bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atmospheric Ducts and Their Electromagnetic Propagation Characteristics in the Northwestern South China Sea
Authors: Yang Ning , Su Debin , Wang Tao
Published: June 2023

The propagation of electromagnetic waves beyond the line of sight can be caused by atmospheric ducts, which are significant concerns in the fields of radar and communication. This paper utilizes data from seven automatic weather stations and five radio-sounding stations to statistically analyze the characteristics of the atmospheric ducts in the northwest region of the South China Sea (SCS). After verifying the practicality of numerical analysis data from NCEP CFSv2 and ECMWF in studying atmospheric ducts using measured data, we analyzed the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics of the height of the regional evaporation duct and the bottom height of the elevated duct. The study found that the NCEP CFSv2 data accurately capture the evaporation duct height and duct occurrence rate in the study area, and the elevated duct bottom height calculated from ERA5 and the measured data have good consistency. The occurrence rate and height of the evaporation duct in coastal stations in the northwest of the SCS vary significantly by month, demonstrating clear monthly distribution patterns; conversely, changes in the Xisha station are minimal, indicating good temporal uniformity. For lower atmospheric ducts, the difference in occurrence rates between 00:00 and 12:00 (UTC) is negligible. The occurrence probability of elevated ducts in the Beibu Gulf area is relatively high, mainly concentrated from January to April, and the Xisha area is dominated by surface ducts without foundation layers, mainly concentrated from June to August. Monsoons play a critical role in the generation and evolution of atmospheric ducts in the northwest of the SCS, with the height of the evaporation duct increasing and the bottom height of the elevated duct decreasing after the onset of the summer monsoon. In the end, we simulated electromagnetic propagation loss under different frequencies and radiation elevation angles in various duct environments within a typical atmospheric duct structure.
Improved Multi-GNSS PPP Partial Ambiguity Resolution Method Based on Two-Step Sorting Criterion
Authors: Zhao Lin , Sun Zhiguo , Yang Fuxin , Liu Xiaosong , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2023

Multi-GNSS PPP partial ambiguity resolution (PAR) can improve the fixing success rate and shorten the time to first fix (TTFF). Ambiguity subset selection based on the bootstrapping success rate sorting criterion (BSSC) is widely used in PPP PAR due to its ease of computation and comprehensive evaluation of the global quality of ambiguity solutions. However, due to the influence of unmodeled errors, such as atmospheric residuals and gross errors, ambiguity parameter estimation will inevitably introduce bias. For ambiguity parameters with bias, their variance will converge incorrectly and will not accurately reflect the estimation accuracy. As a result, the selected ambiguity subset based on the BSSC becomes inaccurate, affecting the fixing success rate and TTFF. Therefore, we proposed an improved multi-GNSS PPP PAR method based on a two-step sorting criterion (TSSC). This method aims to address the influence of inaccurate variance of ambiguity parameters, particularly those with low observation quality, on the ambiguity subset selection based on the BSSC. The ambiguity subset satisfying the preset success rate threshold is selected to reduce the influence of unconverged ambiguity on the TSSC. In the first step of the sorting process, the observations whose elevation angle is below 30° or whose posterior residual falls into the IGG3 model reduction domain are clustered together. The posterior observation weight criterion (POWC) instead of the BSSC is adopted to sort ambiguities to overcome the false convergence of variance of ambiguity parameters. In the second step of the sorting process, the remaining ambiguities with reasonable variances are sorted based on the BSSC. Finally, the bottom ambiguity is removed one by one from the ambiguity subset sorted based on the two-step sorting criterion (TSSC) until the requirements of the ratio test for LAMBDA are met. The static data from 10 MGEX stations over a period of 30 days, along with urban kinematic data, were collected to validate the proposed method. Compared with the PAR based on the BSSC, the static experiments demonstrated a reduction of 8.7% and 16.8% in the TTFF and convergence time, respectively. Additionally, the positioning accuracy in the east, north, and up directions was improved by 20.1%, 17.1%, and 4.67%, respectively. Furthermore, the kinematic experiment revealed that the TTFF and convergence time decreased from 1.65 min and 10.5 min to 1.3 min and 1.8 min, respectively, with higher positioning accuracy.
Recent Approaches to Design and Analysis of Electrical Impedance Systems for Single Cells Using Machine Learning
Authors: Ferguson Caroline , Zhang Yu , Palego Cristiano , Cheng Xuanhong
Published: June 2023

Individual cells have many unique properties that can be quantified to develop a holistic understanding of a population. This can include understanding population characteristics, identifying subpopulations, or elucidating outlier characteristics that may be indicators of disease. Electrical impedance measurements are rapid and label-free for the monitoring of single cells and generate large datasets of many cells at single or multiple frequencies. To increase the accuracy and sensitivity of measurements and define the relationships between impedance and biological features, many electrical measurement systems have incorporated machine learning (ML) paradigms for control and analysis. Considering the difficulty capturing complex relationships using traditional modelling and statistical methods due to population heterogeneity, ML offers an exciting approach to the systemic collection and analysis of electrical properties in a data-driven way. In this work, we discuss incorporation of ML to improve the field of electrical single cell analysis by addressing the design challenges to manipulate single cells and sophisticated analysis of electrical properties that distinguish cellular changes. Looking forward, we emphasize the opportunity to build on integrated systems to address common challenges in data quality and generalizability to save time and resources at every step in electrical measurement of single cells.
STMS-YOLOv5: A Lightweight Algorithm for Gear Surface Defect Detection
Authors: Yan Rui , Zhang Rangyong , Bai Jinqiang , Hao Huijuan , Guo Wenjie , Gu Xiaoyan , Liu Qi
Published: June 2023

Most deep-learning-based object detection algorithms exhibit low speeds and accuracy in gear surface defect detection due to their high computational costs and complex structures. To solve this problem, a lightweight model for gear surface defect detection, namely STMS-YOLOv5, is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the ShuffleNetv2 module is employed as the backbone to reduce the giga floating-point operations per second and the number of parameters. Secondly, transposed convolution upsampling is used to enhance the learning capability of the network. Thirdly, the max efficient channel attention mechanism is embedded in the neck to compensate for the accuracy loss caused by the lightweight backbone. Finally, the SIOU_Loss is adopted as the bounding box regression loss function in the prediction part to speed up the model convergence. Experiments show that STMS-YOLOv5 achieves frames per second of 130.4 and 133.5 on the gear and NEU-DET steel surface defect datasets, respectively. The number of parameters and GFLOPs are reduced by 44.4% and 50.31%, respectively, while the mAP@0.5 reaches 98.6% and 73.5%, respectively. Extensive ablation and comparative experiments validate the effectiveness and generalization capability of the model in industrial defect detection.
Evaluating Optical Clock Performance for GNSS Positioning
Authors: Boldbaatar Enkhtuvshin , Grant Donald , Choy Suelynn , Zaminpardaz Safoora , Holden Lucas
Published: June 2023

Atomic clocks are highly precise timing devices used in numerous Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) applications on the ground and in outer space. In recent years, however, more precise timing solutions based on optical technology have been introduced as current technology capabilities advance. State-of-the-art optical clocks—predicted to be the next level of their predecessor atomic clocks—have achieved ultimate uncertainty of 1 × 10−18 and beyond, which exceeds the best atomic clock’s performance by two orders of magnitude. Hence, the successful development of optical clocks has drawn significant attention in academia and industry to exploit many more opportunities. This paper first provides an overview of the emerging optical clock technology, its current development, and characteristics, followed by a clock stability analysis of some of the successfully developed optical clocks against current Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) satellite clocks to discuss the optical clock potentiality in GNSS positioning. The overlapping Allan Deviation (ADEV) method is applied to estimate the satellite clock stability from International GNSS Service (IGS) clock products, whereas the optical clock details are sourced from the existing literature. The findings are (a) the optical clocks are more stable than that of atomic clocks onboard GNSS satellites, though they may require further technological maturity to meet spacecraft payload requirements, and (b) in GNSS positioning, optical clocks could potentially offer less than a 1 mm range error (clock-related) in 30 s and at least 10 times better timing performance after 900 s in contrast to the Galileo satellite atomic clocks—which is determined in this study as the most stable GNSS atomic clock type used in satellite positioning.
Camera-Aided Orientation of Mobile Lidar Point Clouds Acquired from an Uncrewed Water Vehicle
Authors: Sardemann Hannes , Blaskow Robert , Maas Hans-Gerd
Published: June 2023

This article presents a system for recording 3D point clouds of riverbanks with a mobile lidar mounted on an uncrewed water vehicle. The focus is on the orientation of the platform and the lidar sensor. Rivers are areas where the conditions for highly accurate GNSS can be sub-optimal due to multipath effects from the water and shadowing effects by bridges, steep valleys, trees, or other objects at the riverbanks. Furthermore, a small measurement platform may have an effect on the accuracy of orientations measured by an IMU; for instance, caused by electromagnetic fields emitted by the boat rotors, the lidar, and other hardware decreasing IMU accuracy. As an alternative, we use exterior orientation parameters obtained by photogrammetric methods from the images of a camera on the boat capturing the riverbanks in time-lapse mode. Using control points and tie points on the riverbanks enables georeferenced position and orientation determination from the image data, which can then be used to transform the lidar data into a global coordinate system. The main influences on the accuracy of the camera orientations are the distance to the riverbanks, the size of the banks, and the amount of vegetation on them. Moreover, the quality of the camera orientation-based lidar point cloud also depends on the time synchronization of camera and lidar. The paper describes the data processing steps for the geometric lidar–camera integration and delivers a validation of the accuracy potential. For quality assessment of a point cloud acquired with the described method, a comparison with terrestrial laser scanning has been carried out.
Smart Preventive Maintenance of Hybrid Networks and IoT Systems Using Software Sensing and Future State Prediction
Authors: Minea Marius , Minea Viviana Laetitia , Semenescu Augustin
Published: June 2023

At present, IoT and intelligent applications are developed on a large scale. However, these types of new applications require stable wireless connectivity with sensors, based on several standards of communication, such as ZigBee, LoRA, nRF, Bluetooth, or cellular (LTE, 5G, etc.). The continuous expansion of these networks and services also comes with the requirement of a stable level of service, which makes the task of maintenance operators more difficult. Therefore, in this research, an integrated solution for the management of preventive maintenance is proposed, employing software-defined sensing for hardware components, applications, and client satisfaction. A specific algorithm for monitoring the levels of services was developed, and an integrated instrument to assist the management of preventive maintenance was proposed, which are based on the network of future states prediction. A case study was also investigated for smart city applications to verify the expandability and flexibility of the approach. The purpose of this research is to improve the efficiency and response time of the preventive maintenance, helping to rapidly recover the required levels of service, thus increasing the resilience of complex systems.
Cervical Range of Motion Assessment through Inertial Technology: A Validity and Reliability Study
Authors: Palmieri Martina , Donno Lucia , Cimolin Veronica , Galli Manuela
Published: June 2023

Inertial technology has spread widely for its comfortable use and adaptability to various motor tasks. The main objective of this study was to assess the validity of inertial measurements of the cervical spine range of motion (CROM) when compared to that of the optoelectronic system in a group of healthy individuals. A further aim of this study was to determine the optimal placement of the inertial sensor in terms of reliability of the measure, comparing measurements obtained from the same device placed at the second cervical vertebra (C2), the forehead (F) and the external occipital protuberance (EOP). Twenty healthy subjects were recruited and asked to perform flexion–extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation movements of the head. Outcome measurements of interest were CROM and mean angular velocities for each cervical movement. Results showed that inertial measurements have good reliability (0.75 < ICC < 0.9). Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.9) was found in both flexion and right lateral bending angles. All parameters extracted with EOP placement showed ICC > 0.62, while ICC < 0.5 was found in lateral bending mean angular velocities both for F and C2 placements. Therefore, the optimal sensor’s positioning emerged to be EOP. These results suggest that inertial technology could be useful and reliable for the evaluation of the CROM.
Development and Optimization of a Novel Soft Sensor Modeling Method for Fermentation Process of Pichia pastoris
Authors: Wang Bo , Liu Jun , Yu Ameng , Wang Haibo
Published: June 2023

This paper introduces a novel soft sensor modeling method based on BDA-IPSO-LSSVM designed to address the issue of model failure caused by varying fermentation data distributions resulting from different operating conditions during the fermentation of different batches of Pichia pastoris. First, the problem of significant differences in data distribution among different batches of the fermentation process is addressed by adopting the balanced distribution adaptation (BDA) method from transfer learning. This method reduces the data distribution differences among batches of the fermentation process, while the fuzzy set concept is employed to improve the BDA method by transforming the classification problem into a regression prediction problem for the fermentation process. Second, the soft sensor model for the fermentation process is developed using the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM). The model parameters are optimized by an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm based on individual differences. Finally, the data obtained from the Pichia pastoris fermentation experiment are used for simulation, and the developed soft sensor model is applied to predict the cell concentration and product concentration during the fermentation process of Pichia pastoris. Simulation results demonstrate that the IPSO algorithm has good convergence performance and optimization performance compared with other algorithms. The improved BDA algorithm can make the soft sensor model adapt to different operating conditions, and the proposed soft sensor method outperforms existing methods, exhibiting higher prediction accuracy and the ability to accurately predict the fermentation process of Pichia pastoris under different operating conditions.
Investigation on Rheological Properties and Microscopic Mechanisms of Sasobit/Buton Rock Asphalt Modified Asphalt
Authors: Liu Wei , Wu Shaopeng , Jiang Qi , Zhao Zenggang , Yang Xinkui , Xie Jun
Published: June 2023

The objective of this study is to develop a modified asphalt with excellent rheology and workability. Buton rock asphalt (BRA) composite modified warm mix asphalt (BCMWMA) was prepared, and its rheological properties and micromechanisms were investigated. Initially, warm mix asphalt (WMA) was prepared using 3 wt% Sasobit, and then four BCMWMA samples were prepared by blending 5 wt% to 20 wt% of BRA (with 5 wt% intervals). Subsequently, the microscopic morphology and modification mechanism of BCMWMA were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests. Finally, the rheological properties of BCMWMA were examined through conventional properties tests, rotational viscosity tests (RV), dynamic shear rheological tests (DSR) and bending beam rheometer tests (BBR). The results indicate that the BRA and Sasobit composite modifications primarily involve physical modification. BRA improves the high-temperature performance of the modified asphalt but reduces its low-temperature performance. Overall, the BCMWMA exhibits excellent high-temperature performance and workability, contributing to the green and sustainable development of asphalt pavement engineering.
Multicriteria Decision-Making for Evaluating Solar Energy Source of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alanazi Abdulaziz , Alanazi Mohana
Published: June 2023

Saudi Arabia generates more than 98% of its electricity through hydrocarbon resources. To reduce the consumption of fossil fuel resources and protect the environment, the government of Saudi Arabia is planning to make renewable energy an essential part of its energy mix. In this study, due to the country’s abundant solar potential, solar energy has been selected as the energy source to generate renewable energy in Saudi Arabia. The two solar energy technologies, photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal, have been analyzed in three different locations within the country. Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques were used to rank the cities for each of the technologies. The SAW(Simple Additive Weighting)-AHP(Analytic Hierarchy Process) MCDM method based on climate, environmental, technical, economic, and social has been adopted to analyze the suitability of each technology for all locations. To assign weights to the criteria AHP method was used, while to rank the technologies, SAW was used. The results show that for the PV technology, Abha ranked 1st with a performance score of 91%, making it the most suitable location, followed by Jeddah with 83%. While for solar thermal technologies, Jeddah is the most suitable location, with a performance score of 96%, followed by Abha with 91%. The PV systems generated a maximum of 11,019 MWh in Abha, while the solar thermal produced maximum of 14,000 MWh in Jeddah. Overall, solar thermal technology outperformed PV technology in Saudi Arabia due to the country’s higher temperature. The analysis of photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies in this study provides valuable insight for the government of Saudi Arabia in identifying the best site for solar energy technologies in the country.
Exploring the Evolution of the Food Chain under Environmental Pollution with Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Simulation
Authors: Shi Haoming , Xu Fei , Cheng Jinfu , Shi Victor
Published: June 2023

Environmental pollution has led to many ecological issues, including air, water, and soil contamination. Developing appropriate pollution control measures to mitigate these hazards and protect our environment is critical. In that respect, we developed a mathematical model to study the evolution of ecosystems containing food chains under environmental pollution. We integrate environmental pollution into a three-species food chain model, which includes a prey population, an intermediate predator population, and an apex predator population. The equilibrium points of the model are obtained and we analyze their stability. Numerical simulations are carried out to explore the dynamics of the model. The simulation results show that the model presents complex, chaotic, dynamic behaviors. Our study demonstrates that the interactions of individual populations in the food chain and the effects of environmental pollution can result in complex dynamics. The investigation provides insights into the evolution of the food chain in a polluted environment. Our research shows that pollution can disturb the equilibrium in nature, leading to complex and chaotic effects. Reducing environmental pollution can restore the food chain to an orderly state. Environmental pollution will harm the healthy development of each species in the ecosystem. Reducing pollution and restoring each species’ habitats are effective strategies for restoring a healthy ecosystem. Natural ecosystems are often polluted by domestic and industrial sources. The environmental protection department should allocate more resources to address domestic pollution and enhance domestic wastewater treatment methods. Industrial pollution can be reduced by encouraging companies to invest in treating wastewater and waste gases. It is also vital to prevent the establishment of highly polluting industries in environmentally sensitive environments.
Research on Sustainable Mining and Water Prevention in Large Open-Pit Water Deposits
Authors: Zhe Yalei , Hou Kepeng , Liang Wei , Sun Huafen
Published: June 2023

Due to the impacts on the ecological environment, production safety and the economic benefits of large open-pit water deposits, there is no longer a single drainage method within the pit that can be used to meet the need for further deep mining. Therefore, curtain grouting technology is proposed for use in the prevention and control of mine water. The flow control equation of slurry in vertical fissures under the influence of self-weight stress was derived, and a three-dimensional visualized laminated jointed rock grouting model was developed independently to study the slurry transport mechanism, diffusion pattern, and sealing mechanism, which verified the correctness of the control equation. Field trials of industrial curtain grouting were also carried out at the mines, and the effectiveness of curtain water blockage was tested using visual analysis, inspection hole detection, and geophysical exploration methods. The results showed that after grouting the curtain, water-conducting cracks in the formation can be filled well and sealed, and the curtain has a good water-blocking effect. A complete set of diversified value-taking grouting systems is obtained, which can ensure the development of a green, safe and sustainable mine in the future.
Gender-Inclusive Development through Fintech: Studying Gender-Based Digital Financial Inclusion in a Cross-Country Setting
Authors: Tripathi Sabyasachi , Rajeev Meenakshi
Published: June 2023

Financial inclusion (FI) for vulnerable populations, such as women, is critical for achieving gender equality, women’s empowerment, and thereby, inclusive growth. Sustainable development goal 5 considers gender equality as a fundamental right and views the empowerment of women as a necessary step. Access to finance is a significant means to empower a person. In this regard, the use of digital financial services is of particular significance for women as it allows them easier access to financial products for business and household needs. For implementing policies to reduce financial exclusion of women, it is necessary to first measure the extent of FI in society. While there are several attempts to measure FI for the general population, there is limited literature on the gender-based measurement of FI. This paper fills this important research gap by developing a gender-based FI index (GFII) focusing particularly on digital services and evaluating the performance of countries across the globe (by considering 109 countries based on data availability) in terms of a gender-based FI measure developed by us. This index is developed using two separate indices, a digital financial service usage index (DFI) and a conventional financial service usage index (CFI). We calculate it for different countries for 2011, 2014, 2017, and 2021 using the Global Findex databaseIt helps us to investigate the performance of different countries over the years in ensuring the financial inclusion of women and how digital services are penetrating over the years. One contribution of the paper is to relate the Gender Development Index (GDI) and Gender Inequality Index (GII) of countries, two well-known measures of inclusive and sustainable development, with GFII and DFI for female (DFIF). This exercise shows that while there is a positive correlation between these two sets of indicators, there are a number of countries that are high (or low) in gender development (or inequality) that need to improve their digital FI. Interestingly, using the Global Findex database and the Feasible Generalized Least Squares (FGLS) and instrumental variable panel data model, we show that health, education, labour force participation rate, and political empowerment of women significantly impact the digital financial inclusion of women. The paper brings out relevant policy suggestions for improving women’s digital financial access and thereby enhancing gender empowerment for faster and more inclusive growth.
A Numerical Simulation Study on the Probable Maximum Typhoon Wave in the South China Sea
Authors: Yi Jianjun , Zhang Xingnan , Zou Guoliang , Zhang Ke , Wang Jianquan
Published: June 2023

The South China Sea spans the tropics and subtropics. Tropical cyclones in the area are extremely active, due to the features of its marine environment, such as wide water-depth profile, complex topography and hydrology. The maximum wave heights along the coast of China are normally generated by typhoons. Especially in the context of global warming, extreme weather events have significantly increased in the recent years, leading to more frequent strong and super typhoons. With the development of resources and energy in China expanding into the deep sea, extreme waves have caused serious damage to sea projects, endangering people’s lives and properties. Selecting the accurate typhoon gradient model to calculate various extreme waves, including the probable maximum tropical cyclone (PMTC) wave, is of significance for the safety of marine engineering construction and disaster prevention and mitigation. In this paper, we first proposed a wind field fusion model suitable for the South China Sea by superimposing an empirical typhoon model with the background wind field, and further verified it using the measured typhoon data. Secondly, the fused wind field was used as the input wind field of the SWAN (Simulating Waves Nearshore) model, and the wave fields of typhoons “Usagi” and “Mangosteen” were used to verify the model. The relevant parameters of PMTC were calculated using the Pearson Type III frequency fitting method, while the verified SWAN model was used to calculate the probable maximum typhoon wave, and P-III frequency analysis was carried out by direction of the extrapolated result of typhoon waves to obtain the design wave elements of each return period. Finally, a model for calculating the probable maximum typhoon wave suitable for this sea area was proposed to derive the characteristic parameters and time-histories of the probable maximum typhoon wave and the wave heights and their corresponding frequencies of various extreme waves.
Development of Vulnerability Evaluation Technology for Environmental Facilities Focused on the Water Treatment Systems in South Korea
Authors: Choi Young Hwan , Yoo Do Guen , Kwak Pill Jae , Yoon Younghan
Published: June 2023

This study developed a vulnerability evaluation framework for earthquake and flood disasters targeting water treatment facilities. The vulnerability evaluation framework of a water treatment facility determines vulnerability evaluation factors such as exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity in consideration of the characteristics of an environmental facility. At this time, vulnerability evaluation items are derived in consideration of topography, natural environment, hydraulic, structural, and non-structural characteristics by analyzing the facility. The vulnerability evaluation items consist of 24 for earthquake disasters, and for the flood disaster derived 20 indicators. Then the final vulnerability of disaster is determined by considering the impact of each item. To verify the vulnerability evaluation framework proposed in this study, the technology was applied to a real water treatment facility in Korea. The proposed technique would be able to make a plan to prevent natural disasters damage and minimize such damage to the environmental facility.
Analysis of the Decoupling State and Driving Effects of Economic Development and Production Water Use in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: Zhang Tianzi , Wang Xiaojun , Qi Guangping , Shahid Shamsuddin , Kang Yanxia , Wu Hao , Zhang Xiangning
Published: June 2023

Identifying the evolutionary patterns and drivers of regional water use is a prerequisite for achieving the strictest water resource management system. This study used the Tapio-LMDI model to analyze the decoupling state and driving factors between economic development and production water use in Jiangsu Province from 2004 to 2020. The results show that: (1) From the evolution of the water use structure, the total water use in Jiangsu Province shows a decreasing trend from 2004 to 2020. Among them, the production water use decreased by 9.59%. From the characteristics of economic development (constant prices), the growth of Jiangsu’s gross regional product (GDP) from 2004 to 2020 reached 363%. (2) In terms of the decoupling status, economic development and production water use in Jiangsu Province underwent a “weak decoupling—strongly decoupling” transition and achieved “strongly decoupling” in 2020, with a decoupling elasticity coefficient of −2.30. (3) From the perspective of the decoupling drivers, the reduction in production effects has contributed to the decoupling between economic growth and water use in Jiangsu Province. By sector, the decline in the water use intensity effect and the industrial structure effect in the primary and secondary sectors were the main reason for the decline in its water use, while the increase in the industrial structure effect and economic scale effect of the tertiary sector has effectively contributed to the increase in water use in the tertiary sector. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the water use efficiency of the primary and secondary sectors, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the tertiary sector, and realize a “strongly decoupling” pattern between economic development and production water use in Jiangsu Province.
Spatial Accessibility Analysis of Emergency Shelters with a Consideration of Sea Level Rise in Northwest Florida
Authors: Yang Jieya , Alisan Onur , Ma Mengdi , Ozguven Eren Erman , Huang Wenrui , Vijayan Linoj
Published: June 2023

Hurricane-induced storm surge and flooding often lead to the closures of evacuation routes, which can be disruptive for the victims trying to leave the impacted region. This problem becomes even more challenging when we consider the impact of sea level rise that happens due to global warming and other climate-related factors. As such, hurricane-induced storm surge elevations would increase nonlinearly when sea level rise lifts, flooding access to highways and bridge entrances, thereby reducing accessibility for affected census block groups to evacuate to hurricane shelters during hurricane landfall. This happened with the Category 5 Hurricane Michael which swept the east coast of Northwest Florida with long-lasting damage and impact on local communities and infrastructure. In this paper, we propose an integrated methodology that utilizes both sea level rise (SLR) scenario-informed storm surge simulations and floating catchment area models built in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). First, we set up sea level rise scenarios of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 m with a focus on Hurricane Michael’s impact that led to the development of storm surge models. Second, these storm surge simulation outputs are fed into ArcGIS and floating catchment area-based scenarios are created to study the accessibility of shelters. Findings indicate that rural areas lost accessibility faster than urban areas due to a variety of factors including shelter distributions, and roadway closures as spatial accessibility to shelters for offshore populations was rapidly diminishing. We also observed that as inundation level increases, urban census block groups that are closer to the shelters get extremely high accessibility scores through FCA calculations compared to the other block groups. Results of this study could guide and help revise existing strategies for designing emergency response plans and update resilience action policies.
Elliptic Curve Cryptography-Based Scheme for Secure Signaling and Data Exchanges in Precision Agriculture
Authors: Abduljabbar Zaid Ameen , Nyangaresi Vincent Omollo , Jasim Hend Muslim , Ma Junchao , Hussain Mohammed Abdulridha , Hussien Zaid Alaa , Aldarwish Abdulla J. Y.
Published: June 2023

Precision agriculture encompasses automation and application of a wide range of information technology devices to improve farm output. In this environment, smart devices collect and exchange a massive number of messages with other devices and servers over public channels. Consequently, smart farming is exposed to diverse attacks, which can have serious consequences since the sensed data are normally processed to help determine the agricultural field status and facilitate decision-making. Although a myriad of security schemes has been presented in the literature to curb these challenges, they either have poor performance or are susceptible to attacks. In this paper, an elliptic curve cryptography-based scheme is presented, which is shown to be formally secure under the Burrows–Abadi–Needham (BAN) logic. In addition, it is semantically demonstrated to offer user privacy, anonymity, unlinkability, untraceability, robust authentication, session key agreement, and key secrecy and does not require the deployment of verifier tables. In addition, it can withstand side-channeling, physical capture, eavesdropping, password guessing, spoofing, forgery, replay, session hijacking, impersonation, de-synchronization, man-in-the-middle, privileged insider, denial of service, stolen smart device, and known session-specific temporary information attacks. In terms of performance, the proposed protocol results in 14.67% and 18% reductions in computation and communication costs, respectively, and a 35.29% improvement in supported security features.
How Ski Tourism Involvement Promotes Tourists’ Low-Carbon Behavior?
Authors: Yang Yang , Sun Xiaodong , Hu Lingli , Ma Yuzhu , Bu He
Published: June 2023

China’s ski tourism industry has grown tremendously in the past few years, leading to an increasing amount of tourism-related carbon emissions with negative environmental impacts. Although the government and other market participants are trying to solve the problem from both legislative and technological perspectives, encouraging tourists to engage in low-carbon behavior may play a more important role. This study aims to explore how tourism involvement influences ski tourists’ low-carbon behavior. A sampling survey was conducted to collect 422 valid responses from two ski resorts (indoor and outdoor). Findings from structural equation modeling revealed a significant positive impact of tourism involvement on both low-carbon tourism behavior and low-carbon daily behavior, and this impact can be serially mediated by place attachment and environmental responsibility. In addition, we confirmed that the impact of ski tourism involvement on place attachment is more significant for outdoor ski resorts compared with indoor ones. This study expands the categories of destinations for research on ski tourism and low-carbon behavior. It provides implications for encouraging visitor pro-environmental behavior while corroborating the social value of ski tourism in addressing environmental issues. It also offers insights for government low-carbon campaigns, business management practices, and individuals with actionable attitudes. However, it is worth noting that this study was conducted in a single latitude region and did not conduct a comparative analysis with different locations across latitudes. Future research could investigate skiers in cities of different latitudes to gain a more comprehensive understanding.
Space-Based Data Centers and Cooling: Feasibility Analysis via Multi-Criteria and Query Search for Water-Bearing Asteroids Showing Novel Underlying Regular and Symmetric Patterns
Authors: Periola Ayodele , Alonge Akintunde , Ogudo Kingsley
Published: June 2023

Space-based data centers (SBDCs) are environment-friendly and do not make use of Earth’s water resources for cooling. The cooling of SBDCs can be realized via using water aboard asteroids. The feasibility of this approach requires further consideration and has not received sufficient research attention. The study being presented investigates the existence of water-bearing asteroids whose water resources can potentially be used for cooling the server payloads aboard the SBDC. This is undertaken by executing multi-criteria search queries on the Asterank asteroid database. Data analysis shows that water can be accessed from asteroids at less than 0.26 AU by privately owned space vehicles designed for Earth-to-Mars missions. In addition, the results of data analysis show that there is a regularity and symmetric pattern among different asteroids. This arises as asteroids with different identities have the same near-Earth distance and upcoming approaches.
The Multidirectional Influence of Feed-Borne Deoxynivalenol and Zearalenone on Animal Health
Authors: Gajęcki Maciej T. , Gajęcka Magdalena
Published: June 2023

Mycotoxins are secondary fungal metabolites which pose a significant threat for global food and feed security [...]
Diversity of Mycotoxins Produced by Fusarium Strains Infecting Weeds
Authors: Janaviciene Sigita , Venslovas Eimantas , Kadziene Grazina , Matelioniene Neringa , Berzina Zane , Bartkevics Vadims , Suproniene Skaidre
Published: June 2023

Although Fusarium is mainly known as an agricultural pathogen that affects monocotyledonous plants, it can also infect different species of weeds in the agricultural environment, thereby contributing to the production of mycotoxins in cereals. In this study, we present new developmental data on the diversity of mycotoxins produced by Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium avenaceum strains from weeds under field conditions. Regarding the potential for the strain dependence of mycotoxin production, this study demonstrated that all F. graminearum strains isolated from weeds and spring wheat showed high potential for deoxynivalenol (DON), 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (15-ADON), and nivalenol (NIV) production in spring wheat under field conditions. It was determined that F. graminearum is a typical producer of B-type trichothecenes. All strains of F. avenaceum isolated from spring wheat and weeds have the potential to produce enniatins and moniliformin in spring wheat. Each type of weed can host different Fusarium species and strains that produce completely different mycotoxins. Therefore, the distribution of mycotoxins in spring wheat grain may depend more on the Fusarium species or strains that infect the weeds than on the pathogen’s host plant species. The predominance of specific mycotoxins in cereals depends on the year’s weather conditions and the diversity of Fusarium species present in the field.
Fab-Four Cosmography to Tackle the Hubble Tension
Authors: Escamilla-Rivera Celia , de Albornoz-Caratozzolo José María , Nájera Sebastián
Published: June 2023

In the context of the Fab-Four theory of gravity in a Friedmann-Lemaître-Robertson-Walker background, in this work we use the cosmography approach to study a particular self-tuning filter solution focused on a zero-curvature fixed point to study the H0 tension. In this scheme, the equations restrict the universe’s evolution to certain scenarios, including radiation-like expansion, matter-like expansion, and late-time acceleration. Furthermore, we build the cosmographic series of the Fab-Four theory to obtain the kinematic parameters as the Hubble constant H0 and the deceleration parameter q0 for all the scenarios mentioned. Finally, we compare our results to find that it is possible to alleviate the current discrepancy on H0 by considering specific requirements on the free parameters of the Fab-Four theory through a self-tuning filter.
Kinetics of Torque Teno Virus Viral Load Is Associated with Infection and De Novo Donor Specific Antibodies in the First Year after Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Querido Sara , Martins Catarina , Gomes Perpétua , Pessanha Maria Ana , Arroz Maria Jorge , Adragão Teresa , Casqueiro Ana , Oliveira Regina , Costa Inês , Azinheira Jorge , Paixão Paulo , Weigert André
Published: June 2023

Torque teno virus (TTV) was recently identified as a potential biomarker for the degree of immunosuppression, and potentially as a predictor of rejection and infection in solid organ transplant patients. We evaluated TTV viral load in kidney transplant (KT) patients during the first year post-transplant to examine overall kinetics and their relationships with deleterious events, including episodes of infection and the formation of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSAs). In a single-center, prospective observational cohort study, 81 KT patients were monitored at baseline, week 1, and month 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, post-KT, and whenever required by clinical events. Kidney function, plasma TTV load, immunoglobulins and lymphocyte subpopulations were assessed at each time point. Twenty-six patients (32.1%) presented a total of 38 infection episodes post-KT. Induction immunosuppression with thymoglobulin, compared to basiliximab, was not associated with more infections (p = 0.8093). Patients with infectious events had lower T-cells (p = 0.0500), CD8+ T-cells (p = 0.0313) and B-cells (p = 0.0009) 1 month post-KT, compared to infection-free patients. Patients with infection also showed higher increases in TTV viral loads between week 1- month 1, post-KT, with TTV viral load variations >2.65 log10 cp/mL predicting the development of infectious events during the 12-month study period (p < 0.0001; sensitivity 99.73%; specificity 83.67%). Patients who developed de novo DSAs had lower TTV DNA viral loads at month 12 after KT, compared to patients who did not develop DSA (3.7 vs. 5.3 log10 cp/mL, p = 0.0023). Briefly, evaluating early TTV viremia is a promising strategy for defining infectious risk in the 1st year post-KT. The availability of standardized commercial real-time PCR assays is crucial to further validate this as an effective tool guiding immunosuppression prescription.
Upstream Stimulatory Factors Regulate HIV-1 Latency and Are Required for Robust T Cell Activation
Authors: Horvath Riley M. , Sadowski Ivan
Published: June 2023

HIV-1 provirus expression is controlled by signaling pathways that are responsive to T cell receptor engagement, including those involving Ras and downstream protein kinases. The induction of transcription from the HIV-1 LTR in response to Ras signaling requires binding of the Ras-responsive element binding factor (RBF-2) to conserved cis elements flanking the enhancer region, designated RBE3 and RBE1. RBF-2 is composed minimally of the USF1, USF2, and TFII-I transcription factors. We recently determined that TFII-I regulates transcriptional elongation from the LTR through recruitment of the co-activator TRIM24. However, the function of USF1 and USF2 for this effect are uncharacterized. Here, we find that genetic deletion of USF2 but not USF1 in T cells inhibits HIV-1 expression. The loss of USF2 caused a reduction in expression of the USF1 protein, an effect that was not associated with decreased USF1 mRNA abundance. USF1 and USF2 were previously shown to exist predominately as heterodimers and to cooperatively regulate target genes. To examine cooperativity between these factors, we performed RNA-seq analysis of T cell lines bearing knockouts of the genes encoding these factors. In untreated cells, we found limited evidence of coordinated global gene regulation between USF1 and USF2. In contrast, we observed a high degree of genome-wide cooperative regulation of RNA expression between these factors in cells stimulated with the combination of PMA and ionomycin. In particular, we found that the deletion of USF1 or USF2 restricted T cell activation response. These observations indicate that USF2, but not USF1, is crucial for HIV-1 expression, while the combined function of these factors is required for a robust T cell inflammatory response.
Metaviromic Characterization of Betaflexivirus Populations Associated with a Vitis cultivar Collection in South Africa
Authors: Read David A. , Thompson Genevieve D. , Swanevelder Dirk Z. H. , Pietersen Gerhard
Published: June 2023

South Africa is associated with a centuries-old viticultural industry, accompanied by a diverse range of wine and table grape cultivars and an extensive history of pervasive introductions of vine material and associated viruses. The Vitis D2 collection in Stellenbosch represents the most comprehensive collection of Vitis species, hybrids, and cultivars in South Africa. We collected leaf petiole material from 229 accessions from this collection. Our metaviromic analyses revealed a total of 406 complete/near complete genomes of various betaflexiviruses. Among these, we identified the presence of grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus and grapevine viruses A, B, E, F, H (GVH), I (GVI), and M (GVM). Notably, this study marks the first report of GVH, GVI, and GVM in South Africa, which were confirmed via RT-PCR. This research significantly contributes to our understanding of viral diversity and introductions in South African viticulture and emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring and management of viral infections. Our findings lay the groundwork for strategies that mitigate the impact of viruses on South Africa’s wine industry, which generates an annual revenue of approximately 500 million USD.
Probiotics, the Immune Response and Acute Appendicitis: A Review
Authors: Petruzziello Carmine , Saviano Angela , Ojetti Veronica
Published: June 2023

Acute appendicitis is a common reason for admission to the Emergency Department (ED). It affects almost 70% of people under 30 years of age and 10% over 60 years of age. Its diagnosis includes the combination of clinical signs, laboratory tests and imaging. For years, surgical appendectomy has been the first-line therapy for acute appendicitis, but currently the management has shown some changes, in particular in patients with uncomplicated appendicitis. Recent studies have investigated the use of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy with promising results in conferring health benefits to patients with acute appendicitis. The aim of our review is to summarize the results of clinical studies about probiotics and the immunological response in acute appendicitis, discussing the limitations and future directions of this research.