bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomass Estimation and Saturation Value Determination Based on Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data
Authors: Sa Rula , Nie Yonghui , Chumachenko Sergey , Fan Wenyi
Published: June 2024

Forest biomass estimation is undoubtedly one of the most pressing research subjects at present. Combining multi-source remote sensing information can give full play to the advantages of different remote sensing technologies, providing more comprehensive and rich information for aboveground biomass (AGB) estimation research. Based on Landsat 8, Sentinel-2A, and ALOS2 PALSAR data, this paper takes the artificial coniferous forests in the Saihanba Forest of Hebei Province as the object of study, fully explores and establishes remote sensing factors and information related to forest structure, gives full play to the advantages of spectral signals in detecting the horizontal structure and multi-dimensional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data in detecting the vertical structure, and combines environmental factors to carry out multivariate synergistic methods of estimating the AGB. This paper uses three variable selection methods (Pearson correlation coefficient, random forest significance, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO)) to establish the variable sets, combining them with three typical non-parametric models to estimate AGB, namely, random forest (RF), support vector regression (SVR), and artificial neural network (ANN), to analyze the effect of forest structure on biomass estimation, explore the suitable AGB of artificial coniferous forests estimation of machine learning models, and develop the method of quantifying saturation value of the combined variables. The results show that the horizontal structure is more capable of explaining the AGB compared to the vertical structure information, and that combining the multi-structure information can improve the model results and the saturation value to a great extent. In this study, different sets of variables can produce relatively superior results in different models. The variable set selected using LASSO gives the best results in the SVR model, with an R2 values of 0.9998 and 0.8792 for the training and the test set, respectively, and the highest saturation value obtained is 185.73 t/ha, which is beyond the range of the measured data. The problem of saturation in biomass estimation in boreal medium- and high-density forests was overcome to a certain extent, and the AGB of the Saihanba area was better estimated.
Innovative Rotating SAR Mode for 3D Imaging of Buildings
Authors: Lin Yun , Wang Ying , Wang Yanping , Shen Wenjie , Bai Zechao
Published: June 2024

Three-dimensional SAR imaging of urban buildings is currently a hotspot in the research area of remote sensing. Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) offers all-time, all-weather, high-resolution capacity, and is an important tool for the monitoring of building health. Buildings have geometric distortion in conventional 2D SAR images, which brings great difficulties to the interpretation of SAR images. This paper proposes a novel Rotating SAR (RSAR) mode, which acquires 3D information of buildings from two different angles in a single rotation. This new RSAR mode takes the center of a straight track as its rotation center, and obtains images of the same facade of a building from two different angles. By utilizing the differences in geometric distortion of buildings in the image pair, the 3D structure of the building is reconstructed. Compared to the existing tomographic SAR or circular SAR, this method does not require multiple flights in different elevations or observations from varying aspect angles, and greatly simplifies data acquisition. Furthermore, both simulation analysis and actual data experiment have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Impact of Microorganisms Transported in Ships’ Ballast Water on the Fish of the Estuarine Waters and Environmental Sustainability in the Southern Baltic Sea
Authors: Zatoń-Sieczka Kinga , Czerniejewski Przemysław
Published: June 2024

Ballast water represents a significant vector for the transfer of aquatic organisms and chemical pollutants. Although various groups of transported microorganisms can have a negative impact on native species of aquatic fauna, the available literature usually focuses on larger organisms. This is important because microorganisms cause changes in the balanced aquatic environment, including a stable trophic pyramid. The objectives of this study were twofold: (i) to determine the seasonal changes in the microbiota of the ballast water of long- and short-range ships entering the southern Baltic port, with a focus on fish pathogenic microorganisms and (ii) to potentially assess the threat to the ichthyofauna caused by the introduction of these microorganisms into the aquatic environment. The analytical results demonstrated notable variability in microbial density across the samples, contingent on the distance traversed by the ships. The samples of ballast water collected in autumn exhibited the highest microbial density compared to those collected in spring and summer. The samples contained yeast (1.00–2.98 log cfu/mL), mold (1.30–3.26 log cfu/mL), and bacteria (2.18–4.61 log cfu/mL), including amylolytic bacteria (0.95–3.53 log cfu/mL), lipolytic bacteria (0.70–2.93 log cfu/mL), and proteolytic bacteria (0.70–2.39 log cfu/mL). The most prevalent were the Pseudomonas bacteria (0.48–4.40 log cfu/mL), including Pseudomonas fluorescens (0.20–2.60 log cfu/mL. The port waters in spring and summer were primarily characterized by the presence of bacteria belonging to the genus Bacillus. Additionally, the samples exhibited the presence of Intestinimonas, Oceanobacillus, and Virgibacillus bacteria. The short-range vessel samples were populated primarily by bacteria belonging to the genus Bordetella, accompanied by Oligella, Brackiella, and Basilea oraz Derxia, while the ballast water of long-range ships contained mainly Acholeplasma and Clostridium, accompanied by Bacillus, Peptosteptococcus, Intestinibacter, Terrisporobacter, Anaerobacillis, Anaerofustis, Oxobacter, and Listeria. A phylogenetic analysis of the bacteria recorded in the ballast water revealed the presence of species, including Bordetella and Acholeplasma, which can facilitate the colonization of aquatic organisms by pathogenic entities. The results of this study showed that despite the use of water treatment systems on ships, ballast waters carry microorganisms that can negatively impact new environments, including local fish populations (e.g., P. fluorescens). These observations point to the need for further research on the effectiveness of ballast water management systems used to date to minimize the environmental impact of organisms carried in ships’ ballast water to preserve natural resources and environmental sustainability in port waters.
The “Supply-Side Reform Policy” and the Share of Labor Income in Enterprises
Authors: Chen Long , Qi Baolei
Published: June 2024

This article takes the supply-side structural reform launched in 2016 as a quasi-natural experiment and uses the “DID” method to analyze the relationship between the policy effects of supply-side reform and the labor income share. Firstly, the basic conclusion is that the “supply-side reform policy” can reduce the labor income share of enterprises in the “six major industries”. The correctness of the benchmark regression results was verified through a series of robustness tests. The results of the main regression were validated based on three different heterogeneity analysis perspectives: firm ownership, firm region, and government intervention. Secondly, two mediation mechanisms were examined, and the results showed that increasing operating income can positively enhance the “supply-side structural reform” in reducing the labor share of income in all enterprises, while increasing R&D investment can negatively enhance the effect of the “supply-side structural reform” on the reduction of the labor share of income in all enterprises. The heterogeneity of the two intermediary effects indicates that state-owned enterprises and private enterprises have different performances. The research results of this article indicate that the “supply-side reform policy” can effectively reduce the labor income share of target enterprises, reduce the proportion of excess employees, and enhance the vitality of target enterprises. The policy suggestion is to continue promoting supply-side structural reform, a policy which is in line with the requirements of the high-quality and sustainable development of Chinese enterprises.
Renewable Energy in the Chinese News Media: A Comparative Study and Policy Implications
Authors: Zhang Li , Peng Xinyi
Published: June 2024

After decades of development, China has become the world’s largest producer, exporter and installer of solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles, as well as the world’s biggest investor in renewable energy. Communicating renewable energy issues to the public plays an important role in enhancing the wider understanding of renewables and gaining public support for the government’s energy policy. Based on a detailed analysis of media coverage in China’s general media, i.e., Guangming Daily and Economic Daily, and energy sector industrial media, i.e., the China Energy News, from 2017 to 2023, this study explores how renewable energies are communicated to the Chinese public before and after the government’s announcement of its dual carbon goals. It finds that (1) renewable energy is often discussed in the wider category of new energy in the Chinese media; (2) solar, wind and hydropower energy are most prominent; (3) economic frames dominated the coverage of the renewables, followed by political and environmental frames; (4) benefits of renewable energy are far more often represented than risks by the media, particularly in their economic and political dimensions; (5) the general media tends to show more support than the media of the energy industry does, in that it reports more returns from renewable energy; (6) since the proposal of the dual carbon goals, more political discourse has been integrated into the discourse of energy and environmental policies in the energy industrial media than in the general media. The study concludes by discussing the implications of the findings for energy policy and public understanding of renewable energy in China.
Optimization Research of Sodium Hydroxide Pretreatment to Enhance the Thermal Properties of Straw–Mortar Composite Materials
Authors: Zhao Rongfei , Fu Jia , Feng Binbin , Gao Wei
Published: June 2024

Although straw is being utilized as an additive in construction materials, the thermal properties of straw and building materials in combination are insufficient. The thermal properties of straw–mortar composite materials can be improved by the pretreatment of straw. The alkali treatment enhances the mechanical attachment between the fibers and the matrix material, assuring that the straw–mortar composite materials have solid thermal insulation characteristics. Pretreatment with sodium hydroxide was utilized in this work to enhance the thermal properties of straw–mortar composite materials. This study mainly investigated the thermal properties of straw–mortar composite material after sodium hydroxide pretreatment and its change rules under the condition of the freeze–thaw cycle. A three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken experimental design, with the straw content (%), pretreatment time (min), and reagent concentration (%) as process parameters, was used. The response variables were the thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, and thermal resistance. The findings revealed that all of the variables had a substantial impact on the replies. Optimization parameters of 17.95% for the straw content, 19.50 min for the pretreatment time, and 4.99% for the reagent concentration for the straw–mortar composite materials were achieved. A thermal conductivity of 0.211 W·(m·K)−1, a thermal diffusivity of 0.277 mm2·s−1, and a thermal resistance of 57.211 K·W−1 were the optimal thermal property indices. Furthermore, during the freeze–thaw cycle, the thermal conductivity coefficient and thermal diffusion coefficient of the combined pretreatment composite were 26% and 9% lower than the materials without the treatment. The thermal performance of the mortar composites prepared by alkali-treated straw was better than that prepared by untreated straw.
Insights and Implications of the Special Issue Titled: “The Path to Sustainable Technological Entrepreneurship”
Authors: Holzmann Vered , Gimmon Eli
Published: June 2024

The objective of this Special Issue was to highlight the challenges and opportunities in conceiving, designing, building, utilizing, and commercializing novel technology solutions aiming to impact individuals and communities around the world [...]
Functionality Assessment Checklist for Evaluating Geoportals Useful in Planning Sustainable Tourism
Authors: Król Karol , Zdonek Dariusz , Sroka Wojciech
Published: June 2024

Sustainable tourism minimises the adverse impact of tourism on the natural environment and local culture while stimulating the socioeconomic development of regions or even countries. Geoportals and (geo)informational mashup portals significantly affect sustainable tourism planning through modern computer solutions for more sustainable planning of tourist activities on the demand and supply sides. This study had two research aims: (1) to develop a checklist for assessing the functionality of tourist geoportals and evaluate it and (2) to assess the inventory of functions useful for sustainable tourism planning available at selected geoportals with the checklist. The aims were pursued with an original research tool, the Functionality Assessment Checklist (FAC). The FAC is a set of original criteria useful for assessing the quality of tourist geoportals. This study investigated the following research questions: (Q1) What functions should be included on a checklist for assessing the functionality of geoportals useful for sustainable tourism planning? (Q2) What functions should be included in a geoportal to facilitate sustainable tourism planning? The original contributions of this article are (1) the checklist for assessing the functionality of tourist geoportals and (2) the assessment of the impact of geoportal’s functionality on the possibility of planning sustainable tourism. The functionality assessment revealed that the tested geoportals have most of the tourism, informational, educational, and use-related functions. This suggests they can be useful for sustainable tourism planning.
Enhancing Transportation Efficiency with Interval-Valued Fermatean Neutrosophic Numbers: A Multi-Item Optimization Approach
Authors: Kamran Muhammad , Nadeem Muhammad , Żywiołek Justyna , Abdalla Manal Elzain Mohamed , Uzair Anns , Ishtiaq Aiman
Published: June 2024

In this study, we derive a simple transportation scheme by post-optimizing the costs of a modified problem. The strategy attempts to make the original (mainly feasible) option more practicable by adjusting the building components’ costs. Next, we employ the previously mentioned cell or area cost operators to gradually restore the modified costs to their initial levels, while simultaneously implementing the necessary adjustments to the “optimal” solution. This work presents a multi-goal, multi-item substantial transportation problem with interval-valued fuzzy variables, such as transportation costs, supplies, and demands, as parameters to maintain the transportation cost. This research addresses two circumstances where task ambiguity may occur: the interval solids transportation problem and the fuzzy substantial transportation issue. In the first scenario, we express data problems as intervals instead of exact values using an interval-valued fermatean neutrosophic number; in the second case, the information is not entirely obvious. We address both models when uncertainty solely affects the constraint set. For the interval scenario, we define an additional problem to solve. Our existing efficient systems have dependable transportation, so they are also capable of handling this new problem. In the fuzzy case, a parametric technique generates a fuzzy solution to the preceding problem. Since transportation costs have a direct impact on market prices, lowering them is the primary goal. Using parametric analysis, we provide optimal parameterization solutions for complementary situations. We provide a recommended algorithm for determining the stability set. In conclusion, we offer a sensitivity analysis and a numerical example of the transportation problem involving both balanced and imbalanced loads.
Four-Point Bending of Basic Rails: Theory and Experimental Verification
Authors: Dong Zhikui , Liu Chunjiang , Ma Long , Yang Jiahao , Jiang Yunhong
Published: June 2024

Mathematical models of prediction provide theoretical support for basic rail automation. The three-point bending method for basic rails is characterized by its simplicity and flexibility, and, as such, it is widely used in bending processes. However, due to the significant curvature changes that occur after bending, it is not suitable for scenarios requiring large arc bending, and its range of achievable deflections is limited. This study focuses on four-point bending, dividing the bending process into three stages and using a power-law material hardening model to establish different bending moment expressions for each stage. We derived the relationships between curvature, elastic zone ratio, load, and deflection, ultimately creating a load–deflection model. Based on the simple springback law, we developed the final bending prediction model. Finite element simulations were conducted to simulate the bending process under various conditions, using top punch distances ranging from 200 mm to 400 mm and die distances ranging from 600 mm to 1000 mm. These simulations validated the advantages and accuracy of the four-point bending prediction model in large arc bending. Additionally, a four-point bending experimental setup was established under specified conditions. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical model calculations, showing errors within 0.2 mm and thus verifying the accuracy of the four-point bending prediction model. The mathematical model developed in this study provides theoretical support for the automation of basic rail bending.
On Centralizers of Idempotents with Restricted Range
Authors: Mir Dilawar J. , Alali Amal S.
Published: June 2024

This study delves into the structure and properties of left inverse zero divisor bands within semigroups, identifying their maximal forms and broadening the theoretical landscape of semigroup analysis. A significant focus is placed on the automorphisms of a semigroup S of centralizers of idempotent transformations with restricted range, revealing that these automorphisms are inner ones and induced by the units of S. Additionally, we establish that the automorphism group Aut(S) is isomorphic to US, the group of units of S. These findings extend previous results on semigroups of transformations, enhancing their applicability and providing a more unified theory. The practical implications of this work span multiple fields, including automata theory, coding theory, cryptography, and graph theory, offering tools for more efficient algorithms and models. By simplifying complex concepts and providing a solid foundation for future research, this study makes significant contributions to both theoretical and applied mathematics.
Finite Sets—What Kind of Finite?
Authors: Alexandru Andrei , Ciobanu Gabriel
Published: June 2024

In mathematics, philosophy, cosmology, and theology, the notion of infinity has generated ample debate. Much less discussion has been generated by the notion of finiteness. However, when we consider finitely supported sets, the notion of finiteness becomes more interesting and richer. We present several independent definitions of finite sets within the framework of finitely supported structures, emphasizing the differences between these definitions.
Statistical Warped Product Immersions into Statistical Manifolds of (Quasi-)Constant Curvature
Authors: Siddiqui Aliya Naaz , Khan Meraj Ali , Chaubey Sudhakar Kumar
Published: June 2024

Warped products provide an elegant and versatile framework for exploring and understanding a wide range of geometric structures. Their ability to combine two distinct manifolds through a warping function introduces a rich and diverse set of geometries, thus making them a powerful tool in various mathematical, physical, and computational applications. This article addresses the central query related to warped product submanifolds in the context of statistics. It focuses on deriving two new and distinct inequalities for a statistical warped product submanifold in a statistical manifold of a constant (quasi-constant) curvature. This article then finishes with some concluding remarks.
Cloud Manufacturing Service Composition Optimization Based on Improved Chaos Sparrow Search Algorithm with Time-Varying Reliability and Credibility Evaluation
Authors: Li Yongxiang , Yao Xifan , Wei Shanxiang , Xiao Wenrong , Yin Zongming
Published: June 2024

The economic friction and political conflicts between some countries and regions have made multinational corporations increasingly focus on the reliability and credibility of manufacturing supply chains. In view of the impact of poor manufacturing entity reliability and service reputation on the new-era manufacturing industry, the time-varying reliability and time-varying credibility of cloud manufacturing (CMfg) services were studied from the perspective of combining nature and society. Taking time-varying reliability, time-varying credibility, composition complexity, composition synergy, execution time, and execution cost as objective functions, a new six-dimension comprehensive evaluation model of service quality was constructed. To solve the optimization problem, this study proposes an improved chaos sparrow search algorithm (ICSSA), where the Bernoulli chaotic mapping formula was introduced to improve the basic sparrow search algorithm (BSSA), and the position calculation formulas of the explorer sparrow and the scouter sparrow were enhanced. The Bernoulli chaotic operator changed the symmetry of the BSSA, increased the uncertainty and randomness of the explorer sparrow position in the new algorithm, and affected the position update and movement strategies of the follower and scouter sparrows. The asymmetric chaotic characteristic brought better global search ability and optimization performance to the ICSSA. The comprehensive performance of the service composition (SvcComp) scheme was evaluated by calculating weighted relative deviation based on six evaluation elements. The WFG and DTLZ series test functions were selected, and the inverse generation distance (IGD) index and hyper volume (HV) index were used to compare and evaluate the convergence and diversity of the ICSSA, BSSA, PSO, SGA, and NSGA-III algorithms through simulation analysis experiments. The test results indicated that the ICSSA outperforms the BSSA, PSO, SGA, and NSGA-III in the vast majority of testing issues. Finally, taking disinfection robot manufacturing tasks as an example, the effectiveness of the proposed CMfg SvcComp optimization model and the ICSSA were verified. The case study results showed that the proposed ICSSA had faster convergence speed and better comprehensive performance for the CMfg SvcComp optimization problem compared with the BSSA, PSO, SGA, and NSGA-III.
On Quasi-Subordination for Bi-Univalency Involving Generalized Distribution Series
Authors: Olatunji Sunday Olufemi , Oluwayemi Matthew Olanrewaju , Porwal Saurabh , Alb Lupas Alina
Published: June 2024

Various researchers have considered different forms of bi-univalent functions in recent times, and this has continued to gain more attention in Geometric Function Theory (GFT), but not much study has been conducted in the area of application of the certain probability concept in geometric functions. In this manuscript, our motivation is the application of analytic and bi-univalent functions. In particular, the researchers examine bi-univalency of a generalized distribution series related to Bell numbers as a family of Caratheodory functions. Some coefficients of the class of the function are obtained. The results are new as far work on bi-univalency is concerned.
Botulinum Toxin and Deep Brain Stimulation in Dystonia
Authors: de Souza Julia , Falcone Ananda , Barbosa Renata , Soares Miriam , Munhoz Renato , Farah Marina , Capato Tamine , Casagrande Sara , Cordellini Marcela , de Castro Micheli Gabriel , Limongi João , Barbosa Egberto , Listik Clarice , Cury Rubens
Published: June 2024

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a recognized treatment for different dystonia subtypes and has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2003. The European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) and the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS) recommend DBS for dystonia after failure of botulinum toxin (BoNT) and other oral medications for dystonia treatment. In addition, several long-term studies have demonstrated the continuous efficacy of DBS on motor and quality of life (QoL) scores. However, there are only a few reports comparing the overall impact of surgical treatment in BoNT protocols (e.g., dosage and number of selected muscles before and after surgery). This retrospective multicenter chart-review study analyzed botulinum toxin total dosage and dosage per muscle in 23 dystonic patients before and after DBS surgery. The study’s primary outcome was to analyze whether there was a reduction in BoNT dosage after DBS surgery. The mean BoNT dosages difference between baseline and post-surgery was 293.4 units for 6 months, 292.6 units for 12 months, and 295.2 units at the last visit. The median total dose of BoNT in the preoperative period was 800 units (N = 23). At the last visit, the median was 700 units (p = 0.05). This represents a 12.5% reduction in BoNT median dosage. In conclusion, despite the limitations of this retrospective study, there was a significant reduction in BoNT doses after DBS surgery in patients with generalized dystonia.
Ozonation as Pretreatment of Digested Swine Manure Prior to Microalgae Culture
Authors: Palomar César Ruiz , Álvaro Alfonso García , Hermosilla Daphne , Gascó Antonio , Muñoz Raúl , de Godos Ignacio
Published: June 2024

Anaerobic digestion of animal manure generates biogas and removes biodegradable organic matter, while most of the nitrogen and phosphorous remains at very high levels after the process. A subsequent microalgae culture in the digestate provides nutrient uptake at very low operational and installation costs. However, the dark color of manure digestate prevents light penetration, reducing the rates of algae growth. Ozonation was researched as a strategy for color removal followed by microalgae culture. Although similar biomass production was achieved in treated and untreated digestates (1.09 vs. 0.99 g L−1), the positive effect of ozonation was evidenced by the significantly higher rates of photosynthetically produced oxygen: 0.804 and 0.18 mg O2 mg−1 TSS min−1, respectively, in ozonated and untreated digestates, revealing a four times higher rate of algae activity. However, this considerable higher activity was not correlated with better performance in nutrient removal since the microalgae treatment was assayed at a considerably reduced scale with a high ratio of illumination per volume. An operational costs analysis revealed that ozonation could be competitive against other strategies of color reduction such as dilution or coagulation/flocculation processes.
Identifying a Minimum Time Period of Streamflow Recession Records to Analyze the Behavior of Groundwater Storage Systems: A Study in Heterogeneous Chilean Watersheds
Authors: Parra Víctor , Muñoz Enrique , Arumí José Luis , Medina Yelena , Clasing Robert
Published: June 2024

Aquifers are complex systems that present significant challenges in terms of characterization due to the lack or absence of watershed-scale hydrogeological information. An alternative to address the need to characterize watershed-scale aquifer behavior is recession flow analysis. Recession flows are flows sustained by groundwater release from the aquifer. Aquifer behavior can be characterized using recession flow records available from gauging stations, and therefore an indirect measure of aquifer behavior is obtained through watershed-scale recession flow records and analysis. This study seeks to identify the minimum time period necessary to characterize the behavior of groundwater storage systems in watersheds with different geological, morphological, and hydrological characteristics. To this end, various watersheds in south-central Chile underwent recession flow analysis, with eight time periods considered (2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years). The results indicate that 25 years of records are sufficient for the characterization of watershed-scale aquifer behavior, along with the representation of the groundwater storage-release (S-Q) process in watersheds with different geological, morphological, and hydrological characteristics. Additionally, the results show that an initial characterization of the groundwater system behavior in watersheds with different geological characteristics can be carried out with two years of records. This information could be important for practical engineering and the study of groundwater systems in watersheds with limited hydrological and hydrogeological information.
The Impact of Climate Change on Glacial Lake Outburst Floods
Authors: Gao Jiajia , Du Jun , Bai Yuxuan , Chen Tao , Zhuoma Yixi
Published: June 2024

Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) hazards in alpine areas are increasing. The effects of climate change on GLOF hazards are unclear. This study examined 37 glacial lakes and climate data from 15 meteorological stations and explored the correlation between climate variations at different temporal scales. The results indicate that 19 GLOFs hazards occurred in El Niño (warm) years, 8 GLOFs hazards occurred in La Niña (cold) years, 3 GLOFs hazards occurred in cold/warm or warm/cold transition years, and 7 GLOFs hazards occurred in normal years. The higher the fluctuations, the higher the probability of GLOF hazards. Climatic conditions can be divided into three categories: extreme temperature and precipitation, as represented by the Guangxie Co GLOF; extreme precipitation, as represented by the Poge Co GLOF; and extreme temperature, as represented by the Tsho Ga GLOF.
Research Progress and Perspectives on Wastewater-Based Epidemiology: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Yang Fang , Jin Fangyuan , Song Nannan , Jiang Weilong , Bai Miaoxin , Fu Chenxing , Lu Jinxia , Li Yuxin , Li Zhonghong
Published: June 2024

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) evaluates the health status, environmental exposure, and lifestyle habits of community inhabitants through the investigation of chemical or biological markers present in urban wastewater systems. This approach is frequently employed in discerning drug abuse, disease prevalence, and the presence of environmental contaminants. To comprehend the current state and developmental trajectories in WBE research, the current study utilizes the source literature of the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. Implementing the Bibliometrix toolkit in R language and employing CiteSpace and VOSviewer for bibliometric analysis, this investigative pursuit effectuates an all-encompassing evaluation of the WBE literature, traversing a substantial time span of 16 years, encompassing 2008 through 2023. The results of this bibliometric analysis illuminate annual propensities and disciplinary distribution related to WBE research, while discerning the most impactful and prolific contributors, including authors, institutions, countries, and scholarly journals. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has engendered the expedited progression of WBE, leading to a substantial escalation in research endeavors in the past three years. By meticulously evaluating highly-cited publications, co-occurrence network of keywords, and keyword burst analysis, it is concluded that the research hotspots in this field focus on the monitoring of illicit drugs, psychoactive substances, and viruses in sewage. Subsequent investigations possess the capacity to propel the advancement of emerging methodologies for biomarker identification and analytical techniques. By concurrently integrating big data technologies (including artificial intelligence and cloud computing) with epidemiological and clinical data sets, a more expansive, precise, and efficacious rendition of WBE research can be realized.
Vulnerability Assessment of Guarani Aquifer Using PESTICIDE-DRASTIC-LU Model: Insights from Brotas Municipality, Brazil
Authors: Guerrero João Vitor , Gomes Alberto , Lorandi Reinaldo , Di Lollo José Augusto , Mataveli Guilherme , Moschini Luiz Eduardo
Published: June 2024

Free aquifers have become an important water supply option for underdeveloped and developing countries, due to the resource quality and relatively low extraction prices. However, overexploitation and the lack of territorial planning guidelines in these areas endanger groundwater availability and quality. In this context, this study aimed to analyze the vulnerability to groundwater contamination and contribute to the conservation of the ecosystem services, provided by the Guarani aquifer in Brotas, Brazil, by applying the PESTICIDE-DRASTIC-LU model. The application of this model allowed the identification of priority conservation areas within the context of ecosystem services that groundwater provides to local inhabitants. To this end, we collected, treated, and analyzed seven different hydrogeological data to understand the environmental dynamics of the system and to identify which areas are most vulnerable to aquifer contamination. The results pointed out that 64% of the study area presents zones of high and very high vulnerability to contamination, due to the local hydrogeological characteristics (sandy soils and rocks) and the various anthropogenic activities, mainly with large plantations of sugar cane and eucalyptus. In addition, the mapping allowed the spatial demonstration of the places that should be considered a priority for the conservation of ecosystem services provided by local groundwater. Thus, our results can serve as a baseline to define public action strategies for the preservation and sustainable management of the Guarani aquifer areas.
Hydrothermal Carbonization Technology for Wastewater Treatment under the “Dual Carbon” Goals: Current Status, Trends, and Challenges
Authors: Liu Guoqing , Xu Qing , Abou-Elwafa Salah F. , Alshehri Mohammed Ali , Zhang Tao
Published: June 2024

Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) technology transforms organic biomass components, such as cellulose and lignin, into valuable carbon materials, gases and inorganic salts through hydrolysis, degradation and polymerization, with significant advantages over traditional methods by reducing energy consumption, lowering pollutant emissions and enhancing carbonization efficiency. In the context of global climate change, HTC plays a critical role in water environment management by addressing industrial, agricultural, and domestic wastewater challenges. The application of HTC extends to wastewater treatment, where hydrochar effectively adsorbs heavy metals, organic compounds, and anions, thereby improving water quality. However, challenges remain, such as optimizing the process for diverse raw materials, managing economic costs, and addressing environmental and social impacts. Future research and policy support are essential for advancing HTC technology. By enhancing reaction mechanisms, developing catalysts, and promoting international cooperation, HTC can significantly contribute towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and fostering sustainable development.
Comprehensive Assessment of Eutrophication and the Mechanisms Driving Phytoplankton Blooms in Multifunctional Reservoirs
Authors: Li Ronghui , Xiao Kaibang , Zhao Guoli , Huang Xianyu , Li Zheng , Wu Heng , Huang Xusheng , Pan Yue , Liang Li
Published: June 2024

In this study, changes in abiotic environmental factors were analyzed based on measured data from Dawangtan Reservoir in Nanning City during 2021–2022. The Carlson Integrated Trophic State Index method was applied to evaluate water quality and eutrophication in the reservoir, considering both exogenous inputs and internal water quality conditions. Additionally, by investigating water quality and biological factors (zooplankton and fish) in the reservoir, this study identified the main drivers influencing phytoplankton outbreaks in Dawangtan Reservoir through redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson correlation analysis. The results showed that the combined trophic state index of the reservoir varied between 29.2 and 56.5 throughout the year, with each water quality indicator performing worse during the summer months when temperatures were higher. There was a positive correlation between zooplankton biomass and phytoplankton biomass, and the increase in the proportion of phytophagous fish contributed to the reduction in phytoplankton. The redundancy analysis revealed that the distribution of phytoplankton species was significantly correlated with total phosphorus (TP), pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), and chlorophyll a (Chl-a), with different phytoplankton species responding variably to these environmental factors. Finally, a multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to construct the optimal response equation between Chl-a concentration and environmental factors. The results indicated that pH, Secchi disk (SD), DO, and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were the main factors affecting Chl-a concentration. Therefore, the outcomes of abiotic environmental factors and lake biological resources should be considered in the restoration of eutrophic lakes to achieve the desired restoration effect.
A Remote Sensing Water Information Extraction Method Based on Unsupervised Form Using Probability Function to Describe the Frequency Histogram of NDWI: A Case Study of Qinghai Lake in China
Authors: Liu Shiqi , Qiu Jun , Li Fangfang
Published: June 2024

With escalating human activities and the substantial emissions of greenhouse gases, global warming intensifies. This phenomenon has led to increased occurrences of various extreme hydrological events, precipitating significant changes in lakes and rivers across the Qinghai Tibet Plateau. Therefore, accurate information extraction about and delineation of water bodies are crucial for lake monitoring. This paper proposes a methodology based on the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Gumbel distribution to determine optimal segmentation thresholds. Focusing on Qinghai Lake, this study utilizes multispectral characteristics from the US Landsat satellite for analysis. Comparative assessments with seven alternative methods are conducted to evaluate accuracy. Employing the proposed approach, information about water bodies in Qinghai Lake is extracted over 38 years, from 1986 to 2023, revealing trends in area variation. Analysis indicates a rising trend in Qinghai Lake’s area following a turning point in 2004. To investigate this phenomenon, Pearson correlation analysis of temperature and precipitation over the past 38 years is used and unveils the fact that slight precipitation impacts on area and that there is a positive correlation between temperature and area. In conclusion, this study employs remote sensing data and statistical analysis to comprehensively investigate mechanisms driving changes in Qinghai Lake’s water surface area, providing insights into ecological shifts in lake systems against the backdrop of global warming, thereby offering valuable references for understanding and addressing these changes.
Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of a Two-Phase Supercritical Open Channel Junction Flow
Authors: Blagojevič Marko , Hočevar Marko , Bizjan Benjamin , Drešar Primož , Kolbl Repinc Sabina , Rak Gašper
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of supercritical open channel junction flow using two different turbulence models: k-ω shear stress transport (SST) and k-ω SST scale-adaptive simulation (SAS), in conjunction with Volume of Fluid (VOF) and mixture multiphase models. The efficacy of these models in predicting the intricate free surface fluctuation and free surface elevation in a supercritical junction is evaluated through a comprehensive analysis of time-averaged free surface data obtained from CFD simulations and Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) measurements. The dimensionless Reynolds (Re) and Froude (Fr) numbers of the investigated scenario were Fr = 9 and Re = 5.1 × 104 for the main channel, and Fr = 6 and Re = 3.3 × 104 for the side channel. The results of the analysis demonstrated a satisfactory level of agreement with the experimental data. However, certain limitations associated with both CFD and LIDAR were identified. Specifically, the CFD performance was limited by the model’s incapacity to consider small-scale turbulent effects and to model air bubbles smaller than the cell size while the LIDAR measurements were limited by instrument range, inability to provide insight into what is happening below the water surface, and blind spots. Nonetheless, the k-ω SST turbulent model with the VOF multiphase model most closely matched the LIDAR results.
Treino Cognitivo de idosos diagnosticados com a doença de Alzheimer a partir do uso de um aplicativo móvel
Authors: Cristina Alfaia da Serra Jamily , Lima da Rocha Manuela , De Souza Damasceno Ana Carolina , Maki Omura Kátia
Published: June 2024

Introdução. O presente estudo aponta o uso de jogos como um possível recurso terapêutico na estimulação dos componentes de memória e lógica de pessoas idosas com demência. Objetivo. Analisar a utilização de um aplicativo móvel para o treino cognitivo de pessoas idosas diagnosticadas com a Doença de Alzheimer (DA) no Município de Belém. Método. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa. Foram realizadas 10 sessões de treino cognitivo com 6 pessoas idosas. O Montreal Cognitive Assessment Basic foi usado para a triagem cognitiva e o Clinical Dementia Rating para a classificação clínica da demência, ambos foram aplicados antes e depois do treino cognitivo. Os dados foram analisados a partir de estatística descritiva com representação em média e desvio padrão. Resultados. A média de idade dos participantes foi de 80±5,5 anos de idade e média de 2±1,7 anos de diagnóstico, com prevalência de mulheres e a maioria possui o ensino fundamental incompleto. Na avaliação cognitiva inicial, o aspecto de orientação foi o melhor pontuado e na reavaliação, notou-se o aumento na pontuação para orientação, abstração e nomeação. Conclusão. A aplicação de jogos pode ser uma alternativa para o treino cognitivo de pessoas idosas com a DA. Deste modo, observa-se a necessidade da realização de outros estudos com uma amostra maior, a fim de compreender a efetividade do recurso para a estimulação cognitiva dessa população específica.
The Recreational Ice Fishing and Ancillary Retail Communities on a Northern Latitude Lake: Yet-to-be-served Extension Audiences?
Authors: Malchoff Mark , Trachte Nate , Stepenuck Kristine
Published: June 2024

Ice fishing communities appear to be poorly described in Sea Grant Extension programming and planning documents. An intercept survey (N=52) of L. Champlain anglers revealed a broad age range and decades of participation. Opinions about spatial and temporal declines in ice cover were unrelated to state residency or age. Anglers expressing agreement with perceived declines in ice cover reported reductions in avidity and choice of fishing locations, while indicating little impact on species preference or fishing methods. Programming ideas to support this audience include distribution of economic data, ice forecasting, contaminant advisories for subsistence anglers, invasive species, and biodiversity conservation outreach.
Analysis of the general election hoax news phenomenon from the perspective of Pancasila as the integrity of the Indonesian nation
Authors: Ediyono Suryo
Published: June 2024

A common occurrence in society that frequently causes divisions among people is the dissemination of fake news before to the general election. In addition to examining the logical outcomes that can result from the incorrect and inappropriate application of Pancasila values in the affairs of the nation and state, this study seeks to understand how attitudes toward fake news that circulates in Indonesian society are related to the application of Pancasila values, particularly prior to general elections or democratic parties. Using primary and secondary sources gathered from official websites and online news, a qualitative descriptive approach of library research is employed. A literature review was the method of data collecting employed in this investigation. Qualitative analysis was done on the gathered data. Stop hoax. Stop Money Politics. Hoax must be stopped.
أحوال الدولة التغلقية في دهلي كما ترويها النقود.
Authors: الجبر حصة
Published: June 2024

تتضمن هذه الدراسة مجموعة من النقود الذهبية والفضية والنحاسية ومعدن البيلون، وعددها ثمانية وعشرون نقداً، وجميعها من مقتنيات المتحف الوطني في الهند، وما هو محفوظ في الأرشيف والمكتبات الوطنية الهندية.
هذا، وقد تمت دراستها بشكل دقيق ومفصل، شملت النواحي التاريخية والجغرافية والاقتصادية، وعلى ضوء ما هو مدون عليها من كتابات على الوجه والظهر وتحليل الكتابات والألقاب ودلالاتها وسنوات ضربها وأماكنه ونوع المعدن، والفئة، والوزن، والقطر، ورقم المتحف، ورقم السجل الأرشيفي، وهي تمثل بحق خمسة من سلاطين دهلي، جاءت فترات حكمهم ما بين سنة 720هـ/ 1320م 795هـ/ 1392م.
وهم: غياث الدين تغلق، محمد الثاني بن تغلق، وفيروز شاه بن تغلق، وفتحي خان، ومحمد شاه الثالث بن فيروز، وقد سكت تلك النقود في ثلاث مدن ضرب، هي (دهلي، قطب أباد، دولة أباد، "تختكاه")، جاء بعضها خالياً من اسم مدينة الضرب، وسنة الضرب، والبعض الآخر دون عليه اسم المدينة، وسنة الضرب، وشملت القيم النقدية المختلفة التانكا، الكانا، ووحداتهما الأربع والست والعشر، بالإضافة إلى ما قيمته جيتال، وأما أوزانها، فقد راوحت بين 11 غراماً من الذهب وصولاً إلى 3.7 بليون وهو الأقل قيمة وفئة.
ويمكن أن نفسر ذلك بتذبذب الأوضاع المالية والاقتصادية؛ نظراً لاضطراب الأحوال السياسية التي كانت تعانيها دهلي؛ الأمر الذي انعكس على النقد وتذبذب الوزن واللجوء إلى استعمال أقل القيم النقدية، ويؤيد ذلك مراوحة أقطارها بين 1.3 سم و2.6 سم؛ مما يشير إلى استخدام العديد من القوالب على الرغم من قلة عددها وهو 28 ثمانية وعشرون نقداً، جاءت تلك القوالب المستخدمة هي: أربعة قوالب للذهب، وأربعة للفضة، وأربعة للنحاس، وأحد عشر قالباً للمعدن الخسيس (البيلون)، وعليه أكدت الدراسة تصويب بعض القراءات وخصوصاً ما نشره المتحف البريطاني، ولم تكن دقيقة، ويمكن تتبع ذلك من خلال البحث موضوع الدراسة.
فلسفة التاريخ لدى بيتريم سوروكين: من الثورة الجنسية إلى انحطاط الغرب.
Authors: الوهيب محمد
Published: June 2024

تناقش هذه الدراسة الدور الذي تلعبه الثورة الجنسية في تطور الحضارات الإنسانية أو انهيارها، وذلك وفقاً للتحليل الذي قدمه المفكر الروسي بيتريم سوروكين. بصورة أكثر تحديداً، تحاول هذه الدراسة إبراز الدور المهم الذي تلعبه هذه الثورة من وجهة نظره في إحياء ما أسماه "الثقافة الحسية"، وهي ذاتها التي أسهمت في تراجع الحضارة الأنجلوسكسونية. البحث في حدود المسح لكل الحضارات الإنسانية، مسحاً شاملاً فاحصاً لكل مكوناتها السياسية والاقتصادية والاجتماعية والثقافية والفنية، تم بعقلية فيلسوف التاريخ، وأراد منه سوروكين أن يخرج بنظرية شاملة تكون بمثابة المفتاح لقراءة التاريخ: إن لم تصحح الحضارة الغربية من مسارها الذي انحرف بسبب الثورة الجنسية فإنها ستواجه تحديات خطيرة تؤدي في النهاية لانهيارها. تحاول هذه الدراسة تفكيك آراء سوروكين المختلفة في هذه القضية التي شغلت كتاباته المتأخرة، بغية جذب الانتباه للجانب الفلسفي من فكره الذي أهمله كثير من الشراح والنقاد.