bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Pediatric Cardiology Nutrition
Authors: Lanari Marcello , Andreozzi Laura , Fabi Marianna
Published: June 2023

The relationship between nutrition and cardiovascular diseases is powerful and complex [...]
Effect of Milk Protein and Whey Permeate in Large-Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplement on Early Child Development among Children with Stunting: A Randomized 2 × 2 Factorial Trial in Uganda
Authors: Mbabazi Joseph , Pesu Hannah , Mutumba Rolland , McCray Gareth , Michaelsen Kim F. , Ritz Christian , Filteau Suzanne , Briend André , Mupere Ezekiel , Grenov Benedikte , Friis Henrik , Olsen Mette Frahm
Published: June 2023

Stunting affects 22% children globally, putting them at risk of adverse outcomes including delayed development. We investigated the effect of milk protein (MP) vs. soy and whey permeate (WP) vs. maltodextrin in large-quantity, lipid-based nutrient supplement (LNS), and LNS itself vs. no supplementation, on child development and head circumference among stunted children aged 1–5 years. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, community-based 2 × 2 factorial trial in Uganda (ISRCTN1309319). We randomized 600 children to one of four LNS formulations (~535 kcal/d), with or without MP (n = 299 vs. n = 301) or WP (n = 301 vs. n = 299), for 12 weeks or to no supplementation (n = 150). Child development was assessed using the Malawi Development Assessment Tool. Data were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Children had a median [interquartile range] age of 30 [23; 41] months and mean ± standard deviation height-for-age z-score of −3.02 ± 0.74. There were no interactions between MP and WP for any of the outcomes. There was no effect of either MP or WP on any developmental domain. Although LNS itself had no impact on development, it resulted in 0.07 (95%CI: 0.004; 0.14) cm higher head circumference. Neither dairy in LNS, nor LNS in itself, had an effect on development among already stunted children.
Pulmonary-Renal Syndrome from Levamisole-Adulterated Cocaine-Induced Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA)-Associated Vasculitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bucur Philip , Weber Marshall , Agrawal Rashi , Madera-Acosta Adria Irina , Elam Rachel E.
Published: June 2023

Levamisole is an anti-helminthic drug with immunomodulatory properties that is added to cocaine to increase its potency and weight. Levamisole-adulterated cocaine (LAC) may cause an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated systemic small vessel vasculitis (AAV). We aimed to characterize the phenotype of persons developing pulmonary-renal syndrome (PRS) in LAC-induced AAV and summarize its treatment and outcomes. Pubmed and Web of Science were searched (until September 2022). Reports that described co-existing diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis in an adult (age ≥ 18) with confirmed or suspected LAC exposure were included. Reports, demographics, clinical and serologic features, treatment and outcome characteristics were extracted. Of the 280 records identified, eight met the inclusion criteria, including eight unique cases. Persons were aged 22–58 years, and 50% were women. Cutaneous involvement occurred in only half of the cases. Other associated vasculitis findings and serologies were heterogeneous. All patients received immunosuppression with steroids, with cyclophosphamide and rituximab commonly added. We concluded that PRS could occur from LAC-induced AAV. Distinguishing LAC-induced AAV from primary AAV is challenging as clinical and serologic presentations overlap. Asking about cocaine use is requisite in persons presenting with PRS to guide diagnosis and appropriately counsel on cocaine cessation in conjunction with immunosuppression as treatment.
Alkaloids as Natural NRF2 Inhibitors: Chemoprevention and Cytotoxic Action in Cancer
Authors: Gjorgieva Ackova Darinka , Maksimova Viktorija , Smilkov Katarina , Buttari Brigitta , Arese Marzia , Saso Luciano
Published: June 2023

Being a controller of cytoprotective actions, inflammation, and mitochondrial function through participating in the regulation of multiple genes in response to stress-inducing endogenous or exogenous stressors, the transcription factor Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) is considered the main cellular defense mechanism to maintain redox balance at cellular and tissue level. While a transient activation of NRF2 protects normal cells under oxidative stress, the hyperactivation of NRF2 in cancer cells may help them to survive and to adapt under oxidative stress. This can be detrimental and related to cancer progression and chemotherapy resistance. Therefore, inhibition of NRF2 activity may be an effective approach for sensitizing cancer cells to anticancer therapy. In this review, we examine alkaloids as NRF2 inhibitors from natural origin, their effects on cancer therapy, and/or as sensitizers of cancer cells to anticancer chemotherapeutics, and their potential clinical applications. Alkaloids, as inhibitor of the NRF2/KEAP1 signaling pathway, can have direct (berberine, evodiamine, and diterpenic aconitine types of alkaloids) or indirect (trigonelline) therapeutic/preventive effects. The network linking alkaloid action with oxidative stress and NRF2 modulation may result in an increased NRF2 synthesis, nuclear translocation, as well in a downstream impact on the synthesis of endogenous antioxidants, effects strongly presumed to be the mechanism of action of alkaloids in inducing cancer cell death or promoting sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. In this regard, the identification of additional alkaloids targeting the NRF2 pathway is desirable and the information arising from clinical trials will reveal the potential of these compounds as a promising target for anticancer therapy.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Docking Study of Novel Thioureidophosphonate-Incorporated Silver Nanocomposites as Potent Antibacterial Agents
Authors: El-Tantawy Ahmed I. , Elmongy Elshaymaa I. , Elsaeed Shimaa M. , Abdel Aleem Abdel Aleem H. , Binsuwaidan Reem , Eisa Wael H. , Salman Ayah Usama , Elharony Noura Elsayed , Attia Nour F.
Published: June 2023

Newly synthesized mono- and bis-thioureidophosphonate (MTP and BTP) analogues in eco-friendly conditions were employed as reducing/capping cores for 100, 500, and 1000 mg L−1 of silver nitrate. The physicochemical properties of silver nanocomposites (MTP(BTP)/Ag NCs) were fully elucidated using spectroscopic and microscopic tools. The antibacterial activity of the nanocomposites was screened against six multidrug-resistant pathogenic strains, comparable to ampicillin and ciprofloxacin commercial drugs. The antibacterial performance of BTP was more substantial than MTP, notably with the best minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.0781 mg/mL towards Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella typhi, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Among all, BTP provided the clearest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 35 ± 1.00 mm against Salmonella typhi. After the dispersion of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), MTP/Ag NCs offered dose-dependently distinct advantages over the same nanoparticle with BTP; a more noteworthy decline by 4098 × MIC to 0.1525 × 10−3 mg/mL was recorded for MTP/Ag-1000 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa over BTP/Ag-1000. Towards methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the as-prepared MTP(BTP)/Ag-1000 displayed superior bactericidal ability in 8 h. Because of the anionic surface of MTP(BTP)/Ag-1000, they could effectively resist MRSA (ATCC-43300) attachment, achieving higher antifouling rates of 42.2 and 34.4% at most optimum dose (5 mg/mL), respectively. The tunable surface work function between MTP and AgNPs promoted the antibiofilm activity of MTP/Ag-1000 by 1.7 fold over BTP/Ag-1000. Lastly, the molecular docking studies affirmed the eminent binding affinity of BTP over MTP—besides the improved binding energy of MTP/Ag NC by 37.8%—towards B. subtilis-2FQT protein. Overall, this study indicates the immense potential of TP/Ag NCs as promising nanoscale antibacterial candidates.
Synthesis and Investigation of the Properties of Biphasic Hybrid Composites Based on Bentonite, Copper Hexacyanoferrate, Acrylamide and Acrylic Acid Hydrogel
Authors: Mamytbekov Galymzhan Kulamkadyrovich , Zheltov Dmitry Anatol’evich , Nurtazin Yernat Rashidovich
Published: June 2023

This article presents a study of the synthesis and characterization of new biphasic hybrid composite materials consisting of intercalated complexes (ICC) of natural mineral bentonite with copper hexaferrocyanide (phase I), which are incorporated into the bulk of the polymer matrix (phase II). It has been established that the sequential modification of bentonite with copper hexaferrocyanide and introduction of acrylamide and acrylic acid cross-linked copolymers into its volume by means of in situ polymerization promote the formation of a heterogeneous porous structure in the resulting hybrid material. The sorption abilities of prepared hybrid composite toward radionuclides of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) have been studied, and the mechanism for binding radionuclide metal ions with the components of the hybrid composition have been described.
Alginate/PVA Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Modified by Hydrophilic Montmorillonite for Structure and Selectivity Enhancement for DMFC Application
Authors: Musa Maryam Taufiq , Shaari Norazuwana , Raduwan Nor Fatina , Kamarudin Siti Kartom , Wong Wai Yin
Published: June 2023

Nafion is a commercial membrane that is widely used in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) but has critical constraints such as being expensive and having high methanol crossover. Efforts to find alternative membranes are actively being carried out, including in this study, which looks at producing a Sodium Alginate/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) (SA/PVA) blended membrane with modification by montmorillonite (MMT) as an inorganic filler. The content of MMT in SA/PVA-based membranes varied in the range of 2.0–20 wt% according to the solvent casting method implemented. The presence of MMT was seen to be most optimal at a content of 10 wt%, achieving the highest proton conductivity and the lowest methanol uptake of 9.38 mScm−1 and 89.28% at ambient temperature, respectively. The good thermal stability, optimum water absorption, and low methanol uptake of the SA/PVA-MMT membrane were achieved with the presence of MMT due to the strong electrostatic attraction between H+, H3O+, and −OH ions of the sodium alginate and PVA polymer matrices. The homogeneous dispersion of MMT at 10 wt% and the hydrophilic properties possessed by MMT contribute to an efficient proton transport channel in SA/PVA-MMT membranes. The increase in MMT content makes the membrane more hydrophilic. This shows that the loading of 10 wt% MMT is very helpful from the point of view of sufficient water intake to activate proton transfer. Thus, the membrane produced in this study has great potential as an alternative membrane with a much cheaper cost and competent future performance.
Hydrogel-Based Biomaterial as a Scaffold for Gingival Regeneration: A Systematic Review of In Vitro Studies
Authors: Hutomo Dimas Ilham , Amir Lisa , Suniarti Dewi Fatma , Bachtiar Endang Winiati , Soeroso Yuniarti
Published: June 2023

Background: Hydrogel is considered a promising scaffold biomaterial for gingival regeneration. In vitro experiments were carried out to test new potential biomaterials for future clinical practice. The systematic review of such in vitro studies could synthesize evidence of the characteristics of the developing biomaterials. This systematic review aimed to identify and synthesize in vitro studies that assessed the hydrogel scaffold for gingival regeneration. Methods: Data on experimental studies on the physical and biological properties of hydrogel were synthesized. A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting System for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement guidelines. In total, 12 original articles on the physical and biological properties of hydrogels for gingival regeneration, published in the last 10 years, were identified. Results: One study only performed physical property analyses, two studies only performed biological property analyses, and nine studies performed both physical and biological property analyses. The incorporation of various natural polymers such as collagen, chitosan, and hyaluronic acids improved the biomaterial characteristics. The use of synthetic polymers faced some drawbacks in their physical and biological properties. Peptides, such as growth factors and arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD), can be used to enhance cell adhesion and migration. Based on the available primary studies, all studies successfully present the potential of hydrogel characteristics in vitro and highlight the essential biomaterial properties for future periodontal regenerative treatment.
Religiosity among Indigenous Peoples: A Study of Cordilleran Youth in the Philippines
Authors: Del Castillo Fides A. , Edara Inna Reddy , Ching Gregory S. , Molino Jeramie , Jacoba Rico , Del Castillo Clarence Darro B.
Published: June 2023

Religions are a set of beliefs, attitudes, and practices about transcendence. They are formed by complex social and cultural rituals and customs. Given that religion is also vital to the Indigenous Peoples, this study employed the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) to measure and understand the nuances of the religiosity of the Indigenous youth of Cordillera, also known as Igorots, in the Philippines. The Cordilleran youth’s religiosity is particularly interesting to the researchers because their autochthonous religion is marked by a cosmology that includes hundreds of deities and elaborate rituals accompanying personal and social events. Data collected from 151 university students showed that Cordilleran youth are highly religious, and those living in rural areas are more religious than the younger participants. The Cordilleran youth strongly prefer private practice and scored high in the ideology dimension of CRS. They tend to devote themselves to transcendence in their personal space through individualized activities and rituals. This study also found that the religiosity of the select Cordilleran youth was ambivalent, defined as the coexistence of different ideas or feelings in the mind or a single context. It shows the inter-religiosity of the Indigenous youth as expressed in the engagement of religious practices. This paper discussed these significant results and explored their implications for the Indigenous Peoples and the Cordilleran youth.
Practical Gods: Carl Dennis’s Secularized Religious Visions
Authors: Zeng Hong
Published: June 2023

This paper examines Carl Dennis’s secularized religious visions in his Pulitzer-winning poetry collection, Practical Gods (2001). Dennis’s secularized religious visions can be quite understandable in the context of the ascending trends of secularization, diversification, and globalization of religion in America, and they demonstrate affinities with literary predecessors such as Wallace Stevens, with his aestheticized religion under the influence of Nietzsche, as well as with the innovative religious thinking of William Blake, Kazantzakis, and Oscar Wilde, and with certain aspects of Taoism and Zen Buddhism. This paper addresses Dennis’s perception of theological controversies, such as the contradiction between the omnipotence of God and the existence of evil, theological determinism vs. human free will, theological view of history vs. New Historicism, divinity in man, aestheticized religion, and earthly paradise through the focused lens of Dennis’s “practical religion”. Despite the breadth of the theses in Dennis’s conceived practical religion as examined in this paper, they are all tied up with the core of the phenomenological study of religion: that religion is important to believers of the religion irrespective of the objective truth of the religion or the actual existence of God. In Dennis’s views, as accorded with the phenomenological study of religions, God maybe an idea and a fiction, but it is a necessary fiction for humans. Thus, Dennis humanizes gods with the flaws and fragility of humanity while deifying ordinary humanity in the contemporary context. Contrasting what he views as theological determinism with its view of linear history and the apocalypse of grand events, Dennis embraces human free will, a non-teleological, aestheticized living with necessary fiction, and a transient paradise on earth. Carl Dennis’s religious vision reveals a poststructuralist (even though he did not brand himself so) abolition of the absoluteness of a transcendent signifier as well as binary opposition (between God and man, good and evil, religious/historical truth and fictionality), and it manifests an affinity with New Historicism and the phenomenological study of religion.
KMS as a Sustainability Strategy during a Pandemic
Authors: Maramba George , Smuts Hanlie , Adebesin Funmi , Hattingh Marie , Mawela Tendani
Published: June 2023

The 21st century world never anticipated a scenario in which it would be thrown into disarray by a fast-spreading viral disease, during which governments hastily had to enforce curfews by imposing travel and social gathering restrictions in order to contain it. The coronavirus disease of 2019 disrupted global supply chains and economies and caused death in every part of the world. Health departments and hospitals became the centres of attention as healthcare workers battled to save the lives of the infected. Governments struggled to calm citizens as the spread of incorrect and, sometimes, malicious information dominated all social media channels. The absence of established knowledge-sharing strategies and channels, knowledge about the disease or how to deal with the pandemic exacerbated the situation. This study investigates knowledge management systems as a sustainability strategy during a pandemic from three perspectives: understanding the disease, sourcing the required drugs and communicating with the citizens during a pandemic. The researchers adopted a survey research strategy for the study. The study makes an essential contribution to the value of KMS and the need to adopt them in the healthcare sector, particularly when faced with pandemics such as COVID-19.
Dynamic Changes in Agroecosystem Landscape Patterns and Their Driving Mechanisms in Karst Mountainous Areas of Southwest China: The Case of Central Guizhou
Authors: Yu Limin , Li Yangbing , Yu Meng , Chen Mei , Yang Linyu
Published: June 2023

Puding County in central Guizhou is a typical karst ecologically vulnerable area integrating rural, mountainous, and ecological migration areas. It is essential to study the dynamic trajectory and direction of its agroecosystems (AESs) transformation to promote sustainable land use development in karst mountain areas. Based on high-resolution remote sensing images from 2004 to 2020, this study analyzes the transformation characteristics, typical landscape patterns, and their driving forces of AESs using the landscape pattern index, moving window method, and Geodetector model. The results show that: (i) The overall landscape pattern of AESs in the study area developed towards complexity and diversification from 2004 to 2020. The overall trend of woodland and grassland (WGL) is increasing, the slope cultivated land (SCL) is shrinking, the construction land (CL) is spreading and expanding along the vicinity of the town, and the economic and fruit forests (EFF) are increasing significantly. (ii) Three typical patterns are concluded according to the main transformation directions of AESs: WGL restoration type, CL growth type, and EFF growth type; middle and high mountains are dominated by the WGL restoration type with increased ecological functions, and the concentration of the new WGL increases with the increase in elevation; low mountain areas are dominated by the CL growth type with enhanced living functions, and the concentration of the new CL decreases with the increase in slope and elevation; valleys and hills are dominated by the EFF growth type with enhanced ecological and economic functions, and the concentration of the new EFF increases with the decrease in slope and elevation. (iii) Socio-economic factors are the dominant drivers of AES transformation. The WGL restoration type is dominated by slope and elevation, the CL growth type is mainly influenced by slope and urbanization rate, and the EFF growth type is primarily influenced by soil organic matter, slope, urbanization rate, and resident population. The study results have implications for rural land use, rural development, and ecological restoration of rocky desertification in karst mountain areas and other similar mountainous areas.
Does the Development of Digital Economy Affect Environmental Pollution?
Authors: Zhang Xing , Zhong Jian , Wang Huanfang
Published: June 2023

The development of digital economy (Dig) promotes the development of green economy and the progress of ecological civilization. Based on the panel data of China from 2010 to 2020, this paper constructs the relevant index system and analyzes the impact of the Dig on environmental pollution (EP) by using a variety of econometric models. Subsequently, combined with the transmission effect to discuss its influence mechanism, the spatial quantile regression was used to explore spatial effects. The Dig is conducive to reducing EP, and there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the two. Meanwhile, its influence has obvious regional heterogeneity, and the inhibition effect of Dig on EP is better in technology-intensive areas. Dig can alleviate EP by promoting technological innovation and optimizing industrial structure, but resource allocation has not played a role. In addition, the Dig has a significant impact on the distribution of EP in the middle quantile, and there is a negative spatial spillover effect on EP. Consequently, the study puts forward some suggestions to alleviate pollution from the aspects of promoting technological innovation and improving resource allocation efficiency.
Deep Learning-Based Automatic Defect Detection Method for Sewer Pipelines
Authors: Shen Dongming , Liu Xiang , Shang Yanfeng , Tang Xian
Published: June 2023

To address the issues of low automation, reliance on manual screening by professionals, and long detection cycles in current urban drainage pipeline defect detection, this study proposes an improved object detection algorithm called EFE-SSD (enhanced feature extraction SSD), based on the SSD (Single Shot MultiBox Detector) network. Firstly, the RFB_s module is added to the SSD backbone network to enhance its feature extraction capabilities. Additionally, multiple scale features are fused to improve the detection performance of small target defects to some extent. Then, the improved ECA attention mechanism is used to adjust the channel weights of the output layer, suppressing irrelevant features. Finally, the Focal Loss is employed to replace the cross-entropy loss in the SSD network, effectively addressing the issue of imbalanced positive and negative samples during training. This increases the weight of difficult-to-classify samples during network training, further improving the detection accuracy of the network. Experimental results show that EFE-SSD achieves a detection mAP of 92.2% for four types of pipeline defects: Settled deposits, Displaced joints, Deformations, and Roots. Compared to the SSD algorithm, the model’s mAP was increased by 2.26 percentage points—ensuring the accuracy of pipeline defect detection.
Application of an Architect-Friendly Digital Design Approach to the Wind Environment of Campus Dormitory Buildings
Authors: Liu Qibo , Zhang Yimeng , Ma Wendong , Ren Juan
Published: June 2023

Good natural ventilation can improve the comfort of campus dormitories and effectively avoid pollution caused by particle accumulation. Parametric design can effectively address the feedback and connection between building performance analysis and design. This study employs an architect-friendly digital design method based on the Rhino/Grasshopper parametric platform. It takes campus dormitories in the cold region as a case, using parameterized digital tools, such as the Butterfly plugin to simulate wind performance under three influencing factors: building layout, opening position, and building façade (shape and spoiler). Finally, the optimal design that can simultaneously meet the local winter and summer wind environment requirements is selected and validated. In addition, the reasonable design of external balconies and bathrooms in a dormitory can form buffer spaces to achieve effective wind shelter and insulation effects in cold regions. This article describes how to use digital tools to quickly and easily optimize the design of building forms based on wind simulations to promote campus sustainability.
Evolutionary Game of Pesticide Reduction Management for Sustainable Agriculture: An Analysis Based on Local Governments, Farmers, and Consumers
Authors: He Qizheng , Sun Yong , Yi Maoan
Published: June 2023

Promoting pesticide reduction is a critical component of achieving sustainable agriculture. However, the challenges involved in coordinating diverse stakeholder demands pose difficulties in promoting pesticide reduction behavior. To reveal the evolutionary paths of the decision-making processes of each player under various influencing factors and optimize pesticide reduction policies, this paper proposes a three-way evolutionary game model that considers the interests of the local governments, farmers, and consumers. The study reveals six stable equilibrium strategies in the evolutionary game system of pesticide reduction for sustainable agriculture (SA). Under polycentric governance, ideal states allow local governments to regulate farmers’ pesticide reduction and consumers’ purchases of green agricultural products. Regulatory measures such as providing technical and in-kind subsidies for pesticide reduction, imposing penalties for the overuse of pesticides, and promoting public awareness influence farmers’ and consumers’ decisions when it comes to reducing pesticides and purchasing green produce. Moreover, the total benefits of pesticide reduction for farmers and the utility of green produce consumption for consumers are primary factors that influence the evolutionary game system’s eventual evolution toward different stable equilibrium strategies. These factors primarily affect the supply and demand of green products, which in turn impacts pesticide reduction. This study enhances the policy analysis of pesticide reduction and provides valuable insights into constructing a pesticide reduction policy system based on polycentric governance.
The Moderating Role of Environmental Information Disclosure on the Impact of Environment Protection Investment on Firm Value
Authors: Wang Kedan , Cui Wenjia , Mei Mei , Lv Benfu , Peng Geng
Published: June 2023

The presence of a link between corporate environmental protection investment and firm value is essential for enterprises to have incentives to invest in environmental protection by themselves. How environmental information disclosure affects the relationship between environmental protection investment and firm value is also an issue worth exploring. This paper uses the regression model with the industry and time-fixed effects to examine the relationship between environmental protection investment and firm value of China’s A-share heavily and non-heavily polluting enterprises from 2010–2020, as well as the moderating role of environmental information disclosure. The empirical results show that (1) there is a significant U-shaped relationship between environmental protection investment and firm value, and (2) corporate environmental information disclosure has a moderating effect. Specifically, it has an “amplifying” effect on the relationship between environmental protection investment and firm value. If a company’s environmental protection investment is insufficient, overly transparent corporate environmental disclosure will exacerbate the decline in firm value. Once environmental protection investment is up to standard, adequate disclosure can contribute to an increase in firm value.
Do Internet Development and Urbanization Foster Regional Economic Growth: Evidence from China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt
Authors: Zhong Shunbin , Li Mengding , Liu Yihui , Bai Yun
Published: June 2023

Internet development and urbanization are widely perceived to have a significant impact on the economy and sustainability in China. However, existing studies fail to consider their interaction patterns and directions with economic growth in China’s Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB). This study applies a bootstrap panel Granger causality test to examine the causal relationships between Internet development, urbanization, and regional economic growth for the YREB‘s 11 provinces. The main findings are as follows: (1) Internet development, urbanization and regional economic growth exhibit cross-sectional dependence and province-specific heterogeneity in the YREB. (2) Granger causality from Internet development to economic growth exists in most provinces, while Granger causality from economic growth to Internet development and two-way Granger causality are only observed in economically developed provinces, such as Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Chongqing. (3) Granger causality from urbanization to economic growth exists in nine provinces, except for Hubei and Guizhou. However, the reverse Granger causality is only confirmed in Jiangsu, Anhui, and Hubei. This suggests that urbanization significantly improves economic growth efficiency, but the effect of economic growth on urbanization is restricted by regional bias policies. Therefore, the local government should implement tailored economic policies and establish an interactive mechanism to help China leverage its potential for economic growth and sustainability.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Improved Mode Decomposition and Time Series
Authors: Wang Hairui , Ye Xin , Li Yuanbo , Zhu Guifu
Published: June 2023

Accurately predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries holds significant importance for their health management. Due to the capacity regeneration phenomenon and random interference during the operation of lithium-ion batteries, a single model may exhibit poor prediction accuracy and generalization performance under a single scale signal. This paper proposes a method for predicting the RUL of lithium-ion batteries. The method is based on the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA), which optimizes the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and long- and short-term time-series network (LSTNet). First, this study utilized the ISSA-optimized VMD method to decompose the capacity degradation sequence of lithium-ion batteries, acquiring global degradation trend components and local capacity recovery components, then the ISSA–LSTNet–Attention model and ISSA–LSTNet–Skip model were employed to predict the trend component and capacity recovery component, respectively. Finally, the prediction results of these different models were integrated to accurately estimate the RUL of lithium-ion batteries. The proposed model was tested on two public lithium-ion battery datasets; the results indicate a root mean square error (RMSE) under 2%, a mean absolute error (MAE) under 1.5%, and an absolute correlation coefficient (R2) and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency index (NSE) both above 92.9%, implying high prediction accuracy and superior performance compared to other models. Moreover, the model significantly reduces the complexity of the series.
Assessing the Effect of Pedagogical Transition on Classroom Design for Tertiary Education: Perspectives of Teachers and Students
Authors: Chan Daniel W. M. , Lam Edmond W. M. , Adabre Michael Atafo
Published: June 2023

Active learning has been increasingly important in tertiary education in recent years due to its powerfully favourable impact on students’ learning attitudes and efficacy. Indeed, the way that a classroom is set up has a direct impact on how well students learn and how well teachers teach. The continuous evaluation of students’ learning performance is essential for guiding future classroom renovations and creating a cutting-edge learning environment for both students and teachers. The aims of this paper were to provide a better understanding of the latest development trend of learning mode preference in tertiary education and to investigate any underlying similarities and differences in the perceptions between teachers and students. To support both teaching and learning, an empirical questionnaire survey was conducted among teachers and students in Hong Kong to assess the effectiveness of various active learning techniques and passive learning techniques adopted in tertiary education. Opinion-based data were collected on the perceived benefits and disadvantages of both learning techniques as well as the importance of various classroom design features. To determine the significance of the variations in opinions between teachers and students on the survey responses, descriptive statistical analyses using the mean score and Mann–Whitney U-test were carried out. The results of the Mann–Whitney U-test on the advantages of traditional learning showed that the following variables significantly varied: ‘direct information from the teacher’; ‘timesaving (group discussion may waste time)’ and ‘allow more time for Q&A’. These advantages were generally rated higher from the viewpoint of students rather than teachers. However, no significant difference was established concerning the limitations of traditional learning. The findings of this study can help teachers and instructors to understand how different teaching and learning methods affect students’ ability to learn effectively, which can ultimately help institutional policymakers to determine the necessary essential requirements for orchestrating classroom designs to create more conducive teaching and learning environments. The findings also aim to inform policymakers and educational institutions on the impact of pedagogical change on the fundamental design requirements for a flexible classroom environment supportive of students’ active learning, especially in tertiary education.
Research on the Influence of Spatial Structure on Carbon Emission Synergy of Urban Agglomeration—Based on the Development Process of Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration in China
Authors: Su Hang , Yang Juntao
Published: June 2023

Carbon emissions, as an indicator of green economic development in urban agglomerations, are closely related to the degree of coordinated development between cities. Additionally, urban agglomerations, as a highly developed form of urban space, are widely regarded as a more efficient, energy-saving, and land-saving urbanization method. This article constructs an urban agglomeration network based on relevant data from listed companies in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration with practical connections between cities and uses social network analysis methods and a fixed effects model to calculate the impact of overall and individual network indicators of urban agglomerations on urban carbon emissions and collaborative emission reduction of urban agglomerations. The regression results indicate that the centrality of individual cities has a significant negative correlation with the intensity of urban carbon emissions, with a coefficient of −0.067. The centrality of core cities has a significant positive impact on the collaborative emission reduction of urban agglomerations, with a coefficient of 0.0138. The impact of network density on the collaborative emission reduction of urban agglomerations shows an inverted U-shaped curve. Based on the analysis results, the paper explores the spatial structure construction method and industrial development control strategy based on urban agglomeration collaborative emission reduction.
Separate Hydrolysis and Fermentation of Kitchen Waste Residues Using Multi-Enzyme Preparation from Aspergillus niger P-19 for the Production of Biofertilizer Formulations
Authors: Sharma Apurav , Dogra Sakshi , Thakur Bishakha , Yadav Jyoti , Soni Raman , Soni Sanjeev Kumar
Published: June 2023

This study addresses the management of kitchen waste by transforming it into biofertilizer formulations, utilizing an effective, in-house-developed multi-enzyme preparation. An approach consisting of separate hydrolysis and fermentation bioprocessing processes was used, employing a multi-enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger P-19 to separately hydrolyze kitchen waste, followed by the fermentation of the hydrolysate for the growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae AP-407, which has biofertilizer traits. This has led to the simultaneous generation of liquid as well as carrier-based biofertilizer formulations with viable cell counts of 3.00 × 1012 CFU/mL and 3.00 × 1012 CFU/g, respectively. Both biofertilizer formulations significantly enhanced the morphometric characteristics and leaf chlorophyll contents of Tagetes erecta, in addition to enriching the soil with essential nutrients. The current study adopted a novel processing technology for the manufacturing of both carrier and liquid biofertilizers, adopting a zero-waste approach for the management of kitchen waste.
Non-Aqueous Solvent Mixtures for CO2 Capture: Choline Hydroxide-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents Absorbent Performance at Various Temperatures and Pressures
Authors: Kassim Mohd Azlan , Sulaiman Nor Afifah , Yusoff Rozita , Aroua Mohamed Kheireddine
Published: June 2023

Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption in a non-aqueous solution is a potential technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, a non-aqueous solvent, sulfolane and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), was functionalized with a deep eutectic solvent (DES) consisting of choline hydroxide and polyamines diethylenetriamine (DETA) and triethylenetetramine (TETA). The non-aqueous absorbents’ CO2 absorption ability was investigated in a high-pressure absorption reactor with a variable absorption temperature (303.15–333.15 K) and pressure (350–1400 kPa). The results showed that 2M ChOH:TETA−DMSO solution had the highest CO2 loading capacity when compared with other screened solutions, such as 2M ChOH:TETA−Sulfolane, 2M ChOH:DETA−DMSO and 2M ChOH:DETA−Sulfolane. It was also found that the absorption capacity increased with increasing pressure and decreased with temperature. The highest CO2 absorption by 2M ChOH:TETA−DMSO was observed at a partial pressure of 1400 kPa at 303.15 K 1.2507 mol CO2/mol DES. The use of a non-aqueous solvent in the mixture showed a phase separation phenomenon after the CO2 absorption reaction due to the formation of insoluble carbamate salt, which was identified through FTIR analysis. These findings suggest that the use of a DES polyamine mixed with a non-aqueous solvent could be a promising solution for CO2 capture.
Digital Agriculture Policies and Strategies for Innovations in the Agri-Food Systems—Cases of Five West African Countries
Authors: Degila Jules , Sodedji Frejus Ariel Kpedetin , Avakoudjo Hospice Gerard Gracias , Tahi Souand Peace Gloria , Houetohossou Seton Calmette Ariane , Honfoga Anne-Carole , Tognisse Ida Sèmévo , Assogbadjo Achille Ephrem
Published: June 2023

The digital transformation of agriculture can support economic growth and food and nutrition security in Africa. The objectives of this study were to provide an overview of the status of digital agriculture in five West African countries, analyze their efforts in developing the enabling environment and innovations, and formulate recommendations based on the identified gaps for the effective transformation of the sector. For this purpose, a literature search was performed using various sources, including web pages and databases of national agricultural and digital transformation institutions and start-ups of the five target countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Nigeria) and regional/international institutions. The information retrieved was used for individual country and cross-country comparative analysis of the progress and propositions of feasible actions for improvements. The results showed increasing agri-digital initiatives in the five countries, which were grouped into seven categories based on their objectives. Steady progress was also observed in mobile internet adoption, despite the differences in deploying crucial infrastructure to promote digital agriculture. The mobile connectivity index (MCI) in all five countries is below 60. Nonetheless, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire demonstrated more efforts in internet and electricity access, especially in rural areas. Benin and Nigeria have developed separate documents depicting the roadmap for digital agriculture, while the other countries are working to create one or have it embedded in their national development plans. Similarities and specificities exist among countries for laws and processes protecting agri-digital innovators. To be competitive and self-reliant in the global e-economy, these countries must reposition themselves to accelerate changes in digital agriculture through effective governance and synergy of actions in different sectors and across nations.
Optimal Comfortable Load Schedule for Home Energy Management Including Photovoltaic and Battery Systems
Authors: Qais Mohammed , Loo K. H. , Hasanien Hany M. , Alghuwainem Saad
Published: June 2023

Although the main concern of consumers is to reduce the cost of energy consumption, zero-energy buildings are the main concern of governments, which reduce the carbon footprint of the residential sector. Therefore, homeowners are motivated to install distributed renewable energy resources such as solar energy, which includes photovoltaics (PVs), solar concentrators, and energy storage systems (ESSs); these installations are intended to maintain the homeowners’ energy consumption, and the excess energy can be sold to the grid. In light of the comfort consumption suggestions made by users, this paper presents an optimal home energy management (HEM) for zero-energy buildings and low energy consumption. Firstly, this paper proposes a new optimization algorithm called random integer search optimization (RISO). Afterwards, we propose a new objective function to enable zero energy consumption from the grid and lower costs. Therefore, in this study, the primary energy resources for homes are PVs and ESSs, while the grid is on standby during the intermittency of the primary resources. Then, the HEM applies the RISO algorithm for an optimal day-ahead load schedule based on the day-ahead weather forecast and consumers’ comfort time range schedule. The proposed HEM is investigated using a schedule of habits for residential customers living in Hong Kong, where the government subsidizes the excess clean energy from homes to the grid. Three scenarios were studied and compared in this work to verify the effectiveness of the proposed HEM. The results revealed that the load schedule within the comfort times decreased the cost of energy consumption by 25% of the cost without affecting the users’ comfort.
Analysis of Carbon Emissions Embodied in the Provincial Trade of China Based on an Input–Output Model and k-Means Algorithm
Authors: Liu Danzhu , Liang Jinqiang , Xu Shuliang , Ye Mao
Published: June 2023

National or regional carbon emissions are generally accounted for by the principle of “producer responsibility”, which ignores the embodied carbon emissions implied in product consumption via inter-regional trade. Therefore, it is necessary to include the embodied carbon emissions into the product consumption regions for overall calculation. As an example, this paper analyzes the characteristics of China’s domestic regional carbon flow network based on a multiregional input–output table and carbon emission data, identifying three clusters of carbon emission characteristic regions by k-means—the clustering algorithm of machine learning. The research results show that some provinces—such as Beijing, Zhejiang, and Guangdong—are the net input areas of embodied carbon emissions (“consumers”), consuming products and services produced by “producers” such as Hebei, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia through trade, implicitly transferring the responsibility for carbon emissions. Accounting for carbon emissions worldwide/countrywide should consider both production responsibility and trade income. Our findings provide a novel national or regional classification approach based on embodied carbon emissions, which calls for an equitable regional distribution system of carbon emission rights. Meantime, inter-regional cooperation is of great significance in achieving carbon neutrality. In particular, the economically developed regions need to offer assistance to improve the energy efficiency or optimize the energy structure in less developed regions, by means of capital investment and technology transformation.
Ergonomic Factors Affecting the Learning Motivation and Academic Attention of SHS Students in Distance Learning
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Cruz Iris Samantha V. Dela , Piñon Dean Angelo A. , Rebong Hedy Nicolaison M. , Sahagun Daniel Luis P.
Published: June 2023

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has experienced a shift in education, forcing students to transition from traditional face-to-face classes to distance learning. Students found these adjustments challenging, thus affecting their academic performance. In order to address this issue, this study sought to identify the factors affecting students’ learning motivation and academic attention in distance learning using a novel framework of ergonomic domains. Using purposive sampling, 311 senior high school students who took part in online learning at selected schools in NCR Plus answered an online survey. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to investigate and assess the physical, cognitive, and macro-ergonomic factors influencing their learning motivation and academic attention. The study’s results revealed that cognitive and macro-ergonomic factors significantly influence students’ learning motivation, affecting students’ academic attention, while the physical ergonomic factors were found to be insignificant. The findings and analysis imply that academic professionals should be aware of and apply physical, cognitive, and macro-ergonomic concepts to positively influence students’ learning in an online setup. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation should be the main driving force behind learning because it is more successful and beneficial in the long term. The study concludes that as online learning has become more prevalent than ever, it is imperative that ergonomic factors are considered to establish an effective online education system and improve students’ learning motivation and academic attention in distance learning.