bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Constantly Tracking and Investigating People’s Physical, Psychological, and Thermal Responses in Relation to Park Strolling in a Severe Cold Region of China—A Case Study of Stalin Waterfront Park
Authors: Xi Tianyu , Qin Huan , Xu Weiqing , Yang Tong , Hu Chenxin , Zhao Caiyi , Wang Haoshun
Published: April 2023

It is important for engineering applications that we evaluate the thermal environment based on long-term tracking and investment. Methods merging environmental, physiological, and psychological domains to implement a human-centered approach were applied in this study to assess the outdoor thermal environment in a park. The constant influence of humans in the outdoor environment can change people’s physiological, psychological, and thermal responses. Additionally, the relationship between human physiological, psychological, and thermal factors was explored in this study. The results of this study provide the following findings: (1) In summer, subjects’ skin temperature increased by 0.35 to 2.83 °C during a one-hour outdoor test without shelter, while when tree shade was provided, subjects’ skin temperature dropped by 0.50 to 1.87 °C (except for motion segments). (2) In winter, if subjects stayed outdoors for 1 h, their body segments’ skin temperature dropped by a maximum of 7.93 °C. (3) When subjects went outside, in the early stage, their thermal responses fluctuated for a long time. Therefore, TSV, TCV, and TAV should be measured after they stay outdoors for 45 to 55 min in future studies. (4) Different body segments show different sensitivities to hot or cold. Considering this, a new group of formulas for mean skin temperature calculation are proposed with high accuracy (winter: 0.95; summer: 0.89). (5) Data for the one-hour change in different assessment indicators provide a good viewpoint for park design considering multiple aims such as comfort (TCV), pleasure (EVI), and increasing energy (PFI). Overall, this study took Stalin Waterfront Park as a case study, and some suggestions involving landscaping nodes, space types, and facilities are offered. Moreover, this study provides a novel theory and reasonable method that can be referred to in urban planning and landscape design.
Assessing the Quality of Sustainable Airline Services Utilizing the Multicriteria Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Al Awadh Mohammed
Published: April 2023

Monitoring customer satisfaction in the airline service industry is critical for improving service quality and meeting consumer expectations. Modern and comprehensive quality of service measurement tools offer firms critical information about how consumers perceive quality and their service quality expectations. It is vital to assess service quality in airline transportation, which is becoming more popular in comparison to other modes of transportation, resulting in increased competition. Businesses should know their clients well and make adjustments by properly analyzing their expectations if they want to compete in the market and enhance the quality of their services. As a consequence of this, we decided to utilize a model called the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) in order to determine how passengers in Saudi Arabia evaluate the level of service that is offered by airlines. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach to model the five SERVQUAL dimensions and 22 sub-criteria, the purpose of the study effort was to determine the criteria for improving airline services. For the purpose of the study, the service from three different airlines was chosen and assessed based on their overall quality performance. Systematically, the AHP-based approach is presented for rating the airlines according to the Saudi aviation services. According to the observations, airlines should focus more on reliability, assurance, responsiveness, and empathy and less on tangibles. The sub-criteria also state that the airlines’ top aim should be to deliver accurate services on the first try. According to the AHP analysis, Saudi Airlines ranked first, followed by flynas and then flydeal. The findings of this study have consequences for decisions about the effective monitoring of the total airline system in order to enhance the delivery of high-quality services that would increase customers’ pleasure, which is the aim of airline services.
Characterization of Spatial–Temporal Distribution of Forest Fire in Chhattisgarh, India, Using MODIS-Based Active Fire Data
Authors: Ray Tapas , Malasiya Dinesh , Verma Akshkumar , Purswani Ekta , Qureshi Asif , Khan Mohammed Latif , Verma Satyam
Published: April 2023

Forest fires are one of the most common natural and anthropogenic events that have long-term impacts on the environment. In this study, we analyzed 17 years of data on forest fires in Chhattisgarh, India, using active fire and burned area data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. Chhattisgarh was selected as the study area due to its high incidences of forest fires, significant forest cover, and scarce studies on forest fires. Our findings showed that the number of forest fires in the region increased over time, from 1487 forest fires in 2005 to 3074 forest fires in 2021, with the highest number of fires occurring in 2017 and 2009. Most of the fires occurred in deciduous broadleaf forests and savannas, following a consistent seasonal pattern, with the highest percentage of fires (88.88%) occurring in March, April, and May. The fire hotspot was located in the southwest region, dominated by deciduous broadleaf forests which are particularly prone to fires. These results emphasize the significance of effective fire management strategies that consider the seasonal and annual variability of forest fires, particularly in high-risk areas. Immediate attention to controlling forest fires is also critical to minimize its impact on the environment and local communities.
A Study on the Measurement of Comparative Advantage of Land Use Efficiency, Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity and Its Influencing Factors—An Empirical Test from the Panel Data of China’s Provincial Sub-Industry Types
Authors: Fan Shuping , Yu Boping , Yue Juan , Mi Yishi , Cheng Jiaru , Yu Ran , Xi Xingwu
Published: April 2023

The comparative advantage of land use efficiency can provide effective support for upgrading the industrial structure and optimizing the allocation of land resources. According to the agricultural industry and non-agricultural industry, the evaluation index system of land use efficiency is constructed by difference. By using China’s provincial panel data in 2010, 2015 and 2019 as an empirical test and comprehensively employing the comparative advantage model, GIS spatial analysis model, geographical weighted regression model and other algorithms, the land use efficiency and the comparative advantage were measured and evaluated to explore the evolution of spatial and temporal patterns and identify the influencing factors. The results showed the following: (1) The overall efficiency of agricultural land grew steadily, with regional differences transforming from expanding to narrowing, forming a gradually decreasing overall trend from the southeast coast to the northwest inland, and from the eastern plain to the western plateau. The overall efficiency of non-agricultural land was generally low, presenting an overall growth trend, and regional differences were progressively expanding, still showing a gradually decreasing trend in the eastern, central and western regions. (2) The overall comparative advantage of agricultural land efficiency showed a gradual decline trend, and the differences between regions were further narrowed. The high-value regions were still concentrated in the regions with superior agricultural resource endowment and showed a dominant advantage of the agricultural industry. The overall comparative advantage of non-agricultural land efficiency showed an increasing trend. The high-value areas were concentrated in urban agglomeration, metropolitan areas and other areas with high non-agricultural land efficiency, as well as the vast remote areas such as the northwest and southwest where the agricultural land efficiency was extremely low and the comparative advantage of non-agricultural land efficiency improved. (3) The spatial concentration of the comparative advantage of agricultural land and non-agricultural land efficiency was not obvious, which indicates that the comparative advantage of industrial land in China has not yet formed a trend of agglomeration development, but there were dense and obvious high-high agglomeration areas or low–low agglomeration areas in some local regions. (4) Significant regional differences were found to exist in the impact of various factors on the comparative advantages of agricultural land efficiency and non-agricultural land efficiency. The comparative advantage of land use efficiency can be relied on to promote the optimization and adjustment of industrial structure and guide the efficient allocation of land resources.
Water–Energy–Food Security Nexus—Estimating Future Water Demand Scenarios Based on Nexus Thinking: The Watershed as a Territory
Authors: Dias Icaro Yuri Pereira , Lazaro Lira Luz Benites , Barros Virginia Grace
Published: April 2023

Water, energy, and food security are essential for maintenance and human survival. This research applied an approach for the water–energy–food system to a watershed in the Atlantic Rainforest in Southern Brazil. It is based on a WEAP system that was developed and evaluated future water demand scenarios for the 2020–2050 timespan. The Sustainability Index (SI) was used to assess the scenarios to propose an alternative to compare the current development trend. The results indicated that by 2050, the necessary flow for different water uses would be 78.75% greater than in 2020 while maintaining the present scenario (C_REF). Substituting part of the hydroelectric energy by photovoltaic solar energy (C_EAL), implementing watershed action masterplans as a water resource instrument (C_GES), and integrating these scenarios (C_INT) will reduce the current demand ranging from 8.96% to 24.59%. The average flow would decrease by 28.44% and 29.07%, respectively, by evaluating water availability in climatic change scenarios (C_MCL) for the RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Compared with the reference scenario C_REF, C_INT presented an improved SI (0.1231), while C_MCL 8.5 presented the worse (−0.0047). Therefore, resources must be generated holistically so that one segment does not negatively impact the others. The findings highlight the pressing need for Santa Catarina State to implement effective management strategies targeting specific sectors, particularly the industrial and human consumption supply sectors. It is imperative to propose adaptation plans and implement actions that foster the reduction in water demands while also providing subsidies and guidance to the industrial sector on responsible water usage to prevent any negative impact on their productivity in the future. Comprehensive plans and policies should be formulated to ensure integration and coherence among various sectors involved in water resource management.
Productive Service Agglomeration, Human Capital Level, and Urban Economic Performance
Authors: Peng Du , Elahi Ehsan , Khalid Zainab
Published: April 2023

This study aims to investigate the impact of productive service industry agglomeration on the economic performance of Chinese cities. The study analyzes data from 285 prefecture-level cities over a 16-year period (2003–2019) and develops a comprehensive urban economic index evaluation system based on three dimensions: social, economic, and resource and environmental benefits. The empirical analysis reveals that high-end productive service industry agglomeration has a significant positive relationship with urban economic performance (effect size of 0.012), whereas low-end productive service industry agglomeration does not. The study also finds that the impact of productive service industry agglomeration on economic performance varies across different regions and cities. Specifically, productive service industry agglomeration has a significant positive impact on the economic performance of cities in the eastern, central, northeastern, and western regions, with the impact being twice as much in the western region compared to the eastern region. Moreover, the effect of productive service industry agglomeration on the economic performance of non-resource-based cities is almost one-third more than that of resource-based cities. The study further reveals that human capital plays a mediating role in the relationship between productive service industry agglomeration and urban economic performance. Based on these findings, the study suggests that Chinese cities, particularly non-resource-based cities and those in the central and western regions, should focus on supporting high-end productive service industry agglomeration, improve the quality of productive service industry agglomeration, strengthen the matching between the accumulation of human capital and the development of productive service industry agglomeration, and tailor their strategies to promote the development of productive service industry agglomeration effectively to improve their economic performance.
Methane Anaerobic Oxidation Potential and Microbial Community Response to Sulfate Input in Coastal Wetlands of the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Li Jun , Chen Qingfeng , Wang Xinghua , Tan Yu , Li Luzhen , Zhang Bowei , Guo Beibei , Zhao Changsheng
Published: April 2023

In the context of global warming and carbon neutrality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is fundamental to achieving sustainable development. As an important greenhouse gas, methane has a much stronger warming effect than CO2, and studies have demonstrated that anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) is important for global methane emissions. This paper systematically investigated the AOM potential and microbial community response to the input of SO42− in the three typical salt marsh soils of the Yellow River Delta: Reed, Suaeda salsa, and Tamarisk, using SO42− as the electron acceptor and a combination of indoor anaerobic culture and high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that after adding an appropriate concentration of SO42−, the AOM potential was significantly promoted in Tamarix soil (p < 0.05) and significantly inhibited in Reed and Suaeda salsa soil (p < 0.05); soil AOM potential and SO42− input concentration and background values were correlated. At the microbial level, SO42− input affected the abundance of some microorganisms. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Proteobacteria was increased in Suaeda salsa soil, decreased in Tamarisk soil, and did not change significantly in Reed soil; that of Crenarchaeota and Desulfobacterota was significantly increased in Tamarisk soil. At the genus level, Methylophaga, Methylotenera, and Methylomonaceae became the dominant populations, and it can be inferred that these bacteria are involved in the anaerobic oxidation of methane after the input of SO42−. This study will be of great significance to the mechanistic study of AOM and the conservation of microbial diversity in the Yellow River Delta Coastal Wetland, as well as provide a scientific basis for CH4 reduction in coastal wetlands.
Beyond Protection: Recognizing Nature’s Rights to Conserve Sharks
Authors: Bustamante Rachel
Published: April 2023

This paper blends conservation science with legal and policy analysis to assess the primary threats to global shark populations and explores innovative approaches to conservation building upon the philosophy of Earth law, including the Rights of Nature legal framework. Using a case study of Panamá’s national Rights of Nature law, this paper highlights approaches to improve the protection and restoration of shark populations and their habitats. By examining the ecological, social, and economic aspects of conservation holistically, this study offers an interdisciplinary perspective on the urgency for shark protection and presents Rights of Nature as a valuable approach to shark conservation, with potential applications to other species globally.
From Hazardous Chrysotile and Polyamide Wastes into Sustainable Serpentine/Polyamide Nanocomposite Membrane: Fabrication, Characterization, and Environmental Application
Authors: El Maghrabi Amal H. , El-Rabiee Mohmmed M. , Metwally Bahaa S. , Masoud Mostafa A. , Abdelaziz Mohamed H. , Petrounias Petros , Koukouzas Nikolaos , Zayed Ahmed M.
Published: April 2023

Sustainable serpentine/polyamide nanocomposite (SP/PAM) was fabricated using malicious mining (serpentine chrysotile, SP Ctl) and industrial (polyamide, PA6) wastes via the electro-spinning technique. Before fabrication, the fibrous nature of Ctl was demolished through intensive grinding into nano-fractions. The successful impregnation of Ctl within PA6 via the electro-spinning technique at fixed ratios of precursor raw materials in the dissolving agent (7.5/92.5% SP/PA wt/wt solid/solid) created an internal network structure within the polymer fibers by molecular self-assembly. SP/PAM showcased its prowess in tackling the remediation of diverse dyes and Fe(III) from synthetic solutions in a batch system. Based on correlation coefficient outcomes (R2 ≈ 0.999), the pseudo-second-order equation justified the sorption data in an adequate way for all contaminants. In addition, intra-particle diffusion was not the only driving factor in the sorption process. Similarly, the Langmuir equation with maximum removal capacity (qmax) 5.97, 4.33, and 5.36 mg/g for MO, MB, and Fe(Ⅲ), respectively, defined the sorption data better than Freundlich.
Evaluating and Prioritizing the Green Infrastructure Finance Risks for Sustainable Development in China
Authors: Dai Yan , Solangi Yasir Ahmed
Published: April 2023

China has become a global leader in green infrastructure finance, investing heavily in renewable energy, sustainable transportation, and green buildings. However, there are multiple risks and challenges that impede the development of green infrastructure finance. Thus, this study analyzes and prioritizes the risks associated with green infrastructure finance in China and proposes policy plans to mitigate these risks. A Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to identify the main risks associated with green infrastructure finance. The main risks are further decomposed into sub-risks. After, the Fuzzy VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR) method is used to prioritize the key policy plans to mitigate risks and sub-risks. The results of Fuzzy AHP show that policy and regulations are the most significant risk associated with green infrastructure finance in China, followed by financial risks, and technical risks. The results of Fuzzy VIKOR reveal that increasing the availability of financing options is the most crucial policy plan to mitigate the risks and sub-risks for green infrastructure finance. The developed standardized technical guidelines and procedures and a legal and regulatory framework are ranked second and third are the most effective and feasible policy plans.
Access and Control of Resources and Participation in Rice-Breeding Activities among Men and Women Farmers in Southern Ghana
Authors: Asante Bright Owusu , Puskur Ranjitha , Garner Elizabeth , Mangheni Margaret Najjingo , Adabah Richard , Asante Maxwell Darko , Frimpong Benedicta Nsiah , Prah Stephen
Published: April 2023

This paper provides evidence of gender differences in the access and control of resources and their relation to participation in rice-breeding activities among men and women farmers in southern Ghana. We used a mixed methods design which involved the use of qualitative data collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) and quantitative data collection through a survey. Using data collected from 315 smallholder rice farmers, perception analyses and probit and multivariate regression were employed in the analyses. Our findings indicate that higher levels of education, experience in rice farming, a favorable dependency ratio, larger farm size, more rice plots, access to extension services, and involvement with financial organizations positively influence participation in rice-breeding activities. On the other hand, distance to market is found to have a negative impact on participation. Moreover, years of education, experience in rice farming, farm size, number of rice plots, dependency ratio, and distance to market were found to negatively influence the control of production resources among both male and female participants in rice-breeding activities. From both the quantitative and qualitative results, men had more access to productive resources than women. Insights from this study will enhance gender equity in promoting the participation of both men and women in rice varietal development activities.
Carbon Neutrality Potential of Textile Products Made from Plant-Derived Fibers
Authors: Liu Junran , Liu Shuyi , Zhu Lisha , Sun Lirong , Zhang Ying , Li Xin , Wang Laili
Published: April 2023

During the growth of biomass, there are two carbon storage paths for plant-derived fibers. One path is to assimilate carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and temporarily store it in textile plants. Besides, the carbon can be captured and stored in soil. The carbon storage capacity of textile products made from plant-derived fibers such as cotton, flax, hemp, kenaf and bamboo fiber, etc., is a non-negligible part of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting and reporting. However, there is a lack of systematic methods to evaluate carbon storage and the delayed emission effect of plant-derived fibers. In this study, the carbon storage and emission times of 100% hemp T-shirt, 100% hemp slipcover, and 100% hemp fiber handicraft were evaluated by using the soil organic carbon method, dry weight biomass method, and modeling method. The results revealed that the CO2 storage of 1 kg hemp fiber is 1.833 kg. Meanwhile, the delayed emission effects of carbon temporarily stored in the 3 kinds of hemp fiber products are 3.83%, 19.68%, and 41.12% at different lifespans (i.e., 5, 25, or 50 years), in which case the landfill option for hemp fiber products may be preferable from carbon storage effect perspective. The results suggest that plant-derived fibers have a positive impact on climate change due to CO2 storage, and that the carbon storage effect improves with the continued lifespan of the product. By quantifying carbon storage and the delayed emission effect of plant-derived fibers, it is beneficial to understand the potential for reducing carbon emissions, which in turn helps to promote and develop more environmentally friendly and low-carbon production processes and products.
How Does Digital Finance Affect Energy Efficiency?—Characteristics, Mechanisms, and Spatial Effects
Authors: Wu Ya , Liu Yin , Zhang Minglong
Published: April 2023

The boundaries of traditional financial services have been expanded by digital finance, which has boosted their effectiveness and quality while encouraging energy-efficient production and lifestyles, and also influencing energy efficiency. This connection between energy efficiency and digital finance is empirically investigated in this paper using panel data from 278 cities from 2011 to 2019. The main findings indicate that energy efficiency can be greatly increased via digital finance. Moreover, usage depth and digitalization level can improve energy efficiency while coverage inhibits it; developed digital finance regions, central regions, and resource-based cities have all seen improvements in energy efficiency. Furthermore, green technology innovation and R&D investment are mechanisms for digital finance that can improve energy efficiency. Finally, further research illustrates that digital finance can improve local energy efficiency while inhibiting neighboring areas’ efficiency, though this effect is insignificant. This research provides additional impetus for a rise in energy efficiency due to the growth of digital finance.
Changes of Macrobenthic Diversity and Functional Groups in Saltmarsh Habitat under Different Seasons and Climatic Variables from a Subtropical Coast
Authors: Mely Shayla Sultana , Hossain Mohammad Belal , Rahman Mahabubur , Albeshr Mohammed Fahad , Arai Takaomi
Published: April 2023

Saltmarsh is one of the most productive coastal habitats in the marine environment, and the macroinvertebrate community is crucial to its ecology and productivity. These productive ecosystems are currently under threat due to climate change and anthropogenic activities. However, macroinvertebrate communities and their functionality in saltmarsh from subtropical coastal areas have previously been largely ignored. In this study, we aimed to elucidate (i) the diversity and community assemblages, (ii) trophic structure, and (iii) changes of macroinvertebrate diversity under different seasons and climatic variables from a subtropical saltmarsh habitat. A total of 29 taxa in the eight (8) major groups were recorded in both seasons, with polychaetes being dominant (64%) in monsoon and crustaceans (50%) in post-monsoon. Among the trophic groups identified, surface deposit feeders and omnivores were dominant, accounting for 78.52% of the total groups. The highest value of diversity index (2.04) was observed at station S3 in monsoon and the lowest (1.408) at station S2 in post-monsoon. Strong seasonal variability was confirmed by two-way ANOVA and PERMANOVA, and SIMPER analysis identified that shrimp larvae (Macrobrachium sp.) were the taxa that contributed the most to grouping patterns between areas and seasons. In addition, non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) revealed a great dissimilarity of macrobenthic faunal assemblages among the study stations and seasons. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) results revealed that the climatic factors water temperature, salinity, and alkalinity variation influenced the benthic community diversity.
How to Enhance Corporate Customers’ Loyalty on Purchasing Service Products? Exploring from the Perspective of Information Search
Authors: Fan Tsu-Yeh , Pan Bo-Yu , Tseng Shen-Der , Chao Li-Ping
Published: April 2023

Building upon the literature’s contribution to organizational procurement, enterprises must confront challenges derived from the uncertainty of collective decision-making and increasing efforts to scan for relevant information among providers. Especially for service products that cannot be tried in advance, how should corporate customers determine the price/performance of products before purchasing? This study explores ways to overcome the effect of these vulnerabilities and advance the quality of service and the loyalty framework to enrich the information processing theory. The results indicate that perceived value and relationship quality have greater effects on loyalty than service quality. Thus, if service providers can maintain amicable relationships and interactions with enterprise users, this will help the vendor provide enterprise users with appropriate product information in their service process, increasing the enterprise users’ loyalty. This study also proposes practical implications for the research results above, providing the information service industry with feasible service model suggestions and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage. This study addresses relevant challenges faced by practitioners and provides managerial guidance to strengthen customer loyalty.
In My Backyard? Discussing the NIMBY Effect, Social Acceptability, and Residents’ Involvement in Community-Based Solid Waste Management
Authors: Souza Marcelo Alves de , Gonçalves Juliana Teixeira , Valle William Azalim do
Published: April 2023

The present study explored an experience in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in which a community-based solid waste management experience was created by joining a waste pickers’ cooperative; a collective of urban agroecology activists; an alliance of social actors, including a university, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and membership-based organizations (MBOs); and a local community in a collaborative experience of zero waste that integrates waste pickers. More specifically, we focused on the Zero Waste Nucleus, which is an “intentional place” built in the territory that supports this experience and, as a facility, can face the “Not in My Backyard” (NIMBY) effects in the local production. The core of the analysis and discussion was how the process of developing the social acceptability of this space with the neighborhood took place, and how this space contributes to enhancing residents’ involvement in the project. We showed that daily care with negative externalities, the emergence of positive externalities, and the development of immaterial resources within the community, such as trust, are main factors for good social acceptability. Our conclusion presents the operational concept of Place for Assisted Voluntary Delivery (LEVA, in Portuguese) as a synthesis of design elements that can help build places to support community-based waste management systems, and reveals the limits of this study and the opportunities for future research in this field.
Assessment of the Water Footprint in Low-Income Urban Neighborhoods from Developing Countries: Case Study Fátima (Gamarra, Colombia)
Authors: Parra-Orobio Brayan Alexis , Soto-Paz Jonathan , Ramos-Santos Anulfo , Sanjuan-Quintero Keiner Fernando , Saldaña-Escorcia Rossember , Dominguez-Rivera Isabel Cristina , Sánchez Antoni
Published: April 2023

The increasing pressure on water resources due to population growth and high water consumption, especially in urban areas from tropical developing countries, has led to a rise in water stress. The sustainability analysis of the Total Water Footprint (WFtotal) and the Environmental Sustainability Index (SIblue) are holistic water management tools that allow for establishing pressures over water resources. This study assessed the WFtotal and their components (Blue, Green, and Gray) in the households of a low-income tropical neighborhood in Colombia with sanitation deficiencies. The activities associated with intra-household water use and higher environmental impact were identified, considering socioeconomic conditions and the water quality in the receiving water body, a wetland, through the application of surveys in a sample of households. The results showed that 86.7% of the WF was the WFgreen, followed by the WFgray (13.2%), and finally, the WFblue (0.2%). The high value of the WFgreen was related to food consumption patterns, which varied according to socioeconomic level. Likewise, the SIblue shows that the Baquero wetland presented scarcity scenarios regarding water quality and sedimentation, threatening the environmental service provision from this strategic ecosystem. Finally, tools such as the WFtotal and SIblue help identify strategies that could be implemented to reduce the pressure on the water resources and the water quality degradation in ecosystems relevant to global sustainability as wetlands.
The Facial Expression Data Enhancement Method Induced by Improved StarGAN V2
Authors: Han Baojin , Hu Min
Published: April 2023

Due to the small data and unbalanced sample distribution in the existing facial emotion datasets, the effect of facial expression recognition is not ideal. Traditional data augmentation methods include image angle modification, image shearing, and image scrambling. The above approaches cannot solve the problem that is the high similarity of the generated images. StarGAN V2 can generate different styles of images across multiple domains. Nevertheless, there are some defects in gener-ating these facial expression images, such as crooked mouths and fuzzy facial expression images. To service such problems, we improved StarGAN V2 by solving the drawbacks of creating pictures that apply an SENet to the generator of StarGAN V2. The generator’s SENet can concentrate at-tention on the important regions of the facial expression images. Thus, this makes the generated symmetrical expression image more obvious and easier to distinguish. Meanwhile, to further im-prove the quality of the generated pictures, we customized the hinge loss function to reconstruct the loss functions that increase the boundary of real and fake images. The created facial expression pictures testified that our improved model could solve the defects in the images created by the original StarGAN V2. The experiments were conducted on the CK+ and MMI datasets. The correct recognition rate of the facial expressions on the CK+ was 99.2031%, which is a 1.4186% higher accuracy than that of StarGAN V2. The correct recognition rate of the facial expressions on the MMI displays was 98.1378%, which is 5.059% higher than that of the StarGAN V2 method. Furthermore, contrast test outcomes proved that the improved StarGAN V2 performed better than most state-of-the-art methods.
Optimization Design and Parameter Analysis of a Wheel with Array Magnets
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Zhang Minglu , Jiao Shilong , Zhang Xiaojun , Li Manhong
Published: April 2023

At present, a large number of magnetic wall-climbing robots are applied to various magnetically conductive metal facades for detection and anti-corrosion work. Limited by the wall-climbing mechanism and adsorption device, most wall-climbing robots can only climb on smooth walls, and it is difficult to adapt to complex walls. Therefore, by studying the multi-media magnetic circuit conduction mechanism, a permanent magnetic adsorption wheel with a magnet array arrangement was designed in this study and applied to a hinge-type wall-climbing robot. By analyzing the influence of structural parameters on the adsorption performance and optimization design, a magnetic wheel structure with a symmetric structure that can meet a variety of adsorption requirements was obtained. To analyze the mechanical characteristics of the wall-climbing robot under complex facade conditions, we researched the adsorption performance of the designed magnetic wheel in different wall structures. Finally, the adhesion force of the magnetic wheel was verified through experimental measurements, and it was found that the hinged wall-climbing robot could adapt to different structural features and complete wall-transition and obstacle-crossing movements.
The Effect of Sequential Excitations on Asymmetrical Reinforced Concrete Low-Rise Framed Structures
Authors: Askouni Paraskevi K.
Published: April 2023

In the current research, the elastoplastic behaviour of symmetrical and asymmetrical reinforced concrete buildings is explored by dynamic analysis. The used ground excitations are of sequential type, which is found in the literature to possibly strongly affect the dynamic structural behaviour. The contemporary seismic codes neglect the impact of sequential earthquakes on the seismic response, highlighting a scientific gap necessary to be studied. Within the scope of this study, ordinary 3D reinforced concrete low-rise building frames are forced to sequential ground excitations, as well as to a respective single-occurrence corresponding ground excitation, for comparability reasons. In the present dynamic analyses, the two horizontal directions of the excitations, along with the vertical one, are included in the analysis input. The nonlinear behaviour of reinforced concrete sections under strong strain is considered in the present analyses. The geometrical in-plan asymmetry of the 3D models is expressed by a simply defined ratio. Selected unitless resulting plots of the current dynamic analyses are presented and appropriately discussed given the relative geometrical asymmetry. The role of sequential ground excitations on the dynamic response is recognized, along with the role of simple geometrical symmetry or asymmetry, in the resulting response plots. Thus, useful conclusions are acquired, pointing to remarks on the geometrical structural design helpful for the development of recommendations of seismic provisions.
Split Hop Penalty for Transmission Quality Metrics in a Better Approach to Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (BATMAN) for IoT-Based MANET
Authors: Jafri Syed Talib Abbas , Ahmed Irfan , Ali Sundus , Yahaya Jamaiah , Qamar Faizan , Abdullah Zuriani Hayati
Published: April 2023

Various routing protocols have been developed for wireless ad hoc networks to shift from infrastructure-based networks to self-controlling and self-configurable networks. These ad hoc networks are easy to implement and have plenty of application in the fields of healthcare, transportation, smart cities, etc. Although almost all of the routing protocols work on the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model’s network layer, a few routing protocols support routing on the data link layer of the OSI model rather than the conventional one. One of these routing protocols include the Better Approach To Mobile Ad Hoc Networking (BATMAN). Though BATMAN is a comparably new routing protocol and included in the Linux kernel, it suffers from performance deterioration and latency issues that need to be addressed especially in the Internet of Things (IoT). This paper presents a symmetry-based split hop penalty for BATMAN version 4 to improve the network’s performance in multi-hop scenarios. Split hop penalty defines two different sets of penalties to accommodate the routing protocol metric based on the interface media type. The experiments were conducted within the campus building of the university with physical nodes, and the obtained results highlight that overall performance is improved in terms of throughput, latency, and jitter while no performance gain is measured in packet loss and routing loops that are still present.
Molecular Basis of TcdR-Dependent Promoter Activity for Toxin Production by Clostridioides difficile Studied by a Heterologous Reporter System
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Li Jie , Chen Chao , Liu Ya-Jun , Cui Qiu , Hong Wei , Chen Zhenghong , Feng Yingang , Cui Guzhen
Published: April 2023

The alternative σ factor TcdR controls the synthesis of two major enterotoxins: TcdA and TcdB in Clostridioides difficile. Four potential TcdR-dependent promoters in the pathogenicity locus of C. difficile showed different activities. In this study, we constructed a heterologous system in Bacillus subtilis to investigate the molecular basis of TcdR-dependent promoter activity. The promoters of the two major enterotoxins showed strong TcdR-dependent activity, while the two putative TcdR-dependent promoters in the upstream region of the tcdR gene did not show detectable activity, suggesting that the autoregulation of TcdR may need other unknown factors involved. Mutation analysis indicated that the divergent -10 region is the key determinant for different activities of the TcdR-dependent promoters. Analysis of the TcdR model predicted by AlphaFold2 suggested that TcdR should be classified into group 4, i.e., extracytoplasmic function, σ70 factors. The results of this study provide the molecular basis of the TcdR-dependent promoter recognition for toxin production. This study also suggests the feasibility of the heterologous system in analyzing σ factor functions and possibly in drug development targeting these factors.
Hydrochemical Characteristics of Groundwater and Their Significance in Arid Inland Hydrology
Authors: Yang Zhengqiu , Hu Litang , Ma Haiyan , Zhang Wang
Published: April 2023

Phreatic groundwater hydrochemistry is important for sustainable water utilization and ecological stability in arid regions. Based on the test data from collected water samples, this study explored the phreatic groundwater recharge, hydrochemical evolution, and quality of the Sugan Lake Basin using hydrogeochemical, isotopic, and multivariate statistical analyses. The stable isotopic results showed that the phreatic groundwater in the alluvial fan, plain, and wetland areas of the basin generally originated from modern water, and the phreatic groundwater in the piedmont was mainly recharged by paleowater under low-temperature conditions. Carbonate is the dominant mineral in the regional rock weathering process. Phreatic groundwater in the piedmont is controlled by mineral dissolution and cation exchange; however, phreatic groundwater in other areas of the basin is significantly affected by river infiltration. This indicates that the hydrochemical regime of phreatic groundwater is sensitive to natural river flow without disturbing human activity. Class I–V groundwater samples accounted for 2.86%, 25.71%, 34.29%, 14.29%, and 22.86%, respectively. Total dissolved solids, total hardness, sulfate, chloride, nitrite, Na, Fe, Hg, and Cr VI are important factors that determine groundwater quality. This study deepens the understanding of phreatic groundwater hydrochemical characteristics and hydrologic cycles in the Sugan Lake Basin and provides background values of hydrochemistry without human interference for further study in arid inland basins.
Oxygen and pCO2 in the Surface Waters of the Atlantic Southern Ocean in 2021–2022
Authors: Orekhova Natalia A. , Konovalov Sergey K. , Polukhin Alexander A. , Seliverstova Anna M.
Published: April 2023

The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has progressively risen since pre-industrial times. About one-third of the anthropogenically generated CO2 is absorbed by the waters of the World Ocean, whereas the waters of the Southern Ocean take up about 40% of this CO2. The concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater are sensitive to climate changes, transferring anthropogenic pressures with consequences for the biogeochemical cycles in the World Ocean. The Southern Ocean is a key region for the exchange of oxygen and carbon between the surface water and the atmosphere and for their transfer with cold water masses to the deep layers of the Ocean. In this paper, we discuss the dynamics of the carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) and dissolved oxygen (O2) in the surface waters of the Atlantic Southern Ocean based on data collected during the 87th cruise of the R/V “Academik Mstislav Keldysh”. The study area includes the Bransfield Strait, Antarctic Sound, the Powell Basin, the Weddell, and Scotia Seas. We have analyzed the spatial distribution of pCO2 and oxygen for the areas of transformation of water masses and changes in biogeochemical processes. In the zone of Scotia and Weddell Seas, we have observed an increase in pCO2 and a decrease in oxygen concentrations at the transect from the Weddell Sea at 56° W to the Powell Basin. From the Antarctic Sound to the Bransfield Strait, a decrease in oxygen saturation and an increase in pCO2 has been traced. The surface waters of the Bransfield Strait have revealed the greatest variability of hydrochemical characteristics due to a complex structure of currents and intrusions of different water masses. In general, this area has been characterized by the maximum pCO2, while the surface waters are undersaturated with oxygen. The variability of the AOU/ΔpCO2 (w-a) ratio has revealed a pCO2 oversaturation and an O2 undersaturation in the waters of the Bransfield Strait. It is evidence of active organic carbon decomposition as the major controlling process. Yet, photosynthesis is the major biogeochemical process in the studied areas of the Weddell and Scotia seas, and their waters have been undersaturated with pCO2 and oversaturated with O2. As it comes from the analysis of the distribution and correlation coefficients of AOU and the sea-air gradient of pCO2 with other physical and biogeochemical properties, the predominance of the biotic processes to the dynamics of O2 and pCO2 in the surface water layer has been demonstrated for the studied areas. Yet, there is evidence of additional sources of CO2 not associated with the production and destruction processes of organic matter.
Influence of Installation Deviation of Thrust Bearing on Oil Film Flow of 1000 MW Hydraulic Turbine Unit
Authors: Ji Zhenwei , Shi Yishu , Da Xinming , Cao Jingwei , Gong Qijun , Wang Zhengwei , Huang Xingxing
Published: April 2023

The thrust bearing, as the only part bearing the axial load, is extremely important in vertical hydroelectric generating units. Its working condition directly affects the safe and reliable operation of the hydroelectric generating unit. However, during operation, the oil film is easily damaged under the influence of complex factors. Installation deviation is a key point that can cause temperature and pressure changes in the oil film, affecting the force on the bearing. This article takes the thrust bearing model of the 1000 MW Francis turbine unit of the Baihetan Power Station as the research object. Based on the fluid–solid coupling theory and CFD technology, the oil film characteristics of thrust bearings are analyzed, and the influence of inclination angles and installation deviation on the oil film flow performance of thrust bearings is discussed. The results show that as the inclination angle changes from 0.0030° to 0.0048°, the axial force changes from 856 t to 368 t, and there is an approximate linear correlation between them. The radial installation deviation has an effect on the axial force. Under the optimal working condition of an inclination angle of 0.0039°, when the radial deviation of the pad changes from 0 mm to 1 mm, the axial force changes from 1573 t to 1275 t. In the process of unit installation, it is necessary to pay attention to the installation deviation of the pad. The results provide guidance for the installation of the bearing, which helps to ensure the safe and stable operation of the station.
A case of community-acquired pneumococcal meningitis following acute sinusitis and unsuccessful former antimicrobial therapy
Authors: AMRO Montaser M.y , BADDAL Buket , SÜER Kaya , DEMİR Nurhak
Published: April 2023

Rapid diagnosis and treatment are critical for patient recovery in bacterial meningitis. Delayed initiation of antibiotic therapy is associated with increased in-hospital mortality and an unfavorable outcome at discharge. We report a 31-year-old female patient presenting with a history of acute sinusitis and cefuroxime medication for 7 days. On the 7th day, the patient was admitted to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, confusion, headache, tendency to sleep. On physical examination, the patient presented with unresponsiveness and weak neck stiffness as a sign of meningeal irritation. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed 13,446 leukocytes per mm3 with 95% neutrophils and 5% lymphocytes. CSF biochemical analysis indicated low CSF glucose (<1 mg/dL glucose), elevated CSF protein (476 mg/dL total protein) and >2000,00 mg/L albumin. CSF RT-qPCR was positive for Streptococcus pneumoniae. The patient was immediately administered ceftriaxone and vancomycin, and recovered without any neurological sequelae. This study highlights the importance of patient follow-up, accurate prognosis and rapid laboratory testing in patients with failed sinusitis treatment.
Lehrende und Lernende: eine asymmetrische Beziehung. Eine rekonstruktive Studie zu Erfahrungen und habitualisierten Orientierungen von Lehrpersonen
Authors: Bressler Christoph
Published: April 2023

Die Beziehung von Lehrperson und Lernenden kennzeichnet eine komplexe Asymmetrie. Sie gilt als konstitutiv für die pädagogische Beziehung, aber auch als von der Lehrkraft zu bearbeitendes Handlungsproblem. Diese rekonstruktive Studie untersucht den habitualisierten Umgang von Lehrkräften mit der Asymmetrie in der Interaktion mit Lernenden. Sie schlägt eine heuristische Konzeption der asymmetrischen Beziehungsstruktur in ihrer Mehrdimensionalität vor und nimmt anhand mittels Dokumentarischer Methode ausgewerteter Gruppendiskussionen die habitualisierten Orientierungen und konjunktiven Erfahrungen von Lehrkräften zur Asymmetriegestaltung in den Blick. Die Ergebnisse werfen weiterführende Fragen zur Auseinandersetzung von Lehrkräften mit der Asymmetrie der pädagogischen Beziehung wie auch metatheoretische Fragen zur Konzeption habitualisierter Orientierungen von Lehrkräften auf.