bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Assessment of Landsat-9 Atmospheric Correction Methods in Global Aquatic Systems
Authors: Sun Aoxiang , He Shuangyan , Gu Yanzhen , Li Peiliang , Liu Cong , Ye Guanqiong , Zhou Feng
Published: December 2024

The latest satellite in the Landsat series, Landsat-9, was successfully launched on 27 September 2021, equipped with the Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) sensor, continuing the legacy of OLI/Landsat-8. To evaluate the uncertainties in water surface reflectance derived from OLI-2, this study conducts a comprehensive performance assessment of six atmospheric correction (AC) methods—DSF, C2RCC, iCOR, L2gen (NIR-SWIR1), L2gen (NIR-SWIR2), and Polymer—using in-situ measurements from 14 global sites, including 13 AERONET-OC stations and 1 MOBY station, collected between 2021 and 2023. Error analysis shows that L2gen (NIR-SWIR1) (RMSE ≤ 0.0017 sr−1, SA = 6.33°) and L2gen (NIR-SWIR2) (RMSE ≤ 0.0019 sr−1, SA = 6.38°) provide the best results across four visible bands, demonstrating stable performance across different optical water types (OWTs) ranging from clear to turbid water. Following these are C2RCC (RMSE ≤ 0.0030 sr−1, SA = 5.74°) and Polymer (RMSE ≤ 0.0027 sr−1, SA = 7.76°), with DSF (RMSE ≤ 0.0058 sr−1, SA = 11.33°) and iCOR (RMSE ≤ 0.0051 sr−1, SA = 12.96°) showing the poorest results. By comparing the uncertainty and consistency of Landsat-9 (OLI-2) with Sentinel-2A/B (MSI) and S-NPP/NOAA20 (VIIRS), results show that OLI-2 has similar uncertainties to MSI and VIIRS in the blue, blue-green, and green bands, with RMSE differences within 0.0002 sr−1. In the red band, the OLI-2 uncertainties are lower than those of MSI but higher than those of VIIRS, with an RMSE difference of about 0.0004 sr−1. Overall, OLI-2 data processed using L2gen provide reliable surface reflectance and show high consistency with MSI and VIIRS, making it suitable for integrating multi-satellite observations to enhance global coastal water color monitoring.
Hyperspectral Detection of Metal Element Concentration in Vegetation Canopies: A Case Study of Fe and Mo
Authors: Wang Daming , Kopačková-Strnadová Veronika , Zhang Bo , Zhang Jing , Wang Feicui , Yang Junquan
Published: December 2024

This study innovatively leveraged proximal remote sensing to address the challenge of mineral exploration in vegetation-covered regions. Remote and proximal sensing has proven to be highly effective in pinpointing surface-exposed alteration minerals and detecting potential mining sites in previously unproductive areas. However, in regions where vegetation is abundant, the presence of foliage poses a significant challenge to mineral exploration efforts, creating a natural barrier that hinders the search for valuable minerals. In this study, we explored the linear relationship between the spectral changes induced by metals (specifically Fe and Mo) in wheat plants and the concentrations of these metal elements in different parts of the plant canopy at various growth stages. This investigation was conducted through meticulously designed controlled experiments to understand the interaction between metal elements in the soil and wheat plants. We have established linear models linking wheat biochemistry, vegetation spectroscopy, and soil concentration gradients of Fe and Mo. The analysis of Fe and Mo concentrations in leaves and wheat spikes across varying soil concentration gradients revealed significant positive correlations between the canopy accumulation sites and soil element concentrations (p < 0.05), with a correlation coefficient (R) exceeding 0.85, affirming the representativeness of these two canopy sites for subsequent spectral analysis and modeling. Regarding the wheat spectral analysis, the absorption features at specified wavelengths were identified as significant for creating valid linear models to analyze the effect of Fe and Mo in wheat leaf and spike spectra. Comparing the univariate (URL) and multivariate (MLR) models demonstrated that MLR modeling, incorporating multiple absorption feature parameters, provided more accurate results compared to scenarios with only one absorption feature in the modeling process (MLR: Fe-leaf: R2 = 0.941, RMSE = 1.171; Mo-spike: R2 = 0.934, RMSE = 0.042). To conclude, this study introduces a novel method that exploits the wheat spectral properties observed across different canopy sections during various growth stages of vegetation and under varying concentrations of Fe and Mo gradients. The methodology elucidated in this research provides technical support and lays the theoretical foundation for evaluating mineral resources in vegetated areas.
Characteristics of Atmospheric Circulation Patterns and the Associated Diurnal Variation Characteristics of Precipitation in Summer over the Complex Terrain in Northern Xinjiang, Northwest China
Authors: Abulikemu Abuduwaili , Abuduaini Abidan , Li Zhiyi , Zhu Kefeng , Mamtimin Ali , Yao Junqiang , Zeng Yong , An Dawei
Published: December 2024

Statistical characteristics of atmospheric circulation patterns (ACPs) and associated diurnal variation characteristics (DVCs) of precipitation in summer (June–August) from 2015 to 2019 over the complex terrain in northern Xinjiang (NX), northwestern arid region of China, were investigated based on NCEP FNL reanalysis data and Weather Research and Forecasting model simulation data from Nanjing University (WRF-NJU). The results show that six different ACPs (Type 1–6) were identified based on the Simulated ANealing and Diversified RAndomization (SANDRA), exhibiting significant differences in major-influencing synoptic systems and basic meteorological environments. Types 5, 3, and 2 were the most prevalent three patterns, accounting for 21.6%, 19.7%, and 17.7%, respectively. Type 5 mainly occurred in June and July, while Types 3 and 2 mainly occurred in August and July, respectively. From the perspective of DVCs, Type 1 reached its peak at midnight, while Type 5 was most frequent in the afternoon and morning. The overall DVCs of hourly precipitation intensity and frequency demonstrated a unimodal structure, with a peak occurring at around 16 Local Solar Time (LST). Basic meteorological elements in various terrain regions exhibit significant diurnal variation, with marked differences between mountainous and basin areas under different ACPs. In Types 3 and 6, meteorological elements significantly influence precipitation enhancement by promoting the convergence and uplift of low-level wind fields and maintaining high relative humidity (RH). The Altay Mountains region and Western Mountainous regions experience dominant westerly winds under these conditions, while the Junggar Basin and Ili River Valley regions benefit from counterclockwise water vapor transport associated with the Iranian Subtropical High in Type 6, which increases RH. Collectively, these factors facilitate the formation and development of precipitation.
OMAD-6: Advancing Offshore Mariculture Monitoring with a Comprehensive Six-Type Dataset and Performance Benchmark
Authors: Mo Zewen , Liang Yinyu , Chen Yulin , Shen Yanyun , Xu Minduan , Wang Zhipan , Zhang Qingling
Published: December 2024

Offshore mariculture is critical for global food security and economic development. Advances in deep learning and data-driven approaches, enable the rapid and effective monitoring of offshore mariculture distribution and changes. However, detector performance depends heavily on training data quality. The lack of standardized classifications and public datasets for offshore mariculture facilities currently hampers effective monitoring. Here, we propose to categorize offshore mariculture facilities into six types: TCC, DWCC, FRC, LC, RC, and BC. Based on these categories, we introduce a benchmark dataset called OMAD-6. This dataset includes over 130,000 instances and more than 16,000 high-resolution remote sensing images. The images with a spatial resolution of 0.6 m were sourced from key regions in China, Chile, Norway, and Egypt, from the Google Earth platform. All instances in OMAD-6 were meticulously annotated manually with horizontal bounding boxes and polygons. Compared to existing remote sensing datasets, OMAD-6 has three notable characteristics: (1) it is comparable to large, published datasets in instances per category, image quantity, and sample coverage; (2) it exhibits high inter-class similarity; (3) it shows significant intra-class diversity in facility sizes and arrangements. Based on the OMAD-6 dataset, we evaluated eight state-of-the-art methods to establish baselines for future research. The experimental results demonstrate that the OMAD-6 dataset effectively represents various real-world scenarios, which have posed considerable challenges for current instance segmentation algorithms. Our evaluation confirms that the OMAD-6 dataset has the potential to improve offshore mariculture identification. Notably, the QueryInst and PointRend algorithms have distinguished themselves as top performers on the OMAD-6 dataset, robustly identifying offshore mariculture facilities even with complex environmental backgrounds. Its ongoing development and application will play a pivotal role in future offshore mariculture identification and management.
Robust and Efficient Registration of Infrared and Visible Images for Vehicular Imaging Systems
Authors: Che Kai , Lv Jian , Gong Jiayuan , Wei Jia , Zhou Yun , Que Longcheng
Published: December 2024

The automatic registration of infrared and visible images in vehicular imaging systems remains challenging in vision-assisted driving systems because of differences in imaging mechanisms. Existing registration methods often fail to accurately register infrared and visible images in vehicular imaging systems due to numerous spurious points during feature extraction, unstable feature descriptions, and low feature matching efficiency. To address these issues, a robust and efficient registration of infrared and visible images for vehicular imaging systems is proposed. In the feature extraction stage, we propose a structural similarity point extractor (SSPE) that extracts feature points using the structural similarity between weighted phase congruency (PC) maps and gradient magnitude (GM) maps. This approach effectively suppresses invalid feature points while ensuring the extraction of stable and reliable ones. In the feature description stage, we design a rotation-invariant feature descriptor (RIFD) that comprehensively describes the attributes of feature points, thereby enhancing their discriminative power. In the feature matching stage, we propose an effective coarse-to-fine matching strategy (EC2F) that improves the matching efficiency through nearest neighbor matching and threshold-based fast sample consensus (FSC), while improving registration accuracy through coordinate-based iterative optimization. Registration experiments on public datasets and a self-established dataset demonstrate the superior performance of our proposed method, and also confirm its effectiveness in real vehicular environments.
Ethical Framework to Assess and Quantify the Trustworthiness of Artificial Intelligence Techniques: Application Case in Remote Sensing
Authors: Paolanti Marina , Tiribelli Simona , Giovanola Benedetta , Mancini Adriano , Frontoni Emanuele , Pierdicca Roberto
Published: December 2024

In the rapidly evolving field of remote sensing, Deep Learning (DL) techniques have become pivotal in interpreting and processing complex datasets. However, the increasing reliance on these algorithms necessitates a robust ethical framework to evaluate their trustworthiness. This paper introduces a comprehensive ethical framework designed to assess and quantify the trustworthiness of DL techniques in the context of remote sensing. We first define trustworthiness in DL as a multidimensional construct encompassing accuracy, reliability, transparency and explainability, fairness, and accountability. Our framework then operationalizes these dimensions through a set of quantifiable metrics, allowing for the systematic evaluation of DL models. To illustrate the applicability of our framework, we selected an existing case study in remote sensing, wherein we apply our ethical assessment to a DL model used for classification. Our results demonstrate the model’s performance across different trustworthiness metrics, highlighting areas for ethical improvement. This paper not only contributes a novel framework for ethical analysis in the field of DL, but also provides a practical tool for developers and practitioners in remote sensing to ensure the responsible deployment of DL technologies. Through a dual approach that combines top-down international standards with bottom-up, context-specific considerations, our framework serves as a practical tool for ensuring responsible AI applications in remote sensing. Its application through a case study highlights its potential to influence policy-making and guide ethical AI development in this domain.
Detection of Access Point Spoofing in the Wi-Fi Fingerprinting Based Positioning
Authors: Machaj Juraj , Safon Clément , Matúška Slavomír , Brída Peter
Published: December 2024

Indoor positioning based on Wi-Fi signals has gained a lot of attention lately. There are many advantages related to the use of Wi-Fi signals for positioning, including the availability of Wi-Fi access points in indoor environments and the integration of Wi-Fi transceivers into consumer devices. However, since Wi-Fi uses an unlicensed spectrum, anyone can create their own access points. Therefore, it is possible to affect the function of the localization system by spoofing signals from access points and thus alter positioning accuracy. Previously published works focused mainly on the evaluation of spoofing on localization systems and the detection of anomalies when updating the radio map. Spoofing mitigation solutions were proposed; however, their application to systems that use off-the-shelf items is not straightforward. In this paper filtering algorithms are proposed to minimize the impact of access point spoofing. The filtering was applied with a combination of the widely used K-Nearest Neighbours (KNN) localization algorithm and their performance is evaluated using the UJIIndoorLoc dataset. During the evaluation, the spoofing of Access Points was performed in two different scenarios and the number of spoofed access points ranged from 1 to 10. Based on the achieved results proposed SFKNN provided good detection of the spoofing and helped to reduce the mean localization error by 2–5 m, especially when the number of spoofed access points was higher.
Weak Fiber Bragg Grating Array-Based In Situ Flow and Defects Monitoring During the Vacuum-Assisted Resin Infusion Process
Authors: Liu Xiao , Tang Zuoyin , Gui Xin , Yin Wenchang , Cao Jingyi , Fang Zhigang , Li Zhengying
Published: December 2024

Monitoring of real-time flow and defects in the vacuum-assisted resin infusion (VARI) process can provide important guidelines for full impregnation of dry reinforcement. A weak fiber Bragg grating array was employed to obtain quasi-distributed monitoring results in real-time. Sensitivity testing of different kinds of coated optical fiber sensors (OFs) was carried out first, and the polyacrylate-coated OF showed a greater wavelength-shift response than the polyimide-coated one. Then, two- and three-dimensional flow monitoring tests were carried out. During the resin-filling stage, three trends of strain curve were identpified in relation to the different placement setups of embedded OFs, the resin flow direction, and the different vacuum-bagging methods. The monitoring criteria were analyzed and the results were compared with the visual inspection, showing good agreement and indicating the ability of the fiber Bragg grating array. Finally, defects including dry spots and voids were introduced and reflected in the maximum changed strains of FBGs due to the smaller stress relaxation, indicating the potential to characterize the local flow state and permeabilities experimentally based on these quasi-distributed sensing methods.
Multi-UAV Collaborative Target Search Method in Unknown Dynamic Environment
Authors: Yang Liyuan , Hao Yongping , Xu Jiulong , Li Meixuan
Published: December 2024

The challenge of search inefficiency arises when multiple UAV swarms conduct dynamic target area searches in unknown environments. The primary sources of this inefficiency are repeated searches in the target region and the dynamic motion of targets. To address this issue, we present the distributed adaptive real-time planning search (DAPSO) technique, which enhances the search efficiency for dynamic targets in uncertain mission situations. To minimize repeated searches, UAVs utilize localized communication for information exchange and dynamically update their situational awareness regarding the mission environment, facilitating collaborative exploration. To mitigate the effects of target mobility, we develop a dynamic mission planning method based on local particle swarm optimization, enabling UAVs to adjust their search trajectories in response to real-time environmental inputs. Finally, we propose a distance-based inter-vehicle collision avoidance strategy to ensure safety during multi-UAV cooperative searches. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed DAPSO method significantly outperforms other search strategies regarding the coverage and target detection rates.
Towards a More Reliable Identification of Non-Conformities in Railway Cars: Experiments with Mask R-CNN, U-NET, and Ensembles on Unbalanced and Balanced Datasets
Authors: Carvalho Eduardo , Ferreira Bruno , Gomes Ana Claudia , Gonçalves Camilo , Dias Giovanni , Torres Renato , Pessin Gustavo
Published: December 2024

In every business, equipment requires repair services. Over time, equipment wears out; however, with well-conducted and guided maintenance, this degradation can be controlled, and failed equipment can be restored to operational status. Preventive maintenance allows this concept to be applied, given the great advantages for large companies in reusing equipment and machinery, always putting the worker’s health and safety first. Rail transport has several pieces of equipment that can be reused if they are in a regular and well-defined maintenance cycle. In this sense, this article sought to create a method using real data for identifying cracks in wagons. Through the use of computer vision algorithms to prepare the data, along with several machine learning classification algorithms to locate cracks in train cars, the classification used properly annotated images and obtained great results, with a best case 98.10% hit-rate when wagons had a crack problem.
Assessing Huanglongbing Severity and Canopy Parameters of the Huanglongbing-Affected Citrus in Texas Using Unmanned Aerial System-Based Remote Sensing and Machine Learning
Authors: Khuimphukhieo Ittipon , Chavez Jose Carlos , Yang Chuanyu , Pasupuleti Lakshmi Akhijith , Olaniyi Ismail , Ancona Veronica , Mandadi Kranthi K. , Jung Jinha , Enciso Juan
Published: December 2024

Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening disease, is a devastating disease of citrus. However, there is no known cure so far. Recently, under Section 24(c) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), a special local need label was approved that allows the trunk injection of antimicrobials such as oxytetracycline (OTC) for HLB management in Florida. The objectives of this study were to use UAS-based remote sensing to assess the effectiveness of OTC on the HLB-affected citrus trees in Texas and to differentiate the levels of HLB severity and canopy health. We also leveraged UAS-based features, along with machine learning, for HLB severity classification. The results show that UAS-based vegetation indices (VIs) were not sufficiently able to differentiate the effects of OTC treatments of HLB-affected citrus in Texas. Yet, several UAS-based features were able to determine the severity levels of HLB and canopy parameters. Among several UAS-based features, the red-edge chlorophyll index (CI) was outstanding in distinguishing HLB severity levels and canopy color, while canopy cover (CC) was the best indicator in recognizing the different levels of canopy density. For HLB severity classification, a fusion of VIs and textural features (TFs) showed the highest accuracy for all models. Furthermore, random forest and eXtreme gradient boosting were promising algorithms in classifying the levels of HLB severity. Our results highlight the potential of using UAS-based features in assessing the severity of HLB-affected citrus.
Examining the Role of Generative AI in Enhancing Social Work Education: An Analysis of Curriculum and Assessment Design
Authors: Reimer Elizabeth Claire
Published: December 2024

Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) holds significant potential to advance the field of social work, yet it brings forth considerable challenges and risks. Key concerns include the legal and ethical ramifications of GAI application, as well as its effects on the vital human connections inherent in social work. Nonetheless, educators in this field must ready their students for the evolving digital environment, ensuring they are adept at employing GAI thoughtfully, skillfully, and ethically. This article will explore the integration of GAI knowledge and skills within educational settings. It will feature a case study detailing the author’s redesign of community welfare and social work degree assignments to include GAI within a community welfare/social work undergraduate course in Queensland, Australia. The discussion will extend to curriculum and assessment development processes aimed at leveraging GAI to enhance student learning, knowledge retention, and confidence in applying GAI within their academic and professional pursuits. Furthermore, the article will examine the implications for curriculum and assessment design, emphasizing the importance of clear learning objectives, the creation of specific, intricate, and contextualized assessments, the necessity for students to critically evaluate GAI outputs, and the challenge of presenting GAI with tasks beyond its capabilities.
Utilizing Extractive Transportation Infrastructures for Subsistence Livelihoods: Experience of Evenki Communities in Eastern Siberia
Authors: Kuklina Vera , Filippova Viktoriya , Krasnoshtanova Natalia , Savvinova Antonina , Bogdanov Viktor , Kuklina Mariia
Published: December 2024

The availability of natural resources drives the exploration and transformation of remote regions in the Arctic and beyond. Extractive infrastructure is one of the major sources of industrial development and environmental impact on landscapes. For Indigenous people, these landscapes are homely environments full of sentient beings, and for other local communities, they provide a wide variety of subsistence and hunting resources. While extractive infrastructure violence is the evident issue for many Indigenous communities, there are more complicated situations where extractive infrastructure is adopted and utilized for the subsistence and support of other human and more-than-human relations in local and Indigenous communities. Based on materials from interviews and observations with Evenki communities in Eastern Siberia in 2013–2021, the authors discuss the complex relations and sustainability issues entangled around infrastructure objects’ creation, use, maintenance, and transformations. The results demonstrate a wide variety of relations between obshchinas (non-governmental organizations of Indigenous peoples) and extractive companies constructed with infrastructure development of the latter. The paper discusses the shortcomings of the top-down approach in infrastructure planning and the need for contextualization and meaningful engagement with affected communities, some examples of which have already taken place in specific locales. The study concludes by calling for the support of environmentally and socially just infrastructure defined by Indigenous people and local communities as a way to increase sustainability.
Effects of Deer Browsing on Soil Nutrients and Regeneration Dynamics in a Carolinian Old-Growth Forest of Ontario
Authors: Don Sarah K. , Anyomi Kenneth A. , Dudley Susan A.
Published: December 2024

Old growth forests are increasingly rare but important carbon sinks which harbour rich biodiversity. Chronic browsing by the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) is a threat to the sustainability of the services provided by these forests, particularly in northern temperate forests where deer numbers have increased in recent decades (driven by stricter hunting rules and reduced predation) and necessitating local monitoring of vegetation responses. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of deer exclusion on tree regeneration dynamics and soil nutrients in an old growth Carolinian forest. This was performed using exclusion fencing and tip-up mounds at McMaster Forest Nature Preserve and the Sheelah Dunn Dooley Nature Sanctuary in Hamilton Ontario. Tree regeneration was surveyed from thirty 1 m × 1 m quadrats within exclusion plots and another thirty quadrats from deer-browsed areas adjacent to the exclusion plots. Soil samples were taken from each quadrat to analyze browsing impacts on nitrate, phosphate and soil organic matter. Red oak (Quercus rubra) was planted at the top and base of tip-up mounds of varying heights and widths and monitored for deer access and browsing activity. Results show a significantly higher density of woody plants within exclosures compared to non-exclosures (p = 0.0089) and twice more abundance of highly palatable species within the exclosures. However, species richness (p > 0.05) and diversity (p > 0.05) were minimally impacted by deer browsing, showing a resilient old growth forest. Soil nitrate was consistently higher in the non-exclosures, while phosphate was consistently higher within deer exclosures. Finally, more seedlings survived at the top of mounds than the bases, showing the potential of tip-up mounds to be a natural method of deer exclusion and a critical avenue for restoring over-browsed forests.
Numerical Modelling of CO2 Injection and Storage in Low Porosity and Low Permeability Saline Aquifers: A Design for the Permian Shiqianfeng Formation in the Yulin Area, Ordos Basin
Authors: Wang Chen , Wang Zhenliang , Li Haowen
Published: December 2024

The geological storage of CO2 in saline aquifers is a crucial method for achieving large-scale carbon storage in the future. The saline aquifers with low porosity and permeability in the Ordos Basin exhibit high irreducible water saturation and restricted fluid mobility, necessitating further investigation of their injectivity and storage safety. The fifth member of the Shiqianfeng Formation (P3sh5) in the Ordos Basin serves as a key layer for geological CO2 storage (GCS). The numerical simulation of CO2 injection in this reservoir is an indispensable process for characterizing the migration and storage of CO2. Injection pressure and well type (vertical well or horizontal well) are critical factors affecting GCS. The results of the numerical simulation are important preliminary preparations for promoting the GCS in the saline aquifer of the Shiqianfeng Formation in the future. This paper focuses on P3sh5 in the Yulin area as a case study. It investigates the injectivity and CO2 migration characteristics of these low porosity and low permeability saline aquifers in the Ordos Basin. Relatively high-quality distributary channel sandstone bodies in integrally low porosity and permeability strata were identified for injection. As CO2 is injected, the formation pressure gradually increases. It is essential to maintain it below the fracture pressure during CO2 injection to ensure safety. High-pressure (8 MPa) injection could achieve volumes 2.9 times greater than those in the low-pressure scenario (4 MPa) of 2 km horizontal branch well. Under the three injection well types, the injection rate of vertical wells is the lowest. Employing a “horizontal branch well injection” strategy could potentially amplify the injection volume by 2.87 times. CO2 predominantly migrates vertically near the horizontal interval of interest, while horizontally, the area near the interval of interest experiences a higher CO2 saturation, with the maximum saturation reaching about 50%. Overall, CO2 is migrated in the distributary channel sandstone bodies, indicating a higher storage safety and lower leakage risk. It is recommended that the number of drilling wells be increased and multiple horizontal branch wells implemented to enhance the injection efficiency. Overall, this study provides a geological foundation for the previous design and construction of the GCS project in the Ordos Basin’s saline aquifer. It also provides a reference for GCS in low permeability saline layers in similar regions worldwide.
Sustainable Microbial Lead Removal Using an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor: Advancing Eco-Friendly Solutions for Heavy Metal Remediation
Authors: Manzini Bayandza M. , Cilliers Carla , Tendenedzai Job Tatenda , Haneklaus Nils H. , Chirwa Evans , Brink Hendrik G.
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the use of a UASB (Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket) reactor operating under continuous anoxic conditions to remediate Pb(II) contamination in aqueous environments. Two experimental runs were conducted to evaluate the microbiome’s performance in removing Pb(II) at varying concentrations, ranging from 80 to 2000 ppm, while monitoring nitrate and Pb(II) levels. Metabarcoding of the 16S rRNA gene was done to understand the detoxification mechanisms utilised by the microbial community in Pb(II) removal. The system demonstrated high robustness, achieving up to 99% Pb(II) removal efficiency with sufficient nutrient availability, particularly at 15 g/L yeast extract (YE), compared to lower nutrient levels of 5 g/L YE. Denitrification was identified as the dominant mechanism of detoxification, supported by additional processes such as biosorption, sulfur-reducing bacterial activity, bioprecipitation, and bioremoval. Analysis of the precipitate recovered from the reactor indicated the presence of elemental lead, PbS, and PbO, highlighting the potential for lead recovery. These findings suggest that the system not only effectively removes Pb(II) from contaminated environments but also offers a sustainable pathway for lead recovery through smelting, making it a promising circular bioremediation strategy. The results indicate that this biological approach is a viable solution for lead pollution and recovery in industrial applications.
Age Is Just a Number: Ontogenetic Conservation in Activation of Blood Clotting Factors VII, X, and XII by Caucasus Blunt-Nosed Viper (Macrovipera lebetina obtusa) Venoms
Authors: Kempson Katrina , Chowdhury Abhinandan , Violette Aude , Fourmy Rudy , Soria Raul , Fry Bryan G.
Published: December 2024

This study examined the pathophysiological effects of venoms from neonate and adult specimens of the viperid snake Macrovipera lebetina obtusa, focusing on their ability to activate various blood clotting factors in human plasma. All venoms exhibited strong procoagulant properties. In concentration–response tests, the clotting potency of the neonate venoms fell within the range of their parents’ maximum clotting velocities and areas under the curve. Intriguingly, females were more potent than males within each age group, but this requires a larger sample size to confirm. Antivenom neutralization efficacy was equipotent across age groups. The venoms potently activated Factor X (FX) robustly, consistent with previous knowledge of this genus. For the first time, the ability to activate Factors VII (FVII) and XII (FXII) was identified in this genus, with FXII exhibiting particularly strong activation. The study found no significant ontogenetic variation in procoagulant venom potency on human plasma, convergent with the Daboia genus, the other large-bodied lineage within the Palearctic viperid clade. However, the activation of FXII and FVII reveals previously undocumented pathways in the procoagulant activity of these venoms, contributing to the broader understanding of venom evolution and its clinical impacts. These findings have implications for venom biodiscovery and the development of antivenoms, highlighting the complexity of clotting factor activation beyond traditional investigations that have myopically focused upon FX and prothrombin pathways, thereby underscoring the importance of exploring additional clotting factors.
COVID-19 Vaccination and Transient Increase in CD4/CD8 Cell Counts in People with HIV: Evidence from China
Authors: Li Yanyan , Lin Yingying , Yi Yunyun , Zhu Na , Cui Xinyu , Li Xin
Published: December 2024

Objectives: Accumulating evidence has confirmed the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the effect of COVID-19 vaccination on immuno-virological parameters in people with HIV (PWH) is uncertain. Methods: A total of 372 PWH treated at Beijing Ditan Hospital were included. Unvaccinated PWH were matched 1:3 with vaccinated PWH using a propensity score matching algorithm. Differences in immuno-virological markers between the matched groups were analyzed. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test for changes in CD4 and CD8 counts and HIV viral load over two months around vaccination. In addition, we investigated the long-term changes in HIV-related markers in different vaccination dose groups and in the entire vaccinated population. Results: Vaccinated PWH had a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (0.64 (0.49, 0.78) vs. 0.80 (0.56, 1.03), p = 0.037) than unvaccinated PWH within a two-month window after the third dose. There were 337 PWH who received COVID-19 vaccination, and 73.9% (n = 249) received three doses of vaccine. We observed a transient increase in CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio within a two-month window after vaccination, especially after the second dose (CD4 count: 583.5 (428.5, 706.8) vs. 618.0 (452.0, 744.0), p = 0.018; CD4/CD8 ratio: 0.70 (0.50, 0.91) vs. 0.71 (0.53, 0.96), p < 0.001)) and the third dose (CD4 count: 575.5 (435.5, 717.0) vs. 577.5 (440.8, 754.8), p = 0.001; CD4/CD8 ratio: 0.70 (0.52, 0.93) vs. 0.79 (0.53, 1.00), p < 0.001)). Recent CD4 counts and CD4/CD8 ratios were lower than after COVID-19 but remained higher than before COVID-19 in vaccinated PWH. In addition, COVID-19 vaccination had no negative effect on HIV viral load. Conclusions: A transient increase in CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio was observed after COVID-19 vaccination. However, the enhanced cellular immune response induced by vaccination may diminish over time and return to normal levels. There is no adverse effect of vaccination on HIV viral load.
Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of the Course of COVID-19 Among Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Heart Transplant Recipients in Slovenia
Authors: Grasselli Kmet Nina , Mavrič Matej , Saletinger Rajko
Published: December 2024

Background: Patients receiving heart transplantation require lifelong immunosuppression and compared to the general population, they have a more than five times higher chance of acquiring COVID-19, and their mortality rates are higher. The aim of the present study was to estimate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in heart transplant recipients (HTRs) in Slovenia to estimate the vaccination rate and evaluate possible vaccination-hesitant subgroups. Methods: All SARS-CoV-2-positive HTRs (N = 79) between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2023 at the Infectious Diseases Department, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, were included retrospectively. Demographic, clinical and vaccination data were extracted from medical documentation and a statistical evaluation was performed. Results: The observed vaccination rate was 63.3%, but among patients who received transplants before the pandemic, it was statistically significantly higher (p = 0.027). Vaccinated HTRs were statistically significantly older (p = 0.004) and had a significantly higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (p = 0.018). Our results indicate no significant differences between vaccinated and unvaccinated HTRs regarding acute respiratory insufficiency (p = 0.135), length of hospital stay (p = 0.106), intensive care unit admission (0.414) and in-hospital mortality (p = 0.317), but we observed statistically more frequently an asymptomatic course in those vaccinated (p = 0.050), and a longer length of stay in vector vaccine recipients (p = 0.011) and in those not re-vaccinated (p = 0.030). There was a significantly higher re-vaccination rate in males (p = 0.005). Conclusions: An asymptomatic course of COVID-19 was more often observed in vaccinated HTRs. Our findings suggest statistically significant differences in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates; younger HTRs and those transplanted after the pandemic are more hesitant to vaccinate, while females accept booster doses less frequently.
Evaluation and Prediction of Water Resources Carrying Capacity in Dongting Lake Area Based on County Unit and DWM-BP Neural Network Model
Authors: Fu Zeding , Ding Xiang , Guo Yu , Chen Yonghua , Li Meifang , Hu Xinjiang , Huang Jing , Zhao Xuhong , Fu Xiaohua , Fang Yingchun
Published: December 2024

Evaluation of water resource carrying capacity is one of the methods used to measure the degree of realization of resource and environmental planning. This study takes 26 county-level units in the Dongting Lake area of Hunan Province as the evaluation object and screens 22 indicators for the evaluation of water resource carrying capacity. The comprehensive weight of the water resources carrying capacity of the Dongting Lake area is calculated using double weight methods (DWM) based on the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and the entropy weighting method. And then, the back propagation (BP) neural network is used to predict the evolution of the alarm situation of the water resources carrying capacity. The results show the following: (1) In terms of time trend, the water resources carrying capacity of Dongting Lake area is generally stable and is between overload and critical state, but the change trends of water resources carrying capacity of each county are very different; (2) in terms of spatial distribution, the water resources carrying capacity in the western and southern regions of the Dongting Lake area is relatively high, while that in the Yueyang urban area in the eastern region is relatively low, showing a pattern of “high in the west and low in the east”; (3) among the criterion layers, the water resources support force has the highest weight and the smallest change, and the economic support force has the largest change in weight. The decline of water resources carrying capacity is closely related to the speed of economic development; (4) by 2025, the water resources carrying capacity of Nanxian County, Hanshou County, and Xiangyin County will be significantly increased from overload to critical state, and Dingcheng District will gradually turn from critical to overloaded status. This study is the first attempt to evaluate and predict the water resources carrying capacity of the Dongting Lake area at the county level so that the evaluation results are more applicable to grass-roots administrative units with decision-making power. The double-weighting method is used to determine the weights of the indicators so that the evaluation results can be more accurate.
Electric Vehicle Traction Battery Recycling Decision-Making Considering Blockchain Technology in the Context of Capacitance Level Differential Demand
Authors: Yang Lijun , Wang Yi
Published: December 2024

In recent years, the rapid growth in electric vehicle ownership has resulted in a significant number of decommissioned traction batteries that will require recycling in the future. As consumer expectations for electric vehicle range continue to rise, the turnover of traction batteries has accelerated substantially. Consequently, there is an urgent need for electric vehicle manufacturers to establish an efficient, recyclable supply chain for the return of end-of-life (EOL) electric vehicle (EV) traction batteries. In this paper, we investigate the closed-loop recycling supply chain for retired power batteries in electric vehicle manufacturers, taking into account blockchain technology and the high range preferences in the electric vehicle market, which are influenced by varying demand for different levels of electric vehicle capacitance. Blockchain, as a distributed and decentralized technology, offers features such as consensus mechanisms, traceability, and security, which have been effectively applied across various fields. In this study, we construct four models involving EV battery manufacturers, EV retailers, and battery comprehensive utilization (BCU) enterprises participating in the recycling process. Through the analysis of a Stackelberg response model, we find that (1) single-channel recycling is less efficient than dual-channel recycling models, a difference driven by the diversity of recycling channels and the variability in recycling markets; (2) Recycling models incorporating blockchain technology demonstrate superior performance compared to those that do not utilize blockchain technology, particularly when the intensity of recycling competition is below 0.76; (3) Traction batteries integrated with blockchain technology exhibit higher recycling rates when the optimization index is below 0.96. Electric vehicle battery manufacturers must evaluate the benefits and costs of adopting blockchain technology; (4) With lower recycling incentive levels and EV range preferences, the single-channel recycling model yields better returns than the other three recycling models. EV manufacturers can enhance overall battery supply chain revenues by establishing varying incentive levels based on market demand for different capacitance levels.
DETERMINANTS OF SHORT BIRTHS IN BLORA CITY, CENTRAL JAVA: A MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS
Authors: Kurniatri Maniek Indah , Widyaningsih Vitri , Sukamto Ika Sumiyarsi
Published: December 2024

Kabupaten Blora termasuk daerah yang menjadi fokus perhatian pemerintah pusat dalam program penanganan stunting dengan jumlah kasus lahir pendek sebesar 311 anak pada tahun 2022. Penelitian bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor biologis, social ekonomi, dan geografi terhadap bayi lahir pendek. Penelitian ini dapat digunakan sebagai pengambilan kebijakan untuk mencegah stunting.  Penelitian ini dilakukan di Kabupaten Blora pada bulan Maret hingga Mei 2024 dengan bayi yang lahir pada tahun 2023. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian analitik kuantitatif menggunakan desain studi case control. Sampel diambil menggunakan rumus cluster sampling dan didapatkan sebanyak 100 kelompok kasus dan 200 kelompok kontrol yang dibedakan berdasarkan jumlah populasi kasus dan sampel pada tempat penelitian. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner. variabel bebas yaitu usia, tinggi badan, kekurangan energi kronik, anemia, kunjungan antenatal, paritas, usia kehamilan, pendapatan, anggota keluarga, paparan rokok, tempat tinggal, serta pengaruh kontekstual desa dan capaian kunjungan posyandu dan variabel terikat adalah bayi lahir pendek. Analisis menggunakan regresi logistik ganda multilevel. Terdapat pengaruh dari usia ibu hamil dibawah 19 tahun (aOR=6.89; p=0.002), tinggi badan (aOR=4.63; p=0.009), kekurangan energi kronik (aOR= 6.61; p=0.001), anemia (aOR=3.28; p=0.018), kunjungan antenatal (aOR=6.38; p=0.003), paritas (aOR=3.39; p=0.008), usia kehamilan (aOR=4.58; p=0.042), pendapatan (aOR=2.40; p=0.067), jumlah anggota keluarga (aOR=4.39; p=0.003), paparan asap rokok (aOR=2.88; p=0.017) dan tempat tinggal (aOR=3.45; p=0.012), serta terdapat pengaruh kontekstual posyandu dan desa terhadap kejadian stunting di Kabupaten Blora sebesar 12%.Terdapat pengaruh dari faktor biologis, sosial ekonomi, dan geofrafis terhadap bayi lahir pendek di Kabupaten Blora. Diharapkan pemerintah membuat kebijakan untuk menurunkan kekurangan energi kronik pada ibu hamil
La vida fungible en “la guerra que no hemos visto”
Authors: Ruiz Gutiérrez Adriana María
Published: December 2024

Con formidable rapidez, las máquinas de guerra, distintas a los aparatos de Estado, transforman la víctima en el instrumento de la guerra (accionable, intercambiable y matable), hasta su agotamiento definitivo. Así, categorías completas de “poblaciones negadas”, inertes y precarias, son transformadas en herramientas (útiles y vivientes) de la violencia armada, puestas, hoy, al servicio de aquellos que se arrogan el derecho de matar, y asimismo, en “realidades perdidas” que no dejan huella de su paso por el mundo. He aquí la forma inédita y concreta del poder y la división de las maquinarias de guerra (bandas, milicias, grupos rebeldes y estructuras paramilitares), que, además de hacer morir y dejar vivir, producen y reproducen cientos de “vidas fungibles”, que son empleadas, sustituidas y eliminadas según los intereses de la violencia. De ahí su carácter “desechable”. Esta composición hermenéutica crítica, que se sirve, cardinalmente, del pensamiento de Butler, Deleuze, Guattari, Mbembe, Arendt, Agamben y Roxin, además de algunos testimonios de excombatientes colombianos, quienes pintaron y relataron la guerra, se ocupa de definir y caracterizar la noción “vida fungible” (inexistente en la literatura, pero constatable empíricamente). La misma resulta tan útil como inédita para representar las formas contemporáneas de la violencia armada.
Dualidad maíz-llama y sincretismo religioso andino
Authors: Espinoza-Montes Francisco , Cavero Carrasco Juan Ranulfo
Published: December 2024

Se investiga sobre cómo el maíz y la llama, modestísimos elementos vinculados a la vida cotidiana andina, tuvieron destacado significado  religioso en Perú prehispánico y siguen asumiendo, en gran parte de la cultura andina quechua, connotaciones sincréticas fruto de más de cinco centurias de transformaciones culturales y religiosas. Asimismo, se establece entre estos la existencia de una dualidad religiosa –que parece ser matriz ordenadora de los complejos simbólicos de la cultura andina quechua– que se manifiesta en una serie de relaciones simbólicas de oposición, de complementación y de equivalencia analógica y homológica. La  perspectiva teórica es concebir la religión como un sistema cultural, con su dimensión subjetiva y simbólica en los términos de Clifford Geertz, y con su dimensión objetiva como lo plantea Manuel Marzal. Para el estudio se ha realizado importantes trabajos etnográficos en las comunidades campesinas de Lorensayocc y Anansayocc del distrito de Quinua y en otras de la región Ayacucho. Además, adicionalmente se han revisado crónicas y otras fuentes etnográficas referidas a Cusco y Puno, al sur de Perú.