bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The mineralization of urban soils facing the risk of climate change: Case of the flooding phenomenon in the city of Annaba
Authors: Imekraz H. , Abdou Selina
Published: October 2023

Urbanization exerts changes on the environment and on the ecosystems and it leads to a modification of the nature of the soil or even a soil impermeability via the infrastructures carried out. This impermeability acts as an aggravating factor for the effects of climate change and causes local environmental stresses. These are particularly urban heat island and urban flooding. The city of Annaba (located in the northeast of Algeria) is among these dense coastal cities, which have experienced rapid and abrupt urban development resulting in the expansion of impermeable infrastructure at the expense of the removal of natural and vegetal cover. The problem of soil sealing in Annaba therefore put it face to face with the direct risk of climate change.Urban flooding is a phenomenon directly linked to soil sealing. The combined effects of climate change, in terms of changes in rainfall patterns and intensities, make some sewerage networks unable to evacuate increasingly large quantities of runoff water from impermeable surfaces causing important material and human damages. In fact, this city has experienced strong periods of heat in recent years, reaching 47°C in summer 2021 [1]. Winter was not so different, intense rainfall causes repeated flooding every year, amplifying the sensitivity and exposure of city dwellers and properties to multiple risks. The present consideration, aims to identify and measure sealed surfaces and to determine the areas vulnerable to the impacts of soil sealing.
Modeling pre-industrial urban ecosystems, to aim sustainability
Authors: Dereka Xanthippi , Rodi Alkistis , Hedjazi Alexandre , Papalamropoulos Leonidas
Published: October 2023

The goal of the research is the creation of sustainable models, to be compared with contemporary municipalities, aiming sustainability. The method of indicator comparisons is promoted by the European Environmental Agency and the European Committee, although that known “sustainable” indicators refer to data from cities that are not sustainable. Identifying the insufficient way to sustainability, the research investigates the function and flows, of 28 autonomous, self-sufficient settlements in Epirus, before the industrialization, based on their cyclical ecosystem behavior, in four fields: political, economic, environmental, and social. The settlements as ecosystems are applied in the DPSIR framework of EEA, giving the perfect function, which concerned political autonomy, self-preservation, a high quality of life and education level, as out-flows culture, legacies, and pan European trade. Therefore, sustainability and cyclical urban ecosystem are indeed identical terms, concerning social, economic, and environmental excellence. The fields are highly interdependent. The basis, or the “Driving force”, for the ecosystemic function to sustainability is an independent-strong local authority, empowered by local economy of the primary sector. These condition in a “green” built environment, is able to achieve strong social cohesion. The ecosystemic-function of the preindustrial models as benchmarks can lead the way to a contemporary sustainability excellence.
Assessing pupils’ understanding about greenhouse effect in context of problem-based approach in environmental education: A case study from Greece
Authors: Lathouris Dimitrios
Published: October 2023

The greenhouse effect is a process that regulates the temperature of the planet. Students have misunderstandings about the greenhouse effect. The misunderstandings about the greenhouse effect may result from the direct analogy of a greenhouse as a means to maintain the heat by preventing convection and trapping warm air inside. The main research question has to do with the extent that pupils understand the greenhouse effect as an environmental problem. The sample consisted of 18 pupils of a 4th grade Primary school classroom forming case study research. The analysis of answers was mainly based on qualitative grounds, by examining the way pupils express their opinions or beliefs about this specific environmental topic. Students’ answers present that they understand enough the greenhouse effect both as a natural process and as environmental problem. They seem to present a lower understanding about its causes, but a mediocre understanding about consequences and interesting suggestions about how to solve it. As far as the use of accurate or scientific words is concerned, the statements seem to be on a low level. In conclusion, it can be supported that problem-based teaching intervention can contribute to pupils’ understanding about environmental problems such as the greenhouse effect.
Factors affecting citizens’ decision to invest in renewable energy
Authors: Karasmanaki Evangelia , Tsantopoulos Georgios
Published: October 2023

Renewable energy sources (RES) have been acknowledged as a feasible way to produce inexhaustible energy with significantly less harmful emissions compared to fossil fuels. RES investments could be the lever for increasing the deployment of RES and citizens could contribute significant capital. However, the understanding of their decision to invest is limited. Hence, the aim of this study is to understand the reasons for which citizens would invest in RES. To achieve this aim, a structured questionnaire was designed and 1,536 Greek citizens were recruited using simple random sampling. According to results, the examined economic, environmental and social reasons were evaluated highly. Regarding the economic reasons, citizens would mainly invest to reduce electricity bills and increase their income, while factor analysis showed that an economic and an investment dimension underlie economic motives to invest. In terms of environmental reasons, citizens seemed to acknowledge the ability of renewable systems to generate less harmful emissions and, through this effect, to protect fauna and air quality. As for social reasons, citizens regarded the investment as a way to adopt pro-environmental behavior. It is recommended to highlight appeals to economic, environmental and social benefits in campaigns addressed to citizens and aiming at promoting investments.
Sustainability and durability of cracked concrete with geopolymer binder
Authors: Frangieh Carina , Saba Marianne , Karmaoui Dorra , Lafhaj Zoubeir
Published: October 2023

In 2015, the United Nations (UN) set sustainable construction as one of the major goals when launching the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable construction improves biodiversity, minimizes pollution, protects natural resources, and makes the environment better. Within this context, it can be established by using eco-friendly materials such as geopolymers. Several studies showed that geopolymers have better properties when compared to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and traditional commercial repair materials. This study investigates the ability of geopolymer paste to withstand several environments when used as a binder to repair fissured concrete. Three major types of solutions were used in this study: water, 20% NaCl solution, and 1% sulfuric acid solution. For better consistency, French Metakaolin-based geopolymer paste and Lebanese Metakaolin-based geopolymer paste were compared since they have different chemical characteristics. The results showed that for all types of samples that endured different environmental conditions, the geopolymer binder almost remained intact while the OPC severely deteriorated. As such, a comprehensive approach for more sustainable concrete was developed through durability tests that inhibited good characteristics of the geopolymer binder to solve problems related to concrete fissures/cracks worldwide.
Morphological characteristics of magnetic particles and their environmental impact: The case of Sarigiol basin (Greece)
Authors: Chrysakopoulou Chrysoula , Vogiatzis Dimitrios , Drakoulis Alexandros , Papadopoulou Lambrini , Kantiranis Nikolaos
Published: October 2023

Magnetic particles were separated from soil and sediment samples from the Sarigiol basin in northwestern Greece in order to study their morphological characteristics with scanning electron microscopy. They appear in the form of octahedrons and spheres and they have lithogenic and anthropogenic source, respectively. The source of the lithogenic magnetic particles is the ophiolite complexes at the NE and SW part of the basin while the fly ash and its dispersion from the two power plants located in the research area is the source of the anthropogenic magnetic particles. The surface structure of magnetic particles is either simple or more complex while the average size of the spheres is 10-50 μm. Highest values of the ratio of the anthropogenic to lithogenic magnetic particles at the NE and locally at the NW, N and SW part of the study area are a strong evidence of the environmental footprint that anthropogenic activities have at the upper soil horizons of the Sarigiol basin.
Prediction of the cementing potential of activated pond ash reinforced with glass powder for soft soil strengthening, by an artificial neural network model
Authors: Onyelowe Kennedy C. , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N. , Ebid Ahmed M. , Oyewole Samuel
Published: October 2023

The effect of Pond Ash (PA) activated with sodium chloride (NaCl) solution and reinforced with glass powder on the mechanical properties of soft clay soil, which comprise of the California bearing ratio (CBR) and the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) has been studied in this research work. The PA requires pozzolanic improvements to meet the ASTM C618 requirements for pozzolanas. In the present research paper, further emphasis has been on the machine learning prediction of CBR and UCS of the soft clay soil stabilized with a composite of PA. Generally, the studied soft clay soil properties, which were the microstructure, microspecter/micrograph, oxide composition, Atterberg limits, compaction behavior, free swell index (FSI), CBR and UCS significantly improved due to the enhanced cementitious ability of the activated and reinforced PA. The multiple data collected from this general stabilization result were used to predict the soil’s CBR and UCS by the artificial neural network (ANN) technique. The results showed high performance of the model in terms of the sum of squares error (SSE) of 1.5% and 2.0% and the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9979 and 0.9973 for the CBR and UCS models, respectively. The models also outclassed the performances of other models from the literature.
Predicting the rheological flow of fresh self-consolidating concrete mixed with limestone powder for slump, V-funnel, L-box and Orimet models using artificial intelligence techniques
Authors: Onyelowe Kennedy C. , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N. , Ebid Ahmed M. , Onyia Michael E.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, selected materials that influence the viscosity of the self-consolidating concrete (SCC) are introduced like the Limestone Powder (LSP), the High Range Water Reducing Admixture (HRWRA), which reduce the interparticle force between concrete constituents like the aggregates, and other superplasticizers. Moreover, in serious attempts to design the SCC for different infrastructure requirements, there have been repeated laboratory visits, which need to be reduced. In this research paper, the artificial intelligence (AI) methods: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR), and Genetic programming (GP) have been deployed to predict the slump flow (SF), V-funnel flow time (VFFT), L-box ratio (LBR) or passing ratio, and Orimet flow time (OFT) of LSP-admixed SCC. The independent variables of the predictive model were cement, LSP, water, water-binder ratio, HRWRA, sand, and coarse aggregates of 4/8 mm and 8/16 mm sizes. The flow tests were conducted after 5 minutes of waiting time after mixing. The model results showed ANN with superior intelligent learning ability over previous models in terms of overall performance.
Intelligent land use in the perspective of innovative landscape
Authors: Săvan Răzvan , Crăciun Cerasella
Published: October 2023

An intelligently managed territory is a territorial area where through specific and effectively applied urban-territorial policies, competitiveness and attractiveness are increased and where special attention is paid to social cohesion, as an integrated process in the definition of an intelligent territory, through the transmission of information and correlated data, between the urban actors involved in the process. Urban and territorial redevelopment and revitalization through the intelligent use of land must represent a model aimed at increasing the quality of life by promoting green circular economies, restoring disused and/or contaminated sites, and using interstitial spaces as a major potential of the landscape, with the aim of (re)create a smart territory/city. Rather, the intelligent land use of a locality represents a series of integrated processes that work simultaneously to support the introduction of innovative technologies, such as The Internet of Things (IoT), for the benefit of that community. Through accessibility to amenities of local interest, freedom of movement through easy mobility, together with the intelligent use of the environment, the cities can improve the quality of their landscape and enhances the quality of life of their citizens
Anaerobic fermented algae furcellaria lumbricalis tablets as a dual-purpose fertilizer and substrate for sustainable seedling growth
Authors: Ozolina Sintija
Published: October 2023

This article presents a study focused on the creation, evaluation of anaerobic fermented algae Furcellaria lumbricalis pressed biomass tablets as a dual-purpose fertilizer and substrate for sustainable seedling growth. The research aims to address the need for more sustainable agricultural practices by exploring alternative solutions to chemical fertilizers. The methodology involved collecting and preparing Furcellaria Lumbricalis algae from the Baltic Sea coast, followed by anaerobic fermentation in a small-scale bioreactor. The resulting digestate was formed into tablets using a designed press and template. A growth experiment was conducted using basil seeds, comparing the performance of seedlings grown with the algae tablets to those grown with traditional substrate. The results showed that the seedlings grown using the anaerobic fermented algae tablets exhibited comparable growth rates and biomass to those grown with conventional methods. Effectiveness of the tablets can be attributed to the breakdown of organic matter during the fermentation process, which makes nutrients more accessible to plants and improves their uptake. However, further research is necessary to optimize the concentrations and formulations of the anaerobic fermented algae tablets. The effectiveness of these tablets should be evaluated in different plant species and growing conditions. In conclusion, this study provides promising evidence that anaerobic fermented algae Furcellaria Lumbricalis tablets could serve as an effective and sustainable solution for fertilizer and substrate needs in seedling growth.
Modeled surface salinity and satellite data as proxy for Secchi depth and watercolor of the Gulf of Riga
Authors: Cepīte-Frišfelde Daiga , Timuhins Andrejs , Frišfelds Vilnis
Published: October 2023

The present study pays attention to the sea surface salinity field and satellite derived watercolor and Secchi depth datasets in the Gulf of Riga in 1998-2018. The study increases understanding of the river plume’s impact on the open part of the Gulf of Riga. Mean watercolor and salinity versus depth had been compared in April and August month. The region with the high mean watercolor and salinity homogeneity consistency had been seen in the deepest part (depth >40m) of the Gulf of Riga in April. The correlation between mean salinity field and watercolor and Secchi depth data sets had been shown. It marks the coastal and transitional region where the current of riverine water on the sea surface dominate the upwelling from the more saline deeper layers. The study distinguishes mean watercolor (in situ observations and derived from satellite) in years with and without seasonal hypoxia in the Gulf of Riga in 2005-2018. Convincing difference between both sets have not been found.
An experimental study of in-situ remediation of NAPL-polluted soils by ozonation
Authors: Christodoulis Konstantinos , Theodoropoulou Maria , Tsakiroglou Christos
Published: October 2023

The effectiveness of ozonation as a method for the in situ remediation of non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)-polluted soils is examined. Soils were polluted artificially with a model NAPL consisting of equal mass fractions of n-decane, n-dodecane and n-hexadecane at two concentrations 1g/kg-soil, and 10g/kg-soil. The polluted soils were placed inside a stainless steel column and treated with the injection of ozone-rich gas, produced from oxygen by a corona discharge ozone generator, controlled by a gas mass flow controller, and monitored by an ozone analyzer. Soil samples collected from the soil column were used after pre-treatment to measure the concentrations of the total organic carbon (TOC), and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) as function of time. The concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were detected on-line by a multi-sensor and portable gas analyzer. .
Air pollution in Türkiye depending on environmental pressure categories
Authors: Büke Tayfun , Köne Aylin Çiğdem
Published: October 2023

The aim of this paper to analyse the air pollution in Turkey depending on four environmental pressure categories, namely global warming potential, acidification potential, tropospheric ozone-forming potential and particulate formation potential for the period 1990-2018. The individual air pollutant effect for each environmental pressure group has been examined and discussed. According to the air pollution analysis, global warming potential, acidification potential and particulate formation potential effects are in an upward trend while tropospheric ozone-forming potential effect is in a downward trend for the time period 1990-2018. And the environmental pressure category where the highest increase is realized in all environmental pressure categories is the global warming potential category. This paper provides information on the causes of air pollution and offers policy recommendations for reducing air pollution in Turkey.
Evaluation of the level of service of the public transport operator of Thessaloniki before and after its nationalization
Authors: Kalteziotis Nikolaos , Kalfopoulos Ioannis , Genitsaris Evangelos , Naniopoulos Aristotelis , Nalmpantis Dimitrios
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the transition of the Organization of Urban Transport of Thessaloniki (hereafter OASTh) from private to public ownership is examined, with a short questionnaire survey among users of OASTh, who answered simple questions such as when they think that the level of service was better, if they see tickets inspectors as often as they did before the nationalization, how they would describe their trips, qualitative questions, etc. The questionnaire was answered by 213 passengers. The main problems that were detected were the following: 1. After the nationalization, the number of operational buses and their frequency dramatically dropped. 2. Telematics started to have many problems, and the information provision was no longer valid enough. 3. There was a lack of ticket inspections that led to ticket evasion, thus increasing the deficits of the Organization. 4. Most buses were overcrowded, and this led to an increase in petty crime rates (e.g., pickpocketing). 5. Due to overcrowded buses, it was sometimes impossible to board at the bus stops. Many problems were identified, but there were also many problems before the nationalization. The results are interesting, but a long-term assessment will be more useful to derive safe conclusions.
Road safety and sustainability performance: A cross-country analysis
Authors: Karkalakos Sotirios , Tselekounis Markos
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we study the impact of road safety on sustainability performance in the OECD area. Road safety is proxied by the severity of road accidents, whereas the sustainability performance of each country is captured by its sustainability score. Our dataset covers the period 2000-2021 and consists of 35 OECD countries. The employed panel data analysis unveils a statistically significant negative relationship between the number of severe road crashes and sustainability score. In particular, a unit decrease in the number of deaths per one million inhabitants due to road crashes leads to a half unit increase in the overall sustainability score of a country. Therefore, policy makers should undertake measures that improve the efficiency of the transport system since this translates in higher sustainability performance. Indeed, less severe road crashes do have a positive impact on the economy, the society and the environment, thus contributing to all pillars of sustainable development.
Train vs. airplane: Investigating the potential modal share shift and the environmental impact for a reduced train travel time from Thessaloniki to Athens
Authors: Markakis Michail , Giannaka Dimitra , Genitsaris Evangelos , Nalmpantis Dimitrios
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the impact of routing a train between Athens and Thessaloniki, completing the journey in 2.5 hours, on modal share. With high expectations for the modernization of the Greek railway system, particularly the Athens-Thessaloniki route, and recent tragic events involving the railway, this study aims to shed light on the potential effects of such an improvement. A questionnaire survey was conducted at Thessaloniki Airport “Makedonia” to gather data on travel time, ticket prices, and other factors influencing travelers’ mode choices for the Athens-Thessaloniki route. The survey included 181 participants, most of whom had an income equal to or below the average monthly income. Results revealed that if the new rail system was implemented at equal cost, 63% of respondents would choose the train over the airplane, citing long transit times, waiting time, extra costs, and luggage restrictions as primary factors favoring the train. However, 8% expressed concerns about the reliability and adherence to estimated travel times. Overall, the research concludes that, despite the recent tragedy, the modernized train system could significantly increase its modal share and offer positive environmental benefits by reducing the journey time to 2.5 hours.
Assessment of green design strategies to achieve thermal comfort in outdoor spaces: A study in hot and dry climate
Authors: Bellara Samira Louafi , Abdou Saliha
Published: October 2023

Outdoor spaces in cities contribute to improve urban quality. Improving outdoor thermal comfort is important to consider in achieving urban life and functionality. In order, green areas have shown to be effective at reducing the effects of several climatic elements associated with heat stress in urban settings while also giving people a great outdoor setting. The most basic problem is that most recent projects in Constantine cities did not take into account the usage of green design solutions, causing in human outdoor heat discomfort. This study aims to enable designers to ameliorate the conditions in outdoor spaces. The main objective of this paper is to discuss and assess the impact of geometry and shade trees on the external thermal comfort conditions due to the significant effects of thermal comfort on citizens, especially in hot and dry regions. The methodology is based on in-situ measurements and a questionnaire survey during the warm season. A simulation with Envi-met5 software to evaluate different scenarios for five climatic parameters and PMV (predicted mean vote index) are used. The results showed that the presence of trees is an important strategy to modify and regulate the thermal environment in this type of hot and dry climate.
Identifying urban form typology of residential areas in major cities in South Korea using clustering
Authors: Moon Yeonjoon , Quan Steven Jige
Published: October 2023

In South Korea, cities have experienced rapid development, resulting in diverse urban form patterns. While the typology approach has emerged for identifying different patterns for better understanding of urban development, typology studies are still lacking for Korean cities. This study identifies and compares urban form typologies for residential blocks in major Korean cities using clustering. Two cities are analysed which represent distinct regional city characteristics and planning themes in Korea: Seoul and Jeju. In each city, physical form data are collected in the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) format for calculating and analysing residential blocks. Urban form variables and principal components were analysed and used for K-means clustering. The results of clusters are then interpreted as urban form typologies. The identified urban form typologies in the two cities show the similarities and differences of typologies between the cities providing insights in the influences of regional characteristics, such as natural environment, culture, and of the planning patterns on urban form development patterns. The findings provide a better understanding of diverse urban forms in the three cities and their different local identities. The typologies can be utilized as references for urban and policy makers for sustainable planning and design.
The impact of war generations on spatial environment and military resistance challenges in urban planning
Authors: Vardanyan Anna
Published: October 2023

The subject of scientific study is the role of generations of war in the development of architecture according to the military classification. War-resistant architecture has evolved with the changing nature of warfare and advances in military technologies. These challenges remain relevant even today. Through a multi-content analysis of scientific literature, this research observes the impact of wars on urban development activities. Analysing the historical correlation between urban development and military progress can provide insight into the evolution of military-resistant architecture. The results of this study can contribute to the development of future urban planning solutions to meet both current and future military challenges. As a part of the analysis, a table is presented, which summarizes the relevant parallels of the classification of the generations of wars, used weapons, the type of conflict, and urban defence.
Metropolitan pole of Hellinikon – Agios Kosmas: Hierarchization of interventions with the use of the Maximum Difference (MaxDiff) Scaling method
Authors: Kalapouti Artemis , Palantzas Georgios , Nalmpantis Dimitrios
Published: October 2023

In this paper, the case of the Hellinikon – Agios Kosmas metropolitan pole is analyzed. In more detail, the urban history of this area is presented, and the historical decisions that led to the current consolidation of the regeneration vision are mentioned. Also, reference is made to the investor company Lamda Development SA. Subsequently, the company’s vision regarding the future state of the area is analyzed, and its strategic goals regarding the reshaping of the area over a 25-year period are identified one by one. In fact, a more general picture is given of the resulting profitability as well as the implementation phases through which it will be achieved. The criticism is also mentioned in light of the legislative framework and other factors. The Maximum Difference (MaxDiff) Scaling method was applied in a MaxDiff questionnaire survey with 112 participants to prioritize the preferences of the public for the announced interventions. It was found that the most preferred intervention was the “Complex of sports facilities,” and the less preferred one was the “Yacht Club.” The respondents focused more on the uses that the interventions could have for the public instead of the general benefits for the economy.
The importance of Environmental Graphic Design in urban spaces
Authors: Ganoti Roula , Laskari Iro
Published: October 2023

Environmental graphic design (EGD) from its creation has proven that its development has emerged to serve the needs of modern society and in particular of the part of the population living in urban centers. EGD is being recognized for its role in humanizing and simplifying the complexities of the built environment. Well-designed signage and environmental graphic programs help improve the aesthetic and psychological aspects of an environment, in addition to fulfilling their communication role of informing, directing and identifying. At the core of the growing demand for Environmental Graphic Design are the demands of the modern world. Cities face a variety of challenges as a result of the negative effects of globalization. EGD can be used to «humanize» a city, create connections between citizens and with the city and to make a city or a neighborhood more pleasant and functional for them. Visual pollution, prevented by the uncontrolled display of signs, is another problem that cities face. Implementing guidelines for sign control is essential to maintaining and improving the visual quality of historic places. EGD is used to create a legible city. The goal is to provide easily understandable information at every single step and to improve the overall city experience for both visitors and citizens.
Low-temperature polymorphic transition in highly compressed uranium dioxide
Authors: Yakub E. S.
Published: October 2023

The Mayer group expansion method is extended on the low-temperature solids where quantum effects cannot be ignored and applied to the prediction of polymorphic transition line between cubic Fm3m and orthorhombic Pnma phases in the highly compressed ionic crystal of uranium dioxide. The temperature dependence of the transition pressure and volume changes are evaluated and the results are compared with existing experimental data and ab initio predictions.
Design and modeling of an electro-hydraulic buoyancy adjustment actuator
Authors: Cao Xunuo , Zou Weifeng , Zhuo Jiangshan , Ruan Dongrui , Xu Yi , Zhou Fanghao , Yang Xuxu , Li Tiefeng
Published: October 2023

A lightweight, simple-structured, and fast-response buoyancy adjustment actuator is essential for underwater vehicles. This article presents the design of an electro-hydraulic actuator that can adjust buoyancy by electric stimuli. The buoyancy adjustment approach of the actuator resembles that of the swim bladder, but the electrostatic force, instead of the muscle tension, is applied to expand the volume of the actuator so that the buoyancy changes with the volume when the entire weight of the actuator is fixed. We propose the structural design guidelines and the operating constraints of the actuator by investigating its mechanical model via the minimum energy principle. In the experiment, the actuator shows a maximum 8.58 g buoyancy adjustment ability with a self-weight of 58.6 g. The experimental results also demonstrate that the depth of the actuator in water can be controlled by applying different voltage signals. The electro-hydraulic actuator presents promising potential for future underwater intelligent vehicles in adjusting buoyancy and depth control.
Development of a dual-flow tissue perfusion device for modeling the gastrointestinal tract–brain axis
Authors: Baldwin Lydia , Jones Emily J. , Iles Alexander , Carding Simon R. , Pamme Nicole , Dyer Charlotte E. , Greenman John
Published: October 2023

Despite the large number of microfluidic devices that have been described over the past decade for the study of tissues and organs, few have become widely adopted. There are many reasons for this lack of adoption, primarily that devices are constructed for a single purpose or because they are highly complex and require relatively expensive investment in facilities and training. Here, we describe a microphysiological system (MPS) that is simple to use and provides fluid channels above and below cells, or tissue biopsies, maintained on a disposable, poly(methyl methacrylate), carrier held between polycarbonate outer plates. All other fittings are standard Luer sizes for ease of adoption. The carrier can be coated with cells on both sides to generate membrane barriers, and the devices can be established in series to allow medium to flow from one cell layer to another. Furthermore, the carrier containing cells can be easily removed after treatment on the device and the cells can be visualized or recovered for additional off-chip analysis. A 0.4 μm membrane with cell monolayers proved most effective in maintaining separate fluid flows, allowing apical and basal surfaces to be perfused independently. A panel of different cell lines (Caco-2, HT29-MTX-E12, SH-SY5Y, and HUVEC) were successfully maintained in the MPS for up to 7 days, either alone or on devices connected in series. The presence of tight junctions and mucin was expressed as expected by Caco-2 and HT-29-MTX-E12, with Concanavalin A showing uniform staining. Addition of Annexin V and PI showed viability of these cells to be >80% at 7 days. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) produced by Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and labeled with 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbo-cyanine perchlorate (DiD) were used as a model component of the human colonic microbiota and were visualized translocating from an apical surface containing Caco-2 cells to differentiated SH-SY5Y neuronal cells cultured on the basal surface of connected devices. The newly described MPS can be easily adapted, by changing the carrier to maintain spheroids, pieces, or slices of biopsy tissue and joined in series to study a variety of cell and tissue processes. The cell layers can be made more complex through the addition of multiple cell types and/or different patterning of extracellular matrix and the ability to culture cells adjacent to one another to allow study of cell:cell transfer, e.g., passive or active drug transfer, virus or bacterial entry or BEV uptake and transfer.
Corrigendum to: Optimising the delivery of sexual health services in Australia: a qualitative study
Authors: Kularadhan Varsicka , Fairley Christopher K. , Chen Marcus , Bilardi Jade , Fortune Ria , Chow Eric P. F. , Philips Tiffany , Ong Jason J.
Published: October 2023

Background: With a rise in sexually transmitted infections in Australia, it is important to evaluate and optimise current sexual health services to reduce barriers to access and increase testing. We aimed to describe the range of sexual health services in Australia, focusing on strategies to improve testing among priority populations, and any future strategies participants believed would improve service delivery. Methods: We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with key informants working in Australian sexual health services from July to December 2020, and collected data on service characteristics and strategies to improve access. We used content analysis, then coded and categorised the data into recurring themes and sub-themes. Results: We identified two major themes: ‘Expanding Traditional Service Delivery’ and ‘Thinking Outside the Box’. The first theme outlines strategies that build upon pre-existing service delivery models, such as express clinics and an increased focus on confidentiality. The second theme outlines new strategies introduced to fill gaps in service delivery, such as self-testing and outreach. Conclusions: To improve access to HIV/STI testing, there is a need for multiple access points to cater for a range of populations and their preferences. Establishing strategies to accomplish this involves utilising a combination of expanding traditional service models and implementing new approaches to service delivery.
Avoiding methane emission rate underestimates when using the divergence method
Authors: Roberts Clayton , IJzermans Rutger , Randell David , Jones Matthew , Jonathan Philip , Mandel Kaisey , Hirst Bill , Shorttle Oliver
Published: October 2023

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, and a primary target for mitigating climate change in the short-term future due to its relatively short atmospheric lifetime and greater ability to trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere compared to carbon dioxide. Top-down observations of atmospheric methane are possible via drone and aircraft surveys as well as satellites such as the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI). Recent work has begun to apply the divergence method to produce regional methane emission rate estimates. Here we show that when the divergence method is applied to spatially incomplete observations of methane, it can result in negatively biased time-averaged regional emission rates. We show that this effect can be counteracted by adopting a procedure in which daily advective fluxes of methane are time-averaged before the divergence method is applied. Using such a procedure with TROPOMI methane observations, we calculate yearly Permian emission rates of 3.1, 2.4 and 2.7 million tones per year for the years 2019 through 2021. We also show that highly-resolved plumes of methane can have negatively biased estimated emission rates by the divergence method due to the presence of turbulent diffusion in the plume, but this is unlikely to affect regional methane emission budgets constructed from TROPOMI observations of methane. The results from this work are expected to provide useful guidance for future implementations of the divergence method for emission rate estimation from satellite data—be it for methane or other gaseous species in the atmosphere.
Spatial optimality and temporal variability in Australia’s wind resource
Authors: Gunn Andrew , Dargaville Roger , Jakob Christian , McGregor Shayne
Published: October 2023

To meet electricity demand using renewable energy supply, wind farm locations should be chosen to minimise variability in output, especially at night when solar photovoltaics cannot be relied upon. Wind farm location must balance grid-proximity, resource potential, and wind correlation between farms. A top-down planning approach for farm locations can mitigate demand unmet by wind supply, yet the present Australian wind energy market has bottom-up short-term planning. Here we show a computationally tractable method for optimising farm locations to maximise total supply. We find that Australia’s currently operational and planned wind farms produce less power with more variability than a hypothetical optimal set of farms with equivalent capacity within 100 km of the Australian Energy Market Operator grid. Regardless of the superior output, this hypothetical set is still subject to variability due to large-scale weather correlated with climate modes (i.e. El Niño). We study multiple scenarios and highlight several internationally transferable planning implications.
Spatiotemporal variations of water, land, and carbon footprints of pig production in China
Authors: Wu Huijun , Chen Xinyue , Zhang Ling , Liu Xin , Jiang Songyan , Liu Yongxin
Published: October 2023

Pig production not only consumes large water and land, but also emits substantial greenhouse gases. Scholars have used environmental footprint, including water, land, and carbon footprints, to assess the environmental impacts of pig production. However, there is a lack of simultaneous analysis of water, land, and carbon footprints for pig production, particularly in China, the leading pig breeding and consumption country in the world. In this study, we used environmental footprint analysis to develop a water-land-carbon footprint model for pig production system from the life cycle perspective. We also examined virtual water, land and carbon flows embedded in trade. The life cycle of pig production mainly involves feed crop cultivation, feed production, and pig breeding. Then we analyzed the water, land, and carbon footprints of the pig production in China from 1990 to 2018. The findings indicated that both the total water footprint and the total land footprint increased, whereas the total carbon footprints fluctuated over the years. All the unit footprints generally decreased. Feed crop cultivation had a significant impact on the footprints. Regarding the spatial characteristics in China, all the three total footprints were generally higher in the southeast compared to the northwest. While the unit footprints in different provinces exhibited spatial heterogeneity, primarily attributed to the different feed consumptions. Overall, the trade of feed crop shifted virtual water, land and carbon flows from the north to the south, reducing the three total footprints on the whole. To achieve a resource-saving and eco-friendly pig production in China, we proposed some potential recommendations, including improving feed crop cultivation techniques, reducing feed conversion ratio, implementing precision feeding, and managing manure. We hope not only mitigate the environmental impacts of China’s pig production, but also provide references for achieving agricultural sustainability in other regions of the world.
The ORGAN SIZE (ORG) locus modulates both vegetative and reproductive gigantism in domesticated tomato
Authors: Vicente Mateus Henrique , MacLeod Kyle , Zhu Feng , Rafael Diego D , Figueira Antonio , Fernie Alisdair R , Mohareb Fady , Kevei Zoltan , Thompson Andrew J , Zsögön Agustin , Peres Lázaro Eustáquio Pereira
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims

Gigantism is a key component of the domestication syndrome, a suite of traits that differentiates crops from their wild relatives. Allometric gigantism is strongly marked in horticultural crops, causing disproportionate increases in the size of edible parts such as stems, leaves or fruits. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has attracted attention as a model for fruit gigantism, and many genes have been described controlling this trait. However, the genetic basis of a corresponding increase in size of vegetative organs contributing to isometric gigantism has remained relatively unexplored.

Methods

Here, we identified a 0.4-Mb region on chromosome 7 in introgression lines (ILs) from the wild species Solanum pennellii in two different tomato genetic backgrounds (cv. ‘M82’ and cv. ‘Micro-Tom’) that controls vegetative and reproductive organ size in tomato. The locus, named ORGAN SIZE (ORG), was fine-mapped using genotype-by-sequencing. A survey of the literature revealed that ORG overlaps with previously mapped quantitative trait loci controlling tomato fruit weight during domestication.

Key Results

Alleles from the wild species led to lower cell number in different organs, which was partially compensated by greater cell expansion in leaves, but not in fruits. The result was a proportional reduction in leaf, flower and fruit size in the ILs harbouring the alleles from the wild species.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that selection for large fruit during domestication also tends to select for increases in leaf size by influencing cell division. Since leaf size is relevant for both source–sink balance and crop adaptation to different environments, the discovery of ORG could allow fine-tuning of these parameters.
Validation of the Pharmacokinetic Model for Anti-TNFα Clearance in Infants Exposed to Anti-TNFα During Pregnancy
Authors: Wieringa Jantien W , Kruizinga Matthijs D , Driessen Gertjan J A , van der Woude C Janneke , Julsgaard Mette
Published: October 2023

Background and Aims

The ECCO guideline recommends postponing live attenuated vaccines in infants exposed to anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha [anti-TNFα] in utero until drug clearance. The aim was to validate the predictive performance of the anti-TNFα clearance model.

Methods

Newborns and data for anti-TNFα concentrations from the prospective PETIT cohort were included. The anti-TNFα clearance model was used to predict all measured concentrations in the PETIT cohort, based on the measured cord blood concentration and the mean population clearance described in the model. Bayesian maximum a posteriori optimization was used to estimate the use of drug monitoring. Predictive capability and drug monitoring were assessed through mean absolute error [MAE], root mean squared prediction error, and limits of agreement according to Bland and Altman.

Results

Observed drug concentrations after birth were within the 80% prediction interval in 94% of adalimumab samples and 93% of infliximab samples. The anti-TNFα clearance model accurately predicted the concentration at 6 months after birth with an MAE of 0.03 µg/mL [SD 0.03] for adalimumab and 0.11 µg/mL [SD 0.18] for infliximab based on cord blood concentrations. Addition of an additional sample between 1 and 4 months after birth improved the predictive accuracy for infliximab (MAE 0.05 [SD 0.09]) but not for adalimumab. Guidance for use in clinical practice was formulated.

Conclusions

The validity of the anti-TNFα clearance model is high, and hence can be used to guide clinicians regarding the timing of live vaccines in infants exposed to adalimumab or infliximab in utero.
Non-fatal injuries among police officers during use-of-force encounters
Authors: Maguire E R , Paoline E A
Published: October 2023

Background

Occupational injuries are common in police work due to routine exposure to conflict, violence, accidents, and other hazards. However, little is known about the factors associated with non-fatal job-related injuries among police officers.

Aims

To study the factors associated with non-fatal job-related injuries among Tucson, AZ, police officers during encounters involving the use of force.

Methods

Data were analysed on all use-of-force cases involving Tucson police officers from January 2018 through June 2020. Logistic regression models were used to assess the factors that influence the likelihood of officer injuries.

Results

Overall, about 11% of officers involved in a use-of-force encounter were injured. Multivariate analyses reveal that defensive physical resistance by the suspect increases injury risk among officers. When suspects assault officers or others during the encounter, the risk of officer injury also increases significantly. Certain types of force used by police, such as hands-on tactics and TASER use are also associated with increased risk of injury among officers. The age and race of the suspect are not associated with the likelihood of injury among officers.

Conclusions

Certain suspect behaviours and use-of-force modalities increase the risk of injury among officers. Understanding these risk factors can help employers put in place appropriate measures to reduce the risk of occupational injuries among police officers.
Experimental and Monte Carlo study of energy response of BEO-based OSL detectors within photon energy range up to 15 MeV
Authors: Chumak Vadim , Bakhanova Elena , Altunal Volkan , Lawrence Yaacov , Dubinski Sergey , Yu Yan , Liao Lydia , Yegingil Zehra
Published: October 2023

Response of personal dosemeters to high energy photon radiation is of great interest nowadays due to a spread of new radiation technologies and the expansion of occupational exposure domains. ICRU95 publication has expanded the range of relevant photon energies upwards, setting new horizons for individual monitoring. Beryllium oxide (BeO) material is increasingly popular due to its excellent optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties, simple readout and reasonable energy response in the low energy (below 100 keV) range. The study considers energy dependence of OSL response at higher photon energies. Energy deposition of monoenergetic photons with energy up to 15 MeV in the BeO chips of various thickness was modeled with Monte Carlo MCNP 6.2 code. Benchmark experiments were conducted at LINAC with high voltage of 6, 10 and 15 MV resulting in respective incident photon spectra. The findings of this study add knowledge regarding behavior of BeO personal dosemeters in the photon fields within the energy range above 3 MeV.