bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-Term Impact of N, P, K Fertilizers in Different Rates on Yield and Quality of Anisodus tanguticus (Maxinowicz) Pascher
Authors: Chen Kaiyang , Ma Lei , Chen Chen , Liu Na , Wang Bo , Bao Yuying , Liu Zhengrong , Zhou Guoying
Published: May 2023

Anisodus tanguticus (Maxinowicz) Pascher (Solanaceae) is a traditional Chinese herb that is widely used in folklore and clinical practice. In recent years, wild populations have been severely impacted to the point of extinction due to over-harvesting and reclamation. Therefore, artificial cultivation is important to relieve the pressure of market demand and protect wild plant resources. Using a “3414” fertilization design, i.e., 3 factors (N, P, and K), 4 levels, and 14 fertilization treatments, with 3 replicates and a total of 42 experimental plots, A. tanguticus was harvested in October 2020, June 2021, August 2021, and October 2021, and the yield and alkaloid content were determined. The study aimed to provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for the standardization of A. tanguticus cultivation. Biomass accumulation and alkaloid content showed a trend of increasing and then decreasing with the application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, and the biomass accumulation was the highest at the application levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in T6 and T9 and at the application levels of medium and low potassium. The alkaloid content showed an increasing trend between October of the first year and June of the second year and a decreasing trend in the second year with the increase in the harvesting period. Yield and alkaloid yield showed a decreasing trend between October of the first year and June of the second year and an increasing trend in the second year with the increase in the harvesting period. The recommended application rates are 225–300 kg/ha2 for nitrogen, 850–960 kg/ha2 for phosphorus, and 65–85 kg/ha2 for potassium.
Morphology, Taxonomy, Anatomy, and Palynology of the Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) Cultivation in Northern Thailand
Authors: Ngernsaengsaruay Chatchai , Leksungnoen Nisa , Chanton Pichet , Andriyas Tushar , Thaweekun Pratchaya , Rueansri Surasak , Tuntianupong Ratthapon , Hauyluek Woottichai
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we present the morphology, taxonomy, anatomy, and palynology of Papaver somniferum. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of the species are provided, along with information about the identification, distribution, cultivation areas, habitats, pollinators, specimens examined, growing periods, phenology, etymology, vernacular name, and uses. The species can be characterized as a glabrous and glaucous herb with unlobed or pinnately lobed leaves, and an amplexicaul base; variations in color and morphological characteristics of petals; and white filaments, occasionally purple with a white basal part, broadened at the apical part. Two rings of discontinuous and widely spaced collateral vascular bundles are recognized in the transverse section of the stems. The shape of epidermal cells on the adaxial surface is polygonal, while that on the abaxial surface is polygonal or irregular. The anticlinal cell walls of the epidermal cells on the adaxial surface are straight or slightly curved, while those on the abaxial surface are straight, slightly curved, sinuate, or strongly sinuate. The stomata are anomocytic and are confined to the lower epidermis. The stomatal density is 54–199/mm2 (with a mean of 89.29 ± 24.97). The mesophyll is not distinctly differentiated into palisade and spongy regions. Laticifers are found in the phloem areas of the stems and leaves. The pollen grains can be spheroidal or prolate spheroidal in shape, sometimes oblate spheroidal [polar axis (P) diameter/equatorial axis (E) diameter ratio = 0.99–1.12 (with a mean of 1.03 ± 0.03)]. The pollen aperture is tricolpate and the exine sculpturing is microechinate.
Fabrication of CuO-NP-Doped PVDF Composites Based Electrospun Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Wearable and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Amrutha Bindhu , Prasad Gajula , Sathiyanathan Ponnan , Reza Mohammad Shamim , Kim Hongdoo , Pathak Madhvesh , Prabu Arun Anand
Published: May 2023

A flexible and portable triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) based on electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) doped with copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles (NPs, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt.-% w.r.t. PVDF content) was fabricated. The structural and crystalline properties of the as-prepared PVDF-CuO composite membranes were characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XRD. To fabricate the TENG device, the PVDF-CuO was considered a tribo-negative film and the polyurethane (PU) a counter-positive film. The output voltage of the TENG was analyzed using a custom-made dynamic pressure setup, under a constant load of 1.0 kgf and 1.0 Hz frequency. The neat PVDF/PU showed only 1.7 V, which further increased up to 7.5 V when increasing the CuO contents from 2 to 8 wt.-%. A decrease in output voltage to 3.9 V was observed for 10 wt.-% CuO. Based on the above results, further measurements were carried out using the optimal sample (8 wt.-% CuO). Its output voltage performance was evaluated as a function of varying load (1 to 3 kgf) and frequency (0.1 to 1.0 Hz) conditions. Finally, the optimized device was demonstrated in real-time wearable sensor applications, such as human motion and health-monitoring applications (respiration and heart rate).
Justification of Starching Cotton and Aramid Yarns by Industrial and Laboratory Processes
Authors: Kiš Ana , Schwarz Ivana , Brunšek Ružica , Kovačević Stana
Published: May 2023

The development and application of new types of fibres and their wider application influence the continuous invention of a more economical starching process, as one of the most expensive stages in the technological process of woven fabric production. For example, aramid fibres are increasingly used in clothing with effective protection from mechanical, thermal and abrasion exposure. Simultaneously, comfort and regulation of metabolic heat are extremely important, and this is achieved by using cotton woven fabrics. For such a woven fabrics to satisfy the protective properties and the possibility of all-day wear, fibre is needed, and thus a yarn, that will enable the efficient production of fine, light and comfortable protective woven fabrics. This paper investigates the influence of starching on the mechanical properties of aramid yarns and their comparison to cotton yarns of the same fineness. This will lead to knowledge about the efficiency and necessity of aramid yarn starching. The tests were carried out on an industrial and laboratory starching machine. According to the obtained results, the necessity and the improvement of the physical-mechanical properties of cotton and aramid yarns can be determined, both by industrial and laboratory starching. Finer yarn starched by the laboratory starching process achieves greater efficiency in the yarn’s strength and resistance to wear, which indicates the need for starching aramid yarns, especially fineness 16.6 × 2 tex, but also finer ones.
Simple and Efficient Synthesis of Oligoetherdiamines: Hardeners of Epoxyurethane Oligomers for Obtaining Coatings with Shape Memory Effect
Authors: Slobodinyuk Daria , Slobodinyuk Alexey , Strelnikov Vladimir , Kiselkov Dmitriy
Published: May 2023

In this work, new polymers with a shape memory effect for self-healing coatings based on oligomers with terminal epoxy groups, synthesized from oligotetramethylene oxide dioles of various molecular weights, were developed. For this purpose, a simple and efficient method for the synthesis of oligoetherdiamines with a high yield of the product, close to 94%, was developed. Oligodiol was treated with acrylic acid in the presence of a catalyst, followed by the reaction of the reaction product with aminoethylpiperazine. This synthetic route can easily be upscaled. The resulting products can be used as hardeners for oligomers with terminal epoxy groups synthesized from cyclic and cycloaliphatic diisocyanates. The effect of the molecular weight of newly synthesized diamines on the thermal and mechanical properties of urethane-containing polymers has been studied. Elastomers synthesized from isophorone diisocyanate showed excellent shape fixity and shape recovery ratios of >95% and >94%, respectively.
Identification of Electrical Tree Aging State in Epoxy Resin Using Partial Discharge Waveforms Compared to Traditional Analysis
Authors: Schurch Roger , Munoz Osvaldo , Ardila-Rey Jorge , Donoso Pablo , Peesapati Vidyadhar
Published: May 2023

Electrical treeing is one of the main degradation mechanisms in high-voltage polymeric insulation. Epoxy resin is used as insulating material in power equipment such as rotating machines, power transformers, gas-insulated switchgears, and insulators, among others. Electrical trees grow under the effect of partial discharges (PDs) that progressively degrade the polymer until the tree crosses the bulk insulation, then causing the failure of power equipment and the outage of the energy supply. This work studies electrical trees in epoxy resin through different PD analysis techniques, evaluating and comparing their ability to identify tree bulk-insulation crossing, the precursor of failure. Two PD measurement systems were used simultaneously—one to capture the sequence of PD pulses and another to acquire PD pulse waveforms—and four PD analysis techniques were deployed. Phase-resolved PD (PRPD) and pulse sequence analysis (PSA) identified tree crossing; however, they were more sensible to the AC excitation voltage amplitude and frequency. Nonlinear time series analysis (NLTSA) characteristics were evaluated through the correlation dimension, showing a reduction from pre- to post-crossing, and thus representing a change to a less complex dynamical system. The PD pulse waveform parameters had the best performance; they could identify tree crossing in epoxy resin material independently of the applied AC voltage amplitude and frequency, making them more robust for a broader range of situations, and thus, they can be exploited as a diagnostic tool for the asset management of high-voltage polymeric insulation.
Transpersonal Ecodelia: Surveying Psychedelically Induced Biophilia
Authors: Irvine Alexander , Luke David , Harrild Freya , Gandy Sam , Watts Rosalind
Published: May 2023

Objective: To explore the perceived influence of psychedelic experiences on participants’ relationship with the natural world. Method: A total of 272 participants reporting previous use of psychedelics completed free-text response requests via an online survey. Thematic analysis was used to explore group participant responses. Results: Participants who described a pre-existing relationship with nature reported that psychedelics acted to re-establish and bolster their connection to nature. Those reporting no previously established connection to nature described psychedelics as helping them bond with the natural world. Underlying both of these were reports of transpersonal experiences, of which ‘interconnectedness’ was most frequently linked to shifts in attitudes and behaviours. Participants were also asked to reflect on previous psychedelic experiences that took place in nature and reported a range of benefits of the natural setting. Conclusions: These findings suggest that psychedelics have the capacity to elicit a connection with nature that is passionate and protective, even among those who were not previously nature oriented. More research is needed to explore the potential implications of psychedelic use outside laboratory-controlled settings in order to enhance these important effects.
The Establishment of Buddhist Creation Myth Text—Investigation Based on Narrative Context and Clues
Authors: Chen Yingjin
Published: May 2023

The creation myths recorded in the Buddhist canon (Skt. Tripiṭaka; Pal. Tipiṭaka) reveal to us the various genesis scenarios adopted by early Buddhists concerning the formation of the world and the emergence of human beings in this world. The contents of these stories can be divided into three basic narrative elements: (1) the calamities and the formation of the world; (2) the devolution of sentient beings and the establishment of a worldly ruling order; and (3) the origin of the caste system and the royal pedigree of the Śākya clan. There are differences in the various accounts and in the details of the narratives as they appear in the Āgamas. Through a comparison of the narrative structure and content of various texts, this article will extrapolate on the narrative context that informed these myths. This article will argue, among other things, that when these myths were composed, they were directed at followers (Pal. bhikkhus) from Brahminical backgrounds. Segments of the genesis story were, moreover, incorporated into the Vinaya texts as narrative aids to help communicate certain lessons. The purpose of this article is to explore the topic of cosmology in texts such as the Shiji jing 世紀經 in the Dīrgha-āgama and the “Qiri pin” 七日品 in the Ekottara-āgama, both of which were later additions to these larger Āgamas. The Poluopo tang jing 婆羅婆堂經 in the Madhyama-āgama and the Aggañña-sutta in the Dīgha-nikāya both contain similar formulaic sentences and descriptions which show that they may come from the same source. The Poluopo tang jing might, however, be an older text. Finally, the different contents found in texts such as the Xiaoyuan jing 小缘經 that contains details on the five castes indicate that it may have come from a different source.
Allergy to Cow’s Milk Proteins and Other Allergens—An Unrecognized Co-Factor of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome in Children or a Factor Interfering with the Treatment of This Disease? A Case Report
Authors: Kaczmarski Maciej
Published: May 2023

Idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is one of the chronic kidney diseases that occurs in childhood. Starting from a few case reports in the 1950s–1970s and up to the present, the relationship between idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and the occurrence of atopic disorders in these patients has been discussed in many medical publications. These publications show that in certain patients, mainly children and adolescents, but also in adults with INS, various clinical symptoms and laboratory indicators of an atopic allergic process may be present. This process has been shown to involve Th2 lymphocytes, to have an excessive production of interleukins (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), and to have an increased serum level of immunoglobulin E (IgE). This leads to the development of a systemic allergic inflammatory process, of which the kidneys can also become the effector organ. The coexistence of an allergic process which may adversely affect the course of nephrotic syndrome may be confirmed by the increased serum IgE level and the hypersensitivity reaction of the patient’s body to various environmental allergens (through the presence of allergen-specific IgE /asIgE/ antibodies to food, pollen, mould, dust, or other allergens in the blood serum). High concentrations of IL-13 and other plasma mediators of this inflammation (e.g., histamine, bradykinin) structurally and functionally damage the renal filtration barrier, and in particular, the function of podocytes in the glomeruli. Podocyte dysfunction disturbs the physiological process of plasma filtration in the glomeruli, leading to excessive protein loss in the urine. These disorders initiate the development of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in these patients. This publication presents the coexistence of an allergic process caused by allergy to cow’s milk proteins and hypersensitivity to other allergens in a child with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. This publication also assesses whether treatment of the allergic process coexisting with INS with an elimination diet (milk-free, hypoallergenic) and anti-allergic drugs affected the course and treatment of INS in this child.
Tropical Surface Temperature and Atmospheric Latent Heating: A Whole-Tropics Perspective Based on TRMM and ERA5 Datasets
Authors: Gao Yue , Liu Xiaolin , Lu Jianhua
Published: May 2023

Tropical surface temperature (TST) and its connection with atmospheric heating, including tropical latent heating (TLH), is essential to the interannual variability of tropical atmospheric circulation and global teleconnection. Utilizing seasonally averaged satellite-based TRMM precipitation data as a proxy of TLH and ERA5-based TST data from 1998 to 2018, we reveal some new features in terms of cross-hemispheric connection in the TLH and TST variability by decomposing them into equatorially symmetric and antisymmetric components. We find surprisingly that the spatial patterns of TLH projected upon the first principal components (PC1) of symmetric and antisymmetric TSTs over the whole-tropics, are very similar to each other, seemingly at odds with the classic Mastuno–Gill theory. The similarity in the projected TLH patterns is mainly because the PC1s of symmetric and antisymmetric TSTs co-vary temporally with a very high correlation. We use the spatial pattern of local correlation between symmetric and antisymmetric components, for both TST and TLH to depict geographic dependence of the symmetric–antisymmetric connection. We suggest that a whole-tropics perspective, which takes the different but connected nature of equatorially symmetric and antisymmetric modes across the whole-tropics into consideration, may well be useful in understanding and predicting tropical climate variability because clarifying the puzzle raised in this research from such a perspective about the consistency between the observation and the classic Mastuno–Gill theory is directly related to the fundamental dynamics of tropical systems, such as Walker circulation, monsoons, and their relationship with underlying land and sea conditions.
Insights into Spatiotemporal Variations in the NPP of Terrestrial Vegetation in Africa from 1981 to 2018
Authors: Wang Qianjie , Liang Liang , Wang Shuguo , Wang Sisi , Zhang Lianpeng , Qiu Siyi , Shi Yanyan , Shi Jin , Sun Chen
Published: May 2023

The net primary productivity (NPP) of vegetation is an important indicator used to evaluate the quality of terrestrial ecosystems and characterize the carbon balance of ecosystems. In this study, the spatiotemporal distribution and dynamic change in NPP in Africa from 1981 to 2018 were analyzed using the long time series data of NPP. The results of the trend and fluctuation analysis showed that the NPP in the Sahara arid region in northern Africa and the arid region in South Africa exhibited a significant reduction and a high degree of fluctuation; most of the NPP in the tropical rainforests in central Africa and the deciduous broadleaved forests and deciduous needle-leaved forests on the north and south sides of the tropical rainforests increased and showed a low degree of fluctuation; the Congo basin, Gabon, Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and other regions were affected by human activities, while the NPP in these regions exhibited a significant reduction and a high degree of fluctuation. Anomaly analysis showed that the NPP in Africa generally exhibited a slow upward trend during the period from 1981 and 2018. The trend was basically consistent in different seasons, and can be segmented into three phases: (1) a phase of descent from 1981 to 1992, with the NPP below the average value in most years; (2) a phase of steady growth from 1993 to 2000, reaching a peak in 2000; (3) a phase of fluctuations from 2001 to 2018, where the NPP value was above the average value in all years except 2015 and 2016, when the NPP value was low due to abnormally high temperatures and drought. The Mann–Kendall test further showed that the annual and seasonal NPP in Africa exhibited a significant upward trend, and the mutation time points occurred around 1995. The wavelet time series analysis revealed obvious periodic changes in the time series of NPP in Africa. The annual and seasonal NPP showed clear oscillations on time scales of 7, 20, 29, and 55 years. The 55-year period had the strongest signal, and was the first main period. The study can provide a scientific gist for the sustainable development of environmental ecology, agricultural production, and the social economy in Africa.
Comparison of Ground-Based, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Satellite Remote Sensing Technologies for Monitoring Pasture Biomass on Dairy Farms
Authors: Gargiulo Juan I. , Lyons Nicolas A. , Masia Fernando , Beale Peter , Insua Juan R. , Correa-Luna Martin , Garcia Sergio C.
Published: May 2023

Systematic measurement of pasture biomass (kg DM/ha) is crucial for optimising pasture utilisation and increasing dairy farm profitability. On-farm pasture monitoring can be conducted using various sensors, but calibrations are necessary to convert the measured variable into pasture biomass. In this study, we conducted three experiments in New South Wales (Australia) to evaluate the use of the rising plate meter (RPM), pasture reader (PR), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and satellites as pasture monitoring tools. We tested various calibration methods that can improve the accuracy of the estimations and be implemented more easily on-farm. The results indicate that UAV and satellite-derived reflectance indices (e.g., Normalised Difference Vegetation Index) can be indirectly calibrated with height measurements obtained from an RPM or PR. Height measurements can be then converted into pasture biomass ideally by conducting site-specific sporadic calibrations cuts. For satellites, using the average of the entire paddock, root mean square error (RMSE) = 226 kg DM/ha for kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum Hochst. ex Chiov) and 347 kg DM/ha for ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) is as effective as but easier than matching NDVI pixels with height measurement using a Global Navigation Satellite System (RMSE = 227 kg DM/ha for kikuyu and 406 kg DM/ha for ryegrass). For situations where no satellite images are available for the same date, the average of all images available within a range of up to four days from the day ground measurements were taken could be used (RMSE = 225 kg DM/ha for kikuyu and 402 kg DM/ha for ryegrass). These methodologies aim to develop more practical and easier-to-implement calibrations to improve the accuracy of the predictive models in commercial farms. However, more research is still needed to test these hypotheses under extended periods, locations, and pasture species.
Comparison of Satellite Platform for Mapping the Distribution of Mauritius Thorn (Caesalpinia decapetala) and River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve
Authors: Dondofema Farai , Nethengwe Nthaduleni , Taylor Peter , Ramoelo Abel
Published: May 2023

Mapping and tracking invasive alien plant species (IAPS) and their invasiveness can be achieved using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS). Continuous monitoring using RS, GIS and modelling are fundamental tools for informing invasion and management strategies. Using systematic comparisons, we look at three remote sensing imagery platforms and how accurately they can be classified within the Vhembe biosphere reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Supervised classification of National Geospatial Information Colour Digital Aerial Imagery, DigitalGlobe Worldview 2 and CNES SPOT 6 was performed. The Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) algorithm was used to identify the best satellite for species-level classification. The accuracy of the classifications produced an overall accuracy (OA) of 71% with a Kappa coefficient (KC) of 0.76 for CDA photographs, an OA of 81% and a KC of 0.80 for Worldview 2, and an OA of 89% with a KC of 0.86 for SPOT 6 imagery. Therefore, SPOT 6 imagery came out as the most suitable for species-level classification. The classification results from the SPOT 6 imagery were used as input data for further species distribution modelling of Mauritius Thorn and River Red Gum in the VBR.
Seismic Risk Regularization for Urban Changes Due to Earthquakes: A Case of Study of the 2023 Turkey Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Portillo Aymar , Moya Luis
Published: May 2023

Damage identification soon after a large-magnitude earthquake is a major problem for early disaster response activities. The faster the damaged areas are identified, the higher the survival chances of inhabitants. Current methods for damage identification are based on the application of artificial intelligence techniques using remote sensing data. Such methods require a large amount of high-quality labeled data for calibration and/or fine-tuning processes, which are expensive in the aftermath of large-scale disasters. In this paper, we propose a novel semi-supervised classification approach for identifying urban changes induced by an earthquake between images recorded at different times. We integrate information from a small set of labeled data with information from ground motion and fragility functions computed on large unlabeled data. A relevant consideration is that ground motion and fragility functions can be computed in real time. The urban changes induced by the 2023 Turkey earthquake sequence are reported as an evaluation of the proposed method. The method was applied to the interferometric coherence computed from C-band synthetic aperture radar images from Sentinel-1. We use only 39 samples labeled as changed and 9000 unlabeled samples. The results show that our method is able to identify changes between images associated with the effects of an earthquake with an accuracy of about 81%. We conclude that the proposed method can rapidly identify affected areas in the aftermath of a large-magnitude earthquake.
Predicting Dry Pea Maturity Using Machine Learning and Advanced Sensor Fusion with Unmanned Aerial Systems (UASs)
Authors: Bazrafkan Aliasghar , Navasca Harry , Kim Jeong-Hwa , Morales Mario , Johnson Josephine Princy , Delavarpour Nadia , Fareed Nadeem , Bandillo Nonoy , Flores Paulo
Published: May 2023

Maturity is an important trait in dry pea breeding programs, but the conventional process predominately used to measure this trait can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to errors. Therefore, a more efficient and accurate approach would be desirable to support dry pea breeding programs. This study presents a novel approach for measuring dry pea maturity using machine learning algorithms and unmanned aerial systems (UASs)-collected data. We evaluated the abilities of five machine learning algorithms (random forest, artificial neural network, support vector machine, K-nearest neighbor, and naïve Bayes) to accurately predict dry pea maturity on field plots. The machine learning algorithms considered a range of variables, including crop height metrics, narrow spectral bands, and 18 distinct color and spectral vegetation indices. Backward feature elimination was used to select the most important features by iteratively removing insignificant ones until the model’s predictive performance was optimized. The study’s findings reveal that the most effective approach for assessing dry pea maturity involved a combination of narrow spectral bands, red-edge, near-infrared (NIR), and RGB-based vegetation indices, along with image textural metrics and crop height metrics. The implementation of a random forest model further enhanced the accuracy of the results, exhibiting the highest level of accuracy with a 0.99 value for all three metrics precision, recall, and f1 scores. The sensitivity analysis revealed that spectral features outperformed structural features when predicting pea maturity. While multispectral cameras achieved the highest accuracy, the use of RGB cameras may still result in relatively high accuracy, making them a practical option for use in scenarios where cost is a limiting factor. In summary, this study demonstrated the effectiveness of coupling machine learning algorithms, UASs-borne LIDAR, and multispectral data to accurately assess maturity in peas.
Performance Analysis of Channel Imbalance Control and Azimuth Ambiguity Suppression in Azimuth Dual Receiving Antenna Mode of LT-1 Spaceborne SAR System
Authors: Xu Zongxiang , Lu Pingping , Cai Yonghua , Wu Yirong , Wang Robert
Published: May 2023

The LuTan-1(LT-1), known as the L-band differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite system, is an essential piece of civil infrastructure in China, providing extensive applications such as surface deformation monitoring and topographic mapping. To achieve high-resolution and wide-swath (HRWS) observation abilities, the LT-1 takes the dual receiving antenna (DRA) imaging mode as its working mode. However, amplitude and phase errors between channels lead to a mismatch between the reconstruction filter and the multichannel echo signal, worsen the reconstructed azimuth spectrum, and introduce ambiguity targets in the final imaging results, seriously affecting the final imaging quality. In order to better evaluate the channel error and azimuth ambiguity performance of the LT-1 system, this paper proposed an advanced channel consistency correction method and conducted many measured data experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed method is effective, and the LT-1 system has excellent channel error control and azimuth ambiguity performance.
Variations in Root Morphology and Yield among Rice Varieties in Response to Potassium under Subtropical Conditions
Authors: Kaysar Md. Salahuddin , Sarker Uttam Kumer , Monira Sirajam , Hossain Md. Alamgir , Somaddar Uzzal , Saha Gopal , Chaki Apurbo Kumar , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Uddin Md. Romij
Published: May 2023

The relationship between rice root morphology and Potassium (K) is a major concern for its growth and development, and it has a substantial impact on yield as well. In light of this, the current pot research was run in the net house of the Department of Agronomy at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh, throughout the boro (dry season irrigated) season of 2020–2021. Binadhan-10, Hira-2 and BRRI dhan29 were grown with five K fertilizers: 0 kg K ha−1 (K0), 32 kg K ha−1 (K32), 65 kg K ha−1 (K65), 98 kg K ha−1 (K98) and 130 kg K ha−1 (K130). Three replications of the investigation were conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD). The root number (RN), root length (RL), root volume (RV), root porosity (RP) along with leaf area index (LAI), total dry matter (TDM) and yield were assessed. Binadhan-10 with the K65 treatment significantly increased the RN, RL, RV, LAI, TDM and yield. With the further increase in the dosage of K that was under K98 and K130, the value of the root traits and yield did not increase. A positive connection was documented between the grain yield (GY) and all the root traits, excluding the RP. Binadhan-10 can be grown with 65 kg K ha−1 at field level for a satisfactory yield.
Sustainable Competitive Advantage of Cultural Heritage Sites: Three Destinations in East Asia
Authors: Ng Wai-Kit , Hsu Fu-Tien , Chao Cheng-Fu , Chen Chun-Liang
Published: May 2023

Cultural heritage plays an important role in the creation of creative cities, giving them a new lease of life and generating employment opportunities and local economies in the process. The revitalisation and development of cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage have become a major part of national development policies worldwide. This study adopts a multiple case analysis approach. Four cultural heritages of three destinations in East Asia (Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) were selected as case studies because they have all adopted a public–private partnership approach to the conservation and reuse of historic buildings. In this study, semi-structured interviews were conducted and secondary data collected from a variety of sources to bring the findings of this study closer to the practical development of cultural heritage. Base on Five Forces analysis, we propose an “Extended Five Forces” model of cultural heritage. The new component, i.e., historical landscapes and cultural sustainability, is proposed to expand the theoretical foundations of the sustainable management of cultural heritage. The findings show how they can collaborate with communities to create value and gain a sustainable competitive advantage on a global scale and contribute to the sustainable management of cultural heritage in Asia.
Organizational Justice and Employee Voluntary Absenteeism in Public Sector Organizations: Disentangling the Moderating Roles of Work Motivation
Authors: Ha Tae-Soo , Moon Kuk-Kyoung
Published: May 2023

Although the relationships between fair treatment by the organization and work-related outcomes are contingent on motivational traits, little scholarly attention has been paid to how extrinsic and intrinsic work motivation shape the influence of organizational justice on employee voluntary absence in the field of public management. In this context, our study aims to explore the direct effect of organizational justice on voluntary absence based on social exchange theory, as well as the moderating roles of extrinsic and intrinsic work motivation in the relationship, building on the equity sensitivity theory. Using National Administrative Studies Project–III (NASP III) survey data from a sample of 709 public employees from two state governments (i.e., Georgia and Illinois) in the U.S. and negative binomial regression models, we found that organizational justice is positively associated with employee voluntary absence. Further analysis showed that while extrinsic work motivation mitigates the positive relationship between organizational justice and voluntary absence, intrinsic work motivation enhances the positive relationship between organizational justice and voluntary absence. Accordingly, our study offers meaningful implications that are essential for public management scholars and organizations to consider in order to develop effective managerial practices based on the fitness between organizational justice and employees’ motivational traits, thus reducing employee voluntary absence and improving organizational performance and sustainability.
Modeling Occupant Window Behavior in Hospitals—A Case Study in a Maternity Hospital in Beijing, China
Authors: Jia Zhuo , Pan Song , Yu Haowei , Liu Yiqiao , Wei Shen , Qin Mingyuan , Chang Li , Cui Ying
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, relevant data collected from hospital buildings remain insufficient because hospital buildings often have stricter environmental requirements resulting in more limited data access than other building types. Additionally, existing window-opening behavior models were mostly developed and validated using data measured from the experimental building itself. Hence, their accuracy is only assessed by the algorithm’s evaluation index, which limits the model’s applicability, given that it is not tested by the actual cases nor cross-verified with other buildings. Based on the aforementioned issues, this study analyzes the window-opening behavior of doctors and patients in spring in a maternity hospital in Beijing and develops behavioral models using logistic regression. The results show that the room often has opened windows in spring when the outdoor temperature exceeds 20 °C. Moreover, the ward windows’ use frequency is more than 10 times higher than those of doctors’ office. The window-opening behavior in wards is more susceptible to the influence of outdoor temperature, while in the doctors’ office, more attention is paid to indoor air quality. Finally, by embedding the logistic regression model of each room into the EnergyPlus software to simulate the CO2 concentration of the room, it was found that the model has better applicability than the fixed schedule model. However, by performing cross-validation with different building types, it was found that, due to the particularity of doctors’ offices, the models developed for other building types cannot accurately reproduce the window-opening behavior of doctors. Therefore, more data are still needed to better understand window usage in hospital buildings and support the future building performance simulations of hospital buildings.
A Predictive Model for the Bioaccumulation of Okadaic Acid in Mytilus galloprovincialis Farmed in the Northern Adriatic Sea: A Tool to Reduce Product Losses and Improve Mussel Farming Sustainability
Authors: Capoccioni Fabrizio , Bille Laura , Colombo Federica , Contiero Lidia , Martini Arianna , Mattia Carmine , Napolitano Riccardo , Tonachella Nicolò , Toson Marica , Pulcini Domitilla
Published: May 2023

Over the last decades, harmful dinoflagellate (Dinophysis spp.) blooms have increased in frequency, duration, and severity in the Mediterranean Sea. Farmed bivalves, by ingesting large amounts of phytoplankton, can become unsafe for human consumption due to the bioaccumulation of okadaic acid (OA), causing Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP). Whenever the OA concentration in shellfish farmed in a specific area exceeds the established legal limit (160 μg·kg−1 of OA equivalents), harvesting activities are compulsorily suspended. This study aimed at developing a machine learning (ML) predictive model for OA bioaccumulation in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farmed in the coastal area off the Po River Delta (Veneto, Italy), based on oceanographic data measured through remote sensing and data deriving from the monitoring activities performed by official veterinarian authorities to verify the bioaccumulation of OA in the shellfish production sites. LightGBM was used as an ML algorithm. The results of the classification algorithm on the test set showed an accuracy of 82%. Further analyses showed that false negatives were mainly associated with relatively low levels of toxins (<100 μg·kg−1), since the algorithm tended to classify low concentrations of OA as negative samples, while true positives had higher mean values of toxins (139 μg·kg−1). The results of the model could be used to build up an online early warning system made available to shellfish farmers of the study area, aimed at increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of these production activities and reducing the risk of massive product losses.
Impact of CSR Authenticity on Brand Advocacy: The Mediating Role of Brand Equity
Authors: Khan Imran , Fatma Mobin
Published: May 2023

Since authenticity reduces the inherent tension between pro-sociality and profit-seeking as well as contradictory demands from multiple stakeholders, it appears to be relevant for corporate social responsibility (CSR) judgment. The aim of this study is to examine the consumer perception of CSR authenticity and its influence on brand equity and brand advocacy in the banking sector. Additionally, this study looks into the role of brand equity as a mediator between CSR authenticity and brand advocacy. A survey method was used to collect the data. In this study, CFA and structural equation modeling with AMOS were utilized to evaluate the measurement properties and to uncover relevant correlations. The results also show that brand advocacy is better predicted to take into account the mediating role of brand equity between CSR authenticity and brand advocacy. As a result, this study adds to the body of knowledge and has significant use for managers, practitioners, and specialists. The proposed model can be used by practitioners to evaluate their CSR initiatives objectively and determine how well each one aligns with their overall goals and business objectives in order to create more successful strategies. The current study adds to the limited theoretical and empirical understanding of the connection between CSR authenticity and customer responses.
Sustainability in the Modernization of Higher Education: Curricular Transformation and Sustainable Campus—A Literature Review
Authors: Machado Carolina Feliciana , Davim J. Paulo
Published: May 2023

Supported by a literature review, the present article looks to address the issue of sustainability in the modernization of higher education. Education for sustainability and the encouragement of a sustainable lifestyle are increasingly present in the academic and professional training of individuals. Progressively more responsible for the environment in which they operate, individuals, in order to preserve their quality of life and, above all, ensure quality of life for future generations, begin to assume new behaviors, such as the rationalization of energy and water consumption, reducing the use of paper, recycling products, and eliminating the use of plastics, among other behavioral changes. In this context, considering higher education institutions as a vital source for the development of sustainability and, consequently, a key lever in the definition and implementation of strategies conducive to sustainable development, it is through the teaching, training, research, and development carried out by them that these behavioral changes occur. Aware of this issue’s relevance, the present article, consisting of a critical review of the literature, seeks to answer a set of questions, such as “What role do academic managers, teachers and students assume in the search for sustainability?”; “What measures/actions have been developed by the HEIs in terms of curricula reform and the promotion of a sustainable campus?”; “What sustainability metrics are used in higher education?”. Giving particular emphasis to some studies about sustainability in different HEIs, the results of the research allow us to conclude that education for sustainability is seen as a tool of crucial importance in the current decade of the 21st century.
Research on Shared Logistics Decision Based on Evolutionary Game and Income Distribution
Authors: Chen Ziyu , Kong Jili
Published: May 2023

As a green, efficient, and feasible solution, logistics resource sharing has received increasing attention in urban last-mile delivery. Instability in cooperation and unequal income distribution are significant constraints to logistics resource sharing. In this paper, we investigate the logistics resource sharing decision-making process among express delivery companies. First, according to the characteristics of the express delivery companies, symmetric and asymmetric game models based on evolutionary game theory are proposed, respectively. We examine the express delivery company’s choice of strategy and the major determinants of collaboration. Then, we examine the income distribution problem for subjects sharing logistics resources and propose an improved Raiffa solution that takes enterprise scale into account. Finally, certain management insights are offered for the express delivery companies to support the realization of logistics resource sharing. The results show that the evolution direction of the model is influenced by the initial state, enterprise scale, income distribution coefficient, and default penalty coefficient. Furthermore, the improved Raiffa solution takes into account the asymmetry of resource contribution of participating subjects and is more reasonable.
Experimental Testing of a Water-to-Water Heat Pump with and without IHX by Using Refrigerants R1234yf and R1234ze(E)
Authors: Bošnjaković Mladen , Santa Robert , Katinić Marko
Published: May 2023

The use of heat pumps is increasing worldwide, and knowledge of their properties is becoming more and more important. Although numerous tests regarding heat pumps have been performed, due to the large number of influencing variables, the entire range of input parameters is not covered, and there is no overall picture regarding the range of the coefficient of performance (COP) of heat pumps and their output parameters. This study extends existing research and provides a much more detailed comparison of results for the application of R1234yf and R1234ze(E) refrigerants, including the pressure drop across the evaporator, condenser, and internal heat exchanger (IHX). The appropriate mathematical model for the selected components was defined and verified experimentally. A total of 60 series of measurements were performed at different evaporating and condensing temperatures. The deviation of the numerical simulation results from the experimentally determined results was up to 7.4% for cooling capacity, 8.1% for heating capacity, 7.2% for COP and 6.8% for compressor energy consumption. This study shows that COP increases from 4.77% to 10.73% for R1234ze(E) compared to R1234yf. The use of an IHX in the thermal cycle further increases COP for both refrigerants between 2.61% and 4.99%.
Quark Matter at High Baryon Density, Conformality and Quarkyonic Matter
Authors: McLerran Larry
Published: May 2023

This paper discusses high-baryon-density quarkyonic matter in the context of recent observations concerning neutron stars and the qualitative reasons why quarkyonic matter explains certain features of the equation of state that arises from these observations. The paper then provides a qualitative discussion of the quarkyonic hypotheses, and the essential features of quarkyonic matter that explain the outstanding features of the equation of state.
Modeling Drug Resistance Emergence and Transmission in HIV-1 in the UK
Authors: Zhukova Anna , Dunn David , Gascuel Olivier
Published: May 2023

A deeper understanding of HIV-1 transmission and drug resistance mechanisms can lead to improvements in current treatment policies. However, the rates at which HIV-1 drug resistance mutations (DRMs) are acquired and which transmitted DRMs persist are multi-factorial and vary considerably between different mutations. We develop a method for the estimation of drug resistance acquisition and transmission patterns. The method uses maximum likelihood ancestral character reconstruction informed by treatment roll-out dates and allows for the analysis of very large datasets. We apply our method to transmission trees reconstructed on the data obtained from the UK HIV Drug Resistance Database to make predictions for known DRMs. Our results show important differences between DRMs, in particular between polymorphic and non-polymorphic DRMs and between the B and C subtypes. Our estimates of reversion times, based on a very large number of sequences, are compatible but more accurate than those already available in the literature, with narrower confidence intervals. We consistently find that large resistance clusters are associated with polymorphic DRMs and DRMs with long loss times, which require special surveillance. As in other high-income countries (e.g., Switzerland), the prevalence of sequences with DRMs is decreasing, but among these, the fraction of transmitted resistance is clearly increasing compared to the fraction of acquired resistance mutations. All this indicates that efforts to monitor these mutations and the emergence of resistance clusters in the population must be maintained in the long term.
Review of Slow Sand Filtration for Raw Water Treatment with Potential Application in Less-Developed Countries
Authors: Abdiyev Kaldibek , Azat Seitkhan , Kuldeyev Erzhan , Ybyraiymkul Darkhan , Kabdrakhmanova Sana , Berndtsson Ronny , Khalkhabai Bostandyk , Kabdrakhmanova Ainur , Sultakhan Shynggyskhan
Published: May 2023

Providing safe drinking water to people in developing countries is an urgent worldwide water problem and a main issue in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. One of the most efficient and cheapest methods to attain these goals is to promote the use of slow sand filters. This review shows that slow sand filters can efficiently provide safe drinking water to people living in rural communities not served by a central water supply. Probably, the most important aspect of SSF for developing and less-developed countries is its function as a biological filter. WASH problems mainly relate to the spread of viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The surface and shallow groundwater in developing countries around urban areas and settlements are often polluted by domestic wastewater containing these microbes and nutrients. Thus, SSF’s function is to treat raw water in the form of diluted wastewater where high temperature and access to nutrients probably mean a high growth rate of microbes and algae but probably also high predation and high efficiency of the SSF. However, factors that may adversely affect the removal of microbiological constituents are mainly low temperature, high and intermittent flow rates, reduced sand depth, filter immaturity, and various filter amendments. Further research is thus needed in these areas, specifically for developing countries.