bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of the Heat Transfer Process on the Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Flexible Silver Conductors on Textiles
Authors: Raczyński Tomasz , Janczak Daniel , Szałapak Jerzy , Lepak-Kuc Sandra , Baraniecki Dominik , Muszyńska Maria , Kądziela Aleksandra , Wójkowska Katarzyna , Krzemiński Jakub , Jakubowska Małgorzata
Published: June 2023

With the increase in the popularity of wearable and integrated electronics, a proper way to manufacture electronics on textiles is needed. This study aims to analyze the effect of different parameters of the heat transfer process on the electrical and mechanical properties of flexible electronics made on textiles, presenting it as a viable method of producing such electronics. Wires made from different composites based on silver microparticles and an insulating layer were screen-printed on a release film. Then, they were transferred onto a polyester cloth using heat transfer with different parameters. Research showed that different heat transfer parameters could influence the electrical properties of screen-printed wires, changing their resistance between −15% and +150%, making it imperative to adjust those properties depending on the materials used. Changes in the settings of heat transfer also influence mechanical properties, increasing adhesion between layers at higher temperatures. This study shows the importance of tailoring heat transfer properties and the differences that these properties make.
Visco-Elastic and Thermal Properties of Microbiologically Synthesized Polyhydroxyalkanoate Plasticized with Triethyl Citrate
Authors: Žiganova Madara , Merijs-Meri Remo , Zicāns Jānis , Bochkov Ivan , Ivanova Tatjana , Vīgants Armands , Ence Enno , Štrausa Evita
Published: June 2023

The current research is devoted to the investigation of the plasticization of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) with triethyl citrate (TEC). Three different PHB or PHBV-based systems with 10, 20, and 30 wt.% of TEC were prepared by two-roll milling. The effect of TEC on the rheological, thermal, mechanical, and calorimetric properties of the developed compression-molded PHB and PHBV-based systems was determined. It was revealed that the addition of TEC significantly influenced the melting behavior of both polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), reducing their melting temperatures and decreasing viscosities. It was also revealed that all the investigated systems demonstrated less than 2% weight loss until 200 °C and rapid degradation did not occur until 240–260 °C in an oxidative environment. Apart from this, a remarkable increase (ca 2.5 times) in ultimate tensile deformation εB was observed by increasing the amount of TEC in either PHB or PHBV. A concomitant, considerable drop in ultimate strength σB and modulus of elasticity E was observed. Comparatively, the plasticization efficiency of TEC was greater in the case of PHBV.
Effects of Varied Forms of Arsenic Stress on Seedling Growth and Arsenic Distribution in Honeysuckle Plants
Authors: Yuan Xin , Zhou Juntong , Peng Congnan , Qiao Jiaqi , Xia Shengqi , Fan Yilin , Yao Li , Qi Kailin , Chen Dongliang , Guo Zhiying , Gan Xiaolong , Sun Yaxuan , Dai Xueling , Lv Liangyu , Ji Yizhi , Huo Qing
Published: June 2023

At present, soil arsenic contamination is one of the prominent environmental problems. The arsenic concentration in honeysuckle exceeds the standard levels, thus affecting the quality of traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the hydroponic method was employed to explore the effect of organic arsenic (dimethyl arsenic) and trivalent inorganic arsenic (NaAsO2) on the growth of honeysuckle plants. The study demonstrated that low concentrations of inorganic arsenic (10–20 mg/L) and 10–50 mg/L organic arsenic had a stimulating effect on the growth of honeysuckle plants. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase and catalase) increased correspondingly. However, the antioxidant system in honeysuckle plants was damaged under high concentrations of inorganic arsenic (20–40 mg/L) and 50–70 mg/L organic arsenic. On exposure to 30 mg/L NaAsO2 or 50 mg/L dimethyl arsenic acid for 10 days, the activities of peroxidase and catalase, as well as the malondialdehyde content, increased with prolonged exposure. The micro X-ray fluorescence analysis revealed that the accumulated arsenic in the roots was transported from the central vascular cylinders to the outer part of the root with the increase in concentration and exposure duration of inorganic arsenic. However, organic arsenic stress did not result in significant variations in the distribution of arsenic with increasing concentrations of arsenic. The arsenic element was predominantly located in the middle woody part of the root. The distributions of arsenic in the stems and leaves, in terms of organic and inorganic arsenic stresses, were similar, with accumulation primarily in the cortex of the stem and veins of the leaves. As a commonly used bulk traditional Chinese medicine, honeysuckle has a wide range of product quality issues. Hence, exploring the absorption, distribution, and transport trends of heavy metals such as arsenic in the plant body is of great significance for scientifically evaluating the impact of heavy metal pollution on the quality of medicinal materials and exploring ways to reduce the accumulation of heavy metals in the medicinal parts of plants.
A Comprehensive Review of Organic Rankine Cycles
Authors: Jiménez-García José C. , Ruiz Alexis , Pacheco-Reyes Alejandro , Rivera Wilfrido
Published: June 2023

It has been demonstrated that energy systems driven by conventional energy sources like fossil fuels are one of the main causes of climate change. Organic Rankine cycles can help to reduce that impact, as they can be operated by using the industrial waste heat of renewable energies. The present study presents a comprehensive bibliographic review of organic Rankine cycles. The study not only actualizes previous reviews that mainly focused on basic cycles operating on subcritical or supercritical conditions, but also includes the analysis of novel cycles such as two-stage and hybrid cycles and the used fluids. Recuperative and regenerative cycles are more efficient than reheated and basic single-stage cycles. The use of two-stage cycles makes it possible to achieve higher thermal efficiencies and net power outputs of up to 20% and 44%, respectively, compared with those obtained with single-stage cycles. Theoretical studies show that hybrid systems, including Brayton and organic Rankine cycles, are the most efficient; however, they require very high temperatures to operate. Most organic Rankine cycle plants produce net power outputs from 1 kW up to several tens of kW, mainly using microturbines and plate heat exchangers.
Determination of Soil Agricultural Aptitude for Sugar Cane Production in Vertisols with Machine Learning
Authors: Landeta-Escamilla Ofelia , Alvarado-Lassman Alejandro , Sandoval-González Oscar Osvaldo , Flores-Cuautle José de Jesús Agustín , Rosas-Mendoza Erik Samuel , Martínez-Sibaja Albino , Vallejo Cantú Norma Alejandra , Méndez Contreras Juan Manuel
Published: June 2023

Sugarcane is one of the main agro-industrial products consumed worldwide, and, therefore, the use of suitable soils is a key factor to maximize its production. As a result, the need to evaluate soil matrices, including many physical, chemical, and biological parameters, to determine the soil’s aptitude for growing food crops increases. Machine learning techniques were used to perform an in-depth analysis of the physicochemical indicators of vertisol-type soils used in sugarcane production. The importance of the relationship between each of the indicators was studied. Furthermore, and the main objective of the present work, was the determination of the minimum number of the most important physicochemical indicators necessary to evaluate the agricultural suitability of the soils, with a view to reducing the number of analyses in terms of physicochemical indicators required for the evaluation. The results obtained relating to the estimation of agricultural capability using different numbers of parameters showed accuracy results of up to 91% when implementing three parameters: Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). The reported results, relating to the estimation of the physicochemical parameters, indicated that it was possible to estimate eleven physicochemical parameters with an average accuracy of 73% using only the data of K, Ca and CEC as input parameters in the Machine Learning models. Knowledge of these three parameters enables determination of the values of soil potential in regard to Hydrogen (pH), organic matter (OM), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), Boron (B), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Zinc (Zn), the Calcium/Magnesium ratio (Ca/Mg), and also the texture of the soil.
Research Progress on Deep Eutectic Solvents and Recent Applications
Authors: Mu Liting , Gao Jinshuang , Zhang Qingyu , Kong Fanyu , Zhang Yu , Ma Zhen , Sun Changhai , Lv Shaochun
Published: June 2023

In this study, the classification, composition, preparation methods, and performance parameters of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) and their recent applications in natural product extraction, drug delivery systems, trace metal determination, nanomaterial synthesis, and electrochemistry are systematically summarised through the literature of recent decades, using DESs and applications as keywords. The hydrogen bond acceptors (HBA) of DESs are mainly quaternary ammonium salts (e.g., choline chloride) or amphoteric ions (e.g., betaine); the hydrogen bond donors (HBD) are mostly compounds such as urea, polyols, and sugars. Their melting points are related to hydrogen bonding, their polarities are higher than most ionic liquids, and their viscosities are generally in the range of 0.01–5 Pa·s. Compared with traditional organic solvents and conventional ionic liquids, DESs have higher solubility, with their ability to dissolve metal oxides and insoluble drugs, and have good biodegradability. DESs have high extraction rates in flavonoids and phenols, can increase drug solubility in drug delivery systems, can effectively extract and perform pre-concentration of metals in trace metal determination, can synthesise new nanomaterial, and can be used as electrolytes for electrochemical reactions in electrochemistry. This paper collates the relevant literature on the physicochemical properties and multi-field applications of DESs, which provides a deeper understanding of DESs and looks forward to the future development of DESs
Multi-Time Scale Economic Dispatch of Integrated Electricity and Natural Gas Systems with Flexibility Constraints Based on Chance-Constrained Programming
Authors: Yang Peng , Cheng Huilin , Liu Zhenyu , Zhang Jing , He Liangce , Liu Yujie , Lu Zhigang
Published: June 2023

The connection between various energy types in the integrated power and natural gas system has grown stronger in recent years, as has the penetration rate of clean energy. Wind power generation volatility offers a considerable barrier to power system operation. This research provides a multi-time scale economic dispatch model with flexibility limitations to address this issue. Through chance-constrained programming, the equipment flexibility is described by probability functions and predetermined confidence levels in this model, and the generating cost and wind power consumption are improved through day-ahead and intra-day optimal scheduling. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified by two case studies of integrated energy systems, where the results show that about 68.0–72.1% wind power curtailment can be effectively reduced while satisfying all load and system safety requirements.
Clinical Trial Studies of Antipsychotics during Symptomatic Presentations of Agitation and/or Psychosis in Alzheimer’s Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Qasim Haider , Simpson Maree Donna , Cox Jennifer L.
Published: June 2023

Aggressive behaviors of people with dementia pose a significant challenge to employees in nursing homes and aged care facilities. Aggressive behavior is a result of psychomotor agitation in dementia (BPSD). Globally, psychotropic interventions are the preferred treatment for BPSD. However, it is still unclear which psychotropic should be prescribed. The purpose of this systematic review is to compare pharmacological interventions for psychomotor agitation and psychosis symptoms. Method: The studies were extracted from databases, such as PubMed, OVID, and Cochrane, with a date restriction from 2000 to present, and in English. PRISMA steps were used to refine the extracted data. The RCTs extracted for this systematic review compared active ingredient medications to one another or to a placebo. Results: PRISMA was used to assess all selected trials comprehensively. Four trials are being conducted on quetiapine, two on haloperidol, one on olanzapine, three on risperidone, one on brexpiprazole, one on pimavanserin, and two on aripiprazole. Compared to typical antipsychotics, quetiapine showed tolerable adverse effects and did not worsen parkinsonism. Psychosis symptoms and behavioral improvements can be improved with haloperidol. Among elderly patients with psychosis, risperidone reduces angriness, paranoia, and aggression, as well as improves global functioning. As compared with other antipsychotics, aripiprazole provides a lower risk of adverse effects and demonstrated improvement in agitation, anxiety, and depression associated with psychosis. While olanzapine improves hostile suspiciousness, hallucinations, aggression, mistrust, and uncooperativeness, it worsens depression symptoms. Psychosis was treated effectively with pimavanserin without adverse effects on motor functions. Psychosis symptoms are well tolerated by brexpiprazole, but insomnia, headache, and urinary tract infections are common side effects. Conclusions: In this systematic review, we provide an overview of how to choose the correct antipsychotics and dosages for the management of BPSD and emphasize the importance of safe and conservative use of these drugs.
Belief in Drama: A Study of the Religious Factors in Ancient Chinese Puppet Dramas
Authors: Long Yanghuan , Fan Chen
Published: June 2023

Puppets, a kind of wooden figure whose movements are manipulated by artists, were frequently used in ancient Chinese singing and dancing activities and dramas. The uniqueness of substituting human beings for puppets has drawn tremendous attention from scholars. However, despite previous research on the long development process of puppet dramas, a considerable number of details remain neglected, and behind these details lies an abundance of complicated religious factors. Therefore, this paper uses several fragments as entry points in terms of puppet dramas’ modeling, materials, craft, rites, function, artists, organization, and other aspects to comprehensively analyze the influence of witchcraft, Daoism, and Buddhism on China’s puppet dramas. This research first unveils that a ferocious appearance and mahogany as a material, both used in puppets, are outer manifestations to reveal the magical power of witchcraft. Next, the rites performed in Li Yuan Jiao using ritual puppets were characterized by mystery in their implication and ambiguity in their religious sect, which was related to the attempt to hide their notorious identities as wizards on the part of the artists. Third, general puppet artists enjoyed a fairly high social status, conferred by their semi-religionist identity and the puppet dramas’ historical status. Finally, the improvement in the puppet-making process and the emergence of skeleton-style puppets embody the secularization of the spread of Buddhism.
Inter-Sectoral Economic Linkages in the Mining Industries of Botswana and Tanzania: Analysis Using Partial Hypothetical Extraction Method
Authors: Weldegiorgis Fitsum Semere , Dietsche Evelyn , Ahmad Shabbir
Published: June 2023

Fiscal and local content policies aimed at promoting linkages between mining and other economic sectors have been informed by theories built on historical observations dating back to the 1950s. This paper contends that there is a need to rethink theories about mining-based economic linkages and the prospects for structural change based on an improved understanding of existing and potential inter-sectoral linkages. Using the input–output tables for Tanzania and Botswana, we apply the Partial Hypothetical Extraction Method within the Leontief and Gosh input–output frameworks to examine the linkages between the mining and quarrying sector and other economic sectors within these two economies. We find that, for Botswana, possible linkage pathways lie in scaling-up coal, soda ash and salt mining and investing in glass, polymer, and chemicals manufacturing. For Tanzania, opportunities for linkage pathways lie with the mining and manufacturing of non-metallic and construction materials as well as metallic minerals and natural gas. For both countries, the prospects for transforming their economies away from a heavy reliance on mineral extraction hinges on leveraging extractives for infrastructure, innovative technology, and technical skills, as well as capturing business opportunities, knowledge, and financial returns to invest in more diversified economic activities.
The Characteristics and Evolution of Structural and Functional Connectivity in a Large Catchment (Poyang Lake) during the Past 30 Years
Authors: Zeng Bingru , Li Yunliang , Yao Jing , Tan Zhiqiang
Published: June 2023

Hydrological connectivity plays a major role in solving water resource and eco-environmental problems. However, this phenomenon has not been afforded the attention it deserves. The detailed analysis of connectivity in river systems could provide considerable insight into the structural and functional attributes of riverine landscapes. The current study used a graph theory approach and associated connectivity indicators to explore the characteristics and evolution of river systems and hydrological connectivity in a large catchment (Poyang Lake, China). The results revealed that the structure of the river system tended to be complex during 1990–2020, characterized by a dynamic evolution of tributaries in certain northern areas. Both river density and complexity exhibited an increasing trend by up to 15%, with the change rate after 2000 approximately twice as high as that of the preceding period. Overall, human activities across the catchment were more likely to play a key role in leading to significant changes in the quantity, morphometric, and structural characteristics of the river system. Additionally, the functional connectivity analysis indicated that the index of connectivity (IC) in the downstream catchment was stronger than that of the upstream vegetation areas, suggesting a strong contribution to the runoff sediment transport (r = 0.6–0.7). This study highlights the spatial and temporal evolution of both structural and functional connectivity in the large Poyang Lake catchment. The findings of this work will benefit future water resource management and applications by providing a strategy for protecting the surface hydrology and mass transport of large river basins under climate and land use changes.
Anticipated Capabilities of the ODYSEA Wind and Current Mission Concept to Estimate Wind Work at the Air–Sea Interface
Authors: Torres Hector , Wineteer Alexander , Klein Patrice , Lee Tong , Wang Jinbo , Rodriguez Ernesto , Menemenlis Dimitris , Zhang Hong
Published: June 2023

The kinetic energy transfer between the atmosphere and oceans, called wind work, affects ocean dynamics, including near-inertial oscillations and internal gravity waves, mesoscale eddies, and large-scale zonal jets. For the most part, the recent numerical estimates of global wind work amplitude are almost five times larger than those reported 10 years ago. This large increase is explained by the impact of the broad range of spatial and temporal scales covered by winds and currents, the smallest of which has only recently been uncovered by increasingly high-resolution modeling efforts. However, existing satellite observations do not fully sample this broad range of scales. The present study assesses the capabilities of ODYSEA, a conceptual satellite mission to estimate the amplitude of wind work in the global ocean. To this end, we use an ODYSEA measurement simulator fed by the outputs of a km scale coupled ocean–atmosphere model to estimate wind work globally. The results indicate that compared with numerical truth estimates, the ODYSEA instrument performs well globally, except for latitudes north of 40∘N during summer due to unresolved storm evolution. This performance is explained by the wide-swath properties of ODYSEA (a 1700 km wide swath with 5 km posting for winds and surface currents), its twice-a-day (daily) coverage at mid-latitudes (low latitudes), and the insensitivity of the wind work to uncorrelated errors in the estimated wind and current.
A Feature Embedding Network with Multiscale Attention for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Liu Yi , Zhu Jian , Feng Jiajie , Mu Caihong
Published: June 2023

In recent years, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been widely used in the field of hyperspectral image (HSI) classification and achieved good classification results due to their excellent spectral–spatial feature extraction ability. However, most methods use the deep semantic features at the end of the network for classification, ignoring the spatial details contained in the shallow features. To solve the above problems, this article proposes a hyperspectral image classification method based on a Feature Embedding Network with Multiscale Attention (MAFEN). Firstly, a Multiscale Attention Module (MAM) is designed, which is able to not only learn multiscale information about features at different depths, but also extract effective information from them. Secondly, the deep semantic features can be embedded into the low-level features through the top-down channel, so that the features at all levels have rich semantic information. Finally, an Adaptive Spatial Feature Fusion (ASFF) strategy is introduced to adaptively fuse features from different levels. The experimental results show that the classification accuracies of MAFEN on four HSI datasets are better than those of the compared methods.
Landslide Recognition from Multi-Feature Remote Sensing Data Based on Improved Transformers
Authors: Huang Renxiang , Chen Tao
Published: June 2023

Efficient and accurate landslide recognition is crucial for disaster prevention and post-disaster rescue efforts. However, compared to machine learning, deep learning approaches currently face challenges such as long model runtimes and inefficiency. To tackle these challenges, we proposed a novel knowledge distillation network based on Swin-Transformer (Distilled Swin-Transformer, DST) for landslide recognition. We created a new landslide sample database and combined nine landslide influencing factors (LIFs) with remote sensing images (RSIs) to evaluate the performance of DST. Our approach was tested in Zigui County, Hubei Province, China, and our quantitative evaluation showed that the combined RSIs with LIFs improved the performance of the landslide recognition model. Specifically, our model achieved an Overall Accuracy (OA), Precision, Recall, F1-Score (F1), and Kappa that were 0.8381%, 0.6988%, 0.9334%, 0.8301%, and 0.0125 higher, respectively, than when using only RSIs. Compared with the results of other neural networks, namely ResNet50, Swin-Transformer, and DeiT, our proposed deep learning model achieves the best OA (98.1717%), Precision (98.1672%), Recall (98.1667%), F1 (98.1615%), and Kappa (0.9766). DST has the lowest number of FLOPs, which is crucial for improving computational efficiency, especially in landslide recognition applications after geological disasters. Our model requires only 2.83 GFLOPs, which is the lowest among the four models and is 1.8242 GFLOPs, 1.741 GFLOPs, and 2.0284 GFLOPs less than ResNet, Swin, and DeiT, respectively. The proposed method has good applicability in rapid recognition scenarios after geological disasters.
Unsupervised Noise Reductions for Gravitational Reference Sensors or Accelerometers Based on the Noise2Noise Method
Authors: Yang Zhilan , Zhang Haoyue , Xu Peng , Luo Ziren
Published: June 2023

Onboard electrostatic suspension inertial sensors are important applications for gravity satellites and space gravitational-wave detection missions, and it is important to suppress noise in the measurement signal. Due to the complex coupling between the working space environment and the satellite platform, the process of noise generation is extremely complex, and traditional noise modeling and subtraction methods have certain limitations. With the development of deep learning, applying it to high-precision inertial sensors to improve the signal-to-noise ratio is a practically meaningful task. Since there is a single noise sample and unknown true value in the measured data in orbit, odd–even sub-samplers and periodic sub-samplers are designed to process general signals and periodic signals, and adds reconstruction layers consisting of fully connected layers to the model. Experimental analysis and comparison are conducted based on simulation data, GRACE-FO acceleration data, and Taiji-1 acceleration data. The results show that the deep learning method is superior to traditional data smoothing processing solutions.
Various Types of Light Guides for Use in Lossy Mode Resonance-Based Sensors
Authors: Sudas Dmitriy P. , Jitov Viktor A. , Kuznetsov Petr I.
Published: June 2023

A comparative study of figure-of-merit fiber sensors of the mass concentration of NaCl solutions based on single-mode and multi-mode fibers was carried out. Lossy mode resonance is realized on chemically thinned sections of optical fibers to various diameters (from 26 to 100 μm) coated with ZnTe. Thin-film coatings were applied using the method of metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). Samples of single-mode and multi-mode fiber sensors were created in such a way that the depth and spectral position of resonances in aqueous NaCl solutions coincided. Sensors implemented on a single-mode fiber have a higher sensitivity (5930 nm/refractive index unit (RIU)) compared to those on a multi-mode fiber (4860 nm/RIU) and a smaller half-width of the resonance in the transmission spectrum. According to the results of experiments, figure-of-merit sensors are in the range of refractive indices of 1.33–1.35 for: multi-mode fiber—25 RIU−1, single-mode fiber—75 RIU−1. The sensitivity of the resulting sensors depends on the surface roughness of the ZnTe coating. The roughness of films synthesized on a single-mode fiber is four times higher than this parameter for a coating on a multi-mode fiber. For the first time, in the transmission spectrum during the synthesis of a thin-film coating on a multi-mode fiber, the possibility of separating the first nine orders of resonances into electric and magnetic transverse components has been demonstrated. The characteristics of sensors with the operating wavelength range in the visible (500–750 nm) and infrared (1350–1550 nm) regions of the spectrum are compared. The characteristics of multi-mode lossy mode resonance sensors are demonstrated, which make them more promising for use in applied devices than for laboratory research.
Extraction and Analysis of Plant Active Ingredients
Authors: Reverchon Ernesto , Baldino Lucia
Published: June 2023

The extraction of active ingredients from vegetable matter is one of the most attractive research fields in the literature [...]
Possibilities for the Environmental Processing of Gold-Bearing Ores
Authors: Sudova Michaela , Kanuchova Maria , Sisol Martin , Kozakova Lubica , Marcin Michal , Holub Tomas
Published: June 2023

This article will focus on the alkaline leaching of gold-bearing tetrahedrite concentrate in a solution containing sodium sulfide and sodium hydroxide. This selective leaching is followed by the leaching of heavy and waste metals into the solution, which may influence the physical properties and quality of the desired product, possibly causing environmental toxicity. At the same time, the amount of gold was observed during the leaching process to increase its content in the solid phase for the possibility of recovery and subsequent extraction of the precious metal. Sodium sulfide works very effectively on sulfide minerals which include tetrahedrite, and sodium hydroxide eliminates the hydrolysis of sulfur which slows leaching. The leaching kinetics were carried out with a duration of five hours, and based on volume sampling at certain time intervals from three samples, with the characteristic NaOH concentration, the leaching efficiency was observed from the results with atomic absorption spectrometry. The solid residue containing the tetrahedrite concentrate was analyzed through X-ray photoelectron analysis spectrometry, from which the % solids content was determined, and it is also known to deduce the leached amount of metals for each sample.
Exploratory Factor Analysis, Criterion and Psychometric Properties of a Proposed Scale to Measure the Risk of Eating Disorders in Adolescents (PETCA)
Authors: Monserrat Montserrat , Arjona Garrido Angeles , Checa Juan Carlos , Salguero Dario , Tarifa Joaquin
Published: June 2023

This paper deals with the different risk scales of eating disorder in adolescents. The main objective is to create a scale to measure the risk of developing eating disorders using social and behavioral variables. The trial sample included 605 adolescents, aged 12–17 years (M = 14.27; SD 1.44), randomly selected from several centers who requested to participate in a health program. After using the principal component extraction method (PCA) with adequate internal consistency and reliability, and with a total explained variance of 60%, factor analysis showed five factors: satisfaction with body image, self-esteem, use of social networks, negative relationship with food, and image and social recognition. Pearson’s correlation coefficients between our scale and reference scale (SCOFF) factors provided information on converging validity. However, the Cronbach’s alpha values for dimensions 3 and 4 failed to reach the desired scores, and it was noted that not all dimensions had the same number of elements. Therefore, future interventions and proposals to develop a stronger scale are proposed. Despite the drawbacks, our findings provide a solid foundation for further analysis to find the most reliable method of analysis possible in this innovative area. We believe that this scale can help both health and education professionals to develop effective interventions.
Time Course of Performance Indexes, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Muscle Damage Markers after a Female Futsal Match
Authors: Souglis Athanasios , Bourdas Dimitrios I. , Gioldasis Aristotelis , Ispirlidis Ioannis , Philippou Anastassios , Zacharakis Emmanouil , Apostolidis Alexandros , Efthymiou Georgios , Travlos Antonios K.
Published: June 2023

Background: Our aims were to investigate the time-course effects of a futsal match on performance, oxidative stress, and muscle damage markers, as well as inflammatory and antioxidant responses during a 6-day post-match period. Methods: Thirty-four female high-level futsal players were assessed on several oxidative stress, inflammation, subjective muscle soreness, subjective rate perceived exertion, and performance tests before a futsal match, immediately after, and 24 h to 144 h after. Results: Counter movement jump, 20 m, and 10 m sprints performance significantly decreased immediately after the match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 72 h post-match (p > 0.05). Delayed onset muscle soreness peaked 24 h post-match and rate perceived exertion peaked post-match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 96 h post-match (p > 0.05). Inflammatory biomarkers peaked at 24 h (p < 0.05) and remained significantly elevated for 72 h after the match (p < 0.05). Muscle damage biomarkers peaked at 24 h (p < 0.05) and remained significantly (p < 0.05) elevated for at least 72 h after the match. Oxidative stress markers peaked at 24 h–48 h (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 120 h post-match (p > 0.05). In respect to antioxidant responses, these peaked at 24 h–48 h post-match (p < 0.05) and returned to baseline 120 h after the match (p > 0.05). Conclusions: A single futsal match induces short/mid-term changes in performance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and muscle damage markers for about 72 h–96 h post-match.
Usage and Microbial Safety of Shared and Unshared Excreta Disposal Facilities in Developing Countries: The Case of a Ghanaian Rural District
Authors: Obeng Peter Appiah , Awere Eric , Obeng Panin Asirifua , Oteng-Peprah Michael , Mwinsuubo Albert Kaabieredomo , Bonoli Alessandra , Quaye Sharon Amanda
Published: June 2023

Sharing facilities with other households offers the most realistic opportunity for access to sanitation for many households in low-income settings. However, questions remain about the safety of shared toilets, including those shared at the household level. This study sought to compare the usage and microbial safety of household-level shared and unshared toilets in a Ghanaian rural district to investigate any association between their microbial safety and sharing status. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the user characteristics of the sampled toilets, while common contact surfaces (door handles and toilet seats) were assessed for faecal contamination following standard swab sampling and analytical protocols. The results of the study indicate that sharing toilets affords about 90% more household-level access to sanitation as compared to single-household toilets. Toilet sharing mostly occurred between two households, with a maximum user population of 14 per toilet. Generally, there was a high prevalence of faecal contamination on the door handles and seats of both shared and unshared toilets, but this had no association with the sharing status of the toilets. The median concentration of Escherichia coli (E. coli) on the door handles and seats of shared toilets was 34.3 × 105 and 103.2 × 105 CFU/mL, respectively, as compared to 54.7 × 105 and 125.0 × 105 CFU/mL, respectively, on unshared toilets. In conclusion, the sharing of toilets at the household level nearly doubles access to sanitation at home without necessarily exposing the users to a higher risk of faecal–oral disease transmission.
Influence of the Kinship Networks on Farmers’ Willingness to Revitalize Idle Houses
Authors: Luo Yao , Li Yumei , Li Chen , Wu Qun
Published: June 2023

China is vigorously promoting the strategy of rural revitalization, encouraging farmers to revitalize their idle houses and developing rural tourism. In rural China, kinship networks are essential in farmers’ willingness and decision–making tools. It is significant to explore the influence of kinship networks on farmers’ willingness to revitalize idle houses. This study constructs a research framework of “kinship networks–revitalization willingness–revitalization action”. It describes farmers’ kinship networks from five aspects: kinship networks structure, kinship networks relationship, kinship networks cognition, kinship networks members’ sense of belonging, and their social participation enthusiasm. Taking Bishan Village, a typical rural tourism–type ancient village, as an example, this study surveyed 197 farmers to demonstrate the influence of kinship networks on farmers willingness to revitalize idle houses. This paper uses a multiple regression model to empirically study the influence of kinship networks on farmers’ willingness to revitalize idle houses. The results show that: (1) In addition to the kinship networks structure having no significant positive impact on farmers’ willingness to revitalize idle houses, kinship networks relationship, kinship networks cognition, kinship networks members’ sense of belonging, and kinship networks members’ social participation enthusiasm all have positive effects on farmers’ willingness. (2) Considering the critical influence of kinship networks on farmers’ willingness to revitalize idle houses, the government should use the structure of kinship networks to formulate relevant policies to guide farmers to increase their willingness to revitalize their idle houses.
The Structural Causes and Trend Evolution of Imbalance and Insufficiency of Development of Digital Inclusive Finance in China
Authors: Chen Minghua , Chu Qinru , Zhang Tengwen , Li Qian , Liu Jianxu , Yamaka Woraphon
Published: June 2023

In this paper, to provide references for coordinating the development of digital inclusive finance between provinces and regions in China, we measure the digital financial inclusion index of 31 provinces in China from 2011 to 2020 based on three dimensions: coverage breadth, depth of use and digitalization degree. By means of the weighted Dagum Gini coefficient and quantile standardization, we explored the degree of imbalance and insufficiency of the development of digital inclusive finance in China and four major regions and its structural causes. Using the Kernel density estimation method and Markov chain analysis method, we further investigate the evolution trend of imbalance and insufficiency. The study finds that (1) the Digital Inclusive Financial Index in China and the four major regions rose significantly, with the COVID-19 epidemic reducing its growth rate. Of these, the eastern region has the highest development level. (2) The imbalance level of digital inclusive finance development obviously has reduced. The level of imbalance is highest within the eastern region, and the development gap between the eastern and western regions is the widest. The imbalance of overall development is mainly due to regional imbalance. The imbalance of coverage breadth and depth of use is the main structural cause of unbalanced development in the four major regions. There is a trend of bipolarization or multipolarization in China and the other three major regions, with the exception of the central region. (3) The western region is the least developed. The development shortcoming of digital inclusive finance in China and the four major regions is the breadth of coverage. There are the “Club Convergence” and the “Matthew Effect” in the eastern, central and western regions.
Shared Trading Strategy of Multiple Microgrids Considering Joint Carbon and Green Certificate Mechanism
Authors: Chen Peng , Qian Chen , Lan Li , Guo Mingxing , Wu Qiong , Ren Hongbo , Zhang Yue
Published: June 2023

With a background of carbon peak and neutrality, the economic and environmental requirements are increasing for microgrids. In view of the problem of energy wastage and conflicts of interest among multiple microgrid integrated energy systems, it is important to study the operation optimization of microgrid clusters while considering the sharing and trading of both carbon emissions and green certificates. In this study, a Stackelberg game mechanism is applied, in which the microgrid operator is the leader and its subscribers are the followers, forming a master–slave interaction model. Following this, breaking the trading barriers of energy and various policy markets, the joint carbon and green certificate trading mechanism is proposed. Moreover, a mutually beneficial shared trading model of multi-microgrids considering coupled energy and carbon and green certificate trading is proposed to avoid the problem of double counting of environmental attributes. In addition, a cooperative sharing center is assumed to propose a flexible multi-resource sharing price mechanism. It guides each microgrid operator to conduct internal multi-resource sharing trading, so as to reduce the daily operating costs of energy supplying entities in the cooperative system of multiple microgrids, effectively reduce carbon emissions, and improve the balance of network group mutual aid. According to the simulation results of an illustrative example, the proposed trading strategy can effectively unlock the potential of resource sharing and mutual aid within multi-microgrids and improve the economy and carbon reduction effects of the overall system.
The Impact of Agritourism Activity on the Rural Environment: Findings from an Authentic Agritourist Area—Bukovina, Romania
Authors: Popescu Cosmin Alin , Iancu Tiberiu , Popescu Gabriela , Adamov Tabita , Ciolac Ramona
Published: June 2023

Agritourism can be a way of “saving”/supporting a rural area and its authentic resources, and in the case of the Bukovina area, the authenticity degree of its current resources is high. Some of the resources in this area create a sense of “celebrity” among tourists and, at the same time, offer the possibility of bringing some original and authentic products to the tourist market. The purpose of this study is to present an analysis of the Bukovina area in order to analyze the impact of this activity on the local community, pursuing the following specific objectives: identifying the development degree of agritourism activity and the particularities of the agritourism product offered; identifying the motivation behind and impact of this activity, as well as obtaining proposals from those directly involved in the agritourism field; analyzing the extent to which agritourism is a means of capitalizing on local resources and identifying the impact generated over time; and identifying benefits and future directions and their impact on the local community. The case-study method was used to support the research. Based on the research carried out, proposals are made in order to ensure that agritourism activity becomes a possible tool to generate sustainability for the local community.
Climatic Niche of an Invasive Mantid Species in Europe: Predicted New Areas for Species Expansion
Authors: Pintilioaie Alexandru-Mihai , Sfîcă Lucian , Baltag Emanuel Stefan
Published: June 2023

While some species naturally expand their range by finding suitable climatic and trophic niches in new areas, others have been transported intentionally or unintentionally by humans since their journey from Africa to other continents. This phenomenon has occurred throughout history, being more prevalent at the end of the Middle Ages and at the start of the Industrial Revolution, with its frequency increasing in recent times due to globalization. Hierodula tenuidentata Saussure, 1869 is a mantis species originally distributed from India to Caucasus, that started to become more and more common in many European countries in the last few years, being considered an alien species. However, there is limited information available regarding its distribution range, habitat preference, and other ecological requirements that can help us understand its movements. We used observation data from its range, along with bioclimatic and elevation variables, to build Species Distribution Models in MaxEnt. This allowed us to analyze the species’ spatial ranges and understand and predict its distribution across Europe. Before selecting the best-fitting models, the occurrence data were spatially filtered, and bioclimatic variables tested for multicollinearity. Based on the present species distribution models, with AUC values of 0.967 for the training data and 0.960 for the test data, Hierodula tenuidentata emphasizes a coastal occurrence in the Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea regions, with local observations in southeastern Europe, an area that is likely to be occupied in the next few years through species expansion. Our data show that the expansion of Hierodula tenuidentata in Europe is influenced by the natural movement of the species westward combined with human introduction in some areas. It is now evident that the species’ presence in Europe is not solely based on human-aided dispersion, as was previously believed. The main variables influencing the distribution of Hierodula tenuidentata across Eurasia are temperature and precipitation, both of which have been significantly modified in recent years due to climate change.
Payment for Urban Mangrove Forest Conservation in Vietnam: A Community Case Study of Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Ho Chi Minh City
Authors: Lan Bui Thi Hoang , Phuong Tran Thi Lan , Dat Tran Tho , Truong Dinh Duc
Published: June 2023

Mangroves play an important role in providing livelihoods, ecological services, and values to communities in Vietnam. However, mangrove forests are being significantly reduced due to socioeconomic development. This study assessed the awareness of mangrove forests and willingness to pay communities in the buffer zone of Can Gio Biosphere Reserve, Ho Chi Minh City for mangrove conservation. The model used was the contingent valuation method, through surveying 700 households in five communes in the buffer zone of the Biosphere Reserve. The results show that local people have a fairly good awareness of the values of mangroves and are willing to participate in conservation activities for the benefit of their families and future generations. The average WTP of a household is VND 529.6 thousand/year (USD 22) in the parametric model and VND 597.8 thousand/year in the non-parametric model (USD 25). Factors that significantly affect WTP include household income, number of people in the household, education and payment level. The study results provide implications for forest resource management activities in Vietnam, especially the financial mechanism for mangrove conservation with the participation of the community.
Compact City: What Is the Extent of Our Exploration for Its Meanings? A Systematic Review
Authors: Bin Sulaiman Faisal
Published: June 2023

The compact city has garnered significant attention from researchers in academia, particularly in recent years, due to its relevance to various global challenges, such as climate change, COVID-19, economic crises, and urbanization. Given the vast knowledge represented in the compact city literature and its diverse perspectives, this study aims is a comprehensive literature review through bibliometric analysis. Following the PRISMA protocol, a total of 570 articles from the Scopus database published in English between 1973 and 2022 underwent screening at two main levels of bibliometric analysis: performance analysis and science mapping. The findings of this study reveal a substantial increase in scientific production related to the compact city over the years. Furthermore, the concept of the compact city encompasses multiple dimensions, with a significant emphasis on the urban dimension. Remarkably, Asian countries (regions), particularly mainland China and China-Hong Kong, demonstrate a notable interest in the compact city concept. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the scientific production of compact city literature, highlighting its growth, multidimensionality, and geographic focus, which can inform future research and policymaking efforts.