bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Landscape Ecological Evaluation of Cultural Patterns for the Istanbul Urban Landscape
Authors: Aksu Gül Aslı , Tağıl Şermin , Musaoğlu Nebiye , Canatanoğlu Emel Seyrek , Uzun Adnan
Published: December 2022

With the widespread population growth in cities, anthropogenic influences inevitably lead to natural disturbances. The metropolitan area of Istanbul, with its rapid urbanization rate, has faced intense pressure regarding the sustainability of urban habitats. In this context, landscapes comprising patches affected by various disturbances and undergoing temporal changes must be analyzed, in order to assess city-related disturbances. In this study, the main objective was to understand how urbanization changed the function of the spatial distribution of the urban mosaic and, more specifically, its relationship with the size, shape, and connection among land-use classes. For this purpose, we took Besiktas, a district of Istanbul, as the study area. We evaluated the landscape pattern of the urban environment in two stages. First, we used medium-resolution satellite imagery to reveal the general interactions in the urbanization process. Landscape- and class-level landscape metrics were selected to quantify the landscape connectivity, and the distances between classes (green areas and artificial surfaces), patterns, and processes, using five satellite images representing a time span of 51 years (1963, 1984, 1997, 2005, and 2014). The general landscape structure was examined by looking at the temporal–spatial processes of artificial surface and green areas obtained from these medium-resolution satellite images. The trends in selected landscape-level metrics were specified and discussed through the use of a moving window analysis. We then used Pleiades high-resolution satellite imagery (2015) to analyze the landscape structure in more detail. This high-resolution base image allows us to recognize the possibility of classifying basic cultural landscape classes. The findings regarding the spatial arrangement of each class in the areas allocated to 14 cultural landscape classes were interpreted by associating them with the landscape functions. Finally, particulate matter (PM10) concentration data were collected and evaluated as an ecological indicator, in order to reveal the relationships between landscape structure and landscape function. In short, we first evaluated the whole landscape structure using medium-resolution data, followed by the classification of cultural landscapes using high-resolution satellite imagery, providing a time-effective—and, therefore, essential—auxiliary method for landscape evaluation. This two-stage evaluation method enables inferences to be made that can shed light on the landscape functions in an urban environment based on the landscape structure.
Governance in Estonian Agricultural Cooperatives: Structures and Processes
Authors: Iliopoulos Constantine , Värnik Rando , Kiisk Taavi , Varthalamis George , Sinnott Liis
Published: December 2022

Little is known about the board structures and processes adopted by agricultural cooperatives, particularly in Eastern European countries. We address this substantial knowledge gap by focusing on Estonian agricultural cooperatives. Using survey results from a sample of 23 Estonian agricultural cooperatives, we identify board structures and processes, measure organizational health, and compare our findings to similar studies in other countries. We find both similarities and differences between sample cooperatives and their counterparts in other countries. Estonian agricultural cooperatives tend to perform better than those without a board. However, more research at the member level is needed in order to draw definite conclusions. Member preference heterogeneity emerges as a potential future threat to organizational health and, thus, demands the attention of cooperative leaders in Estonia. We conclude that there exists considerable room for improvement through the introduction of a more flexible legal framework and the adoption of professional board governance processes, which includes director orientation training, inclusion of additional financial expertise and board evaluation routines.
The Mediating and Moderating Effects of the Digital Economy on PM2.5: Evidence from China
Authors: Wu Xiaoli , Qin Yaoyao , Xie Qizhuo , Zhang Yunyi
Published: December 2022

Environmental issues are fundamentally problems of development mode and life style. Meanwhile, the digital economy is an important means of optimizing the economic structure and achieving high-quality economic development, thereby changing the way of production and life, which can improve the aforementioned environmental challenges. Therefore, this research investigates how the digital economy can bring new ideas for reducing pollution in depth. Based on panel data from 285 prefecture-level cities in China, this paper examines the impact of the digital economy on PM2.5. We construct the evaluation system of China’s digital economy development from the three aspects of digital penetration, digital human resources, and digital output. We use the digital economy comprehensive index with digital financial inclusion index as the main component to test the robustness. The results show that the increase of the digital economy reduces PM2.5 emissions in Chinese cities. In addition, we also explore technological innovation as a mediating channel for the digital economy to influence PM2.5 emissions. The digital economy provides a better research environment for technological innovation, conducive to improving cleaner production technology and products. Finally, we find that environmental information disclosure can enhance the impact of the digital economy on PM2.5 emissions.
Construction and Application of VR-AR Teaching System in Coal-Based Energy Education
Authors: Zhang Cun , Wang Xiaojie , Fang Shangxin , Shi Xutao
Published: December 2022

Coal-based energy has provided strong support and made outstanding contributions in the process of China’s economic development. Coal mining in China has gradually developed into intelligent, refined and green mining. However, due to the lack of effective science popularization and propaganda in coal mining for a long time, people’s understanding of coal mining often stays in the stereotype of dirty, messy and very dangerous. Based on this fact, this paper firstly discusses the difficulties and pain points of the popularization of science in coal mining based on the questionnaire survey. And then a VR-AR system for intelligent coal mining was developed. Finally, popular science teaching activities based on VR-AR system were carried out during the “Open Day” activity and “Entering Campus” activity. It is found that the long-term negative reports of coal mining and the complexity of coal mining system make the science popularization and propaganda in coal mining less effective. The proportion of primary and secondary school students with bad impression reached 85.0% and 90.3%, respectively, and 63.1% for college students. With our VR-AR system in coal-based energy education, the impression of the coal industry has increased significantly, the proportion of bad impression decreased to 23.4%. This helps to form the nationwide coal mining science popularization and justifies China’s coal mining.
Comment on Gerbaudo et al. Are We Ready for a Sustainable Development? A Survey among Young Geoscientists in Italy. Sustainability 2022, 14, 7621
Authors: Fildani Andrea , Hessler Angela M.
Published: December 2022

The opening question of the article from Gerbaudo and co-authors (“Are We Ready for a Sustainable Development?”) is a compelling ‘hook’ for their important contribution [...]
The Impact of Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change on Rice Yields: Implications for Sustainable Food Systems
Authors: Khan Nasir Abbas , Khanal Uttam , Wilson Clevo , Shah Ashfaq Ahmad , Tariq Muhammad Atiq Ur Rehman
Published: December 2022

Remarkable agricultural productivity gains have been achieved during the last several decades as a result of green revolution (GR) technologies that have greatly increased food production and reduced hunger. However, climate change threatens to reverse the progress made so far in the fight against food insecurity. The agricultural sector in many developing countries, including the rice and wheat producers such as in Punjab (Pakistan and India), is highly vulnerable to climate change, which has serious implications for rural livelihoods and food security. Adaptation is considered a key tool to tackle climate challenges at the farm level and is, therefore, the focus of this study in terms of its impact on rice yields. A household survey was conducted in the Punjab province of Pakistan, and farmers were interviewed face-to-face. We employed a simultaneous equations model to assess the differential impacts of climate change adaptation on adapting and non-adapting farmers’ rice yields. Using the cross-sectional data of 480 rice growers, an endogenous switching regression model provided a means to estimate the selection bias of farmers’ attributes. The results show a significant positive impact of adaptations on rice yields. Specifically, the yield of farmers who adapted to climate change was 24% higher than the non-adapting farmers. The results further indicate that non-adapters can also benefit from the adaptation strategies if they decide to adapt. We also found a significant positive effect of farmers’ climate risk perceptions, literacy level, access to irrigation, ownership of livestock, and availability of farm advisory services on their adaptation decisions. These results, therefore, suggest that policymakers should take into account farmers’ local adaptation knowledge and farming practices when formulating adaptation policies.
The Influence of Competency-Based VR Learning Materials on Students’ Problem-Solving Behavioral Intentions—Taking Environmental Issues in Junior High Schools as an Example
Authors: Liu Feng-Jung , Yeh Chien-Chih
Published: December 2022

With the increasing price–performance ratio of virtual reality equipment, there has been an increase in research on the use of VR in education. The learning content of biology courses for junior high schools often introduces the interaction between organisms and their surroundings. Through the interactive design of VR learning materials, students can enhance their understandings of the impact of human behaviors on the environment. They can become immersed in the virtual world using a virtual camera to explore environmental pollution and record pollution sources, which exist in their surrounding environment. In this study, one-group pre- and post-test designs were adopted to collect and analyze data on students’ reactions before and after implementation of the VR learning course for environmental issues in a junior high school. The questionnaires were analyzed to evaluate the impact on course identity and behavioral intentions of students regarding problem-solving. The results reveal the VR interactive learning course has positive effects on both the course identity and the students’ behavioral intentions for problem-solving.
Sustainable Transition to Studying Abroad Online during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Ecological Perspective
Authors: Tong Peiru , Tsung Linda , An Irene Shidong , Zhou Yijun
Published: December 2022

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, study abroad (SA) programs have undergone an urgent transfer to the online format. Although SA online has many merits toward sustainable international education in the post-COVID era, assuring the quality of these programs and sustaining students’ learning motivation have been key issues of concern. Moreover, there is still a lack of evidence derived from in-depth qualitative inquiries. To address these gaps, this study takes a close look at an individual’s story using a narrative approach to data analysis and employs an ecological perspective focusing on intentionality as the theoretical framework for exploring how the participant conquered the challenges when they transitioned to SA online. Successful plots identified include setting up the online learning environment, optimising the benefits of online learning, and sustaining students’ motivation to study. Several obstacles remained unsolved, such as the loss of interpersonal connection and empathy in online communication. This study concludes that the participant’s successful and unsuccessful encounters in enacting the affordances of online education were manifested by developed or undeveloped intentional actions as a result of individual-environment mutuality. Some implications are offered for constructing sustainable online SA environments that can diversify and innovate future international education experiences.
Route Selection for Minerals’ Transportation to Ensure Sustainability of the Arctic
Authors: Potravny Ivan , Novoselov Andrey , Novoselova Irina , Chávez Ferreyra Katherine Yeshia , Gassiy Violetta
Published: December 2022

The article addresses the issues of route selection for minerals’ transportation based on social, economic, and environmental factors to ensure sustainability in the Arctic. The case of the Tomtor deposit of rare earth metals in Yakutia is considered in the paper. The authors analyze its impact on traditional lands and the environment. To ensure sustainability and to optimize the natural resources’ use for route selection for minerals’ transportation in the Arctic, a system of criteria is proposed. It covers not only the cost of transportation and the distance from the deposit to the processing point, but also the damage to traditional lands of indigenous peoples, and environmental and social risks. An algorithm for choosing the optimal solution for the conservation of natural resources and traditional lands during the transportation of minerals is proposed. It depends on the developed criteria. The proposed approaches can be used during industrial development and investment in the Arctic to optimize the routes of mineral resources’ transportation.
The Influence of Government Green Development Policy on a Firm’s Disruptive Innovation
Authors: Xu Zhengda , Liu Haiyao , Lin Song
Published: December 2022

Government policies have impacts on the disruptive innovation behavior of local companies, especially the green development policies. This paper is based on institutional theory, using data from 170 Chinese manufacturing entrepreneurs to verify that local governments’ green development policies have an effect on firms’ disruptive innovation behavior. Based on the empirical results, we find that entrepreneurs in regions with green or sustainable development policies are more likely to engage in disruptive innovation behavior; the influence will be stronger when the firm size is bigger. The study actually demonstrates that public policy about sustainable development enacted by local governments has a significant impact on the disruptive innovation behavior of firms. The findings of this paper enriches the research on the antecedents of disruptive innovation behavior adds to the theoretical framework of disruptive innovation and institutional theory, and supplements the specific embodiment of exploring disruptive innovation in the manufacturing industry. At the practical level, this paper provides theoretical guidance for entrepreneurs to choose the right regional entrepreneurship at the personal level. In addition, it provides the theoretical basis for entrepreneurs’ strategic decision-making at the entrepreneurial level, and for local governments to encourage entrepreneurial development and regional economic prosperity at the government level.
Co-Creating Climate Adaptation Pathways in Coastal Cities: A Practical Guide for Engaged Scholars and Urban Designers
Authors: Jenewein Oswald , Hummel Michelle A.
Published: December 2022

As the repercussions of climate change materialize, coastal cities are often at the forefront of experiencing environmental impacts like flooding and storm events. In addition, anthropogenic vulnerability drivers, like industrial activity in the near-shore environment, may accelerate shoreline erosion or nuisance flooding through the loss of natural shoreline buffers and increased ship traffic. This interdisciplinary study applied a participatory mixed-methods approach, co-creating climate change adaptation pathways with community and stakeholder input as a bottom-up task. The aims were to engage in a community dialogue (1) identifying assets and challenges within the natural and built environment based on community input, (2) utilizing a participatory mixed-methods approach to model and quantify selected hazards, and (3) transforming them into adaptation pathways visualized in a comprehensive master plan. The small-town of Ingleside on the Bay, Texas, served as a case study for this project, highlighting how sea-level rise and industrial activity challenge the community, its natural and cultural environment, and the infrastructure within. The outcomes identify anthropogenic vulnerability drivers and propose a concrete list of seven adaptation pathways based on community input. This study helps engaged scholars and decision-makers to activate community members and their knowledge as an integral component of their work, from identifying a problem to developing tangible solutions.
Predictors of Pro-Environmental Intention and Behavior: A Perspective of Stimulus–Organism–Response Theory
Authors: Sugiarto Agus , Lee Cheng-Wen , Huruta Andrian Dolfriandra , Dewi Christine , Chen Abbott Po Shun
Published: December 2022

Considering the importance of pro-environmental issues, this study aims to determine the impact of level of employee education and pro-environmental intention on pro-environmental behavior based on stimulus–organism–response theory. There was a total of 425 respondents participating in the survey. This study was conducted during the period of March–June 2022. The data were analyzed using partial least square–structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that the level of employee education has a positive impact on pro-environmental intention. In addition, pro-environmental intention has a significant impact on pro-environment behavior. Overall, this study sheds light on stimulus–organism–response theory in the context of Indonesia.
Dynamics of Sediment Transport in the Teles Pires River Basin in the Cerrado-Amazon, Brazil
Authors: Borella Daniela Roberta , de Souza Adilson Pacheco , de Almeida Frederico Terra , de Abreu Daniel Carneiro , Hoshide Aaron Kinyu , Carvalho Glauber Altrão , Pereira Rafaela Rocha , da Silva Apoliano Francisco
Published: December 2022

The Teles Pires River basin is experiencing significant water challenges due to recent urban growth, expansion of irrigated agriculture, and the rise of hydroelectric power plants in Brazil’s forest and savanna regions, impacting water availability and sediment production. This study evaluated and estimated the production of suspended sediment (Qss) and total sediment (Qst) in rivers and streams of the Teles Pires River basin, using different sampling methods for suspended-solid discharge: vertical sampling (reference), composite sampling (section), sampling along the standard vertical, and sampling along three verticals, collected using the equal-width increment method. The Qss and Qst values varied from 0.31 to 39.35 metric tons (t) per day (d−1) and from 0.32 to 43.70 t d−1, respectively. The average percentages of the entrained solid discharge varied from 3 to 5%, between the dry and rainy seasons, and across all hydrological sections. The different sampling methods of Qss resulted in similar Qst in each of the monitoring sections. The statistical performance of the simple linear regression model was satisfactory with Willmott index of agreement greater than 0.8234 and 0.9455 for estimates of Qss and Qst, respectively. The dynamics of sediment production and transport was influenced by land use and cover, drainage area, and the hydrological seasonality of the region. The different sampling methods of Qss are compatible with obtaining suspended and total solid discharge; however, the standard vertical sampling is the most simplified and can be applied in a hydrological section with uniform hydraulic conditions.
Treatment of Sugarcane Vinasse Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysis with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Tamashiro Jacqueline Roberta , Lima Iara Souza , Paiva Fábio Friol Guedes de , Silva Lucas Henrique Pereira , Oliveira Daniela Vanessa Moris de , Baffa Oswaldo , Kinoshita Angela
Published: December 2022

Vinasse is the main by-product of the ethanol industry; for each liter of ethanol, 13 to 18 L of vinasse is generated. Vinasse is composed of 93% water and 7% organic and inorganic solids and has an acidic pH and a high concentration of macro- and micronutrients used by plants, which is the reason for its widespread application in soil fertigation. However, over time, excessive direct discharge of vinasse into the soil causes damage, such as salinization and groundwater contamination. In this study, we used heterogeneous photocatalysis with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) to reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and as an antimicrobial treatment. ZnO-NPs were synthesized by the precipitation of zinc sulfate heptahydrate and sodium hydroxide, resulting in nanoparticles with a size of 21.6 ± 0.3 nm and an energy bandgap of 2.6 eV. Microscopic examinations revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae microorganisms are present in vinasse and that the minimum inhibitory concentration for the ZnO-NPs is 1.56 g/L. Photocatalysis with 40 mg/L of ZnO-NPs for 4 h of exposure to sunlight resulted in COD and BOD reduction efficacies of 17.1% and 71.7%, respectively. This study demonstrates the viability of using ZnO-NPs in vinasse treatment, contributing to sustainable applications and reducing the environmental impacts of fertigation.
A BIM–WMS Management Tool for the Reverse Logistics Supply Chain of Demolition Waste
Authors: Huang Ying , Pan Liujingtai , He Yifei , Xie Zheqing , Zheng Xiufang
Published: December 2022

In the construction industry, the reverse logistics supply chain (RLSC) is one of the measures used to effectively manage demolition waste. However, there are still many problems associated with its operation, including inaccurate calculation of demolition waste supplies and insufficient interaction between supply and demand information, and waste suppliers usually choose transportation alternatives associated with high carbon emissions to obtain economic benefits. These issues have hindered the sustainable development of the RLSC. This paper proposes a waste recycling facility selection system (WRFSS) that integrates building information modeling (BIM), web map service (WMS), and an application programming interface (API) plug-in. Compared to the actual transportation scenario, the transportation distance of the WRFSS was reduced by 30.6 km and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions were reduced by 0.0259 tons. This selection system realizes an optimal selection mechanism for waste recycling facilities and develops the shortest transportation plan, thereby reducing carbon emissions during transportation and achieving sustainable development.
An Air Heat Tracing System of Firefighting Pipeline in Cold Region Highway Tunnel
Authors: Zhang Mengze , Xie Yongli , Wang Zhichao
Published: December 2022

Ensuring the proper operation of tunnel firefighting systems in cold regions is a key issue at hand. According to the characteristics of cold region tunnel fire control systems, this paper puts forward a kind of air heat tracing system (AHTS) that is suitable for cold region tunnel firefighting systems. In the AHTS, an annular air duct was used to heat the firefighting pipe and keep it warm, so that the water temperature in the firefighting pipe is above the freezing point, which helps prevent the water in the firefighting pipe from freezing and avoids the failure of the firefighting system. Meanwhile, the finite element software ANSYS was used to simulate the working state of the AHTS under different conditions, and the insulation effect under different conditions was evaluated. The results showed that the AHTS has a good heating and heat preservation function, which can effectively maintain the normal operation of the tunnel firefighting system in cold regions under a low temperature environment (below 0 °C). Furthermore, increasing the air temperature and air speed in the system was beneficial to the working effect of the AHTS, and the “high temperature and low speed” mode was beneficial to reduce the system power consumption. It is recommended that v = 5 m/s and Ta = 50 °C be used as the preset operating parameters. Finally, according to the numerical analysis results, the scientific and reasonable working parameters of the AHTS under different working conditions were optimized. The research content can provide new ideas and theoretical support for the thermal insulation technology of tunnel firefighting systems in cold regions in the future.
Effects of Different Fertilization Methods on Double-Rice Yield and Bacterial Community in Paddy Soil
Authors: Li Guihua , Zhang Xueling , Zhang He , Guo Kangli , Zhang Jianfeng
Published: December 2022

Fertilizer regimes have profound effects on crop yield, soil fertility, and microbial community structure. However, the impacts of partially substituting mineral nitrogen (N) with organic N and/or controlled-release mineral N and combining with micronutrient fertilizers on soil properties and microbial communities are still unclear in double-rice systems. The objective of this study was to compare rice yield, soil nutrient condition, and bacterial alpha and beta diversity in paddy soil that had been subjected to four fertilizer treatments from 2012 to 2016. The treatments were FP: farmers’ practice with 100% urea N; T1: 64% urea N + 16% manure N; T2: T1 + micronutrient fertilizers; and T3: 40% urea N + 24% controlled-release N + 16% manure N + micronutrient fertilizers. The results showed that there were no considerable differences between rice yields under fertilizer treatments, meaning that reducing farmers’ practice N by 20% did not decrease rice yield. Soil organic matter, total N, pH, and microbial biomass receiving manure did not increase significantly compared with FP. Bacterial beta diversities did not alter under the four treatments. Only two (Verrucomicrobia and Aminicenantes) out of eleven dominant phyla considerably varied under manure treatments. These results indicate that 20% reduction and partial substitution of mineral fertilizer with manure can maintain double-rice yield in paddy soil with limited effects on soil properties and bacterial community structure.
Research into the Visual Saliency of Guide Signs in an Underground Commercial Street Based on an Eye-Movement Experiment
Authors: Sun Liang , Xu Yao , Teng Sijing , Wang Bo , Li Ming , Ding Shanmin
Published: December 2022

The complex spatial environment of underground commercial street spaces will affect users’ behavior and information needs. As a medium to coordinate the interaction between the underground commercial street space environment and people, guide signs can provide useful information for users. However, the visual saliency of guide signs is the fundamental premise for determining the transmission of information to users. Based on field research, this study identified and examined the factors influencing the significance of guide signs in underground commercial streets from the user’s perspective using the order relation analysis method (G1 method) and with the help of screen-based eye tracking and virtual reality (VR) eye-tracking technology, In addition, we explored the design relationship between critical influencing factors and the space between underground commercial streets, and the visual significance of the differences between each important influencing variable. The study showed that the set position, set height, and design color of underground commercial street guide signs are essential factors in their visual prominence. The prominence was more significant when the position of guide signs was located in the middle and upper area of the space, and the prominence was more significant when the set height was 2.56~2.75 m and 3.12~3.31 m. This study can provide data and theoretical support for the visual saliency design of underground commercial street guide signs and provide a reference for the humanized design of underground commercial street guide signs for public facilities in cities.
Research on Green View Index of Urban Roads Based on Street View Image Recognition: A Case Study of Changsha Downtown Areas
Authors: Chen Yixing , Zhang Qilin , Deng Zhang , Fan Xinran , Xu Zimu , Kang Xudong , Pan Kailing , Guo Zihao
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we took the urban roads in the Changsha downtown areas as an example to identify the green view index (GVI) of urban roads based on street view images (SVIs). First, the road network information was obtained through OpenStreetMap, and the coordinate information of sampling points was processed using ArcGIS. Secondly, the SVIs were downloaded from Baidu Map according to the latitude and longitude coordinates of the sampling points. Moreover, semantic segmentation neural network software was used to semantically segment the SVIs for recognizing the objects in each part of the images. Finally, the objects related to green vegetation were statistically analyzed to obtain the GVI of the sampling points. The GVI was mapped to the map in ArcGIS software for data visualization and analysis. The results showed the average GVI of the study area was 12.56%. An amount of 27% have very poor green perception, 40% have poor green perception, 19% have general green perception, 10% have strong green perception, and 4% have very strong green perception. In the administrative districts, the highest GVI is Yuhua District with 14.15%, while the lowest is Kaifu District with 8.75%. The average GVI of the new urban area is higher than that of the old urban area, as the old urban area has higher building density and a lower greenery level. This paper systematically evaluated the levels of GVI and greening status of urban streets within the Changsha downtown areas through SVIs data analysis, and provided guidance and suggestions for the greening development of Changsha City.
Energy Demand of the Road Transport Sector of Saudi Arabia—Application of a Causality-Based Machine Learning Model to Ensure Sustainable Environment
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Muhitur , Rahman Syed Masiur , Shafiullah Md , Hasan Md Arif , Gazder Uneb , Al Mamun Abdullah , Mansoor Umer , Kashifi Mohammad Tamim , Reshi Omer , Arifuzzaman Md , Islam Md Kamrul , Al-Ismail Fahad S.
Published: December 2022

The road transportation sector in Saudi Arabia has been observing a surging growth of demand trends for the last couple of decades. The main objective of this article is to extract insightful information for the country’s policymakers through a comprehensive investigation of the rising energy trends. In the first phase, it employs econometric analysis to provide the causal relationship between the energy demand of the road transportation sector and different socio-economic elements, including the gross domestic product (GDP), number of registered vehicles, total population, the population in the urban agglomeration, and fuel price. Then, it estimates future energy demand for the sector using two machine-learning models, i.e., artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector regression (SVR). The core features of the future demand model include: (i) removal of the linear trend, (ii) input data projection using a double exponential smoothing technique, and (iii) energy demand prediction using the machine learning models. The findings of the study show that the GDP and urban population have a significant causal relationship with energy demand in the road transportation sector in both the short and long run. The greenhouse gas emissions from the road transportation in Saudi Arabia are directly proportional to energy consumption because the demand is solely met by fossil fuels. Therefore, appropriate policy measures should be taken to reduce energy intensity without compromising the country’s development. In addition, the SVR model outperformed the ANN model in predicting the future energy demand of the sector based on the achieved performance indices. For instance, the correlation coefficients of the SVR and the ANN models were 0.8932 and 0.9925, respectively, for the test datasets. The results show that the SVR is better for predicting energy consumption than the ANN. It is expected that the findings of the study will assist the decision-makers of the country in achieving environmental sustainability goals by initiating appropriate policies.
Effects of Chinese Milk Vetch Returning on Soil Properties, Microbial Community, and Rice Yield in Paddy Soil
Authors: Zhang Jishi , Zheng Chunfeng , Zhang Lin , Zhang Chenglan , Lv Yuhu , Nie Liangpeng , Zhang Xiangning , Li Benyin , Cao Weidong , Li Min , Liu Chunzeng , Zhang Yuting
Published: December 2022

The application of green manure is considered a sustainable management approach to improve soil quality and crop yield in agricultural production. However, few studies have focused on the effects on soil properties and the microbial community when varied green manure rates are applied in rice cropping systems. We examined the soil and microbial properties in paddy soil and evaluated rice productivity and sustainable yield index in response to Chinese milk vetch (MV) application at various rates (0, 22.5, 30, 45, and 60 Mg ha−1, labeled MV0, MV22.5, MV30, MV45, and MV60, respectively) in a seven-year (2014–2020) field experiment. For all treatments, MV application significantly improved rice yield by 22.5–29.7% and sustainable yield index by 10.3–13.0% compared with no MV application, and the highest average yield across the 7 years of the study was found in MV60, followed by MV45, MV30, and MV22.5. Compared with MV0, MV45 and MV60 treatments significantly reduced soil bulk density (BD), increased soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total potassium (TK), and alkali solution nitrogen (AN), particularly in MV45. Moreover, compared with MV0, a marked decrease in the alpha diversity (Shannon index) of the bacterial community and a significant increase in the relative abundance of Firmicutes were observed under MV45. The alpha diversity of the fungal community did not vary across treatments, but MV45 significantly reduced the relative abundance of Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota compared with MV0. In addition, redundancy analysis indicated that the fungal community structure was significantly related to soil BD, and random forest classification analysis demonstrated that SOC and AN were the most important factors for rice yield in this study. Overall, these results indicated that MV application at 45 Mg ha−1 should be recommended to simultaneously achieve the improvement of rice yield and soil quality in the South China.
Conservation Proposals for Monasteries in Karpas Peninsula, Northern Cyprus
Authors: Berkay Erman , Oktay Vehbi Beser
Published: December 2022

Rural monasteries reflect the dependence on religion and agriculture with their space organization, function, and the lifestyle of the religious communities. Although conservation and reuse of monasteries are significant methods for transferring the knowledge of these religious heritage sites and their historical religious habits, many monastery buildings are threatened by abandonment, neglect, and idleness in Cyprus. This is mainly due to political and social reasons, which resulted in the loss of their connection with groups’ religious communities. This study mainly focuses on the nine monasteries which are located in the Karpas Peninsula. This paper discusses the lack of proper conservation activities for abandoned monasteries in Northern Cyprus, particularly with rural medieval monasteries located on the Karpas Peninsula. Concepts, such as adaptive reuse of monasteries and cultural routes, are noted in the state of the art section which formed the basis of the case studies included in this paper. The study underlines the significance of monasteries and monastic life in Northern Cyprus and discusses the current material as well as structural problems of these structures. Further to this, a proposal in respect of the construction of the monasteries’ route is made. Finally, the importance of the restoration and reuse of these monasteries and their possible contribution to tourism, gastronomic, and religious experiences are noted.
Analytical and Numerical Boundedness of a Model with Memory Effects for the Spreading of Infectious Diseases
Authors: Iqbal Zafar , Macías-Díaz Jorge , Ahmed Nauman , Javaid Aqsa , Rafiq Muhammad , Raza Ali
Published: December 2022

In this study, an integer-order rabies model is converted into the fractional-order epidemic model. To this end, the Caputo fractional-order derivatives are plugged in place of the classical derivatives. The positivity and boundedness of the fractional-order mathematical model is investigated by applying Laplace transformation and its inversion. To study the qualitative behavior of the non-integer rabies model, two steady states and the basic reproductive number of the underlying model are worked out. The local and global stability is investigated at both the steady states of the fractional-order epidemic model. After analytic treatment, a structure-preserving numerical template is constructed to numerically solve the fractional-order epidemic model. Moreover, the positivity, boundedness and symmetry of the numerical scheme are examined. Lastly, numerical experiment and simulations are accomplished to substantiate the significant traits of the projected numerical design. Consequences of the study are highlighted in the closing section.
Pt-Modified Nano-Sized Mn2O3 Oxide Prepared from the Mn3O4 Phase with Tetragonal Symmetry for CO Oxidation
Authors: Todorova Silviya , Naydenov Anton , Shopska Maya , Kolev Hristo , Yordanova Iliyana , Tenchev Krasimir
Published: December 2022

One of the current problems in the environmental catalysis is the design of an effective and less costly catalytic system for the oxidation of CO. The nano-sized α-Mn2O3 oxide has been prepared and modified with 0.5 wt.% Pt. The catalysts have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and diffuse-reflectance infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). Finely divided PtO and Pt(OH)2 are being formed on the Mn2O3 surface as a result of the strong interaction between platinum and the nano-oxide. Based on DRIFTS investigations and the model calculations, a Langmuir–Hinshelwood type of mechanism is supposed for CO oxidation on Pt/Mn2O3. The CO and oxygen are adsorbed on different types of sites. The Mars–van Krevelen mechanism is the most probable one over pure Mn2O3, thus suggesting that CO2 is adsorbed on the oxidized sites. The CO adsorption in the mixture CO + N2 or in the presence of oxygen (CO + N2 + O2) leads to a partial reduction in the Pt+ surface species and the formation of linear Pt1+−CO and Pt0−CO carbonyls. Both of them take part in the CO oxidation reaction.
Twenty-Five Years of PSP Toxicity in Galician (NW Spain) Bivalves: Spatial, Temporal, and Interspecific Variations
Authors: Blanco Juan , Moroño Ángeles , Arévalo Fabiola , Correa Jorge , Salgado Covadonga , Pazos Yolanda , Calvo Silvia , Rossignoli Araceli Escudeiro
Published: December 2022

Twenty-five years of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxicity in Galician bivalves have been studied. PSP was detected in 4785 out of 73,740 samples of the commercially important bivalve species analyzed from 1995 to 2020. Its general prevalence in the area was 6.5%. Only 1.6% of all samples tested were over the regulatory limit (incidence). The maximum level of PSP in the area, 40,800 µg STX 2HCl-eq kg−1, was recorded in raft mussels from Bueu (PON-II, Pontevedra) in December 2005. The highest maximum PSP values were found in mussels, which were mostly affected by Gymnodinium catenatum, but not those of prevalence and incidence which were recorded in clams, mostly affected by Alexandrium. Average levels in mussels were higher than in any other studied species. Spatially, in general, the prevalence, incidence, maximum, and average PSP toxicity during episodes tend to decrease from south to northeast, but some hot points with high levels can be identified. PCA analysis separates the southern rías, associated to G. catenatum blooms, from the middle and northern ones, associated to Alexandrium blooms. Along the year, two main peaks of the four variables are observed, the first one in late autumn–winter and the other in summer, the summer peak being much more important for the infaunal species than for raft mussels. In the seasonal pattern obtained by time series analysis of the average PSP toxicity, the autumn-winter peak was only maintained (and very reduced) in the southern rías, indicating that this peak is seasonally much less important than the summer peak. The observed seasonality is expected based on the timing of the blooms of the two PSP-producing phytoplankton groups present in the area. Over the 25 years of monitoring, large differences in PSP toxicity have been observed. Apart from some special years, an ascending trend in prevalence and incidence seems to be present from 2011 to 2020. No trend seems to exist during the same period for average or maximum toxicity.
Optimizing Antibody Affinity and Developability Using a Framework–CDR Shuffling Approach—Application to an Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody
Authors: Gopal Ranjani , Fitzpatrick Emmett , Pentakota Niharika , Jayaraman Akila , Tharakaraman Kannan , Capila Ishan
Published: December 2022

The computational methods used for engineering antibodies for clinical development have undergone a transformation from three-dimensional structure-guided approaches to artificial-intelligence- and machine-learning-based approaches that leverage the large sequence data space of hundreds of millions of antibodies generated by next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies. Building on the wealth of available sequence data, we implemented a computational shuffling approach to antibody components, using the complementarity-determining region (CDR) and the framework region (FWR) to optimize an antibody for improved affinity and developability. This approach uses a set of rules to suitably combine the CDRs and FWRs derived from naturally occurring antibody sequences to engineer an antibody with high affinity and specificity. To illustrate this approach, we selected a representative SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibody, H4, which was identified and isolated previously based on the predominant germlines that were employed in a human host to target the SARS-CoV-2-human ACE2 receptor interaction. Compared to screening vast CDR libraries for affinity enhancements, our approach identified fewer than 100 antibody framework–CDR combinations, from which we screened and selected an antibody (CB79) that showed a reduced dissociation rate and improved affinity against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (7-fold) when compared to H4. The improved affinity also translated into improved neutralization (>75-fold improvement) of SARS-CoV-2. Our rapid and robust approach for optimizing antibodies from parts without the need for tedious structure-guided CDR optimization will have broad utility for biotechnological applications.
Molecular Tools to Identify and Characterize Malignant Catarrhal Fever Viruses (MCFV) of Ruminants and Captive Artiodactyla
Authors: Bianchessi Laura , Rocchi Mara Silvia , Maley Madeleine , Piccinini Renata , Turin Lauretta
Published: December 2022

The family Herpesviridae includes viruses identified in mammals, birds and reptiles. All herpesviruses share a similar structure, consisting of a large linear double-stranded DNA genome surrounded by a proteic icosahedral capsid further contained within a lipidic bilayer envelope. The continuous rise of genetic variability and the evolutionary selective pressure underlie the appearance and consolidation of novel viral strains. This applies also to several gamma(γ)-herpesviruses, whose role as primary pathogen has been often neglected and, among these to newly emerged viruses or virus variants responsible for the development of Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) or MCF-like disease. The identification of γ-herpesviruses adapted to new zoological hosts requires specific molecular tools for detection and characterization. These viruses can cause MCF in livestock and wild animals, a disease generally sporadic but with serious welfare implications and which, in many cases, leads to death within a few days from the appearance of the clinical signs. In the absence of a vaccine, the first step to improve disease control is based on the improvement of molecular tools to identify and characterize these viruses, their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary interaction with the host species. A Panherpes PCR-specific test, based on the conserved DNA polymerase gene, employing consensus/degenerate and deoxyinosine-substituted primers followed by sequencing, is still the preferred diagnostic test to confirm and characterize herpesviral infections. The drawback of this test is the amplification of a relatively short sequence, which makes phylogenetic analysis less stringent. Based on these diagnostic requirements, and with a specific focus on γ-herpesviruses, the present review aims to critically analyze the currently available methods to identify and characterize novel MCFV strains, to highlight advantages and drawbacks and to identify the gaps to be filled in order to address research priorities. Possible approaches for improving or further developing these molecular tools are also suggested.
Distribution and Characterisation of Tick-Borne Flavi-, Flavi-like, and Phenuiviruses in the Chelyabinsk Region of Russia
Authors: Kholodilov Ivan , Belova Oxana , Ivannikova Anna , Gadzhikurbanov Magomed , Makenov Marat , Yakovlev Alexander , Polienko Alexandra , Dereventsova Alena , Litov Alexander , Gmyl Larissa , Okhezin Egor , Luchinina Svetlana , Klimentov Alexander , Karganova Galina
Published: December 2022

In this work, we presented data from a two-year study of flavi-, flavi-like, and phenuiviruses circulation in the population of ixodid ticks in the Chelyabinsk region. We isolated three tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) strains from I. persulcatus, which was not detected in the ticks of the genus Dermacentor. The virus prevalence ranged from 0.66% to 2.28%. The Yanggou tick virus (YGTV) is widespread in steppe and forest-steppe zones and is mainly associated with ticks of the genus Dermacentor. We isolated 26 strains from D. reticulatus, D. marginatus, and I. persulcatus ticks in the HAE/CTVM8 tick cell line. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.58% to 4.18% in D. reticulatus, ranged from 0.78% to 3.93% in D. marginatus, and was 0.66% in I. persulcatus. There was combined focus of TBEV and YGTV in the territory of the Chelyabinsk region. The Alongshan virus (ALSV) was found to be associated with I. persulcatus ticks and is spread in forest zone. We detected 12 amplicons and isolated 7 strains of ALSV in tick cells. The virus prevalence ranged from 1.13% to 6.00%. The phlebovirus Gomselga and unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol were associated with I. persulcatus and D. reticulatus ticks, respectively. Virus prevalence of the unclassified phenuivirus Stavropol in the Chelyabinsk region is lower than that in neighbouring regions.