bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality Control of Thermally Modified Western Hemlock Wood Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy and Explainable Machine Learning
Authors: Nasir Vahid , Schimleck Laurence , Abdoli Farshid , Rashidi Maria , Sassani Farrokh , Avramidis Stavros
Published: October 2023

The quality control of thermally modified wood and identifying heat treatment intensity using nondestructive testing methods are critical tasks. This study used near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and machine learning modeling to classify thermally modified wood. NIR spectra were collected from the surfaces of untreated and thermally treated (at 170 °C, 212 °C, and 230 °C) western hemlock samples. An explainable machine learning approach was practiced using a TreeNet gradient boosting machine. No dimensionality reduction was performed to better explain the feature ranking results obtained from the model and provide insight into the critical wavelengths contributing to the performance of classification models. NIR spectra in the ranges of 1100–2500 nm, 1400–2500 nm, and 1700–2500 nm were fed into the TreeNet model, which resulted in classification accuracy values (test data) of 94.35%, 89.29%, and 84.52%, respectively. Feature ranking analysis revealed that when using the range of 1100–2500 nm, the changes in wood color resulted in the highest variation in NIR reflectance amongst treatments. As a result, associated features were given higher importance by TreeNet. Limiting the wavelength range increased the significance of features related to water or wood chemistry; however, these predictive models were not as accurate as the one benefiting from the impact of wood color change on the NIR spectra. The developed framework could be applied to different applications in which NIR spectra are used for wood characterization and quality control to provide improved insights into selected NIR wavelengths when developing a machine learning model.
Biorenewable Oxypropylated Pentane-1,2,5-triol as a Source for Incorporation in Rigid Polyurethane Foams
Authors: Grancharov Georgy , Atanasova Mariya-Desislava , Kalinova Radostina , Tuleshkov Pencho , Petrov Petar D. , Marinova Maya K. , Ravutsov Martin A. , Simeonov Svilen P.
Published: October 2023

In this study, as a product from the efficient Achmatowicz rearrangement and mild subsequent hydrogenation–reduction reactions of biorenewable C5 alcohols derived from lignocellulose, pentane-1,2,5-triol was successfully used after oxypropylation in the preparation of rigid polyurethane foams—one of the most important classes of polymeric materials. Despite the broad range of applications, the production of polyurethanes is still highly dependent on petrochemical materials considering the need of renewable raw materials and new process technologies for the production of polyol or isocyanate components as a key point for the sustainable development of polyurethane foams. The synthesized oxypropylated pentane-1,2,5-triol was analyzed using proton NMR spectroscopy, hydroxyl number, and viscosity, whereas the newly obtained foams incorporated with up to 30% biorenewable polyol were characterized using compressive stress, thermogravimetry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The modified rigid polyurethanes showed better compressive strength (>400.0 kPa), a comparable thermal degradation range at 325–450 °C, and similar morphological properties to those of commercial polyurethane formulations.
Assessing the Long-Term Creep Behaviour of Hydrothermally Treated Japanese Cedar Wood Using the Short-Term Accelerated Stepped Isostress Method
Authors: Xu Jin-Wei , Li Cheng-Chun , Liu Jian-Wei , Chang Wen-Chao , Chang Wen-Shao , Wu Jyh-Horng
Published: October 2023

In this study, short-term accelerated creep tests were conducted using the stepped isostress method (SSM) to investigate the impact of hydrothermal treatment on the long-term creep behaviour of Japanese cedar wood and to determine optimal hydrothermal treatment conditions. The results showed that SSM can effectively predict the creep behaviour of hydrothermally treated wood. Among the treatment conditions tested, Japanese cedar wood treated hydrothermally at 180 °C for 4 h exhibited higher flexural strength retention (91%) and moisture excluding efficiency (MEE) (44%) and demonstrated superior creep resistance compared to untreated wood. When subjected to a 30% average breaking load (ABL) over 20 years, the specimen’s creep compliance, instantaneous creep compliance, b value, activation volume, and improvement in creep resistance (ICR) were 0.17 GPa−1, 0.139 GPa−1, 0.15, 1.619 nm3, and 4%, respectively. The results indicate that subjecting Japanese cedar wood to hydrothermal treatment at 180 °C for 4 h has a negligible effect on its flexural properties but results in significant improvements in both dimensional stability and creep resistance.
Iodine and Nickel Ions Adsorption by Conjugated Copolymers Bearing Repeating Units of Dicyclopentapyrenyl and Various Thiophene Derivatives
Authors: Shetty Suchetha , Baig Noorullah , Wahed Sk Abdul , Hassan Atikur , Das Neeladri , Alameddine Bassam
Published: October 2023

The synthesis of three conjugated copolymers TPP1–3 was carried out using a palladium-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition polymerization of 1,6-dibromopyrene with various dialkynyl thiophene derivatives 3a–c. The target copolymers were obtained in excellent yields and high purity, as confirmed by instrumental analyses. TPP1–3 were found to divulge a conspicuous iodine adsorption capacity up to 3900 mg g−1, whereas the adsorption mechanism studies revealed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Furthermore, recyclability tests of TPP3, the copolymer which revealed the maximum iodine uptake, disclosed its efficient regeneration even after numerous adsorption-desorption cycles. Interestingly, the target copolymers proved promising nickel ions capture efficiencies from water with a maximum equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) of 48.5 mg g−1.
Dental Resin-Based Luting Materials—Review
Authors: Maletin Aleksandra , Knežević Milica Jeremić , Koprivica Daniela Đurović , Veljović Tanja , Puškar Tatjana , Milekić Bojana , Ristić Ivan
Published: October 2023

As cementation represents the last stage of the work involved in making various indirect restorations (metal ceramic crowns and bridges, full ceramic crowns and bridges, inlays, onlays, and fiber posts), its quality significantly contributes to the clinical success of the therapy performed. In the last two decades, the demand for ceramic indirect restorations in everyday dental practice has considerably increased primarily due to the growing significance of esthetics among patients, but also as a result of hypersensitivity reactions to dental alloys in some individuals. In this context, it is essential to ensure a permanent and reliable adhesive bond between the indirect restoration and the tooth structure, as this is the key to the success of aesthetic restorations. Resin-based luting materials benefit from excellent optical (aesthetic) and mechanical properties, as well as from providing a strong and durable adhesive bond between the restoration and the tooth. For this reason, resin cements are a reliable choice of material for cementing polycrystalline ceramic restorations. The current dental material market offers a wide range of resin cement with diverse and continually advancing properties. In response, we wish to note that the interest in the properties of resin-based cements among clinicians has existed for many years. Yet, despite extensive research on the subject and the resulting continued improvements in the quality of these materials, there is still no ideal resin-based cement on the market. The manuscript authors were guided by this fact when writing the article content, as the aim was to provide a concise overview of the composition, properties, and current trends, as well as some future guidelines for research in this field that would be beneficial for dental practitioners as well as the scientific community. It is extremely important to provide reliable and succinct information and guidelines for resin luting materials for dental dental practitioners.
Nanocellulose from Cocoa Shell in Pickering Emulsions of Cocoa Butter in Water: Effect of Isolation and Concentration on Its Stability and Rheological Properties
Authors: Gómez Hoyos Catalina , Botero Luis David , Flórez-Caro Andrea , Velásquez-Cock Jorge Andrés , Zuluaga Robin
Published: October 2023

There is a growing interest in developing new strategies to completely or partially replace cocoa butter in food and cosmetic products due to its cost and health effects. One of these alternatives is to develop stable emulsions of cocoa butter in water. However, incorporating cocoa butter is challenging as it solidifies and forms crystals, destabilizing the emulsion through arrested coalescence. Prevention against this destabilization mechanism is significantly lower than against coalescence. In this research, the rheological properties of nanocellulose from cocoa shell, a by-product of the chocolate industry, were controlled through isolation treatments to produce nanocellulose with a higher degree of polymerization (DP) and a stronger three-dimensional network. This nanocellulose was used at concentrations of 0.7 and 1.0 wt %, to develop cocoa butter in-water Pickering emulsion using a high shear mixing technique. The emulsions remained stable for more than 15 days. Nanocellulose was characterized using attenuated total reflection–Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR–FTIR), hot water and organic extractives, atomic force microscopy (AFM), degree of polymerization (DP), and rheological analysis. Subsequently, the emulsions were characterized on days 1 and 15 after their preparation through photographs to assess their physical stability. Fluorescent and electronic microscopy, as well as rheological analysis, were used to understand the physical properties of emulsions.
Cellulose-Based Conductive Materials for Energy and Sensing Applications
Authors: Wang Duan-Chao , Lei Sheng-Nan , Zhong Shenjie , Xiao Xuedong , Guo Qing-Hui
Published: October 2023

Cellulose-based conductive materials (CCMs) have emerged as a promising class of materials with various applications in energy and sensing. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the synthesis methods and properties of CCMs and their applications in batteries, supercapacitors, chemical sensors, biosensors, and mechanical sensors. Derived from renewable resources, cellulose serves as a scaffold for integrating conductive additives such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene, metal particles, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), carbides and nitrides of transition metals (MXene), and conductive polymers. This combination results in materials with excellent electrical conductivity while retaining the eco-friendliness and biocompatibility of cellulose. In the field of energy storage, CCMs show great potential for batteries and supercapacitors due to their high surface area, excellent mechanical strength, tunable chemistry, and high porosity. Their flexibility makes them ideal for wearable and flexible electronics, contributing to advances in portable energy storage and electronic integration into various substrates. In addition, CCMs play a key role in sensing applications. Their biocompatibility allows for the development of implantable biosensors and biodegradable environmental sensors to meet the growing demand for health and environmental monitoring. Looking to the future, this review emphasizes the need for scalable synthetic methods, improved mechanical and thermal properties, and exploration of novel cellulose sources and modifications. Continued innovation in CCMs promises to revolutionize sustainable energy storage and sensing technologies, providing environmentally friendly solutions to pressing global challenges.
Single Crown Restorations Supported by One-Piece Zirconia Dental Implants: Case Series with a Mean Follow-Up of 58 Months
Authors: Romeo Eugenio , Scaringi Riccardo , Lops Diego , Palazzolo Antonino
Published: October 2023

The main aim of this case series was to report the clinical and radiographic outcomes of 22 one-piece zirconia dental implants positioned in 19 patients to restore single edentulisms and followed up for at least 2 years. The mean observation period was 58.18 months. At the last follow-up visit, no issues, such as foreign body sensation, discomfort or pain, were reported by the patients. No implant showed signs of infection with suppuration or implant mobility. Marginal bone levels (MBL) were assessed through standardized dental radiographs and a dedicated software. The mean distance between the implant head and the first detectable bone to implant contact was calculated at the mesial and distal aspect of each implant. The mean MBL at baseline was 1.82 ± 0.63 mm while the mean MBL at the last follow-up visit was 2.57 ± 0.72 mm. The results obtained in the present case series over a mean follow-up period of 58.18 months (range 27–96) showed that one-piece zirconia dental implants could be an alternative option to support single crowns in patients requiring metal-free restorations. Nevertheless, further better-controlled research featuring an adequate study design and longer follow-up is needed in order to clarify advantages and limitations which are related to this treatment modality.
Detecting Faking on Self-Report Measures Using the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding
Authors: Vispoel Walter P. , Kilinc Murat , Schneider Wei S.
Published: October 2023

We compared three methods for scoring the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) to detect faked responses on self-report measures: (1) polytomous, (2) dichotomous emphasizing exaggerating endorsement of socially desirable behaviors, and (3) dichotomous emphasizing exaggerating denial of such behaviors. The results revealed that respondents on average were able to fake good or fake bad and that faking markedly affected score distributions, subscale score intercorrelations, and overall model fits. When using the Impression Management scale, polytomous and dichotomous exaggerated endorsement scoring were best for detecting faking good, whereas polytomous and dichotomous exaggerated denial scoring were best for detecting faking bad. When using the Self-Deceptive Enhancement scale, polytomous and dichotomous exaggerated endorsement scoring again were best for detecting faking good, but dichotomous exaggerated denial scoring was best for detecting faking bad. Percentages of correct classification of honest and faked responses for the most effective methods for any given scale ranged from 85% to 93%, with accuracy on average in detecting faking bad greater than in detecting faking good and greater when using the Impression Management than using the Self-Deceptive Enhancement scale for both types of faking. Overall, these results best support polytomous scoring of the BIDR Impression Management scale as the single most practical and efficient means to detect faking. Cut scores that maximized classification accuracy for all scales and scoring methods are provided for future use in screening for possible faking within situations in which relevant local data are unavailable.
The River Valleys of the Greek Colony of Selinunte: Results of an Offshore Investigation
Authors: Lodolo Emanuele , Baradello Luca , Szentpeteri László , Deponte Michele , Gordini Emiliano , Civile Dario
Published: October 2023

The ancient Greek colony of Selinunte, with its acropolis on a promontory on the south-western coast of Sicily, is flanked by two valleys where two modest rivers flow today: the Modione to the west and the Cottone to the east. Archaeological reconstructions, historical documents from various sources, and recent remote sensing surveys indicate two important bays corresponding to the ancient mouths of these two rivers, now completely covered by a thick layer of sediments. It is believed that the ports of the colony were located in these bays, although the remains of these ports are still sparse and contradictory. Here we present a multibeam bathymetric map of part of the marine area immediately off Selinunte and a series of high-resolution seismic profiles acquired parallel to the coastline. They show the geometries and stratigraphic context of the two buried river valleys offshore, from which information about the palaeoenvironmental setting and evolution of the landscape can be derived and which may be used in adequately guiding future archaeological excavation programs.
Palladium-Catalyzed Cross-Coupling Reaction of Bis(cyclopentadienyl)diaryltitaniums with Terminal Alkynes
Authors: Murata Yuki , Nishi Yuya , Matsumura Mio , Yasuike Shuji
Published: October 2023

Organotitanium compounds find application in diverse reactions, including carbon–carbon bond formation and oxidation. While titanium (IV) compounds have been used in various applications, the potential of bis(cyclopentadienyl)diaryltitanium in cross-coupling reactions remains unexplored. This study focuses on Sonogashira-type cross-coupling reactions involving terminal alkynes and organotitanium compounds. Diaryltitanocenes were synthesized using titanocene dichloride with lithium intermediates derived from aryl iodide. Under open-flask conditions, reactions of diphenyltitanocenes with ethynylbenzene in the presence of 20 mol% Pd(OAc)2 in DMF produced coupling products in a remarkable 99% yield. Various diaryltitanocenes and alkynes under standard conditions yielded corresponding cross-coupling products with moderate to good yields. Notably, the Sonogashira-type alkynylation proceeds under mild conditions, including open-flask conditions, and without the need for a base. Furthermore, this cross-coupling is atom-economical and involves the active participation of both aryl groups of the diaryltitanocene. Remarkably, this study presents the first example of a Sonogashira-type cross-coupling using titanium compounds as pseudo-halides.
Egoism as a Problem for Robust Moral Realism
Authors: Ottosen Espen
Published: October 2023

As a normative ethical theory, ethical egoism may seem compatible with the metaethical theory of moral realism. However, in this article, I will problematize such an assumption. The reason is that an important motivation for rejecting moral anti-realism by many moral realists—like Derek Parfit, Torbjörn Tännsjö, and Erik J. Wielenberg—is that such a view entails that not even cruel or horrendous acts are to be called wrong by any universal or objective standard. I suggest that this motivation also applies to the ethical theory of egoism, as it may imply that no one has any obligation to refrain from cruel or horrendous acts as long they are beneficial to the agent. On that basis, I will demonstrate that egoism is a problem for robust moral realists that also, to a large degree, is being overlooked.
Images as a Resource for Catholic Theology
Authors: Kovač Nedjeljka Valerija
Published: October 2023

The aim of this article is to demonstrate why Catholic theology should actively engage with artistic images and elucidate how they could serve as a valuable resource for theological knowledge and content. The discussion is articulated in three distinct steps. Firstly, drawing from theological-historical perspectives within Christian tradition, it is shown that certain images possess significant theological potential. There have been various forms of interaction between theology and the visual representation of faith. The second step discusses the gradual reduction of theological reflection towards rational and conceptual cognition. The author relies predominantly on inner-theological arguments to advocate for the necessity of expanding the intellectual and conceptual horizons of contemporary Catholic theology so as to include the aesthetic dimension. In the final, third part, these insights are substantiated through the examination of two examples from contemporary Catholic theology: the works of Alex Stock and Peter Hofmann, exploring how artistic images can enrich systematic theology by serving as a “locus theologicus”. In conclusion, the author asserts that images have the potential to expand and concretize abstracted topics within dogmatic theology. They can also facilitate the reintegration of fragmented theological disciplines and forge a more direct link between theology and the lived experience of faith.
Vertical Characteristics of Vegetation Distribution in Wuyishan National Park Based on Multi-Source High-Resolution Remotely Sensed Data
Authors: Ye Yongpeng , Lu Dengsheng , Wu Zuohang , Liao Kuo , Zhou Mingxing , Jian Kai , Li Dengqiu
Published: October 2023

Identifying vertical characteristics of mountainous vegetation distribution is necessary for studying the ecological environment quality and biodiversity and for evaluating its responses to climate change. However, producing fine vegetation distribution in a complex mountainous area remains a huge challenge. This study developed a framework based on multi-source high-resolution satellite images to strengthen the understanding of vertical features of vegetation distribution. We fused GaoFen-6 and Sentinel-2 data to produce 2 m multispectral data, combined with ALOS PALSAR digital elevation model (DEM) data, and used an object-based method to extract variables for establishing a classification model. The spatial distribution of vegetation types in Wuyishan National Park (WNP) was then obtained using a hierarchical random forest classifier. The characteristics of different vegetation types along the elevation gradient and their distribution patterns under different human protection levels were finally examined. The results show that (1) An overall accuracy of 87.11% and a Kappa coefficient of 0.85 for vegetation classification was achieved. (2) WNP exhibits obviously vertical differentiation of vegetation types, showing four compound dominant zone groups and five dominant belts. (3) The composition of vegetation types in the scenic area differs significantly from other regions. The proportions of Masson pine and Chinese fir exhibit a noticeably decreasing trend as the distance increases away from roads, while the changes in broadleaf forest and bamboo forest are less pronounced.
Feature Relation Guided Cross-View Image Based Geo-Localization
Authors: Hou Qingfeng , Lu Jun , Guo Haitao , Liu Xiangyun , Gong Zhihui , Zhu Kun , Ping Yifan
Published: October 2023

The goal of cross-view image based geo-localization is to determine the location of a given street-view image by matching it with a collection of geo-tagged aerial images, which has important applications in the fields of remote sensing information utilization and augmented reality. Most current cross-view image based geo-localization methods focus on the image content and ignore the relations between feature nodes, resulting in insufficient mining of effective information. To address this problem, this study proposes feature relation guided cross-view image based geo-localization. This method first processes aerial remote sensing images using a polar transform to achieve the geometric coarse alignment of ground-to-aerial images, and then realizes local contextual feature concern and global feature correlation modeling of the images through the feature relation guided attention generation module designed in this study. Specifically, the module includes two branches of deformable convolution based multiscale contextual feature extraction and global spatial relations mining, which effectively capture global structural information between feature nodes at different locations while correlating contextual features and guiding global feature attention generation. Finally, a novel feature aggregation module, MixVPR, is introduced to aggregate global feature descriptors to accomplish image matching and localization. After experimental validation, the cross-view image based geo-localization algorithm proposed in this study yields results of 92.08%, 97.70%, and 98.66% for the top 1, top 5, and top 10 metrics, respectively, in CVUSA, a popular public cross-view dataset, and exhibits superior performance compared to algorithms of the same type.
Rapid Method of Wastewater Classification by Electronic Nose for Performance Evaluation of Bioreactors with Activated Sludge
Authors: Piłat-Rożek Magdalena , Dziadosz Marcin , Majerek Dariusz , Jaromin-Gleń Katarzyna , Szeląg Bartosz , Guz Łukasz , Piotrowicz Adam , Łagód Grzegorz
Published: October 2023

Currently, e-noses are used for measuring odorous compounds at wastewater treatment plants. These devices mimic the mammalian olfactory sense, comprising an array of multiple non-specific gas sensors. An array of sensors creates a unique set of signals called a “gas fingerprint”, which enables it to differentiate between the analyzed samples of gas mixtures. However, appropriate advanced analyses of multidimensional data need to be conducted for this purpose. The failures of the wastewater treatment process are directly connected to the odor nuisance of bioreactors and are reflected in the level of pollution indicators. Thus, it can be assumed that using the appropriately selected methods of data analysis from a gas sensors array, it will be possible to distinguish and classify the operating states of bioreactors (i.e., phases of normal operation), as well as the occurrence of malfunction. This work focuses on developing a complete protocol for analyzing and interpreting multidimensional data from a gas sensor array measuring the properties of the air headspace in a bioreactor. These methods include dimensionality reduction and visualization in two-dimensional space using the principal component analysis (PCA) method, application of data clustering using an unsupervised method by Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) algorithm, and at the last stage, application of extra trees as a supervised machine learning method to achieve the best possible accuracy and precision in data classification.
Induction Motor Stator Winding Inter-Tern Short Circuit Fault Detection Based on Start-Up Current Envelope Energy
Authors: Chen Liting , Shen Jianhao , Xu Gang , Chi Cheng , Feng Qiaohui , Zhou Yang , Deng Yuanzhi , Wen Huajie
Published: October 2023

Inter-turn short circuit (ITSC) is a common fault in induction motors. However, it is challenging to detect the early stage of ITSC fault. To address this issue, this paper proposes an ITSC fault detection method for three-phase induction motors based on start-up current envelope energy. This approach uses Akima interpolation to calculate the envelope of the measured start-up current of the induction motor. A Gaussian window weighting is applied to eliminate endpoint effects caused by the initial phase angle, and the enveloping energy is obtained using the energy formula as the fault feature. Finally, by combining this with the support vector machine (SVM) classification learner, fault detection of ITSC in induction motors is achieved. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of this method reaches 96.9%, which can quickly and accurately detect ITSC faults in asynchronous motors and determine the severity of the faults. Furthermore, the average accuracy of SVM in detecting early ITSC faults under no-load conditions is 98.8%, which is higher than other classification learners, including LR, KNN, and NN. This study provides a new idea for induction motor fault detection and can contribute to induction motor maintenance.
Room-Temperature Nitric Oxide Gas Sensors Based on NiO/SnO2 Heterostructures
Authors: Gagaoudakis Emmanouil , Tsakirakis Apostolos , Moschogiannaki Marilena , Sfakianou Angeliki , Binas Vassilios
Published: October 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a very well-known indoor pollutant, and high concentrations of it in the atmosphere lead to acid rain. Thus, there is great demand for NO sensors that have the ability to work at room temperature. In this work, NiO/SnO2 heterostructures have been prepared via the polyol process and were tested against different concentrations of NO gas at room temperature. The structural and morphological characteristics of the heterostructures were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively, while the ratio of NiO to SnO2 was determined through the use of energy-dispersive spectrometry. The effects of both pH and thermal annealing on the morphological, structural and gas-sensing properties of the heterostructure were investigated. It was found that the morphology of the heterostructures consisted of rod-like particles with different sizes, depending on the temperature of thermal annealing. Moreover, NiO/SnO2 heterostructures synthesized with pH = 8 and annealed at 900 °C showed a response of 1.8% towards 2.5 ppm NO at room temperature. The effects of humidity as well as of stability on the gas sensing performance were also investigated.
Optimizations of Double Titanium Nitride Thermo-Optic Phase-Shifter Heaters Using SOI Technology
Authors: Krause Eylon Eliyahu , Malka Dror
Published: October 2023

A commercial thermo-optic phase shifter (TOPS) is an efficient solution to the imbalance problem in the fabrication process of Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM) arms. The TOPS consumes electrical power and transforms it into thermal energy, which changes the real part of the effective refractive index at the waveguide and adjusts the MZM transfer function to work in the linear region. The common model being used today is constructed with only one heater; however, this solution requires more electrical power, which can increase the transmitter system cost. To reduce the system energy cost, we propose a pioneering optimal double titanium nitride heater model under forward biasing at 1550 nm wavelength using the standard silicon-on-insulator technology. Numerical investigations were carried out on the key relative geometrical parameters, heat distribution at the silicon layer, thermal crosstalk, and laser wavelength drift. Results show that the optimal TOPS design can function with a low electrical power of 19.1 mW to achieve a π-phase shift, with a low thermal crosstalk of 0.404 and very low optical losses over 1 mm length. Thus, the proposed device can be used for improving the imbalance problem in MZMs with low electrical power consumption and low losses. This functionality can be utilized to obtain better performances in transmitter systems for data centers and long-range optical communication system applications.
Progress in the Separation and Purification of Carbon Hydrocarbon Compounds Using MOFs and Molecular Sieves
Authors: Zhou Yousheng , Li Peicheng , Wang Yifan , Zhao Qiyue , Sun Hui
Published: October 2023

Carbon hydrocarbon compounds, especially low-carbon hydrocarbons (C1–C3), are vital raw materials in the petrochemical industry, but their efficient separation has great challenges due to their similar molecular structures and properties. In contrast to traditional low-temperature distillation and absorption separation technologies, selective adsorption employing porous materials as adsorbent has the advantages of low energy consumption, high efficiency, and high selectivity, indicating broad application possibilities in the field of low-carbon hydrocarbon separation. In this paper, the recent progress in the separation and purification of hydrocarbon mixtures by means of the two kinds of porous materials (metal–organic frameworks and molecular sieves) that have been widely used in recent years is reviewed, including purification of methane and separation of ethylene/ethane, propylene/propane, and some high-carbon hydrocarbon isomers. The structure–activity relationships between their chemical composition, structural characteristics, and separation performance are discussed to understand the separation mechanism. In conclusion, the issues encountered in the application of metal–organic frameworks and molecular sieves in the separation of low-carbon hydrocarbons are discussed in light of the current context of “carbon neutrality”.
Synthesis of Silica Gel Chelated with Alizarin and 1-Nitroso-2-Naphthol for Solid Phase Extraction of Lead in Ground Water Samples
Authors: Alahmadi Sana M. , Aljuhani Salwa S.
Published: October 2023

Silica gel chemically functionalized with alizarin (Si-AZ) and 1-nitroso-2-naphthol (Si-NN) was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, N2 adsorption-desorption, SEM, and elemental analysis. The two chelators show adequate sorption properties for Pb (II) and are hence used as SPE sorbents prior to their determination with ICP-MS. Both chelators showed high sorption efficiency for the Pb (II) ion at pH 8. Batch experiments demonstrate that the synthesized resins could remove more than 95% Pb (II) out of solutions containing 100 μg/mL of the ion. At optimum conditions, the maximum adsorption capacities for S-TDI-AZ and S-TDI-NN for Pb (II) were 9.56 and 9.43 mg/g, respectively. Method development was performed to investigate the applicability of the chelating resins as packing materials for SPE using model solutions and real groundwater samples. The method detection limits of SPE were 0.0025 and 0.0026 μg/L with high precision (R.S.D. < 3%). The recoveries of spiked Pb (II) with ground water were 104.70 and 102.62%. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of Pb (II) in the groundwater by ICP-MS.
Optimal Water Management Strategies: Paving the Way for Sustainability in Smart Cities
Authors: Bouramdane Ayat-Allah
Published: October 2023

Global urbanization and increasing water demand make efficient water resource management crucial. This study employs Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) to evaluate smart city water management strategies. We use representative criteria, employ objective judgment, assign weights through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), and score strategies based on meeting these criteria. We find that the “Effectiveness and Risk Management” criterion carries the highest weight (15.28%), underscoring its pivotal role in strategy evaluation and robustness. Medium-weight criteria include “Resource Efficiency, Equity, and Social Considerations” (10.44%), “Integration with Existing Systems, Technological Feasibility, and Ease of Implementation” (10.10%), and “Environmental Impact” (9.84%) for ecological mitigation. “Community Engagement and Public Acceptance” (9.79%) recognizes involvement, while “Scalability and Adaptability” (9.35%) addresses changing conditions. “Return on Investment” (9.07%) and “Regulatory and Policy Alignment” (8.8%) balance financial and governance concerns. Two low-weight criteria, “Data Reliability” (8.78%) and “Long-Term Sustainability” (8.55%), stress data accuracy and sustainability. Highly weighted strategies like “Smart Metering and Monitoring, Demand Management, Behavior Change” and “Smart Irrigation Systems” are particularly effective in improving water management in smart cities. However, medium-weighted (e.g., “Educational Campaigns and Public Awareness”, “Policy and Regulation”, “Rainwater Harvesting”, “Offshore Floating Photovoltaic Systems”, “Collaboration and Partnerships”, “Graywater Recycling and Reuse”, and “Distributed Water Infrastructure”) and low-weighted (e.g., “Water Desalination”) strategies also contribute and can be combined with higher-ranked ones to create customized water management approaches for each smart city’s unique context. This research is significant because it addresses urban water resource management complexity, offers a multi-criteria approach to enhance traditional single-focused methods, evaluates water strategies in smart cities comprehensively, and provides a criteria-weight-based resource allocation framework for sustainable decisions, boosting smart city resilience. Note that results may vary based on specific smart city needs and constraints. Future studies could explore factors like climate change on water management in smart cities and consider alternative MCDM methods like TOPSIS or ELECTRE for strategy evaluation.
Korean American Mothers’ Experiences of the Transition from School into Adulthood for Their Child with Disabilities
Authors: Kim Kyeong-Hwa , Kwon Hyunsoo
Published: October 2023

In order to better understand how Korean American students with disabilities go through transitions and how education and services can more effectively target them, this study was designed to examine Korean American parents’ perceptions of transition experiences for their child with disabilities through collecting qualitative data. To achieve the purposes of the research, 9 mothers of Korean American young adults with disabilities aged 18–25 were interviewed. Overall, five themes emerged from the qualitative analysis: the importance and shortcomings of a transition program for students with disabilities aged 18–21, use of an ethnic informal organization, mothers’ readiness for the future, professionals’ negative attitudes, and transition planning. The findings were discussed to enhance the involvement of Korean American parents in the development of a long-range plan that will affect the postschool outcomes of their children with disabilities.
Critical Reflexivity and Positionality on the Scholar–Practitioner Continuum: Researching Women’s Embodied Subjectivities in Sport
Authors: Turelli Fabiana Cristina , Vaz Alexandre Fernandez , Kirk David
Published: October 2023

The sports world has many prejudices that have been converted into common sense. Some relate to the idea of athletes being strong or pretty but endowed with little intelligence. There is another view, perhaps a little more accurate, around the reification of consciousness in the name of the automation and maximum outcome of the body. Both views are informed by Cartesian thinking, perpetuating the mind–body dichotomy. Such a dichotomy is spread in several other areas in our society, expressed as binaries. We meet a binary when conducting research as well, disembodying the researcher as someone who is neutral, objective, and highly rational, and someone who, in synthesis, performs good mental work, but who must not let feelings intrude. On the contrary, we argue that we are embodied beings who are often not able to (and maybe should not) become detached from previous experiences and knowledge when conducting research. Even though this can present itself as a challenge, we consider that a fluid non-binary positioning encompasses actions holistically and leads to tasks being performed on a continuum. The purpose of this paper is to explore the reflexive process embedded in carrying out a PhD project committed to studying the production of the embodied subjectivities of a group of women high-level athletes in karate. The researcher inserted in the researched environment was not a high-level athlete; however, she had several experiences competing at the amateur level in different countries and faced experiences that were, to some extent, similar to those of the elite athletes. She used her previous experiences as a karateka, researcher, and woman to inform her research-doing since the intersectional social issues faced by her and lived queer feelings motivated her research questions. She plunged into a process of self-reflection and counted on the guidance of the other authors to organise her learning in order to use it in her scholarship. That was, primarily, an experience of “practice” of subjectivity through examining others’ production of subjectivity, besides strengthening a positionality that lacked self-confidence. Thus, we explore issues around the researcher–practitioner theoretical–practical continuum of research-doing, presenting a journey that became empowering.
Rainwater Quality Analysis for Its Potential Recovery: A Case Study on Its Usage for Swimming Pools in Poland
Authors: Lempart-Rapacewicz Anna , Zakharova Julia , Kudlek Edyta
Published: October 2023

This paper describes the possibility of using rainwater for filling artificial swimming pools in Poland. The overall purpose of this study is to understand whether the quality of rainwater collected from roofs would be suitable for use in the swimming pools without any additional treatment. The rainwater samples were collected from five areas in the Silesian region and analysed for a number of physico-chemical parameters. The results show that the content of nitrates met Polish standards, whereas the standards set for pH and turbidity would only be met after the water had undergone the treatment process which takes place in every swimming pool installation. The paper further compares rainwater data from this study with the corresponding data for drinking water and groundwater. It shows that the content of ammonia, some metals (Ni, Cr and Mn) and a semimetal are in line with the parameters used for drinking water and are a lot lower compared to those set for groundwater. However, the results indicated some possible consequences which might be harmful for swimming pool users. These include the adverse effects of zinc and other organic micropollutants which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These may form dangerous byproducts in the presence of the chlorine, the use of which is required by the standards to be applied for swimming pool disinfection purposes.
Enhancing Rice Leaf Disease Classification: A Customized Convolutional Neural Network Approach
Authors: Abasi Ammar Kamal , Makhadmeh Sharif Naser , Alomari Osama Ahmad , Tubishat Mohammad , Mohammed Husam Jasim
Published: October 2023

In modern agriculture, correctly identifying rice leaf diseases is crucial for maintaining crop health and promoting sustainable food production. This study presents a detailed methodology to enhance the accuracy of rice leaf disease classification. We achieve this by employing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model specifically designed for rice leaf images. The proposed method achieved an accuracy of 0.914 during the final epoch, demonstrating highly competitive performance compared to other models, with low loss and minimal overfitting. A comparison was conducted with Transfer Learning Inception-v3 and Transfer Learning EfficientNet-B2 models, and the proposed method showed superior accuracy and performance. With the increasing demand for precision agriculture, models like the proposed one show great potential in accurately detecting and managing diseases, ultimately leading to improved crop yields and ecological sustainability.
Women-Led Climate Change Adaptation: A Study in Northwestern Bangladesh
Authors: Huq Hamidul , Rahman Md. Mizanur , Hossen M. Anwar
Published: October 2023

Climate change has garnered widespread societal concern due to its yawning consequences on both the natural environment and human society. Consequently, the imperative for adaptation to climate change has become intensely entrenched in the collective psyche of humanity. Traditionally, women have played an indispensable role in climate adaptation processes, yet their invaluable contributions remain unfortunately disregarded and underrepresented. While contemporary financial assistance promotes women’s engagement in climate change adaptation, the coping strategies in real situations are widely varied and are significantly important to discuss. This study endeavors to rectify this gap by identifying and revealing the adaptive strategies of women in response to the vulnerabilities engendered by the multidimensional impacts of climate change. Thus, this study was conducted deploying a mixed research methodology combined with qualitative and quantitative approaches, particularly focus group discussions (FGD), household surveys, and key informant interviews (KII) across three villages in the Nilphamari district of Northwestern Bangladesh. The findings of this study reveal that women have made substantial contributions to adapting to the impacts of climate change through the execution of distinctive saving mechanisms. In facing adversities resulting from climate-induced losses, women exhibit a commendable capacity for adaptation by leveraging their accrued financial reserves as a robust and astute coping mechanism. This study suggests a broader replication of this approach to confront the impacts of climate change.
Smart Tea Utensil Design for Improving Beginners’ Tea Brewing Experience
Authors: Liu Shuo-Fang , Chang Jui-Feng , Hsiao Yu-Ting , Wu Chi-Hua
Published: October 2023

In Taiwan, people who enjoy traditional Gongfu tea are becoming older and older, while the younger generation has many alternative beverages to select from. In order to sustainably pass down traditional tea-drinking culture, this study has incorporated concepts and methodologies of the peak-end rule, customer journey maps (CJMs), quality function deployment (QFD), fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP), and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation based on entropy, resulting in the development of a set of tea utensils tailored for a novice or beginner tea maker with the purpose of improving the tea-drinking experience of the younger generation. In this study, the ranking of the importance in regard to six design requirements turned out to be: enhancing the sniffing experience (0.240); having ergonomic designs that facilitate a smooth process of pouring hot water into the cup (0.205); increasing the ease of storing tea utensils after brewing (0.162); enabling users to more precisely determine the strength of the tea (0.144); increasing fun while pouring tea leaves into the teapot (0.143); and having clearly designated space for placing each tea utensil (0.107). Through the experts’ evaluation, 66.6% of them rated the design outcome as “good” or “very good”, indicating that the innovative tea utensils developed in this study can effectively satisfy users’ needs. This study can be the supplement to the innovation shortage of tea-culture-related studies, establish the research framework in the academic field, and bring more innovation and potential to the field of the tea culture.
Solar Radiation Prediction Based on Conformer-GLaplace-SDAR Model
Authors: Lyu Zhuoyuan , Shen Ying , Zhao Yu , Hu Tao
Published: October 2023

Solar energy, as a clean energy source, has tremendous potential for utilization. The advancement of solar energy utilization technology has led to an increasing demand for solar energy, resulting in a growing need for the accurate prediction of solar radiation. The main objective of this study is to develop a novel model for predicting solar radiation intervals, in order to obtain accurate and high-quality predictions. In this study, the daily sunshine duration (SD), average relative humidity (RHU), and daily average temperature (AT) were selected as the indicators affecting the daily global solar radiation (DGSR). The empirical study conducted in this research utilized daily solar radiation data and daily meteorological data collected at the Hami station in Xinjiang from January 2009 to December 2016. In this study, a novel solar radiation interval prediction model was developed based on the concept of “point prediction + interval prediction”. The Conformer model was employed for the point prediction of solar radiation, while the Generalized Laplace (GLaplace) distribution was chosen as the prior distribution to account for the prediction error. Furthermore, the Solar DeepAR Forecasting (SDAR) model was utilized to estimate parameters of the fitted residual distribution and achieve the interval prediction of solar radiation. The results showed that both models performed well, with the Conformer model achieving a Mean Squared Error (MSE) of 0.8645, a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.7033 and the fitting coefficient R2 of 0.7751, while the SDAR model demonstrated a Coverage Width-based Criterion (CWC) value of 0.068. Compared to other conventional interval prediction methods, our study’s model exhibited superior accuracy and provided a more reliable solar radiation prediction interval, offering valuable information for ensuring power system safety and stability.