bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multilabel Acoustic Event Classification Using Real-World Urban Data and Physical Redundancy of Sensors
Authors: Vidaña-Vila Ester , Navarro Joan , Stowell Dan , Alsina-Pagès Rosa Ma
Published: November 2021

Many people living in urban environments nowadays are overexposed to noise, which results in adverse effects on their health. Thus, urban sound monitoring has emerged as a powerful tool that might enable public administrations to automatically identify and quantify noise pollution. Therefore, identifying multiple and simultaneous acoustic sources in these environments in a reliable and cost-effective way has emerged as a hot research topic. The purpose of this paper is to propose a two-stage classifier able to identify, in real time, a set of up to 21 urban acoustic events that may occur simultaneously (i.e., multilabel), taking advantage of physical redundancy in acoustic sensors from a wireless acoustic sensors network. The first stage of the proposed system consists of a multilabel deep neural network that makes a classification for each 4-s window. The second stage intelligently aggregates the classification results from the first stage of four neighboring nodes to determine the final classification result. Conducted experiments with real-world data and up to three different computing devices show that the system is able to provide classification results in less than 1 s and that it has good performance when classifying the most common events from the dataset. The results of this research may help civic organisations to obtain actionable noise monitoring information from automatic systems.
Locomotion Mode Transition Prediction Based on Gait-Event Identification Using Wearable Sensors and Multilayer Perceptrons
Authors: Su Binbin , Liu Yi-Xing , Gutierrez-Farewik Elena M.
Published: November 2021

People walk on different types of terrain daily; for instance, level-ground walking, ramp and stair ascent and descent, and stepping over obstacles are common activities in daily life. Movement patterns change as people move from one terrain to another. The prediction of transitions between locomotion modes is important for developing assistive devices, such as exoskeletons, as the optimal assistive strategies may differ for different locomotion modes. The prediction of locomotion mode transitions is often accompanied by gait-event detection that provides important information during locomotion about critical events, such as foot contact (FC) and toe off (TO). In this study, we introduce a method to integrate locomotion mode prediction and gait-event identification into one machine learning framework, comprised of two multilayer perceptrons (MLP). Input features to the framework were from fused data from wearable sensors—specifically, electromyography sensors and inertial measurement units. The first MLP successfully identified FC and TO, FC events were identified accurately, and a small number of misclassifications only occurred near TO events. A small time difference (2.5 ms and −5.3 ms for FC and TO, respectively) was found between predicted and true gait events. The second MLP correctly identified walking, ramp ascent, and ramp descent transitions with the best aggregate accuracy of 96.3%, 90.1%, and 90.6%, respectively, with sufficient prediction time prior to the critical events. The models in this study demonstrate high accuracy in predicting transitions between different locomotion modes in the same side’s mid- to late stance of the stride prior to the step into the new mode using data from EMG and IMU sensors. Our results may help assistive devices achieve smooth and seamless transitions in different locomotion modes for those with motor disorders.
Electronic Sensing Platform (ESP) Based on Open-Gate Junction Field-Effect Transistor (OG-JFET) for Life Science Applications: Design, Modeling and Experimental Results
Authors: Panahi Abbas , Sadighbayan Deniz , Ghafar-Zadeh Ebrahim
Published: November 2021

This paper presents a new field-effect sensor called open-gate junction gate field-effect transistor (OG-JFET) for biosensing applications. The OG-JFET consists of a p-type channel on top of an n-type layer in which the p-type serves as the sensing conductive layer between two ohmic contacted sources and drain electrodes. The structure is novel as it is based on a junction field-effect transistor with a subtle difference in that the top gate (n-type contact) has been removed to open the space for introducing the biomaterial and solution. The channel can be controlled through a back gate, enabling the sensor’s operation without a bulky electrode inside the solution. In this research, in order to demonstrate the sensor’s functionality for chemical and biosensing, we tested OG-JFET with varying pH solutions, cell adhesion (human oral neutrophils), human exhalation, and DNA molecules. Moreover, the sensor was simulated with COMSOL Multiphysics to gain insight into the sensor operation and its ion-sensitive capability. The complete simulation procedures and the physics of pH modeling is presented here, being numerically solved in COMSOL Multiphysics software. The outcome of the current study puts forward OG-JFET as a new platform for biosensing applications.
Uncertainties Involved in the Use of Thresholds for the Detection of Water Bodies in Multitemporal Analysis from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 Images
Authors: Reis Luis Gustavo de Moura , Souza Wendson de Oliveira , Ribeiro Neto Alfredo , Fragoso Carlos Ruberto , Ruiz-Armenteros Antonio Miguel , Cabral Jaime Joaquim da Silva Pereira , Montenegro Suzana Maria Gico Lima
Published: November 2021

Although the single threshold is still considered a suitable and easy-to-do technique to extract water features in spatiotemporal analysis, it leads to unavoidable errors. This paper uses an enumerative search to optimize thresholds over satellite-derived modified normalized difference water index (MNDWI). We employed a cross-validation approach and treated accuracy as a random variable in order to: (a) investigate uncertainty related to its application; (b) estimate non-optimistic errors involving single thresholding; (c) investigate the main factors that affect the accuracy’s model, and (d) compare satellite sensors performance. We also used a high-resolution digital elevation model to extract water elevations values, making it possible to remove topographic effects and estimate non-optimistic errors exclusively from orbital imagery. Our findings evidenced that there is a region where thresholds values can vary without causing accuracy loss. Moreover, by constraining thresholds variation between these limits, accuracy is dramatically improved and outperformed the Otsu method. Finally, the number of scenes employed to optimize a single threshold drastically affects the accuracy, being not appropriate using a single scene once it leads to overfitted threshold values. More than three scenes are recommended.
Interchannel Interference and Mitigation in Distributed MIMO RF Sensing
Authors: Waqar Sahil , Pätzold Matthias
Published: November 2021

In this paper, we analyze and mitigate the cross-channel interference, which is found in multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radio frequency (RF) sensing systems. For a millimeter wave (mm-Wave) MIMO system, we present a geometrical three-dimensional (3D) channel model to simulate the time-variant (TV) trajectories of a moving scatterer. We collected RF data using a state-of-the-art radar known as Ancortek SDR-KIT 2400T2R4, which is a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) MIMO radar system operating in the K-band. The Ancortek radar is currently the only K-band MIMO commercial radar system that offers customized antenna configurations. It is shown that this radar system encounters the problem of interference between the various subchannels. We propose an optimal approach to mitigate the problem of cross-channel interference by inducing a propagation delay in one of the channels and apply range gating. The measurement results prove the effectiveness of the proposed approach by demonstrating a complete elimination of the interference problem. The application of the proposed solution on Ancortek’s SDR-KIT 2400T2R4 allows resolving all subchannel links in a distributed MIMO configuration. This allows using MIMO RF sensing techniques to track a moving scatterer (target) regardless of its direction of motion.
A Self-Powered and Battery-Free Vibrational Energy to Time Converter for Wireless Vibration Monitoring
Authors: Panayanthatta Namanu , Clementi Giacomo , Ouhabaz Merieme , Costanza Mario , Margueron Samuel , Bartasyte Ausrine , Basrour Skandar , Bano Edwige , Montes Laurent , Dehollain Catherine , La Rosa Roberto
Published: November 2021

Wireless sensor nodes (WSNs) are the fundamental part of an Internet of Things (IoT) system for detecting and transmitting data to a master node for processing. Several research studies reveal that one of the disadvantages of conventional, battery-powered WSNs, however, is that they typically require periodic maintenance. This paper aims to contribute to existing research studies on this issue by exploring a new energy-autonomous and battery-free WSN concept for monitor vibrations. The node is self-powered from the conversion of ambient mechanical vibration energy into electrical energy through a piezoelectric transducer implemented with lead-free lithium niobate piezoelectric material to also explore solutions that go towards a greener and more sustainable IoT. Instead of implementing any particular sensors, the vibration measurement system exploits the proportionality between the mechanical power generated by a piezoelectric transducer and the time taken to store it as electrical energy in a capacitor. This helps reduce the component count with respect to conventional WSNs, as well as energy consumption and production costs, while optimizing the overall node size and weight. The readout is therefore a function of the time it takes for the energy storage capacitor to charge between two constant voltage levels. The result of this work is a system that includes a specially designed lead-free piezoelectric vibrational transducer and a battery-less sensor platform with Bluetooth low energy (BLE) connectivity. The system can harvest energy in the acceleration range [0.5 g–1.2 g] and measure vibrations with a limit of detection (LoD) of 0.6 g.
Determination of Avermectins Residues in Soybean, Bean, and Maize Using a QuEChERS-Based Method and Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Uczay Fernanda , Bandeira Nelson M. G. , Floriano Luana , Prestes Osmar D. , Adaime Martha B. , Zanella Renato
Published: November 2021

Soybean, maize, and bean are crops of great economic importance, but in recent years have suffered with infestations of the caterpillar Helicoverpa armigera, with the main reason being the resistance of this pest to most pesticides. Avermectin emamectin benzoate was recently released to control this pest. Other avermectins, like abamectin, doramectin, eprinomectin, and ivermectin are used in large scale because they potent acaricidal, anthelmintic, and insecticidal activities. Thus, a simple and fast method for the determination of avermectins in these crops based on a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) extraction procedure and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) analysis was developed and validated. For extraction, water followed by acetonitrile:isopropanol and a partition step with salts was stablished. With the clean-up step using activated EMR-Lipid, limits of detection of 1.2 μg kg−1 for abamectin, doramectin, emamectin benzoate, and ivermectin, and of 2.4 μg kg−1 for eprinomectin were achieved. The validation showed satisfactory results and the method was successfully applied to commercial samples, indicating that it is suitable for routine analysis.
Gender and Educational Inequalities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Preliminary Insights from Poland
Authors: Krywult-Albańska Małgorzata , Albański Łukasz
Published: November 2021

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has had a profound impact on many spheres of social life across the world. One of them has been the deepening of social inequalities and the aggravating of discrimination based on gender. Emerging studies in the field of education and occupation systems point to the fact that women seem to have been particularly affected, along with layoffs in those sectors of the economy where female staffs prevail. Additionally, in many countries, the burden of combining professional careers and supporting the education of young children falls disproportionately on mothers. These transformations pose a challenge to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, wherein gender equality is an important factor. This article uses official statistical data to examine gender and educational structures during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, set against the backdrop of other European nations and analyzed in the context of sustainability. Have educational and gender inequalities been exacerbated as data from other countries suggest? In order to answer this question, the article traces changes in the education system in Poland and their implications for gender structures. The latter have also been affected by transformations on the labor market in various sectors of the economy, therefore, the second part of the analysis focuses on the labor market changes during the pandemic. The final section offers conclusions on the implications of the pandemic for the studied issues. Throughout the article, we apply the principles of unobtrusive research. Following the theoretical framework outlined in the first part of the paper, we carry out a descriptive analysis of existing statistical data collected by the Eurostat. These official statistics are supplemented by an overview of public opinion polls to allow for perspectives on structural changes, as they are perceived by those affected by them.
Generation of Vertebra Micro-CT-like Image from MDCT: A Deep-Learning-Based Image Enhancement Approach
Authors: Jin Dan , Zheng Han , Zhao Qingqing , Wang Chunjie , Zhang Mengze , Yuan Huishu
Published: November 2021

This paper proposes a deep-learning-based image enhancement approach that can generate high-resolution micro-CT-like images from multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). A total of 12,500 MDCT and micro-CT image pairs were obtained from 25 vertebral specimens. Then, a pix2pixHD model was trained and evaluated using the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) and Fréchet inception distance (FID). We performed subjective assessments of the micro-CT-like images based on five aspects. Micro-CT and micro-CT-like image-derived trabecular bone microstructures were compared, and the underlying correlations were analyzed. The results showed that the pix2pixHD method (SSIM, 0.804 ± 0.037 and FID, 43.598 ± 9.108) outperformed the two control methods (pix2pix and CRN) in enhancing MDCT images (p < 0.05). According to the subjective assessment, the pix2pixHD-derived micro-CT-like images showed no significant difference from the micro-CT images in terms of contrast and shadow (p > 0.05) but demonstrated slightly lower noise, sharpness and trabecular bone texture (p < 0.05). Compared with the trabecular microstructure parameters of micro-CT images, those of pix2pixHD-derived micro-CT-like images showed no significant differences in bone volume fraction (BV/TV) (p > 0.05) and significant correlations in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) (Tb.Th, R = 0.90, p < 0.05; Tb.Sp, R = 0.88, p < 0.05). The proposed method can enhance the resolution of MDCT and obtain micro-CT-like images, which may provide new diagnostic criteria and a predictive basis for osteoporosis and related fractures.
The Combination of Stent and Antiplatelet Therapy May Be Responsible of Parenchymal Magnetic Susceptibility Artifacts after Endovascular Procedure
Authors: Bourhis-Guizien Fanny , Dissaux Brieg , Boulouis Grégoire , Ben Salem Douraied , Gentric Jean-Christophe , Ognard Julien
Published: November 2021

The aim was to assess the occurrence of magnetic susceptibility artifacts (MSA) following endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysm by stent using susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI). Imaging and clinical data of 46 patients who underwent stent placement in the case of intracranial aneurysm endovascular treatment (S-Group) were retrospectively analyzed and compared to a control group (C-Group) in which 46 patients had coiling alone. The mean number of MSA was higher in the S-group than in the C-group on postprocedural SWI sequence (8.76, 95%CI [5.76; 11.76] vs. 0.78 [0.32; 1.25], respectively, p < 0.001) with a higher frequency of the appearance of MSA also in the S-group (78.26% vs. 21.74% in the C-group, p < 0.001). In the S-group, in the vascular territory of the treated artery, there was a higher number of MSA than in other vascular territories (mean of 5.18 [3.43; 6.92] vs. 3.08 [1.79; 4.36], p = 0.001). An odds ratio (OR) of 20.98 [5.24; 83.95] suggested a higher proportion of onset of MSA in the S-group than in the C-group (p < 0.001). The appearance of MSA after a treatment by stenting for intracranial aneurysm in patients under antiplatelet therapy was common, particularly in the treated artery territory.
Tacrolimus Induced Organ Failure: Reversal by Activation of the Cytochrome P450-3a System
Authors: Nghiem Dai
Published: November 2021

Tacrolimus is the cornerstone component of all immunosuppressive regimens. Despite its long record of use, very little is known about its acute toxicity syndrome. We describe five patients with acute organ failure, involving both native and transplanted organs, which was reversed by inducing the cytochrome P450-3A system. In all patients, the causative drug was stopped and phenytoin was given intravenously to accelerate tacrolimus metabolism. Within 24 h, tacrolimus trough levels fell daily at a significant level (p < 0.05) and all failed organs recovered their normal function within 48–72 h. Therefore, phenytoin metabolic induction appears to be a safe therapeutic option for patients with acute tacrolimus toxicity.
Impact of the Treatment of Serenoa repens, Solanum lycopersicum, Lycopene and Bromelain in Combination with Alfuzosin for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia. Results from a Match-Paired Comparison Analysis
Authors: Lambertini Luca , Di Maida Fabrizio , Tellini Riccardo , Bisegna Claudio , Valastro Francesca , Grosso Antonio Andrea , Scelzi Sabino , Del Giudice Francesco , Ferro Matteo , Pirola Giacomo Maria , Gubbiotti Marilena , Masieri Lorenzo , Busetto Gian Maria , de Cobelli Ottavio , Minervini Andrea , Mari Andrea
Published: November 2021

Background: Phytotherapeutic agents aroused an increasing interest either as alternative or in addition to conventional therapy in the management of BPH. The aim of the article was to evaluate the clinical and functional changes after add-on treatment with Serenoa repens associated with Solanum lycopersicum, lycopene and bromelain in patients with BPH presenting with mild to moderate LUTS and previously treated only with Alfuzosin over a 6–12 months period. Materials and methods: Between January and July 2019, patients with symptomatic BPH already on treatment with Alfuzosin (Al) 10 mg for at least 6–12-month were enrolled at three academic referral centres, included in a prospective treatment group, and managed with a combination treatment of Al and 6-month daily oral single-tablet supplementation of Serenoa repens and Solanum lycopersicum + lycopene + bromelain (SeR + SL + Ly + Br). A retrospective control group with comparable baseline characteristics was obtained by performing a propensity score matching from a database of 434 patients managed with Alfuzosin 10 mg/day only over a 6–12 months period between March 2015 and December 2018. IPSS, QoL questionnaires, voiding diary assessment, postvoid residual volume (PVR), maximal (Qmax) and average (Qave) urinary flow rates were evaluated at baseline in the treatment group at the moment of patient accrual, in the control group after 6-month of treatment with alfuzosin, and thereafter at 3 and 6 months in both groups. Results: Overall, 250 patients entered the study (n = 125 treatment group; n = 125 control group). Total IPSS score significantly decreased at 6-month assessment from baseline in the treatment vs control group (17 [IQR: 12–20] vs 12 [IQR: 9–14], p = 0.02) with a significative storage symptoms improvement detected both at 3- (p = 0.03) and 6-month evaluation (p = 0.001). PVR significantly improved at each follow-up visit with the most relevant reduction at 6-month assessment (125 cc vs. 102 cc; p = 0.02). Moreover, a significative improvement in LUTS-related quality of life (QoL) was recorded at 3- and 6-month assessment with a median decrease of −1 and −2 (p = 0.05 and p = 0.001 respectively) from baseline. Conclusions: Combination treatment with AB and SeR + SL + Ly + Br led to meaningful improvements in LUTS severity compared to AB as monotherapy, after a 6-month treatment period in men with mild to moderate LUTS/BPH.
Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Control between Drug Repurposing and Vaccination: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Al-Karmalawy Ahmed A. , Soltane Raya , Abo Elmaaty Ayman , Tantawy Mohamed A. , Antar Samar A. , Yahya Galal , Chrouda Amani , Pashameah Rami Adel , Mustafa Muhamad , Abu Mraheil Mobarak , Mostafa Ahmed
Published: November 2021

Respiratory viruses represent a major public health concern, as they are highly mutated, resulting in new strains emerging with high pathogenicity. Currently, the world is suffering from the newly evolving severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This virus is the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a mild-to-severe respiratory tract infection with frequent ability to give rise to fatal pneumonia in humans. The overwhelming outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 continues to unfold all over the world, urging scientists to put an end to this global pandemic through biological and pharmaceutical interventions. Currently, there is no specific treatment option that is capable of COVID-19 pandemic eradication, so several repurposed drugs and newly conditionally approved vaccines are in use and heavily applied to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergence of new variants of the virus that partially or totally escape from the immune response elicited by the approved vaccines requires continuous monitoring of the emerging variants to update the content of the developed vaccines or modify them totally to match the new variants. Herein, we discuss the potential therapeutic and prophylactic interventions including repurposed drugs and the newly developed/approved vaccines, highlighting the impact of virus evolution on the immune evasion of the virus from currently licensed vaccines for COVID-19.
Safety and Efficacy of the East Coast Fever Muguga Cocktail Vaccine: A Systematic Review
Authors: Allan Fiona K. , Peters Andrew R.
Published: November 2021

Immunisation of livestock with high quality vaccines is considered an essential approach to controlling many animal diseases. The only currently available commercial vaccine to protect cattle from East Coast fever (ECF), a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria parva, is an unconventional “infection and treatment method” (ITM) involving administration of a combination of live T. parva isolates, referred to as the “Muguga cocktail”, and simultaneous treatment with long-acting oxytetracycline. Veterinary vaccine research and development typically involves studies designed to demonstrate vaccine quality, safety, and efficacy; however, as there were no such purpose-designed registration studies conducted for the Muguga cocktail, evidence for safety and efficacy is solely based on that which is available in the clinical literature. An extensive systematic review was conducted to analyse the evidence available in the literature in order to establish the safety and efficacy of the Muguga cocktail vaccine. A combination of meta-analyses and narrative summaries was conducted. A total of 61 studies met the criteria to be included in the systematic review. The majority of studies demonstrated or reported in favour of the vaccine with regards to safety and efficacy of the Muguga cocktail vaccine. Proximity to buffalo often resulted in reduced vaccine efficacy, and reports of shed and transmission of vaccine components affected the overall interpretation of safety. Better understanding of control options for this devastating livestock disease is important for policymakers and livestock keepers, enabling them to make informed decisions with regards to the health of their animals and their livelihoods.
Community Pharmacist-Administered COVID-19 Vaccinations: A Pilot Customer Survey on Satisfaction and Motivation to Get Vaccinated
Authors: Stämpfli Dominik , Martinez-De la Torre Adrian , Simi Elodie , Du Pasquier Sophie , Berger Jérôme , Burden Andrea M.
Published: November 2021

In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Swiss health authorities approved and ordered two mRNA vaccines in 2021. The canton of Zurich was the second in Switzerland to allow community pharmacists to administer the COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine Moderna to the adult population. We aimed to pilot a customer satisfaction questionnaire regarding COVID-19 vaccinations in Zurich pharmacies. Questions focused on satisfaction with different aspects of the service, motivation for getting the vaccination, and reasons for being vaccinated in a pharmacy. Zurich pharmacies administered 68,169 COVID-19 doses until June 2021, and 421 questionnaires were filled. Respondents’ mean age was 43.5 (±13.2) years, with 42.3% reporting being women and 46.1% being men. Of the 372 complete questionnaires, 98.7% of the respondents would have recommended the service to others. High levels of satisfaction were reported concerning pre-vaccination discussion (98.9%), pharmacies’ information level on COVID-19 vaccines (98.9%), general comfort with receiving the vaccination in a pharmacy (99.5%), injection technique (99.2%), and premises used (98.1%). Most respondents (57.3%) would have had the option of another vaccination provider, but the pharmacies were chosen for their opening hours, ease of access, and perceived trust. The availability of pharmacist-administered services may be an important contributor to a successful vaccination programme in Switzerland.
Practical Modal Analysis of a Prototyped Hydrogenerator
Authors: de Barros Allan , Galai Ahmed , Ebrahimi Amir , Schwarz Babette
Published: November 2021

The vibration on the stator core of hydrogenerators caused by electromagnetic forces is an important factor affecting the reliability and long-lasting operation of a machine. For a suitable addressment of the problem, it is necessary to accurately predict the eigenmodes and eigenfrequencies of the mechanical system. However, different results for the eigenfrequencies can be achieved depending on the applied model and material parameters. This work contributes to solving this issue by investigating the impact of different input parameters on the eigenmodes and eigenfrequencies calculated by analytical and numerical models. The results are discussed and compared to measurements performed on a prototyped 732 kVA hydrogenerator.
Evaluation of the Performance of Multi-Source Precipitation Data in Southwest China
Authors: Jiang Xi , Liu Yanli , Wu Yongxiang , Wang Gaoxu , Zhang Xuan , Meng Qingbo , Gu Pengfei , Liu Tao
Published: November 2021

The number of precipitation products at the global scale has increased rapidly, and the accuracy of these products directly affects the accuracy of hydro-meteorological simulation and forecast. Therefore, the applicability of these precipitation products should be comprehensively evaluated to improve their application in hydrometeorology. This paper evaluated the performances of six widely used precipitation products in southwest China by quantitative assessment and contingency assessment. The precipitation products were Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis 3B42 version 7 (TRMM 3B42 V7), Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP MVK), Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM final run (GPM IMERG Final), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Network—Climate Data Record (PERSIANN-CDR), Climate Hazards Infrared Precipitation with Stations version 2.0 (CHIRPS V2.0), and the Global Land Data Assimilation System version 2.0 (GLDAS V2.0). From the above six products, the daily-scale precipitation data from 2001 to 2019 were chosen to compare with the measured data of the rain gauge, and the data from the gauges were classified by river basin and elevation. All precipitation products and measured data were evaluated by statistical indicators. Results showed that (1) GPM IMERG Final and CHIRPS V2.0 performed well in the Yarlung Zangbo River (YZ) basin, while GPM IMERG Final and GLDAS V2.0 performed well in the Lantsang River (LS), Nujiang River (NJ), Yangtze River (YT), and Yellow River (YL) basins; (2) in the upper and middle reaches of the YZ basin, GPM IMERG Final and CHIRPS V2.0 were outstanding in all evaluated products; downstream of the YZ basin, all six products performed well; and upstream of the LS and NJ, GPM IMERG Final, TRMM 3B42 V7, CHIRPS V2.0, and GLDAS V2.0 can be recommended as a substitute for measured data; and (3) GPM IMERG Final and GLDAS V2.0 can be seen as substitutes for measured data when elevation is below 4000 m. GPM IMERG Final and CHIRPS V2.0 were recommended when elevation is above 4000 m. This study provides a reference for data selection of hydro-meteorological simulation and forecast in southwest China and also provides a basis for multi-source data assimilation and fusion.
Patterns of Difference between Physical and 1-D Calibrated Effective Roughness Parameters in Mountain Rivers
Authors: Cedillo Sebastián , Sánchez-Cordero Esteban , Timbe Luis , Samaniego Esteban , Alvarado Andrés
Published: November 2021

Due to the presence of boulders and different morphologies, mountain rivers contain various resistance sources. To correctly simulate river flow using 1-D hydrodynamic models, an accurate estimation of the flow resistance is required. In this article, a comparison between the physical roughness parameter (PRP) and effective roughness coefficient (ERC) is presented for three of the most typical morphological configurations in mountain rivers: cascade, step-pool, and plane-bed. The PRP and its variation were obtained through multiple measurements of field variables and an uncertainty analysis, while the ERC range was derived with a GLUE procedure implemented in HEC-RAS, a 1-D hydrodynamic model. In the GLUE experiments, two modes of the Representative Friction Slope Method (RFSM) between two cross-sections were tested, including the variation in the roughness parameter. The results revealed that the RFSM effect was limited to low flows in cascade and step-pool. Moreover, when HEC-RAS selected the RSFM, only acceptable results were presented for plane-bed. The difference between ERC and PRP depended on the flow magnitude and the morphology, and as shown in this study, when the flow increased, the ERC and PRP ranges approached each other and even overlapped in cascade and step-pool. This research aimed to improve the roughness value selection process in a 1-D model given the importance of this parameter in the predictability of the results. In addition, a comparison was presented between the results obtained with the numerical model and the values calculated with the field measurements
Correction: Ho, L.T.; Goethals, P.L.M. Opportunities and Challenges for the Sustainability of Lakes and Reservoirs in Relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Water 2019, 11, 1462
Authors: Ho Long T. , Goethals Peter L. M.
Published: November 2021

In the original article [...]
Physiological Activity, Nutritional Composition, and Gene Expression in Apple (Malus domestica Borkh) Influenced by Different ETc Levels of Irrigation at Distinct Development Stages
Authors: Mushtaq Rafiya , Sharma Mahinder Kumar , Mir Javid Iqbal , Mansoor Sheikh , Mushtaq Khalid , Popescu Simona Mariana , Malik Abdul Raouf , El-Serehy Hamed A. , Hefft Daniel Ingo , Bhat Sajad Ahmad , Narayan Sumati
Published: November 2021

Managing irrigation efficiently is paramount given the uncertainty in the future availability of water and rising demand for this resource. Scheduled irrigation significantly influences vegetative growth through improving crop physiology and nutrient uptake and use efficiency. Influence of different irrigation treatments (100%, 75%, and 50% volume of Class A pan evapotranspiration) applied at four different phenological stages (flowering and fruit set (C1), fruit growth stage (C2), pre-harvest stage (C3), and throughout the growing season (C4)) through drip along with a control (rainfed) on leaf physiology, nutrient content, and uptake through gene expression was studied on Super Chief Sandidge variety raised on M9T337 (5 and 6 years old) grown at a spacing of 1.5 × 3 m (2222 plants/ha) under high density condition of Kashmir Himalayan range of India. A comparison of data reveals that drip irrigation at 100% Crop evapotranspiration (ETc) increased leaf area by 60% compared to rainfed conditions. Leaf area significantly increased in plants irrigated throughout the growing season (C4) and during flowering and fruit set stage (C1). Irrigation amount likely does not have any influence on leaf development after the fruit growth stage. Stomatal opening and their size greatly vary from no irrigation to optimum irrigation in these plants. High density apple trees exposed to optimum irrigation levels (100% and 75% ET) had significantly higher concentrations of nutrients (N, P, and K) in their leaf tissues. The concentration of Ca and Mg content in leaf tissues are greatly influenced by the optimum supply of water during the early growth stages of apple growth. The availability of water significantly influences nutrient transporter gene expression and thus nutrient uptake by regulating such transporter genes. It is therefore observed that proper irrigation during C1 and stage C2 stage are the critical growth stages of apple for optimum leaf physiological activity and proper nutrient uptake.
Multiscale Complexity Analysis of Rainfall in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Silva Antonio Samuel Alves da , Barreto Ikaro Daniel de Carvalho , Cunha-Filho Moacyr , Menezes Rômulo Simões Cezar , Stosic Borko , Stosic Tatijana
Published: November 2021

In this work, we analyze the complexity of monthly rainfall temporal series recorded from 1962 to 2012, at 133 gauge stations in the state of Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. To this end, we employ the modified multiscale entropy method (MMSE), which is well suited for short time series, to analyze the rainfall regularity across a wide range of temporal scales, from one month to one year. We identify the temporal scales that distinguish rainfall regularity in the inland semiarid Sertão region, the transitional inland Agreste region, and the coastal, tropical humid Zona da Mata region, by comparing the results for stations across the study area and performing statistical significance tests. Our work contributes to the establishment of multiscale methods based on information theory in climatological studies.
Biochemical Composition of Seston Reflecting the Physiological Status and Community Composition of Phytoplankton in a Temperate Coastal Embayment of Korea
Authors: Bibi Riaz , Kang Hee Yoon , Kim Dongyoung , Jang Jaebin , Kim Changseong , Kundu Goutam K. , Kang Chang-Keun
Published: November 2021

The biochemical composition of seston along a salinity gradient were examined in the low-turbidity, temperate, estuarine embayment, Gwangyang Bay in Korea. Seasonal variations in sestonic protein (PRT), carbohydrate (CHO), and lipid (LIP) concentrations were analyzed to assess the effects of physiological status and taxonomic composition of phytoplankton. The concentrations of biochemical compounds displayed a close relationship with chlorophyll a (Chla). PRT:CHO ratios were high (>1.0) in the estuarine channel in warmer months and in whole bay in February, indicating a N-replete condition for phytoplankton growth. High CHO:LIP ratios (>2.5) in the saline deep-bay area during the warmer months (>2.0) emphasized the importance of temperature and photoperiod over nutritional conditions. The low POC:Chla (<200), molar C:N (~7) ratios, and biopolymeric carbon concentrations coupled with high primary productivity indicated a low detrital contribution to the particulate organic matter pool. Diatom dominance throughout the year contributed to consistently high carbohydrate concentrations. Furthermore, generalized additive models highlighted that phytoplankton community (i.e., size) structure may serve as an important descriptor of sestonic biochemical composition. Collectively, our results suggest that physiological and taxonomic features of phytoplankton play prominent roles in determining the biochemical composition of seston, supporting the fact that the ecosystem processes in Gwangyang Bay are largely based on phytoplankton dynamics.
Drag on a Square-Cylinder Array Placed in the Mixing Layer of a Compound Channel
Authors: Ferreira Rui M. L. , Gymnopoulos Miltiadis , Prinos Panayotis , Alves Elsa , Ricardo Ana M.
Published: November 2021

There are no studies specifically aimed at characterizing and quantifying drag forces on finite cylinder arrays in the mixing layer of compound channel flows. Addressing this research gap, the current study is aimed at characterizing experimentally drag forces and drag coefficients on a square-cylinder array placed near the main-channel/floodplain interface, where a mixing layer develops. Testing conditions comprise two values of relative submergence of the floodplain and similar ranges of Froude and bulk Reynolds numbers. Time-averaged hydrodynamic drag forces are calculated from an integral analysis: the Reynolds-averaged integral momentum (RAIM) conservation equations are applied to a control volume to compute the drag force, with all other terms in the RAIM equations directly estimated from velocity or depth measurements. This investigation revealed that, for both tested conditions, the values of the array-averaged drag coefficient are smaller than those of cylinders in tandem or side by side. It is argued that momentum exchanges between the flow in the main channel and the flow in front of the array contributes to reduce the pressure difference on cylinders closer to the interface. The observed drag reduction does not scale with the normalized shear rate or the relative submersion. It is proposed that the value of the drag coefficient is inversely proportional to a Reynolds number based on the velocity difference between the main-channel and the array and on cylinder spacing.
Iron, Phosphorus and Trace Elements in Mussels’ Shells, Water, and Bottom Sediments from the Severnaya Dvina and the Onega River Basins (Northwestern Russia)
Authors: Lyubas Artem A. , Tomilova Alena A. , Chupakov Artem V. , Vikhrev Ilya V. , Travina Oksana V. , Orlov Alexander S. , Zubrii Natalia A. , Kondakov Alexander V. , Bolotov Ivan N. , Pokrovsky Oleg S.
Published: November 2021

Trace elements in freshwater bivalve shells are widely used for reconstructing long-term changes in the riverine environments. However, Northern Eurasian regions, notably the European Russian North, susceptible to strong environmental impact via both local pollution and climate warming, are poorly studied. This work reports new data on trace elements accumulation by widespread species of freshwater mussels Unio spp. and Anodonta anatina in the Severnaya Dvina and the Onega River Basin, the two largest subarctic river basins in the Northeastern Europe. We revealed that iron and phosphorous accumulation in Unio spp. and Anodonta anatina shells have a strong relationship with a distance from the mouth of the studied river (the Severnaya Dvina). Based on multiparametric statistics comprising chemical composition of shells, water, and sediments, we demonstrated that the accumulation of elements in the shell depends on the environment of the biotope. Differences in the elemental composition of shells between different taxa are associated with ecological preferences of certain species to the substrate. The results set new constraints for the use of freshwater mussels’ shells for monitoring riverine environments and performing paleo-reconstructions.
Analysis of Factors Influencing the Trophic State of Drinking Water Reservoirs in Taiwan
Authors: Hung Cheng-Wei , Chiang Hsieh Lin-Han
Published: November 2021

Eutrophication is an environmental pollution problem that occurs in natural water bodies. Regression analyses with interaction terms are carried out to identify the factors influencing the Shimen, Mingde, and Fongshan Reservoirs in Taiwan. The results indicate that the main factor influencing these reservoirs is total phosphorus. In the Shimen and Mingde Reservoirs, the influence of total phosphorus, when interacting with other factors, on water quality trophic state is more serious than that of total phosphorus per se. This implies that the actual influence of total phosphorus on the eutrophic condition could be underestimated. Furthermore, there was no deterministic causality between climate and water quality variables. In addition, time lagged effects, or the influence of their interaction with other variables, were considered separately in this study to further determine the actual relationships between water trophic state and influencing factors. The influencing patterns for three reservoirs are different, because the type, size, and background environment of each reservoir are different. This is as expected, since it is difficult to predict eutrophication in reservoirs with a universal index or equation. However, the multiple linear regression model used in this study could be a suitable quick-to-use, case-by-case model option for this problem.
A New Methodology for Smoothing Power Peaks Produced by Electricity Demand and a Hydrokinetic Turbine for a Household Load on Grid Using Supercapacitors
Authors: Arévalo Paul , Tostado-Véliz Marcos , Jurado Francisco
Published: November 2021

The power fluctuations produced by electric vehicles represent a drawback in large-scale residential applications. In addition to that, short power peaks could pose a risk to the stability of the electrical grid. For this reason, this study presents a feasibility analysis for a residential system composed of electric vehicle chargers. The objective is focused on smoothing the power fluctuations produced by the charge by a supercapacitor through adequate energy control; in addition, self-consumption is analyzed. Data sampling intervals are also analyzed; the modeling was performed in Matlab software. The results show that there are errors of up to 9% if the data are measured at different sampling intervals. On the other hand, if the supercapacitor is considered, the system saves 59.87% of the energy purchased from the utility grid per day, and the self-consumption of electricity by prosumers can increase up to 73%. Finally, the hydrokinetic/supercapacitor/grid system would save up to 489.1 USD/year in the cost of purchasing electricity from the grid and would increase by 492.75 USD/year for the sale electricity.
Design, Construction and Evaluation of an Oscillating Vane Gust Generator for Atmospheric Flow Simulation
Authors: French Aaron , Friess Wilhelm , Goupee Andrew , Berube Keith
Published: November 2021

The study of unsteady aerodynamic phenomena in wind tunnels is supported by gust-generating devices capable of generating adjustable magnitude and periodicity velocity fluctuations in a flowfield. Gusts are typically generated actively by introducing moving vanes to direct the flow, or passively by tailoring the boundary layer growth and shape in the tunnel. The flow facility used here is a student-built closed-return low-speed wind tunnel, with a test section size of 750 mm × 750 mm and a maximum speed of 25 m/s. A two-vane gust generator utilizing NACA0018 airfoil sections of 150 mm chord length was designed and installed upstream of the test section. The flowfield was mapped with the installed vanes with and without gust actuation, utilizing a hot wire system. The tunnel with gust vanes exhibits a spatially uniform baseline turbulence intensity of 5%, with a steady state velocity deficit of 1 m/s in the vane–wake region. Upon introducing the gusting conditions at vane deflection angles of up to ±45°, velocity differences of up to 4 m/s were attained at 18 m/s freestream velocity at oscillation frequencies ranging between 1 Hz and 2 Hz.
FEATURES OF DISTANCE LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE CONVENTION OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Authors:   Chernivtsi Institute of Trade and Economics of KNUTE, Chernivtsi, Bagrii Konon
Published: November 2021

Today, the system of higher education around the world continues to take measures to effectively organize educational activities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. All METHODS OF TEACHING AT HIGHER EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS Issue I (81), 2021 131 countries of the world had to face unexpected difficulties in connection with the introduction of self-isolation. The higher education system was "on the front lines" with a large number of people. The closure of higher education institutions and the emergency transition to distance learning have led to obvious problems, mainly due to insufficient technical equipment, lack or poor preparation of both teachers and students to work in the new environment. These and other problems pose another challenge to the higher education system in a critical situation. At the same time, along with the obvious challenges and problems, the new format of distance learning provides a wide range of opportunities and prospects for change and improvement of educational systems, for which the critical situation creates forced conditions. The article substantiates the importance of effective distance learning in higher education in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and outlines the main problems of the individual in the relationship "teacher-student" in quarantine. The current stage of informatization of society cannot be imagined without the introduction of information and communication technologies in all parts of the education system, educational institutions and government. These technologies are especially relevant in quarantine, as they allow you to implement distance learning. It is also important that distance education expands and renews the role of the teacher, makes him a mentor-consultant who should coordinate the cognitive process, constantly improve the courses he teaches, and increase creativity and skills in accordance with innovations and innovations. During distance education, there is also a positive impact on higher education: increasing their creative and intellectual potential through self-organization, the desire for knowledge, the use of modern information and telecommunications technologies, the ability to make responsible decisions. The analysis of the research devoted to distance educational process, has allowed to reveal its other basic features, in particular: orientation on independent cognitive activity; significant potential opportunities for distance learning to intensify educational and cognitive activities; the possibility of organizing open learning, expanding the audience of consumers of educational services; integration of world educational services; reduction, under certain conditions, of material costs for the organization and implementation of the learning process.