bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advanced “Green” Prebiotic Composite of Bacterial Cellulose/Pullulan Based on Synthetic Biology-Powered Microbial Coculture Strategy
Authors: Zhantlessova Sirina , Savitskaya Irina , Kistaubayeva Aida , Ignatova Ludmila , Talipova Aizhan , Pogrebnjak Alexander , Digel Ilya
Published: August 2022

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a biopolymer produced by different microorganisms, but in biotechnological practice, Komagataeibacter xylinus is used. The micro- and nanofibrillar structure of BC, which forms many different-sized pores, creates prerequisites for the introduction of other polymers into it, including those synthesized by other microorganisms. The study aims to develop a cocultivation system of BC and prebiotic producers to obtain BC-based composite material with prebiotic activity. In this study, pullulan (PUL) was found to stimulate the growth of the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG better than the other microbial polysaccharides gellan and xanthan. BC/PUL biocomposite with prebiotic properties was obtained by cocultivation of Komagataeibacter xylinus and Aureobasidium pullulans, BC and PUL producers respectively, on molasses medium. The inclusion of PUL in BC is proved gravimetrically by scanning electron microscopy and by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy. Cocultivation demonstrated a composite effect on the aggregation and binding of BC fibers, which led to a significant improvement in mechanical properties. The developed approach for “grafting” of prebiotic activity on BC allows preparation of environmentally friendly composites of better quality.
Experimental Study of Yield Surface in Polypropylene Considering Rate Effect: Stress Path Dependence
Authors: Zheng Hang , Yi Xiaofei , Tang Zhiping , Zhao Kai , Zhang Yongliang
Published: August 2022

In order to investigate the yield surface evolution of polypropylene (PP) under dynamic impact and the relationship between yield surface parameters and the strain rate, five shear-compression specimens (SCSs) with different inclination angles are designed and produced to explore the yield behavior of PP under dynamic loading. Dynamic combined stress loading paths with different compression-shear ratios are achieved by the split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB). The evolution laws of the compressive stress and shear stress in the measurement region during the PP SCS compressive deformation process are analyzed. In terms of mechanical response, PP under combined compression-shear loading is of visco-elasticity plasticity and its deformation undergoes a three-stage transition, namely “unyield→yield→failure”. The yield characteristics of PP are found to be affected not only by the hydrostatic pressure but also by the stress path. According to the Hu–Pae yield criterion, the dynamic yield surface and model parameters of PP are obtained, and the relationship between the yield surface and the strain rate is ascertained. These findings contribute to deepening the research on the mechanical response characteristics of PP-based materials.
On-the-Fly Formation of Polymer Film at Water Surface
Authors: Vespini Veronica , Coppola Sara , Ferraro Pietro
Published: August 2022

The self-propulsion of bodies floating in water is of great interest for developing new robotic and intelligent systems at different scales, and whenever possible, Marangoni propulsion is an attractive candidate for the locomotion of untethered micro-robots. Significant cases have been shown using liquid and solid surfactants that allow an effective propulsion for bodies floating on water to be achieved. Here, we show for the first time a strategy for activating a twofold functionality where the self-propulsion of a floating body is combined with the formation of a polymer thin film at the water surface. In fact, we demonstrate that by using polymer droplets with an appropriate concentration of solvent and delivering such drops at specific locations onto freely floating objects, it is possible to form “on-the-fly” thin polymer films at the free water surface. By exploiting self-propulsion, a polymer thin film can be formed that could cover quite extensive areas with different shapes depending on the motion of the floating object. This intriguing twice-functionality activated though a single phenomenon, i.e., film formation and related locomotion, could be used in perspective to perform complex operations at water surfaces, such as dynamic liquid packaging, cleaning, and moving away floating particles, monolayer films, or macro-sized objects, as discussed in the text.
Feasibility Study of Fine Water Mist Applied to Cold Storage Fire Protection
Authors: Yin Xiao-Yu , Liu Tao , Liu Ye-Cheng , Tang Yan , Huang An-Chi , Dong Xi-Lin , Liu Yuan-Jun
Published: August 2022

The self-built fine water mist fire extinguishing platform studied the fire extinguishing effect of ultra-fine water mist in cold storage fires. The combustible material selected for our experiments is the cold storage insulation material—polystyrene insulation foam board. The combustion characteristics of the insulation board were studied by pyrolysis analysis. We analyzed the temperature, smoke, and other characteristics of the fire scene when a fire occurs in the cold storage and then manipulated the water mist to carry out the fire extinguishing experiment. Experiments aim to change the particle size and pressure of water mist and study the fire extinguishing efficiency of water mist under different conditions. A thorough analysis was used to determine the particle size range of fine water mist most suited for extinguishing fires in cold storage to offer a theoretical foundation for fire protection design.
A Detailed Process and Techno-Economic Analysis of Methanol Synthesis from H2 and CO2 with Intermediate Condensation Steps
Authors: Lacerda de Oliveira Campos Bruno , John Kelechi , Beeskow Philipp , Herrera Delgado Karla , Pitter Stephan , Dahmen Nicolaus , Sauer Jörg
Published: August 2022

In order to increase the typically low equilibrium CO2 conversion to methanol using commercially proven technology, the addition of two intermediate condensation units between reaction steps is evaluated in this work. Detailed process simulations with heat integration and techno-economic analyses of methanol synthesis from green H2 and captured CO2 are presented here, comparing the proposed process with condensation steps with the conventional approach. In the new process, a CO2 single-pass conversion of 53.9% was achieved, which is significantly higher than the conversion of the conventional process (28.5%) and its equilibrium conversion (30.4%). Consequently, the total recycle stream flow was halved, which reduced reactant losses in the purge stream and the compression work of the recycle streams, lowering operating costs by 4.8% (61.2 M€·a−1). In spite of the additional number of heat exchangers and flash drums related to the intermediate condensation units, the fixed investment costs of the improved process decreased by 22.7% (94.5 M€). This was a consequence of the increased reaction rates and lower recycle flows, reducing the required size of the main equipment. Therefore, intermediate condensation steps are beneficial for methanol synthesis from H2/CO2, significantly boosting CO2 single-pass conversion, which consequently reduces both the investment and operating costs.
Sterilizer of Knives in the Meat Industry, Working by Activating Aqueous Solutions with Glow Discharge Plasma
Authors: Belov Sergey V. , Danileiko Yury K. , Egorov Alexey B. , Lukanin Vladimir I. , Semenova Anastasia A. , Lisitsyn Andrey B. , Revutskaya Natalia M. , Nasonova Victoria V. , Yushina Yulya K. , Tolordava Etery R. , Nasyrov Nazarbay A. , Sinichkina Alena I. , Konchekov Eugeny M. , Matveeva Tatyana A. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: August 2022

The development of approaches for the non-thermal sterilization of instruments is an urgent task to ensure the safety of meat industry products, where the use of hot water leads to the formation of condensates and a deterioration in the hygienic condition of the premises. In this study, an installation for sterilizing knives was created, which works by activating aqueous salt solutions with a glow discharge. The power consumption of the installation reactor is only 125–150 Wh. The temperature rise of the sterilizing agent used is about 1.1 ± 0.2 °C/min/L. The effectiveness of the installation for plasma-activation of aqueous solutions of chloride and sodium sulfate by glow discharge (PAW) in relation to the inactivation of microorganisms, including Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas gessardii and L. monocytogenes, on steel surfaces was evaluated. Samples of stainless steel (parts of knives) were used in two versions (new and artificially aged). Mono- and polyspecies bacterial biofilms were grown on the surface of the samples. The treatment was carried out by immersing samples of steel plates in plasma-activated aqueous solutions. It was found that the treatment of plates in a knife sterilizer for 1 min had an effective effect on the inhibition of all types of studied bacteria.
A Study on the Electro-Hydraulic Coupling Characteristics of an Electro-Hydraulic Servo Pump Control System
Authors: Jiang Wenguang , Zhang Cheng , Jia Pengshuo , Yan Guishan , Ma Rui , Chen Gexin , Ai Chao , Zhang Tiangui
Published: August 2022

Electro-hydraulic servo pump control belongs to an electro-hydraulic coupling motion control system, which involves the mutual penetration and integration of mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, control, and other disciplines, as well as the time-varying, uncertain, multisource, and multifield problems of the internal and external excitation of the system, which makes the electro-hydraulic servo pump control system have the characteristics of a complex model, strong coupling, nonlinearity, and time-variation, resulting in the low accuracy and poor dynamic characteristics of the system. This paper takes a servo motor quantitative pump hydraulic cylinder load as the main dynamic line; divides the electro-hydraulic servo pump control system into a motor pump unit, a hydraulic transmission unit and a power output unit; analyzes its electromechanical coupling characteristics, pressure flow coupling characteristics, and mechanical–hydraulic coupling characteristics, respectively; studies the multiparameter characteristics of the system under the electromechanical–hydraulic coupling conditions; and summarizes the influence laws between the parameters. Finally, through a MATLAB/Simulink simulation, it provides a theoretical basis and guidance for high-performance control of the system.
Nitrogen Removal from the High Nitrate Content Saline Denitration Solution of a Coal-Fired Power Plant by MFC
Authors: Cheng Shaoan , Huang Zhipeng , Wang Zhihua
Published: August 2022

Oxidation denitration is one of the most efficient ways to remove NOx from flue gas in a coal-fired power plant. However, this oxidation denitration produces saline solution containing a high concentration of nitrate, which needs to be well treated. In this paper, MFC was firstly used to treat the high nitrate content saline denitration solution from ozone oxidation denitration of a coal-fired power plant. The influences of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and initial nitrate concentration on the nitrate removal and electricity generation of MFC were investigated by sequencing batch mode. The results showed that using MFCs could efficiently remove nitrate from coal-fired power plant saline denitration solution with nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) concentration up to 1510 mg/L. The average nitrate nitrogen removal rate was as high as 248.3 mg/(L·h) at initial nitrate nitrogen concentration of 745 mg/L and COD concentration of 6.5 g/L, which was eight times as high as that of the conventional biological method. Furthermore, the MFC required an average COD consumption of 3.42 g/g-NO3−-N which was lower than most of the conventional biological methods. In addition, MFC could produce a maximum power density of 241.1 mW/m2 while treating this saline denitration solution.
Temperature-Programmed Reduction of NiO/Al2O3 by Biochar In Situ Generated from Citric Acid
Authors: Cheng Feng , Li Xiuwei
Published: August 2022

The reduction of metal oxides by biochar is an important reaction for many biomass utilization technologies. This work investigated the temperature–programmed reduction (TPR) of NiO/Al2O3 by in situ generated biochar from citric acid pyrolysis. Firstly, NiO/Al2O3 was loaded with citric acid by impregnation and then heated from ambient temperature to 900 °C in a N2 flow. The process was on–line analyzed by the TGA–FTIR technique. Secondly, a series of intermediates was obtained and characterized by XRD, CHNO elemental analysis, and temperature programmed oxidation (TPO). Lastly, a control experiment of unsupported NiO was conducted to show the influence of Al2O3 support on the NiO reduction. Results showed that the whole heating process could be resolved into two parts that is citric acid pyrolysis and NiO reduction at a heating rate of 5 °C/min. The NiO reduction occurred above 400 °C with the biochar from citric acid pyrolysis as reductant. In the temperature–programmed reduction process, the Al2O3–supported NiO exhibited three reduction phases in contrast with only one reduction phase for the unsupported NiO. A hypothesis was proposed to explain this. The presence of Al2O3 support may result in different deposition sites of biochar (on NiO or on Al2O3), and consequently different reduction mechanisms.
Production of Extracellular Lipase by Bacillus halotolerans from Oil-Contaminated Soil in a Pilot-Scale Submerged Bioreactor
Authors: Mahnashi Mater H. , Hombalimath Veeranna S. , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Muddapur Uday M. , Desai Shivalingsarj V. , Achappa Sharanappa , El-Sherbiny Mohamed , Ghoneim Mohammed M. , Jefri Ohoud A. , Alshahrani Mohammed Merae , Alhujaily Muhanad , Al Ali Amer , Mannasaheb Basheerahmed Abdulaziz , Al Awadh Ahmed Abdullah , Khan Aejaz Abdullatif
Published: August 2022

Microbial lipases are the biocatalyst of choice for the present and future because of their characteristics, including their ability to remain active as an enzyme throughout a broad pH, temperature, and substrate range. The goal of the current investigation was to find novel sources of substrates and isolates from soil contaminated by oil for the synthesis of lipase. On tributyrin media, 10 lipolytic bacterial strains that were isolated from oil-contaminated soil were grown. Using the zone of clearance, it was possible to identify the isolates with the highest activity. Following phylogenetic tree analysis, molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA sequence of the bacterial isolates revealed that it was Bacillus halotolerans (VSH 09). The enzyme was purified to near homogeneity. The enzyme activity was found to be optimum at a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 35 °C. While Ni2+ and Cu2+ had no effect, the presence of Mg2+ and Ca2+ exhibited the highest levels of enzyme activity. At 1%, tributyrin as a substrate exhibited its highest level of activity. The molecular weight, as determined by SDS-PAGE, was found to be 38 kDa. The kinetics of the enzyme were found to be 41.66 and 9.37 mg/mL for Vmax and Km, respectively. The high yield of lipase produced by this method suggests that it holds potential for production on a large scale and could be used for various biotechnological applications.
Gel-Forming and Plugging Performance Evaluation of Emulsion Polymer Crosslinking System in Fractured Carbonate Rock
Authors: Wang Jie , Wang Rui , Liu Ping , Xu Hualei
Published: August 2022

The water channeling of fractured carbonate rock seriously affects oil recovery, and this problem is especially serious in the Kazakh North Troyes oilfield. A conventional powder polymer plugging system needs to be hydrated ahead of time, which increases the cost and difficulty of field operation and it cannot realize large-scale plugging operations. The new emulsion polymer crosslinked system can realize rapid hydration and real-time mixing, having low base liquid viscosity and good fluidity and injectability. The results of the laboratory study show that the gelling time of HR9806 emulsion polymer and organic chromium crosslinker was 6~8 h. 0.5 wt % HR9806, which is recommended for field use with P/C ranging from 2.5 to 5.0. The emulsion polymer crosslinking system was found to be highly adaptable in reservoirs and had salinity resistance. Mineral salt and reservoir core were able to enhance the gel strength of the system but shortened the gelling time of the system by about 2 h. The gel (HR9806) had good shear resistance. It still had a viscosity of 220 mPa·s under high-speed shearing (Temperature = 54 °C), and the formed gel system shear resistance increased with increasing concentration. The emulsion system of “0.50 wt % HR9806 emulsion polymer + 0.15 wt % organic chromium crosslinker + brine” had a strong plugging effect in the fractured core and sand-filled pipe model, with residual resistance coefficient ≥30, effective plugging rate ≥ 95.0%, and oil–water selectivity of 0.45. In this paper, the levels of weak gel strength were used, providing an experimental and theoretical reference for improving the application effect of the weak gel system in the field. The study found that the weak gel system can better enter the fractured carbonate reservoir and form a plugging effect in the fracture, improving the effect of subsequent water flooding matrix oil recovery.
Agro-Industrial Wastewater Treatment with Acacia dealbata Coagulation/Flocculation and Photo-Fenton-Based Processes
Authors: Jorge Nuno , Teixeira Ana R. , Lucas Marco S. , Peres José A.
Published: August 2022

The removal of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total polyphenols (TPh) from agro-industrial wastewater was evaluated via the application of coagulation–flocculation–decantation (CFD) and Fenton-based processes. For the CFD process, an organic coagulant based on Acacia dealbata Link. leaf powder (LP) was applied. The results showed that the application of the LP at pH 3.0, with an LP:DOC ratio of 0.5:1 (w/w), achieved a high removal of turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and volatile suspended solids (VSS) of 84.7, 79.1, and 76.6%, respectively. The CFD sludge was recycled as fertilizer in plant culture (germination index ≥ 80%). Afterwards, the direct application of Fenton-based processes to raw WW was assessed. The Fenton-based processes (UV/Fenton, UV/Fenton-like, and heterogeneous UV/Fenton) showed high energy efficiency and a cost of 1.29, 1.31 and 1.82 €/g/L DOC removal, respectively. The combination of both processes showed the near complete removal of TPh and DOC after 240 min of reaction time, with high energy efficiency. In accordance with the results obtained, the combination of CFD with Fenton-based processes achieves the legal limits for the disposal of water into the environment, thus allowing the water to be recycled for irrigation.
Future Risk of Tourism Pressures under Climate Change: A Case Study in the Three-River-Source National Park
Authors: Zeng Yuxi , Wang Ling-en , Zhong Linsheng
Published: August 2022

Tourism is considered one of the main sources of pressure on the global ecosystem, which is being increasingly affected by climate change. Few studies have evaluated the spatial patterns of tourism pressure that ecosystems will suffer under the changing climate in the future. Considering the Three-River-Source National Park, China, as the study area, we applied statistical and remote sensing techniques to examine the spatial pattern of the risk of tourism pressure in 2070 and 2100 under two climate scenarios: the representative concentration pathway of radiative forcing levels of 8.5 W/m2 (RCP8.5) and RCP4.5. The results indicate that regions at high risk of tourism pressure in the study area will expand in the future. Areas with a high risk of tourism pressure in 2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario accounted for 6.75% of the entire study area, with the largest area under impact being in the Lancang-River-Source Park, accounting for 20.61% of the sub-park. The distribution density of areas with a high risk of tourism pressure in 2100 is also the highest under RCP8.5 (5.3 points/km2), and the average density of Lancang-River-Source Park will be the highest (16.58 points/km2) among the three sub-parks, suggesting that larger areas of the Three-River-Source National Park will face an increased risk of tourism pressure in the context of future climate change, with the greatest change poised to be in the Lancang-River-Source Park. Tourism pressure management strategies must be implemented in these areas with an increased risk of tourism pressure. This study provides useful insights for managing tourism pressures and improving adaptability under climate change.
Subsidence Monitoring and Mechanism Analysis of Anju Airport in Suining Based on InSAR and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Wang Ting , Zhang Rui , Zhan Runqing , Shama Age , Liao Mingjie , Bao Xin , He Liu , Zhan Junyu
Published: August 2022

The mountainous area of southwest China is characterized by significant topography and complex geological conditions, which pose great challenges to the airport’s site selection, construction, and safe operation. Suining Anju Airport, one of the key projects under construction in southwest China, is essential in alleviating and dredging the air passenger flow in Sichuan Province. Because the overlying quaternary strata’s physical and mechanical properties, thickness, and distribution range are fairly different in the longitudinal and transverse directions, the Anju Airport’s foundation in the hilly area has typical inhomogeneity. Large-scale excavation and filling pose a challenge to the ground stability of the airport. To comprehensively monitor Anju Airport’s uneven ground subsidence during the construction period, this paper selected SAR image data collected by the Sentinel-1A satellite from May 2018 to June 2021 to extract time-series ground subsidence measurements based on the SBAS-InSAR method. Furthermore, based on the simulation of roadbed filling in the airport’s parallel slide fill area, the dynamic evolution analysis of soil stress field and internal subsidence caused by roadbed filling activities was carried out to further reveal the occurrence mechanism of ground subsidence. The monitoring results show that the subsidence centers of Anju Airport are mainly distributed in the filling areas, and the average annual subsidence is −20~−75 mm/yr from May 2018 to June 2021. Comparative analysis with in situ data indicates that the RMSE of InSAR monitoring results was ±6.12 mm. The numerical simulation shows that the subsidence of the airport parallel slide is mainly caused by a load of subgrade filling body and the compression of its weight. The results of this study can provide reference methodology and data support for the construction and future safe operation of Suining Anju Airport.
Weighted Mean Temperature Hybrid Models in China Based on Artificial Neural Network Methods
Authors: Cai Meng , Li Junyu , Liu Lilong , Huang Liangke , Zhou Lv , Huang Ling , He Hongchang
Published: August 2022

The weighted mean temperature (Tm) is crucial for converting zenith wet delay to precipitable water vapor in global navigation satellite system meteorology. Mainstream Tm models have the shortcomings of poor universality and severe local accuracy loss, and they cannot reflect the nonlinear relationship between Tm and meteorological/spatiotemporal factors. Artificial neural network methods can effectively solve these problems. This study combines the advantages of the models that need in situ meteorological parameters and the empirical models to propose Tm hybrid models based on artificial neural network methods. The verification results showed that, compared with the Bevis, GPT3, and HGPT models, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the new three hybrid models were reduced by 35.3%/32.0%/31.6%, 40.8%/37.8%/37.4%, and 39.5%/36.4%/36.0%, respectively. The consistency of the new three hybrid models was more stable than the Bevis, GPT3, and HGPT models in terms of space and time. In addition, the three models occupy 99.6% less computer storage space than the GPT3 model, and the number of parameters was reduced by 99.2%. To better evaluate the improvement of hybrid models Tm in the precipitable water vapor (PWV) retrieval, the PWVs calculated using the radiosonde Tm and zenith wet delay (ZWD) were used as the reference. The RMSE of PWV derived from the best hybrid model’s Tm and the radiosonde ZWD meets the demand for meteorological research and is improved by 33.9%, 36.4%, and 37.0% compared with that of Bevis, GPT3, and HGPT models, respectively. The hypothesis testing results further verified that these improvements are significant. Therefore, these new models can be used for high-precision Tm estimation in China, especially in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers without ample storage space.
Aerosol Monitoring at High Mountains Remote Station: A Case Study on the Yunnan Plateau (China)
Authors: Sannino Alessia , Amoruso Salvatore , Boselli Antonella , Wang Xuan , Zhao Yiming
Published: August 2022

In January 2016, a measurement campaign was carried out by the China Meteorological Administration, the Beijing Research Institute of Telemetry, and the Physics Department of the University of Naples “Federico II” in the Yulong Naxi Autonomous County (China) at 3200 m above sea level to evaluate the air quality in the high mountains with the lidar technique. Here we report on an interesting event that occurred on 16 January between 12.00 and 00.00 UTC, when a striking aerosol stratification was observed on the site. Aerosol transport events are studied starting from lidar characterization of different aerosol masses. From lidar signals at 355 and 532 nm, integrated on 30 min, the aerosol characterization is done in terms of aerosol depolarization ratio with a spatial resolution of 60 m and color ratio; these parameters allow for highlighting a phenomenon of aerosol transport from the Tibetan plateau planetary boundary layer and from northern India. The initial layer is composed of a mixture of aerosols characterized by average values of the aerosol depolarization ratio and the color ratio of (30 ± 2)% and (0.9 ± 0.2), respectively, indicating a large non-spherical aerosol composition. Then, the deposition of this aerosol load ensues, and aerosols with such features are progressively observed at lower altitudes.
Earth Observation Satellite Imagery Information Based Decision Support Using Machine Learning
Authors: Ferreira Bruno , Silva Rui G. , Iten Muriel
Published: August 2022

This paper presented a review on the capabilities of machine learning algorithms toward Earth observation data modelling and information extraction. The main purpose was to identify new trends in the application of or research on machine learning and Earth observation—as well as to help researchers positioning new development in these domains, considering the latest peer-reviewed articles. A review of Earth observation concepts was presented, as well as current approaches and available data, followed by different machine learning applications and algorithms. Special attention was given to the contribution, potential and capabilities of Earth observation-machine learning approaches. The findings suggested that the combination of Earth observation and machine learning was successfully applied in several different fields across the world. Additionally, it was observed that all machine learning categories could be used to analyse Earth observation data or to improve acquisition processes and that RF, SVM, K-Means, NN (CNN and GAN) and A2C were among the most-used techniques. In conclusion, the combination of these technologies could prove to be crucial in a wide range of fields (e.g., agriculture, climate and biology) and should be further explored for each specific domain.
Performance Evaluation of Six Gridded Precipitation Products throughout Iran Using Ground Observations over the Last Two Decades (2000–2020)
Authors: Ghorbanian Arsalan , Mohammadzadeh Ali , Jamali Sadegh , Duan Zheng
Published: August 2022

Precipitation, as an important component of the Earth’s water cycle, plays a determinant role in various socio-economic practices. Consequently, having access to high-quality and reliable precipitation datasets is highly demanded. Although Gridded Precipitation Products (GPPs) have been widely employed in different applications, the lack of quantitative assessment of GPPs is a critical concern that should be addressed. This is because the inherent errors in GPPs would propagate into any models in which precipitation values are incorporated, introducing uncertainties into the final results. This paper aims to quantify the capability of six well-known GPPs (TMPA, CHIRPS, PERSIANN, GSMaP, IMERG, and ERA5) at multiple time scales (daily, monthly, and yearly) using in situ observations (over 1.7 million) throughout Iran over the past two decades (2000–2020). Both continuous and categorical metrics were implemented for precipitation intensity and occurrence assessment based on the point-to-pixel comparison approach. Although all metrics did not support the superior performance of any specific GPP, taking all investigations into account, the findings suggested the better performance of the Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP) in estimating daily precipitation (CC = 0.599, RMSE = 3.48 mm/day, and CSI = 0.454). Based on the obtained continuous metrics, all the GPPs had better performances in dry months, while this did not hold for the categorical metrics. The validation at the station level was also carried out to present the spatial characteristics of errors throughout Iran, indicating higher overestimation/underestimation in regions with higher precipitation rates. The validation analysis over the last two decades illustrated that the GPPs had stable performances, and no improvement was seen, except for the GSMaP, in which its bias error was significantly reduced. The comparisons on monthly and yearly time scales suggested the higher accuracy of monthly and yearly averaged precipitation values than accumulated values. Our study provides valuable guidance to the selection and application of GPPs in Iran and also offers beneficial feedback for further improving these products.
Multi-Sensor Sea Surface Temperature Products from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology
Authors: Govekar Pallavi Devidas , Griffin Christopher , Beggs Helen
Published: August 2022

Sea surface temperature (SST) products that can resolve fine scale features, such as sub-mesoscale eddies, ocean fronts and coastal upwelling, are increasingly in demand. In response to user requirements for gap-free, highest spatial resolution, best quality and highest accuracy SST data, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) produces operational, real-time Multi-sensor SST level 3 products by compositing SST from Advanced Very-High-Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors on Meteorological Operational satellite (MetOp)-B and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 18, along with SST from Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensors on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) and NOAA 20 polar-orbiting satellites for the Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) project. Here we discuss our method to combine data from different sensors and present validation of the satellite-derived SST against in situ SST data. The Multi-sensor Level 3 Super Collated (L3S) SSTs exhibit significantly greater spatial coverage and improved accuracy compared with the pre-existing IMOS AVHRR-only L3S SSTs. When compared to the Geo Polar Blended level 4 analysis SST data over the Great Barrier Reef, Multi-sensor L3S SST differs by less than 1 °C while exhibiting a wider range of SSTs over the region. It shows more variability and restores small-scale features better than the Geo Polar Blended level 4 analysis SST data. The operational Multi-sensor L3S SST products are used as input for applications such as IMOS OceanCurrent and the BoM ReefTemp Next-Generation Coral Bleaching Nowcasting service and provide useful insight into the study of marine heatwaves and ocean upwelling in near-coastal regions.
A Study of a Severe Spring Dust Event in 2021 over East Asia with WRF-Chem and Multiple Platforms of Observations
Authors: Tang Weiqi , Dai Tie , Cheng Yueming , Wang Su , Liu Yuzhi
Published: August 2022

In this study, we investigate the most severe East Asian dust storm in the past decade that occurred on 14–16 March 2021 based on the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with chemistry (WRF-Chem) and a variety of site measurements and satellite retrievals. The dust emissions from the Gobi Desert, especially over Mongolia on March 14, are the dominant sources of this intense dust event. The maximal hourly accumulated dust emissions over Mongolian and Chinese areas reached 1490.18 kt at 07:00 UTC on 14 March and 821.70 kt at 2:00 UTC on 15 March, respectively. During this dust event, the accumulated dust emissions in coarse modes (i.e., bin 4 and bin 5) account for 64.1% of the total dust emission mass, and the accumulated dust emissions in fine modes (i.e., bin 1) are the least, accounting for 7.6% of the total dust emission mass. Because the coarse mode bins of dust dominate the emissions, the downwind transported coarse mode particles can affect the North China Plain, while the fine particles can only affect the desert source and its surrounding regions such as the Gansu and Ningxia provinces. Due to the dust emissions and the dust transport path, the high AOD areas are located in the Gobi Desert and Northwest China and the vertical spatial distributions of aerosol extinction coefficients have the same characteristics. We also found the model drawback of overestimating simulated wind speeds, which leads to the overestimations of dust emissions and concentrations, indicating the urgency of improving the simulated wind field.
Monitoring Cropland Abandonment in Hilly Areas with Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 Timeseries
Authors: He Shan , Shao Huaiyong , Xian Wei , Yin Ziqiang , You Meng , Zhong Jialong , Qi Jiaguo
Published: August 2022

Abandoned cropland may lead to a series of issues regarding the environment, ecology, and food security. In hilly areas, cropland is prone to be abandoned due to scattered planting, relatively fewer sunlight hours, and a lower agricultural input–output ratio. Furthermore, the impact of abandoned rainfed cropland differs from abandoned irrigated cropland; thus, the corresponding land strategies vary accordingly. Unfortunately, monitoring abandoned cropland is still an enormous challenge in hilly areas. In this study, a new approach was proposed by (1) improving the availability of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images by a series of processes, (2) obtaining training samples from multisource data overlay analysis and timeseries viewer tool, (3) mapping annual land cover from all available Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images, training samples, and the random forest classifier, and (4) mapping the spatiotemporal distribution of abandoned rainfed cropland and irrigated cropland in hilly areas by assessing land-cover trajectories along with time. The result showed that rainfed cropland had lower F1 scores (0.759 to 0.8) compared to that irrigated cropland (0.836 to 0.879). High overall accuracies of around 0.90 were achieved, with the kappa values ranging from 0.851 to 0.862, which outperformed the existing products in accuracy and spatial detail. Our study provides a reference for extracting the spatiotemporal distribution of abandoned rainfed cropland and irrigated cropland in hilly areas.
Mapping Forest Stability within Major Biomes Using Canopy Indices Derived from MODIS Time Series
Authors: Shestakova Tatiana A. , Mackey Brendan , Hugh Sonia , Dean Jackie , Kukavskaya Elena A. , Laflamme Jocelyne , Shvetsov Evgeny G. , Rogers Brendan M.
Published: August 2022

Deforestation and forest degradation from human land use, including primary forest loss, are of growing concern. The conservation of old-growth and other forests with important environmental values is central to many international initiatives aimed at protecting biodiversity, mitigating climate change impacts, and supporting sustainable livelihoods. Current remote-sensing products largely focus on deforestation rather than forest degradation and are dependent on machine learning, calibrated with extensive field measurements. To help address this, we developed a novel approach for mapping forest ecosystem stability, defined in terms of constancy, which is a key characteristic of long-undisturbed (including primary) forests. Our approach categorizes forests into stability classes based on satellite-data time series related to plant water–carbon relationships. Specifically, we used long-term dynamics of the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the canopy (fPAR) and shortwave infrared water stress index (SIWSI) derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for the period 2003–2018. We calculated a set of variables from annual time series of fPAR and SIWSI for representative forest regions at opposite ends of Earth’s climatic and latitudinal gradients: boreal forests of Siberia (southern taiga, Russia) and tropical rainforests of the Amazon basin (Kayapó territory, Brazil). Independent validation drew upon high-resolution Landsat imagery and forest cover change data. The results indicate that the proposed approach is accurate and applicable across forest biomes and, thereby, provides a timely and transferrable method to aid in the identification and conservation of stable forests. Information on the location of less stable forests is equally relevant for ecological restoration, reforestation, and proforestation activities.
Single-Epoch Ambiguity Resolution of a Large-Scale CORS Network with Multi-Frequency and Multi-Constellation GNSS
Authors: Ji Shengyue , Liu Guofeng , Weng Duojie , Wang Zhenjie , He Kaifei , Chen Wu
Published: August 2022

Ambiguity resolution at Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) network sites is the key step in the whole processing chain of Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK). An appropriate ambiguity-resolution speed is important, and single-epoch ambiguity resolution has not been realized yet, especially for large-scale CORS. We attempt to realize single-epoch ambiguity resolution for a large-scale CORS network by neglecting tropospheric delay through forming difference between satellites with close mapping functions whether they belong to the same or different GNSSs. As only two frequency bands are shared among GPS, Galileo and BeiDou, the biggest challenge is how to get this single-epoch ambiguity solution for wide-lane combinations of L1 and L5 when the difference is formed between satellites of different GNSSs. The proposed method includes five steps for ambiguity resolution for different combinations: extra wide-lane, wide-lane, inter-GNSS wide-lane, subset narrow-lane and narrow-lane. The single-epoch ambiguity-resolution performance is assessed based on GNSS observations from two long-distance baselines formed with IGS stations, BRUX-REDU and BAUT-LEIJ, separated by distances of approximately 104 km and 151 km, respectively. The numerical results show that the fixing rate of the single-epoch ambiguity resolution can reach more than 90%, so for a large-scale CORS network, single-epoch ambiguity resolution is feasible and can be realized in the future.
Surface Deformation Analysis of the Houston Area Using Time Series Interferometry and Emerging Hot Spot Analysis
Authors: Khan Shuhab D. , Gadea Otto C. A. , Tello Alvarado Alyssa , Tirmizi Osman A.
Published: August 2022

Cities in the northern Gulf of Mexico, such as Houston, have experienced one of the fastest rates of subsidence, with groundwater/hydrocarbon withdrawal being considered the primary cause. This work reports substantial ground subsidence in a few parts of Greater Houston and adjoining areas not reported before. Observation of surface deformation using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data obtained from Sentinel-1A shows total subsidence of up to 9 cm in some areas from 2016 to 2020. Most of the area within the Houston city limits shows no substantial subsidence, but growing suburbs around the city, such as Katy in the west, Spring and The Woodlands in the north and northwest, and Fresno in the south, show subsidence. In this study, we performed emerging hot spot analysis on InSAR displacement products to identify areas undergoing significant subsidence. To investigate the contributions of groundwater to subsidence, we apply optimized hot spot analysis to groundwater level data collected over the past 31 years from over 71,000 water wells and look at the correlation with fault surface deformation patterns. To evaluate the contribution of oil/gas pumping, we applied optimized hot spot analysis to known locations of oil and gas wells. The high rate of water pumping in the suburbs is the main driver of subsidence, but oil/gas withdrawal plays an important role in areas such as Mont Belvieu. Displacement time series shows that the Clodine, Hockley, and Woodgate faults are active, whereas the Long Point Fault shows no motion, although it was once very active.
Analysis of Vehicle Stability When Using Two-Post Above-Ground Automotive Lifts: Support Pad Slippage
Authors: Burlet-Vienney Damien , Galy Bertrand , Cusson Bertrand Kariane , Beaugrand Sylvie , Gonella Maud , Ledoux Élise
Published: August 2022

Vehicles falling off two-post above-ground (2PAG) lifts is a fairly frequent occurrence. As only limited knowledge is available about the determinants influencing the stability of lifting vehicles with a 2PAG lift, two experimental designs were carried out in order to have quantitative data. This paper addresses support pad slippage as a result of external forces being exerted on a vehicle. The experimental design is based on the consultation of the key players that identify the main issues related to the support pads. The controlled factors chosen in this experimental design were lift support pad type and position, smear on pads, arm locking and external force type. Based on the analysis of variance, factors that had a significant influence on the support pad slippage were (i) support pad type, (ii) external force type and (iii) the interaction between those two controlled factors. Arm locking and support pad position were not statistically significant. From a practical standpoint, initial placement of the support pad is, however, a major safety measure, as support pad slippage went up to 53% of the pad half-width. These results should challenge 2PAG lift manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers to come up with support pad and lifting point designs, respectively, that would reduce this inherent risk of the 2PAG lifts.
Occurrence, Distribution and Health Risk of Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCPs) in China: A Critical Review
Authors: Zhang Xufeng , Fan Ru , Xu Yang , Gao Yun-Ze , Bizimana Aaron , Naidoo Anastacia Rochelle , Han Bao-Cang , Meng Xiang-Zhou
Published: August 2022

With being listed in the Stockholm Convention, the ban on short-chain chlorinated paraffins (SCCPs) has been put on the agenda in China. Based on the literature over the past decade, this study comprehensively analyzed the occurrence, distribution of and human exposure to SCCPs in China, aiming to provide a reference for the changes in SCCPs after the ban. SCCPs were ubiquitous in environmental matrices, and the levels were considerably higher than those in other countries. SCCPs from the emission region were 2–4 orders of magnitude higher than those in the background area. Environmental processes may play an important role in the SCCP profiles in the environment, and C10 and Cl6 were identified as potential factors distinguishing their spatial distribution. River input was the dominant source in the sea areas, and atmospheric transport was the main source in the remote inland areas. Ingestion and dermal absorption and food intake may pose potential risk to residents, especially for children and infants. More studies are needed on their temporal trend, source emission and environmental degradation. The enactment of the restriction order will have a great impact on China’s CP industry; nevertheless, it will play a positive role in the remediation of SCCP pollution in the environment.
Teacher Learning Communities and Leadership: Insights from A DEIS Urban Second-Level School
Authors: Murphy Timothy R. N. , Masterson Mary
Published: August 2022

This article explores the connection between teaching effectiveness and participation in teacher learning communities (TLCs) in the context of a second-level co-educational urban school. In particular, it examines the role of educational leadership in their development and concomitantly toward the enhancement of teaching and learning. Seven teachers contributed to the research across two existing TLCs at the site school. It emerged that relationships and respect amongst the participants are pivotal to their effectiveness. It also transpired that both learning communities that were the focus of this study are characterized by a democratic style of leadership. Such however was possibly largely on account of the leadership style that this study found to be present in the school. Particular importance was attached to the significance of “professional relationships” for effective TLCs. It is recognized that further research on the nature of these relationships in the context of a constantly developing and changing education system will be beneficial and of the concomitant leadership styles that will provide the optimum context for these relationships to flourish.
Transgressive Behavior in Dutch Youth Sport
Authors: Schipper-van Veldhoven Nicolette , Mulder Joris , Cuelenaere Boukje , Zandvliet Robbert , Farzan Kimberly , Reijnen Miriam
Published: August 2022

The current article reports on the second large-scale prevalence study on transgressive behavior in sport in the Netherlands, and is a follow up of an earlier, comparable prevalence study in 2015. Using a dedicated and customized online questionnaire, approximately 4000 adults who met the inclusion criteria (18 to 50 years old and have played sports in an organized context during childhood in the Netherlands) were surveyed with respect to their experiences of childhood psychological, physical, and sexual transgressive behavior while playing sports. The survey showed that 71.7% experienced some form of transgressive behavior as a child, in which 48.6% of these events also made an impact (in other words, was significant at the time it took place). The degree of impact the event made is also related to the severity of the event. Severe emotional transgression events occurred in 22% of the youth athletes, severe physical assault events in 12.7%, and severe sexual assault events occurred in 6.9% of the youth athletes. Disabled athletes, and those competing at national and international levels, report more experiences of transgressive behavior in sport. The results are consistent with former research and indicate the need for structural attention to create a safe sports climate.