bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time- and Amplitude-Controlled Power Noise Generator against SPA Attacks for FPGA-Based IoT Devices
Authors: Parrilla Luis , García Antonio , Castillo Encarnación , Rodríguez-Bolívar Salvador , López-Villanueva Juan Antonio
Published: September 2022

Power noise generation for masking power traces is a powerful countermeasure against Simple Power Analysis (SPA), and it has also been used against Differential Power Analysis (DPA) or Correlation Power Analysis (CPA) in the case of cryptographic circuits. This technique makes use of power consumption generators as basic modules, which are usually based on ring oscillators when implemented on FPGAs. These modules can be used to generate power noise and to also extract digital signatures through the power side channel for Intellectual Property (IP) protection purposes. In this paper, a new power consumption generator, named Xored High Consuming Module (XHCM), is proposed. XHCM improves, when compared to others proposals in the literature, the amount of current consumption per LUT when implemented on FPGAs. Experimental results show that these modules can achieve current increments in the range from 2.4 mA (with only 16 LUTs on Artix-7 devices with a power consumption density of 0.75 mW/LUT when using a single HCM) to 11.1 mA (with 67 LUTs when using 8 XHCMs, with a power consumption density of 0.83 mW/LUT). Moreover, a version controlled by Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) has been developed, named PWM-XHCM, which is, as XHCM, suitable for power watermarking. In order to build countermeasures against SPA attacks, a multi-level XHCM (ML-XHCM) is also presented, which is capable of generating different power consumption levels with minimal area overhead (27 six-input LUTS for generating 16 different amplitude levels on Artix-7 devices). Finally, a randomized version, named RML-XHCM, has also been developed using two True Random Number Generators (TRNGs) to generate current consumption peaks with random amplitudes at random times. RML-XHCM requires less than 150 LUTs on Artix-7 devices. Taking into account these characteristics, two main contributions have been carried out in this article: first, XHCM and PWM-XHCM provide an efficient power consumption generator for extracting digital signatures through the power side channel, and on the other hand, ML-XHCM and RML-XHCM are powerful tools for the protection of processing units against SPA attacks in IoT devices implemented on FPGAs.
Marine Internet of Things Platforms for Interoperability of Marine Robotic Agents: An Overview of Concepts and Architectures
Authors: Kabanov Aleksey , Kramar Vadim
Published: September 2022

The creation of a Marine Internet of Things platform, including the Underwater Internet of Things, is needed to ensure the interaction and digital navigation of heterogeneous marine robotic agents. It is necessary to combine the following robotic agents: autonomous underwater vehicles, remotely operated vehicles, active and passive marine sensors, buoys, underwater sonar stations, coastal communication posts, and other elements of the platform. To ensure the interaction of all these elements, it is necessary to use a common communication system within the platform, as well as a common navigation and control system to solve complex problems of the navigation and control of the movement of robotic agents in order to implement a joint mission to collect and transmit data, including video information in real time. The architecture of the Marine Internet of Things platform must first be defined in order to use a unified approach to data exchange. This article provides an overview of approaches to determining the architectures of network underwater and marine communication systems based on the concept of the Internet of Things. This paper provides a comprehensive study of MIoT applications, challenges, and architectures. The main contributions of this paper are summarized as follows: we introduce potential MIoT applications; we point out the challenges of MIoT (i.e., the differences between MIoT and IoT); and we analyze the MIoT system architecture.
Primary Factors Affecting the Efficiency of Thermoelectric Power Generation Sheets for Waste-Heat Recovery from the Ship’s Exhaust Gas
Authors: Liu Xiaoyu , Zhao Chong , Guo Hao , Wang Zhongcheng
Published: September 2022

In order to investigate the effect of different influencing factors on the application of temperature differential power generation in the ship exhaust gas and to explore the potential of waste heat recovery and the utilization of exhaust gas during ship travel, an experimental system based on the temperature differential power generation of ship exhaust gas in the marine environment was established. The maximum output power and the maximum efficiency of each temperature-difference power generation module were theoretically calculated. The results showed that the insulation material and the salt water (seawater) had little effect on the efficiency of the temperature differential power generation modules. Conversely, the installation pressure, the heat transfer oil, the cooling water temperature (seawater temperature), and the heat source temperature (exhaust gas pipe temperature) had a great influence on the open-circuit voltage and the maximum output power. The thermally conductive silicone grease and the cooling water temperature of 10 °C increased the open-circuit voltage by 31.54% and 18.95%, respectively, and increased the maximum output power by 82.05% and 51.79%, respectively. The maximum output of a single temperature differential power generator reached 63.5% when using an installation pressure of 3 bar, a cooling water temperature of 20 °C, double-layer aluminum insulation, and thermally conductive silicone grease. Finally, this study provides relevant data support for using temperature differential power generation devices for ship exhaust gas.
Data-Driven Prediction of Experimental Hydrodynamic Data of the Manta Ray Robot Using Deep Learning Method
Authors: Bai Jingyi , Huang Qiaogao , Pan Guang , He Junjie
Published: September 2022

To precisely control the manta ray robot and improve its swimming and turning speed, the hydrodynamic parameters corresponding to different motion control variables must be tested experimentally. In practice, too many input control parameters will bring thousands of groups of underwater experiments, posing challenges to the duration and operability of the engineering project. This study proposes a generative adversarial network model to reduce the experimental period by predicting the hydrodynamic experimental time-series data of forces and torques in the three-coordinate directions in a Cartesian coordinate system through different combinations of motion control parameters. The motion control parameters include the rotation amplitude, frequency, and phase difference of the four steering gears which drive the pectoral fins. We designed the prototype and experimental platform and obtained 150 sets of experimental data.To prevent overfitting, the size of the dataset was expanded to 2250 groups by slicing time series, and the subsequences of varying lengths were extended to the same length by LSTM. Finally, the GAN model is used to predict the hydrodynamic time series corresponding to the different motion parameters. The results show that the GAN model can accurately predict the input both from the validation set and the unlearned interpolated motion parameters. This study will save experimental time and cost and provide detailed hydrodynamic experimental data for the precise control of manta rays.
Composite Springs for Mooring Tensioners: A Systematic Review of Material Selection, Fatigue Performance, Manufacturing, and Applications
Authors: Cai Yuanzhen , Bazli Milad , Basnayake Asanka P. , Veidt Martin , Heitzmann Michael T.
Published: September 2022

Ocean energy is an underutilized renewable energy source compared with hydropower and wind power. Therefore, the development of economical and efficient wave energy converters (WECs) is important and crucial for offshore power generation. The mooring tensioner is a critical device that can be used in point-absorber-type WECs, semisubmersible floats for oil and gas drilling, and floating wind turbines. A mooring tensioner is a system used to create, reduce, or maintain tension within the mooring lines by applying a force to the mooring line. Composite springs as mooring tensioners have several advantages compared to metal springs, such as corrosion resistance, high specific strain energy, appropriate fatigue performance, and the ability to flexibly adjust the spring constant without changing the overall dimensions. This paper reviews in detail the fatigue performance, seawater durability, and manufacturing methods of different composite materials as well as the current and potential applications of composites springs. In addition, recommendations for future research and opportunities for composite mooring tensioners are presented.
Special Issue “Control of Postharvest Pathogenic Penicillium”
Authors: Sánchez-Torres Paloma , Gandía Mónica
Published: September 2022

Postharvest diseases cause high economic losses in the global citrus and pome fruit industry [...]
GlPP2C1 Silencing Increases the Content of Ganodermalingzhi Polysaccharide (GL-PS) and Enhances Slt2 Phosphorylation
Authors: Wang Zi , Chen Ju-Hong , Wang Ling-Shuai , Ding Juan , Zhao Ming-Wen , Liu Rui
Published: September 2022

Polysaccharides have attracted much attention in the food industry due to their diverse biological activities. To date, research on the mechanism of polysaccharide synthesis has mainly focused on the role of crucial enzymes in the polysaccharide synthesis pathway, but other genes that regulate polysaccharide synthesis have not been well explored. In this study, the GlPP2C1 gene, encoding a phosphoprotein type 2C phosphatase, was cloned, and PP2C-silenced strains (PP2C1i-1 and PP2C1i-3) were screened. Measurements of the polysaccharide content and cell wall tolerance revealed that GlPP2C1 silencing increased the polysaccharide content and enhanced cell wall resistance in Ganoderma lingzhi. The contents of intracellular polysaccharides (IPS), extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and β-1,3-D-glucan in PP2C-silenced strains were increased by 25%, 33% and 36%, respectively, compared with those in the WT strains and strains transformed with an empty vector. Further mechanistic studies showed that GlPP2C1 silencing increased the content of Ganoderma lingzhi polysaccharides (GL-PS) through Slt2. In summary, this study revealed the mechanism through which protein phosphatase regulates GL-PS biosynthesis for the first time.
Screening of Endophytic Fungi in Locoweed Induced by Heavy-Ion Irradiation and Study on Swainsonine Biosynthesis Pathway
Authors: Mo Yanan , Yang Zhen , Hao Baocheng , Cheng Feng , Song Xiangdong , Shang Xiaofei , Zhao Haoxia , Shang Ruofeng , Wang Xuehong , Liang Jianping , Wang Shengyi , Liu Yu
Published: September 2022

Swainsonine (SW) is a substance with both animal neurotoxicity and natural anticancer activity produced by the metabolism of endophytic fungus Alternaria section Undifilum oxytropis of locoweed. This paper produced SW by fermentation of the endophytic fungus A. oxytropis of locoweed and obtained the optimal ultrasonic-assisted extraction process of SW by the response surface methodology. Meanwhile, four mutant strains with significant and stable SW-producing properties were screened out after the mutagenesis of A. oxytropis by heavy-ion irradiation. Of these, three were high-yielding stains and one was a low-yielding strain. In addition, through the analysis of metabolomics studies, it was speculated that the different SW production performance of the mutant might be related to the biosynthesis and utilization of L-lysine, L-2-aminoadipate-6-semialdehyde, etc. These results laid the foundation for the expansion of SW production, artificial construction of low-toxic locoweed and clarification of the SW biosynthesis pathway in A. oxytropis.
Genome-Wide Screening and Stability Verification of the Robust Internal Control Genes for RT-qPCR in Filamentous Fungi
Authors: Yang Yayong , Xu Xinyu , Jing Zhuohan , Ye Jun , Li Hui , Li Xiaoyu , Shi Lei , Chen Mengyu , Wang Tengyun , Xie Baogui , Tao Yongxin
Published: September 2022

In real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), internal control genes (ICGs) are crucial for normalization. This study screened 6 novel ICGs: Pre-mRNA-splicing factor cwc15 (Cwf15); ER associated DnaJ chaperone (DnaJ); E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase NEDD4 (HUL4); ATP-binding cassette, subfamily B (MDR/TAP), member 1 (VAMP); Exosome complex exonuclease DIS3/RRP44 (RNB); V-type H+-transporting ATPase sub-unit A (V-ATP) from the 22-transcriptome data of 8 filamentous fungi. The six novel ICGs are all involved in the basic biological process of cells and share the different transcription levels from high to low. In order to further verify the stability of ICGs candidates, the six novel ICGs as well as three traditional housekeeping genes: β-actin (ACTB); β-tubulin (β-TUB); glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH) and the previously screened reference genes: SPRY-domain-containing protein (SPRYp); Ras-2 protein (Ras); Vacuolar protein sorting protein 26 (Vps26) were evaluated by geNorm and NormFinder statistical algorithms. RT-qPCR of 12 ICGs were performed at different developmental stages in Flammulina filiformis and under different treatment conditions in Neurospora crassa. The consistent results of the two algorithms suggested that the novel genes, RNB, V-ATP, and VAMP, showed the highest stability in F. filiformis and N. crassa. RNB, V-ATP, and VAMP have high expression stability and universal applicability and therefore have great potential as ICGs for standardized calculation in filamentous fungi. The results also provide a novel guidance for the screening stable reference genes in RT-qPCR and a wide application in gene expression analysis of filamentous fungi.
Clinical Manifestation and Obstetric Outcomes in Pregnant Women with SARS-CoV-2 Infection at Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis
Authors: Grgić Gordana , Cerovac Anis , Hudić Igor , Laganà Antonio Simone , Favilli Alessandro , Garzon Simone , Chiantera Vito , Margioula-Siarkou Chrysoula , Hadžimehmedović Azra , Mandžić Amer
Published: September 2022

This retrospective cohort study aimed to analyze the clinical manifestations, complications, and maternal-fetal outcomes in patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during delivery. The cohort included 61 pregnant women positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of delivery. Patients were divided into two groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic. We found a significantly higher rate of leukocytosis (p < 0.00078) and lymphopenia (p < 0.0024) in symptomatic women compared with asymptomatic ones. Other laboratory parameters, such as CRP (p = 0.002), AST (p = 0.007), LDH (p = 0.0142), ferritin (p = 0.0036), and D-dimer (p = 0.00124), were also significantly more often increased in the group of symptomatic pregnant women. Overall, symptomatic pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection at the delivery show more often altered laboratory parameters compared with asymptomatic ones; nevertheless, they have a slightly higher but non-significant rate of preterm delivery, cesarean section, as well as lower neonatal birth weight and Apgar score, compared with asymptomatic women.
Impella RP for Patients with Acute Right Ventricular Failure and Cardiogenic Shock: A Subanalysis from the IMP-IT Registry
Authors: Botti Giulia , Gramegna Mario , Burzotta Francesco , Masiero Giulia , Briguori Carlo , Trani Carlo , Napodano Massimo , Scandroglio Anna Mara , Montorfano Matteo , Tarantini Giuseppe , Chieffo Alaide
Published: September 2022

The use of percutaneous right ventricular assist devices (pRVADs) to support patients with right ventricular (RV)-predominant cardiogenic shock (CS) refractory to optimal medical therapy is increasing progressively, and the Impella RP is the first FDA-approved pRVAD in such a clinical scenario. The aim of the present study is to report the outcomes of patients treated with Impella RP in the IMP-IT (IMPella Mechanical Circulatory Support Device in Italy) registry, a multicenter registry that evaluated the trends in use and clinical outcomes of the Impella in the setting of CS and high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention in Italy. A total of 15 patients who received Impella RP were enrolled. In 40% of the patients, the main cause was ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. A total of 40% of patients required biventricular support with a left Impella. Device-related complications were reported in 46.7% of patients. Overall, the in-hospital mortality was 46.7%, whereas the one-year mortality was 53.3%. The composite rate of all-cause death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and heart transplant at one year was 60%. The Impella RP has favorable survival outcomes in RV-predominant cardiogenic shock. However, the device-related complications are frequent and should be carefully weighed when considering escalation to Impella RP.
A Framework for Short- vs. Long-Term Risk Indicators for Outsourcing Potential for Enterprises Participating in Global Value Chains: Evidence from Western Balkan Countries
Authors: Kacani Jolta , Mukli Lindita , Hysa Eglantina
Published: September 2022

This paper aims to present a benchmarking framework for short- and long-term risk of enterprises in emerging markets that seek integration in global value chains. The benchmark instrument aims in particular to assess short- and long-term risk based on accounting data and estimations of key financial ratios for enterprises located in the Western Balkan region and operating in the materials, industrials, and customer-discretionary industries. In total, the paper considers 310 enterprises. Given the geographical proximity of the region, the benchmark instrument for short- and long-term risks serves to assess the outsourcing potential these enterprises have toward foreign enterprises dominating larger markets such as the European value chain. The framework is applicable to a large-scale annual data series collected on subindustry level in order to obtain a more granular analysis of a particular industry and its respective value chain. The benchmarking instrument indicates that those subindustries performing better both at short- and long-term risk display a higher outsourcing potential and more opportunities for integration in global value chains.
Emissions Reduction Policies and Their Effects on Economy
Authors: Gurtu Apoorva , Vyas Vidhisha , Gurtu Amulya
Published: September 2022

The two broad carbon-reducing policies, carbon tax and cap-and-trade, have been implemented at various national and sub-national levels. This paper examines the relationships between emissions-reducing policies and their effect on the country’s economic growth (GDP) using carbon tax and CO2 emission as explanatory variables and population and R&D as control variables. The study employs Granger causality analysis (GCA) and panel data regression analysis to find the relationships between GDP, emissions, and carbon tax. GDP usually increases as a country’s carbon emissions, carbon tax, R&D, and population increase. The analysis of carbon reduction policies, especially carbon tax and their general impact on a country’s economy, is a unique contribution of this study. The applications of this study are to motivate governments to form a national carbon abatement policy and encourage corporate leaders to invest in clean technology to grow the economy.
Mapping the Trend, Application and Forecasting Performance of Asymmetric GARCH Models: A Review Based on Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Chalissery Neenu , Anagreh Suhaib , Nishad T. Mohamed , Tabash Mosab I.
Published: September 2022

The past few years have witnessed renewed interest in modelling and forecasting asymmetry in financial time series using a variety of approaches. The most intriguing of these strategies is the “asymmetric” or “leverage” volatility model. This study aims to conduct a review of asymmetric GARCH models using bibliometric analysis to identify their key intellectual foundations and evolution, and offers thematic and methodological recommendations for future research to advance the domain. Bibliometric analysis was used to identify patterns in and perform descriptive analysis of articles, including citation, co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, and co-occurrence analysis. The study located 856 research papers from the Scopus database between 1992 and 2021 using key phrase and reference search methods. Publication trends, most influential authors, leading countries, and top journals are described, along with a systematic review of highly cited articles. The study summarises the development, application, and performance evaluation of asymmetric GARCH models, which will help researchers and academicians significantly contribute to this literature by addressing gaps.
Barriers to Prescribed Fire in the US Great Plains, Part II: Critical Review of Presently Used and Potentially Expandable Solutions
Authors: Clark Autumn S. , McGranahan Devan Allen , Geaumont Benjamin A. , Wonkka Carissa L. , Ott Jacqueline P. , Kreuter Urs P.
Published: September 2022

This is the second paper of a two-part series on the barriers to prescribed fire use in the Great Plains of the USA. While the first part presented a systematic review of published papers on the barriers to prescribed fire use, specifically regarding perceptions and attitudes of land managers, this second part reviews the solutions that are employed to increase prescribed fire use by land managers in the Great Plains. First, the review compiled the solutions currently and ubiquitously employed to promote fire use and how they have been documented to address barriers. Second, potentially expandable solutions used in similar natural resource fields and communities were reviewed as possible solutions to the unaddressed aspects of remaining barriers that limit fire use.
The Wetlands Paradigm Shift in Response to Changing Societal Priorities: A Reflective Review
Authors: Maltby Edward
Published: September 2022

This paper reviews some of the key influences that wetlands have had on the development of human society together with the history of wetland use, conservation and management in the context of changing human interactions from prehistoric to modern times. It documents the origins of the Ramsar Convention and the changes in the criteria for defining wetlands of international importance from an emphasis on migratory birds to those of wider functional importance contributing to community well-being. This led to a significant increase in the number of signatories from developing countries The change in scientific emphasis from ecology to ecosystems (and ecosystem services) is identified as a key element of the wetland paradigm shift, which has occurred in the last half century and renewed the recognition of the importance of the natural capital of wetlands. It represents a change in research agenda from what wetlands are to what wetlands do. Modification of the Ramsar wise use concept is documented, and evolution of wetland assessment methods is traced in relation to policy development and the need for a strong science evidence base to improve decision-making connected with wetland conservation and management. The author also addresses the significance of wetland economic valuation and biodiversity issues, transboundary water management with particular reference to the marshlands of Mesopotamia (southern Iraq), conflict, and human livelihood issues. Examples are given of the drive towards wetland restoration in different countries, and at different scales, with awareness of the extraordinarily high costs associated with major schemes such as the Florida Everglades which may prohibit replication in other parts of the world. Adoption of the Ecosystem Approach and the “Wholescapes” concept are seen as important in the future management of wetland ecosystems. The wide-ranging interactions within the structure of a new wetland paradigm are summarized diagrammatically. An examination of current societal priorities and challenges resulting from the nexus of issues arising from food production, energy, water, and environmental change and health suggests both significant threats to wetlands, but also some opportunities for these ecosystems to play a part in sustainable solutions contributing to human well-being. The paper concludes with an endorsement of a new World Charter for wetlands but emphasizes the vital importance of partnership working and the key engagement of local communities to make any new initiative for enhanced protection and management of wetlands to work on the ground. Key challenges facing wetland science are identified, but it is the realization that healthy wetland ecosystems are a significant contributor to human and societal well-being that underpins the paradigm shift in research, management and policy needs.
Typology, Preservation, and Regeneration of the Post-1949 Industrial Heritage in China: A Case Study of Shanghai
Authors: Mo Chaoyu , Wang Lin , Rao Fujie
Published: September 2022

Industrial heritage is one of the most neglected types of cultural heritage and urban landscape, often being vulnerable to rather than blessed by urban (re)development. China is confronting an unprecedentedly intensive challenge of preserving industrial heritage, as the country has rapidly shifted towards post-industrialization only several years after being recognized as the “world’s factory” in the 21st century. However, none of the existing literature has systematically investigated the typology and preservation of China’s post-1949 industrial heritage. This research selects Shanghai—the largest metropolis and a prime industrial hub in China— for the case study, and examines 83 accredited modern industrial heritage sites in the city through typological analysis, descriptive statistical analysis, and GIS spatial analysis. Two principal findings are identified. First, there is a diverse range of the post-1949 industrial heritage in China, by industries, time, and spatial forms. Particularly the industrial block—where industrial development is intermingled with the surrounding urban fabric—is the dominant spatial type. Second, the preservation and regeneration of China’s post-1949 industrial heritage in the suburbs are substantially more complex and more threatened than those in the inner city. This study concludes by providing implications for enhanced management and investigation of China’s post-1949 industrial heritage preservation and regeneration.
Modelling Continuous Location Suitability Scores and Spatial Footprint of Apple and Kiwifruit in New Zealand
Authors: Vetharaniam Indrakumar , Müller Karin , Stanley C. Jill , van den Dijssel Carlo , Timar Levente , Clothier Brent
Published: September 2022

Under climate change, land use suitability for horticultural production will change; this has prospects of both adverse socio-economic impacts for the industry in some regions, and beneficial impacts in others. Policy development and industry guidance are needed to develop adaptations to mitigate climate change risks and exploit new opportunities. For climate-change issues, models provide a powerful means for assessing future suitability at a patch, region or national scale in order to guide policy decisions. Here, we describe the development of a new continuous (sliding-scale) suitability modelling approach to assess the suitability of different locations for growing apple and kiwifruit in New Zealand, based on phenological and physiological considerations; these models used geographical information system (GIS) soil, land and weather data to develop maps showing the suitability of locations across New Zealand for cultivating apple and kiwifruit. The models were “ground-truthed” in an iterative process of expert parameterisation and recalibration to ensure maps aligned with current growing locations for the two crops. We estimated an econometric logit model that incorporated the continuous suitability scores as predictors of land use for apple and kiwifruit. Comparison of modelled suitability scores with industry-supplied maps of apple and kiwifruit orchards showed good consistency between predicted suitability and current land use. Compared with a range of alternative land uses, suitability for apple was highest for locations currently used to grow apple and suitability for kiwifruit was highest for locations currently used to grow kiwifruit. Our framework provides the capability to project incremental changes in the suitability of locations for apple and kiwifruit under different climate change pathways and to project consequential changes in their spatial footprints; this framework can be extended to other crops.
Nitrous Oxide Emissions from a Long-Term Integrated Crop–Livestock System with Two Levels of P and K Fertilization
Authors: de Carvalho Arminda Moreira , dos Santos Divina Clea Resende , Ramos Maria Lucrecia Gerosa , Marchão Robélio Leandro , Vilela Lourival , de Sousa Thais Rodrigues , Malaquias Juacy Vitória , de Araujo Gonçalves Adriano Dicesar Martins , Coser Thais Rodrigues , de Oliveira Alexsandra Duarte
Published: September 2022

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions resulting from nitrogen (N) fertilization have been documented. However, no data on the effects of other nutrients, such as phosphate (P) and potassium (K), on N2O emissions in integrated crop–livestock systems are available so far. In the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 growing seasons, we measured N2O emissions from a long-term system, established in 1991 in the Cerrado biome (a tropical savanna ecoregion in Brazil), fertilized with two P and K levels. The studied no-tillage farming systems consisted of continuous crops fertilized with half of the recommended P and K rates (CC-F1), continuous crops at the recommended P and K rates (CC-F2), an integrated crop–livestock system with half of the recommended P and K rates (ICL-F1), and an integrated crop–livestock at the recommended P and K rates (ICL-F2). The cumulative N2O emissions (603 days) and soil chemical properties were analyzed as a 2 × 2 factorial design (long-term agricultural systems x fertilization). The cumulative N2O emissions from CC-F2 and ICL-F1 were 2.74 and 1.12 kg N ha−1, respectively. The yield-scaled N2O emissions from soybean were 55.5% lower from ICL-F1 than from CC-F2 in the 2015/2016 growing season. For off-season sorghum, the mean yield-scaled N2O emissions were 216 mg N2O m−2 kg−1 (in a range from 79.83 to 363.52 mg N2O m−2 kg−1, for ICL-F2 and CC-F1, respectively). The absence of pasture and the presence of soybean and sorghum promoted the highest cumulative N2O emissions, favored by the recommended rate in relation to half of the P and K. In the total evaluation period (603 days), the presence of grazed land in the years prior to this study and land fertilized with half the recommended P and K rates in an integrated crop–livestock system reduced the resulting cumulative N2O emissions by 59%. Thus, we conclude that crop–livestock systems can be beneficial in reducing P and K applications and also in mitigating N2O emissions in comparison with continuous cropping systems fertilized with the full recommended P and K rates. In view of the global fertilizer crisis, this aspect is extremely relevant for agriculture in Brazil and around the world.
Uncontrolled Exploitation of Pterocarpus tinctorius Welw. and Associated Landscape Dynamics in the Kasenga Territory: Case of the Rural Area of Kasomeno (DR Congo)
Authors: Mukenza Médard Mpanda , Muteya Héritier Khoji , Nghonda Dieu-Donné N’Tambwe , Sambiéni Kouagou Raoul , Malaisse François , Kaleba Sylvestre Cabala , Bogaert Jan , Sikuzani Yannick Useni
Published: September 2022

The uncontrolled logging of Pterocarpus tinctorius Welw. in the Kasenga territory in the southeast of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is of significant socioeconomic benefit, but above all, it is a threat to the stability of forest ecosystems. Based on Landsat images from 2009, 2013, 2017 and 2021, the landscape dynamics of the Kasomeno region in the Kasenga territory, a P. tinctorius exploitation area, was quantified using a mapping approach coupled with landscape ecology analysis tools. The results reveal a continuous loss of forest cover over all the periods studied, mostly between 2013 and 2017, primarily through the dissection of patches. Also, through the spatial process of attrition, the fields recorded a regressive dynamic between 2013–2017, a sign of abandonment of agricultural activity in favour of P. tinctorius illegal logging. These landscape dynamics are the consequences of strong anthropic activities in the study area, leading to an important spatial expansion of the savannah. Consequently, the level of landscape disturbance doubled from 0.8 to 1.7 between 2009 and 2021. Our results suggest that, without regulatory enforcement, illegal logging of P. tinctorius seriously compromises forest ecosystem health and household food security in the region.
LABs Fermentation Side-Product Positively Influences Rhizosphere and Plant Growth in Greenhouse Lettuce and Tomatoes
Authors: Bellotti Gabriele , Taskin Eren , Sello Simone , Sudiro Cristina , Bortolaso Rossella , Bandini Francesca , Guerrieri Maria Chiara , Cocconcelli Pier Sandro , Vuolo Francesco , Puglisi Edoardo
Published: September 2022

New agronomical policies aim to achieve greener agricultural systems, sustainable fertilizers and fungicides, a reduction in Greenhouse gases (GHG), and an increase in circular economic models. In this context, new solutions are needed for the market, but it is necessary to carefully assess both their efficacy and their ecological impact. Previously, we reported the biostimulatory activity on soil microbiome for a side-product from Lactic Acid Bacteria (LABs) fermentation: a concentrated post-centrifugation eluate. In the present study, we investigated whether this solution could partially substitute mineral N (N70% + N30% from eluate) in a fertigation (N100% vs. N70%) regime for tomato and lettuce under greenhouse conditions. The impact of the application was investigated through plant physiological parameters (number and weight of ripened fruits, shoots, and roots biomass) and biodiversity of the rhizosphere microbial composition of bacteria and fungi (High-Throughput Sequencing—HTS). The eluate (i) enhanced the plant canopy in lettuce; (ii) increased the shoot/root biomass ratio in both tomato and lettuce; and (iii) increased the harvest and delayed fruit ripening in tomato. Moreover, we found a strong correlation between the eluate and the enrichment for OTUs of plant-growth-promoting microbes (PGPMs) such as Sphingomonas sediminicola, Knoellia subterranean, and Funneliformis mosseae. These findings suggest that integrating the eluate was beneficial for the plant growth, performance, and yield in both tomato and lettuce, and additionally, it enriched specialized functional microbial communities in the rhizosphere. Further studies will investigate the underlying mechanisms regulating the selective activity of the eluate toward PGPMs and its biostimulatory activity towards target crops.
Effects of Polycentricity on Economic Performance and Its Dependence on City Size: The Case of China
Authors: Sun Bindong , Zhang Tinglin , Li Wan , Song Yan
Published: September 2022

Polycentric planning strategies have often failed to achieve the expected effects. The ensuing uncertainty associated with the desirability of polycentric strategies is also reflected in the early literature which offers no clear conclusion about whether the polycentricity affects economic performance and how. This paper aims at offering a clear conclusion about it, especially its dependence on city size. Against this backdrop, we conceptualize polycentricity as a process of reclustering after decentralization to reevaluate its impact on performance. To this end, we use the city proper level Chinese Economic Census (2004, 2008, and 2013) and apply a fixed-effects panel model, the results of which show that the dependence of the urban economy on spatial structure is contingent on city size. More specifically, both decentralization and clustering (and therefore the polycentric structure) facilitate economic performance only when cities reach a certain size. We use our findings as the basis for outlining an emergent research agenda for urban polycentricity.
Land Space Change Process and Its Eco-Environmental Effects in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration of China
Authors: Song Yongyong , Xia Siyou , Xue Dongqian , Luo Shuai , Zhang Liwei , Wang Donghua
Published: September 2022

Urban agglomeration is the strategic core area of social–economic high-quality development in the world. However, high-density agglomeration and high-speed expansion have caused dramatic changes in land space, leading to prominent eco-environmental problems and, thus, threatening human well-being. How to solve the contradiction between urban agglomeration land expansion and eco-environment protection has become an urgent scientific problem. In this paper, we constructed a framework of assessing land space change and its eco-environmental effects in the urban agglomeration by using the Geo-informatic Graphic, eco-environmental quality index (EQI), and eco-environmental contribution rate. We then quantitatively analyzed the characteristics of land space transition as well as its eco-environmental effects in the Guanzhong Plain urban Agglomeration (GPUA) based on the land use data in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020. The results indicated that from 1990 to 2020, the production space of the GPUA continued to shrink, the living space continued to expand, and the ecological space showed a fluctuating increasing trend. There were significant regional differences in the land space change of the GPUA, with 92.2% of the counties showing a significant contraction in agricultural production space, 93.3% and 91.1% showing a significant expansion in urban and rural living space, and 64.4% showing an increase in woodland ecological space. Agricultural production space is transformed into ecological space and living space, and living space occupies ecological space and agricultural production space, which is the main mode of land space transition in the GPUA. With the continuous expansion of low-quality and high-quality areas of the eco-environment and the continuous contraction of medium-quality areas, the improvement and deterioration of the eco-environmental quality of the GPUA have coexisted, first showing a trend of deterioration and then improvement. The transition of agricultural production space into grassland and woodland ecological space improved the eco-environmental quality, while the transition of grassland ecological space into agricultural production space, and the occupation of agricultural production space by urban and rural living space as well as industrial and mining production space resulted in the deterioration of eco-environmental quality. The findings of this study may provide a theoretical basis for optimizing the allocation of land space resources in ecologically fragile urban agglomeration.
Hypothalamic A11 Nuclei Regulate the Circadian Rhythm of Spinal Mechanonociception through Dopamine Receptors and Clock Gene Expression
Authors: Piña-Leyva Celia , Lara-Lozano Manuel , Rodríguez-Sánchez Marina , Vidal-Cantú Guadalupe C. , Barrientos Zavalza Ericka , Jiménez-Estrada Ismael , Delgado-Lezama Rodolfo , Rodríguez-Sosa Leonardo , Granados-Soto Vinicio , González-Barrios Juan Antonio , Florán-Garduño Benjamín
Published: September 2022

Several types of sensory perception have circadian rhythms. The spinal cord can be considered a center for controlling circadian rhythms by changing clock gene expression. However, to date, it is not known if mechanonociception itself has a circadian rhythm. The hypothalamic A11 area represents the primary source of dopamine (DA) in the spinal cord and has been found to be involved in clock gene expression and circadian rhythmicity. Here, we investigate if the paw withdrawal threshold (PWT) has a circadian rhythm, as well as the role of the dopaminergic A11 nucleus, DA, and DA receptors (DR) in the PWT circadian rhythm and if they modify clock gene expression in the lumbar spinal cord. Naïve rats showed a circadian rhythm of the PWT of almost 24 h, beginning during the night–day interphase and peaking at 14.63 h. Similarly, DA and DOPAC’s spinal contents increased at dusk and reached their maximum contents at noon. The injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the A11 nucleus completely abolished the circadian rhythm of the PWT, reduced DA tissue content in the lumbar spinal cord, and induced tactile allodynia. Likewise, the repeated intrathecal administration of D1-like and D2-like DA receptor antagonists blunted the circadian rhythm of PWT. 6-OHDA reduced the expression of Clock and Per1 and increased Per2 gene expression during the day. In contrast, 6-OHDA diminished Clock, Bmal, Per1, Per2, Per3, Cry1, and Cry2 at night. The repeated intrathecal administration of the D1-like antagonist (SCH-23390) reduced clock genes throughout the day (Clock and Per2) and throughout the night (Clock, Per2 and Cry1), whereas it increased Bmal and Per1 throughout the day. In contrast, the intrathecal injection of the D2 receptor antagonists (L-741,626) increased the clock genes Bmal, Per2, and Per3 and decreased Per1 throughout the day. This study provides evidence that the circadian rhythm of the PWT results from the descending dopaminergic modulation of spinal clock genes induced by the differential activation of spinal DR.
IoT Framework for a Decision-Making System of Obesity and Overweight Extrapolation among Children, Youths, and Adults
Authors: Alsareii Saeed Ali , Shaf Ahmad , Ali Tariq , Zafar Maryam , Alamri Abdulrahman Manaa , AlAsmari Mansour Yousef , Irfan Muhammad , Awais Muhammad
Published: September 2022

Approximately 30% of the global population is suffering from obesity and being overweight, which is approximately 2.1 billion people worldwide. The ratio is expected to surpass 40% by 2030 if the current balance continues to grow. The global pandemic due to COVID-19 will also impact the predicted obesity rates. It will cause a significant increase in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Multiple chronic diseases are associated with obesity and several threat elements are associated with obesity. Various challenges are involved in the understanding of risk factors and the ratio of obesity. Therefore, diagnosing obesity in its initial stages might significantly increase the patient’s chances of effective treatment. The Internet of Things (IoT) has attained an evolving stage in the development of the contemporary environment of healthcare thanks to advancements in information and communication technologies. Therefore, in this paper, we thoroughly investigated machine learning techniques for making an IoT-enabled system. In the first phase, the proposed system analyzed the performances of random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), logistic regression (LR), and naïve Bayes (NB) algorithms on the obesity dataset. The second phase, on the other hand, introduced an IoT-based framework that adopts a multi-user request system by uploading the data to the cloud for the early diagnosis of obesity. The IoT framework makes the system available to anyone (and everywhere) for precise obesity categorization. This research will help the reader understand the relationships among risk factors with weight changes and their visualizations. Furthermore, it also focuses on how existing datasets can help one study the obesity nature and which classification and regression models perform well in correspondence to others.
A Traction (Friction) Curve Is Not a Flow Curve
Authors: Bair Scott
Published: September 2022

With the uncertainty regarding the global energy future, the ability to lubricate concentrated contacts with sufficiently thick liquid films while minimizing friction is of extreme importance. The assumptions of classical elastohydrodynamic lubrication have remained unchanged since the early days. It has not been possible to test many of these assumptions without the measurement of the viscosity at elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) pressures, and viscometer measurements have been ignored. One of these assumptions has been the equivalence of a traction curve to a rheological flow curve for the lubricant. This notion should have been discarded forty years ago, simply because it required the pressure–viscosity behavior to be unlike the behavior observed in viscometers. At the heart of the problem is the fact that the pressure within the EHL contact is not homogeneous and the liquid properties are highly dependent on pressure, making the contact a very poor rheology laboratory. These past failures must be avoided in the future.
Development and Experimental Analysis of a Pneumatic Based Dibbling Machine for a Forestry Nursery
Authors: McGuinness Benjamin , Duke Mike , Lim Shen Hin , Au Chi Kit
Published: September 2022

The rejection rate of tree stock in a forestry nursery can be as high as 35%. This is attributed to plant physiology, poorly trained seasonal workers and unsophisticated equipment. It is estimated that approximately 5% of seedling rejection in the pilot nursery (approximately 220,000 per year) is due to poorly dibbled holes. These holes are typically dibbled using a spiked wheel, which produces crooked and imprecise holes. The poor-quality holes cause bends in the stems, resulting in rejection. This article presents a tractor-drawn mechatronic dibbling machine that can produce precise vertical holes of a specified depth, spacing and diameter. Both hole quality and dibbling efficiency are greatly improved. The machine was tested at a nursery and produced 98% of the holes at the desired angle and 94% at the desired depth. The unwanted stem bends were eliminated with a subsequent reduction in rejects. Furthermore, it was found that worker productivity increased, as they did not have to spend time setting seedlings vertically.
Experimental Study of Cavitation Damage to Marine Propellers Based on the Rotational Speed in the Coastal Waters
Authors: Ju Hae-ji , Choi Jung-sik
Published: September 2022

Cavitation in a propeller causes erosion, accelerating corrosion, and tearing off blades in severe cases. Despite the maintenance requirements caused by cavitation, few studies have investigated the cavitation resistance of small ship propellers. Therefore, in this study, these characteristics were investigated through a demonstration test in the coastal waters of South Korea. Cavitation erosion characteristics were analyzed according to the low- and high-rotational speed of the propeller, and the weight was measured every 10 h for 100 h of sailing. The erosion pits were qualitatively compared through liquid penetrant testing (PT) and quantitatively compared by image processing with color edge detection. The results showed that propeller weight loss at high speed was double that at low speed. The cavitation erosion exhibited one cycle each of incubation, acceleration, deceleration, and steady state at low speed, while the acceleration and deceleration periods repeated at high speed. According to PT and color edge detection, the concentration of pits in the low- and high-speed conditions increased towards the trailing and leading edges, respectively. Further, in the radial direction, the trend was similar in both conditions, and the largest number of pits were detected in the region of 0.7–0.9R, where R is the propeller radius.