bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remote Sensing Application in Pure Premium Rate-Making of Winter Wheat Crop Insurance
Authors: Wang Weijia , Wang Wen , Wang Kun , Zhao Yanyun , Yu Ran
Published: April 2023

Crop insurance is a crucial way to avoid disaster losses and to guarantee farmers’ basic production income in China and abroad. Securing agricultural production is a critical way to eradicate hunger and reduce poverty and an essential means to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. How to pay out more quickly and fairly after a disaster has become an urgent issue for agricultural insurance. The standard domestic crop insurance rate is determined based on the statistical data of the entire administrative unit and ignores the spatial risk difference of disasters inside the administrative unit. Therefore, obtaining a pure premium based on crops inside the administrative unit is a key problem. Based on remote sensing data and insurance actuarial models, we studied and determined the fair premium rates to insure winter wheat at the farmer level in Heze, Shandong, China. Our study shows that remote sensing data can provide data security for determining a pure premium rate at the level of individual farms, and provide the primary reference for determining farmer-level crop insurance premium rates. The use of remote sensing for determining those rates can improve the customization of crop insurance and reduce farmers’ lower incomes due to exposure to natural disasters, improve farmers’ resilience to risk, and prevent a return to poverty due to disasters, ultimately reaching the UN Sustainable Development goals of eradicating hunger and reducing poverty.
Appraisal of Empirical Studies on Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes and Their Impact on Ecosystem Services in Nepal Himalaya
Authors: Rai Mohan Kumar , Paudel Basanta , Zhang Yili , Nepal Pashupati , Khanal Narendra Raj , Liu Linshan , Rai Raju
Published: April 2023

The study of land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) and their impact on ecosystem services (ESs) is vital for Nepal, where the majority of people are dependent on agriculture and services related to the ecosystem. In this context, this paper aims to appraise the empirical studies on land-use and land-cover changes and their impact on ecosystem services in Nepal Himalaya. The study acquired studies from Web of Science and Google Scholar for systematic review. Altogether, 90 scientific studies, including 64 on land use and land cover and 26 on ecosystem services, published between 1986 and 2020 focusing Nepal, were assessed. The results show that there were continual changes in land-cover and land-use types in Nepal, as well as in the pace of development due to natural, anthropogenic, and policy factors. According to the national land-cover scenario, forests tended to increase, whereas agricultural land gradually decreased in recent years, with some of the available agricultural land even being abandoned. The scenario of the agricultural land in the Karnali river basin was different from those of the land in the Koshi and Gandaki basins. In the mid-twentieth century, the expansion of agricultural land and massive deforestation were observed, mainly in the Tarai region. Development works, urbanization, and the rural–urban migration led to the gradual decrease in and abandonment of the available agricultural land in recent decades. Further, this overall scenario has determined in provision of ESs. Forests have the highest value of ES, and community forests have played a vital role in their restoration. The concept of payment for ESs has greatly supported socio-economic development and ecosystem conservation. However, the formulation and implementation of effective landscape planning with suitable policies and enforcement mechanisms is essential to balance the negative impact of LULC on the sustained management of ecosystems and their associated services.
Effects of Climate Change on Economic Growth: A Perspective of the Heterogeneous Climate Regions in Africa
Authors: Zhao Yubin , Liu Shuguang
Published: April 2023

Climate change is a negative global externality that threatens economic growth. In our study, we firstly reviewed the transmission mechanisms of climate change affecting economic growth based on existing literature. Secondly, we respectively used the fixed effect method and the panel vector autoregression method to test the short-run and long-run effects of climate change on the economic growth of 44 countries in six climatic zones in Africa, from 2000 to 2019. The results showed that temperature has inverted U-shaped effects on the economic growth of countries in tropical rainforest and tropical dry climate zones, but a U-shaped effect in warm temperate humid regions. The heterogeneity test was based on industrial and geographical perspectives. Climate change has a significant inverted U-shaped effect on agricultural and services output in tropical rainforest and tropical dry climate zones. Moreover, climate change positively impacts economic growth in coastal regions, but has no significant impact on inland countries. Lastly, the long-run results indicate that tropical rainforest and subtropical humid regions show a greater ability to adapt to climate change, while tropical desert regions show greater volatility resilience in response to climate change.
The Autonomous Intersection Control Method Based on Reduction in Vehicle Conflict Relationships
Authors: Liu Mingjian , Zheng Chao , Zhu Yunhe
Published: April 2023

Current autonomous intersection control strategies are facing issues, such as lack of foresight, frequent occurrence of deadlock, and low control system efficiency. To address these issues, a vehicle–road cooperative autonomous intersection control strategy based on reducing vehicle conflict relationships is proposed in this study. First, a conflict relationship graph that can describe the driving conflict relationship between vehicles is constructed. Second, the complement of the maximum clique in the conflict relationship graph is solved to determine the set of accepted vehicle reservation requests, enabling more vehicle reservation requests to be successfully processed in unit time while ensuring safe driving at the intersection and improving intersection throughput efficiency. Third, based on the maximum clique method, a taboo search method is used to search the neighborhood, thus improving the quality of the final solution with a smaller search cost. Simulation results show that compared to other control strategies, such as the FCFS (First Come First Served) strategy, the traffic signal control strategy (Traffic-Light), and the control strategy based on greedy algorithm search (Batch-Light), the proposed strategy can considerably reduce the average vehicle waiting time by 42%, 19%, and 10%, respectively, as well as increasing the number of vehicles passing through the intersection per unit of time by 35%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in improving the throughput of the intersection and reducing the average vehicle waiting time.
Research into the Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Technological Innovation in China’s Natural Gas Industry from the Perspective of Energy Transition
Authors: Liu Shuguang , Wang Jiayi , Long Yin
Published: April 2023

Promoting technological innovation in the natural gas industry is a feasible means of achieving energy transition. Guided by the geographic innovation theory, this article carries out research on the scale, technical fields, capabilities, and influencing factors of technological innovation in the natural gas industry of 312 Chinese prefecture-level cities, making use of the cusp catastrophe model, the center of gravity and standard deviational ellipse, exploratory spatial data analysis, and geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR). The research shows the following: (1) Technological innovation in China’s natural gas industry has continuously expanded in terms of scale, with the number of participating cities increasing, showing a spatially uneven pattern of local agglomeration and national diffusion. (2) There have been significant innovation achievements in natural gas equipment and engineering, but natural gas utilization is lagging in comparison, with drilling, new materials, environmental protection, pipe network engineering, and digital services becoming frontier fields, and collaborative innovation with the thermoelectric, metalworking, automotive, and other related industries having been initially established. (3) The unevenness of technological innovation capabilities is obvious, with the core advantages of Beijing–Tianjin being continuously strengthened and Sichuan–Chongqing, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, Shandong Peninsula, and Liaodong Peninsula forming high-level technological innovation capability agglomerations. (4) The spatiotemporal pattern of technological innovation capability is the result of multiple factors, with northeastern cities mainly being affected by natural gas demands, northwestern cities being highly sensitive to capital strength, eastern cities mostly relying on urban development, and cities in North China mainly being bolstered by the strength of talent. (5) It is necessary to carry out further multi-agent and multi-scale future research on technological innovation in the natural gas industry and its relationship with the energy transition and to explore the interactivity of the influencing factors. This study may provide strategies for technological innovation in the natural gas industry from the perspective of the energy transition.
In Silico Investigation of the Impact of Reaction Kinetics on the Physico-Mechanical Properties of Coconut-Oil-Based Rigid Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Alfeche Fortia Louise Adeliene M. , Dingcong Roger G. , Mendija Leanne Christie C. , Al-Moameri Harith H. , Dumancas Gerard G. , Lubguban Alona A. , Malaluan Roberto M. , Alguno Arnold A. , Lubguban Arnold A.
Published: April 2023

Conventionally, designing rigid polyurethane foams (RPUFs) with improved physico-mechanical properties from new, bio-based polyols is performed by modifying foam formulations via experimentation. However, experimental endeavors are very resource-dependent, costly, cumbersome, time-intensive, waste-producing, and present higher health risks. In this study, an RPUF formulation utilizing a coconut-oil (CO)-based polyol with improved physico-mechanical properties was approximated through a computational alternative in the lens of the gel time of the RPUF formation. In the RPUF formation of most bio-based polyols, their very fast gel times negatively impact foam robustness. The computational alternative functioned by finding a CO-based RPUF formulation with a gel time in good agreement with a formulation based on commercial petroleum-derived polyol (control). The CO-based RPUF formulation with the best-fit catalyst loading was approximated by simulating temperature profiles using a range of formulations with modified catalyst loadings iteratively. The computational approach in designing RPUF with improved properties was found to effectively negate foam collapse (with a shrinkage decrease of >60%) and enhance foam strength (with a compressive strength increase of >300%). This study presents an economically and environmentally sustainable approach to designing RPUFs by enabling minimized utilization of material sources for experimentation and analysis and minimized dependence on waste-producing methods.
Environmental Attributes of Wild versus Farmed Tuna: Beliefs, Knowledge and Purchasing Choices of Italian Consumers of Canned Tuna
Authors: Forleo Maria B. , Palmieri Nadia
Published: April 2023

The study investigates the perception of the environmental sustainability of wild-caught versus farm-raised tuna production among a sample of Italian consumers. Awareness, concern, knowledge and beliefs related to the environmental impacts of wild and farmed tuna, and the attention given to environmental attributes when purchasing canned tuna, are tested for significance based on the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals. The results show that respondents are aware and concerned about the environmental challenges in fish production, but more than half of the sample has no or little knowledge of the environmental sustainability of both wild and farmed sources of tuna production. They indicate impacts in terms of by-catch, marine ecosystems and species reproduction for the wild source; for the farmed source, environmental issues related to the feeding and risk of the virus are reported. Most respondents believe that the wild fish source has a greater environmental impact than the farmed tuna production. Plastic contamination, separate waste collection and air emissions are other environmental challenges respondents mostly consider. Finally, minimal attention is paid to environmental attributes when purchasing canned tuna, and the production method of the fish is ignored.
A High Voltage Gain Interleaved DC-DC Converter Integrated Fuel Cell for Power Quality Enhancement of Microgrid
Authors: Mumtaz Farhan , Yahaya Nor Zaihar , Meraj Sheikh Tanzim , Singh Narinderjit Singh Sawaran , Rahman Md. Siddikur , Hossain Lipu Molla Shahadat
Published: April 2023

Fuel cells have drawn a lot of interest in recent years as one of the most promising alternative green power sources in microgrid systems. The operating conditions and the integrated components greatly impact the quality of the fuel cell’s voltage. Energy management techniques are required in this regard to regulate the fuel cell’s power in a microgrid. The active/reactive power in the microgrid should be adjusted in line with US Energy Star’s regulations whereas the grid current needs to follow the standard set by IEEE 519 2014 to enhance the power quality of the electrical energy injected into the microgrid. Uncontrolled energy injection from the fuel cell can have serious impacts including superfluous energy demand, overloading, and power losses, especially in high power and medium voltage systems. Although fuel cells have many advantages, they cannot yet produce high voltages individually to compensate for the demand of a microgrid system. Due to these reasons, the fuel cell must be interfaced with a DC-DC converter. This research proposes a novel high voltage gain converter integrated 1.26 kW fuel cell for microgrid power management that can boost the fuel cell’s voltage up to 20 times. Due to this high voltage gain, the voltage and current ripple of the fuel cell is also reduced substantially. According to the analysis, the proposed converter demonstrated optimal performance when compared to the other converters due to its high voltage gain and extremely low voltage ripple. As a result, the harmonic profile of the microgrid current persists with a reduced THD of 3.22% and a very low voltage ripple of 4 V. To validate the converter’s performance, along with extensive simulation, a hardware prototype was also built. The voltage of the fuel cell is regulated using a simplified proportional integral controller. The operating principle of the converter integrated fuel cell along with its application in microgrid power management is demonstrated. A comparative analysis is also shown to verify how the proposed converter is improving the system’s performance when compared against other converters.
Effects of Zinc Substitution on the Microstructural and Magnetic Characteristics of Cubic Symmetry Nickel Ferrite System
Authors: Abd-Elkader Omar H. , Deraz Nasrallah M. , Aleya Lotfi
Published: April 2023

The preparation of ZnxNi1−xFe2O4 (x = 0 and 0.3) nanoparticles using glycine-mediated combustion route was successfully completed depending on the zwitterion and combustion characteristics of glycine. Using a variety of methods, including XRD, FTIR, SEM/EDX, and TEM, the investigated ferrites were characterized. XRD and FTIR analyses confirm that Zn0.3Ni0.7Fe2O4 and NiFe2O4 nanoparticles crystallize in the cubic symmetry in the space group Fd3m. An increase in the lattice parameters and a subsequent decrease in crystallite size were caused by the process of replacing Ni ions with Zn ions. In accordance with Waldron’s hypothesis, FTIR spectra demonstrate that the ferrites have a spinel-type structure as they are produced. The substitution process by Zn led to different changes in the half band widths with subsequent in splitting in the absorption band around 400 cm−1. The examined ferrites’ cation distribution showed that Zn2+ and Ni2+ ions favored the tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites, respectively, while Fe3+ ions occupied both A- and B-sites, providing mixed spinel ferrite. TEM analysis indicates the formation of spinel nanocrystalline particles with low agglomerations. The particle size of the as-synthesized ferrites did not exceed 16 nm. By applying the VSM approach at room temperature, the magnetic characteristics of the ferrites under investigation were established. The magnetization of Zn0.3Ni0.7Fe2O4 nanoparticles was found to be higher than that of NiFe2O4 nanoparticles according to the magnetic data. Increasing the magnetization and the experimental magnetic moment of Zn0.3Ni0.7Fe2O4 were accompanied by a decreasing of its coercivity. The net magnetization is oriented along different high symmetry directions. On the other hand, the anisotropy of the nickel ferrite increases by substituting Ni with a Zn ion.
Reduced Survival and Disruption of Female Reproductive Output in Two Copepod Species (Acartia clausi and A. tonsa) Exposed to the Model Endocrine Disruptor 17α-Ethinylestradiol
Authors: Hafez Tamer , Villate Fernando , Ortiz-Zarragoitia Maren
Published: April 2023

Estuaries are heavily impacted by pollutants from different sources such as urban sewage, industrial waste and agricultural runoff. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are very concerning pollutants to estuarine wildlife, but little is known about their impact on microscopic biota such as zooplankton. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of a model EDC, the 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), on two copepod species inhabiting the Basque coast (Southeastern Bay of Biscay) estuaries: Acartia clausi (autochthonous neritic species) and Acartia tonsa (non-indigenous brackish species). Female copepods were collected at population maximum time (spring for A. clausi and summer for A. tonsa) and exposed individually to 5 ng/L (low), 5 µg/L (medium) and 500 µg/L EE2 (high) doses, from environmental concentrations found in sewage effluents to toxicological concentrations. After 24 h exposure, the survival rate of experimental individuals was checked and the lethal concentration LC50 was calculated. The number of egg-producing females and the amount of egg laying and egg hatching were recorded. The integrated biomarker index (IBR) was calculated to integrate the overall effects of EE2 exposure. Both species had reduced survival rates at 500 µg/L, and the LC50 was lower in A. tonsa (158 µg/L) compared to A. clausi (398 µg/L). The number of eggs laid was significantly reduced in A. clausi at EE2 medium and high doses, while a reduction in the number of eggs in A. tonsa was observed only at the high dose. However, no significant differences were detected in the egg hatching success of exposed A. clausi and A. tonsa. IBR index showed that EE2 had the most detrimental effects on A. tonsa and A. clausi females at the 500 µg/L dose. In conclusion, after 24 h of exposure, EE2 reduced female copepod survival and disrupted reproductive output, but only at high non-environmentally relevant concentrations.
Aflatoxin B1 Detoxification Potentials of Garlic, Ginger, Cardamom, Black Cumin, and Sautéing in Ground Spice Mix Red Pepper Products
Authors: Medalcho Tadewos Hadero , Abegaz Kebede , Dessalegn Engida , Mate Juan
Published: April 2023

The uses of natural plant origin bioactive compounds are emerging as a promising strategy to detoxify aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). This study aimed to explore the potential of cooking, phytochemicals content, and antioxidant activities derived from garlic, ginger, cardamom, and black cumin to detoxify AFB1 on spice mix red pepper powder (berbere) and sauté. The effectiveness of the samples was analyzed for AFB1 detoxification potential through standard methods for the examination of food and food additives. These major spices showed an AFB1 level below the detection limit. After cooking in hot water for 7 min at 85 ℃, the experimental and commercial spice mix red pepper showed the maximum AFB1 detoxification (62.13% and 65.95%, respectively). Thus, mixing major spices to produce a spice mix red pepper powder had a positive effect on AFB1 detoxification in raw and cooked spice mix red pepper samples. Total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, and ferrous ion chelating activity revealed good positive correlation with AFB1 detoxification at p < 0.05. The findings of this study could contribute to mitigation plans of AFB1 in spice-processing enterprises. Further study is required on the mechanism of AFB1 detoxification and safety of the detoxified products.
Changes in Metabolic Profile in PLWHIV Switching to Doravirine-Based Regimen
Authors: Iannone Valentina , Passerotto Rosa Anna , Lamanna Francesco , Steiner Rebecca Jo , Lombardi Francesca , Salvo Pierluigi Francesco , Dusina Alex , Farinacci Damiano , Borghetti Alberto , Di Giambenedetto Simona , Ciccullo Arturo
Published: April 2023

Thanks to the modern ARV regimens and the fact that the morbidity and mortality of metabolic syndrome increases with age, clinicians are continuously researching effective and safe antiretroviral regimens with low impact on the lipid profile. Doravirine (DOR) is the latest non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) that shows long-term safety and tolerability and a favorable lipid profile. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of DOR-based three-drug regimens on the lipid profile in clinical practice. We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 38 treatment-experienced, virologically suppressed people living with HIV (PLWH) switching to this regimen, following the eligibility criteria. We carried out comparison analysis of immunological and metabolic parameters between baseline and 48 weeks of follow up. In our cohort of treatment-experienced, virologically suppressed PLWH, three-drug regimens with DOR showed good efficacy and a positive profile on lipid metabolism at 48 weeks of follow up.
Development of a DAS–ELISA for Gyrovirus Homsa1 Prevalence Survey in Chickens and Wild Birds in China
Authors: Zhang Shicheng , Yang Jianhao , Zhou Defang , Yan Tianxing , Li Gen , Hao Xiaojing , Yang Qi , Cheng Xiangyu , Shi Hengyang , Liu Qing , Li Yubao , Cheng Ziqiang
Published: April 2023

Gyrovirus homsa1 (GyH1) is an emerging pathogenic single–stranded circular DNA virus that leads to immunosuppression, aplastic anemia, and multisystem damage in chickens. However, the prevalence of GyH1 infection in chickens and wild birds remains unknown. Here, we developed a double–antibody sandwich enzyme–linked immunosorbent assay (DAS–ELISA) to investigate GyH1 infection in 8 chicken species and 25 wild bird species. A total of 2258 serum samples from chickens (n = 2192) in 15 provinces, and wild birds (n = 66) in Jinan Wildlife Hospital were collected from 2017 to 2021 in China. The GyH1–positive rates in chickens and wild birds were 9.3% (203/2192) and 22.7% (15/66), respectively. GyH1 was present in all flocks in 15 provinces. From 2017 to 2021, the positive rate ranged from 7.93% (18/227) to 10.67% (56/525), and the highest positive rate was present in 2019. Upon chicken age, the highest positive rate (25.5%) was present in young chickens (14–35 days old). Moreover, the GyH1–positive rate in broiler breeders (12.6%, 21/167) was significantly higher than that in layer chickens (8.9%, 14/157). This study shows that GyH1 has spread in chicken flocks and wild birds, and the higher GyH1–positive rate in wild birds indicates the risk of spillover from wild birds to chickens. Our study expanded the GyH1 epidemiological aspects and provided a theoretical basis for GyH1 prevention.
Estimating Hydraulic Parameters of Aquifers Using Type Curve Analysis of Pumping Tests with Piecewise-Constant Rates
Authors: Li Yabing , Zhou Zhifang , Zhuang Chao , Dou Zhi
Published: April 2023

Aquifer hydraulic parameters play a critical role in investigating various groundwater hydrology problems (e.g., groundwater depletion and groundwater transport), and the Theis formula for constant-rate pumping tests is commonly used to estimate them. However, the pumping rate in the field usually varies with time due to some factors, making the classical constant-rate model unsuitable for accurate parameter estimation. To address this issue, we developed a novel dimensionless-form analytical solution for variable-rate pumping tests involving piecewise-constant approximations for variable pumping rates. Analysis of the time–drawdown curves revealed that the first-step type curve was consistent with the Theis curve. However, the curves of subsequent steps deviated from the Theis curve and were associated with the first dimensionless inflection time (t1,D), which depended on the hydraulic conductivity (K) and specific storage (Ss) of the confined aquifers. On this basis, a new type curve method for estimating the aquifer K and Ss was proposed by matching the observed drawdown data with a series of type curves dependent on t1,D. Furthermore, this method can handle recovery drawdown data. We applied this method to a field site in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, China, by analyzing the drawdown data from four pumping tests. The hydraulic parameters estimated using this method were in close agreement with those calibrated via PEST. The calibrated K values were further validated by comparing them with lithology-based results. In summary, the geometric means of K and Ss were 6.62 m/d and 3.16 × 10−5 m−1 for the first confined aquifer and 0.92 m/d and 2.34 × 10−4 m−1 for the second confined aquifer.
Strain Screening and Conditions Optimization in Microalgae-Based Monosodium Glutamate Wastewater (MSGW) Treatment
Authors: Zhuang Yanmin , Su Qingling , Wang Haowen , Wu Chengzong , Tong Shanying , Zhang Jumei , Qiao Hongjin
Published: April 2023

The wastewater generated from monosodium glutamate production displays distinctive features of elevated salinity, organic content, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, and its indiscriminate disposal poses a significant threat to water quality and can cause detrimental impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The application of microalgae for monosodium glutamate wastewater (MSGW) treatment can result in simultaneous wastewater purification and biomass recovery. In this study, the algae species capable of thriving in diluted MSGW were screened, and the wastewater composition and growth conditions were optimized to obtain high algal biomass and nutrient removal rate. Among the tested species, Chlorella sp. FACHB-30 demonstrated superior potential for MSGW treatment and achieved a maximum specific growth rate of 0.28 d−1 and the highest COD removal rate of 61.50% over a 20-day cultivation period with trace metals supplementation in the wastewater. Moreover, the cultivation of Chlorella sp. FACHB-30 yielded considerable reductions in total phosphate (69.09%), total nitrogen (26.93%), and NH4+-N (51.91%) levels in the wastewater. The optimum conditions for achieving maximum algal density and highest nutrient removal were determined as light intensity of 150 μmol m−2s−1, inoculation concentration of 1 × 105 cells mL−1, and an iron concentration of 10−5 mol L−1. Finally, under the optimized conditions, the removal rates of total phosphate, total nitrogen, NH4+-N, and COD were determined to be 87.60%, 68.05%, 75.89%, and 77.96%, respectively. The findings of this study highlight the potential for enhancing the nutrient removal efficiency of microalgae-based MSGW treatment through the implementation of a combined approach that involves the selection of tolerant strains, optimization of cultivation conditions, and refinement of wastewater composition.
Reactive Black-5, Congo Red and Methyl Orange: Chemical Degradation of Azo-Dyes by Agrobacterium
Authors: Kaur Jaspreet , Mudgal Gaurav , Negi Arvind , Tamang Jeewan , Singh Shambhawi , Singh Gajendra Bahadur , Bose K. Jagadeesh Chandra , Debnath Sandip , Wadaan Mohammad Ahmad , Farooq Khan Muhammad , Ruokolainen Janne , Kesari Kavindra Kumar
Published: April 2023

The commercial processing of various biomaterials extensively uses azo dyes (including reactive, direct, acidic, and basic dyes). These industrial applications produce wastewater containing a large volume of solubilized azo dye and hydrolyzed by-products. The treatment of such wastewater is primarily carried out by chemical and, to an extent, physical methods, which lack selectivity and efficiency. Notably, the chemical methods employ free radicals and oxidizing agents that further increase the chemical waste and produce non-biodegradable side-products. Therefore, there is an increasing trend of using microbial-assisted methods. The current study identified a specific Agrobacterium strain (JAS1) that degraded the three structurally distinct azo dyes (Reactive Black 5, Methyl Orange, Congo Red). JAS1 can tolerate high concentrations and be used to perform the in-solution degradation of azo dyes, respectively: Methyl Orange (5.5 g/L and 5.0 g/L), Congo Red (0.50 g/L and 0.40 g/L), and Reactive Black 5 (0.45 g/L and 0.40 g/L). Our study elucidated the molecular mechanisms (primarily enzymatic degradation and adsorption) responsible for the JAS-1-assisted decoloration of azo dyes. The JAS-1-assisted degraded products from these azo dyes were found biodegradable as the germination and seedling growth of wheat seeds were observed. To enhance the scope of the study, JAS1-assisted decolorization was studied for cellulosic materials, indicating a potential application in de-inking and de-dyeing process in recycling industries.
Emerging Contaminants Decontamination of WWTP Effluents by BDD Anodic Oxidation: A Way towards Its Regeneration
Authors: Dominguez Joaquin R. , González Teresa , Correia Sergio E. , Núñez Maria M.
Published: April 2023

Electrochemical oxidation using a boron-doped diamond anode (EO-BDD) was tested to remove emerging contaminants commonly present in wastewater treatment plant effluents (WWTPe). The main objective of the work was the regeneration of this water for its possible reuse in high-quality demanding uses. In the first part of the work, we investigated the potential of this technique for removing a group of neonicotinoid pesticides (thiamethoxam (TMX), imidacloprid (ICP), acetamiprid (ACP), and thiacloprid (TCP)) in a WWTP effluent. The influence of operating variables, such as current density, the conductivity of media, supporting electrolyte type (Na2SO4, NaCl or NaNO3), or the natural aqueous matrix on target variables were fully established. Selected target variables were: (1) the percentage of pollutant removal, (2) the kinetics (apparent pseudo-first-order kinetic rate constant), (3) total organic carbon (TOC) removal, and (4) the specific energy consumption (SEC). A response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to model the results for all cases. In the paper’s final part, this technology was tested with a more broad group of common emerging pollutants, including some azole pesticides (such as fluconazole (FLZ), imazalil (IMZ), tebuconazole (TBZ), or penconazole (PNZ)), antibiotics (amoxicillin (AMX), trimethoprim (TMP), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)), and an antidepressant (desvenlafaxine (DVF)). The results confirm the power of this technology to remove this emerging contamination in WWTP effluents which supposes an interesting way towards its regeneration.
Identification of Phytoplankton-Based Production of the Clam Corbicula japonica in a Low-Turbidity Temperate Estuary Using Fatty Acid and Stable Isotope Analyses
Authors: Seo Dongkyu , Kim Changseong , Jang Jaebin , Kim Dongyoung , Kang Chang-Keun
Published: April 2023

The brackish water clam, Corbicula japonica, acts as an ecosystem engineer in estuaries. To identify its resource-use patterns in the low-turbidity temperate Seomjin River estuary of Korea, we analyzed stable isotope and fatty acid (FA) biomarkers to differentiate allochthonous and autochthonous dietary sources, and examined the effects of clam size, salinity gradient, and season. The δ13C and δ15N values were consistent across the three factors. The δ13C values of the clams were similar to those of both riverine- and estuarine-suspended particulate organic matter (R- and E-SPOM), while their δ15N values were 2–4‰ higher, indicating an equal contribution of both sources to the clam diet. Biogeochemical proxies and FA compositions of SPOM indicate that estuarine phytoplankton significantly contribute to the E-SPOM pool. Moreover, the similarity in FA profiles between Corbicula and E-SPOM indicates that phytoplankton-derived organic matter is the primary source of nutrition for the clam, with minimal impact from growth, salinity gradient, or seasonal changes. Our study suggests that in low-turbidity estuaries with high phytoplankton production, allochthonous organic matter makes a negligible contribution to clam nutrition, compared to high-turbidity estuaries. This finding could provide insights into the variations in the trophic structure of estuarine food webs across diverse regions.
Connecting Public and Urban Archaeology: Enhancement of Urban Archaeological Heritage Through Local Archeo Plans
Authors:   University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Archaeology and Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia, Zanier Katharina , Ratej Rok ,   Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia
Published: April 2023

The paper presents some definitions and tools developed as part of the ArcheoDanube project. The contribution, as well as the project, connects the fields of urban archaeology, public archaeology, management of archaeological sites and archaeological tourism. In doing so, of course, we come across basic concepts, some of which are still lacking clear definitions. This applies especially to the term »archaeological park«, which has several uses. After reviewing various definitions in recent international doctrinal documents, we propose one based on the excellent definition in the Croatian legislation. Following is a brief discussion of the specifics of archaeological tourism. Archaeological parks namely represent an important component in its development. Afterwards, we discuss the main topic of the paper: the Local Archeo Plan, which is one of the main products of the ArcheoDanube project. The Local Archeo Plan represents a new, broader form of management plan, specially designed for the specific situation of archaeological remains. Unlike conventional management plans for monuments or monumental areas, a Local Archeo Plan can be prepared for wider areas, e.g., a city, and offers us the possibility of dealing with the archaeological remains of different areas, with various solutions for presentation and interpretation, in the frame of a common outline. We then compare the Local Archeo Plan to similar plans in force in Slovenia and elsewhere and assess its relevance and usefulness in the development of archaeological destinations.
Remembering the Ancestors. A Grave-Marker from the “Schythian” Cemetery at Sâncrai (Alba County)
Authors:   Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj-Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch, Rustoiu Aurel , Drăgan Andreea ,   Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj-Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch
Published: April 2023

Mobility, migration, and conquest of endless horizons ... they have all been, since the beginning, essential traits of human existence. That is why the way different identity constructs were transformed or emerged as a consequence of local, regional or long-distance human mobility and migration has been an important research topic for social sciences. The purpose of this article is to see how the memory of the ancestors was reinterpreted and used in the process of reshaping collective identities triggered by the “Celtic” colonisation of Transylvania in the 4th century BC, and to determine the role it played in the interaction with the indigenous “Scythian” populations. Within this framework, the paper also includes a case study about the concrete ways of communicating the memory of the ancestors from one generation to another. In Transylvania, the “Scythian” horizon is represented by cemeteries with flat inhumation burials, and rarely cremations, which were recently dated to the 8th–5th / 4th centuries BC. The evolution of these communities was interrupted after the middle of the 4th century BC by the arrival of “Celtic” groups coming from the west. Their arrival determined a social reconfiguration of many local communities, as well as the appearance of new communities which displayed various degrees of cultural hybridisation. In several cases from the same region, the newcomers reused the funerary grounds which previously belonged to the local communities. Earlier burial grounds more likely became places of memory integrated into the local collective identity as symbolic references to a mythical past, providing a physical connection with the ancestors. Their later reuse reflects the cohabitation of the newcomers with the locals, as well as the will of the former to incorporate identity markers which were relevant in the local environment into the identity constructs of the newly established communities as a means of legitimisation. Grave no. 9/2020 from Sâncrai is one example of the manner in which the memory of the ancestors was passed down over time across generations.
Seventh-Eigth Centuries Finger-Rings Discovered in Transylvania
Authors:   Institute of Archaeology and History of Art Cluj-Napoca, Romanian Academy – Cluj Branch, Cosma Călin
Published: April 2023

Finger-rings of the 7th–8th century discovered in Transylvania were yielded only by cemeteries, both of inhumation and biritual. The inhumation burial grounds where finger-rings were identified include those of Gâmbaș/Cetățuie or Cimitirul reformat/further Gâmbaș 12, Sâncrai3 and Teiuș4. In biritual cemeteries, finger-rings were found in the burial grounds of Bratei 25 and Sibiu/Gușterița6. The few cemeteries with finger-rings is linked to the small number of burials which contained objects of respective type, and concurrently, with the small number of finger-rings. The Avar cemeteries count a total of five burials with finger-rings among the grave goods, their number amounting to eight exemplars. In the biritual cemeteries mapped in Transylvania, two cremations yielded each a single finger-ring and just one inhumation which contained a single finger-ring. Typologically, finger-ring types are few as well. They come down to two main groups, namely plain finger-rings and finger-rings with ornaments in the upper part of the ring hoop. Plain rings are represented by simple hoops made of iron, bronze or silver threads or thin bars. To the second group belong finger rings of thin sheet, with an ornament in the upper part in the shape of round spheres or round or oval plates. The small number of Avar cemeteries and graves from Transylvania in which finger-rings were found may be the result of various causes. It is very likely that finger-ring wearing was not fashionable in the Avar communities of Transylvania. A second element that may be taken into consideration to interpret the few such artefacts at the level of the archaeological sites from the Transylvanian Plateau is related to the assertion of social standing of those buried with finger-rings as well. The typological identity of the finger-rings from Transylvania (type B), together with the few items and graves where these were discovered may be interpreted as the display of ethnic identity of finger-ring bearers. Lastly, another interpreting acceptable for the finger-rings present in the Avar cemeteries of Transylvania is that of magical object playing an apotropaic role.
A Strong 2023/24 El Niño is Staged by Tropical Pacific Ocean Heat Content Buildup
Authors: Lian Tao , Wang Jie , Chen Dake , Liu Ting , Wang Dazhi
Published: April 2023

The upper ocean heat content in the equatorial Pacific usually serves as a primary precursor for an upcoming El Niño, while strong atmospheric perturbations such as westerly wind burst and easterly wind surge sometimes play a decisive role in determining the final intensity of the event. The tropical Pacific Ocean has just experienced a rare 3-year La Niña, which accumulated a huge amount of warm water in the western basin by the winter of 2022 with an intensity much stronger than those preceding the onset of strong El Niños in history. Using a state-of-the-art climate prediction system, here, we show that the restored warm water is sufficient for boosting a strong El Niño toward the end of 2023 and that an even stronger event could take place if a few sizable westerly wind bursts would occur in spring and early summer. This prediction is not sensitive to initial errors within the tropical Pacific but may be subject to some uncertainties brought about by influences from elsewhere.
Gramáticas morfo-sintácticas para el reconocimiento automático de raíces verbales en quechua
Authors: Duran Maximiliano
Published: April 2023

Dado que el quechua es una lengua en peligro, tal como lo expresa la UNESCO, se pretende en este trabajo avanzar en la creación de una plataforma de recursos lingüísticos, de modo de poder contribuir a su supervivencia y desarrollo. En este artículo, se presenta parte del algoritmo que utiliza las estructuras flexivas y derivativas de los verbos en quechua que permiten reconocer raíces verbales de un texto. Para ello nos valemos de las reglas morfo-sintácticas de aglutinación de los sufijos verbales de derivación y flexión. Se muestra cómo, con la ayuda del programa informático llamado NooJ, se pueden formalizar estos procesos. En particular: los paradigmas que rigen estructuras flexivas así como las gramáticas correspondientes. La finalidad es obtener nuevos verbos y generar flexiones o formas conjugadas de un solo verbo. Aquí se trabajó con un corpus, basado en escritos antiguos, para identificar automáticamente todas esas formas verbales, y extraer de entre ellos las raíces verbales correspondientes. De ese modo se pudo ‘descubrir’ doscientos noventa y ocho verbos ‘nuevos’, que se agregaron al léxico de verbos simples del quechua.
Reforming the education sphere as a scientific and technological dominant of the social reconstruction in the society
Authors: Garashchuk Olena , Kutsenko Vira
Published: April 2023

Introduction. The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a destructive factor for the socio- economic development of our country. Overcoming the effects of the mentioned factor is facilitated by the educational sphere, which in the current conditions requires its reformation on the basis of modern innovation, which would contribute to the appropriate social reconstruction of Ukrainian society.Purpose. The purpose of the research to which the article is devoted is the justification of optimal approaches to reforming education in the context of improving personnel training, the successful use of which would contribute to overcoming threats to the socio-economic development of Ukraine and the social reconstruction of society.Methods. General scientific and special methods of scientific knowledge were used to reveal the set goal, including methods of analysis and synthesis, system analysis, analogies, economic and statistical methods.Results. The article reveals the dangers and threats that exist today for the development of not only the economy, but also the education of Ukraine. Special attention is paid to personnel training, which reflects the human development index and the quality of human capital. It is also noted that according to the latest indicators, Ukraine significantly lags behind the USA and many European countries. Instead, the reform of the domestic educational sphere should overcome this lag. In this connection, the ways and mechanisms of improving the quality of educational services and improving personnel training are given. It is emphasized that as a result of this approach, the reformed educational sphere will ensure the successful reconstruction of Ukrainian society.Perspectives. In the future, it is promising to study the problems of further improvement of the personnel training system in the direction of the dynamic development of the reformed educational sector, which primarily involves ensuring the scientific and technological dominance and structure of the educational sector, bringing it into line with the requirements of the innovative development of the economy and society, as well as the formation of a modern system of continuous education , which includes all links, including personnel retraining, and can quickly adapt to changes in the labor market in accordance with the employer’s requirements.
SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW OF IOT METRICS
Authors: Moulla Donatien Koulla , Mnkandla Ernest , Abran Alain
Published: April 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) touches almost every aspect of modern society and has changed the way people live, work, travel and, do business. Because of its importance, it is essential to ensure that an IoT system is performing well, as desired and expected, and that this can be assessed and managed with an adequate set of IoT performance metrics. The aim of this study was to systematically inventory and classifies recent studies that have investigated IoT metrics. We conducted a literature review based on studies published between January 2010 and December 2021 using a set of five research questions (RQs) on the current knowledge bases for IoT metrics. A total of 158 IoT metrics were identified and classified into 12 categories according to the different parts and aspects of an IoT system. To cover the overall performance of an IoT system, the 12 categories were organized into an ontology.  The findings results show that the category of network metrics was the most discussed in 43% of the studies and, with the highest number of metrics at 37%. This study can provide guidelines for researchers and practitioners in selecting metrics for IoT systems and valuable insights into areas for improvement and optimization.
Experimental demonstration of offset-induced sensitivity enhancement in SMS-based temperature and strain sensing
Authors: Wang Kun , Mizuno Yosuke , Lee Heeyoung , Dong Xingchen , Kurz Wolfgang , Fink Maximilian , Jakobi Martin , Koch Alexander W.
Published: April 2023

A simple, inexpensive, and high-sensitivity temperature and strain sensor based on a single-mode–multimode–single-mode (SMS) structure with core offset is developed and experimentally characterized. This sensor does not require specialty fibers and can be fabricated using a standard fiber fusion splicer. The dependencies of the temperature and strain sensitivities on the core-offset amplitudes at the input and output single-mode/multimode fiber boundaries are investigated. The results indicate that the maximum temperature and strain sensitivities are two times and eight times higher than those of the standard SMS structure, respectively. The limit of the sensitivity enhancement by core offset is also revealed.
Einführung in die Politikdidaktik
Authors: May Michael , Partetzke Marc
Published: April 2023

Der Weg zur professionellen und reflektierten Politiklehrkraft
Die Politikdidaktik als Wissenschaft vom Lehren und Lernen der Politik hat sich in den letzten Jahrzehnten etabliert und ausdifferenziert.
Dieser Band bietet einen umfassenden Überblick über die Politikdidaktik, ihre Geschichte und ihre aktuellen Entwicklungen.
Er führt leicht verständlich in ihre zentralen Fragestellungen, Grundbegriffe sowie Forschungs- und Entwicklungsfelder ein und richtet sich vor allem an Studienanfänger.
Die Lektüre schafft Orientierung und legt Grundlagen für erste Praxisversuche angehender Politiklehrer:innen.
Das Buch versteht sich als Begleiter auf dem Weg zum professionellen und reflektierten Politikunterricht.