bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Road toward Environmental Sustainability: Natural Resources, Renewable Energy Consumption, Economic Growth, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: He Yugang , Li Xiang , Huang Panpan , Wang Jingnan
Published: January 2022

Despite the fact that China’s economy has grown swiftly since the reform and opening up, the problem of environmental degradation in China has become increasingly significant. Therefore, this paper uses China as an example to examine the dynamic relationship between the highlighted variables (renewable energy consumption, economic growth, oil rent, and natural resources) and greenhouse gas emissions (a proxy for environmental sustainability). Using annual data over the period 1971–2018 and employing the auto-regressive distributed lag bounds approach to perform an empirical analysis, the results suggest that there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between the highlighted variables and greenhouse gas emissions. Specifically, renewable energy consumption and oil rent contribute to environmental sustainability because of their negative effects on greenhouse gas emissions. On the contrary, economic growth and natural resources hinder environmental sustainability due to their positive effects on greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, using the fully modified ordinary least squares approach and dynamic ordinary least squares approach to conduct a robustness test, the results also support the previous findings. To conclude, the findings of this paper may provide some solutions for China’s environmental sustainability.
Virtual Attractive-Repulsive Potentials Control Theory: A Review and an Extension to Riemannian Manifolds
Authors: Bigelli Luca , Polenta Federico , Fiori Simone
Published: January 2022

The present paper is concerned with an instance of automatic control for autonomous vehicles based on the theory of virtual attractive-repulsive potentials (VARP). The first part of this paper presents a review of the VARP control theory as developed specifically by B. Nguyen, Y.-L. Chuang, D. Tung, C. Hsieh, Z. Jin, L. Shi, D. Marthaler, A. Bertozzi and R. Murray, in the paper ‘Virtual attractive-repulsive potentials for cooperative control of second order dynamic vehicles on the Caltech MVWT’, which appeared in the Proceedings of the 2005 American Control Conference, (Portland, OR, USA) held in June 2005 (pp. 1084–1089). The aim of the first part of the present paper is to recall the mathematical and logical steps that lead to controlling an autonomous robot by a VARP-based control theory. The concepts recalled in the first part of the present paper, with special reference to the physical interpretation of the terms in the developed control field, serve as the starting point to develop a more convoluted control theory for (second-order) dynamical systems whose state spaces are (possibly high-dimensional) curved manifolds. The second part of this paper is, in fact, devoted to extending the classical VARP control theory to regulate dynamical systems whose state spaces possess the mathematical structure of smooth manifolds through manifold calculus. Manifold-type state spaces present a high degree of symmetry, due to mutual non-linear constraints between single physical variables. A comprehensive set of numerical experiments complements the review of the VARP theory and the theoretical developments towards its extension to smooth manifolds.
Searches for Resonant Scalar Boson Pair Production Using Run 2 LHC Proton-Proton Collision Data
Authors: Veatch Jason
Published: January 2022

The discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012 provided confirmation of spontaneous electroweak symmetry breaking as the mechanism by which fundamental particles gain mass and thus completed the Standard Model of particle physics. Additionally, it opened a new approach to searching for potential new particles. Many beyond the Standard Model theories predict new heavy particles that couple to the Higgs boson, leading to a resonant production mode of Higgs boson pairs. Other theories extend the Higgs sector by introducing additional scalar bosons that differ from the observed Higgs boson only by mass. The ATLAS and CMS Collaborations have searched for evidence of such processes using s=13 TeV Run 2 proton-proton collision data at the Large Hadron Collider. This review article summarizes the latest experimental results from searches for resonant production of pairs of Higgs bosons or additional Higgs-like scalar bosons at ATLAS and CMS.
An Empirical Comparative Assessment of Inter-Rater Agreement of Binary Outcomes and Multiple Raters
Authors: Konstantinidis Menelaos , Le Lisa. W. , Gao Xin
Published: January 2022

Background: Many methods under the umbrella of inter-rater agreement (IRA) have been proposed to evaluate how well two or more medical experts agree on a set of outcomes. The objective of this work was to assess key IRA statistics in the context of multiple raters with binary outcomes. Methods: We simulated the responses of several raters (2–5) with 20, 50, 300, and 500 observations. For each combination of raters and observations, we estimated the expected value and variance of four commonly used inter-rater agreement statistics (Fleiss’ Kappa, Light’s Kappa, Conger’s Kappa, and Gwet’s AC1). Results: In the case of equal outcome prevalence (symmetric), the estimated expected values of all four statistics were equal. In the asymmetric case, only the estimated expected values of the three Kappa statistics were equal. In the symmetric case, Fleiss’ Kappa yielded a higher estimated variance than the other three statistics. In the asymmetric case, Gwet’s AC1 yielded a lower estimated variance than the three Kappa statistics for each scenario. Conclusion: Since the population-level prevalence of a set of outcomes may not be known a priori, Gwet’s AC1 statistic should be favored over the three Kappa statistics. For meaningful direct comparisons between IRA measures, transformations between statistics should be conducted.
Prevalence of Fusarium fungi and Deoxynivalenol Levels in Winter Wheat Grain in Different Climatic Regions of Poland
Authors: Okorski Adam , Milewska Alina , Pszczółkowska Agnieszka , Karpiesiuk Krzysztof , Kozera Wojciech , Dąbrowska Joanna Agnieszka , Radwińska Justyna
Published: January 2022

Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium is one of the most dangerous crop diseases, which has a wide geographic distribution and causes severe economic losses in the production of major cereal species. The infection leads to the accumulation of mycotoxins in grains, which compromises its suitability for human and animal consumption. The study demonstrated that grain samples from warmer regions of Poland, including Sulejów and Tomaszów Bolesławicki (results differed across years of the study), were colonized mainly by F. graminearum and were most highly contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON). Samples from Northeastern Poland, i.e., Ruska Wieś, which is located in a cooler region, were characterized by a predominance of Fusarium species typical of the cold climate, i.e., Fusarium poae and Penicillium verrucosum. A Spearman’s rank correlation analysis revealed that the severity of grain infection with F. avenaceum/F. tricinctum was affected by the mean daily temperature and high humidity in May, and the corresponding values of the correlation coefficient were determined at R = 0.54 and R = 0.50. Competitive interactions were observed between the F. avenaceum/F. tricinctum genotype and DON-producing F. culmorum and F. graminearum, because the severity of grain infections caused by these pathogens was bound by a negative correlation.
Application of a Mechanistic Model for the Prediction of Microcystin Production by Microcystis in Lab Cultures and Tropical Lake
Authors: bte Sukarji Nur Hanisah , He Yiliang , Te Shu Harn , Gin Karina Yew-Hoong
Published: January 2022

Microcystin is an algal toxin that is commonly found in eutrophic freshwaters throughout the world. Many studies have been conducted to elucidate the factors affecting its production, but few studies have attempted mechanistic models of its production to aid water managers in predicting its occurrence. Here, a mechanistic model was developed based on microcystin production by Microcystis spp. under laboratory culture and ambient field conditions. The model was built on STELLA, a dynamic modelling software, and is based on constitutive cell quota that varies with nitrogen, phosphorus, and temperature. In addition to these factors, varying the decay rate of microcystin according to its proportion in the intracellular and extracellular phase was important for the model’s performance. With all these effects, the model predicted most of the observations with a model efficiency that was >0.72 and >0.45 for the lab and field conditions respectively. However, some large discrepancies were observed. These may have arisen from the non-constitutive microcystin production that appear to have a precondition of nitrogen abundance. Another reason for the large root mean square error is that cell quota is affected by factors differently between strains.
Evaluating the Quality of Latent Tuberculosis Infection Screening in Ireland: A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: O’Connell James , Oguntuase Joy , Li Brian , McNally Cora , Stanistreet Debbi , McConkey Samuel , de Barra Eoghan
Published: January 2022

Ireland is a country with a low incidence of tuberculosis (TB) (5.6 cases per 100,000 population in 2019) that should be aiming for TB elimination (fewer than 1 case per million of population). To achieve TB elimination in low-incidence countries, programmatic latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) management is important. This requires high-quality latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening. Aim: To assess the quality of LTBI screening in a tertiary centre in Ireland using a framework. Methods: A retrospective review of the health care records of patients screened for TB in a tertiary centre in Ireland using an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) between 2016 and 2018 was performed. Three domains from the Institute of Medicine framework for health care quality, effectiveness, efficiency, and equity, were applied to measure the quality of LTBI screening. Results: Forty patients had LTBI and an indication for treatment, of whom 20% (8/40) were not offered treatment by the health care provider, 2.5% (1/40) did not accept treatment, and 10% (4/40) did not complete treatment. Seventy-five percent (6/8) of patients not offered treatment were non-Irish. The cost of screening per LTBI case identified was EUR 2048. Conclusions: This study evaluated the quality of LTBI screening using a framework and identified that LTBI screening in this tertiary centre needs to be scaled and expanded, and that treatment initiation needs to be improved, particularly among non-Irish nationals.
GRMHD Simulations and Modeling for Jet Formation and Acceleration Region in AGNs
Authors: Mizuno Yosuke
Published: January 2022

Relativistic jets are collimated plasma outflows with relativistic speeds. Astrophysical objects involving relativistic jets are a system comprising a compact object such as a black hole, surrounded by rotating accretion flows, with the relativistic jets produced near the central compact object. The most accepted models explaining the origin of relativistic jets involve magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) processes. Over the past few decades, many general relativistic MHD (GRMHD) codes have been developed and applied to model relativistic jet formation in various conditions. This short review provides an overview of the recent progress of GRMHD simulations in generating relativistic jets and their modeling for observations.
Cooperative Chikungunya Virus Membrane Fusion and Its Substoichiometric Inhibition by CHK-152 Antibody
Authors: Blijleven Jelle , Bouma Ellen , van Duijl-Richter Mareike , Smit Jolanda , van Oijen Antoine
Published: January 2022

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) presents a major burden on healthcare systems worldwide, but specific treatment remains unavailable. Attachment and fusion of CHIKV to the host cell membrane is mediated by the E1/E2 protein spikes. We used an in vitro single-particle fusion assay to study the effect of the potent, neutralizing antibody CHK-152 on CHIKV binding and fusion. We find that CHK-152 shields the virions, inhibiting interaction with the target membrane and inhibiting fusion. The analysis of the ratio of bound antibodies to epitopes implied that CHIKV fusion is a highly cooperative process. Further, dissociation of the antibody at lower pH results in a finely balanced kinetic competition between inhibition and fusion, suggesting a window of opportunity for the spike proteins to act and mediate fusion, even in the presence of the antibody.
Total and Phosphorylated Cerebrospinal Fluid Tau in the Differential Diagnosis of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Rapidly Progressive Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Hermann Peter , Haller Philip , Goebel Stefan , Bunck Timothy , Schmidt Christian , Wiltfang Jens , Zerr Inga
Published: January 2022

Background: CSF total-tau (t-tau) became a standard cerebrospinal fluid biomarker in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In parallel, extremely elevated levels were observed in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Therefore, tau is also considered as an alternative CJD biomarker, potentially complicating the interpretation of results. We investigated CSF t-tau and the t-tau/phosphorylated tau181 ratio in the differential diagnosis of sCJD and rapidly-progressive AD (rpAD). In addition, high t-tau concentrations and associated tau-ratios were explored in an unselected laboratory cohort. Methods: Retrospective analyses included n = 310 patients with CJD (n = 205), non-rpAD (n = 65), and rpAD (n = 40). The diagnostic accuracies of biomarkers were calculated and compared. Differential diagnoses were evaluated in patients from a neurochemistry laboratory with CSF t-tau >1250 pg/mL (n = 199 out of 7036). Results: CSF t-tau showed an AUC of 0.942 in the discrimination of sCJD from AD and 0.918 in the discrimination from rpAD. The tau ratio showed significantly higher AUCs (p < 0.001) of 0.992 versus non-rpAD and 0.990 versus rpAD. In the neurochemistry cohort, prion diseases accounted for only 25% of very high CSF t-tau values. High tau-ratios were observed in CJD, but also in non-neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions: CSF t-tau is a reliable biomarker for sCJD, but false positive results may occur, especially in rpAD and acute encephalopathies. The t-tau/p-tau ratio may improve the diagnostic accuracy in centers where specific biomarkers are not available.
Comparing Immune Responses to Inactivated Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 between People Living with HIV and HIV-Negative Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study in China
Authors: Huang Xiaojie , Yan Ying , Su Bin , Xiao Dong , Yu Maohe , Jin Xia , Duan Junyi , Zhang Xiangjun , Zheng Shimin , Fang Yuan , Zhang Tong , Tang Weiming , Wang Lunan , Wang Zixin , Xu Junjie
Published: January 2022

This study compared the immunogenicity of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines between people living with HIV (PLWH) and HIV-negative individuals. We recruited 120 PLWH and 53 HIV-negative individuals aged 18–59 years who had received an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in two Chinese cities between April and June 2021. Blood samples were tested for immunogenicity of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. The prevalence and severity of adverse events associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines were similar between PLWH and HIV-negative individuals. The seropositivity of neutralizing activity against authentic SARS-CoV-2, of the total amount of antibody (total antibody) and of S-IgG were 71.3%, 81.9%, and 92.6%, respectively, among fully vaccinated PLWH. Among all participants, PLWH had lower neutralizing activity, total antibody, S-IgG, and T-cell-specific immune response levels, compared to HIV-negative individuals, after controlling for types of vaccine, time interval between first and second dose, time after receiving the second dose, and sociodemographic factors. PLWH with a longer interval since HIV diagnosis, who received their second dose 15–28 days prior to study commencement, and who had an interval of ≥21 days between first and second dose had higher neutralizing activity levels. The immunogenicity of the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines was lower among PLWH as compared to HIV-negative individuals. Vaccination guideline specific for PLWH should be developed.
Viral Proteins with PxxP and PY Motifs May Play a Role in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Pi Keng-Shuo , Sang Yurou , Straus Suzana K.
Published: January 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that arises from immune system attacks to the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers and ensures optimal communication between brain and body. Although the cause of MS is unknown, a number of factors, which include viruses, have been identified as increasing the risk of displaying MS symptoms. Specifically, the ubiquitous and highly prevalent Epstein–Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6, cytomegalovirus, varicella–zoster virus, and other viruses have been identified as potential triggering agents. In this review, we examine the specific role of proline-rich proteins encoded by these viruses and their potential role in MS at a molecular level.
Vaccine Hesitancy among Parents and Its Association with the Uptake of Measles Vaccine in Urban Settings in Khartoum State, Sudan
Authors: Sabahelzain Majdi M. , Moukhyer Mohamed , van den Borne Bart , Bosma Hans
Published: January 2022

Vaccine uptake is one of the indicators that has been used to guide immunization programs. This study aimed to evaluate whether measles vaccine uptake is predicted by measles vaccine hesitancy. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in urban districts in Khartoum state in February 2019. Measles vaccine uptake among children was measured as either fully vaccinated or partially/not vaccinated. The Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) scale was used to measure measles vaccine hesitancy. Multivariate logistic regression was run to identify the predictors of measles vaccination uptake, controlling for sociodemographic variables, and the adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CI were calculated. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was created, and the area under the curve (AUC) for the PACV was computed. Data were collected from 495 participants. We found that measles vaccine hesitancy (PACV scores) predicts the uptake of measles vaccine after controlling for other potential social confounders, such as the mother’s age and the number of children (aOR 1.055; 95% CI 1.028–1.028). Additionally, the ROC for the PACV yielded an area under the curve (AUC 0.686 (95% CI 0.620–0.751; p < 0.001)). Our findings show that measles vaccine hesitancy in Sudan directly influences the uptake of the measles vaccine. Addressing the determinants of vaccine hesitancy through communication strategies will improve vaccine uptake.
Intent to Be Vaccinated against COVID-19 in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Heath Katherine , Altermatt Aimée , Saich Freya , Pedrana Alisa , Fletcher-Lartey Stephanie , Bowring Anna L. , Stoové Mark , Danchin Margaret , Kaufman Jessica , Gibney Katherine B. , Hellard Margaret
Published: January 2022

Background: High vaccine uptake requires strong public support, acceptance, and willingness. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study gathered survey data every four weeks between 1 October 2020 and 9 November 2021 in Victoria, Australia. Data were analysed for 686 participants aged 18 years and older. Results: Vaccine intention in our cohort increased from 60% in October 2020 to 99% in November 2021. Vaccine intention increased in all demographics, but longitudinal trends in vaccine intention differed by age, employment as a healthcare worker, presence of children in the household, and highest qualification attained. Acceptance of vaccine mandates increased from 50% in October 2020 to 71% in November 2021. Acceptance of vaccine mandates increased in all age groups except 18–25 years; acceptance also varied by gender and highest qualification attained. The main reasons for not intending to be vaccinated included safety concerns, including blood clots, and vaccine efficacy. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination campaigns should be informed by understanding of the sociodemographic drivers of vaccine acceptance to enable socially and culturally relevant guidance and ensure equitable vaccine coverage. Vaccination policies should be applied judiciously to avoid polarisation.
Evidence-Based Application of Acupuncture in Theriogenology
Authors: Holyoak Gilbert Reed , Ma Aituan
Published: January 2022

Historical evidence of acupuncture predates written history. It has been a component of Traditional Chinese veterinary medicine for many generations and is officially recognized in recorded history for treating equine disease in the Zhou Dynasty, circa 1050 BC. Drawing from a range of searchable databases, we present the use of veterinary acupuncture related to theriogenology. We touch on human-based medicine only as an introduction to current uses within veterinary medical acupuncture. This review is confined to the use of acupuncture encompassing dry needle, electroacupuncture, aquapuncture, and the few reports of laserpuncture. Starting with acupuncture’s influence on the master organs of reproduction, the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands, and the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, we then review reports specific to the gonads—ovaries and testicles—and then its influences on the uterus. From there, we review reports on the influence of acupuncture on pain associated with reproductive surgery, and finally, on the use of acupuncture for maternal lactation. Based on published reports, we conclude that acupuncture has been shown to be effective in many situations as a treatment for infertility and/or reproductive tract disfunction, resulting in improvements in both female and male patients.
Spatiotemporal Evolution of Bed Configurations in Mixed Bedrock-Alluvial in Uniformly Curved Channels
Authors: Andriamboavonjy Mamy Rija , Terakado Tomoya , Izumi Norihiro
Published: January 2022

River courses are rarely straight. Rather, they tend to be meandering. Incision meandering is one of the most common types of meandering discussed in river engineering. The availability of abrasive tools, coverage thickness, appropriate flow velocity, channel geometry, and flow level play a role in the natural phenomenon of bedrock incisions. Any minor change in those parameters, whether internal or external, can significantly impact the bedrock incision. The purpose of this study is to experimentally investigate the bedrock incision under sediment bedload transport along curved channels by varying flow speed with the other parameters kept constant. In this study, a bedrock incision was simulated in an annular flume. Two cases were considered, each with different rotation speeds of the cover lid, using plaster as the bedrock and sediment incision tools. In both cases, sediment motion was the bedload transport. It was found that the sediment deposited along the inner wall differed according to the rotation speed. A uniform transverse slope was found for a rotation speed of 48 RPM and moving bedforms were found for a rotation speed of 40 RPM. The bedrock incision resulted in the formation of the inner channel along the centerline of the flume, which grew more quickly toward the inner wall under the bedforms than under the uniform transverse slope. These findings suggest that the type of bedform has a more significant impact on bedrock incisions than rotation speed.
Dynamic Measurement of Water Use Level Based on SBM-DEA Model and Its Matching Characteristics with Economic and Social Development: A Case Study of the Yellow River Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Zhizhuo , Zuo Qiting , Jiang Long , Ma Junxia , Zhao Weiling , Cao Hongbin
Published: January 2022

Enhancing the level of water use and alleviating the constraints of water shortage on economic and social development are powerful supports to realize the harmonious balance of water and economic society. In this study, the data envelopment analysis (DEA) window analysis method is applied to the study of water use level, and the SBM-DEA model (slack based measure, SBM) is combined to explore the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of composite water use index (CWUI) in nine provinces from 2012 to 2018. The Malmquist index model is used to decompose the intrinsic causes of total factor productivity (TFP) changes, and the spatial matching degree calculation method is applied to study the matching degree between CWUI and economic and social development levels (E-SDL). The results showed that: (1) the overall trend of CWUI in the nine provinces from 2012 to 2018 was increasing, with significant spatial variability in water use levels; (2) the improvement of TFP of water in the nine provinces was mainly driven by technological change (TC), and the main factor limiting the improvement of TFP of water was technical efficiency change (EC); (3) E-SDL of the nine provinces showed an increasing trend, with the spatial distribution characteristics of decreasing E-SDL of the downstream, midstream and upstream provinces in sequence; (4) the degree of matching between CWUI and E-SDL shows strong regional differences, with different types of matching.
Human-Induced Sharp Salinity Changes in the World’s Largest Hypersaline Lagoon Bay Sivash (Crimea) and Their Effects on the Ecosystem
Authors: Anufriieva Elena , Kolesnikova Elena , Revkova Tatiana , Latushkin Alexander , Shadrin Nickolai
Published: January 2022

Lakes and lagoons play an important role worldwide, and salinity fluctuations significantly affect their ecosystems. Bay Sivash, the world’s largest hypersaline water body, underwent a sharp change in salinity, induced by the closing of the North Crimean Canal. To monitor a shift in the ecosystem, a study was carried out from 2014 to 2020 at 15 sites of the lagoon. Since the closure of the canal, the average salinity increased from 22 g L−1 (2013) to 94 g L−1 (2020). Suspended solids and dissolved organic matter also increased. When salinity increased above 50 g L−1, the number of taxa significantly decreased; this was a negative linear relation. The increase in salinity significantly changed the structure of zooplankton and benthos. The most dramatic changes occurred with the salinity increase from 25 to 70 g L−1. Chironomidae larvae numbers began to increase greatly in the ecosystem of the bay, and since 2014, they have rapidly increased their contribution to the abundance of benthos and plankton. The concentration of benthic–planktonic species increased in plankton, in particular, in Harpacticoida and Chironomidae. At salinity above 80–90 g L−1, nauplii and adult brine shrimp appeared to become abundant in plankton and benthos. The transit of the ecosystem to a new alternative state occurred.
Hydrogeological Assessment and Modified Conceptual Model of a Dinaric Karst Island Aquifer
Authors: Terzić Josip , Frangen Tihomir , Borović Staša , Reberski Jasmina Lukač , Patekar Matko
Published: January 2022

Vis Island is situated in southern Croatia. The island is mostly composed of karstified carbonate rocks and belongs to the Dinaric karst region, which is a locus typicus of karst landforms. Located far from the mainland, Vis island has maintained a successful water supply from its own karst aquifer for decades. Hydrogeological research has been undertaken to protect this excellent karst aquifer by establishing sanitary protection zones and to explore the possibility of increasing the pumping yield. New groundwater velocity data obtained via a tracer test were in accordance with the rock mass hydraulic conductivity calculated from previous pumping tests. The hydrochemical interpretation indicated several different phenomena, from carbonate and sulfate rock dissolution to seawater mixing with groundwater. A conceptual model of the island’s aquifer was improved, and two main catchments were delineated according to tracer test results, and connected with the geological setting, hydrochemical data, and new climatological insights. Such an approach is applicable for similar karst aquifers, in which topographic and hydrogeological divides usually do not coincide.
Performance Evaluation and Water Availability of Canal Irrigation Scheme in Punjab Pakistan
Authors: Sajid Imran , Tischbein Bernhard , Borgemeister Christian , Flörke Martina
Published: January 2022

The supply of surface water by century-old infrastructure causes substantial water loss and triggers huge abstractions of groundwater, resulting in low irrigation efficiency. We evaluated the irrigation performance (application and conveyance efficiencies) and water availability (supply-demand) from the field to the Mungi Distributary canal level in Punjab, Pakistan. Between April–September 2019 and 2020, we monitored water delivery in the canal network, soil moisture content in cotton fields, and the canal and groundwater quality. The crops’ actual evapotranspiration was estimated using the AquaCrop model. We found conveyance efficiencies >90% for minor distributaries, 70–89% for watercourses, and ~75% for field ditches per kilometer. Field application efficiency was >90% for drip and ~35% for flood basin, whereas for raised-bed furrow, conventional furrow, and ridge-furrow irrigation methods, it varied between 44% and 83%. The deficits of canal water supply versus demand for cotton fields ranged from 45% to 73%, whereas the Mungi Distributary canal water showed a 68.6% and 19.8% shortfall in the April–September and October–March seasons of 2018/2019, respectively. The study suggests prioritizing improvements to field water application rather than canals with better water quality; additionally, surplus water from the Mungi canal in November and December could be stored for later use.
Evaluation of Three Biomaterials from Coconut Mesocarp for Use in Water Treatments Polluted with an Anionic Dye
Authors: González-Delgado Angel Darío , Villabona-Ortíz Angel , Tejada-Tovar Candelaria
Published: January 2022

Coconut consumption leads to the generation of a large number of fibrous residues such as epicarp and mesocarp. In this study, bioadsorbents were prepared from coconut shells (CS), coconut cellulose (CC) and treated coconut cellulose (MCC) with cetyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CTAC) for the elimination of Congo red (CR) in a watery solution. The impact of the adsorbent quantity (15, 25 and 35 mg) and initial concentration (40, 70 and 100 mg/L) were evaluated. Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) confirmed the existence of OH−, C=O, COOH and CH2 groups in the adsorbents as well as the deformation of the bands between 3400 and 3800 cm−1 after the adsorption of CR, which was attributed to its capture in the bioadsorbent. From the bromatological analysis, a content of 48.94% lignin, 35.99% cellulose and 10.51% hemicellulose was found. SEM images showed a lignocellulosic essential surface origin for all adsorbents with presence of folds, roughness of an irregular exposed area and fibrous filaments. The average particle size was 0.45 mm and adsorbents had a mean porosity of 0.58. Increasing the initial concentration had a beneficial influence on the removal efficiency of CR, achieving a 99.9% removal with MCC. CS showed slow kinetics in the initial stages whereas CC and MCC achieved 78% and 99.98% removal at 120 min, respectively; an equilibrium was reached at 480 and 20 min, respectively. MCC, CC and CS achieved a maximum qe of 256.12 mg/g, 121.62 mg/g and 17.76 mg/g, respectively.
Attribution of the Extreme Drought in the Horn of Africa during Short-Rains of 2016 and Long-Rains of 2017
Authors: Han Xue , Li Yan , Yu Weidong , Feng Licheng
Published: January 2022

The Horn of Africa (HOA) is one of the most drought-prone regions in the world with many arid and semiarid areas, and even some extremely arid areas. Primarily affected by the marine continental climate systems, this zone is really sensitive to global warming. Drought is the main type of natural disaster affecting this region, which triggers famine, civil conflict, and even deterioration of food security. The present study examined changes in droughts in the HOA during 1979–2019 based on Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Results show that frequency, duration, and intensity of droughts exhibited an increasing trend over the past decades. Moreover, in October to December (called locate “short rains”) 2016 and March to May (called locate “long rains”) 2017, the HOA experienced the most severe drought. Based on Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) fitting, the 2016/2017 SPEI index corresponds to a drought that occurs every 250 years in the observational records. However, considering the precipitation in short rains of 2016 (long rains of 2017) was only 27.1% (11.8%) less than normal, it is hard to explain the formation of this extreme drought only from precipitation anomalies. Further statistical result shows that the evaporation in 2016/2017 corresponds to a 1-in-131 years event in the observed records. The abnormally high temperature (1.02 °C higher than normal) as well as the greatest potential evaporation since 1979 are the more important causes for the formation of drought. Thus, the extreme drought in 2016/2017, probably caused by the combined effect of dry condition and high temperature simultaneously, and the latter, played a leading role. In other words, droughts can be exacerbated by the co-occurrence of extreme high temperature. With continuous warming caused by anthropogenic activities in the next decades, the Horn of Africa may be a hotspot of the compound droughts and, therefore, it is especially important to considering the combined impacts from less precipitation and high temperature when predicting the future drought trend and making adaptation measures.
Configuration of Electric Vehicles for Specific Applications from a Holistic Perspective
Authors: Huertas José I. , Mogro Antonio E. , Jiménez Juan P.
Published: January 2022

Electrification of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) used for passengers and goods transportation is a key strategy to reduce the high levels of air pollution in large urban centers. However, the high investment cost of the commercially available electrified HDVs has limited their adoption. We hypothesized that there are applications where the operation with tailored electrified HDVs results in a lower total cost of ownership and lower well-to-wheel emissions of air pollutants, with higher acceleration capacity and energy efficiency than the fossil-fueled counterparts. The road transportation services running on fixed routes with short span distances (<50 km), such as the last mile cargo distribution and the passenger shuttle services, is a clear example with a high possibility of cost reduction through tailored electric HDVs. In this work, we present a methodology to define the most appropriate configuration of the powertrain of an electric vehicle for any given application. As a case study, this work aimed to define an electric powertrain configuration tailored for a university shuttle service application. A multi-objective weighted-sum optimization was performed to define the best geometrical gearbox ratios, energy management strategy, size of the motor, and batteries required. Based on three different driving profiles and five battery technologies, the results showed that, based on a 50 km autonomy, the obtained powertrain configuration satisfies the current vehicle operation with a reduced cost in every driving profile and battery technology compared. Furthermore, by using lithium-based batteries, the vehicle’s acceleration capacity is improved by 33% while reducing energy consumption by 37%, CO2 emissions by 31%, and the total cost of ownership by 29% when compared to the current diesel-fueled buses.
Baja tolerancia a la frustración desde la terapia racional emotiva conductual
Authors: Avilés Sánchez Abdel Yashin
Published: January 2022

Cuando una persona se enfrenta  a una situación imprevista, la baja tolerancia a la frustración ocasiona que el individuo genere una serie de pensamientos que terminen desembocando en una sensación de incomodidad que a su vez provoque una serie de reacción que pueda acabar en hostilidad, por eso, este estudio de caso tuvo como objetivo general la identificación  de las características de la baja tolerancia a la frustración desde el punto de vista de la terapia racional emotiva-conductual, se consideró factible, así que fue implementado como técnicas de recolección de información, la historia clínica, la observación y test psicométricos que  apoyaron   al   diagnóstico  del paciente y a desarrollar un esquema terapéutico el cual ayudará a mejorar la calidad de vida del paciente y demás personas que presenten este tipo de caso.
Study on Effect of Aerodynamic Configuration on Aerodynamic Performance of Mars Ascent Vehicles
Authors: Li Qi , Yuan Wu , Zhao Rui , Wei Haogong
Published: January 2022

The Mars surface take-off and ascent technology is one of the key technologies for realizing the Mars sample return mission. Different from that on the moon, the gravity acceleration on the surface of Mars is 3.71 m/s
2
, so that the gravity loss is larger than that on the moon; a rarefied atmosphere is found on the surface of Mars, and although it is only about 1% of the Earth’s atmosphere, its effect on aerodynamic drag in the process of ascent shall also be considered. In this paper, the aerodynamic performance demand of ascent vehicles is analyzed in light of the mission requirements for take-off and ascent from the surface of Mars. Based on the results of literature research and supersonic CFD static simulation, the influence of forebody and afterbody shapes of ascent vehicles on aerodynamic drag and static stability is studied, respectively. The forebody shape of ascent vehicles with better aerodynamic performance is proposed, and the subsequent improvement direction of aerodynamic configuration is clarified, providing necessary theoretical and data support for the aerodynamic selection of Mars ascent vehicles.
Determinan Kemandirian Keuangan pada Pemda Tingkat II di Provinsi Jawa Tengah
Authors: Indra Tama Annafi , Pujihastuti Isti
Published: January 2022

Penitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat pengaruh Dana Alokasi Khusus (DAK), Belanja Modal, Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja, dan Pendapatan Asli Daerah (PAD) terhadap Kemandirian Keuangan Daerah. Tahun pengamatan yang dilakukan dimulai dari tahun 2017 sampai tahun 2019, sedangkan pobjek penelitian dalam penelitian ini dilakukan pada Pemda Tingkat II di Provinsi Jawa Tengah. Dalam penelitian ini metode analisis yang digunakan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Populasi dan sampel dalam penelitian ini meliputi kabupaten/kota di Jawa Tengah, dan periode penelitian berlangsung dari tahun 2017 hingga 2019. Dalam penelitian ini digunakan strategi purposive sampling dengan memilih sampel sebanyak 102 titik data. DAK, Belanja Modal, Tingkat Partisipasi Angkatan Kerja, dan PAD ditemukan berdampak pada kemandirian keuangan daerah. DAK dan Belanja Modal berpengaruh negatif cukup besar terhadap kemandirian keuangan daerah, sedangkan PAD berpengaruh positif signifikan, sedangkan tingkat partisipasi angkatan kerja tidak berpengaruh.
Sullen State in Kambaramayanam
Authors: G Mangaiyarkkarasi
Published: January 2022

The Sweetheart is the one who always Love and Adores the Beau most. Obviously she has a strong desire that the Beau should think only of herself and will be more fond of having their convergence always. Even if she is suspicious about the Fidelity of her Beau, she will create only a little dispute which may not last longer. Sweetheart’s passionate romance with love towards her Beau can very well be felt when she goes for a little fight though he may not be at a fault or a guilt. In real sense of Romance cycle, the one who is losing himself / herself due to the state of Sullen will be victorious with extreme pleasure during the course of their convergence. This soothing fact can be experienced only after their romantic state of convergence The anxiety out of the state of Sullen is the most aggravating factor for an extreme romance. According to Thiruvalluvar ‘Any Romance of convergence after a long period of Sullen state will be most pleasing and will make the loved ones very high in their esteem. The same Thiruvalluvar while commenting upon the dislikes between the loving partners, says that love life without conflicts and a little sullening state will be like rotten fruit and a tree with a immature fruit.  With the Beau and the Sweetheart entangled in deep love both the states of Sullen & Convergence are the most inevitable forces for their life. Digestion of food is more pleasantry than its intake. Likewise in love also the state of Sullen will be more sweeter than the state of convergence. There cannot be an exceptional pleasure even in the life of Heavenly Celestians as in the love of the beloved like an inseperable relationship between land and water as affirmed by the great Valluvar. Emphasising the chastity of oneness to one another, the great Poet Kambhar in a wonderful way says that not only the Humans loved it, but the other sentient beings also chose the chastity of oneness with one another, and that is why they preferred their convergence only with their beloved ones.
Pemetaan Distribusi Mangrove Menggunakan Citra Sentinel-2A: Studi Kasus Kota Langsa
Authors: Rahmadi M Taufik , Yuniastuti Eni , Hakim Maulana Abdul , Suciani Ayu
Published: January 2022

Mangroves are one of the most productive ecosystems for human life, marine ecosystems, and coastal areas. Mangrove distribution is a distribution based on specific geographical or administrative boundaries. Kota Langsa is one of the areas that has a good representation of the distribution of mangroves. Therefore, researchers studied the Kota Langsa area because Kota Langsa is one of the areas with the largest and most diverse mangrove ecosystem in Aceh Province. This study examines the mapping of mangrove distribution using Sentinel-2A multispectral imagery with composite images of Red, Green, and Blue. This research uses SNAP software. The research stages consist of radiometric correction, atmospheric correction, and multispectral image classification. The method used in image classification is the maximum likelihood algorithm. The use of the maximum likelihood algorithm is because the maximum likelihood algorithm gives the best results among other algorithms. The development of the research is the distribution of mangroves in Langsa City, covering an area of 4727.35 ha, which is divided into three sub-districts and eleven gampong (kelurahan). The sub-districts that have mangrove distribution are East Langsa District covering an area of 3240.25 Ha (68.55%), Langsa Barat District covering an area of 1486.47 Ha (31.45%), and Langsa Lama District covering an area of 0.63 Ha (0.013).
Analisis Deformasi Jembatan Akibat Banjir Bandang Berbasis Fotogrametri Jarak Dekat
Authors: Parsamardhani Larasaty Ayu , Tjahjadi Martinus Edwin , Agustina Fransisca Dwi
Published: January 2022

Monitoring the deformation of objects in the natural disaster area is one of the anticipative steps to reduce losses. In this case, this is an attempt to implement mitigation for the safety and viability of the community. Until this time, many constraint factors in the process of obtaining information regarding the strength of the structure and the changes of shape and dimension (per time unit) of the objects, one of which is the high operational cost and the duration of data processing while using a conventional measuring instrument. Through this article, a fast, cheap, easy, and accurate alternative method to detect deformation of the bridge material structure due to flash flood is only by using a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera. The bridge’s structures were photographed and processed with proprietary software to obtain the retro-reflective coordinate of the target that has been evenly attached to the bridge surface as a reference point. From a series of periodic photoshoots conducted from July 2020 to July 2021, deformation of the bridge structure was successfully detected with a magnitude between 0.026 mm – 5.867 mm with a measurement accuracy level was 0.081 mm. With this measurement accuracy level, this system is able to detect the deformation of structures smaller than 0.1 mm, and even invisible deformation can still be detected. This article will explain the technique and methodology of deformation measurement quickly and accurately only with a DSLR camera.
Kajian Perbandingan Akurasi DTM Pengolahan Data Foto Udara Menggunakan Metode Otomatis Dan Semi-Otomatis Filtering
Authors: Kerong Raynier Geraldino Dadu , Tjahjadi Martinus Edwin , Agustina Fransisca Dwi
Published: January 2022

Advances in UAV technology produce various superior products that can be utilized for the development and analysis of natural dynamics. One of them is DTM which is a visual representation of the shape of the ground surface that is displayed in 3 dimensions. DTM is obtained from the results of DSM filtering, where all features above the ground are digitally removed using a certain method. To produce a good DTM, a good quality DSM is needed, therefore a Horizontal and Vertical accuracy analysis was carried out based on ASPRS 2015. In this study, two software with different data processing methods were used, namely automatic filtering and semi-automatic filtering from DSM to DTM. To determine the quality of DTM, spot-height data is used as a comparison which is considered to be the actual form in the field. From the series of data processing processes, DTM results were obtained which were then tested for accuracy utilizing statistical validation tests using the calculation of RMSEZ values and non-statistical validation tests (Visual) using the transverse profile method. The test results show that the DTM produced by the PCI Geomatica software with the semi-automatic filtering method has more accurate and precise quality than the DTM from the SAGA GIS software with the automatic filtering method with an elevation value of 1,249 m and RMSEz 3,542 m to the spot-height. Then the visualization of the DTM transverse profile produced by the PCI Geomatica software semi-automatic filtering method to the spot height also does not appear to experience a significant difference where the elevation at Point 1 is 0.5 m and Point 2 is 0.5 m.
Karakteristik Akuifer Menggunakan Metode Geolistrik Resistivity Di Kecamatan Kota Tengah Kota Gorontalo
Authors: Wumu Rizky Hizrah , Zainuri Ahmad , Akase Noviar
Published: January 2022

Kota Tengah Subdistrict has the highest population density in Gorontalo City, with a population density of 6,755 people/km2. This high population density requires a large amount of water to meet the needs of the population, where one form of fulfillment is taken from groundwater. For this reason, it is necessary and important to know the characteristics of aquifers. This study aims to determine the characteristics of groundwater aquifers in the Kota Tengah Subdistrict. The method used is the resistivity geoelectric method to obtain aquifer characteristics in the form of material type (lithology), depth, and thickness of the aquifer. Based on the geoelectrical analysis in TS 01 there are 4 layers, namely topsoil, clay sand, sand, and clay; TS 02 contains topsoil, sand, and clay layers; TS 03 contains topsoil, sand, and clay. The study found that the lithology of the near-surface layer in the Kota Tengah subdistrict can be classified into aquifers and aquicludes. The aquifer layer is formed by sand-sized sedimentary deposits that have high permeability while the aquiclude is clay-sized which is impermeable. The aquifer layer was found starting from a depth of 0.57 m. The average thickness of the aquifer layer was 13.8 m which is interpreted as an unconfined aquifer. This study also found other deeper aquifer layers as confined aquifers that can not be further interpreted due to the limitations of the method used.