bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covenant of Mayors 2020 Achievements: A Two-Speed Climate Action Process
Authors: Rivas Silvia , Urraca Ruben , Bertoldi Paolo
Published: November 2022

Assessing the world’s collective progress towards the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals is a global priority. Local authorities (LAs), in particular, play an important role in a just transition. This paper evaluates the real achievements of local climate action plans developed in Europe from 2008 to 2020 under the Covenant of Mayors initiative. On average, 85.6% of the GHG reduction targets were achieved way before the year 2020; however, our assessment shows different reduction patterns, with several leading LAs exceeding by 2–4 times their targets and 12% of LAs increasing their baseline emissions. This paper weighs the factors which have a determinant impact on these patterns, investigating the key drivers and barriers towards a clean energy transition under a new population-driven approach. While, for large LAs, the climate experience and the engagement of stakeholders is an asset for increasing their achievements, small LAs are much more conditioned by the political mandate and support from regional governments or external actors. The key factor for climate action planning appears to be the joint partnership between several government levels from a national perspective.
Abundance of Resources and Incentives for Collusion in Fisheries
Authors: Rosas-Munoz Juan , Carrillo-Viramontes José Antonio
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study is to explore theoretically the circumstances in which collusion can emerge between artisanal organizations and external agents. We also analyze theoretically how collusion can alter the sustainability equilibria of marine resources. In situations of incomplete information where external agents are not aware of the initial stock of resources, we observe how those agents decide whether to accept or reject offers of collusion from artisanal organizations. We find that collusion is more likely to occur when the resource is abundant than when resources are scarce, as in the latter case, the external consultant has to be more careful with the established quota so as not to deplete the resource. Further, we find that organizations are more impatient in proposing collusion when the resources are scarce.
The Impact of Urban Health Care on Migrants’ Settlement Intention: Evidence from China
Authors: Wu Yidong , Zha Yuanyuan , Ge Mengyuan , Sun Hao , Gui Honghong
Published: November 2022

Improving migrants’ settlement intention is of great importance in the process of China’s new urbanization. By exploiting the data from the China Migrants Dynamic Survey conducted by the National Health and Family Planning Commission of China, this study empirically explores the effects of urban health care on migrants’ settlement intentions. Urban health care is measured by the establishment of migrants’ health records in this article. Additionally, marginal effect analysis, propensity score matching, the random sampling method, the placebo test, and the two-stage least squares method are adopted to tackle potential selection bias and endogeneity concerns. As indicated by the empirical results, urban health care could significantly improve the migrants’ settlement intention. After controlling for the influence of individual characteristics, household characteristics, and migration characteristics, urban health care still plays a significant role in promoting settlement intention. As revealed by the heterogeneity analysis, urban healthcare effects are significantly larger for migrants with agricultural hukou registration, a spouse, younger age, higher income level, and moving into the first and second-tier cities. Meanwhile, considering the impact of housing pressure on migrants’ settlement intentions, this study uses household housing expenditure as a moderator to further analyze the relationship between urban health care and settlement intention. It is found that housing pressure can weaken the positive effect of urban health care on migrants’ settlement intention. The research conclusions contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the migrants’ settlement decisions and provide rich implications for city managers and policymakers.
Assessing the Economic Viability of Agricultural Holdings with the Inclusion of Opportunity Costs
Authors: Hloušková Zuzana , Lekešová Michaela , Prajerová Anna , Doucha Tomáš
Published: November 2022

A key area of sustainable agriculture is the economic sustainability of agricultural holdings. Agricultural holdings should achieve such an income that they are able to cover all of their costs. As part of this study, an indicator of entrepreneurial income and an indicator of economic profit were proposed. Economic profit, in contrast to entrepreneurial income, considers the costs of lost opportunities, so-called opportunity costs. For this purpose, three indicators of the opportunity costs of production factors of labor, land, and capital were defined and calculated. To assess economic profit between different groups of holdings, an economic viability index is established, which identifies a holding as sustainable or at risk. This indicator is composed of the entrepreneurial income indicator and the difference between entrepreneurial income and economic profit. Based on FADN data of a five-year time series, it was confirmed that extensive holdings specializing in grazing livestock are among the most economically endangered subjects. The highest proportion of sustainable holdings was found in holdings specializing in milk production. From the size point of view, small holdings are most endangered, which was confirmed for all production focuses. In contrast, more large and very large holdings were included in the group of viable holdings.
Real-Time Detection of Seedling Maize Weeds in Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Liu Siqi , Jin Yishu , Ruan Zhiwen , Ma Zheng , Gao Rui , Su Zhongbin
Published: November 2022

In recent years, automatic weed control has emerged as a promising alternative for reducing the amount of herbicide applied to the field, instead of conventional spraying. This method is beneficial to reduce environmental pollution and to achieve sustainable agricultural development. Achieving a rapid and accurate detection of weeds in maize seedling stage in natural environments is the key to ensuring maize yield and the development of automatic weeding machines. Based on the lightweight YOLO v4-tiny model, a maize weed detection model which combined an attention mechanism and a spatial pyramid pooling structure was proposed. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, five different deep-learning algorithms, including the Faster R-CNN, the SSD 300, the YOLO v3, the YOLO v3-tiny, and the YOLO v4-tiny, were compared to the proposed method. The comparative results showed that the mAP (Mean Average Precision) of maize seedlings and its associated weed detection using the proposed method was 86.69%; the detection speed was 57.33 f/s; and the model size was 34.08 MB. Furthermore, the detection performance of weeds under different weather conditions was discussed. The results indicated that the proposed method had strong robustness to the changes in weather, and it was feasible to apply the proposed method for the real-time and accurate detection of weeds.
Influence of Different Rates and Frequencies of Zn Application to Maize–Wheat Cropping on Crop Productivity and Zn Use Efficiency
Authors: Kumar Dileep , Patel Khusvadan C. , Ramani Vinubhai P. , Shukla Arvind K. , Behera Sanjib Kumar , Patel Ravi A.
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, zinc (Zn) fertilizers are commonly used for quality food production globally. Knowledge about proper application time and rates of commercial Zn fertilizers is necessary to obtain higher crop production and improve Zn use efficiency. A long-term field experiment was conducted during 2012 to 2018 at Anand Agricultural University, Anand (Gujarat), India, to find out the right Zn fertilizer dose and its frequency of application in maize–wheat cropping systems grown on typic haplustepts soil. The study comprised of three frequency levels, i.e., Zn application in the first year only (F1), alternate year (F2), and every year (F3), with four different rates of Zn, i.e., 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 kg Zn ha−1 per year imposed in the maize–wheat cropping system in each kharif season (during June to September) for six years. Findings of the study revealed that Zn applications to maize at 7.5 and 10 kg ha−1 in alternate year and 5.0 to 10 kg ha−1 in every year significantly increased maize equivalent yield as compared to no-Zn treatment. Application of 10.0 kg Zn ha−1 per year produced higher grain size, straw, and total Zn concentrations compared to those observed under no-Zn application in maize and wheat crops. Diethylene triamine penta acetic acid extractable Zn concentration in soil was higher in Zn treated plots which received Zn application at 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0 kg ha−1 in alternate years and 10 kg ha−1 in every year as compared to no-Zn application. Apparent Zn recovery efficiency varied from 0.17 to 1.46% for maize crop and 0.34 to 1.70% for wheat crop under different rates and frequencies of Zn application. The above results emphasize the importance of Zn retention capacity of soil regarding its response to different rates and frequencies of Zn application to maize and wheat crops.
Sustainable Grinding Performances of Nano-Sic Reinforced Al Matrix Composites under MQL: An Integrated Box–Behnken Design Coupled with Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) Algorithm
Authors: Nandakumar A. , Rajmohan T. , Vijayabhaskar S. , Vijayan D.
Published: November 2022

The presence of abrasive particles in ceramic reinforced composite materials makes the machining complicated by generating friction at elevated temperatures. Lubricants can be used to prohibit the hazard of higher temperatures. This research work is focused on examining the effects of lubricants on the grinding performances of Al matrix composites reinforced with nano-SiC particles under minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). A cylindrical grinding machine is used to perform the grinding experiments by employing a Box–Behnken design. Multiple performances, such as surface roughness, grinding forces and temperature, are optimized by considering the depth of cut, speed of the workpiece, wheel speed and wt % of nano-SiC using response surface methodology (RSM)-based artificial bee colony (ABC) algorithm. Atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to observe the morphologies of the machined surfaces and the wheel.
Two-Zero Textures Based on A4 Symmetry and Unimodular Mixing Matrix
Authors: Razzaghi Neda , Rasouli Seyed Meraj Mousavi , Parada Paulo , Moniz Paulo
Published: November 2022

We propose a phenomenological model of two-zeros Majorana neutrino mass matrix based on the A4 symmetry, where the structure of mixing matrix is a unimodular second scheme of trimaximal TM2, and the charged lepton mass matrix is diagonal. We show that, among seven possible two-zero textures with A4 symmetry, only two textures, namely the texture with Mee=0 and Meμ=0 and its permutation, are acceptable in the non-perturbation method, since the results associated with these two textures are consistent with the experimental data. We obtain a unique relation between our phases, namely ρ+σ=ϕ±π, and an effective equation sin2θ13=23Rν where Rν=δm2Δm2. Then, only by using the experimental ranges of Rν, we obtain the allowable range of the unknown parameter ϕ as the phase of TM2 mixing matrix, which leads to obtaining not only the ranges of all neutrino oscillation parameters of the model (which agree well with experimental data) but also with the masses of neutrinos, the Dirac and Majorana phases and the Jarlskog parameter, and to predict the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. Finally, we show that all the predictions regarding our two specific textures agree with the corresponding data reported from neutrino oscillation, cosmic microwave background and neutrinoless double beta decay.
Estimation of Cardiac Short Axis Slice Levels with a Cascaded Deep Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Network Model
Authors: Ho Namgyu , Kim Yoon-Chul
Published: November 2022

Automatic identification of short axis slice levels in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is important in efficient and precise diagnosis of cardiac disease based on the geometry of the left ventricle. We developed a combined model of convolutional neural network (CNN) and recurrent neural network (RNN) that takes a series of short axis slices as input and predicts a series of slice levels as output. Each slice image was labeled as one of the following five classes: out-of-apical, apical, mid, basal, and out-of-basal levels. A variety of multi-class classification models were evaluated. When compared with the CNN-alone models, the cascaded CNN-RNN models resulted in higher mean F1-score and accuracy. In our implementation and testing of four different baseline networks with different combinations of RNN modules, MobileNet as the feature extractor cascaded with a two-layer long short-term memory (LSTM) network produced the highest scores in four of the seven evaluation metrics, i.e., five F1-scores, area under the curve (AUC), and accuracy. Our study indicates that the cascaded CNN-RNN models are superior to the CNN-alone models for the classification of short axis slice levels in cardiac cine MR images.
Zinc Biofortification through Basal Zinc Supply Reduces Grain Cadmium in Mung Beans: Metal Partitioning and Health Risks Assessment
Authors: Rashid Md Harunur , Rahman Mohammad Mahmudur , Naidu Ravi
Published: November 2022

Grain zinc (Zn) biofortification with less cadmium (Cd) accumulation is of paramount importance from human health and environmental point of view. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the influence of Zn and Cd on their accumulations in Mung bean tissues (Vigna radiata) in two contrast soil types (Dermosol and Tenosol). The soil types with added Zn and Cd exerted a significant effect on translocation and accumulation of metals in different tissues. The accumulation of Zn and Cd was higher for Tenosol than that for Dermosol. At control, the concentration of Cd followed a pattern, e.g., root > stem > petiole > pod > leaflet > grain for both soils. A basal Zn supply (5 mg kg−1) increased the grain Zn concentration to a significant amount (up to 67%). It also reduced Cd accumulation in tissues, including grains (up to 34%). No non-carcinogenic effect was observed for either the children or the adults as the EDI and PTDI values were below the safety limit; however, the ILCR values exceeded the safety limit, indicating the possibility of some carcinogenic effects. Added Zn helped to reduce the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks on humans.
A Human Biomonitoring Study Assessing Glyphosate and Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA) Exposures among Farm and Non-Farm Families
Authors: Connolly Alison , Koch Holger M. , Bury Daniel , Koslitz Stephan , Kolossa-Gehring Marike , Conrad André , Murawski Aline , McGrath James A. , Leahy Michelle , Brüning Thomas , Coggins Marie A.
Published: November 2022

Glyphosate-based pesticides are the highest-volume used herbicides worldwide. International concerns regarding the potential human adverse effects of glyphosate exposures have heightened since IARC classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Human biomonitoring (HBM) studies have identified ubiquitous exposure to glyphosate and its main breakdown product, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), from environmental exposures. The IMAGE research project aimed to investigate farm and non-farm families’ exposure to glyphosate while aligning with the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative. The study recruited non-farm and farm families (who use glyphosate on their farms). Each family member provided a urine sample that was analysed using gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, with a limit of quantification of 0.05 µg/L for glyphosate and AMPA. In addition to general information on background exposures in farm and non-farm families, we investigated relationships in exposure between families and family members. We recruited 68 families, including 54 non-farm and 14 farm families (180 vs. 45 individuals). Some pesticide users (n = 14, all male farmers) had slightly elevated AMPA levels compared to other adult participants but, overall, we observed no significant differences between farm and non-farm families. The main metabolite, AMPA, was quantifiable in twice as many samples as glyphosate (61% vs. 32%), with a maximum concentration of 7.24 µg/L vs. 3.21 µg/L. Compared to previous studies, exposure levels were relatively low and far below current health-based guidance values (3% or less for glyphosate and AMPA). Study results suggest potential exposures from residential co-exposures or living with a pesticide user. This is the first study internationally to investigate glyphosate and AMPA across family members (farm and non-farm). We found comparably low glyphosate and AMPA exposures among these families. These results enhance our understanding of glyphosate exposures for different demographic groups and contribute to the scientific knowledge on exposures required for regulatory risk assessments and the re-evaluation of glyphosate in 2022 by the European Commission.
Biofortification Technology for the Remediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Farmland by the Hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii under Crop Rotation and Relay Cropping Mode
Authors: Xie Haiyun , Chen Jiuzhou , Qiao Yabei , Xu Kuan , Lin Zhi , Tian Shengke
Published: November 2022

Soil cadmium (Cd) extraction for hyperaccumulators is one of the most important technologies for the remediation of Cd-contaminated farmland soil. However, a phytoremediation model using a single hyperaccumulator cannot guarantee normal agricultural production in contaminated areas. To solve this problem, a combination of efficient remediation and safe production has been developed. Based on two-period field experiments, this study explored the effect of biofortification on soil Cd remediation using the fruit tree Sedum alfredii Hance and oil sunflower crop rotation and relay cropping mode. BioA and BioB treatments could markedly improve the efficiency of Cd extraction and remediation, and the maximum increase in Cd accumulation was 243.29%. When BioB treatment was combined with papaya–S. alfredii and oil sunflower crop rotation and relay cropping mode, the highest soil Cd removal rate in the two periods was 40.84%, whereas the Cd concentration of papaya fruit was lower than safety production standards (0.05 mg/kg). These results demonstrate that biofortification measures can significantly improve the Cd extraction effect of S. alfredii crop rotation and relay cropping restoration modes, which has guiding significance for Cd pollution remediation and safe production in farmland.
Arbovirus Seroprevalence Study in Bangphae District, Ratchaburi Province, Thailand: Comparison between ELISA and a Multiplex Rapid Diagnostic Test (Chembio DPP® ZCD IgG)
Authors: Chakma Ruba , Sriburin Pimolpachr , Sittikul Pichamon , Rattanamahaphoom Jittraporn , Nuprasert Warisa , Thammasonthijarern Nipa , Maneekan Pannamas , Thaipadungpanit Janjira , Arunsodsai Watcharee , Sirivichayakul Chukiat , Limkittikul Kriengsak , Chatchen Supawat
Published: November 2022

Arboviruses, particularly dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), pose a growing threat to global public health. For disease burden estimation and disease control, seroprevalence studies are paramount. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV on healthy individuals aged from 1–55 years old in Bangphae district, Ratchaburi province, Thailand. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) were performed on archived samples from a dengue serological survey conducted from 2012–2015. All 2012 samples had been previously tested using an anti-DENV immunoglobulin (Ig)G ELISA, and 400 randomly selected samples stratified by age, sex, and residential area were assessed by an in-house anti-ZIKV IgG ELISA and a commercial anti-CHIKV IgG ELISA to determine virus-specific antibody levels. An RDT (Chembio DPP® ZCD IgM/IgG System) was also used to investigate the presence of antibodies against DENV, ZIKV, or CHIKV. The ELISA results indicate that the seroprevalences of DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV were 84.3%, 58.0%, and 22.5%, respectively. The youngest age group had the lowest seroprevalence for all three arboviruses, and the seroprevalences for these viruses were progressively higher with increasing participant age. The DPP® IgG sensitivities, as compared with ELISAs, for DENV, ZIKV, and CHIKV were relatively low, only 43.92%, 25.86%, and 37.78%, respectively. The ELISA results indicate that 16% of the study population was seropositive for all three viruses. DENV had the highest seroprevalence. ZIKV and CHIKV were also circulating in Bangphae district, Ratchaburi province, Thailand. The DPP® ZCD rapid test is not sensitive enough for use in seroprevalence studies.
Metagenomic Analysis of Respiratory RNA Virome of Children with and without Severe Acute Respiratory Infection from the Free State, South Africa during COVID-19 Pandemic Reveals Higher Diversity and Abundance in Summer Compared with Winter Period
Authors: Ogunbayo Ayodeji E. , Mogotsi Milton T. , Sondlane Hlengiwe , Nkwadipo Kelebogile R. , Sabiu Saheed , Nyaga Martin M.
Published: November 2022

Viral respiratory infections contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in children. Currently, there are limited reports on the composition and abundance of the normal commensal respiratory virome in comparison to those in severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) state. This study characterised the respiratory RNA virome in children ≤ 5 years with (n = 149) and without (n = 139) SARI during the summer and winter of 2020/2021 seasons in South Africa. Nasopharyngeal swabs were, collected, pooled, enriched for viral RNA detection, sequenced using Illumina MiSeq, and analysed using the Genome Detective bioinformatic tool. Overall, Picornaviridae, Paramoxyviridae, Pneumoviridae, Picobirnaviridae, Totiviridae, and Retroviridae families were the most abundant viral population in both groups across both seasons. Human rhinovirus and endogenous retrovirus K113 were detected in most pools, with exclusive detection of Pneumoviridae in SARI pools. Generally, higher viral diversity/abundance was seen in children with SARI and in the summer pools. Several plant/animal viruses, eukaryotic viruses with unclear pathogenicity including a distinct rhinovirus A type, were detected. This study provides remarkable data on the respiratory RNA virome in children with and without SARI with a degree of heterogeneity of known viruses colonizing their respiratory tract. The implication of the detected viruses in the dynamics/progression of SARI requires further investigations.
Monkeypox and Pregnancy: Latest Updates
Authors: Cuérel Alexandre , Favre Guillaume , Vouga Manon , Pomar Léo
Published: November 2022

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) has emerged as a threatening zoonosis. Its spread around the world has been growing fast over the last 2 years, particularly in 2022. The reasons for this sudden spread are probably multifactorial. The R0 values of the two MPXV clades are rather low, and a massive pandemic is considered unlikely, although the increase in the number of single-nucleotide polymorphisms found in the 2022 MPXV strain could indicate an accelerated human adaptation. Very little is known about the risks of an infection during pregnancy for both the mother and the fetus. Further observations must be made to create clear, adapted, evidence-based guidelines. This article summarizes the current knowledge about MPXV infections and similar pregnancy virus infections.
A Naturally Occurring Microhomology-Mediated Deletion of Three Genes in African Swine Fever Virus Isolated from Two Sardinian Wild Boars
Authors: Fiori Mariangela Stefania , Ferretti Luca , Di Nardo Antonello , Zhao Lele , Zinellu Susanna , Angioi Pier Paolo , Floris Matteo , Sechi Anna Maria , Denti Stefano , Cappai Stefano , Franzoni Giulia , Oggiano Annalisa , Dei Giudici Silvia
Published: November 2022

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of a lethal disease of domestic pigs and wild boars. ASF threatens the pig industry worldwide due to the lack of a licensed vaccine or treatment. The disease has been endemic for more than 40 years in Sardinia (Italy), but an intense campaign pushed it close to eradication; virus circulation was last detected in wild boars in 2019. In this study, we present a genomic analysis of two ASFV strains isolated in Sardinia from two wild boars during the 2019 hunting season. Both isolates presented a deletion of 4342 base pairs near the 5′ end of the genome, encompassing the genes MGF 360-6L, X69R, and MGF 300-1L. The phylogenetic evidence suggests that the deletion recently originated within the Sardinia ecosystem and that it is most likely the result of a non-allelic homologous recombination driven by a microhomology present in most Sardinian ASFV genomes. These results represent a striking example of a genomic feature promoting the rapid evolution of structural variations and plasticity in the ASFV genome. They also raise interesting questions about the functions of the deleted genes and the potential link between the evolutionary timing of the deletion appearance and the eradication campaign.
COVID-19 among Czech Dentistry Students: Higher Vaccination and Lower Prevalence Compared to General Population Counterparts
Authors: Schmidt Jan , Vavrickova Lenka , Micopulos Christos , Suchanek Jakub , Pilbauerova Nela , Perina Vojtech , Kapitan Martin
Published: November 2022

The restrictions on medical students’ clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their professional readiness and often lengthened their training. These negative impacts are often considered a necessary price as clinical education is hypothesized to be associated with a high risk of pandemic spread. This work assesses this hypothesis based on COVID-19 epidemiological data among Czech dentistry students and their comparison to data of the Czech general population of similar age. We addressed two of the five Czech medical faculties (Charles University, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove and in Pilsen) providing dentistry study program with a survey. A total of 240 students participated, representing a 66.9% response rate. Over 75% of respondents participated in clinical education during the pandemic. The school environment was identified as a place of infection by only 9.8% of respondents who were aware of where they were infected. Overall, 100% of students used FFP2 respirators, and 75.3% used face shields or protective glasses while working with patients. By the end of May 2022, COVID-19 full vaccination and 1st booster rates among students were 93.8% and 54.6%, respectively, which is significantly higher (p < 0.0001, OR 7.3, 95% CI 4.4–12; p < 0.0001, OR 3.7, 95% CI 2.9–4.8, respectively) compared to their peers from the general population (67.1% and 24.4%, respectively). A total of 75.4% of respondents supported mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for healthcare professionals. To the same date, PCR and/or antigen test verified COVID-19 prevalence among students was 37.1%, while among peers from the general population, it was 45.1% (p = 0.015, OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.5). The combination of extensive protective measures and high vaccination against COVID-19 led to significantly lower COVID-19 prevalence among the students compared to their general population counterparts.
Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu-lato-Specific Antibodies in Sera of Canine and Equine Origin—A Comparative Study with Two Line Immunoassays
Authors: Doff Sophie , Wenderlein Jasmin , Wiesinger Anna , Hiereth Stephanie , Ulrich Sebastian , Straubinger Reinhard
Published: November 2022

Lyme borreliosis is a vector-borne disease in humans and animals caused by bacteria from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex (Bbsl). The possible transmission of Bbsl from companion animals to humans via ticks makes this disease important in terms of One Health approaches. Thus, early and accurate diagnosis and treatment are of utmost importance. Today’s standard for the detection of specific antibodies against Bbsl is a two-tiered test system based on an ELISA for screening combined with a line immunoassay (LIA) for confirmation. In this study, 200 canine and 200 equine serum samples with known antibody status were tested with two different LIAs (A and B). Results were compared regarding sensitivity, specificity, the diagnostic outcome for dogs and horses, as well as operability of the test. The results for canine serum samples corresponded to 94.0%, making both LIAs a good choice for LB diagnostic in dogs. For equine serum samples, the agreement of both tests was 65.5%, displaying the challenge equine samples still provide in LB diagnostic. Major concerns were the interpretation of the OspA antigen (AG) signal and the use of unspecific (i.e., p100/p83) or too sensitive signals on the LIA. The operability of both LIAs was equally user-friendly. Regarding the tests’ evaluation, the scanning process provided by LIA A was a major advantage considering the comparability of the tests.
Effects of Dynamic Land Use/Land Cover Change on Flow and Sediment Yield in a Monsoon-Dominated Tropical Watershed
Authors: Sadhwani Kashish , Eldho T. I. , Jha Manoj K. , Karmakar Subhankar
Published: November 2022

It is widely known that land use/land cover (LULC) changes significantly alter watershed hydrology and sediment yields. The impact, especially on erosion and sedimentation, is likely to be exacerbated in regions dominated by high rainfall patterns such as monsoons. This study analyzed the hydrological responses of LULC changes in terms of streamflow (SF) and sediment yield (SY) in a monsoon-dominated tropical watershed, the Periyar River Watershed (PRW) in Kerala, India. This watershed drains an area of 4793 km2 characterized by an average monsoon rainfall of 2900 mm from June to November. The watershed hydrology and sediment dynamics were simulated using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model for the impact assessment at the watershed outlet and the sub-watershed level. Historical LULC data were analyzed for 1988, 1992, 2002, and 2016 using the maximum likelihood method, and future LULC changes were projected for 2030, 2050, 2075, and 2100 using the Markov chain–cellular automata technique. Between 1988 and 2016, the urban area increased by 4.13 percent, while plantation and forest coverage decreased by 1.5 percent. At this rate, by 2100, the urban area is expected to grow by 16.45% while plantations and forest area will shrink by 13.7% compared to 1988. The effects of these changes on SF and SY were found to be minimal at the watershed outlet; however, at the spatial scale of sub-watersheds, the changes varied up to 70% for surface runoff and 200% for SY. These findings highlight the potential impacts of LULC changes in a monsoon-dominated watershed and may contribute to the development of successful LULC-based watershed management strategies for prevention of flooding and sediment loss.
An Improved Combination Model for the Multi-Scale Prediction of Slope Deformation
Authors: Li Xiangyu , Lei Tianjie , Qin Jing , Wang Jiabao , Wang Weiwei , Chen Dongpan , Qian Guansheng , Lu Jingxuan
Published: November 2022

Slope collapse is one of the most severe natural disaster threats, and accurately predicting slope deformation is important to avoid the occurrence of disaster. However, the single prediction model has some problems, such as poor stability, lower accuracy and data fluctuation. Obviously, it is necessary to establish a combination model to accurately predict slope deformation. Here, we used the GFW-Fisher optimal segmentation method to establish a multi-scale prediction combination model. Our results indicated that the determination coefficient of linear combination model, weighted geometric average model, and weighted harmonic average model was the highest at the surface spatial scale with a large scale, and their determination coefficients were 0.95, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. Meanwhile, RMSE, MAE and Relative error were used as indicators to evaluate accuracy and the evaluation accuracy of the weighted harmonic average model was the most obvious, with an accuracy of 5.57%, 3.11% and 3.98%, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the weighted harmonic average model at the surface scale with a large scale as the slope deformation prediction combination model. Meanwhile, our results effectively solve the problems of the prediction results caused by the single model and data fluctuation and provide a reference for the prediction of slope deformation.
Development of an Integrated Water Resource Scheduling Model Based on Platform Plug-In: A Case Study of the Wudu Diversion and Irrigation Area, China
Authors: Jiang Beihan , Pan Long , Qin Genquan , Su Xiaolin , Cai Feng , Liang Yue
Published: November 2022

Integrated water resource scheduling is a key strategy for controlling river floods as well as for promoting the benefits and abolishing the harmful aspects of water conservancy projects. It is necessary to explore an effective development mode to address the current issues of long development times and poor outcomes for integrated water resource scheduling models. Drawing on the concept of software reuse, a development mode for an integrated water resource scheduling model is offered based on “platform system + model plug-in”, the cores of which are plug-in modules and interface integration. The boundaries and connection relations of each plug-in module are formed based on the logical analysis of the model plug-in. A web application mode is used to implement a standardized interface, which can be quickly and seamlessly connected to the system platform. The model is explored and applied in the Wudu diversion and irrigation area in China. The generated model is eventually verified using data obtained from two flood periods. According to the simulation results, the gate operation will be convenient, and the target water level will be attained in the allocated time with a satisfactory peak-clipping effect. It shows both good coordination and great utilization value of the plug-in modules. The concept of designing a plug-in database is eventually taken into consideration for combining and generating an optimization model of each river.
Multi-Step Ahead Probabilistic Forecasting of Daily Streamflow Using Bayesian Deep Learning: A Multiple Case Study
Authors: Ghobadi Fatemeh , Kang Doosun
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, natural calamities such as drought and flood have caused widespread economic and social damage. Climate change and rapid urbanization contribute to the occurrence of natural disasters. In addition, their destructive impact has been altered, posing significant challenges to the efficiency, equity, and sustainability of water resources allocation and management. Uncertainty estimation in hydrology is essential for water resources management. By quantifying the associated uncertainty of reliable hydrological forecasting, an efficient water resources management plan is obtained. Moreover, reliable forecasting provides significant future information to assist risk assessment. Currently, the majority of hydrological forecasts utilize deterministic approaches. Nevertheless, deterministic forecasting models cannot account for the intrinsic uncertainty of forecasted values. Using the Bayesian deep learning approach, this study developed a probabilistic forecasting model that covers the pertinent subproblem of univariate time series models for multi-step ahead daily streamflow forecasting to quantify epistemic and aleatory uncertainty. The new model implements Bayesian sampling in the Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network by using variational inference to approximate the posterior distribution. The proposed method is verified with three case studies in the USA and three forecasting horizons. LSTM as a point forecasting neural network model and three probabilistic forecasting models, such as LSTM-BNN, BNN, and LSTM with Monte Carlo (MC) dropout (LSTM-MC), were applied for comparison with the proposed model. The results show that the proposed Bayesian long short-term memory (BLSTM) outperforms the other models in terms of forecasting reliability, sharpness, and overall performance. The results reveal that all probabilistic forecasting models outperformed the deterministic model with a lower RMSE value. Furthermore, the uncertainty estimation results show that BLSTM can handle data with higher variation and peak, particularly for long-term multi-step ahead streamflow forecasting, compared to other models.
Numerical Simulation of Debris Flow and Driftwood with Entrainment of Sediment
Authors: Kang Taeun , Jang Chang-Lae , Kimura Ichiro , Lee Namjoo
Published: November 2022

Unlike general landslides, debris flow has a high water content, due to large floods and rainfall. On steep slopes, it behaves like a large specific-weight sediment–water mixture, rather than general fluid. Thus, its momentum rapidly increases, damaging human lives and properties. This study developed a numerical model of debris flow considering driftwood and entrainment erosion, and performed numerical simulations based on the 2011 observation data of Mt. Umyeon. To develop the debris-flow model, the Nays2DFlood model, which is a flooding model based on the shallow-water equation, was coupled with the advection and diffusion of the sediment–water mixture, debris-flow bottom shear-stress, and entrainment-erosion modules. The simulation better reproduced the depth, flow velocity, and debris-flow volume of Mt. Umyeon. In particular, the driftwood generation and motions, by debris flow, were well demonstrated in the numerical simulation. Moreover, the driftwood partially reduced the drag force, and the shielding effect of the forest caused a delay in the runoff duration-time. The results of this study are expected to help establish measures to reduce debris disasters that can respond to the current situation, wherein debris damage is increasing, owing to the increased rainfall because of climate change. This subsequently increases the possibility of debris flows and the consequent damage. In particular, the predictive methodology of the refined model expands the understanding of numerical treatment for debris flow and driftwood, by reflecting the detailed physical regime.
Assessment of Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Moisture in the Critical Zone of Gully Consolidation and Highland Protection
Authors: Huo Aidi , Zhao Zhixin , Luo Pingping , Zheng Chunli , Peng Jianbing , Abuarab Mohamed EL-Sayed
Published: November 2022

The Gully Consolidation and Highland Protection (GCHP) project (such as for gully head landfills), a consideration of soil and water conservation measures, has been explored and developed continuously in recent decades in the Chinese Loess Plateau. Using high-precision images taken by drones to extract the topography of the basin, the changes in vegetation and land use were also analyzed. The observation of soil moisture in the critical gully head area of the GCHP was carried out. The results indicated that the critical zones of the GCHP project implementation include the gully head landfill, the gully, and the highland farming area. The soil moisture of the landfill area was 6.91% and 23.61% higher than that of the gully and farming area, respectively, with obvious spatial heterogeneity. The soil sand content in the gully head landfill area was higher than that in the gully area and the agricultural area of the plateau. The main reason for the high soil moisture in the gully head landfill area is that the terrain at the outlet is low, and it is at the lowest point of the whole basin. Analyzing the spatial distribution of soil moisture can point out the direction for the monitoring, prevention, and treatment of geological disasters, such as landslides and debris flow, induced by water erosion. This study will help to understand in detail the spatial heterogeneity and influencing factors of soil moisture under the implementation of the GCHP and improve the GCHP project management system.
Biowaste Valorization to Produce Advance Carbon Material-Hydrochar for Potential Application of Cr (VI) and Cd (II) Adsorption in Wastewater: A Review
Authors: Zhang Yingyu , Zhang Tao
Published: November 2022

The dramatic increase in the use of biomass waste has caused a serious environmental pollution phenomenon. Biowaste valorization to produce advanced material-hydrochar is regarded as a promising carbon neutrality technology for biomass waste recycling and utilization. Hydrochar obtained by hydrothermal carbonization has attracted much attention due to its regular morphology, good physical and chemical stability, and abundant oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface. This reviews the preparation of hydrochar and the basic methods of modified hydrochar and expounds on the related reaction mechanism of adsorption. The adsorption and recovery of heavy metals, Cr (VI) and Cd (II), in wastewater by hydrochar were focused on. The experimental conditions of hydrochar, such as synthesis temperature, synthesis time, modified condition, adsorption capacity, adsorption isotherm, and adsorption kinetics, were compared. The adsorption conditions of hydrochar for Cr (VI) and Cd (II) in wastewater, including the adsorption pH value, the adsorption time, the adsorption temperature, and so on, have been summarized. The review develops a better understanding of Cr (VI) and Cd (II) adsorption by hydrochar in wastewater, making an innovative perspective for the improvement and large-scale application of hydrochar as an advanced carbon material as well as biowaste utilization.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Selected Anionic Surfactants Behaviour in Aqueous Systems Containing Metal Ions and Inorganic Acid
Authors: Wołowicz Anna , Staszak Katarzyna , Hubicki Zbigniew
Published: November 2022

The influence of co-ions on the adsorption properties of two surfactants: ABS (dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid) and its sodium salt ABSNa50 in the aqueous systems, has been studied and discussed. On the basis of experimental measurements of equilibrium and dynamic surface tension, a series of parameters were determined, such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), adsorption parameters, diffusion coefficients, and the micellar dissociation constant. It was proved that values of CMC vary according the contents of accompanying metal ions (zinc(II), copper(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II)) and hydrochloric acid in the system under discussion. Moreover, it was found that as the concentration of surfactant in the system increases, the estimated values of the diffusion coefficients decrease. The obtained results indicate the need to analyse the basic surface properties of surfactants in case of their application in the systems containing additional substances.
Study of Single Fracture Seepage Characteristics of Fault-Filled Materials Based on CT Technology
Authors: Sun Wenbin , Wang Shaoyu , Dong Faxu , Xue Yandong
Published: November 2022

In order to study the matrix loss process and skeleton seepage law in the fracture of the fault rock, the three-dimensional model of the skeletal rock sample of the fault rock was obtained by CT scan, and the porous media seepage model was established with different structural types of natural fractures, and the flow rate and pressure distribution law of the seepage in the fracture was obtained by FLUENT software simulation. The results show that: the seepage under different pressure conditions is approximately the same, and the velocity increases continuously with the increase in pressure; The water seepage in different directions of the fracture channels under the same pressure conditions is not exactly the same, which is caused by the different microstructures of the pores. For the pressure distribution, it gradually decreases along the direction of water seepage, and for the speed distribution, it shows the law of changing from large to small and then increasing.
Coupling Regulation of Root-Zone Soil Water and Fertilizer for Summer Maize with Drip Irrigation
Authors: Ma Changjian , Liu Shenglin , Wang Xuejun , Wang Lu , Muhammad Tahir , Xiao Yang , Wang Yue , Sun Zeqiang , Li Yunkai
Published: November 2022

Water scarcity is the most significant constraint for grain production in the North China Plain (NCP). Water-saving irrigation technology is a valuable tool for addressing the NCP’s water scarcity. Drip irrigation is considered as one of the most water-saving irrigation technologies. However, drip irrigation is not now commonly used in NCP field grain crops (particularly maize). Fertilizers are accurately administered to summer-maize root soil by recycling the drip-irrigation system of winter wheat. To increase the water and fertilizer-use efficiency of summer-maize fields, the coupling body of root-zone soil water and fertilizer for summer maize was thoroughly adjusted using a combination of emitter flow rate, irrigation quota, and fertilizer frequency. In this experiment, a split plot design with randomized blocks was employed. The primary plot was emitter flow rate (0.8 and 2.7 L/h), the subplot was irrigation water quota (120 and 150 m3/hm2, 1 hm2 = 10,000 m2), and the final plot was fertigation frequency (7, 14, and 28 days). The grain yield, water-use efficiency and fertilizer-use efficiency of summer maize were measured in this study. The results showed that grain yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) of the small-flow drip-irrigation treatment (emitter flow rate < 1 L/h) were significantly higher than the large-flow treatment (emitter flow rate > 1 L/h); the rates of grain yield increase were 8.2% and 13.3% and WUE were 3.5% and 8.0%, respectively. A higher irrigation quota can increase the yield of summer maize. The maximum yield and WUE were observed at the fertigation frequency of 7 days under small-flow drip-irrigation conditions. All comparisons and analyses showed that small-flow drip irrigation combined with high fertigation frequency could obtain higher yield and WUE in the NCP. This study proposes a new way to improve water and fertilizer utilization efficiency to achieve the goal of “increasing grain yield by fertilizing” and “adjusting the quality by fertilizing”, from the perspective of winter wheat–summer maize no-tillage annual rotation planting.
Study of Organic Acid Pollutant Removal Efficient in Treatment of Industrial Wastewater with HDH Process Using ASPEN Modelling
Authors: Zeng Ying , Ma Limin , Bai Peng
Published: November 2022

Due to low efficiency and the material choice limitations of traditional evaporation systems to treat acid wastewater, humidification and dehumidification (HDH) as the core process was applied in the treatment and reduction of wastewater with organic acid pollutant concentrations. The forecasting of pH changes and COD reduction is important for the system’s design. Therefore, a study of the pollutant removal efficiency with different parameters, such as the reaction temperature, air quantity, and flow rate was conducted with ASPEN modeling. In this article, ASPEN modeling was used to simulate the water and acid material transformation in HDH system. The process was composed of blocks, such as RadFrac, heater and split. The analysis was taken with different air quantities, tower diameters, heat loads and flow rates. The analysis indicated that the pH of the maleic acid wastewater changed from 3.0 to 5.7. The relationship between inlet quantity, air quantity, inlet heat and the clean water yield was also shown in the modeling results. Based on these studies, we determined that the model can help engineers solve the key problems of HDH systems, such as heat balance calculation, equipment selection, and the prediction of incoming and outgoing evaporation materials.