bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of Floc Growth for Sediment with Mixing Intensity
Authors: Kim Dong Hyun , Yoo Hyung Ju , Bang Young Jun , Lee Seung Oh
Published: February 2023

Pollutants related to water quality often exist in rivers and form clusters. These pollutants adversely affect river environments and ecosystems. In Korea, the public’s interest in water quality has been increasing for decades. Many studies on water quality and pollutants in sewage treatment plants have been conducted; however, studies on the formation of flocs based on the flow characteristics of rivers are insufficient. In general, it is known that floc formation is influenced by hydraulic characteristics, such as velocity and turbulence, and that it combines them with contaminants in the river. However, studies that quantitatively analyze this topic are also insufficient. An analysis of floc formation between sediments must be conducted to understand the formation process of sediments and contaminants. Therefore, in this study, kaolin, which is a cohesive sediment, was used to quantify the floc formation process according to the mixing intensity. Turbidity was analyzed to observe the amount of floc formation, and samples were collected to confirm the concentration. Additionally, the turbidity concentration relationship according to the mixing intensity was quantified using an optical microscope. Regarding the mixing intensity, when the rotation speed was 200 rpm or more, the separation of the flocs was dominant. In contrast, when the rotation speed was 100 rpm or less, turbidity changes due to sedimentation and floc formation were dominant. Analyzing mixing intensities and their association with the flow characteristics of rivers may be useful for the management of contaminants in rivers.
Detection of Groundwater Quality Changes in Minia Governorate, West Nile River
Authors: Ramadan Elsayed M. , Badr Abir M. , Abdelradi Fadi , Negm Abdelazim , Nosair Ahmed M.
Published: February 2023

The need for freshwater supplies is increasingly rising according to the increase in the inhabitants’ expansion and economic growth. Available water resources are reduced by pollution and overpumping. This research’s prime objective is to study changes in the water quality of the Pleistocene aquifer in Minia Governorate. Historical hydro-chemical data of the groundwater in two years 2009 and 2019 were used to study the changes in the groundwater quality of the Pleistocene aquifer under the impact of the recharge and discharge processes. The Nile River, and the Al-Ibrahimia and Bahr Youssef Canals are considered the main sources of aquifer recharge. Collected data from 53 groundwater wells in the Pleistocene aquifer were used to calculate the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), sodium percentage (Na%), Kelly index (KI), Soluble Sodium Percentage (SSP), magnesium ratio (MR%), permeability index (PI) and chloro-alkaline index (CAI). These data were used to evaluate and detect the quality and changes in groundwater through the years 2009 and 2019 using spatial mapping in the geographic information system (GIS). The values of SAR, KI and Na% varied between 0.06–1.22, 0.02–0.57 meq/L and 3.7–37.63%, respectively, in the year 2009, but these values changed to 0.4–0.75, 0.16–0.28 meq/L and 15.07–23.44% in the year 2019. The calculated MR and PI values indicate that 100% of the groundwater samples were in the “suitable” category. The calculated SSP reflects no changes in groundwater alkalinity between the years 2009 and 2019. The hydro-chemical analysis of the studied groundwater (G.W.) samples shows high pollution levels caused by Pb and Fe in some parts of the study area. Pb was found to be >40 µg/L in the middle parts, whereas Fe was found with high levels in 27% of the studied groundwater samples. The localities of these samples were affected by pollution from the industrial wastewater from the sugar factory of Abou-Qarqas city (e.g., El-Moheet drain), the fertilizer leaching process and pesticides seeping into groundwater from soils and agricultural wastewater.
Socio-Economic Analysis of the Construction and Building Materials’ Usage—Ecological Awareness in the Case of Serbia
Authors: Vasić Milica Vidak , Goel Gaurav , Dubale Mandefrot , Živković Slavica , Trivunić Milan , Pezo Milada , Pezo Lato
Published: February 2023

The main idea of the present study was to investigate the impact of the ongoing world crisis on the socio-economic issues in Serbia concerning building materials usage and purchase. This research fills in the gaps in the literature and contributes to the comprehension of how the crisis has affected salaries, market pricing, and materials consumption in the building sector. The data are gathered through a questionnaire and analyzed using a statistical methodology (frequencies, descriptive statistics, and Spearman’s correlations). Most of the former studies investigated the surveys conducted on specialists in the field, while this study analyzed the perspectives of random people. Socio-demographic issues are analyzed along with materials consumption before and after the crisis. A special emphasis is given to ecological awareness and novel materials usage. Additionally, it captures a broad shift in the economy and ecological consciousness in a developing country. The majority of respondents are open to using novel building materials and products, but their choice would largely be influenced by cost, the amount of effort involved, and their understanding of the advantages. Statistical approaches revealed that the crisis has a considerable impact on the markets for construction and building supplies, altering consumers’ decisions when purchasing. This contribution lays the groundwork for developing countries in the modern world to improve sustainability and adopt circular thinking. Professionals in Serbia need to have a more eco-aware mindset and enhance how they provide pertinent information to potential clients. This study is limited by the number of respondents. For future mathematical modeling and forecasting, more answerers are needed.
Real-Time Intelligent Prediction Method of Cable’s Fundamental Frequency for Intelligent Maintenance of Cable-Stayed Bridges
Authors: Li Yong-Qiang , Zhao Han-Wei , Yue Zi-Xiang , Li Yi-Wei , Zhang Yan , Zhao Da-Cheng
Published: February 2023

Cable’s fundamental frequency (CFF) is an important characteristic of the working state of long-span cable-stayed bridges. The change in the bridge’s temperature field will influence CFF by altering the cable’s tension and the cables’ sags. An accurate regression model between the temperature-induced variation of CFF and the real-time changing temperature field should be established. Then, the reference value of the temperature-induced variation of CFF can be obtained after inputting the real-time temperature data. In this study, an intelligent real-time prediction model for CFF is proposed based on the full-bridge temperature field, including the average temperature of the main beam, the vertical temperature difference of the main beam, and the temperature of the cable tower. Besides, a machine learning method named the long short-term memory (LSTM) network is exploited to ensure the nonlinear fitting performance of the model, and a paradigm for optimal hyperparameter selection and training strategy selection is provided. To verify the superiority of the LSTM-based model, the output accuracy of the linear regression, BP network, and LSTM network was tested and compared using the monitoring data collected from cable sensors in the main span and side span, which provides an important basis for the intelligent maintenance and sustainable operation of the bridge cables.
Determining the Influence of a Magnetic Field on the Vibration and Fuel Consumption of a Heavy Diesel Engine
Authors: Darvishi Yousef , Hassan-Beygi Seyed Reza , Massah Jafar , Gancarz Marek , Bieszczad Arkadiusz , Karami Hamed
Published: February 2023

Most of the fuels used in internal combustion engines are liquid fuels. The magnetic behavior of fuel leads to a change in the interaction of hydrocarbon and oxygen molecules. This study aimed to evaluate the fuel consumption and engine vibration (time domain) of the Perkins A63544 diesel engine using magnetized fuel. The vibration of an internal combustion engine can cause failure in engine components and discomfort and injury to users. Engine vibration behavior changes due to changes in fuel types and engine combustion. Therefore, in this study, the vibration behavior of the tractor engine (Perkins model, four-stroke, direct injection diesel) was evaluated in stationary mode at different engine speeds due to changes in fuel types. Three accelerometers (CTC AC102 model) were used to measure the vibration acceleration. The fuels used included diesel as a normal control and fuels that had been subjected to magnetic field intensities of 1000, 2000, 3000, and 4000 gauss. The longitudinal, vertical, and lateral vibration signals with 5 levels of engine speed were measured. The results illustrated that the vibration root mean square (RMS) values were essentially (p < 0.01) affected by the engine speed, fuel type, and their interactions. It was found that for the 4000-gauss magnetized fuel, the average vibration acceleration using the five velocity settings reduced by 15%, 15.30%, 12.40%, 12.35%, and 15.38% compared to the respective control fuels. The results showed that engine fuel consumption and specific fuel consumption decreased by 2.3% using the 4000-gauss magnetized fuel compared with the normal control fuel.
A New Concept of the Informatics Curriculum in the Czech Republic: Teacher Reflection on the First Year of the Transition Period
Authors: Kostolanyova Katerina , Cirus Lukas , Javorcik Tomas , Simonova Ivana
Published: February 2023

In the Czech Republic, a new concept that proposes an Informatics curriculum for primary schools was prepared to meet the new requirements of the field. For the implementation to be smooth, a two-year transition period was planned from 2021 to 2023. Training seminars were the main tool to help teachers develop missing subject knowledge and didactic skills. After the first year of the transition period, the question was whether the seminars met the needs of teachers. Therefore, the main objective of the investigation was to collect feedback from them (N = 142) in five regions (of 14), consider changes within the first year (from autumn 2021 to autumn 2022), and propose recommendations for the rest of the period (by autumn 2023). The ex post facto method was used. Data were collected by questionnaires in five areas: (1) preference for an original or new concept for a curriculum, (2) and subject knowledge and didactic skills of teachers, (3) school equipment; (4) learning materials and teaching methods used, and (5) experience in online learning and teaching. The results show that in autumn 2022, the support for the new concept increased and the school equipment improved; however, subject knowledge and didactic skills were the weak points. Individualization through the tailoring of the seminars to the needs of teachers represents an efficient way to train them according to their level of knowledge, their preferred form of learning, and the learning content.
Health Impacts of COVID-19 through the Changes in Mobility
Authors: Sohrabi Soheil , Shu Fang , Gupta Anika , Sabbaghian Morteza Hossein , Mehrara Molan Amirarsalan , Sajjadi Soheil
Published: February 2023

Understanding the wider effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health is needed to respond sufficiently to the impacts and facilitate recovery. We studied the secondary health impacts of COVID-19 through the changes in transportation using a ripple effect mode. Three ripples are defined to reflect the impacts of COVID-19 on (1) transportation and the systems behind it, (2) transportation-related health risk factors, and (3) public health. COVID-19 impacts on transportation are synthesized through six areas: transportation demand, transportation mode, traffic safety, land use and built environment, transportation jobs, and transportation equity. These changes are further associated with decreased transportation-related air pollution, greenhouse gases, noise, heat, and stress. Higher rates of road casualties were observed in the area of COVID-19. Social exclusion and limitations in accessibility to healthcare and healthy food were identified as negative consequences of changes in transportation. There are uncertainties in the rate of active transportation (i.e., walking and cycling) and related crashes that require further investigation. The findings of this study uncover the complex and relatively unknown impacts of COVID-19 on public health through changes in transportation.
The Asymmetric and Symmetric Effect of Energy Productivity on Environmental Quality in the Era of Industry 4.0: Empirical Evidence from Portugal
Authors: Sowah James Karmoh , Genc Sema Yilmaz , Castanho Rui Alexandre , Couto Gualter , Altuntas Mehmet , Kirikkaleli Dervis
Published: February 2023

Energy has never been used in the same way or to the extent that it is today. The CO2 level in the atmosphere surpassed the previous record established in 1958 in May 2019 when it hit 415.26 ppm, and the climate system has reached a tipping point. New corporate initiatives are required to create more sustainable eco-market opportunities and enhance stewardship in order to make the transition to net zero carbon emissions. This research investigates the asymmetric and symmetric impact of energy efficiency on environmental quality in Portugal from 1990Q1 to 2020Q4, while accounting for the role of total energy consumption (TEC), trade openness (TRA), and economic growth (GDP) in driving environmental quality in the era of industry 4.0. Portugal has emerged as a crucial player, experiencing rapid economic and financial growth, and attracting an unprecedented inflow of foreign trade. While country growth is appreciable in the monetary sense, this research employs the nonlinear autoregressive distributive lag (NARDL) technique and econometric robustness tests to examine the consequence of CO2 emissions in Portugal. The results verify the asymmetric (different magnitude) impacts across the modeled variables; specifically, a 1% volatility to energy productivity (EP) reduces environmental degradation in Portugal by 3.247606%, while a 1% volatility to GDP, TRA, and TEC increase environmental degradation in Portugal by 0.29119%, 0.717775%, and 0.034088% over the long-term. Energy productivity sources are a great way to help Portugal keep its energy independence and reduce environmental erosion simultaneously. Switching from nonrenewable energy to investing in low-carbon technology is a crucial strategy for decarbonization and the best practical course of policy action for reducing climate change in Portugal.
Evaluating the International Competitiveness of RCEP Countries’ Biomass Products in the Context of the New Development Paradigm
Authors: Guo Qing , You Wenlan
Published: February 2023

As research related to the clean use of primary energy and new energy technologies continues to intensify in countries around the world, biomass energy has been incorporated into the long-term development plans of many countries for energy use due to its unique zero-carbon emission advantages. However, there are fewer studies on the competitiveness of biomass products in the literature. In this study, we adopted the constant market share (CMS) model and IRCA index method to measure the long-term trend of international competitiveness of biomass energy products in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) countries, which enriches the research on the competitiveness of biomass energy products. The two methods integrate multiple indicators to analyze the competitiveness of biomass energy in each country, making up for the deficiency that the RCA index can only be analyzed from trade volume. The results show that (1) the international competitiveness of biomass energy products in RCEP countries is on an upward trend; (2) the main biomass energy products of RCEP countries lack comparative advantages in the world market; and (3) the export market structure of biomass energy products in RCEP countries is not adapted to the world market demand. Finally, based on the above research findings, this paper puts forward some policy suggestions for exporting biomass energy products.
Assessing the Future Water and Energy Security of a Regulated River Basin with a Coupled Land Surface and Hydrologic Model
Authors: Xiao Jing , Dong Ningpeng
Published: February 2023

To address the water-related issues faced by humans, the planning and construction of dams, water diversion projects, and other water infrastructures have been continuously adopted by decision makers worldwide. This is especially the case for the Yalong River Basin (YRB) in China, which is expected to be one of the most regulated rivers due to reservoir construction and the planned South-to-North Water Diversion project. To understand the potential impact of these water infrastructures on the water resources and hydropower production of the basin and downstream areas, we employ a land surface–hydrologic model with explicit representations of dam operation and water diversions in order to quantify the impact of reservoir operation and water diversion on the future water and energy security of the YRB. In particular, a conceptual reservoir operation scheme and a hydropower-optimized reservoir operation scheme are employed to predict the future release, storage and hydropower generation of the YRB, respectively. Results indicate that reservoirs can have noticeable, cumulative effects in enhancing the water security by reducing the wet season streamflow by 19% and increasing the dry season streamflow by 66%. The water diversion can result in an overall decrease in the streamflow, while the downstream reservoirs are expected to fully mitigate the decline in the dry season streamflow. The hydropower production is likely to decrease by 16% and 10% with conventional and optimized operation schemes, respectively, which suggests that the adaptation of operation rules alone cannot reverse the decline in the electricity production. Our findings can provide implications for sustainable water resource management.
Visualizing Equitable Housing: A Prototype for a Framework
Authors: Lespagnard Margaux , Galle Waldo , De Temmerman Niels
Published: February 2023

Many citizens, researchers, civil organizations, and policymakers strive for equitable housing. Changing demographics, rising housing prices, and material and energy crises all add to the complexity of that quest. Responding to it, even on a project scale, requires a holistic view. Yet practitioners often work in niches. In contrast, an overarching, interdisciplinary understanding of equitable housing by all stakeholders is expected to bring more sustainable and just housing. In the academic literature, researchers have already defined many criteria of what equitable housing can entail. Nevertheless, this knowledge does not seep through to practitioners who design and develop equitable housing projects. Therefore, this paper proposes a prototype for an equitable housing framework. This framework is designed to facilitate an open discussion between all stakeholders in a project. To develop this framework, an explorative literature study and fifteen semi-structured interviews resulted in a long list of 418 considerations for equitable housing. These considerations are socially, financially, and environmentally oriented. To structure the considerations, they were categorized into fifteen dimensions and visualized in a doughnut-like framework. The framework is designed to encourage users to vocalize their needs and intentions, and to trigger systemic insights. It directs them towards sustainable, social, and inclusive decisions, based on the needs of all stakeholders involved. Moreover, the equitable housing framework allows understanding and analysing their thought patterns and intentions.
Construction of Green Concrete Incorporating Fabricated Plastic Aggregate from Waste Processing
Authors: Alqahtani Fahad K. , Zafar Idrees
Published: February 2023

The recent industrial revolution has improved the quality of human life with technological advancement; adversely, it has also doubled waste generation, including plastic waste, in the last two decades. The concrete industry is under strict scrutiny to deliver tangible sustainable solutions to lessen its carbon footprint; the use of plastic waste in concrete can deliver a potential solution to these global environmental issues. In the current study, the fresh, mechanical and durability properties, including water absorption and chloride ion permeability of green concrete containing a plastic, fabricated aggregate were examined. The compressive and flexural strength gain with time was also examined and compared to reference concrete. All the mechanical parameters including compressive strength, flexural strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were found to decrease with the addition of fabricated plastic aggregates as compared to the reference concrete. The increase in the compressive strength and flexural strength at 100% replacement, with an increase in the curing period from 28 to 90 days, was 13% and 11%, respectively. The flexural deformation of green fabricated plastic aggregate concrete signposted the ductile behavior compared to the reference concrete. The concrete with 100% fabricated plastic aggregates showed an increase of 16.4% and a decrease of 68% in the water absorption and chloride ion permeability in comparison to the reference concrete, respectively. This study presents an effectual method for the utilization of plastic waste with promising results, especially for non-structural applications.
Melting the Psychological Boundary: How Interactive and Sensory Affordance Influence Users’ Adoption of Digital Heritage Service
Authors: Jia Weiwei , Li Han , Jiang Meimei , Wu Liang
Published: February 2023

As a result of the post-pandemic situation, enhancing digital heritage services has become one of the key issues for the recovery of tourism. Disruptive innovation in human–computer interaction technology has brought new opportunities for digitalization and intelligent transformation in the contemporary cultural tourism industry. Existing research on the adoption behavior of digital heritage services primarily focuses on users’ assessments of behavior results. There is a considerable gap in research about the interaction and value co-creation between users and digital intelligence services and users’ cognitive construction logic of digital heritage services. Following reciprocal determinism, we propose a conceptual model to deconstruct the detailed transmission path of interactive affordance and sensory affordance to digital heritage adoption. In Study 1, a lab experiment in an AI-assisted smart screen digital heritage service context revealed that interactive affordance and user adoption of digital heritage services were partially mediated by psychological distance. Findings from a between-subject online experiment in Study 2 confirmed that embodied cognition and psychological distance play a parallel intermediary role in the impact of sensory affordance on adoption. In Study 3, a lab experiment in a VR-based digital museum context further verified that information overload moderates the influence of embodied cognition on psychological distance. This research reveals the deep-bounded, rational decision-making logic of digital heritage service adoption and provides significant practical enlightenment for the optimization of the affordance experience.
Sustainable Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction in Small Ruminants Farming
Authors: Giamouri Elisavet , Zisis Foivos , Mitsiopoulou Christina , Christodoulou Christos , Pappas Athanasios C. , Simitzis Panagiotis E. , Kamilaris Charalampos , Galliou Fenia , Manios Thrassyvoulos , Mavrommatis Alexandros , Tsiplakou Eleni
Published: February 2023

During the previous decades, the growing demand for animal origin products has gained considerable attention. As a result, livestock breeding has faced a rapid intensification in order to fulfil market expectations. This increase in livestock production has led to a large scale of manure that is associated with many environmental impacts, such as climate change, to an increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Livestock production is considered to generate significant amounts of GHG, mainly carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Methane and nitrous oxide are the main emissions from livestock systems. Ruminants contribute highly to total livestock emissions. In the present study, the contribution of livestock and especially of the small ruminants in GHG emissions is reviewed. Additionally, useful sustainable strategies for farming and feeding of small ruminants are highlighted. Some of the practices discussed include but are not limited to efficient manure management, the replacement of mineral fertilizers by farm manure, the improvement of feed efficiency and provision of feed supplements. Moreover, the use of food waste or agro-industrial by-products is discussed as a sustainable strategy.
A Qualitative Exploration of Experiences of Asylum Seekers and People with Refugee Backgrounds in Accessing the Education System in Romania
Authors: Mareci Alina , Dumitrache Liliana , Nae Mariana , Tudoricu Anca , Cioclu Alexandra
Published: February 2023

Refugees and asylum seekers often confront particular challenges when accessing essential services in host countries. The difficulties these vulnerable groups face in meeting educational needs are documented in numerous studies. Although Romania experienced mainly transit migration, it is recently becoming a destination for refugees and irregular migrants. Most people entering the country are young or minors, and access to education is crucial for their economic future and a successful integration process. The present paper primarily explores the challenges and difficulties asylum seekers and people with refugee backgrounds experience in accessing educational services in Romania. It is framed within an interpretive paradigm using qualitative interviews with asylum seekers, people with refugee backgrounds, and NGO representatives to collect data. This exploratory research is designed on thematic analysis: four themes and eight subthemes were identified, capturing participants’ perceptions about the Romanian education system and their barriers to accessing education programs. The findings suggest that access to education for refugees and asylum seekers was restricted primarily by language-related or bureaucratic and legal obstacles. Therefore, efforts should be made to raise awareness among the general population and specialised educational institutions. Additionally, creating more opportunities for interactions between people of different backgrounds can alleviate the persisting inequalities experienced by this vulnerable population.
Impact of Thermal Radiation on MHD GO-Fe2O4/EG Flow and Heat Transfer over a Moving Surface
Authors: Aminuddin Nur Aisyah , Nasir Nor Ain Azeany Mohd , Jamshed Wasim , Ishak Anuar , Pop Ioan , Eid Mohamed R.
Published: February 2023

The heat transmission in a non-Newtonian hybrid nanofluid that combines particles of graphene oxide (GO) and iron dioxide (Fe2O4) with the base fluid chosen as ethylene glycol (EG) is analyzed, including the effects of radiation and magnetic influence. The hybrid nanofluid flow is assumed to be asymmetric because it flows along a horizontal shrinking surface in response to external inducements. The mathematically modelled partial differential equations (PDEs) form is then derived into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by implementing a proper similarity transformation to the PDEs. The mathematical formulation is then algorithmically estimated employing the bvp4c solver in MATLAB. The parameters’ effects on the skin friction measurement, local Nusselt number, entropy generation, velocity profile, and temperature profile are investigated and explained. This finding illustrated that the skin friction is augmented between 13.7% and 66.5% with the magnetic field, velocity slips, and the concentration of GO particles. As for the heat transmission ratio, only thermal radiation and velocity slip effects will affect the heat upsurge with the range of 99.8–147% for taken parameter values. The entropy for the shrinking case is found to increase between 16.6% and 43.9% with the magnetic field, velocity slip, and Eckert number.
Probabilistic Modelling of System Capabilities in Operations
Authors: Kuikka Vesa
Published: February 2023

We present a probabilistic method for simplifying the complexities in evaluating high-level capabilities. The method is demonstrated by using questionnaire data from a technology forecasting project. Our model defines capability as the probability of a successful operation. The model maps the actual observable capabilities to system capabilities. These theoretical quantities are used in calculating observable capability values for system combinations that are not directly evaluated as explanatory variables in the model. From the users’ point of view, the method is easy to use because the number of evaluated parameter values is minimal compared with many other methods. The model is most suited to applications where the resilience and effectiveness of systems are central factors in design and operations. Resilience is achieved by using alternative systems that produce similar capabilities. We study the limited use of alternative systems and their capabilities. We present experiments of model variations and discuss how to perform the model’s built-in consistency checks. The proposed method can be used in various applications such as comparing military system capabilities, technological investments, medical treatments and public education. Our method can add a novel view for understanding and identifying interrelations between systems’ operations.
Optimizing Ultra-High Vacuum Control in Electron Storage Rings Using Fuzzy Control and Estimation of Pumping Speed by Neural Networks with Molflow+
Authors: Seangsri Soontaree , Wanglomklang Thanasak , Khaewnak Nopparut , Yachum Nattawat , Srisertpol Jiraphon
Published: February 2023

This paper presents the design of a fuzzy-controller-based ultra-high vacuum pressure control system and its performance evaluation for a sputter-ion vacuum pump used in the electron storage ring at the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (Public Organization) in Thailand. The production of synchrotron light requires advanced vacuum technology to maintain stability and prevent interference of electrons in an ultra-high vacuum pressure environment of about 10−9 Torr. The presence of heat and gas rupture from the pipe wall can affect the quality of the light in that area. The institute currently uses a sputter-ion vacuum pump which is costly and requires significant effort to quickly reduce pressure increases in the area. Maintaining stable vacuum pressure throughout electron motion is essential in order to ensure the quality of the light. This research demonstrates a procedure for evaluating the performance of a sputter-ion vacuum pump using a mathematical model generated by a neural network and Molflow+ software. The model is used to estimate the pumping speed of the vacuum pump and to design a fuzzy control system for the ultra-high vacuum system. The study also includes a leakage rate check for the vacuum system.
Digital Technology Driving Exploratory Innovation in the Enterprise: A Mediated Model with Moderation
Authors: Gao Jian-Li , Chen Yang , Zhang Xiao-Qing
Published: February 2023

Emerging digital technologies, with their great advantages in resource convergence, opportunity identification, supply-demand docking and knowledge sharing, are breaking and subverting traditional business concepts and providing a new impetus and opportunities for enterprise innovation activities. Therefore, it is valuable to explore how digital technology affects exploratory innovation to gain a sustainable competitive advantage in a dynamic and changing market environment. Based on data from Chinese A-share high-tech manufacturing listed companies from 2012 to 2020, this paper empirically tests the impact of digital technology on enterprise exploratory innovation by using a fixed effects negative binomial regression model and further explores the intermediate mechanism and boundary conditions between the two. The results show that digital technology has a significant positive impact on enterprise exploratory innovation, and that knowledge breadth plays a mediating role; high network centrality can effectively strengthen the positive impact of digital technology on enterprise knowledge breadth, thus promoting enterprise exploratory innovation. The conclusion enriches and expands the theoretical and empirical research on the driving effect of digital technology innovation, and provides strong practical guidance for encouraging enterprises to achieve exploratory innovation.
Lessons Learned from the Introduction of Systems Engineering
Authors: Wilke Daria , Grothe Robin , Bretz Lukas , Anacker Harald , Dumitrescu Roman
Published: February 2023

The introduction of Systems Engineering is an approach for dealing with the increasing complexity of products and their associated product development. Several introduction strategies are available in the literature; nevertheless, the introduction of Systems Engineering into practice still poses a great challenge to companies. Many companies have already gained experience in the introduction of Systems Engineering. Therefore, as part of the SE4OWL research project, the need to conduct a study including expert interviews and to collect the experiences of experts was identified. A total of 78 hypotheses were identified from 13 expert interviews concerning the lessons learned. Using exclusion criteria, 52 hypotheses were validated in a subsequent quantitative survey with 112 participants. Of these 52 hypotheses, 40 could be confirmed based on the survey results. Only four hypotheses were rejected, and eight could neither be confirmed nor rejected. Through this research, guidance is provided to companies to leverage best practices for the introduction of their own Systems Engineering and to avoid the poor practices of other companies.
Artificial Intelligence and Ten Societal Megatrends: An Exploratory Study Using GPT-3
Authors: Haluza Daniela , Jungwirth David
Published: February 2023

This paper examines the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to address societal megatrends, with a specific focus on OpenAI’s Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 3 (GPT-3). To do this, we conducted an analysis using GPT-3 in order to explore the benefits of AI for digitalization, urbanization, globalization, climate change, automation and mobility, global health issues, and the aging population. We also looked at emerging markets as well as sustainability in this study. Interaction with GPT-3 was conducted solely through prompt questions, and generated responses were analyzed. Our results indicate that AI can significantly improve our understanding of these megatrends by providing insights into how they develop over time and which solutions could be implemented. Further research is needed to determine how effective AI will be in addressing them successfully, but initial findings are encouraging. Our discussion focuses on the implications of our findings for society going forward and suggests that further investigation should be conducted into how best to utilize new technologies such as GPT-3 when tackling these challenges. Lastly, we conclude that, while there is still much work left to do before any tangible effects can be seen from utilizing AI tools such as GPT-3 on societal megatrends, early indications suggest it may have a positive impact if used correctly.
Using Sweet Sorghum Varieties for the Phytoremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Salinized Soil: A Preliminary Study Based on Pot Experiments
Authors: Ma Di , Xu Jie , Zhou Jipeng , Ren Lili , Li Jian , Zhang Zaiwang , Xia Jiangbao , Xie Huicheng , Wu Tao
Published: February 2023

Using energy plants to repair salinized soils polluted by petroleum is an efficient way to solve the problem of farmland reduction and prevent pollutants from entering the food chain simultaneously. In this study, pot experiments were conducted for the purposes of preliminarily discussing the potential of using an energy plant, sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), to repair petroleum-polluted salinized soils and obtain associated varieties with excellent remediation performance. The emergence rate, plant height and biomass of different varieties were measured to explore the performance of plants under petroleum pollution, and the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons in soil with candidate varieties was also studied. The results showed that the emergence rate of 24 of the 28 varieties were not reduced by the addition of 1.0 × 104 mg/kg petroleum in soils with a salinity of 0.31%. After a 40-day treatment in salinized soil with petroleum additions of 1.0 × 104 mg/kg, 4 potential well-performed varieties including Zhong Ketian No. 438, Ke Tian No. 24, Ke Tian No. 21 (KT21) and Ke Tian No. 6 with a plant height of >40 cm and dry weight of >4 g were screened. Obvious removal of petroleum hydrocarbons in the salinized soils planted with the four varieties were observed. Compared with the treatment without plants, the residual petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in soils planted with KT21 decreased by 69.3%, 46.3%, 56.5%, 50.9% and 41.4%, for the additions of 0, 0.5 × 104, 1.0 × 104, 1.5 × 104 and 2.0 × 104 mg/kg, respectively. In general, KT21 had the best performance and application potential to remediate petroleum-polluted salinized soil.
QSAR Models for the Prediction of Dietary Biomagnification Factor in Fish
Authors: Bertato Linda , Chirico Nicola , Papa Ester
Published: February 2023

Xenobiotics released in the environment can be taken up by aquatic and terrestrial organisms and can accumulate at higher concentrations through the trophic chain. Bioaccumulation is therefore one of the PBT properties that authorities require to assess for the evaluation of the risks that chemicals may pose to humans and the environment. The use of an integrated testing strategy (ITS) and the use of multiple sources of information are strongly encouraged by authorities in order to maximize the information available and reduce testing costs. Moreover, considering the increasing demand for development and the application of new approaches and alternatives to animal testing, the development of in silico cost-effective tools such as QSAR models becomes increasingly important. In this study, a large and curated literature database of fish laboratory-based values of dietary biomagnification factor (BMF) was used to create externally validated QSARs. The quality categories (high, medium, low) available in the database were used to extract reliable data to train and validate the models, and to further address the uncertainty in low-quality data. This procedure was useful for highlighting problematic compounds for which additional experimental effort would be required, such as siloxanes, highly brominated and chlorinated compounds. Two models were suggested as final outputs in this study, one based on good-quality data and the other developed on a larger dataset of consistent Log BMFL values, which included lower-quality data. The models had similar predictive ability; however, the second model had a larger applicability domain. These QSARs were based on simple MLR equations that could easily be applied for the predictions of dietary BMFL in fish, and support bioaccumulation assessment procedures at the regulatory level. To ease the application and dissemination of these QSARs, they were included with technical documentation (as QMRF Reports) in the QSAR-ME Profiler software for QSAR predictions available online.
Experimental Yellow Fever in the Squirrel Monkey (Saimiri spp.): Hematological, Biochemical, and Immunological Findings
Authors: Ferreira Milene S. , Martins Lívia C. , de Melo Karla F. L. , da Silva Wellington B. , Imbeloni Aline A. , Muniz José Augusto P. C. , de Oliveira Camille F. , Freitas Maria Nazaré O. , dos Santos Éder B. , Chagas Liliane L. , Luz Márcia B. M. , de Queiroz Luiz A. D. , Tesh Robert B. , Vasconcelos Pedro F. C.
Published: February 2023

Between 2016 and 2018, Brazil experienced the largest sylvatic epidemic of yellow fever virus (YFV). Despite to the magnitude and rapid spread of the epidemic, little is known about YFV dispersion. The study evaluated whether the squirrel monkey is a good model for yellow fever (YF) studies. Methods: Ten animals were infected with 1 × 106 PFU/mL of YFV, with one negative control. Blood samples were collected daily during the first 7 days and at 10, 20 and 30 days post infection (dpi) for detection of viral load and cytokines by RT-qPCR; measurements of AST, ALT, urea and creatinine were taken; IgM/IgG antibodies were detected by ELISA, and hemagglutination inhibition and neutralization tests were performed. The animals exhibited fever, flushed appearance, vomiting and petechiae, and one animal died. Viremia was detected between 1 and 10 dpi, and IgM/IgG antibodies appeared between 4 and 30 dpi. The levels of AST, ALT and urea increased. The immune responses were characterized by expression of S100 and CD11b cells; endothelial markers (VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and VLA-4), cell death and stress (Lysozyme and iNOS); and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8, TNF-α, and IFN-γ) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGF-β). The squirrel monkeys showed changes similar to those described in humans with YF, and are a good experimental model for the study of YF.
Mpox (Monkeypox) and the Eye: Ocular Manifestation, Diagnosis, Treatment and Vaccination
Authors: Zong Yuan , Kamoi Koju , Zhang Jing , Yang Mingming , Ohno-Matsui Kyoko
Published: February 2023

At present, the world is at the tipping point of the outbreak of mpox. The World Health Organization has declared the current mpox outbreak a ‘public health emergency of international concern’. Mpox has been shown to be associated with several ocular manifestations. Given the current state of the mpox outbreak, healthcare providers, particularly ophthalmologists, need to be aware of these ophthalmic symptoms and how to manage them. In this review, we highlight current knowledge on the ocular symptoms of mpox virus (MPXV) infections and how to detect them. In addition, we summarize the treatment strategies for these ocular manifestations of MPXV infections and outline the relationship between vaccination and the ocular symptoms of mpox.
Surfing the Waves: Differences in Hospitalised COVID-19 Patients across 4 Variant Waves in a Belgian University Hospital
Authors: Seyler Lucie , Van Nedervelde Els , De Cock Diederik , Mann Claudia , Pien Karen , Allard Sabine D. , Demuyser Thomas
Published: February 2023

The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic took the form of successive variant waves, spreading across the globe. We wanted to investigate any shift in hospitalised patients’ profiles throughout the pandemic. For this study, we used a registry that collected data automatically from electronic patient health records. We compared clinical data and severity scores, using the National Institute of Health (NIH) severity scores, from all patients admitted for COVID-19 during four SARS-CoV-2 variant waves. Our study concluded that patients hospitalised for COVID-19 showed very different profiles across the four variant waves in Belgium. Patients were younger during the Alpha and Delta waves and frailer during the Omicron period. ‘Critical’ patients according to the NIH criteria formed the largest fraction among the Alpha wave patients (47.7%), while ‘severe’ patients formed the largest fraction among Omicron patients (61.6%). We discussed host factors, vaccination status, and other confounders to put this into perspective. High-quality real-life data remain crucial to inform stakeholders and policymakers that shifts in patients’ clinical profiles have an impact on clinical practice.
Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Spike-IgG throughout Three COVID-19 Vaccination Regimens: A 21-Month Longitudinal Study of 82 Norwegian Healthcare Workers
Authors: Augustinussen Marita Helen , Tylden Garth D. , Rinaldo Christine Hanssen
Published: February 2023

To facilitate interpretation of clinical SARS-CoV-2 anti-spike IgG analyses post-vaccination, 82 healthcare workers were followed through three vaccination-regimens: two regimens were comprised of two doses of BNT162b2 three or six weeks apart, followed by a dose of mRNA-vaccine, and in the other regimen, the first dose was replaced by ChAdOx1 nCov-19. After each dose, anti-spike IgG was compared between regimens. As many participants became infected, anti-spike IgG persistence was compared between infected and uninfected participants. Thirteen to twenty-one days after the first dose, seroconversion, and the median anti-spike IgG level in the ChAdOx1 group was significantly lower than in the BNT162b2 groups (23 versus 68 and 73 AU/mL). The second dose caused a significant increase in anti-spike IgG, but the median level was lower in the BNT162b2-short-interval group (280 AU/mL), compared to the BNT162b2-long-interval (1075 AU/mL) and ChAdOx1 (1160 AU/mL) group. After the third dose, all groups showed increases to similar anti-spike IgG levels (2075–2390 AU/mL). Over the next half year, anti-spike IgG levels declined significantly in all groups, but appeared to persist longer after post-vaccination infection. This is the first three-dose study with one dose of ChAdOx1. Despite initial differences, all vaccine regimens gave similarly high antibody levels and persistence after the third dose.
Perception of and Vaccine Readiness towards Mpox among Men Who Have Sex with Men Living with HIV in China: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Fu Leiwen , Sun Yinghui , Li Yuwei , Wang Bingyi , Yang Luoyao , Tian Tian , Wu Xinsheng , Peng Xin , Liu Qi , Chen Yuanyi , Lin Yi-Fan , Li Hui , Meng Xiaojun , Zou Huachun
Published: February 2023

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) living with HIV make up the majority of cases in the current Mpox outbreak. We aimed to investigate the perception of and vaccine readiness towards Mpox among MSM living with HIV in China. Methods: This cross-sectional online study was conducted from 10 August to 9 September 2022. Participants responded to survey questions about their socio-demographic information, HIV status, sexual behaviors, knowledge of Mpox, and attitudes towards Mpox vaccines. Results: A total of 577 MSM living with HIV participated in the study. A total of 37.6% expressed concerns about the Mpox epidemic in China, and 56.8% were willing to get the Mpox vaccine. Men who had > four sexual partners in the previous three months (aOR = 1.9 95% CI: 1.2–2.8 Ref: 0), had close contact with > four individuals in a day (3.1, 1.5–6.5 Ref: 0–3), were worried about the Mpox epidemic in China (1.6, 1.1–2.3 Ref: No), and believed that Mpox vaccines are safe (6.6, 2.7–16.4 Ref: No or not sure) and effective (1.9, 1.1–3.3 Ref: No) for people living with HIV were more likely to be willing to get the Mpox vaccine. MSM living with HIV with a high school education or below (0.5, 0.3–0.9 Ref: Postgraduate diploma), and sometimes (0.5, 0.3–0.8 Ref: Often), seldom, or never (0.5, 0.3–0.9 Ref: Often) followed news about Mpox were unwilling to get the Mpox vaccine. Conclusion: The ongoing Mpox pandemic has not attracted widespread concerns among MSM living with HIV in China. Having more sexual partners and close contacts, worrying about the Mpox epidemic, and believing in the vaccine’s safety and efficacy were predictors of their willingness to get the Mpox vaccine. Efforts should be made to raise awareness of the potential risk of Mpox in this at-risk population. Public health strategies should fully address predictors of vaccination willingness.