bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Power Quality Analysis by H-Bridge DSTATCOM Control by Icosθ and ESRF SOGI-FLL Methods for Different Industrial Loads
Authors: Islavatu Srikanth , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Amit , Salkuti Surender Reddy
Published: November 2022

This work develops the analysis of power quality by the H-bridge Static Distribution Compensator (DSTATCOM) as well as its control techniques in different industry-based loading conditions. The function of DSTATCOM is to diminish power quality problems arising due to commercial as well as industrial loads. For reference current extraction, the novel Icosθ and proposed enhanced SRF SOGI-FLL (synchronous reference frame second-order generalized integrator frequency-locked loop) controller have been adopted in the H-bridge DSTATCOM. The Icosθ controller’s performance is dependent on the in-phase and quadrature-phase angle, which changes accordingly as load changes, whereas the proposed enhanced SRF SOGI-FLL controller works in synchronization with the grid with an inverter. The two control techniques were compared in terms of balancing, power factor improvement, DC-link voltage control, and harmonic minimization. The harmonics minimization of the proposed controller has been validated by IEEE 519 standards. The extracted reference currents are fed to the hysteresis current controller for the generation of pulses toward the inverter switches of DSTATCOM. The DSTATCOM system along with control algorithms have been tested on various loading conditions, i.e., voltage source- and current source-based non-linear loads, induction heating-based loads, and electric arc furnace. The complete DSTATCOM systems were implemented and executed in the MATLAB/Simulink platform and then power quality improvement features were investigated.
Increasing Energy Conservation Behavior of Individuals towards Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Communities
Authors: Ceylan Rumeysa , Özbakır Aysegül
Published: November 2022

The energy crisis is the foremost concern for the developing world, predominantly in European countries. The global energy demand will increase significantly by 2050, while natural resources dramatically decrease every day. However, net-zero emissions targets, climate emergency calls (1.5 °C global warming limit), smart environmental transformations, and energy transition efforts bring hope for fundamental changes in climate action globally. One of the best and most cost-effective strategies to achieve reduced energy consumption is encouraging energy conservation actions, which should begin at the household level and further spread to the community level. Therefore, this study aims to point out the critical role and growing importance of the ‘human’ dimension of smart cities via a behavior-based approach. The main purpose of the study is to measure the effect of feedback and intervention mechanisms on the energy conservation behavior of 100 volunteers who live in Kadikoy, Istanbul, over eight months through a behavioral questionnaire. The findings indicate that the feedback and intervention mechanisms affect volunteers’ energy conservation behaviors in the following behavioral groups: intention (t(99) = −2.75, p = 0.00), attitude (behavioral beliefs and outcome evaluations) (t(99) = 2.29, p = 0.02), subjective norms (t(99) = −4.07, p = 0.00), and perceived behavioral control (control beliefs and influence behavior) (t(99) = 3.60, p = 0.00). Moreover, among the four variable groups, participants’ intention, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control scores are relatively high in favor of actual energy conservation behavior. Hence, the findings of the study will provide valuable insights for the local government in terms of empowering citizen participation and data-driven feedback loops, from the bottom-up energy transition perspective, via smart technologies in smart cities.
The Prevalence of “at Risk” Eating Disorders among Athletes in Jordan
Authors: Ghazzawi Hadeel A. , Alhaj Omar A. , Nemer Lana S. , Amawi Adam T. , Trabelsi Khaled , Jahrami Haitham A.
Published: November 2022

Eating disorders (EDs) are addressed as one of the expanding mental health problems worldwide. While an ED is a clinical psychiatric diagnosis that can only be established after a psychiatric assessment, it is important to note that “at-risk” refers to people who will exhibit aberrant eating patterns but do not fully meet the requirements for an ED diagnosis. This study was designed to address the ED symptoms (i.e., “at-risk”) in Jordanian athletes and their association with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and type of sport. A convenient, cross-sectional study was conducted among 249 athlete participants by answering the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26). The EAT-26 results indicated an ED prevalence of 34% among Jordanian athletes. Within “at-risk” ED athletes, sex, age, and BMI had no significant differences in the rates of EDs. Outdoor sports had the least effect on EDs, while the highest was amongst gymnastics. EDs prevalence is alarming among Jordanian athletes. Gymnastics is a risk factor for increasing EDs. Our results should be taken into consideration by physicians, mental health professionals, sports nutritionists, coaches, and sport medicine specialists. We recommend establishing strategies pertaining to mental health, especially EDs in sports centers, along with screening programs for those who demand additional assessment and supervision.
The Evaluation of Village Fund Policy in Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir Regency (PALI), South Sumatera, Indonesia
Authors: Suandi Suandi , Muhtar Entang Adhy , Buchari Rd Ahmad , Darto Darto
Published: November 2022

This study reported the village fund evaluation of Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir regency (PALI), South Sumatera, Indonesia. The amount of village funds in the Penukal Abab Lematang Ilir regency (PALI) has increased yearly. However, it was also acknowledged that this has not been enough to impact PALI regency significantly. This study used qualitative mixed methods, and the data were collected using interviews, documentation and observations with nine informants from four selected villages, including Babat village, with a developed village typology, Muara Sungai village and Tanah Abang Selatan village, with an underdeveloped village typology, and Karta Dewa village, with a developing village typology. The research showed the village funds were divided into four indicators in the local government’s commitment to developing Indonesia from the periphery by strengthening regions and villages within the framework of a unitary state. However, the village fund policy evaluation in PALI regency, South Sumatera Province, has not been practical in regards to input, process, output, and outcome indicators. In addition, this paper provided insight into the development and village innovation field to evaluate village funds.
Asymmetric Price Transmission and Market Power: A Case of the Aquaculture Product Market in China
Authors: Liu Shen , Wang Jing , Sun Chen
Published: November 2022

In the aquaculture product market, the efficiency of vertical price transmission is an important manifestation, representing the marketization level of aquatic products. When the price of any sector in the aquatic product industry chain fluctuates slightly, the welfare of each sector will be affected accordingly. This study focuses on carp, the main freshwater fish in China, to explore the relationship between asymmetric price transmission and market power. We use the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model to simultaneously describe the short- and long-term asymmetric effects of wholesale-to-retail prices for carp, and apply the asymmetric autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity model to analyze the differences in market power between wholesalers and retailers. The results confirm the evidence of a nonlinear cointegration between wholesale and retail prices in the carp market. There are also significant asymmetric effects in both the short- and long-term transmission speed and degree of price transmission from the wholesale to the retail market. It is evident that carp wholesalers have strong control over the price, resulting in an asymmetric effect in vertical price transmission, indicating a need to improve the development level and integration degree in the Chinese aquatic products market. Subsequently, the government should develop effective systems for aquatic product circulation, strengthen supervision over the aquatic product wholesale market, and establish a public aquatic product price platform to promote the healthy and stable development of China’s aquatic product market.
Effects of Warming on Microbial Community Characteristics in the Soil Surface Layer of Niaodao Wetland in the Qinghai Lake Basin
Authors: Che Zihan , Yu Deyong , Chen Kelong , Wang Hengsheng , Yang Ziwei , Liu Fumei , Wang Xia
Published: November 2022

Lakeshore wetlands are important terrestrial ecosystems worldwide, and the lakeshore wetlands of the Tibetan Plateau are sensitive to climate change. Therefore, in the context of global warming, studying the effects of temperature rise on surface soil microbial communities is essential for wetland biodiversity conservation. In this study, we used metagenomic sequencing to examine changes in the structure of surface soil microbial communities and their metabolic pathways in the Niaodao lakeshore wetland (NLW) in Qinghai Lake at 1.2 °C warming. Under natural control and warming conditions, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were the most dominant bacterial phyla, and Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the predominant fungal phyla. Soil pH, electrical conductivity, and temperature affected the relative abundances of the dominant soil microbes. Effect size estimation in a linear discriminant analysis revealed 11 differential pathways between warming and natural conditions. Warming considerably enhanced the peptidoglycan biosynthetic pathways but inhibited the ATP-binding cassette transporter pathway. Warming treatment affected α-diversity indices, with an increase in the Shannon, Chao1, and richness indices and a decrease in the Simpson index compared with the index changes for the natural control conditions. Analysis of similarities showed significant differences between warming and control samples. Overall, temperature rise altered surface soil microbial community structure and increased surface soil microbial diversity and abundance in NLW.
How to Promote Balanced and Healthy Development of Residents’ Leisure: Based on the Analysis on the Spatiotemporal Evolution of the Scale Structure of Leisure Consumption of Urban Residents in China
Authors: Liu Song , Xue Lin-Lin
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to find the spatiotemporal evolution rules of the leisure consumption of urban residents in China. Based on the measurement of the marginal propensity of leisure consumption for urban residents over the past 20 years, a mixed regression of leisure consumption and disposable income showed that, the growth rates of education, culture, entertainment, transportation, communication, and healthcare large, and these growth trends remain obvious. The coefficient of variation of leisure consumption shows that, transportation and communication consumptions differ among regions. The differences in education, culture, and entertainment consumption have rapidly converged. The spatial correlation analysis of the Moran index showed that, the regional association degree of leisure consumption is not obvious, but there is a clear mutual pull regarding education, culture and entertainment consumptions. Based on the results, suggestions were proposed to further expand the leisure consumption needs of residents, so as to achieve sustainable and sound development of residents’ leisure.
Research on Promotion and Application Strategy of Electric Equipment in Plateau Railway Tunnel Based on Evolutionary Game
Authors: Yang Xiaoxu , Liu Yuming , Liu Kai , Hu Guangzhong , Zhao Xi
Published: November 2022

Under China’s modern development concept, it is necessary to promote the application of electric equipment to improve the construction environment of high-altitude railway tunnels and to address the efficiency reduction in high-altitude construction of traditional fuel oil equipment. Based on the analysis of the development status of electric equipment for tunneling projects in China, a tripartite evolutionary game approach is used to establish the game payment matrix of the government, equipment manufacturers, and construction units. The impact of the relevant parameters on the tripartite strategy is investigated based on numerical simulations. It has been shown that in the early stages of popularization and application, the government should actively regulate and control, and in the later stages of popularization and application, the government should play a leading role in market mechanisms. Evolutionary stability strategies are affected by the brand revenue that manufacturers earn through technological innovation on electric equipment and the additional research and development costs that need to be paid. The conclusions of this study can help provide a reference for the promotion and application strategy of electric equipment in China’s plateau railway tunnels.
Factors of Project-Based Teaching That Enhance Learning Interest: Evidence from Construction Contract Management Course
Authors: Gunawan Tania Joviani , Wang Jiaming , Liao Pin-Chao
Published: November 2022

Construction contract management is an important research field in engineering. However, in construction contract management courses, student learning interest is decreasing because of unreasonable course design and management. Consequently, the use of project-based teaching (PBT) has increased in recent years. Nevertheless, there has been little research conducted to provide evidence that highlights the role of PBT among the factors of learning interest. This study aimed to investigate the factors that promote learning interest in PBT courses. First, we identified research gaps with a literature review and developed a potential research model. Second, a PBT course was carried out where 71 Tsinghua University students who attended the course were surveyed via 5-point Likert-scale questionnaires. Third, data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and the ordinal logistic regression model. Finally, the results were interpreted and discussed. Our findings show that there is a significant improvement in students’ learning interest towards the related course after the PBT method was adopted and that pedagogical factors, specifically (1) curriculum scope and sequence, (2) collaboration and communication, and (3) workload are the most salient factors that can influence student learning interest. None of the dispositional factors were found to significantly affect student interest. These results underpin the theoretical validity of PBT and can be used to improve PBT in engineering education management.
Exploring the Spatial Distribution of Air Pollution and Its Association with Socioeconomic Status Indicators in Mexico City
Authors: García-Burgos Jimena , Miquelajauregui Yosune , Vega Elizabeth , Namdeo Anil , Ruíz-Olivares Alejandro , Mejía-Arangure Juan Manuel , Resendiz-Martinez Cinthia Gabriela , Hayes Louise , Bramwell Lindsay , Jaimes-Palomera Monica , Entwistle Jane , Núñez-Enríquez Juan Carlos , Portas Antonio , McNally Richard
Published: November 2022

Air pollution is one of the most challenging global sustainability problems in the world. Roughly 90% of global citizens live in areas that exceed the acceptable air pollution levels according to the World Health Organization air quality guidelines. However, socially disadvantaged groups are disproportionately located in areas exposed to higher levels of air pollution. Understanding the association between risk exposure to air pollutants and the underlying socio-economic factors determining risk is central for sustainable urban planning. The purpose of this study was to explore environmental inequalities in Mexico City, specifically the spatial association between air pollutants and socioeconomic status (SES) indicators. We propose that SES indicators will be expected to spatially cluster vulnerable individuals and groups into heavily polluted areas. To test this hypothesis, we used 2017–2019 data from governmental records to perform spatial interpolations to explore the spatial distribution of criteria pollutants. We carried out spatial autocorrelations of air pollutants and SES indicators using the bivariate Moran’s I index. Our findings provide strong evidence of spatial heterogeneity in air pollution exposure in Mexico City. We found that socially deprived areas located in the southern periphery of Mexico City were exposed to higher ozone concentrations. On the contrary, wealthiest areas concentrated in the city center were exposed to greater concentrations of nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Our findings highlight the need for policy-driven approaches that take into consideration not only the geographic variability and meteorological dynamics associated with air pollution exposure, but also the management of socioeconomic risk factors aimed at reducing disparate exposure to air pollution and potential health impacts.
Teachers’ English Language Training Programmes in Saudi Arabia for Achieving Sustainability in Education
Authors: Alqahtani Muneer Hezam , Albidewi Ibrahim A.
Published: November 2022

Achieving sustainability is a major objective of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This study investigates one Ministry of Education initiative to achieve sustainability through the establishment of its Optimum Utilisation of Teaching Staff Programme (OUTSP). The study focuses in particular on the OUTSP’s two-term English Language Programme (ELP). First, it details the ELP’s modules; then, it analyses the overall results for 170 of the 431 candidates who joined the programme, before going on to examine the results of a sample group of 56 of those 170 candidates in more detail. Microsoft Excel data analysis tools were used to analyse the data. The results show that the candidates generally scored high marks in both terms. The analysis of the sampled group suggests that the noticeably higher marks gained in the second term could be explained by the fact that the candidates were all experienced teachers. The study concludes that the ELP section of the OUTSP is an effective way to achieve sustainability in education through upskilling teachers. It further concludes that the ELP benefits teachers who are willing to move away from their specialist areas or who simply wish to advance their knowledge. Finally, the study recommends that future iterations of the ELP should be spread over three terms rather than two. We also recommend providing more incentives to encourage more candidates to join the ELP.
Identification of the Key Determinants of Bats’ Altitude Increase over the S3 Expressway in Poland with Mesh Screens Applied
Authors: Sołowczuk Alicja , Kacprzak Dominik
Published: November 2022

The continuing increase in motorisation and the resulting development of the road infrastructure puts increasing demands on environmental protection, and on the protection of bats in particular. One of the available mitigation measures is mesh screen structures installed on dual carriageways. However, not all the mitigating measures turn out to be effective and functional. Mesh screens were installed along a road section over a dozen kilometres long near a large bat reserve in Poland (40,000 bats). As part of post-construction work, bat mortality monitoring was conducted over a 3–4 year period in order to assess the effectiveness of the mesh screens in raising the height of bat flyways. An analysis of the mortality surveys and the locations of bat carcasses found along the expressway allowed the authors to confirm that the screens may contribute to raising the height of bat flyways, yet this effect should be considered in combination with other determinants identified during the surveys. The article presents the main determinants, which together with the mesh screens installed along a dual carriageway road over the length of several kilometres, can contribute to the effective raising of the height at which bats fly across the road. The most important determinants included: retaining the continuity of linear landscape features along the confirmed bat commuting and migration routes, no gaps in the tree line greater than 30 m, use of natural funnels for bats to fly through, and sizing of culverts and underpasses appropriate for the specific bat species, as identified in the pre-construction surveys. The conclusion drawn from the research was the need for interdisciplinary studies to be carried out already during preliminary design work, to ensure a sustainable approach on the part of the road engineers, structural engineers, chiropterologists, and landscape architects involved in the road project. A detailed analysis of numerous factors relevant to the analysed dual carriageway demonstrated the importance of following the principles of sustainable design and collaboration within interdisciplinary design teams to select the best mitigation measures already at the pre-construction stage of the project.
Eco-Friendly Gelatin–Cerium–Copper Sulphide Nanoparticles for Enhanced Sunlight Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Meena Kannaiyan , Shanthi Manohar
Published: November 2022

Using a semiconductor catalyst with sunlight can make the photodegradation of pollutants an economically viable process since solar energy is an abundant natural energy source. Solar photocatalysis can provide clean and green eco-friendly technology for the analysis of industrial effluents. Photocatalytic deterioration of the aqueous solution of malachite green oxalate dye (MGO dye) was studied using gelatin–cerium–copper sulphide (Ge-Ce-CuS) nanoparticles under the sunlight source. The nanoparticles were synthesised by a hydrothermal process. The structural properties of the nanoparticles have been characterised by XRD, SEM, EDS, HR-TEM, and XPS. The effects of the initial concentration of dye, dosage of photocatalyst, reaction time, and pH on dye removal efficiency were studied. The mineralisation of MGO dye has been confirmed by chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. The reusability of the catalyst was proved. The antibacterial activity has been studied for the synthesised nanoparticles. The higher photocatalytic degradation efficiency of Ge-Ce-CuS is explained by its reduced electron-hole recombination and sunlight activity.
Investigating International Students’ Cultivation System for Higher Education Sustainability in China: Stakeholders’ Perspectives
Authors: Li Jian , Xue Eryong
Published: November 2022

The quality of the international students’ cultivation system is pivotal to the high-quality promotion for higher education sustainability in China. This study aims to explore 23 international students’ opinions on their cultivation system at 6 higher education institutions in China by the qualitative approach of Iconic Legisigns-Guided Interviewing (ILGI). We found that the cultivation quality of international students needs to be promoted and the cultivation funding support of international student needs to be diversified. It is suggested that the government should improve the enrollment mechanism and the diversified cultivation system; optimize the cultivation concept of overseas students in China; establish the administrative management, supervision, and review system; build the dynamic monitoring of the scholarship system; and optimize the use of funds and establish a multi-channel funding system.
An Enhanced Electrokinetic/Waste Fe(OH)3 Permeable Reactive Barrier System for Soil Remediation in Sulfide Mine Areas
Authors: Fan Yifeng , Tu Lingyun , Liao Changjun , Li Qiujun , Lu Dengjun
Published: November 2022

Traditional electrokinetic (EK) technology can remove contaminants from soil, but the efficiency is generally low. This study reports on the combination of enhanced EK and a waste ferric hydroxide (Fe(OH)3) permeable reactive barrier (PRB) for the remediation of soil in sulfide mine areas. Hydroxyethylene diphosphonic acid (HEDP) and FeCl3 were used as a compound chelating agent. The experimental results showed that EK combined with PRB technology (95.32% Cd removal) was more effective than single EK in removing cadmium (Cd) from the contaminated soil, because of the compound chelating agent and PRB filled with sustainable Fe(OH)3 adsorbent. Additionally, the application of PRB in combination with HEDP was able to increase the sulfate removal rate to 96.19%. The accumulated energy consumption of these two systems was 182.4 and 356 kWh/m3, respectively, after EK remediation using PRB.
Traction Performance of Common Formal Footwear on Slippery Surfaces
Authors: Gupta Shubham , Chatterjee Subhodip , Malviya Ayush , Chanda Arnab
Published: November 2022

Traumatic injuries caused due to slipping and falling are prevalent in India and across the globe. These injuries not only hamper quality of life but are also responsible for huge economic and compensation burdens. Unintentional slips usually occur due to inadequate traction between the shoe and floor. Due to the economic conditions in low and middle-income countries, the public tends to buy low-cost footwear as an alternative to costly slip-resistant shoes. In this study, ten high-selling formal shoes under $25 were considered. These shoes were tested on three commonly available dry floorings and across contaminated common floor surfaces (i.e., water and floor cleaners). The traction performance of the shoes was quantified by using a biofidelic slip tester. The majority of formal shoes were not found to produce the slip-resistant performance across common slippery surfaces. Shoes with softer outsoles exhibited increased slip-resistant performance (R2 = 0.91). Shoe outsoles with less-to-no treads at the heel region showed poor traction performance as compared to other shoes. The apparent contact area was found as an important metric influencing the slip risks in dry and wet slipping conditions (R2 = 0.88). This research is anticipated to help the public and footwear manufacturers select safer shoes to reduce slip-and-fall incidents.
Evaluate Asymmetric Peristaltic Pumping Drug Carrying Image in Biological System: Measure Multiphase Flows in Biomedical Applications
Authors: Fatima Nahid , Ijaz Nouman , Riaz Arshad , Tag El-Din ElSayed M. , Ali Sadia Samar
Published: November 2022

The proposed model of drug delivery has been developed as a medication methodology for the direct treatment of diseased body tissues. The mathematical model is built upon the particulate peristaltic transport of an electrical conducting Jeffrey fluid within an asymmetric duct. The flow takes place under the action of slip effects due to the occurrence of magnetohydrodynamics, which is generally known as electrical resistance and the energy released by charged particles as they make collisions with other particles. Transportation of drug particles along with Jeffry fluid due to peristaltic pumping in a rectangular duct is demonstrated. Magnetic force is utilized for the control of the process of pumping to the flow path at the right position. Taking into consideration the flow conditions and assumptions, the derivation of the system of partial differential equations of the flow is described. The eigenfunction expansion method is used to establish the solutions, and then the data are graphically displayed to imagine the effects of different parameters. It can be professed that the velocity component for Jeffrey fluid flow is decreased because of magnetic force, volume fraction size, and wall compliance. Heat and mass transfer with nanoparticles of different shapes of particles to extend this work.
The Reappearance of Poetic Beauty in Chaos
Authors: Sheng Suqiao , Wen Huiyu , Xie Guangfu , Li Yongxin
Published: November 2022

Different forms of attractors, or basins of attraction, in chaotic systems often bring people the enjoyment of beauty. This attraction is reminiscent of ancient Chinese poetry and introduces people to a poetic and magical world, bringing them a sense of wonder and enlightenment. In this work, some cases of the beauty of chaos, including forms of symmetry, asymmetry, conditional symmetry, and extension, are demonstrated. The chaos theory of science and engineering and the art of literature are innovatively combined and integrated here. The unique charm of chaotic attractors is revealed and endowed to the artistic realm of ancient Chinese poetry, helping people to understand the poetic beauty of the chaotic world. Through bold association and imagination, chaotic attractors are endowed with fresh vitality, thus showing people a world of artistic space that is full of fantasy.
A Lateral Control Method of Intelligent Vehicles Based on Shared Control
Authors: Li Gang , Shang Pengfei , Zheng Changbing , Sun Dehui
Published: November 2022

This paper studies the lateral control problem for intelligent vehicles based on the concept of shared control. Considering the participation of drivers in the control loop, a shared control-based lateral controller is designed, which consists of two differed controllers: one is an LQR-based autonomous driving controller and the other is a driver’s intention-based fuzzy controller. For the vehicle dynamic model with two-degrees of freedom, an autonomous driving controller based on LQR and a driver’s intention-based fuzzy controller are designed. Then, the lateral controller based on shared control is constructed, which integrates the aforementioned two controllers. Finally, the co-simulation by MATLAB/Simulink and Carsim is presented. Furthermore, simulation results show that the designed lateral controller can track the desired path with better performance than the LQR-based autonomous driving controller.
Analysis of Quality Risk Transmission in the New Retail Service Supply Chain System with Value Co-Creation
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Wang Xinping , Li Boying , Su Chang , Sun Linhui
Published: November 2022

The development of emerging technologies promotes the transformation and upgrading of the retail business. However, the new retail service supply chain system’s node enterprises cannot meet quality supply and demand requirements, which leads to quality risks. The quality risks cascade through the system and are amplified, and thus affect overall performance. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the law of quality risk transmission and realize risk control. In our work, (1) an improved model for quality risk transmission in the new retail service supply chain based on the infectious disease model is developed, (2) we introduce value co-creation rate and control factors from a value co-creation perspective, (3) and solve the threshold and equilibrium point of the service chain node, and conduct a simulation to reveal the quality risk transmission law. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) there is a threshold in the risk transmission system, the larger the threshold the more beneficial it is to control the transfer of risks; (2) the value co-creation rate influences the quality risk transmission process, with the susceptible state value co-creation rate significantly influencing the proportion of immune state numbers, while the opposite is true for the infected state value co-creation rate; (3) both inhibitory and facilitative control factors influence the transmission process of quality risk in the new retail service supply chain. Thus, the value co-creation behavior and risk control measures should be adopted in time to increase the transmission threshold to effectively curb the risk transmission. It will improve the overall quality level of the supply chain so that multiple stakeholders can achieve value co-creation.
Radiation Attenuation Assessment of Serpentinite Rocks from a Geological Perspective
Authors: Masoud Mostafa A. , El-Khayatt Ahmed M. , Shahien Mohamed G. , Bakhit Bottros R. , Suliman Ibrahim I. , Zayed Ahmed M.
Published: November 2022

Serpentinites are metamorphic rocks that are widely applied as aggregates in the production of radiation-shielding concrete. Different varieties of massive serpentinite mountains located in Egypt exist without real investment. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the radiation shielding efficacy of three varieties of serpentinite rocks from different geological perspectives: mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics. X-ray diffraction, transmitted-light microscopy, and thermal analysis were required to characterize their mineralogical composition, while X-ray fluorescence was necessary to investigate their geochemical features. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy was used to detect their morphological characteristics. On the other hand, the PuBe source and stilbene detector were employed for the experimental determination of fast neutrons and γ-ray attenuations, which were conducted at energy ranges of 0.8–11 and 0.4–8.3 MeV, respectively. Based on the mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics of these rocks, the radiation attenuation capacity of lizardite > antigorite > chrysotile. However, these serpentinites can be applied as a natural alternative to some radiation-shielding concrete in radiotherapy centers and other counterpart facilities.
Triflumizole Induces Developmental Toxicity, Liver Damage, Oxidative Stress, Heat Shock Response, Inflammation, and Lipid Synthesis in Zebrafish
Authors: Bai Lina , Shi Peng , Jia Kun , Yin Hua , Xu Jilin , Yan Xiaojun , Liao Kai
Published: November 2022

Triflumizole (TFZ) toxicity must be investigated in the aquatic environment to understand the potential risks to aquatic species. Accordingly, the adverse effects of TFZ exposure in zebrafish were investigated. Results demonstrate that, after TFZ exposure, the lethal concentration 50 (LC50) in 3 d post-fertilization (dpf) embryos and 6 dpf larvae were 4.872 and 2.580 mg/L, respectively. The development (including pericardium edema, yolk sac retention, and liver degeneration) was apparently affected in 3 dpf embryos. Furthermore, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in 6 dpf larvae were significantly increased. Additionally, the expression of heat shock response genes (including hsp70, grp78, hsp90, and grp94), inflammatory genes (including p65-nfκb, il-1β, and cox2a), and lipid synthetic genes (including srebp1, fas, acc, and ppar-γ) in 3 dpf embryos was significantly increased, which was also partially observed in the intestinal cell line form Pampus argenteus. Taken together, TFZ could affect the development of zebrafish, accompanied by disturbances of oxidative stress, heat shock response, inflammation, and lipid synthesis. Our findings provide an original insight into the potential risks of TFZ to the aquatic ecosystem.
Nanoplastic Exposure at Predicted Environmental Concentrations Induces Activation of Germline Ephrin Signal Associated with Toxicity Formation in the Caenorhabditis elegans Offspring
Authors: Zhao Yue , Hua Xin , Bian Qian , Wang Dayong
Published: November 2022

In nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs) at predicted environmental concentrations can cause induction of transgenerational toxicity. However, the underlying mechanisms for toxicity formation of PS-NP in the offspring remain largely unknown. In this study, based on high-throughput sequencing, Ephrin ligand EFN-3 was identified as a target of KSR-1/2 (two kinase suppressors of Ras) in the germline during the control of transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. At parental generation (P0-G), exposure to 0.1–10 μg/L PS-NP caused the increase in expression of germline efn-3, and this increase in germline efn-3 expression could be further detected in the offspring, such as F1-G and F2-G. Germline RNAi of efn-3 caused a resistance to transgenerational PS-NP toxicity, suggesting that the activation of germline EFN-3 at P0-G mediated transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. In the offspring, Ephrin receptor VAB-1 was further activated by the increased EFN-3 caused by PS-NP exposure at P0-G, and RNAi of vab-1 also resulted in resistance to transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. VAB-1 acted in both the neurons and the germline to control toxicity of PS-NP in the offspring. In the neurons, VAB-1 regulated PS-NP toxicity by suppressing expressions of DBL-1, JNK-1, MPK-1, and GLB-10. In the germline, VAB-1 regulated PS-NP toxicity by increasing NDK-1 and LIN-23 expressions and decreasing EGL-1 expression. Therefore, germline Ephrin ligand EFN-3 and its receptor VAB-1 acted together to mediate the formation of transgenerational PS-NP toxicity. Our data highlight the important role of activation in germline Ephrin signals in mediating transgenerational toxicity of nanoplastics at predicted environmental concentrations in organisms.
A Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling Framework for Mixtures of Dioxin-like Compounds
Authors: Liu Rongrui , Zacharewski Tim R. , Conolly Rory B. , Zhang Qiang
Published: November 2022

Humans are exposed to persistent organic pollutants, such as dioxin-like compounds (DLCs), as mixtures. Understanding and predicting the toxicokinetics and thus internal burden of major constituents of a DLC mixture is important for assessing their contributions to health risks. PBPK models, including dioxin models, traditionally focus on one or a small number of compounds; developing new or extending existing models for mixtures often requires tedious, error-prone coding work. This lack of efficiency to scale up for multi-compound exposures is a major technical barrier toward large-scale mixture PBPK simulations. Congeners in the DLC family, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), share similar albeit quantitatively different toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic properties. Taking advantage of these similarities, here we reported the development of a human PBPK modeling framework for DLC mixtures that can flexibly accommodate an arbitrary number of congeners. Adapted from existing TCDD models, our mixture model contains the blood and three diffusion-limited compartments—liver, fat, and rest of the body. Depending on the number of congeners in a mixture, varying-length vectors of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) are automatically generated to track the tissue concentrations of the congeners. Shared ODEs are used to account for common variables, including the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and CYP1A2, to which the congeners compete for binding. Binary and multi-congener mixture simulations showed that the AHR-mediated cross-induction of CYP1A2 accelerates the sequestration and metabolism of DLC congeners, resulting in consistently lower tissue burdens than in single exposure, except for the liver. Using dietary intake data to simulate lifetime exposures to DLC mixtures, the model demonstrated that the relative contributions of individual congeners to blood or tissue toxic equivalency (TEQ) values are markedly different than those to intake TEQ. In summary, we developed a mixture PBPK modeling framework for DLCs that may be utilized upon further improvement as a quantitative tool to estimate tissue dosimetry and health risks of DLC mixtures.
Deltamethrin-Induced Respiratory and Behavioral Effects and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOP) in Short-Term Exposed Mozambique Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus
Authors: Chukwuka Azubuike V. , Saha Shubhajit , Mukherjee Dip , Banerjee Priyajit , Dhara Kishore , Saha Nimai Chandra
Published: November 2022

Disrupted behavior and respiratory distress effects of 96-h acute deltamethrin exposures in adult Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were investigated using behavioral indices and opercular movement, respectively. Deltamethrin concentrations were found to be associated with toxicological (lethal and sublethal) responses. At 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, the LC50 values and 95% confidence limits were 12.290 (11.174–14.411 µg/L), 12.671 (11.334–15.649 µg/L), 10.172 (9.310–11.193 µg/L), and 8.639 (7.860–9.417 µg/L), respectively. The GUTS-model analysis showed that GUTS-SD (stochastic death) with a narrow tolerance distribution in deltamethrin exposed O. mossambicus populations was more sensitive than the GUTS-IT (individual tolerance) model. Prior to death, exposed fish demonstrated concentration-dependent mortality and disturbed behavioral responses, including uncoordinated swim motions, increased mucus secretion, unbalanced and unpredictable swimming patterns, and inactivity. The altered behavioral patterns and increased opercular movement with increased deltamethrin levels and exposure time are strongly suggestive of neurotoxicity and respiratory distress, respectively. Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), describing biological mechanisms and plausible pathways, highlighted oxidative stress and cholinergic effects as intermediate steps linked to respiratory distress and behavioral toxicity.
Surface Water Processes Influencing Alterations in Pharmaceutical Chemical Composition following Wastewater Discharge into a Freshwater Estuary
Authors: Foster Gregory , Leahigh Arion , Huff Thomas
Published: November 2022

The tidal freshwater Potomac River (TFPR) in the metropolitan Washington, DC region receives wastewater discharge from eight major wastewater treatment plants with the potential to impact water quality. A total of 85 pharmaceutical chemicals and personal care products (PPCPs) were analyzed in surface water and sediments using solid-phase extraction and QuEChERS, respectively, in conjunction with liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-multiple reaction monitoring quantitation (LC-MS/MS-MRM). A total of 52 PPCPs were quantified in both surface water and sediment. The most frequently quantified PPCPs in water included caffeine, fexofenadine, nicotine, sulfamethoxazole, hydrochlorothiazide, MDA, desvenlafaxine, and metoprolol ranging from 10 to 360 ng/L, and in sediment included diphenhydramine, escitalopram, desvenlafaxine, fexofenadine, sertraline and triclocarban ranging from 20 to 120 ng/g (dry weight). Comparisons of PPCP constituents in WTP discharge and adjacent surface water showed altered compositions reflecting dispersal and transformation processes acted quickly following contact of effluent with surface water. Although the PPCPs were present at their greatest concentrations in surface water near the WTP discharge zones, PPCP concentrations rapidly attenuated yielding mainstem TFPR concentrations relatively consistent along the freshwater reach of the tidal range in the estuary. The PPCP concentrations in sediment maximized in the tributary shoals, but also decreased in the mainstem TFPR similarly to surface water. Compositional analysis showed sorption to geosolids was the most important factor in the loss of PPCPs following WTP discharge in the tributary embayments.
Environmental Hazards of Nanobiomaterials (Hydroxyapatite-Based NMs)—A Case Study with Folsomia candida—Effects from Long Term Exposure
Authors: Guimarães Bruno , Gomes Susana , Campodoni Elisabetta , Sandri Monica , Sprio Simone , Blosi Magda , Costa Anna , Amorim Mónica , Scott-Fordsmand Janeck
Published: November 2022

Hydroxyapatite (HA) is a calcium phosphate used in many fields, including biomedical applications. In particular, ion-doped HA nanomaterials (nHA) are developed for their increased bioactivity, particularly in the fields of regenerative medicine and nanomedicine. In this study, we assessed the ecotoxicological impact of five nHA materials: a synthesized calcium hydroxyapatite (CaP-HA), superparamagnetic iron-doped hydroxyapatite (Fe-HA), titanium-doped hydroxyapatite (Ti-HA), alginate/titanium-doped hydroxyapatite hybrid composite (Ti-HA-Alg), and a commercial HA. The soil ecotoxicology model species Folsomia candida (Collembola) was used, and besides the standard reproduction test (28 days), an extension to the standard for one more generation was performed (56 days). Assessed endpoints included the standard survival and reproduction, and additionally, growth. Exposure via the standard (28 days) did not cause toxicity, but reproduction increased in commercial HA (significantly at 320 mg HA/kg) whereas via the extension (56 days) it decreased in all tested concentrations. Juveniles’ size (56 days) was reduced in all tested nHA materials, except commercial HA. nHA materials seem to trigger a compromise between reproduction and growth. Long-term effects could not be predicted based on the standard shorter exposure; hence, the testing of at least two generations (56 days) is recommended to assess the toxicity of nanomaterials, particularly in F. candida. Further, we found that the inclusion of size as additional endpoint is highly relevant.
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pulmonary Tuberculosis Control in the Selected Upazila Health Complexes of Dhaka Division, Bangladesh
Authors: Mihika Fariha Alam , Jubayer Biswas Md Abdullah Al , Khan Md Maruf Haque , Islam Syed Shariful , Haque M. Atiqul , Banu Sayera , Hassan Md Zakiul
Published: November 2022

Despite the enormous disruption of tuberculosis (TB) services reported globally, Bangladesh’s impact is not well documented. We aimed to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the TB control program in Bangladesh from patients’ and service providers’ perspectives. We conducted a cross-sectional study from November–December 2021 at six conveniently selected Upazila Health Complexes (UHC) of the Dhaka division, Bangladesh. We conducted face-to-face interviews among 180 pulmonary TB service recipients and all TB service providers working in the selected UHC. We also reviewed TB registries from each UHC. All data were summarized using descriptive statistics tools. We found a 31% reduction in presumptive TB cases during 2021 compared to 2020. Other TB services, such as testing, were reduced by 16–36% during the same period. Service receivers reported a lack of transportation (95%), and a lack of adequate human resources (89%) as critical barriers to receiving and providing TB service, respectively. The findings of our study showed substantial interruption of TB service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening the recent progress and pushback from achieving the 2035 End TB targets. Early mitigation of TB service delivery through adopting remote follow-ups using digital health technology and integrating COVID-19 and TB screening is essential for the continuity of essential TB services and achieving global TB targets.
Connections between the Shadow Radius and the Quasinormal Modes of Kerr-Sen Black Hole
Authors: Wu Xianglong , Zhang Xiangdong
Published: November 2022

The correspondence between the shadow radius and the real part of the quasinormal modes (QNMs) of a Kerr–Sen black hole is studied. By using the equation of the shadow radius of Kerr–Sen black hole and the angular separation constant of the QNMs, the expression of QNMs related to shadow radius is established in the eikonal limit. We found that, our formula can reduce to the previous result of Kerr black hole when Kerr-Sen parameter b sets to zero.