bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of the Preparation Phase of Turkey’s Powerful Earthquake (6 February 2023) by a Geophysical Multi-Parametric Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Akhoondzadeh Mehdi , Marchetti Dedalo
Published: April 2023

On 6 February 2023, a powerful earthquake at the border between Turkey and Syria caused catastrophic consequences and was, unfortunately, one of the deadliest earthquakes of the recent decades. The moment magnitude of the earthquake was estimated to be 7.8, and it was localized in the Kahramanmaraş region of Turkey. This article aims to investigate the behavior of more than 50 different lithosphere–atmosphere–ionosphere (LAI) anomalies obtained from satellite data and different data services in a time period of about six months before the earthquake to discuss the possibility of predicting the mentioned earthquake by an early warning system based on various geophysical parameters. In this study, 52 time series covering six months of data were acquired with: (i) three identical satellites of the Swarm constellation (Alpha (A), Bravo (B) and Charlie (C); and the analyzed parameters: electron density (Ne) and temperature (Te), magnetic field scalar (F) and vector (X, Y and Z) components); (ii) the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform service data (including ozone, water vapor and surface temperature), (iii) the Giovanni data service (including the aerosol optical depth (AOD), methane, carbon monoxide and ozone); and (iv) the USGS earthquake catalogue (including the daily seismic rate and maximum magnitude for each day), around the location of the seismic event from 1 September 2022 to 17 February 2023, and these were analyzed. The results show that the number of seismic anomalies increased since about 33 days before the earthquake and reached a peak, i.e., the highest number, one day before. The findings of implementing the proposed predictor based on the Mamdani fuzzy inference system (FIS) emphasize that the occurrence of a powerful earthquake could be predicted from about nine days to one day before the earthquake due to the clear increase in the number of seismo-LAI anomalies. However, this study has still conducted a posteriori, knowing the earthquake’s epicenter and magnitude. Therefore, based on the results of this article and similar research, we emphasize the urgency of the creation of early earthquake warning systems in seismic-prone areas by investigating the data of different services, such as GEE, Giovanni and various other global satellite platforms services, such as Swarm. Finally, the path toward earthquake prediction is still long, and the goal is far, but the present results support the idea that this challenging goal could be achieved in the future.
The Impact of Land Use and Landscape Pattern on Ecosystem Services in the Dongting Lake Region, China
Authors: Zhao Jianlun , Liu Shuguang , Wang Zhao , Gao Haiqiang , Feng Shuailong , Wei Baojing , Hou Zhaozhen , Xiao Fangmeng , Jing Lei , Liao Xiaoping
Published: April 2023

Ecosystem services (ES) are directly affected by land use and land cover changes (LUCC); however, the impacts of extended period LUCC on ES are poorly explored. Here, we mapped the 1998–2019 annual land use and land cover in the Dongting Lake Region (China) and explored the spatiotemporal evolution of LUCC and landscape patterns (i.e., composition, shape, and aggregation) and their relationship with ES, including carbon storage, gross primary production (GPP), water conservation capacity, and crop yield in the region. The results showed a significant increase in forest areas and impervious surfaces and a decrease in croplands and bare lands with spatial heterogeneity. Carbon storage was strongly correlated with forest, cropland, waterbody, impervious surface, and bare land, and there was a nonlinear relationship between landscape patterns and ES. The trade-offs and synergies (correlations) among ES varied considerably, with crop yield being significantly synergistic with carbon stocks, GPP, or GPP with carbon stocks. This study revealed the nonlinear relationship between landscape patterns and ES, and the mechanism of landscape characteristics on ES. The findings can provide scientific support for regional land use planning, ES regulation, and landscape optimization in the lake region.
Method of Validating Satellite Surface Reflectance Product Using Empirical Line Method
Authors: K C Meghraj , Leigh Larry , Pinto Cibele Teixeira , Kaewmanee Morakot
Published: April 2023

Atmospherically corrected surface reflectance (SR) products are used for reliable monitoring of land surfaces and are the standard products of Landsat sensors. Due to increased demand for SR products, a need exists to verify that the L2C2 (Level-2 Collection-2) SR products are precise and accurate. The Level-2 Collection 2 (L2C2) SR Product has processed satellite imagery data that correct for atmospheric effects such as absorption and scattering, providing a more accurate representation of Earth’s surface. The validation of SR products using ground truth measurement is essential. This study aims to develop and evaluate a validation methodology for satellite SR products. Thus, the Empirical Line Method (ELM) is used here for atmospheric validation of remotely sensed data. Validation is performed using the SR derived from ELM tied to ground truth measurement. Absolute surface reflectance models of Algodones Dunes and the Salton Sea located in North America Sonoran Desert are developed to extend the temporally limited ground truth measurements. This model can give ground truth reflectance in any time frame independent of time constraints. The result of the absolute surface reflectance model of Algodones Dunes indicates that the model predicts the response of Algodones Dunes with an average accuracy of 0.0041 and precision of 0.0063 and gives ground measurements across all multispectral between 350 and 2500 nm. For the Salton Sea, the model predicts the response of the Salton Sea with mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0035 and gives ground measurements across all multispectral between 350 and 2500 nm. The ELM generates atmospheric coefficients (gain and bias), which are applied to an image to obtain SR. Validation results indicated that for L9-OLI-2, L8-OLI, and L5-TM-SR products, the RMSE range is 0.0019 to 0.0106, 0.0019 to 0.0148 and 0.0026 to 0.0045 reflectance unit, respectively, and accuracy is within 0.0038, 0.0022, and 0.0055 reflectance unit across all spectral bands of L9, L8, and L5, respectively. On average, the validation result showed a strong linear relation between the L2C2 SR products and ELM SR within 0.5 to 1 reflectance units. These results demonstrate the high accuracy and reliability of the L2C2 SR product, providing valuable information for a wide range of remote sensing applications, including land cover and land use mapping, vegetation monitoring, and climate change studies.
Coastal Aquaculture Extraction Using GF-3 Fully Polarimetric SAR Imagery: A Framework Integrating UNet++ with Marker-Controlled Watershed Segmentation
Authors: Yu Juanjuan , He Xiufeng , Yang Peng , Motagh Mahdi , Xu Jia , Xiong Jiacheng
Published: April 2023

Coastal aquaculture monitoring is vital for sustainable offshore aquaculture management. However, the dense distribution and various sizes of aquacultures make it challenging to accurately extract the boundaries of aquaculture ponds. In this study, we develop a novel combined framework that integrates UNet++ with a marker-controlled watershed segmentation strategy to facilitate aquaculture boundary extraction from fully polarimetric GaoFen-3 SAR imagery. First, four polarimetric decomposition algorithms were applied to extract 13 polarimetric scattering features. Together with the nine other polarisation and texture features, a total of 22 polarimetric features were then extracted, among which four were optimised according to the separability index. Subsequently, to reduce the “adhesion” phenomenon and separate adjacent and even adhering ponds into individual aquaculture units, two UNet++ subnetworks were utilised to construct the marker and foreground functions, the results of which were then used in the marker-controlled watershed algorithm to obtain refined aquaculture results. A multiclass segmentation strategy that divides the intermediate markers into three categories (aquaculture, background and dikes) was applied to the marker function. In addition, a boundary patch refinement postprocessing strategy was applied to the two subnetworks to extract and repair the complex/error-prone boundaries of the aquaculture ponds, followed by a morphological operation that was conducted for label augmentation. An experimental investigation performed to extract individual aquacultures in the Yancheng Coastal Wetlands indicated that the crucial features for aquacultures are Shannon entropy (SE), the intensity component of SE (SE_I) and the corresponding mean texture features (Mean_SE and Mean_SE_I). When the optimal features were introduced, our proposed method performed better than standard UNet++ in aquaculture extraction, achieving improvements of 1.8%, 3.2%, 21.7% and 12.1% in F1, IoU, MR and insF1, respectively. The experimental results indicate that the proposed method can handle the adhesion of both adjacent objects and unclear boundaries effectively and capture clear and refined aquaculture boundaries.
GRACE Downscaler: A Framework to Develop and Evaluate Downscaling Models for GRACE
Authors: Pulla Sarva T. , Yasarer Hakan , Yarbrough Lance D.
Published: April 2023

Monitoring and managing groundwater resources is critical for sustaining livelihoods and supporting various human activities, including irrigation and drinking water supply. The most common method of monitoring groundwater is well water level measurements. These records can be difficult to collect and maintain, especially in countries with limited infrastructure and resources. However, long-term data collection is required to characterize and evaluate trends. To address these challenges, we propose a framework that uses data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission and downscaling models to generate higher-resolution (1 km) groundwater predictions. The framework is designed to be flexible, allowing users to implement any machine learning model of interest. We selected four models: deep learning model, gradient tree boosting, multi-layer perceptron, and k-nearest neighbors regressor. To evaluate the effectiveness of the framework, we offer a case study of Sunflower County, Mississippi, using well data to validate the predictions. Overall, this paper provides a valuable contribution to the field of groundwater resource management by demonstrating a framework using remote sensing data and machine learning techniques to improve monitoring and management of this critical resource, especially to those who seek a faster way to begin to use these datasets and applications.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) Model for Earthquake Spatial Probability Assessment in Arabian Peninsula
Authors: Jena Ratiranjan , Shanableh Abdallah , Al-Ruzouq Rami , Pradhan Biswajeet , Gibril Mohamed Barakat A. , Khalil Mohamad Ali , Ghorbanzadeh Omid , Ganapathy Ganapathy Pattukandan , Ghamisi Pedram
Published: April 2023

Among all the natural hazards, earthquake prediction is an arduous task. Although many studies have been published on earthquake hazard assessment (EHA), very few have been published on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in spatial probability assessment (SPA). There is a great deal of complexity observed in the SPA modeling process due to the involvement of seismological to geophysical factors. Recent studies have shown that the insertion of certain integrated factors such as ground shaking, seismic gap, and tectonic contacts in the AI model improves accuracy to a great extent. Because of the black-box nature of AI models, this paper explores the use of an explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) model in SPA. This study aims to develop a hybrid Inception v3-ensemble extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) model and shapely additive explanations (SHAP). The model would efficiently interpret and recognize factors’ behavior and their weighted contribution. The work explains the specific factors responsible for and their importance in SPA. The earthquake inventory data were collected from the US Geological Survey (USGS) for the past 22 years ranging the magnitudes from 5 Mw and above. Landsat-8 satellite imagery and digital elevation model (DEM) data were also incorporated in the analysis. Results revealed that the SHAP outputs align with the hybrid Inception v3-XGBoost model (87.9% accuracy) explanations, thus indicating the necessity to add new factors such as seismic gaps and tectonic contacts, where the absence of these factors makes the prediction model performs poorly. According to SHAP interpretations, peak ground accelerations (PGA), magnitude variation, seismic gap, and epicenter density are the most critical factors for SPA. The recent Turkey earthquakes (Mw 7.8, 7.5, and 6.7) due to the active east Anatolian fault validate the obtained AI-based earthquake SPA results. The conclusions drawn from the explainable algorithm depicted the importance of relevant, irrelevant, and new futuristic factors in AI-based SPA modeling.
A Sensor-Based System for Fault Detection and Prediction for EV Multi-Level Converters
Authors: Prejbeanu Răzvan Gabriel
Published: April 2023

Power electronic converters and alternating current motors are the actual driving solution applied to electric vehicles (EVs). Multilevel inverters with high performance are modern and the basis for powering and driving EVs. Fault component detection in multilevel power converters requires the use of a smart sensor-based strategy and an optimal fault analysis and prediction method. An innovative method for the detection and prediction of defects in multilevel inverters for EVs is proposed in this article. This method is based on an algorithm able to determine in a fast and efficient way the faults in a multilevel inverter in different possible topologies. Moreover, the fault detection is achieved not only for a single component, but even for several components, if these faults occur simultaneously. The detection mechanism is based on the analysis of the output current and voltage from the inverter, with the possibility of distinguishing between single and multiple faults of the power electronic components. High-performance simulation programs are used to define and verify the method model. Additionally, with this model, harmonic analysis can be performed to check the correctness of the system’s operation, and different fault scenarios can be simulated. Thus, significant results were obtained by simulation on various topologies of multilevel converters. Further, a test bench was developed in order to verify some failure situations on a three-level inverter.
Hollow-Fiber Liquid-Phase Microextraction (HF-LPME) Coupled On-Line to Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of the Herbicides 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic Acid and 2-Methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic Acid and Their Main Metabolites in Soil Samples
Authors: Moret Sònia , Hidalgo Manuela , Sanchez Juan M.
Published: April 2023

The use of hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME) is very promising for the clean-up, enrichment, and analysis of chlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides and their metabolites from environmental and biological samples. An on-line methodology coupling HF-LPME (using a hydrophobic polypropylene hollow fiber of 57 cm length, 0.3 mm i.d., 0.2 μm pore size, and 75% porosity) and HPLC-UV has been developed for the analysis of these compounds in soil samples taken from environments treated with these herbicides. Di-hexyl ether was found to be the best solvent for the enrichment of the target herbicides. The use of supported liquid membranes has shown a high and efficient clean-up of the dissolved organic matter present in soil extracts. The enrichment factors achieved with the on-line methodology have allowed us to reach the detection limits of 0.1–0.3 µg·kg−1 soil, by analyzing 20 mL of alkaline extract as a donor solution and using 1 mL of stripping solution, which has permitted us to detect and follow the presence of these compounds in soil samples until nine days after the application of the herbicide. The on-line method has been applied in a preliminary study to assess the mobility of the chlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicides through soils. It has also been found that degradation of these compounds in soil is relatively fast and some metabolites were detected in soils just one day after the application of the herbicide. The high enrichment factors obtained with the HF-LPME procedure allow for the obtainment of low detection limits, which permits the use of a simple HPLC detector, such as UV, which simplifies and reduces the cost of analyses.
Cucumis metuliferus L. Fruits Extract with Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antidiabetic Properties as Source of Ursolic Acid
Authors: Busuioc Anna Cazanevscaia , Costea Giorgiana Valentina , Botezatu Andreea Veronica Dediu , Furdui Bianca , Dinica Rodica Mihaela
Published: April 2023

To identify healthy, nutritious, and sustainable plant-based products rich in biologically active compounds, this present study was conducted, and the phytochemical composition and biological properties of the hydroethanolic ultrasound-assisted extract of the fruits of Cucumis metuliferus were investigated. Cucumis metuliferus is an unexplored fruit of a climbing plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and whose nutritional and medicinal benefits are well known in African countries, especially. Therefore, its cultivation in other regions could influence chemical composition. The structural identification of the compounds from the hydroethanolic extract from Cucumis metuliferus fruits grown in Romania was carried out by chromatographic techniques (HPLC). The main compounds identified were catechin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, p-coumaric acid, and epicatechin. Subsequently, a method was proposed to isolate and characterize ursolic acid, one of the major compounds. The obtained results show that the hydroethanolic extract is rich in antioxidant compounds evaluated using the DPPH radical inhibition method (IC50 = 32.74 ± 0.02 µg/mL) and ABTS cation radical inhibition method (IC50 = 11.37 ± 0.07 µg/mL). It also demonstrate in vitro anti-inflammatory activities, such as anti-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 32.90 ± 0.05 µg/mL) and anti-proteinase (IC50 = 16.34 ± 0.07 µg/mL), and antidiabetic properties by inhibiting α-amylase (IC50 = 429.541 ± 0.25 µg/mL) and β-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 385.685 ± 0.76 µg/mL). Therefore, C. metuliferus fruits could be effectively used in the development of various health-promoting products, being not only appetizing, with spectacular appearance and with extended storage life, but also curative and healthy.
Physiological Impacts of Nitrogen Starvation and Subsequent Recovery on the Red Seaweed Grateloupia turuturu (Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta)
Authors: Chen Yining , Lan Lan , Zhang Jing , Wang Qiaohan , Liu Yan , Li Huiru , Gong Qingli , Gao Xu
Published: April 2023

Grateloupia turuturu is a potential aquaculture species as it has a significant number of high-valued compounds. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiobiochemical performances of G. turuturu under nitrogen deficiency and resupply. In this study, G. turuturu was exposed to different lengths of nitrogen starvation (from 0 to 28 days) and subsequently subjected to a 21-day nitrogen-recovery period. The nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, growth rates, and nitrogenous compounds of G. turuturu were periodically measured. The results showed that the nitrogen-starved G. turururu absorbed ammonium much faster than nitrate after nitrogen recovery. Furthermore, an overcompensatory uptake of ammonium was induced via nitrogen deficiency in a short phase after nitrogen resupply. The time and rates of depletion of different compositions varied during nitrogen starvation. Specifically, pigment contents decreased faster than protein and total nitrogen contents, and the reduction rate of protein was the lowest. After nitrogen resupply, though G. turuturu gradually recovered, growth rates and pigments from long-term nitrogen starvations could not recover enough to reach their original values. Our study reveals the physiological changing processes of G. turuturu during nitrogen starvation and recovery and provides baseline information aiding in the development of strategies for G. turuturu cultivation.
Content Variation and Potential Runoff Loss Risk of Nutrients in Surface Water of Saline-Alkali Paddy in Response to the Application of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Types
Authors: Lyu Jiao , Wang Xinyi , Hou Shengnan , Zeb Anwar , Zhu Hui , Xu Yingying
Published: April 2023

As the saline-alkali paddy area continues to grow, the nutrient (e.g., nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) runoff loss is becoming more serious in the world. The N-fertilizer application affects the nutrient runoff loss risk in paddy. Selecting suitable fertilizer types to reduce nutrient loss is beneficial to agricultural sustainability. However, the effects of N-fertilizer application in saline-alkali paddy are not clear. This study measured the N and P concentration of surface water in saline-alkali paddy, using various N—fertilizer treatments (i.e., urea (U), urea with urease—nitrification inhibitors (UI), organic–inorganic compound fertilizer (OCF), carbon—based slow—release fertilizer (CSF), and no N fertilization (CK)). Based on the structural equation model, both phosphate (PO43−-P) and total−P (TP) concentrations had a positive influence on total-N (TN) concentration regardless of N−fertilizer types applied. Potential risks of ammonia—N (NH4+—N) and nitrate—N (NO3−—N) runoff losses were reduced in UI treatment, but the TN and TP losses were increased. At the panicle-initiation fertilizer stage, the NO3−−N, TN, and TP concentrations in CSF and OCF treatments were lower than U. The CSF application can control the TP runoff loss risk during the rice-growing season. UI should not be suggested for the control of nutrient runoff loss in saline-alkali paddy.
Learning from the Future of Kuwait: Scenarios as a Learning Tool to Build Consensus for Actions Needed to Realize Vision 2035
Authors: Ottesen Andri , Thom Dieter , Bhagat Rupali , Mourdaa Rola
Published: April 2023

This perspective is a qualitative meta-analysis study using a critical interpretive synthesis that narrates three future and equally plausible scenarios of social and economic development in the State of Kuwait over the next 15 years. The first scenario follows what we call the ‘Sustainable Growth’ model as defined by the United Nations Development Goals and the Kuwait Vision 2035 presented by the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. As a polar opposite, the next scenario is what we call the ‘Mismanaged Resourced-Based Autocracy’ model, a negative reflection of the worst-case scenario. The third scenario is in between these two, and we call it the ‘Equality of Outcome Between Societal Groups’ model. So as not to lay blame for past actions or point fingers, which could prove counterproductive to a consensus-building process for needed actions, we chose to use the pasts of other countries for future projections for the State of Kuwait. Our search through recent socio-economic pasts revealed that Singapore was the best fit for the first scenario, Venezuela for the second, and Lebanon for the third. All these countries became fully independent at approximately the same time as the State of Kuwait and share many other similarities. The three future projections were used as input variables to the outcome, which was a bottom-up and top-down consensus-making process regarding utilitarian action for Kuwait to be used by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Think-Tanks, Development Agencies, the government and the parliament.
Desalination of Saline Irrigation Water Using Hydrophobic, Metal–Polymer Hydrogels
Authors: Antia David D. J.
Published: April 2023

Saline irrigation water accounts for 15% to 30% of global, anthropogenic, water usage, and around 10% to 15% of global arable food production. Decreasing the salinity of this irrigation water has the potential to substantially increase the yields associated with these crops. In this paper, 87 sol–gel hydrophobic and supra-hydrophobic, hollow, metal, hydroxyoxide and polymer formulations (constructed using inexpensive, agricultural chemicals) were demonstrated to remove Na+ ions and Cl− ions from saline water. The process operates without producing a waste brine or requiring an external energy source and is designed to desalinate water within existing tanks and impoundments. The desalination results of the polymer were combined with the salinity reduction profiles of 70 crops suitable for cultivation, including arable, orchard, horticultural, and livestock forage crops. The analysis established that use of the desalinated water may result in both substantial increases in crop yield, and an increase in the variety of crops that can be grown. Analysis of the ion removal process established a novel methodology for assessing the salinity of the product water. This methodology allows the salinity of the product water to be determined from a combination of EC (electrical conductivity) and pH measurements.
An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Explain General Contractors’ Long-Term Cooperation Intentions in Construction Projects: Empirical Evidence from China
Authors: Liu Xun , Liu Dexin , Xu Mengyu
Published: April 2023

With the continuous development of the construction industry, the current construction production mode is gradually transforming into the contractor, professional subcontractor and labor subcontractor’s “main-sub contractor” cooperative production mode in the market segmentation. Long-term cooperation between contractors and subcontractors is beneficial to both parties, yet only limited research has explored the factors that determine contractors’ willingness to cooperate with subcontractors on a long-term basis. This paper explores the factors that influence contractors’ willingness to cooperate with subcontractors in the long term and the forming mechanisms. To achieve this goal, this study combines the characteristics of the construction industry to increase the variable of past experience, constructing an extended planned behavior theory model. Through questionnaire surveys, contractors with experience in subcontract management were surveyed, and the hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling techniques. The results showed that contractors’ long-term cooperation intention was mainly influenced by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. While past experience, a new variable, had significant effects on attitudes and perceived behavioral control, influencing contractors’ long-term cooperation intention by affecting attitudes and perceived behavioral control, past experience had no direct effect on subjective norms. This study will explain the formation mechanism of the general contractor and subcontractor’s long-term cooperative relationship and provide a theoretical basis for the general contractor to select partners and suggestions for subcontractors to improve their work.
Pelletized Straw Incorporation in Sandy Soil Increases Soil Aggregate Stability, Soil Carbon, and Nitrogen Stocks
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhao Ji , Wang Hongyuan , Pang Huancheng
Published: April 2023

In China, increasing the quantity and quality of total carbon and nitrogen stocks in sandy soil used for crop production is an important research issue. Soil amendment with pelletized straw could improve both soil physical structure and fertility in sandy soils, but these aspects remain understudied. The present pot and field experiments examined the dynamic changes in sandy soil water holding capacity, soil bulk density, soil total carbon and nitrogen stocks, and the distribution of water-stable aggregates and soil total carbon stocks related to aggregates across the following treatments: no fertilization (i.e., study control (CK)), normal fertilizer rate (NM), soil amendment at 150 Mg ha−1 (S150), manure amendment at 150 Mg ha−1 (M150), pelletized straw amendment at 75 Mg ha−1 (PS75), and pelletized straw amendment at 150 Mg ha−1 (PS150). The results show that the pelletized straw incorporation significantly increased water holding capacity and decreased soil bulk density. PS150 notably increased the large macroaggregates (>2000 μm) proportion and decreased the ratio of <250 μm aggregate size fractions in comparison with CK, NM, S150, and M150 at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths. Compared with the CK treatment, the bulk soil carbon and nitrogen stocks in the 0–20 cm layers under the PS150 treatment were significantly increased by 85.2% and 302.9%, and in the 20–40 cm layers those increased by 136.4% and 257.1%, respectively. The PS150 treatment resulted in higher soil organic carbon (SOC) and particulate organic carbon content than the CK and PS75 treatments, whereas the PS75 treatment achieved maximum soil inorganic carbon content. The pelletized straw treatment increased the large macroaggregate-associated soil total carbon content at 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil depths. The maximum soil total carbon stocks were in the small macroaggregates (250 < WSA < 2000 μm) rather than in the large macroaggregate and microaggregates under the PS75 and PS150 treatments. Additionally, the pelletized straw and manure amendments increased the yield of silage corn, which was dependent on the increase in soil total carbon and nitrogen content in the macroaggregates, whereas the soil and manure amendments did not facilitate sandy soil aggregation and soil total carbon stock increases. In conclusion, PS150 was found to be the optimal amendment for maintaining sandy soil profile physico-chemical properties through macroaggregate stabilization. These results will be beneficial for arid and semi-arid regions, thus contributing to soil carbon and nitrogen conservation.
Remediating and Reusing Abandoned Mining Sites in U.S. Metropolitan Areas: Raising Visibility and Value
Authors: Schneider Dona , Greenberg Michael R.
Published: April 2023

Abandoned mining-related sites present threats to human health and the environment, while also being potentially valuable places for redevelopment. This paper examines whether successful sustainable redevelopment is more likely in metropolitan areas, and identifies site and population characteristics that make redevelopment more likely. We abstracted data on 143 abandoned mine sites from the U.S. EPA’s Superfund list, including information on site history and characteristics, remediation efforts and any continued contamination risk. Forty-one sites were located in metropolitan areas, and these underwent further document review. The EPA’s updated 2002 EJScreen database was used to identify populations at risk. Data were analyzed using matched pairs and discriminant analysis statistical tests. Follow-up studies of selected sites confirmed cleanup status and plans for sustainable re-use. We found that sites located in metropolitan areas were more likely than those in non-metropolitan ones to have undergone remediation and redevelopment. Multi-use sites were more likely to have completed remediation compared to single-use sites. A combination of site and population characteristics predicted the extent and type of redevelopment at most sites. It is likely that public pressure related to human and environmental health risks and high land values serve as an impetus for the remediation and re-use of abandoned mine sites in metropolitan areas.
Projection of the Co-Reduced Emissions of CO2 and Air Pollutants from Civil Aviation in China
Authors: Guo Xiurui , Ning Chunxiao , Shen Yaqian , Yao Chang , Chen Dongsheng , Cheng Shuiyuan
Published: April 2023

Civil aviation transport is a key area of fossil energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission, and it is also an important source of air pollutants; the emissions of these have caused severe environmental problems. In this paper, we estimated the emissions in 235 domestic civil airports, and predicted the future trends of CO2 and air pollutant emissions from civil aviation in China until 2050 under three scenarios. The co-reduced emissions of each measure were evaluated by using the co-control effects coordinate system. The results show that in 2018, the emissions of CO2, NOx, SO2, CO, PM and HC were 117.23 × 106 tons, 90.47 × 104 tons, 14.37 × 104 tons, 9 × 104 tons, 1.29 × 104 tons and 0.66 × 104 tons, respectively. CO2, NOx, SO2 and PM emissions were mainly concentrated in cruise mode, accounting for 87–93% of the total emissions; HC and CO emissions were more frequently from the LTO. Under the baseline scenario, the growth rate of air pollutant emissions will account for a greater share, from 84% in 2030 to 464% in 2050, whereas the general scenario reduces emissions by 15% and 71%, respectively, and a higher reduction of 26% and 93% is seen in the stringent scenario. Improving aviation fuels is the most significant co-reduction measure, which can reduce CO2 by 89% and 68% in 2030 and 2050, and reduce air pollutants by 86–89% and 62–65%, respectively.
Anhydrous Ethanol Pricing in Economies with an Underdeveloped Biofuels Market: The Case of Mexico
Authors: Becerra-Pérez Luis Armando , Rincón Luis E. , Posada-Duque John A.
Published: April 2023

Most gasoline currently consumed in Mexico continues to be oxygenated with Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) despite its proven effects on the environment and human health. Hence, the existence of a regulatory framework on biofuels and various institutional efforts have not been sufficient to develop a national market for anhydrous ethanol use as biofuel. The goal of this research is twofold: one, to review and analyze the governmental actions taken to incorporate bioethanol as a gasoline oxygenate, and, two, to design a tool to estimate the bioethanol price at the Storage and Distribution Terminals of PEMEX (Mexico’s state-owned oil company). A price estimation model for bioethanol was developed through the microeconomic theory of the producer and the indifference price of a product methodology, which calculates the daily price of ethanol in the period 2015–2022; additionally, an MS Excel-based support tool was created for this analysis (namely: the Price-CEM). The analysis showed that incorporating bioethanol into the Mexican energy matrix would require policies of fiscal support for R&D, agricultural waste management and bioethanol production, as well as a new regulatory framework to both gradually eliminate MTBE and establish bioethanol/gasoline blending targets. Furthermore, institutional efforts would also be required to integrate all links in the biofuel production chain, including primary feedstock producers. The cost estimation method and tool have also shown to be valuable instruments to calculate both the prices at which a local bioethanol market would be competitive (with respect to the international market) and the most important cost contributions for local supply chains. This is the first tool to estimate the price of anhydrous ethanol at the local level, which can contribute to identifying opportunities and economic thresholds for the successful development of feasible bioethanol markets in Mexico.
Ultrathin TiO2 Blocking Layers via Atomic Layer Deposition toward High-Performance Dye-Sensitized Photo-Electrosynthesis Cells
Authors: Zhang Xiaodan , Lei Lei , Wang Xinpeng , Wang Degao
Published: April 2023

The collection of solar energy in chemical bonds via dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs) is a reliable solution. Herein, atomic layer deposition (ALD) introduced ultrathin blocking layers (BLs) between a mesoporous TiO2 membrane and fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), and much improved photoelectrochemical water oxidation performance was well documented. Samples with different BL thicknesses deposited on FTO were obtained by ALD. In the photoanode, polypyridyl Ru(II) complexes were used as photosensitizers, and Ru(bda)-type was used as a catalyst during water oxidation. Under one sun irradiation, the BL (i) increased the photocurrent density; (ii) slowed down the open-circuit voltage decay (OCVD) by electrochemical measurement; (iii) increased the photo-generated electron lifetime roughly from 1 s to more than 100 s; and (iv) enhanced the water oxidation efficiency from 25% to 85% with 0.4 V of applied voltage bias. All this pointed out that the ALD technique-prepared layers could greatly hinder the photogenerated electron–hole pair recombination in the TiO2-based photoanode. This study offers critical backing for the building of molecular films by the ALD technique to split water effectively.
Prediction of the Tunnel Collapse Probability Using SVR-Based Monte Carlo Simulation: A Case Study
Authors: Meng Guowang , Li Hongle , Wu Bo , Liu Guangyang , Ye Huazheng , Zuo Yiming
Published: April 2023

Collapse is one of the most significant geological hazards in mountain tunnel construction, and it is crucial to accurately predict the collapse probability. By introducing the reliability theory, this paper proposes a calculation method for the collapse probability in mountain tunnel construction based on numerical simulation, support vector regression (SVR), and the Monte Carlo (MC) method. Taking the Jinzhupa Tunnel Project in Fujian Province as a case study, three-dimensional models were constructed, and the safety factors of the surrounding rock were determined using the strength reduction method. By defining the shear strength parameters of the surrounding rock as random variables, the problem was formulated as a reliability model, and the safety factor was chosen as the reliability index. To increase computational efficiency, the SVR model was trained to replace numerical simulations, and the MC method was adopted to calculate the probability of collapse. The results showed that the cause of the collapse was the change in the excavation method and the very late installation of supports. The feasibility and reliability of the proposed method have been verified, indicating that the method can be used to predict the probability of collapse in a practical risk assessment of mountain tunnel construction.
Construct a Regional Innovation Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region in China
Authors: Cao Yuan , Liu Jingxian , Yang Ying , Liu Xiaolin , Liu Zhixuan , Lv Ning , Ma Hongkun , Wang Zhenyao , Li Hongtu
Published: April 2023

Constructing a Regional Innovation Ecosystem (RIE) can be an effective way to utilize innovation resources by breaking the existing regional barriers. Existing research focuses more on exploring the characteristics, evolution, and impact of innovation ecosystems from a theoretical perspective, while few studies combine reality with exploring how to build an effective innovation ecosystem. Given that the concept of an innovation ecosystem is inspired by natural ecosystems, using the method of comparative analysis, this article begins by analyzing the characteristics of tropical rainforests as the most stable and efficient natural ecosystem and deeply explores the essential features of an efficient RIE, including an innovative soft and hard environment, multi-level and differentiated producers, consumers and decomposers of innovative activities, and a virtuous cycle of innovation resources. By comparing Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei’s current reality with these characteristics, this article systematically analyzes the advantages of the innovation environment, the further improvement of innovation resource aggregation and innovation chains, as well as the disadvantages of an unbalanced distribution of innovation resources, the leapfrogging transformation of scientific and technological achievements, low innovation levels of market-oriented innovation entities, and loss of innovative factors, such as talents. Based on this analysis, targeted suggestions to construct a RIE in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, including using both market and administrative approaches to allocating innovation factors, stimulating the innovation vitality of market-oriented innovation entities, taking multiple measures to enhance Hebei Province’s capacity, building an innovative environment that is livable and business-friendly are proposed.
Crisis Resilience of Startup Companies (The Case of Hungary among the Visegrad Countries with a Focus on the Pandemic)
Authors: Kézai Petra Kinga , Kurucz Attila
Published: April 2023

The study examines the crisis resilience of startup companies in Hungary among the Visegrad countries as a result of the pandemic situation. It aims to provide guidance on what support is needed for startups in the post-crisis period to re-launch the economy and to contribute to the region’s economy with positive results. The research was carried out in two stages: first, in 2021 through an online survey, and then, in 2022 in-depth interviews due to the economic crisis caused by COVID-19 and the Russian–Ukrainian war. A mixed research methodology was used, which comprised an online questionnaire administered in the Crunchbase database (n = 97) and in-depth interviews among startup founders and experts of the startup ecosystem (n = 22). The research summarizes the V4 countries’ measures to protect entrepreneurship with a particular focus on startups. The research found that a crisis such as a pandemic did not have a uniformly negative impact on startups. The winners of the economic crisis are startups in IT, healthcare (Medtech. health-tech), e-commerce and digital education, while those who fared worst are startups in tourism and hospitality. The positive impact of the crisis has been a cleansing of the startup ecosystem. Business support measures supported the viable startups and helped them survive.
Study on Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urban Development Intensity and Water Environment Carrying Capacity of Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle
Authors: Deng Hongwei , Yang Jinxin , Wang Peng
Published: April 2023

The high-level coupling coordination relationship between urban development and a city’s water environment carrying capacity is conducive to urban sustainable development. Taking the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle as the research object, this study developed an index system to determine the urban development intensity and water environment carrying capacity, respectively. Based on the comprehensive evaluation model and the coupling coordination degree model, the spatial distribution characteristics, agglomeration law of urban development intensity, water environment carrying capacity and their coupling coordination relationship were analyzed. The results showed that the areas with a high urban development intensity were distributed in the main urban districts of Chengdu and Chongqing, and the intensity gradually reduced away from both core cities, which formed a “ripple-like” pattern. The areas with a high water environment carrying capacity were mainly in the southwest, southeast, northeast and central parts of the region and were distributed in a “W” pattern along the Yangtze River. The coupling coordination degree between the urban development intensity and water environment carrying capacity was low, as only 11.4% of the cities were coordinated while most cities were slightly uncoordinated. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for sustainable urban development in the Chengdu–Chongqing Economic Circle.
Which Scale Is Appropriate for the Sustainable Management of Paddy Field?—A Case Study of Jiaxing, China
Authors: Zhou Xi , Liu Mao , Ouyang Anjiao
Published: April 2023

This article aims to explore the appropriate scale for the cultivation of paddy field and its influencing factors in Jiaxing. The stochastic frontier production function and binary logit method were used to calculate the appropriate scale. The results showed: (1) The appropriate management scale of the paddy field in Jiaxing is 10–30 ha. (2) The farmers’ willingness to cultivate paddy field on a large scale was positively correlated with land quality, and their number of years engaged in agriculture. (3) It was negatively correlated with the difficulty of obtaining a loan and the age of the farmers. This research proposed that the government should continue to support the appropriate scale management of paddy field, and promote agricultural modernisation. At the same time, the government should also attach importance to promoting the role of science and technology in agriculture by actively training new generations of professional farmers, promoting land transfer, and implementing the subsidy policy for larger-scale cultivation to create a good environment for farmers to work on an appropriate scale.
Gap Solitons in Fiber Bragg Gratings Having Polynomial Law of Nonlinear Refractive Index and Cubic–Quartic Dispersive Reflectivity by Lie Symmetry
Authors: Malik Sandeep , Kumar Sachin , Biswas Anjan , Yıldırım Yakup , Moraru Luminita , Moldovanu Simona , Iticescu Catalina , Moshokoa Seithuti P. , Bibicu Dorin , Alotaibi Abdulaziz
Published: April 2023

The current paper recovers cubic–quartic optical solitons in fiber Bragg gratings having polynomial law of nonlinear refractive index structures. Lie symmetry analysis is carried out, starting with the basic analysis. Then, it is followed through with improved Kudryashov and generalized Arnous schemes. The parameter constraints are also identified for the existence of such solitons. Numerical surface plots support the adopted applied analysis.
Corchorus Olitorius-Mediated Green Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel and Manganese Ferrite Nanoparticles
Authors: Abd-Elkader Omar H. , Deraz Nasrallah M. , Aleya Lotfi
Published: April 2023

Developing a method for preparing Ni and Mn ferrites was the main objective of this study due to the importance of these materials in high-frequency applications. These ferrites were made by assisting combustion with dried leaves of Corchorus olitorius and then heating them to 700 °C. Several methods, including FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM/EDX, were used to characterize these ferrites. The thermal behavior, surface and magnetic properties of the as-prepared materials were determined. The results revealed that the method used is cheap, economical, environmentally friendly and makes it easy to produce the studied ferrites. FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM/EDX analyses show the formation of nanocrystalline ferrites with brittle, spongy and spinel-type structures, having two main vibration bands located around 400 cm−1 and 600 cm−1. However, TG-DTG results display the thermal behavior of different materials which consisted of unreacted oxides, carbon and the corresponding ferrites in the range of 300 °C to 600 °C. Moreover, complete conversion of the unreacted oxides to the equivalent ferrite was achieved by increasing heat treatment from 600 °C to 1000 °C. Ferrites are heated at 700 °C, which reduces their surface area. The magnetic properties of different ferrites calcined at 700 °C were estimated using the VSM technique. The magnetism of Fe-based materials containing Ni and Mn is 12.189 emu/g and 25.988 emu/g, respectively. Moreover, the squareness and coercivity of Ni ferrite are greater than for Mn ferrite.