bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Applicability Analysis of GPM Satellite Precipitation over Mainland China
Authors: Pan Xinshun , Wu Huan , Chen Sirong , Nanding Nergui , Huang Zhijun , Chen Weitian , Li Chaoqun , Li Xiaomeng
Published: June 2023

This study aims to systematically evaluate the accuracy and applicability of GPM satellite precipitation products (IMERG-E, IMERG-L, and IMERG-F) with varying time lags at different spatial and temporal scales over mainland China. We use quantitative statistical indicators, including correlation coefficient (CC), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean daily precipitation, probability of detection (POD), false alarm rate (FAR), bias, and equitable threat score (ETS), based on observations from 2419 national gauge sites. The results show that GPM satellite precipitation products perform well in eastern and southern humid regions of China, with relatively poorer performance in western and northern regions in terms of spatial distribution. It reflects the sensitivity of GPM precipitation retrieval algorithm to climate and precipitation type, topography, density, and quality of ground observation across different latitudes. Despite the design of GPM for different forms of precipitation, IMERG products perform the best in summer and the worst in winter, indicating that estimating snowfalls via satellite is still challenging. In terms of precipitation intensity, IMERG products significantly improve performance for light and no rain (POD ≥ 0.7), but errors gradually increase for moderate, heavy, and torrential rain, due to the saturation tendency of satellite echoes. Overall, we comprehensively evaluate the IMERG products, revealing the distinct characteristics at various spatial–temporal scales focusing on rainfall accumulations over mainland China. This study provides an important reference for other similar satellite-based precipitation products. It also helps the parameter optimization of hydrological modelling, especially under extreme precipitation conditions, to enhance the accuracy of flood simulation.
Global Analysis of the Cover-Management Factor for Soil Erosion Modeling
Authors: Xiong Muqi , Leng Guoyong , Tang Qiuhong
Published: June 2023

Land use and management practices (LUMPs) play a critical role in regulating soil loss. The cover-management factor (C-factor) in Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)-type models is an important parameter for quantifying the effects of LUMPs on soil erosion. However, accurately determining the C-factor, particularly for large-scale assessments using USLE-type models, remains challenging. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing and comparing the methods used for C-factor quantification in 946 published articles, providing insights into their strengths and weaknesses. Through our analysis, we identified six main categories of methods for C-factor quantification in USLE-type modeling. Many studies have relied on empirical C-factor values for different land-use types or calculated C-factor values based on vegetation indices (VIs) in large study areas (>100 km2). However, we found that no single method could robustly estimate C-factor values for large-scale studies. For small-scale investigations, conducting experiments or consulting the existing literature proved to be more feasible. In the context of large-scale studies, employing methods based on VIs for C-factor quantification can enhance our understanding of the relationship between vegetation changes and soil erosion potential, particularly when considering spatial and spatiotemporal variations. For the global scale, we recommend the combined use of different equations. We suggest further efforts to develop C-factor datasets at large scales by synthesizing field-level experiment data and combining high-resolution satellite imagery. These efforts will facilitate the development of effective soil conservation practices, ensuring sustainable land use and environmental protection.
Modified Dynamic Routing Convolutional Neural Network for Pan-Sharpening
Authors: Sun Kai , Zhang Jiangshe , Liu Junmin , Xu Shuang , Cao Xiangyong , Fei Rongrong
Published: June 2023

Based on deep learning, various pan-sharpening models have achieved excellent results. However, most of them adopt simple addition or concatenation operations to merge the information of low spatial resolution multi-spectral (LRMS) images and panchromatic (PAN) images, which may cause a loss of detailed information. To tackle this issue, inspired by capsule networks, we propose a plug-and-play layer named modified dynamic routing layer (MDRL), which modifies the information transmission mode of capsules to effectively fuse LRMS images and PAN images. Concretely, the lower-level capsules are generated by applying transform operation to the features of LRMS images and PAN images, which preserve the spatial location information. Then, the dynamic routing algorithm is modified to adaptively select the lower-level capsules to generate the higher-level capsule features to represent the fusion of LRMS images and PAN images, which can effectively avoid the loss of detailed information. In addition, the previous addition and concatenation operations are illustrated as special cases of our MDRL. Based on MIPSM with addition operations and DRPNN with concatenation operations, two modified dynamic routing models named MDR–MIPSM and MDR–DRPNN are further proposed for pan-sharpening. Extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve remarkable spectral and spatial quality.
Mobile-BAT—A Novel Ultra-Low Power Wildlife Tracking System
Authors: Erhardt Stefan , Koch Martin , Kiefer Andreas , Veith Michael , Weigel Robert , Koelpin Alexander
Published: June 2023

We introduce a novel ultra-low power system for tracking animal movements over long periods with an unprecedented high-temporal-resolution. The localization principle is based on the detection of cellular base stations using a miniaturized software-defined radio, weighing 2.0 g, including the battery, and having a size equivalent to two stacked 1-euro cent coins. Therefore, the system is small and lightweight enough to be deployed on small, wide-ranging, or migrating animals, such as European bats, for movement analysis with an unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. The position estimation relies on a post-processing probabilistic RF pattern-matching method based on the acquired base stations and power levels. In several field tests, the system has been successfully verified, and a run-time of close to one year has been demonstrated.
Experimental Analysis of Tear Fluid and Its Processing for the Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Tomečková Vladimíra , Tkáčiková Soňa , Talian Ivan , Fabriciová Gabriela , Hovan Andrej , Kondrakhova Daria , Zakutanská Katarína , Skirková Miriama , Komanický Vladimír , Tomašovičová Natália
Published: June 2023

A pilot analysis of the tear fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) collected by glass microcapillary was performed using various experimental methods: liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and atomic-force microscopy. Infrared spectroscopy found no significant difference between the tear fluid of MS patients and the control spectra; all three significant peaks were located at around the same positions. Raman analysis showed differences between the spectra of the tear fluid of MS patients and the spectra of healthy subjects, which indicated a decrease in tryptophan and phenylalanine content and changes in the relative contributions of the secondary structures of the polypeptide chains of tear proteins. Atomic-force microscopy exhibited a surface fern-shaped dendrite morphology of the tear fluid of patients with MS, with less roughness on both oriented silicon (100) and glass substrates compared to the tear fluid of control subjects. The results of liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry showed downregulation of glycosphingolipid metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, and lipid metabolism. Proteomic analysis identified upregulated proteins in the tear fluid of patients with MS such as cystatine, phospholipid transfer protein, transcobalamin-1, immunoglobulin lambda variable 1–47, lactoperoxidase, and ferroptosis suppressor protein 1; and downregulated proteins such as haptoglobin, prosaposin, cytoskeletal keratin type I pre-mRNA-processing factor 17, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and phospholipase A2. This study showed that the tear proteome in patients with MS is modified and can reflect inflammation. Tear fluid is not a commonly used biological material in clinico-biochemical laboratories. Experimental proteomics has the potential to become a promising contemporary tool for personalized medicine, and it might be applied in clinical practice by providing a detailed analysis of the tear-fluid proteomic profile of patients with MS.
Polymeric Microneedles: An Emerging Paradigm for Advanced Biomedical Applications
Authors: Kulkarni Deepak , Gadade Dipak , Chapaitkar Nutan , Shelke Santosh , Pekamwar Sanjay , Aher Rushikesh , Ahire Ankita , Avhale Manjusha , Badgule Rupali , Bansode Radhika , Bobade Bhujang
Published: June 2023

Microneedles are gaining popularity as a new paradigm in the area of transdermal drug delivery for biomedical and healthcare applications. Efficient drug delivery with minimal invasion is the prime advantage of microneedles. The concept of the microneedle array provides an extensive surface area for efficient drug delivery. Various types of inorganics (silicon, ceramic, metal, etc.) and polymeric materials are used for the fabrication of microneedles. The polymeric microneedles have various advantages over other microneedles fabricated using inorganic material, such as biocompatibility, biodegradation, and non-toxicity. The wide variety of polymers used in microneedle fabrication can provide a broad scope for drug delivery and other biomedical applications. Multiple metallic and polymeric microneedles can be functionalized by polymer coatings for various biomedical applications. The fabrication of polymeric microneedles is shifting from conventional to advanced 3D and 4D printing technology. The multifaceted biomedical applications of polymeric microneedles include drug delivery, vaccine delivery, biosensing, and diagnostic applications. Here, we provide the overview of the current and advanced information on polymers used for fabrication, the selection criteria for polymers, biomedical applications, and the regulatory perspective of polymer-based and polymer-coated microneedles, along with a patent scenario.
Contextualizing Maternal Education and Child Health in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: James Spencer L. , Jorgensen Wells Mckell A. , Larsen Gibby Ashley , Njue Jane Rose , Rarick Timothy M. , Vogrinec Whitney , Rautenbach John V.
Published: June 2023

We examined how the relationship between maternal education and child health varies across women’s status and safety using pooled Demographic and Health Survey data from 24 sub-Saharan African countries. While maternal education was associated with less child stunting, wasting, and underweight, the effect of maternal education on stunting and underweight was attenuated among women who experienced high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV). Further, the positive influence of maternal education on stunting and underweight was less pronounced among women who lived in communities with higher levels of IPV, even after controlling for women’s own IPV. This suggests that the returns of maternal education may be dampened in the presence of IPV. The fact that this link operates at both individual and community levels underscores how gender norms, patriarchy, and gender-based violence stifle progress on children’s health. The results also demonstrate how the UN Sustainable Development Goals strengthening maternal education, improving child health, and reducing intimate partner violence must be jointly pursued and the importance of considering how child health outcomes may be tempered by context.
An Approach for the Classification of Rock Types Using Machine Learning of Core and Log Data
Authors: Xing Yihan , Yang Huiting , Yu Wei
Published: June 2023

Classifying rocks based on core data is the most common method used by geologists. However, due to factors such as drilling costs, it is impossible to obtain core samples from all wells, which poses challenges for the accurate identification of rocks. In this study, the authors demonstrated the application of an explainable machine-learning workflow using core and log data to identify rock types. The rock type is determined utilizing the flow zone index (FZI) method using core data first, and then based on the collection, collation, and cleaning of well log data, four supervised learning techniques were used to correlate well log data with rock types, and learning and prediction models were constructed. The optimal machine learning algorithm for the classification of rocks is selected based on a 10-fold cross-test and a comparison of AUC (area under curve) values. The accuracy rate of the results indicates that the proposed method can greatly improve the accuracy of the classification of rocks. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) was used to rank the importance of the various well logs used as input variables for the prediction of rock types and provides both local and global sensitivities, enabling the interpretation of prediction models and solving the “black box” problem with associated machine learning algorithms. The results of this study demonstrated that the proposed method can reliably predict rock types based on well log data and can solve hard problems in geological research. Furthermore, the method can provide consistent well log interpretation arising from the lack of core data while providing a powerful tool for well trajectory optimization. Finally, the system can aid with the selection of intervals to be completed and/or perforated.
Job Burnout amongst University Administrative Staff Members in China—A Perspective on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Authors: Lei Miao , Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Hassan Aminuddin bin
Published: June 2023

It is widely accepted that administrative staff, as important components of a university’s workforce, play a critical role in realizing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The worth of administrative staff is based on their productivity, and this has a significant impact on the viability of universities. Based on the job demands–resources model, this study investigates the antecedents of job burnout among administrative staff from both emotional and interpersonal perspectives, taking into account SDGs 3, 4, and 8. In this paper, a quantitative research method using descriptive and inferential analyses explores the complex interplay between job autonomy, emotional job demands, colleague support, and job burnout, with a particular emphasis on the role of emotion regulation. A questionnaire was answered anonymously by 1009 administrative staff members in China, and the results conclude that job autonomy was negatively associated with job burnout, while emotional job demands were positively linked to burnout. Moreover, leader support emerged as more beneficial to workers than colleague support. Emotion regulation strategies such as reappraisal function as an important personal resource that buffers the negative effects of job demands and enhances job resources, leading to lower levels of burnout. Furthermore, this study examines how the SDGs can be achieved through reducing job burnout. The important implications for university administrative staff and policymakers, as well as the sustainable development of universities, are discussed.
Pharmaceutical Companies in the Light of the Idea of Sustainable Development—An Analysis of Selected Aspects of Sustainable Management
Authors: Chomać-Pierzecka Ewa
Published: June 2023

The strategy of creating value and increasing the competitiveness of economic entities under the idea of sustainable development entails the need to provide access to up-to-date knowledge, which is to strengthen the decision-making basis and increase the level of properties of economic decisions. This argument strengthens the legitimacy of undertaking a research problem, oriented towards an overview of contemporary business challenges in the light of sustainable development, to assess the direction of activities undertaken by enterprises in the economic and socio-environmental sphere in connection with their activities. The need to undertake sustainable activities—with an emphasis on the environmental aspect—is particularly relevant to the pharmaceutical industry, which, in implementing activities oriented towards the protection of human health and life in connection with drug production, treats the issue of concern for the health of the planet as an extremely important challenge. The literature on the subject generally and insufficiently discusses sustainability issues for companies operating in this industry. Recognising the pharmaceutical sector as an area of economy of key importance in the socio-economic dimension at the level of national economies and at the international level, it became reasonable to scientifically identify the indicated issues in relation to pharmaceutical industry enterprises, with particular emphasis on entities operating in Poland. Hence, the main aim of the study, in response to the diagnosed gap, was to assess the directions of improvement of business models of Polish pharmaceutical enterprises, with consideration given to determinants of sustainable development. This study draws attention to the significance of practical choices of pharmaceutical entities—determined by their activity strategy, on sustainable development, as well as the impact of performance on the practice of sustainable development in the light of the assessment of the companies’ managerial effectiveness, demonstrating their significant importance. The realisation of the objective was based on a thorough review of the literature on the topic explored, as well as on the results of a diagnostic survey conducted among Polish pharmaceutical companies. An in-depth analysis of the findings in the area explored was conducted using statistical testing, including statistical ordering of variables, variable correlation matrix, logistic regression, odds ratio, and PQstat software. The main conclusion of the study is the finding that the business models of Polish pharmaceutical enterprises are continuously improving towards increasing the level of sustainable development, and the main determinant for the realisation of the above is the development of innovation, strongly correlated with the category of particularly good results on operations, constituting their managerial effectiveness.
Experimental Study on the Negative Skin Friction of Piles in Collapsible Loess
Authors: Chai Qing , Chen Tianlei , Li Zuoyong , Shen Danyi , Wu Chuangzhou
Published: June 2023

The collapsible loess is widely distributed in western China. The special structure and water sensitivity of loess lead to the complex negative skin friction mechanism in pile foundations. Previous studies mainly focused on the negative skin friction of pile foundations and treatment measures, such as casing and coating methods. However, few studies have focused on the influence of the negative skin friction on the settlement and bearing capacity of piles in collapsible loess, especially environmentally friendly methods that can reduce the negative skin friction. In this study, a series of non-immersion and immersion experiments was conducted to investigate the settlement, axial force, and side friction resistance of piles in loess soil under controlled conditions. The results showed that under the non-immersion condition, the settlement of model piles increased with the increasing pile top load. The axial force gradually decreased along the pile length for piles without casing. The axial force attenuation of the casing section of casing piles was almost negligible due to the isolating frictional resistance effect of casing. The settlement of each soil layer increased with the increase in immersion time, and the process was divided into an initial gradual stage, rapid drop stage, and later gradual stage. Both negative and positive skin friction increased with the increasing immersion time and pile top load, and there was a neutral point. The maximum axial force of piles without casing exceeded the peak load at the pile top. The presence of steel casing reduced the failure of pile foundation in collapsible loess. The research results of this paper provide theoretical support for the application of piles in loess areas.
Emerging Key Elements of a Business Model for Sustaining the Cultural and Creative Industries in the Post-Pandemic Era
Authors: Lin Aleck Chao-Hung
Published: June 2023

In this article, the challenges that cultural and creative industry (CCI) firms face in forming sustainable business models—issues heightened by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving consumer patterns that it has triggered—are addressed. The goal of this study was to identify a set of unique key elements crucial for the construction of a business model that aligns with the distinct characteristics of CCIs. To achieve this goal, an in-depth, long-term study using semi-structured interviews with proprietors in Eastern Taiwan was conducted. This region is home to unique, small-scale cultural and creative businesses and represents less than 5% of Taiwan’s population. The semi-structured, in-depth interviews served as the data collection method, while content analysis was used for data interpretation. This approach allowed the current study to encapsulate a set of key elements that could inform the creation of a business model for CCI firms. The insights gathered by the study provide a robust framework for the development of sustainable CCI business models, offering valuable guidance for both existing businesses seeking to adapt and grow and new entrepreneurs entering the industry. This research also aims to stimulate further scholarly debate on the importance of a tailored, multidisciplinary business model for CCIs, given their unique needs and characteristics.
Photovoltaic Power Prediction Using Analytical Models and Homer-Pro: Investigation of Results Reliability
Authors: Alhousni Fadhil Khadoum , Alnaimi Firas Basim Ismail , Okonkwo Paul C. , Ben Belgacem Ikram , Mohamed Hassan , Barhoumi El Manaa
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to develop an analytical model for the prediction of the electricity produced in a Photovoltaic Power Station (PVS). In this context, the developed mathematical model is implemented in a Simulink Model. The obtained simulation results are compared to the experimental data, the results obtained from the software Homer-Pro model, and the results given by the online PV calculator (Photovoltaic Geographical Information System), developed by the European commission. The comparison results show the reliability of the developed analytical model for specific months of the year. However, an error of 10% between simulations and experimental results is observed for July and August. This error is mainly due to the effects of humidity and dust that were not considered in the analytical model. Nevertheless, the monthly and yearly produced electricity values show the robustness of the proposed model to predict the PVS generated power. The developed model will be used as a powerful tool for data prediction and the optimization of electricity generation. This permits us to reduce the losses in power generation by optimizing the connected generating power stations to the power grid.
Investigating the Moderating Role of Political Factors on Internal Success Factors and Project Success: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Haris Muhammad , Yang Qing
Published: June 2023

The global collective actions of countries are insufficient to meet the goals agreed upon under the Paris Agreement. On one hand, countries are trailing behind in meeting their renewable energy targets. On the other hand, the implementation of renewable energy projects is affected by the political, regulatory, and policy challenges faced by engineering, procurement, and construction firms. Such issues force project firms to overlook their best practices and cause delays in connecting renewable energy plants to the national grid. This study investigates the relationship between two key project-level critical success factors and the project success of renewable energy projects in Pakistan with the moderating role of political factors. Using a data set of 238 respondents and Smart PLS 4 to analyze the data set, the results confirm the positive impact of communication and organizational factors on a project’s success. The findings also indicate that political factors are a major bottleneck that weakens the capability of project organizations to implement renewable energy projects in Pakistan. The current line of inquiry has implications for the ability of governments to effectively manage the power generation sector and support the transition to renewable energy. It also has significant theoretical implications for environmental contingency theory in terms of the adaptation of project firms to the external environment. The study concludes that project firms in the renewable energy sector need to be aware of political forces in the external environment to not only minimize their impact but to also provide timely completion of projects within and beyond Pakistan.
Student’s Co-Creation Behavior in a Business and Economic Bachelor’s Degree in Italy: Influence of Perceived Service Quality, Institutional Image, and Loyalty
Authors: Pinna Roberta , Cicotto Gianfranco , Jafarkarimi Hosein
Published: June 2023

Universities play a significant role in the economic development of society as they provide knowledge and skills that are essential for social sustainability. In recent years, universities shifted their focus towards student-centered education and need to reconsider their sustainable strategies to become more competitive by encouraging student co-creation behaviors. To create a unique experience, universities aim to involve students in creating and delivering their educational experiences. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the perceived quality of educational service and the institutional image of a university influence students’ value co-creation behavior, and the role of loyalty in this process. The study is based on two complementary studies conducted in an Italian public university. The first study involved 720 undergraduate students with one business management bachelor’s degree who completed a questionnaire to collect primary data. The second study used six focus groups to identify which specific students’ experiences and university activities stimulated co-creation behaviors. The results show that student loyalty plays an important mediating role between university image, students’ quality perception, and co-creation behavior. Additionally, only three dimensions of quality, namely quality non-academy aspects, quality reputation, and quality access have an impact on students’ loyalty. Therefore, only two dimensions of brand image, university brand knowledge (UK), and university brand prestige (UPR) have a direct effect on value co-creation behavior. These findings have important implications for higher education institutions (HEIs) to develop managerial strategies that increase students’ co-creation behavior. The co-creation process should be considered as part of HEIs’ image-building and quality policy-enhancing strategy. Despite the value co-creation approach being overlooked in studies on HEIs governance, this study highlights its potential as a strategic approach for improving service quality and university image.
University Bus Services: Responding to Students’ Travel Demands?
Authors: Nadimi Navid , Zamzam Aliakbar , Litman Todd
Published: June 2023

University bus services provide fixed-route public transport for students to and from large universities. They are relatively affordable and resource-efficient, but must compete against private cars and taxis which tend to be more convenient and flexible than University bus services. Many students, particularly those with lower incomes, depend on them. University administrators must understand how to improve University bus service in order to treat this group fairly. The main contribution of this paper is to examine how University bus service can help achieve social equity and sustainability goals. It investigates this by reporting the results of a survey of 303 students at Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman in Iran concerning their travel demands and University bus service utilization. Grounded theory and structural equation modeling is used to analyze the daily commute preferences of university students influenced by their characteristics, fleet condition, fares, station condition, and time factors. This study identifies various steps that the university administration can take to make University bus service more efficient and attractive, such as updating the bus fleet, improving stations, increasing security, and improving pedestrian access to stations. Survey respondents reported the highest satisfaction levels with fare levels, the security in buses, and waiting times. Women reported feeling discriminated against in their daily commutes. Poor-quality University bus service contributes to a negative feedback loop that increases automobile use and reduces university travel sustainability.
Regional Transportation Integration and High-Quality Economic Development, Coupling Coordination Analysis, in the Yangtze River Delta, China
Authors: Li Na , Song Yun , Xia Wen , Fu Shu-Ning
Published: June 2023

Regional transportation integration is a key aspect in promoting regional integration and high-quality economic development, as it can improve inter-regional connectivity, decrease transportation costs, and facilitate the flow of labor, capital, technology, and data. However, regional transportation integration is also difficult to quantitatively evaluate, causing difficulties in comprehensively understanding the specific transportation–economic relationships for different regions that are planned for integration. This article studied 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta, which is known as the largest regional integration project in China. Two sets of index systems were created to quantitatively evaluate regional transportation integration and high-quality economic development. Coupling coordination degree analysis was then performed to investigate the relationship between the two systems. It was found that areas with a high degree of coupling coordination are located in the Z-shaped belt with the Shanghai–Nanjing–Hefei and Shanghai–Hangzhou–Ningbo urban agglomerations. Furthermore, specific developmental gaps between regional transportation integration and high-quality economic development were identified and mapped, showing areas with transportation development falling behind economic development and vice versa. Based on these findings, a number of policy suggestions are provided from the perspective of province and regional development. It is recommended to continue to invest in transportation development and integration in the well-coordinated Z-shaped region and areas with transportation development falling behind economic development, while it is not recommended to use transportation investment to solve economic problems for those under-developed regions that already have relatively advanced transportation than economic development.
A Two-Stage Investment Decision-Making Model for Urban Rail Transit Drainage Renovation
Authors: Wang Tao , Liu Bingsheng , Liu Shimeng , Zhang Kuan , Ma Mingyue
Published: June 2023

Climate change is the main cause of frequent extreme weather and natural disasters. Therefore, effective climate adaptation strategies for urban rail transit (URT) should be adopted to cope with extreme precipitation events (EPEs). This study proposes a decision-making model based on climate change for drainage renovation, which consists of an optimal renovation sequence model and an optimal investment timing model. This study analyzes the inundation risk of each station and its node importance in the URT network and then uses a multi-attribute decision analysis (MADA) to determine the optimal renovation sequence. This study also uses a real options pricing approach to calculate the value of an option in order to defer the renovation project and determine the optimal investment timing. Then, the Beijing Urban Rail Transit (BURT) is taken as an example to conduct an empirical analysis of the proposed model. Considering the uncertainty of climate change and the complexity of the URT network, the model can obtain the optimal renovation sequence and the investment timing of each station, which is expected to provide a decision-making tool for urban governments to formulate an optimal plan that strengthens the prevention of flooding disasters.
How Interactions during Viral–Viral Coinfection Can Shape Infection Kinetics
Authors: Pinky Lubna , DeAguero Joseph R. , Remien Christopher H. , Smith Amber M.
Published: June 2023

Respiratory viral infections are a leading global cause of disease with multiple viruses detected in 20–30% of cases, and several viruses simultaneously circulating. Some infections with unique viral copathogens result in reduced pathogenicity, while other viral pairings can worsen disease. The mechanisms driving these dichotomous outcomes are likely variable and have only begun to be examined in the laboratory and clinic. To better understand viral–viral coinfections and predict potential mechanisms that result in distinct disease outcomes, we first systematically fit mathematical models to viral load data from ferrets infected with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), followed by influenza A virus (IAV) after 3 days. The results suggest that IAV reduced the rate of RSV production, while RSV reduced the rate of IAV infected cell clearance. We then explored the realm of possible dynamics for scenarios that had not been examined experimentally, including a different infection order, coinfection timing, interaction mechanisms, and viral pairings. IAV coinfection with rhinovirus (RV) or SARS-CoV-2 (CoV2) was examined by using human viral load data from single infections together with murine weight-loss data from IAV-RV, RV-IAV, and IAV-CoV2 coinfections to guide the interpretation of the model results. Similar to the results with RSV-IAV coinfection, this analysis shows that the increased disease severity observed during murine IAV-RV or IAV-CoV2 coinfection was likely due to the slower clearance of IAV-infected cells by the other viruses. The improved outcome when IAV followed RV, on the other hand, could be replicated when the rate of RV infected cell clearance was reduced by IAV. Simulating viral–viral coinfections in this way provides new insights about how viral–viral interactions can regulate disease severity during coinfection and yields testable hypotheses ripe for experimental evaluation.
Construction and Evaluation of the Immunogenicity and Protective Efficacy of Recombinant Replication-Deficient Human Adenovirus-5 Expressing Genotype VII Newcastle Disease Virus F Protein and Infectious Bursal Disease Virus VP2 Protein
Authors: Xu Ting , Xiong Ting , Xie Wenting , Wu Jing , Liu Xiao , Li Guimin , Lv Yadi , Li Linyu , Yang Zekun , Wang Han , Liu Dingxiang , Chen Ruiai
Published: June 2023

Newcastle disease (ND) and infectious bursal disease (IBD) are two key infectious diseases that significantly threaten the health of the poultry industry. Although existing vaccinations can effectively prevent and treat these two diseases through multiple immunizations, frequent immunization stresses significantly impact chicken growth. In this study, three recombinant adenoviruses, rAd5-F expressing the NDV (genotype VII) F protein, rAd5-VP2 expressing the IBDV VP2 protein, and rAd5-VP2-F2A-F co-expressing F and VP2 proteins, were constructed using the AdEasy system. The F and VP2 genes of the recombinant adenoviruses could be transcribed and expressed normally in HEK293A cells as verified by RT-PCR and Western blot. The three recombinant viruses were shown to have similar growth kinetics as rAd5-EGFP. Compared with the PBS and rAd5-EGFP groups, SPF chickens immunized with recombinant adenoviruses produced higher antibody levels, more significant lymphocyte proliferation, and significantly higher CD4+/CD3+ and CD8+/CD3+ cells in peripheral blood. The survival rate of SPF chickens immunized with rAd5-F and rAd5-VP2-F2A-F after the challenge with DHN3 was 100%, and 86% of SPF chickens showed no viral shedding at 7 dpc. The survival rate of SPF chickens immunized with rAd5-VP2 and rAd5-VP2-F2A-F after the challenge with BC6/85 was 86%. rAd5-VP2 and rAd5-VP2-F2A-F significantly inhibited bursal atrophy and pathological changes compared to the rAd5-EGFP and PBS groups. This study provides evidence that these recombinant adenoviruses have the potential to be developed into safe and effective vaccine candidates for the prevention and control of ND and IBD.
Effect of Drip Irrigation and Fertigation on Soil Water Dynamics and Productivity of Greenhouse Tomatoes
Authors: Singh Jaspreet , Sandal Sanjeev K. , Yousuf Abrar , Sandhu Parminder Singh
Published: June 2023

The proficient supply of water and nutrients is a key factor for successful vegetable production under greenhouses. This field experiment was conducted during 2018–2019 under a completely randomized design to evaluate the effects of drip irrigation and nutrient schedule on soil water dynamics and the productivity of greenhouse tomato. The experiment consisted of two irrigation schedules, i.e., I1 (irrigation applied from week 1 to 2 on the basis of 100% pan evaporation (Epan), week 3 to 8 on the basis of 40% of Epan, week 9 to 14 on the basis of 60% of Epan, week 15 to 20 on the basis of 80% of Epan, week 21 to 24 on the basis of 100% of Epan) and I2 (irrigation applied on the basis of 100% of Epan throughout the crop period) with a five-nutrient schedule, viz., F1 (100% NPK applied through the conventional method), F2 (100% N applied through fertigation + PK through the conventional method), F3 (100% NK applied through fertigation + P through the conventional method), F4 (100% NPK applied through fertigation) and F5 (50% NPK applied through the conventional method + 150% NPK applied through fertigation). The soil moisture content (SMC) and its depletion were measured during growing season. The tomato yield was significantly higher under I2. However, water use efficiency (WUE) was significantly higher under I1 treatment. Among the nutrient schedules, the yield and WUE were significantly higher in F5 treatment. The net returns were highest under F5 and lowest under F1. The Benefit:Cost ratio was highest in F4 and lowest under F1. The irrigation level I2 (irrigation applied on the basis of 100% of Epan throughout the crop period) with fertigation treatment F4 (100% NPK applied through fertigation) was the best strategy for obtaining the maximum productivity of tomato under the greenhouse. It can be concluded that the drip-based fertigation enhances the crop yield and net returns and therefore may be promoted to increase the income of the farmers.
Research on Seismic Connectivity Reliability Analysis of Water Distribution System Based on CUDA
Authors: Long Li , Yang Huaping , Zhou Yan , Yang Yong
Published: June 2023

To improve the seismic connectivity reliability (SCR) analysis efficiency of water distribution systems (WDS) based on Monte Carlo (MC) simulation, the quasi-Monte Carlo (QMC) method sampled by a low-discrepancy sequence is applied. Furthermore, a parallel algorithm combined with the breadth-first search algorithm for SCR analysis of WDS based on the QMC method and Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) platform was proposed. A city WDS was taken as a computational example, the accuracy and efficiency of the traditional MC algorithm and parallel algorithm were compared, and the influence of the Sobol sequence and pseudo-random number sequence was analysed. The analysis results show that when 1,000,000 simulations are performed, the maximum error of the calculation results of the two methods is 0.2%, and the parallel method can obtain a six-fold speedup ratio compared with the serial method, indicating that the proposed parallel method is correct, meets the accuracy requirements, and helps to improve the SCR analysis efficiency. When the number of simulations is the same, the simulation results based on the Sobol sequence are more accurate than those based on the pseudo-random number sequence. The proposed parallel method also achieves a good acceleration effect in the SCR analysis of large-scale WDS.
Correction: Rivero-Falcón et al. SWRO Brine Characterisation and Critical Analysis of Its Industrial Valorisation: A Case Study in the Canary Islands (Spain). Water 2023, 15, 1600
Authors: Rivero-Falcón Ángel , Peñate Suárez Baltasar , Melián-Martel Noemi
Published: June 2023

In the original publication [...]
Bibliometric Analysis on Ocean Literacy Studies for Marine Conservation
Authors: Salazar-Sepúlveda Guido , Vega-Muñoz Alejandro , Contreras-Barraza Nicolás , Castillo Dante , Torres-Alcayaga Mario , Cornejo-Orellana Carolina
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study is to present an overview of the current scientific literature pertaining to ocean literacy. We applied a bibliometric method to examine relational patterns among publications in a set of 192 papers indexed from 2004 to 2023 in Web of Science Core Collection, applying Price’s, Lotka’s, Bradford’s, and Zipf’s bibliometric laws to add more validation to VOSviewer and processing both data and metadata. The findings indicate a significant exponential growth in scientific output from 2004 to 2022 (R2 = 86%), with a substantial amount of scientific research being focused on ocean literacy. The analysis shows the thematic trends of terminologies such as knowledge and citizen perception of climate change in relation to oceans; the benefits of biodiversity management and ocean conservation; and ocean education and its relation to behavior and attitudes towards and awareness of oceans. The research and its theoretical perspectives prompt an investigation of the impacts of ocean literacy outside of education, thanks to the contributions of authors from more than fifty countries dedicated to the study of these activities.
Özel Yetenekli Öğrencilerin Resim, Müzik ve Sayısal Yeteneklerine Göre Matematiksel Okuryazarlık Problemlerini Çözüm Süreçlerinin İrdelenmesi
Authors: KARADUMAN Burcu , ARSLAN Çiğdem , TAPAN BROUTIN Menekşe Seden , EZENTAŞ Ridvan
Published: June 2023

Son zamanlarda ortaokul öğrencilerinin matematik derslerinde daha fazla zorlandıkları dikkat çekmektedir. Zorlanılan konuların başında ise matematik okuryazarlık problemleri gelmektedir. Literatürde özel yetenekli öğrencilerle ilgili çalışmalarda problem çözmenin süreçlerine dair araştırmaların mevcut olduğu ancak resim, müzik ve sayısal alanlarda üstün yetenekli öğrencilerin matematik okuryazarlığı problemlerini hata türlerine göre süreç becerilerini karşılaştırmalı olarak inceleyen bir çalışma olmadığı görülmüştür. Matematik okuryazarlığı problemlerinin çözüm süreçlerinde hangi aşamada farklılığın başladığını görme bakımından diğer çalışmalardan farklılık göstermektedir. Ayrıca, bu çalışmanın özel yetenekli öğrencilerin resim, müzik ve sayısal yeteneklerine göre matematik okuryazarlığı problemlerinin süreç becerilerine göre hangi aşamadan geçtiğini ve nasıl hatalar yapıldığını ortaya çıkarma açısından da literatüre katkısı olacağı düşünülmektedir. Çalışma nitel bir çalışma olup özel yetenekli öğrencilerin yeteneklerine göre matematik okuryazarlık problemlerini çözüm süreçlerinin irdelenmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Çalışma, Türkiye’nin kuzey batısında bir ilin merkez ilçesinde 5., 6., 7., 8. sınıfta okuyan özel yetenekli öğrencilerin bulunduğu Bilim Sanat Merkezindeki resim, müzik ve sayısal yeteneklerine göre 4 resim, 4 müzik, 6 genel yetenek öğrencisi ile yürütülmüştür. Veri toplama aracı olarak araştırmacılar tarafından literatür taranarak seçilen okuryazarlık problemlerinin yer aldığı "Matematik Okuryazarlık Testi" kullanılmıştır. Sonrasında ise mülakatı kabul eden öğrencilerle yaptıkları çözümler üzerine bireysel olarak mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın bulgularına göre özel yetenekli öğrencilerin resim, müzik ve sayısal yeteneklerine göre matematik okuryazarlığı problemlerinin matematiksel süreç becerilerinde hata türleri açısından farklılıkların oluştuğu görülmüştür.
DETECCIÓN DE DISCONTINUIDADES EN FUNCIONES DE UNA VARIABLE UTILIZANDO ESPACIOS DE TIPO ELEMENTOS FINITOS
Authors: Lino Calle Victor Alejandro , Gallo Rodolfo , Manzanilla Raúl
Published: June 2023

Determinar los puntos en los cuales una función presenta discontinuidades es un problema concreto que aparece en la aproximación de curvas con discontinuidades y es encontrado en diferentes áreas de la ciencia. La necesidad de ubicar los puntos de discontinuidad de la función es fundamental para el desarrollo de los modelos matemáticos que representan fenómenos en los cuales intervienen cambios abruptos de propiedades físicas. En este trabajo, el problema de determi­nar los puntos donde la función es discontinua, se modela utilizando un conjunto de datos en el plano. Se asume que los puntos de datos están asociados a la gráfica de una función explícita que presenta discontinuidades, la cual es aproximada haciendo uso de un espacio de aproximación de funciones continuas de tipo elemento finito. El objetivo principal de este trabajo es presentar un procedimiento numérico que permite aproximar la ubicación de los puntos de discontinuidad de la función el cual está basado en la presencia del fenómeno de GIBBs el cual presenta oscilaciones cerca de los puntosde discontinuidades de la función cuando se aproxima la función mediante una función continua. Se presentan resultados numéricos que muestran las bondades del proceso numérico de aproximación de puntos de discontinuidad de la función.
APROXIMACIÓN DE FALLAS, UTILIZANDO EL MÉTODO DE ELEMENTOS FINITOS NO CONFORMES
Authors: Córdova Morán Hugo Javier , Manzanilla Raúl , Gallo Rodolfo
Published: June 2023

En este estudio se trató el problema de determinar la ubicación de fallas en 1D, utilizando el método de elementos finitos no conformes para dar solución al problemas de aproximación de discontinuidades. Este es un problema que se presenta en las áreas de geología, imágenes de satélites, reconocimiento de patrones, modelos estructurales de yacimiento de pe- tróleo, entre otros. Para la realización del presente trabajo de investigación, se definieron los espacios de aproximación de funciones basadas en elementos finitos no conformes utilizando polinomios de grado uno y dos, en una dimensión. Luego, conocido un conjunto finitos de puntos asociados a una función que puede presentar la discontinuidad, se realizó un proceso de ajuste de tipo mínimos cuadrados, con la finalidad de detectar los puntos posibles de discontinuidades. Fi- nalmente, haciendo un análisis del error sobre los datos considerados como información sobre la función y haciendo uso del fenómeno de Gibbs, se localizaron los puntos candidatos para ser aproximaciones de los puntos de discontinuidad de la función en estudio. Aquí, se presenta el proceso numérico para la obtención de los puntos de discontinuidad y se muestra la eficiencia del mismo mediante ejemplos numéricos.