bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supervisors’ Perspectives on Online Interprofessional Supervision: Results from a Mixed-Methods Longitudinal Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Almendingen Kari , Skotheim Torhild , Magnus Ellen Merethe
Published: December 2022

Collaboration in interprofessional collaboration (IPC) teams is a part of working in welfare services. Unlike uniprofessional supervision, interprofessional supervision involves supervisors and students with different educational backgrounds. This study explores 105 supervisors’ responses after synchronous supervision of 15,700 students from teaching, health, and social work education programs who participated in an annual preservice interprofessional learning (IPL) course from 2018 to 2022. The purpose was to explore supervisors’ experience of the online IPL supervisor role and of the student’s learning outcomes through a longitudinal mixed-methods repeated design. Response rates: 61%, 45%, 82% and 40%, respectively. The students worked in IPL groups with limited interaction with supervisors, using a case-based learning approach. The supervisors were supportive of IPL but suggested changes to increase relevance. The imbalance in the knowledge base on child-related topics and IPL preparedness among the student groups was challenging. Some questioned the need for supervision, whereas others were concerned about the limited time allocated for supervision. We conclude that online supervision is forward-looking because candidates must prepare for helping users, such as children and their next-of-kin, online. We deduce that online supervision is relevant for the future and less complicated than IPL supervision
A Thematic Review of Current Literature Examining Evidence-Based Practices and Inclusion
Authors: Goddard Yvonne L. , Ammirante Lindsay , Jin Ning
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this article was to provide a thematic summary of current literature combining the topics of evidence-based practices (EBPs) and inclusive settings. We summarized findings from 27 peer-reviewed articles written in English and published between 2012–2022. A systematic, thematic literature review yielded four broad categories addressed in recent publications: using specific evidence-based practices with PK-12 students, teacher education, teachers’ perceptions and attitudes toward including students with disabilities, and collaboration. Within two of those four broad categories, sub-categories also emerged. We discuss the importance of our results and implications for researchers and practitioners.
On the Effect of the Time Interval Base and Home Appliance on the Renewable Quota of a Building in an Alpine Location
Authors: Povolato Margherita , Prada Alessandro , Verones Sara , Baggio Paolo
Published: December 2022

The European goal of decarbonization drives design toward high-performance buildings that maximize the use of renewable sources. Therefore, the European RED II Directive and Italian law raise the minimum renewable share required for new buildings and major renovations. Currently, the renewable energy ratio (RER) is used for the mandatory verification, obtained with a quasi-steady state calculation on a monthly basis, while much of the scientific literature uses self-consumption factor (SCF) and load coverage factor (LCF) often calculated through dynamic simulation. However, the use of a monthly balance implies the use of the national grid as a virtual battery through the net metering mechanism. The actual share of renewable coverage in the absence of expensive electric storage will necessarily be lower. The link between the different indices, the effect of the time base used in the calculation as well as the actual renewable share achieved by buildings, considering also plug loads not in the regulatory verification framework, are still open issues. This work analyzes the actual renewable share achievable for a new building in a heating-dominated climate, i.e., the mountainous area of the municipality of Trento. The renewable share is evaluated through a coupled dynamic simulation of the building and the energy systems. The results show that the RER decreases by 13% and 15% when switching from monthly to instantaneous balance in the case without and with additional home appliance loads, respectively. Similarly, simulations show how the time interval base affects the difference between the RER index and the LCF of PV energy.
Prediction and Mitigation of Wind Farm Blockage Losses Considering Mesoscale Atmospheric Response
Authors: Legris Leila , Pahus Morten Lindholt , Nishino Takafumi , Perez-Campos Edgar
Published: December 2022

The engineering wind farm models currently used in industry can assess power losses due to turbine wake effects, but the prediction of power losses due to farm blockage is still a challenge. In this study we demonstrate a new prediction method of farm blockage losses and a possible strategy to mitigate them for a large offshore wind farm in the North Sea, by combining a common engineering wind farm model ’FLORIS’ with the ’two-scale momentum theory’ of Nishino and Dunstan (2020). Results show that the farm blockage losses depend significantly on the ’wind extractability’ factor, which reflects the strength of mesoscale atmospheric response. For a typical range of the extractability factor (assessed using a numerical weather prediction model) the farm blockage losses are shown to vary between about 5% and 15% of the annual energy production (AEP). However, these losses may be mitigated by adjusting turbine operating points taking into account the wind extractability. It is shown that a simple adjustment of the blade pitch angle and tip-speed ratio used below the rated wind speed may increase the AEP by up to about 2%.
Production Forecasting Based on Attribute-Augmented Spatiotemporal Graph Convolutional Network for a Typical Carbonate Reservoir in the Middle East
Authors: Gao Meng , Wei Chenji , Zhao Xiangguo , Huang Ruijie , Yang Jian , Li Baozhu
Published: December 2022

Production forecasting plays an important role in development plans during the entire period of petroleum exploration and development. Artificial intelligence has been extensively investigated in recent years because of its capacity to extensively analyze and interpret complex data. With the emergence of spatiotemporal models that can integrate graph convolutional networks (GCN) and recurrent neural networks (RNN), it is now possible to achieve multi-well production prediction by considering the impact of interactions between producers and historical production data simultaneously. Moreover, an accurate prediction not only depends on historical production data but also on the influence of neighboring injectors’ historical gas injection rate (GIR). Therefore, based on the assumption that introducing GIR can enhance prediction accuracy, this paper proposes a deep learning-based hybrid production forecasting model that is aimed at considering both the spatiotemporal characteristics of producers and the GIR of neighboring injectors. Specifically, we integrated spatiotemporal characteristics and GIR into an attribute-augmented spatiotemporal graph convolutional network (AST-GCN) and gated recurrent units (GRU) neural network to extract intricate temporal correlations from historical data. The method proposed in this paper has been successfully applied in a well pattern (including five producers and seven gas injectors) in a low-permeability carbonate reservoir in the Middle East. In single well production forecasting, the error of AST-GCN is 63.2%, 37.3%, and 16.1% lower in MedAE, MAE, and RMSE compared with GRU and 62.9%, 44.6%, and 28.9% lower compared with RNS. Similarly, the accuracy of AST-GCN is 15.9% and 35.8% higher than GRU and RNS in single well prediction. In well-pattern production forecasting, the error of AST-GCN is 41.2%, 64.2%, and 75.2% lower in RMSE, MAE, and MedAE compared with RNS, while the accuracy of AST-GCN is 29.3% higher. After different degrees of Gaussian noise are added to the actual data, the average change in AST-GCN is 3.3%, 0.4%, and 1.2% in MedAE, MAE, and RMSE, which indicates the robustness of the proposed model. The results show that the proposed model can consider the production data, gas injection data, and spatial correlation at the same time, which performs well in oil production forecasts.
Research on Anti-Icing Performance of Graphene Photothermal Superhydrophobic Surface for Wind Turbine Blades
Authors: Gou Yujun , Han Jia , Li Yida , Qin Yi , Li Qingan , Zhong Xiaohui
Published: December 2022

In this study, graphene is used as a photothermal material, which is added to the SiO2 superhydrophobic solution treated with fluorine silane, and then sprayed on the copper plate surface to prepare a new type of photothermal superhydrophobic surface with contact angles up to 160.5° and 159.8°. Under the conditions of natural convection, the effects of photothermal superhydrophobic surfaces on droplet condensation, freezing, and frost growth are investigated in different environments. The results show that the photothermal superhydrophobic surface can not only delay the freezing of surface droplets, prolong the freezing time of droplets, and reduce the thickness of the frost layer, but also allow for the rapid removal of droplets under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. If the droplet is irradiated by an infrared laser emitter while the cooling system is still turned on, the internal temperature of the droplet will always be higher than the crystallization temperature under the illumination intensity of 2 W/cm2, and the droplets will not freeze. With the extension of irradiation time, the droplet will evaporate, and the volume of the droplet will decrease. On the basis of summarizing and evaluating the study on the anti-icing performance of superhydrophobic surfaces and the properties of photothermal materials, a new research direction regarding the anti-icing of fan blade surfaces was established. This kind of surface combines the photothermal capabilities of light absorption materials with the micro- and nanostructure of the superhydrophobic surface to improve the anti-icing capability of wind turbine blade surfaces in difficult conditions.
Comparative Analysis of Injection of Pyrolysis Oil from Plastics and Gasoline into the Engine Cylinder and Atomization by a Direct High-Pressure Injector
Authors: Szwaja Magdalena , Naber Jeffrey D. , Shonnard David , Kulas Daniel , Zolghadr Ali , Szwaja Stanislaw
Published: December 2022

The article discusses the results of experimental studies on the course of pyrolysis oil injection through the high-pressure injector of a direct-injection engine. The pyrolysis oil used for the tests was derived from waste plastics (mainly high-density polyethylene—HDPE). This oil was then distilled. The article also describes the production technology of this pyrolysis oil on a laboratory scale. It presents the results of the chemical composition of the raw pyrolysis oil and the oil after the distillation process using GC-MS analysis. Fuel injection tests were carried out for the distilled pyrolysis oil and a 91 RON gasoline in order to perform a comparative analysis with the tested pyrolysis oil. In this case, the research was focused on the injected spray cloud analysis. The essential tested parameter was the Sauter Mean Diameter (SMD) of fuel droplets measured at the injection pressure of 400 bar. The analysis showed that the oil after distillation contained a significant proportion of light hydrocarbons similar to gasoline, and that the SMDs for distilled pyrolysis oil and gasoline were similar in the 7–9 µm range. In conclusion, it can be considered that distilled pyrolysis oil from HDPE can be used both as an additive for blending with gasoline in a spark-ignition engine or as a single fuel for a gasoline compression-ignition direct injection engine.
Multifractal Patterns in 17-Year PM10 Time Series in Athens, Greece
Authors: Nikolopoulos Dimitrios , Alam Aftab , Petraki Ermioni , Yannakopoulos Panayiotis , Moustris Konstantinos
Published: December 2022

This paper reports the multifractal characteristics of lengthy PM10 time series from five stations in the Greater Athens Area (GAA), Greece. A novel methodology based on the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MFDFA) is applied to raw and shuffled series in 74 segments in 11 date-periods, previously located, with very strong self-organised critical (SOC) and fractal properties. The MFDFA identified multifractality in all segments. Generalised and classical Hurst exponents are in the range 0.8–1.5 and 9–4.5 for the raw and shuffled series, while the multifractal f(a)−a is within 0.5–1.2 and 0.1–2, respectively. The f(a)−a data are fitted to polynomials to calculate the multifractal parameters W, FWHM and fmax. While these are bimodal, a new parameter, FWHM/fmax, is normally distributed, and due to this, it is employed to locate the important multifractal behaviour via the FWHM/fmax outliers. Five date-periods are found. The date-period 8 January 2015 has extraordinary multifractality for raw and shuffled series for both the AGP and LYK stations. This date-period is one of the three reported in the most recent combination study. Finally, sliding window MFDFA evolution plots of all the series are given. The results provide very strong evidence of the multifractality of the PM10 time series.
Dendroremediation Potential of Six Quercus Species to Polluted Soil in Historic Copper Mining Sites
Authors: Cao Yini , Yu Liangqian , Dang Ning , Sun Lixiang , Zhang Pingxuan , Cao Jiwu , Chen Guangcai
Published: December 2022

Green remediation of severely contaminated soils around mining sites can be achieved using suitable woody plants such as Quercus species, but their phytoremediation potential has not been well evaluated yet. Six Quercus species, which were popular in ecological restoration and landscape application in east China, were selected and evaluated for their phytoremediation potential of metal polluted soil using a pot experiment that lasted for 150 d. The results suggested that Quercus species exhibited high tolerance to multi-metal contamination of Cu (9839 mg·kg−1), Cd (8.5 mg·kg−1), and Zn (562 mg·kg−1) with a tolerance index (TI) ranging from 0.52 to 1.21. Three Quercus (Q. pagoda, Q. acutissima, and Q. nuttallii) showed relatively higher tolerance with TIs of 1.08, 1.09, and 1.21, respectively. Above-ground tissues accounted for most of the total biomass in T1 (mixture of clean and polluted soil, 50%) and T2 (100% polluted soil) treatments for most species. The Cu contents in plant tissues were in the order of root > leaf > stem, whereas Zn exhibited the order of leaf > stem > root, and Cd showed divergent mobility within the Quercus species. All the Quercus species exhibited higher capacity for Zn phytoextraction with translocation factor (TF) over 1 and Cu/Cd phytostabilization with TFs lower than 1. The analytic hierarchy process-entropy weight model indicated that Q. virginiana and Q. acutissima were two excellent species with evident phytoremediation capacity of Cu, Cd, and Zn co-contaminated soil. Taken together, Quercus species showed great potential for phytoremediation of soils severely polluted by Cu, Cd, and Zn around historic mining sites. Application of Quercus species is a green remediation option with low-maintenance cost and prospective economic benefit for phytomanagement of historic mining sites.
Distribution of Wood Pastures in Slovakia—Constraints and Potentials for Restoration of Multifunctional Traditional Land Use Form
Authors: Lepeška Tomáš , Wiezik Michal , Gallay Igor , Paulíková Veronika , Olah Branislav , Mosquera Losada María Rosa , Pástor Michal , Wieziková Adela
Published: December 2022

Wood pastures represent specific ecosystems across Europe with diverse ecological, agricultural, and socioeconomic roles. Land-use changes and the cessation of traditional management in conjunction with socioeconomic changes led to shifts in their spatiotemporal distribution. Despite a recent increase in scientific interest, data on historical patterns of wood pastures in many European locations remain insufficient. This study presents wood-pasture habitat continuity and analyzes changes in their distribution over space and time in selected parts of Slovakia. Simultaneously, we analyzed the relation of wood pastures to selected environmental and landscape features. To achieve this, we examined the historical distribution of wood pastures using aerial imagery from the 1950s. We thoroughly examined an area of 16,209 km2 to identify preserved wood pastures. To identify the present conditions and the spatial distribution of wood-pasture habitats, we compared the historical data with recent ortophotomaps. Based on landscape–ecological analyses of historical distribution, we determined prevailing environmental conditions of wood-pasture locations. The findings reveal that over 90% of wood pastures from the first half of the 20th century have now been lost or encroached and preserved in the form of a closed-canopy forest. In most of the encroached sites, we identified the presence of vital core veteran trees. For the identification of wood pastures and further analyses of the environmental variables, the ArcGIS 10.3 program was used; the R software was used for all statistical evaluations. The results show that the studied wood pastures were not established randomly, but were rather set within a certain landscape context, characterized by elevation, soil quality, and distance from settlements.
Effects of Dietary Capsaicin and Yucca schidigera Extracts as Feed Additives on Rumen Fermentation and Microflora of Beef Cattle Fed with a Moderate-Energy Diet
Authors: Yi Xin , Wu Baoyun , Ma Jinglei , Cui Xiaojing , Deng Ziqi , Hu Sanlong , Li Wei , A Runa , Li Xiang , Meng Qingxiang , Zhou Zhenming , Wu Hao
Published: December 2022

Capsaicin (CAP) and Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) are two types of plant extracts that can change rumen fermentation. This study was conducted to investigate whether supplementation of beef cattle diets with CAP and YSE for 90 days would affect rumen fermentation and microflora. Forty-five healthy Angus steers (initial body weight = 510.54 ± 41.27 kg) were divided into three groups: control (CON), CAP, and YSE. Ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentrations were significantly higher in the YSE group than in the CON group and significantly lower in the CAP group than in the CON group. At the phylum level, YSE increased the relative abundances of Bacteroidota and Patescibacteria and reduced that of Bacillota. At the genus level, CAP and YSE both increased the relative abundances of genera subordinate to Bacteroidota and decreased the relative abundances of genera subordinate to Bacillota. Our study shows that YSE and CAP have different effects on rumen fermentation and microflora after long-term supplementation.
First Evidence of Vibrio tapetis as Causal Agent of Disease Outbreak in Meagre (Argyrosomus regius)
Authors: López Jose R. , Romalde Jesús L. , López-Sanmartín Montserrat , Navas José I.
Published: December 2022

In this work, we studied a disease outbreak that affected meagre (Argyrosomus regius) at a temperature of 14–15 °C, and that reached a mortality rate of 45% in one week. Moribund fish showed neither external nor internal signs of disease. However, a large number of bacteria, phenotypically similar and in pure culture, were recovered from the liver and kidney. A further phenotypic, genotypic and serological characterization of a selection of three isolates (a828, a834 and a842) allowed the identification of them as Vibrio tapetis. Phylogenetic analysis placed the isolates within the subspecies tapetis, being clearly differentiated from the subspecies britannicus and quintayensis. Nevertheless, all the isolates showed some phenotypic discrepancies with the type strain CECT 4600T; also, they proved to belong to a different O-serotype and genogroup (according to REP-PCR analysis) than the type strain. A virulence evaluation performed in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) by intraperitoneal injection using isolate a828 in two different doses (1 × 105 and 3 × 108 cfu/fish) led to mean mortality rates of 30% and 60%, respectively, corroborating its potential to cause significant mortalities in fish. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of pathogenic Vibrio tapetis isolates associated with disease outbreaks in meagre.
Phenotypic and Genomic Insights into Biofilm Formation in Antibiotic-Resistant Clinical Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus Species from South Africa
Authors: Asante Jonathan , Abia Akebe L. K. , Anokwah Daniel , Hetsa Bakoena A. , Fatoba Dorcas O. , Bester Linda A. , Amoako Daniel G.
Published: December 2022

The work aims to investigate biofilm formation and biofilm/adhesion-encoding genes in coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species recovered from blood culture isolates. Eighty-nine clinical CoNS were confirmed using the VITEK 2 system, and antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolates was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method against a panel of 20 antibiotics. Isolates were qualitatively screened using the Congo red agar medium. Quantitative assays were performed on microtiter plates, where the absorbances of the solubilised biofilms were recorded as optical densities and quantified. In all, 12.4% of the isolates were strong biofilm formers, 68.5% had moderate biofilm capacity, and 17.9% showed weak capacity. A subset of 18 isolates, mainly methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis, were investigated for adherence-related genes using whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The highest antibiotic resistance rates for strongly adherent isolates were observed against penicillin (100%) and cefoxitin (81.8%), but the isolates showed no resistance to linezolid (0.0%) and tigecycline (0.0%). The icaABC genes involved in biofilm formation were detected in 50% of the screened isolates. Other adherence-related genes, including autolysin gene atl (88.8%), elastin binding protein gene ebp (94.4%), cell wall-associated fibronectin-binding protein gene ebh (66.7%), clumping factor A gene clfA (5.5%), and pili gene ebpC (22.2%) were also found. The insertion sequence IS256, involved in biofilm formation, was found in 10/18 (55.5%) screened isolates. We demonstrate a high prevalence of biofilm-forming coagulase-negative staphylococci associated with various resistance phenotypes and a substantial agreement between the possession of biofilm-associated genes and the biofilm phenotype.
Variants Tagging LGALS-3 Haplotype Block in Association with First Myocardial Infarction and Plasma Galectin-3 Six Months after the Acute Event
Authors: Djordjevic Ana , Zivkovic Maja , Boskovic Maja , Dekleva Milica , Stankovic Goran , Stankovic Aleksandra , Djuric Tamara
Published: December 2022

Galectin-3 is encoded by LGALS-3, located in a unique haplotype block in Caucasians. According to the Tagger server, rs4040064, rs11628437, and rs7159490 cover 82% (r2 > 0.8) of the genetic variance of this HapBlock. Our aims were to examine the association of their haplotypes with first myocardial infarction (MI), changes in left ventricular echocardiographic parameters over time, and impact on plasma galectin-3 and LGALS-3 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, both 6 months post-MI. The study group consisted of 546 MI patients and 323 controls. Gene expression was assessed in 92 patients and plasma galectin-3 in 189 patients. Rs4040064, rs11628437, rs7159490, and LGALS-3 mRNA expression were detected using TaqMan® technology. Plasma galectin-3 concentrations were determined by the ELISA method. We found that the TGC haplotype could have a protective effect against MI (adjusted OR 0.19 [0.05–0.72], p = 0.015) and that the GAC haplotype had significantly higher galectin-3 concentrations (48.3 [37.3–59.4] ng/mL vs. 18.9 [14.5–23.4] ng/mL, p < 0.0001), both in males and compared to the referent haplotype GGC. Higher plasma Gal-3 was also associated with higher NYHA class and systolic dysfunction. Our results suggest that variants tagging LGALS-3 HapBlock could reflect plasma Gal-3 levels 6 months post-MI and may have a potential protective effect against MI in men. Further replication, validation, and functional studies are needed.
GWAS on Imputed Whole-Genome Sequence Variants Reveal Genes Associated with Resistance to Piscirickettsia salmonis in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Sánchez-Roncancio Charles , García Baltasar , Gallardo-Hidalgo Jousepth , Yáñez José M.
Published: December 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) allow the identification of associations between genetic variants and important phenotypes in domestic animals, including disease-resistance traits. Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data can help increase the resolution and statistical power of association mapping. Here, we conduced GWAS to asses he facultative intracellular bacterium Piscirickettsia salmonis, which affects farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, in Chile using imputed genotypes at the sequence level and searched for candidate genes located in genomic regions associated with the trait. A total of 2130 rainbow trout were intraperitoneally challenged with P. salmonis under controlled conditions and genotyped using a 57K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel. Genotype imputation was performed in all the genotyped animals using WGS data from 102 individuals. A total of 488,979 imputed WGS variants were available in the 2130 individuals after quality control. GWAS revealed genome-wide significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) in Omy02, Omy03, Omy25, Omy26 and Omy27 for time to death and in Omy26 for binary survival. Twenty-four (24) candidate genes associated with P. salmonis resistance were identified, which were mainly related to phagocytosis, innate immune response, inflammation, oxidative response, lipid metabolism and apoptotic process. Our results provide further knowledge on the genetic variants and genes associated with resistance to intracellular bacterial infection in rainbow trout.
3D Printing in Otolaryngology Surgery: Descriptive Review of Literature to Define the State of the Art
Authors: Zoccali Federica , Colizza Andrea , Cialente Fabrizio , Di Stadio Arianna , La Mantia Ignazio , Hanna Charlie , Minni Antonio , Ralli Massimo , Greco Antonio , de Vincentiis Marco
Published: December 2022

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has allowed great progression in the medical field. In otolaryngology practice, 3D printing can be used for planning in case of malformation/complex surgery, for surgeon training, and for recreating missing tissues. This systematic review aimed to summarize the current benefits and the possible future application of 3D technologies in the otolaryngology field. Methods: A systematic review of articles that discuss the use of 3D printing in the otolaryngology field was performed. All publications without the restriction of time and that were published by December 2021 in the English language were included. Searches were performed in the PubMed, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase databases. Keywords used were: “3D printing”, “bioprinting”, “three-dimensional printing”, “tissue engineering” in combination with the terms: “head and neck surgery”, “head and neck reconstruction”, “otology”, “rhinology”, “laryngology”, and “otolaryngology”. Results: Ninety-one articles were included in this systematic review. The articles describe the clinical application of 3D printing in different fields of otolaryngology, from otology to pediatric otolaryngology. The main uses of 3D printing technology discussed in the articles included in the review were surgical planning in temporal bone malformation, the reconstruction of missing body parts after oncologic surgery, allowing for medical training, and providing better information to patients. Conclusion: The use of 3D printing in otolaryngology practice is constantly growing. However, available evidence is still limited, and further studies are needed to better evaluate the benefits of this technology.
Compassionate Health Care
Authors: Malliarou Maria
Published: December 2022

Compassionate care is a key component in nursing and midwifery quality care [...]
Trends and Variabilities in Rainfall and Streamflow: A Case Study of the Nilwala River Basin in Sri Lanka
Authors: Panditharathne Ravindu , Gunathilake Miyuru B. , Chathuranika Imiya M. , Rathnayake Upaka , Babel Mukand S. , Jha Manoj K.
Published: December 2022

Rainfall is one of the dominating climatic parameters that affect water availability. Trend analysis is of paramount significance to understand the behavior of hydrological and climatic variables over a long timescale. The main aim of the present study was to identify trends and analyze existing linkages between rainfall and streamflow in the Nilwala River Basin (NRB) of Southern Sri Lanka. An investigation of the trends, detection of change points and streamflow alteration, and linkage between rainfall and streamflow were carried out using the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope test, Pettitt’s test, indicators of hydrological alteration (IHA), and Pearson’s correlation test. Selected rainfall-related extreme climatic indices, namely, CDD, CWD, PRCPTOT, R25, and Rx5, were calculated using the RClimdex software. Trend analysis of rainfall data and extreme rainfall indices demonstrated few statistically significant trends at the monthly, seasonal, and annual scales, while streamflow data showed non-significant trends, except for December. Pettitt’s test showed that Dampahala had a higher number of statistically significant change points among the six rainfall stations. The Pearson coefficient correlation showed a strong-to–very-strong positive relationship between rainfall and streamflow. Generally, both rainfall and streamflow showed non-significant trend patterns in the NRB, suggesting that rainfall had a higher impact on streamflow patterns in the basin. The historical trends of extreme climatic indices suggested that the NRB did not experience extreme climates. The results of the present study will provide valuable information for water resource planning, flood and disaster mitigation, agricultural operations planning, and hydropower generation in the NRB.
Synthetic Drought Hydrograph
Authors: Drobot Radu , Draghia Aurelian Florentin , Sîrbu Nicolai , Dinu Cristian
Published: December 2022

Droughts are natural disasters with a significant impact on the economy and social life. Prolonged droughts can cause even more damage than floods. The novelty of this work lies in the definition of a synthetic drought hydrograph (SDH) which can be derived at each gaging station of a river network. Based on drought hydrographs (DHs) recorded for a selected gaging station, the SDH is statistically characterized and provides valuable information to water managers regarding available water resources during the drought period. The following parameters of the registered drought hydrograph (DH) are proposed: minimum drought discharge QDmin, drought duration DD  and deficit volume VD. All these parameters depend on the drought threshold QT, which is chosen based on either pure hydrological considerations or on socio-economic consequences. For the same statistical parameters of the drought, different shapes of the synthetic drought hydrograph (SDH) can be considered. In addition, the SDH varies according to the probabilities of exceedance of the minimum drought discharge and deficit volume.
The Impact of Different Uses of the Internet on Farmers′ Adoption of Soil Testing and Formulated Fertilization Technology in Rural China
Authors: Zeng Junxia , Li Dengwang , Ma Cuiping , Wang Bin , Gao Liangliang
Published: December 2022

Soil testing and formulated fertilization technology can effectively solve the problem of the excessive and inefficient use of chemical fertilizers. Previous studies have found that the use of the Internet can increase the adoption of soil testing and formulated fertilization technology among farmers. However, they do not distinguish between the effects of the different uses of the Internet (with or without productive use) on the adoption of soil testing and formulated fertilization technology. This study investigates the Internet use of 5341 professional farmers in rural China in 2019, finding that 18.97% of them still use the Internet for only communication and entertainment and do not use any agricultural productive services on the Internet. The adoption rate of soil testing and fertilization technology among these farmers is only 23.77%, which is approximately 10 percentage points lower than that of farmers who use the Internet for productive purposes. The double robust model shows that the probability of the adoption of soil testing and formulated fertilization technology by farmers with productive use of the Internet increases by six percentage points, which is both statistically and economically significant. In the future, China should train more farmers to use the Internet for productive purposes; this will help more farmers, particularly those with low skills and low educational attainment, to use the Internet and play a positive role in promoting the Internet for green agricultural production techniques.
Degradation of Dye Wastewater by a Novel mBT-MPR Visible Light Photocatalytic System
Authors: Cheng Miaomiao , Zhao Chunxia , Wu Zefeng , Liu Ling , Wang Hongjie
Published: December 2022

The high efficiency and low consumption green wastewater treatment technology has important practical significance for the recycling of printing and dyeing wastewater. The efficiency of visible light catalytic degradation of organics is greatly affected by the performance of the catalyst and the photo reactor. Therefore, Bi2WO6/TiO2/Fe3O4 (mBT) visible light photocatalyst was accurately prepared by the ammonia iron double drop method. In order to improve the photodegradation efficiency, a tubular magnetic field-controlled photocatalytic reactor (MPR) was developed. The novel mBT-MPR visible light photocatalytic system was proposed to treat RhB simulated wastewater. The experimental results showed that when the dosage of mBT catalyst was 1 g/L and visible light was irradiated for 60 min, the average removal rate of rhodamine B (RhB) with initial an concentration of 10 mg/L in the simulated wastewater for four times was 91.7%. The mBT-MPR visible light photocatalysis system is a green and efficient treatment technology for organic pollutants in water with simple operation, low energy consumption, and no need for catalyst separation.
The Effect of Commuting Time on Quality of Life: Evidence from China
Authors: Han Libin , Peng Chong , Xu Zhenyu
Published: December 2022

This study examines the effect of commuting time on quality of life. We find that the longer the commute time workers use, the lower satisfaction with work and life they have; the long commute also causes health damage, affecting physical health and causing inactivity. However, better public transportation infrastructure can decrease commuting time, especially the construction of subways.
Assessing Influence Mechanism of Management Overconfidence, Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Corporate Value: The Moderating Effect of Government Environmental Governance and Media Attention
Authors: Bai Guiyu , Meng Delin
Published: December 2022

China’s economic development has gradually entered a new period of slowing down and changing from quantity to quality, which has put forward higher requirements for environmental quality. How to better fulfill environmental responsibilities and realize a virtuous circle of “environmental protection for development” and a value growth model are essential issues that enterprises should consider and solve. Overconfidence, as one of the significant psychological characteristics of management, has caused more and more attention to its economic consequences. In order to clarify the internal logical relationship between the two and help enterprises optimize their environmental responsibility decisions, the paper is based on upper echelon theory and stakeholder theory. It focuses on the micro-situation of the corporate, empirically testing the influence of management overconfidence on corporate environmental responsibility by using the OLS regression analysis method, taking the manufacturing listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchange of China from 2010 to 2017 as the research sample. The study discusses the moderating effect of government environmental governance and media attention on the relationship between management overconfidence and corporate environmental responsibility. The empirical results show a negative correlation between management overconfidence and corporate environmental responsibility. Both government environmental governance and media attention will weaken the negative correlation between management overconfidence and corporate environmental responsibility. Further research finds that management overconfidence has a weakening effect on corporate value, and corporate environmental responsibility plays a partial mediating role between management overconfidence and corporate value.
From Mind to Mouth: Understanding Active Publics in China and Their Communicative Behaviors on GM Foods
Authors: Chon Myoung-Gi , Xu Linjia , Liu Jiaying , Kim Jeong-Nam , Kim Jarim
Published: December 2022

Using an online survey conducted in China (N = 1089), this study aims to understand the characteristics of active publics on the issue of genetically modified (GM) foods and provide effective communication strategies with active publics in China. In doing so, this study segments active publics regarding GM foods and predicts their communicative behaviors on GM foods by using the theoretical framework of situational theory of problem solving (STOPS). The results of the study revealed the demographic characteristics of active publics, situational, and media factors to predict information seeking, forefending, and forwarding about GM foods. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Neurobehavioral Alterations from Noise Exposure in Animals: A Systematic Review
Authors: Arcangeli Giulio , Lulli Lucrezia Ginevra , Traversini Veronica , De Sio Simone , Cannizzaro Emanuele , Galea Raymond Paul , Mucci Nicola
Published: December 2022

Ecosystems are increasingly involved and influenced by human activities, which are ever-increasing. These activities are mainly due to vehicular, air and sea transportation, thus causing possible repercussions on the fauna that exists there. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the possible consequences that these activities may have in the field of animal neurobehavior, with special emphasis on the species involved, the most common environment concerned, the noise source and the disturbance that is caused. This research includes articles published in the major databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Embase, Web of Sciences); the online search yielded 1901 references. After selection, 49 articles (14 reviews and 35 original articles) were finally scrutinized. The main problems that were reported were in relation to movement, reproduction, offspring care and foraging. In live experiments carried out, the repercussions on the marine environment mainly concerned altered swimming, shallower descents, less foraging and an escape reaction for fear of cetaceans and fish. In birds, alterations in foraging, vocalizations and nests were noted; laboratory studies, on the other hand, carried out on small mammals, highlighted spatio-temporal cognitive alterations and memory loss. In conclusion, it appears that greater attention to all ecosystems should be given as soon as possible so as to try to achieve a balance between human activity and the well-being of terrestrial fauna.
The Effects of the ACTIVE VALUES Program on Psychosocial Aspects and Executive Functions
Authors: Jiménez-Parra José Francisco , Belando-Pedreño Noelia , Valero-Valenzuela Alfonso
Published: December 2022

The main objective of this study was to implement an educational program named ACTIVE VALUES and to analyse the psychosocial and cognitive effects of its application. It is a quasi-experimental repeated measures research with a non-randomised experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The sample consisted of 102 students in the 6th grade of primary school, aged between 11 and 13 years (M = 11.59; SD = 0.60), and 4 teachers aged between 27 and 52 years (M = 38.5). The intervention program lasted 4 months, in which the EG implemented a teaching methodology based on the incorporation of classroom-based physical activity (CB-PA) in the structure of the Teaching for Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) model to develop personal and social values in students, as well as to reduce children’s sedentary behaviour in the classroom in different educational areas (e.g., mathematics, Spanish language, social sciences and natural sciences), while the CG used a conventional methodology based on direct instruction. The main results found show significant improvements in intrinsic motivation variables (including intrinsic motivation for achievement, stimulating experiences and knowledge), self-determination index, autonomy, relatedness, psychological mediators index, personal and social responsibility, teacher climate, intention to be physically active and executive functions in the EG, while amotivation values increased in the CG. In conclusion, interdisciplinary educational programs based on the combination of pedagogical models and active methodologies are postulated as methodological alternatives to achieve an integral and multilateral development of children and adolescents, as well as to improve the different learning domains of physical education, such as cognitive, social and motor. It is recommended that future research should consider longitudinal designs with mixed methods and follow-up data to assess learning retention, as well as larger samples and the measurement of a greater number of executive functions (e.g., inhibitory control and attention).
The Impact of Physical Exercise on Obesity in a Cohort of Southern Italian Obese Children: Improvement in Cardiovascular Risk and Immune System Biomarkers
Authors: Mennitti Cristina , Ranieri Annaluisa , Nigro Ersilia , Tripodi Lorella , Brancaccio Mariarita , Ulisse Jacopo , Gentile Luca , Fimiani Fabio , Cesaro Arturo , D’Alicandro Giovanni , Limongelli Giuseppe , Daniele Aurora , Pero Raffaela , Frisso Giulia , Calabrò Paolo , Pastore Lucio , Licenziati Maria Rosaria , Scudiero Olga , Lombardo Barbara
Published: December 2022

Background: Childhood obesity (CO) is a serious medical condition affecting approximately 120 million children and adolescents worldwide. It is characterized by a persistent inflammatory state with inflammatory markers overexpressed, which in turn leads to a higher cardiovascular risk. It is well known that physical exercise reduces the inflammatory state in obese children. In the present study, we evaluated various biochemical parameters in obese children performing physical exercise compared to a group of obese sedentary children. Hence, the objective is to identify a panel of biomarkers to prevent numerous obesity-related complications. Methods: We examined two populations: 44 sedentary obese children (OSe), recruited on 5 November 2018 from Santobono–Pausilipon Children’s Hospital, Naples (Italy) of age = 11 ± 3.3 and 30 obese children who practice sport (OSp) of age = 10 ± 2.5. We observed a significant variation in some biochemical parameters such as white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRP), glycemia and insulinemia. Moreover, we determined the levels of interleukins, chemokines and defensins by ELISA assay. Results: Our results showed a reduction in serum level of glycemia (p-value < 0.001), neutrophils (p-value < 0.05) and CRP (p-value < 0.05), whereas no relevant variations have been reported in insulin levels. Moreover, we found a decrease in serum levels of PDGF-β (p-value < 0.05), IL-9 (p-value < 0.01), IL-6 (p-value < 0.0001), IL-8 (p-value < 0.0001), IP-10 (p-value < 0.01), Eotaxin (p-value < 0.0001) and GM-CSF (p-value < 0.01) in OSp population in comparison to OSe. At the same time, we did not observe any significant variation in serum levels of IL-1ra and IL-17 between the two populations. On the other hand, we found an increase in HNP-1 (p-value < 0.0001) and HBD1 (p-value < 0.01) in OSp if compared to OSe. Conclusions: This study shed light on the role of physical exercise on CO, demonstrating in our population that an early evaluation of some biochemical parameters could be an assumption to prescribe physical exercise in order to monitor and prevent childhood obesity and related disorders.
Health Risk Assessments and Microbial Community Analyses of Groundwater from a Heavy Metal-Contaminated Site in Hezhou City, Southwest China
Authors: Xu Mingjie , Zhang Kuankuan , Wang Yiduo , Zhang Bin , Mao Kang , Zhang Hua
Published: December 2022

In industrial site groundwater, heavy metal pollution is relatively common, causing great harm to the surrounding environment and human health. To explore the relationships between the heavy metal concentration, health risks and microbial community distribution, the groundwater from a polluted site at an abandoned processing plant in Hezhou City, China, is taken as the research object. A health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is used for the evaluation, and high-throughput sequencing technology is used to analyze the characteristics of the microbial community in the groundwater. The results show that the heavy metal pollution levels of five monitoring wells are different. The monitoring well labelled HLJ2 is polluted by Cu, Mn, Ni and Cd, and the other four monitoring wells are polluted by As and Cd to varying degrees. The carcinogenic risk values of heavy metals in the groundwater environments of the five monitoring wells are all greater than the acceptable range, and only the noncarcinogenic risk value of the HLJ2 monitoring well exceeds 1, which greatly impacts health. The risks posed by the contaminants in the site groundwater through the ingestion route of drinking water are greater than those caused by the ingestion route of skin contact. The groundwater environments of the five monitoring wells contain Proteobacteria and Patescibacteria, indicating that these two bacteria have certain tolerances to heavy metal pollution. The microbial community composition varies between the monitoring wells, suggesting that different concentrations and types of heavy metal contamination promote different types of bacterial growth. Studies have shown that Proteobacteria have many heavy metal resistance genes, improving their tolerance in heavy metal-polluted environments; additionally, Proteobacteria can transport heavy metals, which is conducive to the restoration of polluted sites.
Building a New Framework for Urban Parking Facilities Research with Quality Improvement: The Case of Chongqing, China
Authors: Liu Shifang , Tan Shaohua
Published: December 2022

People-oriented development has become the main theme of China’s current social development, and the construction of various urban infrastructure has shifted from a focus on functionalism to a continuous pursuit of service quality. As an essential infrastructure for urban transport, urban parking facilities have an impact on pedestrian experience and landscape appearance based on the provision of parking functions. Therefore, this study is oriented to improving the quality of parking facilities, proposes a research framework of parking facilities based on meeting functional demand and service quality, and constructs a quality index to evaluate the quality of parking facilities, which includes three dimensions of evaluation indexes: pedestrian space impact, environmental space impact, and demand matching. By analyzing the current characteristics of urban parking facilities and measuring their quality index (6.5), the study finds that while satisfying the basic function of parking demand, it brings a negative impact on the pedestrian experience and the overall urban landscape appearance of the city. Motivated by this, this study proposes strategies to improve the quality of parking facilities: demand matching, spatial synergy, and environmental design to address parking difficulties, while injecting different ideas for future value orientation of parking facility planning and construction.