bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mineral Prospectivity Mapping of Porphyry Copper Deposits Based on Remote Sensing Imagery and Geochemical Data in the Duolong Ore District, Tibet
Authors: Fu Yufeng , Cheng Qiuming , Jing Linhai , Ye Bei , Fu Hanze
Published: January 2023

Several large-scale porphyry copper deposits (PCDs) with high economic value have been excavated in the Duolong ore district, Tibet, China. However, the high altitudes and harsh conditions in this area make traditional exploration difficult. Hydrothermal alteration minerals related to PCDs with diagnostic spectral absorption features in the visible–near-infrared–shortwave-infrared ranges can be effectively identified by remote sensing imagery. Mainly based on hyperspectral imagery supplemented by multispectral imagery and geochemical element data, the Duolong ore district was selected to conduct data-driven PCD prospectivity modelling. A total of 11 known deposits and 17 evidential layers of multisource geoscience information related to Cu mineralization constitute the input datasets of the predictive models. A deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model was applied to mineral prospectivity mapping, and its applicability was tested by comparison to conventional machine learning models, such as support vector machine and random forest. CNN achieves the greatest classification performance with an accuracy of 0.956. This is the first trial in Duolong to conduct mineral prospectivity mapping combined with remote imagery and geochemistry based on deep learning methods. Four metallogenic prospective sites were delineated and verified through field reconnaissance, indicating that the application of deep learning-based methods in PCD prospecting proposed in this paper is feasible by utilizing geoscience big data such as remote sensing datasets and geochemical elements.
D3CNNs: Dual Denoiser Driven Convolutional Neural Networks for Mixed Noise Removal in Remotely Sensed Images
Authors: Huang Zhenghua , Zhu Zifan , Wang Zhicheng , Li Xi , Xu Biyun , Zhang Yaozong , Fang Hao
Published: January 2023

Mixed (random and stripe) noise will cause serious degradation of optical remotely sensed image quality, making it hard to analyze their contents. In order to remove such noise, various inverse problems are usually constructed with different priors, which can be solved by either model-based optimization methods or discriminative learning methods. However, they have their own drawbacks, such as the former methods are flexible but are time-consuming for the pursuit of good performance; while the later methods are fast but are limited for extensive applications due to their specialized tasks. To fast obtain pleasing results with combination of their merits, in this paper, we propose a novel denoising strategy, namely, Dual Denoiser Driven Convolutional Neural Networks (D3CNNs), to remove both random and stripe noise. The D3CNNs includes the following two key parts: one is that two auxiliary variables respective for the denoised image and the stripe noise are introduced to reformulate the inverse problem as a constrained optimization problem, which can be iteratively solved by employing the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). The other is that the U-shape network is used for the denoised auxiliary variable while the residual CNN (RCNN) for the stripe auxiliary variable. The subjectively and objectively comparable results of experiments on both synthetic and real-world remotely sensed images verify that the proposed method is effective and is even better than the state-of-the-arts.
Adaptive Feature Map-Guided Well-Log Interpolation
Authors: Wang Lingqian , Zhou Hui , Chen Hanming
Published: January 2023

As an irreplaceable quantitative interpretation method, prestack seismic inversion enables the effective estimation of subsurface elastic parameters for reservoir prediction. However, for the model-driven prestack seismic inversion, the band-limited characteristics and noise interference of observed seismic data result in its high dependence on the initial models. This suggests that reasonable initial models act as a supplement to reliable variation trends in formation and can reduce the non-uniqueness of inversion results. In this article, we introduce a well-log interpolation method with a feature map-guided non-local means algorithm, which is for establishing high-fidelity initial models used for prestack seismic inversion. First, we briefly review the basic theory of general model-driven prestack seismic inversion. Then, we use dictionary learning to split the poststack seismic record into patches, and represent them with sparse vectors, instead of directly using seismic record. The advantage of dictionary learning is that it can adaptively extract useful signals from noisy observed data and provide fine structures by sparse reconstruction. Therefore, the proposed feature extraction method can improve the noise immunity and reliability of the well-log interpolation. More accurate initial models are pre-constructed efficiently by our feature extraction method, which improves the reliability of prestack seismic inversion results. Two kinds of observed seismic data are used, including the poststack seismic record for well-log interpolation and prestack seismic data used for inversion. Synthetic and field data tests both demonstrate the favorable performance of the proposed well-log interpolation method. In summary, a novel and convenient initial model building approach is provided, which contributes to seismic exploration and geologic modeling.
Observations of the Boundary Layer in the Cape Grim Coastal Region: Interaction with Wind and the Influences of Continental Sources
Authors: Chen Zhenyi , Schofield Robyn , Keywood Melita , Cleland Sam , Williams Alastair G. , Wilson Stephen , Griffiths Alan , Xiang Yan
Published: January 2023

A comparative study and evaluation of boundary layer height (BLH) estimation was conducted during an experimental campaign conducted at the Cape Grim Air Pollution station, Australia, from 1 June to 13 July 2019. The temporal and spatial distributions of BLH were studied using data from a ceilometer, sodar, in situ meteorological measurements, and back-trajectory analyses. Generally, the BLH under continental sources is lower than that under marine sources. The BLH is featured with a shallow depth of 515 ± 340 m under the Melbourne/East Victoria continental source. Especially the mixed continental sources (Melbourne/East Victoria and Tasmania direction) lead to a rise in radon concentration and lower BLH. In comparison, the boundary layer reaches a higher averaged BLH value of 730 ± 305 m when marine air is prevalent. The BLH derived from ERA5 is positively biased compared to the ceilometer observations, except when the boundary layer is stable. The height at which wind profiles experience rapid changes corresponds to the BLH value. The wind flow within the boundary layer increased up to ∼200 m, where it then meandered up to ∼300 m. Furthermore, the statistic shows that BLH is positively associated with near-surface wind speed. This study firstly provides information on boundary layer structure in Cape Grim and the interaction with wind, which may aid in further evaluating their associated impacts on the climate and ecosystem.
Conceptualizing and Validating a Model for Benchlearning Capability: Results from the Greek Public Sector
Authors: Kessopoulou Eftychia , Gotzamani Katerina , Xanthopoulou Styliani , Tsiotras George
Published: January 2023

This paper aims to report on the development and assessment of a conceptual model for benchlearning capability, which facilitates sustainable performance improvement. Following an in-depth literature review, two main dimensions of benchlearning capability were identified. A focus group approach was used in order to establish the connection between these dimensions and the main construct (benchlearning capability). A questionnaire was designed and administered to 502 individuals from 74 organizations that used the Common Assessment Framework, and a total of 163 respondents replied. For the structural model assessment, the PLS-SEM technique was employed. Literature reveals that benchlearning encompasses both comparative evaluation and organizational learning mechanisms. Moreover, the focus group concluded that Organizational Learning Capability (OLC) and Benchmarking Capability (BMKC) are positively related to Benchlearning Capability (BLNC). The quantitative analysis showed that the factor OLC and BMKC are related positively and significantly to BLNC. This paper is the first attempt to approach the benchlearning capability construct and to validate its model. It is also a first attempt towards providing empirical evidence that could help public managers understand the BLNC concept and formulate accordingly the appropriate strategy for improving the benchlearning capability and therefore achieving sustainable performance in their organizations.
Analysis for Conservation of the Timber-Framed Architectural Heritage in China and Japan from the Viewpoint of Authenticity
Authors: Jing Songfeng , Wang Wei , Masui Takeshi
Published: January 2023

The precious timber-framed buildings of both China and Japan have been preserved as heritage. Over time, the conservation and restoration of heritage in both countries have gradually matured. The restoration projects in each country are mostly guided by the documents promulgated by ICOMOS, which are followed as closely as possible in the actual restoration process. Nevertheless, the specific restoration projects in the two countries show a difference in their perceptions of authenticity, especially at the practical level. Therefore, this study intends to improve our understanding of the “authenticity” in the restoration projects of China and Japan so as to provide better guidance for practice. Therefore, this study firstly reviews the development of the conservation theory of authenticity in the West and East Asia. We then analyze the recent restoration projects of three typical study objects from China and Japan—Nanchan Temple, Foguang Temple and Toshodai Temple, which are all world cultural heritage sites—and conduct a comparison study to analyze the embodiment of the concept of authenticity in the actual intervention process. Accordingly, based on the analysis of comparative cases and documents, combined with the statistical results of the frequency of “authenticity” and “intervention” being mentioned in the international documents, we provide insights into the theories of heritage conservation in China and Japan.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Use of LCA to Assess the Environmental Impacts of the Composting Process
Authors: Serafini Laís Fabiana , Feliciano Manuel , Rodrigues Manuel Angelo , Gonçalves Artur
Published: January 2023

Following the industrial revolution, major economic and populational growth took place, and, therefore, solid waste generation increased exponentially. Nowadays, waste management still generates major impacts because the current wide offer of waste management strategies includes many solutions that produce suboptimal results, such as landfill or waste incineration. From a circular economy perspective, composting is a potentially sustainable option to treat the organic fraction of solid waste and has the advantage of recycling many organic compounds that can be reintroduced into the natural processes. This study aimed to provide a meta-analysis using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to evaluate the impacts of composting by performing a systematic literature review of the diversity of approaches and assessing environmental impacts. The results of the impact assessment were highly dependent on the choices made over the system boundary and the functional units. The most cited environmental impacts were Global Warming Potential, Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Photochemical Oxidation Potential, and Ozone Layer Depletion, as gaseous emissions from the transport and decomposition represent the main contributors to these categories. Using a smaller dataset and evaluating the use of the CML method and the most cited impacts categories, it was found that In-vessel Composting and Home Composting were considered the best environmental options among the studied composting methods. Composting environmental impacts were also highly related to the use of non-renewable energy sources, which puts composting at a disadvantage when compared with the use of anaerobic digestion. Such results emphasize the benefits of using these waste management technologies as complementary instead of substitutes.
A Risk Management Framework for Industry 4.0 Environment
Authors: Pusztai László Péter , Nagy Lajos , Budai István
Published: January 2023

In past decades, manufacturing companies have paid considerable attention to using their available resources in the most efficient way to satisfy customer demands. This endeavor is supported by many Industry 4.0 methods. One of these is called MES (Manufacturing Execution System), which is applied for monitoring and controlling manufacturing by recording and processing production-related data. This article presents a possible method of implementation of a risk-adjusted production schedule in a data-rich environment. The framework is based on production datasets of multiple workshops, which is followed by statistical analysis, and its results are used in stochastic network models. The outcome of the simulation is implemented in a production scheduling model to determine how to assign the production among workshops. After collecting the necessary data, the reliability indicator-based stochastic critical path method was applied in the case study. Two cases were presented based on the importance of inventory cost and two different scheduling results were created and presented. With the objective of the least inventory cost, the production was postponed to the latest time possible, which means that workshops had more time to finish their previous work on the first day due to the small production quantity. When the cost was not relevant, the production started on the first day of each workshop, and the production was completed before the deadline. These are optimal solutions, but alternative solutions can also be performed by the decision maker based on the results. The use of the modified stochastic critical path method and its analysis shed light on the deficiency of the production, which is a merit in the continuous improvement process and the estimation of the total project time.
Calibration of Sentinel-2 Surface Reflectance for Water Quality Modelling in Binh Dinh’s Coastal Zone of Vietnam
Authors: Quang Nguyen Hong , Dinh Nguyen Tran , Dien Nguyen Tran , Son Le Thanh
Published: January 2023

Coastal zones are critically important ecosystems that are closely tied to human activities, such as tourism, urbanization, transport, and aquaculture. However, managing and monitoring sea water in the coastal areas is often challenging due to the diversity of the pollution sources. Traditional approaches of onsite measurement and surveys have limitations in terms of cost, efficiency and productivity compared with modern remote sensing methods, particularly for larger and longer observations. Optical remote sensing imagery has been proven to be a good data source for water quality assessment in general and for seawater studies in particular with the use of advanced techniques of data processing such as machine learning (ML) algorithms. However, optical remote sensing data also have their own disadvantages as they are much affected by climatic conditions, atmospheric gas and particles as a source of noise in the data. This noise could be reduced, but it is still unavoidable. This study aims to model seawater quality parameters (total suspended solids (TSS), chlorophyll-a (chla), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and dissolved oxygen (DO)) along a 134 km sea coastal area of the Binh Dinh province by applying the current robust machine learning models of decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), gradient boosting regression (GBR), and Ada boost regression (ABR) using Sentinel-2 imagery. To reduce the atmospheric effects, we conducted onsite measurements of sea surface reflectance (SSR) using the German RAMSES-TriOS instrument for calibration of the Sentinel-2 level 2A data before inputting them to the ML models. Our modeling results showed an improvement of the model accuracy using calibrated SSR compared with the original Sentinel-2 level 2A SSR data. The RF predicted the most accurate seawater quality parameters compared with in situ field-measured data (mean R2 = 0.59 using original Sentinel-2 level 2A SSR and R2 = 0.70 using calibrated SSR). The chla was the most precise estimate (R2 = 0.74 when modelled by the RF model) flowing by DO, COD and TSS. In terms of seawater quality estimation, this accuracy is at a good level. The results of the seawater quality distributions were strongly correlated with coastal features where higher values of TSS, chla, COD, and DO are near the river mouths and urban and tourist areas. These spatial water quality data could be extremely helpful for local governments to make decisions when the modelling is continuously conducted (using big data processing), and it is highly recommended for more applications.
Bibliometric Analysis of Studies on Sustainable Waste Management
Authors: Yalçıntaş Deniz , Oğuz Suzan , Yaşa Özeltürkay Eda , Gülmez Murat
Published: January 2023

Environmental issues have spread around the world as a result of rapidly evolving technology, industrialization, urbanization, and population expansion. Alongside this, wastes are produced as a result of rising manufacturing activities, the use of natural resources, and brisk consumption. Thus, waste management poses a great danger to both our environment and future generations and is one of the most important environmental problems of our age. Sustainable waste management should be implemented effectively in order to protect rapidly depleted natural resources within the scope of sustainable waste management, prevent the negative effects of waste on the environment and human health, and to ensure their participation as an economic input. The aim of this study is to examine the studies on sustainable waste management between the years 2010–2021 with the visual mapping method. In this context, SSCI, SCI and ESCI indexes were selected in the Web of Science database, and a search was conducted with the concept of “sustainable waste management”. There were 599 publications found with the phrase “sustainable waste management” in the title. Later, these publications were visualized and interpreted through the VOSviewer mapping method. The most frequently used keyword in the findings was “sustainable waste management”. The author with the most publications was “Yong Sik Ok”, while the most cited author was “Daniel C.W. Tsang”. It was observed that the highest number of publications among the countries was in China. China was also identified as the country with the highest number of citations. The findings of the study can be graphically visualized to obtain the most relevant information to be applied in firms. Additionally, because doing a literature review requires a lot of time, it is believed that the researchers will find the findings of this study that compiles the literature useful. For policy makers can bring new perspectives about incorporating strategies in wastes and waste management.
The Effect of Geometrical Features of Release Surfaces on the Stability of Tectonically Disturbed Deep Rock Slopes in an Albite Open Pit Mine
Authors: Kadakci Koca Tümay
Published: January 2023

An albite deposit formed in orthogneiss has been operated using open pit mining process since 1996. However, landslides have occurred following the excavation works and heavy rainfalls. In the current state, the slopes are still susceptible to mass movement. For this reason, this study aimed to determine the root causes that are influencing continuous movements. In this context, two geometric features of the strike-slip faults that form tectonic slices in the pit were proposed. The first one (α-angle) is the acute angle between the dip direction of the overall slope and the general trend of the strike-slip fault and it was used for the kinematic evaluation of the sliding potential of the tectonic slices. The validity of α-angle was confirmed by investigating its relationship with the factor of safety values. The second one (undulation angle, i) was used to determine the effective surface friction angle (ϕeff). Thereafter, ϕeff value was used in the deterministic finite element (FE) slope stability analyses as well as back analyses. Its effect on the stability of overall slopes was investigated for static and pseudo-static conditions with different water table levels. The FE results confirmed the monitored field displacement measurements. It was found that as α-angle decreases, the ability to resist sliding also decreases since the low α-angle promotes block formation. This study also demonstrated that using the undulation angles on mapped profiles of large-scale discontinuities (≥270 m) would be a promising approach for slope stability assessments of open pit excavations in tectonically disturbed metamorphic rocks.
Potential Changes in Soil Microbial Composition under 1,2-Dichlorobenzene Contamination
Authors: Huang Wen-Ting , Shiau Yo-Jin
Published: January 2023

Chlorine-containing organic compounds are important industrial solvents but are severely toxic to humans and the environment. Because of their stability and dense non-aqueous phase, they barely biodegrade when released into soil and groundwater systems and may significantly impact the soil environment. One bioremediation approach, biostimulation, adds rate-limiting nutrients to the soil to promote biodegradation processes, but the link remains unclear between stimulated microbial communities and nutrient inputs in anaerobic environments. This study evaluated changes to soil microbial communities in 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB)-contaminated soil under diverse carbon (C) and nutrient conditions. The experiments used anaerobic microcosms that were amended with various C and nutrient sources, and the analysis employed real-time PCR and next-generation sequencing. The results reveal that methanogens may have high resistance to 1,2-DCB in oligotrophic conditions. However, bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and some uncultured genera in the Xanthomonadaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Bacillales families can resist high 1,2-DCB concentrations when N and P sources are available. These results indicate that external N and P sources are important for stabilizing soil microbial communities and their processes in contaminant sites.
Influence of Heat–Cool Cyclic Exposure on the Performance of Fiber-Reinforced High-Strength Concrete
Authors: Hakeem Ibrahim , Hosen Md. Akter , Alyami Mana , Qaidi Shaker , Özkılıc Yasin
Published: January 2023

Sometimes civil engineering infrastructures have been constructed in hot and cold weathering regions such as desert areas. In such situations, the concrete is not only smashed by hot and cold processes but also spoiled by shrinkage cracking. Therefore, this study intends to examine the influence of heat–cool cycles on high-strength concrete comprising various fibers, such as natural date palm, polypropylene, and steel fibers, and their different volume percentages. The most popular technique for improving the structural behavior of concrete is fiber insertion. Fibers decrease cracking occurrences, enhance early strength under impact loads, and increase a structure’s ability to absorb additional energy. The main goal is to examine the effects of three different types of fibers on regular concrete exposed to heat–cool cycles. For each type of fiber, three dosages of 0.2%, 0.6%, and 1% were used to create high-strength concrete. After 28 days of regular water curing and six months of exposure to heat-and-cold cycles, all specimens were tested. The heat–cool cycles entailed heating for two days at 60 °C in the oven and cooling for another two days at room temperature. The results of the experiment showed that fiber reinforcement in concrete improves its strength and durability. The flexural strength was substantially improved by increasing the date palm, polypropylene, and steel fibers into the high-strength concrete with and without heat–cool cycles. Adding increments of date palm, polypropylene, and steel fibers into high-strength concrete revealed a significant improvement in energy absorption capacity in both cases, i.e., with or without the implementation of heat–cool cycles. Therefore, the natural date palm fibers might be utilized to produce sustainable fibrous high-strength concrete and be applicable in severe weathering conditions.
Diversity of Agro-Biological Traits and Development of Diseases in Alfalfa Cultivars during the Contrasting Vegetation Seasons
Authors: Liatukienė Aurelija , Norkevičienė Eglė , Danytė Vida , Liatukas Žilvinas
Published: January 2023

Alfalfa exhibits high adaptability to a range of environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the agro-biological traits of alfalfa and select its most promising cultivars under different contrasting vegetation seasons. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Agriculture of Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry. In 2016 and 2018, eleven alfalfa cultivars of different origin were established in the Endocalcari Epigleyic Cambisol. In the seasons of 2017–2018 and 2019–2020, the agro-biological traits of alfalfa cultivars were evaluated during winter; at the height of spring regrowth; before flowering at the three cuts; and during the fresh and dry matter yields; we also examined the development of diseases at the three cuts. The cultivar Birutė from Lithuania was distinguished by its wintering, its plant height at spring regrowth, its height before flowering, and its fresh and dry matter yields. The cultivar Timbale from France was distinguished by its wintering, spring regrowth, and its height before flowering. The cultivar Magnat from Romania was distinguished by its height before flowering and the fact that it was less damaged by downy mildew. The cultivars Jõgeva 118, Juurlu, and Karlu from Estonia were distinguished by their wintering and the fact that they were less damaged by diseases. The cultivar Eugenia from Italy was distinguished by the fresh and dry matter yields and the height before flowering.
The Impact of Local Food Festivals on Rural Areas’ Development
Authors: Ossowska Luiza , Janiszewska Dorota , Kwiatkowski Gregory , Kloskowski Dariusz
Published: January 2023

The importance of food festivals in the functioning of local rural areas is manifested in the construction of a sense of community and place. However, each stakeholder group perceives the impact of such festivals differently. The literature lacks a comprehensive approach to this issue. The main aim of this research is, thus, to identify how particular groups of stakeholders perceive the impact of a local food festival on the development of a rural area. The research was conducted at a small local food festival in Poland in July 2020. Individual groups of stakeholders (organizers, vendors and visitors) were asked to assess the impact of the festival on the development of the rural area. This research was conducted in three main stages using various research tools. In the first stage, an in-depth interview was conducted with the festival’s organizers. In the second stage, a survey, via a questionnaire, was conducted with visitors. In the third stage, semi-structured interviews were held with vendors. Surveys and interviews were carried out using the paper-and-pencil interview (PAPI) method. Our results indicate that interest in the impact of festivals on rural development decreases with distance. That is, the sooner such effects are visible, the more positive they are perceived. Moreover, visitors (on vacation) perceive a festival’s impact more positively than vendors (at work).
Developing a Decision-Making Process of Location Selection for Truck Public Parking Lots in Korea
Authors: Chen Maowei , Zhao Tingting , Lee Jungwook , Lee Hyangsook
Published: January 2023

As the number of truck registrations and the traffic volume have increased continuously in urban areas, the problem of truck illegal parking on the roadside has become more serious in Korea. Although the government presented the necessity and the construction plan of the truck public parking lots through the ‘4th Comprehensive Plan for Expansion of Truck Resting Facilities’, there is no detailed guideline for the local government of where to construct them. The previous studies on the location selection of the parking lots have mainly focused on passenger cars and buses, but not trucks, and the process for candidate location selection was not mentioned. To fill this gap, this study presents a decision-making process for the location selection of truck public parking lots in urban areas based on mixed-integer programming; it includes a candidate location selection by spatial analysis and an optimal location determination by the application of the competitive p-median algorithm. A case study of Incheon was conducted to validate the presented decision-making process. This study introduced a systematic decision-making process that includes standards establishment, data processing, and methodology application; it is universalistic enough to be utilized as a guideline for the government to efficiently construct truck public parking lots.
Effects of Exogenous Chlorinated Amino Acetic Acid on Cadmium and Mineral Elements in Rice Seedlings
Authors: Liu Shuangyue , Fu Lin , Zhang Changbo , Deng Jiawei , Xue Weijie , Deng Yun
Published: January 2023

To explore the effect of exogenous application of chlorinated amino acetic acid on cadmium (Cd) transport characteristics in rice seedlings, X24 and Z35 rice were taken as the research objects to carry out hydroponics experiments, and the changes of Cd content in rice seedlings, rice mineral elements and amino acid content in rice were analyzed. The results showed that exogenous application of 1.2 mmol·L−1 chlorinated amino acetic acid inhibited cadmium in shoots and roots of rice seedlings; Cd content in shoots and roots were reduced by up to 62.19% and 45.61%, respectively. The majority of cadmium was in the cell wall of shoots and roots; this decreased with the increase of the concentration of chlorinated acetic acid. In addition, the Mn content in shoots and Ca content in roots of rice seedlings increased significantly after the application of chlorinated amino acetic acid. The results of amino acid analysis showed that the contents of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and cystine in rice seedlings were increased. These results indicate that exogenous application of chlorinated amino acetic acid is beneficial to the synthesis of aspartic acid, glutamic acid and cysteine in rice seedlings, increases the content of Mn in shoots and Ca in roots of rice seedlings, and significantly alleviates cadmium stress in seedlings. This provides a theoretical basis for the development of an environmentally friendly Cd-lowering foliar fertilizer for rice.
Biomonitoring of Alterations in Fish That Inhabit Anthropic Aquatic Environments in a Basin from Semi-Arid Regions
Authors: Pérez-Iglesias Juan Manuel , Bach Nadia Carla , Colombetti Patricia Laura , Acuña Pablo , Colman-Lerner Jorge Esteban , González Silvia Patricia , Brodeur Julie Celine , Almeida Cesar Américo
Published: January 2023

Industrial, agricultural, and urban areas can be sources of pollution and a cause of habitat fragmentation. The Conlara River located in the northeast of San Luis Province suffers different environmental pressures along its course from urban to agro-industrial areas. The present study aims to assess the water quality of the Conlara basin by evaluating how metals and pesticide contamination as well as physicochemical parameters relate to physiological stress in Jenynsia multidentata. Samplings were carried out in four sites characterized by a growing gradient of anthropic impact from the springs to the final sections of the river, starting with tourism passing through urban areas and ending with large agricultural areas (from S1 to S4) during both the dry and wet seasons. A total of 27 parameters were determined (11 physicochemical, 9 heavy metals, and 7 pesticides) in surface waters. Biomarkers (CAT, TBARS, ChE, and MN) showed significant physiological and cytological alterations in J. multidentata depending on the hydrology season. The combination of physicochemical parameters, metals, and pesticide levels allowed typification and differentiation of the sites. Some metal (Cr, Mn, Pb, and Zn) and pesticide (α-BHC, chlorpyrifos, permethrin and cypermethrin, and endosulfan α) levels recorded exceeded the recommended Argentinian legislation values. A principal component analysis (PCA) allowed detection of differences between both seasons and across sites. Furthermore, the differences in distances showed by PCA between the sites were due to differences in the presence of physicochemical parameters, metals, and pesticides correlated with several biomarkers’ responses depending on type of environmental stressor. Water quality evaluation along the Conlara River shows deterioration and different types of environmental stressors, identifying zones, and specific sources of pollution. Furthermore, the biomarkers suggest that the native species could be sensitive to anthropogenic environmental pressures.
Correction: Kim et al. The Medium Cut-Off Membrane Does Not Lower Protein-Bound Uremic Toxins. Toxins 2022, 14, 779
Authors: Kim Yang Gyun , Lee Sang Ho , Jung Su Woong , Jung Gun Tae , Lim Hyun Ji , Kim Kwang Pyo , Jo Young-Il , Jin KyuBok , Moon Ju Young
Published: January 2023

In the original publication [...]
Inhibition of Tolaasin Cytotoxicity Causing Brown Blotch Disease in Cultivated Mushrooms Using Tolaasin Inhibitory Factors
Authors: Yun Yeong-Bae , Cho Kwang-Hyun , Kim Young-Kee
Published: January 2023

Tolaasin, a pore-forming bacterial peptide toxin secreted by Pseudomonas tolaasii, causes brown blotch disease in cultivated mushrooms by forming membrane pores and collapsing the membrane structures. Tolaasin is a lipodepsipeptide, MW 1985, and pore formation by tolaasin molecules is accomplished by hydrophobic interactions and multimerizations. Compounds that inhibit tolaasin toxicity have been isolated from various food additives. Food detergents, sucrose esters of fatty acids, and polyglycerol esters of fatty acids can effectively inhibit tolaasin cytotoxicity. These chemicals, named tolaasin-inhibitory factors (TIF), were effective at concentrations ranging from 10−4 to 10−5 M. The most effective compound, TIF 16, inhibited tolaasin-induced hemolysis independent of temperature and pH, while tolaasin toxicity increased at higher temperatures. When TIF 16 was added to tolaasin-pretreated erythrocytes, the cytotoxic activity of tolaasin immediately stopped, and no further hemolysis was observed. In the artificial lipid bilayer, the single-channel activity of the tolaasin channel was completely and irreversibly blocked by TIF 16. When TIF 16 was sprayed onto pathogen-treated oyster mushrooms growing on the shelves of cultivation houses, the development of disease was completely suppressed, and normal growth of oyster mushrooms was observed. Furthermore, the treatment with TIF 16 did not show any adverse effect on the growth of oyster mushrooms. These results indicate that TIF 16 is a good candidate for the biochemical control of brown blotch disease.
Highly Dispersive Optical Solitons with Four Forms of Self-Phase Modulation
Authors: Elsherbeny Ahmed M. , Arnous Ahmed H. , Biswas Anjan , González-Gaxiola Oswaldo , Moraru Luminita , Moldovanu Simona , Iticescu Catalina , Alshehri Hashim M.
Published: January 2023

This paper implements the enhanced Kudryashov approach to retrieve highly dispersive optical solitons and study it with four nonlinear forms. These are the power law, generalized quadratic-cubic law, triple-power law, and the generalized non-local law. This approach reveals bright and singular optical solitons along with the respective parameter constraints.
Do Socially Vulnerable Urban Populations Have Access to Walkable, Transit-Accessible Neighborhoods? A Nationwide Analysis of Large U.S. Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Bereitschaft Bradley
Published: January 2023

Walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods that may offer residents numerous health, social, and economic benefits are, in many places, becoming increasingly exclusive. This equity-mapping analysis sought to determine whether socially vulnerable (SV) populations within America’s largest (pop. ≥ 500 k) metropolitan areas have equitable access to walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods. The results suggest an equitable overlap between high-SV and highly walkable neighborhoods in many cities, yet there was significant variability in both the availability and equity in accessibility of these neighborhoods to SV populations. Concerningly, high-SV populations living in more walkable neighborhoods are also likely to contend with higher levels of personal crime (i.e., homicide, rape, robbery, assault), poorer-performing schools, and lower transit accessibility. While the primary challenge in some cities, including many in the South and Southeast, is a general lack of walkable and transit-accessible neighborhoods, in others a dearth of affordable housing is likely the main barrier to ensuring broad and equitable accessibility.
eDNA Biomonitoring of Macroinvertebrate Communities for the Bioassessment of a River’s Ecological Status
Authors: Wu Feifei , Zou Yanting , Qin Shan , Li Feilong , Zhang Yuan
Published: January 2023

Environmental DNA (eDNA) becomes a promising technology for macroinvertebrate monitoring worldwide. In recent decades, with increasing humanization processes, such as water pollution and habitat fragmentation, the richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates show a dramatic decline, which is particularly evident in tropical or subtropical rivers. The high-throughput and rapid monitoring of species’ survival and the ecological status of their habitats are relevant to river management. Here, we used the eDNA technology to detect macroinvertebrates in the Dongjiang River—a typical subtropical river in Southern China, to assess the ecological status, based on eDNA datasets. Our data showed a total of 640 OTUs detected by eDNA technology, belonging to three phyla, five classes, 13 orders, 33 families and 71 genera of macroinvertebrates, and these taxa had a 36.6% coverage rate with historical data at the genus level. The traditional water quality index (WQI) showed that the upstream of Dongjiang River were mainly levels I~II, the middle stream were levels II~III, and the downstream were levels IV~V. The eDNA-based biotic indices showed almost the same findings, that is, the overall ecological status of Dongjiang River was: upstream > middle reaches > downstream. Overall, this study provides important datasets and technical support for eDNA technology in macroinvertebrate monitoring and ecosystem management in the subtropical rivers.
Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Eucalyptus Bark—A First Step for a Green Production of Tannin-Based Coagulants
Authors: Tomasi Isabella T. , Santos Sílvia C. R. , Boaventura Rui A. R. , Botelho Cidália M. S.
Published: January 2023

Tannins are natural polyphenolic compounds widely found in plants. The production of natural coagulants for water treatment is one of their new applications. Polyphenols extraction is the first step for synthesizing tannin-based coagulants. Eucalyptus globulus bark (EGB), an abundant by-product of the pulp and paper industry, usually applied as fuel for energy production, was used in this work as a tannin source. The extraction of polyphenols from EGB was studied using water as a solvent. Extraction assays employing different extraction techniques were conducted. Microwave-assisted extraction showed superior performance and was further optimized. The influence of irradiation time, water-to-bark ratio, and temperature were evaluated using Response Surface Methodology. The extraction yield and the total phenolic content of the extract were modeled as function of the extraction conditions. The overall best conditions that maximize both responses were obtained through multi-response optimization. Optimized values (15% of extraction yield and a phenolic content of 354 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram of extract) were predicted for an extraction time of 15 s, a liquid-to-solid ratio of 48.5 mL/g, and 141 °C. The extract generated under these conditions presented a condensed tannin content of 645 mg/g, expressed in terms of catechin equivalents. EGB presented good tannin-extractable contents to produce natural coagulants.
Numerical Simulation of Flow-Induced Noise in Horizontal Axial Flow Pumps in Forward and Reverse Conditions
Authors: Wu Donglei , Bai Yalei
Published: January 2023

This paper investigates the influence of pressure pulsation and flow-induced noise using a two-way dual-purpose pump. The pressure pulsation signal is obtained from the Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) turbulent model calculation as the fan sound source, and the noise sound field distribution in the impeller is calculated. The numerical results show that the external characteristics and pressure pulsation obtained from the simulation correlate well with the experimental values. Under different working conditions, the pressure pulsation decreases with the increase in the flow rate; no evident dominant frequency occurs in the frequency spectrum at a low flow rate, and many spurious frequencies occur. The primary frequency in the runner chamber is the leaf frequency, and that in the nonblade area is the rotating frequency. The sound field distribution of the flow-induced noise has dipole characteristics, and its directivity distribution and sound pressure radiation level can reflect the pressure pulsation characteristics. It is primarily affected by the blade frequency, and the distribution with the flow rate is consistent with the pressure pulsation. Avoiding a low flow and operating in a reasonable flow area can effectively reduce pressure pulsation and flow-induced noise and ensure the stability of unit operation.
Gasometría arterial en pacientes con sepsis y choque séptico atendidos en el Hospital Dr. Napoleón Dávila Córdova
Authors: Ponce Ibarra Jesús Alberto , Bracho Mora Angela María
Published: January 2023

La sepsis se define como una respuesta inmunitaria desbalanceada frente a una infección que da lugar a una disfunción orgánica e insuficiencia cardiorrespiratoria que acelera el riesgo de sufrir complicaciones metabólicas. La gasometría arterial en el paciente con sepsis es fundamental para establecer diagnóstico, tratamiento y pronóstico. En este trabajo se caracterizaron los resultados de gasometría arterial incluyendo lactato en los pacientes con sepsis y choque séptico, atendidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) del Hospital Dr. Napoleón Dávila Córdova del cantón Chone, Manabí durante el periodo enero-junio de 2021. Se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, de carácter retrospectivo y de corte transversal de los datos de los 28 pacientes que se atendieron en la UCI en el periodo de estudio, a través de la revisión de la base de datos del hospital. La edad promedio fue de 50 años y hubo más mujeres que hombres. Predominaron los pacientes con sepsis sin foco identificado y la estadía en UCI fue mayor en los pacientes con choque séptico. Más de la mitad de los pacientes presentaron acidosis láctica lo cual correspondió con diagnóstico gasométrico de acidosis metabólica en algunos casos descompensada y en otros parcialmente compensada. Más de la mitad de los pacientes lograron normalizar sus valores de gasometría al egreso de UCI.
A Journey in Servant-Leadership
Authors: Spears Larry C.
Published: January 2023

Larry C. Spears explores servant-leadership, his own journey in servant-leadership, and the powerful significance of Philip Mathew's 2021 book Finding Leo.
Servant-Leaders as Co-Laborers: A Field Philosophy Model
Authors: Webb Jae
Published: January 2023

In 2013, Professor R. Edward Freeman joked about his father’s sarcastic witticism in response to his choice of career. The joke is not that philosophy is a feckless art, but rather that its modern practice has been relegated to the realm of theory, with incredibly salient subject matter but a practice that is seemingly ineffectual in the everyday world. Justice is one such area of interest for philosophers; however, abstract theoretical or philosophical justice, especially in relation to environmental resources and in consideration of environmental relationships, is increasingly meaningless for contemporary society. Environmental injustice is lived and experienced, it is realized by marginal populations every day (Shiva, 2006). Philosophers working on environmental justice must both understand and enter into this reality to do effective work. In other words, work done on environmental justice must be first and foremost practice-oriented. The overarching title that has been ascribed to this new branch is “field philosophy,” but the conversation is only nascent concerning how and what philosophy in the field looks like for traditional philosophers (Frodeman, 2010).
To that end I have constructed a model that aims to fold together justice as praxis, with the deep and historical roots of philosophy as community-life. This model is built upon the tenets of servant-leadership practice, as promulgated by Robert Greenleaf (2002), and addresses both the practical and theoretical elements of environmental justice in an effort to enhance philosopher’s utility as servant-leaders. Here I argue for two reasons why servant-leadership serves as the basis for this field philosophy model. The first is because of the overlap in the pursuits of environmental justice philosophers and those of servant-leaders while the second is because the actions of those doing the work of environmental justice philosophy most often display servant-leadership qualities. Servant-leaders who work with the aim of improving the lives of the least privileged and most disadvantaged in society, working to make others more free, autonomous, wise, and healthy (Greenleaf, 2002). For field philosophers in environmental justice I call this the practice of co-laboring with the marginalized and oppressed. In this paper, I present two such co-laborers who have engaged in the work of field philosophy for environmental justice as servant-leaders: Marisol de la Cadena and Adam Briggle. Their efforts support and explain the model offered here, which others could emulate and adopt in pursuit of environmental justice reforms as servant-leaders.
Analyse du réseau des autorités de concurrence en Europe : une structure centre-périphérie
Authors: Berquier Benoît
Published: January 2023

The decentralisation of part of merger control with parallel enforcement by the European Commission and the national competition authorities (NCAs) was facilitated by the 2004 EU merger reform. In proposing an original representation of the NCAs within a network of referrals accepted by the European Commission, this paper investigates the impact of the reform on the position of theNCAswithin the network. Network analysis tools reveal a network with a core-periphery structure, in which the position of the actors is explained byGDP. The 2004 merger reform reinforced the structure around the core formed by the German, French, andUKcompetition authorities.
La thalassothérapie sur la côte basque
Authors: Laconme Patricia
Published: January 2023

Avec cinq établissements de thalassothérapie, la Côte basque est une des premières régions françaises où se pratique cette activité. Elle a nécessité la construction d'équipements performants et coûteux, mais, à la différence de la plupart des activités des stations balnéaires, la thalassothérapie est une activité permanente et les retombées économiques sont suffisantes pour qu 'elle soit considérée comme un moyen de revitalisation dont s'enthousiasment les élus locaux et les personnes vivant du tourisme... Néanmoins, quelques problèmes se posent pour l'avenir de cette activité.