bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution Characteristics and Main Influencing Factors of Carbon Dioxide Emissions in Chinese Cities from 2005 to 2020
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong , Tang Yongjun , Han Haoying , Chen Zhilu
Published: October 2023

Based on the carbon emission database of the China Urban Greenhouse Gas Working Group, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and main influencing factors of urban carbon dioxide emissions in China using ArcGIS spatial analysis and SPSS statistical analysis methods, in order to provide a reference for the formulation of the national “double-carbon” strategy and the construction of low-carbon urbanization. The results showed that (1) the urban carbon dioxide emissions in China exhibit a “point-line-area” spreading spatial grid. Carbon dioxide emissions form a planar emission pattern surrounded by the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration, Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration, and Central Plains urban agglomeration. A high per capita and high-intensity emission belt from Xinjiang to Inner Mongolia has been formed. (2) The proportion of industrial emissions continues to decrease, and the range of high industrial emissions has gradually crossed the “Hu Huan-yong Line”, spreading from eastern China to the whole country. The emissions from transportation, the service industry, and households have become new growth points, and high-value emissions from households have also shown a nationwide spreading trend. (3) The main factors influencing the spatial distribution of carbon dioxide emissions are urbanization, the economy, industry, investment, and household energy consumption.
Factors That Influence the Life Satisfaction of Afghan Refugees Living in Eastern Turkey: The Role of Their Migration Causes
Authors: Gul Songul
Published: October 2023

In this study, the impact of the reasons for leaving their country (such as social, economic, and political) of Afghan asylum seekers who illegally entered Turkey from the eastern border on their life satisfaction in the country of destination was analyzed. The sample comprised 500 individuals (54.8% women; 42.4% < 30 age) who came as refugees from Turkey’s eastern border. Three-stages of analysis were carried out in the study: the Mantel–Haenszel test, ordered logit, and CART (Classification and Regression Trees) decision tree. The main findings obtained from these analyses show that individuals leaving their country for economic reasons and because of war/terrorism are happier, while those leaving their country because of religious and cultural pressures are unhappier. According to the results of the CART analysis, the most frequently repeated variables are economic and life satisfaction of individuals who are satisfied with their household income and save money is at its highest level. In the analysis it is also seen that the life satisfaction level of individuals who are not satisfied with their household income, leave their country for reasons other than economic reasons, and make a living on debt is very low. This study also focuses on the relationship between happiness and sustainable development (SD). It has associated the reasons for migrants leaving their countries with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the significance of happiness studies in achieving the SDGs.
Stiffness Warming Potential: An Innovative Parameter for Structural and Environmental Assessment of Timber–Concrete Composite Members
Authors: Corti Laura , Muciaccia Giovanni
Published: October 2023

Timber hybridization with concrete is a rising widespread strategy to obtain members with a structural performance comparable to traditional ones—e.g., RC members—but characterized by a greater sustainability potential thanks to the presence of timber-based materials; this solution is of great interest due to its low embodied carbon content, which supports the decarbonization goals set, especially for the building sector. Such systems enhance the concrete and timber favorable properties and ameliorate their detrimental characteristics, both from the structural and environmental perspectives. In general, since these two aspects are generally considered separately, a new parameter is proposed to simultaneously combine a structural performance indicator with a warming potential one. Focusing on composite slabs in bending, the stiffness warming potential (λ) is introduced, which combines the evaluation of effective bending stiffness (according to Eurocode 5 γ-method) with the Global Warming Potential—GWP (on the basis of data from Athena Impact Estimator for Building software and data from an Environmental Product Declaration of a timber panel). The method provides a multi-criteria analysis concerning the slab design accounting for vibration, deflection, and acoustic criteria when optimizing the member span. On the other hand, GWP is assessed according to cradle-to-cradle Life Cycle Assessment analysis, where two scenarios with different sustainability levels are encompassed. Results firstly confirm the viability of the novel methodology, with a different outlook on timber–concrete hybrid members, stressing the importance of maintaining thinness of the concrete layer and clearly bringing out the importance of correct re-use and/or a timber recycling management to guarantee effective reductions in terms of CO2 emissions.
The Impact of the Digital Economy on Regional Carbon Emissions: Evidence from China
Authors: Chen Menggen , Zhao Songyangyang , Wang Jiawen
Published: October 2023

As a high-tech, energy-efficient mode of economic development, the digital economy has a strong impact on regional carbon emissions and sustainable development. With a sample of panel data from 30 provinces in China ranging from 2011 to 2021, this study employs an expanded STIRPAT model to examine the impact of the digital economy on regional carbon emissions. The results reveal that the digital economy significantly inhibits regional carbon emissions, and specifically, a 1% increase in the level of digital economy development leads to a decline of approximately 1.09% in total carbon emissions. The heterogeneity analysis indicates that the digital economy has a more significant inhibitory effect on carbon emissions in the eastern region and areas with a higher level of development of the digital economy. The mechanism analysis shows that the digital economy can inhibit regional carbon emissions by affecting energy efficiency and changing the energy structure. A further study shows that the digital economy has a spatial spillover effect on the reduction in carbon emissions. Therefore, the government should fully leverage the potential of the digital economy to promote carbon emission reduction, promote the development and innovation of carbon emission reduction technology, continuously improve energy utilization efficiency, and achieve the mutually beneficial goal of economic benefits and emission reduction.
Green Concrete with Glass Powder—A Literature Review
Authors: Hassani Mohammad Sheikh , Matos José C. , Zhang Yixia , Teixeira Elisabete R.
Published: October 2023

This paper represents a literature review of the effects of partially replacing cement with glass powder in concrete production, aiming to provide an enhanced elucidation of 78 published scientific articles between 2015 and 2023. Vigorous inclusion criteria were employed to accomplish this objective, such as focusing only on glass powder usage instead of cement, considering both conventional and unconventional concretes, and summarizing the physical, mechanical, durability, and morphological characteristics. It has been attempted not only to discuss the factors that contribute to similarities and differences but also to interpret associations and concerns as well as propose future research directions based on the identified gaps. The literature review reveals that using glass powder looks captivating and has higher mechanical and durability properties with environmentally friendly advantages simultaneously due to its filler and pozzolanic characteristics, especially in smaller sizes. The findings of this study are expected to promote sustainable and environmentally conscious practices beyond the current scope of research.
A Non-Intrusive Identification Approach for Residential Photovoltaic Systems Using Transient Features and TCN with Attention Mechanisms
Authors: Ni Yini , Xia Yanghong , Li Zichen , Feng Qifan
Published: October 2023

In order to reduce the negative impact of the large-scale grid connection of residential photovoltaic (PV) equipment on the distribution network, it is of great significance to realize the real-time accurate identification of the grid connection state and its switching of residential PV equipment from the distribution network side. This paper introduces a non-intrusive method for identifying residential PV systems using transient features, leveraging the temporal convolutional network (TCN) model with attention mechanisms. Firstly, the discrimination and redundancy of transient features for residential PV devices are measured using a feature selection method based on the semi-Fisher score and maximal information coefficient (MIC). This enables the construction of a subset of identification features that best characterize the PV devices. Subsequently, a sliding window two-sided cumulative sum (CUSUM) event detection algorithm, incorporating a time threshold, is proposed for the real-time capturing of PV state switching and grid connection behavioral events. This algorithm effectively filters out disturbances caused by the on/off cycles of low-power residential devices and captures the transient time windows of PV behaviors accurately. On this basis, a TCN model with attention mechanisms is proposed to match the discerned event features by assigning varying weights to different types of characteristics, thereby facilitating the precise recognition of a PV grid connection and state-switching events. Finally, the proposed method is validated on a custom-designed non-intrusive experimental platform, demonstrating its precision and real-time efficiency in practical applications.
Ways towards Transformation—Conceptual Approaches and Challenges
Authors: Hennen Leonhard , Kopfmüller Jürgen , Maia Maria , Nierling Linda , Scherz Constanze
Published: October 2023

This Special Issue brings together three fields of problem-oriented research, all addressing the current challenges of our society from different perspectives and respective research traditions, namely: technology assessment (TA), responsible research and innovation (RRI), and sustainability research. In this introductory paper, we point out that these approaches, nevertheless, face similar challenges observing and shaping the current transitions of our society. Conceptual and methodological commonalities and differences in the three approaches comprise issues of normativity in research activities, the interference with democratic decision-making processes, methods and approaches to cope with the expectations of society as well as dealing with the uncertainty and complexity of knowledge. The article closes with a reflection on considerations and decisions of relevance as an overarching challenge for all three concepts.
Vector Quantized Variational Autoencoder-Based Compressive Sampling Method for Time Series in Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Liang Ge , Ji Zhenglin , Zhong Qunhong , Huang Yong , Han Kun
Published: October 2023

The theory of compressive sampling (CS) has revolutionized data compression technology by capitalizing on the inherent sparsity of a signal to enable signal recovery from significantly far fewer samples than what is required by the Nyquist–Shannon sampling theorem. Recent advancement in deep generative models, which can represent high-dimension data in a low-dimension latent space efficiently when trained with big data, has been used to further reduce the sample size for image data compressive sampling. However, compressive sampling for 1D time series data has not significantly benefited from this technological progress. In this study, we investigate the application of different architectures of deep neural networks suitable for time series data compression and propose an efficient method to solve the compressive sampling problem on one-dimensional (1D) structural health monitoring (SHM) data, based on block CS and the vector quantized–variational autoencoder model with a naïve multitask paradigm (VQ-VAE-M). The proposed method utilizes VQ-VAE-M to learn the data characteristics of the signal, replaces the “hard constraint” of sparsity to realize the compressive sampling signal reconstruction and thereby does not need to select the appropriate sparse basis for the signal. A comparative analysis against various CS methods and other deep neural network models was performed in both synthetic data and real-world data from two real bridges in China. The results have demonstrated the superiority of the proposed method, with achieving the smallest reconstruction error of 0.038, 0.034 and 0.021, and the highest reconstruction accuracy of 0.882, 0.892 and 0.936 for compression ratios of 4.0, 2.66, and 2.0, respectively.
The Influence of Government Ideology on Renewable Energy Consumption in the European Union Countries
Authors: Arslan Erdal , Koyuncu Cuneyt , Yilmaz Rasim
Published: October 2023

By utilizing the panel quantile regression method and employing unbalanced panel data covering the years between 1972 and 2020, this study examines the impact of government ideology on renewable energy consumption for 26 EU member countries. The estimation results indicated that an increase in the relative power position of right-wing parties in government was correlated with a decrease in renewable energy consumption, whereas a rise in the relative power position of left-wing or center-wing parties in government was associated with an increase in renewable energy consumption across all quantiles evaluated. The estimation results were robust to different indicators of renewable energy consumption and government ideology. The estimation results of this study also indicated statistically significant positive associations between the share of seats in parliament for political parties classified as green and renewable energy consumption, and between the total Christian democratic governing party seats as a percentage of all legislative seats and renewable energy consumption. This result suggests that green parties and Christian democratic parties may be the key driving forces behind the positive coefficients for variables representing left-wing and center-wing parties in our study.
On a New Ma-Minda Class of Analytic Functions Created by a Roulette Curve Formula
Authors: Aldawish Ibtisam , Ibrahim Rabha W.
Published: October 2023

It is well known that there are two important classes of analytic functions of Ma-Minda type (MMT): Ma-Minda starlike and Ma-Minda convex functions. In this work, we suggest a new class of analytic functions, which is normalized in the open unit disk. The suggested class is generated by a roulette curve formula, which satisfies the symmetric behavior in the open unit disk. A roulette curve is shaped as the path outlined by the sum of two complex numbers, each affecting at a uniform rapidity in a circle. Special cases are illustrated involving special functions. Graphics of the curve are illustrated by using Mathematica 13.3.
The Supramolecular Matrix Concept
Authors: Epstein Oleg
Published: October 2023

It has been established that dilutions of a variety of substances, when exposed to vibration in the process of their preparation, acquire not only new structural characteristics in the form of nano-associates but also new physical properties, regardless of the presence of the initial substance. One of the most important properties of these dilutions is the ability to modify the physico–chemical and biological activity of the initial substance as well as exert non-contact, “distant”, effects. Here, we propose a novel hypothesis that the basis of modifying activity is the transformation of target molecules to a more harmonious (symmetrical) state supported by a supramolecular matrix, a structural unit of a structured space.
Coupling Landscape Connectedness, Ecosystem Service Value, and Resident Welfare in Xining City, Western China
Authors: Yu Chunlin , Li Ling , Wei Hejie
Published: October 2023

Landscape connectedness, ecosystem service value (ESV), and resident welfare are intricately interconnected, and understanding their relationships is crucial for promoting regional sustainable development. Utilizing six stages of land use data from 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020 in Xining City, Qinghai Province, this study identified landscape connectedness changes by landscape pattern indices, calculated ecosystem service value by the equivalent factor method, and quantified residents’ well-being by comprehensive evaluation indices. To investigate the coupled and coordinated states among the three, a coupling coordination model is adopted. Furthermore, the relative development degree model is employed to reveal the relative developmental level of the three, clarify the lagging factors in their coupling coordination. The gray relational model is employed to identify key factors affecting the coupling mechanism. Key findings include the following: (1) The development trend of landscape types was moving toward diversification and balance, and the total value of ecosystem services has been declining. The comprehensive level of resident welfare has increased annually, but the structure has changed. (2) The coupling relationship among landscape connectedness, ecosystem service value, and resident welfare is strong and has remained at a high correlation level but has been in a state of discord. (3) The main constraint of the discord in the early stage was resident welfare, but the constraining factors in the later stage shifted to ecosystem services and landscape connectedness. The largest patch index and water resource supply were the key influencing factors in the system coupling mechanism. The research findings can provide a reference for the sustainable development of Xining City, regional land use policies, and ecological intervention planning.
Horizontal and Vertical Transmission of a Mycovirus Closely Related to the Partitivirus RhsV717 That Confers Hypovirulence in Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Sun Aili , Zhao Lianjing , Sun Yang , Chen Yingrui , Li Chengyun , Dong Wenhan , Yang Genhua
Published: October 2023

Rhizoctonia solani virus717 (RhsV717) was isolated from the Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani) AG-2 strain Rhs717. This study isolated a virus designated as Rhizoctonia solani partitivirus BS-5 (RsPV-BS5) from the R. solani AG-3 strain BS-5, the causal agent of tobacco target spot disease. The virus was identified as a strain of RhsV717. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that RsPV-BS5 had virus particles with a diameter of approximately 40 nm. Importantly, it can be horizontally transmitted through hyphal anastomosis and vertically transmitted via sexual basidiospores. Furthermore, this study demonstrated that RsPV-BS5 infection significantly impedes mycelial growth and induces hypovirulence in tobacco leaves. Thus, RsPV-BS5 presents a promising avenue for biocontrolling tobacco target spot disease. Transcriptome analysis unveiled differential expression of four genes related to cell wall-degrading enzymes between two isogenic strains, 06-2-15V and 06-2-15. These findings shed light on the molecular mechanism through which RsPV-BS5 reduces host pathogenicity.
The Effects of Milk Replacer Supplemented with Ascophyllum nodosum as a Novel Ingredient to Prevent Neonatal Diarrhea in Dairy Calves and Improve Their Health Status
Authors: Scaglia Elena , Reggi Serena , Canala Benedetta , Frazzini Sara , Dell’Anno Matteo , Hejna Monika , Rossi Luciana
Published: October 2023

Nutrition and health during pre-weaning affect the calves’ future fertility, calving age, production, and carrier length. Calves are highly susceptible to neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD), which can be fatal. NCD is due to hypovolemia and acidosis, which may involve anorexia and ataxia. The One Health principle calls for a drastic reduction in antimicrobial use. One approach is to improve animal health and reduce the use of antibiotics and functional ingredients that have beneficial effects due to bioactive compounds. Several functional ingredients and additives can be considered, and, in particular for this study, Ascophyllum nodosum was considered. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of A. nodosum as a functional ingredient implemented into the milk replacer in neonatal calves. Twelve pre-weaned Holstein Frisian calves, housed in twelve individual pens in the same environmental conditions, were divided into two groups of six animals: a control group (CTRL, n = 6) fed with a milk replacer, and a treatment group receiving milk enriched with 10 g of A. nodosum in their diet (TRT, n = 6) for 42 days. The fecal score was evaluated daily (3–0 scale) to monitor the incidence of diarrhea in the two groups. The body weight was evaluated weekly, and every two weeks feces were collected for microbiological evaluation using a selective medium for plate counting of total, lactic acid, and coliform bacteria. To verify the presence of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Escherichia coli, real-time qPCR was used. At the beginning and at the end of the trial, blood samples were obtained for serum metabolite analysis. The growth performance did not differ in either of the two groups, but significant differences were observed in the incidence of moderate diarrhea (p-value < 0.0113), where the TRT group showed a lower incidence of cases during the 42-day period. Serum analysis highlighted higher contents of albumin, calcium, phosphorus, and total cholesterol in the TRT group compared to CTRL (p-value < 0.05). In conclusion, implementation of A. nodosum in the diet of calves can lead to better animal welfare and may reduce the use of antibiotics.
A Unified General Resistance Formula for Uniform Coarse Porous Media
Authors: López Juan Carlos , Toledo Miguel Ángel , Moran Rafael , Balairón Luis
Published: October 2023

Many authors studied the nonlinear relationship between seepage velocity and hydraulic gradient in coarse granular materials. They managed different approaches and variables to define the resistance formula applicable to that type of granular media. Based on the analysis of the different approaches and experimental data obtained by the corresponding authors, we propose a unified general seepage equation applicable to large-sized granular materials. Such an equation gives unity to the main nonlinear resistance formulas developed to date. Particularly relevant are the conclusions regarding the relationship of the linear (α*) and quadratic (β*) dimensionless coefficients of the resistance formula with the representative size of the particle and the geometrical features of the porous materials.
Effects of Enrofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin on Growth and Toxin Production of Microcystis aeruginosa
Authors: Xia Yu , Xie Qin-Ming , Chu Ta-Jen
Published: October 2023

Microcystis aeruginosa is a common cyanobacterium found in water blooms and often causes ecological harm. Antibiotics are also increasingly used for the prevention and treatment of bacterial infections in aquaculture. However, since most antibiotics cannot be fully metabolized, they enter the water environment and cause ecological impacts. In this paper, the effects of the two fluoroquinolone antibiotics (enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin) on the population density and microcystins (MCs) production of M. aeruginosa were studied. It is of great significance for the ecological risk assessment of antibiotics in the water environment. The results showed that the 96h EC50 values of enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin to M. aeruginosa were 56.10 mg/L and 49.80 mg/L, respectively, and the toxicity of ciprofloxacin to M. aeruginosa was slightly stronger than that of enrofloxacin. With the increase in the two antibiotic concentration, the growth inhibition rate (IR) increased, but when the concentration reached a certain level, the IR would reach its threshold. Long-term exposure to low concentrations of these two antibiotics is not only more likely to lead to the outbreak of M. aeruginosa, but also increase its toxin production capacity. The highest contents of MCs in enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin groups were 95.539 μg/g and 93.720 μg/g, respectively. The MCs value of these three enrofloxacin treatment groups was more than above 51.8 times that of control group (CK) on the 4th day; from 8th day to 14th day, the MCs value of these three enrofloxacin treatment groups was more than above 3.2 times that of CK group. For ciprofloxacin, the MCs value of the treatment group was more than 64.98 times that of the CK group on the 4th day, and from 8th day to 14th day, the MCs value of the treatment group was more than 2.7 times that of the CK group. These findings provide crucial management rationale.
CN-N: A Python-based ArcGIS Tool for Generating SCS Curve Number and Manning’s Roughness
Authors: Alizadeh Babak , Berton Rouzbeh
Published: October 2023

Water resources engineers and geospatial analysts often face the challenge of spatially estimating parameters such as the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) Curve Number (CN) and Manning’s roughness number (n), which are critical for predicting runoff and streamflow in hydrologic studies. Addressing the above challenge, this paper presents an innovative ArcMap tool developed using Python. This tool streamlines the SCS-CN and Manning’s n spatial calculations and is designed to handle large datasets, even at the scale of the entire US. Additionally, it offers the unique capability of geoprocessing mixed soil types and seamlessly integrating data if the watershed spans over different states. Our tool automates the integration of land cover data, hydrologic soil group data, and hydrologic boundaries. The tool reads watershed boundaries and uses the National Land Cover Database (NLCD) and the Gridded Soil Survey Geographic Database (gSSURGO) to develop SCS-CN and Manning’s n spatial layers. The tool also offers users the unique flexibility to add any desired values for CN or Manning’s n in the form of a so-called lookup table, which is a great help with the iterative process of calibrating hydrologic or hydraulic models. Our tool addressed one of the major limitations of its predecessors, acknowledging the existence of mixed hydrologic soil groups, e.g., B/C or C/D, and allowing for user adjustments to address hydrologic or hydraulic models’ calibration needs. The tool was developed with a flexible framework to incorporate additional spatial parameters soon, such as the spatial green-ampt parameters. With a user-friendly interface and integration capabilities, the tool is invaluable for hydrologic and hydraulic studies at local, regional, and global scales.
Automatic SWMM Parameter Calibration Method Based on the Differential Evolution and Bayesian Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Gao Jiawei , Liang Ji , Lu Yu , Zhou Ruilong , Lu Xin
Published: October 2023

In response to the low accuracy exhibited by the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM), we propose an enhanced Differential Evolution and Bayesian Optimization Algorithm (DE-BOA). This algorithm integrates the global search capability of the differential evolution algorithm with the local search capability of the Bayesian optimization algorithm, which enables a more comprehensive exploration of the vector solution space. A comparative analysis of various types of rainfall events is conducted. For model calibration and validation, a drainage subzone in Jinshazhou, Guangzhou City, is selected as the research subject. In total, 20 specific rainfall events are selected, and the DE-BOA algorithm outperforms the manual calibration, the differential evolution algorithm, and the Bayesian optimization algorithm regarding model calibration accuracy. Furthermore, the DE-BOA algorithm exhibits robust adaptability to rainfall events characterized by multiple peaks and higher precipitation levels, with the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient values surpassing 0.90. This study’s findings could hold significant reference value for dynamically updating model parameters, thereby enhancing the model simulation performance and improving the accuracy of the urban intelligent water management platform.
Application of Modified DRASTIC Method for the Assessment and Validation of Confined Aquifer Vulnerability in Areas with Diverse Quaternary Deposits
Authors: Männik Magdaleena , Karro Enn
Published: October 2023

Accurate vulnerability assessment methods are essential for effective groundwater management and protection, allowing the identification of areas vulnerable to pollution. The widely used DRASTIC method has been modified to improve groundwater vulnerability assessment in regions where Quaternary sediments form a confining layer above the main useful aquifer. This study applied the modified DRASTIC method to two study areas in Estonia with heterogenous Quaternary sediments. The results were compared to the original DRASTIC method and a groundwater vulnerability assessment method used formerly in Estonia. The results significantly improved with the modified version compared to the original method. The modified method also exhibited stronger correlations with nitrate concentration data, illustrating the higher accuracy of the modified DRASTIC method in vulnerability assessment in regions with confined aquifers. The results highlight the significance of modifying the vulnerability assessment methods according to regional geological conditions to evaluate groundwater vulnerability accurately and support informed decision-making in groundwater management and protection.
River Recreational Activity Vulnerability Assessment and the Hydraulic Index Proposal
Authors: Shin Jaehyun , Ku Tae Geom , Seo Il Won , Kim Young Do
Published: October 2023

In this study, a vulnerability index and hydraulic index for recreational activities were developed for assessments in riverside areas to provide water quality and hydraulic information to the public. These novel indices consist of several river recreation activities such as swimming, water skiing, canoeing, etc., and are calculated using hydraulic information. The hydraulic information is integrated with fuzzy synthetic evaluation, with parameters such as velocity, water surface elevation, and water surface width. Also, a water quality index was created using information integrated with parameters such as DO, pH, and chlorophyll a, and then these parameters were combined into the vulnerability index. The proposed vulnerability index and hydraulic index were applied to the Nakdong River, downstream of a large weir. The hydraulic index was also combined with the results from a two-dimensional flow model for the spatial representation of the index for the categorization of safe recreational acceptability levels in the river. The results showed that the calculated index was sufficient to reflect changes in the hydraulic parameters, shown with spatial data, with comparisons to the index calculation from the gauge site measured data, with differences ranging from 0.8% to 6.5%.
Landscape Ecological Risk Assessment and Driving Force Analysis of the Heihe River Basin in the Zhangye Area of China
Authors: Lan Jitao , Chai Zonggang , Tang Xianglong , Wang Xi
Published: October 2023

Watershed ecosystems are crucial to the overall sustainable development of a region, and a scientific and effective grasp of the characteristics of land-use change in a watershed, and the factors affecting land change, is an important prerequisite for the high-quality construction of watershed ecology, which needs to be emphasized. As the second largest inland river in the arid zone of Western China, the Heihe River Basin (HRB) has been affected by human and natural factors in recent years, and the ecological environment is relatively fragile, and there is an urgent need to analyze the ecological characteristics of the basin and to explore the relevant influencing factors in order to provide a basis for subsequent ecological management. Therefore, this article applies the landscape index, the landscape ecological risk index (ERI) model and the geodetector tools to analyze the land-use data from 2000 to 2020 in the Zhangye area of the HRB to study the characteristics of the ecological risk evolution and the driving forces affecting the ecological risk differentiation. The results show the following: (1) the area of the regional land-use change accounts for 4.99% of the total area, and the landscape pattern as a whole shows an increasing degree of fragmentation and a decreasing trend of aggregation; (2) the distribution of the ERI in the region shows a trend of being low in the center and high in the periphery, with an increase of 2.11% in the area of the lowest and lower risk and a decrease of 1.77% in the highest and higher, and the temporal change shows an increase followed by a significant decrease; (3) the human interference degree is the dominant factor influencing the spatial differentiation of the ERI in the basin area. There are significant differences between social factors, climate factors and land factors.
Wetland Management in Recharge Regions of Regional Groundwater Flow Systems with Water Shortage, Nyírség Region, Hungary
Authors: Simon Szilvia , Déri-Takács Judit , Szijártó Márk , Szél László , Mádl-Szőnyi Judit
Published: October 2023

Climate change and increasing human impacts are more emphasised in recharge regions, where the main flow direction is downward, resulting in negative water balance. Two wetlands located in the recharge position of regional groundwater flow systems were investigated in the Nyírség region, Hungary, as pilot areas for representing wetlands in similar hydraulic positions. Hydraulic data processes, chemical data evaluations, and numerical simulations revealed that the wetlands are fed via local flow systems, superimposing regional-scale recharge conditions in the area. The wetlands are discharge and flow-through types in connection with local flow systems. Nevertheless, in the case of significant regional water table decline—due to the high vulnerability of recharge areas to climate change—local flows are degraded, so they are not able to sustain the wetlands. To preserve the groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the areas, water retention at the local recharge areas of the wetlands may help in the mitigation of water level decline under present-day conditions. If the regional water table continues to decline, comprehensive water retention solutions are needed in the whole region. The results highlight that understanding the natural wetland–groundwater interactions at different scales is crucial for the preservation of wetlands and for successful water retention planning.
γ-Ray Log Tool for Detecting the Presence of Low-Permeability Lenses in High-Resolution Modelling of Contaminated Sites
Authors: Franchini Stefania , De Filippi Francesco Maria , Barbieri Maurizio , Sappa Giuseppe
Published: October 2023

In contaminated sites, remediation measures mostly depend on previous high-resolution site characterization (HRSC) results. In the case of industrial sites, where there is a high pollution risk for groundwater, many hydrogeological models are often achieved using stratigraphy results of geological drilling after the monitoring network design. This approach is only sometimes possible when contaminant back diffusion from small low-permeability lenses and layers occurs within a high-permeability aquifer. This framework needs a significant resolution that can be obtained by coupling preliminary stratigraphic data with specific in situ activities. Results from these additional investigations may help to locate low-permeability layers and, consequently, to identify the most vulnerable areas towards which groundwater management must be deepened. The use of gamma rays in combination with the analysis of the pluviometric and hydrometric data and together with the time series of the concentrations of a given analyte can provide indispensable support for site characterization, the development of numerical groundwater contamination models and remediation procedures when back diffusion occurs. In this study, within an industrial site in the province of Benevento (Italy), based on stratigraphy, a 3D hydrogeological model has been set up and coupled with results of natural gamma radioactivity logs to detect the release of Chromium VI from low-permeability lenses.
Numerical Study of the Influence of Horizontal Spatial Distribution of Macropores on Water Infiltration
Authors: Zhang Ruigang , Huan Xiaoxiang , Qian Jiazhong , Xing Yueqing
Published: October 2023

The existence of macropores acutely enhances the capacity of soil to conduct water, gas, and chemicals. The capacity of macropores to transport water extremely depends on their spatial characteristics. However, the effect of the horizontal spatial distribution of macropores (especially the position characteristics of macropores) on water infiltration is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study utilizes the approach of numerical simulation to investigate the general pattern of the effects of horizontal spatial distribution characteristics of macropores (such as number, pore size and position) on water infiltration. Given the limitations on the ability to characterize the macropore position from the existing spatial characteristic parameters of macropores, two new statistical parameters (spatial dispersion, γ, and spatial deviation, γ*) are established to characterize the position relationships among macropores and between the macropores and the observation area, respectively. The results show that the larger the macropore number and the more uniformly macropores are distributed, the greater the soil permeability and the preferential flow degree, while the pore size hardly affects the water transport. Additionally, comparison between number and position effects reveals that the macropore number is the dominant factor when the macropore number is relatively small, but this relationship will reverse when the macropore number is relatively large. This study provides a novel meals to investigate the effect of macropore position on water infiltration, and emphasizes that besides the macroporosity, number and position are also significant for quantifying soil permeability.
Total financial and avoidable losses due to lameness in Turkish dairy herds
Authors: Sarıözkan Savaş , Küçükoflaz Mehmet
Published: October 2023

This study aimed to estimate the total financial (direct and indirect) and avoidable losses related to lameness in Turkish dairy herds. Official and previous published data were used for determining the mean (12.9%) and target prevalence (6.6%) values. Direct financial losses due to lameness were calculated as treatment costs, involuntary culling, and milk yield losses. Indirect losses consisted of extended calving intervals and extra insemination losses. As a result, the average financial loss of lameness per case on dairy farms was $153.8 ($116.8 for mild and $264.7 for severe forms) in Türkiye. Avoidable losses ($75.1) were calculated to be equivalent to 187 liters of cow's milk with current prices for the 2023 year. The share of direct and indirect financial losses was 49.6% and 50.4%, respectively. Total annual losses related to lameness in Türkiye are calculated at $130.5 million (326 million Lt. milk eq.), although $63.7 million (159 million Lt. milk eq.) of the losses could be avoided by farmers. The milk equivalent of avoidable losses corresponds to 0.77% of Türkiye's total annual milk production. In conclusion, lameness causes significant financial losses in Turkish dairy herds. However, almost half of these losses (48.8%) may be avoidable with better management practices which help to increase the productivity and profitability of dairy farmers.
Sudden Spurt in Pediatric Patients with AKI in Uzbekistan: A Call for International Drug Quality Control and Pharmaceutical Legislation
Authors: Murtalibova Nodira , Sethi Sidharth Kumar , Raina Rupesh , Mamatkulov Bahrom , Mustakimov Alisher
Published: October 2023

Key Points

These outbreaks serve as a reminder of the difficulties faced in less resourced nations for improvement in regulation and enforcement of quality control procedures in the pharmaceutical industry.

With the rise in the number of drug manufacturers, monitoring of drug supply in developing countries is extremely important.
İKİ FARKLI İNDİREKT BONDİNG TEKNİĞİNİN KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI – AĞIZ İÇİ TARAYICISIYLA YAPILAN KLİNİK ÇALIŞMA
Authors: YILANCI Hilal , CANBAZ Barış , ÇALIK KÖSELER Berra
Published: October 2023

Doğru braket pozisyonu sabit ortodontik tedavide tel bükümü ve braketleri tekrar pozisyonlandırma ihtiyacını azaltması açısından önemlidir. Ayrıca düzgün yerleştirilmiş braketler ortodontik tedavinin süresini de kısaltmaktadır. Bu nedenle indirekt bonding yöntemi braketlerin daha uygun pozisyonlandırılabilmesi için etkili bir metottur. Bu çalışmanın amacı indirekt bonding işlemi için dijital ve konvansiyonel olarak hazırlanan braket transfer plaklarının temel farklarını ortaya koymak ve yapıştırılan braketlerin konum farklılıklarını ağız içi tarayıcısıyla değerlendirmektir. Çalışmamızda 2 grup bulunmaktadır. Konvansiyonel indirekt bonding grubunda 6 hasta – 87 diş, dijital indirekt bonding grubunda 7 hasta – 87 diş olmak üzere toplam 13 hasta – 174 diş örneği değerlendirilmiştir. Dijital indirekt bonding yönteminde ağız içi ölçüler ağız içi tarayıcısıyla alınmıştır. Görüntüler bilgisayar programına aktarıldıktan sonra dişlerin ortodontik tedavi sonunda olması gereken pozisyonuna göre braketler konumlandırılmıştır. Buna göre elde edilen modellerin üç boyutlu yazıcıdan çıktısı alınıp braket transfer plağı oluşturulmuştur. Konvansiyonel indirekt bonding yönteminde ağız içi ölçüler aljinat ile alınıp alçı modeller elde edilmiştir. Modellerin üzerine braketler yerleştirilip braket transfer plağı oluşturulmuştur. Her iki grupta braketler oluşturulan plaklara yerleştirilerek hasta ağzına transfer edilmiştir. Final pozisyonları ağız içi tarayıcısı ile taranmıştır. Model ve ağız içindeki braket pozisyonları arasındaki farklılık Geomagic programı ile değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen veriler, Mann Whitney U testi ile analiz edilmiştir (p
3-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF REGENERATIVE ENDODONTIC TREATMENTS WITH THE APPLICATION OF CONCENTRATED GROWTH FACTOR AS SCAFFOLD: NINE CASES
Authors: GÖK Tuba
Published: October 2023

The aim of this case series is to present 3-year clinical and radiographic follow-ups of nine regenerative endodontic treatment cases using concentrated growth factor in necrotic immature permanent teeth. Nine patients aged 8-21 years were referred to our clinic. According to clinical and radiographic examinations, it was decided to perform RET. After the working length determination, teeth were irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl and activated with EndoActivator. Root canals were instrumented with XP-endo Finisher-R file. 20 mL of 17% EDTA was used as final irrigation, and calcium hydroxide and temporary fillings were placed. Two weeks later, roots were irrigated with 17% EDTA and 5 mL distilled water and dried with paper points. Bleeding was induced into the coronal part of the root canal. Concentrated growth factor (obtained from the patient’s blood) was placed into the root canals. Biodentine was placed on the blood clot and permanent restorations were made with resin composite. At 3-year follow-up, clinical and radiographic healing was observed in 5 patients. In the other 4 patients, persistent infection and sinus-tract formation were detected at different time periods. Although RET is a promising treatment that aims to preserve teeth vitally, more randomized clinical research is needed due to its unpredictable results.
YAŞLANDIRMA SONRASI YÜZEY İŞLEMLERİNİN, ZİRKONYUM OKSİT SERAMİKLERİN BAĞLANTI DİRENCİ ÜZERİNE ETKİSİ
Authors: ALKAN DEMETOĞLU Goknil , ZORTUK Mustafa
Published: October 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı farklı yüzey işlemleri uygulanmış zirkonya seramiğe rezin siman bağlantısının değerlendirilmesidir. Final boyutu 10 x 10 x 2mm olan toplam 72 adet zirkonya örnek elde edilmiştir. Farklı yüzey hazırlıklarına tabi tutulmak üzere rastgele 12’şerli 6 gruba ayrılan örneklerden 1.grup yüzey işlemi uygulanmadan kontrol grubu olarak ayrıldı. 110 µ’lukAl2O3 kumu ile pürüzlendirilen örnekler 2. grubu ve 110 µ’lukAl2O3 kumu ile pürüzlendirildikten sonra silika kaplanan ve silan uygulanan örnekler ise 3.grubu oluşurdu. 4.gruptaki örneklere ise çift kat Zirconia Primer uygulandı. Hava ile 10 sn kibarca kurutuldu 20 sn 800 mW/cm2 ışıkla polimerize edildi.5. gruptaki örnekler, Nd: YAG lazer cihazı kullanılarak pürüzlendirildiler. Cihazın paneli 20 Hz, 100mJ, 2W, 100µs olacak şekilde ayarlandı. 6. gruptaki örneklerde cihaz; 20 Hz, 150mJ 3W 100µs olarak ayarlandı. Yüksekliği 3mm ve çapı 3.6mm olan siman bloklar Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray Medical Inc., Japonya) rezin simandan üretildi vezirkonya örneklere simante edildi. Örnekler 2 hafta oda sıcaklığındaki suda bekletildikten sonra termal döngü cihazında, 5-55 ºC’de, 6000 döngü uygulandı. Örnekler yarıçapı ve yüksekliği 1cm olan akrilik bloklara yerleştirilerek makaslama testine tabi tutuldu. Bağlanma değeri verileri tek yönlü varyans analizi ve Duncan testi kullanılarak analiz edildi (a=.05). Her grubun ortalamaları tek yönlü varyans analizi ile değerlendirildi.Buna göre en yüksek değerler 3. grupta bulunmuş, bunu 6. grup takip etmiştir. En düşük değer ise kontrol grubunda bulunmuştur. Örnekler taramalı elektron mikroskobunda (SEM) ve Atomik kuvvet mikroskobunda (AFM ) incelenmiş, profilometre cihazında pürüzlülük değerleri ölçülmüştür.
Investigating Inclusivity in Game-Based Learning: Current Practices and Multistakeholder Perspectives
Authors: Rye Sara , Sousa Carla
Published: October 2023

This study aims to examine how inclusivity measures are understood and applied in game-based learning (GBL). It considers the perspectives of various stakeholders, such as educators, game designers, and students. The focus is on creating accessible and engaging games that meet the diverse needs and characteristics of players. The methodology adopted a combination of primary and secondary data sources to pursue these aims. The primary data collection involved focus groups with educators, game designers, and students. The study employed a participatory design approach, involving multiple stakeholders in the exploration of inclusivity measures. The data collected from the focus groups, along with findings from the literature review, helped in formulating a set of inclusivity metrics for educators to create educational games that cater to diverse student needs. The obtained results emphasize the limited state of analogue GBL accessibility in scholarly and professional literature, while emphasizing the existing frameworks to be adopted by educators, designers, and publishers. Stakeholder discussions revealed themes related to inclusivity measures, including motor, sensory, and cognitive needs of players. Game designers can enhance accessibility by considering these requirements and incorporating alternative communication channels, accessible cues, adaptable gameplay options, and diversified knowledge-based requirements. In addition to inclusivity, addressing instances of exclusion, managing teams effectively, promoting inclusive communication, and incorporating gameplay limitations, educational components, diverse perspectives, and real-world applicability are discussed as important in education game design, to this extent.