bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and Preparation of Lifetime‐Based Dual Fluorescent/Phosphorescent Sensor of pH and Oxygen and its Exploration in Model Physiological Solutions and Cells
Authors: Baigildin Vadim , Shakirova Julia , Zharskaia Nina , Ivanova Elena , Silonov Sergey , Sokolov Viktor , Tunik Sergey 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn the present report, a novel dual pH‐O2 sensor based on covalent conjugate of rhodamine 6G and cyclometalated iridium complex with poly(vinylpyrrolidone‐block‐vinyltetrazole) copolymer is reported. In model physiological solutions the sensor chromophores display independent phosphorescent and fluorescent lifetime responses onto variations in oxygen concentration and pH, respectively. Colocalization studies on Chinese hamster ovary cells demonstrate the preferential localization in endosomes and lysosomes. The fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy‐phosphorescent lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM‐PLIM) experiments show that the phosphorescent O2 sensor provides unambiguous information onto hypoxia versus normoxia cell status as well as semi‐quantitative data on the oxygen concentration in cells in between these two states. However, the results of FLIM measurements indicate that dynamic lifetime interval of the sensor (≈0.5 ns between pH values 5.0 and 8.0) is insufficient even for qualitative estimation of pH in living cells because half‐width of lifetime distribution in the studied samples is higher than the sensor dynamic interval. Nevertheless, the variations in rhodamine emission intensity are much higher and allow rough discrimination of acidic and neutral cell conditions. Thus, the results of this study indicate that the suggested approach to the design of dual pH‐O2 sensors makes possible to prepare the biocompatible and water‐soluble conjugate with fast cellular uptake.
Organic Donor–Acceptor–Donor Trimers Nanoparticles Stabilized by Amphiphilic Block Copolymers for Photocatalytic Generation of H2
Authors: Guimarães Thiago R. , Khan Alisha , Remita Hynd , Bobet Jean‐Louis , Cloutet Eric 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPhotocatalytic generation of H2 via water splitting emerges as a promising avenue for the next generation of green hydrogen due to its low carbon footprint. Herein, a versatile platform is designed to the preparation of functional π‐conjugated organic nanoparticles dispersed in aqueous phase via mini‐emulsification. Such particles are composed of donor–acceptor–donor (DAD) trimers prepared via Stille coupling, stabilized by amphiphilic block copolymers synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The hydrophilic segment of the block copolymers will not only provide colloidal stability, but also allow for precise control over the surface functionalization. Photocatalytic tests of the resulting particles for H2 production resulted in promising photocatalytic activity (≈0.6 mmol g−1 h−1). This activity is much enhanced compared to that of DAD trimers dispersed in the water phase without stabilization by the block copolymers.
Enhancing fluid signal in driven‐equilibrium short‐TI inversion‐recovery imaging with short TR times: A feasibility study
Authors: von Deuster Constantin , Nanz Daniel 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPurposeFluid‐sensitive turbo spin echo (TSE) MRI with short‐TI inversion‐recovery preparation for fat suppression (STIR) plays a critical role in the diagnostics of the musculoskeletal system (e.g., close to metal implants). Potential advantages of 3D acquisitions, however, are difficult to exploit due to long acquisition times. Shortening the TR incurs a signal loss, and a driven‐equilibrium (DE) extension reduces fluid signal even further.MethodsThe phase of the flip‐back pulse was changed by 180° relative to the conventional implementation (i.e., 90° along the positive x‐axis (90°x) instead of −90°x). After signal modeling and numerical simulations, the modification was implemented in STIR‐TSE sequences and tested on a clinical 3T system. Imaging was performed in the lumbar spine, and long‐TR images without DE were acquired as reference. CSF SNR and fluid‐muscle contrast were measured and compared between the sequences. Imaging was repeated in a metal implant phantom.ResultsA shortening of TR by 43%–57% reduced the CSF SNR by 39%–59%. A conventional DE module further reduced SNR to 26%–40%, whereas the modified DE recovered SNR to 59%–108% compared with the long‐TR acquisitions. Fluid‐tissue contrast was increased by about 340% with the modified DE module compared with the conventional extension. Similar results were obtained in implant measurements.ConclusionsThe proposed DE element for TSE‐STIR sequences has the potential to accelerate the acquisition of fluid‐sensitive images. DE‐STIR may work most efficiently for 3D acquisitions, in which no temporo‐spatial interleaving of inversion and imaging pulses is possible.
Formation of a GNSS Network in Space Based on Simulated LEO Constellations
Authors: Müller Lukas , Rothacher Markus , Soja Benedikt 
Published: July 2024

AbstractLarge constellations of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites equipped with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers open the possibility of forming a dense and homogeneous GNSS network in space, covering the entire Earth. Based on simulations, this study investigates how geodetic Earth observation could benefit from this development. In the first part, we compare the effects of different processing strategies, parameterizations and simulated errors. The results show that for a large number and a uniform distribution of satellites in a constellation, GNSS network (double-difference) processing can improve LEO orbit determination compared to a single-satellite (zero-difference) processing, provided that the integer ambiguities have been correctly resolved. In the second part of this study, we demonstrate that in a LEO constellation with 36 uniformly distributed satellites, an accuracy of about 1 cm (3D RMS) for the a-priori LEO orbits and about 3 cm for the GNSS orbits is required to achieve the sufficient ambiguity-fixing rate necessary to take full advantage of the double-difference processing.
Achievements of the GGOS Focus Area Unified Height System
Authors: Sanchez Laura , Barzaghi Riccardo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe Global Geodetic Observing System (GGOS) of the International Association of Geodesy (IAG) promotes the standardisation of height systems worldwide. The GGOS Focus Area Unified Height System (GGOS-FA-UHS) was established to lead and coordinate the efforts needed towards the establishment of a global standard for the precise determination of physical heights. During the 2011–2015 term, various discussions focused on the best possible definition of a global unified vertical reference system, resulting in the IAG Resolution for the Definition and Realisation of an International Height Reference System (IHRS), which was adopted at the 2015 General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) in Prague, Czech Republic. During the period 2015–2019, activities were undertaken to investigate the best strategy for the implementation of the IHRS; i.e., the establishment of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). A preliminary selection of stations for the IHRF reference network was made and different calculation methods for the determination of potential values as IHRF coordinates were evaluated. For the period 2019–2023, the objectives of the GGOS-FA-UHS focused on (i) compiling detailed standards, conventions and guidelines to support a consistent determination of the IHRF at global, regional and national levels; (ii) coordinating with regional/national experts in gravity field modelling the computation of a first IHRF solution; and (iii) designing an operational infrastructure that will ensure the long-term sustainability and reliability of the IHRS/IHRF. This infrastructure was approved by the IAG Executive Committee in December 2023 and will operate under the responsibility of the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS). With these objectives achieved, the GGOS-FA-UHS completed its goals and was closed during the IUGG 2023 General Assembly in Berlin, Germany. This paper presents a comprehensive report on the activities and achievements of the GGOS-FA-UHS.
The Nordic Local Government Model and the Municipal CEO
Authors: Hlynsdóttir Eva Marín , Cregård Anna , Sandberg Siv 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this chapter, the notion of a Nordic local government model is discussed in relation to the position of the municipal chief executive officer (MCEO). We elaborate on four key areas: decentralization, fiscal capacity, autonomy, and horizontal power relations. The common characteristics of the Nordic countries in the context of the four key areas are summarized as a way in which to interpret the Nordic local government model within a primarily shared context. However, there are also nuances in the differences between the individual countries. The Nordic local government model allows the MCEO to play a role that is both interesting and influential.
Twenty-Five Years of the Swedish Municipal CEO
Authors: Cregård Anna 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis chapter focuses on the Swedish municipal CEO (MCEO). The development of the role over the last 25 years is analysed in terms of stability and change. The chapter discusses the changes that have taken place in terms of the demands and constraints of the role. These changes are further compared with changes in actual performance relating to the priorities of MCEOs. The results show that while contextual factors, background, and reasons for job termination have changed considerably, small or moderate changes can arguably be observed in the MCEOs’ role performance. The role of the MCEO is discussed as a stable and institutionalized role in an otherwise changing world. However, there are some minor long-term indications that the role may become either more of an extended arm of majority politicians or a professional, administrative head—or perhaps both. The findings are based on a large amount of survey data collected every five years for a quarter of a century.
Energy Efficiency Optimization of Human (or Biological) Team
Authors: Yao Fulai , Yao Yaming 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWhy do special forces need to select soldiers with the same physical strength? Why do two adults of the same physique put the heavy object in the middle when lifting something? Why is it that when an adult and a child are lifting something, the weight should be placed closer to the adult? In fact, behind these practices lies the concept of energy efficiency optimization.
New records of two jellyfish species Rhizostoma luteum (Quoy and Gaimard 1827) and Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Macri 1778) in the Moroccan northwest Mediterranean coast
Authors: Aouititen Majda , Ravibhanu Aravinda , Ang Shie Ching , Mouanda Dorel Cevan Magabandi , Luan Xiaofeng 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDuring monitoring visits to the beaches of Fnideq, M'Diq, Cabo-Negro, and Martil, two jellyfish species along the Moroccan Northwest Mediterranean coast have been observed. Rhizostoma luteum (Quoy JRC, Gaimard JP. Observations zoologiques faites à bord de l'Astrolabe, en mai 1826, dans le Détroit de Gibraltar. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, 1827) was recorded at Fnideq in January 2014, and Cotylorhiza tuberculata (Macri S. Nuove osservazioni intorno la Storia naturale del polmone marino, 1778) was recorded between M'Diq and Cabonegro beach in August 2015. Although their occurrence in the Mediterranean Sea is less frequent compared to the outbreaks of Pelagia noctiluca (Forskål P. Descriptiones animalium, avium, amphibiorum, piscium, insectorum, vermium: quae in itinere orientali observavit. ex officina Mölleri; 1775), these findings represent the first documented records of Rhizostoma luteum and Cotylorhiza tuberculata in this region, contributing valuable insights to the existing knowledge of jellyfish distribution in the Mediterranean.
The Lawfulness of Unilateral Sanctions in the Wake of a US–China “Sanctions War”
Authors: Andresen Joshua 
Published: July 2024

AbstractDespite what many saw as a détente in US–China relations as presidents Biden and Xi met at the G20 Summit in November 2022, both countries have continued to develop and deploy sanctions against one another. Among the most recent actions by the US is the continued use of export controls, particularly to limit China’s access to advanced computing chips. Meanwhile, China has continued to use sanctions to target US firms, recently in the form of a national security investigation into US chip maker, Micron, and “countermeasures” against major US arms manufacturers such as Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. This Article examines the range of economic sanctions that the US and China have and could deploy against one another, the lawfulness of these measures, and the likely effects of these sanctions for the future of international sanctions law. Although unilaterally imposed economic sanctions remain a deeply contested area of international law, an unintended consequence of the increasing use of sanctions by the world’s two largest economies will be to lend legitimacy and legality to their use. Although the economic costs of a US–China sanctions war would be staggering, such a war would only further entrench unilateral sanctions as a fundamental tool of national security and foreign relations. This Article describes how international law is likely to develop as a consequence of the proliferation of sanctions, arguing that, far from undermining their lawfulness, increased state practice will support a customary norm of unilaterally imposed sanctions.
Experimental design of polymer synthesis applied to the removal of Cd2+ ions from water via adsorption
Authors: Silva Alex Rodrigues , Cavallini Grasiele Soares , de Mello Brandão Humberto , Oliveira Luiz Fernando Cappa , Souza Nelson Luis Gonçalves Dias 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCadmium is a highly toxic metal, and its presence can have adverse effects on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. The efficient removal of cadmium from wastewater is therefore of crucial importance, but traditional methods have proved to be inadequate. Thus, technologies for the treatment of wastewater containing cadmium, including adsorption, have been developed. The aim of this study was the preparation of a polymeric material by the grafting reaction of κ-carrageenan and its use as an adsorbent for cadmium removal. This was performed to study the removal capacity of cadmium ions in synthetic solutions, as well as the effects of pH and ions on adsorption capacity, adsorption kinetics, isotherms, and reusability. Additionally, the disinfectant potential of the solution was evaluated for the inactivation of total coliforms and E. coli in river water. The best adsorption capacity was 75.52 ± 1.325 mg g−1, with the kinetics described by the pseudo-second order model. Maximum adsorption capacity (127.6 ± 1.833 mg g−1) and RL (0.0113) were determined using the Langmuir model, the Freundlich model was the one that best fits the experimental data and indicated cooperative adsorption, and the Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm was used to obtain the adsorption energy and identify that it is physical. The presence of ions K+, Na+, Mg2+, and Ca2+ in a concentration of 0.5% decreased the adsorption capacity, and that at pH 2.0, the adsorption capacity was drastically reduced. The study indicates that the polymer has potential as an adsorbent for removing cadmium from aqueous solutions and exhibits self-disinfecting properties.
Unlocking digital growth: overcoming barriers to digital transformation for Indian food SMEs
Authors: Gupta Sumit , Jagtap Sandeep 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis paper aims to study how firms must be agile to overcome risks and manage cost repercussions. Specifically, it focuses on promoting digitalization in Indian food SMEs for greater competitiveness. The main purpose is to design a model for implementing robust interventions in a rational manner. To achieve this, a mixed approach, including a literature review and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method, was chosen. This approach is recommended for addressing barriers to digital transformation in SMEs. The results suggest that the absence of internet connectivity and problems related to organization impede the efficiency of operations in small and medium-sized Indian food businesses. By overcoming these obstacles and allocating resources to enhance their digital capacities, stakeholders can effectively shape their future business operations. In addition, it is imperative for the stakeholders to actively adopt and utilize a range of digital tools such as blockchain, IoT, Big Data, and cloud computing. To implement and sustain digital transformation effectively, three foundational elements are crucial: internet availability, financial resources, and employee training. This research offers an innovative approach to the practiceners and mangers to adopt digital transformation of Indian food SMEs.
Chick sexing based on the blood analysis using Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Matsumoto Sana , Ogino Akane , Onoe Kai , Ukon Juichiro , Ishigaki Mika 
Published: July 2024

AbstractEfforts are underway to develop technology for automatically determining the sex of chick embryos, aimed at establishing a stable and efficient poultry farming system while also addressing animal welfare concerns. This study investigated the possibility of chick sexing through blood analysis using Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra were obtained from whole blood and its constituents, such as red blood cells (RBCs) and blood plasma, collected from chicks aged 1–2 days, using a 785-nm excitation wavelength. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed statistically significant sex-dependent spectral variations in whole blood and RBCs, whereas blood plasma showed less clear dependency. These spectral differences between male and female chicks were attributed to differences in the proportion of spectral components from oxygenated (oxy-) and deoxygenated (deoxy-) RBCs, with males exhibiting a slightly stronger contribution of oxy-RBCs compared to females. This reflects the higher oxygen affinity of hemoglobin (Hb) in males compared to females. A model for discriminating chick sex was built using the ratios of certain Raman band characteristics of oxy-RBCs and deoxy-RBCs, achieving a sensitivity of 100%. This spectroscopic method holds promise for developing technology to discriminate the sex of early chicken embryos in ovo by detecting differences in oxygen saturation of RBCs based on sex.
GC–MS based metabolomic profiling of Aporosa cardiosperma (Gaertn.) Merr. leaf extracts and evaluating its therapeutic potential
Authors: Abdul Ubais , Manikandan Dinesh Babu , Arumugam Manikandan , Alomar Suliman Yousef , Manoharadas Salim , Ramasamy Thirumurugan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAporosa cardiosperma is a plant species majorly found in the Indian Western Ghats that belongs to the phyllanthaceae family with ethnobotanical importance. Using a Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) for evaluating leaf extracts of A. cardiosperma, significant functional groups and metabolite constituents were determined, and its total flavonoid, phenol, and tannin content were quantified. Further, its antibacterial efficacy was investigated against microorganisms that cause fish and human disease and are resistant to common antibiotics, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Regarding the outcomes of GC–MS analysis, the primary metabolites in the A. cardiosperma leaf extracts were heneicosane (57.06%), silane (13.60%), 1-heptadecene (10.09%), 3-hexadecene (9.99%), and pentadecane (9.54%). In comparison to other solvents, methanolic extract of A. cardiosperma leaves had increased phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content; these findings are consistent with in vitro antioxidant potential and obtained that the methanolic extract (100 µg/mL) exhibited the higher percentage of inhibition in DPPH (82.35%), FRAP (86.20%), metal chelating (72.32%), and ABTS (86.06%) antioxidant assays respectively. Similar findings were found regarding the antibacterial efficacy against pathogenic bacteria. Comparatively, to other extracts, methanolic extracts showed more significant antibacterial activity at a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value (250 µg/mL), whilst ethyl acetate and hexane solvent extracts of A. cardiosperma leaves had higher MIC values 500 µg/mL and 1000 µg/mL respectively. The antimicrobial potential was validated by investigating bacterial growth through the extracts acquired MICs and sub-MICs range. Bacterial growth was completely inhibited at the determined MIC range. In conclusion, A. cardiosperma leaf extract's phytochemical fingerprint has been determined, and its potent antibacterial and antioxidant activities were discovered. These findings of the current study will pave the way for developing herbal treatments from A. cardiosperma for various fish and human diseases.
Research on the coupling coordination characteristics and convergence of digital finance and regional sustainable development: evidence from Chinese city clusters
Authors: An Qiguang , Wang Yongkai , Meng Qinggang , Wang Ruoyu , Xie Qian 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe study examines the digital finance (DF) and regional sustainable development (RSD) across 90 cities within six major city clusters in China over the period from 2011 to 2020. By constructing an evaluation index system for DF and RSD, we employed the entropy value method to assess their levels, and the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model to evaluate their interplay. Our analysis extended to temporal and spatial disparities, distribution dynamics, and the convergence of CCD through kernel density estimation, Markov chain analysis, $$\sigma$$
σ
-convergence, and $$\beta$$
β
-convergence techniques. The results indicate a consistent upward trend in CCD, yet it remains at a low level with pronounced regional disparities and temporal characteristics. The kernel density distribution’s central tendency has shifted rightward progressively, albeit with a decelerating pace annually. The Markov transition probability matrix suggests a stable CCD across various levels, hinting at “club convergence”. Furthermore, both $$\sigma$$
σ
-convergence and $$\beta$$
β
-convergence analyses reveal significant convergence trends in CCD, enhanced by economic growth factors. Using the Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) method, we found that regional economic growth disparities significantly influence the CCD’s regional variances.