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Found 6334 publications

The Obligations of the States in Respect of Climate Change Before the International Court of Justice

Vanda Lamm

Publication Name: Journal of Environmental Law

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 36

Issue: 1

Page Range: 117-124

Description:

This analysis discusses the advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in April 2023 on the obligations of states in respect of climate change. Although the ICJ’s decision cannot be expected before the autumn of 2024, important procedural anomalies have arisen, which require due regard to ensure that the ICJ can provide its advisory opinion in possession of sufficient information. In particular, firstly, not all Small Island Developing States have been notified by the ICJ and invited to submit written statements and, secondly, the amicus curiae provided by NGOs will be not accessible to the public. This analysis argues that all Small Island Developing States should have the opportunity to take part in the proceedings and the amicus curiae submitted by NGOs to the ICJ should receive proper publicity.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1093/jel/eqad033

Functional Outcome and Safety of Endoscopic Treatment Options for Benign Prostatic Obstruction (BPO) in Patients ≥ 75 Years of Age

Peter Törzsök Anna Maria Dieplinger David Oswald Lukas Lusuardi Quirin Zangl Maximilian Pallauf Susanne Deininger Christian Ramesmayer Christian Deininger Eva Erne Christian Eiben Wanda Lauth Julia Peters

Publication Name: Journal of Clinical Medicine

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 6

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Background: The selection of suitable patients for the surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO) is a challenge in persons ≥75 years of age. Methods: After a systematic literature search of PubMed, 22 articles were included in this review. Clinical and functional parameters were evaluated statistically. Results: The mean age of the patients was ≥79 years. The mean duration of postoperative catheterization ranged between 2 (d) (ThuLEP, thulium laser enucleation of the prostate) and 4.4 days (TURP, transurethral resection of the prostate). Complication rates ranged between 6% (HoLAP, holmium laser ablation of the prostate) and 34% (PVP, photoselective vaporization of the prostate); the maximum rate of severe complications was 4% (TURP). The mean postoperative maximal urinary flow (Qmax) in mL/sec. ranged between 12.9 mL/sec. (HoLAP) and 19.8 mL/sec (Hol-TUIP, holmium laser transurethral incision of the prostate). The mean quality of life (QoL) score fell from 4.7 ± 0.9 to 1.8 ± 0.7 (HoLEP), from 4.1 ± 0.4 to 1.9 ± 0.8 (PVP), from 5.1 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.2 (TURP), and from 4 to 1 (ThuVEP, thulium laser vapoenucleation of the prostate). Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) revealed a positive linear correlation between age and inferior functional outcome (higher postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) [r = 0.4175]), higher overall complication rates (r = 0.5432), and blood transfusions (r = 0.4474) across all surgical techniques. Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides the summary estimates for perioperative and postoperative functional outcome and safety of endoscopic treatment options for BPO in patients ≥ 75 years of age. Of particular importance is that all surgical techniques significantly improve the postoperative quality of life of patients in this age group compared to their preoperative quality of life.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/jcm13061561

Yield Prediction Using NDVI Values from GreenSeeker and MicaSense Cameras at Different Stages of Winter Wheat Phenology

G. Milics Viktoria Vona Gabor Kukorelli Zoltán Varga A. J. Kovács István Mihály Kulmány Laszló Bede Gergely Teschner Sándor Zsebő Dávid Stencinger

Publication Name: Drones

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 8

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This work aims to compare and statistically analyze Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values provided by GreenSeeker handheld crop sensor measurements and calculate NDVI values derived from the MicaSense RedEdge-MX Dual Camera, to predict in-season winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield, improving a yield prediction model with cumulative growing degree days (CGDD) and days from sowing (DFS) data. The study area was located in Mosonmagyaróvár, Hungary. A small-scale field trial in winter wheat was constructed as a randomized block design including Environmental: N-135.3, P2O5-77.5, K2O-0; Balance: N-135.1, P2O5-91, K2O-0; Genezis: N-135, P2O5-75, K2O-45; and Control: N, P, K 0 kg/ha. The crop growth was monitored every second week between April and June 2022 and 2023, respectively. NDVI measurements recorded by GreenSeeker were taken at three pre-defined GPS points for each plot; NDVI values based on the MicaSense camera Red and NIR bands were calculated for the same points. Results showed a significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) between the Control and treated areas by GreenSeeker measurements and Micasense-based calculated NDVI values throughout the growing season, except for the heading stage. At the heading stage, significant differences could be measured by GreenSeeker. However, remotely sensed images did not show significant differences between the treated and Control parcels. Nevertheless, both sensors were found suitable for yield prediction, and 226 DAS was the most appropriate date for predicting winter wheat’s yield in treated plots based on NDVI values and meteorological data.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/drones8030088

Determination of the health-protective effect of ancient cereals and one possibility of increasing their functionality

E. Lakatos Székelyhidi Rita Beatrix Sik Anna Márkus

Publication Name: Cereal Research Communications

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 52

Issue: 1

Page Range: 247-253

Description:

This study aimed to examine the differences between the antioxidant capacity, and the total polyphenol content of the ancient grains namely Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) and Khorasan (Triticum turanicum) compared with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), furthermore attempt to create a functional loaf enriched with rosemary (Salvia Rosmarinus Spenn.). To achieve this goal, 1, 3, and 5% of rosemary were added to the loafs made of Einkorn, Khorasan, and common wheat flour, and then the changes in their antioxidant and polyphenol content were examined. Based on the spectrophotometric results, it can be said that the type of wheat clearly affects the amount of the tested components. In all cases, the loafs made from common wheat contained the least amount of antioxidants (0.74 mg AAE/g) and polyphenols (0.41 mg GAE/g). On the other hand, Khorasan loaves showed outstanding values in terms of their antioxidant (0.89 mg AAE/g) and polyphenol (0.68 mg GAE/g) content. Einkorn loaves contained smaller amounts of the tested antioxidants (0.71 mg AAE/g) and polyphenols (0.51 mg GAE/g), but they were still better than common wheat loaves. The addition of rosemary can significantly increase the amount of compounds with an antioxidant effect in bakery products, but care must be taken to preserve the favorable organoleptic properties. It has been proven that ancient grains have a more positive physiological effect than common wheat, and the health-protective properties of bakery products can be increased by adding herbs. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.)

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s42976-023-00384-4

Comparative Analysis of Following Distances in Different Adaptive Cruise Control Systems at Steady Speeds

Balázs Horváth Dilshad Mohammed

Publication Name: World Electric Vehicle Journal

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 15

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) systems have emerged as a significant advancement in automotive technology, promising safer and more efficient driving experiences. However, the performance of ACC systems can vary significantly depending on their type and underlying algorithms. This research presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of car-following distances in different types of Adaptive Cruise Control systems. We evaluate and compare three distinct categories of ACC systems using three different commercial vehicles brands. The study involves extensive real-world testing at Zalazone Proving Ground, to assess the performance of these systems under various driving conditions, including driving at multiple speeds and applying different car following scenarios. The study investigates how each ACC system manages the minimum following distances according to the type of ACC sensors in each tested vehicle. Our findings revealed that at low to medium ranges of constant driving speeds, there was an approximate linear increase in the average clearances between the two following vehicles for all applied scenarios, with comparatively shorter clearances obtained by the vision-based ACC system, while unstable measurements with a high level of dispersion for all ACC systems were observed at high range of driving speeds.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/wevj15030116

Investigating the Effect of Gear Ratio in the Case of Joint Multi-Objective Optimization of Electric Motor and Gearbox

György Istenes József Polák

Publication Name: Energies

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 5

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

In this paper, a software framework is presented through an application that is able to jointly optimize an electric motor and a gearbox for the design of a drive system for electric vehicles. The framework employs a global optimization method and uses both analytical and finite element method (FEM) models to evaluate the objective functions. The optimization process is supported by a statistical surrogate model, which allows a large reduction of runtime. An earlier version of this framework was only suitable for electric motor optimization. In the application presented in a previous paper, the motor of a belt-driven electric drive system was optimized. In this paper, the optimization of the same drive system is shown, but now with a combined optimization of a gear drive and motor. The objective functions of optimization are minimizing the total loss energy and the weight of the drive system. The optimization results are compared with previous results to demonstrate the further potential of joint optimization.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/en17051203

Effects of agro-climatic indices on wheat yield in arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid regions of Iran

Hossein Azadi Laszlo Vasa Jafar Kambouzia Mohammad Kheiri Sajjad Rahimi-Moghaddam Saghi Movahhed Moghaddam

Publication Name: Regional Environmental Change

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 24

Issue: 1

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

This study aimed to analyze the impact of variations of drought-related agro-climatic indices including cumulative precipitation, cumulative potential evapotranspiration, cumulative actual evapotranspiration, cumulative crop evapotranspiration, cumulative water stress, and cumulative water deficit during nine consecutive phenological stages (emergence to physiological maturity) on wheat yield in arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid regions of Iran during 1999–2018. Principal component analysis was used to recognize the main components that largely explained the variations of agro-climatic indices during different stages of the crop growing period. Then, the relationships between the major components, retrieved from principal component analysis, and the crop yield were assessed. Wheat irrigation requirements were also calculated to investigate the regional water supply–demand patterns during the crop growing period. The findings highlighted increasing impacts of cumulative precipitation, cumulative potential evapotranspiration, cumulative crop evapotranspiration, and cumulative actual evapotranspiration and decreasing impacts of cumulative water stress and deficit on wheat yield, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. The crop yield was more affected by variations of the agro-climatic indices during the reproductive phase than the vegetative phase. Accordingly, booting to flowering in the arid region, flowering in the sub-humid region, and stem elongation to booting in the semi-arid region were the most sensitive periods of wheat to agro-climatic indices variations. Wheat irrigation requirements in arid and semi-arid regions started earlier than in the sub-humid region. From the findings, it was concluded that adjusting the irrigation schedule based on wheat irrigation requirements during the wheat growing period could help farmers to achieve a favorable wheat yield.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.1007/s10113-023-02173-5

Bus Driver Head Position Detection Using Capsule Networks under Dynamic Driving Conditions

Áron Ballagi Szabolcs Fischer János Hollósi Gabor Kovacs Viktor Nagy

Publication Name: Computers

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 13

Issue: 3

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

Monitoring bus driver behavior and posture in urban public transport’s dynamic and unpredictable environment requires robust real-time analytics systems. Traditional camera-based systems that use computer vision techniques for facial recognition are foundational. However, they often struggle with real-world challenges such as sudden driver movements, active driver–passenger interactions, variations in lighting, and physical obstructions. Our investigation covers four different neural network architectures, including two variations of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) that form the comparative baseline. The capsule network (CapsNet) developed by our team has been shown to be superior in terms of efficiency and speed in facial recognition tasks compared to traditional models. It offers a new approach for rapidly and accurately detecting a driver’s head position within the wide-angled view of the bus driver’s cabin. This research demonstrates the potential of CapsNets in driver head and face detection and lays the foundation for integrating CapsNet-based solutions into real-time monitoring systems to enhance public transportation safety protocols.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/computers13030066

Current Challenges in Operation, Performance, and Maintenance of Photovoltaic Panels

Anton Rassõlkin Ádám Sleisz Peter Poór Pedro Arsénio Tamas Orosz Daniil Valme

Publication Name: Energies

Publication Date: 2024-03-01

Volume: 17

Issue: 6

Page Range: Unknown

Description:

The installed solar capacity in the European Union has expanded rapidly in recent years. The production of these plants is stochastic and highly dependent on the weather. However, many factors should be considered together to estimate the expected output according to the weather forecast so that these new PV plants can operate at maximum capacity. Plants must be operated in coordination with maintenance operations and considering actual energy market prices. Various methods have recently been developed in the literature, ranging from the most impactful artificial-intelligence-based generation estimation methods to various diagnostic and maintenance methods. Moreover, the optimal operational and maintenance strategy usually depends on market regulation, and there are many concerns related to the distribution system operator. This review article aims to summarize and illustrate the challenges of operating and maintaining solar power plants and the economic and technical importance of these problems.

Open Access: Yes

DOI: 10.3390/en17061306