bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen Application Can Optimize Form of Selenium in Soil in Selenium-Rich Areas to Affect Selenium Absorption and Accumulation in Black Wheat
Authors: Kong Weilin , Huo Ruiwen , Lu Yu , Fan Zhenjie , Yue Runqing , Ren Aixia , Li Linghong , Ding Pengcheng , Ren Yongkang , Gao Zhiqiang , Sun Min
Published: December 2023

The composition and form of selenium in the soil have significant effects on the selenium content of crops. In this study, we investigated the selenium absorption pathway in plants by studying the interaction between nitrogen fertilizer and soil selenium. Our results showed that the selenium concentration enrichment factors (CEF) varied within the same region due to nitrogen fertilizer application, where they ranged from 1.33 to 5.02. The soil selenium flow coefficient (mobility factor, MF) increased with higher nitrogen application rates. The sum of the MF values for each soil layer treated with nitrogen application rates of 192 kg hm−2 and 240 kg hm−2 was 0.70, which was 64% higher than that for the control group with no nitrogen application. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, the highest summed water-soluble and exchangeable selenium and relative percentage of total selenium (12.45%) was observed at a nitrogen application rate of 240 kg hm−2. In the 20–40 cm soil layer, the highest relative percentage content of water-soluble and exchangeable selenium and total selenium (12.66%) was observed at a nitrogen application rate of 192 kg hm−2. Experimental treatment of black wheat with various concentrations of sodium selenite showed that selenium treatment at 50 μmol L−1 significantly increased the reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the leaves and roots of seedlings, where the GSH contents increased by 155.4% in the leaves and by 91.5% in the roots. Further analysis of the soil–black wheat system showed that nitrogen application in selenium-rich areas affected the soil selenium flow coefficient and morphological composition, thereby changing the enrichment coefficient for leaves (0.823), transport capacity from leaves to grains (–0.530), and enrichment coefficient for roots (0.38). These changes ultimately affected the selenium concentration in the grains of black wheat.
Chemical Compositions of Essential Oil Extracted from Eight Thyme Species and Potential Biological Functions
Authors: Dong Yanmei , Wei Ziling , Yang Rui , Zhang Yanan , Sun Meiyu , Bai Hongtong , Mo Meiling , Yao Chunlei , Li Hui , Shi Lei
Published: December 2023

Thymus is an herbaceous perennial or subshrub of the Lamiaceae family and is widely distributed worldwide. Essential oils extracted from thymus have attracted much attention, owing to their potential biological functions. Here, we evaluated the chemical compositions of eight thyme essential oils (TEOs) using gas chromatography mass spectrometry and assessed their antioxidant activity. The results showed that (1) the main components in eight TEOs were monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes (84.26–92.84%), and the chemical compositions of the TEOs were affected by the specie factor; (2) eight TEOs could be divided into three groups (thymol-, geraniol-, and nerol acetate-types), and thymol was the main type; (3) eight TEOs had some common compounds, such as thymol and p-cymene, which were the main components in seven TEOs; (4) eight TEOs had antioxidant activity, and Thymus pulegioides, Thymus thracicus, and Thymus serpyllum EOs had stronger antioxidant activity than vitamin E (0.07–0.27 fold) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, while Thymus quinquecostatus and Thymus longicaulis EOs had relatively weak antioxidant activity. In addition, three chemical type standards were used to evaluate potential roles in antibacterial and tumor therapy. The results showed that thymol had strong antibacterial activity against the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and antimigratory activity for A549 cell. Overall, our results can provide a theoretical basis for further exploring the function of natural products from thyme essential oils.
Characterization of Almond Scion/Rootstock Communication in Cultivar and Rootstock Tissues through an RNA-Seq Approach
Authors: Montesinos Álvaro , Rubio-Cabetas María José , Grimplet Jérôme
Published: December 2023

The rootstock genotype plays a crucial role in determining various aspects of scion development, including the scion three-dimensional structure, or tree architecture. Consequently, rootstock choice is a pivotal factor in the establishment of new almond (Prunus amygdalus (L.) Batsch, syn P. dulcis (Mill.)) intensive planting systems, demanding cultivars that can adapt to distinct requirements of vigor and shape. Nevertheless, considering the capacity of the rootstock genotype to influence scion development, it is likely that the scion genotype reciprocally affects rootstock performance. In the context of this study, we conducted a transcriptomic analysis of the scion/rootstock interaction in young almond trees, with a specific focus on elucidating the scion impact on the rootstock molecular response. Two commercial almond cultivars were grafted onto two hybrid rootstocks, thereby generating four distinct combinations. Through RNA-Seq analysis, we discerned that indeed, the scion genotype exerts an influence on the rootstock expression profile. This influence manifests through the modulation of genes associated with hormonal regulation, cell division, root development, and light signaling. This intricate interplay between scion and rootstock communication plays a pivotal role in the development of both scion and rootstock, underscoring the critical importance of a correct choice when establishing new almond orchards.
Ferrous Sulfate-Mediated Control of Phytophthora capsici Pathogenesis and Its Impact on Pepper Plant
Authors: Du Gongfu , He Huang , Peng Jiali , Li Xiaoliang , Liu Zhaohua , Liu Weixia , Yang Yan , Qi Zhiqiang
Published: December 2023

Phytophthora capsici, a destructive fungal pathogen, poses a severe threat to pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) crops worldwide, causing blights that can result in substantial yield losses. Traditional control methods often come with environmental concerns or entail substantial time investments. In this research, we investigate an alternative approach involving ferrous sulfate (FeSO4) application to combat P. capsici and promote pepper growth. We found that FeSO4 effectively inhibits the growth of P. capsici in a dose-dependent manner, disrupting mycelial development and diminishing pathogenicity. Importantly, FeSO4 treatment enhances the biomass and resistance of pepper plants, mitigating P. capsici-induced damage. Microbiome analysis demonstrates that FeSO4 significantly influences soil microbial communities, particularly fungi, within the pepper root. Metabolomics data reveal extensive alterations in the redox metabolic processes of P. capsici under FeSO4 treatment, leading to compromised cell membrane permeability and oxidative stress in the pathogen. Our study presents FeSO4 as a promising and cost-effective solution for controlling P. capsici in pepper cultivation while simultaneously promoting plant growth. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate interactions between iron, pathogen control, and plant health, offering a potential tool for sustainable pepper production.
Antioxidant Response, Phenolic Compounds and Yield of Solanum tuberosum Tubers Inoculated with Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Growing under Water Stress
Authors: Nahuelcura Javiera , Ortega Tiare , Peña Fabiola , Berríos Daniela , Valdebenito Analía , Contreras Boris , Santander Christian , Cornejo Pablo , Ruiz Antonieta
Published: December 2023

Solanum tuberosum (potato) is one of the most common crops worldwide; however, it is sensitive to water stress, which necessitates the identification of alternative tools to improve their production. Here, we evaluated the inoculation of two arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) strains, Claroideoglomus claroideum (CC), Claroideoglomus lamellosum (HMC26), and the MIX (CC + HMC26) in yield and phenolic and antioxidant response using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods in potato crops, at increasing levels of water stress, namely, with 100% (0), 70% (S1), and 40% (S2) soil humidity. Two caffeoylquinic acid isomers were detected and their levels showed a tendency to increase under stress together with the AMF inoculation, reaching up to 19.2 mg kg−1 of 5-caffeoylquinic acid and 7.4 mg kg−1 of caffeoylquinic acid isomer when CC was inoculated, and potato plants grew at the highest water starvation condition (S2). Regarding antioxidant activities, a differentiated response was detected depending on the AMF strain, highlighting the effect of HMC26 on Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) method and CC in cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) method, reaching up to 1.5 μmol g−1 of TEAC in plants inoculated with HMC26 and 0.9 μmol g−1 of CUPRAC in plants inoculated with CC, both in potato tubers of plants growing under the S2 stress condition. Meanwhile, the use of AMF did not influence the number and biomass of the tubers, but significant changes in the biochemical properties of tubers were observed. The results suggest that specific AMF adaptations to water stress must be considered when inoculation procedures are planned to improve the yield and quality of tubers in potato crops.
Growth Stimulation of Durum Wheat and Common Buckwheat by Non-Thermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
Authors: Tunklová Barbora , Šerá Božena , Šrámková Petra , Ďurčányová Sandra , Šerý Michal , Kováčik Dušan , Zahoranová Anna , Hnilička František
Published: December 2023

The grains of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) and achenes of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) were tested after treatment with two sources of non-thermal atmospheric pressure plasma (DCSBD, MSDBD) with different treatment times (0, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 s). The effect of these treatments was monitored with regard to the seed surface diagnostics (water contact angle—WCA, chemical changes by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR); twenty parameters associated with germination and initial seed growth were monitored. A study of the wettability confirmed a decrease in WCA values indicating an increase in surface energy and hydrophilicity depending on the type of seed, plasma source, and treatment time. Surface analysis by attenuated total reflectance FTIR (ATR-FTIR) showed no obvious changes in the chemical bonds on the surface of the plasma-treated seeds, which confirms the non-destructive effect of the plasma on the chemical composition of the seed shell. A multivariate analysis of the data showed many positive trends (not statistically significant) in germination and initial growth parameters. The repeated results for germination rate and root/shoot dry matter ratio indicate the tendency of plants to invest in underground organs. Durum wheat required longer treatment times with non-thermal plasma (10 s, 20 s) for germination and early growth, whereas buckwheat required shorter times (5 s, 10 s). The responses of durum wheat grains to the two non-thermal plasma sources used were equal. In contrast, the responses of buckwheat achenes were more favorable to MSDBD treatment than to DCSBD.
A Prototype Method for the Detection and Recognition of Pigments in the Environment Based on Optical Property Simulation
Authors: Pishchalnikov Roman Y. , Chesalin Denis D. , Kurkov Vasiliy A. , Shkirina Uliana A. , Laptinskaya Polina K. , Novikov Vasiliy S. , Kuznetsov Sergey M. , Razjivin Andrei P. , Moskovskiy Maksim N. , Dorokhov Alexey S. , Izmailov Andrey Yu. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: December 2023

The possibility of pigment detection and recognition in different environments such as solvents or proteins is a challenging, and at the same time demanding, task. It may be needed in very different situations: from the nondestructive in situ identification of pigments in paintings to the early detection of fungal infection in major agro-industrial crops and products. So, we propose a prototype method, the key feature of which is a procedure analyzing the lineshape of a spectrum. The shape of the absorption spectrum corresponding to this transition strongly depends on the immediate environment of a pigment and can serve as a marker to detect the presence of a particular pigment molecule in a sample. Considering carotenoids as an object of study, we demonstrate that the combined operation of the differential evolution algorithm and semiclassical quantum modeling of the optical response based on a generalized spectral density (the number of vibronic modes is arbitrary) allows us to distinguish quantum models of the pigment for different solvents. Moreover, it is determined that to predict the optical properties of monomeric pigments in protein, it is necessary to create a database containing, for each pigment, in addition to the absorption spectra measured in a predefined set of solvents, the parameters of the quantum model found using differential evolution.
Exact Analytical Relations for the Average Release Time in Diffusional Drug Release
Authors: Kalosakas George
Published: December 2023

Although analytical solutions for the problem of diffusion-controlled drug release from uniform formulations of simple geometries, like slabs, spheres, or cylinders, are well known, corresponding exact expressions for the average release times are not widely used. However, such exact analytical formulae are very simple and useful. When the drug is initially distributed homogeneously within the matrix, the average time of release from a sphere of radius R is tav=(1/15)R2/D and from a slab of thickness L is tav=(1/12)L2/D, where D is the corresponding drug diffusion coefficient. Regarding cylindrical tablets of height H and radius R, simple analytical expressions are obtained in the two opposite limits of either very long (H≫R) or very short (H≪R) cylinders. In the former case, of practically radial release, the average release time is tav=(1/8)R2/D, while in the latter case the same result as that of a slab with thickness H is recovered, tav=(1/12)H2/D, as expected. These simple and exact relations are useful not only for an estimate of the average release time from a drug carrier device when diffusion is the dominant mechanism of drug delivery, but also for the experimental determination of the drug diffusion coefficient in a release system of interest through the measured release profile, given the mean squared size of the formulation.
Experimental and Numerical Study for Gas Release and Dispersion on Offshore Platforms
Authors: Xiao Fengpu , Li Yanan , Zhang Jun , Dong Hai , Yang Dongdong , Chen Guoming
Published: December 2023

Accidental gas release is a major triggering event for the offshore oil and gas industry. This paper focuses on the experimental and numerical investigation for dispersion behavior of released gas on offshore platforms. For this purpose, an experimental system is designed and developed to investigate gas release and dispersion. A series of experiments are carried out, among which the scenarios with constant leakage rates and time-varying leakage rates are both emphasized. The gas concentrations at different sampling points are obtained to study the dispersion behavior and accumulation characteristics of the released gas. Furthermore, a numerical computational fluid dynamics model is established to replicate the experimental scenarios. Good agreement between experimental data and CFD simulation results is observed by calculating a series of statistical performance measures. The developed numerical model is subsequently utilized to investigate a gas release scenario on a practical offshore platform, in which a fully transient leakage rate is adopted considering the response of process protection measures. The developed numerical model could provide support for risk assessment and optimization of contingency plans against gas release accidents in offshore facilities.
The Ecological Transition from the Perspective of the Poor
Authors: Le Méhauté Frédéric-Marie
Published: December 2023

In the last few years, a theological trend has developed in France that is committed to listening to the words of people in precarious situations. In the tradition of Father Joseph Wresinski, founder of ATD Fourth World, this theological movement seeks to hear the joys, the struggles, the hopes, the dreams, and the faith of those who live on the margins of the world. They are the first to be affected by social and environmental injustices. They are the first to fight poverty. They are the first to invent a sustainable way of life. Listening to and taking seriously the experiences and words of the very poor opens up new perspectives for theology, especially in the ecological field. Indeed, the link between the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor has become commonplace. According to the World Bank, it is even “evidence”. Certainly “everything is linked”, as Pope Francis writes in Laudato Si’, but the characterization of this link must be deepened. It is not simply a matter of juxtaposing these two cries, but of perceiving that it is only from the most excluded that fair, effective, and sustainable solutions can be proposed. Bringing their words and thoughts into our modern agoras is an essential anthropological, political, and theological challenge for ecological conversion.
The Innovative Nature of Selected Polish Companies in the Energy Sector Compared to the Use of Renewable Energy Sources from a Financial and an Investor’s Perspective
Authors: Jonek-Kowalska Izabela , Rupacz Sara
Published: December 2023

Analysis of the energy sector from the micro perspective that relates to individual companies is much rarer than a macroeconomic analysis that concerns the power industry as a whole and its impact on the functioning of the economy. However, energy companies directly implement the government’s energy policies and innovation strategies. Thus, this article attempts to answer the question concerning the relationships in three large energy companies operating in Poland (1) between the use of renewable resources for production and the innovative nature of a company, (2) between the use of renewable energy sources and the standing on the stock exchange and profitability. This study used multiple case studies, financial analysis indicators, a time series analysis, and an interdependence analysis. This study covers 2011–2022 and allows consideration of long-term changes in domestic energy policy. Our findings suggest that there is a relationship between a company’s investment activity and the use of renewable energy sources. Unfortunately, the scope of the use of RESs in these companies is small (from ca. 1% to 15%, which demonstrates the low progress of green transformation) and has negative correlations with the investors’ assessment and profitability. In relation to innovation, the ratio of intangible assets to total assets was the highest for Tauron SA, increasing from 1.96% to 5.16%. Its material commitment to innovation is distinguishable from the other two companies. This is also the company with the highest share of RESs in energy production. The second place belongs to Enea SA with its ratio of intangible assets to total assets that increased from 0.72% to 1.69%. The ratio was lowest for PGE SA, increasing from 0.37% to 1.47%. The results and standing of the analyzed energy companies are strongly affected by energy policy amendments, including the improved status of coal and the re-oriented use of RESs (prioritizing solar energy over wind). As a result, these companies, despite the twelve-year period of the implementation of green transformation in the European Union, have achieved little on the path to sustainable energy. Therefore, achieving the goal of a zero-emission economy seems unlikely, since the renewable energy mix is still very slight and not diversified. Changes in energy policy are also not conducive to sectoral and economic innovation.
Monitoring of Supraglacial Lake Distribution and Full-Year Changes Using Multisource Time-Series Satellite Imagery
Authors: Zhu Dongyu , Zhou Chunxia , Zhu Yikai , Wang Tao , Zhang Ce
Published: December 2023

Change of supraglacial lakes (SGLs) is an important hydrological activity on the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS), and storage and drainage of SGLs occur throughout the year. However, current studies tend to split SGL changes into melt/non-melt seasons, ignoring the effect of buried lakes in the exploration of drainage, and the existing threshold-based approach to SGL extraction in a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is influenced by the choice of the study area mask. In this study, a new method (Otsu–Canny–Otsu (OCO)), which accesses the features of SGLs on optical and SAR images objectively, is proposed for full-year SGL extraction with Google Earth Engine (GEE). The SGLs on the Petermann Glacier were monitored well by OCO throughout 2021, including buried lakes and more detailed rapid drainage events. Some SGLs’ extent varied minimally in a year (area varying by 10–25%) while some had very rapid drainage (a rapid drainage event from July 26 to 30). The SGL extraction results were influenced by factors such as the mode of polarization, the surface environment, and the depth of the lake. The OCO method can provide a more comprehensive analysis for SGL changes throughout the year.
Modelling Paroxysmal and Mild-Strombolian Eruptive Plumes at Stromboli and Mt. Etna on 28 August 2019
Authors: Castorina Giuseppe , Semprebello Agostino , Gattuso Alessandro , Salerno Giuseppe , Sellitto Pasquale , Italiano Francesco , Rizza Umberto
Published: December 2023

Volcanic eruptions pose a major natural hazard influencing the environment, climate and human beings at different temporal and spatial scales. Nevertheless, several volcanoes worldwide are poorly monitored and assessing the impact of their eruptions remains, in some cases, challenging. Nowadays, different numerical dispersion models are largely employed in order to evaluate the potential effects of volcanic plume dispersion due to the transport of ash and gases. On 28 August 2019, both Mt. Etna and Stromboli had eruptive activity; Mt. Etna was characterised by mild-Strombolian activity at summit craters, while at Stromboli volcano, a paroxysmal event occurred, which interrupted the ordinary typical-steady Strombolian activity. Here, we explore the spatial dispersion of volcanic sulphur dioxide (SO2) gas plumes in the atmosphere, at both volcanoes, using the Weather Research and Forecasting model coupled with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) considering the ground-measured SO2 amounts and the plume-height as time-variable eruptive source parameters. The performance of WRF-Chem was assessed by cross-correlating the simulated SO2 dispersion maps with data retrieved by TROPOMI and OMI sensors. The results show a feasible agreement between the modelled dispersion maps and TROPOMI satellite for both volcanoes, with spatial pattern retrievals and a total mass of dispersed SO2 of the same order of magnitude. Predicted total SO2 mass for Stromboli might be underestimated due to the inhibition from ground to resolve the sin-eruptive SO2 emission due to the extreme ash-rich volcanic plume released during the paroxysm. This study demonstrates the feasibility of a WRF-Chem model with time-variable ESPs in simultaneously reproducing two eruptive plumes with different SO2 emission and their dispersion into the atmosphere. The operational implementation of this method could represent effective support for the assessment of local-to-regional air quality and flight security and, in case of particularly intense events, also on a global scale.
Evolution of Different Types of Eddies Originating from Different Baroclinic Instability Types
Authors: Liu Jiaxin , Ning Jue , Chen Xu
Published: December 2023

This paper investigates the evolution of global eddies and various types of eddies originating from baroclinic instability (BCI) by utilizing satellite altimetry, Argo profiles, and climatology datasets. The structure of global eddies with regard to potential temperature anomalies experiences downward propagation and spreading from the periods of eddy growth to stabilization. However, from the eddy’s stabilization to the decay period, the process of spreading primarily occurs horizontally, and this process is usually accompanied by weakening. By comparing the evolution of eddies in three typical regions dominated by distinct types of BCI, we found that the basic properties of eddies related to different BCI types evolve similarly; however, there are notable differences in their vertical structures and evolution. Eddies associated with Phillips + Charney_s-type, Charney_s-type, and Eady-type BCIs exhibit dual-core, single-core, and dual-core structures, respectively. In particular, the intrusion of the Okhotsk cold water mass into the Northwest Pacific region forms cold-core anticyclonic eddies, resulting in AEs that are significantly distinct from the rest of the ocean. The evolution of surface-layer cores closely resembles that of the global eddies, while the decay of subsurface and bottom-layer cores is comparably sluggish. Additionally, we examine the impact of local oceanic stratification conditions on eddy decay and determine that stronger vertical gradients result in more vigorous eddy decay, accounting for the concentration of eddies at depths where vertical gradients are weaker during their evolution.
Adaptive Space–Location-Weighting Function Method for High-Precision Density Inversion of Gravity Data
Authors: Ma Guoqing , Niu Yifei , Li Lili , Li Zongrui , Meng Qingfa
Published: December 2023

Underground 3D density variation can be obtained via the inversion of gravity data, which is a very important basis for structural division, oil and gas structure definition, and mineral resource evaluation. A depth-weighting function is usually introduced as a structural constraint in density inversion to solve the skin effect. We propose an adaptive space–location-weighting (ASW) function for gravity field data to improve the resolution of the inversion, which adds the position and depth information provided by the DEXP method to form a new weighting function. The weighting function is partitioned according to the horizontal distribution of the source and can effectively improve the resolution of field sources with different positions and different depths. The results of model tests have shown that the ASW function method can significantly improve the precision and resolution of density inversion results and has good noise immunity. The ASW method was applied to interpret the real gravity data of a mining area in Shandong, and we speculated potential mineralization based on the inversion results, which corresponded well with the logging results.
Switchable-Encoder-Based Self-Supervised Learning Framework for Monocular Depth and Pose Estimation
Authors: Kim Junoh , Gao Rui , Park Jisun , Yoon Jinsoo , Cho Kyungeun
Published: December 2023

Monocular depth prediction research is essential for expanding meaning from 2D to 3D. Recent studies have focused on the application of a newly proposed encoder; however, the development within the self-supervised learning framework remains unexplored, an aspect critical for advancing foundational models of 3D semantic interpretation. Addressing the dynamic nature of encoder-based research, especially in performance evaluations for feature extraction and pre-trained models, this research proposes the switchable encoder learning framework (SELF). SELF enhances versatility by enabling the seamless integration of diverse encoders in a self-supervised learning context for depth prediction. This integration is realized through the direct transfer of feature information from the encoder and by standardizing the input structure of the decoder to accommodate various encoder architectures. Furthermore, the framework is extended and incorporated into an adaptable decoder for depth prediction and camera pose learning, employing standard loss functions. Comparative experiments with previous frameworks using the same encoder reveal that SELF achieves a 7% reduction in parameters while enhancing performance. Remarkably, substituting newly proposed algorithms in place of an encoder improves the outcomes as well as significantly decreases the number of parameters by 23%. The experimental findings highlight the ability of SELF to broaden depth factors, such as depth consistency. This framework facilitates the objective selection of algorithms as a backbone for extended research in monocular depth prediction.
Minimum Noise Fraction Analysis of TGO/NOMAD LNO Channel High-Resolution Nadir Spectra of Mars
Authors: Oliva Fabrizio , D’Aversa Emiliano , Bellucci Giancarlo , Carrozzo Filippo Giacomo , Ruiz Lozano Luca , Karatekin Özgür , Daerden Frank , Thomas Ian R. , Ristic Bojan , Patel Manish R. , Lopez-Moreno José Juan , Vandaele Ann Carine , Sindoni Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

NOMAD is a suite of spectrometers on the board of the ESA-Roscosmos Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft and is capable of investigating the Martian environment at very high spectral resolution in the ultraviolet–visible and infrared spectral ranges by means of three separate channels: UVIS (0.2–0.65 μm), LNO (2.2–3.8 μm), and SO (2.3–4.3 μm). Among all channels, LNO is the only one operating at infrared wavelengths in nadir-viewing geometry, providing information on the whole atmospheric column and on the surface. Unfortunately, the LNO data are characterized by an overall low level of signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), limiting their contribution to the scientific objectives of the TGO mission. In this study, we assess the possibility of enhancing LNO nadir data SNR by applying the Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), a well-known algorithm based on the Principal Components technique that has the advantage of providing transform eigenvalues ordered with increasing noise. We set up a benchmark process on an ensemble of synthetic spectra in order to optimize the algorithm specifically for LNO datasets. We verify that this optimization is limited by the presence of spectral artifacts introduced by the MNF itself, and the maximum achievable SNR is dependent on the scientific purpose of the analysis. MNF application study cases are provided to LNO data subsets in the ranges 2.627–2.648 μm and 2.335–2.353 μm (spectral orders 168 and 189, respectively) covering absorption features of gaseous H2O and CO and CO2 ice, achieving a substantial enhancement in the quality of the observations, whose SNR increases up to a factor of 10. While such an enhancement is still not enough to enable the investigation of spectral features of faint trace gases (in any case featured in orders whose spectral calibration is not fully reliable, hence preventing the application of the MNF), interesting perspectives for improving retrieval of both atmospheric and surface features from LNO nadir data are implied.
A New Method for Deformation Monitoring of Structures by Precise Point Positioning
Authors: Li Ruihui , Zhang Zijian , Gao Yu , Zhang Junyi , Ge Haibo
Published: December 2023

Although deformations are mostly insignificant, they can be catastrophic when accumulated to certain amounts. Precise point positioning (PPP) can work with one receiver, preventing problems caused by the base station constrain upon employment of current methods such as real-time kinematics (RTK). However, current methods employing PPP focus on high-frequency monitoring such as earthquake or geological calamity monitoring, and these methods are not suitable for structures. Thus, this study proposes a new method for the deformation monitoring of structures via PPP. First, we obtained the coordinate sequence of structures via static PPP when setting the interval. Then, we transformed the coordinates to the same coordinate system with the same basis. Finally, we decomposed the sequences via empirical mode decomposition (EMD) to obtain a low-frequency part, which is the deformation of the target structure. The result of the monitoring experimentation on IGS stations shows that the monitoring index, Sd, of the sequence under different intervals using this method could be 1–2 mm on average in the directions of E, N, and U, which is much better than the original monitoring sequence. Alongside that, it prevented a fall in accuracy when the interval decreased. Therefore, all results proved the feasibility and validity of the method.
Active–Passive Remote Sensing Evaluation of Ecological Environment Quality in Juye Mining Area, China
Authors: Chen Yu , Suo Zhihui , Lu Hui , Cheng Huibin , Li Qian
Published: December 2023

The coal industry is a crucial component of China’s energy sector. However, the persistent exploitation of coal resources has gravely impacted the ecological environment. While the Remote Sensing Ecology Index (RSEI) is predominantly used for assessing ecological quality, its primary focus has been urban or aquatic environments. There is limited research focused on the evaluation of the ecological environment quality in mining areas. Moreover, the information regarding surface deformation caused by coal mining extraction is an essential factor in the ecological monitoring of mining areas. Therefore, this study proposed the Modified Remote Sensing Ecology Index (MRSEI). This enhanced model merges active and passive remote sensing techniques and incorporates a deformation factor (Surface Deformation Index, SDI) to provide a holistic evaluation of mining area ecologies. Furthermore, for comparative verification, we developed the Eco-environmental Quality Index (EQI) model by selecting 12 ecological parameters and employing a hierarchical analysis. The Juye mining area in Shandong Province was selected as the region of study. MRSEI results from 2015 to 2021 indicate a decline in the ecological quality of the Juye mining area, with MRSEI values registering at 0.691, 0.644, and 0.617. The EQI model mirrors this decreasing trend over the same period. Despite MRSEI using fewer indicators, its assessments align closely with the multi-indicator EQI method. This validates the accuracy of the MRSEI method, providing reliable technical support for the monitoring and evaluation of ecological environment quality in mining areas.
From Turing to Transformers: A Comprehensive Review and Tutorial on the Evolution and Applications of Generative Transformer Models
Authors: Zhang Emma Yann , Cheok Adrian David , Pan Zhigeng , Cai Jun , Yan Ying
Published: December 2023

In recent years, generative transformers have become increasingly prevalent in the field of artificial intelligence, especially within the scope of natural language processing. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of these models, beginning with the foundational theories introduced by Alan Turing and extending to contemporary generative transformer architectures. The manuscript serves as a review, historical account, and tutorial, aiming to offer a thorough understanding of the models’ importance, underlying principles, and wide-ranging applications. The tutorial section includes a practical guide for constructing a basic generative transformer model. Additionally, the paper addresses the challenges, ethical implications, and future directions in the study of generative models.
Highly Educated Women: Exploring Barriers and Strategies for Labour Integration in an Emotional Migratory Process
Authors: Maiztegui Oñate Concepción , Di Martino Maria Luisa , Aristegui Iratxe
Published: December 2023

This article explores the barriers and the strategies of a group of highly educated foreign women to obtain a job-education matching situation in the Basque Country (Spain) where they all permanently settled following a binational heterosexual marriage. Drawing on 21 biographical interviews with women from Latin America and Europe, we examine new perspectives on the complexity and fluidity between their professional pathways and family projects. For that, we apply an intersectional lens to analyse their life experience. Our results show that respondents involved in a feminised labour market (education and health) have fewer difficulties to find a job-education match. In other cases, becoming self-employed is a way to gain independence and flexibility by running an open market-oriented business. Interviewees identified language, lack of personal networks, family reconciliation, traditional gender roles and the transferring of cultural capital as the main barriers for their incorporation into the labour market. The study finds that marriage support is not enough to overcome the barriers. We argue that for a more comprehensive understanding of labour integration of highly educated migrant women, motivation and agency, linked to family support, should be considered factors to cope with structural inequalities.
Layered-Defect Perovskite K3Bi2X9 (X = I, Br, and Cl) Thin Films for CO2 Photoreduction: An Analysis of Their Pseudocatalytic Behavior
Authors: Quintero-Lizárraga Oscar L. , Luévano-Hipólito Edith , Ibarra-Rodríguez Luz I. , Torres-Martínez Leticia M.
Published: December 2023

Lead-free layered-defect perovskite K3Bi2X9 (X = I, Br, and Cl) films were proposed as efficient photocatalysts for the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to obtain clean and sustainable formic acid (HCOOH), a widely used feedstock in the industry. The films exhibited high crystallinity, hexagonal morphologies, and visible light absorption, which were modified by proportionally increasing the diameter of the X anion. The obtained photocatalytic activities showed values of 299 µmol h−1 (K3Bi2Br9), 283 µmol h−1 (K3Bi2I9), and 91 µmol h−1 (K3Bi2Cl9). However, the stability of the films is an important parameter that must be solved; therefore, three strategies were implemented—one with an intrinsic approach (solvent engineering) and two others with an extrinsic focus (substrate modification and heterojunction engineering). These modifications favored yields of up to 738 µmol h−1 and constant production over 6 h, demonstrating that the perovskite maintains continuous HCOOH generation. The analysis of the reaction medium showed the degradation of the material structure to BiOI and K+, which could have enhanced its affinity towards CO2. In this manner, the degraded perovskite (K3Bi2I9/BiOI) might still react with the CO2 to generate HCOOH in an aqueous medium under visible light, showing pseudocatalytic behavior.
Research on the Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Crowd Activities in Commercial Streets and Their Relationship with Formats—A Case Study of Lao Men Dong Commercial Street in Nanjing
Authors: Hu Xinyu , Ren Yifan , Tan Ying , Shi Yi
Published: December 2023

Crowd activity is an important indicator of commercial streets’ attractiveness and developmental potential. The development of positioning technologies such as GPS and mobile signal tracking has provided a large amount of trajectory data for studying crowd activities on commercial streets. These data can not only be used for the statistics, extraction, and visualization of crowd information, but they also facilitate the exploration of deeper insights into dynamic behaviors, choices, trajectories, and other details of crowd activities. Based on this, this article proposes a new framework for analyzing crowd activities to explore the spatial activity patterns of crowds and understand the dynamic spatial needs of people by analyzing their correlations with local formats. Specifically, we analyze the spatial activity characteristics of a crowd in the Lao Men Dong Commercial Street area by identifying the stay points and trajectory clusters of the crowd, and we establish a regression analysis model by selecting commercial street format variables to evaluate their impact on crowd activities. Through case analysis of the Lao Men Dong Commercial Street, this study confirms that our method is feasible and suitable for spatial research at different scales, thereby providing relevant ideas for format location selection, spatial layout, and other planning types, and for promoting the sustainable development of urban spaces.
The Association of Board Characteristics and Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure Quality: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Hameed Faisal , Alfaraj Mohammad , Hameed Khizar
Published: December 2023

Earlier research has shown that the makeup of the corporate board is a crucial predictor in meeting stakeholder accountability expectations through voluntary Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) disclosure. Though scholars have identified substantial relationships between board composition and CSR disclosure, the majority of their focus has been on the ‘quantity’ of CSR disclosure rather than the ‘quality’. Therefore, the present study considers the association of board characteristics (such as gender diversity, independence, female chairperson or/and female CEO, and board size) and the quality of CSR disclosure of the top 100 Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX)-listed companies. We conducted content analysis of secondary Corporate Governance (CG) and CSR data extracted from the annual reports of PSX-listed companies across ten industrial sectors from the period 2017 to 2018. Our empirical investigation through univariate and multiple regression analysis with ordinary least squares (OLS) techniques revealed that all the board characteristics potentially had a significant association to lower CSR disclosure quality. Using the 2SLS regression model, we addressed the endogeneity issue of board characteristics and found robust results. One of the important implications of our findings is that policymakers and regulators in developing countries like Pakistan should review the value of board qualities as outlined in CG principles and develop stronger mechanisms to improve numbers of female directors and nonexecutive directors’ independence. We acknowledge several research limitations, including the study time period and selected board characteristics. While our study has provided some understanding of the association of board characteristics with CSR disclosure quality of PSX-listed companies, several research gaps still need to be addressed. Future investigators should examine this association through the pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 contexts and the inclusion of a systems theory perspective.
The Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Buildings with Green Roofs: A Case Study Based on the Köppen Climate Classification
Authors: Pimentel-Rodrigues Carla , Silva-Afonso Armando
Published: December 2023

The construction of green roofs (GR) combined with rainwater harvesting systems (RWHSs) in buildings can increase the advantages of each of these technologies, being a very promising solution to combat climate change and increase the sustainability of cities. However, the viability of this joint solution significantly depends on local climatic conditions. The planet’s climate classification, known as the Köppen climate classification, is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. The Köppen climate classification divides climates into five main climate groups, with each group being referenced based on seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns. In the specific case of mainland Portugal, according to the Köppen classification, the climate is divided into two regions. In this article, case studies are developed for two Portuguese climatic regions, seeking to demonstrate the possibility of using the Köppen classification as a decision criterion for the eventual inclusion of rainwater harvesting systems in buildings with green roofs. For this study, the results of a previous study were applied, through which we obtained an expression to determine the runoff coefficients of green roofs common in Portugal, concluding that the Köppen climate classification can be used as a prior decision criterion regarding its incorporation or exclusion in rainwater harvesting system buildings combined with green roofs, depending on the location.
Proposal of a Combined AHP-PROMETHEE Decision Support Tool for Selecting Sustainable Machining Process Based on Toolpath Strategy and Manufacturing Parameters
Authors: Slama Hadhami Ben , Gaha Raoudha , Tlija Mehdi , Chatti Sami , Benamara Abdelmajid
Published: December 2023

Sustainable manufacturing technologies are the new challenge faced by enterprises, industries, and researchers. The development of a sustainability-based assessment method considering the environmental and economic impacts is crucial to realize viable manufacturing. However, few studies have addressed environmental economics and social flows using a common perspective. Mechanical machining is one of the most-used manufacturing techniques. The overall ecological, economic, and social footprint requires accurate and effective estimation and optimization. Several studies have addressed this issue by examining the entire process of machining, but sustainability flows for machining parameters and toolpaths have remained relatively unexplored. The lack of systematic assistance tools bridging the gap between decision-maker preferences and the three sustainability pillars—economic, social, and environmental—has impeded the widespread adoption of sustainable machining practices. To this end, this paper proposes an integrated approach to the decision-making problem that combines the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the Preference Ranking Organization Method for Enrichment Evaluations (PROMETHEE) for selecting a sustainable machining strategy. The sustainability criteria are driven by manufacturing process parameters commonly employed and regulated during the manufacturing phase. This includes toolpath strategies as a qualitative input factor and manufacturing parameters such as cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, and stepover as quantitative input factors, affirming the practical applicability of the method in industrial contexts. New fundamental methods are also presented for selecting the most efficient machining parameters and toolpaths according to the weights assigned to each ecological, social, and economic footprint by the decision-maker (the manufacturer or production manager). In this way, sustainable machining strategies in the manufacturing industry will be strengthened in integrity. In a case study of part-end milling, both manufacturing parameters and toolpath strategies are considered to establish sustainable feature-based machining decisions.
A Geo-Itinerary to Foster Sustainable Tourism in West African Islands: Storytelling the Evolution of the Ancient Cameroon Volcanic Line Coral Reefs
Authors: Henriques Maria Helena , Neto Keynesménio
Published: December 2023

This study characterizes the submerged geomorphology around Annobón, São Tomé, and Príncipe Islands, and the De Santarém–Escobar seamount in the Cameroon Volcanic Line or CVL (Gulf of Guinea, West Africa) through analyses of topographic relief and coastal bathymetry, and data from fieldwork and historical fossil collections. The clear relation between each submerged island and the seamount morphology of the CVL and the various stages of coral reef development according to Darwin’s subsidence hypothesis meets the concept of intangible geoheritage. This type of geoheritage is related to phenomena rather than to a thing, and it is usually highly evaluated by scientific communities. Academics tend to use science-based discourse to explain this theory, but it is rarely understood by non-specialist audiences. This work proposes a virtual geo-itinerary along the submerged geomorphology of the CVL islands and seamounts, which aims at telling the geohistory of the coral reefs’ origin and evolution according to Darwin’s theory, and disclosing its geoheritage contents for further sustainable uses. The resulting narrative can be used to support geotourism initiatives and to support the United Nations’ objectives for Small Island Developing States.