bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential Contribution of Biopolymeric Particles in Lung Tissue Regeneration of COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Abbas Mohamed , Alqahtani Mohammed S. , Almohiy Hussain M. , Alqahtani Fawaz F. , Alhifzi Roaa , Jambi Layal K.
Published: November 2021

The lung is a vital organ that houses the alveoli, which is where gas exchange takes place. The COVID-19 illness attacks lung cells directly, creating significant inflammation and resulting in their inability to function. To return to the nature of their job, it may be essential to rejuvenate the afflicted lung cells. This is difficult because lung cells need a long time to rebuild and resume their function. Biopolymeric particles are the most effective means to transfer developing treatments to airway epithelial cells and then regenerate infected lung cells, which is one of the most significant symptoms connected with COVID-19. Delivering biocompatible and degradable natural biological materials, chemotherapeutic drugs, vaccines, proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, and diagnostic agents are all examples of these molecules‘ usage. Furthermore, they are created by using several structural components, which allows them to effectively connect with these cells. We highlight their most recent uses in lung tissue regeneration in this review. These particles are classified into three groups: biopolymeric nanoparticles, biopolymeric stem cell materials, and biopolymeric scaffolds. The techniques and processes for regenerating lung tissue will be thoroughly explored.
Extrusion and Injection Molding of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx): Influence of Processing Conditions on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure
Authors: Vanheusden Chris , Samyn Pieter , Goderis Bart , Hamid Mouna , Reddy Naveen , Ethirajan Anitha , Peeters Roos , Buntinx Mieke
Published: November 2021

Biobased and biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have great potential as sustainable packaging materials. However, improvements in their processing and mechanical properties are necessary. In this work, the influence of melt processing conditions on the mechanical properties and microstructure of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHBHHx) is examined using a full factorial design of experiments (DoE) approach. We have found that strict control over processing temperature, mold temperature, screw speed, and cooling time leads to highly increased elongation at break values, mainly under influence of higher mold temperatures at 80 °C. Increased elongation of the moldings is attributed to relaxation and decreased orientation of the polymer chains together with a homogeneous microstructure at slower cooling rates. Based on the statistically substantiated models to determine the optimal processing conditions and their effects on microstructure variation and mechanical properties of PHBHHx samples, we conclude that optimizing the processing of this biopolymer can improve the applicability of the material and extend its scope in the realm of flexible packaging applications.
Electron-Beam-Induced Grafting of Chitosan onto HDPE/ATZ Composites for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Faga Maria Giulia , Duraccio Donatella , Di Maro Mattia , Kowandy Christelle , Malucelli Giulio , Mussano Federico Davide , Genova Tullio , Coqueret Xavier
Published: November 2021

The surface functionalisation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and HDPE/alumina-toughened zirconia (ATZ) surfaces with chitosan via electron-beam (EB) irradiation technique was exploited for preparing materials suitable for biomedical purposes. ATR–FTIR analysis and wettability measurements were employed for monitoring the surface changes after both irradiation and chitosan grafting reaction. Interestingly, the presence of ATZ loadings beyond 2 wt% influenced both the EB irradiation process and the chitosan functionalisation reaction, decreasing the oxidation of the surface and the chitosan grafting. The EB irradiation induced an increase in Young’s modulus and a decrease in the elongation at the break of all analysed systems, whereas the tensile strength was not affected in a relevant way. Biological assays indicated that electrostatic interactions between the negative charges of the surface of cell membranes and the –NH3+ sites on chitosan chains promoted cell adhesion, while some oxidised species produced during the irradiation process are thought to cause a detrimental effect on the cell viability.
Biodegradation of Polylactic Acid-Based Bio Composites Reinforced with Chitosan and Essential Oils as Anti-Microbial Material for Food Packaging
Authors: Rihayat Teuku , Hadi Agung Efriyo , Aidy Nurhanifa , Safitri Aida , Siregar Januar Parlaungan , Cionita Tezara , Irawan Agustinus Purna , Hamdan Mohammad Hazim Mohamad , Fitriyana Deni Fajar
Published: November 2021

This study aims to produce and investigate the potential of biodegradable Polylactic Acid (PLA)-based composites mixed with chitosan and Turmeric Essential Oil (TEO) as an anti-microbial biomaterial. PLA has good barrier properties for moisture, so it is suitable for use as a raw material for making packaging and is included in the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe). Chitosan is a non-toxic and antibacterial cationic polysaccharide that needs to be improved in its ability to fight microbes. TEO must be added to increase antibacterial properties due to a large number of hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl functional groups. The samples were prepared in three different variations: 2 g of chitosan, 0 mL TEO and 0 mL glycerol (Biofilm 1), 3 g of chitosan, 0.3 mL TEO and 0.5 mL of glycerol (Biofilm 2), and 4 g of chitosan, 0.3 of TEO and 0.5 mL of glycerol (Biofilm 3). The final product was characterized by its functional group through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR); the functional groups contained by the addition of TEO are C-H, C=O, O-H, and N-H with the extraction method, and as indicated by the emergence of a wide band at 3503 cm−1, turmeric essential oil interacts with the polymer matrix by creating intermolecular hydrogen bonds between their terminal hydroxyl group and the carbonyl groups of the ester moieties of both PLA and Chitosan. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of PLA as biofilms, the maximum temperature of a biofilm was observed at 315.74 °C in the variation of 4 g chitosan, 0.3 mL TEO, and 0.5 mL glycerol (Biofilm 3). Morphological conditions analyzed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the addition of TEO inside the chitosan interlayer bound chitosan molecules to produce solid particles. Chitosan and TEO showed increased anti-bacterial activity in the anti-microbial test. Furthermore, after 12 days of exposure to open areas, the biofilms generated were able to resist S. aureus and E. coli bacteria.
The Discovery of the Buffer Capacity of Various Types of Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules
Authors: Dubrovskii Alexey V. , Kim Aleksandr L. , Musin Egor V. , Ramazanov Bulat R. , Tikhonenko Sergey A.
Published: November 2021

Polyelectrolyte microcapsules, which are obtained by the method of alternate adsorption of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes onto colloidal particles of micron size, are widely used in science and industry. Nevertheless, the properties of microcapsules are still poorly understood. In particular, there is no information in the literature on the buffer capacity. However, information on the presence of a buffer capacity and an understanding of its mechanisms can both simplify the use of microcapsules and expand the scope of their application. In this regard, the buffer capacity of various types of microcapsules was studied. It was found that polyelectrolyte microcapsules consisting of polyallylamine, and polystyrene sulfonate have a buffer capacity. In addition, in an acidic medium, the buffer capacity of microcapsules containing BSA is significantly greater than that of microcapsules without protein. This is due to the fact that BSA contributes to the buffering of microcapsules. Differences in the behaviour of the buffer capacity of microcapsules with the composition (PAH/PSS)3 and (PSS/PAH)3 were found. In addition, a hypothesis has been proposed that regions of unbound polyallylamine are responsible for the buffering properties of polyelectrolyte microcapsules. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that incubation of microcapsules in 0.5 M NaCl increases the amount of unbound polyallylamine, which leads to an increase in the buffer capacity of microcapsules at alkaline pH values higher than the buffer capacity of capsules in an aqueous solution.
A Deep Learning Based Approach for Localization and Recognition of Pakistani Vehicle License Plates
Authors: Yousaf Umair , Khan Ahmad , Ali Hazrat , Khan Fiaz Gul , Rehman Zia ur , Shah Sajid , Ali Farman , Pack Sangheon , Ali Safdar
Published: November 2021

License plate localization is the process of finding the license plate area and drawing a bounding box around it, while recognition is the process of identifying the text within the bounding box. The current state-of-the-art license plate localization and recognition approaches require license plates of standard size, style, fonts, and colors. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, license plates are non-standard and vary in terms of the characteristics mentioned above. This paper presents a deep-learning-based approach to localize and recognize Pakistani license plates with non-uniform and non-standardized sizes, fonts, and styles. We developed a new Pakistani license plate dataset (PLPD) to train and evaluate the proposed model. We conducted extensive experiments to compare the accuracy of the proposed approach with existing techniques. The results show that the proposed method outperformed the other methods to localize and recognize non-standard license plates.
JOM-4S Overhauser Magnetometer and Sensitivity Estimation
Authors: Gong Xiaorong , Chen Shudong , Zhang Shuang
Published: November 2021

The Overhauser magnetometer is a scalar quantum magnetometer based on the dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) effect in the Earth’s magnetic field. Sensitivity is a key technical specification reflecting the ability of instruments to sense small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field and is closely related to the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the free induction decay (FID) signal. In this study, deuterated 15N TEMPONE radical is used in our sensor to obtain high DNP enhancement. The measured SNR of the FID signal is approximately 63/1, and the transverse relaxation time T2 is 2.68 s. The direct measurement method with a single instrument and the synchronous measurement method with two instruments are discussed for sensitivity estimation in time and frequency domains under different electromagnetic interference (EMI) environments and different time periods. For the first time, the correlation coefficient of the magnetic field measured by the two instruments is used to judge the degree of the influence of the environmental noise on the sensitivity estimation. The sensitivity evaluation in the field environment is successfully realized without electrical and magnetic shields. The direct measurement method is susceptible to EMI and cannot work in general electromagnetic environments, except it is sufficiently quiet. The synchronous measurement method has an excellent ability to remove most natural and artificial EMIs and can be used under noisy environments. Direct and synchronous experimental results show that the estimated sensitivity of the JOM-4S magnetometer is approximately 0.01 nT in time domain and approximately 0.01 nT/Hz in frequency domain at a 3 s cycling time. This study provides a low-cost, simple, and effective sensitivity estimation method, which is especially suitable for developers and users to estimate the performance of the instrument.
The Influence of Filters on EEG-ERP Testing: Analysis of Motor Cortex in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Karpiel Ilona , Kurasz Zofia , Kurasz Rafał , Duch Klaudia
Published: November 2021

The raw EEG signal is always contaminated with many different artifacts, such as muscle movements (electromyographic artifacts), eye blinking (electrooculographic artifacts) or power line disturbances. All artifacts must be removed for correct data interpretation. However, various noise reduction methods significantly influence the final shape of the EEG signal and thus its characteristic values, latency and amplitude. There are several types of filters to eliminate noise early in the processing of EEG data. However, there is no gold standard for their use. This article aims to verify and compare the influence of four various filters (FIR, IIR, FFT, NOTCH) on the latency and amplitude of the EEG signal. By presenting a comparison of selected filters, the authors intend to raise awareness among researchers as regards the effects of known filters on latency and amplitude in a selected area—the sensorimotor area.
Cyber-Physical Systems and Smart Cities in India: Opportunities, Issues, and Challenges
Authors: Ahmad Md. Onais , Ahad Mohd Abdul , Alam M. Afshar , Siddiqui Farheen , Casalino Gabriella
Published: November 2021

A large section of the population around the globe is migrating towards urban settlements. Nations are working toward smart city projects to provide a better wellbeing for the inhabitants. Cyber-physical systems are at the core of the smart city setups. They are used in almost every system component within a smart city ecosystem. This paper attempts to discuss the key components and issues involved in transforming conventional cities into smart cities with a special focus on cyber-physical systems in the Indian context. The paper primarily focuses on the infrastructural facilities and technical knowhow to smartly convert classical cities that were built haphazardly due to overpopulation and ill planning into smart cities. It further discusses cyber-physical systems as a core component of smart city setups, highlighting the related security issues. The opportunities for businesses, governments, inhabitants, and other stakeholders in a smart city ecosystem in the Indian context are also discussed. Finally, it highlights the issues and challenges concerning technical, financial, and other social and infrastructural bottlenecks in the way of realizing smart city concepts along with future research directions.
Visual SLAM-Based Robotic Mapping Method for Planetary Construction
Authors: Hong Sungchul , Bangunharcana Antyanta , Park Jae-Min , Choi Minseong , Shin Hyu-Soung
Published: November 2021

With the recent discovery of water-ice and lava tubes on the Moon and Mars along with the development of in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) technology, the recent planetary exploration has focused on rover (or lander)-based surface missions toward the base construction for long-term human exploration and habitation. However, a 3D terrain map, mostly based on orbiters’ terrain images, has insufficient resolutions for construction purposes. In this regard, this paper introduces the visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM)-based robotic mapping method employing a stereo camera system on a rover. In the method, S-PTAM is utilized as a base framework, with which the disparity map from the self-supervised deep learning is combined to enhance the mapping capabilities under homogeneous and unstructured environments of planetary terrains. The overall performance of the proposed method was evaluated in the emulated planetary terrain and validated with potential results.
Zernike Moment Based Classification of Cosmic Ray Candidate Hits from CMOS Sensors
Authors: Bar Olaf , Bibrzycki Łukasz , Niedźwiecki Michał , Piekarczyk Marcin , Rzecki Krzysztof , Sośnicki Tomasz , Stuglik Sławomir , Frontczak Michał , Homola Piotr , Alvarez-Castillo David E. , Andersen Thomas , Tursunov Arman
Published: November 2021

Reliable tools for artefact rejection and signal classification are a must for cosmic ray detection experiments based on CMOS technology. In this paper, we analyse the fitness of several feature-based statistical classifiers for the classification of particle candidate hits in four categories: spots, tracks, worms and artefacts. We use Zernike moments of the image function as feature carriers and propose a preprocessing and denoising scheme to make the feature extraction more efficient. As opposed to convolution neural network classifiers, the feature-based classifiers allow for establishing a connection between features and geometrical properties of candidate hits. Apart from basic classifiers we also consider their ensemble extensions and find these extensions generally better performing than basic versions, with an average recognition accuracy of 88%.
Positioning Combination Method of USBL Using Four-Element Stereo Array
Authors: Wang Wei , Zhu Min , Yang Bo
Published: November 2021

In the present article, an ultra-short baseline (USBL) combined location method based on three four-element stereo arrays is proposed. In order to solve the problem of the poor positioning effect of acoustic positioning under a high incident angle of signal, two kinds of four-element stereo arrays are designed, and the localization approach of the new array is given. At the same time, for the regular triangular pyramid array, a virtual array element is proposed to construct a planar cross array to improve the poor positioning effect of the regular triangular pyramid array at a low incident angle. This paper analyzes the positioning performance of three arrays. Combined with the traditional cross-planar array localization method, a set of positioning strategies to switch the two localization methods under different incident angles were designed. The switching thresholds of the two methods were analyzed by simulation. Simulation results show that the new arrays can locate stably at different incident angles and improve the overall positioning performance of the array.
Atmospheric Photoionization Detector with Improved Photon Efficiency: A Proof of Concept for Application of a Nanolayer Thin-Film Electrode
Authors: Miranda Adelaide , De Beule Pieter A. A.
Published: November 2021

Atmospheric photoionization is a widely applied soft ionization mechanism in gas sensing devices for the detection of volatile organic compounds in ambient air. Photoionization is typically induced by low-pressure Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) lamps with MgF2 or LiF lamp surface windows depending on the gas fill and the required wavelength transmission window. These lamps are known to exhibit gradually reduced VUV transmission due to hydrocarbon contamination. LiF surface windows are known to be especially problematic due to their hygroscopic nature, reducing VUV lamp lifetime to a mere 100 h, approximately. Here, we present a new design for the electrode of a photoionization detector based on thin-film technology. By replacing the commonplace metal grid electrode’s VUV lamp surface window with a chromium/gold thin film we obtain a doubling of photon efficiency for photoionization. Replacing the hygroscopic LiF lamp window surface with a metallic layer additionally offers the possibility to vastly increase operational lifetime of low-pressure Argon VUV lamps.
Extended PKM Fixturing System for Micro-Positioning and Vibration Rejection in Machining Application
Authors: Aggogeri Francesco , Pellegrini Nicola , Tagliani Franco Luis
Published: November 2021

The paper aims to present a mechatronic device able to micro-position the workpiece and to reject disturbances due to machining operation. A decoupling method is proposed for a parallel kinematic machine (PKM) fixturing platform composed by a 3-DoF flexure-based piezo-actuated mechanism. The parallel platform, with a vertical motion and two rotations, is described and its kinematics and dynamics are studied. The coupling undesirable effect is investigated based on a set of poses. To improve the quasi-static regulator model for a set-point following system, a bump less switching controller and a fine-tuning procedure, to estimate the parameter uncertainty and enable the external disturbance containment in an extended broadband frequency range, are presented. The platform and the piezo-actuator controllers are modelled based on a gain scheduling, standard ISA form method, to guarantee the stability. The accuracy is demonstrated through a set of simulations and experimental comparisons. A sensitivity analysis that evaluates the tracking performance and the disturbance rejection based on the number of signal amplitudes, frequencies, and phases is discussed. A validation phase has shown that the developed architecture presents a steady state error lower than 1.2 µm, a vibration reduction of 96% at 1130 Hz with a maximum resolving time of 6.60 ms.
Electrochemistry/Photoelectrochemistry-Based Immunosensing and Aptasensing of Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Authors: Jiang Jingjing , Xia Jili , Zang Yang , Diao Guowang
Published: November 2021

Recently, electrochemistry- and photoelectrochemistry-based biosensors have been regarded as powerful tools for trace monitoring of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) due to the fact of their intrinsic advantages (e.g., high sensitivity, excellent selectivity, small background, and low cost), which play an important role in early cancer screening and diagnosis and benefit people’s increasing demands for medical and health services. Thus, this mini-review will introduce the current trends in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical biosensors for CEA assay and classify them into two main categories according to the interactions between target and biorecognition elements: immunosensors and aptasensors. Some recent illustrative examples are summarized for interested readers, accompanied by simple descriptions of the related signaling strategies, advanced materials, and detection modes. Finally, the development prospects and challenges of future electrochemical and photoelectrochemical biosensors are considered.
Ground-Based GNSS and Satellite Observations of Auroral Ionospheric Irregularities during Geomagnetic Disturbances in August 2018
Authors: Zakharenkova Irina , Cherniak Iurii , Krankowski Andrzej
Published: November 2021

The 25–26 August 2018 space weather event occurred during the solar minimum period and surprisingly became the third largest geomagnetic storm of the entire 24th solar cycle. We analyzed the ionospheric response at high latitudes of both hemispheres using multi-site ground-based GNSS observations and measurements onboard Swarm and DMSP satellites. With the storm development, the zones of intense ionospheric irregularities of auroral origin largely expanded in size and moved equatorward towards midlatitudes as far as ~55–60° magnetic latitude (MLAT) in the American, European, and Australian longitudinal sectors. The main ionospheric trough, associated with the equatorward side of the auroral oval, shifted as far equatorward as 45–50° MLAT at both hemispheres. The interhemispheric comparison revealed a high degree of similarity in a large expansion of the auroral irregularities oval towards midlatitudes, in addition to asymmetrical differences in terms of larger intensity of plasma density gradients and structures over the Southern auroral and polar cap regions. Evolution of the intense ionospheric irregularities and equatorward expansion of the auroral irregularities oval were well correlated with increases of geomagnetic activity and peaks of the auroral electrojet index.
Multi-Criteria Analysis of a People-Oriented Urban Pedestrian Road System Using an Integrated Fuzzy AHP and DEA Approach: A Case Study in Harbin, China
Authors: Li Hongliang , Lin Yu , Wang Yuming , Liu Jing , Liang Shan , Guo Shulin , Qiang Tiangang
Published: November 2021

Increasingly, cities worldwide are striving for green travel and slow traffic, and vigorously developing people-oriented urban pedestrian traffic with sustainability has become a fixture in recent discourse. This paper comprehensively considers the sidewalk’s facilities environment and the status of pedestrian traffic flow; divides the urban pedestrian road system (UPRS) into five subsystems around the underpass, overpass, crosswalk, sidewalk, and road crosswalk; and introduces the basic structure as well as the function of each system. Then, the indicators are classified into two types of crosswalk facilities and sidewalk facilities, and a comprehensive pedestrian road indicator system with the combination of subjective and objective is established. Consequently, the integration of the fuzzy AHP and DEA-based symmetrical technique for the subjective evaluation indicator combined with pedestrian traffic characteristics is developed. A nine-step semantics scale of relative importance was used so that the symmetry of the response of pedestrian satisfaction was maintained. Fuzzy evaluation based on AHP is further modeled, and the DEA is employed to achieve an overall evaluation of the quality of service (QoS) for UPRS. The applicability of the established evaluation system is finally verified through a real case study in Harbin, China. The serviceability assessment method in this paper provides a new idea for planners to conduct sustainability evaluation for UPRS in future urban renewal development.
Are We Right about the Right TPJ? A Review of Brain Stimulation and Social Cognition in the Right Temporal Parietal Junction
Authors: Ahmad Nathira , Zorns Samantha , Chavarria Katherine , Brenya Janet , Janowska Aleksandra , Keenan Julian Paul
Published: November 2021

In the past decade, the functional role of the TPJ (Temporal Parietal Junction) has become more evident in terms of its contribution to social cognition. Studies have revealed the TPJ as a ‘distinguisher’ of self and other with research focused on non-clinical populations as well as in individuals with Autism and Type I Schizophrenia. Further research has focused on the integration of self-other distinctions with proprioception. Much of what we now know about the causal role of the right TPJ derives from TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), rTMS repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation), and tDCS (transcranial Direct Cortical Stimulation). In this review, we focus on the role of the right TPJ as a moderator of self, which is integrated and distinct from ‘other’ and how brain stimulation has established the causal relationship between the underlying cortex and agency.
An Interactive Task Conditioning System Featuring Personal Comfort Models and Non-Intrusive Sensing Techniques: A Field Study in Shanghai
Authors: Lu Siliang , Cochran Hameen Erica
Published: November 2021

Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems play a key role in shaping office environments. However, open-plan office buildings nowadays are also faced with problems like unnecessary energy waste and an unsatisfactory shared indoor thermal environment. Therefore, it is significant to develop a new paradigm of an HVAC system framework so that everyone could work under their preferred thermal environment and the system can achieve higher energy efficiency such as task ambient conditioning system (TAC). However, current task conditioning systems are not responsive to personal thermal comfort dynamically. Hence, this research aims to develop a dynamic task conditioning system featuring personal thermal comfort models with machine learning and the wireless non-intrusive sensing system. In order to evaluate the proposed task conditioning system performance, a field study was conducted in a shared office space in Shanghai from July to August. As a result, personal thermal comfort models with indoor air temperature, relative humidity and cheek (side face) skin temperature have better performances than baseline models with indoor air temperature only. Moreover, compared to personal thermal satisfaction predictions, 90% of subjects have better performances in thermal sensation predictions. Therefore, personal thermal comfort models could be further implemented into the task conditioning control of TAC systems.
Microbiological Decontamination of Mycotoxins: Opportunities and Limitations
Authors: Piotrowska Małgorzata
Published: November 2021

The contamination of food and feeds with mycotoxins poses a global health risk to humans and animals, with major economic consequences. Good agricultural and manufacturing practices can help control mycotoxin contamination. Since these actions are not always effective, several methods of decontamination have also been developed, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. Biological decontamination using microorganisms has revealed new opportunities. However, these biological methods require legal regulations and more research before they can be used in food production. Currently, only selected biological methods are acceptable for the decontamination of feed. This review discusses the literature on the use of microorganisms to remove mycotoxins and presents their possible mechanisms of action. Special attention is given to Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and lactic acid bacteria, and the use of yeast cell wall derivatives.
Study on the Impact of Land-Use Change on Runoff Variation Trend in Luojiang River Basin, China
Authors: He Ji , Wan Yu-Rong , Chen Hai-Tao , Wang Wen-Chuan
Published: November 2021

To reveal the influence process of land use changes on runoff variation trends, this paper takes the Luojiang River of China as the study area, and the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was constructed to quantitatively analyze the impact of different land uses on runoff formation in the watershed, and used the Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model to predict future land use scenarios and runoff change trends. The results show that: (1) the SWAT model can simulate the runoff in the Luojiang River basin; (2) the runoff in the Luojiang River basin has a decreasing trend in recent 10 years, caused by the decrease of rainfall and runoff due to changes in land use; (3) the forecast shows that the land-use changes in the basin will lead to an increase in runoff coefficient in 2025. The increase of the runoff coefficient will bring some adverse effects, and relevant measures should be taken to increase the water storage capacity of urban areas. This study can help plan future management strategies for the study area land coverage and put forward a preventive plan for the possible adverse situation of runoff variation.
Adaptive Agricultural Strategies for Facing Water Deficit in Sweet Maize Production: A Case Study of a Semi-Arid Mediterranean Region
Authors: Piscitelli Lea , Colovic Milica , Aly Adel , Hamze Mohamad , Todorovic Mladen , Cantore Vito , Albrizio Rossella
Published: November 2021

Maize is a crucial global commodity, which is used not only for food, but also as an alternative crop in biogas production and as a major energy-supply ingredient in animal diets. However, climate change is jeopardizing current maize production due to its direct impact on weather instability and water availability or its indirect effects on regional climate suitability loss. Hence, new areas for sweet maize cultivation should be considered in the future. Therefore, this study focuses on the possibility of producing maize in a challenging environment in Southern Italy considering rainfed cultivation and two irrigation regimes (full and deficit). The experiment was conducted during two subsequent growing seasons under semi-arid Mediterranean climate conditions. The overall results indicated a significant difference in biomass and yield between irrigated and non-irrigated treatments, and between full and deficit irrigation. Sweet maize cultivated under deficit irrigation gained less biomass than under full irrigation and its development and fruit maturation were delayed. Under deficit irrigation, the plants gave lower yields and a higher percentage of the panicle weight consisted of kernels. Irrigation water productivity was higher for deficit than for full irrigated treatment. These findings indicate the feasibility of sweet maize production in semi-arid areas of Southern Italy using adaptive agricultural strategies including deficit irrigation and controlled water stress. Given the importance of maize production, understanding of maize growth and productivity in a challenging environment may support future agricultural programming and thereby contribute e to mitigation of the direct and indirect effects of climate change.
Water Supply Increases N Acquisition and N Resorption from Old Branches in the Leafless Shrub Calligonum caput-medusae at the Taklimakan Desert Margin
Authors: Huang Caibian , Zeng Fanjiang , Zhang Bo , Xue Jie , Zhang Shaomin
Published: November 2021

Irrigation is the main strategy deployed to improve vegetation establishment, but the effects of increasing water availability on N use strategies in desert shrub species have received little attention. Pot experiments with drought-tolerant shrub Calligonum caput-medusae supplied with water at five field capacities in the range of 30–85% were conducted using local soil at the southern margin of the Taklimakan Desert. We examined the changes in plant biomass, soil N status, and plant N traits, and addressed the relationships between them in four- and seven-month-old saplings and mature shrubs after 28 months. Results showed that the growth of C. caput-medusae was highly responsive to increased soil moisture supply, and strongly depleted the soil available inorganic N pools from 16.7 mg kg−1 to an average of 1.9 mg kg−1, although the total soil N pool increased in all treatments. Enhancement of biomass production by increasing water supply was closely linked to increasing total plant N pool, N use efficiency (NUE), N resorption efficiency (NRE), and proficiency (NRP) in four-month saplings, but that to total plant N pool, NRE, and NRP after 28 months. The well-watered plants had lower N concentrations in senesced branches compared to their counterparts experiencing the two lowest water inputs. The mature shrubs had higher NRE and NRP than saplings and the world mean levels, suggesting a higher N conservation. Structural equation models showed that NRE was largely controlled by senesced branch N concentrations, and indirectly affected by water supply, whereas NRP was mainly determined by water supply. Our results indicated that increasing water availability increased the total N uptake and N resorption from old branches to satisfy the N requirement of C. caput-medusae. The findings lay important groundwork for vegetation establishment in desert ecosystems.
Openness of Fish Habitat Matters: Lake Pelagic Fish Community Starts Very Close to the Shore
Authors: Moraes Karlos , Souza Allan T. , Vašek Mojmír , Bartoň Daniel , Blabolil Petr , Čech Martin , Santos Romulo A. dos , Draštík Vladislav , Holubová Michaela , Jůza Tomáš , Kočvara Luboš , Kolářová Kateřina , Matěna Josef , Peterka Jiří , Říha Milan , Sajdlová Zuzana , Šmejkal Marek , Tsering Lobsang , Kubečka Jan
Published: November 2021

Fish communities differ significantly between the littoral and the pelagic habitats. This paper attempts to define the shift in communities between the two habitats based on the European standard gillnet catch. We sampled the benthic and pelagic habitats from shore to shore in Lake Most and Římov Reservoir (Czech Republic). The 3 m deep pelagic nets were spanned across the water body at equal distances from two boundary points, where the depth was 3.5 m. The benthic community contained more fish, more species, and smaller individuals. The mild sloped littoral with a soft bottom attracted more fish than the sloping bank with a hard bottom and less benthos and large Daphnia. The catch of the pelagic nets was dominated by eurytopic fish—rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) in Most and bleak (Alburnus alburnus) in Římov. With the exception of one case where overgrown macrophytes extended the structured habitat, the largest shift from the benthic to the pelagic community was observed only in the first pelagic gillnet above the bottom depth of 3.5 m. Open water catches were relatively constant with small signs of decline towards the middle of the lake. The results indicate that the benthic gillnet catch is representative of a very limited area and volume, while most of the volume is dominated by the pelagic community. This has important consequences for the assessment of the community parameters of the whole lake following the European standards for gillnet sampling design.
Seasonal Prediction of Summer Precipitation in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Valley: Comparison of Machine Learning and Climate Model Predictions
Authors: He Chentao , Wei Jiangfeng , Song Yuanyuan , Luo Jing-Jia
Published: November 2021

The middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valley (YRV), which are among the most densely populated regions in China, are subject to frequent flooding. In this study, the predictor importance analysis model was used to sort and select predictors, and five methods (multiple linear regression (MLR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), backpropagation neural network (BPNN), and convolutional neural network (CNN)) were used to predict the interannual variation of summer precipitation over the middle and lower reaches of the YRV. Predictions from eight climate models were used for comparison. Of the five tested methods, RF demonstrated the best predictive skill. Starting the RF prediction in December, when its prediction skill was highest, the 70-year correlation coefficient from cross validation of average predictions was 0.473. Using the same five predictors in December 2019, the RF model successfully predicted the YRV wet anomaly in summer 2020, although it had weaker amplitude. It was found that the enhanced warm pool area in the Indian Ocean was the most important causal factor. The BPNN and CNN methods demonstrated the poorest performance. The RF, DT, and climate models all showed higher prediction skills when the predictions start in winter than in early spring, and the RF, DT, and MLR methods all showed better prediction skills than the numerical climate models. Lack of training data was a factor that limited the performance of the machine learning methods. Future studies should use deep learning methods to take full advantage of the potential of ocean, land, sea ice, and other factors for more accurate climate predictions.
PENDEKATAN MULTI REZIM HUKUM ( MULTI DOOR SYSTEM) PADA TINDAK PIDANA PERIKANAN
Authors: Kharisma Hamzah , Syafruddin Syafruddin
Published: November 2021

ABSTRAK Kejahatan perikanan yang terjadi di dunia, khususnya Indonesia, dewasa ini tidak lagi terbatas pada masalah administrasi saja, Banyak tindak pidana lain yang juga terjadi bersamaan terjadi dalam tindak pidana perikanan. Perbuatan pidana di atas masing-masing mempunyai konsekuensi tersendiri yang tidak sama, ada kalanya suatu tindakan pidana yang ternyata diatur dalam lebih dari satu ketentuan pidana. Tindak pidana perikanan sebagai pidana asal (predicate crime) sering kali tidak maksimal dalam penanganannya dikarenakan kewenangan penyidik perikanan sesuai Undang undang No. 45 tahun 2009 sebagimana telah diubah dan ditambah dengan Undang undang No. 31 tahun 2004 tentang Perikanan yang terbatas mengakibatkan tidak terprosesnya tindak pidana lain. Tindak pidana perikanan sebagai kejahatan ekonomi dan lingkungan yang merupakan kejahatan yang luar biasa (extraordinary crime) sehingga harus ditangani dengan cara luar biasa (extraordinary act). Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa pendekatan multi-rezim hukum (multi door approach) terhadap tindak pidana perikanan dan tindak pidana lain terkait perikanan dapat dilakukan dengan penerapan concursus realis. Kata Kunci : Tindak Pidana Perikanan, Multi-rezim hukum, dan Concursus realis. AbstractFisheries crimes that occur in the world, especially Indonesia, today are no longer limited to administrative problems. Many other crimes that occur simultaneously occur in criminal acts of fisheries. The criminal acts above each have their own unequal consequences, there are times when a criminal act turns out to be regulated in more than one criminal provision. Fisheries criminal acts as predicate crime are often not optimal in handling due to the authority of fisheries investigators in accordance with Law No. 45 of 2009 as already amended and supplemented by Law No. 31 of 2004 concerning limited fisheries resulted in the non-processing of other criminal acts. Crime of fisheries as an economic and environmental crime which is an extraordinary crime (extraordinary crime) so it must be handled in an extraordinary way (extraordinary act). The results of this study indicate that a multi-regime approach to law (multi-door approach) to criminal acts of fisheries and other criminal acts related to fisheries can be done by applying Concursus realist. Keywords: Fisheries Crime, Multi-regime law, and Concursus Realist
TELAAH KRITIS UPAYA PENEGAKAN HUKUM TERHADAP TINDAK PIDANA KEKERASAN DALAM RUMAH TANGGA
Authors: Eleanora Fransiska Novita , Putri Elfirda Ade
Published: November 2021

ABSTRAK Maraknya tingkat kekerasan dalam rumah tangga menyebabkan penderitaan bagi korbandan karena dapat menimbulkan taruma yang berkepanjangan dan untuk memulihkannyaperlu adanya tindakan rehabilitasi dan untuk itu perlu diberikannya sanksi yang tegasbagi pelaku. Karena dengan pemberian hukuman memberikan perlindungan danpenegakan hukum terhadap hak perempuan, sesuai dengan ketentuan undang-undangNomor 23 Tahun 2004 tentang penghapusan kekerasan dalam rumah yaitu melindungiakan hak asasi perempuan. Rumusan dari masalah ini bagaimana telaah kritis upaya daripenegakan hukum terhadap tindak pidana terhadap kekerasan dalam rumah tangga.Tujuannya adalah untuk mengetahui penegakan hukum terhadap tindak pidana kekerasandalam rumah tangga, sedangkan metode yang digunakan adalah yuridis normatif dimanadidasarkan pada konsep, asas, dan teori serta pertauran perundangan dan juga literaturyang berkaitan dengan telaah kritis terhadap upaya penegakan hukum dari tindak pidanaterhadap kekerasan dalam lingkup rumah tangga, dan hasil dari pemelitian (temuan)bahwa penegakan hukum dapat dilaksanakan jika menerapkan sanksi yang berat sepertihukuman seumur hidup kepada pelaku jika akibat perbuatannya menimbulkan luka beratbagi korban, kesimpulannya bahwa efektivitas dari penegakan hukum itu sendiridipenggruhi oleh beberapa faktor, yaitu dari hukum itu sendiri, penegak hukum, saranadan juga fasilitas, masyarakat dan kebudayaan. Kata Kunci : penegakan hukum, tindak pidana, rumah tangga ABSTRACT The rampant level of domestic violence causes suffering for victims because it can causeprolonged trauma and to restore it is done by rehabilitation measures for victims as well asproviding strict sanctions for perpetrators. Because the provision of punishment providesprotection and law enforcement for women's rights, in accordance with the provisions of lawnumber 23 of 2004 concerning the elimination of violence in the home that is protecting thehuman rights of women. The formulation of this problem is a critical study of lawenforcement efforts against domestic violence. The aim is to find out the law enforcement ofdomestic violence, while the method used is normative juridical which is based on concepts,principles, theories and regulations as well as literature relating to critical review of lawenforcement efforts on violence in the home stairs, and get the results of research (findings)that law enforcement can be implemented if applying severe sanctions such as lifeimprisonment to the offender if the consequences of his actions cause serious injuries to thevictim, the conclusion that the effectiveness of law enforcement itself is influenced by several factors, namely from law itself, law enforcement, facilities and also facilities, society and culture. Keywords: law enforcement, crime, household
Interpretasi Hukum Perkara Penipuan Online Modus Investasi Kajian Undang-Undang No.42/2009 dan Undang-Undang No25/2007
Authors: Liliana Sanchez Alba , Mustaqim Mustaqim , Satory Agus
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACTThe rise of online fraud practices with investment mode in DKI Jakarta is influenced by 2 (two) factors, namely the community's ignorance about investment through the online platform. Other factors are not yet optimal for law enforcement to take preventative measures by informing the public about the dangers of online investment.The purpose of this research is to better understand the legal interpretation of online fraud cases with investment mode. Another goal is for the public to be more careful with online investment offers that promise multiple benefits.The research approach is the legal sociology approach. Observations indicate that law enforcement by the National Police against suspected online investment fraud has not been carried out optimally because investigators only use the articles of the Criminal Code and the ITE Law. But not using Law Number 42/2009, and Law Number 25/2007, investigators must also immediately break the chain of online fraud practices.Keywords : Legal Interpretation, Online Fraud, Investment Mode.ABSTRAKMaraknya praktek penipuan online dengan modus investasi di DKI Jakarta dipengaruhi 2 (dua) faktor yaitu faktor ketidaktahuan masyarakat perihal investasi melalui platform online. Faktor lainnya belum optimalnya penegak hukum untuk melakukan langkah pencegahan dengan mensosialisasikan kepada masyarakat mengenai bahayanya investasi online.Tujuan penelitian ingin lebih memahami penafsiran hukum perkara penipuan online dengan modus investasi. Tujuan lainnya agar masyarakat lebih berhati-hati dengan penawaran investasi online yang menjanjikan keuntungan berlipat ganda.Pendekatan penelitian yaitu pendekatan Sosiologi hukum. Hasil pengamatan menunjukkan bahwa penegakan hukum oleh Polri terhadap tersangka penipuan investasi online, belum berlangsung optimal karena penyidik hanya menggunakan pasal-pasal KUHP dan Undang-Undang ITE. Namun tidak menggunakan Undang-Undang Nomor 42/2009, dan Undang-Undang Nomor 25/2007, penyidik juga harus segera memutus mata rantai praktek penipuan online tersebut.Kata kunci: Interpetasi Hukum, Penipuan Online, Modus Investasi.
PENTINGNYA KONSEP 3 IN 1 IN THE LAND ACQUTITION PADA PROSES PENYERAHAN TANAH FASILITAS UMUM (FASUM).
Authors: Hafit Husni , Muliawan Jarot
Published: November 2021

ABSTRACLand is essential for human life. On land, humans also build houses as shelter and build various other buildings for offices and so on. Land also contains various kinds of natural resources that can be utilized by humans. The implementation of house construction as a shelter is inseparable from housing development, where the house is a basic human need which has the main function as a place to live or settle, apart from that housing also functions as a place for community interaction which is always done as a useful habit. for the welfare, security and happiness of life as a social being, housing development is certainly inseparable from the previous stages as stated in the 3 In 1 The Land Aquitition Concept ABSTRAKTanah merupakan hal penting bagi kehidupan manusia. Diatas tanah pula manusia membangun rumah sebagai tempat bernaung dan membangun berbagai bangunan lainnya untuk perkantoran dan sebagainya. Tanah juga mengandung berbagai macam kekayaan alam yang dapat dimanfaatkan manusia. Pelaksanaan pembangunan rumah sebagai tempat bernaung itu tidak lepas dari pembangunan perumahan, dimana rumah merupakan kebutuhan dasar (basic needs) manusia yang berfungsi utama sebagai tempat tinggal atau menetap, terlepas dari itu perumahan juga berfungsi sebagai tempat berinteraksi masyarakat yang selalu dilakukan sebagai suatu kebiasaan yang berguna untuk kesejahteraan, keamanan dan kebahagiaan hidup sebagai mahluk sosial, pembangunan kawasan hunian rumah tinggal maupun tempat usaha tentu tidak lepas dari tahapan – tahapan yang di lalui sebelumnya seperti halnya yang tertuang dalam Konsep 3 In 1 The land Aquitition.