bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Methodology of Adaptive Levels of Interval for Laser Speckle Imaging
Authors: Al-Temeemy Ali A.
Published: November 2024

A methodology is proposed for use in the laser speckle imaging field. This methodology modified the graphical and numerical speckle pattern imaging methods to improve their extraction and discrimination capabilities when processing the embedded temporal activity in the images of laser speckle patterns. This is through enabling these methods to adapt the levels of speckle images’ interval during processing to speed up the process and overcome the lack of discrimination when they deal with a complex scattering medium having regions of various scales of activity. The impact of using the new methodology on the imaging methods’ performance was evaluated using graphical and numerical evaluation tests, in addition, an exceptional laser speckle imaging system was designed and implemented to undertake a series of experimental validation tests on this methodology. The evaluation and experimental validation tests show the effectiveness of this methodology on the extraction and discrimination capabilities for the standard imaging speckle pattern methods and prove its ability to provide high performance with the real images of speckle patterns. The results also show an improvement in the processing speed for both graphical and numerical methods when the adaptive levels methodology is applied to them, which reaches 78% for the graphical and 87% for the numerical speckle processing methods.
Design and Computational Modelling of AUV Tunnel Thruster Covers for Efficient Operation
Authors: McNeill Christopher , Cooper-Baldock Zachary , Sammut Karl
Published: November 2024

Autonomous underwater vehicles have seen widespread adoption across industrial, scientific, and defence applications. They are typically utilized to perform oceanic mapping, surveillance, and inspection-type missions. Hovering AUVs, used for inspection applications, are over-actuated vehicles incorporating multiple thrusters to enable multiple degrees of freedom control at a low velocity. These vehicles, however, are extremely energy-limited, owing to their restrictive structural design that prohibits large batteries. This necessitates careful hydrodynamic design to best utilize this limited energy storage. Of particular importance are the hydrodynamic propulsion efficiencies of these vehicles. Whilst the external structure of AUV platforms is relatively well-defined and hydrodynamically optimized, one area has seen limited focus and optimization. This is the immediate surroundings of the propulsion geometry and housing. In this body of work, we propose an adaptation to the traditional through-body tunnel thruster geometry of an over-actuated AUV platform. The modification is the inclusion of a retractable internal thruster cover. Subsequently, a comparison is provided between a clean-hull AUV configuration, one with open through-body thrusters, and one fitted with the designed cover geometry. A comprehensive computational fluid dynamics analysis is then converged and assessed using the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations. The drag and local flow fields are determined, where the covers are found to reduce the drag coefficient and total drag of the AUV by 9.51%, primarily due to a reduction of 9.91% in the pressure drag. These findings highlight the increased operational efficiency of the cover geometry and support the adoption of such covers for energy-constrained AUVs.
The Study of Risk Assessment Method for Ship Berthing Based on the “Human-Ship-Environment” Synergy
Authors: Li Chunxu , Zhao Jun , Ding Gege , Zhang Ke , Li Wantong , Li Yabin , Wang Yanjuan , Wen Jie
Published: November 2024

Berthing is one of the most dangerous phases in the process of ship navigation, and its risk assessment is crucial for both ship safety and port scheduling. To effectively enhance the safety and reliability of the berthing process, a berthing risk assessment method based on the synergy of “human-ship-environment” has been established. First, the impact of the human, ship, and environmental factors on berthing risk was analyzed, and a risk assessment index system for ship berthing was constructed. Then, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) methods were employed for a comprehensive risk assessment. AHP was used to determine the weight of each factor reasonably, while FCE was applied for the evaluation of the berthing risk. Finally, the proposed method was applied to evaluate the berthing operations of two ships, namely the KCS ship type and the S-175 large passenger ship type, at the Qingdao Intelligent Ship Testing Field, China. The experiment’s results indicate that the evaluation results of the method proposed here have good consistency with the expert survey method.
TDOF PID Controller for Enhanced Disturbance Rejection with MS-Constraints for Speed Control of Marine Diesel Engine
Authors: So Gun-Baek , Jin Gang-Gyoo , Lee Chan-Ha , So Hye-Rim , Kim Dae-Jeong , Ahn Jong-Kap
Published: November 2024

This study proposes a two-degree-of-freedom PID controller design and tuning method based on a simple pole placement approach to enhance servo and regulatory performance while ensuring the stability of diesel engines. In the modeling of the control target, the actuator is analytically modeled. In contrast, the type of model for the diesel engine is derived analytically, and its parameter estimation uses operational data from naval ships. The proposed controller consists of a PID controller to improve regulatory performance and a set-point filter to enhance servo response. PID controller parameters consist of the parameters of the controlled plant model and a single tuning variable. At the same time, the set-point filter comprises the controller parameters and a single weighting factor. To ensure the robust stability of the controller, the controller parameters are tuned based on the maximum sensitivity. To verify the effectiveness of this study, simulations for the speed control of a diesel engine with inherent nonlinearity were conducted under three scenarios. Performance was quantitatively analyzed using the integral of time-weighted absolute error, 2% settling time, 2% recovery time, specified maximum sensitivity, and maximum peak response value, and was compared with Skogestad’s IMC and Lee’s IMC. Based on evaluation indices, the proposed controller demonstrated superior performance in both servo and regulatory responses compared to the two existing control techniques while ensuring stability.
Study on the Hydrodynamics of a Cownose Ray’s Flapping Pectoral Fin Model near the Ground
Authors: Luo Yang , Hou Zhexing , Chen Dongyang , Xu Tongshi , Huang Qiaogao , Ye Pengcheng , Pan Guang
Published: November 2024

Cownose rays typically swim close to the ocean floor, and the nearby substrate inevitably influences their swimming performance. In this research, we numerically investigate the propulsive capability of cownose rays swimming near the ground by resolving three-dimensional viscous unsteady Navier–Stokes equations. The ground effect generally has a favorable impact on swimming. The thrust and lift increase as the near-substrate distance decreases. Nevertheless, a body length is the recommended distance from the ground, at which the flapping efficiency and swimming stability obtain a good trade-off. The increase in lift is due to the pressure difference between the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the ray, and the thrust boost is due to the enhanced shear vortex at the fin’s leading edge when swimming near the substrate. Our results indicate that the ground effect is more noticeable when the fin flaps are symmetrical compared to asymmetrical. In asymmetric flapping, the hydrodynamic performance improves at a smaller value than the half-amplitude ratio (HAR). The frequency of flapping also significantly affects swimming performance. We find that a superior flapping frequency, at which maximum efficiency is reached, occurs when flapping close to the substrate, and this superior frequency is consistent with the behavior of our model’s biological counterpart.
Life Cycle Assessment and Experimental Mechanical Investigation of Test Samples for High-Performance Racing Boats
Authors: Raffaele Marcello , Corigliano Pasqualino , Cucinotta Filippo , Palomba Giulia , Salmeri Fabio
Published: November 2024

This paper investigates the environmental impact and mechanical performance of two composite sandwich structures, named Series 1 and Series 2, used in high-performance racing boats. Mechanical tests, including four-point bending and drop impact tests, were performed. It was found on a general basis that Series 2 has higher load-bearing capacity and limited deflection. Series 1, which has a higher density, was able to absorb more impact energy but was more susceptible to damage. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impact associated with the materials, considering also the testing phase, which plays an important role in the life cycle of materials and structures for advanced marine applications. In addition, two performance indexes were introduced to correlate the mechanical and environmental properties of the analyzed materials. This study emphasizes the importance of considering the testing phase in LCA, as the energy-intensive nature of mechanical testing contributes significantly to the overall environmental impact. The introduced indexes allow for a more comprehensive understanding of the balance between mechanical performance and environmental sustainability. The findings suggest a trade-off between mechanical performance and sustainability, calling for further research into recyclable composites and greener manufacturing processes to balance these competing priorities.
A Sub-Channel Spatial Homogeneity-Based Channel Estimation Method for Underwater Optical Densely Arrayed MIMO Systems
Authors: Peng Guojin , Qiu Hongbing , Li Yanlong , Wang Junru
Published: November 2024

The limited surface area and structural constraints of small underwater communication devices necessitate a dense placement of transmitting and receiving array elements in optical multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The compact layout leads to the formation of sub-channels that exhibit notable spatial correlation and a tendency toward homogeneity. Although sub-channel spatial homogeneity (SSH) may diminish the communication capacity of MIMO systems, it provides a significant advantage by reducing the pilot overhead. In this study, we exploit the inherent SSH and the natural time-domain sparsity of channel impulse response (CIR) in the underwater optical densely arrayed MIMO (UODA-MIMO) system to propose an innovative SSH-based channel estimation (SSH-CE) method. We model the underwater optical CIR at Gbaud rates and integrate it with SSH characteristics. This approach transforms the reconstruction targets of compressive sensing (CS) from conventional CIR samples to prior CIR model parameters and the fitting residuals of the homogeneous sub-channels, reducing the pilot overhead. The simulation results of photon tracing for UODA-MIMO sub-channels in turbid harbor water indicate a monotonic, exponential decay in CIR at Gbaud rates, with transmission delays exceeding 5 nanoseconds for distances over 8 m. Moreover, the correlation coefficients among sub-channels reach a minimum of 0.975, confirming the presence of SSH in UODA-MIMO systems. In comparison to existing CS methods that rely on known sparsity, sparsity adaptation, and the structural sparsity of MIMO channels, the SSH-CE method achieves a lower degree of sparsity in reconstruction targets and a reduced lower bound for pilot requirements under the SPARK criterion. Specifically, the SSH-CE method achieves a reduction in the pilot overhead for reconstructing Nt sub-channels of K-sparse to 2Nt irrespective of CIR residual compensation.
Vessel Trajectory Prediction Based on AIS Data: Dual-Path Spatial–Temporal Attention Network with Multi-Attribute Information
Authors: Huang Feilong , Liu Zhuoran , Li Xiaohe , Mou Fangli , Li Pengfei , Fan Zide
Published: November 2024

With the rapid growth of the global shipping industry, the increasing number of vessels has brought significant challenges to navigation safety and management. Vessel trajectory prediction technology plays a crucial role in route optimization and collision avoidance. However, current prediction methods face limitations when dealing with complex vessel interactions and multi-dimensional attribute information. Most models rely solely on global modeling in the temporal dimension, considering spatial interactions only later, failing to capture dynamic changes in trajectory interactions at different time points. Additionally, these methods do not fully utilize the multi-attribute information in AIS data, and the simple concatenation of attributes limits the model’s potential. To address these issues, this paper proposes a dual spacial–temporal attention network with multi-attribute information (DualSTMA). This network models vessel behavior and interactions through two distinct paths, comprehensively considering individual vessel intentions and dynamic interactions. Moreover, we divide vessel attributes into dynamic and static categories, with dynamic attributes fused during feature preprocessing, and with static attributes being controlled through a gating mechanism during spatial interactions to regulate the importance of neighboring vessel features. Benchmark tests on real AIS data show that DualSTMA significantly outperforms existing methods in prediction accuracy. Ablation studies and visual analyses further validate the model’s reliability and advantages.
Performance Characteristics of Newly Developed Real-Time Wave Measurement Buoy Using the Variometric Approach
Authors: Xue Chen , Guo Jingsong , Jiang Shumin , Wang Yanfeng , Guo Yanliang , Li Jie
Published: November 2024

Accurate measurement of ocean wave parameters is critical for applications including ocean modeling, coastal engineering, and disaster management. This article introduces a novel global navigation satellite system (GNSS) drifting buoy for surface wave measurements that addresses the challenges of performing real-time, high-precision measurements and realizing cost-effective large-scale deployment. Unlike traditional approaches, this buoy uses the kinematic extension of the variometric approach for displacement analysis stand-alone engine (Kin-VADASE) velocity measurement method, thus eliminating the need for additional high-precision measurement units and an expensive complement of satellite orbital products. Through testing in the South China Sea and Laoshan Bay, the results showed good consistency in significant wave height and main wave direction between the novel buoy and a Datawell DWR-G4, even under mild wind and wave conditions. However, wave mean period disparities were observed partially because of sampling frequency differences. To validate this idea, we used Joint North Sea Wave Project (Jonswap) spectral waves as input signals, the bias characteristics of the mean periods of the spectral calculations were compared under conditions of identical input signals and gradient-distributed wind speeds. Results showed an average difference of 0.28 s between the sampling frequencies of 1.28 Hz and 5 Hz. The consequence that high-frequency signals have considerable effects on the mean wave period calculations indicates the necessity of the buoy’s high-frequency operation mode. This GNSS drifting buoy offers a cost-effective, globally deployable solution for ocean wave measurement. Its potential for large-scale networked ocean wave observation makes it a valuable oceanic research and monitoring instrument.
Advanced Design of Naval Ship Propulsion Systems Utilizing Battery-Diesel Generator Hybrid Electric Propulsion Systems
Authors: Park Youngnam , Kim Heemoon
Published: November 2024

As advanced sensors and weapons require high power, naval vessels have increasingly adopted electric propulsion systems. This study aims to enhance the efficiency and operability of electric propulsion systems over traditional mechanical propulsion systems by analyzing the operational profiles of modern naval vessels. Consequently, a battery-integrated generator-based electric propulsion system was selected. Considering the purpose of the vessel, a specification selection procedure was developed, leading to the design of a hybrid electric propulsion system (comprising one battery and four generators). The power management control technique of the proposed propulsion system sets the operating modes (depending on the specific fuel oil consumption of the generators) to minimize fuel consumption based on the operating load. Additionally, load distribution control rules for the generators were designed to reduce energy consumption based on the load and battery state of charge. MATLAB/Simulink was used to evaluate the proposed system, with simulation results demonstrating that it maintained the same propulsion performance as existing systems while achieving a 12-ton (22%) reduction in fuel consumption. This improvement results in cost savings and reduced carbon dioxide emissions. These findings suggest that an efficient load-sharing controller can be implemented for various vessels equipped with electric propulsion systems, tailored to their operational profiles.
Anomalous Diffusion by Ocean Waves and Eddies
Authors: Voermans Joey J. , Babanin Alexander V. , Skvortsov Alexei T. , Kirezci Cagil , Gamaleldin Muhannad W. , Rapizo Henrique , Pezzi Luciano P. , Santini Marcelo F. , Heil Petra
Published: November 2024

Understanding the dispersion of floating objects and ocean properties at the ocean surface is crucial for various applications, including oil spill management, debris tracking and search and rescue operations. While mesoscale turbulence has been recognized as a primary driver of dispersion, the role of submesoscale processes is poorly understood. This study investigates the largely unexplored mechanism of dispersion by refracted wave fields. In situ observations demonstrate significantly faster and distinct dispersion patterns for objects influenced by wind, waves and currents compared to those solely driven by ocean currents. Numerical simulations of wave fields refracted by ocean eddies corroborate these findings, revealing diffusivities that exceed those of turbulent diffusion at scales up to 10 km during energetic sea states. Our results highlight the importance of ocean waves in dispersing surface material, suggesting that refracted wave fields may play a significant role in submesoscale spreading. As atmospheric forcing at the ocean surface will only strengthen due to anthropogenic contributions, additional research into wave refraction is necessary. This requires concurrent high-resolution measurements of wind, waves and currents to inform the revisions of large-scale coupled models to better include the submesoscale physics.
Object Detection and Tracking in Maritime Environments in Case of Person-Overboard Scenarios: An Overview
Authors: Hoehner Florian , Langenohl Vincent , Akyol Suat , el Moctar Ould , Schellin Thomas E.
Published: November 2024

We examine the current state of the art and the related research on the automated detection and tracking of small objects—or persons—in the context of a person-overboard (POB) scenario and present the associated governing relationship between different technologies, platforms, and approaches as a system of systems. A novel phase model, structuring a POB scenario, comprises three phases: (1) detection, (2) search and track, and (3) rescue. Within these phases, we identify the central areas of responsibility and describe in detail the phases (1) and (2). We emphasize the importance of a high-level representation of different systems and their interactions to comprehensively represent the complexity and dynamics of POB scenarios. Our systematic classification and detailed description of the technologies and methods used provide valuable insights to support future regulatory and research activities. Our primary aim is to advance the development of corresponding technologies and standards.
Spatial Distribution and Decadal Variability of 129I and 236U in the Western Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Leimbacher Maria , Raimondi Lorenza , Castrillejo Maxi , Vockenhuber Christof , Pérez-Tribouillier Habacuc , Schroeder Katrin , Tanhua Toste , Casacuberta Núria
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the spatial and temporal distribution of the artificial radionuclides 129I and 236U in the Western Mediterranean Sea, focusing on their connection to radionuclide sources and circulation dynamics. Taking advantage of unprecedented precision of accelerator mass spectrometry, both tracers were firstly investigated in 2013. Here, we examine tracer observations obtained along four stations (re-)visited during the TAlPro2022 expedition in May 2022. Distributions of both 129I and 236U were related to water masses and clearly linked to local circulation patterns: a tracer-poor surface Atlantic inflow, a thining of the tracer minimum at intermediate depths, and a higher tracer signal in Western Mediterranean Deep Waters due to dense water formation in the Algero-Provençal basin. The comparison to 2013 tracer data indicated recent deep ventilation of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the mixing of deep waters and enhanced stratification in intermediate waters in the Algero-Provençal basin due to a temperature and salinity increase between 2013 and 2022. We estimate an overall 129I increase of 20% at all depths between 0 and 500m with respect to 2013, which is not accompanied by 236U. This suggests either the lateral transport of 129I from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, or an additional source of this tracer. The inventories of 129I calculated for each water mass at the four stations point to the deposition of airborne releases from the nuclear reprocessing plants (La Hague and Sellafield) on the surface Mediterranean waters as the more likely explanation for the 129I increase. This work demonstrates the great potential of including measurements of anthropogenic radionuclides as tracers of ocean circulation. However, a refinement of the anthropogenic inputs is necessary to improve their use in understanding ventilation changes in the Mediterranean Sea.
Three-Dimensional CKANs: UUV Noncooperative Target State Estimation Approach Based on 3D Convolutional Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks
Authors: Lin Changjian , Yu Dan , Lin Shibo
Published: November 2024

Accurate and stable estimation of the position and trajectory of noncooperative targets is crucial for the safe navigation and operation of sonar-equipped underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs). However, the uncertainty associated with sonar observations and the unpredictability of noncooperative target movements often undermine the stability of traditional Bayesian methods. This paper presents an innovative approach for noncooperative target state estimation utilizing 3D Convolutional Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks (3DCKANs). By establishing a non-Markovian model that characterizes state estimation of UUV noncooperative targets under uncertain observations, we leverage historical data to construct 3D Convolutional Kolmogorov–Arnold Networks. This network learns the patterns of sonar observations and target state transitions from a substantial offline dataset, allowing it to approximate the posterior probability distribution derived from past observations effectively. Additionally, a sliding window technique is integrated into the convolutional neural network to enhance the estimator’s fault tolerance with respect to observation data in both temporal and spatial dimensions, particularly when posterior probabilities are unknown. The incorporation of the Kolmogorov–Arnold representation within the convolutional layers enhances the network’s capacity for nonlinear expression and adaptability in processing spatial information. Finally, we present statistical experiments and simulation cases to validate the accuracy and stability of the proposed method.
Transient Sand Scour Dynamics Induced by Pulsed Submerged Water Jets: Simulation Analysis
Authors: Wang Chuan , Jia Xuanwen , Peng Yangfan , Gao Zhenjun , Yu Hao
Published: November 2024

Water jet scouring technology is extensively applied in marine engineering, harbor maintenance, river training, and various other fields, showcasing a broad spectrum of potential applications. However, achieving a comprehensive understanding of the transient sand scouring characteristics of water jets remains challenging due to the inherent complexity of the coupled flow structure involving submerged jets and environmental fluids, along with the intricate dynamics of two-phase flow. This study, rooted in numerical simulation and experimental validation, introduces pulse characteristics into a submerged jet. A thorough investigation is conducted to explore the transient sand scouring characteristics and sand transport laws of the submerged jet under diverse working conditions. The results of this study revealed that the main reason for the asymmetry of the sand pit morphology is not the non-uniform distribution of sand grains, but more likely caused by turbulence effects. Simultaneously, within the initial 0.25 s of the pulse cycle, suspended sediment resulting from the pulsed jet in the preceding cycle gradually transports to the dune and its surrounding areas. Subsequently, from 0.25 s to 0.5 s, sediment on both sides of the pit’s bottom undergoes movement and amalgamation with the sediment that remained unsettled during the previous cycle. The findings reveal that higher jet velocities significantly enhance sediment suspension, migration, and redeposition, leading to deeper erosion and the rapid formation of the sand pit’s outline within 2 s. Additionally, the jet velocity and the impact distance are identified as critical factors influencing erosion depth and sediment dynamics. These insights advance the understanding of erosion mechanisms driven by pulsed jets, highlighting their impact on sediment transport processes. The research findings provide important guidance for dredging and ocean engineering fields and offer a theoretical basis for improving the understanding of submerged jet scouring mechanisms.
A Numerical Method on Large Roll Motion in Beam Seas Under Intact and Damaged Conditions
Authors: Lu Jiang , Zhao Yanjie , Shi Chao , Yu Taijun , Gu Min
Published: November 2024

The second-generation intact stability criteria, including five stability failure modes, were approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020, and it is an urgent task to develop the numerical method for the significant roll motion under dead conditions. Both intact and damaged stability focus on the large roll motion in beam seas. A unified numerical method is studied to predict the large roll motion in regular and irregular beam seas under intact and damaged conditions. Firstly, a sway–heave–pitch–roll–yaw coupled equation named 5-DOF and a sway-roll-yaw coupled motion with the roll-righting arm in still water named 3-DOF are used to predict the large roll motion in regular beam seas under the intact and damaged conditions. Secondly, the method is extended for the large roll motion in irregular beam seas, where the diffraction force in the roll direction and the sway and yaw motion under intact and damaged conditions are calculated by the subharmonic superposition method. Thirdly, the roll-righting arm in the calm water, roll-damping coefficients, and the roll natural roll period, under the intact and damaged conditions, are obtained by software and a free roll decay experiment, respectively. Finally, the numerical results of a patrol boat under intact and damaged conditions are compared to the experimental results. The results show that the sway-roll-yaw coupled motion with the roll-righting arm in still water named 3-DOF can predict the large roll motion in regular and irregular beam seas under intact and damaged conditions.
Navigating the Complexities of Radiation Injuries: Therapeutic Principles and Reconstructive Strategies
Authors: Grosu-Bularda Andreea , Lita Flavia-Francesca , Hodea Florin-Vlad , Bordeanu-Diaconescu Eliza-Maria , Cretu Andrei , Dumitru Catalina-Stefania , Cacior Stefan , Marinescu Bogdan-Mihai , Lascar Ioan , Hariga Cristian-Sorin
Published: November 2024

Radiation injuries, particularly those resulting from therapeutic or accidental exposure, present complex challenges for medical management. These injuries can manifest localized skin damage or extend to deeper tissues, presenting as various clinical entities that require treatment strategies, ranging from conservative management to complex surgical interventions. Radiation treatment constitutes a fundamental component of neoplastic management, with nearly two out of three oncological instances undergoing it as an element of their therapeutic strategy. The therapeutic approach to radiation injury consists of expanding prophylactic measures while maintaining the efficacy of treatment, such as conservative treatment or local debridement followed by reconstruction. The armamentarium of reconstructive methods available for plastic surgeons, from secondary healing to free tissue transfer, can be successfully applied to radiation injuries. However, the unique pathophysiological changes induced by radiation necessitate a careful and specialized approach for their application, considering the altered tissue characteristics and healing dynamics. The therapeutic strategy is guided by both the severity and progression of the injury, with the primary aim of restoring functionality and aesthetic aspects while simultaneously minimizing the risk of complications. This paper explores the various conditions encompassed by the term “radiation injury,” reviews both non-surgical and surgical therapeutic strategies for managing these injuries, and highlights the unique challenges associated with treating irradiated tissues within specific oncological contexts.
Digital Twins’ Advancements and Applications in Healthcare, Towards Precision Medicine
Authors: Papachristou Konstantinos , Katsakiori Paraskevi F. , Papadimitroulas Panagiotis , Strigari Lidia , Kagadis George C.
Published: November 2024

This review examines the significant influence of Digital Twins (DTs) and their variant, Digital Human Twins (DHTs), on the healthcare field. DTs represent virtual replicas that encapsulate both medical and physiological characteristics—such as tissues, organs, and biokinetic data—of patients. These virtual models facilitate a deeper understanding of disease progression and enhance the customization and optimization of treatment plans by modeling complex interactions between genetic factors and environmental influences. By establishing dynamic, bidirectional connections between the DTs of physical objects and their digital counterparts, these technologies enable real-time data exchange, thereby transforming electronic health records. Leveraging the increasing availability of extensive historical datasets from clinical trials and real-world sources, AI models can now generate comprehensive predictions of future health outcomes for specific patients in the form of AI-generated DTs. Such models can also offer insights into potential diagnoses, disease progression, and treatment responses. This remarkable progression in healthcare paves the way for precision medicine and personalized health, allowing for high-level individualized medical interventions and therapies. However, the integration of DTs into healthcare faces several challenges, including data security, accessibility, bias, and quality. Addressing these obstacles is crucial to realizing the full potential of DHTs, heralding a new era of personalized, precise, and accurate medicine.
The Role of Development and Commercial Banking in Promoting Economic Growth in Mexico: A Sectoral Analysis
Authors: Gil-Jardón Jesús Antonio , Morganti Paolo R. , Atristain-Suárez Connie
Published: November 2024

This study examines the impact of credit extended by both commercial and development banks on exports, GDP, and FDI across different sectors in Mexico. The research lies within the broader context of financial sector development and its role in promoting regional development and economic growth. We use panel data techniques to compare traditional models that include only commercial bank credit with models incorporating development bank credit. Our results emphasize the different and complementary roles of commercial and development banks. The latter is crucial in addressing market failures and supporting long-term, socially and economically beneficial projects. The study concludes that development bank credit should be integrated into economic studies to better understand its contribution to sustainable growth. It suggests that policymakers should coordinate the roles of both banking sectors to foster a balanced and resilient economy.
Cycling, Economic Growth, and Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of Slovenia and Belgium
Authors: Longar Urška , Gričar Sergej , Baldigara Tea , Bojnec Štefan
Published: November 2024

This study explores the impact of economic and environmental factors on bicycle ownership in Slovenia to understand how cycling adoption supports smart transportation. Addressing the question of whether policy interventions are essential, particularly during economic downturns, this research highlights a gap in existing studies, which often overlook the economic dynamics influencing cycling. Using time-series econometric methods on data from 2004 to 2021, this study identifies two key factors driving bicycle ownership. Findings reveal that policy adjustments, especially in times of economic instability, significantly enhance cycling adoption and contribute to sustainable transportation in Slovenia. The relationship between cycling, economic growth, and environmental sustainability in Slovenia demonstrates that, unlike Belgium, Slovenia’s cycling rates benefit more from targeted policy interventions during economic challenges.
Impact of Green Space on Older Adults’ Quality of Life Based on Spatial and Non-Spatial Analyses
Authors: Yu Jingyu , Zhang Lifei , Shi Qingyu
Published: November 2024

Outdoor green space is an important public resource supporting older adults’ active lifestyle and improving their quality of life (QoL). However, the impact of green space on older adults’ QoL has seldom been comprehensibly investigated in Asia. Therefore, this study aimed to predict the impact of green space on older adults’ QoL in China by conducting both spatial analysis and questionnaire surveys. A two-step floating catchment area method was applied to measure the spatial accessibility of green space to older adults at the subdistrict level. To investigate older adults’ actual opinions and verify spatial analysis results, a large-scale questionnaire survey was also conducted. Both ANOVA and logistic regression were adopted to analyze questionnaire survey data. The results indicated that (1) green space was not equally distributed; (2) the possibility of a good QoL for older adults was significantly influenced by accessibility, size, and facilities of green space; (3) the possibility of older adults’ satisfactory QoL would decrease with the increase in walking distances to green space and increase with their good self-care ability. These findings could provide insights for future planning to enhance the spatial distribution of green space and improve QoL for older adults.
High-Resolution Land Use Land Cover Dataset for Meteorological Modelling—Part 2: ECOCLIMAP-SG-ML an Ensemble Land Cover Map
Authors: Rieutord Thomas , Bessardon Geoffrey , Gleeson Emily
Published: November 2024

While the surface of the Earth plays a key role in weather forecasting through its interaction with the atmosphere, in ensemble numerical weather predictions the uncertainty on the surface is only represented with perturbations in the parameterisations representing the surface processes. Data representing the surface, such as the land cover, are not perturbed. As fully data-driven forecasts without parameterisations are growing in importance, sampling the uncertainty on the land cover data brings a new way of making ensemble forecasts. Our work describes a method of generating ensemble land cover maps for numerical weather prediction. The target land cover map has the ECOCLIMAP-SG labels used in the SURFEX surface model and therefore is expected to have all relevant labels for surface-atmosphere interactions. The method translates the ESA WorldCover map to ECOCLIMAP-SG labels and resolution using auto-encoders. The land cover ensemble members are obtained by sampling the land cover probabilities in the output of the neural network. This paper builds upon the work done in a companion paper describing the high-resolution version of ECOCLIMAP-SG, called ECOCLIMAP-SG+, used for the training and evaluation of the neural network. The output map presented here, called ECOCLIMAP-SG-ML, improves upon the ECOCLIMAP-SG map in terms of resolution (from 300 m to 60 m), overall accuracy (from 0.41 to 0.63), and the ability to produce ensemble members.
A Parameter Optimized Method for InVEST Model in Sub-Pixel Scale Integrating Machine Learning Algorithm and Vegetation–Impervious Surface–Soil Model
Authors: Wu Linlin , Fan Fenglei
Published: November 2024

The InVEST model, with its ability to perform spatial visualization and quantification, is an important tool for mapping ecosystem services. However, the spatial accuracy and simulating performance of the model are deeply influenced by the land use parameter, which often relies on the accuracy of land use/cover data. To address this issue, we propose a novel method for optimizing the land use parameter of the InVEST model based on the vegetation–impervious surface–soil (V–I–S) model and a machine learning algorithm. The optimized model is called Sub-InVEST, and it improves the performance of assessing ecosystem services on a sub-pixel scale. The conceptual steps are (i) extracting the V–I–S fraction of remote sensing images based on the spectral unmixing method; (ii) determining the mapping relationship of the V–I–S fraction between land use/cover type using a machine learning algorithm and field observation data; (iii) inputting the V–I–S fraction into the original model instead of the land use/cover parameter of the InVEST model. To evaluate the performance and spatial accuracy of the Sub-InVEST model, we employed the habitat quality module of InVEST and multi-source remote sensing data, which were applied to acquire Sub-InVEST and estimate the habitat quality of central Guangzhou city from 2000 to 2020 with the help of the LSMA and ISODATA methods. The experimental results showed that the Sub-InVEST model is robust in assessing ecosystem services in sets of complex ground scenes. The spatial distribution of the habitat quality of both models revealed a consistent increasing trend from the southwest to the northeast. Meanwhile, linear regression analyses observed a robust correlation and consistent linear trends, with R2 values of 0.41, 0.35, 0.42, 0.39, and 0.47 for the years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, respectively. Compared with the original model, Sub-InVEST had a more favorable performance in estimating habitat quality in central Guangzhou. The spatial depictions and numerical distribution of the results of the Sub-InVSET model manifest greater detail and better concordance with remote sensing imagery and show a more seamless density curve and a substantially enhanced probability distribution across interval ranges.
Thermal Footprint of the Urbanization Process: Analyzing the Heat Effects of the Urbanization Index (UI) on the Local Climate Zone (LCZ) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) over Two Decades in Seville
Authors: Falah Nadia , Solis-Guzman Jaime , Falah Nahid
Published: November 2024

Urbanization is a multifaceted process characterized by changes in urban areas through various means, such as sprawl, ribbon development, or infill and compact growth. This phenomenon changes the pattern of the local climate zone (LCZ) and significantly affects the climate, vegetation dynamics, energy consumption, water resources, and public health. This study aims to discern the impacts of changes in urban growth on the LCZ and land surface temperature (LST) over a two-decade period. A comprehensive methodology that integrates statistical analysis, data visualization, machine learning, and advanced techniques, such as remote sensing technology and geospatial analysis systems, is employed. ENVI, GEE, and GIS tools are utilized to collect, process, and monitor satellite data and imagery of temporal and spatial variations in intensive or diffuse urbanization processes from 2003 to 2023 to analyze and simulate land use and land cover (LULC) changes, urbanization index (UI), LCZ patterns, and LST changes over the years and to make overlapping maps of changes to recognize the relation between LULC, LCZ, and LST. This study focuses on Seville’s urban area, which has experienced rapid urbanization and a significant increase in average temperature during the last few decades. The findings of this study will provide actionable recommendations into the interplay between urban growth and climate and highlight the pivotal role of urban growth in shaping resilience and vulnerable areas based on microclimate changes. Urban planners can leverage these insights to predict alternatives for the future development of urban areas and define practical climate mitigation strategies.
Investigation into the Mechanism of the Impact of Sunlight Exposure Area of Urban Artificial Structures and Human Activities on Land Surface Temperature Based on Point of Interest Data
Authors: Wang Yuchen , Zhang Yu , Ding Nan
Published: November 2024

With rapid urbanization, the urban heat island (UHI) effect has intensified, posing challenges to human health and ecosystems. This study explores the impact of sunlight exposure areas of artificial structures and human activities on land surface temperature (LST) in Hefei and Xuzhou, using Landsat 9 data, Google imagery, nighttime light data, and Point of Interest (POI) data. Building shadow distributions and urban road surface areas were derived, and geospatial analysis methods were applied to assess their impact on LST. The results indicate that the sunlight exposure areas of roofs and roads are the primary factors affecting LST, with a more pronounced effect in Xuzhou, while anthropogenic heat plays a more prominent role in Hefei. The influence of sunlight exposure on building facades is relatively weak, and population density shows a limited impact on LST. The geographical detector model reveals that interactions between roof and road sunlight exposure and anthropogenic heat are key drivers of LST increases. Based on these findings, urban planning should focus on optimizing building layouts and heights, enhancing greening on roofs and roads, and reducing the sunlight exposure areas of artificial structures. Additionally, strategically utilizing building shadows and minimizing anthropogenic heat emissions can help lower local temperatures and improve the urban thermal environment.
Spatiotemporal Changes and Driving Mechanisms of Ecosystem Service Supply–Demand Contradictions Under Urbanization
Authors: Zhao Hengkang , Zhang Xinyu , Lu Wenqi , Wei Chenlin , He Dan , Lei Yakai , Borowiak Klaudia
Published: November 2024

Clarifying the driving mechanisms of ecosystem service (ES) supply and demand under urbanization is of significant importance for urban ecological planning and management. However, how the balance of ES supply and demand and its driving mechanisms vary with the degree of urbanization has been little studied. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal changes and the correlations between ES supply and demand and the degree of urbanization in the Zhengzhou Metropolitan Area (ZZMA) from 2000 to 2020 and further explored the driving mechanisms behind these changes. The results showed that, (1) between 2000 and 2020, the ZZMA experienced a deficit in comprehensive ES supply and demand, and regions with rapid urbanization development were more likely to trigger imbalances in ES supply and demand; (2) the spatial mismatch between low–high ES supply and demand was primarily distributed in the built-up areas of various cities, while the high–low spatial mismatch was mostly found in forest and grassland areas; (3) the comprehensive urbanization level of the ZZMA was spatially negatively correlated with the ratio of ES supply and demand. Regions with lower ES balance were more susceptible to disturbances caused by urbanization; (4) population density was the key factor influencing the supply and demand of carbon sequestration, oxygen release, water conservation, and food provision services, while the proportions of forest land and construction areas had the greatest influence on the supply and demand of air purification and leisure services. It is important to ensure the ecological status of the northwestern, southwestern, and central mountainous and forested areas; maintain the agricultural status of the main grain-producing areas in the eastern plains; strengthen ecological restoration and green infrastructure in built-up areas; and formulate differentiated management policies to promote the sustainable supply of ES and safeguard the ecological security of the region.
Spatio-Temporal Differentiation and Driving Factors of County-Level Food Security in the Yellow River Basin: A Case Study of Ningxia, China
Authors: Wu Guiming , Xia Bing , Dong Suocheng , Zhang Jing , Li Zehong , Yang Guiqing
Published: November 2024

Food security is the primary condition for the development of human society. The Great River Basin is very important to ensure the accessibility and availability of agricultural irrigation, which is vital for food security. The Yellow River Basin plays a significant role in China’s food security, with counties serving as key administrative units for guaranteeing this security. This study uses the Yellow River Basin in China as a case study to construct an evaluation index system for county-level food security. It assesses the food security of 22 counties (districts) in Ningxia from 2013 to 2022, applying spatial correlation theories and driving factor analysis methods to explore the factors influencing county-level food security. The results reveal the following: (1) Overall, the food security index in Ningxia has been on the rise, but there is significant internal variation among counties. (2) Spatially, the food security index is relatively low in administrative centers, while the irrigation areas along the Yellow River play a crucial role in maintaining food security, and the overall food security index in the central arid areas is improving. (3) Food security is driven by multiple factors including economic, social, and climatic influences. To enhance food security in the Yellow River Basin, it is necessary to manage land resources systematically, improve grain production technology, and balance ecological protection with food security.