bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges to Inclusive and Sustainable Societies: Exploring the Polarizing Potential of Attitudes Towards Climate Change and Non-Heteronormative Forms of Living in Austria, Italy, Poland, and Sweden
Authors: Donat Elisabeth , Mataloni Barbara , Ajanovic Edma
Published: February 2025

Research on polarization is a contested issue in itself. One key question in this context is how strongly attitude patterns must be linked to socio-structural characteristics in order to justify speaking of polarized attitudes. Moreover, evidence of an association between attitudes may reveal ways of triggering clusters of attitudes, which can then easily be turned into affective polarization by political leaders. We investigate the prevalence of different, potentially polarizing attitude patterns among social groups in four European countries (Sweden, Austria, Italy, and Poland) using data from the European Social Survey 10. We link two sets of attitudes, namely attitudes towards climate change and attitudes towards non-heteronormative ways of life, to build four ideational types of attitude patterns. Our findings point to some associations between the two scales, which leads us to examine influence factors by Multinomial regression in the next step. High education of respondents and being female raise awareness for climate change and increase tolerance for non-heteronormative ways of life. Moreover, we find some evidence of a rural-urban divide in that residents of urban areas seem to be more open towards non-heteronormative ways of life. We argue that the analysis of mixed attitude types can be especially instructive since country effects and personal experience prove to be influential in these cases. It is precisely these cases that can tell us much about means of tackling polarization.
Temporal Dynamics of Ecosystem Service Value in Qinghai Province (2000–2018): Trends, Drivers, and Implications
Authors: Li Lan , Zhao Yilu , Li Xuan , Ni Wankui , Zhao Kuanyao , He Ziguang , Abuarab Mohamed EL-Sayed , Elbeltagi Ahmed , Ahmed Adnan
Published: February 2025

Ecosystem service value (ESV) represents the benefits that people obtain directly or indirectly from ecosystems. Based on the land use/land cover (LULC) data of Qinghai Province in 2000, 2010, and 2018, combined with the equivalent factor method, land use dynamic degree, land use transition matrix, and coefficient of sensitivity (CS), the ESV of Qinghai Province is calculated. This study found that ESV in Qinghai Province exhibited significant variations. It has increased from CNY 750.77 billion to CNY 772.4 billion from 2000 to 2018. The results show that grassland and unused land are the main land use types, with a total coverage of more than 88% in the study area. The land use dynamic degree result demonstrates that the dynamic degree of built-up land is the highest. The CS analysis found that the CSs of the ESV of each land use type in Qinghai Province were less than 1 during 3 periods, 2000–2010, 2010–2018, and 2000–2018, indicating that the ESV in the area lacks elasticity and the result is reliable. This study can provide scientific support for the sustainable development of ecosystems and land use planning in Qinghai Province under global climate change.
Sustainable Valuable Materials from Waste Heterojunction Solar Cells: A Focus on the Purification of Indium
Authors: Liu Ming , Wang Lei , Zhao Wenqi , Cao Xinyue , Fan Jie , Zhang Zhen , Chen Yihong , Zhuang Lianghu
Published: February 2025

The expansion of silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cell production has prompted concerns regarding the rising consumption of indium. To address the issue of indium scarcity, the use of benign hydrometallurgical conditions for the recovery of indium—a rare noble metal—from the transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer of the cells was investigated. The results showed that due to the insufficient adhesion between the silver fingers and the TCO layer, the complete recovery of the silver fingers could be accomplished without damaging the cell by the etching process involving 10% NaOH at 90 °C for 10 min. The optimal chemical treatment conditions were adjusted to ensure the efficient dissolution of indium metal from the cell into solution. The subsequent solvent extraction stripping process yielded an indium concentration of 6232 mg/L, a 24-fold increase over the initial leach solution concentration. Finally, a 12-h replacement reaction using aluminum plates was employed to achieve higher indium purity. The final recovery of indium from SHJ cells was determined to be approximately 85%, and an approximate cost analysis was conducted to assess the potential future of SHJ cell recycling.
The 15-Minute City: Application to Two Parishes of the City of Lisbon
Authors: Branco da Silva Joana , Ricardo da Costa António , Morais de Sá Ana
Published: February 2025

Currently, around 60% of the world’s population lives in cities, with about half of Portugal’s population concentrated in the Metropolitan Areas of Lisbon and Porto. In this context, urban spaces need to be planned and managed to accommodate more inhabitants while preserving the urban quality of life and ensuring sustainability for future generations. Responding to these challenges, new urban models are emerging, such as the 15-Minute City model defined by Carlos Moreno. This model is based on four pillars: proximity, diversity, density, and ubiquity, aiming to enable residents to complete daily activities within a maximum of 15 min on foot or by other active transport modes. Through an analysis of two neighborhoods in Lisbon using specific indicators, this research aims to understand how urban planning influences each area’s alignment with the 15-Minute City model. This analysis will guide measures to improve residents’ quality of life by applying the principles of the 15-Minute City while broadening the discussion to include other relevant dimensions beyond travel distances and access, identifying areas that require further urban planning or intervention.
Predictive Tools and Advances in Sustainable Water Resources Through Atmospheric Water Generation Under Changing Climate: A Review
Authors: Preetha Pooja , Bathi Jejal Reddy , Kumar Manoj , Kode Venkateswara Rao
Published: February 2025

Climate change continues to exacerbate water scarcity by altering global weather patterns and intensifying extreme climatic events. This review examines the potential of atmospheric water generation technologies to mitigate water scarcity under such conditions. By leveraging a multidisciplinary approach, we review advancements in fog harvesting, sorption-based systems, membrane technologies, radiative sky cooling, and cloud seeding. A special emphasis is placed on passive systems utilizing renewable energy to address challenges of high energy demands. Predictive tools such as machine learning, climate models, and geographic information systems are explored to optimize atmospheric water generation deployment under shifting climatic conditions. This review article outlines critical innovations in materials, economic considerations, and policy frameworks required for atmospheric water generation to transition from niche to mainstream water solutions. These findings aim to inform sustainable strategies for tackling water scarcity in the context of global climate challenges.
A Hybrid Model for Enhancing Risk Management and Operational Performance of AEC (Architectural, Engineering, and Construction) Consultants: An Integrated Partial Least Squares–Artificial Neural Network (PLS–ANN) Approach
Authors: Elsherbeny Hesham Ahmed , Gunduz Murat , Ugur Latif Onur
Published: February 2025

The operational effectiveness of Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) consultants, whose services have a substantial impact on project execution and results, depends on effective risk management. Using 336 survey responses from professionals in the construction industry, such as consultants, contractors, and employers working on a range of infrastructure and building projects, this study validates a hybrid Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling–Artificial Neural Network (–ANN) approach. In order to ensure both causal analysis and predictive insights for AEC consultant performance assessment, this study combines PLS–SEM and ANN to develop an integrated performance evaluation framework. While ANN ordered their relative relevance in a non-linear predictive model, the PLS–SEM analysis found that the two most important predictors of consultant performance were communication and relationship management (G03) and document and record management (G06). The hybrid approach is a more efficient and data-driven tool for evaluating AEC consultants than traditional regression models since it accurately captures both causal links and predictive performance. These results contribute to a robust and sustainable framework for performance evaluation in the AEC sector by offering practical insights into risk reduction and operational improvement.
Agricultural Productivity of Solar Pump and Water Harvesting Irrigation Technologies and Their Impacts on Smallholder Farmers’ Income and Food Security: Evidence from Ethiopia
Authors: Negera Mebratu , Dejen Zeleke Agide , Melaku Dagmawi , Tegegne Desalegn , Adamseged Muluken Elias , Haileslassie Amare
Published: February 2025

Irrigation plays a crucial role in enhancing food production, increasing land productivity, and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Solar pumps and water harvesting ponds have emerged as promising technologies for sustainable agriculture for smallholders in SSA and beyond. The socio-economic impacts of these systems are less studied in the existing literature. This study examined the agricultural productivity of solar pump and water harvesting irrigation technologies and their impacts on income and food security among smallholder farmers in the Central Rift Valley, Lake Hawassa, and Upper Awash sub-basin areas in Ethiopia. Data were collected from 161 farming households that were selected randomly from woredas where solar pump and water harvesting pond irrigation systems had been implemented. The sample size was determined using the power calculation method. Bio-physical observation and measurements were also conducted at field levels. The benefit–cost ratio (BCR) and net water value (NWV) from the use of solar pump and water harvesting pond irrigations were analyzed to assess the viability of these systems. The household food consumption score (HFCS) and household dietary diversity score (HDDS) were calculated to measure food security, while the revenue from crop production was used to measure crop income. An endogenous switching regression model was applied to address the endogeneity nature of the adoption of the irrigation technologies. The counterfactual analysis, specifically the Average Treatment Effect on the Treated (ATT), was used to evaluate the impacts of the irrigation technologies on income and food security. Results indicate that the ATT of crop income, HFCS, and HDDS are positive and statistically significant, illustrating the role of these irrigation systems in enhancing smallholder farmers’ welfare. Moreover, smallholder farmers’ solar pump irrigation systems were found to be economically viable for few crops, with a BCR greater than 1.0 and an NWV ranging from 0.21 to 1.53 USD/m³. It was also found that bundling agricultural technologies with solar pump irrigation systems leads to enhanced agricultural outputs and welfare. The sustainable adoption and scale-up of these irrigation systems demand addressing technical and financial constraints, as well as input and output market challenges.
Expanding Social Impact Assessment Methodologies Within SDGs: A Case Study on Novel Wind and Tidal Turbine Blades Development
Authors: Peraki Lydia , Kontouli Nikoletta , Gkika Anastasia , Petrakli Foteini , Koumoulos Elias P.
Published: February 2025

The European Union’s commitment to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the societal impacts of these initiatives to achieve sustainable development. A significant challenge lies in effectively assessing the social impacts of the wind and tidal energy sector. This paper addresses this issue by presenting an expanded methodology derived from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Impact Assessment, specifically tailored to assess social impacts. The methodology focuses on social SDGs, particularly Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Affordable and Clean Energy (SDG 7), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17). Irrelevant targets are excluded based on defined criteria, while the remaining targets are characterized according to their impact pathways, validated through peer review, and prioritized by experts. The results underscore the importance of strategic partnerships, innovative material development, and gender equality in achieving global sustainability objectives. This research offers valuable insights into integrating SDG-aligned indicators within project frameworks, providing a replicable model for similar initiatives.
Assessing the Tourism Efficiency of European Countries Using Data Envelopment Analysis: A Sustainability Approach
Authors: Stoiljković Aleksandra , Marcikić Horvat Aleksandra , Tomić Slavica
Published: February 2025

This study assesses the tourism efficiency of European countries from a sustainability perspective, using variables representing demand sustainability, environmental sustainability, and the socio-economic impact of tourism. The results of the study show that out of 31 countries, 16 achieved the highest possible efficiency score. A significant challenging issue that can be highlighted for most European countries is the very short length of stay of tourists, except for in some Mediterranean countries, such as Malta and Croatia. Countries in Central/Eastern Europe, predominantly, have very high values of greenhouse gas intensity, which adversely affects the environment. Therefore, policymakers in these countries should work on improving environmental policies in order to prevent further environmental degradation. Also, strategically increasing length of stay can have a positive impact on various dimensions of sustainability, as length of stay is associated with more dispersed visitor travel patterns, reduced environmental impact and higher tourism expenditure. The projected input and output values for individual countries can provide insight into possible areas for improving tourism efficiency, and represent valuable information that policymakers can use when making long-term decisions regarding future tourism development.
Fuzzy-Probabilistic Time Series Forecasting Combining Bayesian Network and Fuzzy Time Series Model
Authors: Wang Bo , Liu Xiaodong
Published: February 2025

Despite many fuzzy time series forecasting (FTSF) models addressing complex temporal patterns and uncertainties in time series data, two limitations persist: they do not treat fuzzy and crisp time series as a unified whole for analyzing nonlinear relationships between different moments, and they fail to effectively capture how uncertainty in temporal patterns affects predictions. In this paper, we propose an FTSF model integrating Bayesian networks to overcome the limitations. Bayesian network (BN) structure learning is employed to extract fuzzy–crisp dependencies between historical fuzzified data and predicted crisp data alongside temporal crisp dependencies within crisp data. Integrating fuzzy logical relationship groups (FLRGs) and the two BNs representing the fuzzy–crisp and crisp relationships identifies temporal patterns efficiently. BN parameter learning models the occurrence uncertainties of dependencies through conditional probability distributions in BNs, while fuzzy empirical conditional probabilities quantify the occurrence uncertainties of the elements in FLRGs. The defuzzification stage infers the crisp predicted value using the fuzzy-empirical-probability weighted FLRGs and the two BN. We validate the forecasting performance of the proposed model on sixteen diverse time series. Experimental results demonstrate the competitive forecasting performance of the proposed model compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Intelligent Performance Degradation Prediction of Light-Duty Gas Turbine Engine Based on Limited Data
Authors: Hu Chunyan , Miao Keqiang , Zhou Mingyang , Shen Yafeng , Sun Jiaxian
Published: February 2025

The health monitoring system has been the main technological approach to extending the life of gas turbine engines and reducing maintenance costs resulting from performance degradation caused by asymmetric factors like carbon deposition, damage, or deformation. One of the most critical techniques within the health monitoring system is performance degradation prediction. At present, most research on degradation prediction is carried out using NASA’s open dataset, C-MAPSS, without considering that monitoring measurements are not always available, as in the ideal dataset. This limitation makes fault diagnosis algorithms and remaining useful life prediction methods difficult to apply to real gas turbine engines. Therefore, to solve the problem of performance degradation prediction in light-duty gas turbine engines, a prediction diagram is proposed based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). Various types of onboard signals are taken into consideration among the experimental data. Only accumulated usage time, total temperature and total pressure before the inlet, low-pressure rotor speed, high-pressure rotor speed, fuel flow rate, exhaust temperature, and thrust are used in the training process, which is indispensable for an aero-engine. A genetic algorithm (GA) is introduced into the training process to optimize the hyperparameters of LSTM. The performance degradation prediction modeled with the GA-LSTM method is validated using experimental data. The maximum prediction error of thrust is 70 daN, and the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) is less than 0.04. This study provides a practical approach to implementing performance degradation prediction in health monitoring systems to improve gas turbine engine reliability, economy, and environmental performance.
Outcomes of Sutureless Small Incision Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Xuan Cung Le , Anh Thu Luong Thi , Mai Nga Duong , Ngoc Dong Pham
Published: February 2025

Background: This study evaluated the outcomes of sutureless small incision Descemet’s Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSAEK-SI) for treating corneal endothelial decompensation. Methods and Analysis: This retrospective study reviewed patients with corneal endothelial decompensation who underwent DSAEK-SI between January 2018 and June 2021 at the Vietnam National Eye Hospital. All patients were followed for at least one year postoperatively. The endothelial graft was inserted into the anterior chamber through a 2.8 mm main corneal incision using a Busin glide. The normal pressure air tamponade of the anterior chamber was applied to attach the graft to the recipient bed. The small incision required no sutures, and no need to remove part of the air from the anterior chamber. This ensured that the surgery ended immediately after the air tamponade, without having to wait for 15 min like with regular DSAEK. The patients were instructed to lie supine for at least 6 h postoperatively. Patients with cataracts underwent combined phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation with DSAEK-SI. Results: Sixty eyes from sixty patients were enrolled. The success rate of the surgery was 93.3%. Postoperatively, the best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) improved from 20/3600 to 20/400 at discharge and reached 20/100 at 12 months. Mild astigmatism (0.5D to 2D) was observed in 91.8% of patients, with a mean cylinder of 0.9 ± 0.4D at 12 months. The endothelial cell loss rate after 12 months was 34.6 ± 16%. No graft dislocations or detachments were recorded. Conclusions: The sutureless DSAEK-SI technique with a 2.8 mm incision is a modified technique that achieves high success rates and potentially reduces surgical manipulation and complications.
Human Papillomavirus Infection in Partners of Women Attending Cervical Cancer Screening: A Pilot Study on Prevalence, Distribution, and Potential Use of Vaccines
Authors: Sucato Arianna , Serra Nicola , Buttà Michela , Gregorio Leonardo Di , Pistoia Daniela , Capra Giuseppina
Published: February 2025

Background/Objectives: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) cross-infection among couple’s partners is a widespread event and could lead to persistent infections. Unfortunately, the influence of male sexual partners of HPV-positive women on their cervical lesions and the potential role of HPV vaccines have been under-investigated. We evaluated the HPV prevalence in male partners of HPV-infected women, focusing on the possible correlation between partners’ cervical lesions and the role of HPV vaccination. Methods: Two samples, genital and urethral swabs, were collected for each of the 90 patients recruited. HPV-DNA detection was carried out by the Allplex HPV28 detection assay. Results: HPV prevalence was 66.7% (60/90); high-risk HPV (hrHPV) genotypes were detected in 90% (54/60) cases and multiple infections in 55% (33/60). The most frequent hrHPVs were HPV31 (p = 0.0265) and HPV52 (p = 0.002), found in 18.3% (11/60) of cases, and HPV53 (p = 0.0116) in 16.7% (10/60). Statistical analysis showed a higher probability of a less severe cytological diagnosis with the increase in the number of genotypes detected (p = 0.0146). Among the HPV-positive partners of females with cervical lesions, 18.7% (6/32) and 62.5% (20/32) had vaccine genotypes of the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines, respectively. The nonavalent vaccine showed a significantly higher potential to prevent lesions (62.5% vs. 18.7%, p = 0.0001), with an absolute additional potential impact (AAI) of 31.1% in histological and 32.4% in cytological diagnoses. Conclusions: These preliminary results provide new insight into the correlation between the number of partner genotypes and the severity of cervical lesions and show promising results for the preventive potential of vaccinating male partners.
Effect of Isolation Ruminal Yeast from Ruminants on In Vitro Ruminal Fermentation
Authors: Wilachai Krung , Paengkoum Pramote , Taethaisong Nittaya , Thitisak Pirat , Poonsuk Kriengsak , Loor Juan J. , Paengkoum Siwaporn
Published: February 2025

In order to obtain high-performing yeast strains from ruminants, it is necessary to select them from species such as beef cattle, dairy cows, goats, and buffalo. A total of 91 isolated yeasts were collected using the standard methods of microbial culture on agar medium followed by streaking on a plate at least three times until pure yeast colonies were formed. The API 20C AUX Kit and sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA gene were used to identify the genera Candida spp., namely, C. glabrata (99% identification), C. tropicallis (99%), C. rugosa (98%), and Issatchenkia orientalis (99%). A total of 12 yeast strains (Dc4, 14, 18; Be1, 2, 7; Bu3, 4, 7; and Go10, 16, 19) were chosen for further analyses. The performance criteria included the ability to tolerate pH values between 3.5 and 7.5, total volatile fatty acids (TVFAs, 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, and 4% of broth medium), anaerobic growth rate, and in vitro gas production efficiency. First, when all strains were grown at pH values between 3.5 and 7.5, Bu3 and Dc18 performed better than the other strains. Second, at a ruminal pH of 6.5 and a TVFA concentration of between 2 and 4% of the broth medium, strain Bu3 was more resistant than the other strains. Under anaerobic conditions, all strains experienced a decline in viable cell counts when compared with those under aerobic conditions. However, compared to strains Dc14, Be1, Be2, Be7, and Bu3, strain Dc18 exhibited more viable cells under anaerobic conditions in broth medium. The response of strain Dc18 did not differ from those of strains Dc4, Bu4, Bu7, or G16. Strains Be7, Bu3, and Dc18 were used for an in vitro fermentation experiment involving incubation for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h. Three ruminal cannulated dairy cows were used as donors of ruminal fluid. The treatments were run in triplicate. The addition of yeast culture had no effect on gas kinetics, gas accumulation, or the ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid, but led to significantly greater butyric acid concentrations at 24 h of incubation. In conclusion, strain Dc18 isolated from dairy cows is suitable for future studies of probiotic yeast development.
Assessment Model of Channelized Debris Flow Potential Based on Hillslope Debris Flow Characteristics in Taiwan’s Sedimentary Watersheds
Authors: Chen Tien-Chien , Chen Kun-Ting , Hsu Yu-Shan , Chung Ming-Hsiu , Huang Jia-Zhen
Published: February 2025

This study proposes a novel assessment model to evaluate the occurrence potential of channelized debris flows (CDFs) in sedimentary rock regions of Central and Southern Taiwan, with a particular emphasis on the characteristics of hillslope debris flows (HDFs) within watersheds. CDFs are significantly related to the occurrence of HDFs in the upper reaches of watersheds, suggesting a high correlation between the potential for both phenomena. The study initially developed a hillslope debris flow (HDF) recognition model utilizing Fisher’s discriminant analysis, based on data from 40 HDF events and 40 landslide events. This model was subsequently applied to identify HDF units within channelized debris flow (CDF) watersheds. Subsequently, a CDF potential assessment model was constructed using data from 32 streams, which included 16 CDFs and 16 non-debris flow streams. Two key indicators emerged as the most effective: “Total WA(>8)” and “number of WA(>10).” These indicators achieved an accuracy rate exceeding 84%, significantly outperforming the official assessment model, which had an accuracy rate of 60%. The newly developed assessment models offer substantial improvements in predicting CDF occurrences, enhancing disaster preparedness and sustainable environment development.
Do Endangered Lampreys Benefit from Water Pollution? Effect of Municipal Sewage Treatment Plant Operation on Growth and Abundance of the Ukrainian Brook Lamprey and the European Brook Lamprey
Authors: Pyrzanowski Kacper , Zięba Grzegorz , Marszał Lidia , Leśniak Marta , Banasiak Daniel , Przybylski Mirosław
Published: February 2025

The impact of municipal pollution on the larvae of the Ukrainian brook lamprey and the European brook lamprey was studied in the River Gać, a left-bank tributary of the River Pilica. Both lamprey species share similar morphologies and habits, including filtration-based feeding and burial in soft river sediments. This study focused on a 200 m stretch of the river, divided by sewage discharge from a municipal wastewater treatment plant into unpolluted (above the discharge) and polluted (below the discharge) sections. The Ukrainian brook lamprey exhibited higher densities (1612 individuals in total over the study period) compared to those of the European brook lamprey (336 in total). Survival methods, such as body length-frequency charts, were used to determine age. These diagrams, showing multimodal distributions, facilitated the differentiation of age groups and the application of the von Bertalanffy growth function to determine growth parameters. The growth curves revealed that the Ukrainian brook lamprey achieve greater body lengths (246.7 mm for the unpolluted section; 256.3 mm for the polluted section) at the same age and asymptotic lengths when compared to those of the European brook lamprey (187.2 mm for the unpolluted section; 180.7 mm for the polluted section). Furthermore, the European brook lamprey exhibited inferior growth in the polluted river section compared to that of the Ukrainian brook lamprey. The response of both lamprey species to municipal pollution suggests that such pollution could promote the expansion of the Ukrainian brook lamprey, while causing the decline of European brook lamprey in areas of their overlapping habitat.
Fouling Community Characteristics in Sea Cage Farms in Leizhou Bay, China
Authors: Zhang Yanping , Zhou Jiali , Liu Li
Published: February 2025

From January to December 2022, a study on biofouling was conducted in the southeast wharf of Leizhou Bay. Over a year, a total of 44 species were recorded, belonging to 10 phyla. The dominant species in the community were coastal warm-water organisms typical of subtropical inner bay environments. The peak settlement period occurred between April and September, with the highest adhesion strength observed in summer. Among the dominant and representative species, Perna viridis stood out, followed by Podocerus brasiliensis, Crassostrea ariakensis, Musculus senhousei, Dreissena polymorphia, Caprella equilibra, Gammaropsis digitata, Stenothoe gallensis, Parhyale hawaiensis, Amphibalanus reticulatus, EnteromorpHa prolifera, Gracilaria bailinae, and Pennaria disticha. Due to competition for settlement space and food, individuals in the biofouling community exhibited mutual dependence or restraint and displayed a specific spatiotemporal distribution pattern adapted to environmental factors. Temperature was the most crucial environmental factor determining the geographic distribution of biofouling species, reflecting the differences in community composition across various climate zones. The number of species, settlement stage, and settlement rate of biofouling organisms were closely tied to water temperature. Additionally, local natural conditions such as salinity, dissolved oxygen, and light, as well as human activities such as aquaculture production, played significant roles in the settlement of biofouling organisms.
Research Status and Trends of Hydrodynamic Separation (HDS) for Stormwater Pollution Control: A Review
Authors: Wong Yah Loo , Chen Yixiao , Selvarajoo Anurita , Law Chung Lim , Teo Fang Yenn
Published: February 2025

Growing urbanization has increased impermeable surfaces, raising and polluting stormwater runoff, and exacerbating the risk of urban flooding. Effective stormwater management is essential to curb sedimentation, minimize pollution, and mitigate urban flooding. This systematic literature review from the Web of Science and Scopus between January 2000 and June 2024 presents hydrodynamic separation (HDS) technologies. It sheds light on the significant issues that urban water management faces. HDS is classified into four categories: screening, filtration, settling, and flotation, based on the treatment mechanisms. The results show a shift from traditional standalone physical separations to multi-stage hybrid treatment processes with nature-based solutions. The great advantage of these approaches is that they combine different separation mechanisms and integrate ecological sustainability to manage urban stormwater better. The findings showed that future research will examine hybrid AI-assisted separation technologies, biochar-enhanced filtration, and green infrastructure systems. When adopting an integrated approach, the treatment system will perform like natural processes to remove pollutants effectively with better monitoring and controls. These technologies are intended to fill existing research voids, especially in removing biological contaminants and new pollutants (e.g., microplastics and pharmaceutical substances). In the long term, these technologies will help to enforce Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and orient urban areas in developing countries towards meeting the circular economy objective.
Prediction of Reservoir-Type Landslide Displacement Based on the Displacement Vector Angle and a Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network
Authors: Liu Shengchang , Liu Honghua , Sun Linna , Zhang Liming , He Keqiang , Yan Xiuzheng
Published: February 2025

Reservoir-type accumulation layer landslides have strong destructive force and complex displacement generation mechanisms. In this paper, the slope stability evaluation parameter of the displacement vector angle is introduced, and a rolling landslide displacement prediction method is proposed based on long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. First, grey correlation analysis was employed to quantify the correlations between reservoir water level, rainfall patterns, cumulative displacement, and displacement vector angles with landslide displacement, thereby assessing the viability of incorporating displacement vector angles as predictive input features. Second, building upon the original study, historical displacement, displacement vector angle, and their combination are added as input features to assess the impact of various feature combinations on landslide displacement prediction outcomes. Thirdly, the LSTM model with different sliding window sizes is constructed to control different amounts of historical input data under different feature combinations. Finally, the impact of various feature combinations and varying amounts of historical inputs on landslide displacement prediction is assessed to identify the most effective prediction method. The method’s reliability is validated using actual monitoring data from the Bazimen landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area. The prediction results align with the monitoring data, confirming the feasibility of using the displacement vector angle as an input feature in the neural network for landslide displacement prediction.
Mitigating Nitrous Oxide Emission from a Lab-Scale Membrane-Aerated Biofilm Reactor
Authors: Nemeth Andras , Casey Eoin , Syron Eoin
Published: February 2025

The membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) is an emerging technology for the biological treatment of wastewaters. It can achieve simultaneous nitrification and denitrification due to anoxic liquid conditions. The counter diffusion of oxygen and nutrients in the biofilm allows for aerobic and anoxic layers, providing conditions where the formation, accumulation and consumption of nitrous oxide can all occur. The microbial processes involved in the production and consumption of N2O are complex, and, due to the innovative nature of the MABR, understanding the influence of operational factors helps to minimise N2O emission. Using a lab-scale 20L MABR system, an investigation was carried out to determine the influence of operational factors on the emission of nitrous oxide from the reactor. A direct link between the nitrous oxide emissions and bulk liquid conditions could not be established with only limited statistical correlation between them. It was found that under both steady loading rates and transient conditions, the emission of nitrous oxide was most influenced by the air flow rate through the membranes. The majority of N2O emissions occurred via the membrane off-gas and not through the liquid. N2O flux through the membrane was influenced not only by the accumulation of N2O in the biofilm side but also by the gas residence time on the lumen side. Therefore, minimising the air flow rate is an effective strategy to mitigate nitrous oxide emissions from the MABR.
Designing a High-Performance Oil–Water Filtration System: Surface-Enhanced Quartz with Hydrophilic Nanoparticles for Sustainable Water Reuse and Global Water Scarcity Solutions
Authors: Ramanamane Nthabiseng , Pita Mothibeli
Published: February 2025

The increasing demand for freshwater resources, coupled with industrial pollution, necessitates improved water treatment technologies. This study investigates the potential of quartz-based filtration systems enhanced with hydrophilic nanoparticles for efficient oil-water separation. The quartz material, abundant and cost-effective, was processed and modified through sequential coatings to enhance its hydrophilicity and separation efficiency. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including SEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy, were employed to evaluate surface morphology, chemical composition, and structural integrity at different stages of coating. The findings demonstrated that the first coating achieved the most uniform nanoparticle distribution, significantly improving hydrophilicity and separation efficiency, reducing oil content in filtrates to 17.3 mg/L. Subsequent coatings resulted in agglomeration and pore clogging, leading to diminished performance. Validation through mathematical models corroborated experimental observations, confirming the first coating’s superior balance of nanoparticle integration, permeability, and separation efficiency. This research highlights the potential of surface-engineered quartz as a scalable, cost-effective solution for sustainable water reuse. Future work will focus on optimizing coating techniques, scaling up, and integrating the system with complementary technologies to enhance water treatment processes.
Removal of Nitrogen and Phosphorus by a Novel Salt-Tolerant Strain Pseudomonas sediminis D4
Authors: Liu Yuting , Yin Peng , Zhou Jiayi , Ma Yonghao , Lai Xunheng , Lin Junduo , Peng Huilin , Shu Hu , Huang Wen
Published: February 2025

Managing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in high-salinity wastewater is a critical challenge for sustainable aquaculture and environmental protection. In this study, a novel salt-tolerant strain, Pseudomonas sediminis D4, was isolated from a brackish water environment. This strain exhibited simultaneous heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification and phosphorus removal capabilities. Biosafety assays demonstrated that the strain was antibiotic-sensitive and safe for aquatic environments. The optimal conditions for nitrogen and phosphate removal of strain D4 were carbon/nitrogen (C/N) ratio 10, phosphorus/nitrogen (P/N) ratio 0.2, pH 7, and temperature 30 °C while using sodium succinate as the carbon source. Under these conditions, strain D4 achieved removal efficiencies of 97.36% for ammonia (NH4+-N), 100.00% for nitrate (NO3−-N), and 98.02% for nitrite (NO2−-N), along with 94.69%, 89.56%, and 97.40% removal of PO43−P, respectively. The strain exhibited strong salinity tolerance, functioning effectively within a range of 0% to 5% (w/v), and maintaining high nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency at a salinity of 3%. Enzyme activity assays verified the existence of key enzymes, such as ammonia nitrogen oxidase, nitrate oxidoreductase, nitrate reductase, nitrite reductase, polyphosphate kinase, and exopolyphosphatase, which are essential for the heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification and phosphorus removal capabilities of D4. These findings highlight the potential of Pseudomonas sediminis D4 for the biological treatment of high-salinity wastewater.
Relationship Between Landslide Group and Local Structure on Right Bank of Shenyu River in Wudongde Hydropower Station
Authors: Liu Ke , Wang Tuanle , Gao Yangyang , Deng Huafeng , Cheng Lei
Published: February 2025

The Shenyu River, as the tributary of the Jinsha River closest to the Wudongde Hydropower Station, has had seven landslides developed on its right bank, forming an interconnected landslide group system. The evolution and future development trends of the landslide group have a significant impact on the safe operation of the Wudongde Hydropower Station. Using geological field surveys and exploration data, we studied and analyzed the formation mechanism of the landslide group on the right bank of the Shenyu River in the reservoir area of the Wudongde Hydropower Station. The main conclusions are as follows: The local structure of the study area is mainly composed of north–south faults and folds, which control the development of rock mass unloading in the later stage of the study area, the formation of the stepped landform in the study area, and the formation process of geological disasters in the study area. The synclinore (Bellmouth fold) structure on the southern flank of the Shenyu River controls the spatial distribution of geological disasters in the study area, forming a spatial distribution pattern centered on the Dapingdi landslide and Dacun landslide, with the scale of geological disasters decreasing toward both sides. The research findings contribute to the improvement of the theoretical system of the formation mechanism of geological disasters.
Enhanced Groundwater Aeration with a Geometrically Constrained Vortex
Authors: Klymenko Roman , Cerutti Leticia , Colombo Marcos B. A. , Fuchs Elmar C. , Woisetschläger Jakob , Hoeben Wilfred F. L. M. , Agostinho Luewton L. F.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an experimental study comparing the aeration efficiencies of hyperbolic funnels and a cylindrical reactor, focusing on key parameters such as dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, standard oxygen transfer rate (SOTR20), and standard aeration efficiency (SAE). The unique geometry of the hyperbolic funnel induces a helical water flow, which expands the gas–liquid interfacial area within the water vortex, thereby enhancing aeration efficiency via vortex dynamics. The cylindrical reactor forms larger water “umbrellas” at its outlet due to increased internal water pressure, specifically optimizing the umbrella-driven aeration. The study also evaluated a three-funnel cascade system, demonstrating that a single funnel operating in the umbrella regime is more aeration-efficient than multiple funnels in cascade, as additional funnels reduce the SAE, due to the increased pumping height required. Further experiments using 3D-printed funnels investigated the influence of outlet diameter on flow rates and aeration efficiency. Our results indicated that larger outlet diameters allowed higher flow rates and umbrella sizes, yielding a superior aeration efficiency and outperforming all other reactors tested. The study also highlights the importance of funnel positioning relative to the water reservoir, which significantly influences both the SOTR20 and SAE. For the reactor investigated, a height of 75 cm was optimal for balancing both parameters. Whereas the SOTR20 values of the lab reactors were lower than those of commercial systems, due to the lower flow rates, the SAE values were notably high, surpassing those of mechanical aeration systems. Our findings suggest that hyperbolic funnels are a promising and highly efficient alternative for wastewater and groundwater aeration, with a strong potential for scalability.
Research on Operation and Maintenance Management of Subsurface Drip Irrigation System in the North China Plain: A Case Study in the Heilonggang Region
Authors: Zheng Yudong , Dang Hongkai , Hui Xin , Cai Dongyu , Zhang Haohui , Xue Jingyuan , Liu Xuetong , Ma Junyong , Cao Caiyun , Niu Xindong , Zheng Chunlian , Li Kejiang
Published: February 2025

Subsurface drip irrigation is an advanced technique that significantly enhances agricultural water efficiency and conserves irrigation resources. The Heilonggang region is highly representative of the maize–wheat rotation system in China. This region was selected for conducting operations and maintenance experiments on subsurface drip irrigation systems. The primary objective of this study was to determine the most suitable type of drip tape for application in the North China Plain and to identify specific maintenance measures necessary to ensure the long-term functionality of subsurface drip irrigation systems. The experiment was conducted in Jing County, Hengshui City. Anti-blocking drip tape (Netafim Co., Ltd. Beijing, China) with automatic functionality was evenly laid in the test area. The experimental area was divided into six rotational irrigation groups. The key parameter examined in this single-factor experiment was the drip tape wall thickness, with values of 0.2, 0.225, 0.25, 0.28, 0.31, and 0.38 mm. Drip tape treatments were randomly sampled in rotational irrigation groups, and there were three repeat plots in each treatment. Each replicate plot contained ten drip irrigation belts spaced 60 cm apart, with an interval of more than 2 m between adjacent plots. The subsurface drip irrigation system was installed in October 2023. Prior to irrigation, drip tape troubleshooting was conducted and recorded manually on 12 March 2024 (wheat regreening stage) and 29 June 2024 (maize-sowing stage). The experimental findings indicated that the primary factor influencing the stability of the irrigation system was the wall thickness of the drip tapes, while other system components operated efficiently. A significant correlation was observed between the wall thickness of the drip tape and the number of water leakage points (p < 0.05), with an absolute correlation coefficient exceeding 0.9. The number of leakage points in drip tapes with wall thicknesses of 0.2–0.28 mm (267 instances) was significantly higher than those with wall thicknesses of 0.31–0.38 mm (29 instances), primarily due to damage caused by mole crickets and wireworms. Following the injection of 40% phoxim, 2.5% lambda-cyhalothrin, and 70% imidacloprid insecticides (at a cost of 16.7 USD·ha−1) into the subsurface drip irrigation system, the insect pests were nearly eradicated within one month. A cumulative cost evaluation over a 6–10-year period recommended the use of drip tapes with a wall thickness of 0.31 mm and the application of insecticides every 1–2 months to maintain optimal system performance in this region. These measures can effectively support the stable operation of this irrigation technique at a relatively low cost.
Birds of Game Abundances in Evergreen Forests in Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche, Mexico
Authors: López-Castilla Héctor M. J. , Contreras-Moreno Fernando M. , Jesús-Espinosa Daniel , Méndez-Tun José M. , Sánchez-Pinzón Khiavett , Bautista-Ramírez Pedro , Cruz-Romo Lizardo , Petrone Sandra
Published: February 2025

The Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is in the south of the Yucatán Peninsula and is known for its great biological diversity. However, despite the great diversity of species, they are under intense pressure from hunting activities, especially the larger ones that can be used for human food. Therefore, the objective of this study was to obtain knowledge about the hunting importance of populations of three species of birds (Crax rubra, Meleagris ocellata, and Penelope purpurascens) in the southern zone of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, Campeche. Sampling was conducted with transects where a total of 46 camera traps were installed from November 2021 to November 2022, distributed in two types of vegetation. Likewise, data on species presence were collected and analyzed with Principal Component Analysis and ANOSIM (ANOSIM; R = 0.10, p = 0.22) to relate abundances with vegetation types and seasons of the year. No significant differences were found between the two vegetation types. This study provides relevant information on the populations of game birds in the southern region of Calakmul, which is currently little explored, and constant monitoring of these species throughout the CBR is necessary.