span suspension bridges are respectively established. Based on the established methods of aerodynamic flutter stability and aerostatic torsional stability robustness evaluation, robustness analysis is carried out on eight completed long-span suspension bridges and two long-span suspension bridges to be built. The evaluation method proposed in this study makes it possible to measure the ability of bridge structures to resist multiple disasters using the same index.
Analysis of Topographic Feature Parameters of Dinosaur Valley Ring Tectonic Geomorphology Based on the Advanced Land Observing Satellite Digital Elevation Model (ALOS DEM)
Authors: Wei Ya , Gan Shu , Yuan Xiping , Hu Lin , Gao Sha
Published: December 2023

Geomorphological surveys and terrain analysis are essential for geomorphology, hydrology, and geographic information systems (GIS). Terrain characterization parameters are fundamental for comprehending geomorphological processes, delineating landforms, and evaluating geohazards. Hence, this study relies on data from the Gaofen-2 satellite (GF-2) and the Advanced Land Observing Satellite Digital Elevation Model (ALOS DEM). Focusing on the ring tectonics landform of Dinosaur Valley, the research utilizes visual interpretation, GIS terrain parameter extraction techniques, and visual mapping to identify, measure, and analyze terrain features. The results indicate that ALOS DEM can offer accurate geomorphic feature information. The optimal threshold for extracting the surface water system network is 150, and the optimal analysis window for extracting terrain feature parameters is 16 × 16 (0.04 km2), determined through statistical methods. This study reveals distinct double-ring linear features and prominent ring-shaped terrain characteristics by extracting terrain feature parameters and utilizing mathematical and statistical analysis. The topography gradually ascends from the center to the ridgeline and then descends to the valley line, resembling a bowl shape. This study highlights the potential application of ALOS DEM for accurately identifying topographic features in the intricate mountains of the Yunnan Plateau. It establishes a practical research framework for high-precision topographic datasets and geomorphological characterization, facilitating further analysis of the evolution of topographic development and the assessment of tectonic activity.
Laplace Domain Boundary Element Method for Structural Health Monitoring of Poly-Crystalline Materials at Micro-Scale
Authors: Marrazzo Massimiliano , Sharif Khodaei Zahra , Aliabadi M. H. Ferri
Published: December 2023

This paper describes, for the first time, the application of an Elastodynamic Boundary Element Method (BEM) in Laplace Domain for the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of poly-crystalline materials. The study focuses on Ultrasonic Guided Wave (UGW) propagation and investigates the wave–material interactions at micro-scale. The study aims to investigate the interaction of UGWs with assessing micro-structural features such as grain size, morphology, degradation, and flaws. Numerical simulations of the most common micro-structural features demonstrate the accuracy and validity of the proposed method. Particular attention is paid to the study of porosity and its influence on material macro-properties. Different crystal morphologies such as cubic, rhombic, and truncated octahedral are considered. The detection of voids based on the changes in the amplitude and Time of Arrival (ToA) of the backscattered signal is investigated. The study also considers inter-granular cracks, which cause laceration, and examines flaw position/orientation, length, and distance from a specific reference. Furthermore, a framework is proposed for generating Probability of Detection (PoD) curves using numerical simulations. Experimental tests in pristine conditions are shown to be in good agreement with the numerical simulations in terms of ToA, signal amplitude, and wave velocity. The numerical simulations provide insights into wave propagation and wave–material interactions, including different types of defects at the micro-scale. Overall, the BEM and UGW methods are shown to be effective tools for better understanding micro-structural features and their influence on the macro-structural properties of poly-crystalline materials.
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties of Bovine Livers and Hearts Hydrolysates
Authors: Juknienė Ignė , Zaborskienė Gintarė , Jankauskienė Agnė , Mačionienė Irena
Published: December 2023

Our previous research has indicated that bioactive protein hydrolysates derived from porcine by-products possess the potential to be utilized in the production of functional additives and food supplements. The objective of this investigation was to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics and amino acid changes in hydrolysates of lyophilized meat of bovine livers and hearts. The relevant enzymes, papain and pepsin, were used to hydrolyze the meat by-products over periods of 3, 6, and 24 h. The antimicrobial properties of all enzymatically digested samples were assessed against Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Typhimurium. Bacillus cereus, and Escherichia coli, S. aureus subsp. aureus. The assessment of antiradical activity involved the quantification of DPPH• and ABTS•+ absorbance in bovine by-product hydrolysates. The hydrolysates were subjected to amino acid analysis using AccQ Tag technology, which was performed by Waters Corporation in Milford, MA, USA. The bacteria L. monocytogenes had the highest antibacterial activity (inhibition zone) (20.00 ± 0.20 mm) and less against E. coli (10.00 ± 0.10 mm) of bovine heart hydrolysates and were prepared for 24 h with papain. The highest values of ABTS•+ (98.1 ± 0.30%) and of DPPH• scavenging activity (92.56 ± 0.56%) of cationic radicals were evaluated in the bovine liver hydrolysates after the effect of papain for 24 h. Longer hydrolysis time influenced the decrease in free hydrophobic amino acids (Ala, Val, Ile, Leu, Tyr, Phe, Pro, Met). The results confirmed the potential use of bovine liver and heart hydrolysates as functional or biologically active materials.
A Novel Approach for Target Attraction and Obstacle Avoidance of a Mobile Robot in Unknown Environments Using a Customized Spiking Neural Network
Authors: Abubaker Brwa Abdulrahman , Razmara Jafar , Karimpour Jaber
Published: December 2023

In recent years, implementing reinforcement learning in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) has become challenging. Traditional methods face complex trials, long convergence times, and high computational requirements. This paper introduces an innovative strategy using a customized spiking neural network (SNN) for autonomous learning and control of mobile robots (AMR) in unknown environments. The model combines spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) with dopamine modulation for learning. It utilizes the Izhikevich neuron model, leading to biologically inspired and computationally efficient control systems that adapt to changing environments. The performance of the model is evaluated in a simulated environment, replicating real-world scenarios with obstacles. In the initial training phase, the model faces significant challenges. Integrating brain-inspired learning, dopamine, and the Izhikevich neuron model adds complexity. The model achieves an accuracy rate of 33% in reaching its target during this phase. Collisions with obstacles occur 67% of the time, indicating the struggle of the model to adapt to complex obstacles. However, the model’s performance improves as the study progresses to the testing phase after the robot has learned. Its accuracy surges to 94% when reaching the target, and collisions with obstacles reduce it to 6%. This shift demonstrates the adaptability and problem-solving capabilities of the model in the simulated environment, making it more competent for real-world applications.
Research on Carbon Footprint Accounting in the Materialization Stage of Prefabricated Housing Based on DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC
Authors: Liu Wei , Huang Qingcheng
Published: December 2023

This work employs the carbon emission factor method to offer real-world instances for carbon footprint accounting, allowing for a thorough analysis of the carbon footprint and important influencing elements throughout the materialization stage of prefabricated housing. To identify the 18 important influencing factors that need to be examined from the five stages of building material production, conveyance of building materials, component manufacturing, component transportation, and building, this paper applies the DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC (Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory–Interpretive Structure Modeling–Cross-Influence Matrix Multiplication) model based on data quantification. Following the findings, the case project’s physical phase generated a carbon footprint of approximately 4.68 × 106 kg CO2. The building materials’ production and processing phase contributed the highest carbon footprint of the entire physical phase, totaling 4,005,935.99 kg CO2, or 88.24% of the total carbon footprint. To determine the centrality and causality of the influencing factors, four major influencing factors—energy consumption of raw materials (S4), construction planning and organization (S15), transportation energy type (S6), and waste disposal (S2)—were identified using the DEMATEL approach. The influencing factor system hierarchy was divided into six levels using the ISM technique. Level L6, which comprises one influencing factor for organizing and planning, is construction planning and organization (S15). Utilizing the MICMAC technique, it was possible to identify the energy consumption of raw materials (S4) as the primary cause of the materialization phase of built dwellings’ carbon footprint. The building material production phases have the largest influence on carbon footprints, according to both case accounting and modeling research. The study’s findings can offer some conceptual guidance for the creation of low-carbon emission reduction schemes.
Advancing Rural Building Extraction via Diverse Dataset Construction and Model Innovation with Attention and Context Learning
Authors: Yu Mingyang , Zhou Fangliang , Xu Haiqing , Xu Shuai
Published: December 2023

Rural building automatic extraction technology is of great significance for rural planning and disaster assessment; however, existing methods face the dilemma of scarce sample data and large regional differences in rural buildings. To solve this problem, this study constructed an image dataset of typical Chinese rural buildings, including nine typical geographical regions, such as the Northeast and North China Plains. Additionally, an improved remote sensing image rural building extraction network called AGSC-Net was designed. Based on an encoder–decoder structure, the model integrates multiple attention gate (AG) modules and a context collaboration network (CC-Net). The AG modules realize focused expression of building-related features through feature selection. The CC-Net module models the global dependency between different building instances, providing complementary localization and scale information to the decoder. By embedding AG and CC-Net modules between the encoder and decoder, the model can capture multiscale semantic information on building features. Experiments show that, compared with other models, AGSC-Net achieved the best quantitative metrics on two rural building datasets, verifying the accuracy of the extraction results. This study provides an effective example for automatic extraction in complex rural scenes and lays the foundation for related monitoring and planning applications.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Studies of New Cu(II) and Pd(II) Complexes with 6-Methyl-2-Thiouracil and 6-Propyl-2-Thiouracil
Authors: Marinova Petya , Hristov Mariyan , Tsoneva Slava , Burdzhiev Nikola , Blazheva Denica , Slavchev Aleksandar , Varbanova Evelina , Penchev Plamen
Published: December 2023

The aim of the present study is to synthesize new metal complexes of 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil, elucidate their structures, and investigate their biological properties. All metal complexes were obtained after mixing water solutions of the corresponding metal salts and the ligand dissolved in DMSO and water solutions of NaOH in a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:4:2. The structures of the new compounds are discussed based on melting point analysis (MP-AES) for Cu and Pd, UV-Vis, IR, ATR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Raman spectroscopy. The interpretation of complex spectra is assisted by the data for 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil obtained from 1H-1H COSY, DEPT-135, HMBC and HMQC spectra. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of these complexes and the free ligands are assessed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts. In general, the addition of metal ions improved the antimicrobial activity of both 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and 6-propyl-2-thiouracil. The Cu(II) complex with 6-methyl-2-thiouracil and the Pd(II) complex with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil exhibited the highest activity against the test microorganisms.
Design and Numerical Analysis of Recuperator for a Liquid Carbon Dioxide Energy Storage System
Authors: Liu Zhao , Wang Min , Song Yu , Xu Mengjuan
Published: December 2023

A liquid carbon dioxide energy storage (LCES) system has the characteristic of compact structure and easy liquefaction. As a component of heat recovery in the LCES system, the recuperator plays a crucial role in influencing the round trip efficiency (RTE) of the energy storage system, but very little attention has been paid to it even though its operation conditions are quite different from other thermal systems. In this case, the thermal and hydraulic design of the recuperator in the LCES system was completed. The flow characteristics and thermal performance of the recuperator under design conditions were analyzed, and the effects of operating at various loads on the flow characteristics and thermal performance of the recuperator were investigated. It was found that from the inlet to the outlet, the resistance coefficient of CO2 on the cold side increased gradually while decreasing gradually on the hot side. Down the flow direction, the average temperature of CO2 on the cold side increased sharply, while decreasing slowly in the hot side. When the systems discharged with varying loads, the pressure drop increased along both channels, but the resistance coefficient decreased gradually on both channels. The heat transfer coefficient (HTC) increased gradually on both sides too. The Nusselt number (Nu) in the first half of the cold side did not change much, while increasing gradually in the second half, but it continued to increase on the hot side.
Knowledge Graph Construction of End-of-Life Electric Vehicle Batteries for Robotic Disassembly
Authors: Wang Jiangbiao , Huang Jun , Li Ruiya
Published: December 2023

End-of-life (EoL) electric vehicle (EV) batteries are one of the main fountainheads for recycling rare metal elements like cobalt and lithium. Disassembly is the first step in carrying out a higher level of recycling and processing of EV batteries. This paper presents a knowledge graph of electric vehicle batteries for robotic disassembly. The information extraction of the EV batteries was conducted based on the source data of EV batteries. The semantic ontology structure and the knowledge graph of the EV batteries were constructed. A case study was designed to demonstrate the proposed knowledge graph. The study involved generating a robotic disassembly sequence planning for an EoL EV battery. The results show the feasibility of the constructed knowledge graph.
Orderly Charging and Discharging Group Scheduling Strategy for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Yue Yuntao , Zhang Qihui , Zhang Jiaran , Liu Yufan
Published: December 2023

To address the challenge of optimizing the real-time scheduling for electric vehicles on a large scale, a day-ahead–intraday multi-timescale electric vehicle cluster division strategy is proposed based on the different expected charging completion times of the accessed electric vehicles. In the pre-day phase, historical travel statistics are used to model and determine the moments when the electric vehicles are on-grid and off-grid. In the intraday phase, the EV clusters are carefully divided by real-time data collection, taking into full consideration the response willingness and ability of vehicle owners. For each scheduling period, a real-time optimal scheduling model for EV clusters based on the V2G mode is established by taking into account the constraints of the power grid, vehicle owners, batteries, and other parties. The model is divided into two layers to find the charging and discharging plans: the upper model aims to determine the aggregate charging and discharging power of the cluster during the current time period by targeting the distribution grid’s minimum variance load curve within the scheduling interval; the lower model takes the lowest cost to the EV owner as the goal to find the charging and discharging plan of a single EV and, at the same time, introduces the scheduling penalty factor to adjust the difference with the cluster charging and discharging plan. The simulation outcomes indicate that the suggested approach successfully mitigates load fluctuations and has a good optimization effect and fast solution speed for dealing with large-scale EV access problems. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy can effectively smooth load fluctuations and can significantly reduce the difficulty of optimal real-time scheduling for electric vehicles on a large scale, and it has a better optimization effect and faster solution speed for dealing with large-scale electric vehicle access problems.
Characterisation of Dust Particles Deposited on Photovoltaic Panels in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Alraeesi Abdulrahman , Shah Ali Hasan , Hassan Ahmed , Laghari Mohammad Shakeel
Published: December 2023

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) experiences up to 50% power losses in photovoltaic (PV) panels caused by frequent dust accumulation over the panels trailed by extreme temperature. Compositional and morphological insights into dust particle can potentially help design PV cleaning mechanisms inclusive of self-cleaning explored in the current article. Five different locations were studied to discover potential differences in dust samples. The collected samples were characterised employing Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD), and Elemental Composition Analysis (Energy Dispersive Spectrometry, EDS). The micrographs revealed that the majority of particles were irregularly shaped, providing interlocking for the dust to stay over the surface. The particle size ranged from 0.01 to 300 µm, and some of the collected dust exhibited cavities. XRD analyses revealed variations in the chemical composition among the samples studied. Elemental Composition Analysis via EDS revealed both consistent patterns and variations in element presence among the dust samples, highlighting specific detections of chlorine (Cl) at some sites.
Protective Effects of Perinatal Resveratrol on Bisphenol A Exposure-Induced Cardiovascular Alterations and Hepatic Steatosis in Adult Offspring Mice: A Histopathological Study
Authors: Sirasanagandla Srinivasa Rao , Al-Mushaiqri Mohamed , Al Ghafri Fatma , Al-Abri Nadia , Al-Huseini Isehaq
Published: December 2023

Perinatal bisphenol A (BPA) exposure promotes the risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Currently, there is a dire need to develop new therapeutic strategies and options to treat the adverse fetal programming consequences of this exposure. The present study explored the protective effects of perinatal resveratrol (Rsv) administration on BPA exposure-induced adverse cardiovascular changes and hepatic steatosis in adult offspring mice. Pregnant apolipoprotein E-deficient mice were exposed to BPA in drinking water (1 μg/mL) or to both BPA (1 μg/mL) and Rsv (oral; 20 mg kg−1 day−1) during the gestation and lactation periods. Tissues from the heart, liver, left kidney, and brachiocephalic artery from adult offspring (20 weeks old) were processed for staining with H and E, Masson’s trichrome, and Verhoeff–van Gieson and subsequent histology analysis. In both female and male mice who received Rsv supplementation, the following changes were observed in the brachiocephalic arterial wall: (a) a reduction in the BPA exposure-induced increased thickness ratio of the tunica intima to tunica media from 1.3 ± 1.1 µm to 0.5 ± 0.37 µm (p = 0.027) and 0.72 ± 0.58 µm to 0.29 ± 0.25 µm (p = 0.038), respectively, (b) a reduction in the number of elastic lamina breaks (p < 0.05), and (c) the prevention of the BPA exposure-induced progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Further, it also reduced the BPA exposure-induced increased left ventricular thickness by 135 µm and 131 µm in female and male offspring, respectively. The BPA exposure-induced hepatic steatosis score was also significantly reduced with Rsv treatment in female offspring mice (p = 0.02). Renal cortical cytoplasmic vacuolation was identified in both BPA and/or Rsv-treated groups. Our findings suggest that Rsv could be a potential protective candidate against perinatal BPA exposure-induced cardiovascular changes and hepatic steatosis.
Urban Seismic Networks: A Worldwide Review
Authors: Scudero Salvatore , Costanzo Antonio , D’Alessandro Antonino
Published: December 2023

Seismic networks in urban areas today represent key infrastructure to better address the tasks of earthquake preparation and mitigation in the pre-event phase, and are an important knowledge tool supporting disaster risk management during seismic crises and post-disaster recovery. In the last fifteen years, a decrease in instrumentation costs and the development of new low-cost devices have enhanced the deployment of several monitoring and experimental networks worldwide. This paper conducts a review of scientific work that refer to the deployment of Urban Seismic Networks (USN) in order to define the current state of the art. We collected a list of more than one hundred USNs worldwide that were operative within the period from 1994–2023. For each USN, we report the locations and objectives along with information about the timing, coverage, geometry, and technical characteristics (sensors and transmission). By reviewing all these aspects, this paper offers important insights to provide guidelines for new implementations, bearing in mind that the interest in monitoring urban areas is expected to continue to increase in the near future driven by population growth in urbanized areas.
Airport Pavement Maintenance Decision-Making System with Condition Cases Optimization
Authors: Roh Seunghyun , Lee Jinwoo , Urbino Ivan Jan , Lin Wuguang , Cho Yoonho
Published: December 2023

The successive growth of the aviation industry has progressively heightened the importance of airport pavement management systems. Existing research has primarily focused on the technological advancements of optimization models, with limited applicability in practice. In this study, we introduce condition cases optimization (CCO) to address these limitations while incorporating multi-facility and multi-year network optimization models. We developed condition index, serviceability level, integrated assessment indices and performance models for decision-making criteria. As a result, a practical decision-making strategy was proposed which can flexibly reflect budget constraints. Sensitivity analysis highlighted the impact of initial budget, maintenance methods, costs, and thresholds on decision outcomes. Using a case study, we validated the effectiveness and practicality of the CCO method as an efficient decision-making tool.
Correction: Denysova (2022) From Folk Art to Abstraction: Ukrainian Embroidery as a Medium of Avant-Garde Experimentation. Arts 11: 110
Authors: Denysova Katia
Published: December 2023

Added text in paragraph 4 [...]
The Plasma In Situ Detection on China’s Space Station Wentian Module: Instrument Description and First Results
Authors: Liu Chao , Zhang Aibing , Zhang Xianguo , Sun Yueqiang , Guan Yibing , Wang Wenjing , Liu Bin , Zheng Xiangzhi
Published: December 2023

The plasma in situ detector is a multi-sensor package designed to in situ measure the bulk parameters of the local ionospheric plasma. The plasma in situ detector is comprised of three sensors: Langmuir probe (LP), retarding potential analyzer (RPA) and ion drift meter (IDM). LP measures electron density and temperature. RPA measures ion density, temperature and ion horizontal velocity. IDM measures the transverse horizontal component of the ram velocity. The plasma in situ detector has been installed outside the wentian module cabin, and the boom has been successfully deployed which extends the spherical sensor of LP beyond the sheath of the cabin. RPA and IDM were installed at the front of the experiment package, with the horizontal axis direction along the forward flight direction of the space station. This paper discusses the general performance characteristics of the in situ detector, the functional performance of each sensor, and initial results of some classical ionospheric features being observed.
Ambient Ozone and Fine Particular Matter Pollution in a Megacity in South China: Trends, Concurrent Pollution, and Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Zeng Pei , Huang Xiaobo , Yan Min , Zheng Zhuoyun , Qiu Zhicheng , Yun Long , Lin Chuxiong , Zhang Li
Published: December 2023

Over the past several years, Shenzhen’s air quality has significantly improved despite increased ground-level ozone (O3) and the challenges in reducing fine particulate matter (PM2.5). We investigated concentration trends, concurrent pollution features, and long-term exposure health risks to enhance our understanding of the characteristics of O3 and PM2.5 pollution. From 2016 to 2022, there was a decrease in PM2.5 levels, but an increase in O3. Additionally, the premature mortality attributed to long-term air pollution exposure decreased by 20.1%. High-O3-and-PM2.5 days were defined as those when the MDA8 O3 ≥ 160 μg m–3 and PM2.5 ≥ 35 μg m–3. Significantly higher levels of O3, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), OX (OX = O3 + NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were observed on high-O3-and-PM2.5 days. Vehicle emissions were identified as the primary anthropogenic sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), contributing the most to VOCs (58.4 ± 1.3%), O3 formation (45.3 ± 0.6%), and PM2.5 formation (46.6 ± 0.4%). Cities in Guangdong Province around Shenzhen were identified as major potential source regions of O3 and PM2.5 during high-O3-and-PM2.5 days. These findings will be valuable in developing simultaneous pollution control strategies for PM2.5 and O3 in Shenzhen.
Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer of Porous Rock Layers in Cold Sandy Regions
Authors: Qiu Kaichi , Huang Yong , Han Fenglei , Yang Qiuju , Yu Wenbing , Cheng Lu , Cao Hang
Published: December 2023

The heat transfer characteristics of porous rock layers (PRLs) have significant seasonal differences. This feature has been used to protect the permafrost subgrade under highways and railways from degeneration. However, in cold sandy environments, the transformation law of heat transfer characteristics of PRLs on account of climate warming and aeolian sand filling needs to be solved. This work developed a coupled heat transfer model for the soil–PRL system aimed at analyzing the convective heat transfer process and mechanism of a closed PRL. Furthermore, the impact of climate warming and sand filling on the cooling performance of the PRL under different mean annual air temperatures (MAATs) of −3.5, −4.5, and −5.5 °C was quantified. The numerical results indicated that the natural convection of the closed PRL occurred only in winter, and the effective convective height of the rock layer decreased with the sand-filling thickness. As the thickness of sand filling increased, the critical temperature difference for the occurrence of natural convection increased, accompanied by decreases in the Rayleigh number, the duration, and intensity of natural convection. When the sand-filling thickness exceeded 80 cm, natural convection would not occur in the PRL. Under a warming scenario of 0.052 °C·a−1, the cooling performance of the PRL could offset the adverse impact of climate warming and raise the permafrost table in the first 20 years. Moreover, the closed PRL can be more effective in permafrost regions with colder MAATs. For cold sandy permafrost zones, sand-control measures should be taken to maintain the long-term cooling performance of the PRL. This study is of great significance in guiding porous rock embankment design and road maintenance along the Qinghai–Tibetan Railway.