bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Different Irrigation Techniques on Post Space Smear Layer Removal: SEM Evaluation
Authors: Iandolo Alfredo , Pisano Massimo , Abdellatif Dina , Amato Alessandra , Giordano Francesco , Buonavoglia Alessio , Sangiovanni Giuseppe , Caggiano Mario
Published: June 2023

Background: Effective debris and smear layer removal affects post-cementation and bond strength. Aim: The aim was to compare the effectiveness of debris and smear layer removal using standard irrigation and activated irrigation with heated EDTA. Moreover, an irrigant activation technique was chosen in the current research, employing the ultrasonic activation of an EDTA solution after being heated directly inside the post space preparation. Materials and Methods: 30 single-rooted human mandibular premolar teeth were used in the current study to test the proposed techniques. First, the teeth were cut to have standardised roots 18 mm in length and prepared endodontically, and then the post space was carried out on all the samples. Then the specimens were randomly distributed into three study groups according to the post space irrigation technique. In detail, the groups were group 1, where a 3D cleaning technique was used; group 2, where the traditional irrigation with EDTA was applied; and group 3, where only saline as an irrigant was used. The third group was considered the control group. Next, the teeth were segmented and analysed via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnification was used to evaluate and score the smear layer and debris. Statistical analysis was undertaken using the classic statistical software package (SPSS, version 28.0; SPSS IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). Then, the data were interpreted with a non-parametric analysis of variance (Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA) among the experiment groups. The significance level was decided as p < 0.05. In addition, statistically significant (p < 0.05) lower mean smear layer and debris scores were found in both the examination groups compared to the control group. Results: group 1 demonstrated better results compared to group 2 in terms of cleaning the dentinal walls. Conclusions: The current research concluded that the EDTA 3D cleaning technique is an effective irrigation technique for clearing debris and smear layers in the post space. Future research, such as on push-out bond strength, should be used to verify this research’s conclusions. Key findings: The use of ultrasonically activated heated EDTA improved the smear layer removal. The use of the 3D cleaning technique resulted in better post space cleaning.
The Role of Past Climatic Variability in Fluvial Terrace Formation, a Case Study from River Mureş (Maros), Romania
Authors: Bartyik Tamás , Urdea Petru , Kiss Tímea , Hegyi Alexandru , Sipos György
Published: June 2023

Fluvial terrace formation is a complex process governed by the interplay of climatic and tectonic forcings. From a climatic perspective, an incision is usually related to climatic transitions, while valley aggradation is attributed to glacial periods. We have reconstructed the formation of Late Pleistocene fluvial terraces along the middle, mountainous section of a temperate zone river (Mureş/Maros) in order to identify the roles of different climatic periods and potential vertical displacement in terrace development. Investigations were based on two profiles representing two different terrace levels. The profiles were subjected to sedimentological and detailed geochronological analyses using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). The results indicated that the investigated terraces represent different incision events coinciding with climatic transition periods. However, a joint MIS 3 valley aggradation period can be identified at both of them. Thus, the relatively mild but highly variable climate of the MIS 3 facilitated sediment mobilization from upland catchments. On the other hand, there is no evidence of aggradation under the cold and stable climate of MIS 2. However, the tectonic setting favours incision at the site. Based on our results, we concluded that the timing of the main events was controlled primarily by climatic forcing. The terrace formation model recognised might also be applied at other rivers in the region.
Sustaining Crusader Ardor: Eudes of Châteauroux’s Memorial Sermons for Count Robert of Artois
Authors: Jordan William Chester
Published: June 2023

Papal legates who appealed to potential crusaders by preaching also tried to explain to soldiers and commanders the many defeats the Christian armies endured, even though they were carrying out what they asserted to be God’s wishes. This article examines two memorial sermons preached by the legate, Eudes of Châteauroux, after the failure of the crusade of King Louis IX (r. 1226–1270), during which the ruler’s brother, Count Robert of Artois, died in battle at the Egyptian town of Mansourah.
NASA ICESat-2: Space-Borne LiDAR for Geological Education and Field Mapping of Aeolian Sand Dune Environments
Authors: Rehman Khushbakht , Fareed Nadeem , Chu Hone-Jay
Published: June 2023

Satellites are launched frequently to monitor the Earth’s dynamic surface processes. For example, the Landsat legacy has thrived for the past 50 years, spanning almost the entire application spectrum of Earth Sciences. On the other hand, fewer satellites are launched with a single specific mission to address pressing scientific questions, e.g., the study of polar icecaps and their response to climate change using Ice Cloud and the Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) program with ICESat-1 (decommissioned in 2009) and ICESat-2. ICESat-2 has been operational since 2018 and has provided unprecedented success in space-borne LiDAR technology. ICESat-2 provides exceptional details of topographies covering inland ice, snow, glaciers, land, inland waterbodies, and vegetation in three-dimensional (3D) space and time, offering the unique opportunity to quantify the Earth’s surface processes. Nevertheless, ICESat-2 is not well known to some other disciplines, e.g., Geology and Geomorphology. This study, for the first time, introduces the use of ICESat-2 in aeolian sand dune studies, purely from an ICESat-2 remote sensing data perspective. Two objectives are investigated. first, a simplified approach to understanding ICESat-2 data products along with their application domains. Additionally, data processing methods and software applications are briefly explained to unify the information in a single article. Secondly, the exemplified use of ICESat-2 data in aeolian sand dune environments is analyzed compared to global Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), e.g., Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM). Our investigation shows that ICESat-2 provides high-resolution topographic details in desert environments with significant improvements to the existing methods, thereby facilitating geological education and field mapping. Aeolian sand dune environments can be better understood, at present, using ICESat-2 data compared to traditional DEM-based methods.
Effects of Atmospheric Coherent Time on Inverse Synthetic Aperture Ladar Imaging through Atmospheric Turbulence
Authors: Abdukirim Azezigul , Ren Yichong , Tao Zhiwei , Liu Shiwei , Li Yanling , Deng Hanling , Rao Ruizhong
Published: June 2023

Inverse synthetic aperture ladar (ISAL) can achieve high-resolution images for long-range moving targets, while its performance is affected by atmospheric turbulence. In this paper, the dynamic evolution of atmospheric turbulence is studied by using an infinitely long phase screen (ILPS), and the atmospheric coherent time is defined to describe the variation speed of the phase fluctuation induced by atmospheric turbulence. The simulation results show that the temporal decoherence of the echo induced by turbulence causes phase fluctuation and introduces an extra random phase, which deteriorates the phase stability and makes coherent synthesis impossible. Thus, we evaluated its effects on ISAL imaging and found a method to mitigate the impact of turbulence on ISAL images. The phase compensation algorithm could correct the phase variation in different pulses instead of that within the same pulse. Therefore, the relationship between the atmospheric coherent time and pulse duration time (rather than that between the atmospheric coherent time and ISAL imaging time) ultimately determines the ISAL imaging quality. Furthermore, these adverse effects could be mitigated by increasing the atmospheric coherent time or decreasing the pulse duration time, which results in an improvement in the ISAL imaging quality.
Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Inversion of Evapotranspiration in the Lower Yangtze River Based on Landsat 8 Remote Sensing Data and Analysis of Driving Factors
Authors: Song Enze , Zhu Xueying , Shao Guangcheng , Tian Longjia , Zhou Yuhao , Jiang Ao , Lu Jia
Published: June 2023

Analysis of the spatial and temporal variation patterns of surface evapotranspiration is important for understanding global climate change, promoting scientific deployment of regional water resources, and improving crop yield and water productivity. Based on Landsat 8 OIL_TIRS data and remote sensing image data of the lower Yangtze River urban cluster for the same period of 2016–2021, combined with soil and meteorological data of the study area, this paper constructed a multiple linear regression (MLR) model and an extreme learning machine (ELM) inversion model with evapotranspiration as the target and, based on the model inversion, quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed the spatial and temporal variability in surface evapotranspiration in the study area in the past six years. The results show that both models based on feature factors and spectral indices obtained a good inversion accuracy, with the fusion of feature factors effectively improving the inversion ability of the model for ET. The best model for ET in 2016, 2017, and 2021 was MLR, with an R2 greater than 0.8; the best model for ET in 2018–2019 was ELM, with an R2 of 0.83 and 0.62, respectively. The inter-annual ET in the study area showed a “double-peak” dynamic variation, with peaks in 2018 and 2020; the intra-annual ET showed a single-peak cycle, with peaks in July–August. Seasonal differences were obvious, and spatially high-ET areas were mainly found in rural areas north of the Yangtze River and central and western China where agricultural land is concentrated. The net solar radiation, soil heat flux, soil temperature and humidity, and fractional vegetation cover all had significant positive effects on ET, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.39 to 0.94. This study can provide methodological and scientific support for the quantitative and qualitative estimation of regional ET.
Consensus Techniques for Unsupervised Binary Change Detection Using Multi-Scale Segmentation Detectors for Land Cover Vegetation Images
Authors: Cardama F. Javier , Heras Dora B. , Argüello Francisco
Published: June 2023

Change detection in very-high-spatial-resolution (VHR) remote sensing images is a very challenging area with applicability in many problems ranging from damage assessment to land management and environmental monitoring. In this study, we investigated the change detection problem associated with analysing the vegetation corresponding to crops and natural ecosystems over VHR multispectral and hyperspectral images obtained by sensors onboard drones or satellites. The challenge of applying change detection methods to these images is the similar spectral signatures of the vegetation elements in the image. To solve this issue, a consensus multi-scale binary change detection technique based on the extraction of object-based features was developed. With the objective of capturing changes at different granularity levels taking advantage of the high spatial resolution of the VHR images and, as the segmentation operation is not well defined, we propose to use several detectors based on different segmentation algorithms, each applied at different scales. As the changes in vegetation also present high variability depending on capture conditions such as illumination, the use of the CVA-SAM applied at the segment level instead of at the pixel level is also proposed. The results revealed the effectiveness of the proposed approach for identifying changes over land cover vegetation images with different types of changes and different spatial and spectral resolutions.
Multi-Node Motion Estimation Method Based on B-Spline of Array Position and Orientation System
Authors: Bao Junfang , Li Jianli , Qu Chunyu , Li Yunzhu
Published: June 2023

The array position and orientation system (array POS), composed of one main POS and multiple sub-inertial measurement units (sub-IMUs), is key equipment in the aerial remote-sensing system, especially the multi-load system, which can provide motion compensation for the multi-load remote-sensing system to improve imaging quality. Nevertheless, the measurement information of each sub-IMU can only realize the motion information of the corresponding remote-sensing load. Ideally, each remote-sensing load should be equipped with a sub-IMU for motion compensation, which is impossible in actual engineering considering the volume, weight and cost. To solve this problem, a multi-node motion estimation method based on the B-spline of the array POS is proposed to realize the motion compensation of remote-sensing loads without sub-IMUs. Firstly, the transfer alignment method based on fiber-grating multi-dimensional deformation measurement was adopted. Motion parameters of the remote-sensing payload equipped with sub-IMUs at different times can be obtained by observing and correcting the errors between the main POS and sub-IMUs. In this way, the space-time characteristics of each interpolation point are fully utilized. Additionally, the motion information of the main POS and all sub-IMUs is fitted through the estimation method based on the B-spline, during which wing deformation is considered to obtain the motion parameters of the remote-sensing payload equipped without a sub-IMU. In this way, the spatial correlation between the information of each node is fully utilized. Due to the full utilization of the spatiotemporal correlation of the motion information of each sub node, high-precision and highly reliable motion information of the remote-sensing loads not equipped with sub-IMUs is obtained. Furthermore, the proposed method can be modified locally without affecting other nodes, and has the advantages of a simple algorithm and easy engineering implementation. Finally, a semi-physical simulation based on ground-loading test was conducted. The results show that the baseline in the X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis direction is improved by 0.484 mm, 0.137 mm and 1.225 mm, respectively, and that the measurement accuracy of roll angle is improved by 0.011°.
StainView: A Fast and Reliable Method for Mapping Stains in Facades Using Image Classification in HSV and CIELab Colour Space
Authors: Torres-Gonzáles Marta , Valença Jónatas , Santos Bruno O. , Silva Ana , Mendes Maria P.
Published: June 2023

The new Construction 4.0 paradigm takes advantage of existing technologies. In this scope, the development and application of image-based methods for evaluating and monitoring the state of conservation of buildings has shown significant growth, including support for maintenance plans. Recently, powerful algorithms have been applied to automatically evaluate the state of conservation of buildings using deep learning frameworks, which are utilised as a black-box approach. The large amount of data required for training, the difficulty in generalising, and the lack of parameters to assess the quality of the results often make it difficult for non-experts to evaluate them. For several applications and scenarios, simple and more intuitive image-based approaches can be applied to support building inspections. This paper presents the StainView, which is a fast and reliable method. The method is based on the classification of the mosaic image, computed from a systematic acquisition, and allows one to (i) map stains in facades; (ii) locate critical areas; (iii) identify materials; (iv) characterise colours; and (v) produce detailed and comprehensive maps of results. The method was validated in three identical buildings in Bairro de Alvalade, in Lisbon, Portugal, that present different levels of degradation. The comparison with visual inspection demonstrates that StainView enables the automatic location and mapping of critical areas with high efficiency, proving to be a useful tool for building inspection: differences were of approximately 5% for the facade with the worst and average state of conservation, however, the values deteriorate for the facade under good conditions, reaching the double of percentage. In terms of processing speed, StainView allows a facade mapping that is 8–12 times faster, and this difference tends to grow with the number of evaluated façades.
Editorial for Special Issue: “How the Combination of Satellite Remote Sensing with Artificial Intelligence Can Solve Coastal Issues”
Authors: Almar Rafael , Wilson Dennis , Delvit Jean-Marc
Published: June 2023

Satellite sensors now provide low-cost global monitoring, with relatively high resolution with frequent revisits [...]
A Multi-Attention Autoencoder for Hyperspectral Unmixing Based on the Extended Linear Mixing Model
Authors: Su Lijuan , Liu Jun , Yuan Yan , Chen Qiyue
Published: June 2023

Hyperspectral unmixing, which decomposes mixed pixels into the endmembers and corresponding abundances, is an important image process for the further application of hyperspectral images (HSIs). Lately, the unmixing problem has been solved using deep learning techniques, particularly autoencoders (AEs). However, the majority of them are based on the simple linear mixing model (LMM), which disregards the spectral variability of endmembers in different pixels. In this article, we present a multi-attention AE network (MAAENet) based on the extended LMM to address the issue of the spectral variability problem in real scenes. Moreover, the majority of AE networks ignore the global spatial information in HSIs and operate pixel- or patch-wise. We employ attention mechanisms to design a spatial–spectral attention (SSA) module that can deal with the band redundancy in HSIs and extract global spatial features through spectral correlation. Moreover, noticing that the mixed pixels are always present in the intersection of different materials, a novel sparse constraint based on spatial homogeneity is designed to constrain the abundance and abstract local spatial features. Ablation experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed AE structure, SSA module, and sparse constraint. The proposed method is compared with several state-of-the-art unmixing methods and exhibits competitiveness on both synthetic and real datasets.
Hyperspectral Unmixing Using Robust Deep Nonnegative Matrix Factorization
Authors: Huang Risheng , Jiao Huiyun , Li Xiaorun , Chen Shuhan , Xia Chaoqun
Published: June 2023

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) and its numerous variants have been extensively studied and used in hyperspectral unmixing (HU). With the aid of the designed deep structure, deep NMF-based methods demonstrate advantages in exploring the hierarchical features of complex data. However, a noise corruption problem commonly exists in hyperspectral data and severely degrades the unmixing performance of deep NMF-based methods when applied to HU. In this study, we propose an ℓ2,1 norm-based robust deep nonnegative matrix factorization (ℓ2,1-RDNMF) for HU, which incorporates an ℓ2,1 norm into the two stages of the deep structure to achieve robustness. The multiplicative updating rules of ℓ2,1-RDNMF are efficiently learned and provided. The efficiency of the presented method is verified in experiments using both synthetic and genuine data.
Synthetic Data Generation for Deep Learning-Based Inversion for Velocity Model Building
Authors: Parasyris Apostolos , Stankovic Lina , Stankovic Vladimir
Published: June 2023

Recent years have seen deep learning (DL) architectures being leveraged for learning the nonlinear relationships across the parameters in seismic inversion problems in order to better analyse the subsurface, such as improved velocity model building (VMB). In this study, we focus on deep-learning-based inversion (DLI) for velocity model building, leveraging on a conditional generative adversarial network (PIX2PIX) with ResNet-9 as generator, as well as a comprehensive mathematical methodology for generating samples of multi-stratified heterogeneous velocity models for training the DLI architecture. We demonstrate that the proposed architecture can achieve state-of-the-art performance in reconstructing velocity models using only one seismic shot, thus reducing cost and computational complexity. We also demonstrate that the proposed solution is generalisable across linear multi-layer models, curved or folded structures, structures with salt bodies as well as higher-resolution structures built from geological images through quantitative and qualitative evaluation.
A Crustal Deformation Pattern on the Northeastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau Derived from GPS Observations
Authors: Yu Sihan , Su Xiaoning
Published: June 2023

The northeastern margin is a natural experimental field for studying crustal extrusion and expansion mechanisms. The accurate crustal deformation pattern is a key point in the analysis of regional deformation mechanisms and seismic hazard research and judgment. In this paper, the present-day GPS velocity field on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau was obtained from encrypted GPS observations around the Haiyuan–Liupanshan fault zone, combined with GPS observations on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau from 2010 to 2020. Firstly, we divided the study area into three relatively independent blocks: the ORDOS block, Alxa block, and Lanzhou block; secondly, the accurate fault distribution of the Haiyuan–Liupanshan fault zone was taken into account to obtain the optimal inversion model; finally, using the block and fault back-slip dislocation model, the inversion obtained the slip rate distribution, locking depth, and slip deficit rate of each fault. The results indicate that the Laohushan Fault and Haiyuan Fault are dominated by the left-lateral strike-slip, while the Liupanshan Fault is dominated by the thrust dip-slip, and the Guguan–Baoji Fault has both left-lateral strike-slip and thrust dip-slip components. The maximum locking depths of the Laohushan Fault, Haiyuan Fault, Liupanshan Fault, and Guguan–Baoji Fault are 5 km, 13 km, 15 km, and 10 km, respectively, and the locking of the Haiyuan Fault is strong in the middle section and weak in the eastern and western section. The Haiyuan Fault is still in the post-earthquake stress adjustment stage. The slip deficit rate decays from 3.6 mm/yr to 1.8 mm/yr from west to east along the fault zone. Combined with geological and historical seismic data, the results suggest that the mid-long-term seismic risk in the Liupanshan Fault is high.
Comparison of Machine Learning Methods for Predicting Soil Total Nitrogen Content Using Landsat-8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2 Images
Authors: Zhang Qingwen , Liu Mingyue , Zhang Yongbin , Mao Dehua , Li Fuping , Wu Fenghua , Song Jingru , Li Xiang , Kou Caiyao , Li Chunjing , Man Weidong
Published: June 2023

Soil total nitrogen (STN) is a crucial component of the ecosystem’s nitrogen pool, and accurate prediction of STN content is essential for understanding global nitrogen cycling processes. This study utilized the measured STN content of 126 sample points and 40 extracted remote sensing variables to predict the STN content and map its spatial distribution in the northeastern coastal region of Hebei Province, China, employing the random forest (RF), gradient boosting machine (GBM), and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) methods. The purpose was to compare the ability of remote sensing images (Landsat-8, Sentinel-1, and Sentinel-2) with different machine learning methods for predicting STN content. The research results show the following: (1) The three machine learning methods accurately predicted the STN content and the optimal model provided by the XGBoost method, with an R2 of 0.627, RMSE of 0.127 g·kg−1, and MAE of 0.092 g·kg−1. (2) The combination of optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images improved prediction accuracy, with the R2 improving by 45.5%. (3) The importance of optical images is higher than that of SAR images in the RF, GBM, and XGBoost methods, with optical images accounting for 87%, 76%, and 77% importance, respectively. (4) The spatial distribution of STN content predicted by the three methods is similar. Higher STN contents are distributed in the northern part of the study area, while lower STN contents are distributed in coastal areas. The results of this study can be very useful for inventories of soil nitrogen and provide data support and method references for revealing nitrogen cycling.
Examining the Consistency of Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Ice Concentration in Arctic Satellite Products
Authors: Castro Sandra L. , Wick Gary A. , Eastwood Steinar , Steele Michael A. , Tonboe Rasmus T.
Published: June 2023

Available observations and a theoretical simulation are used to explore the consistency and relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and sea ice concentration (SIC) within open-ocean-sea ice mixed satellite pixels as a function of grid resolution. The maximum limiting SST value for a specified SIC and spatial resolution is first examined within collocated satellite-derived products contained within existing Level 4 SST analyses distributed using the data specification from the Group for High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature. The shape of the interdependence is further validated with manually quality-controlled buoy SST and SIC collocations. A parametric equation for the limiting SST value is derived from simulations of a mixed ocean/ice pixel with specified ice fraction and a linear SST gradient extending away from the ice edge. The exponential curve matching the observed interdependence suggests a maximum 5 km pixel-averaged SST at SIC values approaching zero between 6 and 8 °C. This maximum value is significantly greater than the previously assumed limiting values of ~3 °C and the corresponding SST gradient is larger than those typically observed with satellite SST products, but agrees well with recent Saildrone SST observations near ice. The curve provides a conservative limit with which inconsistent SST/SIC pairings can be identified, not only near the ice edge but at intermediate ice concentrations. Application of the filter improves the agreement between the SST/SIC relationship in satellite products and available Saildrone observations as well as the internal consistency of the different satellite products.
Automated VIIRS Boat Detection Based on Machine Learning and Its Application to Monitoring Fisheries in the East China Sea
Authors: Tsuda Masaki E. , Miller Nathan A. , Saito Rui , Park Jaeyoon , Oozeki Yoshioki
Published: June 2023

Remote sensing is essential for monitoring fisheries. Optical sensors such as the day–night band (DNB) of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) have been a crucial tool for detecting vessels fishing at night. It remains challenging to ensure stable detections under various conditions affected by the clouds and the moon. Here, we develop a machine learning based algorithm to generate automatic and consistent vessel detection. As DNB data are large and highly imbalanced, we design a two-step approach to train our model. We evaluate its performance using independent vessel position data acquired from on-ship radar. We find that our algorithm demonstrates comparable performance to the existing VIIRS boat detection algorithms, suggesting its possible application to greater temporal and spatial scales. By applying our algorithm to the East China Sea as a case study, we reveal a recent increase in fishing activity by vessels using bright lights. Our VIIRS boat detection results aim to provide objective information for better stock assessment and management of fisheries.
Factors Impacting Occupational Safety among Women Engineers
Authors: Abdelwahed Nadia Abdelhamid Abdelmegeed , Soomro Bahadur Ali
Published: June 2023

On the one hand, in the present era, construction companies are one of Egypt’s fastest-growing industries and provide significant economic returns. On the other hand, construction industries significantly put individuals in danger of accidental death. In this study, the researchers examined the factors that affect Occupational Safety (OCS) measures among women engineers working in Egypt’s construction industries. This is a quantitative study that used cross-sectional data, and the researchers used 376 usable samples. By applying Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), this study’s findings demonstrate that the Work Environment (WEN), Personal Protection (PP), Training and Education of Safety Skills (TESS), Familiarity with Safety Regulations (FSR) and Safety Commitment (SCT) influence OCS. This study’s findings will help policymakers and planners design effective safety policies on construction sites. This study’s findings about adopting precautionary and safety measures will help reduce the death rates on Egypt’s construction sites. Finally, particularly in developing countries, this study’s findings will contribute to the health and safety and environment and health literature.
Development and Validation of UPLC–MS/MS Method for Quantitative Analysis of 5-Fluorouracil in Aqueous Humor of Rabbits
Authors: Kalam Mohd Abul , Alhudaithi Sulaiman S. , Alhowyan Adel Ali , Iqbal Muzaffar , Raish Mohammad , Alshememry Abdullah K. , Alkholief Musaed , Almomen Aliyah A. , Alshamsan Aws
Published: June 2023

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is now used in eye drops for the management of conjunctival malignant melanoma, intraepithelial neoplasia, and corneal and conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma. The previously used methods for 5-FU quantification in AqH were time-consuming and less sensitive. Herein, a highly perceptive bioanalytical UPLC–MS/MS method was developed for the quantitative determination of 5-FU in the aqueous humor (AqH) of rabbits using allopurinol as the internal standard (IS). The 5-FU and IS were well separated in an Acquity™ HILIC column. Acetonitrile and 10 mM of ammonium acetate at 95:5 (v/v) were isocratically pumped at a 0.3 mL/min flow rate with a total runtime of 2.5 min. AqH samples were processed with a liquid–liquid extraction method in ethyl acetate. The 5-FU and IS were identified in the negative mode with electrospray ionization. The parent to daughter ion transitions for the 5-FU and IS occurred at m/z 128.92→41.68 and 134.80→64.10, respectively, as quantified using the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The developed method was validated with the ICH-Harmonized Guideline for Bioanalytical Method Validation, and the parameters were within acceptable limits. The calibration curve was linear at the 10.5–2000 ng/mL concentration range, with a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.9946, and the lower limit of detection was 3.55 ng/mL. The developed and validated method was rapid, sensitive, accurate and robustly able to quantify 5-FU in rabbit AqH. The method was effectively applied to establish the ocular pharmacokinetics of 5-FU following the topical instillation of 5-FU-containing preparations in rabbits.
The Impact of City Ranking on Industry Shifting: An Empirical Study
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Wu Wensen , Li Haodong
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses on whether city honor competition has led to a sectoral shift. The research argues that cities’ actions in pursuing honor have led to their changing from the manufacturing sector to the service sector. This paper attempts to construct a theory from city competition to sector shift. The research methods used are year-by-year propensity score matching and the difference-in-difference method. The results of the regressions prove that a city honor competition leads to a shift from the manufacturing sector to the service sector. The true value of this effect is approximately between 2.3274 and 3.0393, showing that the city honor competition promotes a sectoral shift. The trend of the city’s economy towards the service sector is evident in the competition. The robustness test proves that the model satisfies the matching equilibrium assumption. The placebo test proves that other unobserved factors do not affect the policy. The heterogeneity test finds that the larger the city size, the stronger the effect of city honors on the sector.
Soil Erosion Due to Defective Pipes: A Hidden Hazard Beneath Our Feet
Authors: Dastpak Pooya , Sousa Rita L. , Dias Daniel
Published: June 2023

Sinkholes are a significant underground hazard that threatens infrastructure and lives and sometimes results in fatalities. The annual cost of sinkhole damages exceeds $300 million, although this estimate is likely underestimated due to the need for national tracking. Sinkholes can also alter natural drainage patterns, leading to increased flood risk. While natural sinkholes occur, those in urban areas are predominantly manmade, caused by soil erosion from defective pipes, typically due to aging. Climate change, storm surges, and urbanization have accelerated subsidence in urban environments, posing greater risks to critical infrastructure and densely populated areas. Extensive research has focused on soil erosion in dams; however, this knowledge does not necessarily apply to erosion through orifices, where gravity and other factors play significant roles. This paper presents a critical literature review on internal soil erosion due to defective pipes (SEDP). The review highlights that hydraulic loading, backfill type, and pipe conditions (defect shape, size, and depth) influence SEDP. Key findings from experiments and numerical studies are summarized, while mechanisms and knowledge gaps are identified. However, it is concluded that the current understanding in this field remains limited, underscoring the urgent need for further experimental and numerical research to expand the knowledge base on SEDP.
Evolutionary Game and Strategy Analysis of Carbon Emission Reduction in Supply Chain Based on System Dynamic Model
Authors: Guo Wenqiang , Chen Siqi , Lei Ming
Published: June 2023

At the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, China proposed the ambitious goal of achieving carbon peaking by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. To investigate the impact of emission reduction behaviors of upstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain, this paper focuses on the influencing factors of the supply chain enterprises’ emission reduction decision-making. The study aims to explore the emission reduction behaviors of these enterprises in the context of China’s carbon trading market. Using the theory of system dynamics, an evolutionary game model was developed and simulated using AnyLogic software. The simulation analyzed the effects of carbon price, subsidies, and punishment strategies on the emission reduction decisions of supply chain enterprises, providing insights into their behavioral impact. The results demonstrate that punishment, subsidy intensity, and carbon price changes all influence the emission reduction decisions of upstream and downstream enterprises. Suppliers are more sensitive to carbon price, while manufacturers are more sensitive to subsidy intensity. Additionally, the closer the equilibrium carbon price, subsidy, and market are, the shorter the time for the emission reduction probability of both enterprises to stabilize. Therefore, it is recommended that supply chain companies increase their awareness of environmental responsibility and enthusiasm for green innovation, actively respond to the carbon trading system, improve their internal subsidy system, and promote green technology innovation.
Travel Demand Increment Due to the Use of Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Mohammed Dilshad , Horváth Balázs
Published: June 2023

Advanced technology available in promising fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) will encourage people to travel more than they have up to now using their regular vehicles. It is believed that the disadvantages of manually driven vehicles, such as driving fatigue, stressful feelings, aging physical skills deterioration, and other unwanted effects, will vanish once AVs are employed. For this purpose, this study presents the results of a large questionnaire performed in Győr, Hungary, about the public perception and acceptance of AVs. In addition, assessing the impact of using such technology on increasing travel demand when people can alter their mode of transport to an AV. The study demonstrates that respondents’ prior knowledge of AVs plays a crucial role in generating a greater number of trips when they are able to use AVs. Furthermore, it has also been found that providing further awareness and education to the population about the meaning of the term autonomous vehicles and widening their insights about the new features provided by these vehicles will result in a higher number of trips. Eventually, this information will act as a considerable indicator to provide a prior understanding of the possible challenges that may impact the sustainability of future transport systems.
The Influence of Internet-Specific Epistemic Beliefs on Academic Achievement in an Online Collaborative Learning Context for College Students
Authors: Liang Yunzhen , Ren Liling , Wei Chun , Shi Yafei
Published: June 2023

Online collaborative learning has become a new norm for online teaching at colleges, and improving the quality of online collaborative learning is an inevitable requirement for deepening the information age of education. This paper establishes a multiple mediating effect model based on a self-regulated learning integration model to explore the influence of college students’ Internet-specific epistemic beliefs on academic achievement in online collaborative learning contexts. The results of a survey of 503 college students participating in online group collaborative learning showed that college students’ Internet-specific epistemic beliefs in online collaborative learning contexts significantly and positively predicted academic achievement. Moreover, college students’ metacognitive strategies partially mediated the relationship between Internet-specific epistemic justification and academic achievement. In addition, college students’ mastery goal orientation and achievement approach goal orientation had significant partial mediating effects between Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and academic achievement. College students’ mastery goal orientation and metacognitive strategies had significant chain mediating effects between Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and academic achievement. Finally, suggestions, significance, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.
Removal of Malachite Green Using Hydrochar from PALM Leaves
Authors: Hammud Hassan H. , Hammoud Mohamad H. , Hussein Aqeel A. , Fawaz Youssef B. , Abdul Hamid Malai Haniti Sheikh , Sheikh Nadeem S.
Published: June 2023

Biochar was prepared by the hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of palm leaves, characterized, and utilized as an adsorbent for Malachite Green dye (MG). The Higher Heating Value (HHV) of biochar depends on the carbonization temperature and has a maximum value of 24.81 MJ/kg. Activation using H2O2 oxidation of HTC biochar prepared at 208 °C produced AHTC with improved capacity. The optimum pH was found to be in the range 7–8. Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich adsorption isotherms were used to study MG adsorption data. The Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit for experimental data. Experiments conducted using activated biochar AHTC at 25 °C resulted in an adsorption capacity of 62.80 mg/g, far greater than what was observed for HTC biochar (45.59 mg/g). The maximum adsorption capacity was 88% when the concentration of MG solution was 66 ppm. The free energy change in adsorption DG° indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous. Adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. Fixed-column adsorptions models, namely, Thomas, Yan et al. and Yoon–Nelson models, were investigated for AHTC. The column adsorption capacity determined by the Thomas model was 33.57 mg/g. In addition, a computational investigation has been carried out to determine the structural and electronic features, as well as the quantum chemical parameters of HTC and MG. Moreover, the interaction between the HTC and MG is investigated, which is further elaborated by performing non-covalent interaction (NCI) through the reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis. Thus, the easily prepared hydrochar from abundant waste palm leaves can be used as a high-value biocoal and efficient adsorbent of the cationic dye malachite green.
Travel Demand Management in an Auto Dominated City: Can Travel Behaviour Be Nudged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?
Authors: Alturif Ghada , Saleh Wafaa
Published: June 2023

Car ownership and use in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are very high due to the high income, the low fuel prices and the near absence of public transportation in the Kingdom. Currently, the Kingdom is going through a massive transformation and entering a new era of national reforms. One of the main aims of the national reforms is to reduce car dependency and enhance more sustainable options of travel such as public transportation in the KSA. In order to achieve such an aim, there are two hurdles: Firstly, there must be a provision of decent public transportation options, and secondly, there is a need to influence travel behaviour and encourage the shift from private cars to public transportation. For example, in Riyadh city, an impressive metro system is being constructed and will start operation in 2023. To influence travel behaviour, travel demand management measures (TDM), in particular pricing measures, can be adopted and implemented, in order to help and support achieving the target. The main aim of this paper, therefore, is to assess the attitudes of Saudi nationals towards—and willingness to accept—pricing measures and their possible impacts on their travel behaviour in the city of Riyadh. The methodology includes collecting data using an online survey on travel behaviour and attitudes in Riyadh and calibrating multinomial logit modal choice models. The participants in the survey were asked to report their support of the pricing measures for the objective of reducing congestion in the city, improving road safety or reducing travel time. The results show the highest support towards pricing measures for improving road safety, reducing travel times and, lastly, reducing congestion in the city.
Sustainability on Different Canola (Brassica napus L.) Cultivars by GGE Biplot Graphical Technique in Multi-Environment
Authors: Shojaei Seyed Habib , Mostafavi Khodadad , Ghasemi Seyed Hamed , Bihamta Mohammad Reza , Illés Árpád , Bojtor Csaba , Nagy János , Harsányi Endre , Vad Attila , Széles Adrienn , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad Nasir
Published: June 2023

Knowledge about the extent of genotype in environment interaction is helpful for farmers and plant breeders. This is because it helps them choose the proper strategies for agricultural management and breeding new cultivars. The main contribution of this paper is to investigate genotype on environmental interaction using the GGE biplot method (Genotype and the Genotype-by-Environment) in ten canola cultivars. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications to assess the stability of grain yield of ten canola cultivars in five regions of Iran, including Birjand, Karaj, Kashmar, Sanandaj, and Shiraz, within two agricultural years of 2016 and 2017. The results of combined ANOVA illustrated that the effects of the environment, genotype × environment, and genotype were highly significant at 1%. Variance Analysis showed that three environmental impacts, genotype, and interaction of genotype in the environment effect, produced 68.44%, 18.63%, and 12.9% of the total variance. The GGE biplot graphs were constructed using PCA. The first principle component (PC1) explained 65.3%, and the second (PC2) explained 18.8% of the total variation. The research examined polygon diagrams to identify two top genotypes and four mega-environments. Also, the appropriate genotypes for each environment were diagnosed. Using the GGE biplot, it was possible to make visual comparisons and identify superior genotypes in canola. Accordingly,. The results obtained from graphical analysis indicated that Licord, Hyola 401 and Okapi genotypes showed the highest yield and were selected as the most stable genotypes. Also, Karaj region was chosen as a experimental region where the screening of genotypes was very suitable. Based on the ranking of the genotypes in the most suitable region (Karaj), Okapi genotype was selected as the desired genotype. In examining the heatmap drawn between the genotypes and the investigated environments, a lot of similarity between the genotypes of Sarigal, Hyola 401 and Okapi was observed in the investigated environments. The GGE biplot graphs enabled the detection of stable and superior environments and the grouping of cultivars and environments based on grain yield. The results of this research can be used both for extension and for future breeding programs. Our results provide helpful information about the canola genotypes and environments for future breeding programs.
Exotic Polychaetes of a Sewage Pollution Influenced Lagoon (Çardak Lagoon, Turkish Straits)
Authors: Dağlı Ertan , Ateş Abdullah Suat , Acar Seçil , Büyükateş Yeşim , Doğan Alper , Bakır Ahmet Kerem
Published: June 2023

This paper includes three exotic polychaeta species, Hydroides dianthus (Verrill, 1873), Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802, and Pseudopolydora paucibranchiata (Okuda, 1937), found during benthic samplings in Çardak Lagoon (Turkish Straits). The sampling was collected from the sandy and silty bottoms known to be polluted by sewage discharges. A total of 45 specimens of exotic polychaetes (H. dianthus: 1; P. cornuta: 4; P. paucibranchiata: 40) were found. The correlation values between the annual average values of the nutrients and the polychaeta abundance showed that the highest positive relationships with the abundance were between sand content, total phosphate, and pH. P. cornuta was the most observed species with a frequency index value of 75%, while H. dianthus was represented with a single species in the study area. Albeit the previous studies, P. paucibranchiata was observed most abundantly in the sampling station having low organic matter amounts. The study showed that opportunistic polychaetes observed in Çardak Lagoon mostly preferred organically poor sediments.
Entrepreneurs’ Perception of Business Environments and Innovation Based on Warm Impressions and Competence Impressions with the Stereotype Content Model (SCM)
Authors: Zhu Ye , Sun Minggui
Published: June 2023

From the perspective of entrepreneurs’ perception of a business environment (EPBE), this study explores the mechanism of EPBE on enterprise innovation with regional stereotypes. Data from 358 entrepreneur questionnaires in China were tested by using a structural equation model. The results showed that the two dimensions of EPBE—entrepreneurs’ perception of the government environment (EPGE) and entrepreneurs’ perception of the factor environment (EPFE)—are significantly positively correlated with enterprise innovation, willingness–ability fit (WAF) plays a mediating role between EPBE and enterprise innovation, a warm impression has a greater positive moderating effect on the relationship between EPGE and enterprise innovation, and a competence impression has a greater positive moderating effect on the relationship between EPFE and enterprise innovation. These research findings expand the ideas of research on business environment optimization and enterprise innovation and provide theoretical references for stimulating enterprise innovation.