bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Multibeam Sonars as 3D Turbidity and SPM Monitoring Tool in the North Sea
Authors: Praet Nore , Collart Tim , Ollevier Anouk , Roche Marc , Degrendele Koen , De Rijcke Maarten , Urban Peter , Vandorpe Thomas
Published: October 2023

Monitoring turbidity is essential for sustainable coastal management because an increase in turbidity leading to diminishing water clarity has a detrimental ecological impact. Turbidity in coastal waters is strongly dependent on the concentration and physical properties of particles in the water column. In the Belgian part of the North Sea, turbidity and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations have been monitored for decades by satellite remote sensing, but this technique only focuses on the surface layer of the water column. Within the water column, turbidity and SPM concentrations are measured in stations or transects with a suite of optical and acoustic sensors. However, the dynamic nature of SPM variability in coastal areas and the recent construction of offshore windmill parks and dredging and dumping activities justifies the need to monitor natural and human-induced SPM variability in 3D instead. A possible solution lies in modern multibeam echosounders (MBES), which, in addition to seafloor bathymetry data, are also able to deliver acoustic backscatter data from the water column. This study investigates the potential of MBES as a 3D turbidity and SPM monitoring tool. For this purpose, a novel empirical approach is developed, in which 3D MBES water column and in-situ optical sensor datasets were collected during ship transects to yield an empirical relation using linear regression modeling. This relationship was then used to predict SPM volume concentrations from the 3D acoustic measurements, which were further converted to SPM mass concentrations using calculated densities. Our results show that these converted mean mass concentrations at the Kwinte and Westdiep swale areas are within the limits of the reported yearly averages. Moreover, they are in the same order of magnitude as the measured mass concentrations from Niskin water samples during each campaign. While there is still need for further improvement of acquisition and processing workflows, this study presents a promising approach for converting MBES water column data to turbidity and SPM measurements. This opens possibilities for improving future monitoring tools, both in scientific and industrial sectors.
Evaluation of Ecosystem Water Use Efficiency Based on Coupled and Uncoupled Remote Sensing Products for Maize and Soybean
Authors: Huang Lingxiao , Liu Meng , Yao Na
Published: October 2023

Accurate quantification of ecosystem water use efficiency (eWUE) over agroecosystems is crucial for managing water resources and assuring food security. Currently, the uncoupled Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) product is the most widely applied dataset for simulating local, regional, and global eWUE across different plant functional types. However, it has been rarely investigated as to whether the coupled product can outperform the uncoupled product in eWUE estimations for specific C4 and C3 crop species. Here, the eWUE as well as gross primary production (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) from the uncoupled MODIS product and the coupled Penman–Monteith–Leuning version 2 (PMLv2) product were evaluated against the in-situ observations on eight-day and annual scales (containing 1902 eight-day and 61 annual samples) for C4 maize and C3 soybean at the five cropland sites from the FLUXNET2015 and AmeriFlux datasets. Our results show the following: (1) For GPP estimates, the PMLv2 product showed paramount improvements for C4 maize and slight improvements for C3 soybean, relative to the MODIS product. (2) For ET estimates, both products performed similarly for both crop species. (3) For eWUE estimates, the coupled PMLv2 product achieved higher-accuracy eWUE estimates than the uncoupled MODIS product at both eight-day and annual scales. Taking the result at an eight-day scale for example, compared to the MODIS product, the PMLv2 product could reduce the root mean square error (RMSE) from 2.14 g C Kg−1 H2O to 1.36 g C Kg−1 H2O and increase the coefficient of determination (R2) from 0.06 to 0.52 for C4 maize, as well as reduce the RMSE from 1.33 g C Kg−1 H2O to 0.89 g C Kg−1 H2O and increase the R2 from 0.05 to 0.49 for C3 soybean. (4) Despite the outperformance of the PMLv2 product in eWUE estimations, both two products failed to differentiate C4 and C3 crop species in their model calibration and validation processes, leading to a certain degree of uncertainties in eWUE estimates. Our study not only provides an important reference for applying remote sensing products to derive reliable eWUE estimates over cropland but also indicates the future modification of the current remote sensing models for C4 and C3 crop species.
3D Point Cloud Instance Segmentation Considering Global Shape Contour Constraints
Authors: Xv Jiabin , Deng Fei
Published: October 2023

Aiming to solve the problem that spatially distributed similar instances cannot be distinguished in 3D point cloud instance segmentation, a 3D point cloud instance segmentation network, considering the global shape contour, was proposed. This research used the global-to-local design idea and added the global shape constraint to solve this problem. A Transformer module (Global Shape Attention, GSA) that can capture the shape contour information of the instance in the scene was designed. This module encoded the shape contour information into the Transformer structure as a Key-Value and extracted the instance fused with the global shape contour features, for instance, segmentation. At the same time, the network directly predicted the instance mask in an end-to-end mode, avoiding heavy post-processing algorithms. Many experiments have been conducted on the S3DIS, ScanNet, and STPL3D datasets, and our experimental results showed that our proposed network can efficiently capture the shape contour information of scene instances and can help to alleviate the problem of the difficulty distinguishing between spatially distributed similar instances in a scene, improving the efficiency and stability of instance segmentation.
A Sub-Second Method for SAR Image Registration Based on Hierarchical Episodic Control
Authors: Zhou Rong , Wang Gengke , Xu Huaping , Zhang Zhisheng
Published: October 2023

For Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image registration, successive processes following feature extraction are required by both the traditional feature-based method and the deep learning method. Among these processes, the feature matching process—whose time and space complexity are related to the number of feature points extracted from sensed and reference images, as well as the dimension of feature descriptors—proves to be particularly time consuming. Additionally, the successive processes introduce data sharing and memory occupancy issues, requiring an elaborate design to prevent memory leaks. To address these challenges, this paper introduces the OptionEM-based reinforcement learning framework to achieve end-to-end SAR image registration. This framework outputs registered images directly without requiring feature matching and the calculation of the transformation matrix, leading to significant processing time savings. The Transformer architecture is employed to learn image features, while a correlation network is introduced to learn the correlation and transformation matrix between image pairs. Reinforcement learning, as a decision process, can dynamically correct errors, making it more-efficient and -robust compared to supervised learning mechanisms such as deep learning. We present a hierarchical reinforcement learning framework combined with Episodic Memory to mitigate the inherent problem of invalid exploration in generalized reinforcement learning algorithms. This approach effectively combines coarse and fine registration, further enhancing training efficiency. Experiments conducted on three sets of SAR images, acquired by TerraSAR-X and Sentinel-1A, demonstrated that the proposed method’s average runtime is sub-second, achieving subpixel registration accuracy.
Key Considerations in Assessing the Safety and Performance of Camera-Based Mirror Systems
Authors: Moore Amy , Yuan Jinghui , Ou Shiqi (Shawn) , Torres Jackeline Rios , Sujan Vivek , Siekmann Adam
Published: October 2023

Camera-based mirror systems (CBMSs) are a relatively new technology in the automotive industry, and much of the United States’ medium- and heavy-duty commercial fleet has been reluctant to convert from standard glass, or “west coast”, mirrors to CBMSs. CBMSs have the potential to reduce the number of truck and passenger vehicle incidents, improving overall fleet safety. CBMSs also have the potential to improve operational efficiency by improving aerodynamics and reducing drag, resulting in better fuel economy, and improving maneuverability. Improvements in overall safety are also possible; the field of view for the driver is potentially 360° with the addition of trailer cameras, allowing for visibility of the rear of the trailer and the front of the truck. These potential improvements seem promising, but the literature on driver surveys clearly shows that there is reluctance to adopt this technology for many reasons. Additionally, more robust testing in the laboratory and in the field is necessary to determine whether CBMSs are adequate to replace standard mirrors on trucks. This analysis provides an overview of key research questions for CBMS testing based on the current literature on the topic (surveys, standards, and previous testing). The purpose of this analysis is to serve as guidance in developing further testing of CBMSs, especially testing involving human subjects.
A Systematic Mapping of the Proposition of Benchmarks in the Software Testing and Debugging Domain
Authors: Silva-Junior Deuslirio da , Graciano-Neto Valdemar V. , de-Freitas Diogo M. , Leitão-Junior Plinio de Sá , Kassab Mohamad
Published: October 2023

Software testing and debugging are standard practices of software quality assurance since they enable the identification and correction of failures. Benchmarks have been used in that context as a group of programs to support the comparison of different techniques according to pre-established parameters. However, the reasons that inspire researchers to propose novel benchmarks are not fully understood. This article reports the investigation, identification, classification, and externalization of the state of the art about the proposition of benchmarks on software testing and debugging domains. The study was carried out using systematic mapping procedures according to the guidelines widely followed by software engineering literature. The search identified 1674 studies, from which, 25 were selected for analysis. A list of benchmarks is provided and descriptively mapped according to their characteristics, motivations, and scope of use for their creation. The lack of data to support the comparison between available and novel software testing and debugging techniques is the main motivation for the proposition of benchmarks. Advancements in the standardization and prescription of benchmark structure and composition are still required. Establishing such a standard could foster benchmark reuse, thereby saving time and effort in the engineering of benchmarks for software testing and debugging.
Predicting the Choice of Online or Offline Shopping Trips Using a Deep Neural Network Model and Time Series Data: A Case Study of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Dasoomi Mohammadhanif , Naderan Ali , Allahviranloo Tofigh
Published: October 2023

This study examines the determinants of online and offline shopping trip choices and their implications for urban transportation, the environment, and the economy in Tehran, Iran. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data from 1000 active e-commerce users who successfully placed orders through both online and offline services in districts 2 and 5 of Tehran during the last 20 days of 2021. A deep neural network model was applied to predict the type of shopping trips based on 10 variables including age, gender, car ownership, delivery cost, and product price. The model’s performance was evaluated against four other algorithms: MLP, decision tree, LSTM, and KNN. The results demonstrated that the deep neural network model achieved the highest accuracy, with a rate of 95.73%. The most important factors affecting the choice of shopping trips were delivery cost, delivery time, and product price. This study offers valuable insights for transportation planners, e-commerce managers, and policymakers. It aims to help them design effective strategies to reduce transportation costs, lower pollutant emissions, alleviate urban traffic congestion, and enhance user satisfaction all while promoting sustainable development.
The Drivers of Change for Future Learning: How Teachers Were Taught in the COVID-19 Crisis and What Will Come Next?
Authors: Ibrahem Usama M. , Abdelfatah Hussein M. , Kedwany Dalia M. , AlMankory Abdullah Z. , Diab Ibrahem M. , Abdul Kader Rabab A.
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on education and resulted in huge changes. This research paper investigates on the factors driving change for future learning by studying the training of teachers during the COVID-19 crisis and their perceptions regarding the future of teaching. The study employed the methodology of opportunistic or emergent sampling to collect data from teachers aged 30–50 years who had experience in conducting online classes in different schools in KSA. The study suggests that effective virtual education depends on careful instructional design, audience consideration, and a systematic implementation model that produces various forms of teaching tailored to educational objectives. The research findings can guide future decisions about implementing online teaching, and the dimensions identified in this research can be compared with previous studies to derive key learning axes for future schools. The pandemic transition presents an opportunity to develop sustainable paradigms for future generations.
Diversity in Landscape Management Affects Butterfly Distribution
Authors: Szyszko-Podgórska Katarzyna , Dymitryszyn Izabela , Kondras Marek
Published: October 2023

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of differentiated landscape management on the distribution and abundance of butterfly species. The question was raised with regard to which land use type benefited butterflies, and which affected them, that is: under which management type does biodiversity increase, and under which is it depleted? The spatial and abundance distributions of the examined butterfly species diverged considerably. The observed differences between the abundance distributions may be due to diverse conditions in the small-scale environments or specific food preferences of individual species. The diversified management of the “Krzywda” landscape fosters the abundance of mesophilic and ubiquitous butterfly species, whereas xerotermophilic and hygrophilous species are not fostered. The transects established on the fallow land with harvested biomass as well as that with unharvested biomass and in the forest ecotone showed that the fallows were characterized by the highest abundance of butterflies, and the greatest number of plant species was recorded there. Mown fallow lands with not harvested biomass as well as forested areas fostered polyphagous and monophagous butterfly species. Oligophagous butterfly species were fostered by mown fallow lands with not harvested biomass. Unmown meadows, the ecotone marshland and fallow, as well as unmown fallow lands did not foster butterfly abundance. This most likely means that land management can influence the food base of butterflies, and consequently, their abundance. The stage of succession as well as the homogeneity of the area in terms of vegetation had the strongest filtering effect on the occurrence and distribution of butterflies among the analyzed variables. The number of species as well as their abundance was higher on transects classified as young successional stages on which successional processes were artificially inhibited by mowing and biomass removal. Advanced environmental engineering enables humans to influence species composition in a given ecosystem to achieve a desired result. There is no doubt that human activity will be successful when the needs of individual species in a given environment are accurately understood.
Could Deep-Sea Fisheries Contribute to the Food Security of Our Planet? Pros and Cons
Authors: Sadik-Zada Elkhan Richard , Ferrari Mattia , Gonzalez Alicia , Yusubova Laman
Published: October 2023

Hundreds of millions of people on the planet are affected by malnourishment. This contributes to the vulnerability of large swaths of the population worldwide. Children under five years old and adolescent girls are especially disproportionately vulnerable to diseases and even death in less developed countries. Today, by providing a substantial share of global protein intake, as well as fatty acids and micronutrients, fisheries contribute to global food security. As fish stocks in the upper sea levels are increasingly over-exploited, there is a surge in discussion on the potential contributions of deep-sea fisheries for global food and nutrition security. Some mesopelagic fishes show potential in providing important nutrients. Another way of supplying food security might be in using mesopelagic fish as fish feed. However, fishing in the mesopelagic zone could lead to severe ecological repercussions, especially because the impact on the biological carbon pump is uncertain. This paper highlights and juxtaposes different perspectives regarding exploitation pathways of the fish riches of deep seas, and reviews best practice model projects that deal with uncertainties related to fishery management in the mesopelagic zone. The review concludes that due to the essential role of the mesopelagic zone in the global biological carbon pump and complex interaction patterns between pelagic and mesopelagic species, exploitation of the fish riches of the mesopelagic zone must be based on comprehensive data and rigorous analyses. In the face of the current uncertainty on the respective mechanisms, the authors endorse an international moratorium on deep-sea fisheries and/or the rather small-scale exploitation of mesopelagic biomass.
A Systematic Review on Food Baskets Recommended in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Authors: Pourghaderi Mona , Houshiarrad Anahita , Abdollahi Morteza , Al-Jawaldeh Ayoub , Esfarjani Fatemeh , Khoshfetrat Mohammad-Reza , Fadavi Ghasem , Mohammadi-Nasrabadi Fatemeh
Published: October 2023

To assist in providing a robust regional set of data and international comparisons, a systematic review was conducted to identify and characterize food baskets (FBs) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) countries. Electronic databases of peer-reviewed literature, including PubMed, Scopus, ISI/WOS and Google Scholar, and also, online grey literature, were systematically searched from January 2000 to September 2021. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) Critical Appraisal checklists for analytical cross-sectional studies. A total of 20 studies and reports were identified as eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. Linear & goal programming is used in many studies to estimate the FB groups. According to the recent recommendations based on sustainability, less consumption of red meat is proposed, and the poultry group, along with eggs, plays an important role in supplying animal protein in EMR FBs. More than 30 g of legumes has been suggested based on the dietary habits of this area, whereas consumption of more than 30–40 g of oils and fats will not be appropriate for the region. The research results are not comparable due to differences in the tools, protocols, and methods; hence, there is a need for a standardized regional approach.
Research on a Multi-Species Combined Habitat Suitability Assessment Method for Various Fish Species
Authors: Huang Yongzeng , Wang Xiaogang , Li Hongze , Chen Fazhan , Chen Kaixiao , Wang Zhe , Wang Biao
Published: October 2023

To reveal the evolution of habitat distribution for multiple fish species in the lower reaches of the Gongzui Hydropower Station, this study conducted a catch survey to determine the target species of the reach. Based on their suitability curves, a combined suitability assessment model for multiple fish species was constructed. The reliability of the model was verified by combining acoustic observations of flow fields and fish distribution in specific flow conditions. A two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was coupled to quantitatively analyze the distribution characteristics of fish habitat patches under different flow conditions. The results indicate that the correlation coefficient between the multi-species comprehensive suitability index and the number of fish is 0.676, which indicates that the model can better evaluate the distribution of multiple fish habitats in the study river reach; the weighted usable area (WUA) decreased as the discharge increased; from low flow condition (<800 m3/s) to high flow condition (>2000 m3/s), the patch area of suitable habitat decreased from 11,424 m2 to 1268 m2, and the connectivity between patches also showed a downward trend; and the habitat shifted to the near-shore area of the downstream wider and shallower section, which was highly correlated with the migration process of low-depth and low-velocity areas. The model proposed in this study can establish a rapid response between the suitable habitat distribution of multiple fish species and discharge conditions, which can provide a research method for quantitative evaluation of multi-species habitats in river, and make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of riverine fisheries resources and river water ecology.
Agricultural Specialization Threatens Sustainable Mental Health: Implications for Chinese Farmers’ Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Ji Xing , Chen Jia , Zhang Hongxiao
Published: October 2023

China’s agriculture is increasingly becoming more specialized. However, specialized production has disrupted traditional farming culture and may threaten sustainable mental health. This study takes Chinese farmers’ subjective happiness and agricultural production outsourcing as the research object, in an attempt to reveal the possible unhappy impacts of Chinese-style agricultural specialization represented by agricultural production outsourcing. First, we construct a theoretical framework of the relationship between agricultural production outsourcing and farmers’ subjective well-being. Secondly, based on more than 3800 household survey data collected by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2020, we use the classical econometrics and psychological analysis methods such as the Ordered Probit model and the instrumental variable estimation to conduct a rigorous impact assessment. The results show that for every doubling of agricultural outsourcing expenditure, the probability that farmers think they are very happy decreases by about 21%, and the probability that they think they are relatively happy decreases by about 9%. The groups affected by the negative psychological impact mainly include farmers growing rice and corn, farmers in hills and mountains, and farmers with small-scale operations. Further analysis shows that outsourcing risks, the weakening of farmers’ professional autonomy, and family split caused by agricultural outsourcing bring unhappiness, and the increase in income cannot offset the negative psychological effect of outsourcing. The findings of this study may bring inspiration to other countries with agricultural outsourcing markets and programs to improve the national subjective well-being.
Identifying Critical Success Factors of an Emergency Information Response System Based on the Similar-DEMATEL Method
Authors: Jin Weijian , Zhang Yajing
Published: October 2023

An emergency information response system (EIRS) is a system that utilizes various intelligence technologies to effectively handle various emergencies and provide decision support for decision-makers. As critical success factors (CSFs) in EIRS play a vital role in emergency management, it is necessary to study the CSFs of EIRS. Most previous studies applied the Decision Experiment and Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) method with complete evaluation information to identify CSFs. Due to the complexity of the decision-making environment when identifying CSFs of EIRS, decision-makers sometimes cannot provide complete evaluation information during the decision-making process. To fill this gap, this paper provided a Similar-DEMATEL method to impute the missing values and identify CSFs of EIRS, which may avoid the dilemma of decision distortion and make decision-making results more accurate. It is found that the factors of Information mining capability, Equipment support capability, Monitoring and early warning capability, and Organization participation capability are the CSFs in EIRS. Our proposed method differs from previous research, such as the mean imputation method, to impute the missing values. We compared the differences between the proposed method and the mean imputation method and gave the advantages of the proposed method. Our method focuses more on uncertain decision-making environments, which is conducive to improving the efficiency of EIRS in emergency management, and therefore it is more widely adopted.
Factors Affecting the Adoption of Digital Technology by Farmers in China: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Cui Luwen , Wang Weiwei
Published: October 2023

Increasing pressure for food security and environmental sustainability has highlighted the need to switch from conventional agricultural methods to advanced agricultural practices. Digital agricultural technologies are considered promising solutions for sustainable intensification of food production and environmental protection. Despite significant promotional efforts initiated in recent years in China, the adoption rate remains low. The objective of this study is to gain insight into the factors affecting the adoption of on-farm digital technologies in China using a systematic review approach that analyzes 10 relevant studies. Data regarding methodological aspects and results are extracted. We identify 19 key adoption drivers that are related to socioeconomic, agroecological, technological, institutional, psychological, and behavioral factors. There is a predominance of ex-ante studies that use stated preference methods. We conclude with a discussion of the design of policy incentives to induce the adoption of digital technologies. Additionally, the review points to the limitations of existing research and suggests approaches that can be adopted for future investigations. This review provides meaningful implications for the development of future efforts to promote digital transformation for sustainable agriculture in China.
A Study on the Impact of Small-Scale Courtyard Landscape Layouts on Spatial Oppressiveness in Dense High-Rise Environments
Authors: Cao Ying , Huang Lianghao
Published: October 2023

Numerous studies have shown that the oppressiveness brought on by high-rise buildings can be somewhat mitigated by landscapes. However, there is a lack of research that specifically examines the relationship between courtyard landscape layouts and spatial oppressiveness. This study focuses on the relationship between the landscape layout of a small courtyard and spatial oppressiveness. It entails tests that are conducted in two phases of experiments that examine visual, behavioral, and psychological aspects. In the first experiment, participants were asked to freely explore four sample scenarios without any predetermined outcome, and their behavioral coordinates were recorded as behavioral data. Using the semantic differential (SD) method, participants in the second experiment used four example panoramic landscapes to assess oppressiveness and supply psychological indicators (including oppressiveness, attractiveness, territoriality, and desire to stay). Additionally, this study quantified the visual elements’ solid angles in the scenes through panoramic image segmentation. The results ultimately show that landscape layouts, particularly the surrounding and dispersed layouts, are more effective in alleviating the oppressiveness induced by surrounding buildings compared to the centralized layout. Furthermore, the study explains the process of how landscape layouts mitigate oppressiveness through visual elements and behavioral intention.
The Comparability of Financial Information in Insurance Companies Using NiCE Qualitative Characteristics Measurement
Authors: Chmielowiec-Lewczuk Magdalena , Lament Marzanna , Bauer Kinga , Spigarska Ewa
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this article is to assess the comparability of financial information presented in the annual statements of insurance companies by means of the NiCE (Nijmegen Centre for Economics) index of financial report quality assessment and suggest some directions for changes to the assessment of comparability of insurance companies’ financial reporting. The selection of cases for the research sample was intentional. Financial reports were chosen from 8 insurance companies, whose share measured by the value of their assets accounts for more than 30% of the EU market. Financial statements for three years (2019, 2020, 2021) were obtained and assessed in each case. The NiCE index of financial report quality assessment was used, and utilised first to assess the qualitative characteristics of financial reporting from entities other than financial institutions. The study found a high comparability in insurance companies’ financial reporting. It was also established that the method of assessment is not free from defects, and some improvements were suggested. The results could serve insurance company stakeholders by indicating the current state and some directions for change regarding the comparability of financial statements. The stakeholders require reliable data, mainly regarding the goals on Agenda 2030. Understanding and analysing sustainability goals for entities such as insurance companies without analysing their financial situation is impossible. This research improves the state of the art in the assessment of financial reporting quality and fills a gap in the verification of the comparability of insurance companies’ financial information. The research undertaken should also be considered important from the point of view of sustainability, as the quality of information is an important element in decision-making and forms the basis for the preparation of non-financial information and ESG (environment, social, governance) reports.
Serum Cholesterol Concentration on Admission in 415 Dogs Envenomated by Daboia (Vipera) palaestinae as a Marker of Envenomation Severity and Outcome—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Klainbart Sigal , Kelmer Efrat , Beeri-Cohen Iris , Keinan Yael , Segev Gilad , Aroch Itamar
Published: October 2023

Daboia (Vipera) palaestinae (Dp), accounts for most envenomations in humans and dogs in Israel. In humans envenomed by Dp, serum cholesterol concentration (sChol) is inversely correlated with envenomation severity. This study examined the utility of sChol upon admission in dogs envenomed by Dp as an envenomation severity and outcome marker. Data upon admission, including sChol, were retrospectively collected from the medical records of dogs with proven Dp envenomation. The study included 415 dogs. The mortality rate was 11%. The heart rate upon admission was higher in non-survivors than in survivors. Signs of bleeding or hematoma and circulatory shock signs were more frequent among non-survivors compared to survivors. sChol, the platelet count, and serum albumin concentration (sAlb) were lower, while serum creatinine concentration was higher among non-survivors. sChol and sAlb were moderately, positively, and significantly correlated. sChol was significantly, negatively, albeit weakly, correlated with the length of hospitalization and the heart rate. sChol was lower in dogs admitted >12 h post-envenomation than in those admitted later. In dogs, sChol upon admission is a potential marker of severity and outcome of Dp envenomation. The platelet count, sAlb, and sCreat might also be potential markers.
Contemporaneous SARS-CoV-2-Neutralizing Antibodies Mediated by N-glycan Shields
Authors: Baghaie Leili , Leroy Fleur , Sheikhi Mehdi , Jafarzadeh Abdollah , Szewczuk Myron R. , Sheikhi Abdolkarim
Published: October 2023

Mutations and the glycosylation of epitopes can convert immunogenic epitopes into non-immunogenic ones via natural selection or evolutionary pressure, thereby decreasing their sensitivity to neutralizing antibodies. Based on Thomas Francis’s theory, memory B and T cells induced during primary infections or vaccination will freeze the new mutated epitopes specific to naïve B and T cells from the repertoire. On this basis, some researchers argue that the current vaccines derived from the previous strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus do not increase immunity and may also prevent the immune response against new epitopes. However, evidence shows that even if the binding affinity is reduced, the previous antibodies or T cell receptors (TCRs) can still bind to this new epitope of the Beta, Gamma, and Delta variant if their concentration is high enough (from a booster injection) and neutralize the virus. This paper presents some convincing immunological reasons that may challenge this theory and argue for the continuation of universal vaccination to prevent further mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Simultaneously, the information presented can be used to develop vaccines that target novel epitopes or create new recombinant drugs that do not lose their effectiveness when the virus mutates.
HIV Drug Resistance Patterns and Characteristics Associated with Clinically Significant Drug Resistance among Children with Virologic Failure on Antiretroviral Treatment in Kenya: Findings from the Opt4Kids Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Abuogi Lisa , Oyaro Patrick , Wakjira Garoma , Thomas Katherine K. , Scallon Andrea J. , Mukui Irene , Chohan Bhavna H. , Brown Evelyn , Karauki Enericah , Yongo Nashon , Ahmed Bilaal , Hassan Shukri A. , Wagude James , Kinywa Eunice , Otieno Linda , Kingwara Leonard , Oyaro Boaz , Frenkel Lisa M. , John-Stewart Grace , Patel Rena C.
Published: October 2023

Increasing HIV drug resistance (DR) among children with HIV (CHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) is concerning. CHIV ages 1–14 years enrolled from March 2019 to December 2020 from five facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya, were included. Children were randomized 1:1 to control (standard-of-care) or intervention (point-of-care viral load (POC VL) testing every three months with targeted genotypic drug resistance testing (DRT) for virologic failure (VF) (≥1000 copies/mL)). A multidisciplinary committee reviewed CHIV with DRT results and offered treatment recommendations. We describe DR mutations and present logistic regression models to identify factors associated with clinically significant DR. We enrolled 704 children in the study; the median age was 9 years (interquartile range (IQR) 7, 12), 344 (49%) were female, and the median time on ART was 5 years (IQR 3, 8). During the study period, 106 (15%) children had DRT results (84 intervention and 22 control). DRT detected mutations associated with DR in all participants tested, with 93 (88%) having major mutations, including 51 (54%) with dual-class resistance. A history of VF in the prior 2 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 11.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.3, 20.0) and less than 2 years on ART at enrollment (aOR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1, 4.4) were associated with increased odds of major DR. DR is highly prevalent among CHIV on ART with VF in Kenya. Factors associated with drug resistance may be used to determine which children should be prioritized for DRT.
Development of an Optimal Water Allocation Model for Reservoir System Operation
Authors: Lee Eunkyung , Ji Jungwon , Lee Seonmi , Yoon Jeongin , Yi Sooyeon , Yi Jaeeung
Published: October 2023

Allocating adequate water supplies under the increasing frequency and severity of droughts is a challenge. This study develops an optimal reservoir system operation method to allocate water supplies from upstream reservoirs to meet the downstream water requirements; validates the proposed optimization model through the system operation of upstream reservoirs; and proposes new water supply policies that incorporate a transformed hydropower reservoir with an add-on water supply function and two multipurpose reservoirs. We use linear programming to develop an optimal water allocation model. This model provides an operational strategy for managing upstream reservoirs with different storage capacities. By integrating the effective storage ratio of each reservoir into the allocation estimation, the model ensures an optimal distribution of downstream water requirements. The results indicated well-balanced, effective storage ratios among the Chungju, Soyanggang, and Hwacheon Reservoirs across varying hydrological conditions. Specifically, during drought years, the average effective storage rates were 20.5%, 20.6%, and 19.07%, respectively. In normal years, these figures, respectively, were 59.3%, 68.6%, and 52.4%, while in wet years, the rates stood at 64.08%, 62.90%, and 54.61%. This study enriches the reservoir operation literature by offering adaptable solutions for collaborative reservoir management and presents efficient strategies for reservoir operations.
Carbon Accounting and Carbon Emission Reduction Potential Analysis of Sponge Cities Based on Life Cycle Assessment
Authors: Zhao Zhonghui , Liu Changqi , Xie Hao , Li Yang , Zhu Chong , Liu Meijing
Published: October 2023

In recent years, China has been vigorously carrying out the construction and development of a sponge city. To prove that the material and energy consumption involved in the implementation of a sponge city is much less than that of the integrated urban drainage system (IUDS) in addition to saved energy and reduced carbon in the sponge city, it was important to calculate the corresponding carbon source and sink and analyze its key influence factors. The emission factor method was used to calculate carbon emissions. In view of this, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines and life cycle assessment (LCA), this research established a systematic accounting method for carbon emissions from the IUDS and the sponge city, which focused on improving the calculation method of the carbon sink stage. A case study was conducted in Beijing, China, and the carbon emission reduction effect of the construction of the sponge city was discussed. The results showed that the carbon emission reduction potential (CRP) of sponge facilities in this project for 50 years was 612.45 tons of CO2 equivalent after the renovation. Compared with IUDS, sponge city construction had a positive effect on carbon emission reduction and reduced carbon emissions by 87.08% on average. For the IUDS and the sponge city, the stormwater pipe network had the largest contribution of carbon emission, and its material, transportation, pipeline laying, and maintenance of stormwater pipe networks had important influences. Morris global analysis method was used to analyze the sensitivity of LCA results and obtained that the influence degree of sensitivity factors on carbon emissions in the life cycle was in the order of annual rainfall > carbon sequestration rate of green space > high-density polyethylene (HDPE) > transport distance > fertilization and insecticide. This study can provide a positive contribution to the construction of a sponge city and planning the low-carbon development of the city in the future in China.
Economic Operation of Variable Speed and Blade Angle-Adjustable Pumping Stations of an Open-Channel Water Transfer Project
Authors: Du Mengying , Zhang Zhao , Chen Yichao , Qu Xieyu , Yan Peiru , Wang Hao
Published: October 2023

A large amount of energy would be consumed for open-channel water transfer projects due to the low efficiency of pumping stations. One measure to improve the efficiency of a pumping station is to install variable-frequency drives (VFDs). In this paper, a discharge optimization model is proposed for a single pumping station equipped with different numbers of variable speed and blade angle-adjustable pump (VSBAP) units, and then a head optimization model is proposed for cascade pumping stations. The study on the Miyun Reservoir Regulation and Storage Project in China shows that the installation of VFDs can increase the number of operable conditions of a single BAP unit by changing the blade angle and speed and ensure the high efficiency of the pumping unit under most operating conditions, thus reducing the energy consumption of the pumping station. It is desirable to install two VFDs in the Tuancheng Lake–Huairou Reservoir section to ensure the long-term operation of the cascade pumping stations in an economically profitable way. In conclusion, the installation of VFDs can effectively reduce the operation cost of cascade pumping stations.
Formation of love for words as the basis for educating a prospective journalist
Authors:   epartment of Sociology and Social Work, I.G. Petrovsky Bryansk State University, Shilina Svetlana Aleksandrovna , Shilin Andrey Mikhailovich ,   Journalism faculty, I.G. Petrovsky Bryansk State University (RF)
Published: October 2023

The article discusses topical issues of the focus of the educational process at a higher educational institution on the formation of such personality qualities as patriotism, pride in the achievements of one’s people, and sensitivity to the native language, which is crucial for students of such a major as Journalism. It is the media that largely contribute to the formation of public opinion, therefore, in our opinion, professionals in this type of activity should have high morality, decency, and moral principles. All these qualities are formed in different ways, including through love for their mother tongue.
Problems of research in the field of diagnosis and correction of deviations in students of higher educational institutions
Authors:   International Academy of Education (IAE), Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RANS), Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, SBI KR Center for Psychological, Pedagogical, Medical and Social Сare «Assistance» Kaluga, Russian Federation, Arpentieva M. R. , Tashcheva A. I. ,   Department of General and Pedagogical Psychology, Academy of Psychology and Pedagogy FSBI HE South Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation, Gridneva S. V. ,   Department of Personality Psychology and Consultative Psychology, head of the Psychological Service, Academy of Psychology and Pedagogy FSBI HE South Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

Recently, deviant behavior in students of higher educational institutions, not only in Russia, but throughout the world, has become an increasingly serious problem. Students increasingly demonstrate abnormal behavior that deviates from the norms accepted in society, and, thereby, undermine the processes of education and upbringing. Despite numerous studies and psychodiagnostic and psychocorrective developments in the field of diagnosis and correction of disorders in the functioning and development of children and adolescents, students, boys and young people, as well as adults, still continue to be ignored. This study is aimed at determining the main areas of diagnosis (detection) and therapy (correction) of deviations. The purpose of the study is to comprehend the problems of research, psychodiagnostics, and psychocorrection of deviations in students of modern higher educational institutions and analyze various types of deviations, as well as methods and principles of diagnostic and corrective work with deviations. This goal is considered in the context of the tasks of social and psychological assistance services for educational subjects, which are actively created and developed in higher education in Russia. The used research methods included an analysis of the theoretical foundations of psychodiagnostics and correction of deviations. The paper highlights the main methods and principles of diagnosing and correcting deviations, which can be productively used by specialists of academic services of psychological support for the educational process of the higher educational institution. The importance of the integrated work of an interdisciplinary team of specialists is noted; proposals and recommendations to improve the methods for diagnosing and correcting deviations in students are made.
Improvisación teatral como herramienta para la educación inclusiva en estudiantes de nivel secundaria
Authors: Ponce Napa Nancy Katty , Ponce Napa Susana Esperanza , Colque Ricce Oscar Alfredo , Quinto Laguna Carlos Miguel , Ponce Napa Yolanda Laura
Published: October 2023

En la escuela se suele enseñar a los estudiantes a controlar su espontaneidad, reflexionar antes de actuar y a cuestionar sus primeras respuestas, con el propósito de promover una convivencia más justa. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar la eficacia de la improvisación teatral como medio para mejorar la educación inclusiva en estudiantes de educación secundaria. Para ello, se llevó a cabo un estudio cualitativo, de tipo interpretativo, bajo el diseño fenomenológico con la finalidad de ampliar los conocimientos sobre la improvisación teatral; se usó como herramienta de recolección la guía de entrevista y como medio de análisis la app Atlas.ti. Como hallazgo se precisa que la improvisación teatral es una herramienta efectiva para mejorar la educación inclusiva, esto se debe principalmente al hecho de que la improvisación promueve la superación de la timidez, el aumento de la confianza y la expresión completa de emociones y expresiones tanto verbales como corporales mediante el teatro.
La Poudre-D. Fèvre pour eau de Seltz érode le monopole pharmaceutique
Authors: Raynal Cécile
Published: October 2023

Au milieu du XIXe siècle, un conflit opposa les pharmaciens au commerçant Gabriel Didier Fèvre (1805-1866) à propos de la commercialisation de sa «Poudre-D. Fèvre», destinée à reconstituer artificiellement

des eaux gazeuses dites «eau de Seltz». Les étapes des différents procès entre ce commerçant et la Société de prévoyance des pharmaciens de la Seine sont détaillées dans cet article. Il explique comment le monopole de vente de certaines préparations pour eaux fut remis en cause, entre autres aussi par le biais d’une autre attaque simultanée à propos du bicarbonate de soude.
Houdé et l’isolement de la colchicine (1884)
Authors: Bonnemain Bruno
Published: October 2023

L’année 2019 a été l’occasion de commémorer le décès d’Alfred Houdé, né à Vincelles en 1854, et diplômé pharmacien en 1880. La même année, il achète la pharmacie Vée, 42 faubourg Saint-Denis à Paris. Comme beaucoup de pharmaciens de son époque, Houdé s’intéresse aux alcaloïdes et principes actifs des plantes. Après avoir étudié l’aloïne et la boldine, il réalise un travail sur la vératrine et les Veratrum, ce qui lui vaut le prix Orfila décerné par l’Académie de médecine en 1884. En cette année 1884, il est le premier à obtenir la colchicine sous forme cristallisée. Son journal de comptes de l’officine en 1885 montre qu’il a déjà une petite activité industrielle, car il a vendu 1 383 flacons d’élixir de colchicine. Il s’attaque également à caractériser et définir les propriétés de la spartéine découverte en 1851 par Stenhouse dans le genêt à balais. Sa passion pour la chimie végétale le conduit à fonder un journal, la Revue thérapeutique des alcaloïdes, qui paraîtra jusqu’en 1957. Malgré ses activités professionnelles très prenantes, Houdé s’engage comme administrateur du bureau de bienfaisance du Xe arrondissement de Paris, est membre du comité d’hygiène, secrétaire de la Chambre syndicale des pharmaciens de Paris, etc. Il meurt le 10 octobre 1919.