bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Seasonal and Diel Variations in Thermal Stratification on Phytoplankton in a Regulated River
Authors: Jung Eunsong , Joo Gea-Jae , Kim Hyo Gyeom , Kim Dong-Kyun , Kim Hyun-Woo
Published: November 2023

Thermal stratification is an important driver shaping phytoplankton community and their habitat condition in freshwater ecosystems. However, studies on river stratification have been restricted to rivers below dams or reservoirs affected by their water release and lacked examination of diel stratification and its impact on phytoplankton, in particular. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the degree of thermal stratification, its environmental drivers, and the response of water quality and phytoplankton community against stratification in the mid-lower reach of the Nakdong River, whose morphology has been highly modified, including the construction of eight weirs. We implemented vertical temperature profiling at three study sites, both seasonally and diurnally. From this data, we calculated three stratification indices: relative water column stability (RWCS), Schmidt stability (S), and maximum temperature gradient (Max). These indices showed that most sites experienced diel stratification during summer (mean = RWCS 74.3, S 41.5 J m−2, Max 0.9 °C m−1). Principal component analysis showed that stratification significantly led to seasonal and diel variations in the water environment. Solar radiation and air temperature were positive controllers, while a negative controller (in this case, the river flow rate) existed only for diel variation in the stratification. The seasonal shifts in phytoplankton community structure were either insensitive or showed a limited response to the stratification indices. In summer, Microcystis cell abundance and accumulation into the surface water was positively affected by the diel variations in the stratification indices and thermocline instead of with other temperature and nutrient variables. Overall, the results suggest that the river has summer stratification, which is involved in amplifying cyanobacterial bloom intensity. Without a suppressing factor, summer stratification is expected to be recurrent in the river, and thus mitigating the developed stratification is needed by promptly regulating the river flow.
Investigating the Effectiveness of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) as an Antifraud Approach for Modified Epoxy Asphalt Mixes in Developing Countries
Authors: Ngezahayo Esdras , Eskandari Torbaghan Mehran , Metje Nicole , Burrow Michael , Ghataora Gurmel S. , Desalegn Yitagesu
Published: November 2023

The road surfacing material is continuously exposed to both traffic and climate stresses, including extreme temperatures and heavy rainfalls. Subsequently, most road defects start from the surface and potentially develop into road structural damage. Appropriate road maintenance schemes are necessary to ensure the surface remains functionable. On the other hand, these maintenance schemes would be uneconomical without the use of durable and climate-resilient materials for road surfacing. This is vital in low-income countries (LICs), where the burdens of road maintenance are economically unbearable. In this regard, long-life epoxy-modified asphalt offers an opportunity to achieve durable and climate-resilient pavement surfacing. However, epoxy is an expensive material that may be subject to fraud, leading to poor quality of the surfacing mixture and the resulting road infrastructure. In order to prevent fraud and ensure the quality of epoxy bitumen mixtures for road surfacing, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to characterise mixes of epoxy-modified bitumen and trace the content of epoxy. The findings showed that the epoxy content used in the preparation of mixes agreed with the epoxy content traced using FTIR. The mean difference between the two quantities was approximately ±1.0% with a correlation coefficient R2 > 0.9. Therefore, FTIR can efficiently provide an antifraud method for modified epoxy asphalt mixes at the plant level to help achieve sustainable pavements.
Promoting Prosociality and Health through Musical Interventions with Groups at Risk of Social Exclusion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Martí-Vilar Manuel , Villalonga-Aragón Maria , González-Sala Francisco , Hidalgo-Fuentes Sergio , Merino-Soto César , Toledano-Toledano Filiberto
Published: November 2023

There is evidence that promoting prosociality through music helps activate participation and integration with the environment, supporting the emergence of empathic responses and fostering bonds between people, especially those with societal inclusion difficulties. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of psychosocial intervention programs that have used musical techniques to promote prosociality in populations at risk of social exclusion. The search was performed following PRISMA methodology guidelines in the Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, PubMed, and ProQuest databases between 2000 and 2021. A total of 11 studies met the selection criteria. The type of musical activity applied, research design, sample sociodemographic characteristics, measurement instruments and effectiveness were compared. Despite the heterogeneity of the interventions, populations, and contexts among the studies, music was found to be a potential resource for increasing prosocial behaviors, promoting physical and psychological health, and constructing alternatives to antisocial behaviors through the creation of safe spaces for creatively expressing subjectivity, providing prosocial referents, and facilitating cohesive and positive relationships. The limitations highlight the importance of investigating other variables within the studied populations, such as the age of the beneficiaries, the psychosocial problems they present, the level of risk they present, or even their motivations for participating in these programs. It can be concluded that this type of intervention has an impact on the increase in prosocial behaviors in people at risk of social exclusion. However, future studies should address methodological aspects related to the intervention itself, such as the duration of the intervention and the types of activities developed in these programs.
High-Resolution Phase-Contrast Tomography on Human Collagenous Tissues: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Furlani Michele , Riberti Nicole , Gatto Maria Laura , Giuliani Alessandra
Published: November 2023

Phase-contrast X-ray imaging is becoming increasingly considered since its first applications, which occurred almost 30 years ago. Particular emphasis was placed on studies that use this technique to investigate soft tissues, which cannot otherwise be investigated at a high resolution and in a three-dimensional manner, using conventional absorption-based settings. Indeed, its consistency and discrimination power in low absorbing samples, unified to being a not destructive analysis, are pushing interests on its utilization from researchers of different specializations, from botany, through zoology, to human physio-pathology research. In this regard, a challenging method for 3D imaging and quantitative analysis of collagenous tissues has spread in recent years: it is based on the unique characteristics of synchrotron radiation phase-contrast microTomography (PhC-microCT). In this review, the focus has been placed on the research based on the exploitation of synchrotron PhC-microCT for the investigation of collagenous tissue physio-pathologies from solely human samples. Collagen tissues’ elasto-mechanic role bonds it to the morphology of the site it is extracted from, which could weaken the results coming from animal experimentations. Encouraging outcomes proved this technique to be suitable to access and quantify human collagenous tissues and persuaded different researchers to approach it. A brief mention was also dedicated to the results obtained on collagenous tissues using new and promising high-resolution phase-contrast tomographic laboratory-based setups, which will certainly represent the real step forward in the diffusion of this relatively young imaging technique.
A Multiplex RT-PCR Method for the Detection of Reptarenavirus Infection
Authors: Baggio Francesca , Hetzel Udo , Prähauser Barbara , Dervas Eva , Michalopoulou Eleni , Thiele Tanja , Kipar Anja , Hepojoki Jussi
Published: November 2023

Reptarenaviruses cause Boid Inclusion Body Disease (BIBD), a fatal disease of boid snakes with an economic and ecological impact, as it affects both captive and wild constrictor snakes. The clinical picture of BIBD is highly variable but often only limited. Intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IB), which develop in most cell types including blood cells, are the pathognomonic hallmark of BIBD; their detection represents the diagnostic gold standard of the disease. However, IBs are not consistently present in clinically healthy reptarenavirus carriers, which can, if undetected, lead to and maintain the spread of the disease within and between snake populations. Sensitive viral detection tools are required for screening and control purposes; however, the genetic diversity of reptarenaviruses hampers the reverse transcription (RT) PCR-based diagnostics. Here, we describe a multiplex RT-PCR approach for the molecular diagnosis of reptarenavirus infection in blood samples. The method allows the detection of a wide range of reptarenaviruses with the detection limit reaching 40 copies per microliter of blood. Using 245 blood samples with a reference RT-PCR result, we show that the technique performs as well as the segment-specific RT-PCRs in our earlier studies. It can identify virus carriers and serve to limit reptarenavirus spreading in captive snake collections.
Website Investigation of Pet Weight Management-Related Information and Services Offered by Ontario Veterinary Practices
Authors: Morrow Shawna , Zhang Kehan , Abood Sarah K. , Verbrugghe Adronie
Published: November 2023

Pet owners rely on information and advice from their veterinary practice to effectively manage their pet’s weight. This study investigated weight management information and services displayed on practice websites in Ontario, Canada. Information collected from the websites of 50 randomly selected small and mixed-animal practices included practice and staff demographics and the type of weight management services, products, and information advertised or displayed. The most frequently advertised weight management service and product were nutritional counselling (34%) and therapeutic diets (25%), respectively. Current bodyweight measurement was advertised on just over half of the websites (54%), while physical therapy counselling was the least-advertised service (16%). Further statistical analyses were performed in an exploratory fashion to determine areas for future research. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between practice demographics and the type of weight management information advertised online. A maximum of two predictor variables were included in each regression model. Exploratory analyses indicated that when controlling for the number of veterinarians in each practice, having a higher number of veterinary technicians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising current bodyweight measurement by 80.1% (odds ratio (OR) = 1.80, p = 0.05). Additionally, when controlling the number of veterinary technicians, having a higher number of veterinarians was associated with increased odds of a practice website advertising sales of therapeutic diets by 119.0% (OR = 2.19, p = 0.04). When using corporate practices as reference, independently owned practices had decreased odds of advertising sales of treats and weight management accessories on their practice websites by 78.7% (OR = 0.21, p = 0.03). These preliminary results suggest that advertising weight management information is not prioritized on veterinary practice websites in Ontario, especially those with lower staff numbers. The findings of this study raise awareness on the current state of weight management promotion for pets on veterinary practice websites and highlight ways to improve upon a practice’s online presence.
Effects of Spirulina platensis and/or Allium sativum on Antioxidant Status, Immune Response, Gut Morphology, and Intestinal Lactobacilli and Coliforms of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chicken
Authors: Attia Youssef A. , Hassan Reda A. , Addeo Nicola Francesco , Bovera Fulvia , Alhotan Rashed A. , Al-qurashi Adel D. , Al-Baadani Hani H. , Al-Banoby Mohamed A. , Khafaga Asmaa F. , Eisenreich Wolfgang , Shehata Awad A. , Basiouni Shereen
Published: November 2023

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the dietary addition of Spirulina platensis (SP) and/or garlic powder (GP) on heat-stressed broiler chickens. For this purpose, 600 Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated at 22 days of age into five groups (G1–G5), each comprising six groups of 20 birds each. Chickens kept in G1 (negative control) were fed a basal diet and raised at 26 ± 1 °C. Chickens kept in G2 to G5 were exposed to periodic heat stress (35 ± 1 °C for 9 h/day) from 22 to 35 days old. Chickens in G2 (positive control) were provided a basal diet, while G3, G4, and G5 were fed a basal diet enriched with SP (1 g/kg diet), GP (200 mg/kg diet), or SP/GP (1 g SP/kg + 200 mg GP/kg diet), respectively. The assessment parameters included the chickens’ performance, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and modulation of lactobacilli and total coliforms in the intestinal microbiota. Our findings demonstrated that supplementing heat-stressed chickens with SP and/or GP significantly mitigated the negative effects on the European production efficiency index (EPEF), survival rate, cholesterol profile, and oxidative stress markers. Chickens supplemented with GP and/or SP exhibited significantly better EPEF and survivability rates. Heat stress had a significant impact on both the gut structure and gut microbiota. However, SP and/or GP supplementation improved the gut morphology, significantly increased the intestinal lactobacilli, and reduced the coliform contents. It was also found that the simultaneous feeding of SP and GP led to even higher recovery levels with improved lipid metabolites, immunity, and oxidative status. Overall, supplementing chickens with SP and/or GP can alleviate the negative effects of heat stress.
Vulnerability of Water Resources to Drought Risk in Southeastern Morocco: Case Study of Ziz Basin
Authors: Ben Salem Souad , Ben Salem Abdelkrim , Karmaoui Ahmed , Yacoubi Khebiza Mohammed
Published: November 2023

Water resources in Morocco have been severely influenced by climate change and prolonged drought, particularly in the pre-Saharan zone. The Ziz watershed faces increasing pressure due to the high demographic growth, increased demand for water, excessive groundwater consumption, and investment in agriculture. But how long will water resources withstand these problems? This study, therefore, enters into the context of the assessment of water resources and estimates their vulnerability using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), and Standardized Groundwater Index (SGI), on data from the Ziz watershed from 1986 to 2016. Additionally, climate projections were utilized to simulate the future SGI from 2017 to 2100. The Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) was employed to evaluate changes in Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) during the period of 1992–2020, and to generate future scenarios for land class inflows and outflows from 2017 to 2100, in comparison to the reference period of 1986–2016, thereby incorporating the SSP climate scenarios. The results indicate that the Ziz Basin experienced significant drought events in 1986–1989 and 2000–2003. The SPI and SPEI significantly correlated with SGI in some monitoring wells and with specific accumulation periods. The LULC analysis showed an increase in agricultural land and urban land and a decrease in barren or sparse land. Climate data analysis and scenarios predict that under SSP5-8.5, minimum and maximum temperatures will increase by 2.61 °C and 2.93 °C, respectively, and precipitation will decrease by 30% over this century. This substantial shift in climate conditions is reflected in the decline in SGIs, especially in the long term under SSP5-8.5. Water availability will decrease during this century under SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5, as reflected in reduced land class inflows and increased outflows. These findings emphasize the need for stakeholders to implement integrated water governance for sustainability in the Ziz watershed.
Study on the Impact of Emulsion on Mine Water Quality and Health Risk Assessment
Authors: Qiu Youli , Liu Yu , Wu Min , Li Jie , He Ruimin , Hao Chunming , Fan Xing , Sun Chaoxing
Published: November 2023

The composition of emulsion is complex. In the process of coal mining, the emulsion required by the hydraulic equipment can enter the mine water through a variety of channels, thereby affecting the water quality of the mine. In this study, the mine water of a super large coal mine, Daliuta Coal Mine, was collected, and static and dynamic simulation tests were designed to analyze the changes in various water quality indicators of mine water containing different concentrations of emulsions over time. Furthermore, the health risk assessment model was applied to evaluate the health risks of hexavalent chromium (Cr6+) and chloride in mine water containing emulsions on different populations. The results indicate that the alkaline substances such as sodium castor oil in the emulsion can increase the pH value of mine water, but it is more obvious when the emulsion concentration is high. The mine water itself contains chloride and sulfate exceeding 300 and 400 mg/L, respectively, and the addition of emulsion under static conditions has little effect on them, while the amount of emulsion added under dynamic conditions reaches 20 mL/L, which has a significant impact. The emulsion contains a certain amount of Cr6+ and can affect the total dissolved solid content, total hardness, and other indicators of mine water through mechanisms such as adsorption, solubilization, and chemical precipitation. The calculation results of the health risk assessment model indicate that the excessive chloride in the mine water in the area poses a potential non-carcinogenic risk to all populations exposed to their environment. The health risk index of Cr6+ increases with the increase in emulsion content in mine water, and the potential non-carcinogenic risk is higher for children. Overall, emulsions can significantly deteriorate the quality of mine water. This research can provide a scientific theoretical basis for subsequent study of mine water pollutant treatment, water quality monitoring and management, and health risk assessment, thereby contributing to reducing the health risks it brings and protecting the safety of local groundwater quality.
Navigating Produced Water Sustainability in the Oil and Gas Sector: A Critical Review of Reuse Challenges, Treatment Technologies, and Prospects Ahead
Authors: Nath Fatick , Chowdhury Mohammed Omar Sahed , Rhaman Md. Masudur
Published: November 2023

The petroleum industry produces a large amount of wastewater, known as produced water (PW), during oil production and processing. This PW contains hazardous organic and inorganic components that can harm the environment. Conventional treatment methods have been used to purify PW, but they do not meet environmental regulations, especially when the goal is to reuse the water. Therefore, further research is needed to find an effective technology for managing PW. This review focuses on the characteristics and management of PW originating from oil and gas fields. Firstly, we provide a detailed overview of PW production scenarios worldwide and in the US with detailed quantities and chemical compositions of organic, inorganic, and physicochemical characteristics. Secondly, challenges and environmental concerns associated with treating PW are discussed. Thirdly, all relevant treatment technologies for PW are systematically explored. In addition, this review highlights the management of PW and suggests treatment options and best practices for the industry, and finally, future research needs and opportunities for sustainable water treatment and effective reuse technologies are addressed. Because PW contains a variety of severe contaminants, single methods have not been effective in converting it to a reusable form or fulfilling disposal criteria. As a result, integrated technologies may provide a potential approach that not only meets regulatory standards but also provides chances to employ PW as a non-conventional water supply. Advances in PW management are critical and demand a defined framework and risk-based approach to determine and build the most efficient plan.
Heavy Metal Content Characteristics and Pollution Source Analysis of Shallow Groundwater in Tengzhou Coal Mining Area
Authors: Yan Beibei , Wei Qianqian , Li Xinfeng , Song Xiaoyu , Gao Zongjun , Liu Jiutan , Zhang Ruilin , Wang Min
Published: November 2023

This study analyzed the sources of total metal elements using the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and conducted human health risk assessment for adults and children using the health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). According to the health risk assessment, As is the main contributor to the non-carcinogenic risk of groundwater in Tengzhou, with drinking water as the main exposure route. Regarding carcinogenic risks (CR), the values of As and Cr for adults and children were higher than 1 × 10−4, with drinking water as the main exposure route. Therefore, As is the largest contributor to the CR of groundwater for adults and children and drinking water is the main exposure route in the study area. The primary exposure pathways are oral intake and dermal contact, with oral intake presenting a significant risk. The carcinogenic risks according to principal component analysis (PCA) and PMF analysis showed that the main sources of heavy metals in shallow groundwater in Tengzhou City are agricultural, industrial, natural, and industrial deposition sources, with contribution rates of 21.7%, 27.2%, 31.0%, and 20.1%, respectively. In particular, natural sources are the largest contributor to the accumulation of heavy metals.
Migration Movements of Accidentally Spilled Oil in Environmental Waters: A Review
Authors: Jiang Anqi , Han Longxi , Wang Chenfang , Zhao Jinjing
Published: November 2023

Accidentally spilled oil can cause great harm to the ecological balance of water once it enters the environmental waters. Clarifying its movement behavior and migration law in water has been the focus of environmental hydraulics research. This review starts from the mechanism of the oil spill migration process, and firstly reviews the kinematic characteristics of the smallest moving unit of the oil spill, the individual oil droplet, as well as focusing on several key aspects such as droplet shape, trajectory, terminal velocity and drag coefficient. Subsequently, considering the commonalities and differences between inland riverine and oceanic environments, different aspects of oil droplet collision, coalescence, breakage, particle size distribution, and vertical diffusion are discussed separately. Finally, the current status of research on the migration laws of accidental oil spills in environmental waters is summarized, and feasible future research directions are proposed to address the emerging research problems and research gaps.
Using Geographic Information Systems and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis to Determine Appropriate Locations for Rainwater Harvesting in Erbil Province, Iraq
Authors: Ahmed Soran O. , Bilgili Ali Volkan , Cullu Mehmet Ali , Ernst Fred , Abdullah Haidi , Hamad Twana Abdulrahman , Aziz Barzan Sabah
Published: November 2023

Water scarcity is a prominent consequence of global climate change, presenting a significant challenge to the livelihoods of wide parts of the world, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. This study focuses on Erbil Province in Iraq, where the dual effects of climate change and human activity have significantly depleted water resources in the past two decades. To address this challenge, rainwater harvesting (RWH) is explored as a viable solution. The purpose of this study is to make a suitability zone map that divides the study area into several classes based on the features of each area and its ability to collect rainwater. The map will then be used to find the best place to build different RWH structures. Seven different layers are used to make the RWH suitability zone map: rainfall, runoff, land use/cover (LU/LC), soil texture, slope, drainage density, and the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI). Each layer was assigned specific weights through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), considering its relevance to RWH. Results revealed four suitability classes: very highly suitable 1583.25 km2 (10.67%), highly suitable 4968.55 km2 (33.49%), moderately suitable 5295.65 km2 (35.69%), and lowly suitable 2989.66 km2 (20.15%). Notably, the suitability map highlights the northern and central regions as particularly suitable for RWH. Furthermore, the study suggested three suitable locations for constructing medium dams, six for check dams, and twenty-seven for farm ponds, according to the requirements of each type. These findings provide valuable insights for the strategic planning and effective management of water resources in the study area, offering potential solutions to the pressing challenges of water scarcity.
Hydrochemical Appraisal and Driving Forces of Groundwater Quality and Potential Health Risks of Nitrate in Typical Agricultural Area of Southwestern China
Authors: Liu Jiawei , Yang Chang , Chen Si , Wang Yangshuang , Zhang Xingjun , Kang Wulue , Li Junyi , Wang Ying , Hu Qili , Yuan Xingcheng
Published: November 2023

Elucidating the hydrogeochemical processes and quality assessment of groundwater holds significant importance for its sustainable development. In this paper, 53 groundwater samples were collected from a typical agricultural area in the northeastern Chongqing municipality in SW China. The integration of multivariate statistical analysis, ion ratio analysis, geomodelling analysis, the entropy water quality index, health risks assessment, and sensitivity analysis was carried out to explore the hydrochemical processes and quality assessment of groundwater in this study. The statistical results reveal that the cationic concentrations followed the order of Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > K+, while the anionic components were in the order of HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− > Cl−. Based on the Piper trilinear diagram, the hydrochemical types were shown as Ca-HCO3 and Ca-Mg-HCO3 types. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the groundwater samples could be categorized into three groups. The hydrochemical compositions were primarily influenced by water–rock interactions (e.g., carbonate dissolution and silicate weathering). In terms of irrigation suitability, the sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) ranged from 0.05 to 1.82, and the electrical conductivity (EC) varied from 116 to 1094 μs/cm, indicating that most groundwater samples were suitable for irrigation. The entropy-weighted water quality index ranged from 15 to 94, suggesting that the groundwater samples were suitable for drinking purposes. Non-carcinogenic human health risks followed the order of children > adult females > adult males, within the average values of 0.30, 0.21, and 0.18, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters had the weight order of NO3 > body weight (BW) > ingestion rate (IR) > exposure frequency (EF). Hence, we recommend prioritizing the management of areas with high salinity levels, while avoiding the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers, raising awareness among local residents about safe groundwater, and providing robust support for the sustainable development of groundwater in typical agricultural areas.
The Criteria for Transition of Fluid to Nonlinear Flow for Fractured Rocks: The Role of Fracture Intersection and Aperture
Authors: Zhong Chunlin , Xue Kangsheng , Wang Yakun , Luo Peng , Liu Xiaobo
Published: November 2023

Understanding the fluid pattern is of special significance for estimating the hydraulic conductivity of fractured rock masses. The nonlinearity of fluid flow in discrete fracture networks (DFNs) originates from inertial effects and is enhanced by complex geometric topologies, which produces additional viscous friction and is subject to inertia effects, consequently transitioning the fluid to the nonlinear flow regime. Therefore, it is important to obtain the critical conditions for the transition of a fluid from laminar to turbulent flow. To investigate the role of fracture aperture and fracture intersection on the onset of the transition of a fluid to nonlinear flow in fractured rocks, the fluid dynamic computation was performed by solving Navier–Stokes (N–S) equations in DFN models. The results show that the flow flux initially linearly correlates with the hydraulic gradient (J) and the permeability of DFNs initially remains constant. As the hydraulic gradient increases, the flow flux presents a strong nonlinear relationship with the hydraulic gradient, and the permeability decreases dramatically. In particular, significant inertial effects appear earlier with a large fracture aperture or a dense fracture intersection. A critical hydraulic gradient (Jc) is proposed to judge the onset of nonlinear flow. The mathematical expression of Jc and Forchheimer coefficients A and B involving the fracture aperture and fracture intersection density is established through a multiple regression algorithm. Finally, the reliability of the predictive model was verified by comparing the results of the prediction and fluid dynamic computation of a series of DFN models with well-known geometric distributions. The consistency of the fitted equations and a correlation coefficient greater than 0.9 between them indicate that the predictive model proposed in this study is reliable.
An Improved Flow Direction Algorithm That Considers Mass Conservation for Sediment Transport Simulations
Authors: Wei Hong , Dai Wen , Wang Bo , Zhu Hui , Zhao Fei , Jiao Haoyang , Li Penghui
Published: November 2023

The sediment transport process in watersheds is an important research component of geomorphology and surface dynamics. Previous work has inferred the spatial distribution of the sediment transport rate (STR) by the flow direction algorithm and measured topographic variation; however, the simple application of the flow direction algorithm contributes to mass non-conservation during a simulation. This study designs an improved flow direction algorithm for a sediment transport process simulation by judging the mass conservation situation in the simulation process. The specific implementation is to evaluate the existence of negative values for the STR; if they exist, the negative values of the STR are reset to stop the propagation of the negative values downstream. Experiments are conducted to improve the classical D8, MFD–se, and MFD–md flow algorithms in this paper, and the experimental results show that the method in this paper can effectively improve the simulation effect of STR. The STR simulations of the three models, D8, MFD–se, and MFD–md, improved by 1.26%, 4.17%, and 4.54%, respectively. Moreover, the MFD–se model is more suitable for the simulation of the STR when comparing the three models. The improved flow algorithm can be used to simulate the STR, sediment content, and pollutant migration in watersheds, providing a new method for the fine-grained characterization of surface processes in watersheds.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Double-Layer Coupling Structure for an Electric Vehicle Wireless Power Transfer System
Authors: Xu Feifan , Wei Shuguang , Li Jiaqi , Yuan Dong
Published: November 2023

This paper proposes a novel coupling structure wireless power transfer (WPT) technology for improving the charging and recharging efficiency between electric vehicles (EVs) in the case that the transmitting and receiving coils are not exactly aligned. During the process of wireless power transmission, if the relative position of the coils located on each objective is randomly changed, a change in the mutual inductance occurs, which critically leads to fluctuation in the WPT system output. In order to improve the tolerance of the EV WPT system, considering coupling structure misalignment and the deflection caused by relative location changes, a double-layer coupling structure with solenoid pads and double-D pads (SP-DDP coupling structure) is designed for deployment on the side of EVs. Then, the coupling structure is developed through parametrized optimization. Finally, the established coupling structure is evaluated through simulations and an experiment using a prototype, the results of which demonstrate that the proposed coupling structure can achieve good anti-misalignment and anti-deflection performance, realizing a system efficiency of 92.65% and an output power of 192.02 W for the designed EV WPT system.
Türkiye’de Üniversite Gençliğinin İslam Dinine İnanma Düzeylerine Bakış: Literatür Taraması
Authors: ELMALI KARAKAYA Ayşe , KARATAŞ Meryem , ERULTUNCA Tuğba , İNCE Abdullah
Published: November 2023

Bu çalışmada “Üniversite gençliğin İslam dinine inanç düzeyleri ve inanma biçimleri değişiyor mu/nasıl değişiyor?” sorusu ile ilgili literatür 2000-2023 yılları arasında yayımlanan makaleleri kapsayacak şekilde betimsel bir analize tabi tutulmuştur. Araştırma, amacı bakımından keşfedici araştırma olup keşfedici araştırma yöntemlerinden literatür taraması şeklinde yürütülmüştür. Bu yolla, belirtilen soruya ilişkin verilen yanıtların kapsamını, hangi alana ait olduğunu, ilgili alanda nasıl değerlendirildiğini, araştırma sahalarının hangi yönde değiştiğini tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. İncelemeye dahil edilen 96 makalenin analizi sonucunda gençlerin büyük oranda İslam dininin inanç sistemini kabullendikleri görülmüştür. Gençlik kategorisinin genişliğini ve özelliklerini göz önünde bulundurarak, gençlik ve dini inanç konusunun toplumsal ve bireysel etkilerinin özellikle nitel çalışmalar ile yeniden sorgulanması gerektiği de ortaya çıkarılmıştır. Gençlik döneminin etkisiyle tekrar sorgulanan, bazen pekiştirilen bazen de yeniden kurgulanan inançla ilgili “soru, merak, ilgi, şüphe ve eğilimlerin” mümkün olduğunca doğru, anlaşılır, objektif zeminlerde değerlendirilmesi ve tartışılması için daha spesifik sorular ve daha küçük gruplarla farklı disiplinlerde yapılacak çalışmalara ihtiyaç duyulduğu da anlaşılmıştır.
Beyond Loss of Kidney Function: Patient Care in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Hogan Marie C. , Simmons Kathryn , Ullman Lawrence , Gondal Maryam , Dahl Neera K.
Published: November 2023

Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease benefit from specialized care over their lifetimes, starting with diagnosis of the condition with ongoing discussion of both the renal course and extra-renal issues. Both renal and extra-renal issues may continue to cause major morbidity even after successful kidney transplant or initiation of RRT, and extra-renal disease aspects should always be considered as part of routine management. In this review, we will focus on updates in pain/depression screening, cardiac manifestations, liver and pancreatic cysts, kidney stone management, and genetic counseling. In some instances, we have shared our current clinical practice rather than an evidence-based guideline. We anticipate more standardization of care after the release of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines for management in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease later this year.
Eski Türk Yazıtlarında Bulunan Yansıma Sözcükler Üzerine Bir İnceleme
Authors: ÖZOK Gamze
Published: November 2023

Eski Türk Yazıtları, Türk yazı dili tarihini başlatan eserlerdir. Aralarında “Orhun Abideleri” olarak adlandırılan üç büyük yazıtın da bulunduğu bu eserlerin bazıları bir veya birkaç satırdan bazıları da tek sözcükten oluşsa da her biri hem tarihi hem kültürel hem de dil özellikleri açısından çok önemlidir. Türk yazı dili tarihinin başlangıç vesikaları olarak kabul edilen bu yazıtların, barındırdıkları kelime hazinesiyle içinden çıktıkları topluluğun duyuş, düşünüş, yaşayış biçimini yansıttığı düşünülürse bu eserlerin kaynaklık ettiği alanlar bakımından önemi daha iyi anlaşılmaktadır. Ayrıca pek çok alana ışık tutan bu yazıtlar, söz varlığıyla ve bu söz varlığının kullanım biçimiyle yazıldıkları dönemlerde dilin ifade gücünü de göstermektedirler. Bir dilin söz varlığı içerisinde çok büyük bir yere sahip olmayan yansıma sözcükler de duygu ve düşünceleri dilde daha canlı, ayrıntılı, etkili ve kalıcı bir şekilde ifade etmeye olanak sağlayarak anlatımı kuvvetlendiren sözcüklerdir. Başlangıçtan bugüne kadar daha çok konuşma dilinde varlığını ve gelişimini sürdüren yansıma sözcüklerin, dilin ilk yazılı belgelerinde ne oranda ve ne şekilde yer aldığı merak uyandıran bir konudur. Bu çalışmayla da amaç; yansıma sözcük sayısıyla dünyanın en zengin dillerinden biri olan Türkçenin ilk yazılı belgelerinde, parçalarında ve satırlarında bu sözcükleri tespit ederek ses, şekil ve anlam bakımından inceleyip değerlendirmektir.
How to Build Healthy Societies: A Thematic Analysis of Relevant Conceptual Frameworks
Authors: Nambiar Devaki , Bestman Amy , Srivastava Siddharth , Marten Robert , Yangchen Sonam , Buse Kent
Published: November 2023

Background: As the Sustainable Development Goals deadline of 2030 draws near, greater attention is being given to health beyond the health sector, in other words, to the creation of healthy societies. However, action and reform in this area has not kept pace, in part due to a focus on narrower interventions and the lack of upstream action on health inequity. With an aim to guide action and political engagement for reform, we conducted a thematic analysis of concepts seeking to arrive at healthy societies. Methods: This paper drew on a qualitative thematic analysis of a purposive sample of 68 documents including political declarations, reports, peer reviewed literature and guidance published since 1974. Three independent reviewers extracted data to identify, discuss and critique public policy levers and ‘enablers’ of healthy societies, the "how." Results: The first lever concerned regulatory and fiscal measures. The second was intersectoral action. The final lever a shift in the global consensus around what signifies societal transformation and outcomes. The three enablers covered political leadership and accountability, popular mobilization and the generation and use of knowledge. Conclusion: Documents focused largely on technical rather than political solutions. Even as the importance of political leadership was recognized, analysis of power was limited. Rights-based approaches were generally neglected as was assessing what worked or did not work to pull the levers or invest in the enablers. Frameworks typically failed to acknowledge or challenge prevailing ideologies, and did not seek to identify ways to hold or governments or corporations accountable for failures. Finally, ideas and approaches seem to recur again over the decades, without adding further nuance or analysis. This suggests a need for more upstream, critical and radical approaches to achieve healthy societies.
The Use of Evidence-Informed Deliberative Processes for Designing the Essential Package of Health Services in Pakistan
Authors: Baltussen Rob , Jansen Maarten , Akhtar Syeda Shehirbano , Bijlmakers Leon , Torres-Rueda Sergio , Khalid Muhammad , Raza Wajeeha , Huda Maryam , Surgey Gavin , Zulfiqar Wahaj , Vassall Anna , Zaidi Raza , Siddiqi Sameen , Alwan Ala
Published: November 2023

Background: The Disease Control Priorities 3 (DCP3) project provides long-term support to Pakistan in the development and implementation of its universal health coverage essential package of health services (UHC-EPHS). This paper reports on the priority setting process used in the design of the EPHS during the period 2019-2020, employing the framework of evidence-informed deliberative processes (EDPs), a tool for priority setting with the explicit aim of optimising the legitimacy of decision-making in the development of health benefit packages. Methods: We planned the six steps of the framework during two workshops in the Netherlands with participants from all DCP3 Pakistan partners (October 2019 and February 2020), who implemented these at the country level in Pakistan in 2019 and 2020. Following implementation, we conducted a semi-structured online survey to collect the views of participants in the UHC benefit package design about the prioritisation process. Results: The key steps in the EDP framework were the installation of advisory committees (involving more than 150 members in several Technical Working Groups [TWGs] and a National Advisory Committee [NAC]), definition of decision criteria (effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, avoidable burden of disease, equity, financial risk protection, budget impact, socio-economic impact and feasibility), selection of interventions for evaluation (a total of 170), and assessment and appraisal (across the three dimensions of the UHC cube) of these interventions. Survey respondents were generally positive across several aspects of the priority setting process. Conclusion: Despite several challenges, including a partial disruption because of the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of the priority setting process may have improved the legitimacy of decision-making by involving stakeholders through participation with deliberation, and being evidence-informed and transparent. Important lessons were learned that can be beneficial for other countries designing their own health benefit package such as on the options and limitations of broad stakeholder involvement.
Time to Treat the Climate and Nature Crisis as One Indivisible Global Health Emergency
Authors: Abbasi Kamran , Ali Parveen , Barbour Virginia , Benfield Thomas , Bibbins-Domingo Kirsten , Hancocks Stephen , Horton Richard , Laybourn-Langton Laurie , Mash Robert , Sahni Peush , Sharief Wadeia Mohammad , Yonga Paul , Zielinski Chris
Published: November 2023

Note: This Comment is being published simultaneously in multiple journals. For the full list of journals see: https://www.bmj.com/content/full-list-authors-and-signatories-climate-nature-emergency-editorial-october-2023
Knowledge Collaboration Among Fashion Designers: An A Priori Conceptual Model
Authors: Bhalla Sunil , Bahar Nurhidayah , Kanapathy Kanagi
Published: November 2023

Whilst collaboration from the branding and marketing perspective for the fashion industry is well documented, little is known about the knowledge collaboration (KC) of fashion designers, and how information and communication technology (ICT) is involved within their Communities of Practice (CoPs). This paper proposes an a priori conceptual model to enable the examination of KC among fashion designers within their CoPs. It aims to interlink the concepts of KC, CoPs, and ICT to understand fashion designers in their social learning reality. In that regard, the a priori conceptual model addresses three broad research questions: 1) How do fashion designers collaborate? 2) How do they participate within their professional communities? And 3) Does ICT play a role? The concepts used in the a priori conceptual model will be interlinked with specific indicators extracted from past studies. Since past studies had not focused on this area of research before, future studies can benefit from the a priori conceptual model by applying it to examine KC within CoPs of fashion designers or other groups.
Pengaruh Ownership dan Faktor lainnya terhadap Nilai Perusahaan
Authors: Effendi Susanti E , Siahaan Magda
Published: November 2023

This research examines the effect of return on asset, debt-to-asset ratio, current ratio, firm size, dividend payout ratio, managerial ownership, and institutional ownership on the firm value in non-financial companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This research used samples from non-financial companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange and purposive sampling to get non-financial companies listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2019 to 2021; 59 companies and 177 data were selected as this research sample. This research shows that the return on asset and debt-to-asset ratio positively affect the firm value. In contrast, the current ratio, firm size, dividend payout ratio, managerial ownership, and institutional ownership do not affect the firm value.
Membangun Surga Yang Hilang
Authors: Kristiawan Purnomo
Published: November 2023

Pariwisata memberi dampak yang cukup besar bagi masyarakat Karanganyar, sebagaimana air terjun Jumog yang telah menciptakan lapangan kerja baru dan pertumbuhan ekonomi bagi masyarakat Berjo. Di lain sisi, pertumbuhan ini di sektor pariwisata ini juga menimbulkan persoalan ekologis, sosiologis bahkan teologis yang menyebabkan beberapa warga lokal tidak dapat menikmati hasil dari wisata air terjun Jumog namun justru mendapatkan dampak dari kerusakan lingkungan yang disebabkan oleh investor. Penelitian ini hendak mengkaji persoalan air terjun Jumog dari perspektif kewirausahaan lestari yang berbasis pada tiga hal mendasar, yakni keadilan, kesejahteraan dan keberlanjutan. Tulisan ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif yang memanfaatkan studi pustaka atas literatur utama dari pemikiran Emanuel Gerrit Singgih mengenai teologi ekologi dan Yahya Wijaya tentang konsep kewirausahaan lestari yang berdimensi Profitabilitas, Solidaritas dan Keberlanjutan. Dalam tulisan ini ditemukan bahwa untuk meningkatkan dan memajukan pengelolaan objek wisata air terjun Jumog diperlukan upaya mengubah yang angker menjadi yang sinengker dengan membangun teologi panenteisme yang diinternalisasi melalui ritual bersih desa, merawat kearifan lokal seperti nilai kegotong-royongan dan ajaran tribrata dari RM Said serta perlunya memberdayakan masyarakat desa Berjo melalui pelatihan-pelatihan yang dirancang secara sistematis untuk meningkatkan kompetensi dalam pengelolaan objek wisata air terjun Jumog.
SPEEDBUMP PIEZOELEKTRIK SEBAGAI ENERGI LISTRIK ALTERNATIF (STUDI KASUS GERBANG KAMPUS UBT)
Authors: Fitriani Fitriani , Fadillah Muhammad Said , Christian Jordan
Published: November 2023

Pada saat ini kemajuan teknologi sebagian besar menunjang kegiatan manusia dengan berbagai peralatan teknologi yang menggunakan energi listrik sebagai sumber energinya, hal ini tentu menjadikan energi listrik sebagai bagian yang tidak dapat terpisahkan dalam segala kegiatan manusia. Karena itu banyak penelitian mengembangkan sumber energi terbarukan, akan tetapi banyak penelitian yang lebih terfokus pada pengembangan sumber energi dengan skala besar, dalam hal yang sama sumber energi alternatif dengan skala kecil dapat dikembangkan yaitu dengan memanfaatkan energi kinetik kendaraan yang terbuang di Kampus Universitas Borneo Tarakan untuk menghasilkan energi dengan menggunakan media speed bump piezoelektrik. Speed bump dirancang sedemikian rupa dengan menambahkan piezoelektrik sebagai penghasil energi, sehingga energi kinetik dari kendaraan yang terbuang dapat digunakan untuk menghasilkan energi listrik alternatif. Metode yang digunakan ialah menghitung banyaknya jumlah mobilitas kendaraan di Kampus Universitas Borneo Tarakan dan energi alternatif yang dihasilkan speed bump piezoelektrik berdasarkan pijakan dari jumlah mobilitas kendaraan di Kampus Universitas Borneo Tarakan. Jumlah rata-rata mobilitas kendaraan di Kampus Universitas Borneo Tarakan perharinya adalah Senin 5247, Selasa 4184, Rabu 4302, Kamis 4590, Jumat 4091, dan Sabtu 2271. Energi yang dihasilkan speed bump piezoelektrik di Kampus Universitas Borneo Tarakan setiap perharinya Senin, Selasa, Rabu, Kamis Jumat dan Sabtu adalah 2,48kW, 1,97kW, 2,02kW, 2,16kW, 1,92kW dan 1,07kW.