bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Web and MATLAB-Based Platform for UAV Flight Management and Multispectral Image Processing
Authors: Aliane Nourdine , Muñoz Carlos Quiterio Gomez , Sánchez-Soriano Javier
Published: June 2022

The deployment of any UAV application in precision agriculture involves the development of several tasks, such as path planning and route optimization, images acquisition, handling emergencies, and mission validation, to cite a few. UAVs applications are also subject to common constraints, such as weather conditions, zonal restrictions, and so forth. The development of such applications requires the advanced software integration of different utilities, and this situation may frighten and dissuade undertaking projects in the field of precision agriculture. This paper proposes the development of a Web and MATLAB-based application that integrates several services in the same environment. The first group of services deals with UAV mission creation and management. It provides several pieces of flight conditions information, such as weather conditions, the KP index, air navigation maps, or aeronautical information services including notices to Airmen (NOTAM). The second group deals with route planning and converts selected field areas on the map to an UAV optimized route, handling sub-routes for long journeys. The third group deals with multispectral image processing and vegetation indexes calculation and visualizations. From a software development point of view, the app integrates several monolithic and independent programs around the MATLAB Runtime package with an automated and transparent data flow. Its main feature consists in designing a plethora of executable MATLAB programs, especially for the route planning and optimization of UAVs, images processing and vegetation indexes calculations, and running them remotely.
Solid-Phase Reference Baths for Fiber-Optic Distributed Sensing
Authors: Thomas Christoph K. , Huss Jannis-Michael , Abdoli Mohammad , Huttarsch Tim , Schneider Johann
Published: June 2022

Observations from Raman backscatter-based Fiber-Optic Distributed Sensing (FODS) require reference sections of the fiber-optic cable sensor of known temperature to translate the primary measured intensities of Stokes and anti-Stokes photons to the secondary desired temperature signal, which also commonly forms the basis for other derived quantities. Here, we present the design and the results from laboratory and field evaluations of a novel Solid-Phase Bath (SoPhaB) using ultrafine copper instead of the traditional mechanically stirred liquid-phase water bath. This novel type is suitable for all FODS applications in geosciences and industry when high accuracy and precision are needed. The SoPhaB fully encloses the fiber-optic cable which is coiled around the inner core and surrounded by tightly interlocking parts with a total weight of 22 kg. The SoPhaB is thermoelectrically heated and/or cooled using Peltier elements to control the copper body temperature within ±0.04 K using commercially available electronic components. It features two built-in reference platinum wire thermometers which can be connected to the distributed temperature sensing instrument and/or external measurement and logging devices. The SoPhaB is enclosed in an insulated carrying case, which limits the heat loss to or gains from the outside environment and allows for mobile applications. For thermally stationary outside conditions the measured spatial temperature differences across SoPhaB parts touching the fiber-optic cable are <0.05 K even for stark contrasting temperatures of ΔT> 40 K between the SoPhaB’s setpoint and outside conditions. The uniform, stationary known temperature of the SoPhaB allows for substantially shorter sections of the fiber-optic cable sensors of less than <5 bins at spatial measurement resolution to achieve an even much reduced calibration bias and spatiotemporal uncertainty compared to traditional water baths. Field evaluations include deployments in contrasting environments including the Arctic polar night as well as peak summertime conditions to showcase the wide range of the SoPhaB’s applicability.
Scalable Screen-Printed TiO2 Compact Layers for Fully Printable Carbon-Based Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Raptis Dimitrios , Worsley Carys , Meroni Simone , Pockett Adam , Carnie Matthew , Watson Trystan
Published: June 2022

Fully printable carbon-based perovskite solar cells (C-PSCs) represent some of the most promising perovskite solar cell (PSC) architectures. Highly scalable, stable, and low in cost—these devices consist of a TiO2 compact layer (C-TiO2) and three sequentially screen-printed mesoporous layers of TiO2, ZrO2, and carbon, through which perovskite is infiltrated. While there has been remarkable progress in optimizing and scaling up deposition of mesoporous layers and perovskite, few publications have focused on optimizing C-TiO2. In this work, we investigate the potential for substituting commonly used spray pyrolysis with more easily scaled screen-printing. It was found that when comparing layers of similar thickness, 1 cm2 devices fabricated with printed C-TiO2 exhibited similar power conversion efficiency (PCE) to those fabricated with spray pyrolysis. In contrast, thicker-printed C-TiO2 led to lower efficiency. The influence of TiCl4 treatment on the quality of produced compact layers was also examined. This proved beneficial, mostly in the printed films, where a champion PCE of 13.11% was attained using screen-printed, TiCl4 treated C-TiO2. This work proves that screen-printing is a viable replacement for spray pyrolysis in C-PSCs fabrication.
Research on the Effect of an Entrepreneurial Environment on College Students’ Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy: The Mediating Effect of Entrepreneurial Competence and Moderating Effect of Entrepreneurial Education
Authors: Luo Lie , Guo Meiwen , Huang Jiehua , Yang Jialin
Published: June 2022

Background: entrepreneurial self-efficacy is the level of confidence that entrepreneurs can complete various entrepreneurial tasks. It can significantly predict entrepreneurial effectiveness, entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial ability. This study explores the mechanism of entrepreneurial environment on college students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy and analyzes the role of entrepreneurial competence and entrepreneurial education in the relationship between entrepreneurial competence and entrepreneurial education. Methods: a questionnaire survey was conducted among 1100 college students from 10 colleges and universities in Guangdong Province, and the survey results were statistically analyzed. Results: the results show that: (1) entrepreneurial education and entrepreneurship practice have a significant positive impact on college students’ self-efficacy; (2) entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial competence have a significant positive predictive effect on entrepreneurial self-efficacy; (3) entrepreneurial competence plays a mediating role in the influence of entrepreneurial environment on entrepreneurial self-efficacy; (4) entrepreneurial education plays a moderating role between entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Conclusion: present study found that entrepreneurial environment, entrepreneurial competence and entrepreneurial education play a positive role in college students’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Therefore, this paper suggests the promotion of an entrepreneurial education by creating a good innovative and entrepreneurial environment, establishing a talent training model based on entrepreneurial competence model, and building a high-quality entrepreneurial education system.
Review: Brine Solution: Current Status, Future Management and Technology Development
Authors: Backer Sumina Namboorimadathil , Bouaziz Ines , Kallayi Nabeela , Thomas Reny Thankam , Preethikumar Gopika , Takriff Mohd Sobri , Laoui Tahar , Atieh Muataz Ali
Published: June 2022

Desalination brine is extremely concentrated saline water; it contains various salts, nutrients, heavy metals, organic contaminants, and microbial contaminants. Conventional disposal of desalination brine has negative impacts on natural and marine ecosystems that increase the levels of toxicity and salinity. These issues demand the development of brine management technologies that can lead to zero liquid discharge. Brine management can be productive by adopting economically feasible methodologies, which enables the recovery of valuable resources like freshwater, minerals, and energy. This review focuses on the recent advances in brine management using various membrane/thermal-based technologies and their applicability in water, mineral, and energy recoveries, considering their pros and cons. This review also exemplifies the hybrid processes for metal recovery and zero liquid discharge that may be adopted, so far, as an appropriate futuristic strategy. The data analyzed and outlook presented in this review could definitely contribute to the development of economically achievable future strategies for sustainable brine management.
An Online Pattern Recognition-Oriented Workshop to Promote Interest among Undergraduate Students in How Mathematical Principles Could Be Applied within Veterinary Science
Authors: Molina-Cuasapaz Gabriel , de Janon Sofía , Larrea-Álvarez Marco , Fernández-Moreira Esteban , Loaiza Karen , Šefcová Miroslava , Ayala-Velasteguí David , Mena Karla , Vinueza Burgos Christian , Ortega-Paredes David
Published: June 2022

Knowing the importance of mathematics and its relationship with veterinary medicine plays an important role for students. To promote interest in this relationship, we developed the workshop “Math in Nature” that utilizes the surrounding environment for stimulating pattern-recognition and observational skills. It consisted of four sections: A talk by a professional researcher, a question-and-answer section, a mathematical pattern identification session, and a discussion of the ideas proposed by students. The effectiveness of the program to raise interest in mathematics was evaluated using a questionnaire applied before and after the workshop. Following the course, a higher number of students agreed with the fact that biological phenomena can be explained and predicted by applying mathematics, and that it is possible to identify mathematical patterns in living beings. However, the students’ perspectives regarding the importance of mathematics in their careers, as well as their interest in deepening their mathematical knowledge, did not change. Arguably, “Math in Nature” could have exerted a positive effect on the students’ interest in mathematics. We thus recommend the application of similar workshops to improve interests and skills in relevant subjects among undergraduate students.
Daily Mobility in Urban Peripheries: The Role of Clandestine Taxis in Dakar, Senegal
Authors: Lesteven Gaele , Cissokho Dramane , Pochet Pascal , Diongue Momar , Sakho Pape
Published: June 2022

Background: This study addresses the mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheries of Dakar and the transport services they use to meet their mobility needs, in particular the unlicensed shared taxis (“Clandos”). In the peripheries, which suffer from a lack of jobs and amenities, mobility is essential to meet household needs and for social integration. Current transport policies focus on formalizing supply and organizing the system around high-capacity transport facilities, such as the Regional Express Railway (TER) or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but they have difficulty in dealing with the mobility problems facing the outskirts of the city. Methods: The study is based on secondary analysis of the 2015 Household Travel Survey and on a survey on the activity of Clandos conducted in 2021 in Dakar. Results: The analysis highlights the daily mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheral areas. These residents, who are on average poorer than the others, travel mainly on foot. Their access to public transport remains limited and, when they use it, a significant proportion of their trips are made by Clando. Clandos have a dual function. On one hand, they are used for long trips to the center, in competition with buses, but more often they operate as a complement to buses. On the other hand, they are mostly used for local mobility within the peripheries. Conclusions: Although relatively expensive, Clando services are valuable for the inhabitants of the peripheries and their daily mobility. They should be better integrated into transport and planning strategies for the peripheral areas.
Conceptions of Learning Science among Elementary School Students in AR Learning Environment: A Case Study of “The Magic Sound”
Authors: Cai Su , Jiao Xinyue , Li Jiangxu , Jin Peng , Zhou Haitao , Wang Tao
Published: June 2022

Augmented reality (AR) demonstrates great promise in science education. However, students’ conceptions of learning when they learn science using AR are currently unclear. This study aimed to analyze learners’ views and scientific epistemic beliefs on learning science. Eighty-two elementary school students in grades 4–6 participated in a two-week course on the introduction to sound. The intervention adopted inquiry-based learning utilizing three AR software programs that integrated multisensory channels. The data were collected through Cheng’s Conceptions of Learning Science by AR (CLSAR) questionnaire and Learners’ Scientific Epistemic Beliefs (SEB) questionnaire. The results show that students in this study generally had positive conceptions of learning science and a high level of scientific epistemic beliefs. Moreover, gender differences existed in the relationship between CLASR and SEB. This study contributed to the currently unresolved discussion of the impact of demographic differences on students’ learning, indicating that AR can be used to enhance senior students’ learning of science in elementary schools.
The Impact of Personal Values and Attitude toward Sustainable Entrepreneurship on Entrepreneurial Intention to Enhance Sustainable Development: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Yasir Nosheena , Xie Ruyu , Zhang Junrui
Published: June 2022

Sustainable entrepreneurial opportunity recognition and action are strongly linked to a person’s desire to succeed. Therefore, entrepreneurial intentions are increasingly being studied from a sustainable development viewpoint. By integrating the theory of human values into the theory of planned behavior, the goal of this study was to investigate how values interact with sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. In all, 465 graduate students from Punjab, Pakistan, were interviewed for this study. The findings reveal that students’ entrepreneurial intentions are supported by views toward sustainable entrepreneurship, societal norms, and perceived behavioral control. According to structural equation modeling, self-transcendence and self-enhancement are the personal values that directly or indirectly interact with sustainable entrepreneurial intentions, which is consistent with the findings of the present study. Accordingly, the TPB model may help identify the relationship between sustainable entrepreneurship values and aims and the role of personal values in terms of understanding sustainable entrepreneurial intentions. As a practical implication, according to this study, it is essential to emphasize the importance of personal values in the education of potential entrepreneurs to increase their sustainable entrepreneurial intentions.
A Pantropical Overview of Soils across Tropical Dry Forest Ecoregions
Authors: Rivero-Villar Anaitzi , de la Peña-Domene Marinés , Rodríguez-Tapia Gerardo , Giardina Christian P. , Campo Julio
Published: June 2022

Pantropical variation in soils of the tropical dry forest (TDF) biome is enormously high but has been poorly characterized. To quantify variation in the global distribution of TDF soil physical and chemical properties in relation to climate and geology, we produced a synthesis using 7500 points of data with gridded fields representing lithologic, edaphic, and climatic characteristics. Our analyses reveal that 75 TDF ecoregions across five biogeographic domains (Afrotropical, Australasian, Indo-Malayan, Neotropical, and Oceanian) varied strongly with respect to parent material: sediment (57%), metamorphic (22%), volcanic (13%), and plutonic (7%). TDF ecoregions support remarkably high variability in soil suborders (32), with the Neotropical and Oceanian realms being especially diverse. As a whole, TDF soils trend strongly toward low fertility with strong variation across biogeographic domains. Similarly, the exhibited soil properties marked heterogeneity across biogeographic domains, with soil depth varying by an order of magnitude and total organic C, N, and P pools varying threefold. Organic C and N pool sizes were negatively correlated with mean annual temperature (MAT) and positively correlated with mean annual precipitation (MAP). By contrast, the distribution of soil P pools was positively influenced by both MAT and MAP and likely by soil geochemistry, due to high variations in soil parent material across the biogeographic domains. The results summarized here raise important questions as to how climate and parent material control soil biogeochemical processes in TDFs.
Reserve Soldiers’ Psychological Resilience Impact to Sustainable Military Competences: On the Mediating Role of Psychological Skills (Effort, Self-Efficacy, Proactivity)
Authors: Kanapeckaitė Rosita , Bekesiene Svajone , Bagdžiūnienė Dalia
Published: June 2022

This research aims to explore an analytical model, gauge the interplay between psychological resilience and achieved military competencies, and examine an intermediary role of effort, proactivity, and self-efficacy. In this study, 337 reserve soldiers from Lithuania were investigated with the Lithuanian Military Training Competences Assessment Scale, Resilience Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale, Short Grit Scale (Grit-S), and Proactivity Scale. Our findings highlighted the importance of the psychological resilience of reserve soldiers due to its positive relationship with the personality traits. Implicit interconnectedness between psychological resilience and psychological skills together with military competences was researched, and it became evident that self-efficacy determined a statistically important mediating role (indirect effect = 0.264 **, p < 0.05) between reservists’ psychological resilience and perceived military training course results. However, the other components included in the study did not have a mediating effect (effort indirect effect = 0.03, p > 0.1; proactivity indirect effect = 0.094, p > 0.1). The research findings are important because of greater prominence of the role of reserve troops in military operations around the world and achievements in the domain of security and defense. This study has great theoretical and empirical value in making decisions concerning the psychological resilience of reserve soldiers’ promotion and sustainable improvement of military preparedness strategies.
An Integrated Gray DEMATEL and ANP Method for Evaluating the Green Mining Performance of Underground Gold Mines
Authors: Li Yang , Zhao Guoyan , Wu Pan , Qiu Ju
Published: June 2022

Green mining (GM) can achieve the harmonious development of mineral resource exploitation and environmental protection. Performance evaluation is the key to promoting GM. This research explores favorable methods to evaluate the green mining performance (GMP) of underground gold mines. First, according to the specific characteristics of underground gold mines, an evaluation criteria system for GM is formulated. Meanwhile, the weights are calculated using an integrated gray DEMATEL and ANP technique, which considers the correlation between indicators. Subsequently, the solution methodology for performance evaluation is proposed based on normalization of indicators. Finally, six underground gold mines are utilized as case studies to verify the methodological feasibility. The results of the empirical study show that there is a significant gap between ordinary mines and pilot green mines, and this study, via comparison analysis and cause–effect analysis, gives direction for mines improvement. Not only will the work provide technical and theoretical support for the evaluation and construction of similar green mines, it will also serve as a reference for government policy implementation.
Emerging Chemical Sensing Technologies: Recent Advances and Future Trends
Authors: Felix Anderson A. , Orlandi Marcelo O.
Published: June 2022

Contemporary chemical sensing research is rapidly growing, leading to the development of new technologies for applications in almost all areas, including environmental monitoring, disease diagnostics and food quality control, among others [...]
Phylogenetic Position of African Punctoid Snails (Stylommatophora, Punctoidea, Trachycystinae)
Authors: Salvador Rodrigo Brincalepe
Published: June 2022

The punctoid land snail family Charopidae, as currently defined, is a paraphyletic assemblage of taxa with Gondwanan distribution. It is represented in Africa largely by the pinwheels (genus Trachycystis and allies) and afrodontas (genus Afrodonta and allies), as well as a few additional genera, such as Reticulapex, Pilula, and Helenoconcha. Herein, a Bayesian inference phylogenetic analysis (using four molecular markers) is conducted to test whether these taxa belong to the Charopidae and, if so, what their position is in the phylogenetic tree. It is concluded that Reticulapex and Pilula do not belong to the Punctoidea and are thus transferred to the Acavidae and Helicarionoidea, respectively. The pinwheels and afrodontas form a monophyletic group, the most basal branch of “Charopidae”, here classified as the subfamily Trachycystinae. It possibly represents an old southern African lineage potentially dating back to the split of Gondwana, while the remaining “Charopidae” and Punctidae can be found in Zealandia and Australia, and later, in the Americas and Europe. If further studies support the present findings, the elevation of Trachycystinae to the family level might be warranted. Finally, Flammoconchinae is also identified as a New Zealand subfamily of “Charopidae”.
Lifetime Prediction of Polymeric Materials
Authors: Blanco Ignazio
Published: June 2022

The wide category of organic materials containing polymers had a great impact on the last middle century, and continues to nowadays, thus affecting our daily behaviors. The need to investigate their durability has grown, which may be necessary in the successful completion of the application for which these materials were designed, and to mitigate their impact on the environment. The aim of this Special Issue was to allow researchers, in both Industry and Academia, to show their current research in material properties finalized to the lifetime prediction.
Pentachloronitrobenzene Reduces the Proliferative Capacity of Zebrafish Embryonic Cardiomyocytes via Oxidative Stress
Authors: Fan Guoqiang , Shen Tianzhu , Jia Kun , Xiao Xiaoping , Wu Zhanfeng , Gong Fanghua , Lu Huiqiang
Published: June 2022

Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) is an organochlorine protective fungicide mainly used as a soil and seed fungicide. Currently, there are few reports on the toxicity of PCNB to zebrafish embryo. Here, we evaluated the toxicity of PCNB in aquatic vertebrates using a zebrafish model. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to PCNB at concentrations of 0.25 mg/L, 0.5 mg/L, and 0.75 mg/L from 6 hpf to 72 hpf resulted in abnormal embryonic development, including cardiac malformation, pericardial edema, decreased heart rate, decreased blood flow velocity, deposition at yolk sac, shortened body length, and increased distance between venous sinus and arterial bulb (SV-BA). The expression of genes related to cardiac development was disordered. However, due to the unstable embryo status in the 0.75 mg/L exposure concentration group, the effect of PCNB on the expression levels of cardiac-related genes was not concentration-dependent. We found that PCNB increased reactive oxygen species stress levels in zebrafish, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) content and catalase (CAT) activity, and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The increased level of oxidative stress reduced the proliferation ability of zebrafish cardiomyocytes, and the expressions of zebrafish proliferation-related genes such as cdk-2, cdk-6, ccnd1, and ccne1 were significantly down-regulated. Astaxanthin (AST) attenuates PCNB-induced reduction in zebrafish cardiomyocyte proliferation by reducing oxidative stress levels. Our study shows that PCNB can cause severe oxidative stress in zebrafish, thereby reducing the proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes, resulting in zebrafish cardiotoxicity.
Investigation of Global Trends of Pollutants in Marine Ecosystems around Barrang Caddi Island, Spermonde Archipelago Cluster: An Ecological Approach
Authors: Marzuki Ismail , Septiningsih Early , Kaseng Ernawati Syahruddin , Herlinah Herlinah , Sahrijanna Andi , Sahabuddin Sahabuddin , Asaf Ruzkiah , Athirah Admi , Isnawan Bambang Heri , Samidjo Gatot Supangkat , Rumagia Faizal , Hamidah Emmy , Santi Idum Satia , Nisaa Khairun
Published: June 2022

High-quality marine ecosystems are free from global trending pollutants’ (GTP) contaminants. Accuracy and caution are needed during the exploitation of marine resources during marine tourism to prevent future ecological hazards that cause chain effects on aquatic ecosystems and humans. This article identifies exposure to GTP: microplastic (MP); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH); pesticide residue (PR); heavy metal (HM); and medical waste (MW), in marine ecosystems in the marine tourism area (MTA) area and Barrang Caddi Island (BCI) waters. A combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis methods were used with analytical instruments and mathematical formulas. The search results show the average total abundance of MPs in seawater (5.47 units/m3) and fish samples (7.03 units/m3), as well as in the sediment and sponge samples (8.18 units/m3) and (8.32 units/m3). Based on an analysis of the polymer structure, it was identified that the dominant light group was MPs: polyethylene (PE); polypropylene (PP); polystyrene (PS); followed by polyamide-nylon (PA); and polycarbonate (PC). Several PAH pollutants were identified in the samples. In particular, naphthalene (NL) types were the most common pollutants in all of the samples, followed by pyrene (PN), and azulene (AZ). Pb+2 and Cu+2 pollutants around BCI were successfully calculated, showing average concentrations in seawater of 0.164 ± 0.0002 mg/L and 0.293 ± 0.0007 mg/L, respectively, while in fish, the concentrations were 1.811 ± 0.0002 µg/g and 4.372 ± 0.0003 µg/g, respectively. Based on these findings, the BCI area is not recommended as a marine tourism destination.
Matrix Effect of Diverse Biological Samples Extracted with Different Extraction Ratios on the Detection of β-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine by Two Common LC-MS/MS Analysis Methods
Authors: Zhao Peng , Qiu Jiangbing , Li Aifeng , Yan Guowang , Li Min , Ji Ying
Published: June 2022

Neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is hypothesized as an important pathogenic factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/parkinsonism-dementia complex (ALS-PDC). Comparative study on the accuracy of BMAA analyzed by the regular LC-MS/MS methods is still limited for different biological matrices. In this study, a free-BMAA sample of cyanobacterium and BMAA-containing positive samples of diatom, mussel, scallop, and oyster were extracted with varied extraction ratios (ER) ranging from 1:20 to 1:2000. These extracts were then purified by MCX cartridges. After SPE purification, these different biological samples were analyzed by two common LC-MS/MS analysis methods, a direct analysis without derivatization by a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC)-MS/MS and pre-column 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC) derivatization combined with a C18 column. The results suggested that the recoveries of BMAA spiked in the cyanobacterial sample were close to 100% in the total soluble form extracts with the ER of 1:100 (g/mL) and the precipitated bound form extracts with the ER of 1:500. The recommended ER for the precipitated bound form of BMAA in diatoms and the total soluble form of BMAA in mollusks are 1:500 and 1:50, respectively. The quantitative results determined by the AQC derivatization method were lower than those determined by the direct analysis of the HILIC method in diatom and mollusk samples. The results of the HILIC method without the derivatization process were closer to the true value of BMAA in cyanobacteria. This work contributes to the performance of the solid-phase extraction (SPE) purification protocol and the accuracy of BMAA analysis by LC-MS/MS in diverse biological samples.
Recent Advances in Prostate Cancer (PCa) Diagnostics
Authors: Abdelrazek Ahmad , Mahmoud Ahmed M. , Joshi Vidhu B. , Habeeb Mohamed , Ahmed Mohamed E. , Ghoniem Khaled , Delgado Arleen , Khater Nazih , Kwon Eugene , Kendi A. Tuba
Published: June 2022

Prostate cancer (PCa), which is among the most prevalent types of cancer in men, is a prominent topic in imaging research. The primary aim of PCa imaging is to acquire more accurate characterizations of the disease. More precise imaging of the local stage progression, early discovery of metastatic cancers, reliable diagnosis of oligometastatic cancer, and optimum treatment response evaluation are areas in which contemporary imaging is quickly improving and developing. Imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the whole body and molecular imaging with combined positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and MRI, enable imaging to support and enhance treatment lines in patients with local and advanced PCa. With the availability of multiple imaging modalities for the management of PCa, we aim in this review to offer a multidisciplinary viewpoint on the appropriate function of contemporary imaging in the identification of PCa.
Risk of Death in Comorbidity Subgroups of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Inferred by Routine Laboratory Markers of Systemic Inflammation on Admission: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Cocoş Relu , Mahler Beatrice , Turcu-Stiolica Adina , Stoichiță Alexandru , Ghinet Andreea , Shelby Elena-Silvia , Bohîlțea Laurențiu Camil
Published: June 2022

Our study objective was to construct models using 20 routine laboratory parameters on admission to predict disease severity and mortality risk in a group of 254 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Considering the influence of confounding factors in this single-center study, we also retrospectively assessed the correlations between the risk of death and the routine laboratory parameters within individual comorbidity subgroups. In multivariate regression models and by ROC curve analysis, a model of three routine laboratory parameters (AUC 0.85; 95% CI: 0.79–0.91) and a model of six laboratory factors (AUC 0.86; 95% CI: 0.81–0.91) were able to predict severity and mortality of COVID-19, respectively, compared with any other individual parameter. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that inflammatory laboratory markers grouped together in three distinct clusters including positive correlations: WBC with NEU, NEU with neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), NEU with systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), NLR with SII and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) with SII. When analyzing the routine laboratory parameters in the subgroups of comorbidities, the risk of death was associated with a common set of laboratory markers of systemic inflammation. Our results have shown that a panel of several routine laboratory parameters recorded on admission could be helpful for early evaluation of the risk of disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Inflammatory markers for mortality risk were similar in the subgroups of comorbidities, suggesting the limited effect of confounding factors in predicting COVID-19 mortality at admission.
SARS CoV-2 (Delta Variant) Infection Kinetics and Immunopathogenesis in Domestic Cats
Authors: Tamil Selvan Miruthula , Gunasekara Sachithra , Xiao Ping , Griffin Kristen , Cowan Shannon R. , Narayanan Sai , Ramachandran Akhilesh , Hagen Darren E. , Ritchey Jerry W. , Rudd Jennifer M. , Miller Craig A.
Published: June 2022

Continued emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants highlights the critical need for adaptable and translational animal models for acute COVID-19. Limitations to current animal models for SARS CoV-2 (e.g., transgenic mice, non-human primates, ferrets) include subclinical to mild lower respiratory disease, divergence from clinical COVID-19 disease course, and/or the need for host genetic modifications to permit infection. We therefore established a feline model to study COVID-19 disease progression and utilized this model to evaluate infection kinetics and immunopathology of the rapidly circulating Delta variant (B.1.617.2) of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, specific-pathogen-free domestic cats (n = 24) were inoculated intranasally and/or intratracheally with SARS CoV-2 (B.1.617.2). Infected cats developed severe clinical respiratory disease and pulmonary lesions at 4- and 12-days post-infection (dpi), even at 1/10 the dose of previously studied wild-type SARS-CoV-2. Infectious virus was isolated from nasal secretions of delta-variant infected cats in high amounts at multiple timepoints, and viral antigen was co-localized in ACE2-expressing cells of the lungs (pneumocytes, vascular endothelium, peribronchial glandular epithelium) and strongly associated with severe pulmonary inflammation and vasculitis that were more pronounced than in wild-type SARS-CoV-2 infection. RNA sequencing of infected feline lung tissues identified upregulation of multiple gene pathways associated with cytokine receptor interactions, chemokine signaling, and viral protein–cytokine interactions during acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) of differentially expressed genes identified several distinct clusters of dysregulated hub genes that are significantly correlated with both clinical signs and lesions during acute infection. Collectively, the results of these studies help to delineate the role of domestic cats in disease transmission and response to variant emergence, establish a flexible translational model to develop strategies to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and identify potential targets for downstream therapeutic development.
The Emergence of Japanese Encephalitis Virus in Australia in 2022: Existing Knowledge of Mosquito Vectors
Authors: van den Hurk Andrew F. , Skinner Eloise , Ritchie Scott A. , Mackenzie John S.
Published: June 2022

In early 2022, the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was identified as the cause of stillborn and mummified piglets in pig farms in southeastern Australia. Human cases and additional pig farms with infected piglets were subsequently identified across a widespread area encompassing four states. To inform surveillance and control programs, we synthesized existing information on Australian vectors of JEV, much of which was generated in response to incursions of JEV into the northern state of Queensland between 1995 and 2005. Members of the Culex sitiens subgroup, particularly Culex annulirostris, should be considered the primary vectors of JEV in Australia, as they yielded >87% of field detections of JEV, were highly efficient laboratory vectors of the virus, readily fed on pigs and birds (the key amplifying hosts of the virus) when they were available, and are widespread and often occur in large populations. Three introduced species, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex gelidus and Culex tritaeniorhynchus may also serve as vectors, but more information on their geographical distribution, abundance and bionomics in the Australian context is required. Mosquitoes from other genera, such as Aedes and Verrallina, whilst considered relatively poor vectors, could play a regional or supplemental role in transmission, especially facilitating vertical transmission as a virus overwintering mechanism. Additional factors that could impact JEV transmission, including mosquito survival, dispersal and genetics, are also discussed. Possible directions for investigation are provided, especially in the context of the virus emerging in a region with different mosquito fauna and environmental drivers than northern Australia.
Influence of Dam Breach Parameter Statistical Definition on Resulting Rupture Maximum Discharge
Authors: Bello Diego , Alcayaga Hernán , Caamaño Diego , Pizarro Alonso
Published: June 2022

However rare, dam breach occurrences are recently reported and associated with significant damage to life and property. The rupture of the structural dam wall generates severe flow rates that exceed spillway capacity consequently generating unprecedented flooding scenarios. The present research aims to assess the influence of the dam breach statistical configuration on the most relevant parameters to predict the rupture maximum discharge (RMD). McBreach© software was used to provide the necessary inputs for the operation of the HEC-RAS dam breach module. McBreach© automates the process of batch mode simulations providing a Monte Carlo approach to characterize the breach parameters stochastically. Thus, a sensitivity analysis was performed to identify the most influential breach parameters, followed by an uncertainty assessment regarding their statistical definition of the resultant RMD. Analysis showed that the overtopping failure mode discharges are most sensitive to the breach formation time (tf) parameter, followed by the final height breach (Inv) and the final width of the breach (B), which combined are responsible for 85% of the rupture’s maximum discharge. Further results indicated highly variable RMD magnitudes (up to 300%) depending on the breach parameter’s statistical definition (i.e., probability density function and associated statistical parameters). The latter significantly impacts the estimated flood risk associated with the breach, the flood zone delimitation, preparation of emergency action plans (EAP) and scaling of future dam projects. Consequently, there is a plausible need for additional investigations to reduce this uncertainty and, therefore, the risk associated with it.
Investigating Impacts of Climate Change on Runoff from the Qinhuai River by Using the SWAT Model and CMIP6 Scenarios
Authors: Sun Jinqiu , Yan Haofang , Bao Zhenxin , Wang Guoqing
Published: June 2022

This paper looks at regional water security in eastern China in the context of global climate change. The response of runoff to climate change in the Qinhuai River Basin, a typical river in eastern China, was quantitatively investigated by using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and the ensemble projection of multiple general circulation models (GCMs) under three different shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) emission scenarios. The results show that the calibrated SWAT model is applicable to the Qinhuai River Basin and can accurately characterize the runoff process at daily and monthly scales with the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficients (NSE), correlation coefficients (R), and the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) in calibration and validation periods being above 0.75 and relative errors (RE) are ±3.5%. In comparison to the baseline of 1980–2015, the mean annual precipitation in the future period (2025–2060) under the three emission scenarios of SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 will probably increase by 5.64%, 2.60%, and 6.68% respectively. Correspondingly, the multiple-year average of daily maximum and minimum air temperatures are projected to rise by 1.6–2.1 °C and 1.4–2.0 °C, respectively, in 2025–2060. As a result of climate change, the average annual runoff will increase by 16.24%, 8.84%, and 17.96%, respectively, in the period of 2025–2060 under the three SSPs scenarios. The increase in runoff in the future will provide sufficient water supply to support socioeconomic development. However, increases in both rainfall and runoff also imply an increased risk of flooding due to climate change. Therefore, the impact of climate change on flooding in the Qinhuai River Basin should be fully considered in the planning of flood control and the basin’s development.
Three-Dimensional Flow Velocity Estimation of Mountain Glacier Based on SAR Interferometry and Offset-Tracking Technology: A Case of the Urumqi Glacier No.1
Authors: Liu Jialiang , Zhao Jun , Li Zhongqin , Yang Zhihui , Yang Jianxia , Li Guangchao
Published: June 2022

Remote sensing estimations of glacier flow velocity could provide effective methods for the long-term monitoring of glacier flow velocity. This paper calculated the velocity in the line-of-sight (LOS) direction by combining DInSAR and offset-tracking technology with ascending and descending Sentinel-1 images of the Urumqi Glacier No.1 from 2016 to 2017. Meanwhile, the velocity in the azimuthal direction was obtained by combining MAI and offset-tracking technology. Then, the eastward, northward, and upward flow velocities were retrieved using the Helmert variance component estimation method. Finally, the standard error of the mean and mean errors of surface velocity in non-glaciated areas of the Urumqi Glacier No.1 were calculated to evaluate the accuracy of the results generated by the proposed method. The results showed: (1) The ascending LOS velocity and the descending LOS velocity were 1.812 m/a and −1.558 m/a from 2016 to 2017. The ascending azimuthal and descending azimuthal velocities were 0.978 m/a and −2.542 m/a, respectively. (2) The glacier flow velocities were 2.571 m/a and 1.801 m/a, respectively, for the eastward and northward directions. In the vertical direction, the velocity was −0.554 m/a. (3) The accuracy of the results generated by the proposed method were 0.028 m/a, 0.085 m/a, and 0.063 m/a in the east, north, and vertical directions. Therefore, it is suitable to use ascending and descending Sentinel-1 images and the study method proposed in this paper to estimate the surface flow velocity of mountain glaciers.
Factors Affecting Water Quality and the Structure of Zooplankton Communities in Wastewater Reservoirs of the Right-Bank Sorbulak Canal System (South-Eastern Kazakhstan)
Authors: Krupa Elena , Aubakirova Moldir , Romanova Sophia
Published: June 2022

This work aims to assess the main factors that determined the variability of environmental and biological variables in wastewater reservoirs of the Right-Bank Sorbulak Canal system (South-Eastern Kazakhstan). We used standard methods for the collection and analysis of data, as well as the principal components analysis (PCA) to assess the relationship between environmental and biological indicators. The average depth of the surveyed reservoirs was 4.1–10.0 m, temperature—21.7–25.7 °C, pH—9.41–10.00, permanganate index—16.22–19.07 mgO/dm3, N-NO2—0.03–0.13, N-NO3—1.28–3.00, N-NH4—0.30–0.53, PO4—0.14–0.39, Si—3.69–8.26, Mn—0.03–0.07, Fe—0.34–0.38 mg/dm3. The content of Cd, Co, Pb, Zn, and Cr was low, Cu—0.012–0.036 mg/dm3. The water quality is influenced by the wastewater composition, chemical interactions, morphometric and physical-chemical conditions of the reservoir, pollution of the coastal area, and secondary water pollution. Changes in the species composition and zooplankton abundance reflected the instability of external conditions. PCA showed the priority influence of carbonates, bicarbonates, magnesium, temperature, nutrients, and heavy metals on zooplankton structure. The results obtained demonstrate the indicator significance of zooplankton, and the methodological approaches can be used to assess water bodies with the complex pollution located in other regions.
An Operative Framework for the Optimal Selection of Centrifugal Pumps As Turbines (PATs) in Water Distribution Networks (WDNs)
Authors: Pugliese Francesco , Giugni Maurizio
Published: June 2022

The current significant increase in energy consumption has resulted in the need to develop and implement effective approaches for defining alternative and sustainable solutions to couple primary resources with supporting methods of energy generation. In the field of effective water distribution network (WDN) management, the suitability of combining pressure regulation with small-scale hydropower generation is attracting even more interest, given that it can possibly reduce water leakages, as well as produce attractive rates of renewable energy. Specifically, pumps as turbines (PATs) are widely considered a viable solution because they combine hydraulic benefits with affordable investment and management costs. Nevertheless, despite several approaches available in the literature for the optimal selection and management of PATs, choosing the most suitable device to be installed in the network is still a challenge, especially when electrical regulation is arranged to modulate the PAT rotational speed and optimize the produced energy. Several approaches in the literature provide interesting solutions for assessing the effectiveness of electrical regulation when a PAT is installed within a water network. However, most of them require specific knowledge of the PAT mechanical features or huge computational efforts and do not support swift PAT selection. To overcome this lack of tools, in this work, an operative framework for the preliminary assessment of the main features (the head drop and the produced power at the best efficiency point (BEP), the impeller diameter and the rotational speed) of a PAT is proposed, aimed at both maximizing the daily produced energy and performing challenging economic selection. Then, it is assessed by estimations of the corresponding payback period (PP) and the net present value (NPV).
Synthesis of an Organotin Specific Molecularly Imprinted Polymer for Organotin Passive Sampling in Seawater
Authors: Garnier Antoine , Montigny Chrystelle , Causse Léa , Spinelli Sylvie , Avezac Murielle , Otazaghine Belkacem , Gonzalez Catherine
Published: June 2022

Environmental contaminations can sometimes be difficult to measure, particularly in complex matrices such as seawater. This is the case of organotin compounds (OSn) such as the monobutyltin (MBT), dibutyltin (DBT), and tributyltin (TBT), whose range of polarity is wide. These compounds, mostly coming from antifouling paints used on ship shell, can be found in water and sediments where they are stable and can persist for years. Passive sampling is gaining in interest to offer solutions to monitor these kinds of compounds even in low concentrations. However, due to the diversity of pollutants present in the environment nowadays, it is important to propose solutions that allow a specific sampling. This work aims to highlight the usability of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) in passive sampling for the monitoring of OSn. MIPs were synthetized using three synthesis ways (bulk, suspension, and mini-emulsion processes) and kinetics were realized in order to estimate the retention of OSn by the solid MIP phase. Results highlighted a good retention of OSn with mean retention kinetic constants near 10−5, 10−6 and 10−7 L·ng·s−1 for DBT, TBT and MBT respectively. The synthesis mode showed no impact on retention kinetics, therefore, bulk synthesis is recommended because of its simplicity. If the elimination of OSn from MIPs is to be optimized, the retention of OSn on MIPs has been demonstrated, and is very promising for their use in specific passive samplers.