bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Groundwater Burial Depth on the Vegetation of the Dariyabui Oasis in the Central Desert
Authors: Bai Yunbao , Guo Yuchuan , Wang Huijing , Wang Ning , Wei Xuan , Zhou Mingtong , Lu Tiantian , Zhang Zihui
Published: December 2023

Vegetation and groundwater are important components of the ecological environment of oases in desert hinterlands and their relationship is crucial to ecosystem stability. In this study, Sentinel-2 data for 2016–2022 and measured groundwater burial depths were analysed for the Dariyabui Oasis in the hinterland of the Taklamakan Desert. The spatial and temporal changes in vegetation and groundwater burial depth from 2019 to 2022 were analysed based on the image–element dichotomous model of the normalised difference vegetation index, utilising the inverse distance weight interpolation method, cubic curve regression, image–element difference, slope trend analysis, and the Markov transfer matrix for determining the temporal and spatial response law between the two. Finally, the threshold value of groundwater burial depth for different vegetation cover types was clarified. The fractional vegetation cover of the Dariyabui Oasis showed a slight increase from 2016 to 2022. Vegetation in the northwest and southeast of the oasis increased, whereas vegetation decreased in the mid-north and northeast regions; 5.14% of the total area experienced increased coverage, whereas 3.35% experienced decreased coverage. The depth of groundwater in the oasis showed a pattern of gradual increase from the entrance to the end of the oasis, that is, south to north. The depth of groundwater in the oasis from 2019 to 2022 was stable, with a 4-year average depth of 4.1069 m and a maximum fluctuation of 0.4560 m. The interannual changes in the groundwater level showed an increasing trend in January–April, while groundwater levels showed a decreasing trend in May–July and August–October and remained constant in June–July and October–December. Oasis vegetation cover showed a negative correlation with groundwater depth, with a depth interval for the highest low-cover vegetation distribution of 3–6 m, and an ultimate depth threshold of 7 m. The depth interval with the highest medium-cover vegetation distribution was 3–4 m, that with the highest high-cover distribution was 2–4 m, and the ultimate depth threshold was 6 m. The depth of the oasis ranged from 3 to 6 m and the ultimate depth threshold was 7 m.
The Protection of Urban Spatial Structures in Historic Cities: A Multi-Actor Perspective of the Cultural Space Construction in Fuzhou, China
Authors: Huang Longying , Liu Shuhu , Kang Zhen
Published: December 2023

Currently, the role of culture in urban competitiveness is becoming increasingly important. How historic cities identify and protect the spatial structures formed since ancient times, which are the carriers of urban culture, has become an important issue. Fuzhou was awarded the first Global Sustainable Development City in 2023, indicating that it has a set of sustainable models that can be promoted in various aspects, including cultural sustainable development models. As a traditional way to show the spirit of cities, cultural spaces in Fuzhou have existed for 2200 years, which helps us to conduct systematic research. This study explores the role of multiple actors in the preservation and development of urban cultural spaces, using Fuzhou, China, as a case study. Employing historical atlas translation to extract lists and locations of cultural spaces, and GIS technology to display spatial patterns, our research reveals distinctive spatial distribution characteristics of various cultural spaces and the urban structure shaped by diverse stakeholders’ needs. Our findings illustrate the background and distribution pattern of cultural space construction by multi-actors in different periods, offering references for maintaining contemporary urban spatial structure and insights into the sustainable preservation of urban cultural heritage.
The Impacts of Health Decentralization on Equity, Efficiency, and Effectiveness: A Scoping Review
Authors: Oliveira Rafaela , Santinha Gonçalo , Sá Marques Teresa
Published: December 2023

Decentralization is considered an important component of participatory democracy. However, despite its widespread implementation in the healthcare sector, its impact on health systems’ performance remains unclear. Using a theoretical framework based on the World Health Organization’s five decentralization variables—geography and sociodemographics, organization of political processes, functions and economic weight, steering, and control—we conducted a scoping review to unveil causal mechanisms linking each feature to equity, efficiency, and effectiveness. Following the PRISMA protocol, 1627 articles were screened, and 63 were selected for data analysis, with a focus on middle- and high-income countries. The findings show that the most frequently discussed forms of decentralization are fiscal and administrative, with a primary focus on how governance mechanisms affect equity and efficiency. The effects of decentralized healthcare governance on equity, efficiency, and effectiveness are diverse and contingent on contextual factors and the implementation processes. The spatial context (geography) of decentralization negatively impacts equity, and steering strongly affects effectiveness. Functions and economic weight significantly influence efficiency, albeit with variability. Overall, decentralization falls short of delivering substantial healthcare system benefits, although this depends on contextual factors.
Structural Basis for the Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro D48N Mutant by Shikonin and PF-07321332
Authors: Zhao Zhenyu , Zhu Qinyao , Zhou Xuelan , Li Wenwen , Yin Xiushan , Li Jian
Published: December 2023

Preventing the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants is crucial in the fight against COVID-19. Inhibition of the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 is the key to disrupting viral replication, making Mpro a promising target for therapy. PF-07321332 and shikonin have been identified as effective broad-spectrum inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. The crystal structures of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro bound to PF-07321332 and shikonin have been resolved in previous studies. However, the exact mechanism regarding how SARS-CoV-2 Mpro mutants impact their binding modes largely remains to be investigated. In this study, we expressed a SARS-CoV-2 Mpro mutant, carrying the D48N substitution, representing a class of mutations located near the active sites of Mpro. The crystal structures of Mpro D48N in complex with PF-07321332 and shikonin were solved. A detailed analysis of the interactions between Mpro D48N and two inhibitors provides key insights into the binding pattern and its structural determinants. Further, the binding patterns of the two inhibitors to Mpro D48N mutant and wild-type Mpro were compared in detail. This study illustrates the possible conformational changes when the Mpro D48N mutant is bound to inhibitors. Structural insights derived from this study will inform the development of new drugs against novel coronaviruses.
Reclassification of ASFV into 7 Biotypes Using Unsupervised Machine Learning
Authors: Dinhobl Mark , Spinard Edward , Tesler Nicolas , Birtley Hillary , Signore Anthony , Ambagala Aruna , Masembe Charles , Borca Manuel V. , Gladue Douglas P.
Published: December 2023

In 2007, an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), a deadly disease of domestic swine and wild boar caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV), occurred in Georgia and has since spread globally. Historically, ASFV was classified into 25 different genotypes. However, a newly proposed system recategorized all ASFV isolates into 6 genotypes exclusively using the predicted protein sequences of p72. However, ASFV has a large genome that encodes between 150–200 genes, and classifications using a single gene are insufficient and misleading, as strains encoding an identical p72 often have significant mutations in other areas of the genome. We present here a new classification of ASFV based on comparisons performed considering the entire encoded proteome. A curated database consisting of the protein sequences predicted to be encoded by 220 reannotated ASFV genomes was analyzed for similarity between homologous protein sequences. Weights were applied to the protein identity matrices and averaged to generate a genome-genome identity matrix that was then analyzed by an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, DBSCAN, to separate the genomes into distinct clusters. We conclude that all available ASFV genomes can be classified into 7 distinct biotypes.
The Interaction between the DOCK7 Protein and the E2 Protein of Classical Swine Fever Virus Is Not Involved with Viral Replication or Pathogenicity
Authors: Vuono Elizabeth , Ramirez-Medina Elizabeth , Silva Ediane , Berggren Keith , Rai Ayushi , Espinoza Nallely , Borca Manuel V. , Gladue Douglas P.
Published: December 2023

The classical swine fever virus (CSFV) particle consists of three glycoproteins, all of which have been shown to be important proteins involved in many virus functions, including interaction with several host proteins. One of these proteins, E2, has been shown to be directly involved with adsorption to the host cell and important for virus virulence. Using the yeast two-hybrid system, we have previously shown that CSFV E2 specifically interacts with the (DOCK7) dedicator of cytokinesis, a scaffolding protein. In this report, the interaction between E2 and DOCK7 was evaluated. To confirm the yeast two-hybrid results and to determine that DOCK7 interacts in swine cells with E2, we performed co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay (PLA). After demonstrating the protein interaction in swine cells, E2 amino acid residues Y65, V283, and T149 were determined to be critical for interaction with Dock7 by using a random mutated library of E2 and a reverse yeast two-hybrid approach. That disruption of these three residues with mutations Y65F, V283D, and T149A abrogated the Dock7-E2 protein interaction. These mutations were then introduced into a recombinant CSFV, E2DOCK7v, by a reverse genomics approach using the highly virulent CSFV Brescia isolate as a backbone. E2DOCKv was shown to have similar growth kinetics in swine primary macrophages and SK6 cell cultures to the parental Brescia strain. Similarly, E2DOCK7v demonstrated a similar level of virulence to the parental Brescia when inoculated in domestic pigs. Animals intranasally inoculated with 105 TCID50 developed a lethal form of clinical disease with virological and hematological kinetics changes indistinguishable from that produced by the parental strain. Therefore, interaction between CSFV E2 and host DOCK7 is not critically involved in the process of virus replication and disease production.
CSF Extracellular Vesicle Aβ42 and Tau/Aβ42 Ratio Are Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Older People with HIV
Authors: Guha Debjani , Misra Vikas , Chettimada Sukrutha , Yin Jun , Gabuzda Dana
Published: December 2023

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) remain prevalent despite viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Older people with HIV (PWH) are also at risk for amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). β-amyloid (Aβ) and Tau biomarkers are associated with aMCI/AD, but their relationship to HAND is unclear. Given the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in age-related neurological disorders, we investigated soluble and EV-associated Aβ42, total Tau, NFL, GFAP, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and CRP in relation to cognitive impairment in PWH. Plasma and CSF EVs were isolated from 184 participants (98 PWH on ART and 86 HIV− controls). Biomarkers were measured using Meso Scale Discovery assays. The median age of PWH was 53 years, and 52% were diagnosed with mild forms of HAND. PWH had increased plasma NFL (p = 0.04) and CSF Aβ42 (p = 0.0003) compared with HIV− controls but no significant difference in Tau or EV-associated forms of these markers. CSF EV Aβ42 was decreased (p = 0.0002) and CSF EV Tau/Aβ42 ratio was increased (p = 0.001) in PWH with HAND vs. no HAND, while soluble forms of these markers showed no significant differences. Decreased CSF EV Aβ42 (p < 0.0001) and an increased CSF EV Tau/Aβ42 ratio (p = 0.0003) were associated with lower neurocognitive T scores in age-adjusted models; an optimal model included both CSF EV Aβ42 and plasma NFL. Levels of soluble, but not EV-associated, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and CRP were increased in PWH with HAND vs. no HAND (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that decreased Aβ42 and an increased Tau/Aβ42 ratio in CSF EVs are associated with cognitive impairment in older PWH, and these EV-associated biomarkers may help to distinguish aMCI/AD from HIV-related cognitive disorders in future studies.
The Immuno-Suppressive Effects of Cyclic, Environmental Heat Stress in Broiler Chickens: Local and Systemic Inflammatory Responses to an Intradermal Injection of Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Rocchi Alessandro J. , Santamaria Jossie M. , Beck Chrysta N. , Sales Marites A. , Hargis Billy M. , Tellez-Isaias Guillermo , Erf Gisela F.
Published: December 2023

To assess effects of environmental heat stress (HS) on the local and systemic inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), broilers were reared under thermoneutral (TN) or cyclic HS conditions. Thermoneutral temperatures followed commercial production settings, with HS broilers exposed to 35 °C for 14 h/day from 4 days onward. At 37 days, HS- and TN-broilers were assigned to either LPS (100 μg/mL) or endotoxin-free phosphate-buffered saline (PBS; vehicle) treatments, eight each to HS- and TN-LPS, four each to HS- and TN-PBS. Treatments were administered by intradermal injection of growing feather (GF) pulps; 10 μL/GF; 12 GF/broiler. Blood and GF were collected before and at 6 and 24 h post-injection to assess leukocyte population changes in GF-pulps and blood, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cytokine expression in GF-pulps, and plasma concentrations of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP-1). HS-LPS broilers had lower (p ≤ 0.05) infiltration of heterophils and macrophages, ROS generation, and inflammatory cytokine expression in GF-pulps, and lacked the increases in heterophil, monocyte, and plasma AGP-1 concentrations observed in TN-LPS broilers. HS-broilers had similar or greater drops in blood lymphocytes 6 h post-LPS or -PBS injection, respectively, and lower baseline levels (p ≤ 0.05) of circulating T- and B-lymphocytes than TN-broilers. Results indicated that cyclic HS reduced the local and systemic acute inflammatory responses to LPS in broilers, likely impairing their innate defense against microbial infection.
Spatiotemporal Evaluation of Water Resource Vulnerability in Four River Basins of Henan Province, China
Authors: Tian Zhihui , Zhang Ruoyi , Wu Lili , Wang Yongji , Yang Jinjin , Cao Di
Published: December 2023

Climate change, population growth, and socio-economic transformations present multifaceted challenges to the water resource systems in the four major river basins of Henan Province. Consequently, to gain a comprehensive understanding of water security within the study area, a quantitative assessment of water resource vulnerability (WRV) is imperative. In this investigation, the vulnerability scoping diagram (VSD) model serves as the analytical framework, subdividing vulnerability into three critical subsystems: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Utilizing a comprehensive evaluation index system, this study assesses WRV in Henan Province’s four primary watersheds. Temporal variations and spatial patterns of WRV from 2000 to 2020 are systematically examined through the standard deviational ellipse (SDE) and GeoDetector methods. The findings indicate that vulnerability within these river basins is shaped by the interactions among exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Moreover, exposure and sensitivity are found to be more influential than adaptive capacity. Although there are indications of future improvements in the system’s resilience against water resource vulnerability, the overarching scenario remains precarious, particularly within the Hai and Yellow River basins. Considering the diverse characteristics of the watershed, it is recommended that adaptive management strategies be implemented. This study enhances the understanding of WRV dynamics in Henan Province, thereby aiding more effective decision making in sustainable water resource management.
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change and Water Extraction on Thermal Stratification and Water Quality of a Subtropical Lake Using the GLM-AED Model
Authors: Deng Chao , Zhang Hong , Hamilton David P.
Published: December 2023

This study combined a catchment model and one-dimensional lake model (GLM-AED) to simulate the response of hydrodynamics and water quality of subtropical Advancetown Lake (South-East Queensland, Australia) to future changing climates from 2040 to 2069 and 2070 to 2099 under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 and 8.5 and increased water demand from a 50% increase in population over current levels. The simulation adequately reproduced water temperature (RMSE of 0.6 °C), dissolved oxygen (DO) (RMSE of 2 mg/L), and other water quality variables, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a). Warming temperatures dominated the change in thermal structure and hydrodynamic status of the lake under future climate change conditions. Projected changes in precipitation and hydrological response from the upstream catchment might, however, partly offset the warming temperatures under future climate change. Increased water withdrawal due to population growth, which involved water extraction from the epilimnion, showed antagonistic effects on water stability compared to those from climate change. Under a high emission scenario of RCP8.5 during the 2080s, there is an increased likelihood of winter turnover failure in Advancetown Lake. Nutrient concentrations were simulated to decrease from reduced catchment loads under future climate change conditions. However, Chl-a concentrations were simulated to increase, especially during the period after winter turnover, under these future conditions. The depth of the hypoxia front during stratification is expected to decrease and move towards the water surface, attributable to the warming water temperatures and prolonged thermal stratification, which might affect biogeochemical processes and exchange fluxes between the hypolimnion and bottom sediments. These potential changes may present challenges for water resource management under future conditions of climate change and population growth.
Towards Groundwater-Level Prediction Using Prophet Forecasting Method by Exploiting a High-Resolution Hydrogeological Monitoring System
Authors: Fronzi Davide , Narang Gagan , Galdelli Alessandro , Pepi Alessandro , Mancini Adriano , Tazioli Alberto
Published: December 2023

Forecasting of water availability has become of increasing interest in recent decades, especially due to growing human pressure and climate change, affecting groundwater resources towards a perceivable depletion. Numerous research papers developed at various spatial scales successfully investigated daily or seasonal groundwater level prediction starting from measured meteorological data (i.e., precipitation and temperature) and observed groundwater levels, by exploiting data-driven approaches. Barely a few research combine the meteorological variables and groundwater level data with unsaturated zone monitored variables (i.e., soil water content, soil temperature, and bulk electric conductivity), and—in most of these—the vadose zone is monitored only at a single depth. Our approach exploits a high spatial-temporal resolution hydrogeological monitoring system developed in the Conero Mt. Regional Park (central Italy) to predict groundwater level trends of a shallow aquifer exploited for drinking purposes. The field equipment consists of a thermo-pluviometric station, three volumetric water content, electric conductivity, and soil temperature probes in the vadose zone at 0.6 m, 0.9 m, and 1.7 m, respectively, and a piezometer instrumented with a permanent water-level probe. The monitored period started in January 2022, and the variables were recorded every fifteen minutes for more than one hydrologic year, except the groundwater level which was recorded on a daily scale. The developed model consists of three “virtual boxes” (i.e., atmosphere, unsaturated zone, and saturated zone) for which the hydrological variables characterizing each box were integrated into a time series forecasting model based on Prophet developed in the Python environment. Each measured parameter was tested for its influence on groundwater level prediction. The model was fine-tuned to an acceptable prediction (roughly 20% ahead of the monitored period). The quantitative analysis reveals that optimal results are achieved by expoiting the hydrological variables collected in the vadose zone at a depth of 1.7 m below ground level, with a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.189, a Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of 0.062, a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 0.244, and a Correlation coefficient of 0.923. This study stresses the importance of calibrating groundwater level prediction methods by exploring the hydrologic variables of the vadose zone in conjunction with those of the saturated zone and meteorological data, thus emphasizing the role of hydrologic time series forecasting as a challenging but vital aspect of optimizing groundwater management.
Complementary Approaches to Planning a Restored Coastal Wetland and Assessing the Role of Agriculture and Biodiversity: An Applied Case Study in Southern Italy
Authors: Cammerino Anna Rita Bernadette , Ingaramo Michela , Monteleone Massimo
Published: December 2023

The European Parliament has recently passed the “Nature Recovery” law to restore degraded ecosystems and prevent natural disasters as part of its “Biodiversity Strategy 2030” and “Green Deal”. In this respect, wetlands can provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, hydrological land protection, provision of products, cultural and recreational benefits, and many others. However, they are still threatened by the expansion of agricultural land, overexploitation of water resources, water pollution, climate change, etc. Wetland conservation, however, is essential and requires coordinated action by managers, policymakers, stakeholders, and scientists. A systemic planning and design process is required to address these complex challenges. This research aims to outline an integrated, comprehensive, and well-structured planning framework for wetland systems that can be applied to different wetland types, in line with institutional wetland policy, governance, and management. The methodological approach developed in this study aims to integrate a longer-term strategy plan with a shorter-term action plan by combining the Yeomans scale of permanence and the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response model. This innovative approach was applied to a specific case study and may guide further wetland planning in the future. The Nominal Group Technique was used, a consensus method aimed at achieving a general agreement and convergence of opinion. An expert group of seven members with different technical backgrounds was engaged and expert consultation was found to be a simple and rapid technique for carrying out wetland planning. The expert judgements were sound, consistent, and did not overlap (i.e., were not redundant). “Pressures” and “Impacts” were identified by the experts and clustered according to corresponding “States” and “Drivers”. Expert scoring allowed the resulting “Responses” to be ranked in terms of their relevance and influence on the development of the wetland strategy and action plan, while a priority order for their implementation was assessed according to the Yeomans scale of permanence. Agriculture was the highest rated ‘Driver’; similarly, Biodiversity (habitats and species) was the ‘State’ with the highest score. Therefore, their combination (agriculture and biodiversity) should be considered as the strategic cornerstone of the whole planning framework. This means designing and implementing a system in which agriculture and nature (in our case a wetland) are allied ecological systems in mutual compensation, according to the way natural elements are embedded in the agricultural system. A collection of factsheets containing the full list of responses considered in the Wetlands Action Plan, with detailed operational actions, is provided in the Appendixes.
A Framework for Operational Management of Urban Water Systems to Improve Resilience
Authors: Cardoso-Gonçalves Jorge , Tentúgal-Valente José
Published: December 2023

Optimizing the management of hydraulic infrastructures that support water supply, wastewater, and stormwater drainage can increase the efficiency of these systems. A framework for operational management of urban water systems allows for robust management, which contributes to the system’s overall resilience. A methodology has been structured to support the decision-making process of managing entities. The methodology for the operational management of hydraulic infrastructures incorporates concepts of asset management, risk management, and technical management. It is organized into three operational areas (assessment, operation, and intervention) and aims to increase the efficiency of managing entities. Two cases were used to implement the aforementioned methodology—the Arouca Water Supply System (SAA-Arouca) and the Trofa Wastewater Drainage System (SAR-Trofa), both under the responsibility of Águas do Norte, S.A. In SAA-Arouca. There was a particularly significant reduction in the system input volume (purchased the first level) and the number of pipe busts observed in the subsequent period after the implementation of the methodology. Regarding the SAR-Trofa, the application of the methodology focused particularly on improper inflows (rainwater and others). The proposals for this system mainly aim at reducing the volumes collected by the drainage networks (in low-level infrastructures) and delivering them to different high-level infrastructures.
Numerical Simulation of Cavitation Bubble Collapse inside an Inclined V-Shape Corner by Thermal Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Li Yu , Ouyang Jingyi , Peng Yong , Liu Yang
Published: December 2023

Cavitation happening inside an inclined V-shaped corner is a common and important phenomenon in practical engineering. In the present study, the lattice Boltzmann models coupling velocity and temperature fields are adopted to investigate this complex collapse process. Based on a series of simulations, the fields of density, pressure, velocity and temperature are obtained simultaneously. Overall, the simulation results agree with the experiments, and they prove that the coupled lattice Boltzmann models are effective to study cavitation bubble collapse. It was found that the maximum temperature of bubble collapse increases approximately linearly with the rise of the distance between the single bubble center and the corner. Meanwhile, the velocity of the micro-jet increases and the pressure peak at the corner decreases correspondingly. Moreover, the effect of angle of the V-shaped wall on the collapse process of bubbles is similar to the effect of distance between the single bubble center and the corner. Moreover, with the increase in bubble radius, the maximum temperature of bubble collapse increases proportionally, the starting and ending of the micro-jet are delayed and the pressure peak at the corner becomes larger and also is delayed. In the double bubble collapse, the effect of distance between two bubble centers on the collapse process of bubbles is discussed in detail. Based on the present study, appropriate measures can be proposed to prevent or utilize cavitation in practical engineering.
A Method for Estimating the Hydrodynamic Values of Anastomosing Rivers: The Expression of Channel Morphological Parameters
Authors: Wang Suiji
Published: December 2023

An anastomosing river is a stable multiple-channel system separated by inter-channel wetlands, and there are serious difficulties in observing the hydrodynamics of such river patterns in situ. Therefore, there are few reports on the hydrodynamic data of such rivers, for example, the upper Columbia and Pearl Rivers. In order to obtain the hydrodynamic parameter values at flow cross-sections of anastomosing rivers, without having to observe hydraulic radius, this study proposes a method called the Expression of Channel Morphological Parameters (ECMP) for hydrodynamic estimation. The calculation formula of the ECMP method is based on the shape factor (width–depth ratio), scale factor (mean depth), and gradient factor of the channel cross-sections of anastomosing rivers below a given water level as independent variables. This method can be used to calculate the mean velocity, discharge, specific stream power, and gross stream power of the flow cross-section at different water levels, only requiring the measurements of channel morphological parameters such as the mean depth, width–depth ratio, and gradient at the channel cross-section below the corresponding water level. The applicability of the ECMP method was verified using measured hydrological data. The results showed that the ECMP method is a practical estimation method with higher accuracy that is convenient for calculating the hydrodynamic parameters of anastomosing rivers. It can also be used to reconstruct ancient anastomosing rivers using the channel morphological parameters revealed from the fill sediments in ancient channels.
Hydrology as a Determinant of Riparian Habitat Structure in Lowland River Floodplains
Authors: Burandt Paweł , Grzybowski Mirosław , Glińska-Lewczuk Katarzyna , Gotkiewicz Wojciech , Szymańska-Walkiewicz Monika , Obolewski Krystian
Published: December 2023

The objective of the study was to determine the relationship between the structure of phytocenoses in riparian wetland ecosystems and the hydrologic regime in a lowland river floodplain. The hydrobotanical study was conducted over three years—2017, 2018, and 2019—which differed in hydrological conditions (wet, average, and dry) in a middle section of the Supraśl floodplain (NE Poland) as a case study. The results showed that the structure and pattern of phytocenoses in the floodplain are primarily controlled by the hydrological regime of the river and the geomorphological features of the area. The reach and duration of the flood contributed to a specific pattern of riparian vegetation. Based on the plant community structure and riparian habitat indicators such as soil moisture, fertility, reaction pH, soil granulometry, and organic matter content, four habitat types were identified and supported by linear discriminant analysis (LDA): wet, semi-wet, semi-dry, and dry zones. The indicator species analysis (ISA) revealed species characteristic of the zones with the dominance of reed rush, reed canary grass, anthropogenic or partially natural herbaceous communities along watercourses or riparian meadows, respectively. Natural inundation of the river water is an important driver of site-specific vegetation elements and habitat types and determines habitat availability, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions of wetlands. This knowledge can serve as the basis for conservation efforts, sustainable management practices, and decision-making processes aimed at maintaining the biodiversity and ecological integrity of riparian ecosystems in similar regions.
Bayesian Optimization for Contamination Source Identification in Water Distribution Networks
Authors: Alnajim Khalid , Abokifa Ahmed A.
Published: December 2023

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to the development of computational algorithms for identifying contamination sources in water distribution systems (WDSs). Previous studies have extensively relied on evolutionary optimization techniques, which require the simulation of numerous contamination scenarios in order to solve the inverse-modeling contamination source identification (CSI) problem. This study presents a novel framework for CSI in WDSs using Bayesian optimization (BO) techniques. By constructing an explicit acquisition function to balance exploration with exploitation, BO requires only a few evaluations of the objective function to converge to near-optimal solutions, enabling CSI in real-time. The presented framework couples BO with EPANET to reveal the most likely contaminant injection/intrusion scenarios by minimizing the error between simulated and measured concentrations at a given number of water quality monitoring locations. The framework was tested on two benchmark WDSs under different contamination injection scenarios, and the algorithm successfully revealed the characteristics of the contamination source(s), i.e., the location, pattern, and concentration, for all scenarios. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate the performance of the framework using various BO techniques, including two different surrogate models, Gaussian Processes (GPs) and Random Forest (RF), and three different acquisition functions, namely expected improvement (EI), probability of improvement (PI), and upper confident bound (UCB). The results revealed that BO with the RF surrogate model and UCB acquisition function produced the most efficient and reliable CSI performance.
Hydrochemical and Isotopic Characteristics and the Spatiotemporal Differences of Surface Water and Groundwater in the Qaidam Basin, China
Authors: Yang Haijiao , Wei Jiahua , Shi Kaifang
Published: December 2023

In the context of climate change, precipitation and runoff in the arid inland basins of northwest China have undergone significant changes. The Qaidam Basin (QB) is a typical highland arid inland area. Understanding the spatial and temporal variations in surface water and groundwater chemistry and isotopes, as well as their causes, is crucial for future water resource management and ecological protection. Samples of river, lake, and groundwater, as well as others, were collected and tested in five typical watersheds in the summer and winter. The hydrochemistry and isotopic spatiotemporal differences in various water bodies were studied using the significant difference method, water vapor flux models, hydrochemistry, isotopes, and other methods for cause analyses. The results indicate the following: (1) There are differences in hydrochemistry between the southern and northern basins because the southern basin is more influenced by the dissolution of salt rocks and evaporation, whereas the northern basin is mainly affected by carbonate weathering. (2) The enrichment of δD and δ18O in the northern basin gradually increases from west to east, while in the southern basin, it is the opposite. This is because the southern basin receives a larger contribution of water vapor from the mid-latitude westerlies, while the northern basin primarily relies on local evaporation as its water vapor source. (3) Significant differences are observed in the total dissolved solids (TDS) and hydrochemical types of river water and groundwater between the summer and winter due to higher rates of rock weathering and evaporation in the summer. (4) The more pronounced seasonal differences in hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes in the southern basin are due to higher rates of internal water vapor circulation in the summer. (5) The similarity in characteristics between river water and groundwater is the result of strong exchanges between river water and groundwater from piedmonts to terminals. The spatiotemporal heterogeneity of terminal lakes is attributed to the accumulation of salts and groundwater replenishment from other sources.
Efektivitas Konseling Kelompok Teknik Miracle Question untuk Mengurangi Prokrastinasi Akademik Siswa
Authors: Rahman Fauzi , Rosada Ulfa Danni
Published: December 2023

Prokrastinasi akademik merupakan suatu perilaku seseorang dalam melakukan penundaan pekerjaan akademiknya dilakukan dengan penuh kesadaran secara berulang-ulang dengan berbagi alasan penundaan.  Prokrastinasi akademik jika sudah terjadi dimasa remaja, kemungkinan pada saat menginjak jenjang Pendidikan yang lebih tinggi, tingkat prokrastinasi akademiknya akan meningkat, sehingga perlunya diberikan tindakan untuk dapat mereduksi perilaku prokrastinasi akademik dengan layanan konseling kelompok teknik miracle question. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keefektifan layanan konseling kelompok untuk mereduksi prokrastinasi akademik siswa di MTsN 4 Bantul. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif, metode menggunakan penelitian eksperimen, dengan jenis pre experimental design dengan model one group pretest dan posttest design. Penentu subjek menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dengan melakukan penyebaran kepada kelas VIII, Teknik pengumpulan data skala likert. Berdasarkan hasil perbandingan menunjukan bahwa nilai ttabel (2.446) < thitung (7.530) yang mempunyai arti Ha diterima dan Ho ditolak yang berarti konseling kelompok dengan menggunakan teknik miracle question efektif dalam mereduksi prokrastinasi akademik siswa.
Intensitas Bermain Game Online Terhadap Perilaku Prososial Siswa
Authors: Rufaidah Anna , Renata Dian , Utami Sri , Nisa Afiatin , Satrianta Hengki , Dachmiati Sabrina
Published: December 2023

Prosocial behavior was expected to grow and develop in students. In fact there were still students who have not been able to develop prosocial behavior due to many factors, one of which is the effect of the intensity of playing online games. This study aims to determine the contribution of the intensity of playing online games to students' prosocial behavior. This research uses a quantitative approach with the type of ex-post facto. The population in this study were all students of SMP Negeri 137 Jakarta with a total of 230 students. Samples were drawn randomly which were estimated using the Slovin formula with an error degree of 5% so that the number of samples was known to be 147 students. Data was collected through the technique of playing online game intensity scales and prosocial behavior. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. The research results show that: a. the intensity of playing online games is in the medium category, b. prosocial behavior in the low category, and c. the intensity of playing online games has a significant effect on students' prosocial behavior.
Pengembangan E-Modul Bimbingan Kesehatan Reproduksi untuk Mencegah Seks Bebas Di SMK Negeri 3 Makassar
Authors: Nahumarury Marwah
Published: December 2023

Development of reproductive healt guidance e modul to prevent free sex at SMK Negeri 3 Makassar. This study aims to describe the needs, produce prototypes, and to determine the validity and practicality of developing reproductive health guidance e-modules to prevent free sex at SMK Negeri 3 Makassar. This type of research is research and development. The research instruments used in this study were interviews and questionnaires consisting of validation questionnaires and trial questionnaires. The data analysis technique is quantitative descriptive analysis. The results showed that in accordance with the conditions at SMK Negeri 3 Makassar, it is necessary to procure reproductive health guidance e-modules to prevent free sex, because this e-module is able to provide convenience and fluency in the guidance and counseling process and is able to be used practically in the process of providing services reproductive health guidance.
Penerapan Teknik Token Ekonomi Untuk Mengurangi Perilaku Agresif Siswa di SMA Cokroaminoto Tamalanrea Makassar
Authors: Ibrahim Herdiyanti
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this study was to find out 1) a description of the aggressi behavior of students at SMA Cokroaminoto Tamalanrea Makassar 2) an overview of the implementation of token economy counseling to reduce student aggression behavior at SMA Cokroaminoto Tamalanrea Makassar 3) The token economy technique reduces the aggressive behavior of students at SMA Cokroaminoto Tamalanrea Makassar. This study used quantitative research with a single subject experimental research type. The subjects of this study were 2 students, who were determined by the target behavior which was measured continuously. Data analysis in this study used descriptive analysis and visual analysis. The results of this study indicate that the level of aggressive behavior of BL and S students before being given treatment is in the high category and after being given treatment is in the low category. 2) The application of economic token strategies for students encompasses a total of seven phases. 3) Implementing the token economy method has the potential to decrease the hostile conduct exhibited by students enrolled at SMA Cokroaminoto Tamalanrea Makassar.

 

Keywords: Token Economy: Aggressive Behavior
Pengembangan E-modul sebagai sarana informasi Perencanaan Karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar
Authors: Agustina Anugrah
Published: December 2023

Penelitian ini mengembangkan E-Modul Sebagai Layanan Informasi Perencanaan Karier Siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar. Masalah dalam penelitian ini adalah: (1) Bagaimana gambaran kebutuhan e-modul untuk meningkatkan perencanaan karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar? (2) Bagaimana prototipe e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar? (3) Bagaimana tingkat validitas e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar? (4) Bagaimana tingkat kepraktisan e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar? Tujuan Penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui : (1) Mengetahui gambaran kebutuhan e-modul di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir. (2) Mengetahui prototipe e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir  siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar. (3) Mengetahui validitas e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir  siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar. (4) Mengetahui kepraktisan e-modul untuk meningkatkan kemampuan perencanaan karir siswa di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode Research and Development (RnD) dengan model pengembangan Borg dan Gall yang dimodifikasi oleh peneliti. Subyek penelitian ini adalah subyek pada analisis kebutuhan, subyek pada uji validitas dan subyek pada uji kepraktisan. Jenis instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah data analisis kebutuhan, data validitas, dan data kepraktisan. Teknik analisis data yang digunakan adalah analisis angket kebutuhan, analisis angket validitas, dan analisis angket kepraktisan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa E-modul perencanaan karir yang dikembangkan telah valid dan praktis untuk digunakan dalam pemberian layanan bimbingan dan konseling di UPT SPF SMPN 49 Makassar, berdasarkan uji akseptabilitas yang meliputi kegunaan, kelayakan dan ketepatan.
XAI-PDF: A Robust Framework for Malicious PDF Detection Leveraging SHAP-Based Feature Engineering
Authors: Al-Fayoumi Mustafa , Abu Al-Haija Qasem , Armoush Rakan , Amareen Christine
Published: December 2023

With the increasing number of malicious PDF files used for cyberattacks, it is essential to develop efficient and accurate classifiers to detect and prevent these threats. Machine Learning (ML) models have successfully detected malicious PDF files. This paper presents XAI-PDF, an efficient system for malicious PDF detection designed to enhance accuracy and minimize decision-making time on a modern dataset, the Evasive-PDFMal2022 dataset. The proposed method optimizes malicious PDF classifier performance by employing feature engineering guided by Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP). Particularly, the model development approach comprises four phases: data preparation, model building, explainability of the models, and derived features. Utilizing the interpretability of SHAP values, crucial features are identified, and new ones are generated, resulting in an improved classification model that showcases the effectiveness of interpretable AI techniques in enhancing model performance. Various interpretable ML models were implemented, with the Lightweight Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) outperforming other classifiers. The Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) global surrogate model generated explanations for LGBM predictions. Experimental comparisons of XAI-PDF with baseline methods revealed its superiority in achieving higher accuracy, precision, and F1-scores with minimal False Positive (FP) and False Negative (FN) rates (99.9%, 100%, 99.89%,0.000, and 0.002, respectively). Additionally, XAI-PDF requires only 1.36 milliseconds per record for predictions, demonstrating increased resilience in detecting evasive malicious PDF files compared to state-of-the-art methods
Intensifying Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland: Some Higher-Density Housing Outcomes After the Adoption of the Auckland Unitary Plan of 2016
Authors: Turner David
Published: December 2023

Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s housing paradigm has been in a process of transition since the 1990s, following a radical overhaul of planning legislation intended to address the city’s continuing growth. Also driven by the imperatives of sustainable urban planning, the city has subsequently adopted a series of resource management policy revisions each designed to intensify the city’s urban form by increasing permissible density of housing development. The Auckland Unitary Plan (AUP) is the most significant of these revisions. Since its adoption in 2016, the city has gained more than 50,000 housing units representing all the standard typologies ranging from detached houses to apartments in high-rise buildings. The AUP’s purpose is to increase housing supply by reducing regulations without reducing other goals relating to sustainability of urban form. However, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland continues to suffer from a housing shortage. This paper explores some of the data collected in a study of ninety higher-density developments within the Metropolitan Urban Limit completed under the AUP regulations. Its conclusions note the success of quantitative objectives of current policies while questioning other objectives, including the aim to supply affordable housing, and the aspirational proposition that the regulations proposed by the AUP will achieve high standards of design quality.
The Design of the Domain Winter Gardens
Authors: Moore Cameron
Published: December 2023

First constructed in 1916, the Winter Gardens in Auckland was William Gummer’s first public building in New Zealand. Listed as Category 1 by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and beloved by Aucklanders, the gardens remain under-researched in Aotearoa New Zealand’s architectural historiography. This paper aims to comprehensively analyse the Winter Gardens, exploring their historical context, architectural design, and the unique relationship between architecture and garden. This study sheds light on the distinctive architectural character of the Winter Gardens. The spatial organisation and layout between the indoor and outdoor spaces, the enclosure of space, and the structural system, materials and architectural elements that define this character can be understood by examining the architectural employed by William Gummer, learned during his time at London’s Royal Academy of Art and under the tutelage of Edwin Lutyens. This paper will also discuss the client’s motivations and the building’s construction history. This research aims to deepen our understanding of the architectural significance of the Winter Gardens in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.