bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Positive Energy Districts: Energy Renovation of a Mediterranean District and Activation of Energy Flexibility
Authors: Marotta Ilaria , Péan Thibault , Guarino Francesco , Longo Sonia , Cellura Maurizio , Salom Jaume
Published: May 2023

The paper presents the analysis of energy retrofitting, integration of renewable energy and activation of energy flexibility in a cluster of buildings in the surroundings of a port on the Mediterranean Sea in Southern Italy, with the aim of checking the potential for it to achieve the status of positive energy district (PED). The objective of this study is to improve the contemporaneity between local energy generation and energy demand and reduce CO2eq emissions by considering signals that reflect the environmental variability of the electricity grid, through flexibility solutions applied to the HVAC system. The proposed scenarios are based on the dynamic simulation of the district and analyze the effect of actions that activate the energy flexibility of buildings through advanced control strategies of the air conditioning system. The results show that the joint action of energy efficiency strategies, integration of solar energy and energy flexibility improves the environmental sustainability of the district and the balance of energy flows. Specifically, the activation of energy flexibility contributes to a 10% reduction in operational CO2eq emissions and increases in self-consumption of energy per year. The operational emissions of the district vary from the base value of 33.37 tons CO2eq/y to 19.52 tons CO2eq/y in the scenario based on the integration of solar energy systems and energy efficiency measures, and to 17.39 tons CO2eq/y when also the demand-side energy flexibility is activated.
Sustainable Cities and Regions—Statistical Approaches
Authors: Kamińska Joanna A. , Sciavicco Guido , Kazak Jan K.
Published: May 2023

Dynamic urbanisation leaves a significant mark on the broadly understood quality of life, regardless of the size of the city and the country or continent in which it is located [...]
Research on the Deviation of Corporate Green Behaviour under Economic Policy Uncertainty Based on the Perspective of Green Technology Innovation in Chinese Listed Companies
Authors: Hou Deshuai , Shi Luhan , He Hong , Xiong Jian
Published: May 2023

In the current context of economic transformation and a complex environment, increasing economic policy uncertainty may lead to deviations in corporate green behaviour, and it is particularly important to correct such deviations. On this basis, this paper empirically analyses the impact of economic policy uncertainty on corporate green behaviour bias based on statistical data of Chinese listed companies from 2007 to 2019. We find that economic policy uncertainty inhibits corporate green technology innovation but increases corporate innovation as a whole. Using the mechanism test, it was found that the internal inducement is mainly due to the prominent financing problems and limited development ability under the influence of uncertainty. After carrying out a heterogeneity test, it was found that economic policy uncertainty causes enterprises to deviate from green technology innovation more significantly in state-owned enterprises and protected industries, while this effect is significantly reduced when firms face fierce product market competition. Furthermore, strengthening executives’ power and implementing incentive mechanisms can more effectively correct the deviation. This study provides empirical evidence with which to strengthen corporate green innovation practices.
Study on Stress Intensity Factor of the Pit-Crack Model for Portal Crane Girders
Authors: Zhang Feng , Wang Xin , Teng Rumin , Guo Xiaoguang , Wang Yuanyou
Published: May 2023

In shipbuilding gantry cranes in long-term service in the coastal humid salt-spray environment, the main beam is affected in many places by corrosion fatigue-formed corrosion pits, affecting the structural strength of the main beam. This paper focuses on the impact of corrosion-generated pits under the conditions of crack nucleation. Corrosion fatigue crack nucleation is a local damage evolution process and the stress intensity factor criterion is one of the critical conditions to discern whether a crack sprouts at the corrosion pit. This paper establishes a corrosion pit-crack model based on the overall finite element model of the portal crane, and uses ANSYS software to simulate the stress intensity factor under complex boundary conditions. The results show that the different sizes and depth-to-diameter ratio of the pits greatly affect the value of the stress intensity factor and the stress concentration phenomenon may be the main factor causing the emergence of cracks; the change in the size of the pits on the stress intensity factor is not obvious, but with the increase in the depth-to-diameter ratio of the pits, the stress intensity factor of the pit-crack model is significantly increased. According to the hypothesis of semi-ellipsoidal pitting, the relationship between the stress intensity factor and the stress concentration factor at the pit is proposed, and its calculation results are within 5% error compared with the finite element method, and it is found that the effect of the etch pit on the stress intensity factor is positively correlated with the stress concentration factor; with the increase in the etch pit depth–diameter ratio, the crack budding location changes with the change in the stress concentration location, and the crack is more likely to be generated from the shoulder of the etch pit when the depth–diameter ratio of etch pit exceeds 1.
Research on Climate Change and Water Heritage Tourism Based on the Adaptation Theory—A Case Study of the Grand Canal (Beijing Section)
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Wang Menghan , Dou Haohan , Su Mingming , Dong Hangyu , Liu Zhenhua
Published: May 2023

Water is at the forefront of climate change and is seen as a major channel through which the effects of climate change are felt. The function of water heritage is closely related to the water bodies on which it depends. Under climate change, the conservation and tourism uses of water heritage resources are facing impacts and challenges. Taking the Beijing Section of the Grand Canal of China as a case, this research applied the adaptation theory to explore the impacts of climate change on heritage tourism of the section of the Grand Canal in Beijing. It was identified that changes in the temperature and the precipitation formed climate-related stimuli to tourism along the Canal from 2012 to 2021 in Beijing. Second, from the supply side of tourism, policies were formulated at a national or municipal level to respond to the changing climate and its impacts on the Canal and its tourism uses. Natural-based solutions (NbS) have been applied to rehabilitate the ecosystem of the Canal, contributing to the enhanced tourism landscape, and providing opportunities for ecological education. Third, from the demand side, high tourism participation along the Canal was examined during the high-temperature years. Meanwhile, the increasing tourist needs for water spaces and activities were observed with evident seasonal patterns. Accordingly, suggestions for climate adaptation of the Grand Canal from a tourism perspective were proposed. For heritage conservation, actions of ecological restoration and monitoring should be further implemented. To assist in the climate adaptation and sustainable development of Grand Canal tourism, suggestions are proposed to enhance the overall tourism planning, increase water accessibility, and heritage interpretation for tourists.
100 Years of Land-Use and Land-Cover Data: What Has Been the Effect of Spatial Planning in Coastal Land-Use and Land-Cover Change?
Authors: Faria de Deus Raquel , Tenedório José António , Pumain Denise , Rocha Jorge , Pereira Margarida
Published: May 2023

The Sustainable Development Goals require us to rethink spatial planning policies’ effectiveness. This article proposes a reproducible method for assessing the effect of past planning practices and simulating future land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes with a Cellular Automata model. The originality of our approach is to systematically compare observed changes in LULC with the planning rules in force over almost a century of evolution. A quasi-exhaustive database was constructed at a very fine spatial resolution for the municipality of Portimão (Southern Portugal), including the location and changes of LULC categories, and the planning rules of the corresponding time period on nine dates between 1947 and 2018. The quantified measurement of the actual effect of planning rules enables us to identify other determinants of the evolution. Findings reveal that the policies established by the local government—which aimed to foster well-planned comprehensive urban areas—were not as effective as intended. The quantified discrepancies between planning recommendations and observed evolution help to simulate which LULC scenarios could be designed to reach the expected result in future planning policies. Our assessment method could be applied in other urban and tourist regions where land artificialization exerts strong pressure on the environment.
Antecedents of Behavioral Intentions for Purchasing Hybrid Cars Using Sustainability Theory of Planned Behavior Integrated with UTAUT2
Authors: Ong Ardvin Kester S. , German Josephine D. , Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira , Cordova Lara Nicole Z. , Longanilla Franscine Althea B. , Caprecho Neallo L. , Javier Rocksel Andry V.
Published: May 2023

Hybrid cars were developed and are widely utilized in developed countries due to their sustainability advantages. However, developing countries were seen to underutilize this product where research showed that the economic, societal, and environmental concerns were considered by consumers. The current study aimed to assess the behavioral intentions for purchasing hybrid cars with the use of an established new framework called sustainability theory of planned behavior (STPB) and integrated with the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model. A total of 1048 valid respondents were purposely gathered to completely assess the behavioral, technological, and sustainable domains of purchasing intentions of hybrid cars through structural equation modeling. From the results, the perceived economic concerns and perceived authority support showed the most significant factor indirectly affecting behavioral intention to purchase hybrid cars, followed by perceived environmental concern. All domains under the theory of planned behavior were significant. However, only performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and price value were deemed significant on the technological aspect. With the underutilization of hybrid cars in the country, habit, effort expectancy, and facilitating conditions were insignificant. The theoretical framework can be used independently (STPB), or as a whole, for the evaluation of purchasing intention of eco-friendly or smart technologies products. This study was also able to provide implications on the behavioral, managerial, and sustainability aspects of hybrid cars. Lastly, the theoretical implications suggested that the sustainability theory of planned behavior may be extended or applied in holistically assessing different product evaluation, industries, and related studies—even in different countries.
The Role of Dynamic Geometry Software in Teacher–Student Interactions: Stories from Three Chinese Mathematics Teachers
Authors: Zhu Fangchun , Xu Binyan
Published: May 2023

Teacher–student interactions are critical for effective mathematics teaching and learning. Certain technologies, especially dynamic geometry software (DGS), can have a great impact on interactions between teachers and students. In Chinese mathematics educational environments, we selected three mathematics teachers as examples to analyze how DGS impacts their method of teaching and feedback and what role it plays in their interactions with students. Based on the data, we found mathematics to be the main focus for Chinese teachers, even though DGS was widely used in their lessons. DGS was mainly used as a projector to present geometric properties. This implies that the interactivity of the DGS was simply used for pressing buttons on the screen during lessons. Although teachers may have used DGS for many years, they still lack sufficient skills to integrate this software into mathematics teaching.
Sustainable Development in Action: A Retrospective Case Study on Students’ Learning Before, During, and After the Pandemic
Authors: Pilotti Maura A. E. , Alaoui Khadija El , Abdelsalam Hanadi M. , Khan Rahat
Published: May 2023

Adherence to sustainable development in higher education rests on the assessment of students’ academic attainment, especially during unexpected environmental changes, such as the sudden move from face-to-face to online courses during the recent pandemic. Most studies devoted to this issue have compared students’ performance online with that of face-to-face courses before the pandemic, tallying together a variety of courses, often from specific disciplines. Besides their mixed results and generality, such studies do not address the issue of students’ adjustment to the post-pandemic learning environment. The present retrospective case study offered a simple evidence-based model for educators to measure the relationship between environmental changes and students’ behavior for self-reflection and adjustment. It examined students’ academic attainment (as measured by grades) within a broader timeframe, including courses taught by the same instructors face-to-face before and after the pandemic and online during the pandemic. Specific courses of the general education curriculum were selected to include a broad spectrum of students. The study then assessed whether students’ activities before, during, and after the pandemic predicted summative assessment performance (i.e., final exam grades) differently. In this study, performance differences were recorded, usually in favor of post-pandemic face-to-face classes. Midterm examinations were the best predictors of final exam grades irrespective of the modality of instruction and timeframe. Implications and applications of the methodology used and the results obtained were considered.
The Influences of Vacuum–Surcharge Preloading on Pore Water Pressure and the Settlement of a Soft Foundation
Authors: Lei Ming , Luo Shilin , Chang Jin , Zhang Rui , Kuang Xilong , Jiang Jianqing
Published: May 2023

Vacuum–surcharge preloading is widely used in soft soil foundation reinforcement projects. To study the characteristics of the changes in pore water pressure and settlement of the soft soil foundation as a result of the effect of vacuum–surcharge preloading, in this paper, a consolidation model was established for large–sized sand–drain fluid–solid coupling along the depth direction while taking the sequence of the actual surcharge and vacuum into consideration by using FLAC3D, and a soft foundation’s consolidation process was calculated and analyzed in detail. The results showed the following: (1) the sand drain could be used as a load boundary condition and a vacuum load could be realized by adjusting the pore pressure at the nodes. (2) For the effect of a single vacuum, the settlement and pore water pressure were evenly distributed on the horizontal plane, and the maximum calculated value of the surface settlement was 90.92 cm, but the phenomenon of a “pot–bottom shape” of the settlement and pore pressure gradually became obvious with the increase in the surcharge, and the maximum calculated value of the surface settlement was 153.01 cm. (3) In the numerical calculations, it was found that the pore pressure and settlement distinctly fluctuated once each level of surcharge was applied. The changes in the settlement were basically consistent with the measured values after the adjustment of positive and negative pressure, and the variation trend of the pore pressure was consistent with the measured value. (4) The depth affected by the vacuum could reach at least 16 m. All of these findings are expected to provide references for the calculation of consolidation in vacuum–surcharge preloading.
Analysis of Hotspots and Trends in Digitalization Research of Chinese Archives Based on Bibliometrics
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Jian , Qi Lin
Published: May 2023

This paper aims to reveal the current status of research development, research hotspots and trends, and possible future research directions in the field of archival digitization research in China. This paper focuses on the field of archival digitization research in China, using 1267 relevant literature articles retrieved from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database between 1995 and 2022 as the research object. The study employs a bibliometric analysis and knowledge graph analysis and visualizes and analyzes its research content, authors, and institutions using software such as CiteSpace and VOSviewer. The study summarizes the research hotspots and development trends in the field of archival digitization. The results indicate that interdisciplinary research is a clear trend in current archival digitization research. Institutional construction, management mode, management technology, and archival form are this field’s four main thematic directions. Finally, based on the current research hotspots in China’s archival digitization, the future research and development direction of the field is discussed.
The Impact of Green Finance on China’s Agricultural Trade
Authors: Wang Yinghan , Liu He , Zhou Jie , Zang Dungang , Shen Qianling
Published: May 2023

Enhancing the effectiveness of green development of the agricultural trade economy with green finance is a practical need to promote the healthy development of agricultural trade. This manuscript empirically analyzes the impact of green finance on China’s agricultural products import and export trade by using provincial-level panel data from 30 Chinese provinces from 2001–2019. The findings show that: (1) Green finance positively impacts China’s agricultural import and export trade at the 1% significant level, expanding the scale of agricultural imports and exports. (2) The positive impact of green finance on China’s agricultural import and export trade is heterogeneous across regions. Accordingly, this paper puts forward policy suggestions such as strengthening the support of green finance to agriculture, focusing on the improvement of green total factor productivity in agriculture, and promoting synergistic regional development through the implementation of differentiation of green finance.
Quantum-Field Multiloop Calculations in Critical Dynamics
Authors: Ivanova Ella , Kalagov Georgii , Komarova Marina , Nalimov Mikhail
Published: May 2023

The quantum-field renormalization group method is one of the most efficient and powerful tools for studying critical and scaling phenomena in interacting many-particle systems. The multiloop Feynman diagrams underpin the specific implementation of the renormalization group program. In recent years, multiloop computation has had a significant breakthrough in both static and dynamic models of critical behavior. In the paper, we focus on the state-of-the-art computational techniques for critical dynamic diagrams and the results obtained with their help. The generic nature of the evaluated physical observables in a wide class of field models is manifested in the asymptotic character of perturbation expansions. Thus, the Borel resummation of series is required to process multiloop results. Such a procedure also enables one to take high-order contributions into consideration properly. The paper outlines the resummation framework in dynamic models and the circumstances in which it can be useful. An important resummation criterion is the properties of the higher-order asymptotics of the perturbation theory. In static theories, these properties are determined by the method of instanton analysis. A similar approach is applicable in critical dynamics models. We describe the calculation of these asymptotics in dynamical models and present the results of the corresponding resummation.
Spot–Ladder Selection of Dislocation Patterns in Metal Fatigue
Authors: Shima Hiroyuki , Umeno Yoshitaka , Sumigawa Takashi
Published: May 2023

Spontaneous pattern formation by a large number of dislocations is commonly observed during the initial stages of metal fatigue under cyclic straining. It was experimentally found that the geometry of the dislocation pattern undergoes a crossover from a 2D spot-scattered pattern to a 1D ladder-shaped pattern as the amplitude of external shear strain increases. However, the physical mechanism that causes the crossover between different dislocation patterns remains unclear. In this study, we theorized a bifurcation diagram that explains the crossover between the two dislocation patterns. The proposed theory is based on a weakly nonlinear stability analysis that considers the mutual interaction of dislocations as a nonlinearity. It was found that the selection rule among the two dislocation patterns, “spotted” and “ladder-shaped”, can be described by inequalities with respect to nonlinearity parameters contained in the governing equations.
Multi-Order-Content-Based Adaptive Graph Attention Network for Graph Node Classification
Authors: Chen Yong , Xie Xiao-Zhu , Weng Wei , He Yi-Fan
Published: May 2023

In graph-structured data, the node content contains rich information. Therefore, how to effectively utilize the content is crucial to improve the performance of graph convolutional networks (GCNs) on various analytical tasks. However, current GCNs do not fully utilize the content, especially multi-order content. For example, graph attention networks (GATs) only focus on low-order content, while high-order content is completely ignored. To address this issue, we propose a novel graph attention network with adaptability that could fully utilize the features of multi-order content. Its core idea has the following novelties: First, we constructed a high-order content attention mechanism that could focus on high-order content to evaluate attention weights. Second, we propose a multi-order content attention mechanism that can fully utilize multi-order content, i.e., it combines the attention mechanisms of high- and low-order content. Furthermore, the mechanism has adaptability, i.e., it can perform a good trade-off between high- and low-order content according to the task requirements. Lastly, we applied this mechanism to constructing a graph attention network with structural symmetry. This mechanism could more reasonably evaluate the attention weights between nodes, thereby improving the convergence of the network. In addition, we conducted experiments on multiple datasets and compared the proposed model with state-of-the-art models in multiple dimensions. The results validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.
A New Semantic Segmentation Method for Remote Sensing Images Integrating Coordinate Attention and SPD-Conv
Authors: Yang Zimeng , Wu Qiulan , Zhang Feng , Zhang Xueshen , Chen Xuefei , Gao Yue
Published: May 2023

Semantic segmentation is an important task for the interpretation of remote sensing images. Remote sensing images are large in size, contain substantial spatial semantic information, and generally exhibit strong symmetry, resulting in images exhibiting large intraclass variance and small interclass variance, thus leading to class imbalance and poor small-object segmentation. In this paper, we propose a new remote sensing image semantic segmentation network, called CAS-Net, which includes coordinate attention (CA) and SPD-Conv. In the model, we replace stepwise convolution with SPD-Conv convolution in the feature extraction network and add a pooling layer into the network to avoid the loss of detailed information, effectively improving the segmentation of small objects. The CA is introduced into the atrous spatial pyramid pooling (ASPP) module, thus improving the recognizability of classified objects and target localization accuracy in remote sensing images. Finally, the Dice coefficient was introduced into the cross-entropy loss function to maximize the gradient optimization of the model and solve the classification imbalance problem in the image. The proposed model is compared with several state-of-the-art models on the ISPRS Vaihingen dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model significantly optimizes the segmentation effect of small objects in remote sensing images, effectively solves the problem of class imbalance in the dataset, and improves segmentation accuracy.
Radiation Dose Management in Computed Tomography: Introduction to the Practice at a Single Facility
Authors: Inoue Yusuke
Published: May 2023

Although the clinical benefits of computed tomography (CT) are undoubtedly high, radiation doses received by patients are also relatively high; therefore, radiation dose management is mandatory to optimize CT radiation doses and prevent excessive radiation events. This article describes CT dose management practice at a single facility. Many imaging protocols are used in CT depending on the clinical indications, scan region, and CT scanner; thus, managing the protocols is the first step for optimization. The appropriateness of the radiation dose for each protocol and scanner is verified, while answering whether the dose is the minimum to obtain diagnostic-quality images. Moreover, examinations with exceptionally high doses are identified, and the cause and clinical validity of the high dose are assessed. Daily imaging practice should follow standardized procedures, avoiding operator-dependent errors, and information required for radiation dose management should be recorded at each examination. The imaging protocols and procedures are reviewed for continuous improvement based on regular dose analysis and multidisciplinary team collaboration. The participation of many staff members in the dose management process is expected to contribute to promoting radiation safety through increased staff awareness.
Botulinum Toxin Brings a Light to the Shadow of Functional Urology
Authors: Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: May 2023

Functional urology involves a large scale of lower urinary tract dysfunctions (LUTDs), including bladder dysfunctions and bladder outlet dysfunctions [...]
Superimposed Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) in a 26-Year-Old Female with No Underlying Co-Morbidities Recovering from COVID-19—Case Report
Authors: Njekwa Katanekwa , Muyoyeta Monde , Mulenga Bavin , Chisenga Caroline Cleopatra , Simuyandi Michelo , Chilengi Roma
Published: May 2023

Tuberculosis before the COVID-19 pandemic is said to have killed more people globally than any other communicable disease and is ranked the 13th cause of death, according to the WHO. Tuberculosis also still remains highly endemic, especially in LIMCs with a high burden of people living with HIV/AIDS, in which it is the leading cause of mortality. Given the risk factors associated with COVID-19, the cross similarities between tuberculosis and COVID-19 symptoms, and the paucity of data on how both diseases impact each other, there is a need to generate more information on COVID-19–TB co-infection. In this case report, we present a young female patient of reproductive age with no underlying comorbidities recovering from COVID-19, who later presented with pulmonary tuberculosis. It describes the series of investigations performed and treatments given during the follow-up. There is a need for more surveillance for possible COVID-19–TB co-infection cases and further research to understand the impact of COVID-19 on tuberculosis and vice versa, especially in LMICs.
CMB Power Spectrum in the Emergent Universe with K-Essence
Authors: Huang Qihong , Zhang Kaituo , Huang He , Xu Bing , Tu Feiquan
Published: May 2023

The emergent universe provides a possible method to avoid the Big Bang singularity by considering that the universe stems from a stable Einstein static universe rather than the singularity. Since the Einstein static universe exists before inflation, it may leave some relics in the CMB power spectrum. In this paper, we analyze the stability condition for the Einstein static universe in general relativity with k-essence against both the scalar and tensor perturbations. Furthermore, we find the emergent universe can be successfully realized by constructing a scalar potential and an equation of state parameter. Solving the curved Mukhanov–Sasaki equation, we obtain the analytical approximation for the primordial power spectrum, and then depict the TT-spectrum of the emergent universe. The results show that both the primordial power spectrum and CMB TT-spectrum are suppressed on large scales.
Efficacy and Durability of Dolutegravir- or Darunavir-Based Regimens in ART-Naïve AIDS- or Late-Presenting HIV-Infected Patients
Authors: Fabbiani Massimiliano , Masini Melissa , Rossetti Barbara , Ciccullo Arturo , Borghi Vanni , Lagi Filippo , Capetti Amedeo , Colafigli Manuela , Panza Francesca , Baldin Gianmaria , Mussini Cristina , Sterrantino Gaetana , Farinacci Damiano , Montagnani Francesca , Tumbarello Mario , Di Giambenedetto Simona
Published: May 2023

Background: Since limited data are available, we aimed to compare the efficacy and durability of dolutegravir and darunavir in advanced naïve patients. Methods: Retrospective multicenter study including AIDS- or late-presenting (def. CD4 ≤ 200/µL) HIV-infected patients starting dolutegravir or ritonavir/cobicistat-boosted darunavir+2NRTIs. Patients were followed from the date of first-line therapy initiation (baseline, BL) to the discontinuation of darunavir or dolutegravir, or for a maximum of 36 months of follow-up. Results: Overall 308 patients (79.2% males, median age 43 years, 40.3% AIDS-presenters, median CD4 66 cells/µL) were enrolled; 181 (58.8%) and 127 (41.2%) were treated with dolutegravir and darunavir, respectively. Incidence of treatment discontinuation (TD), virological failure (VF, defined as a single HIV-RNA > 1000 cp/mL or two consecutive HIV-RNA > 50 cp/mL after 6 months of therapy or after virological suppression had been achieved), treatment failure (the first of TD or VF), and optimal immunological recovery (defined as CD4 ≥ 500/µL + CD4 ≥ 30% + CD4/CD8 ≥ 1) were 21.9, 5.2, 25.6 and 1.4 per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively, without significant differences between dolutegravir and darunavir (p > 0.05 for all outcomes). However, a higher estimated probability of TD for central nervous system (CNS) toxicity (at 36 months: 11.7% vs. 0%, p = 0.002) was observed for dolutegravir, whereas darunavir showed a higher probability of TD for simplification (at 36 months: 21.3% vs. 5.7%, p = 0.046). Conclusions: Dolutegravir and darunavir showed similar efficacy in AIDS- and late-presenting patients. A higher risk of TD due to CNS toxicity was observed with dolutegravir, and a higher probability of treatment simplification with darunavir.
Prevalence and Haplotypes of Toxoplasma gondii in Native Village Chickens and Pigs in Peninsular Malaysia
Authors: Leong Sabrina Danial , Hassan Latiffah , Sharma Reuben Sunil Kumar , Toung Ooi Peck , Musa Hassan Ismail
Published: May 2023

Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic foodborne parasite capable of infecting almost all warm-blooded animal species worldwide. Toxoplasmosis is usually acquired via ingestion of undercooked infected animal tissues resulting in life-threatening consequences for unborn foetus and immunocompromised individuals. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection, its associated risk factors in farms, and haplotypes isolated from the native village chicken and pig populations in Peninsular Malaysia. The seroprevalence of T. gondii in village chickens at the animal level was low at 7.6% (95% CI: 4.60–11.60), while at the farm level, it was 52.0% (95% CI: 31.30–72.20). For pigs, the animal-level seroprevalence of T. gondii was 3.0% (95% CI: 1.60–5.10), while the farm-level, it was 31.6% (95% CI: 12.60–56.60). The PCR-based DNA detection on meat samples from chickens (n = 250) and pork (n = 121) detected 14.0% (95% CI: 9.95–18.9) and 5.8% (95% CI: 2.4–11.6) positive, respectively. Six unique T. gondii haplotypes were isolated from the tissue samples. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that feeding the chickens farm-produced feeds and allowing wild animals access to pig farms were significant determinants for farm-level seropositivity. Providing hygienic and good quality feeds to chickens and increasing biosecurity in pig farms through prevention of access by wildlife may reduce the risk of transmission of T. gondii infection in the local chickens and pig farms.
Establishing Integrative Framework for Sustainable Reef Conservation in Karimunjawa National Park, Indonesia
Authors: Sutrisno Agung Dwi , Chen Yun-Ju , Suryawan I. Wayan Koko , Lee Chun-Hung
Published: May 2023

The Coral Triangle region is facing negative impacts due to unbalanced carrying capacity and inappropriate public behavior, leading to unsustainable reef tourism. As a result, there has been increased awareness and preference for sustainable reef conservation (SRC). This study evaluates the integrative perspective framework of tourists’ heterogeneity preferences in SRC programs using a choice experiment conducted in Karimunjawa National Park (KNP), Indonesia. The study found that tourists preferred boat anchoring at the mooring buoy, a lower number of boats, smaller tourist groups with interpretation, added information boards, and environmental awareness education. Additionally, this research revealed that most tourists preferred the alternative SRC program and had a heterogeneous preference, which showed different features among each group. The scenario of an integrative program generated the highest value compared to the “recreational management” and “institutional control” scenarios. This evidence can assist policymakers in adapting policies for SRC programs and in potentially securing conservation funds associated with enhancing the institutional aspects of carrying capacity and marine environmental education for sustainable marine development.
The Impacts of the Hydrological Regime on the Soil Aggregate Size Distribution and Stability in the Riparian Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China
Authors: Zhang Shujuan , Chen Tianyi , Bao Yuhai , Tang Qiang , Li Yongtao , He Xiubin
Published: May 2023

The impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) has greatly altered the hydrological regime and thus formed a distinctive riparian zone with anti-seasonal inundation and exposure, which may affect the soil aggregate properties in this riparian zone. Yet, the soil aggregate size distribution and stability influenced by the hydrological regime along the step-impounded elevation have rarely been documented. This study aimed to elucidate how the hydrological regime of the TGR affected the aggregate size distribution and stability in the riparian zone. Based on the step-impounded elevation, topsoil samples were collected from four elevation-dependent transects in a middle section of the TGR. Dry-sieving and wet-sieving methods were employed. The results showed that, with a decrease in the elevation gradient, the mass percentage of the >5 mm aggregates significantly decreased, while the proportions of the other size classes presented an increasing trend. Additionally, the mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), aggregate stability rate (ASR), and percentage of aggregate destruction (PAD) of the fractal dimension showed a successive decrease with a decrease in the elevation gradient, whereas PADMWD, PADGMD, PADASR, and the fractal dimension demonstrated a reverse trend. It can thus be deduced that the hydrological regime of the TGR significantly modified the aggregate size distribution and dramatically reduced the aggregate stability, which may provide a crucial basis for assessing the soil erosion in similar riparian zones.
State of Health Estimation for Lithium-Ion Batteries Using IAO–SVR
Authors: Xing Likun , Liu Xiao , Luo Wenfei , Wu Long
Published: May 2023

The state of health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) needs to be accurately estimated to ensure the safety and stability of electric vehicles (EVs) while in operation. In this paper, we proposed a SOH estimation method based on Improved Aquila Optimizer (IAO) and Support Vector Regression (SVR) to achieve an accurate estimation of SOH. During the charging and discharging phases of the battery, we analyzed the trends in current, voltage, and energy, then extracted four features. We used the Kendall coefficient and gray relational grade to prove that features and SOH were highly correlated. On the other hand, IAO was used to optimize the penalty factor and kernel function parameters of the SVR to further improve the generalization and mapping ability. The proposed method was verified under different operating conditions using the CACLE battery data set; the results show that high accuracy can be achieved in SOH estimation via IAO–SVR, and the estimation error of mean MAE is remaining within 2%.
YABANCI DİL OLARAK TÜRKÇE ÖĞRENEN KAZAK ÖĞRENCİLERDEKİ MOTİVASYON EKSİKLİĞİNİN NEDENLERİ
Authors: Özkan Adem , OZDEMIR CEMAL
Published: May 2023

Motivation is finding the strength of a person with the effect of external and internal factors. In order for this unending power to reach the desired goal, people need to direct it with their own will and determination. Motivation is a responsibility from the start. This responsibility can sometimes be seen in the field of education and sometimes in business life. It is possible to see motivation in almost all areas of life. The aim of this study is to determine the motivation deficiencies in the education-teaching adventure and to offer solutions. Motivation has been present in life for centuries whether we are always aware of it or not. A word used, every implied word or every subject that is not explained correctly is an effective factor in the decrease or even loss of motivation. In this study, motivation-centered problems in teaching Turkish as a foreign language at A2 level are emphasized. Aresearch was conducted on the students of Suleyman Demirel University (SDU) who received education in Kazakhstan. Within the framework of the research, a questionnaire was applied to 130 students in the 2nd grade at A2 level. Qualitative and quantitative (mixed method) were used in the research. Obtained results were tabulated by using SPSS application. In line with these data, while determining the relationship between motivation and teacher, success, view of the lesson, reward-punishment and self-confidence factors; no relationship was found between motivation and family and ability factors.
Efficient Spin-Flip between Charge-Transfer States for High-Performance Electroluminescence, without an Intermediate Locally Excited State
Authors: Zhang Donghai , Jiang Shanshan , Tao Xiaodong , Lin Fulin , Meng Lingyi , Chen Xu-Lin , Lu Can-Zhong
Published: May 2023

Thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) materials with both high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and fast reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) are strongly desired to realize efficient and stable organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). Control of excited-state dynamics via molecular design plays a central role in optimizing the PLQY and RISC rate of TADF materials but remains challenging. Here, 3 TADF emitters possessing similar molecular structures, similar high PLQYs (89.5% to 96.3%), and approximate energy levels of the lowest excited singlet states (S1), but significantly different spin-flipping RISC rates (0.03 × 106s−1vs. 2.26 × 106s−1) and exciton lifetime (297.1 to 332.8 μs vs. 6.0 μs) were systematically synthesized to deeply investigate the feasibility of spin-flip between charge-transfer excited states (3CT–1CT) transition. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal that the small singlet–triplet energy gap together with low RISC reorganization energy between the3CT and1CT states could provide an efficient RISC through fast spin-flip3CT–1CT transition, without the participation of an intermediate locally excited state, which has previously been recognized as being necessary for realizing fast RISC. Finally, the OLED based on the champion TADF emitter achieves a maximum external quantum efficiency of 27.1%, a tiny efficiency roll-off of 4.1% at 1,000 cd/m2, and a high luminance of 28,150 cd/m2, which are markedly superior to those of the OLEDs employing the other 2 TADF emitters.
A Deep Learning-Enabled Skin-Inspired Pressure Sensor for Complicated Recognition Tasks with Ultralong Life
Authors: Xie Yingxi , Wu Xiaohua , Huang Xiangbao , Liang Qinghua , Deng Shiping , Wu Zeji , Yao Yunpeng , Lu Longsheng
Published: May 2023

Flexible full-textile pressure sensor is able to integrate with clothing directly, which has drawn extensive attention from scholars recently. But the realization of flexible full-textile pressure sensor with high sensitivity, wide detection range, and long working life remains challenge. Complex recognition tasks necessitate intricate sensor arrays that require extensive data processing and are susceptible to damage. The human skin is capable of interpreting tactile signals, such as sliding, by encoding pressure changes and performing complex perceptual tasks. Inspired by the skin, we have developed a simple dip-and-dry approach to fabricate a full-textile pressure sensor with signal transmission layers, protective layers, and sensing layers. The sensor achieves high sensitivity (2.16 kPa
−1
), ultrawide detection range (0 to 155.485 kPa), impressive mechanical stability of 1 million loading/unloading cycles without fatigue, and low material cost. The signal transmission layers that collect local signals enable real-world complicated task recognition through one single sensor. We developed an artificial Internet of Things system utilizing a single sensor, which successfully achieved high accuracy in 4 tasks, including handwriting digit recognition and human activity recognition. The results demonstrate that skin-inspired full-textile sensor paves a promising route toward the development of electronic textiles with important potential in real-world applications, including human–machine interaction and human activity detection.
Active Tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Challenges and Opportunities for Developing Countries
Authors: Cañizares Quisiguiña Stalin Isaías , Izurieta Isis , Tinoco Ericka , Aguilar Ana Cristina , Palaciosa Ivan
Published: May 2023

The new infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus has remarkably modified the current regulatory frameworks in different areas of the public health system. Among them, historical diseases that had previously been controlled were once again unleashed, especially in developing countries where regulation policies are still controversial. For instance, the management of tuberculosis infection has been widely affected by the SARS-CoV-2 infection in terms of prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and proper follow-up. The SARS-CoV-2 infection has negatively altered local epidemiological surveillance; therefore, a new management and regulatory framework regarding the current circumstances must be developed to improve the control of local diseases. The present article offers an overview of the regional guidelines regarding tuberculosis management and the impact of the novel SARS-CoV-2 infection on their implementation.
Bacteria as promising biofactory for pigment production: A prospective insights into production strategies and industrial applications
Authors: Sundararajan Priya , Ramasamy Shanmuga Priya
Published: May 2023

The pigments are the coloured substances obtained from various organic and inorganic sources. Due to the negative impact of chemically synthesized dyes and pigments, there is a significant demand for microbially derived natural colourants. Microorganisms secrete pigments as their secondary metabolites. Microbial pigments are found as an alternative to synthetic pigments as they are produced significantly in higher quantities through biotechnological processes. Microbial pigments replaced by artificial colourants are easily decomposable and do not cause hazardous effects on the ecosystem. Different microbes like bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes could be exploited in pigment production. Despite varied groups of microorganisms acting as a source of pigment, bacteria are predominant source for pigment production because of their genetic simplicity. Moreover, bacterial pigments are recognized for their biological activities which accomplish their usage as colourants and therapeutics in various industries. Regarding bacterial pigment production, fermentation strategies are essential to overcome the market demand, which is applied in the pharmaceutical, chemical and food industries. The importance of bacterial pigments over synthetic pigments in various industrial applications and their production strategies is well narrated in this review.
THE DOCTOR-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IN THE ERA OF E-HEALTH
Authors: Graefen Bahar
Published: May 2023

The doctor-patient relationship is one of the most complex interpersonal relationships in that it involves individuals who are not on the same level, it has not been sought by both individuals, it is emotionally loaded, and it requires close mutual cooperation towards a shared goal. The digital revolution will have a profound impact on how physicians and healthcare delivery organizations interact with patients and the community at large. In the following years, personal contact between patients and doctors will become increasingly rare, and exchanges between consumers and providers will be progressively mediated by electronic devices, from which trust will suffer continually. Unfortunately, this progress has also had a negative impact on physician-patient relations, data protection, and the role of physicians. The main goals of this commentary are to describe the influence of digitalization in the form of eHealth on the doctor-patient relationship. It will be essential that clinicians, managers, policymakers, and researchers gain an increased understanding of this trend so that healthcare systems around the globe can adapt, adopt, and embrace these rapidly evolving digital technologies.
Analisis Ukuran Perusahaan Dan Leverage Terhadap Nilai Perusahaan Dengan Profitabilitas Sebagai Variabel Intervening Pada Perusahaan Keuangan Sektor Energy A121 Produksi Batu Bara Yang Terdapat Di BEI Periode 2017-2022
Authors: Wati Putri Maulina , Arjuniadi Arjuniadi , Yanti Evi Maulida
Published: May 2023

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji analisis variabel ukuran perusahaan, leverage terhadap nilai perusahaan dan profitabilitas sebagai variabel intervening. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh perusahaan sektor energy A121 produksi batu bara yang terdapat di BursaEfek Indonesia (BEI) periode 2017-2022. Teknik yang digunakan untuk pengambilan sampel adalah perusahaan keuangan sektor energy A121 produksi batu bara periode 2017-2022 dan yang menerbitkan laporan keuangan setiap tahunnya. Berdasarkan kriteria yang digunakan maka jumlah sampel yang diambil adalah 16 perusahaan. Penelitian ini menggunakan analisis linear berganda dengan menggunakan aplikasi SPSS ver.25. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: 1) Profitabilitas berpengaruh negative tidak signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan.; 2) Leverage berpengaru negative signifikan terhadap profitabilitas; 3) Profitabilitas berpengaruh positif terhadap signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan; 4) Ukuran perusahaan berpengaruh positif signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan; 5) Ukuran perusahaan berpengaruh negative signifikan terhadap nilai perusahaan; 6) Profitabilitas memediasi  ukuran perusahaan terhadap nilai perusahaan; 7) Profitabilitas memediasi leverage terhadap nilai perusahaan. Nilai koefisien determinasi persamaan I sebesar 0,402 atau 40,2% dan persamaan II sebesar 0,087 atau 9,7%. Angka tersebut menunjukkan bahwa variabel dependen yaitu ukuran perusahaan,leverage dan profitabilitas, sedangkan sisanya pada persamaan I sebesar 59,8% dan sisa dipersamaan II sebesar 90,3% dijelaskan oleh factor-faktor lain yang tidak dimasukkan kedalam penelitian ini.