bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Classification of Urban Green Space Types Using Machine Learning Optimized by Marine Predators Algorithm
Authors: Yan Jiayu , Liu Huiping , Yu Shangyuan , Zong Xiaowen , Shan Yao
Published: March 2023

The accuracy of machine learning models is affected by hyperparameters when classifying different types of urban green spaces. To investigate the impact of hyperparametric algorithms on model optimization, this study used the Marine Predators Algorithm (MPA) to optimize three models: K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Support Vector Machines (SVM), and Random Forest (RF). The feasibility of the algorithm was illustrated by extracting and analyzing park green space and attached green spaces within the fifth-ring road of Beijing. A dataset of urban green space type labels was constructed using SPOT6. Three optimized models, MPA-KNN, MPA-SVM and MPA-RF, were constructed. The optimum hyperparameter combination was chosen based on the accuracy of the validation set, and the three optimized models were compared in terms of the Area Under Curve (AUC) value, accuracy on the test set, and other indicators. The results showed that applying MPA improves the accuracy of the validation set of the KNN, SVM, and RF models by 4.2%, 2.2%, and 1.2%, respectively. The MPA-RF model had an AUC value of 0.983 and a test set accuracy of 89.93%, indicating that it was the most accurate of the three models.
Analysts’ Green Coverage and Corporate Green Innovation in China: The Moderating Effect of Corporate Environmental Information Disclosure
Authors: Hu Shiliang , Dong Wenhao , Huang Yongchun
Published: March 2023

Against the backdrop of China’s growing environmental concerns, investing in green technology innovation is a crucial solution to achieve the goal of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality”. Combining the perspectives of signaling theory and corporate governance theory, we use a sample of Chinese-listed companies from 2008 to 2020 to investigate the influence of analysts’ green coverage (AGC) on corporate green innovation (CGI) and the moderating effect of corporate environmental information disclosure (CEID) based on a textual analysis approach. The results show that AGC can significantly promote the quantity and quality of CGI, and CEID has a positive moderating effect on the process. Moreover, the mechanism analysis reveals that enhancing investors’ value recognition, improving corporate reputation capital, alleviating corporate financing constraints, reducing management agency costs, and curbing managerial myopia are the influence mechanisms of AGC on CGI. Additionally, the positive effect of AGC is more significant for firms located in regions with a favorable institutional environment, firms belonging to heavily polluting industries, and firms that have not adopted continuous innovation strategies.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Dynamics of Saudi Arabia: Potential of Hydrogen Fuel for Emission Footprint Reduction
Authors: Akinpelu Adeola , Alam Md Shafiul , Shafiullah Md , Rahman Syed Masiur , Al-Ismail Fahad Saleh
Published: March 2023

The growth of population, gross domestic product (GDP), and urbanization have led to an increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The leading GHG-emitting sectors are electricity generation, road transportation, cement, chemicals, refinery, iron, and steel. However, the KSA is working to lead the global energy sustainability campaign to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2060. In addition, the country is working to establish a framework for the circular carbon economy (CCE), in which hydrogen acts as a transversal facilitator. To cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, the Kingdom is also building several facilities, such as the NEOM green hydrogen project. The main objective of the article is to critically review the current GHG emission dynamics of the KSA, including major GHG emission driving forces and prominent emission sectors. Then, the role of hydrogen in GHG emission reduction will be explored. Finally, the researchers and decision makers will find the helpful discussions and recommendations in deciding on appropriate mitigation measures and technologies.
How Does Farmland Tenure Security Affect Rural Household Income? Empirical Evidence of China’s Survey Data
Authors: Zhang Juan , Chen Qinping , Chen Hongxi , Feng Zehua
Published: March 2023

A stable farmland tenure can optimize farmers’ allocation of production factors and then determine the income level and structure of farmers. In recent years, the reform of China’s farmland tenure system had been making efforts to strengthen the stability of farmland tenures. Will the farmland tenure security restrict agricultural development? Based on the data of the 2018 China Labor Dynamics Survey (CLDS), this paper empirically analyzes the impact of farmland tenure stability on rural household income and its mechanism. The results showed that the stability of land rights increased the per capita total income, wage income and agricultural productive income of farmers significantly. The stability of the farmland tenure significantly increased the income of rural households in plain areas and the income of rural households in villages with highly mechanied; additionally, employment opportunities increased significantly. The mechanism analysis showed that the stability of the farmland tenure had a significant positive effect on the total income of farmers by promoting the division of labor and agricultural investment. On this basis, this paper puts forward measures such as strictly controlling the readjustment of agricultural land, improving the rural labor market and financial market, and guiding nonplain areas to develop tertiary industry according to local conditions.
Exploring the Mechanisms Linking Perceived Organizational Support, Autonomy, Risk Taking, Competitive Aggressiveness and Corporate Sustainability: The Mediating Role of Innovativeness
Authors: Okręglicka Małgorzata , Mittal Prabhat , Navickas Valentinas
Published: March 2023

To achieve organizational performance excellence, modern organizations have not only the option but the necessity to adapt and implement corporate sustainability (CS) practices. CS changes previous business models, taking into account environmental and social aspects, thereby determining the success of the organization. The implementation of CS is, however, reinforced or limited by a number of internal and environmental factors. The main research goal was therefore to identify and evaluate the mechanisms linking perceived organizational support (POS) and entrepreneurial orientation dimensions such as autonomy (AU), risk taking (RT), competitive aggressiveness (CA) and innovativeness (IN) with CS. In order to verify the research hypotheses, a survey was conducted on a group of 200 small and medium-sized enterprises in 2022. A managerial approach was used in the study. The respondents used a 5-point Likert scale for the assessment of their attitudes and opinions. The relationships have been examined using structural equation modeling. The findings reveal that the type of enterprise moderates the relation between perceived organizational support and corporate sustainability, and innovativeness mediate this relation.
The Impact of Globalisation on the Development of International Fisheries Law
Authors: Wang Kuan-Hsiung , Tsai Hung-Jeng
Published: March 2023

As the starting point, this paper introduces the development of globalisation and the evolution of the international legal order and then discusses the interaction between the two. The article then explores the impact of the “concept” and “practice” of globalisation on the evolution of the international fisheries’ legal system by taking “sustainable development” and “international trade” as the probes to gain a practical understanding of the protection and conservation of high seas fisheries’ resources. The authors argued that the international law of the sea is an ever-renewing legal system, especially in the regulation of conserving and managing high seas fisheries resources, which has undergone tremendous and drastic changes in recent decades due to the development of global trade, the strengthening of environmental issues, and the flourishing of international organisations. Obviously, globalisation is an important and fundamental driving force behind it. The authors presented findings by observing the changes in international fisheries law during the two decades between the signing of the UNCLOS and the completion of the IPOA-IUU.
Analysis and Research on Experimental Process of Water Thermal Migration of Freeze–Thaw Cracked Rock Based on Particle Tracking Method and Thermal Imaging Technology
Authors: Yang Gengshe , Liu Chong , Liu Hui
Published: March 2023

In high-altitude and cold regions, external dynamic geological processes, such as glacial melting and other processes are intense, which frequently results in surface dynamic geological processes, such as slope collapse, landslides, debris flows, and ice avalanches along the route. For high and steep slopes in high-altitude regions containing controlled fractures, the key is to grasp the water-heat process and the evolution of the frost heaving force induced by it within the fractures. This can then lead to the exploration of the multi-phase and multi-field damage propagation, and a disaster mechanism within the fractures under repeated freezing and thawing. The visual tracking of the water-heat migration process within the fractured rock mass is helpful in observing the evolution process of frost-heaving force and providing a theoretical basis for the frost-heaving mechanism. First, research on particle tracking, thermal imaging tests, and image processing technology was conducted to demonstrate that particle tracking and thermal imaging techniques can track the freezing front within the rock fractures and the migration of liquid water inside the rock. Then, by selecting fluorescent particles and improving the observation window and using a waterproof insulation cardboard, the development of a visualization device system for the water-heat migration process was achieved, allowing the tracking of the water-heat migration process. The results of the verification test showed that under freezing and thawing conditions, the experimental device could effectively track the temporal and spatial changes of water-heat migration inside and outside the rock fractures and monitor the real-time changes of the freezing front. Reliable experimental results were obtained, which provided a visual record of the water-heat migration and water-ice phase transition within the fractured rock mass during the freezing and thawing process. Combining thermal imaging technology with the real-time recording of the motion rate of fluorescent particles, this experiment described the movement speed of the freezing front and the convection of free water within the fractures in rock water-heat migration, which is of significant importance for the study of the frost-heaving force under the influence of water-heat migration.
Social Support and Self-Efficacy as Mediators between Internal Locus of Control and Adolescents’ Physical Activity
Authors: Yiming Yikeranmu , Shi Bing , Alghamdi Abdulelah A. , Kayani Sumaira , Biasutti Michele
Published: March 2023

In China, the physical activity of adolescents is declining nowadays, which may be linked to their health locus of control, social support, and self-efficacy. The current study has investigated the role of health locus of control, social support, and self-efficacy in adolescents’ physical activity. Using convenient sampling, 569 (18–21 years old) adolescents were surveyed. There were 313 (55.01%) females and 256 (44.99%) males. Data were collected through questionnaires on the study variables. The results display that physical activity is directly positively affected by locus of control, self-efficacy, and social support. Both self-efficacy and social support are positively associated with locus of control and physical activity. Further, locus of control also indirectly affects physical activity through self-efficacy and social support. To conclude, we can say that locus of control, self-efficacy, and social support play a significant role in promoting physical activity. The study suggests developing effective future interventions by considering the study variables to increase physical activity.
Relationship between Indigenous Knowledge Development in Agriculture and the Sustainability of Water Resources
Authors: Shahraki Ali Sardar , Panagopoulos Thomas , Ashari Hajar Esna , Bazrafshan Ommolbanin
Published: March 2023

The relationship between agricultural knowledge and water management is very important. Indigenous knowledge in agriculture can improve the water crisis situation and alleviate water stress from dry and semi-arid areas. Therefore, the combination of these two impacts can improve the agricultural sector and reduce the effects of drought. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting indigenous knowledge and the sustainable management of water resources for optimal water use in agriculture in the Sistan region of Iran. Alongside field research and interviews with 40 indigenous experts and experts from the Jihad-e-Agriculture sector of the Sistan region, the required information was collected by means of a questionnaire. Using the fuzzy hierarchy process (FAHP), the factors affecting indigenous knowledge and the sustainable management of water resources for optimal water use in the Sistan region were ranked. The final rankings of the factors influencing indigenous knowledge for optimal agricultural use of water resources indicate that the educational-extensional factor, with a final weight of 0.37, is the first priority, while social factors, government support, economics, farmers’ knowledge, and information, with weights of 0.24, 0.21, 0.13, and 0.03, respectively, are the next priorities. It is recommended that the indigenous knowledge of local authorities be augmented, and that farmers be encouraged to use modern irrigation techniques to optimize the agricultural irrigation of water.
How to Incorporate Autonomous Vehicles into the Carbon Neutrality Framework of China: Legal and Policy Perspectives
Authors: Li Xin-Wei , Miao Hong-Zhi
Published: March 2023

To achieve the announced 2060 carbon neutrality goal, the government of China has recently established its “1 + N” legal and policy framework. However, the emerging autonomous vehicle technology, which is developing rapidly, is not included. Considering the significant potential of autonomous vehicle technology in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, whether and how to integrate it into the current framework can be crucial for China. The existing literature typically does not regard the emission reduction impacts of autonomous vehicles as a major issue, and there are still few studies available aiming to ensure enhancement of emission reduction induced by autonomous vehicle technology from a legal and policy perspective. This article attempts to fill the above research gaps with a three-step research scheme. Specifically, this work begins with a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the possible wide range of factors affecting energy consumption and emissions of autonomous vehicles. Next, an in-depth discussion of the feasibility of incorporating autonomous vehicle technology into the current “1 + N” legal and policy framework is provided. Finally, several recommendations corresponding to these factors are proposed from legal and policy perspectives: (i) adoption of industrial incentives to mitigate research and development costs and risks at the production level and to expand market demand at the consumption level; (ii) priority promotion of the commercialization of autonomous vehicles in the taxi market by filling legal gaps and applying regulatory measures; (iii) development of efficient transportation policies and land use policies. This article provides a systematic and practical scheme for inclusion of autonomous vehicles in China’s legal and policy framework to realize the carbon neutrality goal. The proposed recommendations can be referenced for other governments that may face similar challenges and future development of possible uniform rules at the global level.
Investigating the Determinants of Employee Performance for Sustainability: A Study on the Bangladesh Insurance Industry
Authors: Afrin Sadia , Asyraf Bin Mohd Kassim Muhammad , Yusof Mohd Faizal , Hassan Md. Sharif , Islam Md. Aminul , Khairuddin Khairun Nisa Binti
Published: March 2023

Employee performance is the secret to success for every company. Companies want their employees to understand the company’s vision and objectives and meet the individual goals set by the managers. The insurance industry in Bangladesh has stagnant growth compared to other industries. Moreover, insurance companies are lagging in managing human resources, especially permanent employees. Sustainable employee performance will help companies to achieve sustainable growth. This study aimed to identify the influencing factors that impact sustainable employee performance of insurance industry employees in Bangladesh. The study utilized the social exchange theory as the underpinning theory. The study modified the social exchange theory and proposed a research framework with five indicator variables: compensation, job satisfaction, work environment, leadership style, and motivation. The survey included 200 insurance company employees from various departments and companies. The collected data were analyzed using the partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS–SEM) method using SMART PLS 3.2.7 software. The findings revealed that all the factors significantly positively impacted sustainable employee performance. The results of the study are helpful for academicians and researchers to analyze employee performance further. In addition, the results will help insurance companies and policymakers to make appropriate decisions to ensure sustainable employee performance in the organization.
Journeys to Significant Places in Orthodoxy as a Source of Sustainable Local Development in Romania
Authors: Sorea Daniela , Defta Monica , Popescu Ionuț Mihai
Published: March 2023

Religious tourism has developed in post-communist Romania, after decades of restrictions on the manifestation of the population’s religiosity. New monasteries and hermitages appeared and the number of travellers eager to arrive visit those and other religious places has increased. The purpose of this article is to support a sustainable orientation in the development of religious tourism in Romania. Content analysis of articles published by mass media in the last year regarding the two great Orthodox pilgrimages in Romania, to St. Parascheva in Iași and to St. Dimitrie the New in Bucharest, together with a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with group or solitary travellers and the results of two participatory observations conducted at monasteries in Făgăraș Land highlighted the types of journey to religiously significant places in contemporary Romania, i.e., pilgrimages, journeys to father confessor, spiritual journeys, group religious journeys and secular visits, as well as the particularities of hospitality related to them. Involving local communities in hosting and preparing meals for travellers to hermitages and monasteries would reduce pressure on monastic communities and contribute to sustainable local development. The inclusion of local historical sites in journey itineraries to religious places, and the revitalization of traditional local crafts would also contribute to this development.
Analyzing the Leading Role of High-Performance Work System towards Strategic Business Performance
Authors: Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Hussain Hadi , Rosak-Szyrocka Joanna , Vasa László , Yousaf Zahid , Haffar Mohamed
Published: March 2023

HPWS is currently perceived as potential source of the competitive skills, capabilities and knowledge of human resources. This study aim to illustrate how high-performance work systems (HPWS) offer the foundation for strategic business performance (SBP) through the mediating function of organizational flexibility and contextualizing manufacturing firms of developing countries by providing an empirically tested framework for analyzing SBP. The current study is based on a quantitative research design. Data were gathered from manufacturing firms from the top, middle and operational management firms. SEM was used to analyze our 589 samples. Findings revealed that HPWS is the only component aiding manufacturing firms’ growth. The results illustrate that HPWS will take a long time to achieve SBP if organisational flexibility does not mediate the relationship between HPWS and SBP. Utilizing actual data, this study reveals practical strategies for enhancing the mechanism of business development performance among manufacturing organizations. Furthermore, this research helps to understand the relationship between HPWS and organizational flexibility in attaining SBP.
The Impact of Higher Education Expansion on Subjective Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from Chinese Social Survey
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Yu Feng , Yan Cheng
Published: March 2023

The rage of the COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with the downward trend seen in the economy, has further aggravated the downturn of the job market and diminished people’s sense of wellbeing in recent years. To mitigate the detrimental effects of the pandemic on college students’ employment, the Chinese government has further expanded the enrollment of postgraduate and undergraduate students. This study leverages data from the 2019 and 2021 waves of the Chinese Social Survey and constructs a difference-in-differences (DID) model to examine the effect of the higher education expansion (HEE) policy, initiated in 1999, on individuals’ subjective well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that HEE policy could significantly improve individuals’ subjective well-being (SWB) during the pandemic, and that social class mobility emerges as a vital mechanism through which HEE policy impacts individuals’ SWB. Furthermore, there is a local-ladder effect due to reference dependence, with socio-metric status having a greater impact on SWB than socioeconomic status. This study reveals that the level of an individual’s happiness depends largely on whom they are compared with. This implies that the key focus of the HEE policy is to stimulate individuals’ potential and motivation for upward social mobility, ultimately enhancing their overall sense of well-being.
Analysis of the Balance between Supply and Demand of Arable Land in China Based on Food Security
Authors: Yang Shengqiang , Li Donglin , Liao Heping , Zhu Lin , Zhou Miaomiao , Cai Zhicong
Published: March 2023

Arable land is the natural resource of food production, plays a key role in safe guarding people’s livelihood, maintaining social stability, and ecological balance. In the context of the great challenge of rapid loss of arable land and rapid growth of food demand due to rapid socio-economic development, scientific forecasting of arable land demand and supply, can clarify the conservation pressure of regional arable land, provide a reference for formulating effective arable land policies, and ensuring regional food security and sustainable development. Therefore, with the help of system dynamics model and Gray-Markov model, this study predicts and analyzes the balance of arable land supply and demand in China, and reached the following conclusions. (1) During the projection period, with the continuous development of living standards and agricultural technology, both per capita food demand and food production show an upward trend. However, the combined effects of changes in diet structure and grain yields on changes in arable land demand are smaller than those brought about by population changes. Therefore, the trend of arable land demand is similar to that of population change, and the arable land demand in China reaches a peak of 112.78 million hm2 in 2026. (2) The amount of arable land possession is always greater than the amount of arable land replenishment, and the arable land supply area shows a continuous decreasing trend, and the arable land supply in China is 127.16 million hm2 in 2035. (3) China’s supply holdings are all able to meet the demand of China’s arable land, but combined with existing studies, it is insufficient to meet the demand of crop rotation fallow between 2023 and 2030, which is not conducive to sustainable development. In the future, arable land protection policies should be comprehensively improved and strictly implemented to ensure national food security and achieve sustainable use of arable land.
Relational Marketing Promotes Sustainable Consumption Behavior in Renewable Energy Production
Authors: Sadjadi Ebrahim Navid , Fernández Roemi
Published: March 2023

Until recently, the prominent stage of electricity generation has been carried out by utility firms; however, the general landscape of power generation in the world is changing. The availability of low-cost photovoltaic panels is encouraging households to become local producers themselves and sell energy to the grid at a micro-scale. Therefore, the development of renewable energy production is increasing the domain of the energy market from pure product delivery to a market of mixed services and goods delivery, with new players entering the value chain. For this reason, utility firms need to rethink their marketing activities, their interface and interaction with the consumer, the infrastructure they need for the flow of their production to the consumer, and the architecture of their value proposition. Faced with the growing market for renewable energy services, this study investigates how utility firms should target marketing activities to take advantage of business opportunities in the newer networks of competitive coalitions. The results of the study carried out suggest that firms need to strengthen their competitiveness and capability in internal marketing, their core competence in technological development and personnel management, and their external marketing promotions. By doing so, firms will be able to compete with established technologies and generate revenue by treating the disruptive and innovative technologies of the distributed generation as the gateway to the service market, and prospect the S-D-dominant logic of marketing in their activities. Moving beyond the traditional electricity delivery culture of utility firms could open up new opportunities for growth and expansion to attract a greater number of consumers, as is done today in similar high-tech industries.
Current- and Voltage-Actuated Transmission Line Protection Scheme Using a Hybrid Combination of Signal Processing Techniques
Authors: Tang Ligang , Mahela Om Prakash , Khan Baseem , Miro Yini
Published: March 2023

This paper presents a current- and voltage-driven protection scheme for transmission lines based on a hybrid mix of Stockwell transform (ST) and Hilbert transform (HT). Use of both current and voltage waveforms to detect and categorize faults, improves the reliability of this protection scheme and avoids false tripping. Current and voltage waveforms captured during a period of fault are analyzed using ST to compute a median intermediate fault index (MIFI), a maximum value intermediate fault index (MVFI), and a summation intermediate fault index (SIFI). Current and voltage signals are analyzed via applying HT to compute a Hilbert fault index (HFI). The proposed hybrid current and voltage fault index (HCVFI) is obtained from the MIFI, MVFI, SIFI, and HFI. A threshold magnitude for this hybrid current and voltage fault index (HCVFITH) is set to 500 to identify the faulty phase. The HCVFIT is selected after testing the method for various conditions of different fault locations, different fault impedances, different fault occurrence angles, and reverse flows of power. Fault classification is performed using the number of faulty phases and an index for ground detection (IGD). The ground involved in a fault is detected by comparison of peak IGD magnitude with a threshold for ground detection (THGD). THGD is considered equal to 1000 in this study. The study is carried out using a two-terminal transmission line modeled in MATLAB software. The performance of the proposed technique is better compared to a discrete wavelet transform (DWT)-based technique, a time–frequency approach, and an alienation method. Our algorithm effectively detected an AG fault, observed on a practical transmission line.
Effects of Digital Game-Based Learning on Students’ Cyber Wellness Literacy, Learning Motivations, and Engagement
Authors: Wang Ke , Liu Panpan , Zhang Junyi , Zhong Jinping , Luo Xianfei , Huang Jingxiu , Zheng Yunxiang
Published: March 2023

The Internet has become an essential part of our daily life, but excessive Internet use may lead to a number of risks such as Internet addiction. In order to protect teenagers from the risks, it is important to guide them to use the Internet in a safe, responsible, and ethical way. Cyber wellness literacy, as the core issue of digital citizenship, plays a vital role in the physical and mental well-being of individuals and should be given high priority. While some studies have explored the integration of digital citizenship into school education through digital game-based learning (DGBL), the influence of digital games on teenagers’ learning outcomes, learning motivation, and engagement in the field of cyber wellness remains unclear. It is, therefore, a challenge to provide cyber wellness literacy learning activities that empower students to keep away from Internet addiction and maintain a happy, healthy, and safe digital life. This study addressed the issue of Internet addiction from the perspective of digital citizenship, and designed and implemented a digital game-based course in a middle school. The study then explored the potential impact of DGBL on improving students’ cyber wellness literacy, motivation, and engagement. The statistical results show that DGBL not only promoted the students’ cyber wellness literacy in preventing Internet addiction, but also enhanced their motivations and emotional engagement.
Mapping the Species Richness of Woody Plants in Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Junhee , Yoo Youngjae , Jang Raeik , Jeon Seongwoo
Published: March 2023

As climate change continues to impact the planet, the importance of forests is becoming increasingly emphasized. The International Co-operative Program on the Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) has been monitoring and assessing forests in 40 countries since 1985. In Republic of Korea, the first Forest Health Management (FHM) survey was a nationwide sample point assessment conducted between 2011 and 2015. However, there are limitations in representing the health of forests that occupy 63.7% of Korea’s land area due to the nature of sample point surveys, which survey a relatively small area. Accordingly, a species richness map was created to promote species diversity in forest health evaluations in Republic of Korea. The map was created using data from the first FHM survey, which examined 28 factors with 12 survey indicators in four categories: tree health, vegetation health, soil health, and atmospheric health. We conducted an ensemble modeling of species distribution for woody plant species that are major habitats in Republic of Korea. To select the species, we used the first FHM survey data and chose those with more than 100 sample points, resulting in a total of 11 species. We then created the species richness map of Republic of Korea by overlaying their distributions. To verify the accuracy of the derived map, an independent verification was conducted using statistical verification and external data from the National Natural Environment Survey. To support forest management that accounts for climate change adaptation, the derived species richness map was validated based on the vegetation climate distribution map of the Korean Peninsula, which was published by the Korea National Arboretum. The map confirmed that species richness is highest around the boundary of the deciduous forest in the central temperate zone and lowest around the evergreen and deciduous mixed forest in the southern temperate zone. By establishing this map, it was possible to confirm the spatial distribution of species by addressing the limitations of direct surveys, which are unable to represent all forests. However, it is important to note that not all factors of the first FHM survey were considered during the spatialization process, and the target area only includes Republic of Korea. Thus, further research is necessary to expand the target area and include additional items.
Possible Expansion of Blood Vessels by Means of the Electrostrictive Effect
Authors: Brevik Iver
Published: March 2023

In cases when it is desirable to transport medication through blood vessels, especially when dealing with brain cancer being confronted with the narrow arteries in the brain, the blood–brain barrier makes medical treatment difficult. There is a need of expanding the diameters of the arteries in order to facilitate the transport of medications. Recent research has pointed to various ways to improve this situation; in particular, the use an ultrasound acting on microbubbles in the blood stream has turned out to be a promising option. Here, a different possibility of enlarging the diameters of arteries is discussed, namely to exploit the electrostrictive pressure produced by internal strong, ultrashort and repetitive laser pulses. Each pulse will at first give rise to inward-directed optical forces, and once the pulse terminates, there will be a hydrodynamical bouncing flow in the outward radial direction, giving an outward impulse to the vessel wall. In the absence of friction, a symmetric oscillation picture emerges. Clearly, a supply of repetitive pulses will be needed (at a parametric resonance) to make the effect appreciable. The effect has, to our knowledge, not been discussed before. We give an approximate optical and hydrodynamical theory of it. The calculations indicate promising results for the wall pressure, although experimental work is desirable to demonstrate whether the idea can be useful in practice. Our calculation is made from a general physical perspective that is not necessarily linked to medical applications.
A Case Report on a Human Bite Contact with a Rabid Honey Badger Mellivora capensis (Kromdraai Area, Cradle of Humankind, South Africa)
Authors: Mohale Debrah Kgwana , Ngoepe Ernest , Mparamoto Munangatire , Blumberg Lucille , Sabeta Claude Taurai
Published: March 2023

In South Africa, rabies cycles are sustained by both domestic and wildlife host species. Despite the fact that the majority of human rabies cases are associated with dog bite exposures, wildlife species can potentially transmit rabies virus (RABV) infection to humans. In July 2021, a honey badger (Mellivora capensis) from the Kromdraai area (Gauteng Province) bit a dog on a small farm. The following day the same honey badger attacked three adults in the area, with one of the victims requiring hospitalization for management of her injuries. The honey badger was subsequently shot and the carcass submitted to the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR) for RABV diagnosis. A positive rabies diagnosis was confirmed and phylogenetic analysis of the amplified glycoprotein gene of the rabies virus demonstrated the virus to be of dog origin.
Detection of Influenza D-Specific Antibodies in Bulk Tank Milk from Swedish Dairy Farms
Authors: Alvarez Ignacio , Hägglund Sara , Näslund Katarina , Eriksson Axel , Ahlgren Evelina , Ohlson Anna , Ducatez Mariette F. , Meyer Gilles , Valarcher Jean-Francois , Zohari Siamak
Published: March 2023

Influenza D virus (IDV) has been detected in bovine respiratory disease (BRD) outbreaks, and experimental studies demonstrated this virus’s capacity to cause lesions in the respiratory tract. In addition, IDV-specific antibodies were detected in human sera, which indicated that this virus plays a potential zoonotic role. The present study aimed to extend our knowledge about the epidemiologic situation of IDV in Swedish dairy farms, using bulk tank milk (BTM) samples for the detection of IDV antibodies. A total of 461 and 338 BTM samples collected during 2019 and 2020, respectively, were analyzed with an in-house indirect ELISA. In total, 147 (32%) and 135 (40%) samples were IDV-antibody-positive in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Overall, 2/125 (2%), 11/157 (7%) and 269/517 (52%) of the samples were IDV-antibody-positive in the northern, middle and southern regions of Sweden. The highest proportion of positive samples was repeatedly detected in the south, in the county of Halland, which is one of the counties with the highest cattle density in the country. In order to understand the epidemiology of IDV, further research in different cattle populations and in humans is required.
Avian Influenza Virus Tropism in Humans
Authors: AbuBakar Umarqayum , Amrani Lina , Kamarulzaman Farah Ayuni , Karsani Saiful Anuar , Hassandarvish Pouya , Khairat Jasmine Elanie
Published: March 2023

An influenza pandemic happens when a novel influenza A virus is able to infect and transmit efficiently to a new, distinct host species. Although the exact timing of pandemics is uncertain, it is known that both viral and host factors play a role in their emergence. Species-specific interactions between the virus and the host cell determine the virus tropism, including binding and entering cells, replicating the viral RNA genome within the host cell nucleus, assembling, maturing and releasing the virus to neighboring cells, tissues or organs before transmitting it between individuals. The influenza A virus has a vast and antigenically varied reservoir. In wild aquatic birds, the infection is typically asymptomatic. Avian influenza virus (AIV) can cross into new species, and occasionally it can acquire the ability to transmit from human to human. A pandemic might occur if a new influenza virus acquires enough adaptive mutations to maintain transmission between people. This review highlights the key determinants AIV must achieve to initiate a human pandemic and describes how AIV mutates to establish tropism and stable human adaptation. Understanding the tropism of AIV may be crucial in preventing virus transmission in humans and may help the design of vaccines, antivirals and therapeutic agents against the virus.
A Phase 1, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled and Dose-Escalation Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of the Intranasal DelNS1-nCoV-RBD LAIV for COVID-19 in Healthy Adults
Authors: Zhang Ruiqi , Chan Kwok-Hung , Wang Pui , Zhou Runhong , Yau Henry Kwong-Chi , Wong Creany Ka-Wai , Au Meena Wai-Lam , Tam Anthony Raymond , Ng Chi-Tao , Lou Matthew Kwok-Chung , Liu Na , Huang Haode , Deng Shaofeng , Tam Rachel Chun-Yee , Liu Ying , Long Teng , Tsoi Hoi-Wah , Ng Miko K. W. , Cai Jian-Piao , To Kelvin Kai-Wang , Yuen Man-Fung , Chen Zhiwei , Chen Honglin , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Hung Ivan Fan-Ngai
Published: March 2023

An intranasal COVID-19 vaccine, DelNS1-based RBD vaccines composed of H1N1 subtype (DelNS1-nCoV-RBD LAIV) was developed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults. We conducted a phase 1 randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study on healthy participants, age 18–55 and COVID-19 vaccines naïve, between March and September 2021. Participants were enrolled and randomly assigned (2:2:1) into the low and high dose DelNS1-nCoV-RBD LAIV manufactured in chicken embryonated eggs or placebo groups. The low and high-dose vaccine were composed of 1 × 107 EID50/ dose and 1 × 107.7 EID50/ dose in 0.2 mL respectively. The placebo vaccine was composed of inert excipients/dose in 0.2 mL. Recruited participants were administered the vaccine intranasally on day 0 and day 28. The primary end-point was the safety of the vaccine. The secondary endpoints included cellular, humoral, and mucosal immune responses post-vaccination at pre-specified time-points. The cellular response was measured by the T-cell ELISpot assay. The humoral response was measured by the serum anti-RBD IgG and live-virus neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2. The saliva total Ig antibody responses in mucosal secretion against SARS-CoV-2 RBD was also assessed. Twenty-nine healthy Chinese participants were vaccinated (low-dose: 11; high-dose: 12 and placebo: 6). The median age was 26 years. Twenty participants (69%) were male. No participant was discontinued due to an adverse event or COVID-19 infection during the clinical trial. There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events (p = 0.620). For the T-cell response elicited after full vaccination, the positive PBMC in the high-dose group increased to 12.5 SFU/106 PMBC (day 42) from 0 (baseline), while it increased to 5 SFU/106 PBMC (day 42) from 2.5 SFU/106 PBMC (baseline) in the placebo group. The high-dose group showed a slightly higher level of mucosal Ig than the control group after receiving two doses of the vaccine (day 31, 0.24 vs. 0.21, p = 0.046; day 56 0.31 vs. 0.15, p = 0.45). There was no difference in the T-cell and saliva Ig response between the low-dose and placebo groups. The serum anti-RBD IgG and live virus neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 were undetectable in all samples. The high-dose intranasal DelNS1-nCoV-RBD LAIV is safe with moderate mucosal immunogenicity. A phase-2 booster trial with a two-dose regimen of the high-dose intranasal DelNS1-nCoV-RBD LAIV is warranted.
Identifying Meibomian Gland Dysfunction Biomarkers in a Cohort of Patients Affected by DM Type II
Authors: Abbouda Alessandro , Florido Antonio , Avogaro Filippo , Bladen John , Vingolo Enzo Maria
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) among patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common manifestation of dry eye syndrome (DES). (2) Methods: The purpose of this study is to identify clinical parameters and biomarkers useful to improve the follow-up and the treatment of these patients. We have used an ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, Schirmer test I/II, tear film break-up time (TF-BUT), fluorescein plus lissamine green staining, Marx’s line (ML), and meibomian gland (MGs) morphology using Sirius® Topographer (CSO, Costruzione Strumenti Oftalmici, Florence, Italy). Blood sample analysis included glucose, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), androstenedione (ASD) and testosterone. (3) Results: Cortisol and ASD were positively correlated with an increase of MG tortuosity, and an Increased level of triglycerides was associated with a reduction of MGs length. DHEAS levels lowered with age and were associated with ocular surface staining. (4) Conclusions: Future studies, perhaps including meibum lipid analysis and tear cytokine levels, may also further elucidate the connection between these parameters, MG architecture and function.
Environmental Changes Recorded in Tufa from the Korana River, Croatia: Geochemical and Isotopic Approach
Authors: Sironić Andreja , Lučić Mavro , Felja Igor , Tibljaš Darko
Published: March 2023

Between 1979 and 2003, a 35 cm thick layer of laminated tufa formed around a wooden pillar located at the beginning of the Korana River, which emerges from the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia. The laminated tufa structure allowed for the stratigraphic analysis of mineral, elemental and δ18O and δ13C isotope composition. Results are compared to other carbonate archives (lake sediments) from the Plitvice Lakes and to measured water physical–chemical data collected in the same time. An increase in water temperature and decrease in Mg/Ca ratio was observed during that period. Results showed that the tufa Mg/Ca ratio and δ18O could not be used as a temperature proxy, while an observed δ18O increase after 1990 was attributed to increase in evaporation rate. Furthermore, the constant increase in redox-sensitive elements (Mn) towards the external part of tufa may indicate periodic events of anoxia at the sediment/water interface. Local enrichment factors (LEFs) for potentially toxic elements were calculated using the background function and Al as the normalizing element. The LEFs showed an enrichment pattern of Cu and Pb in 1983 and 2001, which could indicate their anthropogenic origin and the sensitivity of the tufa to environmental changes.
Specifications and Accuracy of Rainfall Forecast Required for Pre-Release at Multi-Purpose Reservoirs in Japan
Authors: Fujita Hayato , Kanae Shinjiro
Published: March 2023

Pre-release is the discharge from a reservoir before a flood to enhance flood control capability. Its success depends on the performance of rainfall forecasting. However, there is little information regarding the causal relationship between its performance and the success of pre-release. Therefore, the rainfall forecast required for pre-release at 326 multi-purpose reservoirs in Japan is shown quantitatively in this paper. In our analysis, pre-release was simulated based on tentative rainfall forecasts made using observed rainfall data from a period of 17 years (2006 to 2022) with some processing. Then, outputs were evaluated in terms of two risks: not avoiding emergency spillway gate operation and no recovery of water use capacity. The results of five elements were reached: (1) the characteristics of situations requiring pre-release, the required (2) forecast length and (3) spatial resolution, the required accuracy of (4) the rainfall amount, and (5) the position of rainfall zone. For (1), pre-release is required nationwide in typhoons or stationary fronts at a frequency of four instances per year. For (2) and (3), assuming perfect accuracy, the current specifications of rainfall forecast in Japan: forecast length of 84 h or more and the combined use of 5 km and 20 km spatial resolution are generally effective in themselves. For (4) and (5), possible uncertainties in the rainfall amount and the position of rainfall zone needs to be decreased by one digit for avoiding emergency spillway gate operations, while excessive pre-release tends not to result in no recovery of water use capacity.
Ecological Responses of Meiofauna to a Saltier World—A Case Study in the Van Uc River Continuum (Vietnam) in the Dry Season
Authors: Nguyen Hien Thanh , Gourdon Lucie , Bui Hoi Van , Dao Duong Thanh , Mai Huong , Do Hao Manh , Nguyen Thanh Vu , Ouillon Sylvain
Published: March 2023

Increasing intensity of storms, typhoons, and sea level rise in conjunction with high water demand, especially for agriculture, in dry seasons in the Red River Delta may have led to seawater intruding deeper into the rivers’ estuaries. Given that losses of agricultural productivity and shortages of freshwater resources are projected, a reliable early warning of salinity invasion is, therefore, crucially needed. To evaluate the impact of salinity variations on riverine ecosystems, distribution patterns of meiofauna were examined at 20 stations along the Van Uc River continuum in the dry season. Meiofaunal richness indices were higher in the estuary and slightly decreased upriver. Nematoda was the most dominant taxon in salty stations, while Rotifera was more abundant in the less salty ones. A multiple variate analysis showed a strong interplay among salinity, nutrients, and pore water conductivity, which shaped the meiofaunal distribution. The inclusion of pore water salinity, nutrients, and meiofaunal community structure indicated a greater extent of the saline ecosystem in the estuary, posing a greater risk of freshwater salinization. Our results highlight the potential role of meiofauna as bioindicators but also call for a reformation of salinity assessment for better freshwater conservation and management.