bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cyclic Direct Shear Testing of a Sand with Waste Tires
Authors: Yıldız Özgür , Cabalar Ali Firat
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the cyclic behavior of sand mixed with waste tires by using a series of strain-controlled cyclic direct shear tests under constant normal load (CNL) conditions. Crushed Stone Sand (CSS) was used in the experimental studies. The sand grains have angular shapes and sizes changing from 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Two different types of waste tires were used in the experiments; (i) tire crumb (TC), and (ii) tire buffing (TB). The TC grains have an angular shape and size between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm, whereas TB grains used were found to be fiber-shaped, with dimensions changing from 1 mm to 9 mm, and an aspect ratio of about 1:5. The tests were carried out under 100 kPa vertical effective stress on the sand with 0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10% waste tire contents. The testing results were found to be highly dependent on both the type and amount of waste tires in the mixtures. Furthermore, the behavior of the mixtures was estimated by the Bayesian Regularization Neural Network (BRNN) prediction model, for further use by researchers. The performance of the proposed BRNN model was found to provide a quite high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.96).
Relationship between Water Use and per Capita Income with Environmental Kuznets Curve of Developing Countries: A Case Study in Jiangsu Province, China
Authors: He Hai , Zhang Lu , Zhou Shenbei , Hou Jiaping , Ji Shengcai
Published: December 2022

The relationship between economic growth and environmental variation is an important issue of sustainable development for human beings, especially in developing countries. However, developing countries usually use the standards of developed countries when dealing with environmental issues, which makes the relationship exhibit different characteristics than it does in developed countries. In order to realize a balance relationship between water use and income per capita in developing countries, a multivariable environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) simulation model based on the grey absolute correlation method was modified to improve the description of the balance relationship between water use and per capita income in the Jiangsu Province of China from 2005 to 2017. The results showed that the industrial and agricultural water uses first increased and then decreased, which agreed with an inverted “U” characteristic. The industrial water use was in the declining stage of the inverted “U” characteristic, while the agricultural water use was in a transition phase of the inverted “U” characteristic. However, the domestic water use showed an increasing trend, and it is difficult to estimate whether it showed an inverted “U” characteristic. Simultaneously, different watershed partitions in Jiangsu Province presented different EKC characteristics. In the three different watershed zoning regions of Jiangsu Province, the total water use of the Tai Lake Basin and the Yangtze River Basin exhibited the typical inverted “U” characteristic, while the Huai River Basin was just in the increasing stage. Moreover, the improved multivariable EKC model was suitable to describe the inverted U-shaped variation characteristics of water use, and the developed model outperformed the univariate EKC model in the study area. Based on the characteristics of the EKC, policy ideas for enhancing the coordination among water resources, the economy, and the ecological environment were proposed in order to achieve sustainable development.
A Novel Method for Estimating Biomass and Carbon Sequestration in Tropical Rainforest Areas Based on Remote Sensing Imagery: A Case Study in the Kon Ha Nung Plateau, Vietnam
Authors: Dang Hoi Nguyen , Ba Duy Dinh , Trung Dung Ngo , Viet Hieu Nguyen Huu
Published: December 2022

Forest ecosystems play a key role in sustaining life on this planet, given their functions in carbon storage, oxygen production, and the water cycle. To date, calculations of the biomass and carbon absorption capacity of forest ecosystems—especially tropical rainforests—have been quite limited, especially in Vietnam. By applying remote sensing materials, geographic information systems (GIS) facilitate the synchronized estimation of both biomass and ability of forest ecosystems to absorb carbon over large spatial ranges. In this study, we calculated the biomass of tropical rainforest vegetation in the Kon Ha Nung Plateau, Vietnam, according to four regression models based on Sentinel-2 satellite image data, forest reserve maps, and forest survey standard cell data (including 19 standard cells for 2016 and 44 standard cells for 2021). The results of the data comparison for the four biomass computing models (log-log, log-lin, lin-log, and lin-lin) demonstrated that the models with the highest accuracy were the lin-log model for 2016 (with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.76) and the lin-log model for 2021 (with a correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.765). Based on the analytical results and the selection of biomass estimation models, biomass maps were developed for the Kon Ha Nung Plateau area, Vietnam, in 2016 and 2021, with a predominant biomass value of 80–180 tons/ha (Mg/ha); furthermore, biomass fluctuations were analyzed for the period 2016–2021. Accordingly, the ability to absorb carbon and CO2 equivalents in this research area for 2016 and 2021 was calculated based on the estimated biomass values. In summary, we present a method for estimating biomass via four basic linear regression models for tropical rainforest areas based on satellite image data. This method can serve as a basis for managers to calculate and synchronize the payment of carbon services, which contributes to promoting the livelihoods of local people.
Restructure or Misallocation? Enterprises’ Carbon Emission Intensity under Market Integration
Authors: Zhou Jiayuan , Li Yunxia , Li Bo
Published: December 2022

Incorporating urbanization with carbon efficiency into one analytical framework could be a new method for formulating the regional carbon emission reduction path. Based on the panel data from 2001 to 2014, the two-way fixed effects (TWFE) and continuous differences-in-differences (DID) methods are adopted to examine how the county-to-district upgrading policy (CDUP) affects the efficiency of an enterprise’s carbon emissions. The results show that the CDUP will significantly decrease the efficiency of an enterprise’s carbon emissions. The average carbon emissions of enterprises increased by 0.886 per unit of output by the CDUP, which remains significant after controlling for endogeneity. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the impact of the CDUP is significant for enterprises in low-level cities, but not in high-level cities, which is closely connected with regional governance and enterprise productivity. Moreover, market integration, regional carbon carrying capacity and industrial agglomeration is introduced to explain the phenomenon. The results suggest that the urbanization policy should coordinate the characteristics of industries and areas. Furthermore, the results can provide suggestions for enterprise production and local governance toward sustainable development.
Role and Potential of Comedians/Entertainers as Social Entrepreneurs Who Activate Local Communities
Authors: Nakamura Hiroki
Published: December 2022

Japan continues to confront population decline and aging and ranks low in terms of individual social entrepreneurship. Yoshimoto Kogyo, a leading Japanese entertainment company, launched a project dispatching comedians/entertainers and staff to 47 Japanese prefectures to activate local community collaboration and support various social entrepreneurial activities. This project aims to improve residents’ quality of life and alleviate social and economic challenges. This study frames the project as a case study and investigates the role and potential of comedians/entertainers as social entrepreneurs who can activate local communities. This study surveys the people involved with the project and examines characteristics and roles of comedians/entertainers as social entrepreneurs. Furthermore, this study discusses comedians’/entertainers’ potential as social entrepreneurs and their future prospects by analyzing the effect of the tools used to promote social entrepreneurship. The results indicate that comedians/entertainers residing in their local areas have significant potential to be social entrepreneurs, despite the project being relatively unknown. Finally, this study found that when this project is introduced through a promotional video and song, peoples’ interests, support, and involvement in the projects increase.
Evaluation of Crop Diversification on Indian Farming Practices: A Panel Regression Approach
Authors: Neogi Suvayan , Ghosh Bidyut Kumar
Published: December 2022

Crop diversification is considered as a means to promote agricultural development while lowering its environmental implications. Diversified food production must substantially increase to fulfil the needs of food security and sustainability for the world’s future population. This study identified the finer details of diversification in India’s 20 agriculturally prosperous states through analyzing the regional trends in agricultural diversification. The analysis, which covered the period from 1971–1972 to 2017–2018, showed that agricultural diversification has taken place in several states of India. This study revealed that, due to the significant heterogeneity in agro-climatic and socio-economic conditions, the type of diversification varies among the regions. In these periods, cash- crop percentage in the gross-cropped area has increased from 18 percent to 37 percent, reflecting a major impact on the Shannon-Wiener diversification index. Crop diversification has been influenced by rural literacy, irrigation intensity, road infrastructure, per-capita, gross-state-domestic products, regional-rural-branch intensity, rainfall deviation, credit intensity, and India’s growing urban population, whereas cropping intensity has not affected crop diversification in India.
The Sustainability of the Project-Driven Innovation of Grassroots Governance: Influencing Factors and Combination Paths
Authors: Yang Yingzhu , Wu Fengsheng
Published: December 2022

Governance innovation is an important topic in public administration research. Based on the empirical evidence of governance innovation in China, this paper analyzes the pathways to the sustainability of project-driven innovation in urban grassroots governance and reveals its complex causal relationships. Using the selected cases, a multidimensional analysis framework is constructed, and the qualitative comparative analysis method of fuzzy sets is used. It is found that there are three combined paths for the sustainability of innovation, namely dependent development, social embeddedness and government–society cooperation. The first two paths are the most common for the sustainability of innovation, and they cover most of the selected cases. Case tracking also reveals that innovation driven by project operation can stimulate the behavior of grassroots governance innovation, but it does not guarantee the sustainability of the innovation. The sustainability of innovation requires more mobilization of the grassroots society to enhance social embeddedness. Moreover, this study results provide inspiration for the sustainability of innovation in the later stages of projects.
Domestic Water Consumption and Its Influencing Factors in the Yellow River Basin Based on Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index and Decoupling Theory
Authors: Zhao Tongtong , Shao Bo
Published: December 2022

In recent decades, water resources shortage has become a global problem, and it is critical to analyse the trend of domestic water consumption and its influencing factors to optimise water resource management, promote the construction of a water-saving society, and realise the sustainable development of resources and the environment. We chose the Yellow River Basin as the study area and analysed the temporal and spatial characteristics of domestic water using water-use data, identified its influencing factors by Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index, and analysed its relationship with economic development based on the decoupling theory. In this study, we found that: (1) Domestic water consumption increased in the Yellow River Basin between 2006 and 2020, with provinces primarily located south of the river. (2) Technical and economic effects were the major factors leading to changes in domestic water use. The technical effect is the major factor inhibiting the increase, whereas the economic effect encourages the increase in domestic water consumption. (3) In the Yellow River Basin, weak decoupling was achieved between domestic water consumption and economic growth, with domestic water consumption at a slower rate than the economic growth rate.
Modal Identification of Low-Frequency Oscillations in Power Systems Based on Improved Variational Modal Decomposition and Sparse Time-Domain Method
Authors: Liu Lei , Wu Zheng , Dong Ze , Yang Shaojie
Published: December 2022

Power systems have an increasing demand for operational condition monitoring and safety control aspects. Low-frequency oscillation mode identification is one of the keys to maintain the safe and stable operation of power systems. To address the problems of low accuracy and poor anti-interference of the current low-frequency oscillation mode identification method for power systems, a low-frequency oscillation mode feature identification method combining the adaptive variational modal decomposition and sparse time-domain method is proposed. Firstly, the grey wolf optimization algorithm (GWO) is used to find the optimal number of eigenmodes and penalty factor parameters of the variational modal decomposition (VMD). And the improved method (GWVMD) is used to decompose the measured signal with low-frequency oscillations and then reconstruct the signal to achieve a noise reduction. Next, the processed signal is used as a new input for the identification of the oscillation modes and their parameters using the sparse time-domain method (STD). Finally, the effectiveness of the method is verified by the actual low-frequency oscillation signal identification in the Hengshan power plant and numerical signal simulation experiments. The results show that the proposed method outperforms the conventional methods such as Prony, ITD, and HHT in terms of modal discrimination. Meanwhile, the overall reduction in the frequency error is 34, 44, and 21%, and the overall reduction in the damping error is 37, 41, and 18%, compared with the recently proposed methods such as the EFEMD-HT, RDT-ERA, and TLS-ESPRIT. The effectiveness of the methods in suppressing the modal confusion and noise immunity is demonstrated.
Long-Term Dynamics of Chlorophyll-a Concentration and Its Response to Human and Natural Factors in Lake Taihu Based on MODIS Data
Authors: Qin Zihong , Ruan Baozhen , Yang Jian , Wei Zushuai , Song Weiwei , Sun Qiang
Published: December 2022

Chlorophyll-a plays an essential biochemical role in the eutrophication process, and is widely considered an important water quality indicator for assessing human activity’s effects on aquatic ecosystems. Herein, 20 years of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data were applied to investigate the spatiotemporal patterns and trends of chlorophyll-a concentration (Chla) in the eutrophic Lake Taihu, based on a new empirical model. The validated results suggested that our developed model presented appreciable performance in estimating Chla, with a root mean square error (MAPE) of 12.95 μg/L and mean absolute percentage error (RMSE) of 29.98%. Long-term MODIS observations suggested that the Chla of Lake Taihu experienced an overall increasing trend and significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity during 2002–2021. A driving factor analysis indicated that precipitation and air temperature had a significant impact on the monthly dynamics of Chla, while chemical fertilizer consumption, municipal wastewater, industrial sewage, precipitation, and air temperature were important driving factors and together explained more than 81% of the long-term dynamics of Chla. This study provides a 20 year recorded dataset of Chla for inland waters, offering new insights for future precise eutrophication control and efficient water resource management.
Spatial Variations in Organic Carbon Pools and Their Responses to Different Annual Straw Return Rates in Surface Paddy Soils in South China
Authors: Wang Xiyang , Li Liang , Xin Zaijun , Li Xiaohui , He Shifu , Sun Xiaoyan
Published: December 2022

To identify the effects of straw return on different organic carbon pools in surface paddy soils (0–20 cm), a total of 33 soil samples under different annual straw return rates (SRr) was collected, and then the samples were analyzed based on a 100-day incubation. The data from acid hydrolysis-incubation experiments were fitted to a three-pool first-order kinetics model that divided soil organic carbon (SOC) into active (Ca), slow (Cs) and resistant (Cr) pools. The results showed that the mean pool sizes of Ca, Cs, and Cr were 0.27, 10.26, and 13.46 g·kg−1, representing a mean of 1.35%, 41.91%, and 56.74% of the total SOC (TOC), respectively. The SOC pools in the surface paddy soils in Dongxiang had a small Ca pool but had longer mean residence times of the Ca and Cs pools than those in other regions in China. The three carbon pools were less affected by the paddy soil type but showed obvious spatial variations. The SRr contributed a strong positive effect on the variability of Cs and Cr, especially on Cs variability, while it had very little effect on Ca variability. Soil available nitrogen dominated the variability in TOC and Cr compared to the other soil properties. Therefore, the Cs pool is more sensitive than the other carbon pools to long-term straw return.
Spatial–Temporal Evolution and Influencing Mechanism of Tourism Ecological Efficiency in China
Authors: Guo Tiantian , Wang Jidong , Li Chen
Published: December 2022

Although the development of tourism has a positive impact on local employment and economic growth, the high level of energy consumption and emissions generated by tourism have also attracted increasing attention. Based on the concept of tourism eco-efficiency, this article constructs a comprehensive evaluation system for tourism eco-efficiency in China, and the study concludes that (1) China’s tourism eco-efficiency as a whole was in a fluctuating upward trend from 2002 to 2018, but different provinces of tourism eco-efficiency varied greatly, and the range of tourism eco-efficiency on spatial spill-over increased significantly; (2) the impact of tourism economic development on tourism eco-efficiency was not significant over time, and the impact of tourism eco-efficiency on the sustainable development of the tourism economy in the western region was weaker; (3) the contribution of tourism economic development to tourism eco-efficiency was low at the national level, with regional levels ranging from large to small for the western region, the central region, and the eastern region. The contribution of tourism eco-efficiency to the tourism economy was also low at the national level, with the central, eastern, and western regions ranked in descending order at the regional level.
Economic Analysis of Renewable Power-to-Gas in Norway
Authors: Agarwal Rishabh
Published: December 2022

The steep reduction in costs of electrolysis and methanation has made renewable power-to-gas much more affordable. Reeling from an energy crisis, Europe could use this technology for near-shoring production of clean and reliable synthetic natural gas (SNG) and end dependence on Russian gas. This article investigates the economic feasibility of producing SNG in Norway, which has amongst the cleanest and cheapest electricity production in Europe. It is found that SNG can be produced for 141 €/MWh at a 10 MW electrolyzer facility in 2023; and for 108 €/MWh at a larger 100 MW electrolyzer facility in 2030. The relevance of these prices is discussed in the context of the current and future European gas markets, and recommendations are made to reduce the production costs even further.
Urban-Metabolic Farming Modules on Rooftops for Eco-Resilient Farmscape
Authors: William Youhanna E. , An Hui , Chien Szu-Cheng , Soh Chew Beng , Ang Barbara Ting Wei , Ishida Toshikazu , Kobayashi Hikaru , Tan David , Tay Ryan Hong Soon
Published: December 2022

The scarcity of land resources and food security challenges have prompted more effective uses of the rooftop as well as façade spaces in the urban city of Singapore. Urban rooftop spaces are used for mechanical and electrical (M&E) amenities such as air-conditioning cooling units and water tanks, so the spacious span of the roof area on HDB flats in Singapore is not available. Urban-metabolic farming modules (UmFm) built on 1.5 to 2 m terrace-step terrains have been modelled using BIM Revit to mimic such constraints in rooftop spaces. CFD simulation was conducted for the structure with consideration of the prevailing wind directions at different months of the year. The airflow with the inclusion of mesh netting and varying tiltings of the polycarbonate side façade was simulated to understand their impact on airflow in the growth envelope of the UmFm units under different prevailing wind directions. The amount of solar irradiance received by the crops at different heights in the UmFm due to the sun’s path, and shading of crops grown on the A-frame, was studied using Climate Studio. A comparative verification was done with a scaffold modular unit mounted with temperature, humidity, airflow, and Photosynthesis Photon Flux Density (PPFD) sensors. The digital model of the UmFm unit enables a prior assessment of site feasibility before actual physical implementation on an existing rooftop. It also facilitates plug and play for the UmFm unit to generate an eco-resilient farmscape for an urban city.
Digital Competency, Innovative Medical Research, and Institutional Environment: A Global Context
Authors: Shin Whan , Choi Byungchul
Published: December 2022

The use of digital technology accelerates the progress of medical research through improving the quality of clinical trials and medical education. However, empirical evidence on how digital competency contributes to the innovativeness of medical research and influence of institutional environment has received scant attention. Based on the data of 63 nations, this study explores the question of how national-level digital competency impacts the innovativeness of medical research reflected in research publications and examines the moderating effect of government and the economic environment. We find that national digital competency positively impacts the innovativeness of medical research in the focal nation. However, this relationship is positively or negatively modulated by diverse institutional environments. Our study contributes to innovation and institutional perspective literature in the context of digital technologies for medical research.
Enhancing Intangible Cultural Heritage for Sustainable Tourism Development in Rural Areas: The Case of the “Marche Food and Wine Memories” Project (Italy)
Authors: Cerquetti Mara , Ferrara Concetta , Romagnoli Annamaria , Vagnarelli Gianluca
Published: December 2022

In the context of increasing interest in the contribution made by culture to the implementation of the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the present research investigates how intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can help sustainable tourism in rural areas. Adopting a case study methodology, we analyzed the “Marche Food and Wine Memories” project, an initiative promoted by CiùCiù, a winery based in Offida, a small village in the Marche region (Italy). After discussing the strategies and tools adopted to enhance rural heritage, the analysis focuses on the involvement of local communities and businesses in the different phases of the process. The research aimed to understand: (1) the project’s current contribution to the economic, social, cultural and environmental dimensions of sustainability; and (2) its strengths and weaknesses and possible future improvements. The research findings confirm the high potentialities of ICH-based initiatives for sustainable tourism development in rural areas, but also reveal the need to improve the level of networking with local businesses and highlight gaps in marketing and management skills. Finally, the results provide policy and managerial implications for similar ICH-based initiatives.
Solution of Water and Sodium Alginate-Based Casson Type Hybrid Nanofluid with Slip and Sinusoidal Heat Conditions: A Prabhakar Fractional Derivative Approach
Authors: Raza Ali , Almusawa Musawa Y. , Ali Qasim , Haq Absar Ul , Al-Khaled Kamel , Sarris Ioannis E.
Published: December 2022

This paper aims to investigate free convection heat transmission in hybrid nanofluids across an inclined pours plate, which characterizes an asymmetrical hybrid nanofluid flow and heat transfer behavior. With an angled magnetic field applied, sliding on the border of walls is also considered with sinusoidal heat transfer boundary conditions. The non-dimensional leading equations are converted into a fractional model using an effective mathematical fractional approach known as the Prabhakar time fractional derivative. Silver (Ag) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are both considered nanoparticles, with water (H2O) and sodium alginate (C6H9NaO7) serving as the base fluids. The solution of the momentum, concentration, and energy equation is found by utilizing the Laplace scheme, and different numerical algorithms are considered for the inverse of Laplace, i.e., Stehfest and Tzou’s. The graphical analysis investigates the impact and symmetry of significant physical and fractional parameters. Consequently, we surmise that water-based hybrid nanofluid has a somewhat higher velocity than sodium alginate-based hybrid nanofluid. Furthermore, the Casson parameter has a dual effect on the momentum profile. Furthermore, the memory effect reduces as fractional restriction increases for both the velocity and temperature layers. The results demonstrate that increasing the heat transmission in the solid nanoparticle volume fractions enhanced the heat transmission. In addition, the numerical assessment examined the increase in mass and heat transmission, while shear stress was increased with an increase in the Prabhakar fractional parameter α.
Dipole-like Field Configurations in Nonperturbative Vacuum
Authors: Dzhunushaliev Vladimir , Folomeev Vladimir
Published: December 2022

A model of nonperturbative vacuum in SU(2) Yang–Mills theory coupled to a nonlinear spinor field is suggested. By analogy with Abelian magnetic monopole dominance in quantum chromodynamics, it is assumed that the dominant contribution to such a vacuum comes from dipole-like field configurations existing in this theory. Using an assumption of the behavior of the number density of dipole-like field configurations whose energy approaches infinity, we derive an approximate expression for the energy density of such nonperturbative vacuum symmetrical under translation that turns out to be finite, unlike the infinite energy density of perturbative vacuum. Using characteristic values of the parameters appearing in the expression for the nonperturbative energy density, it is shown that this density may be of the order of the energy density associated with Einstein’s cosmological constant. The physical interpretation of the spinor field self-coupling constant as a characteristic distance between dipole-like field configurations is suggested. The questions of experimental verification of the nonperturbative vacuum model under consideration and of determining its pressure are briefly discussed.
The Quasi-Keplerian Motion of the Charged Test Particle in Reissner-Nordström Spacetime under the Wagoner-Will-Epstein-Haugan Representation
Authors: Yang Bo , Jiang Chunhua , He Guansheng , Lin Wenbin
Published: December 2022

We present the post-Newtonian solution for the quasi-Keplerian motion of a charged test particle in the field of Reissner-Nordström black hole under the Wagoner-Will-Epstein-Haugan representation. The explicit formulations for the charge effects on perihelion precession and the orbital period are achieved, which may be useful not only in the comparisons with astronomical observations but also in calculating the waveform of the gravitational wave from this kind of system.
Explicitly Modeling Stress Softening and Thermal Recovery for Rubber-like Materials
Authors: Wang Xiaoming , Xiao Heng , Lu Shengliang
Published: December 2022

Rubber-like materials exhibit stress softening when subject to loading–unloading cycles, i.e., the Mullins effect. However, this phenomenon can be recovered after annealing the previously stretched sample under a stress-free state. The aim of this paper is to establish a constitutive model with thermodynamic consistency to account for the stress softening and thermal recovery. Towards this goal, (i) an explicit form of Helmholtz free energy can be found such that the restrictions from thermodynamic law can be satisfied; (ii) a compressible, multi-axial strain-energy function considering energy dissipation is proposed by introducing specific invariants; (iii) a unified shape function based on the symmetry property of the test data in a one-dimensional case with stress softening and thermal recovery is provided by introducing a weight variant; (iv) it is proven that the new potential can automatically reduce to the one-dimensional case, i.e., uniaxial tension, equal biaxial, or plane strain; (v) numerical results for model validation are exactly matched with classical experimental data.
Stabilization of Axisymmetric Airy Beams by Means of Diffraction and Nonlinearity Management in Two-Dimensional Fractional Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations
Authors: Li Pengfei , Wei Yanzhu , Malomed Boris A. , Mihalache Dumitru
Published: December 2022

The propagation dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) ring-Airy beams is studied in the framework of the fractional Schrödinger equation, which includes saturable or cubic self-focusing or defocusing nonlinearity and Lévy index ((LI) alias for the fractionality) taking values 1≤α≤2. The model applies to light propagation in a chain of optical cavities emulating fractional diffraction. Management is included by making the diffraction and/or nonlinearity coefficients periodic functions of the propagation distance, ζ. The management format with the nonlinearity coefficient decaying as 1/ζ is considered too. These management schemes maintain stable propagation of the ring-Airy beams, which maintain their axial symmetry, in contrast to the symmetry-breaking splitting instability of ring-shaped patterns in 2D Kerr media. The instability driven by supercritical collapse at all values α<2 in the presence of the self-focusing cubic term is eliminated, too, by the means of management.
Biofilm and Rivers: The Natural Association to Reduce Metals in Waters
Authors: Guerrieri Nicoletta , Fantozzi Laura , Lami Andrea , Musazzi Simona , Austoni Martina , Orrù Arianna , Marziali Laura , Borgonovo Gigliola , Scaglioni Leonardo
Published: December 2022

This article focuses on a very peculiar habitat, the thin biofilm that covers the surface of rocks, cobbles, sediment grains, leaf litter, and vegetation on a riverbed. Species composition changes over time and depends on environmental conditions and perturbation of water quality. It provides several ecosystem services, contributing to the biogeochemical fluxes and reducing contamination by absorbing the pollutants. Biofilm into the Toce River (Ossola Valley, Piedmont, Italy) was investigated to assess its capacity to accumulate the metals and macroions from the water column. In this preliminary work, we investigated three sample points, in two different seasons. The community composition of biofilm was determined via morphological analysis (diatoms and non-diatoms algal community). We characterize the biofilm, a community of different organisms, from different perspectives. In the biofilm, Hg was analyzed with an automated mercury analyzer, other metals and macroions with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, and Zn), and the carotenoid and chlorophyll composition of the photosynthetic organism with HPLC analysis for the primary producers. The results evidence a seasonal pattern in metals and macroions levels in the biofilm, and a significant difference in the biofilm community and in carotenoid composition, suggesting the utility of using the biofilm as an additional bioindicator to monitor the water quality of the river.
The V2 Protein from the Geminivirus Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus Largely Associates to the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Promotes the Accumulation of the Viral C4 Protein in a Silencing Suppression-Independent Manner
Authors: Wang Liping , Fan Pengfei , Jimenez-Gongora Tamara , Zhang Dan , Ding Xue , Medina-Puche Laura , Lozano-Durán Rosa
Published: December 2022

Viruses are strict intracellular parasites that rely on the proteins encoded in their genomes for the effective manipulation of the infected cell that ultimately enables a successful infection. Viral proteins have to be produced during the cell invasion and takeover in sufficient amounts and in a timely manner. Silencing suppressor proteins evolved by plant viruses can boost the production of viral proteins; although, additional mechanisms for the regulation of viral protein production likely exist. The strongest silencing suppressor encoded by the geminivirus tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is V2: V2 suppresses both post-transcriptional and transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS and TGS), activities that are associated with its localization in punctate cytoplasmic structures and in the nucleus, respectively. However, V2 has been previously described to largely localize in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), although the biological relevance of this distribution remains mysterious. Here, we confirm the association of V2 to the ER in Nicotiana benthamiana and assess the silencing suppression activity-independent impact of V2 on protein accumulation. Our results indicate that V2 has no obvious influence on the localization of ER-synthesized receptor-like kinases (RLKs) or ER quality control (ERQC)/ER-associated degradation (ERAD), but dramatically enhances the accumulation of the viral C4 protein, which is co-translationally myristoylated, possibly in proximity to the ER. By using the previously described V2C84S/86S mutant, in which the silencing suppression activity is abolished, we uncouple RNA silencing from the observed effect. Therefore, this work uncovers a novel function of V2, independent of its capacity to suppress silencing, in the promotion of the accumulation of another crucial viral protein.
Isolation and Pathogenicity of a Novel Goose Astrovirus from Overfed Adult Landaise Geese in China
Authors: Zhu Yinchu , Wang Hongyu , Hua Jionggang , Ye Weicheng , Chen Liu , Ni Zheng , Yun Tao , Ma Jiale , Yao Huochun , Bao Endong , Zhang Cun
Published: December 2022

Goose astrovirus (GAstV) is an important pathogen causing visceral gout and high mortality in goslings, which has broken out and spread across China. In 2021, a disease characterized by urate deposition on the visceral surface and 30% mortality occurred in commercial adult Landaise geese in Zhejiang Province, China. A systematic study identified an infecting astrovirus, designated ZJCX, that was efficiently isolated from a diseased goose with a chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH). In contrast to other GAstVs originating from goslings, ZJCX caused cytopathogenic effects in LMH cells, and the crystalline arrangement of viral particles was observed through transmission electron microscopy. Indeed, phylogenetic analysis and nucleotide homology comparison revealed that ZJCX isolate belongs to the genotype II cluster of GAstVs and displays 97.8–98.4% identity with other GAstV II strains. However, several specific mutations occurred in the polyprotein and capsid protein regions. Moreover, a pathogenicity assessment of ZJCX with a gosling model was conducted, and typical visceral gout was reproduced and led to 18% mortality. The viral loads of ZJCX in the blood, kidney, and liver were detected with specific primers after inoculation, which demonstrated that the kidney and liver presented viral loads peaking at seven days post-inoculation (dpi). Biochemical parameter examination showed that AST, ALT, γ-GT, UA, and BUN levels were significantly increased by GAstV, whereas body weight was reduced. Overall, this study indicated that the GAstV isolate could infect adult geese, and the results regarding the viral loads and biochemical parameters induced by ZJCX provide insight into GAstV pathogenicity.
A Vaccine Targeting Ovine Herpesvirus 2 Glycoprotein B Protects against Sheep-Associated Malignant Catarrhal Fever
Authors: Cunha Cristina W. , Baker Katherine N. , O’Toole Donal , Cole Emily , Shringi Smriti , Dewals Benjamin G. , Vanderplasschen Alain , Li Hong
Published: December 2022

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a complex and often fatal disease of ungulates. Effective vaccines are needed to avoid MCF outbreaks and mitigate losses. This study aimed to evaluate a sheep-associated MCF (SA-MCF) vaccine candidate targeting ovine herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) glycoprotein B (gB). Rabbits were used as a laboratory animal model to test the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of a chimeric virus consisting of a recombinant, non-pathogenic strain of alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 encoding OvHV-2 ORF8 to express gB (AlHV-1∆ORF73/OvHV-2-ORF8). Viral-vectored immunizations were performed by using the AlHV-1∆ORF73/OvHV-2-ORF8 chimera alone or as a DNA prime (OvHV-2-ORF8)-virus boost regimen. The viral vector was inoculated by intravenous or intramuscular routes and the DNA was delivered by intradermal shots using a gene gun. The vaccine candidates were deemed safe as no clinical signs were observed following any of the immunizations. Anti-OvHV-2 gB antibodies with neutralizing activity were induced by all immunogens. At three weeks post-final immunization, all animals were challenged intranasally with a lethal dose of OvHV-2. MCF protection rates ranging from 66.7% to 71.4% were observed in vaccinated rabbits, while all mock-vaccinated animals developed the disease. The significant protective efficacy obtained with the vaccine platforms tested in this study encourages further trials in relevant livestock species, such as cattle and bison.
Seasonal Variability of Plankton Production Parameters as the Basis for the Formation of Organic Matter Flow in the Southeastern Part of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Mosharov Sergey A. , Mosharova Irina V. , Dmitrieva Olga A. , Semenova Anna S. , Ulyanova Marina O.
Published: December 2022

The seasonal dynamics of production processes in the Baltic Sea are poorly studied. The aim of our research was to study the seasonal features of primary productivity (including the balance with bacterial production) and its redistribution in plankton in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea in different seasons. More than 70% of primary production is formed in the 0–10 m layer (74–97% of the PP in the euphotic layer). In the same layer, PP accounted for almost 100% of the sum of primary and bacterial production in April and October, and almost 60% in June. Photosynthetic efficiency (PP/rETR) increased in June and October, demonstrating an increase in phytoplankton utilization of absorbed light energy. The depth-integrated values of PP, Chl a, bacterial, and phytoplankton biomasses were maximal in October. The maximum values of zooplankton biomass were determined in June, and they were significantly (5–14 times) higher than in other seasons. The maximum values of bacterial production were also in June.
Groundwater Quality and Potential Pollution in the Southern Shimabara Peninsula, Japan
Authors: Nakagawa Kei , Amano Hiroki , Yu Zhi-Qiang , Berndtsson Ronny
Published: December 2022

Nitrate pollution in groundwater is a severe problem in Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Previous studies have investigated water quality characteristics in the northern part of the peninsula and shown serious effects of nitrate pollution in the groundwater. The present study aimed to investigate the groundwater quality in the southern areas of the peninsula for improved understanding of the water quality status for the entire peninsula. Groundwater samples were collected at 56 locations in Minami-Shimabara City from 28 July to 4 August 2021. The spatial distribution of water quality constituents was assessed by Piper-trilinear and Stiff diagrams for major ion concentrations. One agricultural area in the western parts exceeded Japanese recommended standards for water. According to the Piper-trilinear diagram, 44 sampling sites (78.6%) were classified as alkaline earth carbonate type, nine sites (16.1%) as alkaline earth non-carbonate type, and three sites (5.3%) as alkaline carbonate type. Stiff diagrams displayed Ca-HCO3 water type for most of the sites. Na-HCO3 and Mg-HCO3 types were found in coastal areas. Principal component analyses showed that the first component corresponded to dissolved constituents in groundwater and denitrification, the second effects of ion exchange and low nitrate pollution, and the third effects of severe nitrate pollution. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to classify the groundwater into five groups. The first group included sites with relatively high nitrate concentration. The second group had relatively low ion concentration, distributed from center to eastern parts. The third group included intermediate ion concentration, distributed at lower altitudes along the coastal line. The fourth and fifth groups had a higher ion concentration, especially characterized by high sodium and bicarbonate concentration.
Design and Analysis of a Novel Adjustable SVAWT for Wind Energy Harvesting in New Energy Vehicle
Authors: Zhao Zhen , Li Yongxin , Zhang Baifu , Wang Changhong , Yan Zhangwei , Wang Qingcheng
Published: December 2022

The new energy vehicle is a robust measure to solve the problem of global warming. However, the new energy vehicle generally has the disadvantages of short mileage and difficulty in finding public chargers. The combination of wind energy harvest and new energy vehicle can be conducive to the promotion of the new energy vehicle. This paper proposes a novel adjustable Savonius vertical axis wind turbine (SVAWT). It contains three parts: an energy absorption module, an energy recovery module, and an energy conversion module. The energy absorption module includes four blades with staggered distribution in two layers. The overlap ratio of the blades can be adjusted by the wind speed, which can ensure the SVAWT has a higher energy transfer efficiency. The energy recovery module adjusts the overlap ratio of the blades without interruption by utilizing the self-rotation and the orbital revolution of the gears. The energy conversion module converts mechanical energy into electric energy and supplies power for the vehicle after adjustment by the voltage regulator module. Based on actual operating data, it can be found that the variation trend of power of the blades absorbing is consistent with wind speed and increases with the wind speed. Under four actual operating conditions, the root mean square value of the blades absorbing power are 7.0 W, 7.1 W, 3.9 W, and 5.1 W, respectively. These results reveal that the proposed novel adjustable SVAWT has high recovery power potential and can provide a valuable solution to the practical applications of wind energy harvesting.
PREDICTING THE STRENGTH OF CEMENT STONE WITH MODIFIERS FOR SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE
Authors: Nelyubova V. , Usikov S. , Netsvet D. , Botsman L. , Shapovalov N.
Published: December 2022

Modern requirements for the quality of constructural building materials determine the need for the development of highly efficient durable composites based on cement binder. Obtaining such materials implies the use of additives and modifiers for increasing the strength characteristics of concrete and reduce production defects by stabilizing the structure and properties of products. In this research, additives produced by private company limited by shares "NP CMID" (Saint Petersburg, Russia) are used as modifying components of the mixture. They are mineral powder - a multicomponent complex powdered additive for concrete GPM modification 9/12, hyperplasticizer GPMZH–Ultra, modification 17/1. The purpose of this work is to study the effect of the introduction of additives on the strength of the material and to determine the values of the predicted strength in the long-term period of operation. It is demonstrated that the introduction of additives does not affect the character of the strength set. However, it leads to a decrease in the compressive strength by 13 % for mineral powder and an increase by 11 % for mineral powder and plasticizer. There is also a decrease in the amount of tempering water required to achieve standard consistency. The values of the calculated strength in the long-term period are comparable with the obtained data of strength values: all compositions are characterized by an increase in strength up to 100 days of hardening, followed by a damping of the strength set. Thus, the work established the regularities of the effect of additives on the predicted values of the brand strength of the binder: there is an increase in the initial hardening rate and a decrease in the inhibition coefficient of the hydration processes of the binder with the combined introduction of mineral powder and plasticizer. The high strength of the binder makes it possible to predict the high operational characteristics of materials based on it.
Les jeunes, l'islam et les pratiques culturelles. De l'indignité culturelle à la relégation institutionnelle
Authors: Césari Jocelyne , Moore Damian
Published: December 2022

L'analyse des pratiques culturelles des jeunes de culture musulmane vivant dans les quartiers défavorisés en France peut être entreprise à partir de la notion d'indignité culturelle. En effet, ces derniers, en tant que musulmans, subissent la méfiance et le rejet au quotidien qui se doublent, dans le cas de leur engagement associatif, d'une relégation institutionnelle.

Afin d'appréhender cette notion d'indignité culturelle, on propose d'explorer des logiques culturelles caractéristiques du milieu maghrébin, dont celle de l'honneur notamment. Cet ethos de l'honneur, entre autres, a une influence sur les pratiques culturelles des jeunes issus de l'immigration maghrébine vivant dans les banlieues populaires. De plus, une observation des interactions quotidiennes entre des porteurs de projets culturels d'ethnicité maghrébine et des représentants des pouvoirs publics en charge de la politique de la ville dans le quartier Saint-Mauront, à Marseille, fait émerger la notion de relégation institutionnelle.
Le rap de la jeunesse des quartiers relégués. Un univers de représentations structuré par des sentiments d'injustice et de victimation collectives
Authors: Mucchielli Laurent
Published: December 2022

Après avoir situé historiquement le rap en France et tenté de préciser ce que peut être l'étude sociologique d'un tel objet, ce texte propose l'analyse de contenu d'un échantillon de chansons de rap produites en France par une douzaine de groupes (se réclamant pour la plupart de la tendance dite «hardcore»), entre 1990 et 1997. Cette analyse permet de dessiner les contours d'une «vision du monde» chez ces jeunes, structurée par des sentiments d'injustice et de victimation collectives. Elle conduit aussi à réfléchir à la fois sur la poursuite de la socialisation politique de la jeunesse et sur les difficultés de l'action collective chez ces jeunes des quartiers relégués.