bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Focusing and Wavefront Splitting of an Extreme Ultraviolet Laser with a Tubular Optical Element
Authors: Cui Huaiyu , Wang Zhiyuan , Wu Shan , An Haojie , Wang Jinshi , Zhao Yongpeng
Published: May 2023

A capillary discharge extreme ultraviolet laser is focused and wavefront split at 46.9 nm by a tubular optical element. The reflectivity at 46.9 nm is both simulated and measured to be higher than 90% with a slight optical aberration. The operating principle of the tubular element for focusing and wavefront splitting is discussed. Dense and intense grating-like fringes with a period of ~150 nm are achieved. The method used in this work allows nano-scale processing with extreme ultraviolet laser at single-shot exposure mode.
Looking beyond Virus Detection in RNA Sequencing Data: Lessons Learned from a Community-Based Effort to Detect Cellular Plant Pathogens and Pests
Authors: Haegeman Annelies , Foucart Yoika , De Jonghe Kris , Goedefroit Thomas , Al Rwahnih Maher , Boonham Neil , Candresse Thierry , Gaafar Yahya Z. A. , Hurtado-Gonzales Oscar P. , Kogej Zwitter Zala , Kutnjak Denis , Lamovšek Janja , Lefebvre Marie , Malapi Martha , Mavrič Pleško Irena , Önder Serkan , Reynard Jean-Sébastien , Salavert Pamblanco Ferran , Schumpp Olivier , Stevens Kristian , Pal Chandan , Tamisier Lucie , Ulubaş Serçe Çiğdem , van Duivenbode Inge , Waite David W. , Hu Xiaojun , Ziebell Heiko , Massart Sébastien
Published: May 2023

High-throughput sequencing (HTS), more specifically RNA sequencing of plant tissues, has become an indispensable tool for plant virologists to detect and identify plant viruses. During the data analysis step, plant virologists typically compare the obtained sequences to reference virus databases. In this way, they are neglecting sequences without homologies to viruses, which usually represent the majority of sequencing reads. We hypothesized that traces of other pathogens might be detected in this unused sequence data. In the present study, our goal was to investigate whether total RNA-seq data, as generated for plant virus detection, is also suitable for the detection of other plant pathogens and pests. As proof of concept, we first analyzed RNA-seq datasets of plant materials with confirmed infections by cellular pathogens in order to check whether these non-viral pathogens could be easily detected in the data. Next, we set up a community effort to re-analyze existing Illumina RNA-seq datasets used for virus detection to check for the potential presence of non-viral pathogens or pests. In total, 101 datasets from 15 participants derived from 51 different plant species were re-analyzed, of which 37 were selected for subsequent in-depth analyses. In 29 of the 37 selected samples (78%), we found convincing traces of non-viral plant pathogens or pests. The organisms most frequently detected in this way were fungi (15/37 datasets), followed by insects (13/37) and mites (9/37). The presence of some of the detected pathogens was confirmed by independent (q)PCRs analyses. After communicating the results, 6 out of the 15 participants indicated that they were unaware of the possible presence of these pathogens in their sample(s). All participants indicated that they would broaden the scope of their bioinformatic analyses in future studies and thus check for the presence of non-viral pathogens. In conclusion, we show that it is possible to detect non-viral pathogens or pests from total RNA-seq datasets, in this case primarily fungi, insects, and mites. With this study, we hope to raise awareness among plant virologists that their data might be useful for fellow plant pathologists in other disciplines (mycology, entomology, bacteriology) as well.
How Scarification, GA3 and Graphene Oxide Influence the In Vitro Establishment and Development of Strelitzia
Authors: Paiva Patrícia Duarte de Oliveira , Silva Diogo Pedrosa Correa da , Silva Bruna Raphaella da , Sousa Israela Pimenta de , Paiva Renato , Reis Michele Valquíria dos
Published: May 2023

The propagation of strelitzia plants can be carried out in vitro as an alternative to combine the aseptic conditions of the culture medium with the use of strategies to promote germination and controlled abiotic conditions. However, this technique is still limited by the prolonged time and low percentage of seed germination, which is the most viable explant source, due to dormancy. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of chemical and physical scarification processes of seeds combined with gibberellic acid (GA3), as well as the effect of graphene oxide in the in vitro cultivation of strelitzia plants. Seeds were subjected to chemical scarification with sulfuric acid for different periods (10 to 60 min) and physical scarification (sandpaper), in addition to a control treatment without scarification. After disinfection, the seeds were inoculated in MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium with 30 g L−1 sucrose, 0.4 g L−1 PVPP (polyvinylpyrrolidone), 2.5 g L−1 Phytagel®, and GA3 at different concentrations. Growth data and antioxidant system responses were measured from the formed seedlings. In another experiment, the seeds were cultivated in vitro in the presence of graphene oxide at different concentrations. The results showed that the highest germination was observed in seeds scarified with sulfuric acid for 30 and 40 min, regardless of the addition of GA3. After 60 days of in vitro cultivation, physical scarification and scarification time with sulfuric acid promoted greater shoot and root length. The highest seedling survival was observed when the seeds were immersed for 30 min (86.66%) and 40 min (80%) in sulfuric acid without GA3. The concentration of 50 mg L−1 graphene oxide favored rhizome growth, while the concentration of 100 mg L−1 favored shoot growth. Regarding the biochemical data, the different concentrations did not influence MDA (Malondialdehyde) levels, but caused fluctuations in antioxidant enzyme activities.
Roles of Hormones in Elevated pH-Mediated Mitigation of Copper Toxicity in Citrus sinensis Revealed by Targeted Metabolome
Authors: Zhang Jiang , Huang Wei-Lin , Huang Wei-Tao , Chen Xu-Feng , Chen Huan-Huan , Ye Xin , Yang Lin-Tong , Chen Li-Song
Published: May 2023

The effects of copper (Cu)–pH interactions on the levels of hormones and related metabolites (HRMs) in Citrus sinensis leaves and roots were investigated. Our findings indicated that increased pH mitigated Cu toxicity-induced alterations of HRMs, and Cu toxicity increased low-pH-induced alterations of HRMs. Increased pH-mediated decreases in ABA, jasmonates, gibberellins, and cytokinins, increases in (±)strigol and 1-aminocyclopropanecarboxylic acid, and efficient maintenance of salicylates and auxins homeostasis in 300 μM Cu-treated roots (RCu300); as well as efficient maintenance of hormone homeostasis in 300 μM Cu-treated leaves (LCu300) might contribute to improved leaf and root growth. The upregulation of auxins (IAA), cytokinins, gibberellins, ABA, and salicylates in pH 3.0 + 300 μM Cu-treated leaves (P3CL) vs. pH 3.0 + 0.5 μM Cu-treated leaves (P3L) and pH 3.0 + 300 μM Cu-treated roots (P3CR) vs. pH 3.0 + 0.5 μM Cu-treated roots (P3R) might be an adaptive response to Cu toxicity, so as to cope with the increased need for reactive oxygen species and Cu detoxification in LCu300 and RCu300. Increased accumulation of stress-related hormones (jasmonates and ABA) in P3CL vs. P3L and P3CR vs. P3R might reduce photosynthesis and accumulation of dry matter, and trigger leaf and root senescence, thereby inhibiting their growth.
Contrasting Responses and Phytoremediation Potential of Two Poplar Species to Combined Strontium and Diesel Oil Stress
Authors: Liang Ziyan , Zeng Hanyong , Kong Jijun
Published: May 2023

The soil pollution caused by diesel oil and heavy metals has become an increasingly serious environmental issue, with negative global-scale impacts. The remediation of contaminated soil requires special attention, in which phytoremediation has emerged as an ecofriendly solution. However, the response of plants to the combined stress of diesel oil and heavy metals remains largely unknown. In this study, the aim was to investigate the potential of Populus alba and P. russkii for phytoremediation by examining their response to combined diesel oil and heavy metal stress. In a greenhouse experiment using soil contaminated with 15 mg kg−1 of diesel oil and varying concentrations of Sr (0, 10, or 100 mg kg−1), we studied the physiological and biochemical changes, as well as the Sr absorption, of P. alba and P. russkii. The results showed that at high concentrations of Sr and diesel oil, the growth of both species was substantially inhibited, but P. alba exhibited higher resistance due to its higher antioxidant enzyme activities and increased accumulation of soluble sugar and proline. Additionally, P. alba concentrated Sr in the stem, whereas P. russkii accumulated Sr in the leaf, exacerbating its negative effects. Diesel oil treatments were beneficial for Sr extraction due to cross-tolerance. Our findings indicate that P. alba is more suitable for the phytoremediation of Sr contamination due to its superior tolerance to combined stress, and we identified potential biomarkers for monitoring pollution. Therefore, this study provides a theoretical basis and implementation strategy for the remediation of soil contaminated by both heavy metals and diesel oil.
Study of the Sensitivity Limit of Detection of α-Particles by Polymer Film Detectors LR-115 Type 2 Using X-ray Diffraction and UV-Vis Spectroscopic Methods
Authors: Yerimbetova Dana S. , Kozlovskiy Artem L. , Tuichiyev Umitali N. , Zhumadilov Kassym S.
Published: May 2023

This work is devoted to the applicability assessment of optical spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction methods to establish the lower detection limit for the density of latent tracks from α-particles in polymer nuclear-track detectors, in the case of simulation of the formation of radon decay daughter products using Am-241 sources. During the studies, the detection limit for the density of latent tracks—traces of the interaction of α-particles with the molecular structure of film detectors—was established using optical UV spectroscopy (104 track/cm2) and X-ray diffraction (104 track/cm2). At the same time, analysis of the connection between structural and optical changes in polymer films indicates that a growth in the density of latent tracks above 106–107 results into the formation of an anisotropic change in the electron density associated with distortions in the molecular structure of the polymer. An analysis of the parameters of diffraction reflections (the position and width of the diffraction maximum) showed that in the range of latent track densities of 104–108 track/cm2, the main changes in these values are associated with deformation distortions and stresses caused by ionization processes during the interaction of incident particles with the molecular structure of the polymer. The increase in optical density, in turn, is caused by the accumulation of structurally changed regions (latent tracks) in the polymer as the irradiation density increases. A general analysis of the obtained data showed good agreement between the optical and structural characteristics of the films depending on the irradiation density.
Integrated Geophysical Prediction of Goaf and Water Accumulation in Pingshuo Dong Open-Cut Mine with Ultrashallow and High Drops
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Guan Wenyuan , Chang Suoliang , Meng Qinggang , Dong Yinping , Chen Qiang
Published: May 2023

To address safety problems caused by goaf and water accumulation in open-pit mines, the shallow three-dimensional seismic method and transient electromagnetic method were integrated and applied to detect the mining goaf distribution scope and the water accumulation conditions. In view of the special topographic conditions of an ultrashallow layer and high drop in an open-pit mine, we proposed utilizing bin homogenization and multidomain joint denoising to improve the reliability of seismic data. By using seismic-sensitive attributes to predict the goaf, the transient electromagnetic method was employed to further predict the water accumulation in the goaf. The results show that the shallow seismic method could clearly reflect the reflected-wave variation features of the goaf. The features of a junction between a normal seam and goaf vary obviously, and the prediction effect of the goaf boundary with high resolution is in line with the actual situation. Furthermore, taking the goaf scope prediction with the shallow three-dimensional seismic method as a base, targeted transient electromagnetic detection was deployed, with a detailed analysis of the survey-line repeated areas of the shallow seismic and transient electromagnetic methods. Making full use of the advantages of the shallow seismic and transient electromagnetic methods, we propose a reasonable data interpretation method in combination with the special topographic conditions of open-pit mines, which greatly improves the prediction effect of goaf and water accumulation conditions.
Bioaugmentation of Aerobic Granular Sludge with Dye-Decolorizing Yeast for Textile Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Mendes Marta , Moreira Irina , Moreira Patrícia , Pintado Manuela , Castro Paula
Published: May 2023

A sequencing batch reactor (SBR) inoculated with activated sludge and bioaugmented with a dye-decolorizing yeast strain—Yarrowia lipolytica (HOMOGST27AB) was assembled to form yeast-bioaugmented aerobic granular sludge (AGS). The bioaugmented AGS-SBR was operated for the treatment of synthetic saline wastewater (12 g L−1) intermittently fed with a reactive textile dye (Navy Everzol ED) at 25, 15, and 7.5 mg L−1. Dye degradation did not occur, although some dye adsorbed to the granules. AGS-SBR performance in removing carbon and nitrogen was good and was not affected by the dye addition. Bioaugmentation with the yeast Y. lipolytica (HOMOGST27AB) occurred with success, proved by sequencing samples from granules throughout the reactor operation. The AGS core microbiome gathered essentially microorganisms from the Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla. The microbial profile showed a dynamic microbiome established at Phase I of the operation, with a high decrease in the abundance of Ignavibacterium from the initial biomass to the granules formed and an increase in Actinobacteria, Cytophagia, Flavobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria in the remaining phases of the bioreactor operation.
Ultrafast Energy Transfer Dynamics in a Cyanobacterial Light-Harvesting Phycobilisome
Authors: Xiao Chao , Guo Na , Liang Zidong , Huang Zhencheng , Li Wenjun , Xie Mingyuan , Zhao Fuli
Published: May 2023

The phycobilisomes (PBSs) of cyanobacteria and red algae are their primary light-harvesting antennas, which play key role in light harvesting and energy transportation to the photosynthetic reaction center with extraordinarily high efficiency. The mechanism of energy transfer in PBS should be investigated with a tight combination between biological structural information and an ultrafast time-resolved dynamic analysis. We recently demonstrated the study of energy transfer in PBSs from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus vulcanus NIES 2134 (T. 2134), with the cryo-EM model resolved at a near-atomic resolution. The time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of the PBS with a sub-picosecond resolution was discovered at 77 K. Deconvolution of the fluorescence decay curve was then used to reveal the energy transfer channels and the associated transfer rates. Except for the fluorescence lifetimes of terminal emitters, four time components, i.e., 9 ps, 13 ps, 23 ps, and 55 ps, were recognized in the energy transfer in the PBSs. The energy transfer dynamics in the PBSs were further analyzed by combining the cryo-EM structure and the spectral properties in detail. The findings from this study aid in our understanding of the energy transfer mechanisms in PBSs.
Graphic Template Establishment and Productivity Evaluation Model of Post-Fracturing Based on the Fluctuation Pattern of G-Function Curve
Authors: Li Sichen , Liu Dehua , Du Chengsheng , Ma Pan , Li Minxuan , Gao Hailiang
Published: May 2023

In the process of fracturing construction in shale gas reservoirs, microseism is a common means and effective method to evaluate the fracturing effect, but it is not suitable for large-scale and large batches due to its high applicability conditions and cost. Therefore, a concise, fast and low-cost post-fracturing effect evaluation method is needed to evaluate the complexity of fractures formed by fracturing in shale gas reservoirs. In this paper, based on the basic theory of the G-function, the free variable μ was introduced to correct the filter loss coefficient with the participation of natural fractures, and thousands of G-function curves were plotted with fracturing data from hundreds of gas wells in the southern Fuling shale gas field in China. Through the feature analysis of the curve morphology, a G-function graphic template conforming to the block was established, which contains four types and eight morphologies. Four characteristic parameters in the G-function curve were selected to establish a productivity evaluation model for shale gas wells. Based on the validation results, it can be seen that the G-function graphic template and productivity evaluation model proposed by the author had a good correlation with the post-fracturing productivity of shale gas wells, which provided a fast, economical and accurate method for the post-fracturing effect evaluation and productivity evaluation of shale gas wells and can effectively provide feedback on the field fracturing effect and guide subsequent fracturing construction.
Jerusalem as the Central Place for Paul and Acts
Authors: Regev Eyal
Published: May 2023

In Galatians 1–2, Paul mentions several times that the apostles’ leadership is situated in Jerusalem. In Gal 2:1–2, he even designates it simply as “Jerusalem”. Paul acknowledges the centrality of the apostles in Jerusalem in his enterprise of the collection of the money for the saints in Jerusalem. Yet, the city is transformed into central theological concepts in Paul’s distinction between “the present Jerusalem” and “Jerusalem above” (Gal 4:25–26). Thus, despite his debates with Peter and James, Paul not only accepts that the early Christian leadership dwells in Jerusalem, but he also designates the center of the Jesus movement as “Jerusalem”. This means that the holiness of the city, its prophetic heritage, and messianic hopes as reflected in the Hebrew Bible are associated with the apostles’ community. Quite a similar picture is found in the narrative of the Acts of the Apostles. Jerusalem is mentioned in Acts fifty-nine times. Luke refers to the name of the city time and again, stressing that the apostles act and live in Jerusalem, that Paul comes to the city, and that other events happen there. Yet, the oft-repeated references to Jerusalem in Acts go far beyond accurate geographic descriptions. In Acts, the author stresses that the Jesus movement operates in/from the Jewish holy center, which accords the movement legitimacy as a Jewish movement. Jerusalem is “the place” of the apostles’ community. The community of apostles is identified with the city, as if they are Jerusalem. In a sense, Luke follows Paul (and most probably the apostles’ community) in associating the origin and center of the Jesus movement with Jerusalem. This association may be explored in light of the theory of place (which is related to the general theory of space or spatial theory). The apostles identify with Jerusalem to show other believers in Jesus that they are the leaders and center of the Jesus movement. It is an act of domination. At the same time, they claim to be “Jerusalem” while being persecuted. Hence their self-association with the city is also an act of resistance.
Correction: Mataveli et al. Mining Is a Growing Threat within Indigenous Lands of the Brazilian Amazon. Remote Sens. 2022, 14, 4092
Authors: Mataveli Guilherme , Chaves Michel , Guerrero João , Escobar-Silva Elton Vicente , Conceição Katyanne , de Oliveira Gabriel
Published: May 2023

In the original publication [...]
A Stage-Adaptive Selective Network with Position Awareness for Semantic Segmentation of LULC Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Zheng Wei , Feng Jiangfan , Gu Zhujun , Zeng Maimai
Published: May 2023

Deep learning has proven to be highly successful at semantic segmentation of remote sensing images (RSIs); however, it remains challenging due to the significant intraclass variation and interclass similarity, which limit the accuracy and continuity of feature recognition in land use and land cover (LULC) applications. Here, we develop a stage-adaptive selective network that can significantly improve the accuracy and continuity of multiscale ground objects. Our proposed framework can learn to implement multiscale details based on a specific attention method (SaSPE) and transformer that work collectively. In addition, we enhance the feature extraction capability of the backbone network at both local and global scales by improving the window attention mechanism of the Swin Transfer. We experimentally demonstrate the success of this framework through quantitative and qualitative results. This study demonstrates the strong potential of the prior knowledge of deep learning-based models for semantic segmentation of RSIs.
The Precursory 3D Displacement Patterns and Their Implicit Collapse Mechanism of the Ice-Rock Avalanche Events Occurred in Sedongpu Basin Revealed by Optical and SAR Observations
Authors: Ding Chao , Feng Guangcai , Zhang Lu , Shen Qiang , Xiong Zhiqiang , Liao Mingsheng
Published: May 2023

Quantifying the kinematic evolution patterns of mountain glaciers near Yarlung Tsanpo River performs a major role in evaluating the glacial instability and the secondary disasters. For the Sedongpu Basin near the Yarlung Tsanpo River Valley, the dramatic geomorphic landscape variations triggered by the ice-rock avalanche events were visually identified as the dominant texture deficiencies in time-series optical images. To improve the image correlation quality broken by these image texture deficiencies, the Landsat-8/Sentinel-2 optical images were divided into different groups, then a stepwise combination strategy was innovatively proposed to derive the glacier time-series displacement velocities in different temporal stages. The standard deviations (STD) of the optical measurements in the stable area maintained around 0.04 m/yr for the normalized displacement velocity and maintained from 0.6 to 1.7 m for the cumulative displacement time series. The obvious variations in glacier displacement velocity were identified before each collapse event. Subsequently, the offset-tracking procedures were performed on 7 Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images to acquire the range and azimuth displacement velocities. To better reveal the dynamic mechanism of the glacier activity, the three-dimensional (3D) glacial displacement velocity was also derived by using optical and SAR results. The precipitation, temperature, and seismic activities were assumed as the main triggering factors of controlling the glacial dynamic mechanism and final collapse events. Additionally, the dynamic mechanism of the active glaciers in Sedongpu Basin conformed to a power law, which was limited by the changes of the internal stress friction force on the sliding base surface. The aim of this study is to shed a light on interpreting the precursory displacement patterns and their implicit failure mechanism of these ice-rock avalanche events with the conventional freely optical and SAR observations.
In Situ Ni-Doped Hierarchically Porous Carbon Nanofibers Derived from Polyacrylonitrile/Pitch for Hydrogen Storage at Ambient Temperature
Authors: Song Fuquan , Huang Lintao , Ding Heying , Zhang Shiming , Yu Jinbiao
Published: May 2023

Porous carbon nanofibers doped with nickel (Ni) were successfully fabricated through electrospinning, carbonization, and CO2 activation techniques using polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and petroleum pitch as carbon sources and nickel acetate as the dopant. During the activation process, Ni was reduced and dispersed in situ on the carbon matrix. The effects of Ni doping content on the morphology and structure of the carbon nanofibers were systematically investigated using SEM, TEM, XPS, XRD, Raman, and BET analyses. The experimental results revealed that the prepared materials had a hierarchically porous structure and that Ni nanoparticles played multiple roles in the preparation process, including catalyzing pore expansion and catalytic graphitization. However, particle agglomeration and fiber fracture occurred when the Ni content was high. In the adsorption/desorption experiments, the sample with 10 wt% Ni doping exhibited the highest specific surface area and micropore volume of 750.7 m2/g and 0.258 cm3/g, respectively, and had the maximum hydrogen storage capacity of 1.39 wt% at 298 K and 10 MPa. The analyses suggested that the hydrogen adsorption mechanism contributed to enhanced H2 adsorption by the spillover effect in addition to physisorption.
An Exploratory Study about the Effect of COVID-19 on the Intention to Adopt Virtual Reality in the Tourism Sector
Authors: Sousa Nuno , Jorge Filipa , Teixeira Mário Sérgio , Losada Nieves , Melo Miguel , Bessa Maximino
Published: May 2023

During the health crisis caused by COVID-19, virtual reality (VR) proved to be useful for the tourism industry, allowing this industry to continue working despite the restrictions imposed. However, it remains to be seen if the impact of this sanitary crisis in the tourism industry influenced managers’ intention to adopt this technology in the post-pandemic period. To fill this gap, a qualitative methodological approach was adopted, using the MAXQDA20 software and interviews with managers of tourism enterprises. The results show that the willingness to invest in technology, the perception of VR as a business strategy, and the perception of the impact of the pandemic are factors that regulate the intention of companies to adopt VR. In addition, prior experience with VR and the perception of technical support are also important for its adoption. Thus, it was concluded that VR can be a valuable sustainable strategy for tourism companies to address the challenges imposed by the pandemic. However, adopting the technology depends on factors such as financial availability, business strategy, and previous experience with VR. Furthermore, tourism companies must also receive adequate technical support to ensure its correct implementation.
Insights about the Effects of COVID-19 on International Trade during the Main Pandemic Years in Romania and Poland
Authors: Tudorache Adrian Tudor , Nicolescu Luminița
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 crisis disrupted the economic life of the entire world and caused various disturbances at different levels in economies and societies. Consequently, the study of the economic impact of the health crisis became necessary to identify the influences that the health crisis had on numerous activities, including economic ones. There are calls for more studies to be conducted about the effects of COVID-19 at different levels so that lessons can be learned. The present paper answers these calls and focuses on the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on international trade at the country level by investigating two European countries, Romania and Poland. First, it analyzes the macro-level context of the two countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, a regression methodology is employed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 burden (which includes the number of cases and the number of deaths related to COVID-19) on the export and import flows in Romania and Poland. The investigation refers to the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020–2021, which were the most significant. The results of the regression analysis showed that international trade was affected by the COVID-19 burden in the two countries, but the influences were different in the two countries. Exports and imports in Poland were more affected by COVID-19 than exports and imports in Romania. COVID-19 also had a higher impact on the import than the export flows in both countries during the period considered. The negative assumed relationships between COVID-19 burden and international trade flows were not verified in these specific country cases. This paper provides more evidence about the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, contributing to a better understanding of the economic effects of health crises in general.
Monthly Water Balance of Ungauged Watersheds Using Empirical and Conceptual Models: A Case Study of the Semiarid Mountainous Watersheds, Southwest of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ghanim Abdulnoor A. J.
Published: May 2023

Many applications of water resources planning and management depend on continuous streamflow predictions. A lack of data sources makes it difficult to predict stream flows in many world regions, including Saudi Arabia. Therefore, using simple, parsimonious models is more attractive in areas where data is scarce since they contain few parameters and require minimal input data. This study investigates the ability of simple, parsimonious water balance model models to simulate monthly time series of stream flows for poorly gauged catchments. The modified Schreiber’s empirical model and SIXPAR monthly water balance model were applied to simulate monthly streamflow in six mountainous watersheds located southwest of Saudi Arabia. The SIXPAR model was calibrated on one single gauged catchment where adequate hydrological data were available. The calibrated parameters were then transferred to the ungauged catchments based on transferring information using a physical similarity approach to regionalization. The results show that the simplified Schreiber’s model was found to consistently underestimates the monthly discharge, especially at low and moderate flow. The monthly water balance model SIXPAR based on the regionalization approach was found more capable of producing the monthly streamflow at the ungauged site under all flow conditions. This study’s finding agrees with other studies conducted in the same area using different modeling approaches.
Analyzing the Development Possibilities of the Mountain Area of Banat, Caras-Severin County
Authors: Peev-Otiman Paula-Diana , Mateoc-Sîrb Nicoleta
Published: May 2023

A county such as Caras-Severin in the mountain area of Banat, with extraordinary natural tourism potential, has a real chance for tourism development only under the conditions of a strong economy and an infrastructure that facilitates and supports tourism activity. In turn, tourism, as an economic activity generating jobs and new added value, must contribute, through feedback, to the general economic development of the county. This research offers a case study on the possibilities of tourism development of these areas by exploiting the available natural and anthropic potential. The economic and social development of such a county, including from a tourism point of view, is strictly linked to the general economic development and evolution of Romania, both in the national and international context. To position the contribution of tourism to the development of Caras-Severin County as correctly as possible, we briefly present the general economic situation, including tourism, of Romania, by comparing it with the neighboring and, at the same time, competing countries from a tourism point of view—Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia,—as well as with counties in Romania similar to Caras-Severin County. In terms of its general economic development level, Caras-Severin County is among the least developed counties in the country. In this situation, the development of specific forms of tourism is justified to contribute to the economic development of the area.
A Meta-Learning-Based Train Dynamic Modeling Method for Accurately Predicting Speed and Position
Authors: Cao Ying , Wang Xi , Zhu Li , Wang Hongwei , Wang Xiaoning
Published: May 2023

The train dynamics modeling problem is a challenging task due to the complex dynamic characteristics and complicated operating environment. The flexible formations, the heavy carriage load, and the nonlinear feature of air braking further increase the difficulty of modeling the dynamics of heavy haul trains. In this study, a novel data-driven train dynamics modeling method is designed by combining the attention mechanism (AM) with the gated recursive unit (GRU) neural network. The proposed learning network consists of the coding, decoding, attention, and context layers to capture the relationship between the train states with the control command, the line condition, and other influencing factors. To solve the data insufficiency problem for new types of heavy haul trains to be deployed, the model agnostic meta-learning (MAML) framework is adopted to achieve knowledge transferring from tasks supported by large amounts of field data to data-insufficient tasks. Effective knowledge transfer can enhance the efficiency of data resource utilization, reduce data requirements, and lower computational costs, demonstrating considerable potential in the application of sustainable development. The simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed MAML-based method in enhancing accuracy.
Monitoring Urban Happiness through Interactive Chorems
Authors: Battistoni Pietro , Romano Marco , Sebillo Monica , Vitiello Giuliana
Published: May 2023

The Sustainable Development Goals laid out in the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly Goal 11, which seeks to create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable cities and human settlements, call on researchers, businesses, and public administrations to address the mounting challenges of urban planning and to leverage them with a tool to enhance the well-being of citizens. This study demonstrates how chorematic maps can facilitate the comprehension of urban planning objectives and their relationship with the mental well-being of residents. To this end, a fresh set of chorems is proposed, which aims to depict the features and components of the urban environment that can affect happiness and, consequently, mental well-being. This research presents various examples of the application of the suggested chorems in an urban setting, which illustrates how they can be employed by experts and citizens alike and thereby can serve as a means to motivate administrators, technicians, and the public to engage with and live in their city with greater mindfulness and involvement.
Removal of Cs-137 from Liquid Alkaline High-Level Radwaste Simulated Solution by Sorbents of Various Classes
Authors: Milyutin Vitaly , Nekrasova Natalya , Kozlov Pavel , Slobodyuk Arseni , Markova Darya , Shaidullin Sergey , Feoktistov Kirill , Tokar Eduard , Tutov Mikhail , Egorin Andrei
Published: May 2023

The present work describes the results of the removal of cesium by sorbents of various classes from highly mineralized alkaline solutions simulating the clarified phase of storage tanks with high-level radioactive waste (HLW) of the Mayak Production Association. Within the scope of the performed works, inorganic sorbents of the Clevasol® and Fersal brands, as well as resorcinol-formaldehyde ion-exchange resins (RFRs: RFR-i, RFR-Ca, and Axionit RCs), were used. The sorbents’ characteristics under both static and dynamic conditions are presented. The Fersal sorbent has demonstrated the best sorption characteristics in the series of sorbents under study. The disadvantage of inorganic sorbents is the loss of mechanical strength upon cesium desorption, which complicates their repeated use. It has been demonstrated that RFRs, despite their lower selectivity towards cesium and adsorption capacity, can be used many times in repeated sorption-desorption cycles. The latter makes RFRs more technologically attractive in terms of the total volume of decontaminated HLW. However, RFRs tend to be oxidized during storage, which results in the formation of carboxyl groups and a decrease in sorption characteristics—this must be further taken into account in the real processes of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) management.
Decoding the Dilemma of Consumer Food Over-Ordering in Restaurants: An Augmented Theory of Planned Behavior Model Investigation
Authors: Zheng Fei , Zhao Chenguang , Ajina Ahmad S. , Poulova Petra
Published: May 2023

This study aims to investigate the phenomenon of over-ordering behavior in social dining as a significant contributor to food waste, utilizing an integrated conceptual model that combines the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the norm activation model (NAM) with the moderating role of Mianzi. A total of 583 responses collected through an online survey are analyzed using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that awareness of consequences and ascription of responsibility positively influence personal norm, while personal norm negatively affects consumers’ attitude towards over-ordering. Furthermore, attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control (PBC) are positively and significantly associated with over-ordering behavior. Notably, Mianzi moderates the relationship between personal norms and attitude. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing consumers’ over-ordering behavior and provide valuable insights for addressing food waste in social dining contexts. The study’s limitations are discussed, and future research directions are suggested to advance the field of food waste reduction.
Conceptualising Digital Transformation in Cities: A Multi-Dimensional Framework for the Analysis of Public Sector Innovation
Authors: Mariani Ilaria , Bianchi Irene
Published: May 2023

Digital transformation within local public administration is often conceived as the result of technological advancements, with scarce attention being paid to framing these processes within multi-level organisational settings. Against this background, this article introduces a framework for exploring the different dimensions of digital innovation in the public sector at the urban scale. It proposes conceptual categories that capture digital transformation drivers and mechanisms, encouraging reflections about their capacity to resonate in specific (urban) contexts. After examining frameworks seeking to deconstruct digital transformation in its multiple dimensions, the study proposes a conceptual model and validates it against the result of the literature review. By identifying conceptual categories and their interactions, the study seeks to support a more comprehensive understanding of transformation processes, specifically focusing on public service provision and delivery and their relationship with endogenous and exogenous innovation drivers. At the same time, the study aims to support local public authorities in gaining awareness of their transformative potential and helping them “steer” local digital transformation dynamics.
Utilization of FTIR and Machine Learning for Evaluating Gluten-Free Bread Contaminated with Wheat Flour
Authors: Adedeji Akinbode A. , Okeke Abuchi , Rady Ahmed M.
Published: May 2023

In this study, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy coupled with machine learning (ML) approaches were applied to detect and quantify wheat flour (WF) contamination in gluten-free cornbread. Samples of corn flour (CF) were contaminated with WF in the range of 0–10% with a 0.5% increment. The flour samples were baked into bread using basic bread formulation and ground into a fine particle size for homogeneity, and FTIR spectra of the ground samples were obtained and standardized before modeling. For constructing the classification model, majority voting-based ensemble learning (stack of k-nearest neighbor [KNN], random forest, and support vector classifier) was implemented to detect and quantify WF in the cornbread samples. KNN regressor was determined to be the best predictive model to quantify wheat contaminants based on the majority-vote ensemble. The optimal classification model for the test set showed an F1 score, true positive rate (TPR), and false negative rate (FNR) of 1.0, 1.0, and 0.0, respectively. For the quantification models, the coefficient of determination and root mean square error for the prediction set (R2P and RMSEP) were 0.99 and 0.34, respectively. These results show the feasibility of utilizing FTIR along with supervised learning algorithms for the rapid offline evaluation of wheat flour contamination in gluten-free products.
Analyzing the Role of Banks in Providing Green Finance for Retail Customers: The Case of Germany
Authors: Ringel Marc , Mjekic Saranda
Published: May 2023

Our study investigates the role of banks in mobilizing investments in the energy transition with German retail customers. Based on a screening of a representative sample of 329 banks and follow-up in-depth interviews with 12 sector experts, our study shows that there are hardly any sustainable finance products offered. This is due to high transaction costs, missing information about energy projects and missing financial products which allow the bundling of small deposits and de-risking. To develop market supply for this segment, sector experts call for increased transparency in clean energy projects. Standardized, comprehensive and comparable labels or certifications for financial products seem to be necessary to lower uncertainty barriers with retail customers. EU action such as the Taxonomy Regulation is seen as necessary, but not sufficient to meet this demand. The German case delivers insights for other countries in Europe and globally, as sustainability finance challenges all signatories of the Paris Climate Agreement.
A Study on How to Improve the Accountability of National Defense Financial Information for Government Sustainability
Authors: Lim Kyoungkook , Nam Giseok
Published: May 2023

Accrual-based accounting enables external users to make informed decisions by reporting an accounting entity’s management performance to them. It also helps managers accurately record resource usage and increase efficiency. Despite the Republic of Korea’s expectations for the introduction of accrual-based accounting in national accounting from 2011, aimed at achieving efficient resource management comparable to private companies, the results of the audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection indicate that the settlement of accruals in national accounting is still insufficient. This paper examines whether the financial reports compiled are suitable for competition in decentralized organizations. We present the status of accrual-based accounting in the Ministry of National Defense and analyze the actual cost index to control the efficient use of defense resources and financial information. For our analysis, we compared and analyzed the costs of two divisions and seven brigades in the Ministry of National Defense using cash-based budget spending and the actual cost index based on accrual basis, using data from the defense accounting system in 2015 and 2016. We found that the comparison result between the nominal cost and actual cost index was different. In particular, the actual cost index reflects the degree of control of the decision-maker who manages the resource. Our results show that evaluating the efficiency of resource management units in the Ministry of National Defense using the actual cost index can improve the Ministry’s accountability and achieve the purpose of introducing double-entry bookkeeping.
Sodium Hydroxide Hydrothermal Extraction of Lignin from Rice Straw Residue and Fermentation to Biomethane
Authors: Shah Tawaf Ali , Khalid Sabiha , Nafidi Hiba-Allah , Salamatullah Ahmad Mohammad , Bourhia Mohammed
Published: May 2023

The purpose of the NaOH pretreatment of rice straw with a recycling strategy was to enhance the economic efficiency of producing biomethane. Anaerobic digestion is used for converting rice straw into biogas. In this work, 5% NaOH and rice straw mixed samples were autoclaved at 121 °C for 20 min for lignin removal. The NaOH black liquor was separated using filtration for the subsequent treatment cycle. The NaOH liquor was utilized in one more subsequent recycling procedure to test its ability to remove lignin from the rice straw. The 5% NaOH treatment results in a reduction in rice straw (RC) lignin of 73.6%. The lignin content of the recycled NaOH-filtrated rice straw samples (RCF1) was reduced by 55.5%. The 5% NaOH-treated rice straw sample yields a total cumulative biogas of 1452.4 mL/gVS, whereas the recycled NaOH-filtered (RCF1) samples generate 1125.2 mL/gVS after 30 days of incubation. However, after 30 days of incubation, the untreated rice straw (RCC) bottle produced a total of 285.5 mL/gVS of biogas. The total increase in methane output after NaOH treatment is 6–8 times greater, and the biogas yield improves by 80–124%. We show here that the recycled NaOH black solution has still the effectiveness to be used for successive pretreatment cycles to remove lignin and generate methane. In the meantime, the NaOH black solution contains useful materials (lignin, sugars, potassium, and nitrogen) that could be purified for commercial purposes, and more importantly recycling the NaOH solution decrease the chances of environmental pollution. Thus, recycling NaOH decreased chemical consumption, which would provide net benefits instead of using fresh NaOH solution, had a lower water consumption, and provided the prospect of producing an optimum yield of methane in anaerobic digestion. This method will decrease the chemical treatment costs for biomass pretreatment prior to anaerobic digestion. Recycling of NaOH solution and the integration of pretreatment reactors could be a novel bioprocessing addition to the current technology.
Can New Urbanization Construction Improve Ecological Welfare Performance in the Yangtze River Economic Belt?
Authors: Bao Lingyan , Ding Xuhui , Zhang Jingxian , Ma Dingyi
Published: May 2023

New urbanization construction can effectively improve resource allocation efficiency and promote high-quality development, so there is practical significance to exploring the relationship between new urbanization construction and ecological welfare performance in order to achieve a win-win situation of ecological environmental protection and high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. This paper innovatively, from the perspective of input-output, constructs a framework for analyzing the ecological welfare performance, measures the ecological welfare performance of Yangtze River Economic Belt with SE-SBM model, and empirically analyzes the impact of new urbanization on ecological welfare performance using the fixed-effect model. The results showed that: (1). the ecological welfare performance of the Yangtze River Economic Belt showed a U-shaped trend of decreasing and then increasing as a whole. There were significant regional differences in the east, middle, and west of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, especially in the eastern region, a region that has shown an obvious growth trend. (2). Population and land urbanization had a significant negative inhibitory effect on improving ecological welfare performance. On the contrary, economic urbanization and social urbanization had significant positive effects on improving ecological welfare performance. (3). Adopting and implementing policies such as the National New Urbanization Plan (2021–2035) encouraged the co-development of new urbanization and ecological civilizations, promoting new urbanization construction and playing a beneficial role in transforming ecological welfare. So, the Yangtze River Economic Belt should promote a new type of urbanization going forward, promoting green transformation and the upgrading of industries, standardizing the utilization of land resources, improving the well-being of urban residents, and effectively governing urban environmental pollution.