bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recognition of Hand Gestures Based on EMG Signals with Deep and Double-Deep Q-Networks
Authors: Valdivieso Caraguay Ángel Leonardo , Vásconez Juan Pablo , Barona López Lorena Isabel , Benalcázar Marco E.
Published: April 2023

In recent years, hand gesture recognition (HGR) technologies that use electromyography (EMG) signals have been of considerable interest in developing human–machine interfaces. Most state-of-the-art HGR approaches are based mainly on supervised machine learning (ML). However, the use of reinforcement learning (RL) techniques to classify EMGs is still a new and open research topic. Methods based on RL have some advantages such as promising classification performance and online learning from the user’s experience. In this work, we propose a user-specific HGR system based on an RL-based agent that learns to characterize EMG signals from five different hand gestures using Deep Q-network (DQN) and Double-Deep Q-Network (Double-DQN) algorithms. Both methods use a feed-forward artificial neural network (ANN) for the representation of the agent policy. We also performed additional tests by adding a long–short-term memory (LSTM) layer to the ANN to analyze and compare its performance. We performed experiments using training, validation, and test sets from our public dataset, EMG-EPN-612. The final accuracy results demonstrate that the best model was DQN without LSTM, obtaining classification and recognition accuracies of up to 90.37%±10.7% and 82.52%±10.9%, respectively. The results obtained in this work demonstrate that RL methods such as DQN and Double-DQN can obtain promising results for classification and recognition problems based on EMG signals.
An Efficient Compression Method for Lightning Electromagnetic Pulse Signal Based on Convolutional Neural Network and Autoencoder
Authors: Guo Jinhua , Wang Jiaquan , Xiao Fang , Zhou Xiao , Liu Yongsheng , Ma Qiming
Published: April 2023

Advances in technology have facilitated the development of lightning research and data processing. The electromagnetic pulse signals emitted by lightning (LEMP) can be collected by very low frequency (VLF)/low frequency (LF) instruments in real time. The storage and transmission of the obtained data is a crucial link, and a good compression method can improve the efficiency of this process. In this paper, a lightning convolutional stack autoencoder (LCSAE) model for compressing LEMP data was designed, which converts the data into low-dimensional feature vectors through the encoder part and reconstructs the waveform through the decoder part. Finally, we investigated the compression performance of the LCSAE model for LEMP waveform data under different compression ratios. The results show that the compression performance is positively correlated with the minimum feature of the neural network extraction model. When the compressed minimum feature is 64, the average coefficient of determination R2 of the reconstructed waveform and the original waveform can reach 96.7%. It can effectively solve the problem regarding the compression of LEMP signals collected by the lightning sensor and improve the efficiency of remote data transmission.
Potential Use of Wearable Inertial Sensors to Assess and Train Deep Cervical Flexors: A Feasibility Study with Real Time Synchronization of Kinematic and Pressure Data during the Craniocervical Flexion Test
Authors: Bocos-Corredor Elena , Pérez-Fernández Tomás , Perez-Dominguez Raquel , Liébana Sonia , Armijo-Olivo Susan , Raya Rafael , Martin-Pintado-Zugasti Aitor
Published: April 2023

The aim of the study was to develop a novel real-time, computer-based synchronization system to continuously record pressure and craniocervical flexion ROM (range of motion) during the CCFT (craniocervical flexion test) in order to assess its feasibility for measuring and discriminating the values of ROM between different pressure levels. This was a descriptive, observational, cross-sectional, feasibility study. Participants performed a full-range craniocervical flexion and the CCFT. During the CCFT, a pressure sensor and a wireless inertial sensor simultaneously registered data of pressure and ROM. A web application was developed using HTML and NodeJS technologies. Forty-five participants successfully finished the study protocol (20 males, 25 females; 32 (11.48) years). ANOVAs showed large effect significant interactions between pressure levels and the percentage of full craniocervical flexion ROM when considering the 6 pressure reference levels of the CCFT (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.697), 11 pressure levels separated by 1 mmHg (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.683), and 21 pressure levels separated by 0.5 mmHg (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.671). The novel time synchronizing system seems a feasible option to provide real-time monitoring of both pressure and ROM, which could serve as reference targets to further investigate the potential use of inertial sensor technology to assess or train deep cervical flexors.
Resistive, Temperature-Independent Metal Oxide Gas Sensor for Detecting the Oxygen Stoichiometry (Air-Fuel Ratio) of Lean Engine Exhaust Gases
Authors: Steiner Carsten , Püls Simon , Bektas Murat , Müller Andreas , Hagen Gunter , Moos Ralf
Published: April 2023

This study presents a resistive sensor concept based on Barium Iron Tantalate (BFT) to measure the oxygen stoichiometry in exhaust gases of combustion processes. The BFT sensor film was deposited on the substrate by the Powder Aerosol Deposition (PAD) method. In initial laboratory experiments, the sensitivity to pO2 in the gas phase was analyzed. The results agree with the defect chemical model of BFT materials that suggests the formation of holes h• by filling oxygen vacancies VO•• in the lattice at higher oxygen partial pressures pO2. The sensor signal was found to be sufficiently accurate and to have low time constants with changing oxygen stoichiometry. Further investigations on reproducibility and cross-sensitivities to typical exhaust gas species (CO2, H2O, CO, NO, …) confirmed a robust sensor signal that was hardly affected by other gas components. The sensor concept was also tested in real engine exhausts for the first time. The experimental data showed that the air-fuel ratio can be monitored by measuring the resistance of the sensor element, including partial and full-load operation modes. Furthermore, no signs of inactivation or aging during the test cycles were observed for the sensor film. Overall, a promising first data set was obtained in engine exhausts and therefore the BFT system is a possible cost-effective alternative concept to existing commercial sensors in the future. Moreover, the integration of other sensitive films for multi-gas sensor purposes might be an attractive field for future studies.
A Historically Driven Spinup Procedure for Soil Carbon Modeling
Authors: Wiltshire Serge , Grobe Sarah , Beckage Brian
Published: April 2023

Soil process models such as RothC typically assume soil organic carbon (SOC) is in equilibrium at the beginning of each simulation run. This is not likely to be true in the real world, since recalcitrant SOC pools (notably, humified material) take many decades to re-stabilize after a land use change. The equilibrium assumption stems from a spinup method in which the model is run under a single land use until all SOC pools stabilize. To overcome this, we demonstrate an alternative spinup procedure that accounts for historical land use changes. The “steady-state” and “historical” spinup methods both impute unknown C inputs such that the modeled SOC matches empirical measurements at the beginning of the simulation and set initial SOC fractions. Holding all other parameters equal, we evaluated how each spinup affects SOC projections in simulations of agricultural land use change in the U.S. state of Vermont. We found that projected SOC trajectories for all land use scenarios are sensitive to the spinup procedure. These differences are due to disparities in imputed below-ground plant-derived carbon between the two procedures. Compared to the steady-state, imputed C in the historical spinup is higher for land uses that increase SOC (e.g., adoption of regenerative practices) and lower for land uses that decrease SOC (e.g., a transition from pasture to crops), due to the time window within which land use changes are assumed to have occurred. The novel historical spinup procedure captures important dynamics commonly missing in previous studies, representing an advancement in soil process modeling.
In-Pit Disposal of Mine Tailings for a Sustainable Mine Closure: A Responsible Alternative to Develop Long-Term Green Mining Solutions
Authors: Cacciuttolo Carlos , Atencio Edison
Published: April 2023

In the next decades many of the old tailings storage facilities (TSFs) could be re-processed if one considers the prices of metals, new uses of metals which today are not valuable, and the application of new, more efficient metallurgical technologies. In this context, in-pit disposal of mine tailings (IPDMT) is an attractive alternative to be used as part of responsible mine closure: mines could reprocess the mine tailings and place them in an open pit as part of sustainable mine closure. This article explores a little-explored tailings disposal technique that has the potential to be considered as an environmentally friendly solution, returning mine tailings to their place of origin and providing long-term stability under a climate change scenario. This article presents the main features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of IPDMT, with an emphasis on: (i) a description of the main advantages and disadvantages of application; and design issues related to (ii) IPDMT physical stability (pit slope stability, tailings transport, placement systems); (iii) IPDMT hydrological stability (water management, seepage control, hydrogeological monitoring,); and (iv) IPDMT geochemical stability (geochemical characterization, acid rock drainage control, covers). The novelty of this article is the proposal to change the status quo of traditional management of mine tailings to a new paradigm where the technique of in-pit disposal of mine tailings can be considered a green mining solution for mine closure. Finally, some successful cases around the world that involved the implementation of this technique are presented.
A Comparative Examination of the Electricity Saving Potentials of Direct Residential PV Energy Use in European Countries
Authors: Zsiborács Henrik , Vincze András , Pintér Gábor , Hegedűsné Baranyai Nóra
Published: April 2023

The increasing global penetration of photovoltaic (PV) technology creates not only enormous opportunities for clean energy production but also poses challenges that put energy systems to the test. Although there are many ways of dealing with the rising share of PV energy, most of these solutions require substantial funding, time, and effort to implement, which highlights the importance of solving some of the issues at their source, i.e., through the direct use of the electricity generated at PV power plants, many of which are owned and operated by households. In recent decades, PV technology has experienced an unprecedented growth in Europe due to a range of reasons, including the nations’ policies and supporting schemes. The goal of the present research was to determine the annual consumption of electricity per capita in the households of certain European countries and how much of this can be covered by the direct use of PV energy in the case of an on-grid PV system and to show what the annual potential of the direct use of PV energy is compared to the annual energy production of the PV systems. The significance and novelty of this research is justified by the lack of comparative scientific studies related to the annual potential of the direct household use of PV energy, which could alleviate some of the problems facing electricity networks with high shares of PV energy. The novel practical benefit of the study was determining, for the examined European countries, the extent to which direct household PV energy use could lower annual electricity consumption from the grid, in the case of on-grid PV systems of different capacities. In addition, these findings also provide information related to the grid’s macro-energy systems in terms of local network load effects related to given investment sizes.
Soil Organic Carbon Stock Prediction: Fate under 2050 Climate Scenarios, the Case of Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Negassa Martha Kidemu , Haile Mitiku , Feyisa Gudina Legese , Wogi Lemma , Liben Feyera Merga
Published: April 2023

Soil Organic carbon (SOC) is vital to the soil’s ecosystem functioning as well as improving soil fertility. Slight variation in C in the soil has significant potential to be either a source of CO2 in the atmosphere or a sink to be stored in the form of soil organic matter. However, modeling SOC spatiotemporal changes was challenging due to lack of data to represent the high spatial heterogeneity in soil properties. Less expensive techniques, digital soil mapping (DSM) combined with space-for-time substitution (SFTS), were applied to predict the present and projected SOC stock for temperature and rainfall projections under different climate scenarios represented by the four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs): RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6, and RCP8.5). The relationship between environmental covariates (n = 16) and measured SOC stock (148 samples) was developed using a random forest model. Then, the temporal changes in SOC stock over the baseline were developed for the top 30 cm soil depth of the selected districts (Chiro Zuria, Kuni, Gemechis and Mieso) of West Hararghe Zone at 30 m resolution. The model validation using the random sample of 20% of the data showed that the model explained 44% of the variance (R2) with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 8.96, a mean error (ME) of 0.16, and a Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) of 0.88. Temperature was the most important predictor factor influencing the spatial distribution of SOC stock. An overall net gain of SOC stock over the present C stock was expected in the study area by 2050. The gain in areas with the lower baseline SOC stock counterbalanced the loss in areas with the higher baseline stock. The changes in the SOC stock depended on land use land cover (LULC), soil type, and agro-ecological zones. By 2050, cropland is supposed to lose its SOC stock under all RCPs; therefore, appropriate decisions are crucial to compensate for the loss of C.
Reflecting on Climate Change Education Priorities in Secondary Schools in England: Moving beyond Learning about Climate Change to the Emotions of Living with Climate Change
Authors: Rushton Elizabeth A. C. , Sharp Sarah , Kitson Alison , Walshe Nicola
Published: April 2023

Schools in England remain a valued and important site of climate change education for secondary school pupils (aged 11–18 years). Drawing on focus group data (n = 85) from young people based in eight schools in England, we explored the language pupils used about climate change. We found that young people’s responses to climate change were predominantly focused on content knowledge about climate change, including the concept of global warming and a range of negative impacts, such as biodiversity and habitat loss and extreme and unpredictable weather. In addition, the young people expressed emotions in relation to climate change that were primarily negative and were focused on fear of the future and fear of frustrated youth action. We highlight that school-based climate change education requires support and resources from policy-makers so that young people do not solely learn about climate change, but rather, they are able to live with the emotions of a future shaped by the impacts of climate change. We highlight the need for teacher professional development which enables them to respond to the emotions young people experience in the context of climate change education.
The Structural Quality of Soil Organic Matter under Selected Soil Fertility Management Practices in the Central Highlands of Kenya
Authors: Githongo Miriam , Ngatia Lucy , Kiboi Milka , Muriuki Anne , Fliessbach Andreas , Musafiri Collins , Fu Riqiang , Ngetich Felix
Published: April 2023

As influenced by agricultural practices, soil organic matter (SOM) stability is imperative in maintaining soil fertility and crop production. Integrated soil management practices have been recommended for soil fertility improvement by enhancing soil organic matter. We examined the SOM stability under integrated soil management practices for six consecutive cropping seasons in the high agricultural potential area of the Central Highlands of Kenya. The experimental design was a complete randomized block design with fourteen treatments replicated four times. The treatments were minimum (Mt) and conventional tillage (Ct) combined with sole mineral fertilizer (Mf), crop residue combined with mineral fertilizer (RMf), crop residue combined with mineral fertilizer and animal manure (RMfM), crop residue combined with animal manure and Dolichos Lablab L. intercrop (RML), crop residue combined with Tithonia diversifolia and animal manure (RTiM), and crop residue combined with Tithonia diversifolia and phosphate rock (Minjingu) (RTiP), as well as a control (no inputs). SOC was higher in treatments with organic inputs and a combination of organic and inorganic inputs. Treatments with sole mineral fertilizer and no input recorded lower SOC amounts. The C functional groups followed the sequence: alkyl C (53%) > O-alkyl C (17%) > aromatic C (9%) > carboxyl C (8%) > methoxyl C (7%) > phenolic C (6%). The alkyl C proportion was higher in organic inputs treatments, while O-alkyl C was higher in organic and inorganic fertilizer treatment combinations. Methoxyl C, aromatic C, and phenolic C proportion of SOC was greater in crop residue and mineral fertilizer combination, while carboxylic C was lower than the control in most treatments. In addition, the organic inputs treatments had a higher alkyl C/O-alkyl C ratio, increased aliphaticity, and higher hydrophobicity. Applying organic fertilizers individually or in combination with inorganic fertilizers could potentially increase C storage in the soil, thereby enhancing SOC stocks.
Evaluation of General Circulation Models CMIP6 Performance and Future Climate Change over the Omo River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Feyissa Tolera Abdissa , Demissie Tamene Adugna , Saathoff Fokke , Gebissa Alemayehu
Published: April 2023

One of the world’s major issues is climate change, which has a significant impact on ecosystems, human beings, agricultural productivity, water resources, and environmental management. The General Circulation Models (GCMs), specially the recently released (coupled model intercomparison project six) CMIP6 are very indispensable to understand and support decision makers to identify adaptation strategies in response to future climate change in a basin. However, proper selection of skillful GCMs and future climate assessment is a prior task to climate impact studies. The objective of the study is an attempt to appraise the climate model’s performance and future climate scenarios of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) in the Omo River Basin. The performance evaluation of 20 GCMs of the CMIP6 was properly performed to reproduce the precipitation and the maximum temperature in the basin. Their performance has been carried out against the best selected mean monthly Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS) precipitation and European Community Medium Water Range Weather Forecasts Version 5 (ECMWF-ERA5) maximum temperature. The GCMs of the CMIP6 were selected and ranked using the compromise programming method of multi-criteria decision making. The result shows that ensemble models and NorESM2-MM models have been designated to reproduce the precipitation and maximum temperature in the basin respectively. The Mann–Kendall trend test was executed to appraise the trend of selected CMIP6 models, and subsequently, downscaling and bias correction techniques were conducted. The projected seasonal precipitation of June, July, August, September (JJAS) and March, April, May (MAM) shows an increasing trend with 10.86, 17.66, 38.96 and 11.85, 22.1, and 40.7% under SSP2452031-2060, SSP5852031-2060, and SSP5852071-2100 scenarios respectively. Furthermore, increasing trends were detected in MAM by 12.8% and decreasing trends in JJAS were detected by 15.23% under SSP2452071-2100 scenario. The maximum temperature projection will be increased on average by 0.95, 1.78, 1.4, and 3.88 °C in JJAS and 1.53, 2.24, 1.56, and 3.89 °C in MAM under climate change scenarios of near-future SSP2452031-2060, SSP5852031-2060, far-future SSP2452071-2100, and SSP5852071-2100, respectively. Additionally, the basin has shown temporal-spatial climate fluctuation in terms of precipitation and maximum temperature.
Effects of the Most Appropriate Proportion of Phytohormones on Tree-Ring Growth in Clones of Hybrid Larch
Authors: Liu Yucheng , Xie Yunhui , Sun Xiaomei , Zhang Shougong
Published: April 2023

The increase in the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration promotes its accumulation in trees by regulating the synthesis and transportation genes for endogenous hormones, such as IAA and GA, which are key factors in regulating various life activities, including growth rings. To explore the impact of changes in endogenous hormone levels such as IAA and GA on the growth of tree rings, and to provide a basis for improving the management of hybrid larch clonal forests, we investigated the effects of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid 3 (GA3), and their combination on tree-ring growth in hybrid larch. IAA, GA3, and a combination treatment were sprayed on the leaves of one clone of a hybrid larch seedling every three days. Small blocks were collected at the base stems for sequential anatomical observations. The phytohormone type, instead of the concentration, had a more significant effect on wood formation. Specifically, IAA treatment at 300 mg L−1 significantly increased latewood (LW) layers until 90 days after treatment (DAT). The 500 mg L−1 treatment significantly increased the wall radial thickness (WRT) of latewood (LW) cells. GA3 treatment at 100 mg L−1 significantly decreased the layers and width of total wood (TW), LW, and earlywood (EW). The 300 mg L−1 treatment significantly increased the WRT of EW. The IAA 100 mg L−1 + GA3 100 mg L−1 combination treatment significantly increased the layers and width of TW and LW by inducing cambium activity and increasing the rate of wood cell development. The WRT and lumen radial diameter (LRD) of EW or LW in this treatment were similar to those observed with the corresponding single phytohormone treatment. These results indicate that combination treatment at 100 mg L−1 + 100 mg L−1 was a better way to promote tree-ring growth. Our study suggests that changes in phytohormone levels and ratios are important factors that affect tree-ring formation. Hormone levels and ratios should be regarded as important indicators to guide the improvement of management practices in hybrid larch clonal plantations.
Can Africa Serve Europe with Hydrogen Energy from Its Renewables?—Assessing the Economics of Shipping Hydrogen and Hydrogen Carriers to Europe from Different Parts of the Continent
Authors: Agyekum Ephraim Bonah , Ampah Jeffrey Dankwa , Uhunamure Solomon Eghosa , Shale Karabo , Onyenegecha Ifeoma Prisca , Velkin Vladimir Ivanovich
Published: April 2023

There exists no single optimal way for transporting hydrogen and other hydrogen carriers from one port to the other globally. Its delivery depends on several factors such as the quantity, distance, economics, and the availability of the required infrastructure for its transportation. Europe has a strategy to invest in the production of green hydrogen in Africa to meet its needs. This study assessed the economic viability of shipping liquefied hydrogen (LH2) and hydrogen carriers to Germany from six African countries that have been identified as countries with great potential in the production of hydrogen. The results obtained suggest that the shipping of LH2 to Europe (Germany) will cost between 0.47 and 1.55 USD/kg H2 depending on the distance of travel for the ship. Similarly, the transportation of hydrogen carriers could range from 0.19 to 0.55 USD/kg H2 for ammonia, 0.25 to 0.77 USD/kg H2 for LNG, 0.24 to 0.73 USD/kg H2 for methanol, and 0.43 to 1.28 USD/kg H2 for liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). Ammonia was found to be the ideal hydrogen carrier since it recorded the least transportation cost. A sensitivity analysis conducted indicates that an increase in the economic life by 5 years could averagely decrease the cost of LNG by some 13.9%, NH3 by 13.2%, methanol by 7.9%, LOHC by 8.03%, and LH2 by 12.41% under a constant distance of 6470 nautical miles. The study concludes with a suggestion that if both foreign and local participation in the development of the hydrogen market is increased in Africa, the continent could supply LH2 and other hydrogen carriers to Europe at a cheaper price using clean fuel.
How Does the Digital Economy Promote a Culture of Business Innovation? A Study Based on Human Capital Allocation Perspective
Authors: Dong Ping , Zhu Yuteng , Duan Shengsen , Wu Minling , Bao Jiangdong
Published: April 2023

Human capital is the driving force of enterprise innovation. By clarifying the impact of the digital economy on enterprise innovation from the perspective of human capital allocation, we can understand the underlying mechanisms that enable high-quality development dividends on a more nuanced scale. This study incorporated the ‘Broadband China’ strategy to construct a quasi-natural experiment, empirically investigating the impact of digital economy development on micro-level enterprise innovation from a human capital perspective. The findings show that digital economy development can effectively reduce the demand gap and recruitment costs for research and development personnel and significantly improve their efficiency, thereby promoting corporate innovation. Heterogeneity tests show that the micro-level effects of the digital economy are more pronounced for firms with younger entrepreneurs, those registered in eastern Chinese cities, or those that are strongly influenced by Confucian culture. Further analysis shows that by streamlining these channels of human capital, the digital economy can not only boost the overall output of corporate innovation but also significantly improve its quality.
Possibilities of Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon Technology to Locate Objects Internally: A Case Study
Authors: Ližbetin Jan , Pečman Jan
Published: April 2023

The developments that are occurring in relation to Industry 4.0 are making it possible to automate a huge number of production activities. Automation includes the possibility of automatically identifying individual elements of a system. One of the options for doing this involves the use of Bluetooth Low Energy technology. The system’s advantages lie in its wide availability, economic simplicity, ability to design individual system elements, and overall system architecture. The system applied in the case study presented in this article consisted of beacons from Accent Systems and identification gateways based on the Raspberry Pi Zero W device. During several hours of testing, the functionality and reliability of all system components was demonstrated. The measurements showed that the system was able to determine the distance from a gate in line of sight with 94% accuracy. With regards to indirect visibility, when a metal crate was used to shield the beacon from the gateway, the system was able to determine the exact distance only 22% of the time. However, the variance between the actual and measured values was found to be small, therefore proving sufficient for most use cases. The major advantage of Bluetooth Low Energy beacons, and Bluetooth technology in general, is its massive ubiquity in the market. Since the Bluetooth module is part of every smartphone, this system can be made available to a wide range of users.
Antiviral Activity of Acetylsalicylic Acid against Bunyamwera Virus in Cell Culture
Authors: Fernández-Sánchez Sara Yolanda , Cerón-Carrasco José P. , Risco Cristina , Fernández de Castro Isabel
Published: April 2023

The Bunyavirales order is a large group of RNA viruses that includes important pathogens for humans, animals and plants. With high-throughput screening of clinically tested compounds we have looked for potential inhibitors of the endonuclease domain of a bunyavirus RNA polymerase. From a list of fifteen top candidates, five compounds were selected and their antiviral properties studied with Bunyamwera virus (BUNV), a prototypic bunyavirus widely used for studies about the biology of this group of viruses and to test antivirals. Four compounds (silibinin A, myricetin, L-phenylalanine and p-aminohippuric acid) showed no antiviral activity in BUNV-infected Vero cells. On the contrary, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) efficiently inhibited BUNV infection with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 2.02 mM. In cell culture supernatants, ASA reduced viral titer up to three logarithmic units. A significant dose-dependent reduction of the expression levels of Gc and N viral proteins was also measured. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy showed that ASA protects the Golgi complex from the characteristic BUNV-induced fragmentation in Vero cells. Electron microscopy showed that ASA inhibits the assembly of Golgi-associated BUNV spherules that are the replication organelles of bunyaviruses. As a consequence, the assembly of new viral particles is also significantly reduced. Considering its availability and low cost, the potential usability of ASA to treat bunyavirus infections deserves further investigation.
An Assessment Model for the Erosion Occurrence of Gap-Graded Sand-Gravel Soils under Variable Seepage Direction
Authors: Li Da , Zhao Yaowei , Liu Ningyi , Gao Xiaojuan
Published: April 2023

The movement of particles caused by erosion is one of the main reasons for the destruction of projects, such as dams, tunnels, and foundation pits. This study highlights a theoretical model to assess the occurrence of erosion in gap-graded, sand-gravel soils under variable seepage direction based on the critical hydraulic conditions of particle initiation. The model introduced the effects of relative exposure degree, relative hidden degree, and seepage direction by considering the difference in particle initiation conditions. On the basis of the variable-section capillary tube model formed by the skeletal pores, the mechanical analysis of the movable particles in the pores was performed, and the formulas for the critical hydraulic conditions were obtained according to the moment balance equation. Subsequently, the coupled CFD-DEM method and the available experimental data were used for validation. The comparison revealed a deviation of 0.0268 for the mean of the ratio between the calculated and simulated values compared to 1, with a covariance (COV) of 0.0344. Further, the mean value of the ratio between the calculated and test values compared to 1 had a maximum deviation of 0.095 and a covariance (COV) of 0.0143. The high degree of agreement between the data proved that the theoretical model can assess the occurrence of erosion more accurately. Finally, based on the theoretical model, the study further explored the effects of seepage direction and relative particle position on the variability in particle initiation conditions, thus finding that, unlike in other studies, the effect of seepage direction was not linear.
Evaluation of Synergetic Development of Water and Land Resources Based on a Coupling Coordination Degree Model
Authors: Lv Cuimei , Xu Wenchao , Ling Minhua , Wang Sensen , Hu Yuguang
Published: April 2023

The interaction between water and land resources (WALRs) has been further enhanced with the development of human production activities. Evaluating the synergetic development (SD) level of WALRs is conducive to discovering the weakness of comprehensive utilization of resources and promoting sustainable development. However, previous studies did not clearly elucidate the effects of the synergetic development between WALRs (SD-WALRs). For evaluation methods, the impact of various subsystem development levels on the whole system is often ignored due to its unclear definition. Therefore, in this research, the concept of the SD-WALRs was defined based on synergetic theory. By using the “Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response” (DPSIR) model, comprehensive evaluation index systems of WALR development were established. The index systems were regarded as efficacy functions of the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, and the evaluation model of the SD-WALR level was constructed based on it. Taking Luoyang City as an example, using the latest 10 years (2010–2019) with available data as the study period, the results showed that the value of the SD degree increased from 0.609 to 0.789 during the study period, which reached the level of intermediate synergetic development. In general, the development of WALRs showed a positive trend from “high coupling but low synergetic development” to “high synergetic development”.
Investigating the Potential of Cosmic-Ray Neutron Sensing for Estimating Soil Water Content in Farmland and Mountainous Areas
Authors: Jiang Yifei , Xuan Kefan , Gao Chen , Liu Yiren , Zhao Yuan , Deng Haodong , Li Xiaopeng , Liu Jianli
Published: April 2023

The conventional methods of estimating soil water content (SWC) are mainly based on in situ measurements at sampling points and remote sensing measurements over an entire region. In view of these methods, cosmic-ray neutron sensing (CRNS) has received increasing attention in recent years as a mesoscale, noncontact SWC estimation technology that can provide more accurate and timely estimates of SWC over a larger area. In this study, we estimated SWC using both CRNS and soil-mounted detectors in farmland and mountainous areas, and evaluated the accuracy of the estimations at two experimental sites. Ultra-rapid adaptable neutron-only simulation (URANOS) was used to simulate the detection radius and depth of the two experimental sites and to obtain the spatial weights of the CRNS footprint. The results show that the theoretical range of detection was reduced in farmland compared to mountainous areas during the experimental period, suggesting that farmland retained more SWC even with less precipitation. Spatial weights were simulated to calculate the SWC of sampling points, and the weighted and averaged SWC were then correlated with CRNS. The weighting calculation improves the accuracy of CRNS estimations, with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.645 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.046 cm3·cm−3 for farmland, and reproduces the daily dynamics of SWC. The R2 and RMSE in mountainous areas are 0.773 and 0.049 cm3·cm−3, respectively, and the estimation accuracy of CRNS cannot be improved by the weighting calculation. The estimation accuracy of CRNS is acceptable in both regions, but the mountainous terrain obstructs neutron transmission, causing a deviation between the actual and theoretical neutron footprints in mountainous areas. Thus, the accuracy of SWC estimation is limited in mountainous terrain. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CRNS is suitable for use in farmland and mountainous areas and that further attention should be given to the effects of topography and vegetation when it is applied in mountainous environments.
Monitoring the achievement of sustainable development goals in ASEAN countries
Authors:   Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University, Moscow, Russia, Khoruzhy L. I. , Tryastsina N. Yu. ,   Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University, Moscow, Russia, Gupalova T. N. ,   Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University, Moscow, Russia, Dzhikiya M. K. ,   Russian Timiryazev State Agrarian University, Moscow, Russia
Published: April 2023

The article is devoted to topical issues of achieving sustainable development goals by ASEAN countries and accounting and analytical tools for achieving the set goals. The program documents for ensuring the sustainable development goals in the ASEAN countries are classified, the experience of generating reports on sustainable development is summarized, and the analysis of key indicators in the context of the main SDGs is carried out. The results obtained can be used to monitor the state of sustainable development processes, identify bottlenecks and respond in a timely manner to challenges in order to achieve meaningful progress for people and the planet by 2030.
La autoestima en mujeres que han sufrido violencia de género
Authors: Amen Levoyer Melissa Marianela , Vera García Blanca Maritza de los Ángeles
Published: April 2023

Este artículo de revisión teórica, es un trabajo cualitativo, no experimental de metodología analítica-descriptiva, por lo que es necesario un abordaje teórico sobre el tema, pretende establecer la relación entre el nivel de autoestima y la violencia de género y para ello se abordan varios conceptos a lo largo de la historia y se expone el sustento teórico de la relación entre ellas. La metodología empleada es analítica-descriptiva, haciendo uso de la investigación documental, de tal manera que, mediante una búsqueda profunda de las variables de estudio, se las pueda caracterizar y determinar la relación entre ellas. La violencia de género constituye cualquier atentado contra la dignidad y la libertad de las mujeres, independientemente del ámbito en el que se desarrolle y se ejerza toda situación de desigualdad. Es un fenómeno que puede desencadenar perjuicios en la salud mental, y repercusiones que ocasionan daños profundos en la confianza, y deterioro de la autoestima.
Factores psicosociales relacionados con riesgo suicida durante el confinamiento por SARS-CoV-2 en adolescentes, Cantón Jipijapa, Ecuador
Authors: Moreira Cedeño Mario Adalberto , Campo Aráuz Lorena
Published: April 2023

La pandemia por el SARS-CoV-2 llevó al estado ecuatoriano a confinar a las personas para evitar su propagación, situación que tuvo efectos negativos en la parte psicológica de los ciudadanos, especialmente los adolescentes, quienes llegaron en casos extremos a tener ideas suicidas. El objetivo del presente estudio fue exploratorio fue identificar de modo preventivo, los principales factores psicosociales que podrían asociarse al riesgo de ideación suicida en adolescentes, durante el confinamiento. Este estudio se realizó en la Unidad Educativa Fiscal “Quince de Octubre” y la Unidad Educativa Puerto Cayo de Jipijapa. El enfoque metodológico del estudio fue mixto, cualitativo, cuantitativo, de tipo descriptiva, de corte transversal, con la inclusión de 462 adolescentes de décimo año y de segundo de Bachillerato, los datos se generaron mediante encuesta virtual. Los estudiantes accedieron al formulario a través del enlace que debieron completar. Dentro de los resultados se observa la existencia de consumo de drogas y alcohol en la familia, abuso sexual, maltrato físico, violencia psicológica. Los adolescentes verbalizan indirectas a sus familiares o amigos sobre deseos autolíticos. Entre las principales conclusiones están el diseño de este estudio aplicado a los 462 adolescentes, asimismo permite visualizar factores psicosociales de riesgo relacionados con el confinamiento experimentado y posible comportamiento de ideas autolíticas en la unidad educativa mencionada. Los hallazgos de este estudio, de replicarse esta metodología, podrían servir como información para generar propuestas preventivas, dirigidas a la población adolescente de instituciones educativas similares en la provincia de Manabí.
Meta-analysis and meta-regression of subclinical mastitis prevalences in dairy cattle in Türkiye
Authors: Çelik Elif , Akçay Aytaç
Published: April 2023

In this study, it was aimed to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis obtained from 38 studies conducted in Türkiye between 1988 and 2019 by meta-analysis method and to calculate common prevalence. The estimated prevalence of subclinical mastitis in the studies were evaluated separately as cow-based (11182 cows in 37 studies) and udder quarter-based (48990 udder quarters in 33 studies). According to the results, the common prevalence of subclinical mastitis was calculated as 0.48 (95% CI: 0.41-0.56) in cow-based studies and 0.32 (95% CI: 0.26-0.37) in quarter based-based studies. As a result of this study, the results of individual studies on the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Türkiye were combined with the meta-analysis method and a more precise estimate of the prevalence was obtained.
Exploring the barriers to and facilitators of implementing CanRisk in primary care: a qualitative thematic framework analysis
Authors: Archer Stephanie , Donoso Francisca Stutzin , Carver Tim , Yue Adelaide , Cunningham Alex P , Ficorella Lorenzo , Tischkowitz Marc , Easton Douglas F , Antoniou Antonis C , Emery Jon , Usher-Smith Juliet , Walter Fiona M
Published: April 2023

Background

The CanRisk tool enables the collection of risk factor information and calculation of estimated future breast cancer risks based on the multifactorial Breast and Ovarian Analysis of Disease Incidence and Carrier Estimation Algorithm (BOADICEA) model. Despite BOADICEA being recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and CanRisk being freely available for use, the CanRisk tool has not yet been widely implemented in primary care.

Aim

To explore the barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of the CanRisk tool in primary care.

Design and setting

A multi-methods study was conducted with primary care practitioners (PCPs) in the East of England.

Method

Participants used the CanRisk tool to complete two vignette-based case studies; semi-structured interviews gained feedback about the tool; and questionnaires collected demographic details and information about the structural characteristics of the practices.

Results

Sixteen PCPs (eight GPs and eight nurses) completed the study. The main barriers to implementation included: time needed to complete the tool; competing priorities; IT infrastructure; and PCPs’ lack of confidence and knowledge to use the tool. Main facilitators included: easy navigation of the tool; its potential clinical impact; and the increasing availability of and expectation to use risk prediction tools.

Conclusion

There is now a greater understanding of the barriers and facilitators that exist when using CanRisk in primary care. The study has highlighted that future implementation activities should focus on reducing the time needed to complete a CanRisk calculation, integrating the CanRisk tool into existing IT infrastructure, and identifying appropriate contexts in which to conduct a CanRisk calculation. PCPs may also benefit from information about cancer risk assessment and CanRisk-specific training.
Diagnostic windows in non-neoplastic diseases: a systematic review
Authors: Whitfield Emma , White Becky , Denaxas Spiros , Lyratzopoulos Georgios
Published: April 2023

Background

Investigating changes in prediagnostic healthcare utilisation can help identify how much earlier conditions could be diagnosed. Such ‘diagnostic windows’ are established for cancer but remain relatively unexplored for non-neoplastic conditions.

Aim

To extract evidence on the presence and length of diagnostic windows for non-neoplastic conditions.

Design and setting

A systematic review of studies of prediagnostic healthcare utilisation was carried out.

Method

A search strategy was developed to identify relevant studies from PubMed and Connected Papers. Data were extracted on prediagnostic healthcare use, and evidence of diagnostic window presence and length was assessed.

Results

Of 4340 studies screened, 27 were included, covering 17 non-neoplastic conditions, including both chronic (for example, Parkinson’s disease) and acute conditions (for example, stroke). Prediagnostic healthcare events included primary care encounters and presentations with relevant symptoms. For 10 conditions, sufficient evidence to determine diagnostic window presence and length was available, ranging from 28 days (herpes simplex encephalitis) to 9 years (ulcerative colitis). For the remaining conditions, diagnostic windows were likely to be present, but insufficient study duration was often a barrier to robustly determining their length, meaning that diagnostic window length may exceed 10 years for coeliac disease, for example.

Conclusion

Evidence of changing healthcare use before diagnosis exists for many non-neoplastic conditions, establishing that early diagnosis is possible, in principle. In particular, some conditions may be detectable many years earlier than they are currently diagnosed. Further research is required to accurately estimate diagnostic windows and to determine how much earlier diagnosis may be possible, and how this might be achieved.
Segmentation of Mammogram Abnormalities Using Ant System based Contour Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Subramanian Sudha , Rasu Ganesan
Published: April 2023

Breast cancer is the most widespread cancer that affects females all over the world. The Computer-aided Detection Systems (CADs) could assist radiologists’ in locating and classifying the breast tissues into normal and abnormal, however the absolute decisions are still made by the radiologist. In general, CAD system consists of four stages: Pre-processing, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification. This research work focuses on the segmentation step, where the abnormal tissues are segmented from the normal tissues. There are numerous approaches presented in the literature for mammogram segmentation. The major limitation of these methods is that they have to test each and every pixel of the image at least once, which is computationally expensive. This research work focuses on detection of microcalcifications from the digital mammograms using a novel segmentation approach based on novel Ant Clustering approach called Ant System based Contour Clustering (ASCC) that simulates the ants’ foraging behavior. The performance of the ASCC based segmentation algorithm is investigated with the mammogram images received from Mammographic Image Analysis Society (MIAS) database.
Modified Cuckoo Search Algorithm for Motion Vector Estimation
Authors: Acharjee Suvojit , Chaudhuri Sheli Sinha
Published: April 2023

Motion estimation and motion compensation are the accepted process in H.264 and H.265 video coding standard to reduce temporal redundancy. Several fast block matching algorithms have been developed to reduce the calculation cost in the motion estimation process. But quick block matching algorithms often lead to a local minimum. Several researchers used different population-based nature-inspired algorithms to perform block matching. Algorithms like genetic algorithm, differential evolution, particle swarm optimization were used in numerous motion estimation algorithms. Different algorithms used a fitness approximation strategy to reduce computation cost. Jaya algorithm-based block matching is the most efficient block matching algorithm in the available literature. Jaya algorithm is free from algorithmic specific parameter which speeds up the process. This article proposes a few modifications to the traditional cuckoo search algorithm and then, a block matching algorithm was proposed based on the modified cuckoo search algorithm. Fitness approximation, adaptive termination, and zero motion prejudgment modules were used with the modified cuckoo search algorithm to reduce the number of redundant calculations. The performance of the proposed algorithm was compared with the exhaustive search algorithm and other benchmarking algorithms in terms of Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structure Similarity Index (SSIM), and average search point required to calculate a motion vector for a block. The proposed algorithm delivers better performance compared to the benchmarking algorithms.