bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Configuration of Strawberry Yield, Nutritional and Functional Traits in Response to LPE Application in a Two-Year Study
Authors: Vultaggio Lorena , Sabatino Leo , Rouphael Youssef , De Pasquale Claudio , La Bella Salvatore , Consentino Beppe Benedetto
Published: April 2023

Lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) is a promising natural lysophospholipid which can be employed as a growth regulator for horticultural purposes. The present research was accomplished to investigate the effects of LPE (0 or 10 ppm) on the yield and quality of “Savana” strawberry plants grown during two consecutive cultivation cycles (I (2020–2021); II (2021–2022)). Plants cultivated in year I and treated with LPE revealed the highest total yield (838.3 g plant−1), marketable yield (735.4 g plant−1) and average marketable fruit weight (39.8 g plant−1). Fruits from year II plants treated with LPE had the highest total phenolics concentration (491.4 mg 100 g−1 dw). LPE significantly enhanced strawberry antioxidant activity, firmness, soluble solids content, ascorbic acid and anthocyanins by 5.2%, 7.6%, 15.3%, 13.8% and 19.7%, respectively, compared with the control. Although LPE application significantly reduced fruit dry matter, yellowness and lightness by 7.2%, 30.1% and 14.6%, respectively, it significantly increased, in year II, anthocyanins, discarded production, fruit lightness and dry matter. Overall, our findings also revealed that, even under sub-optimal growing conditions (year II), LPE application increased important productive and qualitative strawberry parameters.
Cotton Stubble Detection Based on Improved YOLOv3
Authors: Yang Yukun , Li Jingbin , Nie Jing , Yang Shuo , Tang Jiaqiang
Published: April 2023

The stubble after cotton harvesting was used as the detection object to achieve the visual navigation operation for residual film recovery after autumn. An improved (You Only Look Once v3) YOLOv3-based target detection algorithm was proposed to detect cotton stubble. First, field images of residual film recycling were collected. Considering the inconsistency between stubble size and shape, a segmented labeling data set of stubble is proposed. Secondly, the Darknet-53 backbone of the original YOLOv3 network is improved to accommodate tiny targets. Next, the prediction anchor box of the improved detection backbone is clustered using K-means++, and the size of the prediction anchor box suitable for improved YOLOv3 is determined. Finally, for the false detection points after detection, a mean value denoising method is used to remove the false detection points. Feature points are extracted from the denoised stubble, and the candidate points are fitted by the least square method to obtain the navigation line. The optimal model with a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.925 is selected for testing at the test stage. The test results show that the algorithm in this article can detect the stubble of residual film recovery images at different locations, different time periods, and different camera depression angles without misdetection. The detection speed of a single image is 98.6 ms. Based on an improvement over YOLOv3, the improved model has a significantly higher detection rate in different scenarios than YOLOv3. This can provide practical technical support for the visual navigation of residual film recovery.
Early Millet Use and Its Environmental Impact Factors in Northern Shaanxi, Northwest China
Authors: Ma Zhikun , Liu Shu , Song Jincheng , Zhang Hua , Zhai Linlin , Huan Xiujia
Published: April 2023

Northern Shaanxi is important in understanding the ancient use and northward spread of foxtail millet (Setaria italica) and broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum). Nonetheless, due to the lack of millet remains, AMS radiocarbon data, and environmental background, the emergence, crop structure, and environmental factors of millet use in northern Shaanxi remain ambiguous. To address this knowledge gap, a systematic survey was conducted along the Beiluo River. Forty-two relic units at 19 Neolithic sites were selected for analysis through phytolith, AMS radiocarbon dating, and spatio-temporal approaches. Phytolith and AMS radiocarbon dating analyses traced the utilization of millets in the Beiluo River to 6280 cal. BP. In addition, broomcorn millet was more prevalent than foxtail millet during the Neolithic period, although the prevalence of the latter increased during the late Longshan period. Spatio-temporal analysis demonstrated that millets initially appeared in the Beiluo River during the Yangshao period, gradually moving away during the Longshan period, which was probably first related to the nearest rivers and then the spread of cattle and sheep. However, the millet cultivation altitude remained at 1400 m throughout the Yangshao and Longshan periods. Collectively, these findings provide evidence for the use and northward spread of millets in northwest China.
Tropical Grasses—Annual Crop Intercropping and Adequate Nitrogen Supply Increases Soil Microbial Carbon and Nitrogen
Authors: Batista Karina , Vilela Laíze Aparecida Ferreira
Published: April 2023

In Brazil, grain crops in no-till soybean–maize succession have reduced biodiversity and carbon input into soil. Intercropping is a promising approach to address these problems. This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of soil in conventional and intercropping systems in soybean–maize succession, depending on tropical grass and nitrogen fertilizer uses. The treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design and a split plot scheme, with four replications. The main plots consisted of the following cropping systems: soybean monoculture–maize monoculture; soybean intercropped with Aruana Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximum cv. Aruana)–maize intercropped with Aruana Guinea grass; and soybean intercropped with Congo grass (Urochloa ruziziensis cv. Comun)–maize intercropped with Congo grass. The subplots consisted of nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100, and 150 kg ha−1) applied as side-dressing in rows of maize and tropical grass in the autumn–winter season. Our results showed that maize or soybean intercropped with tropical grasses and adequate nitrogen rates favored the entry of microbial carbon and nitrogen, stimulated enzymatic activity, and reduced C-CO2 loss. However, the excess nitrogen supply can nullify the benefits of the intercropping systems. We concluded that the intercropping systems can improve soil microbiological quality in a short time with adequate nitrogen supply.
A New Strategy for Animal Research: Attending to Dissent
Authors: Johnson Jane
Published: April 2023

Increasingly, ethical concepts ordinarily reserved for the human research setting have been applied to nonhuman animals in research. This comes at the same time as concerns mount over challenges in translating the results of biomedical research with animals to human clinical benefit. This paper argues that applying the concept of dissent derived from research with humans to the context of animals can help to address a number of these translational issues, thereby providing an epistemological reason to take animal dissent seriously. This epistemological rationale can be added to the practical and ethical reasons for attending to animal dissent. Having made a case for recognizing the dissent of animals in biomedical research, the consequences that follow from this for the conduct of research are discussed. If animal researchers attend to dissent, then it seems that there are three types of strategy available: to override dissent, to train animals in such a way as to circumvent potential dissent, or to alter how research is conducted in order to be responsive to dissent. Only this last option has the potential to address all the types of reasons that motivate us to take dissent seriously; however, this would involve a significant reshaping of the practice of animal research.
First Insights into the Occurrence of Circular Single-Stranded DNA Genomes in Asian and African Cattle
Authors: König Marie-Thérèse , Frölich Kai , Jandowsky Anabell , Knauf-Witzens Tobias , Langner Christoph , Dietrich Richard , Märtlbauer Erwin , Didier Andrea
Published: April 2023

Circular replicase-encoding single-stranded (CRESS) DNA viruses and other circular DNA agents are increasingly found in various samples and animals. A specific class of these agents—termed bovine meat and milk factors (BMMF)—has been supposed to act as a factor in indirect carcinogenesis in humans. Initial observations attributed the BMMF to European cattle breeds and foodstuffs produced thereof. In the present study, blood and fecal samples from African and Asian cattle were examined. BMMF molecules and genomoviruses were detected in all bovids under study. The majority (79%) of the 29 circular elements could be assigned to BMMF groups 1 and 2, whereas CRESS viruses of the family Genomoviridae accounted for the smaller part (21%). Two genomoviruses belong to the genus Gemykibivirus and one to the genus Gemykrogvirus. The remaining three might be considered as novel species within the genus Gemycircularvirus. The majority of all isolated molecules originated from fecal samples, whereas only three derived from blood. The results from this study expand our knowledge on the diversity and presence of circular DNA in different ruminants that serve for food production in many countries over the world.
Associations between Pleurisy and the Main Bacterial Pathogens of the Porcine Respiratory Diseases Complex (PRDC)
Authors: Petri Fernando Antônio Moreira , Ferreira Geovana Coelho , Arruda Laíza Pinto , Malcher Clarisse Sena , Storino Gabriel Yuri , Almeida Henrique Meiroz de Souza , Sonalio Karina , Silva Daniela Gomes da , Oliveira Luís Guilherme de
Published: April 2023

Porcine Respiratory Diseases Complex (PRDC) is a multifactorial disease that involves several bacterial pathogens, including Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyopneumoniae), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae), Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida), Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis), and Streptococcus suis (S. suis). In pigs, the infection may cause lesions such pleurisy, which can lead to carcass condemnation. Hence, 1015 carcasses were selected from three different commercial pig farms, where the respiratory conditions were evaluated using slaughterhouse pleurisy evaluation system (SPES) and classified into five groups. In total, 106 pleural and lung fragments were collected for qPCR testing to identify the five abovementioned pathogens. A moderate correlation between the severity of the lesions and the presence of P. multocida (R = 0.38) and A. pleuropneumoniae (R = 0.28) was observed. Concerning the lung samples, the severity of the lesions was moderately correlated with the presence of P. multocida (R = 0.43) and M. hyopneumoniae (R = 0.35). Moreover, there was a strong correlation between the presence of P. multocida and M.hyopneumoniae in the pleura (R = 0.82). Finally, this approach may be a useful tool to identify and quantify causative agents of PRDC using qPCR, providing a comprehensive evaluation of its relevance, strength, and potential application in the field as a surveillance tool for veterinarians.
FarmDain, a Decision Support System for Dairy Sheep and Goat Production
Authors: Louta Malamati , Karagiannis Panagiotis , Papanikolopoulou Vasiliki , Vouraki Sotiria , Tsipis Evangelos , Priskas Stergios , Koutouzidou Georgia , Theodoridis Alexandros , Dimitriou Socratis , Arsenos Georgios
Published: April 2023

Managing a milk zone in the dairy industry is demanding. Data necessary for efficient management are difficult to acquire because they usually must be collected in organized and standardized ways. On the other hand, software practices constantly provide new tools that can go beyond simple record-keeping practices and add value to the data. In this work, FarmDain is a novel web-based application for sheep and goat management. It aims to improve milk production and processing by digitizing the value chain in data acquisition, processing and visualization between dairy production businesses and their milk suppliers. FarmDain uses state-of-the-art software technologies to model the data collection process and provides a straightforward user interface to facilitate data processing and visualization. Using the app in a case study carried out for 12 months in a dairy sheep farm resulted in lower feeding cost per milked ewe by 5.5% when ewes were allocated into high and low milk production groups compared to the scenario of remaining in one single group. Furthermore, based on reports provided by the app, culling and genetic selection decisions were made to improve the overall farm performance. Similar practices were applied in all farms optimizing their productivity, which led to increased profitability for farms and the Dairy Factory.
Analysis of Calving Ease and Stillbirth and Their Impact on the Length of Functional Productive Life in Slovak Holstein Cattle
Authors: Strapáková Eva , Candrák Juraj , Strapák Peter
Published: April 2023

The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of births according to the categories of calving difficulty and stillbirths and to evaluate the effect of these factors on the longevity of cows. Longevity is one of the traits that affect the overall profit in the dairy industry. A Weibull proportional hazard model was used to evaluate the influence of functional traits such as calving ease and stillbirth. Longevity was expressed as the length of a functional, productive life from the first calving to death or censoring, which was corrected for milk yield. The database included 918,568 calvings, where calving without assistance represented 83.34%, calving with the assistance of one person or the use of a slight mechanical pull represented 14.47%, difficult calving with the assistance of several people, the use of mechanical traction or the intervention of a veterinarian represented 2.16%, and cesarean section represented 0.03%. The mortality of calves, stillborn or dead within 48 h of birth, represented 1.07% and 6.59%, respectively. The frequency of alive female calves was higher (46.84%) than male calves (45.50%). Cows with higher lactations had almost half as many stillborn calves as heifers. The most stillborn calves were found in difficult births (59.48%). In easy calving, this proportion was 2.48%. Using survival analysis, we estimated the significant influence of the factors such as parity, milk production, herd size, age at first calving, herd × year × season, sex of calf, calving ease, and stillbirth on the length of the functional, productive life of cows. The risk of early culling of the cows with moderately difficult calving was 1.259 times higher than in the cows with easy calving. Difficult calving and cesarean section shorten the productive life, and the risk of culling reached 1.711 and 1.894, respectively. Cows that gave birth to a dead calf achieved a 2.939 times higher risk of culling compared to cows that gave birth to a live calf. In this study, a higher risk of early culling was found in cows that gave birth to a male calf. Evaluation of the calving ease and stillbirth can be used as indirect indicators at an earlier age of the animal in the selection process for long-lived animals with good productive and reproductive performance.
Changes in Management Lead to Improvement and Healing of Equine Squamous Gastric Disease
Authors: Kranenburg Lieuwke C. , van der Poel Simone Henriëtte , Warmelink Tim Sebastiaan , van Doorn David Anthonie , van den Boom Robin
Published: April 2023

Equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) is common in horses and poses a serious welfare problem. Several risk factors have been identified and ESGD is routinely treated with omeprazole. Fourteen mares, previously used as embryo recipients and diagnosed with ESGD, were selected. Horses were confined to individual stalls, exercised once daily, and fed ad libitum hay, 1 kg of a low starch compound complementary feed and a mineral supplement. Half of the horses received a compound containing hydrolysed collagen (supplement) and the other half did not (control). At the start of the study, ESGD scores were 3.57 and 3.36 for the supplement and control group, respectively. After 4 weeks, the ESGD grades were significantly reduced in both groups (1.89 and 1.43, respectively, p < 0.01), and healing (ESGD < 2) occurred in 7 out of 14 horses. No treatment effect was observed (p = 0.75), and it was concluded that the change in husbandry overshadowed any potential effect of the compound. Severe ESGD can improve, and even heal, with the provision of a diet of ad libitum forage and a small amount of a compound complementary feed, without the use of omeprazole. A predictable daily routine, with a limited number of dedicated caretakers, may have contributed to the improvement of gastric health.
RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) Analysis Reveals Liver Lipid Metabolism Divergent Adaptive Response to Low- and High-Salinity Stress in Spotted Scat (Scatophagus argus)
Authors: Chen Jieqing , Cai Bosheng , Tian Changxu , Jiang Dongneng , Shi Hongjuan , Huang Yang , Zhu Chunhua , Li Guangli , Deng Siping
Published: April 2023

Spotted scat (Scatophagus argus) can tolerate a wide range of salinity fluctuations. It is a good model for studying environmental salinity adaptation. Lipid metabolism plays an important role in salinity adaptation in fish. To elucidate the mechanism of lipid metabolism in the osmoregulation, the liver transcriptome was analyzed after 22 d culture with a salinity of 5 ppt (Low-salinity group: LS), 25 ppt (Control group: Ctrl), and 35 ppt (High-salinity group: HS) water by using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in spotted scat. RNA-seq analysis showed that 1276 and 2768 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the LS vs. Ctrl and HS vs. Ctrl, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the pathways of steroid hormone biosynthesis, steroid biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, and lipid metabolism were significantly enriched in the LS vs. Ctrl. The genes of steroid biosynthesis (sqle, dhcr7, and cyp51a1), steroid hormone biosynthesis (ugt2a1, ugt2a2, ugt2b20, and ugt2b31), and glycerophospholipid metabolism (cept1, pla2g4a, and ptdss2) were significantly down-regulated in the LS vs. Ctrl. The pathways related to lipid metabolisms, such as fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, adipocytokine signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, were significantly enriched in the HS vs. Ctrl. The genes of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis (scd1, hacd3, fads2, pecr, and elovl1) and adipocytokine signaling pathway (g6pc1, socs1, socs3, adipor2, pck1, and pparα) were significantly up-regulated in the HS vs. Ctrl. These results suggest that the difference in liver lipid metabolism is important to adapt to low- and high-salinity stress in spotted scat, which clarifies the molecular regulatory mechanisms of salinity adaptation in euryhaline fish.
Veterinary Comparative Pathology, a Scientific Tool for a Thriving Planet
Authors: Suárez-Bonnet Alejandro , Ramírez Rivero Gustavo A.
Published: April 2023

In recent years, Earth has overcome unpredictable challenges [...]
Islamic Influence on the Local Majapahit Hindu Dwelling of Indonesia in the 15th Century
Authors: Sulaksono Aruji , Adas Yasser Ahmed , Almaimani Ayad
Published: April 2023

Majapahit was one of Indonesia’s most prominent and last Hindu kingdoms in the 12–15th centuries. During this time, there was a process of changing religious beliefs among the Javanese population, who then embraced Hinduism to eventually become Muslim. In the 14th and 15th centuries, according to estimates, Islam began to spread throughout the Majapahit Empire. There was also a cultural shift in the Majapahit Kingdom’s society, from how they dressed to the shape of their houses. This study aims to determine how structures from that time were interpreted using a 3D model based on field surveys and previous studies. This documentation’s findings are divided into typology, spatial distribution, and architectural elements. Each of these three groups was further defined through Islamic law to determine the extent of Islam’s Influence on dwellings throughout the Majapahit Era. The impact of Islam on Majapahit architecture during that time was characterised by openness in terms of building typology, compactness in the internal layout of buildings, and the employment of ornamental architectural features based on plant and abstract patterns.
Assessment of GPM Satellite Precipitation Performance after Bias Correction, for Hydrological Modeling in a Semi-Arid Watershed (High Atlas Mountain, Morocco)
Authors: Benkirane Myriam , Amazirh Abdelhakim , Laftouhi Nour-Eddine , Khabba Saïd , Chehbouni Abdelghani
Published: April 2023

Due to its important spatiotemporal variability, accurate rainfall monitoring is one of the most difficult issues in semi-arid mountainous environments. Moreover, due to the inconsistent distribution of gauge measurement, the availability of precipitation data is not always secured and totally reliable at the instantaneous time step. As a result, earth observation of precipitation estimations could be an alternative for overcoming this restriction. The current study presents a framework for either the hydro-statistical evaluation and bias correction of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) Integrated Multi-SatellitE Retrievals version 06 Early (IMERG-E), Late (IMERG-L), and Final (IMERG-F) products. On a sub-daily duration, from the Taferiat rain gauge-based station, which was used as a benchmark from 1 September 2014 to 31 August 2018. Statistical analysis was performed to examine each precipitation product’s performance. The results showed that all Post_Real_Time and Real_Time IMERG had a high level of awareness accuracy. The IMERG-L results were statistically similar to the gauge data, succeeded by the IMERG-F and IMERG-E. The Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) has been employed to adjust the precipitation values of the three IMERG products in order to decrease bias estimation. The three products were then integrated into the “HEC-HMS” hydrological model to assess their dependability in flow modeling. Six flood occurrences were calibrated and validated for each product at 30-minute time steps. With a mean Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of NSE 0.82, the calibration findings demonstrate that IMERG-F provides satisfactory hydrological performance. With an NSE = 0.80, IMERG-L displayed good hydrological utility, slightly better than IMERG-E with an NSE = 0.77. However, when the flood events were validated using the initial soil conditions, IMERG F and IMERG E overestimated the discharge by 13% and 10%, respectively. While IMERG L passed the validation phase with an average score of NSE = 0.69.
A Machine Learning-Based Model for Flight Turbulence Identification Using LiDAR Data
Authors: Zhuang Zibo , Zhang Hui , Chan Pak-Wai , Tai Hongda , Deng Zheng
Published: April 2023

By addressing the imbalanced proportions of the data category samples in the velocity structure function of the LiDAR turbulence identification model, we propose a flight turbulence identification model utilizing both a conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost). This model can fully learn small- and medium-sized turbulence samples, reduce the false alarm rate, improve robustness, and maintain model stability. Model training involves constructing a balanced dataset by generating samples that conform to the original data distribution via the CGAN. Subsequently, the XGBoost model is iteratively trained on the sample set to obtain the flight turbulence classification level. Experiments show that the turbulence recognition accuracy achieved on the CGAN-generated augmented sample set improves by 15%. Additionally, when incorporating LiDAR-obtained wind field data, the performance of the XGBoost model surpasses that of traditional classification algorithms such as K-nearest neighbours, support vector machines, and random forests by 14%, 8%, and 5%, respectively, affirming the excellence of the model for turbulence classification. Moreover, a comparative analysis conducted on a Zhongchuan Airport flight crew report showed that the model achieved a 78% turbulence identification accuracy, indicating enhanced recognition ability under data-imbalanced conditions. In conclusion, our CGAN/XGBoost model effectively addresses the proportion imbalance issue.
Drought in Shanxi Province Based on Remote Sensing Drought Index Analysis of Spatial and Temporal Variation Characteristics
Authors: Xu Yuanyuan , Chen Yuxin , Yang Jiajia , Zhang Weilai , Wang Yongxiang , Wei Jiaxuan , Cheng Wuxue
Published: April 2023

Drought is a natural disaster with long duration and which causes great harm. Studying the characteristics of drought evolution in Shanxi Province can grasp the regularity of drought occurrence and provide a basis for drought prevention and resistance. This study utilizes MODIS products to analyze and quantify the extent of drought in a specific area. The study calculates several indices, including the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), Vegetation Supply Water Index (VSWI), and Temperature Vegetation Dryness Index (TVDI), using variables such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Evapotranspiration (ET), and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET). Additionally, three drought indices are analyzed for correlation with the self-calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index (sc-PDSI), and the most suitable drought index is selected through validation with typical drought events. Finally, the selected indices are used to investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of drought in the study area from 2001 to 2020. The results show: (1) CWSI and sc-PDSI have a strong correlation both in terms of time and spatial analysis. Furthermore, CWSI has been shown to be more effective in monitoring significant drought events. (2) The multi-year mean values of CWSI range from 0.71 to 0.85, with a significant degree of spatial heterogeneity. In the study area, the percentage of the area affected by different levels of drought is in the following order: moderate drought > severe drought > mild drought > no drought. (3) The trend of CWSI changes shows that the drought situation in Shanxi Province has been alleviated from 2001 to 2020, and the overall spatial distribution indicates that the degree of drought alleviation in the southern region is greater than that in the northern region. The turning point from drought to wetness in the study area was in 2011, showing the overall characteristic of “dry in the north and wet in the south”.
Optimization of Photoacoustic Cell for Trace Acetylene Detection in Transformer Oil
Authors: Yang Tianhe , Zhou Kai , Jin Lei , Liu Rui , Chen Weigen
Published: April 2023

This paper presents the development of a highly sensitive gas detection system based on a resonant photoacoustic cell for detecting dissolved gases in transformer oil. A simulation model of the resonant photoacoustic cell was studied and optimized the buffer chamber volume while ensuring signal enhancement. The volume of the photoacoustic cell was reduced by about 80% compared to the classical model. A resonant photoacoustic cell was then fabricated based on the optimized simulation optimization. The dual-resonance photoacoustic system was constructed by combining the resonant PA cell with a handmade cantilever fiber acoustic sensor. The system’s sensitivity was further improved by using an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, wavelength modulation, and harmonic detection technology. The experimental results showed that the system achieved a detection limit of 6 ppb and an excellent linear range under 1000 ppm for C2H2 gas. The developed gas detection system has potential applications for monitoring the condition of power transformers in power grids.
The Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Urban Snow Disasters in Xinjiang over the Last 60 Years
Authors: Wang Hui , Dong Siyan , Wang Meixia , Yu Xingjie , Wang Shengli , Liu Jing
Published: April 2023

Based on the daily observations from 83 meteorological stations in Xinjiang between 1961 and 2020, urban snow disasters were divided into four grades: extremely severe, severe, medium and light. The patterns in the spatiotemporal variability of snow disasters and the relationship between snow disasters and the Northern Hemisphere circulation indices are discussed. The results show that snow disasters were more frequent in the north than in the south, and severe and extremely severe snow disasters mainly occurred in the north. Over the past 60 years, the frequency of medium and above snow disasters has been increasing significantly, while the frequency of light disasters has been decreasing significantly. The areas with significant changes are mainly located in the snow-rich area of Northern Xinjiang. The above changes were more evident during 1991–2020 and occurred in more than 70% of the whole area. Compared to the previous 30 years, the annual average, the maximum and minimum frequency of snow disasters classified as medium and above increased. This is especially true for severe and extremely severe disasters, which increased by more than 70%. Severe and extremely severe snow disasters in the north are significantly and positively correlated with the Northern Hemisphere Polar Vortex Central Intensity Index (NHPVCI), the India-Burma Trough Intensity Index (IBTI) and negatively correlated with AO during the cold season and the winter. Severe snow disasters in the south are positively correlated with the IBTI during winter and autumn.
Impact of Soil Moisture in the Monsoon Region of South America during Transition Season
Authors: Arsego Vivian Bauce Machado , de Gonçalves Luis Gustavo Gonçalves , Arsego Diogo Alessandro , Figueroa Silvio Nilo , Kubota Paulo Yoshio , de Souza Carlos Renato
Published: April 2023

The land surface is an important component of numerical weather and climate forecast models due to their effect on energy–water balances and fluxes, and it is essential for forecasts on a seasonal scale. The present study aimed to understand the effects of land surface processes on initialization of seasonal forecasts in the austral spring, in particular soil moisture. We built forecasts with the Brazilian global Atmospheric Model hindcast from 2000 to 2010, with a configuration similar to those used in the operational environment. To improve it, we developed a new initial condition of the land surface using the Land Information System over South America and the Global Land Data Assimilation System for the rest of the globe and used it as the input in the forecast model. The results demonstrated that the model is sensitive to changes in soil moisture and that the new high–resolution soil moisture dataset can be used in model initialization, which resulted in an increase in the correlation of precipitation over part of South America. We also noticed an improvement in the representation of surface fluxes and an increase in soil moisture content and specific humidity at medium and low levels of the atmosphere. The analysis of the coupling between the land surface and the atmosphere showed that, for Central Brazil, the states of the continental surface define the surface fluxes. For the Amazon and La Plata Basins, the model did not correctly represent the coupling because it underestimated the soil moisture content.
Variations in CO2 and CH4 Exchange in Response to Multiple Biophysical Factors from a Mangrove Wetland Park in Southeastern China
Authors: Wang Chunlin , Zhao Xiaosong , Chen Xianyan , Xiao Chan , Fan Xingwang , Shen Chong , Sun Ming , Shen Ziqi , Zhang Qiang
Published: April 2023

Mangrove ecosystems can be both significant sources and sinks of greenhouse gases. The restoration of mangrove forests is increasingly used as a natural climate solution tool to mitigate climate change. However, the estimates of carbon exchanges remain unclear, especially from restored mangroves. In this study, we observed the temporal variations in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes and their biophysical controls for 4 years, based on a closed-path eddy covariance (EC) system. The measurements were conducted in a mangrove wetland park with 14-year-old restored mangroves surrounded by open waters in Guangdong Province, China. The EC measurements showed that the mangrove ecosystem acted as a CO2 source with a net CO2 ecosystem exchange (NEE) of 305 g C m−2 from January 2019 to May 2020 by the 5-m tower measurement. After the tower was adjusted to 10 m, the mangrove showed a CO2 sink with an NEE of −345 g C m−2 from June 2020 to December 2022. The change in tower height influenced the interpretation of interannual trends on NEE. There were no significant interannual trends in the gross primary productivity (GPP) and the ecosystem respiration (Re) values. The change from CO2 source to sink may be attributed to the decrease in land surface proportion by the tower replacement, which reduces the proportion of the mangrove canopy respiration and, therefore, captures lower CO2 fluxes from open waters. The restored mangroves indicated strong CH4 sources of 23.2–26.3 g C m−2 a−1. According to the random forest analysis, the land surface proportion, radiation, and relative humidity were the three most important predictors of NEE, while the CH4 flux was most sensitive to air temperature. Compared to the natural and long-term restored mangroves, this 14-year-old restored mangrove had not yet achieved a maximum carbon sequestration capability. Our study highlights the need for the careful design of long-term observations from restored mangroves and proposes future needs in the context of carbon neutrality.
The Chemical Characteristics of Rainwater and Wet Atmospheric Deposition Fluxes at Two Urban Sites and One Rural Site in Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Kassamba-Diaby Mohamed L. , Galy-Lacaux Corinne , Yoboué Véronique , Hickman Jonathan E. , Mouchel-Vallon Camille , Jaars Kerneels , Gnamien Sylvain , Konan Richmond , Gardrat Eric , Silué Siélé
Published: April 2023

Due to their close relationship with atmospheric chemical composition and global impacts on ecosystems, it is of crucial importance to determine rain chemical composition and quantify wet deposition. In this study, we characterized the chemical composition of precipitation at one rural and two urban sites in Côte d’Ivoire along a south-north transect. Annual and monthly Volume Weighted Mean (VWM) concentration of major ions, as well as wet deposition fluxes in rainwater samples from Abidjan, Korhogo (urban sites), and Lamto (rural site), have been calculated. We also simulated air mass back-trajectories and generated satellite maps of burnt fraction and nitrogen species emissions (NH3, NO2) to better analyze our results. Results show that the dominant ion at both urban sites is Ca2+, whereas NH4+ dominates the chemical content of the Lamto rural site. The analysis of atmospheric sources of influence shows that urban sites rains are characterized by a mixture of terrigenous continental and anthropogenic sources (39–33%), as well as a high marine contribution (34–24%) and a significant nitrogenous contribution (18–25%) mainly associated to fossil fuel from road traffic, domestic and biomass burning sources. At the rural Lamto site, marine, terrigenous, and nitrogenous contributions represent, respectively, 14%, 25%, and 30%. The average pH values are, respectively, 5.76, 5.31, and 5.57 for Abidjan, Lamto, and Korhogo, with a preponderance of mineral acidity contribution at the urban sites, while the organic acidity contribution dominates in Lamto. Neutralization factor (NF) of mineral and organic acids calculations revealed that Ca2+ and NH4+ are the most important neutralizing ions in the rain at all three sites, and we estimated that 79% to 87% of the rain acidity is neutralized by alkaline compounds.
Balance Rehabilitation with Peripheral Visual Stimulation in Patients with Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia: An Open-Pilot Intervention Study
Authors: Caldirola Daniela , Carminati Claudia , Daccò Silvia , Grassi Massimiliano , Perna Giampaolo , Teggi Roberto
Published: April 2023

Given the involvement of balance system abnormalities in the pathophysiology of panic disorder and agoraphobia (PD-AG), we evaluated initial evidence for feasibility, acceptability, and potential clinical usefulness of 10 sessions of balance rehabilitation with peripheral visual stimulation (BR-PVS) in an open-pilot 5-week intervention study including six outpatients with PD-AG who presented residual agoraphobia after selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment and cognitive–behavioral therapy, dizziness in daily life, and peripheral visual hypersensitivity measured by posturography. Before and after BR-PVS, patients underwent posturography, otovestibular examination (no patients presented peripheral vestibular abnormalities), and panic-agoraphobic symptom and dizziness evaluation with psychometric tools. After BR-PVS, four patients achieved postural control normalization measured by posturography, and one patient exhibited a favorable trend of improvement. Overall, panic-agoraphobic symptoms and dizziness decreased, even though to a lesser extent in one patient who had not completed the rehabilitation sessions. The study presented reasonable levels of feasibility and acceptability. These findings suggest that balance evaluation should be considered in patients with PD-AGO presenting residual agoraphobia and that BR-PVS might be an adjunctive therapeutic option worth being tested in larger randomized controlled studies.
Design and Evaluation Framework for Modular Hybrid Battery Energy Storage Systems in Full-Electric Marine Applications
Authors: Tao Zhenmin , Barrera-Cardenas Rene , Akbarzadeh Mohsen , Mo Olve , De Smet Jasper , Stuyts Jeroen
Published: April 2023

In the context of the maritime transportation sector electrification, battery hybridization has been identified as a promising manner of meeting the critical requirements on energy and power density, as well as lifetime and safety. Today, multiple promising battery hybridization topologies have been identified, while there is not a level playing field enabling comparison between different topologies. This study bridges this gap directly by proposing a generic hybrid battery energy storage system (HBESS) design and evaluation framework in full-electric marine applications that accounts for the key design requirements in the system topology conceptualization phase. In doing so, generalized key component models, such as battery cell models, aging models, power converter models, and thermal models, are established. Additionally, given the selected key requirements in this study, the case study comparing one baseline monotype design and two HBESS topologies has shown the clear advantage of battery hybridization. Furthermore, we find that, depending on the topology selection and the specific load scenario being considered, power converter devices can also worsen the key performance indexes.
New Mass Transport Correlation for Vanadium Redox-Flow Batteries Based on a Model-Assisted Parameter Estimation
Authors: Becker Maik , Turek Thomas
Published: April 2023

In this work, a two-dimensional mathematical model is applied to develop a new mass transport correlation for an SGL GFD4.6A carbon felt applied in a 100 cm2 single cell vanadium redox-flow battery under realistic flow conditions. Already published mass transport equations for carbon felt electrodes show a large variation for the resulting Sherwood numbers and are summarized in this work to narrow the probable range of mass transport parameters. A detailed investigation of electrolyte properties, impedance spectroscopic characterization for evaluation of kinetic properties, and the use of potential probe signals to identify the overpotential of positive and negative electrodes are carried out before mass transport parameter estimation by a comparison of model and experimental data. The model validation yields a good agreement between predicted and experimental data with the following new and reliable mass transport equation: Sh = 0.07 Re0.66Sc0.45 (0.0018 < Re < 0.11). The characteristic length applied for the Sherwood and Reynolds number is the diameter of the carbon felt fibers.
Modified Biogeography Optimization Strategy for Optimal Sizing and Performance of Battery Energy Storage System in Microgrid Considering Wind Energy Penetration
Authors: Shi Yingchun , Cheng Shu , Chen Chunyang , Luo Yu , Zhao Jundong , Ghiasi Mohammad
Published: April 2023

The nature of renewable energy resources (RERs), such as wind energy, makes them highly unstable, unpredictable, and intermittent. As a result, they must be optimized to reduce costs and emissions, increase reliability, and also to find the optimal size and location for RERs and energy storage systems (ESSs). Microgrids (MG) can be modified using ESSs to gradually reduce traditional energy use. In order to integrate RERs in a financially viable scheme, ESSs should be sized and operated optimally. The paper presents an enhanced biogeography-driven optimization algorithm for optimizing the operations and sizes of battery ESSs (BESSs) taking into account MGs that experience wind energy penetration in a way that migration rates are adaptively adjusted based on habitat suitability indexes and differential perturbations added to migration operators. An optimization problem was applied to a BESS to determine its depth of discharge and lifespan. This paper considers three different scenarios in using simulations and compares them to existing optimization methods for the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of the offered scheme. Out of all the case studies examined, the optimized BESS-linked case study was the least expensive. We also show that a BESS must be of an optimum size to function both economically and healthily. For economic and efficient functioning of MGs, it has been shown that finding the optimum size of the ESS is important and potentially extends battery lifespan. The IBBOA obtained a more precise size for BESS’s volume, and the final outcomes are compared in this paper with other methods.
In Situ Solidification by γ−ray Irradiation Process for Integrated Solid−State Lithium Battery
Authors: Chen Zhiqiang , Yang Xueying , Pei Nanbiao , Li Ruiyang , Zeng Yuejin , Zhang Peng , Zhao Jinbao
Published: April 2023

The safety concerns associated with power batteries have prompted significant interest in all−solid−state lithium batteries (ASSBs). However, the advancement of ASSBs has been significantly impeded due to their unsatisfactory electrochemical performance, which is attributed to the challenging interface between the solid−state electrolyte and the electrodes. In this work, an in situ polymerized composite solid−state electrolyte (LLZTO−PVC) consisting of poly(vinylene carbonate) (PVC) and Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12 (LLZTO) was successfully prepared by a γ−ray irradiation technique. The novel technique successfully solved the problem of rigidity at the interface between the electrode and electrolyte. The LLZTO−PVC electrolyte exhibited a notable ionic conductivity of 1.2 × 10−4 S cm−1 25 °C, along with good mechanical strength and flexibility and an electrochemical window exceeding 4.65 V. It was showed that the LiCoO2(LCO)/LLZTO−PVC/Li battery, which achieved in situ solidification via γ−ray irradiation, can steadily work at a current density of 0.2 C at 25 °C and maintain a retention rate of 92.4% over 100 cycles. The good interfacial compatibility between electrodes and LLZTO−PVC electrolyte designed via in situ γ−ray irradiation polymerization could be attributed to its excellent electrochemical performance. Therefore, the method of in situ γ−ray irradiation polymerization provides a vital reference for solving the interface problem.
Effects of Intermittent Hypoxia and Electrical Muscle Stimulation on Cognitive and Physiological Metrics
Authors: Reganova Elizaveta , Solovyeva Ksenia , Buyanov Dmitriy , Gerasimenko Alexander Yu. , Repin Dmitry
Published: April 2023

Objectives: This study describes the effects of interval hypoxic training and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) technology on human productivity with the following metrics: biochemical indices, cognitive abilities, changes in oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated (Hb) hemoglobin concentrations over the prefrontal cortex, and functional connectivity via electroencephalography (EEG). Methods: All measurements according to the described technology were made before the start of training and one month later, right after it ended. The study involved middle-aged Indo-European men. Specifically, there were 14, 15, and 18 participants in the control, hypoxic, and EMS groups, respectively. Results: EMS training improved reactions and nonverbal memory but decreased attention scores. Functional connectivity decreased in the EMS group while it increased in the hypoxic group. A result of the interval normobaric hypoxic training (IHT) was significantly improved contextual memory, with a p-value = 0.08. Conclusions: It was found that EMS training is more likely to cause stress on the body than positively affect cognitive functions. At the same time, interval hypoxic training can be considered a promising direction for increasing human productivity. The data obtained during the study can also help in the timely diagnosis of insufficient or overestimated indicators of biochemistry.
Non-Invasive Monitoring of Cutaneous Wound Healing in Non-Diabetic and Diabetic Model of Adult Zebrafish Using OCT Angiography
Authors: Kim Jaeyoung , Kim Suhyun , Choi Woo June
Published: April 2023

A diabetic wound presents a severe risk of infections and other complications because of its slow healing. Evaluating the pathophysiology during wound healing is imperative for wound care, necessitating a proper diabetic wound model and assay for monitoring. The adult zebrafish is a rapid and robust model for studying human cutaneous wound healing because of its fecundity and high similarities to human wound repair. OCTA as an assay can provide three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the tissue structure and vasculature in the epidermis, enabling monitoring of the pathophysiologic alterations in the zebrafish skin wound. We present a longitudinal study for assessing the cutaneous wound healing of the diabetic adult zebrafish model using OCTA, which is of importance for the diabetes research using the alternative animal models. We used non-diabetic (n = 9) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) adult zebrafish models (n = 9). The full-thickness wound was generated on the fish skin, and the wound healing was monitored with OCTA for 15 days. The OCTA results demonstrated significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic wound healing, involving delayed tissue remodeling and impaired angiogenesis for the diabetic wound, leading to slow wound recovery. The adult zebrafish model and OCTA technique may benefit long-term metabolic disease studies using zebrafish for drug development.