bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Synergistic Effect of Tillage System and Manure Application Rates on Selected Properties of Two Soil Types in Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Mokgolo Matome J. , Mzezewa Jestinos , Zerizghy Mussie G.
Published: October 2024

Sustainable agricultural practices are needed to find a solution to the problem of soil erosion and decreased soil quality. A study was conducted during the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons to evaluate the synergistic effect of the tillage system (TS) and manure rates (MR) on selected soil properties at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm (Syferkuil) and University of Venda Experimental Farm (UNIVEN). The experiment had a split plot design with three replications. The main plots used conventional (CON) and in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH) tillage systems, while subplots used poultry and cattle manure at rates of 0, 20, and 35 t ha−1. Bulk density (BD), aggregate stability (AS), pH, total N, organic carbon (OC), available P, and exchangeable cations (Ca, Mg, and K) were determined. IRWH significantly increased AS in the 0–20 cm soil layer at Syferkuil. TS × MR interaction significantly influenced AS and total N in the 20–40 cm soil layer during the 2022/2023 season at Syferkuil. IRWH significantly increased Mg content in the 2021/2022 season and total N, OC, and Mg content in the 2022/2023 season at Syferkuil over CON. At UNIVEN, CON significantly increased total N, whereas IRWH increased available P in the 2022/2023 season. MR significantly increased AS, exchangeable Ca, Mg, and K at both sites. At Syferkuil, MR significantly increased total N, OC, and available P during both seasons, whereas at UNIVEN the significant increase was observed on OC and available P during both seasons and total N in the 2021/2022 season. It was found that IRWH and poultry manure (35 t ha−1) improved most soil properties at both sites; however, this study recommends long-term experiments to investigate the combined effect of IRWH and manure rate on soil properties to validate the findings observed in this study.
Exploring the Integration of Industry 4.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Review
Authors: Fasciolo Benedetta , Panza Luigi , Lombardi Franco
Published: October 2024

While it is essential to increase agricultural production to meet the needs of a growing global population, this task is becoming increasingly difficult due to the environmental challenges faced in recent decades. A promising solution to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production is the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as IoT, UAVs, AI, and Blockchain. However, despite their potential, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that cover the full range of these technologies in agriculture. This gap limits understanding of their integration and impact. This study aims to provide a holistic bibliometric analysis of the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in agriculture, identifying key research trends and gaps. We analyzed relevant literature using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20, Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands)and identified five major thematic clusters within Agriculture 4.0. These clusters were examined to understand the included technologies and their roles in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The study also identified unexplored technologies that present opportunities for future research. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape in Agriculture 4.0, highlighting areas for innovation and development, and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing sustainable agricultural practices through technological integration.
The Integration of Land Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation Practices in Sustainable Food Systems of Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rapiya Monde , Truter Wayne , Ramoelo Abel
Published: October 2024

Land degradation poses a significant global challenge, adversely affecting soil quality and diminishing the productivity of arable land, which, in turn, impacts food production and ecosystem services. This degradation manifests in various forms, including soil compaction, salinity, nutrient depletion, loss of biodiversity, and contamination, ultimately rendering soil unproductive and exacerbating climate change. Given the challenges arising from conventional farming practices and climate change, there is an urgent necessity to develop agricultural systems that not only enhance agronomic efficiency but also improve environmental performance. This study focuses on addressing food security in Africa by investigating the role of land restoration and biodiversity in sustainable food systems through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis for documents between 2010 to 2023, identifying 64 relevant documents. The analysis reveals insights into the most-cited documents and thematic evolution, underscoring the significant contributions from Ethiopia and advocating for collaborative efforts among African nations. Key themes identified include “climate change”, “food security”, “biodiversity conservation”, and “agroecosystems”, all highlighting the importance of sustainable agricultural practices. The study anticipates a continued prioritization of agroecosystems, smart agriculture, and biodiversity conservation to tackle food security challenges in the face of climate change. Collaboration, investment in research, and practical initiatives emerge as essential components for achieving sustainable food security and mitigating climate change impacts in Africa. This research provides valuable insights into the current landscape and future trends regarding the contributions of land restoration and biodiversity to food systems in Africa, emphasizing the critical need for concerted efforts to address these pressing issues.
Investigation of Trip Decisions for an Earthquake: A Case Study in Elazığ, Türkiye
Authors: Polat Ayşe , Tezcan Hüseyin Onur
Published: October 2024

Following an earthquake, abnormal travel demand causes traffic congestion and poses significant problems for relief efforts. Research on post-earthquake travel demand is essential for disaster management. An effective disaster management strategy ensures achieving sustainable development goals. This study focused on this critical period and analyzed post-earthquake trip decisions. The city of Elazığ, a region not at risk of tsunami, was used as a case study. A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Elazığ in January 2020. After the earthquake, data from 2739 individuals were collected by a household survey conducted face-to-face. The data were segregated into two categories, depending on the earthquake’s intensity. The study used a binary logit model to examine the potential factors of trip decisions after an earthquake. The results showed that 75% of participants made at least one trip within 24 h after the earthquake. It was observed that household, building-and disaster-related attributes influence earthquake survivors’ trip decisions. The initial location at the time of the earthquake was the most significant factor affecting trip decisions. It was also found that individuals who experienced the earthquake outside their homes in both datasets were more likely to make a trip. Additionally, the dataset with higher earthquake intensity had more significant variables affecting the trip decision.
Investigation, Evaluation, and Dynamic Monitoring of Traditional Chinese Village Buildings Based on Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Images and Deep Learning Methods
Authors: Li Xuan , Yang Yuanze , Sun Chuanwei , Fan Yong
Published: October 2024

The investigation, evaluation, and dynamic monitoring of traditional village buildings are crucial for the protection and inheritance of their architectural styles. This study takes traditional villages in Shandong Province, China, as an example, employing UAV images and deep learning technology. Utilizing the YOLOv8 instance segmentation model, it introduces three key features reflecting the condition of traditional village buildings: roof status, roof form, and courtyard vegetation coverage. By extracting feature data on the condition of traditional village buildings and constructing a transition matrix for building condition changes, combined with corresponding manual judgment assistance, the study classifies, counts, and visually outputs the conditions and changes of buildings. This approach enables the investigation, evaluation, and dynamic monitoring of traditional village buildings. The results show that deep learning technology significantly enhances the efficiency and accuracy of traditional village architectural investigation and evaluations, and it performs well in dynamic monitoring of building condition changes. The “UAV image + deep learning” technical system, with its simplicity, accuracy, efficiency, and low cost, can provide further data and technical support for the planning, protection supervision, and development strategy formulation of traditional Chinese villages.
Refined Identification of Urban Functional Zones Integrating Multisource Data Features: A Case Study of Lanzhou, China
Authors: Wang Yixuan , Yang Shuwen , Tang Xianglong , Ding Zhiqi , Li Yikun
Published: October 2024

Identifying urban functional zones is one of the important foundational activities for urban renewal and the development of high-quality urban areas. Efficient and accurate identification methods for urban functional zones are significant for smart city planning and industrial layout optimization. However, existing studies have not adequately considered the impact of the interactions between human activities and geographical space provision on the delineation of urban functional zones. Therefore, from the perspective of integrating the spatiotemporal characteristics of human activities with the distribution of urban functional facilities, by incorporating mobile signaling, POI (point of interest), and building outline data, we propose a multifactorial weighted kernel density model that integrates ‘human activity–land feature area–public awareness’ to delineate urban functional zones quantitatively. The results show that the urban functional zones in the central city area of Lanzhou are primarily characterized by dominant single functional zones nested within mixed functional zones, forming a spatial pattern of ‘single–mixed’ synergistic development. Mixed function zones are widely distributed in the center of Lanzhou City. However, the area accounted for a relatively small proportion, the overall degree of functional mixing is not high, and the inter-district differences are obvious. The confusion matrix showed 85% accuracy and a Kappa coefficient of 0.83.
Forgotten Ecological Corridors: A GIS Analysis of the Ditches and Hedges in the Roman Centuriation Northeast of Padua
Authors: Kremenić Tanja , Varotto Mauro , Ferrarese Francesco
Published: October 2024

Studying historical rural landscapes beyond their archaeological and cultural significance, as has typically been addressed in previous research, is important in the context of current environmental challenges. Some historical rural landscapes, such as Roman land divisions, have persisted for more than 2000 years and may still contribute to sustainability goals. To assess this topic, the hydraulic and vegetation network of the centuriation northeast of Padua were studied, emphasising their multiple benefits. Their length, distribution, and evolution over time (2008–2022) were vectorised and measured using available digital terrain models and orthophotographs in a geographic information system (GIS). The results revealed a significant decline in the length of water ditches and hedgerows across almost all examined areas, despite their preservation being highlighted in regional and local spatial planning documents. These findings indicate the need for a better understanding of the local dynamics driving such trends and highlight the importance of adopting a more tailored approach to their planning. This study discusses the GIS metrics utilised and, in this way, contributes to landscape monitoring and restoration actions. Finally, a multifunctional approach to the sustainable planning of this area is proposed here—one that integrates the cultural archaeological heritage in question with environmental preservation and contemporary climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
Innovative Circular Biowaste Valorisation—State of the Art and Guidance for Cities and Regions
Authors: Suárez Valdés Miguel Ángel , Soriano Disla José M. , Gambuzzi Elisa , Castejón Martínez Gemma
Published: October 2024

The management of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), also called urban biowaste, and urban wastewater sludge (UWWS) represents a challenge for cities and regions, which want to adopt innovative urban bioeconomy approaches for their treatment and production of high-added-value products beyond the traditional anaerobic digestion (AD) and compost. This adoption is often restricted by the availability and maturity of technologies. The research object of this manuscript, based on the findings of EU Horizon 2020 project HOOP, is the identification of state-of-the-art circular technologies for material valorisation of OFMSW and UWWS, following a novel screening methodology based on the scale of implementation (tested at least at pilot scale). The screening resulted in 25 technologies, which have been compared and discussed under a multidisciplinary assessment approach, showing their enabling factors and challenges, their current or potential commercial status and their compatibility with the traditional technologies for urban biowaste treatment (composting and AD). The bioproducts cover market sectors such as agriculture, chemistry, nutrition, bioplastics, materials or cosmetics. Therefore, the results of this review help project promoters at city/region level to select innovative technologies for the conversion of OFMWS and UWWS into high value products.
A Viability Study of Thermal Pre-Treatment for Recycling of Pharmaceutical Blisters
Authors: Gökelma Mertol , Diaz Fabian , Çapkın İrem Yaren , Friedrich Bernd
Published: October 2024

Pharmaceutical packaging is one of the most used packaging types which contains aluminum and plastics. Due to increasing amounts of waste and rising environmental concerns, recycling approaches are being investigated. Since blisters usually contain a balanced amount of plastics and metals, most of the approaches focus on recycling only one material. Therefore, more sustainable recycling approaches which recover both plastic and aluminum fractions are needed. This study investigates the thermal behavior and degradation mechanisms of plastic-rich and aluminum-rich pharmaceutical blisters using various analytical techniques. Structural characterization revealed that plastic-rich blisters have a thicker profile with plastic and aluminum layers, while aluminum-rich blisters consist of plastic layers between aluminum sheets. Thermal degradation analysis showed two main stages for both types: plastic-rich blisters (polyvinyl chloride) exhibited significant weight loss and long-chain hydrocarbon formation between 210 and 285 °C, and aluminum-rich blisters (polyamide/nylon) degraded from 240 to 270 °C. Differential Scanning Calorimetry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analyses confirmed the endothermic behavior of such a transformation. The gas emissions analysis indicated an increased formation of gasses from the thermal treatment of plastic-rich blisters, with the presence of oxygen leading to the formation of carbon dioxide, water, and carbon monoxide. Thermal treatment with 5% O2 in the carrier gas benefited plastic-rich blister treatment, reducing organic waste by up to 80% and minimizing burning risk, leveraging pyrolytic carbon for protection. This method is unsuitable for aluminum-rich blisters, requiring reduced oxygen or temperature to prevent pyrolytic carbon combustion and aluminum oxidation.
Has the Digital Economy Enhanced the Income Distribution Effect Among Industries? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Zhixin , Xu Hongxin , Qiao Zhen
Published: October 2024

A powerful correlation exists among the advancement of the economy of digital, sustainable economic advancement, and income distribution. The advancement of the digital economy provides a significant motivating factor for sustainable economic development, while sustainable economic development provides a strong guarantee for income distribution, and the improvement of income distribution is also conducive to sustainable economic development. What is the connection between the digital economy and income distribution? This is the focus of this paper and also an important way to clarify the association between the advancement of the digital economy, sustainable economic development, and income distribution. This paper aims to explore whether the advancement of the digital economy has enhanced the effect of income distribution among industries and examine the role of production efficiency and human capital. Through the use of the multidimensional fixed-effect model, this study finds that the development of the digital economy is favorable to enhancing the income distribution effect among industries, and this income distribution enhancement effect is more prominent in large-scale non-state-owned enterprises. In addition, we also find that digital transformation can dramatically improve the total factor productivity of enterprises, thus enhancing the income distribution impact among industries. The promotion of digital transformation can also improve the quality of human capital in enterprises, strengthen the income distribution impact between industries, and reduce the income disparity among industries. The industry income gap measurement method and the industry perspective of income distribution adopted in this paper contribute to the existing literature and will contribute to the development of income distribution equity in the era of the digital economy and also provide a new vision for sustainable economic development from the perspective of income distribution.
ETLSH-YOLO: An Edge–Real-Time Transmission Line Safety Hazard Detection Method
Authors: Zhao Liangliang , Zhang Yu , Dou Yinke , Jiao Yangyang , Liu Qiang
Published: October 2024

Using deep learning methods to detect potential safety hazards in transmission lines is the mainstream method for power grid security monitoring. However, the existing model is too complex to adapt to edge device deployment and real-time detection. Therefore, an edge–real-time transmission line safety hazard detection method (ETLSH-YOLO) was proposed to reduce the model’s complexity and improve the model’s robustness. Firstly, a re-parameterized Ghost efficient layer aggregation network (RepGhostCSPELAN) was designed to effectively fuse the feature information of different layers while enhancing the model’s expression ability and reducing the number of model parameters and floating-point operations. Then, a spatial channel decoupled downsampling block (CSDovn) was designed to reduce computational redundancy and improve the computational efficiency of the model. Then, coordinate attention (CA) was added in the process of multi-scale feature fusion to suppress the interference of complex background and improve the global perception ability of the model object. Finally, the Mish activation function was used to improve the network’s training speed, convergence, and generalization ability. The experimental results show that the mAP50 of this model improved by 1.73% compared with the baseline model, and the number of parameters and floating-point operations were reduced by 33.96% and 22.22%, respectively. This model lays the foundation for solving the dilemma of edge device deployment.
Relationships among Dioxin-like Mitochondria Inhibitor Substances (MIS)-Mediated Mitochondria Dysfunction, Obesity, and Lung Function in a Korean Cohort
Authors: Choi Hoonsung , Ha Kyungho , Kim Jin Taek , Moon Min Kyong , Joung Hyojee , Lee Hong Kyu , Pak Youngmi Kim
Published: October 2024

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely linked to obesity and diabetes, with declining lung function in aging increasing diabetes risk, potentially due to elevated serum levels of dioxin-like mitochondria inhibitor substances (MIS) from prolonged exposure to environmental pollutants. However, the mechanisms connecting MIS, mitochondria, lung function, and metabolic disorder remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed data from 1371 adults aged 40–69 years in the 2008 Korean Genome Epidemiologic Study (KoGES) Ansung cohort. We indirectly estimated dioxin-like MIS levels by measuring intracellular ATP (MISATP) and reactive oxygen species (MISROS) in cultured cells treated with the serum of participants. Using correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM), we explored the relationships among MIS, mitochondrial function, body mass index (BMI), and lung function (FEV1 and FVC). Our findings revealed that MISATP was associated with BMI in females and with FVC in males, while MISROS correlated with both BMI and FVC in males, not in females. Significant associations between BMI and FVC were found in the highest MIS subgroup in both sexes. SEM analyses demonstrated that MIS negatively influenced mitochondrial function, which in turn affected BMI and lung function. Age-related declines in lung function were also linked to mitochondrial dysfunction. This study underscores the potential of MIS assays as alternatives for assessing mitochondrial function and highlights the importance of mitochondrial health in metabolic disorders and lung function.
The Emission Characteristics and Health Risks of Firefighter-Accessed Fire: A Review
Authors: Tian Xuan , Cheng Yan , Chen Shiting , Liu Song , Wang Yanli , Niu Xinyi , Sun Jian
Published: October 2024

The exacerbation of wildfires caused by global warming poses a significant threat to human health and environmental integrity. This review examines the particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants resulting from fire incidents and their impacts on individual health, with a specific focus on the occupational hazards faced by firefighters. Of particular concern is the release of carbon-containing gases and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from forest fires and urban conflagrations, which exceed the recommended limits and pose severe health risks. Firefighters exposed to these pollutants demonstrate an elevated risk of developing pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases and cancer compared to the general population, indicating an urgent need for enhanced protective measures and health management strategies for firefighters. Through a meticulous analysis of the current research findings, this review delineates future research directions, focusing on the composition and properties of these pollutants, the impacts of fire-emitted pollutants on human health, and the development of novel protective technologies.
Investigation of Nitrogen Removal in Flue Gas Desulfurization and Denitrification Wastewater Utilizing Halophilic Activated Sludge
Authors: Ren Min , Wang Yuqi , Zhang Huining , Li Yan , Sun Keying
Published: October 2024

In the process of flue gas desulfurization and denitrification, the generation of high-sulfate wastewater containing nitrogen is a significant challenge for biological wastewater treatment. In this study, halophilic activated sludge was inoculated in a Sequencing Batch Reactor to remove nitrogen from wastewater with a high sulfate concentration (60 g/L). With the influent concentration of 180 mg/L, the removal rate of total nitrogen was more than 96.7%. The effluent ammonium nitrogen concentration was lower than 1.94 mg/L, and the effluent nitrate nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentrations were even lower than 0.77 mg/L. The salt tolerance of activated sludge is mainly related to the increase in the content of ectoine in microbial cells. The Specific Nitrite Oxidation Rate is quite low, while the Specific Nitrite Reduction Rate and Specific Nitrate Reduction Rate are relatively strong. In the system, there are various nitrogen metabolic processes, including aerobic nitrification, anaerobic denitrification, and simultaneous nitrification–denitrification processes. By analyzing the nitrogen metabolic mechanisms and microbial community structure of the reaction system, dominate bacteria can be identified, such as Azoarcus, Thauera, and Halomonas, which have significant nitrogen removal capabilities.
Biomonitoring of Mercury and Lead Levels in the Blood of Children Living near a Tropical River Impacted by Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Colombia
Authors: Palacios-Valoyes Eurípides , Salas-Moreno Manuel H. , Marrugo-Negrete José L.
Published: October 2024

(1) Background: Mercury and lead contamination resulting from various anthropogenic activities represents a global environmental problem and a considerable risk to the health of the human population. (2) Methods: The objective of this research was to evaluate the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and Lead (Pb) in the blood of the child population in the municipalities in the Atrato River basin using a direct Hg analyzer and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. (3) Results: In total, 171 children (5–14 years of age) were taken into account, and 18.71% (32) of the children had concentrations of Hg and Pb above the permissible values established by the WHO. In the municipality of UN, 19 children had blood Hg concentrations between 5.29 and 17.71 μg/L. In CA, two children had concentrations of 5.03 and 8.43 μg/L, separately. In the case of Pb, seven children showed concentrations between 3.60 and 4.83 μg/dL in the municipality of RQ, three in UN (3.59, 3.61, and 4.60 μg/dL), and one in Carmen de Atrato (5.47 μg/dL). (4) Conclusions: The levels of Hg and Pb in the blood of children living in the riparian areas of the Atrato River basin are related to gold mining activities in the basin and the consumption of contaminated fish.
Implications of Lead (Pb)-Induced Transcriptomic and Phenotypic Alterations in the Aged Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Wu Chia-Chen , Meyer Danielle N. , Haimbaugh Alex , Baker Tracie R.
Published: October 2024

Lead (Pb) is a well-known neurotoxin with established adverse effects on the neurological functions of children and younger adults, including motor, learning, and memory abilities. However, its potential impact on older adults has received less attention. Using the zebrafish model, our study aims to characterize the dose–response relationship between environmentally relevant Pb exposure levels and their effects on changes in behavior and transcriptomics during the geriatric periods. We exposed two-year-old zebrafish to waterborne lead acetate (1, 10, 100, 1000, or 10,000 µg/L) or a vehicle (DMSO) for 5 days. While lower concentrations (1–100 µg/L) reflect environmentally relevant Pb levels, higher concentrations (1000–10,000 µg/L) were included to assess acute toxicity under extreme exposure scenarios. We conducted adult behavior assessment to evaluate the locomotor activity following exposure. The same individual fish were subsequently sacrificed for brain dissection after a day of recovery in the aquatic system. RNA extraction and sequencing were then performed to evaluate the Pb-induced transcriptomic changes. Higher (1000–10,000 ug/L) Pb levels induced hyperactive locomotor patterns in aged zebrafish, while lower (10–100 ug/L) Pb levels resulted in the lowest locomotor activity compared to the control group. Exposure to 100 µg/L led to the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), while 10,000 µg/L induced larger fold changes in both directions. The neurological pathways impacted by Pb exposure include functions related to neurotransmission, such as cytoskeletal regulation and synaptogenesis, and oxidative stress response, such as mitochondrial dysfunction and downregulation of heat shock protein genes. These findings emphasize a U-shape dose–response relationship with Pb concentrations in locomotor activity and transcriptomic changes in the aging brain.
Health Effects of Methylmercury in Coastal Areas of the Yatsushiro Sea, Far from Minamata
Authors: Takaoka Shigeru , Fujino Tadashi , Shigeoka Shin-ichi , Itai Yaeko
Published: October 2024

Minamata disease, caused by ingesting seafood contaminated with methylmercury dumped by corporations, was discovered in 1956; however, there has been no continued investigation to determine the full extent of the damage. Since 2004, it has been discovered that affected patients can be found in areas further away from Minamata than previously known. In the present study, we investigated various symptoms and somatosensory disturbances in western Miyanokawachi District, northern Himedo District, southwestern Nagashima District, and the uncontaminated Amami district and calculated the proportion of patients with sensory disturbances as a percentage of the population in each area. Both touch and pain sensations, with a predominance of the peripheral extremities, were observed in 58.6% of patients in Miyanokawachi, 53.9% in Himedo, 37.8% in Nagashima, and 1.4% in Amami. The lowest estimates of attributable fractions of the exposed group for four-limb-predominant sensory disturbance in the population of the contaminated districts were 94.1% in Miyanokawachi, 94.6% in Himedo, and 91.4% in Nagashima, and general and perioral sensory disturbances were also high. This suggests that the presence or absence of these sensory disturbances is useful in the diagnosis of Minamata disease, even in more distant parts of the Yatsushiro Sea area.
Time-Delay Interferometry: The Key Technique in Data Pre-Processing Analysis of Space-Based Gravitational Waves
Authors: Wang Pan-Pan , Shao Cheng-Gang
Published: October 2024

Space gravitational wave detection primarily focuses on the rich wave sources corresponding to the millihertz frequency band, which provide key information for studying the fundamental physics of cosmology and astrophysics. However, gravitational wave signals are extremely weak, and any noise during the detection process could potentially overwhelm the gravitational wave signals. Therefore, data pre-processing is necessary to suppress the main noise sources. Among the various noise sources, laser phase noise is dominant, approximately seven orders of magnitude larger in strength than typical gravitational wave signals, and requires suppression using time-delay interferometry (TDI) techniques, which involve combining raw data with time delays. This paper will be based on the basic principles of TDI to present methods for obtaining multi-type TDI combinations, including algebraic methods for solving indeterminate equations and geometric methods for symbolic search. Furthermore, the applicability of TDI under actual operating conditions will be considered, such as the arm locking in conjunction with the TDI algorithm. Finally, the sensitivity functions for different types of TDI combinations will be provided, which can be used to evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs) of different TDI combinations.
Mpox and Lessons Learned in the Light of the Recent Outbreak: A Narrative Review
Authors: Protopapas Konstantinos , Dimopoulou Dimitra , Kalesis Nikolaos , Akinosoglou Karolina , Moschopoulos Charalampos D.
Published: October 2024

According to the WHO, more than 90,000 cases of mpox have been reported since the 2022 worldwide outbreak, which resulted in 167 deaths, while a new outbreak in Africa since 2023 has resulted in over 18,000 cases and 617 deaths. Mpox is a zoonosis caused by the monkeypox virus, a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus, which causes smallpox-like illness. Until 2022, cases were predominately located in West and Central Africa, with only sporadic cases and outbreaks reported in other parts of the world. During the 2022 outbreak, the primary mode of transmission was sexual contact among men who have sex with men. The changing epidemiology of mpox resulted in new disease phenotypes and populations at risk, disproportionally affecting people who live with HIV. Commonly presenting as a mild, self-limiting illness, mpox can cause severe and protracted disease in people with HIV with a CD4 count < 200 cell/mm3. The global emergence of mpox that followed and intersected with COVID-19 mobilized the scientific community and healthcare stakeholders to provide accurate diagnostics, preventive vaccines and treatment to those most affected. Despite existing gaps, this rapid response helped to contain the outbreak, but challenges remain as new variants emerge. Preparedness and readiness to respond to the next outbreak is crucial in order to minimize the impact to the most vulnerable.
Predictions of Peak Discharge of Dam Failures Based on the Combined GA and BP Neural Networks
Authors: Ren Lv , Tao Yuan , Liu Jie , Jin Xin , Fan Changyuan , Dong Xiaohua , Wu Haiyan
Published: October 2024

In this paper, the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) was utilized to predict the peak discharge of dam failures, which was based on the combined Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Back Propagation (BP) neural network. The dataset comprises 40 samples from self-conducted experiments and available literature. To compare the efficiency of the suggested approach, three evaluation metrics, including the coefficient of determination (R2), the root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean absolute error (MAE), were analyzed for both the BP neural network and the GA-BP neural network. The findings suggest that (1) The prediction accuracy of the GA-BP was better than that of the BP; and (2) Compared to BP, GA-BP demonstrated a 9.07% average improvement in R2, a 57.36% average reduction in MAE, and a 57.53% average reduction in RMSE. In addition, the results of GA-BP and semi-empirical formulas were compared and the effect of three parameters on the peak discharge was analyzed. The results showed that the GA-BP model could effectively predict the peak discharge of dam failures.
Event-Triggered Two-Part Separation Control of Multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Based on Extended Observer
Authors: Gu Yunyang , Xu Yueru , Jiang Mingzuo , Zhou Zhigang
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we investigate the formation isolation regulation issue regarding multiple Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) characterized by a “leader–follower” framework. Considering the cooperative–competitive relationship among the follower AUVs and the impact of unknown external disturbances, an extended state observer is designed based on backstepping to mitigate these disturbances, and an event-triggered control scheme is designed to realize the two-part consensus control within the multi-AUV system. Through rigorous theoretical analysis, it is shown that the system achieves asymptotic steadiness and is free from Zeno behavior under the proposed event-triggered control scheme. Finally, numerical simulations confirm the efficiency of the regulation strategy in achieving formation separation within the multi-AUV, where the trajectory tracking errors of individual AUVs gather in a compact vicinity close to the source, and the structure convergence is achieved, with the absence of Zeno behavior also demonstrated.
Driving Under Cognitive Control: The Impact of Executive Functions in Driving
Authors: Pergantis Pantelis , Bamicha Victoria , Chaidi Irene , Drigas Athanasios
Published: October 2024

This review will explore the role of executive functions and the impact they have in facilitating the skills of vehicle operation. Executive functions are critical for the decision-making process, problem-solving, and multitasking. They are considered the primary factors in driving cases that demand drivers to react quickly and adapt to certain situations. Based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, this study aims to investigate, analyze, and categorize higher mental skills and their qualities directly related to driving. The literature review was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the article collections’ snowball search technique. The results suggest that key executive functions like working memory and inhibitory control are closely related to risky behavior and driving errors that lead to accidents. This review adds valuable insight by highlighting the significance of their contribution to future research, driver educational programs, and technology for improving driver safety. Consequently, collecting recent data will contribute to understanding new parameters that influence driving behavior, creating the possibility for appropriate proposals for future research.
Development of children’s tourism as a priority area of tourism activity in the Tambov region
Authors:   RUDN University, Moscow, Balandina A. A. , Kolotova E. V. ,   RUDN University, Moscow
Published: October 2024

The article presents an up-to-date analysis of the state and potential of the Tambov region in the development of children’s tourism, taking into account tourist resources, and also substantiates the importance of this type of tourism for the younger generation. The conclusions of the study were proposals for the further promotion and development of children’s tourism in the Tambov region.
Some aspects of promoting a tourism brand using the example of the Murmansk region
Authors:   RUDN University Higher School of Management, Moscow, Budilina M. S.
Published: October 2024

The article discusses some aspects of promoting a tourism brand using the example of the Murmansk region, and also examines the role of local authorities and self-government in the formation and promotion of the region’s tourism brand.
The potential of the institutional sector in the development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Yemen
Authors:   RUDN University Higher School of Management, Moscow, Fadl D. M. Yu. , Bogomolova E. S. ,   RUDN University Higher School of Management, Moscow
Published: October 2024

This article presents the problems of institutional weakness in tourism development, despite the presence of many tourism resources and opportunities. Tourism today is an important element of the global economy in the 21st century, making it a global industry where countries compete in various related sectors. Tourism in the Republic of Yemen and the prospects for its development in terms of opportunities are considered as one of the strategic directions. As is known, the driving core of tourism in any country is concentrated in the companies that manage, organize, and develop tourism products and activities in the tourism and hospitality industry.
Analysis and development of creating a PR strategy in tourism using artificial intelligence
Authors:   Graduate School of Management, People’s Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow, Balev N. N. , Zeveke O. Yu. ,   Graduate School of Management, People’s Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba, Moscow
Published: October 2024

New trends in creating PR-strategies in tourism using a neural network are considered. As well as an overview of the neural network functions that are in demand in creating a PR-campaign.
“The Lark” by M.I. Glinka in transcriptions by M.A. Balakirev and Y. Panitsky
Authors:   ANO VO “Russian Christian Academy named after F.M. Dostoevsky” Russia, St. Petersburg, Atanova A.A. , Zaviryukha V.I. ,   St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Russia, Minyakov I.D. ,   St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Russia
Published: October 2024

The transcription genre has existed for several centuries. Transcriptions have been created by many composers. Often famous works were arranged by different authors. An example is M. Glinka’s romance “The lark”. This article examines two transcription. The first was written for piano by M. Balakirev. The second is intended for the button accordion, it was written by I. Panitsky. The structure of the composition and the characteristic of the musical material are analyzed in detail. It is concluded that the two transcription are similar. The fundamental differences between the arrangements are also characterized. Balakirev writes a dramatic composition. Panitsky used techniques characteristic of his adaptation of Russian folk songs. The qualities of the individual style of composers and the general stylistic context are described.
Th e compositional device «shpilbreacher»: Russian musical classics and modernity
Authors:   St. Petersburg State Conservatory named after N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Russia, Minyakov I.D. , Bilchenko E.V. ,   Russian Christian Humanitarian Academy named after F.M. Dostoevsky
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the formal “shpilbreacher” technique, which is regularly found in the works of outstanding Russian composers — M. Glinka, P. Tchaikovsky, D. Shostakovich. In the context of classical composers, the technique is considered on the example of the work of the famous St. Petersburg composer Vadim Bibergan. The compositional solution of the “shpilbrecher” technique is aimed at marking the climax due to the qualitative transformation of the sounding material and changing the logic of its development. Methodology of extrapolation and comparative studies, appeals to the legacy of M. Glinka, P. Tchaikovsky, D. Shostakovich made it possible to further study this technique in the works of modern composers. The appeal to reception in the works of M. Glinka, P. Tchaikovsky, D. Shostakovich emphasizes the independence of its functioning from style, genre and musical epoch. The result of the work was the identification, definition and description of the reception based on the material selected for analysis and the conclusion that the reception can be important both for performers and for a wide range of interested persons.
Trends in science and education in the context of geopolitical threats to cultural sovereignty
Authors:   Institute Economies of Federal state autonomous educational institution of the higher education “National research Nizhny Novgorod state University of N.I. Lobachevsky”, Chernov V.A.
Published: October 2024

The article examines the issues posed by the head of state to the economy in its relationship with science. The author comes to the conclusion that ensuring independence, security and sovereignty is required not only in the financial sphere, but also in science, education, and upbringing. The factors influencing this process are highlighted and ways of solving the problem in the interconnection of national finance and economic science are proposed, which are necessary to strengthen national financial sovereignty, serve economic science, national interests, cultural values, strategic goals and the objectives of the Russian economy's recovery. The author reveals the relationship between the widespread use of international scientometric databases in their impact on the state, development and sovereignty of domestic science, the assessment of scientific results, the system for evaluating the effectiveness of scientific research in granting grants, demand, impact factor, rating, significance and authority of Russian journals, quartile, status and hegemony of foreign journals and indirect coercion to their quoting. Special attention is paid to indirect education or upbringing outside educational institutions, outside educational institutions in a complex relationship with science and education. The methods of overcoming information challenges and threats, increasing scientific, educational, and cultural sovereignty as a necessary condition for strengthening the state, and increasing national independence in the field of finance are proposed.
Microstructural Characterization of 1.4542 Type Stainless Steel Specimens Manufactured by Fused Filament Fabrication
Authors: Bognár Adrián , Ledniczky György , Kun Krisztián , Zsidai László
Published: October 2024

The processes of design and manufacturing continue to expand with extraordinary opportunities due to the emergence and development of additive manufacturing technologies. Additive manufacturing processes radically differ from traditional manufacturing methods and require a completely new engineering approach. As a result, new possibilities emerge, allowing the creation of geometries that were previously difficult or impossible to produce using other technologies. Significant application opportunities exist in fields such as medicine and many sectors of industry due to this advancement. The range of materials used in additive manufacturing is constantly improving and expanding, although the most significant results are in the area of industrial applicability, which is the focus of this research. It is important to mention that besides Selective Laser Sintering / Selective Laser Melting (SLS / SLM), Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is worth considering for producing metal parts, due to lower costs and the possibility of manufacturing larger parts. The aim of the research is to examine the microstructural and macrostructural characteristics of finished components produced by FFF.
Examination of the Forming Properties of Vehicle Body Panels
Authors: Borbély Richárd , Kölüs Martin László , Béres Gábor József
Published: October 2024

During vehicle design, the mass of the components and their resistance to collision are important criteria, as they affect fuel consumption and make the vehicle safer. In this study, we examined the deformation of high-strength materials commonly used in the automotive industry in the form of tailored welded blanks. Tests were conducted both in an experimental environment and in a simulation environment, measuring the punch displacement associated with the specimens to characterize the deformation. In designing the specimens, the weld seam was placed perpendicular and parallel to the rolling direction, thus creating different deformation states.
Effect of the Slenderness Relation on In-Plane Deformation in Stack Compression Tests
Authors: Kölüs Martin László , Borbély Richárd , Béres Gábor József
Published: October 2024

In forming technologies and their simulation, knowing the flow curve characteristic of the material is an essential parameter. Acquiring this knowledge is particularly challenging for sheet materials in high strain ranges. It is well-known that friction and geometric relationships have a distorting effect on the flow curves, thus compensation is necessary. However, the geometric ratio can not only influence the formation of the flow curve, if our material shows anisotropic behaviour. In our research, using compression tests, we examined the deformation relations of deformed specimens through digital imaging methods. The stack compression test is widely used to determine the flow curve in a broad range of large deformation. During the test, several disk specimens with the same geometric characteristics were stacked on top of each other to form a final test piece, and then compression tests were conducted on these assemblies. We found that at low values of the geometric ratio (0.1 in our study), the proportion of plastic, planar principal strains indicating anisotropic behaviour is greater than at higher geometric ratios (0.5 and 1.0 in our study).
Examination of a Hot-Work Tool Steel Treated with Different Nitriding Processes after Cyclic Heating
Authors: Oláh Klaudia , Korsós Krisztián , Kovács Dorina
Published: October 2024

This research examines the effect of salt bath, and nitriding processes on hot forming tool steel. The chosen steel is BÖHLER W350 ISOBLOCK hot forming tool steel, which is widely used in the industry for pressure casting. After surface treatment, some samples were exposed to cyclic heat and corrosion effects in a molten aluminium medium, thus simulating the conditions experienced during pressure casting. Microhardness measurements were performed on the samples treated with different procedures. The results were compared using a scanning electron microscope and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry.