bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Congenital Cutis Verticis Gyrata in a Newborn with Turner Syndrome: A Rare Clinical Manifestation of This Chromosomal Disease with Trichoscopic Evaluation
Authors: Bortone Riccardo , Bonamonte Domenico , Cazzato Gerardo , Laface Carmelo , Gaeta Alberto , Lettini Teresa , Foti Caterina , Filotico Raffaele , Ambrogio Francesca
Published: August 2023

Cutis verticis gyrata (CVG) is a rare disorder of the scalp that entails the development of ridges and furrows, which mimic the anatomical conformation of the brain. This skin condition has been classified in primary essential, primary non-essential, and secondary CVG, depending on the presence or absence of other associated disorders. We present the case report of a one-month-old female newborn affected by congenital CVG (CCVG), who also received a diagnosis of Turner syndrome (TS). Skin folding was present at birth and located at the left frontal region of the scalp in the sagittal plane. Our purpose was to make this pathology clinically and tricoscopically better known, since it can be related to different genetic, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions, etc. Non-invasive investigations, such as ultrasonography (U/S) of the brain and scalp and trichoscopy, were also used to obtain the important clues necessary to help in the CVG classification. The clinical diagnosis and trichoscopical investigation of CVG may also be useful for those patients who may have a genetic disease that is not screened for during prenatal examinations.
Morphological and Molecular Characterizations of Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larvae Responsible for Wound Myiasis in French Guiana
Authors: Akhoundi Mohammad , Mathieu Alexandre , Hannachi Wajih , Nasrallah Jade , Quezel Guillaume , Blaizot Romain , Blanchet Denis , Ben Romdhane Habib , Epelboin Loïc , Izri Arezki
Published: August 2023

Myiasis is an ectoparasitic infection caused by the larvae of true flies (Diptera). We came across a rather rare case of myiasis in an immunocompetent 34-year-old man from French Guiana with advanced wound myiasis masquerading as cavitary myiasis and a history of cholesteatoma surgery in the left ear. The Diptera larvae responsible for the disease were isolated and identified using morphological and molecular approaches as Cochliomyia hominivorax. We underline the importance of this parasitosis as the second case of myiasis caused by C. hominivorax and the first case of wound myiasis in this overseas department of France and its incidence in pre-urban areas of the capital, Cayenne, in South America.
Fault Detection and Fault-Tolerant Cooperative Control of Multi-UAVs under Actuator Faults, Sensor Faults, and Wind Disturbances
Authors: Yang Zhongyu , Li Mengna , Yu Ziquan , Cheng Yuehua , Xu Guili , Zhang Youmin
Published: August 2023

Fault detection (FD) and fault-tolerant cooperative control (FTCC) strategies are proposed in this paper for multiple fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) under actuator faults, sensor faults, and wind disturbances. Firstly, the faulty model is introduced while the effectiveness loss, deviation of thrust throttle setting, and pitot sensor faults are considered. Secondly, the faulty UAV model with wind disturbances is linearized and the system is then converted into two subsystems by using state and output transformations. Further, cooperative unknown input observers (UIOs) are developed to estimate the faults, disturbances, and states. By combining with the observers’ estimations, adaptive thresholds are designed to detect actuator and sensor faults in the system. Then, considering state constraints, a backstepping-based FTCC scheme is proposed for multiple UAVs (multi-UAVs) suffering from actuator faults, sensor faults, and wind disturbances. It is shown by Lyapunov analysis that the tracking errors are fixed-time convergent. Finally, the effectiveness of the FD and FTCC scheme is verified by numerical simulation.
An Approach to the Implementation of a Neural Network for Cryptographic Protection of Data Transmission at UAV
Authors: Tsmots Ivan , Teslyuk Vasyl , Łukaszewicz Andrzej , Lukashchuk Yurii , Kazymyra Iryna , Holovatyy Andriy , Opotyak Yurii
Published: August 2023

An approach to the implementation of a neural network for real-time cryptographic data protection with symmetric keys oriented on embedded systems is presented. This approach is valuable, especially for onboard communication systems in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), because of its suitability for hardware implementation. In this study, we evaluate the possibility of building such a system in hardware implementation at FPGA. Onboard implementation-oriented information technology of real-time neuro-like cryptographic data protection with symmetric keys (masking codes, neural network architecture, and matrix of weighting coefficients) has been developed. Due to the pre-calculation of matrices of weighting coefficients and tables of macro-partial products and the use of tabular-algorithmic implementation of neuro-like elements and dynamic change of keys, it provides increased cryptographic stability and hardware–software implementation on FPGA. The table-algorithmic method of calculating the scalar product has been improved. By bringing the weighting coefficients to the greatest common order, pre-computing the tables of macro-partial products, and using operations of memory read, fixed-point addition, and shift operations instead of floating-point multiplication and addition operations, it provides a reduction in hardware costs for its implementation and calculation time as well. Using a processor core supplemented with specialized hardware modules for calculating the scalar product, a system of neural network cryptographic data protection in real-time has been developed, which, due to the combination of universal and specialized approaches, software, and hardware, ensures the effective implementation of neuro-like algorithms for cryptographic encryption and decryption of data in real-time. The specialized hardware for neural network cryptographic data encryption was developed using VHDL for equipment programming in the Quartus II development environment ver. 13.1 and the appropriate libraries and implemented on the basis of the FPGA EP3C16F484C6 Cyclone III family, and it requires 3053 logic elements and 745 registers. The execution time of exclusively software realization of NN cryptographic data encryption procedure using a NanoPi Duo microcomputer based on the Allwinner Cortex-A7 H2+ SoC was about 20 ms. The hardware–software implementation of the encryption, taking into account the pre-calculations and settings, requires about 1 msec, including hardware encryption on the FPGA of four 2-bit inputs, which is performed in 160 nanoseconds.
Secure Blockchain-Enabled Authentication Key Management Framework with Big Data Analytics for Drones in Networks Beyond 5G Applications
Authors: Mishra Amit Kumar , Wazid Mohammad , Singh Devesh Pratap , Das Ashok Kumar , Singh Jaskaran , Vasilakos Athanasios V.
Published: August 2023

One of the most significant recent advances in technology is the advent of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), i.e., drones. They have widened the scope of possible applications and provided a platform for a wide range of creative responses to a variety of challenges. The Internet of Drones (IoD) is a relatively new concept that has arisen as a consequence of the combination of drones and the Internet. The fifth-generation (5G) and beyond cellular networks (i.e., drones in networks beyond 5G) are promising solutions for achieving safe drone operations and applications. They may have many applications, like surveillance or urban areas, security, surveillance, retaliation, delivering items, smart farming, film production, capturing nature videos, and many more. Due to the fact that it is susceptible to a wide variety of cyber-attacks, there are certain concerns regarding the privacy and security of IoD communications. In this paper, a secure blockchain-enabled authentication key management framework with the big data analytics feature for drones in networks beyond 5G applications is proposed (in short, SBBDA-IoD). The security of SBBDA-IoD against multiple attacks is demonstrated through a detailed security analysis. The Scyther tool is used to perform a formal security verification test on the SBBDA-IoD’s security, confirming the system’s resistance to various potential attacks. A detailed comparative analysis has identified that SBBDA-IoD outperforms the other schemes by a significant margin. Finally, a real-world implementation of SBBDA-IoD is shown to evaluate its effect on several measures of performance.
Post-Quantum Secure Identity-Based Proxy Blind Signature Scheme on a Lattice
Authors: Li Fengyin , Yang Mengjiao , Song Zhihao , Wang Ping , Li Guoping
Published: August 2023

Blind signatures have been widely applied when privacy preserving is required, and the delegation of blind signature rights and a proxy blind signature (Proxy-BS) become necessary when the signer cannot sign. Existing Proxy-BS schemes are based on traditional cryptographically hard problems, and they cannot resist quantum attacks. Moreover, most current Proxy-BS schemes depend on public key infrastructure (PKI), which leads to high certificate storage and management overhead. To simplify key management and resist quantum attacks, we propose a post-quantum secure identity-based proxy blind signature (ID-Proxy-BS) scheme on a lattice using a matrix cascade technique and lattice cryptosystem. Under the random oracle model (ROM), the security of the proposed scheme is proved. Security shows that the proposed scheme assures security against quantum attacks and satisfies the correctness, blindness, and unforgeability. In addition, we apply the ID-Proxy-BS scheme on a lattice to e-voting and propose a quantum-resistant proxy e-voting system, which is resistant to quantum attacks and achieves the efficiency of e-voting.
An Interpretable Time Series Data Prediction Framework for Severe Accidents in Nuclear Power Plants
Authors: Fu Yongjie , Zhang Dazhi , Xiao Yunlong , Wang Zhihui , Zhou Huabing
Published: August 2023

Accurately predicting severe accident data in nuclear power plants is of utmost importance for ensuring their safety and reliability. However, existing methods often lack interpretability, thereby limiting their utility in decision making. In this paper, we present an interpretable framework, called GRUS, for forecasting severe accident data in nuclear power plants. Our approach combines the GRU model with SHAP analysis, enabling accurate predictions and offering valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms. To begin, we preprocess the data and extract temporal features. Subsequently, we employ the GRU model to generate preliminary predictions. To enhance the interpretability of our framework, we leverage SHAP analysis to assess the contributions of different features and develop a deeper understanding of their impact on the predictions. Finally, we retrain the GRU model using the selected dataset. Through extensive experimentation utilizing breach data from MSLB accidents and LOCAs, we demonstrate the superior performance of our GRUS framework compared to the mainstream GRU, LSTM, and ARIMAX models. Our framework effectively forecasts trends in core parameters during severe accidents, thereby bolstering decision-making capabilities and enabling more effective emergency response strategies in nuclear power plants.
Invention in Times of Global Challenges: A Text-Based Study of Remote Sensing and Global Public Goods
Authors: Ott Ingrid , Vannuccini Simone
Published: August 2023

We study whether remote sensing (RS), a set of technologies with global reach and a variety of applications, can be considered instrumental to the provision of global public goods (GPG). We exploit text information from patent data and apply structural topic modeling to identify topics related (or relevant) to GPG provision, and trace their participation in the evolution of remote sensing technology over time. We develop a new indicator of affinity to GPG (and other themes) using meta information from our dataset. We find that, first, RS displays features of a general-purpose technology. Second, while peripheral, GPG-relevant topics are present in the RS topic space, and in some cases overlap with topics with high affinity in AI and participation of public sector actors in invention. With our analysis, we contribute to a better understanding of the interplay between the dynamics of technology and (global) political economy, a field of research yet under-explored.
Positive and Negative Impacts of Gamification on the Fitness Industry
Authors: Ozdamli Fezile , Milrich Fulbert
Published: August 2023

Gamification features to motivate individuals to exercise have become a trend in the fitness sector that is gaining popularity. It is based on the idea that adding fun and competitive components to workout routines will inspire people to achieve their fitness objectives and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This research study attempts to analyze the literature that explores this concept of gamification in detail, and create a picture of how its implementation has changed fitness and healthy habits. This research incorporated the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach as its research methodology. Search strategy used a set of inclusion-exclusion criteria that helped us examine through hundreds of articles identified in the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. After exclusive and inclusion criteria, 48 articles were selected to be reviewed in detail. Results have indicated that gamification strategy is a supporting factor to overcome the difficulties of executing exercises. Also, to improve the willingness towards fitness regimens.
Hydrogen–Natural Gas Mix—A Viable Perspective for Environment and Society
Authors: Neacsa Adrian , Eparu Cristian Nicolae , Panaitescu Cașen , Stoica Doru Bogdan , Ionete Bogdan , Prundurel Alina , Gal Sorin
Published: August 2023

The increase in demand, and thus the need to lower its price, has kept C-based fuels as the main source. In this context, the use of oil and gas has led to increased climate change, resulting in greenhouse gases. The high percentage of eissions, over 40%, is due to the production of electricity, heat, or/and energy transport. This is the main reason for global warming and the extreme and increasingly common climate change occurrences, with all of nature being affected. Due to this reason, in more and more countries, there is an increased interest in renewable energies from sustainable sources, with a particular emphasis on decarbonisation. One of the energies analysed for decarbonisation that will play a role in future energy systems is hydrogen. The development of hydrogen–natural gas mixtures is a major challenge in the field of energy and fuel technology. This article aims to highlight the major challenges associated with researching hydrogen–natural gas blends. Meeting this challenge requires a comprehensive research and development effort, including exploring appropriate blending techniques, optimising performance, addressing infrastructure requirements, and considering regulatory considerations. Overcoming this challenge will enable the full potential of hydrogen–natural gas blends to be realised as a clean and sustainable energy source. This will contribute to the global transition to a greener and more sustainable future. Several international, European, and Romanian studies, projects, and legislative problems are being analysed. The mix between H2 and natural gas decreases fugitive emissions. In contrast, using hydrogen increases the risk of fire more than using natural gas because hydrogen is a light gas that easily escapes and ignites at almost any concentration in the air.
Promoting the Development of China’s New-Energy Vehicle Industry in the Post-Subsidy Era: A Study Based on the Evolutionary Game Theory Method
Authors: Chen Yan , Zhan Menglin , Liu Yue
Published: August 2023

Government policy constraints and the green credit support of banks have played an indispensable role in promoting the development of the new energy vehicle (NEV) industry. To study the relationship between the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers in the post-subsidy era and to promote the development of the NEV industry in China, we constructed a tripartite evolutionary game model for the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers during the subsidy decline, analyzed the evolutionary process of the system, and used MATLAB to simulate the evolutionary stable strategies (ESSs) and the sensitivity of related parameters. The results demonstrate the following: (1) There are five possible evolutionary equilibrium points in the early, middle, and late stages of the NEV industry; (2) with the increase in the phase-out rates and the transaction prices of NEV points, the government is more inclined to low subsidies, the banks are more inclined to implement green credit, and enterprises are more inclined to produce NEVs; (3) there is a threshold for the impact of government incentives on the evolutionary results of the government and the banks, beyond which the evolutionary process of the government and the banks will be unstable; (4) with the increase in financing costs saved by green credit, the government is more inclined to low subsidies and enterprises are more inclined to produce NEVs, while changes in financing costs have less impact on the strategies of banks. According to these findings, the government, the banks, and automobile manufacturers can be relied upon to promote the development of the NEV industry in China.
Role of a Unitized Regenerative Fuel Cell in Remote Area Power Supply: A Review
Authors: Singla Manish Kumar , Gupta Jyoti , Nijhawan Parag , Oberoi Amandeep Singh , Alsharif Mohammed H. , Jahid Abu
Published: August 2023

This manuscript presents a thorough review of unitized regenerative fuel cells (URFCs) and their importance in Remote Area Power Supply (RAPS). In RAPS systems that utilize solar and hydrogen power, which typically include photovoltaic modules, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, hydrogen gas storage, and PEM fuel cells, the cost of these systems is currently higher compared to conventional RAPS systems that employ diesel generators or batteries. URFCs offer a potential solution to reduce the expenses of solar hydrogen renewable energy systems in RAPS by combining the functionalities of the electrolyzer and fuel cell into a single unit, thereby eliminating the need to purchase separate and costly electrolyzer and fuel cell units. URFCs are particularly well-suited for RAPS applications because the electrolyzer and fuel cell do not need to operate simultaneously. In electrolyzer mode, URFCs function similarly to stand-alone electrolyzers. However, in fuel cell mode, the performance of URFCs is inferior to that of stand-alone fuel cells. The presented review summarizes the past, present, and future of URFCs with details on the operating modes of URFCs, limitations and technical challenges, and applications. Solar hydrogen renewable energy applications in RAPS and challenges facing solar hydrogen renewable energy in the RAPS is discussed in detail.
Analysis of Flow and Heat Transfer Characteristics and Multi-Objective Optimization for Sinusoidal PCHE
Authors: Hu Qixuan , Fan Zhonglei , Zhang Zhe , Lu Yi
Published: August 2023

A Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) is a compact heat exchanger with high temperature and pressure resistance and is considered one of the best choices for the recuperators in the Supercritical Carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton cycle. The flow and heat transfer performance of sinusoidal channel PCHE were analyzed and a second-order regression model was established based on the response surface method to improve the performance of the continuous channel PCHE. It was found that reducing the channel diameter, increasing the channel amplitude, and reducing the channel pitch can increase the average value of the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop per unit length. Moreover, sensitivity coefficient analysis was used to investigate the influence of various structural parameters on flow performance, heat transfer performance, and comprehensive performance. In addition, the structure of the sinusoidal channel PCHE was optimized using a multi-objective genetic algorithm, and three sets of Pareto optimal solutions were obtained. The corresponding optimal channel diameter D, channel amplitude A, and channel pitch Lp were in the range of 1.0–1.7 mm, 2.4–3.0 mm, and 15.1–17.0 mm, respectively, which can provide theoretical basis for the design of PCHE.
Energy Innovation for Individual Consumers in Poland—Analysis of Potential and Evaluation of Practical Applications in Selected Areas
Authors: Chomać-Pierzecka Ewa , Rogozińska-Mitrut Joanna , Różycka Monika , Soboń Dariusz , Stasiak Jacek
Published: August 2023

Green technologies are undergoing strong development. These are created by global formal and legal regulations enforcing the reduction of the share of non-renewable energy sources in the energy systems of economies and the minimisation of harmful emissions through the development of technologies based on renewable energy sources. In addition, the development of green technologies is driven by the need to reduce the rising cost of electricity, particularly affecting households in countries heavily reliant on coal-fired power generation, where green technologies are only just gaining popularity (e.g., Poland). With this in mind, it was considered important to present the formal and legal background of the development of the Polish energy system towards sustainability and to discuss the green technology market in Poland, including innovative solutions in this field, which are or could be, applied to small individual consumers (households). The main objective of the study was to analyse the interest of households in innovative green technology solutions, determined by the surface area and cubic capacity of buildings, in order to strengthen the source material that can be used by decision-makers when designing a strategy for the development of the green energy market in Poland, with a special focus on individual consumers. The study was carried out based on a critical analysis of the available literature, regulations, and industry reports, as well as survey material enabling practical evaluation of solutions by users of innovative technologies. The practical research dimension was reinforced by statistical instrumentation, using the statistical instrument PQstat version 1.8.4.164. The main findings of this study show a significant level of openness of households in Poland to innovative green technologies and a clear relationship between the area and volume of a building and the range of choices made. The most popular solutions in this respect include photovoltaics, followed by heat pumps. Furthermore, it was noted that the area and cubic volume of a building determines the potential and scale of future strengthening of the RES dimension by small individual consumers.
Negative Impact of Thermal Loads on Pressure and Non-Pressure Boiler Parts
Authors: Duda Piotr , Felkowski Łukasz
Published: August 2023

Issues related to the proper design of power boiler elements taking account of thermal loads are still relevant in this era of increasing variability of the boiler power output over time. The aim of this work is to present a thermal and strength analysis for a section of the membrane wall of a steam boiler, designed and manufactured in compliance with international standards, and approved for operation by a pressure equipment supervisory authority. Although the procedures were followed as required, the boiler membrane wall became cyclically damaged. The cause of such periodic damage to the boiler can be explained based on the conducted analyses.
Development Adjustment Scheme of a Low-Permeability Reservoir in the SN Oilfield
Authors: Xie Lei , Xin Xiankang , Ding Yajie , Wei Ting , Yu Gaoming
Published: August 2023

Due to the complexity of low-permeability reservoirs, there is no set of established plans to adjust the development of specific low-permeability reservoirs, and the final development adjustment plan should be determined through comprehensive consideration of many aspects. At present, the development of low-permeability reservoirs in the SN oilfield faces problems. It is urgent to formulate corresponding development adjustment plans to improve the current development situation. In view of the problems of the current development surface of low-permeability reservoirs in the SN oilfield, this paper used the previous research results of a low-permeability reservoir development adjustment for reference, evaluated the reservoir development effect, analyzed the remaining oil distribution via numerical reservoir simulation, and finally designed and optimized a development adjustment plan. The research results show that the injection–production ratio and pressure of low-permeability reservoirs in the SN oilfield were generally maintained, the oil production decreased, the water cut increased, and the remaining recoverable reserves were considerable; the historical matching quality of a reservoir numerical simulation was good. There was more remaining oil in the northeast of the J007 well block and the north of the J008 well block, and the potential of the L2 and L3 layers was great. The remaining oil was mainly concentrated in the areas with high positions, poor physical properties, and imperfect well patterns; the predicted cumulative oil production of Scheme IV in 15 years and recovery were the highest, with the best development effect and the highest economic benefit. This was determined as the development adjustment plan for low-permeability reservoirs in the SN oilfield. The research results of this paper aim to improve oil production, the ultimate recovery factor, and economic benefits of low-permeability reservoirs in the SN oilfield, and to provide a reference for the development of similar oilfields.
Adaptive Machine-Learning-Based Transmission Line Fault Detection and Classification Connected to Inverter-Based Generators
Authors: Kharusi Khalfan Al , Haffar Abdelsalam El , Mesbah Mostefa
Published: August 2023

Adaptive protection schemes have been developed to address the problem of behavior-changing power systems integrated with inverter-based generation (IBG). This paper proposes a machine-learning-based fault detection and classification technique using a setting-group-based adaptation approach. Multigroup settings were designed depending on the types of power generation (synchronous generator, PV plant, and type-3 wind farm) connected to a transmission line in the 39-Bus New England System. For each system topology, an optimized pretrained ensemble tree classifier was used. The adaptation process has two phases: an offline learning phase to tune the classifiers and select the optimum subset of features, and an online phase where the circuit breaker (CB) status and the active output power of the generators are continuously monitored to identify the current system topology and to select the appropriate setting group. The proposed system achieved an average accuracy of 99.4%, a 99.5% average precision, a 99.9% average specificity, and a 99.4% average sensitivity of classification. The robustness analysis was conducted by applying several fault scenarios not considered during training, which include different transmission network configurations and different penetration levels of IBGs. The case of incorrect selection of the appropriate setting group resulting from selecting the wrong topology is also considered. It was noticed that the performance of developed classifiers deteriorates when the transmission network is reconfigured and the incorrect setting group is selected.
Emissions and By-Products from Producing Torrefied Solid Recovered Fuel Using Pulp Industry Waste
Authors: Yuan Min-Hao , Chang Chia-Chi , Huang Michael , Shie Je-Lueng , Wu Chao-Hsiung , Chang Ching-Yuan , Chen Yi-Hung , Lin Far-Ching , Lin Cheng-Fang , Yu Chang-Ping , Chen Yen-Hau , Chang Wei-Ren , Yang Tzu-Yi , Liu Bo-Liang
Published: August 2023

Emissions and by-products from manufacturing torrefied solid recovered fuel using pulp industry waste containing wood waste with pulp sludge (WPS) were studied. Two batches of WPS1 and WPS2 were tested. The torrefaction of WSP1 and WPS2 were performed at their respectively optimal temperature of 573 and 593 K and time of 20 min, referred as cases WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20, respectively. WPS1 contained higher fixed carbons and volatile matters but lower ash content than WPS2. The results showed that the solid yields of 56 and 61 wt.%, gas yields of 16 and 16 wt.% and liquid yields of 28 and 24 wt.% for WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20, respectively. The maximal concentration of emissions for WPST1-573-20 and WPST2-593-20 are about 1952.5 and 3743.5 ppmv for CO, 26.5 and 156 ppmv for NOx and 31.5 and 392 ppmv for SO2, respectively. The CCO exceeded the emission standard and required further action. The collected non-condensable gases consisted of hydrocarbons ranging from C1-HC to C6-HC, with C4-HC being the predominant component. Here, Cn-HC represents hydrocarbons with a carbon atom count of n. The GC-MS analysis revealed the primary liquid byproducts. The liquid products can be used directly as pyroligneous liquor in agriculture. Furthermore, with refining techniques, these liquid byproducts can be transformed into high-quality chemicals for applications such as fungicides, pesticides, solvents, surfactants, and as precursors or monomers in the synthesis of other chemicals.
Detection of Pine Wilt Disease Using Time Series UAV Imagery and Deep Learning Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Lee Min-Gyu , Cho Hyun-Baum , Youm Sung-Kwan , Kim Sang-Wook
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study was to enhance the detection accuracy for pine-wilt-diseased trees (PWDT) using time series UAV imagery (TSUI) and deep learning semantic segmentation (DLSS) techniques. The detailed methods to accomplish the research objectives were as follows. Considering the atypical and highly varied ecological characteristics of PWDT, DLSS algorithms of U-Net, SegNet, and DeepLab V3+ (ResNet18 and 50) were adopted. A total of 2350 PWDT were vectorized at 9 sites, and 795 images of 2000 damaged trees were used as training data and 200 images where 350 PWDT were found, were used as the test dataset. The felled trees were tracked and the pest-controlled trees were used as to ground truth the TSUI of at least 2 years to ensure the reliability of the constructed learning data. The results demonstrated that among the evaluated algorithms, DeepLab V3+ (ResNet50) achieved the best f1-score (0.742) and also provided the best recall (0.727). SegNet did not detect any shaded PWDT, but DeepLabV3+ (ResNet50) found most of the PWDT, especially those with atypical shapes near the felled trees. All algorithms except DeepLabV3+ (ResNet50) generated false positives for browned broadleaf trees. For the trees, all algorithms did not detect PWDT that had been dead for a long time and had lost most of their leaves or had turned gray. Most of the older PWDT have been logged, but for the few that remain, the relative lack of training data may be contributing to their poor detection. For land cover, the false positives occurred mainly in bare ground, shaded areas, roads, and rooftops. This study thus verified the potential use of semantic segmentation in the detection of forest diseases such as PWD, while the detection accuracy is anticipated to increase with the acquisition of adequate quantities of learning data in future.
Predicting the Unpredictable: Predicting Landcover in Boreal Alaska and the Yukon Including Succession and Wildfire Potential
Authors: Calef Monika P. , Schmidt Jennifer I. , Varvak Anna , Ziel Robert
Published: August 2023

The boreal forest of northwestern North America covers an extensive area, contains vast amounts of carbon in its vegetation and soil, and is characterized by extensive wildfires. Catastrophic crown fires in these forests are fueled predominantly by only two evergreen needle-leaf tree species, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.). Identifying where these flammable species grow through time in the landscape is critical for understanding wildfire risk, damages, and human exposure. Because medium resolution landcover data that include species detail are lacking, we developed a compound modeling approach that enabled us to refine the available evergreen forest category into highly flammable species and less flammable species. We then expanded our refined landcover at decadal time steps from 1984 to 2014. With the aid of an existing burn model, FlamMap, and simple succession rules, we were able to predict future landcover at decadal steps until 2054. Our resulting land covers provide important information to communities in our study area on current and future wildfire risk and vegetation changes and could be developed in a similar fashion for other areas.
MaxEnt Modeling and the Impact of Climate Change on Pistacia chinensis Bunge Habitat Suitability Variations in China
Authors: Xu Chaohan , Zhang Lei , Zhang Keliang , Tao Jun
Published: August 2023

Climate change impacts the world’s biota, creating a critical issue for scientists, conservationists, and decision makers. Pistacia chinensis Bunge (Anacardiaceae) is an economical importantly species with strong drought resistance. Nevertheless, the characteristics of habitat distribution and the major eco-environmental variables affecting its suitability are poorly understood. By using 365 occurrence records along with 51 environmental factors, present and future suitable habitats were estimated using MaxEnt modeling, and the important environmental variables affecting its geographical distribution were analyzed. The results indicate that water vapor pressure, precipitation of wettest quarter, normalized difference vegetation index, and isothermality were the most influential environmental factors determining the existence of P. chinensis. In future climate change, MaxEnt predicted that inappropriate habitats of P. chinensis show a decreasing trend, whereas moderately and highly appropriate habitat areas exhibited an increasing trend. Furthermore, under this climate change scenario, the suitable habitat will geographically expand to higher latitude and altitude. Our results might be applied in a variety of contexts, including discovering previously unreported P. chinensis places where it may appear in the future, or possible areas where the species could be cultivated, thus contributing to the preservation and protection of this species.
Marine Endangered and Threatened Species in Russia: A Review of Current Conservation Strategies and Management Legislative Tools
Authors: Samy-Kamal Mohamed , Shulezhko Tatiana , Lisitcyna Natalia
Published: August 2023

Despite the global decline in marine species biodiversity, relatively few countries have enacted national endangered and threatened species legislation. Tailoring an adequate legislative framework with clear objectives and regulations consistent with the available scientific evidence is fundamental for the effective conservation of marine endangered and threatened species. This paper analyzes the legal framework and current institutional tools for the conservation of marine endangered and threatened species in the Russian Federation. In this regard, important legislative tools include federal laws, as well as internationally binding signed agreements, among others, such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar). A strategy and an action plan for the conservation of biological diversity were also developed. Besides, the most important tool for the conservation and protection of marine endangered and threatened species is the Red Book of the Russian Federation (RBRF) and other regional Red Books. Responsibility for causing harm to the species listed in the RBRF and their habitat is specified in the code of administrative offenses and the criminal code of the Russian Federation. Finally, conclusions and identified gaps were highlighted in the last section, including, among other things, that legislation is still limited in how it takes the impacts of climate change into account. Such type of study is highly recommended, considering the relatively few number of papers dedicated to the study of the impact and/or implications of the conservation tools and strategies mentioned in this paper on the status of the marine endangered and threatened species.
Biological Parameters and Biomass and Abundance Indices of Two Demersal Species, Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and Thornback Ray (Raja clavata), Estimated by a Trawl Survey in Western Black Sea
Authors: Tserkova Feriha M. , Mihneva Vesselina V. , Petrova-Pavlova Elitsa P.
Published: August 2023

In this study, we determined the biological characteristics and indices of abundance and biomass of two demersal species, turbot and thornback ray, through a scientific trawl survey of Bulgarian Black Sea waters in the autumn of 2020. Turbot is among the most valuable fish species in the Black Sea, and thornback ray is a sensitive cartilaginous species with a significantly declining abundance throughout the Mediterranean region. The stock biomass of turbot was estimated at 1467.6 tons, with a relative abundance of 896,922 individuals, and those of the thornback ray were 1187.9 tons and 519,606 individuals, respectively. Mean turbot abundance, interpolated into 0.5° latitude/longitude grid cells, ranged between 52 and 120 ind·km−2, with a mean biomass of 78.26–238.31 kg·km−2, and for the thornback ray, these indices were within the limits of 0–107 ind·km−2 and 0–219 kg·km−2. The distribution of the different length classes of the two fish species by depth layer was analyzed. Length–weight relationships were estimated based on combined samples of both sexes and separately for female and male individuals, allowing a better understanding of growth patterns.
Fish Nutrition and Physiology
Authors: Mao Xiao-jiang , Lu Kang-le
Published: August 2023

Fish account for 20% of the global population’s animal protein intake [...]
Green Fleet: A Prototype Biogas and Hydrogen Refueling Management System for Private Fleet Stations
Authors: Martín-Márquez Antonio , Rangel-Serrano José Francisco , Oyola-González José Manuel , Talegón-Vázquez Adrian , Garrido Mario , García-Velayos Rodrigo , García-Heras Carla Patricia , Bolonio David , Ortega-Romero Marcelo F.
Published: August 2023

Biogas and hydrogen (H2) are breaking through as alternative energy sources in road transport, specifically for heavy-duty vehicles. Until a public network of service stations is deployed for such vehicles, the owners of large fleets will need to build and manage their own refueling facilities. Fleet refueling management and remote monitoring at these sites will become key business needs. This article describes the construction of a prototype system capable of solving those needs. During the design and development process of the prototype, the standard industry protocols involved in these installations have been considered, and the latest expertise in information technology systems has been applied. This prototype has been essential to determine the Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Risks (SCOR) of such a system, which is the first step of a more ambitious project. A second stage will involve setting up a pilot study and developing a commercial system that can be widely installed to provide a real solution for the industry.
Review of Disease-Specific microRNAs by Strategically Bridging Genetics and Epigenetics in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Gintoni Iphigenia , Vassiliou Stavros , Chrousos George P. , Yapijakis Christos
Published: August 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most prevalent human malignancies and a global health concern with a poor prognosis despite some therapeutic advances, highlighting the need for a better understanding of its molecular etiology. The genomic landscape of OSCC is well-established and recent research has focused on miRNAs, which regulate gene expression and may be useful non-invasive biomarkers or therapeutic targets. A plethora of findings regarding miRNA expression have been generated, posing challenges for the interpretation and identification of disease-specific molecules. Hence, we opted to identify the most important regulatory miRNAs by bridging genetics and epigenetics, focusing on the key genes implicated in OSCC development. Based on published reports, we have developed custom panels of fifteen major oncogenes and five major tumor suppressor genes. Following a miRNA/target gene interaction analysis and a comprehensive study of the literature, we selected the miRNA molecules which target the majority of these panels that have been reported to be downregulated or upregulated in OSCC, respectively. As a result, miR-34a-5p, miR-155-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-1-3p, and miR-16-5p appeared to be the most OSCC-specific. Their expression patterns, verified targets, and the signaling pathways affected by their dysregulation in OSCC are thoroughly discussed.
Quantification of Mountainous Hydrological Processes in the Aktash River Watershed of Uzbekistan, Central Asia, over the Past Two Decades
Authors: Ouyang Ying , Stanturf John A. , Williams Marcus D. , Botmann Evgeniy , Madsen Palle
Published: August 2023

Estimation of hydrological processes is critical to water resource management, water supply planning, ecological protection, and climate change impact assessment. Mountains in Central Asia are the major source of water for rivers and agricultural practices. The disturbance of mountain forests in the region has altered the hydrological processes and accelerated soil erosion, mudflow, landslides, and flooding. We used the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model calibrated and validated with remote sensing data to quantify the mountainous hydrological processes in the Aktash River watershed (ARW) of Uzbekistan, Central Asia. Simulations showed that the daily surface runoff and streamflow closely responded to daily precipitation. Groundwater discharge reached its maximum in winter because of snowmelt. The wet months were from July to December, and the dry months were from January to June. The magnitudes of the seasonal hydrological processes were in the following order: fall > summer > winter > spring for precipitation and surface runoff; summer > spring > fall > winter for evapotranspiration (ET); winter > spring > fall > summer for snowmelt; fall > winter > summer > spring for water yield and streamflow; and winter > fall > spring > summer for groundwater discharge. The Mann–Kendall statistical test revealed a significant increasing trend for the annual precipitation (τ = 0.45, p < 0.01) and surface runoff (τ = 0.41, p < 0.02) over the past 17 years from 2003 to 2019. Compared to rangeland, forested land decreased monthly and annual average surface runoff by 20%, and increased monthly and annual average groundwater recharge by about 5%. Agricultural land had much higher unit-area values (mm/km2/y) of ET, groundwater recharge, and water yield than those of urban, forest, and range lands. Our research findings provide useful information to farmers, foresters, and decision makers for better water resource management in the ARW, Central Asia, and other mountain watersheds with similar conditions.
Social Return on Investment of Nature-Based Activities for Adults with Mental Wellbeing Challenges
Authors: Hartfiel Ned , Gittins Heli , Morrison Val , Wynne-Jones Sophie , Dandy Norman , Edwards Rhiannon Tudor
Published: August 2023

Increased time spent in nature can enhance physical health and mental wellbeing. The UK Government’s ‘25 Year Environment Plan’ recommends extending the health benefits of contact with nature to a wider group of people, including those with mental health challenges. This study investigated whether nature-based interventions (NBIs) for people with mild mental health challenges could generate a positive social return on investment (SROI). Between May 2017 and January 2019, 120 participants at six outdoor sites in Wales participated in a 6 to 12-week NBI, which consisted of a weekly 2- to 4-h session. Quantitative data were collected from baseline and follow-up questionnaires identifying participant demographics and measuring mental wellbeing, physical activity, self-efficacy, and social trust. Wellbeing valuation generated a range of social value ratios by applying the Housing Association Charitable Trust (HACT) Social Value Calculator (SVC 4.0) and HACT Mental Health Social Value Calculator (MHSVC 1.0). Seventy-four participants (62%) completed follow-up questionnaires at 6 months. SROI ratios were calculated using the SVC for physical activity, self-efficacy, and social trust. The MHSVC generated social value ratios for mental wellbeing. The base case results revealed a positive social value ratio for participants, ranging from British Pound Sterling (GBP) 2.57 to GBP 4.67 for every GBP 1 invested, indicating favourable outcomes in terms of value generated.
Circadian Modulation of the Antioxidant Effect of Grape Consumption: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Blanton Cynthia , Ghimire Biwash , Khajeh Pour Sana , Aghazadeh-Habashi Ali
Published: August 2023

Grape consumption acts on the immune system to produce antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Since immune activity demonstrates circadian rhythmicity, with peak activity occurring during waking hours, the timing of grape intake may influence the magnitude of its antioxidant effect. This study followed a 2 × 2 factorial randomized, controlled design wherein healthy men and women (n = 32) consumed either a grape or placebo drink with a high-fat meal in the morning or evening. Urine was collected for measurements of biomarkers of oxidative stress and grape metabolites at baseline and post-meal at hour 1 and hours 1–6. F-2 isoprostane levels showed main effects of time period (baseline < hour 1 < hours 1–6, p < 0.0001), time (a.m. > p.m., p = 0.008) and treatment (placebo > grape, p = 0.05). Total F2-isoprostane excretion expressed as % baseline was higher in the a.m. vs. p.m. (p = 0.004) and in the a.m. placebo vs. all other groups (p < 0.05). Tartaric acid and resveratrol excretion levels were higher in the grape vs. placebo group (p < 0.05) but were not correlated with F-2 isoprostane levels. The findings support a protective effect of grape consumption against morning sensitivity to oxidative stress.
“We Can Do This!”: The Role of Physical Activity in What Comes Next for Dementia
Authors: Russell Christopher
Published: August 2023

There is increasing interest in physical activity as a response to the harm caused by dementia. The focus has been upon interventions to prevent or delay symptoms or to support people living with the condition to reminisce. Whilst this is welcome, there are other features inherent to physical activity that remain unrecognised or underutilised and, consequently, its full potential for good is unrealised. Most prominent is the ability physical activity has to enable participants to claim and sustain a place in the world through what they do, crucial to a context where the impact of dementia tends to annihilate this for those living with the condition. The article addresses this gap. In doing so, it presents key findings. These include (1) highlighting the fundamental importance of features such as person-centred care, human rights and social citizenship to enabling people with dementia to live lives of quality and (2) identifying synergies with these features and what physical activity can offer; for example, emphasising the value of bringing these together to illustrate how physical activity can contribute to enabling people with dementia to live lives characterised by quality, and the maintenance of their place in the world. The article concludes by suggesting what must come next to ensure physical activity can play the fullest role possible.