bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions for Long Diffuse Coronary Artery Disease with Extremely Small Diameter
Authors: Ho Chien-Te , Hsiao Fu-Chih , Tung Ying-Chang , Cordero Sharon T. , del Castillo Dominador V. , Lee Hsin-Fu , Chou Shing-Hsien , Lin Chia-Pin , Yen Kun-Chi , Hsu Lung-An , Chang Chi-Jen
Published: February 2023

Background. The optimal percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) strategy and clinical outcomes of long lesions with an extremely small residual lumen remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a modified stenting strategy for diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) with an extremely small distal residual lumen. Methods. 736 Patients who received PCI using second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) ≥38 mm long were retrospectively included and categorized into an extremely small distal vessel (ESDV) group (≤2.0 mm) and a non-ESDV group (>2.0 mm) according to the maximal luminal diameter of the distal vessel (dsDMax). A modified stenting technique was applied by landing an oversized DES in the distal segment with the largest luminal diameter and maintaining the distal stent edge partially expanded. Results. The mean dsDMax and stent lengths were 1.7 ± 0.3 mm and 62.6 ± 18.1 mm in the ESDV group and 2.7 ± 0.5 mm and 59.1 ± 16.0 mm in non-ESDV groups, respectively. The acute procedural success rate was high in both the ESDV and non-ESDV groups (95.8% and 96.5%, p = 0.70) with rare distal dissection (0.3% and 0.5%, p = 1.00). The target vessel failure (TVF) rate was 16.3% in the ESDV group and 12.1% in the non-ESDV group at a median follow-up of 65 months without significant differences after propensity score matching. Conclusions. PCI using contemporary DES with this modified stenting technique is effective and safe for diffuse CAD with extremely small distal vessels.
Potential of Homomorphic Encryption for Cloud Computing Use Cases in Manufacturing
Authors: Kiesel Raphael , Lakatsch Marvin , Mann Alexander , Lossie Karl , Sohnius Felix , Schmitt Robert H.
Published: February 2023

Homomorphic encryption enables secure cloud computing over the complete data lifecycle. As so-called in-use encryption methodology, it allows using encrypted data for, e.g., data analysis—in contrast to classic encryption methods. In-use encryption enables new ways of value creation and an extensive use of cloud computing for manufacturing companies. However, homomorphic encryption is not widely implemented in practice yet. This is mainly since homomorphic encryption has higher computation times and is limited regarding its calculation operations. Nevertheless, for some use cases, the security requirements are a lot stricter than, e.g., timeliness requirements. Thus, homomorphic encryption might be beneficial. This paper, therefore, analyzes the potential of homomorphic encryption for cloud computing in manufacturing. First, the potential and limitations for both classic and homomorphic encryption are presented on the basis of a literature review. Second, to validate the limitations, simulations are executed, comparing the computation time and data transfer of classic and homomorphic encryption. The results show that homomorphic encryption is a tradeoff of security, time, and cost, which highly depends on the use case. Therefore, third, manufacturing use cases are identified; the two use cases of predictive maintenance and contract manufacturing are presented in detail, demonstrating how homomorphic encryption can be beneficial.
Comparative Analysis of ANN-MLP, ANFIS-ACOR and MLR Modeling Approaches for Estimation of Bending Strength of Glulam
Authors: Nazerian Morteza , Akbarzadeh Masood , Papadopoulos Antonios N.
Published: February 2023

Multiple linear regression (MLR), adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system–ant colony optimization algorithm hybrid (ANFIS-ACOR) and artificial neural network–multilayer perceptron (ANN-MLP) were tested to model the bending strength of Glulam (glue-laminated timber) manufactured with a plane tree (Platanus orientalis L.) wood layer adhered with different weight ratios (WR) of modified starch/urea formaldehyde (UF) adhesive containing different levels of nano-ZnO (NC) used at different levels of the press temperature (Tem) and time (Tim). According to X-ray diffraction (XRD) and stress–strain curves, some changes in the behavior of the product were seen. After selecting the best model through determining statistics such as the determination coefficient (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and sum of squares error (SSE), the production process was optimized to obtain the highest modulus of rupture (MOR) using the Genetic Algorithm (GA) combined with MLP. It was determined that the MLP had the best accuracy in estimating the response. According to the MLP-GA hybrid, the optimum input values for obtaining the best response include: WR—49.1%, NC—3.385%, Tem—199.4 °C and Tim—19.974 min.
Influence of Variatropy on the Evaluation of Strength Properties and Structure Formation of Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Authors: Beskopylny Alexey N. , Shcherban Evgenii M. , Stel’makh Sergey A. , Mailyan Levon R. , Meskhi Besarion , Chernil’nik Andrei , El’shaeva Diana
Published: February 2023

The resistance of concrete structures to the impact of cyclic freezing and thawing is one of the key long-term characteristics, which further determines the operation and its service life. To date, the resistance to alternating freeze-thawing cycles under various operating conditions of concrete structures has been little studied related to several manufacturing processes: simple vibrated, variotropic centrifuged, and improved variotropic vibrocentrifuged. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of heavy concrete manufacturing technology on the resistance of concrete to alternate freezing and thawing in an aggressive environment of 5% sodium chloride solution, as well as to study the trend in strength characteristics and weight loss of vibrated, centrifuged and vibrocentrifuged concretes after a series of freezing and thawing cycles. Standardized techniques for assessing the characteristics of concrete and scanning electron microscopy were used. Vibrated, centrifuged, and vibrocentrifuged concretes made from the same raw materials have differences in weight loss of 4.5%, 3%, and 2%, respectively, and in strength of 15.0%, 13.5%, and 10%, respectively, when tested for frost resistance in similar environments after 15 cycles by the accelerated method. Centrifuged and especially vibrocentrifuged variotropic concrete have greater resistance and endurance to cycles of alternate freezing and thawing compared to vibrated.
The Effect of Ca, Sr, and Ba Chloride Complexes with Dibenzo-18-Crown-6 Ether as Catalysts on the Process Criteria for the Efficiency of Cumene Oxidation (the First Stage in the Chain of Polymer Composite Production)
Authors: Ulitin Nikolai V. , Novikov Nikolay A. , Lyulinskaya Yana L. , Shiyan Daria A. , Tereshchenko Konstantin A. , Nurullina Natalia M. , Denisova Marina N. , Mezhuev Yaroslav O. , Kharlampidi Kharlampii E.
Published: February 2023

A study was made on the effect of Ca, Sr, and Ba chloride complexes with dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether as catalysts on the process criteria of the efficiency of industrial cumene oxidation using kinetic modeling. It is the first stage in the process chain of polymer composite production. The kinetic scheme of the process is made of classical reactions of the radical chain mechanism (reactions of initiation, chain propagation, and chain termination), molecular reactions, reactions of formation of intermediate adducts “component of the reaction mixture—catalyst” and their decomposition, as well as reactions that take into account the specifics of the catalyst used: (1) formation of planar catalyst complexes with various substances; (2) formation of acetophenone along the catalytic path; (3) hydration of the intermediate adduct “α-methylstyrene—catalyst” to the required alcohol. It is shown that the kinetic model fully reproduces the experimental time dependencies of the cumene hydroperoxide concentration in the cumene oxidation and cumene hydroperoxide decomposition. Using the kinetic model, computational experiments were carried out, as a result of which the following conclusions were made: (1) among the considered catalysts, the complex of Sr chloride with dibenzo-18-crown-6 ether should be recognized as the best, provided that it is used at temperatures of 393–413 K and an initial concentration < 2 mmol/L; (2) to ensure selectivity comparable to the selectivity of a non-catalytic process, it is necessary to conduct the catalytic process at a lowest possible initial concentration of any of the considered catalysts.
Annual Dynamics of Bird Community at a Coastal Wetland and Their Relation to Habitat Types: The Example of Beidagang Wetland, Northern China
Authors: He Mengxuan , Dai Ziling , Mo Xunqiang , Zhang Zhengwang , Liu Jin , Lei Weipan , Meng Weiqing , Hu Beibei , Xu Wenbin
Published: February 2023

In order to provide more scientific guidance for wetland bird protection, this study addressed the dynamics of the bird community sorted by ecotypes, classifications and threat categories from 2015 to 2019, and non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis, generalized additive models and the Mantel test were used to examine the relationships between bird communities and habitat types. The results showed that: (1) The abundance of birds peaked in 2017 at 88,258 individuals and then declined. Moreover, there was an inverse trend between species richness and abundance of birds, meaning greater abundance is associated with fewer species. (2) Swimming birds were dominant ecotypes and Anseriformes possessed the highest abundance. It was noteworthy that the abundance of critically endangered birds (Aythya baeri and Grus leucogeranus) and the species richness of endangered birds increased. (3) Building land and farmland had dominant impacts on the composition of bird community. Wading birds and birds in Gruiformes were significantly impacted by building land and farmland, and near threatened species were substantially influenced by farmland. Therefore, maintaining good connectivity between protected areas and surrounding areas is one of the best ways to effectively manage biodiversity of the target area. This research may provide a broader insight for coastal wetland bird habitat management and bird diversity preservation.
Optimization on Hydrodynamic Performance for First Level Energy-Capturing Enhancement of a Floating Wave Energy Converter System with Flapping-Panel-Slope
Authors: Song Tianyu , Li Ze , Zheng Honghao , Liang Chujin , Wan Zhanhong
Published: February 2023

Based on the wave reflection principle, a floating flapping-panel wave energy converter was developed. The feasibility study and optimization study of the new WEC was carried out by laboratory research and computational fluid dynamics techniques. A numerical model was developed for an in-depth study to establish the relationship between slope tilt angle and power. The results for different wave periods show that the power take-off damping coefficient has a significant effect on the power. Meanwhile, the effects of flap length and wave height on converter resonance and power are investigated. Finally, a preliminary laboratory physical model test of the device is conducted. The flapping-panel-slope structure is very feasible and effective with good hydrodynamic performance.
Sediment Erosion Generated by a Coandă-Effect-Based Polymetallic-Nodule Collector
Authors: Alhaddad Said , Helmons Rudy
Published: February 2023

To date, hydraulic collection is the most widely considered technology in polymetallic-nodule mining, since there is no direct contact between hydraulic collectors and ocean floor. To construct a hydraulic collector that results in the least sediment disturbance, it is critical to develop an insightful understanding of the interaction between the collector and sediment bed. To this end, we conducted a set of small-scale experiments in which several operational conditions were tested, delivering the first quantitative data for sediment erosion resulting from a hydraulic collector driving over a sand bed. This paper presents and discusses the experimental results and observations. It is found that the collector’s forward velocity is inversely proportional to the bed-sediment erosion depth, since the bed is exposed to the flow for a longer time when the collector drives slower and vice versa. In contrast, an increased jet velocity leads to a larger erosion depth. Furthermore, when the collector underside is nearer to the sediment bed, a larger sediment layer is exposed to the water flow, resulting in a larger erosion depth. Finally, the experimental results show that collector water jets strike the sediment bed under an inclined angle, destabilizing the upper sediment layer and consequently dragging sediment particles along toward the collection duct and behind the collector head. This study improves the predictability of sediment erosion created by Coandă-effect-based collectors, which is a crucial asset to optimize the collector design and decrease the extent of the associated sediment plumes.
First Steps towards the Automated Detection of Underwater Vocalisations of Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Blasket Islands, Southwest Ireland
Authors: Pérez Tadeo María , Gammell Martin , O'Brien Joanne
Published: February 2023

Underwater vocalisations of grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) were recorded by static acoustic monitoring (SM2M, Wildlife Acoustics) in the vicinity of a colony located at White Strand beach on Great Blasket Island, southwest Ireland during the pre-breeding and breeding seasons. Grey seal vocalisations were first classified across nine different categories based on aural and visual characteristics of the spectrograms, providing an acoustic repertoire for grey seals. This classification was further investigated by applying a classification tree analysis, resulting in five of the initial nine groups being selected. Furthermore, a comparison of two common approaches for the detection and extraction of vocalisations from acoustic files was done using the software Raven Pro and PAMGuard. The outputs of this study will present an essential first step towards the development of a protocol for underwater acoustic monitoring of grey seals in Irish waters and elsewhere.
Analysis of the Relationship between Selected Ship and Propulsion System Characteristics and the Risk of Main Engine Turbocharger Explosion
Authors: Chybowski Leszek , Jakubowski Andrzej , Żółkiewski Sławomir
Published: February 2023

The scientific aim of this paper is to analyse the topicality of the turbocharger explosions and to attempt to answer the question of whether some technical characteristics of the engine can be perceived as directly connected with the risk of the turbocharger explosion. Moreover, our objective was also to calculate the turbocharger explosion probability. This article presents the results of a quantitative and qualitative analysis of 42 explosions of marine main engine turbochargers occurring between 1977 and 2022. The number of explosions was analysed, and the average and instantaneous frequencies of turbocharger explosions each year were determined. An analysis was performed of the number of explosions with respect to the age and type of ship on which the accident occurred. An analysis of the contribution of different types of main engine to the studied population of explosions was also carried out. Criteria such as the number of strokes, engine speed, type of crank-piston mechanism, cylinder arrangement, engine power per cylinder, and number of cylinders were considered. An analysis was carried out of the disasters that had occurred, considering the contribution of the various engine manufacturers. An integrated distribution of the number of turbocharger explosions by year was presented, considering the engine speed, the maximum continuous rating of the engine, and the engine design. The analysis did not indicate a significant correlation between the type of ship and the number of explosions that occurred. More than half of the analysed population of explosions (median) occurred on vessels no older than 15 years. It is highly likely that engine type does not directly affect the number of turbocharger explosions and the risk of explosions. On the other hand, it is not possible to exclude the influence of the individual characteristics of an engine built to a particular manufacturer’s design on the magnitude of the risk of a turbocharger exploding during engine operation. Considering the number of ships worldwide, the probability of an explosion in a given year on a given ship is not less than 1.61 × 10−7.
High-Resolution Model of Clew Bay—Model Set-Up and Validation Results
Authors: Nagy Hazem , Mamoutos Ioannis , Nolan Glenn , Wilkes Robert , Dabrowski Tomasz
Published: February 2023

Clew Bay is an important aquaculture production area in Ireland. In this study, we focused on a high-resolution simulation of the Clew Bay region based on a regional ocean modeling system (ROMS). Freshwater discharges from eight rivers are included in the model and a wetting–drying scheme has been implemented. The Clew Bay model simulation was validated and calibrated with available observations (e.g., acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), vertical salinity and temperature profiles, and a tide gauge) in the geographic area of the model domain. High correlations were found between the model data and observed temperature, salinity and water levels, along with small root mean square errors. This indicates that the model is able to reproduce the oceanographic phenomena in the study area. The Taylor diagram analysis showed a high correlation coefficient (R = 0.99) between the observed bottom temperature in the Inner Bay and Clew Bay model, along with a small centered root mean square error (RMSD = 0.5 °C). High correlation coefficients (R > 0.80) were found between the model and the two ADCPs for the zonal current component. There was a resemblance in structure between the model and the observed salinity profiles, indicating that freshwater was correctly implemented in the model. Moreover, the correlation coefficient between the model and the tidal sea surface height (SSH) was 0.99, with an RMSD of 0.09 m. We discovered that wind direction and speed had a significant impact on the bay’s water inflow rate. The model outputs can be used to provide scientists, fishermen, and decision-makers with hydrodynamic information on ocean conditions in the bay.
Four New Species of Russula Subsection Sardoninae from China
Authors: Li Guo-Jie , Liu Tie-Zhi , Li Shou-Mian , Zhao Shi-Yi , Niu Cai-Yun , Liu Zhen-Zhen , Xie Xue-Jiao , Zhang Xu , Shi Lu-Yao , Guo Yao-Bin , Wang Ke , Cao Bin , Zhao Rui-Lin , Li Ming , Deng Chun-Ying , Wei Tie-Zheng
Published: February 2023

Four new species of Russula subsection Sardoninae from northern and southwestern China under coniferous and deciduous trees are proposed as R. begonia, R. photinia, R. rhodochroa, and R. rufa. Illustrations and descriptions of R. gracillima, R. leucomarginata, R. roseola, and the above four new species are provided based on evidence of morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), as well as the multi-locus of mtSSU, nLSU, rpb1, rpb2 and tef1-α. The relationships between these new species and allied taxa are discussed.
Comparative Transcriptomic Analysis of Key Genes Involved in Citrinin Biosynthesis in Monascus purpureus
Authors: Huang Yingying , Yang Chenglong , Molnár István , Chen Shen
Published: February 2023

Monascus pigments (MPs) display many beneficial biological activities and have been widely utilized as natural food-grade colorants in the food processing industry. The presence of the mycotoxin citrinin (CIT) seriously restricts the application of MPs, but the gene regulation mechanisms governing CIT biosynthesis remain unclear. We performed a RNA-Seq-based comparative transcriptomic analysis of representative high MPs-producing Monascus purpureus strains with extremely high vs. low CIT yields. In addition, we performed qRT-PCR to detect the expression of genes related to CIT biosynthesis, confirming the reliability of the RNA-Seq data. The results revealed that there were 2518 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 1141 downregulated and 1377 upregulated in the low CIT producer strain). Many upregulated DEGs were associated with energy metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, with these changes potentially making more biosynthetic precursors available for MPs biosynthesis. Several potentially interesting genes that encode transcription factors were also identified amongst the DEGs. The transcriptomic results also showed that citB, citD, citE, citC and perhaps MpigI were key candidate genes to limit CIT biosynthesis. Our studies provide useful information on metabolic adaptations to MPs and CIT biosynthesis in M. purpureus, and provide targets for the fermentation industry towards the engineering of safer MPs production.
Phenotypic and Genomic Difference among Four Botryosphaeria Pathogens in Chinese Hickory Trunk Canker
Authors: Ma Tianling , Zhang Yu , Yan Chenyi , Zhang Chuanqing
Published: February 2023

Botryosphaeria species are amongst the most widespread and important canker and dieback pathogens of trees worldwide, with B. dothidea as one of the most common Botryosphaeria species. However, the information related to the widespread incidence and aggressiveness of B. dothidea among various Botryosphaeria species causing trunk cankers is still poorly investigated. In this study, the metabolic phenotypic diversity and genomic differences of four Chinese hickory canker-related Botryosphaeria pathogens, including B. dothidea, B. qingyuanensis, B. fabicerciana, and B. corticis, were systematically studied to address the competitive fitness of B. dothidea. Large-scale screening of physiologic traits using a phenotypic MicroArray/OmniLog system (PMs) found B. dothidea has a broader spectrum of nitrogen source and greater tolerance toward osmotic pressure (sodium benzoate) and alkali stress among Botryosphaeria species. Moreover, the annotation of B. dothidea species-specific genomic information via a comparative genomics analysis found 143 B. dothidea species-specific genes that not only provides crucial cues in the prediction of B. dothidea species-specific function but also give a basis for the development of a B. dothidea molecular identification method. A species-specific primer set Bd_11F/Bd_11R has been designed based on the sequence of B. dothidea species-specific gene jg11 for the accurate identification of B. dothidea in disease diagnoses. Overall, this study deepens the understanding in the widespread incidence and aggressiveness of B. dothidea among various Botryosphaeria species, providing valuable clues to assist in trunk cankers management.
Molecular Diagnosis and Vegetative Compatibility Group Analysis of Fusarium Wilt of Banana in Nepal
Authors: Pant Bimala , Bai Tingting , Du Chanjuan , Baidya Suraj , Magar Prem Bahadur , Manandhar Shrinkhala , Shrestha Jiban , Dita Miguel , Rouard Mathieu , Fu Gang , Zheng Si-Jun
Published: February 2023

Fusarium wilt of banana (FWB), caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), is the most important constraint of the banana industry globally. In Nepal, epidemics resembling FWB have been increasingly observed on the Malbhog cultivar in the past several years. However, the disease has not been officially reported yet, and consequently, little is known about the pathogen present across the country. In this study, we characterized 13 fungal strains isolated from banana plants of the Malbhog cultivar (Silk, AAB) showing symptoms similar to FWB in banana plantations in Nepal. All of the strains were typed as belonging to the F. oxysporum and caused FWB symptoms when inoculated in the Malbhog and Cachaco (Bluggoe, ABB) cultivars. No symptoms were observed in the Williams cultivar (Cavendish, AAA). Vegetative compatibility group (VCG) analysis classified the strains as VCG 0124 or VCG 0125. PCR analyses conducted with primers specific for Foc race 1 (Foc R1) or Foc tropical race 4 (TR4) revealed that all the strains reacted positively for Foc R1 and none for TR4. Altogether, our results demonstrated that the pathogen populations causing FWB of the Malbhog cultivar in Nepal were Foc R1. This work reported, for the first time, the occurrence of FWB in Nepal. Further studies with larger Foc populations are needed to better understand disease epidemiology to design sustainable disease management strategies.
Mycelium-Composite Materials—A Promising Alternative to Plastics?
Authors: Balaeș Tiberius , Radu Bianca-Mihaela , Tănase Cătălin
Published: February 2023

Plastic waste inefficiently recycled poses a major environmental concern attracting attention from both civil society and decision makers. Counteracting the phenomenon is an important challenge today. New possibilities are being explored to find alternatives to plastics, and one of them refers to mycelium-composite materials (MCM). Our study aimed at investigating the possibility of using wood and litter inhabiting basidiomycetes, an underexplored group of fungi that grow fast and create strong mycelial mats, to produce biodegradable materials with valuable properties, using cheap by-products as a substrate for growth. Seventy-five strains have been tested for their ability to grow on low-nutrient media and to form compact mycelial mats. Eight strains were selected further for evaluation on several raw substrates for producing in vitro myco-composites. The physico-mechanical properties of these materials, such as firmness, elasticity and impermeability, were analyzed. Abortiporus biennis RECOSOL73 was selected to obtain, at the laboratory scale, a real biodegradable product. Our results suggest that the strain used is a promising candidate with real possibilities for scalability. Finally, corroborating our results with scientific available data, discussions are being made over the feasibility of such technology, cost-effectiveness, scalability, availability of raw materials and, not least, where future studies should be directed to.
Mapping Feminist Politics on Tik Tok during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Content Analysis of the Hashtags #Feminismo and #Antifeminismo
Authors: Simões Rita Basílio , Baeta Agda Dias , Costa Bruno Frutuoso
Published: February 2023

In recent decades, marked by the supposedly universal access to different types of social media, we have seen the emergence of forms of popular feminism embedded in complex dynamics. Often cohabiting in these dynamics are ambivalent ideas and imaginaries that both reject and express feminist issues. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of digital technologies increased exponentially to overcome mobility constraints, popularizing connective action around feminism and, at the same time, reinforcing normative views of society. This article explores these ambivalences by focusing on TikTok discourses, whose popularity grew intensely during the pandemic. Departing from a feminist constructionist perspective and using content analysis, we examine the 100 most prominent videos on the Portuguese hashtags #feminismo (#feminism) and #antifeminismo (#antifeminism) in the period corresponding to general containment measures in the second phase of the public health crisis. The results are less than encouraging. Over half of the analysed videos contain discursive dynamics conforming to social hierarchization (53%), often reaffirming gender stereotypes. By allowing forms of popular feminism and antifeminism to permeate the shared discourses, the results suggest that the platform gives rise to ideas and discourses that reify unbalanced power relations.
Microvascular Alterations of Peripapillary Choriocapillaris in Young Adult High Myopia Detected by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Lei Jie , Fan Yuanyuan , Wu Yan , Yuan Songtao , Ye Yurong , Huang Kun , Chen Qiang , Yang Bin , Xie Ping
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: The microstructural alterations of the peripapillary choriocapillaris in high myopes remain elusive. Here, we used optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) to explore factors involved in these alterations. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional control study included 205 young adults’ eyes (95 with high myopia and 110 with mild to moderate myopia). The choroidal vascular network was imaged using OCTA, and the images underwent manual adjustments to determine the peripapillary atrophy (PPA)-β zone and microvascular dropout (MvD). The area of MvD and the PPA-β zone, spherical equivalent (SE), and axial length (AL) were collected and compared across groups. (3) Results: The MvD was identified in 195 eyes (95.1%). Highly myopic eyes exhibited a significantly greater area for the PPA-β zone (1.221 ± 0.073 vs. 0.562 ± 0.383 mm2, p = 0.001) and MvD (0.248 ± 0.191 vs. 0.089 ± 0.082 mm2, p < 0.001) compared with mildly to moderately myopic eyes, and a lower average density in the choriocapillaris. Linear regression analysis showed that the MvD area correlated with age, SE, AL, and the PPA-β area (all p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: This study found that MvDs represent choroidal microvascular alterations in young-adult high myopes, which were correlated with age, SE, AL, and the PPA-β zone. In this disorder, OCTA is important for characterizing the underlying pathophysiological adaptations.
Digital Orthopedics: The Future Developments of Orthopedic Surgery
Authors: Li Zhonghai
Published: February 2023

Digital medicine is a new type of medical treatment that applies modern digital information technologies to entire medical procedures [...]
Exploring Access to Financial Services by Visually Impaired People
Authors: Goundar Sam , Sathye Milind
Published: February 2023

Though consumers with vulnerabilities, such as visually impaired or blind and partially sighted people (BPSP), face several marketplace problems and challenges, existing literature provides limited guidance. The present study aims to examine the issues faced by BPSP in accessing financial services in Fiji. The study is grounded in the digital divide literature and reports that BPSP do face many hurdles in accessing financial services. We suggest that appropriate policies and industry initiatives could help mitigate the severe vulnerability faced by this cohort of the population in Fiji. We envisage that similar studies in other developing countries are required on an urgent basis to understand the international ramifications of the problem.
Measuring Sediment Transport Capacity of Concentrated Flow with Erosion Feeding Method
Authors: Qu Liqin , Lei Tingwu , Zhou Chenyan , Yang Xiusheng
Published: February 2023

Sediment transport capacity in rills is an important parameter for erosion modeling on hillslopes. It is difficult to measure, especially at gentle slopes with limited rill length. In this study, a special flume with variable slope gradients in upper and lower sections was implemented to measure the sediment transport capacity. The upper flume section with a higher slope gradient generates faster water flow that could scout more sediment to feed the water flow in the rill. The rest of the flume is set at the designated slopes to measure the transport capacity in different slope and runoff conditions. A series of flume experiments were conducted with silt-loam soil to verify the method. The sediment transport capacity was measured under slope gradients of 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25° and a flow rate of 2, 4, 8, and 16 L min−1. The measured sediment transport capacity values were compared with reference measurements from other rill erosion experiments with similar materials and setups. At high slope gradients of 15°, 20°, and 25°, the newly suggested method produced almost the same transport capacity values. Under the low slope gradients of 5° and 10°, the maximum sediment concentrations from the 8 m long flume with the uniform gradients in the previous experiments, rill erosion with an 8 m long flume produced were about 36% lower than the values measured with the new method, which is insufficient to make the flow reach sediment transport capacity. The sediment transport capacities at lower slopes measured with the new method followed the same trend as those at higher slopes. The new method can supply enough sediments to ensure the flow approach transport capacity measurement and, therefore, provides a feasible approach for estimating sediment transport capacity for conditions with relatively gentle slopes.
Nitrogen Deposition Enhances the Positive Contribution of CO2 Fertilization to China’s Carbon and Water Use Efficiencies
Authors: Xiao Biqin , Bai Xiaoyong , Tan Qiu , Li Yangbing , Zhao Cuiwei , Luo Guangjie , Wu Luhua , Chen Fei , Li Chaojun , Ran Chen , Xi Huipeng , Zhang Sirui , Liu Min , Xiong Lian , Song Fengjiao , Du Chaochao
Published: February 2023

With climate change, Nitrogen deposition (ND) and carbon dioxide (CO2) have increased significantly, but the effects of ND and CO2 fertilization on carbon-use efficiency (CUE) and water-use efficiency (WUE) are still unclear. Therefore, the effects of ND and CO2 on CUE and WUE are studied by means of trend analysis and partial derivatives. The results show the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the mean CUE in China was 0.533, and the WUE was 1.235 g C kg−1 H2O. (2) In the study area, a 53.8% CUE and 61.8% WUE showed an upward trend, and ND enhanced the positive contribution of CO2 to CUE and WUE by 15.9% and 19.3%, respectively. (3) ND explained 48.1% and 56% of the increase in CUE and WUE, respectively, and CO2 explained 45.8% and 50.1% of the increases in CUE and WUE, respectively. (4) The areas dominated by ND and CO2 accounted for 43.9% and 12.7% of the total area, respectively, highlighting the importance of ND in the driving mechanism of CUE and WUE. The research results are helpful to further research in CUE and WUE.
Improving the Climate Resilience of Urban Road Networks: A Simulation of Microclimate and Air Quality Interventions in a Typology of Streets in Thessaloniki Historic Centre
Authors: Sylliris Nikolaos , Papagiannakis Apostolos , Vartholomaios Aristotelis
Published: February 2023

The improvement of the urban microclimate in the densely-built central areas of Mediterranean cities should be a key objective of integrated urban and transport planning and design in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals on energy, sustainable cities, and climate action. The urban climate of cities in warm regions, already burdened by the urban heat island effect, is expected to worsen further due to the global climate crisis. This study investigates the performance of common environmental street design strategies on microclimate, thermal comfort, and air quality under extreme heat conditions in the Mediterranean city of Thessaloniki, Greece. A typology of streets was selected using criteria such as road functional classification and orientation, land uses, building height/street width ratio, the sky view factor, and the continuity/discontinuity of buildings. A conservative scenario (use of cool/photocatalytic and porous materials for sidewalks, lighter pavements, additional tree planting, installations of green roofs) and a radical scenario (pedestrianization and total traffic prohibition) of environmental design interventions were simulated using the ENVI-met 5.1 software. The research findings demonstrated that the car-free interventions combined with the use of environmentally friendly materials in the public realm could significantly reduce the heat island effect and mitigate gaseous pollutants. The perceived air temperature (Physiological Equivalent Temperature—PET index) can decrease by up to 15 °C in well-shaded locations and near building corners, while nitrogen oxides can be reduced by up to 87% when considering a more radical pedestrianization scenario. The standardization of environmental interventions following a typology of urban streets could support planners and decision-makers in detecting the appropriate solutions for improving the urban microclimate.
A Decision Support Tool for Green Infrastructure Planning in the Face of Rapid Urbanization
Authors: Brom Peta , Engemann Kristine , Breed Christina , Pasgaard Maya , Onaolapo Titilope , Svenning Jens-Christian
Published: February 2023

Multifunctional green infrastructure, a key component of compact sustainable cities, is challenged by the pressures associated with rapid urbanization. In this paper, we present a method that uses remote sensing, GIS modeling and stakeholder engagement to produce a decision support tool that communicates the availability and need for green infrastructure benefits. The case study presented is the City of Tshwane, South Africa, a Global South city facing rapid urbanization. We found that this method of mapping green infrastructure benefits can provide simultaneous oversight on multiple objectives for green infrastructure, including climate change adaptation, biodiversity, and equitable distribution of urban green space. We found that low-scoring benefit areas occur in dense urban areas where small-scale nature-based solutions or rehabilitation activities are required. Moderate benefit scores occurred in parts of the city that are vulnerable to urban expansion and densification activities, warranting the careful planning of green infrastructure provision, and that moderate-to-high-scoring areas can be protected as conservation areas. The results are discussed in terms of the role of decision support tools for urban planning practice. Composite indexes can provide important guidance to decision-makers involved in spatial planning and urban upgrading and expansion activities.
Measuring Rainfall Kinetic Power in Two Sicilian Experimental Areas by Drop-Size Distribution Data
Authors: Carollo Francesco , Nicosia Alessio , Palmeri Vincenzo , Pampalone Vincenzo , Serio Maria , Ferro Vito
Published: February 2023

The rainfall kinetic energy, which affects soil erosion processes, can be calculated by the drop-size distribution (DSD) and falling velocity. This study presents the outcomes derived by the DSDs recorded with the same optical disdrometer in two experimental areas, located in Sicily (southern Italy). Specifically, the DSDs were recorded from March 2017 to December 2019 at Sparacia and from June 2006 to April 2014 at Palermo. The aims of this paper are both to compare the DSDs for the two sites and to evaluate the applicability of Gamma theoretical distribution. Moreover, the relations of rainfall kinetic power vs. rainfall intensity are assessed. Differences in DSDs, especially for rainfall intensity I lower than 100 mm h−1, are detected, while they are less evident for the highest I values. The kinetic power per unit volume of rainfall varies between the two sites and can be considered roughly coincident only for I higher than 100 mm h−1. The observed kinetic power-rainfall intensity relations are not well described by the equations by Wischmeier and Smith and Brown and Foster. Finally, the reliability of a theoretical relationship for estimating the kinetic power by I and the median volume diameter D0 is positively tested for the Palermo dataset, while it is found to be reliable only for D0 greater than 0.17 cm for the Sparacia dataset.
Application of Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in Urban Growth Modeling: A Case Study of Seoul Metropolitan Area, Korea
Authors: Kim Minjun , Kim Dongbeom , Jin Daeyong , Kim Geunhan
Published: February 2023

Unplanned and rapid urban growth requires the reckless expansion of infrastructure including water, sewage, energy, and transportation facilities, and thus causes environmental problems such as deterioration of old towns, reduction of open spaces, and air pollution. To alleviate and prevent such problems induced by urban growth, the accurate prediction and management of urban expansion is crucial. In this context, this study aims at modeling and predicting urban expansion in Seoul metropolitan area (SMA), Korea, using GIS and XAI techniques. To this end, we examined the effects of land-cover, socio-economic, and environmental features in 2007 and 2019, within the optimal radius from a certain raster cell. Then, this study combined the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) in analyzing urban expansion. The findings of this study suggest urban growth is dominantly affected by land-cover characteristics, followed by topographic attributes. In addition, the existence of water body and high ECVAM grades tend to significantly reduce the possibility of urban expansion. The findings of this study are expected to provide several policy implications in urban and environmental planning fields, particularly for effective and sustainable management of lands.
Environmental and Health Risk Assessment Due to Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil near Former Antimony Mine in Western Serbia
Authors: Belanović Simić Snežana , Miljković Predrag , Baumgertel Aleksandar , Lukić Sara , Ljubičić Janko , Čakmak Dragan
Published: February 2023

Background: Anthropogenic activities have clearly affected the environment, with irreversible and destructive consequences. Mining activities have a significant negative impact, primarily on soil, and then on human health. The negative impact of the first mining activities is represented even today in the soils of those localities. Research shows that, for different types of mines, the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are high, especially in antimony, multi-metal and lead–zinc mines, which have adverse effects on the environment and then on human health and the economy. A large flood in 2014 in Western Serbia resulted in the breaking of the dam of the processed antimony ore dump of the former antimony mine, causing toxic tailings to spill and pollute the downstream area. Due to this accident, tailings material flooded the area downstream of the dump, and severely affected the local agriculture and population. Methods: Potentially toxic elements content, pollution indices and health indices were determined in soil samples from the flooded area, using referenced methodologies. The sources and routes of pollutants and risks were determined and quantified using statistical principal component analysis, positive matrix factorisation, and a Monte Carlo simulation. Results: The main source of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn in the upper part of the study area was the tailing material. Based on the pollution indices, about 72% of the studied samples show a high risk of contamination and are mainly distributed immediately downstream of the tailings dump that was spilled due to heavy rainfall. Conclusions: Although the content of the PTEs is high, there is no non-carcinogenic risk for any PTEs except As, for which a threshold risk was determined. There is no carcinogenic risk in the study area.
While Experiencing a Forest Trail, Variation in Landscape Is Just as Important as Content: A Virtual Reality Experiment of Cross-Country Skiing in Estonia
Authors: Vassiljev Peeter , Bell Simon
Published: February 2023

It has long been understood that diversity is a key aspect of what makes a landscape attractive but to what degree of diversity and how is it experienced? Many forest landscapes are generally monotonous in character or are broken up by forest management activities such as clear cutting, which may negatively impact their potential for recreation and psychological well-being benefits. We conducted a virtual reality experiment where people were taken on a trip along a simulated cross country skiing track in an Estonian forest. Participants followed a route at simulated speeds typical of cross-country skiing. The route was long enough to experience several minutes passing through one type of forest landscape with a series of small variations in character followed by several minutes passing through a notably different forest landscape. The restorative experience obtained by the visit was measured periodically in each version of the landscape. Univariate general linear modelling analysis was statistically significant (r2 = 0.651, F(198, 965) = 9.108, p < 0.001) and showed that while respondents preferred less-dense forest in general (B = 0.189, p = 0.001)—an expected result—a comparable amount of positive restorative response could also be attributed to prominent changes in forest character, regardless of the type of forest (B = 0.401, p < 0.001). We hypothesise that respondents were reacting favourably to sudden changes in forest appearance after prolonged exposure to one forest type—that diversity is important in maintaining interest, reducing boredom, and in providing a restorative experience. The implications are, firstly, that a virtual experience can detect restorative effects and, secondly, that recreational trails should be designed to pass through varied landscapes offering continually changing diverse experiences—the impact of which can be tested in the virtual setting because there is control of all variables.
Linguistic Repertoires: Modeling Variation in Input and Production: A Case Study on American Speakers of Heritage Norwegian
Authors: Eide Kristin Melum , Hjelde Arnstein
Published: February 2023

Heritage Norwegian in the American Midwest is documented through a corpus of recordings collected and compiled over a time span of 80 years, from Einar Haugen’s recordings in the 1940s via the CANS corpus up to the present-day in the authors’ own recordings. This gives an unprecedented opportunity to study how a minority language changes in a language contact situation, over several generations and under gradually changing circumstances. Since we also have thorough historical knowledge of the institutions and societal texture of these communities, this privileged situation allows us to trace the various sources of input available to the heritage speakers in these communities in different relevant time slots. We investigate how the quality and quantity of input at different times are reflected in the syntactic production of heritage speakers of the corresponding generational cohorts, focusing on relative ratios of specific word orders (topicalization and verb second, prenominal and postnominal possessive noun phrases) and productive morphosyntactic paradigms (tense suffixes of loan verbs). Utilizing a model of relations between input and output, receptive and productive competence, to show how input–output effects will accumulate throughout the cohorts, we explain the observed linguistic change in individuals and society.
Preliminary Survey of Pathogens in the Asian Honey Bee (Apis cerana) in Thailand
Authors: Phokasem Patcharin , Sinpoo Chainarong , Attasopa Korrawat , Krongdang Sasiprapa , Chantaphanwattana Thunyarat , Ling Tial C. , Pettis Jeffery S. , Chantawannakul Panuwan , Chaimanee Veeranan , Disayathanoowat Terd
Published: February 2023

Widespread parasites, along with emerging threats, globalization, and climate change, have greatly affected honey bees’ health, leading to colony losses worldwide. In this study, we investigated the detection of biotic stressors (i.e., viruses, microsporidian, bacteria, and fungi) in Apis cerana by surveying the colonies across different regions of Thailand (Chiang Mai in the north, Nong Khai and Khon Kaen in the northeast, and Chumphon and Surat Thani in the south, in addition to the Samui and Pha-ngan islands). In this study, we detected ABPV, BQCV, LSV, and Nosema ceranae in A. cerana samples through RT-PCR. ABPV was only detected from the samples of Chiang Mai, whereas we found BQCV only in those from Chumphon. LSV was detected only in the samples from the Samui and Pha-ngan islands, where historically no managed bees are known. Nosema ceranae was found in all of the regions except for Nong Khai and Khon Kaen in northeastern Thailand. Paenibacillus larvae and Ascosphaera apis were not detected in any of the A. cerana samples in this survey. The phylogenetic tree analysis of the pathogens provided insights into the pathogens’ movements and their distribution ranges across different landscapes, indicating the flow of pathogens among the honey bees. Here, we describe the presence of emerging pathogens in the Asian honey bee as a valuable step in our understanding of these pathogens in terms of the decline in eastern honey bee populations.