bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Supply Chain Enablers and Barriers in the Agricultural Industry in the Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa
Authors: Lavhelani Phathutshedzo David , Nkondo Livhuwani Gladys
Published: August 2024

The purpose of the study was to examine the supply chain enablers and barriers in the agricultural industry of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. Interpretivism was the philosophical foundation of the study. The study was explorative, qualitative, and descriptive. The target population for this research comprised of personnel drawn from the agricultural industry in Limpopo Province. A non-probability purposive sampling method was employed to select 16 research participants. Primary data was gathered using a semi-structured interview guide. Atlas-ti 23 was utilized to analyze qualitative data. The results revealed that enabling factors were farmers’ collaboration, information sharing, and proper packaging. Factors hindering effective supply chain management processes included competition and inadequate resources. To achieve a competitive advantage, it is recommended that mills and storage facilities be located closer to suppliers and customers. In addition, training in change management and supply chain management (SCM) should be prioritised. Disaster response strategies must be established to address potential catastrophes and disease outbreaks. Marketing should include the provision of incentives and discounts as well as the adoption of more aggressive global marketing strategies to create viable export avenues for locally produced agricultural products.

Keywords: Barriers, Enablers, Information Sharing, Packaging, Supply Chain
Parenting Hurdles Experienced During Lockdown in South Africa: Eclectic Contexts
Authors: Sithole-Tetani Ntombophelo , Qotoyi Andile , Kang’ethe Simon Murote
Published: August 2024

Unequivocally, South Africa, amid an environment of paucity of resources, faces the arduous challenge of fighting the scourge of coronavirus. This has necessitated assessing the parenting hurdles experienced during the lockdown in eclectic contexts in South Africa. This article applied a review of the literature methodology. The researchers drew their literature from journal articles, monographs, and book chapters and used informal conversations amid their intuitive and experiential powers. The article established that South African families face parenting hurdles driven by the COVID-19 lockdown due to the following factors: Children and their parents driven to a state of duress; children facing various kinds of mistreatment; pecuniary dimensions; lockdown presenting states of distress to people generally; and a surge of gender-based violence. This article recommends that social service professionals such as psychologists, counsellors, and social workers be on the frontline in discharging various psychotherapeutic education to the communities. These researchers also recommend that the government and other community development practitioners emphasize the application of the tenets of ubuntu as a conflict resolution tool to reduce conflicts and afford the children qualitative parenting. This research provides some interventions for handling parenting during any other disruptions, such as the coronavirus-imposed lockdown.

Keywords: Parenting Hurdles, Lockdown, Coronavirus, Children, Ill-Treatment, Financial Factor
Extraction and characterization of biodiesel from waste cooking oil: An investigative approach based on the number of times used
Authors: Kharshiduzzaman M. , Hamja A. , Abedin M. J. , Al Abid A. , Rahman M.-N. , Shuvo K. R. , Hossain M. T.
Published: August 2024

In the era of rising atmospheric pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, environmentally sustainable energy sources are essential. This study seeks to address this challenge by examining the potential of biofuels, namely biodiesel derived from discarded waste cooking oil. The primary objective was to employ substantial quantities of wasted cooking oil, often generated by households and companies, in order to produce a biodiesel substitute that has a diminished environmental footprint in comparison to conventional diesel fuel. The procedure involved the synthesis of biodiesel through the transesterification of waste cooking oil samples, utilizing Methyl alcohol (CH3OH) and Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a catalyst. The collected biodiesel samples were analyzed for important parameters, such as kinematic viscosity, flash point, and density. The kinematic viscosity values for the 10th, 20th, and 30th samples were 5.59 centistokes, 5.46 centistokes, and 4.91 centistokes, respectively. The flash points were determined to be 164.4 �C, 165.4 �C, and 148.4 �C, with densities of 0.8889 g/cc, 0.8891 g/cc, and 0.8891 g/cc, respectively. This study conducts a comprehensive examination and comparison of the characteristics of several biodiesel samples to ascertain the most advantageous choice. Moreover, a comparative assessment is carried out to determine the environmental benefits of the biofuel produced, as compared to conventional diesel. The findings offer crucial perspectives for the discourse on sustainable energy sources, emphasizing the potential of utilizing waste cooking oil-derived biodiesel as a viable and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels. By transforming waste cooking oil into biodiesel and carefully assessing its properties during synthesis, this research takes an innovative method.
The Indexer
forty years ago (October 1984)
Authors: Bell Hazel K.
Published: August 2024

Hazel Bell, editor of
The Indexer
from 1978 to 1995, reflects on the content of the journal 40 years ago. In this issue, she travels back to the October 1984 issue, which she notes might have been presented as a themed issue on the subject of authors. Hazel’s reflections on past issues are a regular feature in the journal. You can look further back in time with the ‘
The Indexer
forty years ago’ series, which started in the September 2021 issue, or ‘
The Indexer
thirty years ago’ series, which was published from 1991 to 2008.
Impact of green economy efficiency on sustainable development: evidence from China
Authors: Fang Junzhi , Xiao Kexin , Zhang Qingyuan , Chen Junying
Published: August 2024

Increasing number of nations are moving to a green economy as a vital avenue to accomplish the objective of sustainable development, and China has made a mark among those countries. This study evaluated green economy efficiency (GEE) using the super slack-based measure (Super-SBM) model and empirically investigated the relationship between GEE and sustainable development (SD) using the mediation effect econometric model. The examination of this article led to the following results: (1) As China’s growth method was completing the transition of old and new drivers, its GEE and SD were both demonstrating a fluctuating increasing trend. (2) The influence of GEE on SD was nonlinear and exhibited an inverted U-shape, with moderate GEE encouraging SD and excessive GEE limiting SD. (3) The industrial structure upgrading (ISU) indicator had a substantial mediating role in the process of GEE influencing SD, where an increase in GEE improved ISU, which in turn promoted SD. Therefore, for improved SD, we need to comprehend the scale not to mindlessly pursue GEE, and should stress the function of ISU. Our results give vital insight for understanding the link between GEE and SD.
The concept and development of the circular economy
Authors: Skýpalová Jana
Published: August 2024

The current setting of the society on a linear economy is proving to be unsustainable in the long term. The solution to the situation is the circular economy [CE]. The concept of CE has garnered attention not only in the public sector but also in the business environment and academic research in recent decades. It is young concept, what is reflected in its unclear theoretical foundations and the fact that the literature on this topic is not sufficiently explored. Understanding these theoretical foundations is crucial for shaping the concept of CE and its application in practice, as well as for combating negative phenomena such as greenwashing. This paper focuses on identifying key themes related to the theory of CE, including the definition of CE, scientific literature, the historical development of CE, theoretical framework, implementation forms of CE, and the R principles. Analysis of these themes provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in the field of CE and serves as a basis for further research and discussions in this area.
Phenological, ecological, and demographic data of the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) population from southern Catalonia (Spain)
Authors: Giner Guillem , Montori Albert , Franch Marc
Published: August 2024

Studies on the slow worm (Anguis fragilis) in the Iberian Peninsula have primarily focused on northern and north-western populations, with limited data, based mainly on distribution short notes, on the north-eastern populations in Spain. This study examines the ecology, demography, and phenology of a slow worm population located at a suboptimal site near the southern edge of its distribution range on the Iberian Peninsula, characterized by a Mediterranean climate, in southwestern Europe. The study area encompasses 2.9 hectares in Tarragona Province, Spain, at an altitude of 990 m. Sixteen sampling stations were established to cover all available habitats. In this population, adults comprised 73.73% (n = 87) of individuals, with a sex ratio (♂♂/♂♂+♀♀) of 0.44. Of the captured individuals, 46.61% (n = 55) exhibited non-intact tails. The estimated apparent survival probabilities during the study period (1.5 years) were 0.76 (0.54, 0.94) for immatures, 0.79 (0.29, 0.95) for males, and 0.83 (0.68, 0.96) for females. Population density was estimated at 16.11 ind./ha (7.78, 45.42) for immatures, 44.39 ind./ha (30.38, 72.57) for males, and 64.08 ind./ha (35.35, 129.93) for females. The activity period extends from March to October, with males emerging from hibernation earlier than females, peaking in May. Female emergence occurs one month later, peaking in June. A total of 41.18% of captured males had recent scars and wounds, indicative of fighting during the mating season from mid-April to mid-June. Pregnant females were observed from mid-May to early September, with a peak incidence in June, which is an extended period compared to other European populations at similar altitudes and latitudes.
Addressing limitations of the K-means clustering algorithm: outliers, non-spherical data, and optimal cluster selection
Authors: khan Iliyas Karim , Daud Hanita Binti , Zainuddin Nooraini binti , Sokkalingam Rajalingam , Abdussamad  , Museeb Abdul , Inayat Agha
Published: August 2024

Clustering is essential in data analysis, with K-means clustering being widely used for its simplicity and efficiency. However, several challenges can affect its performance, including the handling of outliers, the transformation of non-spherical data into a spherical form, and the selection of the optimal number of clusters. This paper addressed these challenges by developing and enhancing specific models. The primary objective was to improve the robustness and accuracy of K-means clustering in the presence of these issues. To handle outliers, this research employed the winsorization method, which uses threshold values to minimize the influence of extreme data points. For the transformation of non-spherical data into a spherical form, the KROMD method was introduced, which combines Manhattan distance with a Gaussian kernel. This approach ensured a more accurate representation of the data, facilitating better clustering performance. The third objective focused on enhancing the gap statistic for selecting the optimal number of clusters. This was achieved by standardizing the expected value of reference data using an exponential distribution, providing a more reliable criterion for determining the appropriate number of clusters. Experimental results demonstrated that the winsorization method effectively handles outliers, leading to improved clustering stability. The KROMD method significantly enhanced the accuracy of converting non-spherical data into spherical form, achieving an accuracy level of 0.83 percent and an execution time of 0.14 per second. Furthermore, the enhanced gap statistic method outperformed other techniques in selecting the optimal number of clusters, achieving an accuracy of 93.35 percent and an execution time of 0.1433 per second. These advancements collectively enhance the performance of K-means clustering, making it more robust and effective for complex data analysis tasks.
Trend detection in time series of measurement data in solving problems in space geodynamics and other research areas
Authors: Bezmenov Igor V.
Published: August 2024

This article discusses the problem of trend detection in time series generated by technical devices. The solution to this problem is closely related to the problem of detecting coarse measurements (outliers), which negatively impact the accuracy of estimates of various physical quantities. These are crucial in many applications in various scientific fields in which the input data are observations, such as space geodynamics, geodesy, and others. Previously, the author proposed a trend-detecting method based on the condition of maximizing the amount of data cleared of outliers and used in further processing. The reference values used for trend construction are determined as a result of a completely convergent iterative process, the core of which is the minimizing sets (MS) method developed earlier by the author. At each step of the iterative process, the trend is approximated by a function from a predefined functional class depending on the physical problem under consideration. The method was tested on trend-detection problems in the power polynomial class. In this article, the set of functions when searching for a trend by the MS method was extended into two additional functional classes: trigonometric functions with a given set of frequencies and harmonic functions with unknown frequencies, phases, and amplitudes. In the latter case, the trend-forming functions are nonlinearly dependent on the sought parameters; their search was carried out by the conjugate gradients method generalized to nonlinear problems. The article considered test tasks on trend search in data obtained by computer simulation.
The brain-gut axis: communication mechanisms and the role of the microbiome as a neuroprotective factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases: A literature overview
Authors: Białoń mgr Natalia , Górka dr hab. n. o zdr. Dariusz , Górka mgr Mikołaj
Published: August 2024

The study of the brain-gut axis and its impact on cognitive function and in the development of neurodegenerative diseases is a very timely topic of interest to researchers. This review summarizes information on the basic mechanisms of gut-brain communication. We then discuss the roles of the gut microbiome as a neuroprotective factor in neurodegeneration. The gut microbiota is extremely important in maintaining the body's homeostasis, shaping the human immune system and the proper functioning of the brain. The intestinal microflora affects the processes of neuroplasticity, synaptogenesis, and neuronal regeneration. This review aims to explain changes in the composition of the bacterial population of the intestinal microflora among patients with Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis. Abnormalities in gut microflora composition are also noted in stress, depression, or autism spectrum development. New observations on psychobiotic supplementation in alleviating the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases are also presented.
Unveiling the Commonly Adopted Teaching Methods, Strategies, and Tools in College-Based Higher Education
Authors: Connolly Dan
Published: August 2024

This chapter considers the pedagogical approaches used within college-based higher education (CBHE) in England. While a rich literature exists concerning the teaching and learning approaches adopted in university-based higher education, teaching practice in CBHE has been largely under-researched. Using data from a three-round online Delphi panel study comprising 16 expert CBHE teachers, this chapter provides novel insights into teaching practice in this sector. The data generated through this innovative methodology is unique and transforms what we know about CBHE teaching in England, complementing the handful of previous studies in the area. The expert panel identified 76 teaching methods, strategies and tools before reaching a consensus agreement on 54 of these which they viewed to be commonly adopted pedagogical approaches in CBHE. The chapter offers a detailed exploration of the Delphi methodology before revealing practical conclusions pertaining to the commonly adopted pedagogical approaches. These insights can arguably also be transferred to the wider college-based education teaching contexts such as 14-19 provision, adult education, and apprenticeship delivery. Furthermore, the findings identify workforce gaps in knowledge which may serve as a catalyst for college-based professional development activities.
Embracing a Liquid Future
Authors: Dickinson Lliam , Bingham Kevin , Hellewell Luke
Published: August 2024

This chapter explored the transformative potential of the HyFlex approach in college-based higher education settings. The study indicates that HyFlex learning has the potential to enhance existing provisions by providing adaptable and flexible learning experiences, aligning with the fluid needs of individuals in contemporary society. Leaning on the work of Zygmunt Bauman, the chapter denotes the need for flexibility and adaptability. The research further reveals that HyFlex modalities can accelerate course delivery, addressing a critical preference among students for speed and instantaneity in education. This finding aligns with Bauman's concept that speed is valued for its association with convenience, efficiency, and progress in the present modernity. Likewise, HyFlex holds promise in widening participation in higher education by offering greater flexibility and cost reduction. A significant observation is the equilibrium HyFlex teaching and learning brings between traditional learning styles and emerging digital technologies. Despite its potential benefits, potential challenges emerge regarding appropriate equipment and environments for high-quality delivery. The chapter suggests that educational institutions must adapt provisions and invest in professional development to unlock the full potential of HyFlex teaching and learning. Similarly, there is the risk that HyFlex could be used as a transactional tool to increase student numbers and instant gratification for students, potentially comprising the depth of learning. In short, the HyFlex approach can be embraced to help individuals adapt and thrive in a digital age, offering diverse possibilities for learning.
(Re)Visiting the Efficacy of PBLA for Adult EAL Learners in College-Based Education in Canada
Authors: Saleheen Md Shayeekh-Us , Flora Mousume Akhter , Mahmud Md Nazim
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and challenges associated with the implementation of Portfolio-Based Language Assessment (PBLA) in Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs across Canada. In addition, it delves into the effectiveness of integrating PBLA into teaching and assessment practices in college-based LINC education programs in Canada. The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of PBLA in enhancing the overall quality of LINC education in Canada. The chapter commences with an informative overview of PBLA and LINC program, drawing from relevant literature. Subsequently, the authors share their valuable insights and perceptions regarding PBLA, based on their extensive experiences. Collaborative autoethnography served as the authors' methodology for exploring PBLA, with data derived from multiple sources. Furthermore, their effective collaboration as a trio involved frequent meetings, where they exchanged their perspectives, experiences, reviewed pertinent literature, and critically reflected on their research findings. Overall, the chapter offers a rich and detailed account of PBLA and LINC programs, underlining their significance in the field of language teaching. Finally, the chapter offers some valuable insights and recommendations for both teachers and students regarding the future implementation of PBLA in LINC programs in Canadian college-based education.
Unleashing the Future of Healthcare in the Metaverse
Authors: George Liz , Kizhakkethottam Jubilant J.
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the crucial role played by blockchain technology in securing healthcare metaverse by ensuring the privacy and integrity of sensitive medical data. Techniques like zero-knowledge proofs and commitment schemes empower patients to control their data while enabling secure data sharing. Secure multi-party computation further enhances security by facilitating joint computations without revealing individual data fragments. However, challenges remain in implementing these technologies effectively. Scalability issues arise from the vast amount of data generated in the metaverse, requiring efficient processing and storage solutions. Existing cryptographic techniques, while robust, might not be future-proof against advancements like quantum computing. By prioritizing data security and privacy, the metaverse can evolve into a reliable and accessible digital environment for healthcare delivery. By embracing innovation, fostering collaboration, and upholding patient autonomy, we can create a future where healthcare is personalized and accessible, for all.
Innovative Healthcare Metaverse, Explainable AI, and Blockchain Paradigm Shift
Authors: Imandi Raju , B. Chethana , B. M. Prabhu Prasad , Kim Yong Guk , B. N. Pavan Kumar
Published: August 2024

Automation and digitization have always had an immense impact on healthcare. The healthcare industry stands at the precipice of a paradigm shift. Three disruptive technologies – the metaverse, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI), and blockchain – are poised to revolutionize how we deliver and experience medical care. Further, the incorporation of these technologies provides a plethora of health services seamlessly to doctors and patients with a fully immersive experience. This chapter explores the potential of the amalgamation of these approaches to enhance patient care, democratize access to healthcare by ensuring the safety, security, and privacy of data. In addition, foster a future built on transparency and trust.
Open Challenges
Authors: Nivodhini M. K. , Banupriya R. , Vadivel S. , Vasuki P.
Published: August 2024

Challenges include technological integration with existing healthcare systems, ensuring user experience and adoption, safeguarding data security and privacy, addressing ethical dilemmas and biases, bridging the digital divide for accessibility, validating effectiveness through evidence-based practice, navigating regulatory compliance, promoting health equity, overcoming technical limitations, and ensuring long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Research opportunities abound, spanning virtual clinics and telemedicine for remote consultations, immersive medical education and training environments, remote monitoring and tele-rehabilitation programs, leveraging the immersive nature of the Metaverse for health behavior change and wellness initiatives, innovative data visualization and analysis techniques, patient-centered engagement strategies, addressing ethical and regulatory considerations, designing inclusive virtual experiences, fostering collaborative research endeavors, and evaluating the long-term impact and scalability of Metaverse-enabled healthcare interventions.
Climate-Responsive Pest Management Strategies and Challenges
Authors: Khan Sana , Azeem Asad , Hassan Zeshan , Ul-Allah Sami , Shahzad Umbreen , Azeem Sonia
Published: August 2024

Global agriculture is facing a severe risk owing to climate change, which is bringing about changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and the frequency of extreme weather events. The dynamics of agricultural pests also change quickly along with these environmental conditions, posing serious threats to global food security. The idea of climate-responsive pest management has arisen in response to this complex interplay, with the goal of creating adaptive solutions that provide resilient and sustainable agricultural practices while navigating the changing environment Therefore, in order to ensure food security and environmental sustainability for future generations, the agricultural sector must negotiate the challenges posed by a changing climate by comprehending the complex interaction between pest dynamics and climate change and implementing climate-smart measures.
Crop Rotation Enhances Pest, Disease, Agroecosystem Resilience, and Sustainability in Crop Production
Authors: Aslam Muhammad Talha , Aslam Aqsa , Khan Imran , Chattha Muhammad Umer , Ahmed Zeeshan , Raza Ali , Anjum Shakeel Ahmad , Hassan Muhammad Umair , Rasheed Adnan , Wahab Hafiz Abdul
Published: August 2024

Ensuring food security with limited farm resources under a climate change scenario is a major challenge for agricultural scientists. Conventional farming uses ample fertilizers and pesticides for crop production, which badly impacts the environment. The key to sustainable agriculture is finding ways to boost productivity with sustainability. This chapter focuses on the importance of crop rotations for achieving the said goal by highlighted several benefits of implementing diversified crop rotations, including the conversion of atmospheric CO2 into plant biomass, improving system (pests, diseases, weed infestations, and abiotic and biotic stress) resilience, and enhancing water and fertilizer use efficiencies. Furthermore, legume-based crop rotations also benefit a significant reduction in the use of synthetic fertilizers and augment the sustainability of the agricultural production system. Thus, cropping rotation has become indispensable to transform agriculture and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Leveraging Drone and GPS Technologies For Precision Agriculture
Authors: Patel Tarun Kumar , Vasundhara S. , Rajesha S. , Priyalakshmi B. , Chinnusamy Somu , Boopathi Sampath
Published: August 2024

Drone and GPS technologies are advancing productive, efficient, and sustainable agricultural systems through data driven methods, and transforming crop agricultural recording of real-time data for soil analysis, pest control, logistics use, and specific tasks to monitor crop health. Providing drones with precisely localized terrain, enables automated mechanical guidance for precise use for operations, and mapping of fields helps provide more accurate farming strategies This accuracy helps in decision making and operational efficiency and reduces waste and environmental impact. This chapter describes how the integration of drone and GPS technologies in agriculture demonstrates advantages in infrastructure management, crop management, and yield improvement, as well as the potential to enhance practices a sustainable development and preservation of the environment.
Integrating Biopesticides and Botanicals for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Crop Protection Strategies
Authors: Hassan Gul Zaib , Shafiq Saira , Naqvi Syed Abbas Raza , Sarfaraz Wardha , Ali Hina , Khaliq Abdul , Islam Muhammad Majid , Hanif Muhammmad Tayyab
Published: August 2024

This chapter explores the integration of biopesticides and botanical extracts to enhance sustainable crop protection, reducing environmental harm. Biopesticides, sourced from microorganisms, plant extracts, and semi-chemicals offer advantages over synthetics, with lower toxicity and reduced resistance risk. Botanical extracts, prized for their antimicrobial properties, have gained effectiveness due to extraction advances. This chapter provides an overview of the current state of research on biopesticides and botanicals, their modes of action, benefits, limitations, and potential synergistic interactions when combined with conventional or other biological control agents Challenges include inconsistent performance and regulatory hurdles, but such integrated methods promote biodiversity and ecosystem health. The chapter highlights challenges like limited availability and regulatory hurdles in implementing these alternatives. Integrated methods aim to reduce traditional pesticides' negative impacts and advance sustainability by promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Machine Learning Algorithms for Predictive Pest Modeling
Authors: Sial Muhammad Umair , Khan Rashad Rasool , Ahmed Rizwan , Abdin Zain ul , Ummara Umm E.
Published: August 2024

Effective management of crop pests is crucial due to their detrimental impact on productivity. Therefore, it is imperative to prioritize early detection and prevention strategies. Machine learning methodology is being employed to forecast crop pests by utilizing data from different modalities. The utilization of machine learning applications is significantly influencing the worldwide economy through the alteration of data processing techniques and decision-making processes. It devises effective techniques for automatically detecting, identifying, and forecasting pests and diseases in agricultural crops. The objective of this chapter is to enhance the advancement of smart farming and precision agriculture by advocating for the development of techniques that enable farmers to enhance the quality and yield of their crops.
Innovative Image Processing Methods for Colorectal Tumor Identification
Authors: Santhoshi A. , Muthukumaravel A.
Published: August 2024

Colorectal cancer is an important health issue worldwide, demanding accurate and fast diagnostic measures to reduce its impact. Traditional image processing algorithms frequently fail to effectively diagnose malignancies, resulting in incorrect diagnoses and delayed treatment. As a result, there is a critical requirement for breakthrough technologies that improve the accuracy and efficiency of colorectal tumor identification. Developed an innovative system that uses cutting-edge image processing techniques, including deep learning-based segmentation and feature extraction algorithms, to achieve more accurate and efficient tumour identification. The proposed system overcomes the limitations of existing systems by greatly increasing tumour detection accuracy, decreasing false positives and negatives, and expediting the diagnostic procedure. The proposed system consists of numerous essential parts, including data collecting, image processing, segmentation, feature extraction, classification, and model evaluation. Accurate evaluation and validation demonstrate that the proposed system consistently surpasses existing systems in terms of segmentation accuracy (93.65%), sensitivity (89.92%), specificity (94.10%), and AUC-ROC (95.63%). Furthermore, the proposed system has excellent image processing performance, including noise reduction (0.87), contrast enhancement (0.91), and image normalisation (0.93), which improves the quality and usability of colorectal tissue pictures for accurate tumour diagnosis.
Understanding, Classifying, and Valuing Ecosystem Services
Authors: Tripathi Shreya , Sharma Arushi , Boral Debasruti , Ghosh Tapan
Published: August 2024

This chapter provides an introduction to ecosystem services, explaining their conceptual evolution and importance. It examines the development and significance of classification frameworks such as MEA, TEEB, CICES, FEGS-CS, and NESCS. The chapter explores both economic and non-economic methods of valuation, which are essential for informed decision making. Additionally, it explores the services offered by agricultural, freshwater, forest, and urban ecosystems. The chapter finally highlights the importance of integrating ecosystem services into decision-making to promote sustainability and human well-being.
Mapping the Landscape of Social Sustainability Research
Authors: Saxena Charu , Khatri Bhanupriya , Khan Shad Ahmad
Published: August 2024

This study presents a detailed analysis of social sustainability research using bibliometric and sentiment analysis. The results reveal a growing interest in social sustainability across various sectors, highlighting a significant body of literature in the field. The bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights for decision-makers, practitioners, and academics by identifying reputable journals, and emerging themes. The sentiment analysis enhances the assessment's comprehensiveness by identifying the patterns and attitudes in the literature. These findings have the potential to guide future investigations, policy formulations, and practical initiatives aimed at improving societal welfare and equity. As communities face unprecedented challenges such as economic inequality and climate change, this research can help foster resilient and socially sustainable societies. Overall, this study contributes to the academic understanding of social sustainability while providing actionable insights for positive societal change in the future.
Pioneering Environmental Governance
Authors: Namli Zehra
Published: August 2024

This study examines the role of the European Union in environmental governance. In this context, it first provides a general framework regarding the concept of environmental governance, then presents the historical development of the European Union's environmental policies through relevant documents, and finally addresses the activities carried out by the European Union and its member states in the realm of environmental governance. The main objective of this study is to highlight the significance of cooperation on a global scale in addressing environmental issues, which are considered global problems.
Can the Electrical Vehicle Industry Be a Sustainable Solution to Environmental Problems?
Authors: Gedikli Ayfer , Tas Cihan Yavuz
Published: August 2024

In this chapter, the performance of EVs in environment protectionist policies will be analyzed. China is chosen as the sample country to analyze the environmental friendliness performance of EVs. The reason behind choosing China is that China is the leading country in EVs manufacturing, exporting, and domestic sales. Although China became the global market leader in EV sector, there are still some questions to be answered before accepting EVs are the best solution to environmental problems in transport sector.
Impact of Ethics on Organizational Culture and Performance Management
Authors: Peart Denise , Whyte-Williams Winsome
Published: August 2024

Ethics is instrumental in influencing the dynamics of organizational culture and performance management. This chapter will focus on all the elements of ethics on organizational culture and performance management. Ethics, culture, organizational culture, and elements that determine the organizational culture will be discussed. In addition, ethics, ethical theories, the impact of ethics on employees and on organizational culture, the effects of ethical violations on organizational culture, and recommendations to advance ethical conduct in organizations will be addressed.
Gender Equality in Politics
Authors: Harry B.
Published: August 2024

Gender equality in politics is crucial for democratic governance, ensuring diverse perspectives and inclusive policies. Despite progress, women remain underrepresented in political offices worldwide, undermining equal participation and effective policy-making for gender-specific issues. This chapter explores the challenges and strategies for promoting gender equality in politics, focusing on cultural norms, economic disparities, and gender-based violence as significant barriers. It highlights the effectiveness of gender quotas, economic empowerment initiatives, and public awareness campaigns in increasing women's political participation. Case studies from Rwanda, New Zealand, and Afghanistan illustrate diverse experiences, showcasing successful strategies and ongoing challenges. The chapter underscores the need for comprehensive approaches, combining legal reforms, cultural shifts, and sustained international support to achieve gender-inclusive political environments and enhance democratic governance.
Managing Gender Equality in Leadership
Authors: Batsenko Liudmyla , Halenin Roman
Published: August 2024

The chapter examines women's leadership in Ukraine, focusing on stereotypes and factors affecting the perception of women in management. Understanding the decision-making process and breaking down stereotypes is critical in an equitable management environment. The results show that gender stereotypes largely prevent women from applying for leadership positions in Ukraine. Supportive measures such as career development programs, mentoring and flexible work arrangements can enhance women's leadership and organisational effectiveness. The study emphasizes the need to eliminate gender stereotypes and create an inclusive environment. It emphasizes the unique contribution of women and the importance of gender diversity for societal progress. The implementation of inclusive and socially responsible practices together with an effective communication policy is vital. Ensuring gender equality and empowering women are essential for sustainable development, economic growth and social progress.
Crafting Nanotubes From Atoms
Authors: Nayak Santanu Kumar , Patnaik Padmaja , Das Dipan Kumar , Parthasarathy Siddharth , Das Niharika , Panda Subhraraj
Published: August 2024

This chapter offers a comprehensive exploration of nanotubes, covering their fundamental principles, synthesis techniques, characterization methods, and diverse applications. Beginning with an elucidation of structural concepts and classifications, it delves into synthesis methodologies like chemical vapor deposition and arc discharge, highlighting recent advancements and challenges. Characterization techniques such as TEM, SEM, and Raman spectroscopy are discussed for a deeper understanding of nanotube properties. The chapter also showcases the versatile applications of nanotubes in electronics, materials science, and biomedicine, while addressing ethical and regulatory concerns. Aimed at researchers, professionals, and students, this chapter provides a holistic overview to inspire further exploration and responsible development in nanomaterial research.
Nanoparticle Synthesis Methods
Authors: Parthasarathy Siddharth , Behera Saubhagyalaxmi , Das Dipan Kumar , Patnaik Padmaja , Das Niharika , Mallick Priyambada , Nayak Santanu Kumar
Published: August 2024

Nanoparticles, with their unique size-dependent properties, have garnered immense interest across scientific disciplines. This proposed chapter provides a comprehensive exploration of nanoparticle synthesis methods, ranging from classical approaches such as chemical precipitation to cutting-edge techniques like microfluidic synthesis and laser ablation. Through a systematic discussion of principles, methodologies, and applications, readers will gain insights into the underlying mechanisms governing nanoparticle synthesis and the factors influencing their properties. Furthermore, the chapter examines characterization techniques essential for evaluating nanoparticle morphology, structure, and composition. By elucidating the challenges and future directions in nanoparticle synthesis, this chapter aims to inform researchers and practitioners about the strategic importance of advancing synthesis methodologies to unlock the full potential of nanomaterials in addressing pressing societal and environmental challenges.
Processes for Nanoparticle Synthesis
Authors: Chauhan Ram Prakash
Published: August 2024

With the day by day increasing use of nanomaterials based products for different applications, it becomes very much important to devise methods which can produce nanomaterials with desired properties and in considerable amount. To meet these requirements, one should have precise knowledge about different methods that can be used for synthesis of nanomaterials. The first part of the chapter will be focusing on basics of nanotechnology along with the properties that generate so much interest in their study. Then different approaches and methods employed for synthesising nanomaterials will be discussed. Different physical methods like mechanical milling, sputtering, laser ablation, lithography etc. that are used for the synthesis of nanomaterials will also be discussed. Different chemical methods like co-precipitation, chemical vapour deposition (CVD), chemical reduction, microemulsion, laser pyrolysis, thermal decomposition, sonoelectrodeposition, solvothermal & hydrothermal, microwave assisted synthesis, sol gel method etc. with a focus on how to apply them, will also be discussed.
Exploring the Various Biomedical Applications of Smart Materials
Authors: Thakur Ayushi , Srivastava Ruchira , Bahadur Preeti Singh , Rana Ajay
Published: August 2024

Smart materials have self-accommodation with the environment, are classified according to their response, and alter their properties in response to an external stimulus or change in the conditions of their surrounding environment, which has attracted the biomedical community to leverage these explicit properties in numerous active structures and devices. Shape-changing properties are not only the desired feature in the use of smart or intelligent materials for biomedical applications, but also their biocompatibility, biodegradability, inexpensiveness, and renewability make them suitable for such applications. Shape memory characteristics offer attractive insights into material science and give an approach to unconventional functions in every material class. The emergence of smart materials (polymers, metals, and alloys) is increasingly important in improving biomedical technology development. An overview of the different categories of smart materials, with a special emphasis on 3D-printed smart polymers for biomedical applications, is presented.
Carbon Based Nanomaterials for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Sethi Aanchal
Published: August 2024

The global water scarcity and the deterioration of water quality have raised an alarming concern. Nanomaterial based remediation provides a remarkable potential to address the challenges posed by conventional approaches. Carbon based nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene and its derivatives, graphitic carbon nitride, nanodiamonds, fullerenes, porous carbon, carbon and graphene quantum dots have been extensively explored for wastewater treatment. This chapter aims to focus on the recent developments in the rational designing and application of various carbon based nanomaterials for wastewater treatment and remediation through adsorption and photocatalysis. Functionalization and surface modification of these materials to meet the desired outcome by stringent modulation of the physicochemical properties have also been discussed. This would provide state-of-art and delve into the background that would assist the researchers in exploration of these materials for fabrication and designing of novel nanocomposites for removal of toxic pollutants from wastewater.
Applications of Plant and Microbes-Based Metallic Nanoparticles in Agriculture
Authors: Pundir Ram Kumar , Rana Poonam
Published: August 2024

Plants have long been the primary source of nutrition on the planet. Modern agriculture focuses on food production and protection in order to enhance food quality and quantity. Microbes and plant-based metallic nanoparticles have recently been utilized to protect various crops from illnesses and pest insects. The manufacture of nanoparticles utilizing microorganisms and plant extract is the subject of this review. Nanoparticles have a wide range of uses in agriculture, including the control of phytopathogens. They are simple to use, cost less, and are environmentally beneficial. We've gone through the various methods for synthesizing nanoparticles, as well as their uses in agriculture. Apart from the positive results, the negative effects on human and animal health were also extensively examined in order to better understand future agricultural issues.
Future Perspective of Self-Healing Nano-Coatings for Corrosion Protection
Authors: Hashmi Abdul Wahab , Singh Jashanpreet , Ahmad Shadab
Published: August 2024

Self-healing coating (SHC) can repair the physical damage or return functionality with little to no interference. An in-depth and up-to-date discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of self-healing processes in organic coatings that prevent corrosion is provided in this literature review. Self-healing mechanisms are frequently facilitated by incorporating corrosion inhibitors or healing agents into the coating matrices. Heat or light from the environment can activate non-autonomous processes to promote healing by starting the necessary chemical reactions or physical changes that lead to the movement of molecules in chains or create bonds. Previous studies on self-healing coating have focused on minor damage mechanisms, like a localized abrasion or puncture, and have only addressed coatings' barrier or corrosion prevention qualities. Future-generation SHC are expected to be more intelligent and able to repair complex and physical damages in addition to surface/interfacial, mechanical, and functional qualities.
AI Integration in Service Marketing and its Effect on Hotel Staff Productivity
Authors: Yang Xiaoyan , Balasubramanian Kandappan , Soeiro Joaquim Dias
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this chapter is to comprehensively explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in service marketing within the hospitality industry, and its subsequent effects on hotel staff productivity. This chapter aims to elucidate how AI technologies transform traditional marketing and operational practices, enhance customer experiences, and optimize workforce efficiency. By examining both the benefits and challenges associated with AI integration, this chapter offers valuable insights and practical recommendations for hotel management professionals and stakeholders.
Personalization at Scale
Authors: Singh Pritpal , Farhan Mohd
Published: August 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of service marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a pivotal force in enhancing consumer engagement through personalized experiences. This chapter explores the integration of AI technologies in service marketing, aiming to understand how these innovations can transform consumer interactions into highly tailored encounters. By analyzing various AI-driven approaches, such as machine learning, natural language processing, and predictive analytics, this study examines the impact of these technologies on consumer satisfaction and loyalty. The methodology involves a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from industry cases and qualitative insights from expert interviews. The findings suggest that AI and technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) not only contribute to operational efficiencies, but also significantly enrich the consumer experience, providing a competitive edge to businesses in the service sector.