bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Sustainability of Building Foundations with Efficient Open-End Pile Optimization
Authors: Jelušič Primož
Published: August 2024

Optimizing open-end piles is crucial for sustainability as it minimizes material consumption and reduces environmental impact. By improving construction efficiency, less steel is needed, reducing the carbon footprint associated with production and transportation. Improved pile performance also results in more durable structures that require less frequent replacement and maintenance, which in turn saves resources and energy. This paper presents a parametric study on optimal designs for open-ended piles in sand, presenting a novel approach to directly compute optimal pile designs using CPT results. It addresses challenges posed by soil variability and layered conditions, with the optimization model accounting for interdependencies among pile length, diameter, wall thickness and soil properties, including the pile–soil plug system. A mixed-integer optimization model OPEN-Pile was developed, consisting of an objective function for pile mass and CO2 emissions. The objective function was constrained by a set of design and geotechnical conditions that corresponded to current codes of practice and recommendations. The efficiency of the developed optimization model is illustrated by two case studies. In the case of Blessington sand, the calculation results show that it is more economical and environmentally friendly to increase the pile diameter and pile wall thickness than the pile length. In efficient design, the ratio between diameter and wall thickness is calculated at the upper limit. For the optimum design of piles in Blessington sand, the optimum ratios of pile length to diameter, diameter to wall thickness and length to wall thickness are 5, 50 and 250, respectively. In a layered soil profile, the decision of where to place the pile base depends on the resistance of the cone tip and the thickness of the individual layers. To determine in which layer the pile base should be placed, we need to perform an optimization for the given design data.
Smart-City Policy in China: Opportunities for Innovation and Challenges to Sustainable Development
Authors: Yang Song , Su Yinfeng , Yu Qin
Published: August 2024

Urban development relies on the promotion of innovation, while sustainable development is an inevitable requirement for green urban development. As the primary carrier of innovation and sustainable development, cities have seen the construction of smart cities become a hotspot topic of public concern against the backdrop of rapid advancements in information technology. Based on the Chinese smart-city pilot policies, this paper selects data from 278 prefecture-level cities between 2007 and 2020, employing difference-in-difference (DID), epsilon-based measures and global Malmquist–Luenberger index (EBM-GLM), and the Spatial Durbin Model (SDM) to analyze the direct impact, spatial effects, and regional differences of smart-city construction on urban innovation capacity and sustainable development. The research results indicate the following: (1) the implementation of smart-city policies significantly enhances the urban innovation capacity (UCI), but its impact on green total-factor productivity (GTFP) is unstable and even insignificant; (2) the UCI and GTFP of smart cities have spillover effects, and the implementation of policies may inhibit the improvement of UCI and GTFP in neighboring cities; (3) the impact of smart-city construction varies across different regions, with a more significant promotion effect on the innovation capacity of economically developed cities.
A Quantitative Analysis of the Complex Response Relationship between Urban Green Infrastructure (UGI) Structure/Spatial Pattern and Urban Thermal Environment in Shanghai
Authors: Guan Zhenru , Zhang Hao
Published: August 2024

The urban heat island (UHI) effect has evolved into one of the key environmental problems affecting the urban ecological environment and sustainable development. Based on 52 Urban Thermal Heat spots (UTHSs) with significant differences between land use structure and urban green infrastructure (UGI) spatial layout within the influence range of UHI in Shanghai, Landsat-8/9 satellite images were used to construct a high-dimensional dataset reflecting the impact of built environment components on urban thermal environment. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the spatial difference qualitatively. Using the stepwise regression (SWR) model and partial least square regression (PLSR) model, the complex response relationship between UGI’s structure/spatial pattern differentiation and urban thermal environment in three spatial stratification ranges of UTHSs was quantitatively analyzed. Overall, the statistical explanatory power of the PLSR model is much better than the stepwise regression model. The PLSR model points out that moderately increasing the average building height, class area (CA), percentage of landscape (PLAND), landscape shape index (LSI), and largest patch index (LPI) play a positive role in inhibiting the growth of land surface temperature (LST), and the cooling effect of index weights decreases in order. However, the interaction effects of the box-cox transformed indices with underlines, e.g., CA × Cohesion × AI × LPI and PLAND × CA × Cohesion × AI × LPI, exert relatively small weight on the cooling effect. According to the results, suggestions such as optimization of the UGI structure and urban construction layout were proposed, which can effectively mitigate the UHI effect.
Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Arable Land Green and Low-Carbon Utilization in the Yangtze River Delta from the Perspective of Carbon Neutrality
Authors: Li Ruifa , Cui Wanglai
Published: August 2024

Arable land green and low-carbon utilization (ALGLU) is an important pathway to safeguard food safety and achieve the green transformation and progress of agriculture, playing a crucial role in promoting agricultural ecological protection and economic sustainability. This study takes the Yangtze River Delta region (YRD), where rapid urbanization is most typical, as the study area. On the basis of fully considering the carbon sink function of arable land, the study measures the green and low-carbon utilization level of arable land in the region using the Super-slack and based measure (Super-SBM) model, and analyzes its spatial and temporal evolution using the spatial autocorrelation model, the center of gravity, and the standard ellipsoid model, and then analyzes its impact with the help of the geographic detector and the geographically weighted regression model. We analyzed the multifactor interaction and spatial heterogeneity of the factors with the help of the geodetector and geographically weighted regression model. Results: (1) The ALGLU in the YRD has shown a fluctuating upward tendency, increasing from 0.7307 in 2012 to 0.8604 in 2022, with a growth rate of 17.75%. The phased changes correspond to national agricultural development policies and the stages of socio-economic development. (2) There are significant spatial differences in the level of ALGLU in the YRD, with high levels distributed in the southwest of Jiangsu, northern Zhejiang, and northwest Anhui, while low levels are distributed in the southwest of the YRD. Positive spatial autocorrelation exists in the level of ALGLU in the YRD. The spatial transfer trends of the gravity and standard deviation ellipses essentially align with changes in the spatial pattern. (3) The level of ALGLU in the YRD is affected by many factors, with the intensity of interaction effects far exceeding that of individual factors. When considering single-factor effects, precipitation, topography, and farmers’ income levels are important factors influencing the level of ALGLU. In scenarios involving multiple-factor interactions, agricultural policies become the primary focus of interaction effects. Furthermore, the driving effects of influencing factors exhibit spatial heterogeneity, with significant differences in the direction and extent of driving effects of each factor in different cities. This study can provide valuable insights for future ALGLU in the YRD and regional sustainable development.
Methodological Framework for Integrating Cultural Impact in Sustainability Assessments of Cultural Events
Authors: Biedermann Anna Maria , Muñoz López Natalia , Santolaya Sáenz José Luis , Asión-Suñer Laura , Galán Pérez Francisco Javier
Published: August 2024

Based on the three dimensions model of sustainability, different studies that address the integration of the culture and sustainability concepts from a theoretical field propose that culture should be included as another sustainability dimension to a greater degree. This approach has not been put into practice to date. In fact, when sustainability application is examined in cultural activities such as museums and exhibitions, in most cases it is associated with only one dimension and evaluation methodologies based on a holistic approach; the Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) is used in very few cases. In this work, a methodological framework is proposed to add the cultural dimension to the study of the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainability. A sequence of phases in line with the LCSA methodology is used to achieve the simultaneous evaluation of impacts associated with a sustainability approach based on four dimensions. A thorough literature review revealed cultural indicators, which were classified and organized in order to facilitate the cultural impact assessment and complement the indicators already used to evaluate other dimensions. Additionally, the approaches and methods proposed are put into practice in a case study, which consists of an experimental exhibition room. The different phases of the methodology have been successively developed, and indicators for all sustainability dimensions have been obtained. Thus, the theoretical contribution of this work is embellished with the development of a practical case, which demonstrate that cultural dimensions can be evaluated together with the rest of the dimensions in order to obtain a multidimensional assessment of sustainability.
Runoff Prediction of Tunxi Basin under Projected Climate Changes Based on Lumped Hydrological Models with Various Model Parameter Optimization Strategies
Authors: Yan Bing , Gu Yicheng , Li En , Xu Yi , Ni Lingling
Published: August 2024

Runoff is greatly influenced by changes in climate conditions. Predicting runoff and analyzing its variations under future climates are crucial for ensuring water security, managing water resources effectively, and promoting sustainable development within the catchment area. As the key step in runoff modeling, the calibration of hydrological model parameters plays an important role in models’ performance. Identifying an efficient and reliable optimization algorithm and objective function continues to be a significant challenge in applying hydrological models. This study selected new algorithms, including the strategic random search (SRS) and sparrow search algorithm (SSA) used in hydrology, gold rush optimizer (GRO) and snow ablation optimizer (SAO) not used in hydrology, and classical algorithms, i.e., shuffling complex evolution (SCE-UA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO), to calibrate the two-parameter monthly water balance model (TWBM), abcd, and HYMOD model under the four objective functions of the Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE) variant based on knowable moments (KMoments) and considering the high and low flows (HiLo) for monthly runoff simulation and future runoff prediction in Tunxi basin, China. Furthermore, the identified algorithm and objective function scenario with the best performance were applied for runoff prediction under climate change projections. The results show that the abcd model has the best performance, followed by the HYMOD and TWBM models, and the rank of model stability is abcd > TWBM > HYMOD with the change of algorithms, objective functions, and contributing calibration years in the history period. The KMoments based on KGE can play a positive role in the model calibration, while the effect of adding the HiLo is unstable. The SRS algorithm exhibits a faster, more stable, and more efficient search than the others in hydrological model calibration. The runoff obtained from the optimal model showed a decrease in the future monthly runoff compared to the reference period under all SSP scenarios. In addition, the distribution of monthly runoff changed, with the monthly maximum runoff changing from June to May. Decreases in the monthly simulated runoff mainly occurred from February to July (10.9–56.1%). These findings may be helpful for the determination of model parameter calibration strategies, thus improving the accuracy and efficiency of hydrological modeling for runoff prediction.
Forecasting the Usage of Bike-Sharing Systems through Machine Learning Techniques to Foster Sustainable Urban Mobility
Authors: Torres Jaume , Jiménez-Meroño Enrique , Soriguera Francesc
Published: August 2024

Bike-sharing systems can definitely contribute to the achievement of sustainable urban mobility. In spite of this potential, their planning and operation are not free of difficulties. The main operational problem of bike-sharing systems is the unbalanced distribution of bicycles over the service region, resulting in zones where bicycles are scarce and zones where bicycles accumulate. In order to provide an acceptable level of service, the operator needs to carry out repositioning movements, which are costly. Bike-sharing repositioning optimization solutions have been developed that rely on the estimation of the expected number of requests and returns at each location. Errors in this prediction are directly transferred to suboptimal repositioning solutions. For this reason, the development of methodologies able to accurately forecast bike-sharing usage is an issue of great concern. This paper deals with this problem using machine learning regression methods, which yield usage predictions from inputs such as historical usage and meteorological data. Three different machine learning regression techniques have been analyzed (i.e., random forest, gradient boosting, and artificial neural networks) and applied to a case study based on the New York City bike-sharing system. This paper describes the variables of the models and their calibration processes. Results are analyzed and compared in order to determine which one of the three techniques and under what conditions is the most adequate. Comparisons are not only made in terms of accuracy but also with respect to the applicability of the algorithms. Results indicate that, given the similar accuracy of all methods, the simpler calibration process of the random forest technique makes it advisable for most applications.
Heatwaves Impact on Prehospital Emergency Medicine: A Qualitative Study to Improve Sustainability and Disaster Preparedness in Veneto Region, Northern Italy
Authors: Paganini Matteo , Markou-Pappas Nikolaos , Della Corte Francesco , Rosi Paolo , Trillò Giulio , Ferramosca Marialuisa , Paoli Andrea , Politi Federico , Valerio Adriano , Favaro Andrea , Hubloue Ives , Ragazzoni Luca , Barone-Adesi Francesco , Lamine Hamdi
Published: August 2024

Heatwaves are periods of unusual heat, whose frequency and intensity is increasing. Heatwaves also translate into emergency healthcare dysfunctions, but evidence on how to mitigate these effects still needs to be provided. This multicentric study aimed to identify the interactions between heatwaves and prehospital emergency medicine (PHEM). After obtaining informed consent, PHEM personnel working full-time in different districts of the Veneto Region, Northern Italy, were recruited. Their perspective was captured through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis methodology. Thirteen subjects participated in the study. Their insights were categorized into four themes: perception of heatwaves; clinical impact of heatwaves; social factors and heatwaves; heatwaves and emergency medical service (EMS). According to the interviewees, the strain on EMSs during heatwaves may be partially reduced by interventions targeting vulnerable populations, primary care, social networks, and education and information. Specific public health actions could follow the surge science principles of staff, stuff, structure, and system to help policymakers improve EMS surge capacity planning, preparedness, and responses. The present study also identified PHEM vulnerabilities and targets of interventions to implement heat–health action plans, mitigate the risk of prehospital emergency care dysfunction, and improve EMS sustainability and preparedness against heatwaves and the changing climate.
The Impact of Human Capital and Tourism Industry Agglomeration on China’s Tourism Eco-Efficiency: An Analysis Based on the Undesirable Super-SBM-ML Model
Authors: Wang Qiao , Wei Meixian , Wang Nan , Chen Qiuhua
Published: August 2024

Tourism eco-efficiency has played a significantly essential role in the sustainable development of tourism destinations and tourism industries, providing ideal inputs and outputs amidst the deepening environmental crisis. This study evaluates the development level of tourism eco-efficiency using the Super-SBM model with undesirable outputs, employing the Malmquist-Luenberger (ML) index to analyse the internal optimisation forces of tourism eco-efficiency. Furthermore, human capital is assessed through both horizontal and vertical education levels, followed by a panel Tobit econometric analysis to explore the external impact mechanisms on tourism eco-efficiency. The results show that (1) Technological advancement is the core intrinsic driver for optimising tourism eco-efficiency. (2) In the analysis of influencing mechanisms, Human capital significantly contributes to enhancing tourism eco-efficiency, a conclusion upheld even after conducting robustness tests. (3) Analysis of mediating mechanisms indicates that tourism industry agglomeration is a critical pathway through which human capital enhances tourism eco-efficiency. This correlation has been proven reliable by regional regression analysis. (4) Results of the threshold model test suggest a law of “increasing marginal effect” concerning the positive impact of human capital on tourism eco-efficiency within the regulation of tourism industry agglomeration. Consequently, regions should actively promote the roles of human capital and tourism industry agglomeration in advancing tourism eco-efficiency, improving resource utilization efficiency, and tourism industry specialization to foster sustainable tourism development.
Sustainability of Lolium multiflorum L. ‘Cajamarquino Ecotype’, Associated with Trifolium repens L., at Three Cutting Frequencies in the Northern Highlands of Peru
Authors: Vallejos-Cacho Romy , Vallejos-Fernández Luis Asunción , Alvarez-García Wuesley Yusmein , Tapia-Acosta Eduardo Alberto , Saldanha-Odriozola Sylvia , Quilcate-Pairazaman Carlos Enrique
Published: August 2024

Livestock farming feed in the northern highlands of Peru is based on the association of ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) ecotype cajamarquino–white clover (Trifolium repens L.) Ladino variety, which constantly varies in its agronomic characteristics and nutritional value due to management considerations and its association with the soil and the animal. The objective of this study was to evaluate yield, plant height, growth rate, tillering, tiller number, spikelets, basal diameter in ryegrass, elongation rate, internode length and decline points in clover over one year. Nutritive value was represented by crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) and metabolisable energy (ME) at three cutting frequencies (30, 45 and 60 days). Better yield (5588 kg DM ha) and plant height (47.1 cm) were shown by the 60-day cutting frequency; however, there was no difference (p > 0.05) between the three cutting frequencies in annual yield. There were no differences between the number of tillers and basal diameter. Clover height, elongation rate and internode length were higher at 60 days. The highest CP concentration and the lowest NDF value (p < 0.05) were achieved by clover at 30 and 45 days. Producers should consider the results when deciding when to use this association in dairy cattle feeding.
Recycled Content for Metals with Refined Classification of Metal Scrap: Micro-Level Circularity Indicator in Accordance with Macro-Level System
Authors: Suzuki Taichi , Daigo Ichiro
Published: August 2024

Transitioning from a traditional linear economy to a circular economy occurs at the micro-level system, encompassing products and companies, which should be monitored. For metals, recycled content as an input-side indicator of recycling quantifies the ratio of metal scrap consumed during production and fabrication. However, conventional methodology struggles to evaluate recycled content uniquely due to the ambiguous classification of new scrap derived from industrial processes. Additionally, the input and output of new scrap between micro-level systems are often inadequately counted, causing inconsistencies in the recognition of secondary input between macro- and micro-level systems. This study introduces a refined classification for metal scrap, precisely distinguishing new scrap by its originating processes. Furthermore, we propose a novel perspective on new scrap, viewing it as a mixture of old scrap and primary raw materials, with only the portion of old scrap being considered secondary raw material. This stance navigates past the binary classification—whether new scrap should be classified as secondary—eliminating ambiguity and allowing for clear identification of secondary raw materials. The developed methodology ensures that all inputs of scrap are accounted for without leakage, and the recycled content of a specific metal is uniquely determined, maintaining consistency with macro-level systems.
Relational Global Value Chain Carbon Emissions and Their Network Structure Patterns: Evidence from China
Authors: Yue Youfu , Hou Junjun , Yue Nuoya , Wang Haofan
Published: August 2024

The structure of the network among firms participating in global value chains is an important factor in understanding the changes in China’s carbon emissions. This paper focuses on the interdependence between firms and the interconnected networks to which they belong, utilizing an inter-country input–output model that distinguishes between domestic-owned enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises for measurement purposes. By distinguishing between domestic and cross-border global value chains, we illustrate the carbon emission effects of relational global value chains and their network structures, thereby contributing a Chinese perspective on relational global value chains and carbon emission reduction. This study reveals that (1) relational global value chain activities have emerged as a significant contributor to China’s carbon emissions, constituting approximately 26.8%, with its growth mainly stemming from the expansion of domestic global value chain emissions. At the sectoral level, relational global value chain activities lead to higher carbon emissions from the service sector than from the manufacturing sector. (2) Domestic global value chain relationship activities are more likely to have favorable economic and environmental trade-offs, as evidenced by the lower carbon intensity of the domestic global value chain than the cross-border global value chain. The circle-structured relationship activities between domestic-owned enterprises and foreign-invested enterprises are associated with more sustainable carbon emission growth and greater potential for emission reduction than the chain structure. (3) Structural decomposition analysis indicates that the impact of cross-border global value chain emissions on China’s carbon emission growth has been decreasing since 2012, while the influence of the domestic global value chain is on the rise and surpasses that of the cross-border global value chain by the end of the period.
Fertilizer Price Surge in Poland and Beyond: Seeking the Way Forward towards Sustainable Development
Authors: Kowalska Aleksandra , Hałka Mateusz , Budzyńska Anna , Kicia Mariusz , Terpiłowski Konrad
Published: August 2024

The aim of this study is to explore the impact of the main determinants on the rapid increase in fertilizer prices in Poland and to foresee the consequences of this situation regarding sustainable policy developments. We developed linear regression models for N, P, and K fertilizers to show the direction of influence of explaining variables and make a decomposition of the fertilizer price increases. The models illustrate that four major factors were responsible for the fertilizer price increases in Poland in 2020–2022, i.e., wheat, gas, GHGE allowance prices, and domestic production volumes. These factors explained the variation in the price of fertilizers concerned with different strengths. There were also other impacts associated with the ‘black swans’ occurrence (the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine). High mineral fertilizer prices provide an opportunity to revise agricultural policy and legislation, taking into account environmental concerns and the latest technological developments. Fertilizer management practices are at the center of a triangle of critical objectives that track the progress toward sustainable agricultural systems, such as (1) an increase in farm incomes, (2) environmental protection, and (3) food and nutrition security. We recommend adjusting the set of explaining variables in the models (i.e., wheat/corn price) to the specificities of the domestic agri-food system. This study provides important guidance for agricultural policymaking, emphasizing the need to integrate sustainable fertilizer management practices to achieve synergies between economic growth, environmental protection, and food security. Such an approach can support the long-term development of agriculture in Poland and contribute to the economic and environmental stability of the agricultural sector.
A Clustering Approach for Analyzing Access to Public Transportation and Destinations
Authors: Shafiq Mudassar , Rocha Hudyeron , Couto António , Ferreira Sara
Published: August 2024

Promoting sustainable and equitable public transportation services is essential for addressing disparities and preventing social exclusion among diverse population groups for daily activities. This paper proposes a comprehensive approach to assess transport disadvantages and identify areas with limited access to public transport and services. By combining statistical and geographic techniques, we analyze demographic, socioeconomic, and travel data to spatially contextualize areas based on the social structure and understand the characteristics of population groups facing transportation challenges in the Porto Metropolitan Area. Cluster analysis results revealed four distinct clusters with homogeneous characteristics. In contrast, service area analysis assessed the public transport coverage to identify served zones, the population within these zones, and activities reached in the region. Our findings indicate that suburban and rural areas often lack access to public transport stops, aggravated by lower service frequencies, leading to high reliance on private cars for essential activities, such as work and education. Despite the good geographical coverage of rail and bus stops, urban and central–urban areas also suffer from inadequate service frequencies, impacting public transport usage. Improving service quality in high-demand areas could encourage greater public transport utilization and enhance accessibility. Identifying areas facing inequities facilitates targeted policy interventions and prioritized investments to improve accessibility and address mobility needs to access services effectively.
The Character of Couples and Couple Stresses in Continuum Mechanics
Authors: Hadjesfandiari Ali R.
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the concepts of moments and couples in mechanics are examined from a fundamental perspective. Representing a couple by its moment vector is very useful in rigid body mechanics, where the states of internal stresses and deformation are not studied. This is because only the moment of couples appears in the governing equation of moment equilibrium. On the other hand, when considering the state of internal stresses and deformation in continuum mechanics, not only the moment of couples but also the line of action of their constituent parallel opposite forces must be specified. In defining a well-posed problem for a continuum, including the governing equations of moment equilibrium or motion, boundary conditions, and constitutive relations, only the moment of couples (e.g., body couples, couple tractions, couple stresses) appear without specifying the line of action of the constituent parallel forces. Nevertheless, the physical state of stress and deformation in the continuum must be unique and determinate. Therefore, this physical requirement imposes some restrictions on the form of body couples, couple tractions, and couple stresses. Here, the uniqueness of interactions in the continuum is used to establish that the continuum does not support a distribution of body couples or a distribution of surface twisting couple tractions with normal moments. Furthermore, the mechanism of action of the couple traction as a double layer of shear force tractions is established, along with the skew-symmetric character of the couple stress moment tensor.
A Three-Stage Model for Innovation Adoption in Health Systems: Insights from the Health Promotion and System Strengthening Project in Tanzania
Authors: Stoermer Manfred , Abdallah Ally Kebby , Wiedenmayer Karin
Published: August 2024

We explored the outcomes and challenges encountered during a 12-year collaborative development endeavor in Tanzania, focused on enhancing the healthcare system. The Health Promotion and System Strengthening (HPSS) project, supported by the Swiss Government and implemented by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) from 2011 to 2023, aimed to strengthen various aspects of Tanzania’s healthcare landscape. This included reforms in health insurance through the improved Community Health Fund (iCHF), the establishment of a public–private partnership to optimize the health commodity supply chain via a Prime Vendor System (Jazia PVS), the implementation of health technology management innovations, and the facilitation of participatory community and school health promotion initiatives. Operating in a multisectoral, interdisciplinary, and systemic manner, the HPSS project employed a variety of interconnected strategies, focusing on key entry points within the Tanzanian health system, starting from district level to national policies. These efforts followed a three-stages approach to reach a sustainable adoption of the innovations, going through the process of service and product innovation, integration into service delivery systems, and finally their adoption in the respective institutional policies. Each stage presented distinct frameworks and challenges, detailed in this article. The development of innovative concepts was complemented by capacity building through on-the-job training, establishment of new accredited training programs for pre-service trainings, and the development of new IT systems integrated into the governmental IT environment, as well as efforts to improve transparency, accountability, and governance. Activities in these fields were guided by operational research, following the translational approach of Swiss TPH to go from innovation and validation to application. The example of the HPSS project highlights the cycle of developing and testing innovations at the community and district level, followed by endeavoring national-level integration and policy adjustments, consequently resulting in improved service delivery at the district and community level.
Sharing a Ride: A Dual-Service Model of People and Parcels Sharing Taxis with Loose Time Windows of Parcels
Authors: Xue Shuqi , Zhang Qi , Shiwakoti Nirajan
Published: August 2024

(1) Efficient resource utilization in urban transport necessitates the integration of passenger and freight transport systems. Current research focuses on dynamically responding to both passenger and parcel orders, typically by initially planning passenger routes and then dynamically inserting parcel requests. However, this approach overlooks the inherent flexibility in parcel delivery times compared to the stringent time constraints of passenger transport. (2) This study introduces a novel approach to enhance taxi resource utilization by proposing a shared model for people and parcel transport, designated as the SARP-LTW (Sharing a ride problem with loose time windows of parcels) model. Our model accommodates loose time windows for parcel deliveries and initially defines the parcel delivery routes for each taxi before each working day, which was prior to addressing passenger requests. Once the working day of each taxi commences, all taxis will prioritize serving the dynamic passenger travel requests, minimizing the delay for these requests, with the only requirement being to ensure that all pre-scheduled parcels can be delivered to their destinations. (3) This dual-service approach aims to optimize profits while balancing the time-sensitivity of passenger orders against the flexibility in parcel delivery. Furthermore, we improved the adaptive large neighborhood search algorithm by introducing an ant colony information update mechanism (AC-ALNS) to solve the SARP-LTW efficiently. (4) Numerical analysis of the well-known Solomon set of benchmark instances demonstrates that the SARP-LTW model outperforms the SARP model in profit rate, revenue, and revenue stability, with improvements of 48%, 46%, and 49%, respectively. Our proposed approach enables taxi companies to maximize vehicle utilization, reducing idle time and increasing revenue.
The Spatial Pattern Evolution of Urban Innovation Actors and the Planning Response to Path Dependency: A Case Study of Guangzhou City, China
Authors: Qi Luhui , Zhang Yuan , Chen Yuanyi , Chen Lu , Zhou Shuli , Wei Xiaoli
Published: August 2024

The capacity for urban innovation is a significant symbol of contemporary urban development. In order to promote sustainable urban innovation, it is crucial to match and optimize innovation spaces, actors, and their behavioral needs. Based on the data from patent inventions, which are commonly used to represent urban innovation, in this study, we investigated the formation mechanism of Guangzhou’s innovation pattern and its characteristics from 1990 to 2020 using Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. The results indicated that Guangzhou’s innovation spaces developed a center-radiation structure of “two districts and seven cores”. We investigated the path dependence of spaces, actors, and behavioral needs by examining the interaction between the innovation space layout and behavioral needs. The findings provide theoretical support for the city’s sustainable development in terms of innovation in the future.
Nonvirulent Infectious Salmon Anemia Virus (ISAV-HPR0) Not Detectable in Eggs or Progeny of Infected Captive Atlantic Salmon Brood
Authors: Polinski Mark P. , Lifgren Demitri , Clayton Richard D. , Warg Janet V. , Pietrak Michael R. , Peterson Brian C.
Published: August 2024

The potential for infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV)—an internationally regulated pathogen of salmon—to transmit vertically from parent to offspring is currently unclear. While the highly virulent ISAV phenotype known as ISAV-HPRΔ has been observed intra-ova, evidence for vertical transmission of the avirulent ISAV phenotype known as ISAV-HPR0 is lacking. In this study, we identified ISAV-HPR0-infected Atlantic salmon broodstock during spawning within a government research recirculating aquaculture facility using qPCR. Eggs and milt from infected brood were used to initiate 16 unique family dam-sire crosses from which 29–60 fertilized eggs per cross were screened for ISAV using qPCR (limit of detection ~100 virus genome copies/egg). A portion of eggs (~300) from one family cross was hatched and further reared in biosecure containment and periodically screened for ISAV by gill clipping over a 2-year period. ISAV was not detected in any of the 781 eggs screened from 16 family crosses generated by infected brood, nor in 870 gill clips periodically sampled from the single-family cohort raised for 2 years in biocontainment. Based on these findings, we conclude that ISAV-HPR0 has a limited likelihood for vertical parent-to-offspring transmission in cultured Atlantic salmon.
Molecular and Phylogenetic Evidence of Interfamilial Transmission of HTLV-1 in the Afro-Descendant Community of São José de Icatú in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Botelho Bruno José Sarmento , Brito Wandrey Roberto dos Santos , Pereira Neto Gabriel dos Santos , Gonçalves Janete Silvana Souza , Oliveira Bruna Maria Silva , Oliveira Camille Marcela Camarinha de , Lima Aline Cecy Rocha de , Lima Sandra Souza , Pinheiro Priscila de Nazaré Quaresma , Freitas Felipe Bonfim , Guerreiro João Farias , Ishak Ricardo , Vallinoto Antonio Carlos Rosário , Cayres Vallinoto Izaura M. Vieira
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of HTLV-1/2 in quilombola communities in the state of Pará and investigate the possible sociodemographic risk factors associated with the infection, as well as to trace the occurrence of the familial transmission of the virus. A total of 310 individuals living in eight quilombos located in the state of Pará (northern Brazil) were investigated for the presence of anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and positive samples were confirmed using Western blot and/or real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Participants answered a questionnaire about sociodemographic aspects and risk factors for infection. Anti-HTLV-1/2 antibodies were detected in two individuals (one man and one woman), for an overall seroprevalence of 0.65%. Both individuals belonged to the community of São José de Icatú. The search for intrafamilial infection identified two other infected women, which increased the general prevalence of HTLV-1 among the Icatú to 6.25% (4/64). Western blot and qPCR confirmed their HTLV-1 infection, and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the isolates were of the cosmopolitan subtype and transcontinental subgroup. Epidemiological investigation of the cases revealed that the three women, at some point in their lives, had a relationship with the infected male individual. HTLV-1 is transmitted silently between individuals in the community of São José de Icatú with a present or past family relationship, stressing the need for screening and laboratory diagnosis to prevent further dissemination of the virus and surveillance of disease emergence.
COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness Studies against Symptomatic and Severe Outcomes during the Omicron Period in Four Countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Runge Manuela , Karimian Zahra , Kheirandish Mehrnaz , Borghi Giulio , Wodniak Natalie , Fahmy Kamal , Mantel Carsten , Cherian Thomas , Nabil Ahmed Said Zeinab , Najafi Farid , Thneibat Fatima , Ul-Haq Zia , Fazid Sheraz , Ibrahim Salama Iman , Khosravi Shadmani Fatemeh , Alrawashdeh Ahmad , Sirous Shadrokh , Bellizzi Saverio , Ahmed Amira , Lukwiya Michael , Rashidian Arash ,   on behalf of the Consortium of Authors
Published: August 2024

Vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies provide real-world evidence to monitor vaccine performance and inform policy. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean supported a regional study to assess the VE of COVID-19 vaccines against different clinical outcomes in four countries between June 2021 and August 2023. Health worker cohort studies were conducted in 2707 health workers in Egypt and Pakistan, of whom 171 experienced symptomatic laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Test-negative design case–control studies were conducted in Iran and Jordan in 4017 severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) patients (2347 controls and 1670 cases) during the Omicron variant dominant period. VE estimates were calculated for each study and pooled by study design for several vaccine types (BBIBP-CorV, AZD1222, BNT162b2, and mRNA-1273, among others). Among health workers, VE against symptomatic infection of a complete primary series could only be computed compared to partial vaccination, suggesting a benefit of providing an additional dose of mRNA vaccines (VE: 88.9%, 95%CI: 15.3–98.6%), while results were inconclusive for other vaccine products. Among SARI patients, VE against hospitalization of a complete primary series with any vaccine compared to non-vaccinated was 20.9% (95%CI: 4.5–34.5%). Effectiveness estimates for individual vaccines, booster doses, and secondary outcomes (intensive care unit admission and death) were inconclusive. Future VE studies will need to address challenges in both design and analysis when conducted late during a pandemic and will be able to utilize the strengthened capacities in countries.
The Immunological and Epidemiological Effectiveness of Pediatric Single-Dose Vaccination against Hepatitis A 9 to 11 Years after Its Implementation in the Tyva Republic, the Russian Federation
Authors: Lopatukhina Maria A. , Kyuregyan Karen K. , Karlsen Anastasia A. , Asadi Mobarkhan Fedor A. , Potemkin Ilya A. , Kichatova Vera S. , Isaeva Olga V. , Ilchenko Lyudmila Yu. , Saryglar Anna A. , Mikhailov Mikhail I.
Published: August 2024

Since 2012, universal single-dose HAV vaccination in children aged 3 years and older has been implemented in the Tyva Republic, a region of the Russian Federation. The aim of this prospective non-interventional observational single-center study was to determine the immunological and epidemiological effectiveness of single-dose vaccination against hepatitis A 9 to 11 years after its implementation. The anti-HAV IgG antibodies were determined in two independent cohorts of children who were vaccinated with a single dose of monovalent pediatric inactivated vaccine (HAVRIX® 720 EU) in Tyva in 2012 and recruited 9 years (Year 9 Cohort) and 11 years (Year 11 Cohort) after immunization. The seroprotection rates defined as anti-HAV antibody concentrations ≥10 mIU/mL reached 99.4% (95% CI: 98.2–99.9% [501/504]) in the Year 9 Cohort, but decreased significantly to 75.4% (95% CI: 73.0–77.6% [1006/1335]) in the Year 11 Cohort (p < 0.0001). The anti-HAV geometric mean concentrations decreased from 1446.3 mIU/mL (95% CI: 1347.1–1545.4 mIU/mL) in the Year 9 Cohort to 282.6 mIU/mL (95% CI: 203.8–360.8, p < 0.0001) in the Year 11 Cohort. The HAV vaccination program resulted in zero rates of hepatitis A incidence in the Tyva Republic since 2016. However, the limited monitoring of HAV RNA in sewage and environmental samples demonstrated the ongoing circulation of both the regional epidemic strain of HAV genotype IA and another genotype IA strain imported recently from other parts of the Russian Federation, probably due to subclinical infections in non-vaccinated children under 3 years of age. Taken together, these data indicate the effectiveness of the single-dose HAV vaccination strategy but suggest the need to expand the vaccination program to include children aged 12 months and older to achieve maximum effectiveness.
Correction: Murphy, H.; Ly, H. Understanding Immune Responses to Lassa Virus Infection and to Its Candidate Vaccines. Vaccines 2022, 10, 1668
Authors: Murphy Hannah , Ly Hinh
Published: August 2024

The authors would like to make the following corrections to this published paper [...]
Chromaticity-Based Discrimination of Algal Bloom from Inland and Coastal Waters Using In Situ Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Reflectance
Authors: Zhao Dongzhi , Luo Qinshun , Qiu Zhongfeng
Published: August 2024

The rapid growth of phytoplankton and microalgae has presented considerable environmental and societal challenges to the sustainable development of human society. Given the inherent limitations of satellite-based algal bloom detection techniques that rely on chlorophyll and fluorescence methods, this study proposes a method that employs hyperspectral data to calculate water chromatic indices (WCIs), including hue, saturation (S), dominant wavelength (λd), and integrated apparent visual wavelength (IAVW), to identify algal blooms. A global in situ hyperspectral dataset was constructed, comprising 13,110 entries, of which 9595 were for normal waters and 3515 for algal bloom waters. The findings of our investigation indicate statistically significant discrepancies in chromaticity parameters between normal and algal bloom waters, with a p-value of 0.05. It has been demonstrated that different algal blooms exhibit distinct chromatic characteristics. For algae of the same type, the chromaticity parameters increase exponentially with chlorophyll concentration for hue and λd, while S shows low correlation and IAVW displays a good linear relationship with chlorophyll concentration. The application of this method to the Bohai Sea (coastal) and Taihu Lake (inland water) for the extraction of algal blooms revealed a clear separation in chromaticity parameters between normal and algal bloom waters. Moreover, the method can be applied to satellite data, offering an alternative approach for the detection of algal blooms based on satellite data. The indices can serve as ground truth values for colorimetric indices and provide a benchmark for the validation of satellite chromatic products.
Flocculants for the High-Concentration Activated Sludge Method and the Effectiveness of Urban Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Luo Benfu , He Haixin , Yan Yujing , Wang Yin , Yang Xi , Liu Yuhang , Xu Jiaran , Huang Weiheng
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the three inorganic flocculants polymeric chloride PAC, FeCl3, and Al2(SO4)3 and two organic flocculants anionic polyacrylamide APAM and cationic polyacrylamide CPAM were screened to determine the most efficient flocculants and the optimal dosage, optimizing the flocculation operating conditions through the orthogonal test and then proving the experimental effect according to a comparison study of the high-concentration method and the traditional activated sludge method. The results show that the addition of CPAM achieves the best flocculation for high-concentration activated sludge suspension, and that the sludge interface descent rate, sludge volume index, and sludge settling ratio are better than those of other flocculants. The orthogonal test was used on the sludge volume index to perform evaluations and analyses: mixing section mixing intensity > Flocculation Stage 1 section mixing intensity > Flocculation Stage 2 section mixing intensity > mixing section residence time > flocculation section hydraulic residence time. In the comparison test, the settling performance of the high-concentration method was higher than that of the traditional activated sludge method. In terms of pollutant removal, the removal rates of COD, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen of the traditional activated sludge method were 90.85%, 95.74%, and 71.6%, respectively. The average removal rates of COD, ammonia nitrogen, and total nitrogen of high-concentration activated sludge method were 92.24%, 97.28%, and 80.97%—higher than that of the traditional activated sludge method.