bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Cross-Sectional Area Assessment of Pelvic Muscles Using the MRI Manual Segmentation among Patients with Low Back Pain and Healthy Subjects
Authors: Frącz Wiktoria , Matuska Jakub , Szyszka Jarosław , Dobrakowski Paweł , Szopka Wiktoria , Skorupska Elżbieta
Published: July 2023

The pain pathomechanism of chronic low back pain (LBP) is complex and the available diagnostic methods are insufficient. Patients present morphological changes in volume and cross-sectional area (CSA) of lumbosacral region. The main objective of this study was to assess if CSA measurements of pelvic muscle will indicate muscle atrophy between asymptomatic and symptomatic sides in chronic LBP patients, as well as between right and left sides in healthy volunteers. In addition, inter-rater reliability for CSA measurements was examined. The study involved 71 chronic LBP patients and 29 healthy volunteers. The CSA of gluteus maximus, medius, minimus and piriformis were measured using the MRI manual segmentation method. Muscle atrophy was confirmed in gluteus maximus, gluteus minimus and piriformis muscle for over 50% of chronic LBP patients (p < 0.05). Gluteus medius showed atrophy in patients with left side pain occurrence (p < 0.001). Muscle atrophy occurred on the symptomatic side for all inspected muscles, except gluteus maximus in rater one assessment. The reliability of CSA measurements between raters calculated using CCC and ICC presented great inter-rater reproducibility for each muscle both in patients and healthy volunteers (p < 0.95). Therefore, there is the possibility of using CSA assessment in the diagnosis of patients with symptoms of chronic LBP.
Exploring the Influence of Item Characteristics in a Spatial Reasoning Task
Authors: Shi Qingzhou , Wind Stefanie A. , Lakin Joni M.
Published: July 2023

Well-designed spatial assessments can incorporate multiple sources of complexity that reflect important aspects of spatial reasoning. When these aspects are systematically included in spatial reasoning items, researchers can use psychometric models to examine the impact of each aspect on item difficulty. These methods can then help the researchers to understand the nature and development of spatial reasoning and can also inform the development of new items to better reflect the construct. This study investigated sources of item difficulty for object assembly (OA), a format for the assessment of spatial reasoning, by specifying nine item characteristics that were predicted to contribute to item difficulty. We used data from two focal samples including high-ability students in grades 3 to 7 and undergraduate students who responded to 15 newly developed OA items. Results from the linear logistic test model (LLTM) indicated that eight of the nine identified item characteristics significantly contributed to item difficulty. This suggests that an LLTM approach is useful in examining the contributions of various aspects of spatial reasoning to item difficulty and informing item development for spatial reasoning assessments.
Design and Analysis of a Decoupling Buoyancy Wave Energy Converter
Authors: Torres-Blanco Pablo , Sánchez-Fernández José Ángel
Published: July 2023

This study presents a new wave energy converter that operates in two phases. During the first phase, wave energy is stored, raising a mass up to a design height. During the second phase, the mass goes down. When going down, it compresses air that moves a turbine that drives an electrical generator. Because of this decoupling, generators that move much faster than seawater can be used. This allows using “off-the-shelf” electrical generators. The performance of the proposed design was evaluated via simulations. As the device operates in two phases, a different simulation model was built for each phase. The mass-rising simulation model assumes regular waves. The simulation results suggest that energy harvesting is near the theoretical maximum. Mass falling is braked by air compression. Simulations of this system showed oscillatory behavior. These oscillations are lightly damped by the drag against the walls and air. These oscillations translate into generated power. Therefore, smoothing is needed to avoid perturbing the grid. A possible solution, in the case of farms comprising dozens of these devices, is to delay the generation among individual devices. In this manner, the combined generation can be significantly smoothed.
Multi-Objective Production and Scheduling Optimization of Offshore Wind Turbine Steel Pipe Piles Based on Improved Hesitant Fuzzy Method
Authors: Wang Weihan , Xiao Jinchao , Feng Dongying , Wei Sanxi , Wang Zhongze
Published: July 2023

This paper investigates the multi-objective optimization problem in the production of offshore wind turbine steel pipe piles (OWTSPP). Considering the particularity of the steel pipe pile production process, it is divided into a flexible flow shop scheduling (FFSS) stage and an open parallel shop scheduling (OPSS) stage, respectively. Mathematical models are established for each stage, and the critical path and production time information are obtained using a disjunctive graph model. Due to the inability of existing empirical scheduling methods to balance production goals, an improved Pythagorean hesitant fuzzy method (IPHFM) is proposed to solve the multi-objective optimization problem in steel pipe pile production. Specifically, the maximum completion time, machine total load, and total completion time are taken as optimization objectives. The improved Lagrange multiplier method with penalty terms is used to handle the constraints and objective functions, and a Lagrange objective function is generated. Then, the Lagrange objective function matrix is obtained by normalization and same-scale processing, and an algorithm is designed to obtain the Pareto front solution set. Finally, this paper compares the optimal scheduling plans under the empirical scheduling method and the improved method. The results show that the improved method can significantly improve production efficiency in both small-scale and large-scale production, with improvements of 15.7% and 22.16%, respectively.
A Deep Learning-Based Fault Warning Model for Exhaust Temperature Prediction and Fault Warning of Marine Diesel Engine
Authors: Ji Zhenguo , Gan Huibing , Liu Ben
Published: July 2023

Marine diesel engines are essential for safe navigation. By predicting the operating conditions of diesel engines, the performance of marine diesel engines can be improved, failures can be prevented to reduce maintenance costs, and emissions can be controlled to protect the environment. To this end, this paper proposes a hybrid neural network (HNN) prediction model (CNN-BiLSTM-Attention) based on deep learning (DL) for predicting the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of marine diesel engines. CNN is used to extract features from time-series data, BiLSTM is used to predict the time series through modeling, and Attention is used to improve the accuracy and robustness of fault prediction. Moreover, through comparison experiments with other neural network prediction models, it has been proven that the CNN-BiLSTM-Attention method is more accurate. This article also presents an approach to fault prediction by integrating the Mahalanobia distance and the mathematical model. Based on the Mahalanobia distance between the prediction result and the actual value, the function mapping method combined with the criterion is used to set the alarm value and threshold of the monitoring indicators, and the failure data set is used for experimental verification. The results indicate that the approach presented in this article can accurately realize the operating condition monitoring and fault early warning of marine diesel engines, which provides a new way of thinking for the research of fault early warning and health management of marine diesel engines.
Pronounced Seasonal and Spatial Variability in Determinants of Phytoplankton Biomass Dynamics along a Near–Offshore Gradient in the Southern North Sea
Authors: Otero Viviana , Pint Steven , Deneudt Klaas , De Rijcke Maarten , Mortelmans Jonas , Schepers Lennert , Martin-Cabrera Patricia , Sabbe Koen , Vyverman Wim , Vandegehuchte Michiel , Everaert Gert
Published: July 2023

Marine phytoplankton biomass dynamics are affected by eutrophication, ocean warming, and ocean acidification. These changing abiotic conditions may impact phytoplankton biomass and its spatiotemporal dynamics. In this study, we used a nutrient–phytoplankton–zooplankton (NPZ) model to quantify the relative importance of the bottom-up and top-down determinants of phytoplankton biomass dynamics in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS). Using four years (2014–2017) of monthly observations of nutrients, solar irradiance, sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a, and zooplankton biomass at ten locations, we disentangled the monthly, seasonal, and yearly variation in phytoplankton biomass dynamics. To quantify how the relative importance of determinants changed along a near–offshore gradient, the analysis was performed for three spatial regions, i.e., the nearshore region (<10 km to the coastline), the midshore region (10–30 km), and the offshore region (>30 km). We found that, from year 2014 to 2017, the phytoplankton biomass dynamics ranged from 1.4 to 23.1 mg Chla m−3. Phytoplankton biomass dynamics follow a general seasonal cycle, as is the case in other temperate regional seas, with a distinct spring bloom (5.3–23.1 mg Chla m−3) and a modest autumn bloom (2.9–5.4 mg Chla m−3). This classic bimodal bloom pattern was not observed between 2003 and 2010 in the BPNS. The seasonal pattern was most expressed in the nearshore region. The relative contribution of factors determining phytoplankton biomass dynamics varied spatially and temporally. Throughout a calendar year, solar irradiance and zooplankton grazing were the most influential determinants in all regions, i.e., they jointly explained 38–65% of the variation in the offshore region, 45–71% in the midshore region, and 56–77% in the nearshore region. In the near- and midshore regions, nutrients were the greatest limit on phytoplankton production in the month following the spring bloom (44–55%). Nutrients were a determinant throughout the year in the offshore region (27–62%). During winter, sea surface temperature was a determinant in all regions (15–17%). By the high-resolution spatiotemporal analysis of the relative contributions of different determinants, this study contributes to a better mechanistic understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of phytoplankton biomass in the southern North Sea. This detailed understanding is anticipated to contribute to the definition of targeted management strategies for the BPNS and to support sustainable development in Belgium’s blue economy.
Research on the Flexural Behavior of a Coastwise RS-OCT Beam That Has Endured Long-Term Fatigue Load for Years
Authors: Hou Dongxu , Hu Tieming , Zhang Guanhua , Jiang Feng , Wang Liujie
Published: July 2023

Retrofitted super-span old T-shaped concrete beams (RS-OCT beams) are commonly used in highway bridges in coastal cities and offshore zones in China. The realization of a practical ultimate state for this beam under a bending load is still lacking. In this study, a flexural experiment on an original RS-OCT beam subjected to a long-term vehicle cyclical load was conducted in a laboratory. Several interesting phenomena were discovered. Notably, a butt-weld joint typically exists on longitudinal reinforced bars, which may be vulnerable to bending. The RS-OCT beam simultaneously suffered from the double function of atmospheric environment and fatigue during service. Based on the time-dependent and fatigue theories of materials, finite element analysis was performed using the ABAQUS software. The flexural behavior of the RS-OCT beam at various time periods was simulated. Subsequently, the flexural bearing capacities of the beams were calculated. The safety reservation of the RS-OCT beam at various time stages was related to the change in material properties and upgrading of the loading level. The latter plays a dominant role in the service state.
Metal Accumulations in Two Extreme-Environment Amphipods, Hadal Eurythenes gryllus and Antarctic Pseudorchomene plebs
Authors: Huang Shaojun , Zhu Lingyue , Jiang Shouwen , Zhai Wanying , Pan Binbin , Wu Zhichao , Xu Qianghua
Published: July 2023

The hadal zone and Antarctic Ocean are two of the least-explored habitats. Knowledge about human impacts on these two extreme environments is limited. Here, we analyzed the metal accumulations of two amphipod species, Eurythenes gryllus, from the Mariana Trench (6040 m, 11.36° N, 142.41° E) in the West Pacific Ocean, and Pseudorchomene plebs, from the Ross Sea (600 m, 77.12° S, 167,67° E) in the Antarctic. Bioaccumulation of thirteen elements (Na, Mg, K, Ca, Cu, Fe, Al, Cr, Mn, Zn, As, Se, and Cd) in three tissues (exoskeleton, leg muscle, and gut) of the two amphipods was investigated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Comparing the trace element concentrations between the different amphipoda species, we found higher element concentrations in the Antarctic amphipod, and an oligotrophication of the Mariana Trench. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, and Se in the three tissues all had a significant difference in abundance, and the Cd in the gut of P. plebs was comparably higher than that in E. gryllus, consistent with special environment adaptation. Compared with non-abyssal and shallow water decapoda and amphipoda species, hadal amphipods possessed comparably higher concentrations of Cd and Cr elements and displayed a very high environmental specificity for amphipods’ metal-element bioaccumulation strategy. This study reveals the amphipods of remote and uncontaminated areas as potential indicator species for metal-element bioaccumulation to measure anthropogenic impacts.
Establishment and Application of Real-Time Fluorescence Quantitative PCR Detection Technology for Metschnikowia bicuspidata Disease in Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Xing Yuenan , Chen Ye , Feng Chengcheng , Bao Jie , Li Xiaodong , Jiang Hongbo
Published: July 2023

Metschnikowia bicuspidata causes a “milky disease” in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, which inflicts significant damage on the breeding industry, but there are no effective drugs for this disease. Precise detection technologies and clarification of transmission routes are now essential to prevent its occurrence. A real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qPCR) detection method targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIA (COX6A) of M. bicuspidata was developed and its sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, and application effectiveness evaluated. There was a robust linear relationship between the qPCR threshold cycle value (Ct) and copy number of the standard with a wide dynamic range. The standard curve had a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.996, amplification efficiency of 103.092%, and a lower limit of detection sensitivity of 7.6 × 101 copies/µL. The COX6A-qPCR method exhibited high specificity for the detection of M. bicuspidata, with no cross-reactivity. The intra- and inter-group variation coefficients were <1% and 2%, respectively. The qPCR exhibited superior sensitivity compared to existing detection methods, with a positivity rate of 76.67%. The M. bicuspidata content ranged from 1.0 × 101–2.7 × 106 copies/µL. The COX6A-qPCR detection technology exhibited high sensitivity, strong specificity, and excellent repeatability, enabling the accurate quantification of M. bicuspidata.
Ena Proteins Respond to PacC-Mediated pH Signaling Pathway and Play a Crucial Role in Patulin Biosynthesis
Authors: Zhuo Ruiling , Chen Yong , Xing Mengyang , Zhang Zhanquan , Tian Shiping , Li Boqiang
Published: July 2023

Penicillium expansum is a main producer of patulin that causes severe postharvest decay and food safety issues in the fruit industry. Development, pathogenicity, and patulin production of P. expansum are strongly influenced by the PacC-pH signaling pathway. Global transcription factor PacC regulates various fungal biological processes through a complicated molecular network. In the present study, three Ena family genes (PeEnas), PeEnaA, PeEnaB, and PeEnaC, as important downstream targets of PePacC, were identified in P. expansum. Deletion of PeEnaA, PeEnaB, and PeEnaC showed little effect on mycelial growth under alkaline or high salinity conditions, but double and triple deletion of these genes impaired the virulence of P. expansum on apple fruit. Notably, patulin biosynthesis of P. expansum was distinctly inhibited in the deletion mutants of PeEnas. PeEnas regulated expressions of the patulin gene cluster, AP1, CreA, Sge1, and Hog1 at the transcriptional level and played roles in maintaining membrane potential. Overexpression of PeEnaC in ΔPePacC restored the patulin production defect of ΔPePacC. Our results indicated that, as downstream targets of PePacC, the PeEna family proteins play a crucial role in patulin biosynthesis in P. expansum.
Molecular Real-Time PCR Monitoring of Onion Fusarium Basal Rot Chemical Control
Authors: Dimant Elhanan , Degani Ofir
Published: July 2023

Fusarium basal rot disease (FBR) is a destructive threat to onion crops around the globe. It causes seedlings’ death, development disruption, and pre- and post-harvest bulb infection and rotting, with a concern for toxin infestation. It is an emerging disease in Israel, with new reports from farms nationwide. Recently, we reported on a full-season pot experiment to protect two leading commercial cultivars against FBR chemically. Here, we present new real-time qPCR molecular tracking of the pathogens inside the host plant and compare the infection levels to a deep analysis of the impacts of this experiment’s treatments on plant growth and health indexes. The new findings reveal variations within each treatment’s effectiveness regarding sprout development and bulb ripening stages. For instance, in the yellow Orlando cv., high protection was obtained with Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazole (Az-Te) in sprouts against F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae and with Fludioxonil + Sedaxen in mature plants against Fusarium acutatum. Thus, combining these fungicides may protect plants throughout their lifecycle. Also, Prochloraz at low dose was highly efficient in the Orlando cv. Still, to shield red Noam cv. plants from both pathogens, increasing this fungicide concentration towards the season-ending should be preferred. The qPCR tracking showed that all chemical treatments tested could reduce infection from pathogens by 80–90%, even with compounds such as Az-Te that were less effective. This implies that the pesticide was effective but probably phytotoxic to the plants, and thus, lower dosages must be considered. The molecular-based analysis discloses the high infection ability of F. oxysporum f. sp. cepae compared to F. acutatum in both cultivars. It also indicates an antagonism between those species in the Orlando cv. and synergism in the Noam cv. The current work reveals weak and strong points in chemical FBR protection and offers new ways to improve its application. The qPCR-based method enables us to closely monitor the pathogenesis and efficacy of chemical-preventing treatments and optimize crop-protection protocols.
Russo-Ukrainian War and Trust or Mistrust in Information: A Snapshot of Individuals’ Perceptions in Greece
Authors: Skarpa Paraskevi El. , Simoglou Konstantinos B. , Garoufallou Emmanouel
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the Greek public’s perceptions of the reliability of information received about the Russo-Ukrainian war in the spring of 2022. The study was conducted through an online questionnaire survey consisting of closed-ended statements on a five-point Likert scale. Principal components analysis was performed on the collected data. The retained principal components (PCs) were subjected to non-hierarchical k-means cluster analysis to group respondents into clusters based on the similarity of perceived outcomes. A total of 840 responses were obtained. Twenty-eight original variables from the questionnaire were summarised into five PCs, explaining 63.0% of the total variance. The majority of respondents felt that the information they had received about the Russo-Ukrainian war was unreliable. Older, educated, professional people with exposure to fake news were sceptical about the reliability of information related to the war. Young adults who were active on social networks and had no detailed knowledge of the events considered information about the war to be reliable. The study found that the greater an individual’s ability to spot fake news, the lower their trust in social media and their information habits on social networks.
Biomarker-Based Assessment Model for Detecting Sepsis: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yoon Bo Ra , Seol Chang Hwan , Min In Kyung , Park Min Su , Park Ji Eun , Chung Kyung Soo
Published: July 2023

The concept of the quick sequential organ failure assessment (qSOFA) simplifies sepsis detection, and the next SOFA should be analyzed subsequently to diagnose sepsis. However, it does not include the concept of suspected infection. Thus, we simply developed a biomarker-based assessment model for detecting sepsis (BADS). We retrospectively reviewed the electronic health records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of a 2000-bed university tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. A total of 989 patients were enrolled, with 77.4% (n = 765) of them having sepsis. The patients were divided into a ratio of 8:2 and assigned to a training and a validation set. We used logistic regression analysis and the Hosmer–Lemeshow test to derive the BADS and assess the model. BADS was developed by analyzing the variables and then assigning weights to the selected variables: mean arterial pressure, shock index, lactate, and procalcitonin. The area under the curve was 0.754, 0.615, 0.763, and 0.668 for BADS, qSOFA, SOFA, and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II, respectively, showing that BADS is not inferior in sepsis prediction compared with SOFA. BADS could be a simple scoring method to detect sepsis in critically ill patients quickly at the bedside.
Comparison between Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology with Histopathology in the Diagnosis of Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Osseis Michael , Jammal Georges , Kazan Daniel , Noun Roger
Published: July 2023

Background: Accurate diagnosis of thyroid nodules is crucial for avoiding unnecessary surgeries and enabling timely treatment. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and ultrasound are commonly employed diagnostic techniques, but their reliability is debated. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC and ultrasounds using histopathology as the reference standard. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 344 patients who underwent thyroidectomy between January 2017 and May 2022. An ultrasound and FNAC were performed before surgery, and histopathological findings were compared. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), false positive rate, false negative rate, and overall accuracy for each diagnostic method. Results: Among the study population, 38.67% of thyroid tumors were malignant. Ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 68.18%, specificity of 76.55%, PPV of 64.74%, NPV of 79.20%, and overall accuracy of 73.31%. FNAC had a sensitivity of 89.31%, specificity of 48.44%, PPV of 78%, NPV of 68.89%, and accuracy of 75.89%. The correlation coefficient between ultrasound and FNAC was 0.512 (p < 0.0000001). Ultrasound correlated with histopathology with a coefficient of 0.408 (p < 0.0000001), while FNAC with histopathology had a coefficient of 0.304 (p < 0.00001). The correlation coefficient between these three diagnostic methods was 0.423 (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In the diagnosis of thyroid nodules, both FNAC and ultrasound demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy. Ultrasound showed a higher specificity, while FNAC exhibited a higher sensitivity. Combining these techniques may improve diagnostic accuracy. Further research and the development of more reliable diagnostic methods are warranted to optimize the management of thyroid nodules and avoid unnecessary surgeries.
Safety and Aesthetics of Autologous Dermis-Fat Graft after Parotidectomy: A Multidisciplinary Retrospective Study
Authors: Boschetti Ciro Emiliano , Vitagliano Rita , Cornacchini Nicola , Santagata Mario , Caliendo Valentina , Belfiore Maria Paola , Colella Giuseppe , Tartaro Gianpaolo , Cappabianca Salvatore
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: In surgical procedures for maxillofacial tumours, it is challenging to preserve functional and cosmetic properties in the affected patients. The use of fat grafting is considered as a valuable alternative to overcome postoperative aesthetic asymmetry problems. (2) Methods: In this study, we enrolled thirty patients with parotid gland tumours in which a partial or complete parotidectomy was performed with positioning in the parotid bed of autologous dermis-fat grafts. We evaluated the satisfaction rate of the patients and the objective efficacy in solving the deformity by comparing MRI data before and after surgery. (3) Results: Twenty-six patients showed a satisfying cosmetic result with proper facial symmetry between the affected side and the healthy one. Two patients presented mild postsurgical complications such as haematomas, and two patients reported temporary weakness of the facial nerve related to the parotidectomy. (4) Conclusions: Based on the imaging data obtained via MRI before and after surgery, we can assess that the employment of fat grafts in parotidectomy surgical procedures gives good cosmetic results and does not affect the post operative management and follow up of oncologic patients.
Personalized Medicine in Cancer Pain Management
Authors: Raad Mohammad , López William Omar Contreras , Sharafshah Alireza , Assefi Marjan , Lewandrowski Kai-Uwe
Published: July 2023

Background: Previous studies have documented pain as an important concern for quality of life (QoL) and one of the most challenging manifestations for cancer patients. Thus, cancer pain management (CPM) plays a key role in treating pain related to cancer. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate CPM, with an emphasis on personalized medicine, and introduce new pharmacogenomics-based procedures for detecting and treating cancer pain patients. Methods: This study systematically reviewed PubMed from 1990 to 2023 using keywords such as cancer, pain, and personalized medicine. A total of 597 publications were found, and after multiple filtering processes, 75 papers were included. In silico analyses were performed using the GeneCards, STRING-MODEL, miRTargetLink2, and PharmGKB databases. Results: The results reveal that recent reports have mainly focused on personalized medicine strategies for CPM, and pharmacogenomics-based data are rapidly being introduced. The literature review of the 75 highly relevant publications, combined with the bioinformatics results, identified a list of 57 evidence-based genes as the primary gene list for further personalized medicine approaches. The most frequently mentioned genes were CYP2D6, COMT, and OPRM1. Moreover, among the 127 variants identified through both the literature review and data mining in the PharmGKB database, 21 variants remain as potential candidates for whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis. Interestingly, hsa-miR-34a-5p and hsa-miR-146a-5p were suggested as putative circulating biomarkers for cancer pain prognosis and diagnosis. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study highlights personalized medicine as the most promising strategy in CPM, utilizing pharmacogenomics-based approaches to alleviate cancer pain.
Do Farmers Demand Innovative Financial Products? A Case Study in Cambodia
Authors: Wang Qingxia , Soksophors Yim , Phanna Khieng , Barlis Angelica , Mushtaq Shahbaz , Rodulfo Danny , Swaans Kees
Published: July 2023

This study examines Cambodian farmers’ demand for weather index insurance (WII), an innovative financial product, for managing climate change-related risks. Rice and cassava farmers in Battambang Province of Cambodia were interviewed to understand their preferences for WII. We applied a binary logistic model to quantify the factors that influence farmers’ WII demand. We discovered that farmers’ marital status and off-farm labor are crucial factors that impact the demand for WII. More importantly, we also investigated gender differences, considering the critical role of women in the agricultural sector and personality differences between men and women. Our findings indicated that for male respondents, being married and having an additional off-farm laborer increase the probability of demand for WII by 72.6% and 36.8%, respectively. For female respondents, the education level is the most significant factor in making purchase decisions. An additional year of education increases the probability of WII demand by 5.0%. Generally, our results are consistent with some prior studies but inconsistent with others. This suggests that further research is necessary to understand the barriers associated with WII schemes and how to overcome them. Regardless, our study provides valuable insights for various stakeholders in implementing WII schemes, including financial professionals, insurance companies, communities, and governments, for designing more flexible WII products, improving farmers’ financial literacy, and providing effective post-event support to enhance farmers’ resilience to climate change.
Toward Sustainable Development Trajectories? Estimating Urban Footprints from High-Resolution Copernicus Layers in Athens, Greece
Authors: D’Agata Alessia , Ponza Daniele , Stroiu Florin Adrian , Vardopoulos Ioannis , Rontos Kostas , Escrivà Francisco , Chelli Francesco , Alaimo Leonardo Salvatore , Salvati Luca , Nickyain Samaneh Sadat
Published: July 2023

Land imperviousness reflects settlement growth and urban sprawl. Grounded on a comparative approach, a set of multidimensional statistical techniques were adopted here to quantify the evolution of land imperviousness from Copernicus High-Resolution Layers (HRLs) in a representative case study of Southern Europe (Athens, Greece). A two-way data matrix reporting the percent share of the surface land exposed to different sealing levels (101 classes ranging continuously from 0% to 100%) in the total municipal area was computed for two years (2006 and 2018) individually for 115 municipalities in metropolitan Athens. This matrix represented the information base needed to derive place-specific urban footprints and a comprehensive (global) profile of land imperviousness. Results of a Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) delineated a metropolitan structure still organized along the density gradient, moving from dense settlements in central locations with dominant land classes sealed for more than 90% of their surface area to completely pervious land (0%) typical of rural locations. While the density gradient became less steep between 2006 and 2018, it continued to aliment a socioeconomic polarization in urban and rural districts with distinctive profiles of land imperviousness. Intermediate locations had more mixed imperviousness profiles as a result of urban sprawl. Differential profiles reflect place-specific urban footprints with distinctive land take rates.
Why Consider Geomorphology in River Rehabilitation?
Authors: Piégay Hervé , Arnaud Fanny , Belletti Barbara , Cassel Mathieu , Marteau Baptiste , Riquier Jérémie , Rousson Christophe , Vazquez-Tarrio Daniel
Published: July 2023

River rehabilitation and ecological engineering are becoming critical issues for improving river status when ecological habitats and connectivity have been altered by human pressures. Amongst the range of existing rehabilitation options, some specifically focus on rebuilding fluvial forms and improving physical processes. The aim of this contribution is to illustrate how geomorphological expertise and process-based thinking contribute to river rehabilitation success. This semantic contribution is intended to feed the rehabilitation debate, particularly concerning the design of actions and the proposed references for monitoring target reaches and evaluating rehabilitation effects empirically. This article is also based on lessons learned from practical cases, mainly in gravel-bed rivers. Geomorphic understanding is needed at a local level to achieve an adequate diagnosis of river functioning, estimate human impacts and potential remnant river responsiveness, and to assess the gains and risks from rehabilitation, as well as to appraise success or failure through several pre- and post-project assessment strategies. Geomorphological studies can also be upscaled in a top-down manner (from high-order controls to small-scale processes, understanding detailed processes in their regional or basin-wide context), providing large-scale information at the regional, national, or even global level, information that can be used to diagnose the health of riverscapes in relation to local site-specific contexts. As such, geomorphological studies support strategic planning and prioritization of rehabilitation works according to specific contexts and river responsiveness, so as to move from opportunistic to objective-driven strategies.
The Impact of Intergenerational Inheritance on the Scale of Farmland Management in the Context of Aging: Evidence from Eastern China
Authors: Ji Dengyan , Shi Xiaoping , Luo Xiaojuan , Ma Xianlei
Published: July 2023

The dilemma of aging and lack of successors must be understood to improve the scale efficiency and competitiveness of China’s agriculture. This paper uses a survey of 1347 farmers in Liaoning, Jiangsu, and Jiangxi and applies tobit and probit models to explore the impact of intergenerational inheritance on farmland management in terms of the current scale and willingness for expansion. The results show that (1) an increased probability of intergenerational inheritance in agriculture can significantly increase the scale of farmland operations, with a greater effect on the current scale than on the willingness to expand; (2) the scale upgrading effect of agricultural intergenerational inheritance is greater in regions with frequent nonagricultural activities and in families with middle or low-scale farmland operations; and (3) the promotion effect on the current scale is greater for elderly farmers 60 years old or above than for farmers who are 40–59 years old, while the promotion effect on the willingness for expansion exists only for the latter. Therefore, policies should attract young, skilled laborers to return to their hometowns for agricultural employment and entrepreneurship and support farmland transfer and scale operation in regions with frequent nonagricultural activities or a lower scale of agricultural operations.
Spatial Vertical Equity in Public General Hospitals: Towards a Sustainable Healthcare System
Authors: Yu Peiheng , Jian Izzy Yi , Yung Esther H. K. , Chan Edwin H. W. , Wong Man Sing , Chen Yiyun
Published: July 2023

The accessibility of public general hospitals is essential for the well-being of urban residents and for more equitable urban planning. However, public general hospitals and the associated spatial vertical equity are still not well known in developing countries. The objective of our study is to propose a theoretical framework to investigate the accessibility of public general hospitals and spatial vertical equity based on demographic dimensions. The main urban area of Wuhan is a suitable and representative example to explore this issue. An enhanced Gaussian two-step floating catchment area method, the Lorenz curve, and the Gini coefficient are employed in this study. The results indicate significant spatial heterogeneity in the accessibility of public general hospitals due to the dramatic transformation of urban planning and heterogeneous spatial structure. From a spatial vertical equity perspective, the spatial distribution of most public general hospitals does not take into account communities with a high proportion of minors and seniors. Compared with seniors, minors face more serious inequities in access to healthcare. The spatial distribution of only a few public general hospitals is prospective and inclined. Evidence-based policy implications are portrayed as a more equitable urban form and a sustainable healthcare system.
Measuring Agro-Biodiversity through Leverage Factors: Land Use, Farmer Practices and Public Policies
Authors: Henke Roberto , Vaquero-Piñeiro Cristina
Published: July 2023

Understanding the socio-economic channels through which farmers affect agro-biodiversity (ABD) represents a relevant research area, especially in the light of the new sustainable development paradigm. Supporting ABD is one of the main goals of the EU Green Deal and the agricultural sector is being called on for a higher commitment. Nowadays, ABD interventions are linked not only to the genetic and natural resources of species, but also to farming practices, land management, living standards in rural areas and all the policy interventions supporting them. However, the existing literature is still mainly focused on the environmental and agronomic perspectives. This paper aims to assess the extent to which different socio-economic and policy factors affect the performance of farmers in supporting ABD at the territorial level. Starting from the FADN data and focusing on Italy, we built a new regional comprehensive indicator that accounts for three levers through which farmers mostly interact and can influence ABD: land use strategies, agriculture practices and management decisions, and Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funds. Results reveal a heterogeneous spectrum of indicator scores at the regional level. Land use strategies have a significant relevance for the North-East regions and the Islands (Sicily and Sardinia), whereas agricultural practices emerge as the primary influential factors in the Centre and South. Policy funds dominate in the North-West, reflecting the greater expenditure capacity of the northern regions. These findings have important policy implications for the future of the CAP and the biodiversity EU strategy.
The Eco-Cathedric City: Rethinking the Human–Nature Relation in Urbanism
Authors: Roggema Rob
Published: July 2023

Current planning of urban landscapes is dominated by a human-centric view. This leads to short-term orientation, predictable planning outcomes, and decisions being taken by a small group of humans. Alternatively, a symbiotic human–nature relationship could be a prelude to a balanced future in which sustaining all living organisms prevails. In this article, a novel approach to designing such an urban landscape is presented: the Eco-cathedric City. In this proposition, the design process thrives on high complexity, deep uncertainty, contingent nature–human relations, slow urbanism, and imaginability. It is concluded that three mechanisms should be core to this approach: (eco-)cathedral thinking, considering the impact of current decisions on seven future generations; (eco-)acupuncturist design, which plans for the process by igniting a single small intervention; and (eco-)cracy, in which a variety of actors, human and non-human organisms, co-decide. In a practical sense, the Eco-cathedric City finds its foundation in understanding local ecosystems and using this knowledge to design a self-organizing ecosystem in which regenerative resource management is prioritized, after which social constructs are formed to support this design and to fit human uses within the boundaries of this framework to conclude with an evolving belief system in which reciprocity and symbiocity are the core values.
Enhancing Wind Erosion Assessment of Metal Structures on Dry and Degraded Lands through Machine Learning
Authors: Terrados-Cristos Marta , Ortega-Fernández Francisco , Díaz-Piloñeta Marina , Montequín Vicente Rodríguez , Cabal José Valeriano Álvarez
Published: July 2023

With the increasing construction activities in dry or degraded lands affected by wind-driven particle action, the deterioration of metal structures in such environments becomes a pressing concern. In the design and maintenance of outdoor metal structures, the emphasis has mainly been on preventing corrosion, while giving less consideration to abrasion. However, the importance of abrasion, which is closely linked to the terrain, should not be underestimated. It holds significance in two key aspects: supporting the attainment of sustainable development goals and assisting in soil planning. This study aims to address this issue by developing a predictive model that assesses potential material loss in these terrains, utilizing a combination of the literature case studies and experimental data. The methodology involves a comprehensive literature analysis, data collection from direct impact tests, and the implementation of a machine learning algorithm using multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) as the predictive model. The experimental data are then validated and cross-verified, resulting in an accuracy rate of 98% with a relative error below 15%. This achievement serves two primary objectives: providing valuable insights for anticipating material loss in new structure designs based on prospective soil conditions and enabling effective maintenance of existing structures, ultimately promoting resilience and sustainability.
Understanding the Role(s) of Social Networks in the Transition from Farmers’ Willingness to Behavior Regarding Withdrawal from Rural Homesteads: A Research Study Based on Typical Regions of Sichuan Province
Authors: He Yutong , Tang Peng
Published: July 2023

Promoting withdrawal from rural homesteads (WRH) is a significant way of enhancing the efficient use of homesteads, improving the living standards of farmers, and promoting new urbanization. Social networks provide farmers with necessary resources and play an important role in the practices of WRH. Based on a literature review, this paper divides farmers’ social networks into the emotional social network, the economic social network, and the political social network and analyzes the impacts of social networks on farmers’ willingness and behavior regarding WRH using the binary logistic regression model, based on the data of 299 peasant households in Sichuan Province. The following finds are established: (1) the economic social network significantly and negatively affects farmers’ willingness and behavior regarding WRH, while the political social network has a positive impact on farmers’ willingness and behavior regarding WRH; (2) the emotional social network significantly and positively affects farmers’ willingness regarding WRH, but it does not have a significant effect on farmers’ behavior regarding WRH; and (3) the economic social network and political social network exhibit opposite influences on the transition from farmers’ willingness to behavior regarding WRH. We conclude that social networks play a vital role in affecting farmers’ willingness and behavior regarding WRH. The research suggests that expanding the scope of farmers’ interactions and social networks can be helpful in implementing WRH. The employment training system and social security system should also be improved.
Indirect Prediction of Salt Affected Soil Indicator Properties through Habitat Types of a Natural Saline Grassland Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Imagery
Authors: Pásztor László , Takács Katalin , Mészáros János , Szatmári Gábor , Árvai Mátyás , Tóth Tibor , Barna Gyöngyi , Koós Sándor , Kovács Zsófia Adrienn , László Péter , Balog Kitti
Published: July 2023

Salt meadows, protected within National Parks, cannot be directly surveyed, yet understanding their soil condition is crucial. Our study indirectly estimates soil parameters (Total Salt Content (TSC), Na, and pH) related to salinization/sodification/alkalinization using spectral indices and UAV survey-derived elevation model, focusing on continental lowland salt meadows. A vegetation map was created using 16 spectral indices and a Digital Elevation Model calculated from RGB orthophotos using photogrammetry. Field observations helped define habitat types based on the General National Habitat Classification System (Hungary), and quadrats with complete coverage of specific plant species were identified. Machine learning was employed on 84 training quadrats to develop a prediction algorithm for vegetation patterns. Five saline habitat types, representing variations in soil properties and topography, were identified. Spectral and topomorphometric indices derived from UAV were key to the spatial prediction of soil properties, employing random forest and co-kriging methods. TSC, Na, and pH data served as indicators of salt-affected soils (SAS), and thematic maps were generated for each indicator (57 samples). Overlapping with the vegetation map, the probability range of estimated SAS indicator values was determined. Consequently, a model-based estimation of soil pH, TSC, and Na conditions is provided for habitat types without disturbing protected areas.
Rotational Grazing Strategies Minimally Impact Soil Microbial Communities and Carbon Dynamics—A Texas Case Study
Authors: Moore Jennifer M. , Manter Daniel K. , Maczko Kristie A.
Published: July 2023

The goal of our study was to evaluate the long-term (>12 years) influence of stocking density and herd rotation frequency on plant and soil microbial community and carbon dynamics in three working ranches in Texas. One ranch utilized a high stocking density and high-frequency (HIGH) rotation where cattle were moved multiple times each day; the second ranch used a medium stocking density and rotation frequency (MED) where herds were moved every 2–3 weeks; and the third ranch used a low stocking density with continuous grazing (LOW). Neither plant nor microbial diversity measures differed between the ranches, but plant functional and microbial community compositions differentiated management strategies. The MED ranch was characterized by a plant community dominated by little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and had the greatest soil organic matter content (2.8%) and soil respiration rates compared to the LOW (SOM = 2.2%) and HIGH (SOM = 2.1%) ranches. The HIGH ranch had a relatively high abundance and diversity of forbs and introduced grasses, and the LOW ranch had an even mixture of tall, introduced, and cool-season grasses. All three ranches had relatively high levels of Gram-positive bacteria (>70%) with MED having a higher relative abundance of bacteria important for carbon cycling. Furthermore, network analyses suggest that soil microbial communities at all ranches were highly synergistic and exhibited well-defined ecological niches. Differences in soil properties between ranches tended to be minor and suggest that grazing strategies can differ without any substantial shifts in soil and microbial function.