bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Refusing the Gift of Welfare: Syrians’ Encounters with the Danish State
Authors: Jacobsen Malene H.
Published: June 2023

This paper traces the colonial logics embedded within Western states’ welfare and workfare programs. The imperial and capitalist underpinnings of Western welfare states have been well elaborated. Less research has focused on the colonial logics and strategies at work in their administration of welfare and ‘integration’ programs targeting newly arrived refugees. Drawing on ethnographic work with Syrian refugees living in Denmark, I examine Syrians’ encounters with the Danish welfare state and the five-year mandatory ‘integration’ program. Through Syrians’ accounts, I argue that we can begin to re-narrate the nature and meaning of contemporary welfare states and the colonial and racialized policing logics that structure and sustain them. More specifically, Syrians’ accounts draw attention to the often-overlooked roles that welfare regimes perform in maintaining colonial, racialized hierarchies of humanity as well as extractive and dispositive processes typically understood as economic aid and sustenance. Moreover, Syrians’ experiences of the Danish welfare state help to unpack the centrality in un- and under-paid forms of labor that refugee communities are required to perform, thereby enabling capital to materially benefit from stigmatized Others living in Denmark. Thus, by centering racial capitalism, this article contributes to scholars’ emerging attention to the coloniality of ‘integration’ and how this imperative manifests in practice.
Disposable Diaper Usage and Disposal Practices in Samora Machel Township, South Africa
Authors: Schenck Catherina J. , Chitaka Takunda Y. , Tyrrell Hugh , Couvert Andrea
Published: June 2023

Single-use disposable diapers have a major impact on climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, especially those that are unlined, and particularly when such diapers are not well-managed and dumped in water courses and open spaces or burnt. The aim of this study was to explore the current usage and disposal practices of disposable diaper users in Samora Machel, a township in Cape Town, South Africa. The findings were to be used to inform the design and implementation of a pilot diaper collection model to follow. This urban/peri-urban area comprises lower-income, high-density communities in formal basic housing, with many backyarders and informal shacks. The dumping of diapers in open spaces and sewage systems causes severe problems. Therefore, we employed a theoretical socio-ecological system approach to guide the understanding of these complex environmental issues; the data collection methodology entailed a community-based participatory study process. Four hundred and eight (408) questionnaires consisting of quantitative and qualitative answers were codeveloped with members of the community and completed by trained community-based fieldworkers. A community walkabout and two focus groups provided rich data. The results show that complex waste streams such as disposable diapers and the related environmental issues are testing the limits of current management approaches; managing disposable diapers in underserved low-income communities creates a major burden for these already fragile communities. Single solutions will not suffice for these complex problems, so innovative waste management systems need to be codesigned with communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure sustainability, equality, and social justice.
Is Loose-Fill Plastic Waste an Opportunity for Thermal Insulation in Cold and Humid Tropical Climates?
Authors: Malet-Damour Bruno , Habas Jean-Pierre , Bigot Dimitri
Published: June 2023

This paper addresses the plastic waste management challenge by proposing a sustainable solution for the building sector. The proposed solution uses Loose-Fill Plastic Waste (LFPW) as a thermal insulation material, the world’s first in plastic waste recovery. To investigate the potential of this new path, an experimental study was conducted on test cells in Reunion Island’s cold and wet climate. It was revealed that LFPW (size between 3 and 4 mm with 8 cm thickness) can reduce surface temperatures by nearly 3.2 °C, with a maximum difference by almost 22.2 °C. The thermal phase shift is significant (190 mn) and comparable to conventional thermal insulation solutions. The study results suggest that LFPW can provide an effective and economical solution to the challenge of plastic waste management while promoting sustainable development.
Wheat Straw Biochar Produced at a Low Temperature Enhanced Maize Growth and Yield by Influencing Soil Properties of Typic calciargid
Authors: Aon Muhammad , Aslam Zeshan , Hussain Shahid , Bashir Muhammad Amjad , Shaaban Muhammad , Masood Sajid , Iqbal Sidra , Khalid Muhammad , Rehim Abdur , Mosa Walid F. A. , Sas-Paszt Lidia , Marey Samy A. , Hatamleh Ashraf Atef
Published: June 2023

Arid and semi-arid soils are low in organic matter and have poor fertility, making them a serious threat to crop production. Most organic amendments, such as crop residues and farmyard manure, are short lived because of rapid decomposition. Incubation and pot studies were conducted to assess the impact of wheat straw biochar (produced at 350 °C) on temporal changes in soil microbial biomass and fertility status and to evaluate the efficacy of biochar for maize production in the top layer of Typic calciargid. The incubation study compared four levels of biochar (control, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0% on a w/w basis of soil) and two fertilizer rates, i.e., unfertilized (no NPK fertilizer) and fertilized (nitrogen, P2O5 and K2O with rates of 125, 80 and 52.5 mg kg−1 soil, respectively). After incubation, the 2.0% biochar significantly improved the soil cation exchange capacity, organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon by up to 35, 59 and 26%, respectively, while decreasing the soil pH by up to 1.5% compared to that of the control treatment. When fertilized, the 2.0% biochar improved the soil’s available phosphorous, extractable potassium and total nitrogen by up to 59, 39 and 28%, respectively, compared to those of the control. The results from the pot experiment showed that using the 1% biochar with fertilizer significantly increased the maize dry biomass and grain yield by up to 57 and 72%, respectively, compared to those of the control. Additionally, the nitrogen and phosphorus recoveries from the mineral fertilizers improved significantly (up to 26 and 38%, respectively) when using the 1.0% biochar compared to those of the control. Conclusively, the addition of 1.0% biochar significantly improved maize growth and yield by enhancing nutrient recovery from mineral fertilizer and improving soil properties.
The Potential of Gamification for Social Sustainability: Meaning and Purposes in Agri-Food Industry
Authors: Latino Maria Elena , Menegoli Marta , Signore Fulvio , De Lorenzi Maria Chiara
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, digital platforms are applying some game-linked elements in their services with the aim to attract, retain and shape human interaction. Therefore, it is essential to investigate gamification with regard to its social sustainability. Gamification strategies are strategical in the agri-food industry to reach social and marketing goals. Despite the presence of several literature reviews on gamification, no study proposes a reflection on the meaning and purposes of gamification in the agri-food industry. This paper aims to identify the core dimensions underlying the concept of gamification, analysing its definitions and purposes through a systematic literature review, content analysis and principal component analysis. Eight core dimensions were detected leading to the conception of a new definition of gamification in the agri-food industry. Our results highlighted the potential of gamification to impact society, leaving points of reflection on how it can be made more inclusive and effective. Theoretical and practical implications were provided for academics, researchers, agri-food companies, policy makers, management engineers, technology makers, marketers and practitioners. The novelty of this study lies in the application of a social psychology methodology to give meaning to the words, overcoming the limits derived from qualitative research based on, only, content analysis.
Using Chromosomal Abnormalities and Germination Traits for the Assessment of Tritipyrum Amphiploid Lines under Seed-Aging and Germination Priming Treatments
Authors: Taghvaei Mansour , Maleki Hamideh , Najafi Solmaz , Hassani Hossein Shahsavand , Danesh Younes Rezaee , Farda Beatrice , Pace Loretta
Published: June 2023

Primary Trans Chromosomal Tritipyrum (PTCT) amphiploid is a new cereal grown in saline soil and brackish water for grain and forage production. We evaluated the tolerance to seed deterioration in 13 promising PTCT lines, assessing accelerated aging (AA) tests by using AA boxes with 100% relative humidity at 40 °C for 72 h. The (Ma/b)(Cr/b)F4 and (St/b)(Cr/b)F4) PTCT lines, more sensitive to seed aging, were primed with NaCl, Salicylic Acid (SA), and Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) to increase the seed vigor of artificially aged seeds. Germination and emergence traits, biochemical parameters, and chromosomal abnormalities induced by artificial aging were measured in deteriorated and not-deteriorated seeds. The highest reduction percentages related to seed vigor were observed in (Ka/b)(Cr/b)F2 (34.52) and La(4B,4D)/b (28.15) lines, while the lowest was found in (Ma/b)(Cr/b)F4 (7.65) and (St/b)(Cr/b)F4 (7.46) lines. Seed aging also increases electrolytes, potassium, and protein leakages. Chromosomal abnormalities are caused by seed aging that interferes with chromosome behaviors during cell division. Seed priming on aged seeds revealed an increase in the germination percentage (GP) with PEG treatment, while the priming by SA showed an increase in seedling traits, such as the seedling length (SL2). In conclusion, we highlighted the potential use of different PTCT lines and the effective use of seed priming on deteriorated seed to enhance seed viability and seedling vigor as a useful tool for sustainable agriculture.
Green Dental Environmentalism among Students and Dentists in Greece
Authors: Antoniadou Maria , Chrysochoou Georgios , Tzanetopoulos Rafael , Riza Elena
Published: June 2023

Ηuman sustainability in dental enterprises, as in every workplace, is connected to air and water quality, eco-friendly and naturally designed working spaces, and the culture of the 4Rs. The purpose of this study was to assess pro-environmental behavior, as well as knowledge of preferences for circular economies and green building construction, among a sample of dental students and dentists in Greece. We further assessed the factors influencing their choices. Students (N1 = 93) and dentists (N2 = 126) filled in e-questionnaires from April to December 2022. The data revealed that both students and dentists lack knowledge about the circular economy (N1 = 67.74%, N2 = 68.25%), EU regulations on amalgam disposal (N1 = 64.51%, N2 = 58.73%), and plastic recycling (N1 = 76.34%, N2 = 76.98%); meanwhile, they do recycle at home (N1 = 80.64%, N2 = 82.54%) and have participated in voluntary environmental initiatives (N1 = 58.06%, N2 = 66.66%). Gender influences the importance of factors related to green dental practices, with women students being more likely to agree that increased costs for network changes (p = 0.02) and poor wastewater management (p = 0.01) are significant. Students from urban areas are more likely to give positive answers to questions related to the lack of state financial support (p = 0.02), low levels of green design in buildings (p = 0.03), the negligible direct financial benefits of green dental offices (p = 0.04), the negligible reputational benefits of green dental offices (p = 0.02), and the lack of continuing education training seminars on green dentistry (p = 0.05). For dentists, no significant relationships were observed, except for a weak positive relationship for the increases in costs due to changes related to utility networks (p = 0.08), while increases in waste energy (p = 0.12) and the waste of dental materials (p = 0.19) seemed significant only for dentists in urban areas. Women dentists were more likely to answer positively regarding wasting energy (p = 0.024) and the use of unapproved disinfection products (p = 0.036). The findings contribute ideas and solutions for green dental practice buildings and sustainable behaviors through educational activities and regarding the social aspects of factors such as age, experience in dentistry, gender, and urbanism. This study also provides a basis for future multi-disciplinary research on dental quality assurance, the psychology of environmentalism, economics, and behavioral science in dentistry.
Evaluating Cities and Real Estate Smartness and Integration: Introducing a Comprehensive Evaluation Framework
Authors: Al-Rimawi Tarek Hatem , Nadler Michael
Published: June 2023

This study aims to identify the success features and indicators of smart cities and real estate projects in order to increase their smartness and integration. Additionally, the study introduces a new comprehensive evaluation framework for both levels; this framework was developed by analyzing scientific literature, indexes, and relevant frameworks. The comparative benchmarks analysis demonstrated the practical application of the framework; seven benchmarks for each level were selected based on selection criteria. The framework is based on seven categories: smart governance, smart people, smart infrastructure, smart energy, smart environment, smart technology, and real estate status. The analysis revealed that cities and projects are adopting smart solutions with a significant integration between the chosen solutions. However, there is still room for improvement at both levels. The range of smart performance and indicators performance is illustrated in the study. The correlation analysis showed a significant correlation between the indicators. Smart real estate followed different strategies for integration into the smart city. Nevertheless, it was discovered that cities could limit smart real estate development in some respects. The study revealed factors and indicators that the municipality, real estate developers, and other stakeholders should focus on in order to achieve smarter development.
Smart Rural Communities: Action Research in Colombia and Mozambique
Authors: Calzada Igor
Published: June 2023

This article contributes to the ongoing discussion on rural development programs aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Global South. The research question examines how the Smart Rural Communities (SRC) framework can support the SDGs as an international cooperation model. The article presents findings from fieldwork action research including a critical analysis of the hegemonic discourse on smart cities and provides final recommendations. Additionally, it introduces the concept of SRC. The fieldwork action research was conducted in post-conflict rural areas in Colombia’s Bolivar region and remote settlements in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province. Led by Ayuda En Acción in collaboration with co-operatives such as Mundukide Foundation, Alecop, and LKS from Mondragon Co-operative Corporation, these interventions aimed to engage local communities through Living Labs. They utilized Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and social innovation to promote the well-being of rural residents. The article comprises (i) an introduction; (ii) a literature review; (iii) a presentation of the fieldwork action research in Colombia and Mozambique; (iv) findings from a SWOT analysis and policy recommendations for SRC Living Labs; (v) conclusions addressing the research question. The SRC framework offers valuable insights for international cooperation models striving to achieve the SDGs in the Global South.
Spatiotemporal Analysis of Forest Fires in China from 2012 to 2021 Based on Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Active Fires
Authors: Dong Bing , Li Hongwei , Xu Jian , Han Chaolin , Zhao Shan
Published: June 2023

Forest fire regimes are changing as a function of increasing global weather extremes, socioeconomic development, and land use change. It is appropriate to use long-term time series satellite observations to better understand forest fire regimes. However, many studies that have analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of forest fires based on fire frequency have been inadequate. In this study, a set of metrics was derived from the VIIRS active fire data in China, from 2012 to 2021, through spatial extraction, spatiotemporal clustering, and spread reconstruction to obtain the frequency of forest fire spots (FFS), the frequency of forest fire events (FFE), the frequency of large forest fire events (LFFE), duration, burned area, and spread rate; these metrics were compared to explore the characteristics of forest fires at different spatiotemporal scales. The experimental results include 72.41 × 104 forest fire spots, 7728 forest fire events, 1118 large forest fire events, and a burned area of 58.4 × 104 ha. Forest fires present a significant spatiotemporal aggregation, with the most FFS and FFE in the Southern Region and the most severe LFFE and burned area in the Southwest Region. The FFS, FFE, and LFFE show a general decreasing trend on an annual scale, with occasional minor rebounds. However, the burned area had substantial rebounds in 2020. The high incidence of forest fires was concentrated from March to May. Additionally, 74.7% of the forest fire events had a duration of less than 5 days, while 25.3% of the forest fire events lasted more than 5 days. This helps us to understand the characteristics of more serious or higher risk forest fires. This study can provide more perspectives for exploring the characteristics of forest fires, and more data underpinning for forest fire prevention and management. This will contribute towards reasonable forest protection policies and a sustainable environment.
Research on Visual Measurement of Aperture and Hole Group Center Distance Based on Geometric Constraint
Authors: Li Chunfeng , Xu Xiping , Ren Zhen , Liu Siyuan
Published: June 2023

Hole is the most common symmetrical geometric structure of mechanical parts, and aperture and hole center distance are important measured dimensions in machining. However, existing visual measurement methods often require high equipment installation accuracy and low measurement accuracy. To solve the problem of projection deformation of the measured hole: Firstly, a local coordinate system is created, and the coordinate plane of the coordinate is parallel to the end face of the measured hole. Secondly, a cone is established, the end face of the measured hole is alike to the bottom face of the cone, and the optical center of the camera is the vertex. The space equation of the cone is represented by the coordinates of the center point of the hole. Finally, a cutting plane is established near the imaging plane of the camera, and the intersection line equation between the plane and the cone is obtained, and the diameter of the measured hole and the coordinates of the center of the circle are obtained through the parameters of the intersection line equation. In order to solve the problem of errors in edge points of the hole, geometric constraints based on the center of the circle are used to improve measurement accuracy. This experiment takes the automobile insert mold as the measured part and uses the measurement model of this paper to measure the aperture and hole center distance of the mold. The measurement results show that the measurement accuracy of the aperture is 0.018 mm, the measurement accuracy of the center distance of the hole is 0.05 mm, and the maximum relative error is 2.2%.
Advances in Antioxidant Applications for Combating 131I Side Effects in Thyroid Cancer Treatment
Authors: Yang Li , Ma Jiahui , Lei Pengyu , Yi Jia , Ma Yilei , Huang Zhongke , Wang Tingjue , Ping Haiyan , Ruan Danping , Sun Da , Pan Hongying
Published: June 2023

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its prevalence has been increasing for decades. Approx. 95% of differentiated thyroid carcinomas are treated using 131iodine (131I), a radionuclide with a half-life of 8 days, to achieve optimal thyroid residual ablation following thyroidectomy. However, while 131I is highly enriched in eliminating thyroid tissue, it can also retain and damage other body parts (salivary glands, liver, etc.) without selectivity, and even trigger salivary gland dysfunction, secondary cancer, and other side effects. A significant amount of data suggests that the primary mechanism for these side effects is the excessive production of reactive oxygen species, causing a severe imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant in the cellular components, resulting in secondary DNA damage and abnormal vascular permeability. Antioxidants are substances that are capable of binding free radicals and reducing or preventing the oxidation of the substrate in a significant way. These compounds can help prevent damage caused by free radicals, which can attack lipids, protein amino acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and double bonds of DNA bases. Based on this, the rational utilization of the free radical scavenging function of antioxidants to maximize a reduction in 131I side effects is a promising medical strategy. This review provides an overview of the side effects of 131I, the mechanisms by which 131I causes oxidative stress-mediated damage, and the potential of natural and synthetic antioxidants in ameliorating the side effects of 131I. Finally, the disadvantages of the clinical application of antioxidants and their improving strategies are prospected. Clinicians and nursing staff can use this information to alleviate 131I side effects in the future, both effectively and reasonably.
Is Proteolytic Cleavage Essential for the Enhanced Activity of Hydra Pore-Forming Toxin, HALT-4?
Authors: Yap Wei Yuen , Hwang Jung Shan
Published: June 2023

Hydra actinoporin-like toxin 4 (HALT-4) differs from other actinoporins due to its N-terminal propart that contains approximately 103 additional residues. Within this region, we identified five dibasic residues and assumed that, when cleaved, they could potentially exhibit HALT-4′s cytolytic activity. We created five truncated versions of HALT-4 (tKK1, tKK2, tRK3, tKK4 and tKK5) to investigate the role of the N-terminal region and potential cleavage sites on the cytolytic activity of HALT-4. However, our results demonstrated that the propart-containing HALT-4 (proHALT-4), as well as the truncated versions tKK1 and tKK2, exhibited similar cytolytic activity against HeLa cells. In contrast, tRK3, tKK4 and tKK5 failed to kill HeLa cells, indicating that cleavage at the KK1 or KK2 sites did not enhance cytolytic activity but may instead facilitate the sorting of tKK1 and tKK2 to the regulated secretory pathway for eventual deposition in nematocysts. Moreover, RK3, KK4 and KK5 were unlikely to serve as proteolytic cleavage sites, as the amino acids between KK2 and RK3 are also crucial for pore formation.
Energy and Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy-Based Isolated Microgrids with AGM and Lithium Battery Energy Storage: Case Study Bigene, Guinea-Bissau
Authors: Aguilar-Jiménez Jesús Armando , Hernández-Callejo Luis , Suástegui-Macías José Alejandro , Alonso Gómez Victor , García-Álvaro Alfonso , Maján-Navalón Raúl , Obregón Lilian Johanna
Published: June 2023

By the year 2020, 90% of the population with access to electricity worldwide was surpassed. However, the reality is very different for many countries, especially for those on the African continent that had more than 572 million people without electricity service at the end of 2019. This work studies the implementation of an isolated microgrid activated with photovoltaic energy and energy storage in batteries under the case study of the community of Bigene, located in the African country of Guinea-Bissau. This type of project is a potential solution to the problem of access to energy, but as the cost of the energy storage system is typically very high, this work technically and economically addresses the effect of using absorbed glass material (AGM) and lithium batteries. A simulator was developed using TRNSYS software to analyze the operation of the microgrid under a defined annual demand profile for different types of users, and economic analysis was conducted considering a project lifetime of 25 years. The results showed no significant differences in the solar fraction of both types of batteries when the photovoltaic power was less than 600 kW, regardless of the capacity of the storage bank. The analysis of auxiliary power requirements showed that lithium technology leads to a lower consumption from 800 kW of PV capacity, and utilizing less than this capacity did not have a significant difference with AGM batteries. In this microgrid with a photovoltaic capacity of less than 700 kW and an energy storage of less than 2580 kWh, the type of storage technology, AGM or lithium, did not represent a considerable difference in the levelized cost of energy, indicating that AGM technology could be selected considering its low initial investment cost compared to lithium batteries.
Surveillance, Isolation, and Genetic Characterization of Bat Herpesviruses in Zambia
Authors: Harima Hayato , Qiu Yongjin , Yamagishi Junya , Kajihara Masahiro , Changula Katendi , Okuya Kosuke , Isono Mao , Yamaguchi Tomoyuki , Ogawa Hirohito , Nao Naganori , Sasaki Michihito , Simulundu Edgar , Mweene Aaron S. , Sawa Hirofumi , Ishihara Kanako , Hang’ombe Bernard M. , Takada Ayato
Published: June 2023

Bats are of significant interest as reservoirs for various zoonotic viruses with high diversity. During the past two decades, many herpesviruses have been identified in various bats worldwide by genetic approaches, whereas there have been few reports on the isolation of infectious herpesviruses. Herein, we report the prevalence of herpesvirus infection of bats captured in Zambia and genetic characterization of novel gammaherpesviruses isolated from striped leaf-nosed bats (Macronycteris vittatus). By our PCR screening, herpesvirus DNA polymerase (DPOL) genes were detected in 29.2% (7/24) of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus), 78.1% (82/105) of Macronycteris vittatus, and one Sundevall’s roundleaf bat (Hipposideros caffer) in Zambia. Phylogenetic analyses of the detected partial DPOL genes revealed that the Zambian bat herpesviruses were divided into seven betaherpesvirus groups and five gammaherpesvirus groups. Two infectious strains of a novel gammaherpesvirus, tentatively named Macronycteris gammaherpesvirus 1 (MaGHV1), were successfully isolated from Macronycteris vittatus bats, and their complete genomes were sequenced. The genome of MaGHV1 encoded 79 open reading frames, and phylogenic analyses of the DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B demonstrated that MaGHV1 formed an independent lineage sharing a common origin with other bat-derived gammaherpesviruses. Our findings provide new information regarding the genetic diversity of herpesviruses maintained in African bats.
Common Adverse Events from Mixing COVID-19 Vaccine Booster in Hanoi, Vietnam
Authors: Hung Pham Van , Nguyen Thai Duy , Ha Luu Thi , Toi Phung Lam , Tram Tran Hong
Published: June 2023

Background: Mixing vaccines was proposed as a solution to tackle supply chain interruptions during the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate the safety of mixing COVID-19 vaccines for a booster dose in Hanoi, Vietnam. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted via a telephone-based interview to identify the adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination among 719 participants in Hanoi, Vietnam. Results: In total, 45.76% of participants experienced at least one adverse event following two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Most of the adverse events were local effects with mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and/or pain at the site. In general, matching two doses in the same vaccines was not associated with the adverse events as compared to mixing vaccines (OR = 1.43, 96%CI: 0.93–2.2), except matching two doses of Pfizer (OR = 2.25, 95%CI: 1.33–3.82). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest the overall safety of mixed vaccination. In light of the vaccine shortage, mixing vaccinations for COVID-19 prevention is a good solution. Further studies with larger cohorts and investigating immunity following mixing vaccines are needed to elucidate the mechanism.
Speed-Adaptive Model-Free Path-Tracking Control for Autonomous Vehicles: Analysis and Design
Authors: Moreno-Gonzalez Marcos , Artuñedo Antonio , Villagra Jorge , Join Cédric , Fliess Michel
Published: June 2023

One of the challenges of autonomous driving is to increase the number of situations in which an intelligent vehicle can continue to operate without human intervention. This requires path-tracking control to keep the vehicle stable while following the road, regardless of the shape of the road or the longitudinal speed at which it is moving. In this work, a control strategy framed in the Model-Free Control paradigm is presented to control the lateral vehicle dynamics in a decoupled control architecture. This strategy is designed to guide the vehicle through trajectories with diverse dynamic constraints and over a wide speed range. A design method for this control strategy is proposed, and metrics for trajectory tracking quality, system stability, and passenger comfort are applied to evaluate the controller’s performance. Finally, simulation and real-world tests show that the developed strategy is able to track realistic trajectories with a high degree of accuracy, safety, and comfort.
Ant Colony Based Artificial Neural Network for Predicting Spatial and Temporal Variation in Groundwater Quality
Authors: Bhavya Ravinder , Sivaraj Kaveri , Elango Lakshmanan
Published: June 2023

The quality of groundwater is of utmost importance, as it directly impacts human health and the environment. In major parts of the world, groundwater is the main source of drinking water, hence it is essential to periodically monitor its quality. Conventional water-quality monitoring techniques involve the periodical collection of water samples and subsequent analysis in the laboratory. This process is expensive, time-consuming and involves a lot of manual labor, whereas data-driven models based on artificial intelligence can offer an alternative and more efficient way to predict groundwater quality. In spite of the advantages of such models based on artificial neural network (ANN) and ant colony optimization (ACO), no studies have been carried out on the applications of these in the field of groundwater contamination. The aim of our study is to build an ant colony optimized neural network for predicting groundwater quality parameters. We have proposed ANN comprising of six hidden layers. The approach was validated using our groundwater quality dataset of a hard rock region located in the northern part of Karnataka, India. Groundwater samples were collected by us once every 4 months from March 2014 to October 2020 from 50 wells in this region. These samples were analyzed for the pH, electrical conductivity, Na+, Ca+, K+, Mg2+, HCO3−, F−, Cl− and U+. This temporal dataset was split for training, testing and validation of our model. Metrics such as R2 (Coefficient of Determination), RMSE (Root Mean Squared Error), NSE (Nash–Sutcliffe efficiencies) and MAE (Mean Absolute Error) were used to evaluate the prediction error and model performance. These performance evaluation metrics indicated the efficiency of our model in predicting the temporal variation in groundwater quality parameters. The method proposed can be used for prediction and it will aid in modifying or reducing the temporal frequency of sample collection to save time and cost. The study confirms that the combination of ANN with ACO is a promising tool to optimize weights while training the network, and for prediction of groundwater quality.
The Sources of Sedimentary Organic Matter Traced by Carbon and Nitrogen Isotopes and Environmental Effects during the Past 60 Years in a Shallow Steppe Lake in Northern China
Authors: Gao Hongbin , Fan Yanru , Wang Gang , Li Lin , Zhang Rui , Li Songya , Wang Linpei , Jiang Zhongfeng , Zhang Zhekang , Wu Junfeng , Zhu Xinfeng
Published: June 2023

The organic matter of lake sediment plays an important role in paleolimnological reconstruction. Here, we report a detailed study of organic matter components (Corg%, N%, δ13C, δ15N) in a dated sediment core of Hulun Lake in northern China. Multiple mixing models based on the stoichiometric ratios and stable isotopic compositions were applied to quantify the contributions of organic matter sources in lake sediment. The results show that the organic matter in the sediments from Hulun Lake mainly comes from terrestrial organic matter: the proportion of terrestrial organic matter is more than 80%. The results of the SIAR mixing model further reveal that the proportions of terrestrial C3 plants-derived organic matter, soil organic matter, and lake plankton-derived organic matter were 76.0%, 13.9%, and 10.1%, respectively. The organic matter content of lake sediment from terrestrial sources began to increase significantly from 1980 onward, which is consistent with the growth in overgrazing in the Hulun Lake basin. The content of organic matter from endogenous lake-derived sources began to increase significantly after 2000 due to the nutrients gradually becoming concentrated in lake water, indicating that the reduction in rivers’ discharge and the downgrade of the lake water level were the immediate causes of the lake’s environmental deterioration during this period.
A Random Forest Machine Learning Approach for the Identification and Quantification of Erosive Events
Authors: Vergni Lorenzo , Todisco Francesca
Published: June 2023

Predicting the occurrence of erosive rain events and quantifying the corresponding soil loss is extremely useful in all applications where assessing phenomenon impacts is required. These problems, addressed in the literature at different spatial and temporal scales and according to the most diverse approaches, are here addressed by implementing random forest (RF) machine learning models. For this purpose, we used the datasets built through many years of soil loss observations at the plot-scale experimental site SERLAB (central Italy). Based on 32 features describing rainfall characteristics, the RF classifier has achieved a global accuracy of 84.8% in recognizing erosive and non-erosive events, thus demonstrating slightly higher performances than previously used (non-machine learning) methodologies. A critical performance is the percentage of erosive events correctly recognized to the observed total (72.3%). However, since the most relevant erosive events are correctly identified, we found only a slight underestimation of the total rainfall erosivity (91%). The RF regression model for estimating the event soil loss, based on three event features (runoff coefficient, erosivity, and period of occurrence), demonstrates better performances (RMSE = 2.30 Mg ha−1) than traditional regression models (RMSE = 3.34 Mg ha−1).
The challenges faced by early career international medical graduates in general practice and opportunities for supporting them: a rapid review
Authors: Jager Alexandra , Harris Michael , Terry Rohini
Published: June 2023

Background

British general practice is facing a workforce crisis against a backdrop of an ageing population experiencing increasingly complex health challenges. The NHS must increase the supply of GPs, including international medical graduate (IMG) GPs, by increasing recruitment and retention. IMG GPs face distinct challenges during training and their early careers. Understanding these challenges, as well as the help and support offered to early career IMG GPs, is crucial to building and sustaining the general practice workforce.

Aim

To understand the challenges facing early career IMG GPs and the help and support they can access.

Design & setting

Rapid review of studies and grey literature on UK-based IMG GPs.

Method

Six databases were searched. Four websites were searched to find grey literature. Titles and abstracts were screened according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, followed by the full study where applicable. The included studies were analysed using a thematic synthesis approach to identify the challenges faced by early career IMG GPs, as well as the help and support available.

Results

The database search yielded 234 studies, with 38 additional studies identified via other methods. Twenty-one studies were included in the synthesis. Seven challenges were identified, as well as a range of help and support available. Early career IMG GPs face a range of psychological, social, and practical challenges, which may not be adequately addressed by the help and support currently offered by the NHS.

Conclusion

Further research is required to understand the extent to which early career IMG GPs access the help and support offered, and if it adequately addresses the unique challenges they face.
The Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment: A Resource for Extension Educators
Authors: Rabbani Abed , O'Neill Barbara , Lawrence Frances , Grable John
Published: June 2023

This article provides a brief review of investment risk tolerance, clarifications of terms used to describe risk attitudes, and a description of an online tool, the Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment (IRTA). The IRTA is a research-based tool that provides a score indicating a personalized analysis of a user's willingness to take financial risk. Extension educators can add value to the lives of their clientele by providing assistance in assessing risk tolerance in a valid and reliable manner. For this reason, the IRTA should be a useful addition to Extension educators' toolboxes.
Volunteer Research and Knowledge Competency Codebook: A Tool for Identifying Volunteer Needs
Authors: White Alison , Scanga Lauren
Published: June 2023

Extension personnel are tasked with ensuring that 4-H volunteers have competencies identified in the Volunteer Research and Knowledge Competency (VRKC) Taxonomy, 4-H youth development's foundational volunteer skills framework. The VRKC Codebook is a qualitative analysis tool for accurately identifying VRKC-aligned needs expressed in volunteer needs assessment data. The codebook and accompanying guide were developed following a statewide volunteer needs assessment in which a need for VRKC-based evaluation tools emerged. 4-H educators can use the codebook and guide to efficiently detect areas of need that may otherwise be overlooked, empowering them to provide practical and impactful education and support systems better aligned with the unique research-based needs of their local volunteers.
An Extension Educator Perspective on Adverse Childhood Experiences
Authors: Small Stephen , Huser Mary
Published: June 2023

Research on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) has garnered a great deal of attention and is increasingly used to demonstrate the negative impact of stressful and traumatic childhood experiences on psychological and physical health. ACEs have become a focus of local and state organizations and coalitions concerned about the well-being of children and their families, resulting in a growing number of Extension professionals becoming involved in these initiatives. In this article we provide an overview and analysis of seminal and more recent ACEs research and offer suggestions about where an understanding of and response to ACEs might fit into the work of Extension educators.
Integrating Watershed Management Across the Urban–Rural Interface: Opportunities for Extension Watershed Programs
Authors: Moore Trisha , Sheshukov Aleksey , Graber Ron
Published: June 2023

Urban–rural partnerships are increasingly viewed as a critical component of efforts to improve water quality at the watershed scale. We present an opportunity for such partnerships, using an off-site best management practice (BMP) program developed between the City of Wichita and agricultural producers in the Little Arkansas River Watershed of south-central Kansas as an example. We highlight the critical role of Extension specialists in developing this and similar programs, the success of which hinges on targeted BMP implementation and relationships with agricultural producers.
Method for Monitoring Quality of Extension Programs: A Dashboard Construction Process
Authors: Ellis Gary , Taggart Allen , Lepley Toby , Lacanienta Andrew
Published: June 2023

We describe a process for construction and use of a "dashboard" for monitoring the quality of in-person nonformal education programs. We followed the process to develop a 4-H special interest (SPIN) club dashboard, but the steps are applicable to any education program that includes instruction over multiple sessions. The dashboard construction process comprises selecting performance measures, choosing data collection strategies, designing the content and layout of the dashboard, collecting data, and populating the dashboard with performance metrics. Although these process steps are intuitive, specific decision options within each step can be complex. Our article includes discussion of these complexities in the context of our SPIN club application.
How Important Is Rigor? A State Specialist's Take on 4-H Project Work
Authors: Wise Dena
Published: June 2023

If 4-H'ers earn project recognition for things they do as a matter of course in their schools and with their families—things they would do whether or not they were 4-H members—then is 4-H really making a difference in their lives? I make a case for rigor and high expectations in 4-H project work and suggest that state Extension specialists, in their engagement in 4-H, have a unique opportunity to strengthen 4-H programming as a bridge to excellence in the academic and professional careers of its participants.
Regional Conservation Partnership Program: A Tool for Natural Resources Management Across Watersheds
Authors: Adusumilli Naveen
Published: June 2023

This article introduces the Regional Conservation Partnership Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service. The program encourages partnerships among Extension professionals, conservation agency representatives, and farmers that focus on addressing natural resources concerns through the development and implementation of regional watershed plans. These plans assist farmers in practicing sustainable crop and animal production methods. Extension professionals will find the program useful as a tool for building collaborations at watershed and regional scales to promote agricultural production practices that enhance natural resources conservation.
Comparing Farm Financial Performance Across Local Foods Market Channels
Authors: Schmit Todd , Jablonski Becca , Laughton Chris
Published: June 2023

Financial performance benchmarks were estimated on the basis of samples of successful Northeast fruit and vegetable producers classified by primary local foods market channel. Comparisons across farm stores, large urban farmers' markets, and intermediated market channels were conducted for the purpose of identifying key differences in human and financial resource requirements. The benchmarks provide data useful for assisting individual farmers in assessing their performances and new and beginning farmers in identifying appropriate market channels for their businesses. Additionally, the benchmarks provide a rich source of information for use by Extension educators in developing programming around local foods marketing opportunities and business planning.
Naslardan Hüküm Çıkarmada Hasrın Etkisi
Authors: YUSUFOĞLU Kazim
Published: June 2023

İslâm hukukçuları naslardan yorum ve lafız merkezli anlam yoluyla hükümler çıkarmışlardır. Lafzî anlam yollarından mefhûm-i muhalefetin alt bölümlerinden biri kabul edilen hasra dair farklı yaklaşımlar söz konusudur. Bu farklılık, mezhepler arasında farklı hükümlerin ortaya çıkmasına sebep olmaktadır. Bir kelime veya kelime grubunun özel bir şekilde başka bir kelime veya kelime grubuna tahsis edilmesi ve sadece o kelime veya kelime grubunun kastedilmesi anlamına gelen hasrın, farklı yolları bulunmakla birlikte en çok kullanılan ve naslardan hüküm çıkarmada etkisi bulunan yolu, “innemâ” ve “nefiy ve istisna” kelimeleridir. Makalede bu kelimelerin zikredildiği “Ameller ancak niyetlere göredir.”, “Şuf'a hakkı ancak taksim edilmemiş malda olur.”, “Namaz ancak Fatiha ile olur.” ve “Nikâh ancak veli ile olur.” gibi nasların özelinde fakihlerin bu lafızları anlama, yorumlama ve onlardan hüküm çıkarma noktasında nasıl bir faaliyette bulundukları tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır. Fakihler, gayr-i menkul bir mal taksim edildikten sonra kişinin şuf’a hakkının ortadan kalkıp kalmayacağına dair hükmü, hasırdan hareketle belirlemeye çalışmışlardır. Abdest alırken niyet getirmenin, namazda Fâtiha sûresini okumanın ve velisiz nikâh kıymanın hükmü konusunda Hanefî fakihler ile diğer üç mezhep fakihleri arasındaki görüş ayrılığı bulunmakla birlikte bu hadislerdeki hasrı dikkate alarak hükmü tespit etme hususunda aralarında herhangi bir görüş ayrılığı bulunmamaktadır. Belirlenen hükmün mahiyeti ne olursa olsun ister sıhhat ister kemâl olarak belirlensin fakihler savundukları görüşleri faklı deliller ile temellendirmenin yanında nassın lafzını da dikkate alarak görüşlerini tahkim etmeye çalışmışlardır. Fakihler, farklı hükümlere ulaşsa da hadislerin lafızlarını önemseme, onları birer hukuki metin kabul etme ve “innemâ” ve “nefiy ve istisna”yı dikkate alarak hükmü belirleme konusunda aynı tutumu göstermişledir.
Imaging Carotid Plaque Burden in Living Mice via Hybrid Semiconducting Polymer Nanoparticles-Based Near-Infrared-II Fluorescence and Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Xu Li , Li Zhe , Ma Yuan , Lei Lingling , Yue Renye , Cao Hui , Huan Shuangyan , Sun Wei , Song Guosheng
Published: June 2023

The majority of atherothrombotic events (e.g., cerebral or myocardial infarction) often occur as a result of plaque rupture or erosion in the carotid, and thereby it is urgent to assess plaque vulnerability and predict adverse cerebrovascular events. However, the monitoring evolution from stable plaque into life-threatening high-risk plaque in the slender carotid artery is a great challenge, due to not enough spatial resolution for imaging the carotid artery based on most of reported fluorescent probes. Herein, copolymerizing with the small molecules of acceptor-donor-acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A′-D-A) and the electron-donating units (D′), the screened second near-infrared (NIR-II) nanoprobe presents high quantum yield and good stability, so that it enables to image slender carotid vessel with enough spatial resolution. Encouragingly, NIR-II nanoprobe can effectively target to intraplaque macrophage, meanwhile distinguishing vulnerable plaque in carotid atherosclerosis in living mice. Moreover, the NIR-II nanoprobe can dynamically monitor the fresh bleeding spots in carotid plaque, indicating the increased risk of plaque instability. Besides, magnetic resonance imaging is integrated with NIR-II fluorescence imaging to provide contrast for subtle structure (e.g., narrow lumen and lipid pool), via incorporating ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide into the NIR-II nanoprobe. Thus, such hybrid NIR-II/magnetic resonance imaging multimodal nanoprobe provides an effective tool for assessing carotid plaque burden, selecting high-risk plaque, and imaging intraplaque hemorrhage, which is promising for reducing cerebral/ myocardial infarction-associated morbidity and mortality.