bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial Overview of the Special Issue “Air Quality Monitoring for Smart Cities and Industrial Applications”
Authors: Sofia Daniele , Trucillo Paolo
Published: August 2023

The Special Issue entitled “Air Quality Monitoring for Smart Cities and Industrial Applications” addresses the pressing concern of environmental pollution, particularly air pollution, and its impact on global well-being [...]
An Open Image Resizing Framework for Remote Sensing Applications and Beyond
Authors: Occorsio Donatella , Ramella Giuliana , Themistoclakis Woula
Published: August 2023

Image resizing (IR) has a crucial role in remote sensing (RS), since an image’s level of detail depends on the spatial resolution of the acquisition sensor; its design limitations; and other factors such as (a) the weather conditions, (b) the lighting, and (c) the distance between the satellite platform and the ground targets. In this paper, we assessed some recent IR methods for RS applications (RSAs) by proposing a useful open framework to study, develop, and compare them. The proposed framework could manage any kind of color image and was instantiated as a Matlab package made freely available on Github. Here, we employed it to perform extensive experiments across multiple public RS image datasets and two new datasets included in the framework to evaluate, qualitatively and quantitatively, the performance of each method in terms of image quality and statistical measures.
Does Accelerometry at the Centre of Mass Accurately Predict the Gait Energy Expenditure in Patients with Hemiparesis?
Authors: Barassin Léo , Pradon Didier , Roche Nicolas , Slawinski Jean
Published: August 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to compare energy expenditure (EE) predicted by accelerometery (EEAcc) with indirect calorimetry (EEMETA) in individuals with hemiparesis. Methods: Twenty-four participants (12 with stroke and 12 healthy controls) performed a six-minute walk test (6MWT) during which EEMETA was measured using a portable indirect calorimetry system and EEACC was calculated using Bouten’s equation (1993) with data from a three-axis accelerometer positioned between L3 and L4. Results: The median EEMETA was 9.85 [8.18;11.89] W·kg−1 in the stroke group and 5.0 [4.56;5.46] W·kg−1 in the control group. The median EEACC was 8.57 [7.86;11.24] W·kg−1 in the control group and 8.2 [7.05;9.56] W·kg−1 in the stroke group. The EEACC and EEMETA were not significantly correlated in either the control (p = 0.8) or the stroke groups (p = 0.06). The Bland–Altman method showed a mean difference of 1.77 ± 3.65 W·kg−1 between the EEACC and EEMETA in the stroke group and −2.08 ± 1.59 W·kg−1 in the controls. Conclusions: The accuracy of the predicted EE, based on the accelerometer and the equations proposed by Bouten et al., was low in individuals with hemiparesis and impaired gait. This combination (sensor and Bouten’s equation) is not yet suitable for use as a stand-alone measure in clinical practice for the evaluation of hemiparetic patients.
Extended Higher-Order Elements with Frequency-Doubled Parameters: The Hysteresis Loops Are Always of Type II
Authors: Biolek Zdeněk , Biolek Dalibor , Biolková Viera , Kolka Zdeněk
Published: August 2023

Current MEMS (Micro Electro Mechanical Systems) can be modeled by state-dependent elements that exhibit hysteretic behavior. Examples include capacitors and inductors whose capacitances and inductances are dependent on the instantaneous state of the electromechanical system, resistors whose resistances exhibit temperature changes when the elements are actually heated, etc. Regardless of the physical background, such hysteresis manifestations can be studied uniformly in the broader framework of generic and extended higher-order elements, in which a classification of hysteretic loops into types I and II is established. The loop type is an important dynamical parameter of an element, having the potential to indicate, for example, its (in)volatility. Thus far, there is no reliable criterion to determine the type of steady loop from the defining relations of an element. This work reports on one special class of extended elements that produces type II loops under all circumstances. The paper presents hitherto unpublished connections between the frequency-doubling parameters of an element and the type of its hysteresis loop. The new findings are expressed by several theorems that allow the type of hysteresis to be inferred from the frequency behavior of the element parameter or state, and vice versa. These procedures are demonstrated with examples and verified by computer simulations.
Structural Optimization Design of a Six-Degrees-of-Freedom Serial Robot with Integrated Topology and Dimensional Parameters
Authors: Jia Jiguang , Sun Xuan
Published: August 2023

In the structural design of serial robots, topology and dimensional parameters design are independent, making it challenging to achieve synchronous optimization design between the two. To address this issue, a topology-and-dimension-parameter integrated optimization method (TPOM) is proposed by setting critical variables to connect topology layout and dimensional features. Firstly, the topology layout is extracted by the edge detection technique. Structural manufacturability reconstruction is conducted by measuring the dimensions of the layout through a program. Additionally, for the reconstructed structural layout, critical variables are set using three-dimensional software (SOLIDWORKS2021). The experiments primarily involve critical variables, quality, and deformation as variables. Then, the response surface methodology is selected to construct the stiffness–mass metamodel, and based on this, the structural deformation is analyzed. Lastly, the multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is employed to optimize the critical variables, and an optimized structure is established for validation. The results indicate that the proposed method (TPOM) reduces the mass of the structure by 15% while maintaining its stiffness. In addition, the deformation of the whole structure is less than 0.352 mm, which meets the requirements of industrial applications. Through quantitative analysis of the experimental results, the feasibility and superiority of the proposed method have been demonstrated.
Objective Methods of Muscle Tone Diagnosis and Their Application—A Critical Review
Authors: Kopecká Barbora , Ravnik David , Jelen Karel , Bittner Václav
Published: August 2023

“Muscle tone” is a clinically important and widely used term and palpation is a crucial skill for its diagnosis. However, the term is defined rather vaguely, and palpation is not measurable objectively. Therefore, several methods have been developed to measure muscle tone objectively, in terms of biomechanical properties of the muscle. This article aims to summarize these approaches. Through database searches, we identified those studies related to objective muscle tone measurement in vivo, in situ. Based on them, we described existing methods and devices and compared their reliability. Furthermore, we presented an extensive list of the use of these methods in different fields of research. Although it is believed by some authors that palpation cannot be replaced by a mechanical device, several methods have already proved their utility in muscle biomechanical property diagnosis. There appear to be two issues preventing wider usage of these objective methods in clinical practice. Firstly, a high variability of their reliability, and secondly, a lack of valid mathematical models that would provide the observed mechanical characteristics with a clear physical significance and allow the results to be compared with each other.
UAV-YOLOv8: A Small-Object-Detection Model Based on Improved YOLOv8 for UAV Aerial Photography Scenarios
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Yanfei , An Pei , Hong Hanyu , Hu Jinghu , Huang Tiange
Published: August 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) object detection plays a crucial role in civil, commercial, and military domains. However, the high proportion of small objects in UAV images and the limited platform resources lead to the low accuracy of most of the existing detection models embedded in UAVs, and it is difficult to strike a good balance between detection performance and resource consumption. To alleviate the above problems, we optimize YOLOv8 and propose an object detection model based on UAV aerial photography scenarios, called UAV-YOLOv8. Firstly, Wise-IoU (WIoU) v3 is used as a bounding box regression loss, and a wise gradient allocation strategy makes the model focus more on common-quality samples, thus improving the localization ability of the model. Secondly, an attention mechanism called BiFormer is introduced to optimize the backbone network, which improves the model’s attention to critical information. Finally, we design a feature processing module named Focal FasterNet block (FFNB) and propose two new detection scales based on this module, which makes the shallow features and deep features fully integrated. The proposed multiscale feature fusion network substantially increased the detection performance of the model and reduces the missed detection rate of small objects. The experimental results show that our model has fewer parameters compared to the baseline model and has a mean detection accuracy higher than the baseline model by 7.7%. Compared with other mainstream models, the overall performance of our model is much better. The proposed method effectively improves the ability to detect small objects. There is room to optimize the detection effectiveness of our model for small and feature-less objects (such as bicycle-type vehicles), as we will address in subsequent research.
A Systematic Review of Data-Driven Attack Detection Trends in IoT
Authors: Haque Safwana , El-Moussa Fadi , Komninos Nikos , Muttukrishnan Rajarajan
Published: August 2023

The Internet of Things is perhaps a concept that the world cannot be imagined without today, having become intertwined in our everyday lives in the domestic, corporate and industrial spheres. However, irrespective of the convenience, ease and connectivity provided by the Internet of Things, the security issues and attacks faced by this technological framework are equally alarming and undeniable. In order to address these various security issues, researchers race against evolving technology, trends and attacker expertise. Though much work has been carried out on network security to date, it is still seen to be lagging in the field of Internet of Things networks. This study surveys the latest trends used in security measures for threat detection, primarily focusing on the machine learning and deep learning techniques applied to Internet of Things datasets. It aims to provide an overview of the IoT datasets available today, trends in machine learning and deep learning usage, and the efficiencies of these algorithms on a variety of relevant datasets. The results of this comprehensive survey can serve as a guide and resource for identifying the various datasets, experiments carried out and future research directions in this field.
IoT Solutions and AI-Based Frameworks for Masked-Face and Face Recognition to Fight the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Al-Nabulsi Jamal , Turab Nidal , Owida Hamza Abu , Al-Naami Bassam , De Fazio Roberto , Visconti Paolo
Published: August 2023

A global health emergency resulted from the COVID-19 epidemic. Image recognition techniques are a useful tool for limiting the spread of the pandemic; indeed, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of face masks in public places as a form of protection against contagion. Hence, innovative systems and algorithms were deployed to rapidly screen a large number of people with faces covered by masks. In this article, we analyze the current state of research and future directions in algorithms and systems for masked-face recognition. First, the paper discusses the importance and applications of facial and face mask recognition, introducing the main approaches. Afterward, we review the recent facial recognition frameworks and systems based on Convolution Neural Networks, deep learning, machine learning, and MobilNet techniques. In detail, we analyze and critically discuss recent scientific works and systems which employ machine learning (ML) and deep learning tools for promptly recognizing masked faces. Also, Internet of Things (IoT)-based sensors, implementing ML and DL algorithms, were described to keep track of the number of persons donning face masks and notify the proper authorities. Afterward, the main challenges and open issues that should be solved in future studies and systems are discussed. Finally, comparative analysis and discussion are reported, providing useful insights for outlining the next generation of face recognition systems.
Compounded Hair Solutions and Foams Containing Minoxidil: Does the Color Change Impact Stability?
Authors: Polonini Hudson C. , Silva Carolina C. V.
Published: August 2023

An increasing number of pharmacies around the world are producing hair solutions and foams containing minoxidil for alopecia, commonly using ready-to-use vehicles such as TrichoSolTM or TrichoFoamTM. However, it is paramount to determine the chemical and microbiological compatibility of these formulations so they can be safely implemented as vehicles of choice. Also, these products usually suffer from a change of color over time, which leads to many patients prematurely discontinuing treatment. As long-term treatment is recommended, this study aimed to assess the physical–chemical and microbiological stability and investigate the color change of compounded minoxidil formulations. For that, HPLC analyses and antimicrobial effectiveness testing were conducted in a bracketed study covering concentrations from 1.0% to 7.0% of minoxidil. HPLC, pH, and metals in 5.0% minoxidil compounded products were determined using ICP-MS to evaluate the mechanisms involved in their color change. The stability of the products varied from 120 to 380 days. The color change was remarkably noticeable, but apart from this parameter, no other quality attribute was affected throughout this period, including minoxidil content, which presented only minor fluctuations. No precipitation was observed, and pH was relatively stable. It is not expected that this yellow color will impact effectiveness. Finally, we created an indicative color chart of the behavior of minoxidil in the studied vehicles.
Deep Learning for Soybean Monitoring and Management
Authors: Barbedo Jayme Garcia Arnal
Published: August 2023

Artificial intelligence is more present than ever in virtually all sectors of society. This is in large part due to the development of increasingly powerful deep learning models capable of tackling classification problems that were previously untreatable. As a result, there has been a proliferation of scientific articles applying deep learning to a plethora of different problems. The interest in deep learning in agriculture has been continuously growing since the inception of this type of technique in the early 2010s. Soybeans, being one of the most important agricultural commodities, has frequently been the target of efforts in this regard. In this context, it can be challenging to keep track of a constantly evolving state of the art. This review characterizes the current state of the art of deep learning applied to soybean crops, detailing the main advancements achieved so far and, more importantly, providing an in-depth analysis of the main challenges and research gaps that still remain. The ultimate goal is to facilitate the leap from academic research to technologies that actually work under the difficult conditions found in the the field.
Exploring the Influence of Diverse Viticultural Systems on Soil Health Metrics in the Northern Black Sea Region
Authors: Gabechaya Valeria , Andreeva Irina , Morev Dmitriy , Yaroslavtsev Alexis , Neaman Alexander , Vasenev Ivan
Published: August 2023

The present study investigates the functionalecological status of typical light clay soils in vineyards in the southern region of Crimea, using both traditional (including fallow soils) and organic land-use systems. This analysis was carried out by examining agrochemical indicators, microbial respiratory activity, microbial biomass, and the ecological status of the microbial community. In organic vineyard soils, the mean substrate-induced respiration, microbial biomass carbon and the ratio of microbial biomass to organic carbon were found to be 2.8, 4.0, and 4.1 times higher, respectively, compared to conventional farm soils. On the contrary, the microbial metabolic coefficient was 1.4 times lower, signifying more favorable conditions for the functioning of the soil microbiota. The increased mobile sulfur content in organic vineyard soils (18.3 mg kg−1 vs. 8.0 mg kg−1 in traditional farms) and inadequate mobile phosphorus supply in some farms present potential risks. The suboptimal functional state of the microbiome in fallow soils previously under traditional plant protection necessitates comprehensive ecotoxicological analyses before development. Assessing the soil functional ecological status through an ecophysiological evaluation of the microbiome is vital for understanding ampelocenosis soils and making informed decisions on vineyard management practices.
The Impact of Green Organizational Capabilities on Competitive Advantage of Construction Enterprises in Vietnam: The Mediating Role of Green Innovation
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Hung , Nguyen Khanh Linh , Nguyen Thi Van Ha , Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen , Ta Van Loi
Published: August 2023

The escalating environmental pollution primarily caused by construction enterprises has raised concerns about the urgent need for sustainable practices. This study aims to establish a novel framework of Green Organizational Capabilities (GOC) for construction enterprises in Vietnam. Additionally, it addresses the research gap regarding the relationship between GOC and Competitive Advantage (CA) while also exploring the mediating effect of Green Innovation (GI). Employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), we simultaneously model and estimate the intricate relationships among GOC, GI, and CA, which are often unobservable and measured indirectly by the Likert scale point. Through SEM, we account for measurement errors in observed variables and test hypotheses from a sample of 278 valid respondents. The findings reveal that (1) Organizational capabilities are being transformed into GOC, encompassing three key capabilities: Operational Capabilities (OC), Green Dynamic Capabilities (GDC), and Green Creativity (GC); (2) Only GDC and GC have a positive impact on CA; and (3) There is a mediating role of GI on the relation between GC, GDC, and CA. These results highlight the significance of focusing on developing GDC and GC to bolster green innovation practices and achieve a competitive edge. Construction companies can leverage these insights to enhance their sustainability efforts and seize opportunities for growth in the green economy.
Relationship between Self-Assessed Productivity, Gender and Age in Mixed-Mode and Fully Air-Conditioned Offices in Florianópolis, Brazil
Authors: Reali João Pedro Gemelli , Scolaro Taylana Piccinini , Ghisi Enedir , Rupp Ricardo Forgiarini
Published: August 2023

The quality of the indoor environment and anthropometric parameters influence the users’ productivity in a building. This study aims to evaluate the influence of environmental and anthropometric characteristics on the self-assessed productivity of office building users in the humid subtropical climate of Florianópolis, Brazil. Three hybrid buildings equipped with air-conditioning and natural ventilation and one centrally air-conditioned building were considered. Indoor environmental data were obtained by means of measurements. Electronic questionnaires collected anthropometric characteristics and the perception of productivity by the users. The analysis of the users’ performance was performed using box diagrams. The results showed that women and occupants over 50 years old preferred high temperatures during the use of natural ventilation. When air-conditioning was on, the perception of productivity concerning the operative temperature did not show significant differences between anthropometric variables. It was concluded that the use of air-conditioning reduced the influence of anthropometric characteristics on self-assessed productivity and that people maintained their work performance despite the higher internal temperature variations during natural ventilation operation.
Farmers’ Understanding about Impact of Climate Change on Cropping Systems and Nutrition: A study on Dingaputa Haor of Netrakona District in Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Mafizul , Sarker Uttam Kumer , Monira Sirajam , Kheya Sinthia Afsana , Kaysar Md. Salahuddin , Ali Md. Imran , Salam Moin Us , Hwang Hancheol , Hashem Abeer , Abd_Allah Elsayed Fathi , Uddin Md. Romij
Published: August 2023

With a view to creating an inventory of the existing climatic and nutritional condition of the haor (low-lying land) areas along with their cropping systems, this research was carried out in the Dingaputa haor of the Netrakona district of Bangladesh. The main objective was to study the farmers’ concept of climate change issues and their responses in respect to cropping systems and nutrition. This study is crucial for comparing the existing situation and taking future decisions. The feasibility and strategic direction of the present haor agriculture were evaluated using strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis and matrices. The results showed that the farmers’ understanding of climate change was much lower than expected; a maximum of 73.2% farmers pointed out that climate change means frequent flooding, and more than 90% of farmers opined that temperature, early flooding, and lightning have increased over time. They strongly agreed that boro (dry-season-irrigated) rice is affected more frequently by natural hazards than in previous times. Very few farmers (only 14.4%) have taken adaptation strategies, which are less climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive. Only 10.8% of farmers cultivated oilseeds, pulses, and vegetables other than boro rice. A lack of technological knowledge is the main obstacle to practicing climate-resilient, modern cultivation practices. The trends of cultivation and consumption of vegetables by haor farmers are very low, whereas they are agreeable to cultivating nutrition-sensitive and high-value crops if they have technical support. The major strengths of haor agriculture are fertile soil and rice surplus, whereas weaknesses are monocropping and malnutrition.
Will the Cows and Chickens Come Home? Perspectives of Australian and Brazilian Beef and Poultry Farmers towards Diversification
Authors: Bogueva Diana , Marques Maria , Molento Carla Forte Maiolino , Marinova Dora , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: August 2023

Farmers across the world face criticism on environmental and animal welfare concerns, as well as are increasingly being affected by climate change. We explored the willingness of cattle and poultry producers in Australia and Brazil to consider alternative enterprises and diversification of their businesses. Twenty-seven farmers, 14 from Australia and 13 from Brazil, current or former beef or poultry producers, were interviewed to explore their perspectives about making such changes. The interviews were qualitatively analysed using Atlas.ti to generate key insights. Although the farmers were actively interested or had engaged in alternative enterprises, they recognised these presented a less certain future if they had been previously contracted to large companies. Some were critical of their respective governments and former contract companies for lack of assistance in finding suitable alternative enterprises. Farmers showed inconsistent recognition of the current challenges of animal production in relation to climate change. Our results indicate that most farmers are open to diversifying, but they face many challenges that have serious connotations. Public policies, knowledge transfer and a secure demand for alternative products emerged as major influential factors for Australian and Brazilian farmers in a fast and just transition from meat cattle and chicken raising to alternative activities.
Beyond Smart: How ICT Is Enabling Sustainable Cities of the Future
Authors: Shah Hanifa
Published: August 2023

Cities around the world face pressing sustainability challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and unsustainable growth. Smart cities have emerged as a response to these challenges, leveraging information and communication technologies (ICTs) to create more efficient and liveable urban environments. However, the concept of smart cities is often defined in vague and ideologically driven terms that lack clear guidelines for promoting sustainability. In this study, we use qualitative methods to examine how the use of ICTs can support the goals of sustainability in smart city development, resulting in what we call a ‘smart sustainable city’. Drawing on a case study involving stakeholder analysis, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis, we investigate the key roles of local government, ICT firms, and citizens in shaping sustainable urban development through smart city initiatives. Our findings shed light on the potential of ICTs to promote sustainability in smart cities and provide insights for policymakers, practitioners, and scholars working towards creating more sustainable urban environments. The findings of this research showed that ICT’s role in supporting sustainability in smart cities relies on understanding the interests and priorities of civic, ICT firms, and citizens, promoting effective collaboration and avoiding self-serving outcomes.
The Treacherous Road to Sustainable Agriculture: Lessons from Israeli Farmers and the Need to Upscale the Debate
Authors: Luz Nimrod
Published: August 2023

The current global agrifood system is increasingly fragile and despite a plethora of scientific research, progress in national and global policies setting commendable goals towards more sustainable agriculture is still sluggish. This paper argues that if the efforts continue to concentrate on farmers and rest solely on “fixing” modes of production at the farm level, the chances of arriving at significant changes are meagre. By conjugating Lefebvre’s triad of spaces and geographic explorations on politics of scale with data harvested over three years of qualitative research in farms, this paper explores Israeli farmers’ conduct in the field as they face many challenges at various scales. The paper presents their vulnerability against forces on a multiscalar level which present numerous obstacles in operating their farms. Addressing these challenges to allow them to integrate more sustainable modes of operation would require upscaling the debate and the taking of responsibility from all stakeholders concerned, from the farm level to global players.
The Study on Solving Large Pore Heat Transfer Simulation in Malan Loess Based on Volume Averaging Method Combined with CT Scan Images
Authors: Lu Yangchun , Lu Ting , Lu Yudong , Wang Bo , Zeng Guanghao , Zhang Xu
Published: August 2023

Malan loess is a wind-formed sediment in arid and semi-arid regions and is an important constituent of the Earth’s critical zone. Therefore, the study of the relationship between microstructure and heat transfer in Malan loess is of great significance for the in-depth understanding of the heat transfer mechanism and the accurate prediction of the heat transfer properties of intact loess. In order to quantitatively characterize the heat transfer processes in the two-phase medium of solid particles and gas pores in the intact loess, this study used modern computed tomography to CT scan the Malan loess in Huan County, Gansu Province, the western part of the Loess Plateau, China and used the specific yield of the intact Malan loess as the parameter basis for extracting the threshold segmentation of the large pores in the scanned images for the three-dimensional reconstruction of the connected large pores. An experimental space for heat conduction of intact Malan loess was constructed, and the surface temperature of Malan loess was measured on the surface of the space with a thermal imager. The simulation of the heat conduction process was carried out using the solution program in AVIZO (2019) software using the volume averaging method combined with CT scanning to reconstruct the 3D pores. The experiments of heat conduction in the intact Malan loess showed that for a given external temperature pressure, the temperature decreases along the heat flow direction as a whole. The temperature of the pores in the normal plane along the heat flow direction is higher than the temperature of the solid skeleton. Abnormal temperature points were formed at the junction of the surface and internal pores of Maran loess, and the temperature of the jointed macropores was about 1 °C higher at the surface of the sample than that of the surrounding solid skeleton. Simulation of heat conduction in Malan loess showed that the heat transfer process in Malan loess was preferentially conducted along the large pores and then the heat was transferred to the surrounding Malan loess particle skeleton. The simulation results of heat conduction in Malan loess were in high agreement with the experimental results of heat conduction in Malan loess, which verifies the reliability of the calculated model.
Dynamic Analysis of the Carbon Footprint in Winter Wheat Production Based on Lifecycle Assessment and the LMDI Model: A Case Study of Jiangsu Province in China
Authors: He Rundong , Dong Jiashuo , Zhang Xuesong , Zheng Feng , Hu Zhenghua
Published: August 2023

This study applies the lifecycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the carbon footprint within the winter wheat production system in Jiangsu Province during 2011–2020. Additionally, the study employs the Logarithmic Mean Division Index (LMDI) to analyze the driving factors behind its changes. The results show that (1) the greenhouse gas emissions from wheat production in the region increased from 4837.8 kgCO2-eq/hm2 to 5701.1 kgCO2-eq/hm2 with an annual average increase of 95.9 kgCO2-eq/hm2; (2) the primary carbon sequestration method for wheat production in Jiangsu Province is straw returning; (3) the carbon footprint of wheat at yield scale and value scale generally increased during the period, whereas the carbon footprint at cost scale decreased over the years; (4) the driving factors effects’ cumulative contribution rates are as follows: economic level > population size > employment structure > production structure > production efficiency. This research explores the dynamic changes and driving factors influencing the carbon footprint associated with winter wheat production in Jiangsu Province, which could provide theoretical references for the future clean production of winter wheat.
Evaluation of Urban Resource Environmental Carrying Capacity and Land Spatial Development Suitability in a Semiarid Area of the Yellow River Basin
Authors: Chen Guoqing , Wang Saifei
Published: August 2023

At present, the carrying capacity of resources and the environment in some areas has reached an upper limit, and the problems of ecological destruction and environmental pollution have become increasingly prominent. The overexploitation and disorderly development of land space, resulting in the spatial imbalance between the population economy and the resource environment, is one of the root causes of excessive resource consumption, ecological degradation, and environmental pollution. Resource and environmental carrying capacity and suitability evaluation of land space development is the basis of land space planning. It provides conditions for the modernization of land space governance. The framework provided by the “ Double Evaluation Guide (Trial) “ is universal. It is necessary to adapt it to local conditions and to achieve the ” Double Evalution” results, according to the characteristics of regional development. Taking Hohhot as the research area, which is based on the “Guide”, involves selecting convincing and credible evaluation factors and using the single factor integration method and the discriminant matrix method. The “double evaluation” of Hohhot was also analyzed. This provides basic data for regional high-quality development and land space planning. The results show the following: (1) The ecological function of Hohhot is good. The areas with low importance for ecological protection accounted for about 18%, the areas with medium ecological protection accounted for about 62%, and the areas with high ecological protection accounted for about 21%. (2) The carrying capacity of agricultural function in Hohhot is medium. The carrying capacity of the low polar region accounted for about 23%, the medium polar region’s carrying capacity accounted for about 71%, and the high polar region’s carrying capacity accounted for about 6%. (3) The urban function carrying capacity of Hohhot is medium. The carrying capacity of the low-grade area accounted for about 25%, the medium-grade area’s carrying capacity accounted for about 55%, and the high-grade area’s carrying capacity accounted for about 21%. (4) The overall agricultural production suitability grade of Hohhot is not suitable. (5) The suitability of urban construction in Hohhot is general. The unsuitable area accounts for about 40%, the more suitable area accounts for about 45%, and the most suitable area accounts for about 15%.
How to Break the Bottleneck of Potato Production Sustainable Growth—A Survey from Potato Main Producing Areas in China
Authors: Lun Runqi , Luo Qiyou , Gao Mingjie , Li Guojing , Wei Tengda
Published: August 2023

China is the world’s largest potato producer, and the potato’s role in ensuring food security and rural development is irreplaceable. Therefore, how to achieve sustainable growth in potato production has attracted widespread attention from academia. However, few existing studies have analyzed how to achieve sustainable growth in main potato-producing areas based on farmers’ micro perspectives in terms of both technical efficiency and output elasticity of input factor. This paper investigates the output elasticities of input factors, technical efficiency, and its influencing factors among 398 potato farmers from China’s main potato-producing regions in 2021 to fill this knowledge gap. The stochastic frontier production is applied to calculate the technical efficiency and elasticities of input factors in main potato-producing areas. The Tobit model is utilized to analyze influencing factors of technical efficiency. Our findings indicate that the technical efficiency of the main potato production regions is 0.67, with an efficiency loss of 0.33. And, the output elasticity of land input and labor input is negative, and the output elasticity of capital input is positive. Moreover, the factors that affect the technical efficiency in main potato-producing areas include age, whether to be a village leader, income from other crops, labor input, potato price, and disaster impact. Our findings suggest that the agricultural authorities should strengthen the cultivation of potato producers, control the scale of potato production, and optimize the allocation of input factors.
Symbolic 4-Plithogenic Rings and 5-Plithogenic Rings
Authors: Hatip Ahmed
Published: August 2023

Symbolic n-plithogenic algebraic structures are considered as symmetric generalizations of classical algebraic structures because they have n + 1 symmetric components. This paper is dedicated to generalizing symbolic 3-plithogenic rings by defining symbolic 4-plithogenic rings and 5-plithogenic rings; these new classes of n-symbolic plithogenic algebraic structures will be defined for the first time, and their algebraic substructures will be studied. AH structures are considered to be a sign of the presence of symmetry within these types of ring, as they consist of several parts that are similar in structure and symmetrical, and when combined with each other, they have a broader structure resembling the classical consonant structure. Many related substructures will be presented such as 4-plithogenic/5-plithogenic AH-ideals, 4-plithogenic/5-plithogenic AH-homomorphisms, and 4-plithogenic AHS-isomorphisms will be discussed. We will show our results in terms of theorems, with many clear numerical examples that explain the novelty of this work.
Detection of Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer with [18F]DCFPyL PET/CT: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with a Focus on Correlations with Serum Prostate-Specific Antigen Parameters
Authors: Sadaghiani Mohammad S. , Sheikhbahaei Sara , Al-Zaghal Abdullah , Solnes Lilja B. , Pomper Martin G. , Oldan Jorge D. , Ulaner Gary A. , Gorin Michael A. , Rowe Steven P.
Published: August 2023

[18F]DCFPyL is increasingly used for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) mediated imaging of men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (BRPCa). In this meta-analysis, which is updated with the addition of multiple new studies, including the definitive phase III CONDOR trial, we discuss the detection efficiency of [18F]DCFPyL in BRPCa patients. PubMed was searched on 29 September 2022. Studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of [18F]DCFPyL among patients with BRPCa were included. The overall pooled detection rate with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated among all included studies and stratified among patients with PSA ≥ 2 vs. <2 ng/mL and with PSA ≥ 0.5 vs. <0.5 ng/mL. The association of detection efficiency with pooled PSA doubling time from two studies was calculated. Seventeen manuscripts, including 2252 patients, met the inclusion criteria and were used for data extraction. A previous meta-analysis reported that the pooled detection rate was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.77–0.85), while our study showed a pooled overall detection rate of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.66–0.79). An increased proportion of positive scans were found in patients with PSA ≥ 2 vs. <2 ng/mL and PSA ≥ 0.5 vs. <0.5 ng/mL. No significant difference was found in detection efficiency between those with PSA doubling time ≥ 12 vs. <12 months. Detection efficiency is statistically related to serum PSA levels but not to PSA doubling time based on available data. The detection efficiency of [18F]DCFPyL in men with BRPCa has trended down since a previous meta-analysis, which may reflect increasingly stringent inclusion criteria for studies over time.
Distribution, Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria, and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water in Fen River, China
Authors: Li Huixian , Li Yue , Guo Guanghui , Li Yang , Zhang Ruiqing , Feng Chenglian , Zhang Yahui
Published: August 2023

Due to a lack of toxicity reference values that match the regional environmental characteristics, the ecological risk of metals in water bodies cannot be accurately assessed. The Fen River is the second-largest tributary of the Yellow River in China, and the sustainability of this area is threatened by heavy metal pollution caused by intensive industrial and agricultural activities. In this study, site-specific water quality criteria (WQCs) for heavy metals in the Fen River were derived considering toxicity data from native aquatic organisms and regional water quality factors (e.g., water hardness). Short-term WQCs for Mn, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Ni were 2026.15, 98.62, 10.02, 63.07, 6.06, 166.74, and 132.73 μg/L, respectively, and long-term WQCs were 166.53, 29.71, 2.18, 19.29, 4.15, 6.38, and 14.76 μg/L, respectively. The distribution characteristics of these metals during the wet season in 2020 were explored, and their average concentrations in the river water did not exceed the environmental quality standards for surface water in China but were higher than the world average levels. Cr was the main pollutant in the sampling sites of Yaodu region, Hongdong Shitan, Xiao River, and Duanchun River, as was Pb in Duanchun River. Based on the site-specific WQCs, using hazardous quotient (HQ) and margin of safety (MOS10) approaches, a high risk of Pb was identified in the Duanchun River, and a medium risk of Cr might occur at midstream and downstream of Yaodu and Xiaodian. The results will provide a reference basis for heavy metal pollution control and water quality management in the Fen River.
Of Seven New K+ Channel Inhibitor Peptides of Centruroides bonito, α-KTx 2.24 Has a Picomolar Affinity for Kv1.2
Authors: Shakeel Kashmala , Olamendi-Portugal Timoteo , Naseem Muhammad Umair , Becerril Baltazar , Zamudio Fernando Z. , Delgado-Prudencio Gustavo , Possani Lourival Domingos , Panyi Gyorgy
Published: August 2023

Seven new peptides denominated CboK1 to CboK7 were isolated from the venom of the Mexican scorpion Centruroides bonito and their primary structures were determined. The molecular weights ranged between 3760.4 Da and 4357.9 Da, containing 32 to 39 amino acid residues with three putative disulfide bridges. The comparison of amino acid sequences with known potassium scorpion toxins (KTx) and phylogenetic analysis revealed that CboK1 (α-KTx 10.5) and CboK2 (α-KTx 10.6) belong to the α-KTx 10.x subfamily, whereas CboK3 (α-KTx 2.22), CboK4 (α-KTx 2.23), CboK6 (α-KTx 2.21), and CboK7 (α-KTx 2.24) bear > 95% amino acid similarity with members of the α-KTx 2.x subfamily, and CboK5 is identical to Ce3 toxin (α-KTx 2.10). Electrophysiological assays demonstrated that except CboK1, all six other peptides blocked the Kv1.2 channel with Kd values in the picomolar range (24–763 pM) and inhibited the Kv1.3 channel with comparatively less potency (Kd values between 20–171 nM). CboK3 and CboK4 inhibited less than 10% and CboK7 inhibited about 42% of Kv1.1 currents at 100 nM concentration. Among all, CboK7 showed out-standing affinity for Kv1.2 (Kd = 24 pM), as well as high selectivity over Kv1.3 (850-fold) and Kv1.1 (~6000-fold). These characteristics of CboK7 may provide a framework for developing tools to treat Kv1.2-related channelopathies.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Epidemiology of Human Blastocystis spp. Infection in Malaysia
Authors: Kumarasamy Vinoth , Rajamanikam Arutchelvan , Anbazhagan Deepa , Atroosh Wahib Mohammed , Azzani Meram , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Abdullah Syamsa Rizal
Published: August 2023

Blastocystis spp. is a unicellular enteric protozoan parasite in humans with a controversial role in disease etiology. It is common in developing countries among immunocompromised patients and people who have close contact with animals. In this study, we have systematically reviewed previous studies on the distribution and genotypes of human Blastocystis infection in Peninsular Malaysia. Studies examining the prevalence of Blastocystis in diverse demographics, including rural, urban, comorbid conditions, and high-risk populations, were taken into consideration. The infection has been reported in nine states; the total percentage of infection was 17.8% (1671/9397), with the most cases in Pahang (27.3%) and the least in Johor (3.4%). Molecular studies revealed the presence of six subtypes: ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST5, and ST6. ST3 was reported as the predominant subtype in all the states, with a prevalence of 54.7% (338/618). The findings provide greater clarity on the epidemiology of Blastocystis in Malaysia, which will help in policy making towards planning and strategizing control measures against the parasite.
Additional Health Benefits Observed following a Nature Walk Compared to a Green Urban Walk in Healthy Females
Authors: Todorova Yvanna , Wellings Izzy , Thompson Holly , Barutcu Asya , James Lewis , Bishop Nicolette , O’Donnell Emma , Shaw Colin , Longman Daniel P.
Published: August 2023

Chronic stress and obesity are major public health concerns and represent significant risk factors for a plethora of non-communicable diseases. Physical exercise represents a valuable health intervention in both cases, providing benefits for mental and physical health, as well as appetite regulation. While the emerging field of ‘green exercise’ suggests that the presence of nature may amplify the benefits of exercise, the quality of evidence has been questioned. To address this, we recruited 22 healthy females to complete a crossover randomised trial comprising a 75 min walk in both a forest and urban area, separated by 2–7 days. Markers of mood (Profile of Mood States), stress (sympathetic-adreno-medullar [resting heart rate, blood pressure] and hypothalamic–pituitary axis activation [salivary cortisol]) and eating behaviour (energy intake and salivary ghrelin) were measured before and after each walk. While both walking interventions improved mood and reduced physiological stress, the nature intervention (but not the urban intervention) also led to further improvements in total mood disturbance, depression, confusion and esteem-related affect (F(1,21) ≥ 4.98, p ≤ 0.037). Salivary ghrelin (F(20) = 0.229, p = 0.637) and energy intake (t(20) = −0.54, p = 0.60) did not respond differently in the two environments. Overall, while walking improved mood and physiological stress in both environments, walking in a forested environment provided additional benefits for mood not seen following the urban walk.
Rendezvous with Vaccinia Virus in the Post-smallpox Era: R&D Advances
Authors: Wang Yuxiang
Published: August 2023

Smallpox was eradicated in less than 200 years after Edward Jenner’s practice of cowpox variolation in 1796. The forty-three years of us living free of smallpox, beginning in 1979, never truly separated us from poxviruses. The recent outbreak of monkeypox in May 2022 might well warn us of the necessity of keeping up both the scientific research and public awareness of poxviruses. One of them in particular, the vaccinia virus (VACV), has been extensively studied as a vector given its broad host range, extraordinary thermal stability, and exceptional immunogenicity. Unceasing fundamental biological research on VACV provides us with a better understanding of its genetic elements, involvement in cellular signaling pathways, and modulation of host immune responses. This enables the rational design of safer and more efficacious next-generation vectors. To address the new technological advancement within the past decade in VACV research, this review covers the studies of viral immunomodulatory genes, modifications in commonly used vectors, novel mechanisms for rapid generation and purification of recombinant virus, and several other innovative approaches to studying its biology.
Lives of Skin Lesions in Monkeypox: Histomorphological, Immunohistochemical, and Clinical Correlations in a Small Case Series
Authors: Schmidle Paul , Leson Sonja , Wieland Ulrike , Böer-Auer Almut , Metze Dieter , Braun Stephan A.
Published: August 2023

Monkeypox (mpox), a former rare viral zoonosis, has increasingly made it into the public eye since the major outbreak that started in May 2022. Mpox presents with skin lesions that change over time and go through different stages (macular, papular, pustular, and early and late ulceration). In this study, we evaluated skin biopsies of all stages. Therefore, five biopsies from four patients were analyzed histologically, immunohistochemically with anti-Vaccinia virus antibodies, and electron-microscopically. Notably, the early macular stage only showed subtle viropathic changes; it did not express of Orthopoxvirus proteins in immunohistochemistry and therefore can easily be missed histologically. In later stages, immunohistochemistry with anti-Vaccinia virus antibodies might be useful to distinguish mpox from differential diagnoses such as herpes virus infections. In the ulcerative stages, the identified occlusive vasculopathic changes could be an explanation for the severe pain of the lesions reported by some patients. Despite the small number of samples examined, our analysis suggests that the histological findings of mpox are highly dependent on the stage of the biopsied lesion. Therefore, knowledge of all different stages of histology is necessary to reliably diagnose mpox histologically, especially when molecular testing is not available.