bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental and Numerical Studies of Self-Expansible Polyurethane Slurry Diffusion Behavior in a Fracture Considering the Slurry Temperature
Authors: Jia Heyang , Wang Fuming , Li Xiaolong , Gui Yunxiang , Zhong Yanhui , Zhang Bei
Published: May 2023

Polyurethane grouting material (polymer) has been widely used in rock mass fracture grouting. The previous test of polymer slurry grouting in planar fracture did not consider the influence of temperature; therefore, in this paper, a test of polymer slurry grouting in planar fracture was firstly conducted in order to explore the diffusion characteristics of polymer slurry. The results show that the preheating temperature of polymer slurry has a great influence on the diffusion of slurry in fractures, which should be considered in the research of polymer fracture grouting. In addition, the slurry temperature is related to the chemical reaction of the polymer itself. However, the existing polymer fracture grouting models ignore the influence of temperature and the chemical reaction of the polymer slurry itself, which lack the rationality to reveal the diffusion behavior of the polymer slurry in fracture. Therefore, in this paper, a chemical reaction-fluid dynamic (CF) model was established. In addition, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm was used to obtain the chemical reaction kinetic parameters of the polymer slurry. Based on the CF model, the diffusion characteristics of the polymer slurry during the fracture diffusion process were calculated. The applicability of the CF model was verified by comparing the experimental data with the calculated results. Finally, the influence of polymer preheating temperature and ambient temperature on slurry fracture grouting behavior was explored by the CF model. The research in this article provides some theoretical reference for the design of grouting parameters in fracture grouting engineering.
A Literature Review on the Application of Digital Technology in Achieving Green Supply Chain Management
Authors: Wang Yi , Yang Yafei , Qin Zhaoxiang , Yang Yefei , Li Jun
Published: May 2023

Digitization and greening have become the characteristics of social and economic development. Digital technology, as a critical enabler of green supply chain management, has been widely considered and recognized by academia and business circles. With the advent of the Industry 4.0 era and the rapid development of digital technology, this emerging field of technology is constantly being updated, and so the academic research in this field is increasing but has yet to reach saturation. We systematically reviewed 144 relevant papers published in the last 14 years. We used qualitative analysis to classify, summarize and analyze the literature in two dimensions (i.e., digital technologies and green supply chain practices). Then, we continued the classification from each dimension. According to the basic characteristics, there are five digital technologies: the Internet of Things, big data, cloud computing, blockchain, and artificial intelligence. The green supply chain is divided into green procurement, green production, green consumption, and green logistics according to the essential practices of the supply chain. This study explores which digital technologies are needed in a green supply chain. The study also discusses how these technologies can reduce the input of resources and energy and the emission of pollutants, finally improving the operating efficiency of the green supply chain, and achieving economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Tractors, Talk, Mindset, Mantras, Detachment, and Distraction: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Coping Strategies Used by Farmers in Canada
Authors: Thompson Rochelle , Hagen Briana N. M. , Jones-Bitton Andria
Published: May 2023

Characterized by high unpredictability and little control, everyday factors make farming one of the most stressful occupations globally. Indeed, farmers around the world and in Canada score more severely on measures of perceived stress and negative mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression, and suicide ideation among farmers is disproportionately high. Research investigating effective ways of coping with everyday stress within the time and workload constraints of farming is scarce. This mixed-methods study explores the ways farmers in Ontario and Canada cope with daily farming stressors. Qualitative data from 75 in-depth interviews with farmers and industry professionals in Ontario, Canada, were analyzed to investigate farming-specific coping strategies within the farming context. Quantitative survey responses from 1167 farmers across Canada to the 14-item Ways of Coping measure developed for the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 were analyzed to determine which coping strategies Canadian farmers use most in relation to the representative national population. The ways of coping endorsed by farmers are presented in this paper, including adaptations of positive coping strategies in the farming context. The descriptions of positive and negative coping strategies used provide direction for effective avenues to reduce stress and boost farmers’ well-being.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Practices on Customer Value Co-Creation and Perception in the Digital Context: A Case Study of Taiwan Bank Industry
Authors: Yang Shu , Huang Yidan , Chan Hsin-Yi , Yang Cheng-Hsueh
Published: May 2023

The rapid development of digitalization has introduced greater variability and trust-related risks to the banking industry. Enhancing customers’ perception of value co-creation with banks is a critical issue that requires attention. This study aims to explore the impact and mechanism of a bank’s social responsibility practices on its customers’ value co-creation in the digital context. A cross-level analysis model was developed and analyzed based on in-depth surveys of 30 bank managers and 262 valid customers. The results reveal that (1) CSR practices have no impact on customer value co-creation in the digital context; (2) CSR practices have a positive impact on customers’ perception of a company’s social responsibility; (3) customers’ perception of a company’s social responsibility has a positive impact on customer value co-creation; and (4) customers’ perception plays a mediating role between CSR practices and customer value co-creation. Although corporate social responsibility is becoming increasingly important in the current digital economy, our study found that it does not necessarily lead to more customer value co-creation. Banks must enable customers to perceive their CSR practices in order to foster value co-creation. This study has important implications for banking practitioners seeking to strengthen their social responsibility practices and create value with their customers in the digital era.
The Significant Contribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Nitrogen Heterocycles to Light Absorption in the Winter North China Plain
Authors: Cheng Yi , Mao Junfang , Bai Zhe , Zhang Wei , Zhang Linyuan , Chen Hui , Wang Lina , Li Ling , Chen Jianmin
Published: May 2023

By quantifying the absorption of black carbon (BC), brown carbon (BrC) and the lensing effect, we found that BrC dominates the total absorption at 450 nm, and the largest absorption contribution proportion of BrC could reach 78.3% during heavy pollution. The average absorption enhancement (Eabs) at 530 nm was only 1.38, indicating that BC is not coated well here. The average value of the absorption Ångstrom exponent (AAE) between 450 nm and 530 nm was 5.3, suggesting a high concentration of BrC in Wangdu. CHN+ was the greatest contributor to the light absorption of molecules detected in MSOC with a proportion of 12.2–22.4%, in which the polycyclic aromatic nitrogen heterocycles (PANHs) were the dominant compounds. The C6H5NO3 and its homologous series accounted for 3.0–11.3%, and the C15H9N and its homologous series, including one C16H11N and three C17H13N compounds, accounted for 5.1–12.3%. The absorption of these PANHs is comparable to that of nitro–aromatics, which should attract more attention to the impact of climate radiative forcing.
Influences of 13 Years New Conservation Management on Labile Soil Organic Carbon and Carbon Sequestration in Aggregates in Northeast China
Authors: Yang Yang , Kang Zhichao , Xu Guanghui , Cui Zhengwu , Yu Yong , Wang Yang , Lu Yongzheng
Published: May 2023

New conservation management (NCM) for summer maize monocultures might cause changes in the organic carbon composition when compared with conventional tillage (CT). To investigate the difference, the soil organic carbon (SOC) under 13 years of NCM and CT was studied in Northeast China. The NCM involved the use of a 40 cm and 160 cm narrow-wide row (maize was planted in the narrow row in two lines) with straw retained, but with no tillage and change in ridge direction. SOC in different soil aggregate size classes and labile organic carbon fractions at 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–40 cm depths were evaluated. The results showed that there was no significant difference in SOC content at a 0–10 cm depth, with values ranging from 19.9 to 21.1 g·kg−1 between two management systems. The contents of microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and light fraction organic carbon (LFOC) were significantly higher in NCM than in CT in the upper 10 cm. Among the labile organic carbon fractions, the light fraction organic C (LFOC) was the most sensitive to management change. The portion of macroaggregates (>0.25 mm) was higher under NCM than under CT and decreased with the increase in soil depth. NCM improved the organic carbon storage in aggregates 1–0.5 mm and reduced the organic carbon storage in microaggregates. It was concluded that NCM would be an effective and useful management choice for the enhancement of soil C sequestration in maize field systems in Northeast China.
Sustainable Innovation and Firm Performance Driven by FinTech Policies: Moderating Effect of Capital Adequacy Ratio
Authors: Wang Jian-Hang , Wu Yu-Hsien , Yang Phil Yihsing , Hsu Hsiang-Yi
Published: May 2023

This study empirically investigated the role played by government policy in the financial industry in promoting sustainable innovation, business performance, and risk management. An original dataset, comprising data from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ), Taiwan Patent Search System, and company annual reports from the period 2015–2019 was used to analyze the effects of government policy on the financial industry in Taiwan. The research results showed that a firm’s sustainable commitment is conducive to its business growth and does not increase its risk in the financial industry. The financial industry can report on FinTech news that highlights business growth, while companies with high capital adequacy rates are better equipped to manage the risks associated with innovation commitment. Financial companies are suggested to engage in sustainable innovation and thus improve their profitability. In addition, policymakers should mandate that financial companies increase their capital adequacy ratios, improve their risk-bearing capacity, and maintain financial market stability.
Determinants of Aboveground Carbon Storage of Woody Vegetation in an Urban–Rural Transect in Shanghai, China
Authors: Wei Yanyan , Jim Chi-Yung , Gao Jun , Zhao Min
Published: May 2023

Carbon storage of urban woody vegetation is crucial for climate change mitigation. Biomass structure and species composition have been shown to be important determinants of carbon storage in woody vegetation. In this study, allometric equations were used to estimate the aboveground carbon storage of urban woody vegetation along an urban–rural transect in Shanghai. A random forest model was developed to evaluate the importance scores and influence of species diversity, canopy cover, species evenness, and tree density on aboveground carbon storage. The results showed that tree density, canopy cover, species diversity, species evenness, and aboveground carbon storage of urban woody vegetation vary with the degree of urbanization and urban–rural environment. In addition, the Bayesian optimization algorithm optimized the random forest model parameters to enhance model accuracy, and good modeling results were demonstrated in the study. The R2 was at 0.61 in the testing phase and 0.78 in the training phase. The root mean square errors (RMSEs) were 0.84 Mg/ha of carbon in the testing phase and 0.57 Mg/ha in the training phase, which is indicative of a low error of the optimized model. Tree species diversity, canopy cover, species evenness, and tree density were found to correlate with aboveground carbon storage. Tree density was the most important contributor, followed by species diversity and canopy cover, and species evenness was the least effective for aboveground carbon storage. Meanwhile, the results of the partial dependence analysis indicated the combination of factors most conducive to aboveground carbon storage at a tree density of 2200 trees/ha, canopy cover of 50%, species diversity of 1.2, and species evenness of 0.8 in the transect. The findings provided practical recommendations for urban forest managers to adjust the structure and composition of woody vegetation to increase carbon storage capacity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
How Can the Development of Digital Economy Empower Green Transformation and Upgrading of the Manufacturing Industry?—A Quasi-Natural Experiment Based on the National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Zone in China
Authors: Gong Qiansheng , Wang Xiangyu , Tang Xi
Published: May 2023

Using the panel data of the manufacturing industry in 30 provinces of China from 2005 to 2021, this research takes the establishment of a Chinese national-level comprehensive big data pilot zone as a quasi-natural experiment, empirically analyzes the processing effect of digital economy development on the green transformation and upgrading of manufacturing industry by using a time-varying DID model. The results show that the development of the digital economy can significantly promote the green transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Further analysis reveals that the development of the digital economy has a significant effect on the green transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry in regions with low economic development levels and regions with high network development levels. The development of the digital economy can significantly stimulate the green technology innovation of enterprises and promote the upgrading of industrial structures so as to promote the green transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing agglomeration and environmental regulation intensity have moderating effects and threshold effects, respectively, on the impact of digital economy development on the green transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry.
Special Issue: Sustainable Early Childhood Education for the Sustainable Development of Aging China
Authors: Li Hui , Jiang Yong , Hong Xiumin , Luo Li
Published: May 2023

Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has entered a period of extremely low fertility and rapid aging, which poses a serious threat to its sustainable development [...]
Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity and Electrochemical Properties of Hematite Nanoparticles
Authors: Sagadevan Suresh , Sivasankaran Ramesh Poonchi , Lett J. Anita , Fatimah Is , Weldegebrieal Getu Kassegn , Léonard Estelle , Le Minh-Vien , Soga Tetsuo
Published: May 2023

The symmetric nano morphologies, asymmetric electronic structures, and as well as the heterojunctions of the developed photocatalytic systems perform a vital role in promoting light absorption, separation of electron and hole pairs and charge carrier transport to the surface when exposed to near-infrared (NIR) light. In this present work, we synthesized hematite (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) by a facile hydrothermal method and studied their structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties. Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the rhombohedral phase of the α-Fe2O3 NPs, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used to investigate symmetric and asymmetric stretching vibrations of the functional groups on the surface of the catalysts. The optical bandgap energy was estimated to be 2.25 eV using UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images indicated sphere like morphology. The oxidation and reduction properties of α-Fe2O3 NPs were analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The α-Fe2O3 NPs were utilized for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under natural sunlight. The experimental results demonstrate that the degradation efficiency was achieved at 33% in 2 h, and the pseudo-first-order rate constant was calculated to be 0.0033 min−1.
General Time-Symmetric Mean-Field Forward-Backward Doubly Stochastic Differential Equations
Authors: Zhao Nana , Wang Jinghan , Shi Yufeng , Zhu Qingfeng
Published: May 2023

In this paper, a general class of time-symmetric mean-field stochastic systems, namely the so-called mean-field forward-backward doubly stochastic differential equations (mean-field FBDSDEs, in short) are studied, where coefficients depend not only on the solution processes but also on their law. We first verify the existence and uniqueness of solutions for the forward equation of general mean-field FBDSDEs under Lipschitz conditions, and we obtain the associated comparison theorem; similarly, we also verify those results about the backward equation. As the above two comparison theorems’ application, we prove the existence of the maximal solution for general mean-field FBDSDEs under some much weaker monotone continuity conditions. Furthermore, under appropriate assumptions we prove the uniqueness of the solution for the equations. Finally, we also obtain a comparison theorem for coupled general mean-field FBDSDEs.
New Numerical Results on Existence of Volterra–Fredholm Integral Equation of Nonlinear Boundary Integro-Differential Type
Authors: HamaRashid Hawsar , Srivastava Hari Mohan , Hama Mudhafar , Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Al-Sarairah Eman , Almusawa Musawa Yahya
Published: May 2023

Symmetry is presented in many works involving differential and integral equations. Whenever a human is involved in the design of an integral equation, they naturally tend to opt for symmetric features. The most common examples are the Green functions and linguistic kernels that are often designed symmetrically and regularly distributed over the universe of discourse. In the current study, the authors report a study on boundary value problem (BVP) for a nonlinear integro Volterra–Fredholm integral equation with variable coefficients and show the existence of solution by applying some fixed-point theorems. The authors employ various numerical common approaches as the homotopy analysis methodology established by Liao and the modified Adomain decomposition technique to produce a numerical approximate solution, then graphical depiction reveals that both methods are most effective and convenient. In this regard, the authors address the requirements that ensure the existence and uniqueness of the solution for various variations of nonlinearity power. The authors also show numerical examples of how to apply our primary theorems and test the convergence and validity of our suggested approach.
Explicit K-Symplectic and Symplectic-like Methods for Charged Particle System in General Magnetic Field
Authors: Lu Yulan , Yuan Junbin , Tian Haoyang , Qin Zhengwei , Chen Siyuan , Zhou Hongji
Published: May 2023

We propose explicit K-symplectic and explicit symplectic-like methods for the charged particle system in a general strong magnetic field. The K-symplectic methods are also symmetric. The charged particle system can be expressed both in a canonical and a non-canonical Hamiltonian system. If the three components of the magnetic field can be integrated in closed forms, we construct explicit K-symplectic methods for the non-canonical charged particle system; otherwise, explicit symplectic-like methods can be constructed for the canonical charged particle system. The symplectic-like methods are constructed by extending the original phase space and obtaining the augmented separable Hamiltonian, and then by using the splitting method and the midpoint permutation. The numerical experiments have shown that compared with the higher order implicit Runge-Kutta method, the explicit K-symplectic and explicit symplectic-like methods have obvious advantages in long-term energy conservation and higher computational efficiency. It is also shown that the influence of the parameter ε in the general strong magnetic field on the Runge-Kutta method is bigger than the two kinds of symplectic methods.
Microcystins and Cyanobacterial Contaminants in the French Small-Scale Productions of Spirulina (Limnospira sp.)
Authors: Pinchart Pierre-Etienne , Leruste Amandine , Pasqualini Vanina , Mastroleo Felice
Published: May 2023

Spirulina is consumed worldwide, in the form of food or dietary supplements, for its nutritional value and health potential. However, these products may contain cyanotoxins, including hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs), produced by cyanobacterial contaminants. The French spirulina market has the particularity of being supplied half-locally by approximately 180 small-scale spirulina production farms. Data about this particular production and possible contaminations with other cyanobacteria and MCs are scarce. Thus, we collected the results of MC analyses and total cyanobacteria counts, carried out between 2013 and 2021, from 95 French spirulina producers who agreed to share their data. These data consisted of MC concentrations determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 623 dry spirulina samples and 105 samples of spirulina cultures. In addition, potentially unsafe samples of dry spirulina were further investigated through mass spectrometry, as duplicate analysis. We confirmed that the situation of the French spirulina production stayed within the safe regulatory level in terms of MC levels. On the other hand, the inventory of cyanobacterial contaminants, based on 539 count results, included 14 taxa. We present their prevalence, interannual evolution and geographical distribution. We also suggested improvements in cultivation practices to limit their propagation.
Establishment and Application of a Triplex Real-Time RT-PCR Assay for Differentiation of PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV
Authors: Hou Wenwen , Fan Maodi , Zhu Zhenbang , Li Xiangdong
Published: May 2023

Porcine viral diarrhea is very common in clinical practice and has caused huge losses to the pig industry. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine rotavirus (PoRV), and porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) are important pathogens of porcine viral diarrhea. Co-infection situations among these three viruses in clinics are common, which increases the difficulty of differential diagnosis. Currently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is commonly used to detect pathogens. TaqMan real-time PCR is more sensitive than conventional PCR and has better specificity and accuracy. In this study, a triplex real-time RT-PCR assay based on TaqMan probes was developed for differential detection of PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV. The triplex real-time RT-PCR assay developed in this study could not detect unrelated pathogens and showed satisfactory specificity, sensitivity, repeatability, and reproducibility with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.0 × 101 copies/μL. Sixteen clinical samples were used to compare the results of the commercial RT-PCR kit and the triplex RT-PCR for PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV detection, and the results were completely consistent. A total of 112 piglet diarrhea samples collected from Jiangsu province were next used to study the local prevalence of PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV. The positive rates of PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV detected by the triplex real-time RT-PCR were 51.79% (58/112), 59.82% (67/112), and 2.68% (3/112), respectively. The co-infections of PEDV and PoRV were frequent (26/112, 23.21%), followed by the co-infections of PDCoV and PoRV (2/112, 1.79%). This study established a useful tool for simultaneous differentiation of PEDV, PoRV, and PDCoV in practice and provided valuable information on the prevalence of these diarrhea viral pathogens in Jiangsu province.
PRRSV Elimination in a Farrow-to-Finish Pig Herd Using Herd Closure and Rollover Approach
Authors: Hu Ruiming , Zhang Tiansheng , Lai Rongbin , Ding Zhen , Zhuang Yu , Liu Hao , Cao Huabin , Gao Xiaona , Luo Junrong , Chen Zheng , Zhang Caiying , Liu Ping , Guo Xiaoquan , Hu Guoliang , Ding Nengshui , Deng Shunzhou
Published: May 2023

It is well established that PRRSV elimination is an effective strategy for PRRS control, but published reports concerning successful PRRSV elimination cases in farrow-to-finishing herds are rare. Here, we have reported a successful PRRSV elimination case in a farrow-to-finish herd by employing a “herd closure and rollover” approach with some modifications. Briefly, the introduction of pigs to the herd was stopped and normal production processes were maintained until the herd reached a PRRSV provisional negative status. During the herd closure, strict biosecurity protocols were implemented to prevent transmission between nursery pigs and sows. In the current case, introducing gilts before herd closure and live PRRSV exposure were skipped. In the 23rd week post-outbreak, the pre-weaning piglets started to show 100% PRRSV negativity in qPCR tests. In the 27th week, nursery and fattening barns fully launched depopulation. In the 28th week, nursery and fattening houses reopened and sentinel gilts were introduced into gestation barns. Sixty days post-sentinel gilt introduction, the sentinel pigs maintained being PRRSV antibody negative, manifesting that the herd matched the standard of the provisional negative status. The production performance of the herd took 5 months to bounce back to normal. Overall, the current study provided additional information for PRRSV elimination in farrow-to-finish pig herds.
California Serogroup Viruses in a Changing Canadian Arctic: A Review
Authors: Snyman Jumari , Snyman Louwrens P. , Buhler Kayla J. , Villeneuve Carol-Anne , Leighton Patrick A. , Jenkins Emily J. , Kumar Anil
Published: May 2023

The Arctic is warming at four times the global rate, changing the diversity, activity and distribution of vectors and associated pathogens. While the Arctic is not often considered a hotbed of vector-borne diseases, Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and Snowshoe Hare virus (SSHV) are mosquito-borne zoonotic viruses of the California serogroup endemic to the Canadian North. The viruses are maintained by transovarial transmission in vectors and circulate among vertebrate hosts, both of which are not well characterized in Arctic regions. While most human infections are subclinical or mild, serious cases occur, and both JCV and SSHV have recently been identified as leading causes of arbovirus-associated neurological diseases in North America. Consequently, both viruses are currently recognised as neglected and emerging viruses of public health concern. This review aims to summarise previous findings in the region regarding the enzootic transmission cycle of both viruses. We identify key gaps and approaches needed to critically evaluate, detect, and model the effects of climate change on these uniquely northern viruses. Based on limited data, we predict that (1) these northern adapted viruses will increase their range northwards, but not lose range at their southern limits, (2) undergo more rapid amplification and amplified transmission in endemic regions for longer vector-biting seasons, (3) take advantage of northward shifts of hosts and vectors, and (4) increase bite rates following an increase in the availability of breeding sites, along with phenological synchrony between the reproduction cycle of theorized reservoirs (such as caribou calving) and mosquito emergence.
Public’s Experience with an Online Reservation System for Residual COVID-19 Vaccines and the Potential for Increasing the Actual Vaccination Rate
Authors: Lee Seonah , Kim Suhyun
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to investigate the public’s experience of online reservation of residual COVID-19 vaccines in an additional vaccination program. Online reservation was used to predict the vaccination rate. A sample of 620 participants completed the online survey between July and August 2021. About 38% of the participants made the online reservation. About 91% had a vaccination intention. Online reservations showed significant differences in their distribution according to age group, educational level, past flu shot experience, and COVID-19 vaccination intention. A negative experience was the most common response, which was mostly attributed to the difficulty in making an online reservation due to reservations being full. Positive experiences included updated information and notifications on the residual vaccines available, being able to choose a vaccination clinic, and the ease of making, changing, and canceling a reservation. About 72% reported the positive effect of residual vaccine usage on herd immunity. The results of this study suggest that when developing another online reservation program for vaccination, it is necessary to consider and address the negative experiences of the public with online reservations. The additional vaccinations may have resulted in an increased vaccination rate. Vaccination reservations can be used as an indicator to predict the actual vaccination rate and as a measure of a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination.
Harnessing the Power of Collaboration to Expand the Coverage and Equity of COVID-19 Vaccinations in India: A Community Collaboration Model
Authors: Soni Gopal Krishna , Seth Surbhi , Arora Sonal , Singh Kapil , Kumari Amrita , Kanagat Natasha , Fields Rebecca
Published: May 2023

Early in 2021, India embarked on the uphill journey of the COVID-19 vaccination of the largest population group in the world in a prioritized manner and in the shortest possible time. Considering the endless variety of geography and diverse socio-economic demographic, religious, and community contexts, there was a high likelihood of certain population subgroups with known vulnerabilities facing inequities, which were anticipated to be further accentuated by a digital divide. This necessitated devising solutions for such communities in a localized manner to aid the local government in breaking the service access and uptake barriers with an inclusive approach. To bridge this vital gap, the Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project implemented a three-tiered collaboration, viz., government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and a wide range of vulnerable and at-risk communities, utilizing knowledge exchange and use of data. The project implemented localization strategies through the NGOs for community engagement in conjunction with government vaccination teams to universalize COVID-19 vaccination uptake up to the last mile. The collaboration resulted in reaching close to 50 million beneficiaries through messaging and facilitated the administration of more than 14 million vaccine doses, including 6.1 million doses for vulnerable and marginalized communities in 18 States and Union territories in India, along with suggesting implications for public health practice and research.
Improved Survival of a HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patient Following a Personalized Peptide Immunization
Authors: Schönharting Wolfgang , Roehnisch Tim , Manoochehri Mehdi , Christoph Jan , Sieger Marie , Nogueira Mauro , Martos-Contreras Mari Carmen , Kunz Meik
Published: May 2023

Cancer neoantigens that arise from somatic mutations have emerged as important targets for personalized immunization. Here, we report an improved overall survival of a HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patient using a bioinformatic-based personalized peptide immunization called BITAP (BioInformatic Tumor Address Peptides). The epitopes were predicted using our in-house bioinformatic pipeline, and the immunogenicity was tested by IFN-γ ELISPOT and intracellular cytokine staining assays. In total, a significant peptide-specific T-cell response was detected against 18 out of the 76 (≈24%) tested peptides. The patient’s follow-up by measuring serologic markers showed a significant reduction in the tumor marker levels following BITAP immunization. Along with standard treatment, the patient treated with the BITAP showed stable disease with a remarkably improved overall survival, and no serious treatment-related adverse effects. In conclusion, our findings suggest that BITAP immunization is feasible, and safe, and may induce tumor regressions in patients with HER2-positive subsets of breast cancer.
Femoral Neck Thickness Index as an Indicator of Proximal Femur Bone Modeling
Authors: Franco-Gonçalo Pedro , Pereira Ana Inês , Loureiro Cátia , Alves-Pimenta Sofia , Filipe Vítor , Gonçalves Lio , Colaço Bruno , Leite Pedro , McEvoy Fintan , Ginja Mário
Published: May 2023

The alteration in the shape of the femoral neck is an important radiographic sign for scoring canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Previous studies have reported that the femoral neck thickness (FNT) is greater in dogs with hip joint dysplasia, becoming progressively thicker with disease severity. The main objective of this work was to describe a femoral neck thickness index (FNTi) to quantify FNT and to study its association with the degree of CHD using the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) scheme. A total of 53 dogs (106 hips) were randomly selected for this study. Two examiners performed FNTi estimation to study intra- and inter-examiner reliability and agreement. The paired t-test, the Bland-Altman plots, and the intraclass correlation coefficient showed excellent agreement and reliability between the measurements of the two examiners and the examiners’ sessions. All joints were scored in five categories by an experienced examiner according to FCI criteria. The results from examiner 1 were compared between FCI categories. Hips that were assigned an FCI grade of A (n = 19), B (n = 23), C (n = 24), D (n = 24), and E (n = 16) had a mean ± standard deviation FNTi of 0.809 ± 0.024, 0.835 ± 0.044, 0.868 ± 0.022, 0.903 ± 0.033, and 0.923 ± 0.068, respectively (ANOVA, p < 0.05). Therefore, these results show that FNTi is a parameter capable of evaluating proximal femur bone modeling and that it has the potential to enrich conventional CHD scoring criteria if incorporated into a computer-aided diagnosis capable of detecting CHD.
Use of Extracted Proteins from Oak Leaves as Bio-Coagulant for Water and Wastewater Treatment: Optimization by a Fractional Factorial Design
Authors: Benalia Abderrezzaq , Chaibraa Walid , Djeghar Sara , Derbal Kerroum , Khalfaoui Amel , Mahfouf Asma , Bouchareb Raouf , Panico Antonio , Pizzi Antonio
Published: May 2023

The present work sheds light on the potentiality of proteins extracted from oak (Quercus robur) leaves to treat both drinking water and industrial oily wastewater. The work was structured in three steps: firstly, oak leaves in powder form were analyzed by FTIR, XRD and SEM, thus showing the presence of proteins acting as bio-coagulants; secondly, an experimental design was conducted. According to the design of experiences based on fractional design (28−4), the highest protein concentration (4.895 mg/g) was obtained for the following operating parameters: no filtration, pH of 12, temperature of 20 °C, stirring speed of 300 rpm, stirring time of 60 min, maceration time of 4 h, centrifugation speed of 400 rpm, centrifugation time of 10 min. Finally, a jar test apparatus was used to study the effects of proteins from oak leaves on the characteristics of both drinking water and industrial oily wastewater. In drinking water, the turbidity was reduced from 15.7 to 4.82 NTU when 0.098 mg/L of oak leaves protein was added, thus satisfying the requirements of the national drinking water standards; whereas, in industrial oily wastewater turbidity, total suspended solids, chemical oxygen demand and organic matter were reduced by 96.87, 89.86, 96.39 and 46.28%, respectively, when 0.538 mg/L of oak leaves protein was added. This study opens new perspectives related to the research and development of organic coagulants applicable to industrial wastewater treatment.
Interconnected River–Lake Project Decreased CO2 and CH4 Emission from Urban Rivers
Authors: Wang Chunlin , Xv Yuhan , Li Siyue , Li Xing
Published: May 2023

Urban riverine networks are hotspots of CO2 and CH4 emissions, due to river impoundment and pollution. The river–lake connection is considered to be an important way to improve the ecological environment of urban rivers; however, its impact on CO2 and CH4 emissions from urban rivers and regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. Rivers and lakes have been studied separately by lots of traditional studies. In this study, we investigated the concentration and emission of CO2 and CH4 from March 2021 to December 2021 in an interconnected river–lake system in Central China. We found that the urban river–lake system was a hotspot of CO2 and CH4 emissions. CO2 and CH4 emissions from urban rivers were much higher than those from the lakes, which are 2.7 times and 11.9 times that of lakes, respectively. The correlation analysis indicated that the spatial variation of CO2 and CH4 emissions was determined by nutrient content. The abundant nutrients promoted microbial growth and consumed dissolved oxygen (DO), thus resulting in high emissions of CO2 and CH4 in the isolated urban rivers (UR). The average CO2 and CH4 emissions of urban rivers are 991.56 and 14.82 mmol m−2 d−1, respectively. The river–lake connection decreased the nutrients of urban rivers connected to lakes (LUR). The moderate nutrients wreaked in situ respiration, exhibiting moderate CO2 emission in the LUR. The average CO2 emission of LUR is 543.49 mmol m−2 d−1. The river–lake connection increased the DO concentrations in the LUR, inhibited methanogenesis, and enhanced CH4 oxidation, reducing CH4 emission from LUR sharply. The average CH4 emission of LUR is 1.26 mmol m−2 d−1. A correlation analysis showed that the seasonal variations of CO2 and CH4 emissions were controlled by DO and T. Hence, the highest emissions of CO2 were observed in the spring and the lowest in the winter, and the CO2 emissions in spring were 10.7 times that in winter. The highest emissions of CH4 were observed in the summer and the lowest in the winter, and the CH4 emissions in summer were 6.6 times those in winter. The connection of urban rivers and lakes changes the environmental factors, thereby varying the production and emission of greenhouse gases. This study advanced the knowledge of the greenhouse gas emission response to the river–lake connection, providing the theoretical basis for greenhouse gas emission reduction from urban rivers.
Correction: Alawamleh et al. Wastewater Management Using Coagulation and Surface Adsorption through Different Polyferrics in the Presence of TiO2-g-PMAA Particles. Water 2023, 15, 145
Authors: Alawamleh Heba Saed Kariem , Mousavi Seyedsahand , Ashoori Danial , Salman Hayder Mahmood , Zahmatkesh Sasan , Sillanpää Mika
Published: May 2023

In the original publication [...]
Machine Learning Algorithms for the Estimation of Water Quality Parameters in Lake Llanquihue in Southern Chile
Authors: Rodríguez-López Lien , Bustos Usta David , Bravo Alvarez Lisandra , Duran-Llacer Iongel , Lami Andrea , Martínez-Retureta Rebeca , Urrutia Roberto
Published: May 2023

The world’s water ecosystems have been affected by various human activities. Artificial intelligence techniques, especially machine learning, have become an important tool for predicting the water quality of inland aquatic ecosystems. As an excellent biological indicator, chlorophyll-a was studied to determine the state of water quality in Lake Llanquihue, located in southern Chile. A 31-year time series (1989 to 2020) of data collected in situ was used to determine the evolution of limnological parameters at eight spaced stations covering all of the main points of the lake, and the year, month, day, and hour time intervals were selected. Using machine learning techniques, out of eight estimation algorithms that were applied with real data to estimate chlorophyll-a, three models showed better performance (XGBoost, LightGBM, and AdaBoost). The results for the best models show excellent performance, with a coefficient of determination between 0.81 and 0.99, a root-mean-square error of between 0.03 ug/L and 0.46 ug/L, and a mean bias error of between 0.01 and 0.27 ug/L. These models are scalable and applicable to other lake systems of interest that present similar conditions and can support decision making related to water resources.
Regulation of Flood Dynamics by a Check Dam System in a Typical Ecological Construction Watershed on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Zhao Binhua , Xin Tao , Li Peng , Ma Fangming , Gao Bei , Fan Rong
Published: May 2023

The check dam is the most important engineering measure in place for controlling water and preventing soil loss in the gully on the Loess Plateau. This study assesses Jiuyuangou, a typical governance watershed of the Loess Plateau, and studies the influence that the check dam system has on the dynamics of sub-storm floods over different return periods by coupling the one-dimensional hydrodynamic MIKE 11 model with the distributed hydrological MIKE SHE model. This research demonstrates the following: The check dam system significantly reduces a flood’s peak flow and total volume in the basin and also increases the flood duration. The former effects are greater than the latter effect. The flood peak’s rate of reduction, the flood volume’s rate of reduction and the flood duration’s rate of increase all increase linearly as the number of check dams increase. Of all dam systems, the check dam has the best linear response to a flood peak’s rate of reduction. The check dam system reduces the flow rate of flood runoff in the basin. After the dam is built, the average flow rate in the basin decreases by 54%. The runoff velocity of the flood is reduced by different degrees over different return periods and the average peak value decreases compared with a scenario lacking any kind of dam. The check dams have a greater impact on the runoff velocity over a shorter return period, with the velocity being 58.56% slower. Finally, the check dam system significantly reduces the intensity of erosion in the middle and lower reaches of the watershed, and it changes the distribution of the intensity compared to the original channel runoff. These findings are expected to provide a scientific basis for guiding the construction and high-quality development of check dams on the Loess Plateau. In addition, check dam construction in basins can trap water, sediment and nutrients, and it can also contribute to ecosystem diversity and maintaining ecosystem imbalances around the world.
Data Driven Methods for Finding Coefficients of Aerodynamic Drag and Rolling Resistance of Electric Vehicles
Authors: Van Greunen Ryan , Oosthuizen Christiaan
Published: May 2023

This research investigated an alternate method for establishing the complex coefficients used in an electric vehicle’s mathematical energy consumption model. While other methods for creating electric vehicle energy models exist, it would be beneficial to have a rapid and inexpensive technique that remains accurate. Producing a mathematical energy model for such a vehicle has the challenge of determining its aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance coefficients. Currently and most often, expensive and tedious (time-consuming) methods are used to find these coefficients. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD), wind tunnel testing, and extensive mathematics make this objective challenging. For this work, a solar-powered electric vehicle provided the source data to derive its coefficients cost-effectively and efficiently. Data were collected during a road test of the solar electric vehicle from South Africa to Namibia stretching over 2000 km, in which all required energy variables were recorded. The collected data were used in an optimisation routine to establish the two coefficients by minimising the actual and modelled energy consumption error and controlling the driving speed. The outcome of the optimisation routine produced accurate coefficients with a final error value of less than 5% when applied to a validation data set not used during optimisation. With minor modifications, this method may be integrated into any electric vehicle computer system to autonomously identify its two hard-to-find coefficients while driving, which can be used to provide an accurate and realistic driving range estimation to the driver.
Aplikasi Dukungan Pelajar Pandemi Covid Jakarta
Authors: Masya Fajar , Nugroho Adi Putro
Published: May 2023

The Corona virus has now infected more than 100 countries in the world. WHO has also declared the Corona virus a pandemic. This means that the Corona virus has spread to almost the entire world, including Indonesia. The virus is spread through human interaction from an infected person to another through droplets from the nose or mouth when the infected person coughs, sneezes and even exhales. This condition made the Indonesian government immediately make a decision to break the chain of the spread of COVID-19 by carrying out activities from home including learning system activities in a network or called online as an effort to prevent transmission of the Corona Virus. From the impact of the Covid pandemic, it has a very bad impact on underprivileged students, because there are still many students who do not have facilities for online learning or e-learning. Therefore, the author intends to provide support for students facing the Covid 19 pandemic in facilitating the rental of gadget and laptop equipment as well as individual and collective internet packages for Citizen Homes (RW) at affordable prices and open acceptance of donations gadget or laptop for people who want to help students through based applications. web with the Codeigniter framework, namely "NRS" which will be described in this report with the title "MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR PANDEMI COVID STUDENT SUPPORT WEB-BASED" which later students can access the web through the browser and the data. will be stored in the mysql database
PERANCANGAN ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE SISTEM INFORMASI AKADEMIK MENGGUNAKAN TOGAF ADM PADA PERGURUAN TINGGI
Authors: Nurrasyid Achmad Adytiya , Putra Yeffry Handoko
Published: May 2023

Penggunaan sebuah sistem informasi di lingkungan organisasi terutama perguruan tinggi merupakan sesuatu yang sangat dibutuhkan dan penerapannya bukanlah sesuatu hal yang mudah untuk dilakukan. Penerapan sistem informasi di perguruan tinggi membutuhkan perencanaan yang harus matang dan terstruktur untuk menghasilkan sebuah rancangan sesuai kebutuhan, tujuan dan maksud perguruan tinggi tersebut. Untuk merancang sistem informasi dalam penelitian ini yaitu dengan menggunakan sebuah framework yaitu, TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework). Penelitian ini akan memaparkan perancangan sistem informasi pada Bagian Administrasi Akademik dan Kemahasiswaan (BAAK) STMIK Widya Cipta Dharma yang menghubungkan sistem informasi ke berbagai bidang yang terkait dengan menggunakan framework TOGAF. Penelitian ini sepenuhnya mengarah pada fase-fase TOGAF ADM (Architecture Development Method) dalam merancang sebuah enterprise architecture sistem informasi akademik untuk mengelola bisnis pada BAAK STMIK Widya Cipta Dharma. Tahapan penelitian ini terdiri dari kajian literatur, pengumpulan data, premilinary, architecture vision, business architecture, information system architecture, technology architecture, opportunities and solutions dan migration planning. Hasil dari perancangan ini nantinya akan menghasilkan sebuah sistem informasi yang menghubungkan dari beberapa proses bisnis yang ada di STMIK Widya Cipta Dharma. Sistem informasi yang dirancang pada penelitian ini digunakan untuk mempermudah proses bisnis pada BAAK STMIK Widya Cipta Dharma.