bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Golden Ratio-Based Capital Structure on Firm’s Financial Performance
Authors: Amin Halkawt Ismail Mohammed , Cek Kemal
Published: May 2023

This study aims to apply the golden ratio to the capital structure of non-financial institutions in France and the United Kingdom to find the effect of the golden ratio’s deviation from the capital structure on financial performance. A golden ratio is an irrational number with an approximate value of 1.618. In this paper, the golden ratio was applied to develop the assumption that the firm should use debt at a percentage of 61.8% and equity at 38.2%, which deviates from the capital structure variables. The final study sample consisted of 150 non-financial institution firms from France and 200 from the U.K. between 2002 and 2021. In addition, the general method of movement (GMM) was chosen to estimate the effect of capital structure variables deviating from the golden ratio on firms’ financial performance. The study results show that when a firm uses equity at a percentage of 38.2% in its capital structure, it can have a positive and significant impact on its financial performance in both France and the U.K. However, the results show that the debt-to-equity ratio deviated from the golden ratio and had a negative and statistically significant effect on both countries’ TOBQ, EPS, ROA, and ROE. Moreover, the firms’ adoption of IFRS can positively and significantly impact financial performance in France and the UK. Generally, managers in France are encouraged to use 38.2% equity and 61.8% debt in their capital structure. However, managers in the U.K. should apply equity of 38.2% and debt of 61.8%, depending on the performance measurement demanded.
Wireless Secret Sharing Game for Internet of Things
Authors: Miao Lei , Jiang Dingde , Zhang Hongbo
Published: May 2023

In the era of Internet of Things (IoT), billions of small but smart wireless devices work together to make our cities more intelligent and sustainable. One challenge is that many IoT devices do not have human interfaces and are very difficult for humans to manage. This creates sustainability and security issues. Enabling automatic secret sharing across heterogeneous devices for cryptography purposes will provide the needed security and sustainability for the underlying IoT infrastructure. Therefore, wireless secret sharing is crucial to the success of smart cities. One secret sharing method is to utilize the effect of the randomness of the wireless channel in the data link layer to generate the common secret between legitimate users. This paper models this secret sharing mechanism from the perspective of game theory. In particular, we formulate a non-cooperative zero-sum game between the legitimate users (Alice and Bob) and an eavesdropper (Eve). Alice and Bob’s strategy is deciding how to exchange packets to protect the secret, and Eve’s strategy is choosing where to stay to better intercept the secret. In a symmetrical game where Eve has the same probability of successfully receiving a packet from Alice and Bob when the transmission distance is the same, we show that both pure and mixed strategy Nash equilibria exist. In an asymmetric game where Eve has different probabilities of successfully receiving a packet from Alice and Bob, a pure strategy may not exist; in this case, we show how a mixed strategy Nash equilibrium can be found. We run simulations to show that our results are better than other approaches.
Development of a Pilot Borehole Storage System of Solar Thermal Energy: Modeling, Design, and Installation
Authors: Tinti Francesco , Tassinari Patrizia , Rapti Dimitra , Benni Stefano
Published: May 2023

Borehole thermal energy storage systems represent a potential solution to increase the energy efficiency of renewable energy plants, but they generally have to comply with strict regulatory frameworks, mainly due to the deliberate modification of the subsoil’s natural state. This paper presents the design, testing, and monitoring phases carried out to set up a borehole thermal energy storage (BTES) system able to exploit the excess solar heat from photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collectors. The case study is the refurbishment of a pig nursery barn, hosting up to 2500 weaners, in Northern Italy. This study aims to define a BTES suitable to develop a heating system based on renewable energy, ensuring environmental protection and long-term sustainability. The retrofitting intervention includes the installation of a dual-source heat pump (DSHP), in order to recover the solar heat stored in summer during winter. Specific constraints by the Environmental Authority were as follows: maximum storage temperature of 35 °C, authorization to intercept the shallowest aquifer at a maximum depth of 30 m, obligation of BHE grouting, and the definition of a strategy for continuous measuring and monitoring of the groundwater’s thermophysical properties. The results were used as inputs to optimize the design and installation of the integrated system with PVT, BTES, and DSHP.
A Comprehensive Study of the Suitability of Urban Underground Spaces for Connection Development: A Case Study of the Erhai Lake Basin, China
Authors: Zhang Yangbin , Chen Yuhan , Jiang Fengshan , Deng Zhanting , Xie Zhiqiang , Zhang Yuning , Wen Ping
Published: May 2023

Urban underground space (UUS) involves multiple stakeholders whose concerns span the entire life cycle of underground space. The government pays more attention to the social benefits of UUS to the region, developers pay more attention to the economic benefits brought by the development of UUS, and users pay more attention to the comfort level of UUS operation. This study used the analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), government, developers, and users to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system of underground space development needs. Different from previous studies, considering the need for future connectivity development in the UUS circle, this paper proposes to comprehensively consider the impact of connectivity development on regional suitability through coupled AHP and cellular automata (CA). The results show that about 102.67 km2 (13.03%) underground area of Erhai Lake Basin is suitable for underground space development. Compared with the traditional evaluation method, the evaluation result of about 31.41 km2 (3.99%) area was improved, and the fragmentation problem between blocks was improved. This method is of great value to the comprehensive development of UUS in the Erhai Lake Basin and is helping to improve future underground space planning.
Women in the Hunt: A More Useful and Sustainable Hunt for Biodiversity?
Authors: Pérez-González Javier , Hidalgo-de-Trucios Sebastián J. , Sánchez-García Carlos , Rengifo Gallego Juan Ignacio
Published: May 2023

Recreational hunting can have positive consequences on biodiversity conservation, but in many countries the number of hunters is declining. This downward trend threatens the sustainability of an important human activity that can be used as a tool for wildlife management and biodiversity conservation. On the other hand, in developed countries there is an upward trend in the number of female hunters. In this study, we analyzed women and men’s hunting preferences in Spain, focusing our attention on the game species they were interested in. We found that female hunters were more interested than male hunters in hunting big game species. We discussed potential consequences of our results on the sustainability of hunting and biodiversity conservation.
Data Acquisition for Estimating Energy-Efficient Solar-Powered Sensor Node Performance for Usage in Industrial IoT
Authors: Dobrilovic Dalibor , Pekez Jasmina , Desnica Eleonora , Radovanovic Ljiljana , Palinkas Ivan , Mazalica Milica , Djordjević Luka , Mihajlovic Sinisa
Published: May 2023

In the era of rapid technological growth, we are facing increased energy consumption. The question of using renewable energy sources is also essential for the sustainability of wireless sensor networks and the Industrial Internet of Things, especially in scenarios where there is a need to deploy an extensive number of sensor nodes and smart devices in industrial environments. Because of that, this paper targets the problem of monitoring the operations of solar-powered wireless sensor nodes applicable for a variety of Industrial IoT environments, considering their required locations in outdoor scenarios and the efficient solar power harvesting effects. This paper proposes a distributed wireless sensor network system architecture based on open-source hardware and open-source software technologies to achieve that. The proposed architecture is designed for acquiring solar radiation data and other ambient parameters (solar panel and ambient temperature, light intensity, etc.). These data are collected primarily to define estimation techniques using nonlinear regression for predicting solar panel voltage outputs that can be used to achieve energy-efficient operations of solar-powered sensor nodes in outdoor Industrial IoT systems. Additionally, data can be used to analyze and monitor the influence of multiple ambient data on the efficiency of solar panels and, thus, powering sensor nodes. The architecture proposal considers the variety of required data and the transmission and storage of harvested data for further processing. The proposed architecture is implemented in the small-scale variants for evaluation and testing. The platform is further evaluated with the prototype sensor node for collecting solar panel voltage generation data with open-source hardware and low-cost components for designing such data acquisition nodes. The sensor node is evaluated in different scenarios with solar and artificial light conditions for the feasibility of the proposed architecture and justification of its usage. As a result of this research, the platform and the method for implementing estimation techniques for sensor nodes in various sensor and IoT networks, which helps to achieve edge intelligence, is established.
A Simplified Model of the HVDC Transmission System for Sub-Synchronous Oscillations
Authors: Wang Yanwen , Wu Lingjie , Chen Shaoyang
Published: May 2023

As the installed capacity of the power system is scaled up and the distance of transmission increases constantly, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission technology has been widely applied across the power system. The HVDC system can lead to sub-synchronous oscillations (SSO) in the turbine and new energy generation systems. When the SSO caused by HVDC are studied through small signal analysis, it is usually necessary to establish the detailed state space model and electromagnetic transient model, which shows various disadvantages such as the high complexity of the model, the high order of the state space matrix, the complex calculation of eigenvalues, and the slow pace of simulation. In the present study, a simplified model intended for the HVDC transmission system is proposed, which can be used to simplify the calculation model and accelerate the simulation by omitting the high-frequency component and simultaneously keeping the sub-synchronous frequency component unchanged. The time domain simulation method is used to compare the dynamic response of the proposed simplified simulation model with that of the original detailed model, and the accuracy of the proposed model is demonstrated. The proposed simplified simulation model is applied to explore the SSO of wind-thermal power bundling in the HVDC transmission system. Additionally, the simulation results of SSO are compared by using the simplified model and the detailed model; the results of which demonstrate the effectiveness and rapidity of the simplified simulation model. The simplified model proposed can greatly improve the efficiency of SSO risk assessment. By selecting reasonable types and parameters of new energy units, SSO of the system can be avoided under risky operation mode, and the power grid operation mode can be monitored and adjusted to ensure the safe operation of the system. Finally, it can promote the sustainable development of the power system.
A Novel Rectangular-Section Combined Beam of Welded Thin-Walled H-Shape Steel/Camphor Pine Wood: The Bending Performance Study
Authors: Wu Chang , Duan Junwei , Yang Ziheng , Zhao Zhijiang , Xu Yegong
Published: May 2023

At present, the development of green building materials is imminent. Traditional wood structures show low strength and are easy to crack. Steel structures are also prone to instability. A novel rectangular-section composite beam from the welded thin-walled H-shape steel/camphor pine was proposed in this work. The force deformation, section strain distribution law, and damage mechanism of the combined beam were studied to optimize the composite beam design, clarify the stress characteristics, present a more reasonable and more efficient cross-section design, and promote green and environmental protection techniques. Furthermore, the effect of different factors such as steel yield strength, H-type steel web thickness, H-type steel web height, H-type steel flange thickness, H-type steel upper flange covered-board thickness, and combined beam width was investigated. The ABAQUS simulation with the finite element software was also performed and was verified through empirical experiments. According to the results: (1) the damage process of the composite beam was divided into three steps, namely elastic stage, elastic–plastic step, and destruction stage, and the cross-middle section strain met the flat section assumption; (2) additionally, the bond connection was reliable, the two deformations were consistent, and the effect of the combination was significant. The study of the main factors showed that an increase in the yield strength, the H-type steel web height, the steel H-beam upper flange thickness, and the combined beam width caused a significant enhancement in the bending bearing capacity. The combined beam led to high bending stiffness, high bending bearing capacity, and good ductility under bending.
Reply to Arshad, R.; Jalil, M. Comment on “Nizam Chew, L.C.; Ismail, E.S. S-box Construction Based on Linear Fractional Transformation and Permutation Function. Symmetry 2020, 12, 826”
Authors: Nizam Chew Liyana Chew , Ismail Eddie Shahril
Published: May 2023

In this reply paper, we provide a response to the comment paper of a comment on “S-box Construction Based on Linear Fractional Transformation and Permutation Function” written by Razi Arshad and Mudassar Jalil [...]
Comparison of the Lifshitz Theory Using the Nonconventional Fit of Response Functions with Precise Measurements of the Casimir Force
Authors: Klimchitskaya Galina L. , Mostepanenko Vladimir M.
Published: May 2023

It is known that the fundamental Lifshitz theory, which is based on the first principles of thermal quantum field theory, experiences difficulties when compared with precise measurements of the Casimir force. We analyzed the nonconventional fit of the response functions of many materials along the imaginary frequency axis to the empirical model of “modified” oscillators, which was recently proposed in the literature. According to our results, this model is unacceptable because at high frequencies it leads to the asymptotic behavior of the response functions, which is in contradiction with that following from the fundamental physical principles. We calculated the Casimir interaction in the configurations of several precise experiments using the Lifshitz theory and the response functions to the quantized electromagnetic field expressed in terms of modified oscillators and demonstrated that the obtained results are excluded by the measurement data. This invalidated a claim made in the literature that the Casimir–van der Waals forces calculated using these response functions are in remarkable agreement with the experimental values. Possible reasons for a disagreement between experiment and theory are discussed, and the way to improve the situation is indicated.
Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in an M-Class Solar Flare
Authors: Xu Jun , Ning Zongjun , Li Dong , Shi Fanpeng
Published: May 2023

We have studied the quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) of the M2.3 flare that occurred in the active region NOAA 12172 on 23 September 2014. Through the fast Fourier transform (FFT) method, we decompose the flare light curves into fast- and slowly-varying components, and the cut-off threshold is 100 s. We find that the QPPs have a period of 40 s at soft X-ray (SXR), hard X-ray (HXR), radio and ultraviolet (UV). Based on the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we find that the QPPs take place at the same time interval as the flare ribbon separation, and that the QPPs seem to originate from the flare ribbons. Our observations tend to support the mechanism of the periodic nonthermal electron injection during the flare eruption.
Biological Activity of Optimized Codon Bovine Type III Interferon Expressed in Pichia pastoris
Authors: An Ran , Zhang Runxiang , Guo Yongli , Geng Jinfeng , Si Minglu , Wang Shuangfeng , Gao Mingchun , Wang Junwei
Published: May 2023

Type III interferons (IFN–λs) exhibit potent antiviral activity and immunomodulatory effects in specific cells. Nucleotide fragments of the bovine ifn–λ (boifn–λ) gene were synthetized after codon optimization. The boifn–λ gene was then amplified by splicing using overlap extension PCR (SOE PCR), resulting in the serendipitous acquisition of the mutated boIFN–λ3V18M. The recombinant plasmid pPICZαA–boIFN–λ3/λ3V18M was constructed, and the corresponding proteins were expressed in Pichia pastoris with a high–level extracellular soluble form. Dominant expression strains of boIFN–λ3/λ3V18M were selected by Western blot and ELISA and cultured on a large scale, and the recombinant proteins purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation and ion exchange chromatography yielded 1.5g/L and 0.3 g/L, with 85% and 92% purity, respectively. The antiviral activity of boIFN–λ3/λ3V18M exceeded 106 U/mg, and they were neutralized with IFN–λ3 polyclonal antibodies, were susceptible to trypsin, and retained stability within defined pH and temperature ranges. Furthermore, boIFN–λ3/λ3V18M exerted antiproliferative effects on MDBK cells without cytotoxicity at 104 U/mL. Overall, boIFN–λ3 and boIFN–λ3V18M did not differ substantially in biological activity, except for reduced glycosylation of the latter. The development of boIFN–λ3 and comparative evaluation with the mutant provide theoretical insights into the antiviral mechanisms of boIFN–λs and provide material for therapeutic development.
A Chronological Study on Grapevine Leafroll-Associated Virus 2 in Australia
Authors: Habili Nuredin , Wu Qi , Rinaldo Amy , Constable Fiona
Published: May 2023

Grapevine leafroll disease affects the health status of grapevines worldwide. Most studies in Australia have focused on grapevine leafroll-associated viruses 1 and 3, while little attention has been given to other leafroll virus types, in particular, grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2). A chronological record of the temporal occurrence of GLRaV-2 in Australia since 2001 is reported. From a total of 11,257 samples, 313 tested positive, with an overall incidence of 2.7%. This virus has been detected in 18 grapevine varieties and Vitis rootstocks in different regions of Australia. Most varieties were symptomless on their own roots, while Chardonnay showed a decline in virus-sensitive rootstocks. An isolate of GLRaV-2, on own-rooted Vitis vinifera cv. Grenache, clone SA137, was associated with severe leafroll symptoms after veraison with abnormal leaf necrosis. The metagenomic sequencing results of the virus in two plants of this variety confirmed the presence of GLRaV-2, as well as two inert viruses, grapevine rupestris stem pitting-associated virus (GRSPaV) and grapevine rupestris vein feathering virus (GRVFV). No other leafroll-associated viruses were detected. Among the viroids, hop stunt viroid and grapevine yellow speckle viroid 1 were detected. Of the six phylogenetic groups identified in GLRaV-2, we report the presence of four groups in Australia. Three of these groups were detected in two plants of cv. Grenache, without finding any recombination event. The hypersensitive reaction of certain American hybrid rootstocks to GLRaV-2 is discussed. Due to the association of GLRaV-2 with graft incompatibility and vine decline, the risk from this virus in regions where hybrid Vitis rootstocks are used cannot be overlooked.
Horses as Sentinels for the Circulation of Flaviviruses in Eastern–Central Germany
Authors: Gothe Leonard M. R. , Ganzenberg Stefanie , Ziegler Ute , Obiegala Anna , Lohmann Katharina L. , Sieg Michael , Vahlenkamp Thomas W. , Groschup Martin H. , Hörügel Uwe , Pfeffer Martin
Published: May 2023

Since 2018, autochthonous West Nile virus (WNV) infections have been regularly reported in eastern–central Germany. While clinically apparent infections in humans and horses are not frequent, seroprevalence studies in horses may allow the tracing of WNV and related flaviviruses transmission, such as tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Usutu virus (USUV), and consequently help to estimate the risk of human infections. Hence, the aim of our study was to follow the seropositive ratio against these three viruses in horses in Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, and Brandenburg and to describe their geographic distribution for the year 2021. In early 2022, i.e., before the virus transmission season, sera from 1232 unvaccinated horses were tested using a competitive pan-flavivirus ELISA (cELISA). In order to estimate the true seropositive ratio of infection with WNV, TBEV, and USUV for 2021, positive and equivocal results were confirmed by a virus neutralization test (VNT). In addition, possible risk factors for seropositivity using questionnaires were analyzed using logistic regression based on questionnaires similar to our previous study from 2020. In total, 125 horse sera reacted positive in the cELISA. Based on the VNT, 40 sera showed neutralizing antibodies against WNV, 69 against TBEV, and 5 against USUV. Three sera showed antibodies against more than one virus, and eight were negative based on the VNT. The overall seropositive ratio was 3.3% (95% CI: 2.38–4.40) for WNV, 5.6% (95% CI: 4.44–7.04) for TBEV, and 0.4% (95% CI: 0.14–0.98) for USUV infections. While age and number of horses on the holding were factors predicting TBEV seropositivity, no risk factors were discovered for WNV seropositivity. We conclude that horses are useful sentinels to determine the flavivirus circulation in eastern–central Germany, as long as they are not vaccinated against WNV.
The Economic Value of Rotavirus Vaccination When Optimally Implemented in a High-Income Country
Authors: Standaert Baudouin
Published: May 2023

Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in high-income countries starting in 2006, with no recommendation for optimal implementation. Economic evaluations were presented before launch projecting potential impacts. Few economic reassessments have been reported following reimbursement. This study compares the short- to long-term economic value of rotavirus vaccination between pre-launch predictions and real-world evidence collected over 15 years, proposing recommendations for optimal vaccine launch. A cost-impact analysis compared rotavirus hospitalisation data after the introduction of vaccination between pre-launch modelled projections and observed data collected in the RotaBIS study in Belgium. A best model fit of the observed data was used to simulate launch scenarios to identify the optimal strategy. Data from other countries in Europe were used to confirm the potential optimal launch assessment. The Belgian analysis in the short term (first 8 years) indicated a more favourable impact for the observed data than predicted pre-launch model results. The long-term assessment (15 years) showed bigger economic disparities in favour of the model-predicted scenario. A simulated optimal vaccine launch, initiating the vaccination at least 6 months prior the next seasonal disease peak with an immediate very high vaccine coverage, indicated important additional potential gains, which would make vaccination very cost impactful. Finland and the UK are on such a route leading to long-term vaccination success, whereas Spain and Belgium have difficulties in achieving optimum vaccine benefits. An optimal launch of rotavirus vaccination may generate substantial economic gains over time. For high-income countries that are considering implementing rotavirus vaccination, achieving an optimal launch is a critical factor for long-term economic success.
Eye Movement Latency Coefficient of Variation as a Predictor of Cognitive Impairment: An Eye Tracking Study of Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Polden Megan , Crawford Trevor J.
Published: May 2023

Studies demonstrated impairment in the control of saccadic eye movements in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) when conducting the pro-saccade and antisaccade tasks. Research showed that changes in the pro and antisaccade latencies may be particularly sensitive to dementia and general executive functioning. These tasks show potential for diagnostic use, as they provide a rich set of potential eye tracking markers. One such marker, the coefficient of variation (CV), is so far overlooked. For biological markers to be reliable, they must be able to detect abnormalities in preclinical stages. MCI is often viewed as a predecessor to AD, with certain classifications of MCI more likely than others to progress to AD. The current study examined the potential of CV scores on pro and antisaccade tasks to distinguish participants with AD, amnestic MCI (aMCI), non-amnesiac MCI (naMCI), and older controls. The analyses revealed no significant differences in CV scores across the groups using the pro or antisaccade task. Antisaccade mean latencies were able to distinguish participants with AD and the MCI subgroups. Future research is needed on CV measures and attentional fluctuations in AD and MCI individuals to fully assess this measure’s potential to robustly distinguish clinical groups with high sensitivity and specificity.
Solar Irrigation Potential, Key Issues and Challenges in Pakistan
Authors: Hussain Fiaz , Maeng Seung-Jin , Cheema Muhammad Jehanzeb Masud , Anjum Muhammad Naveed , Afzal Arslan , Azam Muhammad , Wu Ray-Shyan , Noor Rana Shahzad , Umair Muhammad , Iqbal Tahir
Published: May 2023

Pakistan faces water scarcity and high operational costs for traditional irrigation systems, hindering agricultural productivity. Solar-powered irrigation systems (SPIS) can potentially provide a sustainable and affordable solution, but face technical, financial and policy barriers to adoption. A comprehensive study is needed to examine feasibility and identify barriers. Therefore, a comprehensive review study is conducted to identify the potential for solar irrigation, key issues and challenges related to its implementation in Pakistan. The analysis is based on published studies, technical reports and a survey of solar-powered drip irrigation systems. The use of SPIS in Pakistan is becoming a cost-effective and sustainable option for irrigation, particularly in remote and off-grid areas. However, these systems also have their challenges, such as high initial costs, maintenance and repairs, limited access to spare parts, lack of government policies and regulations, lack of technical expertise, lack of financing options and social acceptance. The most pressing issue is the risk of groundwater exploitation by using SPIS. Based on the analysis of the energy and water situation in Pakistan, it is important to sustainably use both solar energy and groundwater resources, through the implementation of effective management strategies and policies. With the right policies and investment in research and development of SPIS and groundwater, farmers can benefit by increasing crop yields, conserving water resources, reducing the cost of energy, increasing productivity and improving the standard of living and access to electricity in remote and off-grid areas. It is recommended that the adoption of solar energy be promoted to run high efficiency irrigation systems (HEIS) with urgent capacity improvement among farmers, advisors and system installers to sustainably manage water resources in SPIS. This would not only help to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and associated environmental impacts, but also increase farmers’ income and reduce their operational costs. Moreover, the use of SPIS can improve crop yields, leading to food security and poverty reduction. Thus, the government and policymakers should consider implementing policies and incentives to encourage the large-scale adoption of solar energy in the agricultural sector.
A Screening Procedure for Identifying Drought Hot-Spots in a Changing Climate
Authors: Galletti Andrea , Formetta Giuseppe , Majone Bruno
Published: May 2023

Droughts are complex natural phenomena with multifaceted impacts, and a thorough drought impact assessment should entail a suite of adequate modelling tools and also include observational data, thus hindering the feasibility of such studies at large scales. In this work we present a methodology that tackles this obstacle by narrowing down the study area to a smaller subset of potential drought hot-spots (i.e., areas where drought conditions are expected to be exacerbated, based on future climate projections). We achieve this by exploring a novel interpretation of a well-established meteorological drought index that we link to the hydrological drought status of a catchment by calibrating its use on the basis of streamflow observational data. We exemplify this methodology over 25 sub-catchments pertaining to the Adige catchment. At the regional level, our findings highlight how the response to meteorological drought in Alpine catchments is complex and influenced by both the hydrological properties of each catchment and the presence of water storage infrastructures. The proposed methodology provides an interpretation of the hydrologic behavior of the analyzed sub-catchments in line with other studies, suggesting that it can serve as a reliable tool for identifying potential drought hot-spots in large river basins.
Probability-Based Rule Curves for Multi-Purpose Reservoir System in the Seine River Basin, France
Authors: Dau Quan Van , Kangrang Anongrit , Kuntiyawichai Kittiwet
Published: May 2023

Multiple reservoir operation is of paramount importance due to tradeoffs in water supply and their cost functions. Understanding this complexity is important for optimizing water supply and increasing synergies gained from the joint operation. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a conceptual framework for addressing the effects of climate change on water security under the operating rules of the multiple reservoir system in northern France. A dynamic programming approach (DP) was employed to find the cost–benefit analysis that best fit with the objectives of reservoir operation, while the space rule was applied to balance the available space in each reservoir of a parallel system. A finite-horizon optimal regulation was then adopted for determining daily reservoir storage based on probability-based rule curves. The results indicated that the predicted inflow during the drawdown–refill cycle period to the Marne and Pannecière reservoirs would be the largest and lowest, respectively. The proposed upper rule curves during high-flow conditions suggested that the release from Aube reservoir should be postponed from July to August until September. At 50- and 100-year return periods, quite a high release rate from Seine and Marne reservoirs was observed during the dry season. A decrease in future water supply from Pannecière reservoir was found during summer, while the withdrawal in November could cause excessive water in the Seine tributary and Paris City. Under low-flow conditions in all return periods, the proposed lower rule curves recommended that the reservoir storage should go below the current operating rule, with a clear difference in July (the largest in Marne and the smallest in Pannecière) and almost no difference in November. Moreover, the web-based support system IRMaRA was developed for revising operating rules of four main reservoirs located in the Seine River Basin. The novelty of this modeling framework would contribute to the practice of deriving optimal operating rules for a multi-reservoir system by the probability-based rule curve method. Based on the evaluation of the effects of applying the estimated reservoir storage capacity under different return periods, both less overflow and water shortage represented by different levels of quantity and severity can be expected compared to the existing target storage at specified control points. Finally, the obtained finding revealed that the application of dynamic programming for reservoir optimization would help in developing a robust operating policy for tackling the effects of climate change.
Research Progress of Zebrafish Model in Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Authors: Li Huiqi , Liu Yinai , Chen Qianqian , Jin Libo , Peng Renyi
Published: May 2023

In recent years, with the aggravation of environmental pollution, the study of aquatic ecotoxicology has become a hot topic. Some aquatic organisms, such as large fleas, toads, and zebrafish, have been developed and applied as model organisms. They have been increasingly used to study the bioaccumulation and toxicity of environmental pollutants due to the advantages of their small size, easy reproduction, short life cycle, low maintenance cost, and ability to combine genetic, cellular, and whole organism endpoints. This review summarizes the methods of zebrafish, as a model in aquatic ecotoxicology, using its developmental toxicity, biomarkers, genomics, and phenotype analysis to evaluate the toxicity of environmental pollutants, providing a reference value for researchers to select model animals for aquatic ecotoxicology research.
Adapted Water Quality Indices: Limitations and Potential for Water Quality Monitoring in Africa
Authors: Lukhabi Dorothy Khasisi , Mensah Paul Kojo , Asare Noble Kwame , Pulumuka-Kamanga Tchaka , Ouma Kennedy Ochieng
Published: May 2023

A Water Quality Index (WQI) is a tool that describes the overall water quality by combining complex and technical water quality information into a single meaningful unitless numerical value. WQIs predict water quality since they reflect the impact of multiple Water Quality Parameters (WQPs) and allow for spatial-temporal comparison of water quality status. Most African countries employ adapted WQIs by modifying the original index (or indices) and propose their concepts for evaluating the quality of surface and groundwater, which is normally accompanied by irregularities. The current review examined the process(es) involved in WQI modifications for monitoring water quality in Africa, explored associated limitations, and suggested areas for improvement. A review of 42 research articles from five databases in the last ten years (2012–2022) was conducted. The findings indicated Weighted Arithmetic (WAWQI) and the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCMEWQI) as the most adapted WQIs. However, several limitations were encountered in WQI developmental steps, mainly in parameter selection and classification schemes used for the final index value. Incorporation of biological parameters, use of less subjective statistical methods in parameter selection, and logical linguistic descriptions in classification schemes were some recommendations for remedying the limitations to register the full potential of adapted WQIs for water quality monitoring in Africa.
Modeling Hydrological Responses to Land Use Change in Sejnane Watershed, Northern Tunisia
Authors: Mosbahi Manel , Kassouk Zeineb , Benabdallah Sihem , Aouissi Jalel , Arbi Rihab , Mrad Mouna , Blake Reginald , Norouzi Hamidreza , Béjaoui Béchir
Published: May 2023

Land use change is a crucial driving factor in hydrological processes. Understanding its long-term dynamics is essential for sustainable water resources management. This study sought to quantify and analyze land use change between 1985 and 2021 and its impacts on the hydrology of the Sejnane watershed, northern Tunisia. Remote sensing and a SWAT model using the SUFI-2 algorithm to identify the most sensitive parameters were used to achieve this objective. Land use maps were developed for 1985, 2001 and 2021. For the last 37 years, the watershed experienced a slight decrease in forest, scrubland and forage crops, a significant reduction in grassland, and a conspicuous expansion of olive trees and vegetable crops. Given the scarcity of observed discharge data, a SWAT model was calibrated for the period 1997–2010 and validated for 2011–2019. Model performance was good for both calibration (NSE = 0.78, PBIAS = −6.6 and R2 = 0.85) and validation (NSE = 0.70, PBIAS = −29.2 and R2 = 0.81). Changes in land use strongly affected the water balance components. Surface runoff and percolation were the most influenced, showing an increase in runoff and a decrease in percolation by 15.5% and 13.8%, respectively. The results revealed that the construction of the Sejnane dam, the extension of irrigated perimeters and olive tree plantations were the major contributors to changes in hydrology.
Developing an Open-Source IoT Platform for Optimal Irrigation Scheduling and Decision-Making: Implementation at Olive Grove Parcels
Authors: Tzerakis Konstantinos , Psarras Georgios , Kourgialas Nektarios N.
Published: May 2023

Climate change has reduced the availability of good quality water for agriculture, while favoring the proliferation of harmful insects, especially in Mediterranean areas. Deploying IoT-based systems can help optimize water-use efficiency in agriculture and address problems caused by extreme weather events. This work presents an IoT-based monitoring system for obtaining soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity, soil temperature and meteorological data useful in irrigation management and pest control. The proposed system was implemented and evaluated for olive parcels located both at coastal and inland areas of the eastern part of Crete; these areas face severe issues with water availability and saltwater intrusion (coastal region). The system includes the monitoring of soil moisture and atmospheric sensors, with the aim of providing information to farmers for decision-making and at the future implementation of an automated irrigation system, optimizing the use of water resources. Data acquisition was performed through smart sensors connected to a microcontroller. Data were received at a portal and made available on the cloud, being monitored in real-time through an open-source IoT platform. An e-mail alert was sent to the farmers when soil moisture was lower than a threshold value specific to the soil type or when climatic conditions favored the development of the olive fruit fly. One of the main advantages of the proposed decision-making system is a low-cost IoT solution, as it is based on open-source software and the hardware on edge devices consists of widespread economic modules. The reliability of the IoT-based monitoring system has been tested and could be used as a support service tool offering an efficient irrigation and pest control service.
Evaluating the Ecological Status of Fluvial Networks of Tropical Andean Catchments of Ecuador
Authors: Hampel Henrietta , Vázquez Raúl F. , González Hari , Acosta Raúl
Published: May 2023

In the tropical high mountains, human activities have strongly intensified in recent decades. Agricultural frontier movement toward higher elevations, river channel modifications, mining, and urban waste discharge threaten river ecosystem health, which is even more alarming when drinking water supply comes from surface water. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the ecological status of high mountain fluvial networks of tropical Andean catchments based on the definition of different river types. Physical–chemical variables and macroinvertebrate communities were sampled in 90 stations of seven tropical high mountain catchments. River habitat and riparian vegetation quality were further evaluated. K-means classification, using physical and hydro-morphological characteristics, identified six different river types. This classification was further refined to five river types by the analyses of macroinvertebrate communities through multidimensional scaling and analysis of similarity. The anthropogenic pressure gradients, present in the different river types, were inorganic (i.e., conductivity, turbidity), organic (i.e., fecal coliforms), river habitat, and riparian vegetation quality. Macroinvertebrate communities responded to different environmental variables in the páramo, mountain forest with humid shrub, urban, and Tarqui river types. Heterogeneous fluvial habitats and high altitude favored taxa such as Atanatolica, Mortoniella, Helicopsyche, Anacroneuria, Paltostoma, Helicopsyche, Paltostoma, Atopsyche, Pheneps, and Maruina. Chironomidae and Psychoda dipteran were associated with higher biochemical oxygen demand, lower oxygen concentration, high fecal coliforms, and total dissolved solids, while Haitia was linked to elevated nitrate concentrations. Integrated watershed management could benefit from a well-established biomonitoring network, considering different river types, which represents the natural variability of the ecosystems, as well as anthropogenic pressure gradients.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting Small Urban-Reservoir Volumes: The Case of Torregrotta Town (Italy)
Authors: Saya Biagio , Faraci Carla
Published: May 2023

In the hydraulic construction field, approximated formulations have been widely used for calculating tank volumes. Identifying the proper water reservoir volumes is of crucial importance in order to not only satisfy water demand but also to avoid unnecessary waste in the construction phase. In this perspective, the planning and management of small reservoirs may have a positive impact on their spatial distribution and storage capacities. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to suggest an alternative approach to estimate the optimal volume of small urban reservoirs. In particular, an artificial neural network (ANN) is proposed to predict future water consumption as a function of certain environmental parameters, such as rainy days, temperature and the number of inhabitants. As the water demand is strongly influenced by such quantities, their future trend is recovered by means of the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) over the next 10 years. Finally, based on ANN prediction of the future consumption requirements, the continuity equation applied to tanks was resolved through integral-discretization obtaining the time-series volume variation and the total number of crisis events.
Biotic Integrity, Water Quality, and Landscape Characteristics of a Subtropical River
Authors: Gudiño-Sosa Luis Fernando , Moncayo-Estrada Rodrigo , Velázquez-Machuca Martha Alicia , Cruz-Cárdenas Gustavo , Ávila-Meléndez Luis Arturo , Pimentel-Equihua José Luis
Published: May 2023

The integrity of rivers is affected by anthropogenic activities at different spatial scales, from basin and landscape levels to the direct effects on the river and aquatic life. Our objective was to study these effects on the subtropical La Pasión River, analyzing environmental, geomorphological, habitat and water quality, and macroinvertebrates. We sampled the dry season (March 2022) because the river presented stable conditions. We selected the most influential variables in each spatial scale and determined their relationship with the indexes of quality characteristics and aquatic life in the river using multivariate statistics. Most sites (≈65%) had medium water and suboptimal habitat quality status, meanwhile half the sites had regular biotic integrity status; without finding coincidence in the quality of the different indexes applied, all sites indicated a high gradient of degradation from the origin to the mouth of the river. The presence of some families (e.g., Culicidae, Chironomidae, Lumbriculidae) indicated organic matter contamination. The main variables that significantly classified the river quality and integrity structure were water flow, turbidity, habitat embeddedness, and sulfates (χ2 = 0.1145, p < 0.01). It is concluded that the affected sites received wastewater without prior treatment and presented physical barriers such as irrigation channels.
Comparada com a terapia medicamentosa, como a cirurgia metabólica age na redução do Diabetes tipo 2?
Authors: De Oliveira Neto Eclésio Batista , Dos Santos Esther Mendonça , Costa Gabriela Leite Almeida , Ramos Douglas Philipe Quintiliano , Lima Lorena Vitória Correia , De Araújo Lucas Augusto Alves , Carneiro Maria Júlia Fraga , De Oliveira Jaim Simões
Published: May 2023

A diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) é uma doença crônica caracterizada por hiperglicemia e defeitos na ação e secreção de insulina. Este estudo tem o intuito de comparar a qualidade de vida de pacientes que optaram pelas cirurgias metabólicas ao invés das terapias medicamentosas tradicionais. Trata-se de uma Revisão Integrativa da Literatura, utilizando os seguintes bancos de dados: PubMed e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Foram usados os seguintes descritores: ‘’Quality of Life’’, ‘’Gastrectomy’’, ‘’Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2’’, ‘’Gastric by-pass’’, ‘’Bariatric Surgery’’ e ‘’Drug therapy’’. O estudo permitiu comprovar a maior eficácia das técnicas cirúrgicas no controle da DM2. Comprovou-se alta remissão da DM2 nas cirurgias em comparação à terapia medicamentosa isolada.
Transtorno do Espectro Autista: eficácia clínica de novas abordagens terapêuticas na população pediátrica
Authors: Bernabé Heloísa Cervantes , Dalavale Carolina Baptista , Borges Gabriel Luis Cavasan , Marques Filho Arthur Gustavo Gouveia , Marques Carolyne Lemos , Pinto Mayara dos Santos Barboteo , Fonseca Thávila Ribeiro , De Oliveira Pedro Henrique colares , Campos Daiane Marchezi , Silva Victória Toledo , Gontijo Júlia Ribeiro Faria , Amboni Natasha Magagnin , Terror Isabella Sequetto , De Souza Pedro Érico Alves
Published: May 2023

O transtorno do espectro do autismo (TEA) constitui um grupo de transtornos do neurodesenvolvimento com prevalência de 1,7% entre as crianças, apresentando necessidades de cuidado significativas. O presente estudo de revisão buscou avaliar novos avanços na abordagem terapêutica do transtorno do espectro autista na população pediátrica, documentados por meio de estudos clínicos e randomizados. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de revisão integrativa realizada por meio da base de dados PubMed, que levou em consideração os seguintes critérios de inclusão: ensaios clínicos e testes controlados e randomizados; artigos publicados no último ano; que possuíam texto completo disponível e que abordassem acerca de novas evidências no manejo do transtorno do espectro autista na população pediátrica. Ficou constatado que a intervenção com terapia comportamental do sono se mostrou eficaz com redução relatada por pais e cuidadores das crianças nos problemas do sono, além de melhora dos desfechos relacionados à qualidade de vida na criança. Ademais, verificou-se um benefício de grande magnitude dos comportamentos adaptativos de relacionamento interpessoal com o uso da combinação dos ácidos graxos ômega 3-6-9 em crianças prematuras e que apresentam sintomas iniciais comuns no TEA. Além disso, foi visto que o tratamento com cannabis rica em CBD demonstrou benefício na comunicação social, principalmente naqueles que apresentam inicialmente alta gravidade dos principais sintomas do TEA. Por fim, constatou-se que a terapia de interação pai-filho (TIPF) demonstrou redução significativa dos comportamentos destrutivos pelas crianças com TEA, aumento na comunicação positiva entre pais e filhos, além da melhora na adesão da criança.