bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ongoing Multivariate Chemometric Approaches in Bioactive Compounds and Functional Properties of Foods—A Systematic Review
Authors: Karadžić Banjac Milica , Kovačević Strahinja , Podunavac-Kuzmanović Sanja
Published: March 2024

In this review, papers published in the chemometrics field were selected in order to gather information and conduct a systematic review regarding food science and technology; more precisely, regarding the domain of bioactive compounds and the functional properties of foods. More than 50 papers covering different food samples, experimental techniques and chemometric techniques were selected and presented, focusing on the chemometric methods used and their outcomes. This study is one way to approach an overview of the current publications related to this subject matter. The application of the multivariate chemometrics approach to the study of bioactive compounds and the functional properties of foods can open up even more in coming years, since it is fast-growing and highly competitive research area.
Constructing an Efficient Health Assessment Model for Drainage Network to Evaluate the Drainage Network in Zone A of Zhenjiang City
Authors: Li He , Wang Yizhuo , Luo Yujie , Jiang Chang , Yang Ziheng
Published: March 2024

Aiming at the problem of low pollutant concentration in the sewage treatment plant due to external water intrusion into the sewage collection system, which in turn leads to low pollutant reduction efficiency. A sewage system in Zhenjiang City is taken as an example. Analyze the situation of external water intrusion in the sewage pipe network and determine the external water intrusion proportion based on the water quality and quantity method. First, the dry season flow rate of the sewage pipe is obtained according to the monitoring data of the flowmeter. Then, the key research areas are screened out based on the changes in the concentration of water quality characteristic factors. Furthermore, chemical oxygen demand and electrical conductivity are used as water quality characteristic indicators to characterize shallow groundwater and river water. In addition, the proportions of groundwater and river water intrusion in the sewage pipe network are quantitatively analyzed based on the chemical mass balance equation. At the same time, the dredging detection method is used to assist in the investigation, and finally, the engineering rectification of the problems found in the drainage is carried out. The results show that the water quality and quantity method can effectively identify the types of external water and analyze the proportion of external water intrusion, which is of exemplary significance for the evaluation of sewage collection systems.
Challenges and Perspectives of the Conversion of Lignin Waste to High-Value Chemicals by Pyrolysis
Authors: Tan Zhouqing , Li Yuanyuan , Chen Feifei , Liu Jiashu , Zhong Jianxiong , Guo Li , Zhang Ran , Chen Rong
Published: March 2024

The pyrolysis process is a thermochemical conversion reaction that encompasses an intricate array of simultaneous and competitive reactions occurring in oxygen-depleted conditions. The final products of biomass pyrolysis are bio-oil, biochar, and some gases, with their proportions determined by the pyrolysis reaction conditions and technological pathways. Typically, low-temperature slow pyrolysis (reaction temperature below 500 °C) primarily yields biochar, while high-temperature fast pyrolysis (reaction temperature 700–1100 °C) mainly produces combustible gases. In the case of medium-temperature rapid pyrolysis (reaction temperature around 500–650 °C), conducted at very high heating rates and short vapor residence times (usually less than 1 s), the maximum liquid yield can reach up to 85 wt% (on a wet basis) or achieve 70 wt% (on a dry basis), with bio-oil being the predominant product. By employing the pyrolysis technique, valuable utilization of tobacco stem waste enriched with lignin can be achieved, resulting in the production of desired pyrolysis products such as transportation fuels, bio-oil, and ethanol. The present review focuses on catalytic pyrolysis, encompassing catalytic hydropyrolysis and catalytic co-pyrolysis, and meticulously compares the impact of catalyst structure on product distribution. Initially, we provide a comprehensive overview of the recent pyrolysis mechanism of lignin and tobacco waste. Subsequently, an in-depth analysis is presented, elucidating how to effectively design the catalyst structure to facilitate the efficient conversion of lignin through pyrolysis. Lastly, we delve into other innovative pyrolysis methods, including microwave-assisted and solar-assisted pyrolysis.
Community Cultural Wealth among a South Australian Muslim Population: A Reflective Evaluation of Strengthening Family Health and Wellbeing
Authors: McLaren Helen , Taylor Renee , Patmisari Emi , McLaren Carla , Jones Michelle , Hamiduzzaman Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Muslims living in non-Muslim countries may experience marginality, which has associations with exclusion, poor socio-emotional health, higher rates of family violence, and poor quality of life. Faith-based strategies have the potential to bridge the gaps and improve the outcomes for these communities. We undertook a reflective evaluation of the individual and group interventions of a Muslim start-up NGO, Community Development, Education and Social Support Inc. (CDESSA) (Adelaide, SA, Australia). Qualitative data were generated via dialogue, storytelling, and making connections with meaning based on observations of the lived experiences of the narrators. The analysis involved revisiting, reordering, refining, and redefining the dialogue, and conscious framing around a theoretical model of community cultural wealth. The results showed the growth of family and community engagement in CDESSA’s support and intervention activities, commencing with a small religious following in 2021 and growing to more than 300 Muslims regularly joining together for faith, health, welfare, and social wellbeing activities. Reflections on the dimensions of aspirational, navigational, social, familial, ethnoreligious, and resilient forms of community cultural wealth showed that the range of individual and group interventions, involving religious leaders, contributed to improving health and wellbeing, thereby growing community capital as a mechanism for strengthening families in this community.
The Native Clergy in Portuguese America: The Presence of Descendants of Indians and Africans in the Secular Clergy (c. 1670–c. 1820)
Authors: De Oliveira Anderson José Machado
Published: March 2024

This article conducts an analytical overview of the controversies and acts that resulted in the formation of a native clergy in Portuguese America. The analysis is limited to the secular clergy and the ways by which descendants of Africans and Indians were incorporated into this segment of the Church. The author addresses the way parts of these groups developed strategies to access the priesthood, seeking to escape subaltern positions and consolidating processes of social mobility.
Cultural and Theological Influences on Religious Engagement with Digital Media during COVID-19: A Comparative Study of Churches in Poland and Ireland
Authors: Kołodziejska Marta , Mandes Sławomir , Rabiej-Sienicka Katarzyna
Published: March 2024

This article investigates how cultural context and theological ideas shape the integration of digital media in religious practices. Focusing on Poland and Northern Ireland/The Republic of Ireland, we explore the diverse strategies employed by religious institutions in utilizing digital media. The study centers on the Catholic Church, analyzing its responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in different cultural contexts. Examining various denominations specific to each country, we highlight the role of theological assumptions in shaping the use of digital platforms within religious contexts. This comparative analysis provides insight into the complex interplay between culture, theology, and technology, contributing to the understanding of how religious institutions adapt to societal changes and navigate the digital landscape. Our findings reflect the theological controversies of shifting religious practices and services to digital media, and point to the non-voluntary aspect of adjusting to the pressures of deep mediatization in both cultural contexts.
Soft Hand Exoskeletons for Rehabilitation: Approaches to Design, Manufacturing Methods, and Future Prospects
Authors: Saldarriaga Alexander , Gutierrez-Velasquez Elkin Iván , Colorado Henry A.
Published: March 2024

Stroke, the third leading cause of global disability, poses significant challenges to healthcare systems worldwide. Addressing the restoration of impaired hand functions is crucial, especially amid healthcare workforce shortages. While robotic-assisted therapy shows promise, cost and healthcare community concerns hinder the adoption of hand exoskeletons. However, recent advancements in soft robotics and digital fabrication, particularly 3D printing, have sparked renewed interest in this area. This review article offers a thorough exploration of the current landscape of soft hand exoskeletons, emphasizing recent advancements and alternative designs. It surveys previous reviews in the field and examines relevant aspects of hand anatomy pertinent to wearable rehabilitation devices. Furthermore, the article investigates the design requirements for soft hand exoskeletons and provides a detailed review of various soft exoskeleton gloves, categorized based on their design principles. The discussion encompasses simulation-supported methods, affordability considerations, and future research directions. This review aims to benefit researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders by disseminating the latest advances in soft hand exoskeleton technology, ultimately enhancing stroke rehabilitation outcomes and patient care.
Rapid Assessment of Landslide Dynamics by UAV-RTK Repeated Surveys Using Ground Targets: The Ca’ Lita Landslide (Northern Apennines, Italy)
Authors: Ciccarese Giuseppe , Tondo Melissa , Mulas Marco , Bertolini Giovanni , Corsini Alessandro
Published: March 2024

The combined use of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with an integrated Real Time Kinematic (RTK) Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module and an external GNSS base station allows photogrammetric surveys with centimeter accuracy to be obtained without the use of ground control points. This greatly reduces acquisition and processing time, making it possible to perform rapid monitoring of landslides by installing permanent and clearly recognizable optical targets on the ground. In this contribution, we show the results obtained in the Ca’ Lita landslide (Northern Apennines, Italy) by performing multi-temporal RTK-aided UAV surveys. The landslide is a large-scale roto-translational rockslide evolving downslope into an earthslide–earthflow. The test area extends 60 × 103 m2 in the upper track zone, which has recently experienced two major reactivations in May 2022 and March 2023. A catastrophic event took place in May 2023, but it goes beyond the purpose of the present study. A total of eight UAV surveys were carried out from October 2020 to March 2023. A total of eight targets were installed transversally to the movement direction. The results, in the active portion of the landslide, show that between October 2020 and March 2023, the planimetric displacement of targets ranged from 0.09 m (in the lateral zone) to 71.61 m (in the central zone). The vertical displacement values ranged from −2.05 to 5.94 m, respectively. The estimated positioning errors are 0.01 (planimetric) and 0.03 m (vertical). The validation, performed by using data from a permanent GNSS receiver, shows maximum differences of 0.18 m (planimetric) and 0.21 m (vertical). These results, together with the rapidity of image acquisition and data processing, highlight the advantages of using this rapid method to follow the evolution of relatively rapid landslides such as the Ca’ Lita landslide.
Enhancing Image Alignment in Time-Lapse-Ground-Penetrating Radar through Dynamic Time Warping
Authors: Wen Jiahao , Huang Tianbao , Cui Xihong , Zhang Yaling , Shi Jinfeng , Jiang Yanjia , Li Xiangjie , Guo Li
Published: March 2024

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a rapid and non-destructive geophysical technique widely employed to detect and quantify subsurface structures and characteristics. Its capability for time lapse (TL) detection provides essential insights into subsurface hydrological dynamics, including lateral flow and soil water distribution. However, during TL-GPR surveys, field conditions often create discrepancies in surface geometry, which introduces mismatches across sequential TL-GPR images. These discrepancies may generate spurious signal variations that impede the accurate interpretation of TL-GPR data when assessing subsurface hydrological processes. In responding to this issue, this study introduces a TL-GPR image alignment method by employing the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm. The purpose of the proposed method, namely TLIAM–DTW, is to correct for geometric mismatch in TL-GPR images collected from the identical survey line in the field. We validated the efficacy of the TLIAM–DTW method using both synthetic data from gprMax V3.0 simulations and actual field data collected from a hilly, forested area post-infiltration experiment. Analyses of the aligned TL-GPR images revealed that the TLIAM–DTW method effectively eliminates the influence of geometric mismatch while preserving the integrity of signal variations due to actual subsurface hydrological processes. Quantitative assessments of the proposed methods, measured by mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE), showed significant improvements. After performing the TLIAM–DTW method, the MAE and RMSE between processed TL-GPR images and background images were reduced by 96% and 78%, respectively, in simple simulation scenarios; in more complex simulations, MAE declined by 27–31% and RMSE by 17–43%. Field data yielded reductions in MAE and RMSE of >82% and 69%, respectively. With these substantial improvements, the processed TL-GPR images successfully depict the spatial and temporal transitions associated with subsurface lateral flows, thereby enhancing the accuracy of monitoring subsurface hydrological processes under field conditions.
Improved Cycle-Consistency Generative Adversarial Network-Based Clutter Suppression Methods for Ground-Penetrating Radar Pipeline Data
Authors: Lin Yun , Wang Jiachun , Ma Deyun , Wang Yanping , Ye Shengbo
Published: March 2024

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a widely used technology for pipeline detection due to its fast detection speed and high resolution. However, the presence of complex underground media often results in strong ground clutter interference in the collected B-scan echoes, significantly impacting detection performance. To address this issue, this paper proposes an improved clutter suppression network based on a cycle-consistency generative adversarial network (CycleGAN). By employing the concept of style transfer, the network aims to convert clutter images into clutter-free images. This paper introduces multiple residual blocks into the generator and discriminator, respectively, to improve the feature expression ability of the deep learning model. Additionally, the discriminator incorporates the squeeze and excitation (SE) module, a channel attention mechanism, to further enhance the model’s ability to extract features from clutter-free images. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed network in clutter suppression, both simulation and measurement data are utilized to compare and analyze its performance against traditional clutter suppression methods and deep learning-based methods, respectively. From the result of the measured data, it can be found that the improvement factor (Im) of the proposed method has reached 40.68 dB, which is a significant improvement compared to the previous network.
Three-Dimensional Point Cloud Object Detection Based on Feature Fusion and Enhancement
Authors: Li Yangyang , Ou Zejun , Liu Guangyuan , Yang Zichen , Chen Yanqiao , Shang Ronghua , Jiao Licheng
Published: March 2024

With the continuous emergence and development of 3D sensors in recent years, it has become increasingly convenient to collect point cloud data for 3D object detection tasks, such as the field of autonomous driving. But when using these existing methods, there are two problems that cannot be ignored: (1) The bird’s eye view (BEV) is a widely used method in 3D objective detection; however, the BEV usually compresses dimensions by combined height, dimension, and channels, which makes the process of feature extraction in feature fusion more difficult. (2) Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) has a much larger effective scanning depth, which causes the sector to become sparse in deep space and the uneven distribution of point cloud data. This results in few features in the distribution of neighboring points around the key points of interest. The following is the solution proposed in this paper: (1) This paper proposes multi-scale feature fusion composed of feature maps at different levels made of Deep Layer Aggregation (DLA) and a feature fusion module for the BEV. (2) A point completion network is used to improve the prediction results by completing the feature points inside the candidate boxes in the second stage, thereby strengthening their position features. Supervised contrastive learning is applied to enhance the segmentation results, improving the discrimination capability between the foreground and background. Experiments show these new additions can achieve improvements of 2.7%, 2.4%, and 2.5%, respectively, on KITTI easy, moderate, and hard tasks. Further ablation experiments show that each addition has promising improvement over the baseline.
Comparing Pixel- and Object-Based Approaches for Classifying Multispectral Drone Imagery of a Salt Marsh Restoration and Reference Site
Authors: Norris Gregory S. , LaRocque Armand , Leblon Brigitte , Barbeau Myriam A. , Hanson Alan R.
Published: March 2024

Monitoring salt marshes with remote sensing is necessary to evaluate their state and restoration. Determining appropriate techniques for this can be overwhelming. Our study provides insight into whether a pixel- or object-based Random Forest classification approach is best for mapping vegetation in north temperate salt marshes. We used input variables from drone images (raw reflectances, vegetation indices, and textural features) acquired in June, July, and August 2021 of a salt marsh restoration and reference site in Aulac, New Brunswick, Canada. We also investigated the importance of input variables and whether using landcover classes representing areas of change was a practical way to evaluate variation in the monthly images. Our results indicated that (1) the classifiers achieved overall validation accuracies of 91.1–95.2%; (2) pixel-based classifiers outperformed object-based classifiers by 1.3–2.0%; (3) input variables extracted from the August images were more important than those extracted from the June and July images; (4) certain raw reflectances, vegetation indices, and textural features were among the most important variables; and (5) classes that changed temporally were mapped with user’s and producer’s validation accuracies of 86.7–100.0%. Knowledge gained during this study will inform assessments of salt marsh restoration trajectories spanning multiple years.
Mapping the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Cropland Abandonment and Recultivation across the Yangtze River Basin
Authors: Long Yuqiao , Sun Jing , Wellens Joost , Colinet Gilles , Wu Wenbin , Meersmans Jeroen
Published: March 2024

Whether China can achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) largely depends on the ability of main food-producing areas to cope with multiple land use change challenges. Despite the fact that the Yangtze River basin is one of the key regions for China’s food security, the spatiotemporal dynamics of cropland abandonment and recultivation remain largely unexplored in this region. The present study assesses the evolution of the agricultural system within the Yangtze River basin between 2000 and 2020 by mapping cropland abandonment and recultivation using MODIS time series and multiple land cover products. The results highlight a widespread cropland abandonment process (i.e., 10.5% of the total study area between 2000 and 2020), predominantly in Western Sichuan, Eastern Yunnan, and Central Jiangxi. Although 70% of abandoned cropland is situated in areas with slopes less than 5°, the highest rates of abandonment are in mountainous regions. However, by 2020, 74% of this abandoned cropland had been recultivated at least once, whereas half of the abandoned croplands got recultivated within three years of their initial abandonment. Hence, as this is one of the first studies that unravels the complex interaction between cropland abandonment and recultivation in a spatiotemporal explicit context, it offers (i) scientists a novel methodological framework to assess agricultural land use issues across large geographical entities, and (ii) policy-makers new insights to support the sustainable transition of the agricultural sector.
Determination of Occupational Exposure to Ultrafine Particles in Different Sectors of Activity
Authors: Moreira Fernando Miguel , Ferreira Ana , Barros Nelson
Published: March 2024

The primary sources of ultrafine particulate matter are linked to human activity. Certain particulate emissions, particularly those of a finer nature, can significantly impact human health, making them one of the most concerning pollutants. Ultrafine particles (UFPs), which have a diameter of less than 100 nm, are of particular concern due to their impact on human health and the difficulty in controlling them. The concentration of ultrafine particles (UFPs) in the workplace is a growing concern and is classified as an emerging risk. Workers may be exposed to UFPs through inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, or a combination of these routes. This study aims to determine the levels of UFP exposure among workers in environments with varying direct particle emission patterns. Measurements were conducted to compare the results with the levels recommended by the WHO. The study monitored industrial workplaces with direct particulate matter emissions, such as a carpentry workshop and a bakery, as well as social sector sites without or almost without direct particle emissions, such as a school and a health clinic. One conclusion drawn from this study is that all tasks and occupations are susceptible to high levels of UFPs, exceeding WHO recommended values in virtually all monitored environments. Therefore, monitoring and controlling UFPs is crucial. Further in-depth studies on this subject are also necessary.
Is It Possible to Improve Motor Competence through a Structured Balance Bike Program in Preschool Children Aged 3 to 6 Years?
Authors: Navarro-Patón Rubén , Canosa-Pasantes Fabián , Mecías-Calvo Marcos , Arufe-Giráldez Víctor
Published: March 2024

This study aimed (1) to investigate the effect of a brief 9-week bike program on preschool motor competence levels and (2) to know the effects of the intervention program on gender. A total of 98 schoolchildren (3.86 ± 0.91 years) from La Coruña (Spain) participated. A pre–post-test quasi-experimental design was used with a control group (CG) made up of 39 students (18 boys) and an experimental group (EG) made up of 59 students (29 boys). Data were gathered using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2). The data demonstrate that the CG and the EG differ significantly from one another before the intervention program in favour of CG in manual dexterity (MD; p < 0.001), balance (Bal; p = 0.003), total test score (TTS; p = 0.001), and total percentile score (TPS; p < 0.001), except in aiming and catching (A&C, p = 0.588). After the application of the 9-week intervention program based on the balance bike, these differences disappear (i.e., MD (p = 0.166), A&C (p = 0.372), Bal (p = 0.219), TTS (p = 0.306), and in TPS (p = 0.259)). The information gathered indicates that implementing intervention programs such as the one applied in this study could have a positive impact on improving motor competence in preschool-aged boys and girls, increasing its level.
Rethinking Public Transit Networks Using Climate Change Mitigation and Social Justice Lenses: Great Victoria Area Case Study
Authors: Ghadiri Mohaddese , Newell Robert
Published: March 2024

Public transit has a relatively low GHG-to-passenger ratio and offers affordable options for local travel compared with personal vehicle travel. Investments in an effective public transit network are therefore critical for progress toward climate change mitigation and social justice. Using the Greater Victoria Area (GVA) in British Columbia, Canada, as a case study, this research identified, mapped, and examined three new regional transit network scenarios, which, respectively, align with the objectives in the planning and policy areas of (1) climate change mitigation, (2) social justice, and (3) climate justice. The methods involved a literature review to develop an analytical framework for mapping and examining new transit networks using the climate change mitigation, social justice, and climate justice lenses. The framework was revised through a research practitioner workshop, and it was then applied using network analysis techniques to (re)map the GVA’s transit networks under the three scenarios. The key outcomes of the project included an analytical framework and a process for analyzing and remapping transit networks in ways that align with climate and social justice objectives. The findings indicated the need to add some bus routes and stops, especially in the northern part of the GVA, and two new fast transit networks according to the justice lenses.
Dietary Behavior as a Target of Environmental Policy: Which Policy Instruments Are Adequate to Incentivize Plant-Based Diets?
Authors: Schleicher Katharina , Töller Annette Elisabeth
Published: March 2024

Meat consumption causes major damage to the environment, such as the pollution of air, water, and soil, and contributes significantly to biodiversity loss and climate change. To reach environmental and climate targets, agricultural production methods need to be addressed politically. However, dietary behavior also needs to change. This is especially the case in Western countries with unsustainably high meat consumption, such as Germany. Based on a systematic analysis of the literature of different disciplines, the article examines the following: (a) Factors influencing food behavior; (b) Policy instruments effectively contributing to behavior change; (c) Potential problems with regard to their political feasibility. Using Germany as an example, the analysis shows that only a combination of measures is promising to achieve a reduction in meat consumption—both in terms of effectiveness as well as political feasibility. Instruments need to change contextual conditions in a way that makes sustainable nutritional choices the easier ones. In the longer term, education programs and campaigns can help to change basic influencing factors such as norms or values. And, in the short term, these factors can be activated and become relevant for action in the respective decision-making situations.
Promoting the Transition towards Agriculture 4.0: A Systematic Literature Review on Drivers and Barriers
Authors: Fragomeli Roberto , Annunziata Azzurra , Punzo Gennaro
Published: March 2024

In the modern era, the imperative of digitalisation to enhance competitiveness spans various sectors, with agriculture being no exception. Agriculture 4.0, strategically positioned to address challenges like climate change, food security, and resource preservation, holds the potential to increase productivity, profitability, and sustainability in agriculture. Despite the global accessibility to digital technologies, their adoption within the agriculture sector, especially among small and medium-sized farms, encounters obstacles. Realising the full potential of Agriculture 4.0 requires understanding the factors influencing technology adoption. To address this, the study conducts a systematic literature review using the PRISMA method, focusing on identifying the primary drivers and barriers associated with the implementation of Agriculture 4.0 technologies. The study is complemented by a network analysis of the identified drivers and barriers. A total of 42 articles from 2011 to 2023, sourced from the Scopus database, are examined. Individual and farm-related factors play a crucial role in driving the adoption of smart farming technologies, along with social trust and influence. Economic constraints and lack of infrastructure, such as internet access, emerge as significant barriers. The identified drivers and barriers can inform the development of strategies to promote the transition to Agriculture 4.0. Farmers stand to benefit from insights into potential advantages, required skills, and challenges, aiding informed decision-making in the adoption of Agriculture 4.0 technologies.
The Volatility Dynamics of Prices in the European Power Markets during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period
Authors: Stanković Zorana Zoran , Rajic Milena Nebojsa , Božić Zorana , Milosavljević Peđa , Păcurar Ancuța , Borzan Cristina , Păcurar Răzvan , Sabău Emilia
Published: March 2024

Surging electricity demand, its limited supply, and the pandemic crisis are just some of the key factors that resulted in changes in electricity prices on the power exchanges. This topic brings about a notable economic influence on both producers and consumers. The main purpose of this paper is to explore power price volatility during the four-year period from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2021, in 28 power exchanges in Europe, measured using daily velocity data. In addition, based on the fixed and chain base index numbers, as well as their relative merits, this paper was designed to measure the gap and convergence in trends. Considering that the price volatility varies depending on the observation period, this paper performs a comparative analysis of electricity price volatility on a daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual level for all examined countries. The obtained results indicate that electricity price volatility is higher on a daily basis. Related to this, convergent trends are demonstrated on all 28 observed markets, and there is a growing trend of hourly spot prices in the analyzed four-year period. The results of this paper also confirm a higher power price volatility during the pandemic period in 2020 and 2021 compared to the prepandemic period during 2018 and 2019.
Landscape Analysis and Ecological Risk Assessment during 1995–2020 Based on Land Utilization/Land Coverage (LULC) and Random Forest: A Case Study of the Fushun Open-Pit Coal Area in Liaoning, China
Authors: Xu Hua , Cheng Weiming
Published: March 2024

China’s Fushun open-pit mine is the largest century-old coal mine in Asia. Large-scale mining and the use of coal has caused dramatic changes in the regional urban landscape pattern, seriously affecting the ecological function and ecosystem stability of its surrounding landscape. Evaluating the ecological risks of the landscape in the urban areas of open-pit mines contributes to the risk management of regional ecosystems and the sustainable development of society. This study selected six-phase Landsat ETM/OLI remote sensing images from 1995 to 2020 and combined them with the random forest model to carry out an LULC classification of the open-pit mine and its surrounding areas and, on this basis, discusses the evolution of its landscape pattern and evaluates the ecological risks. It fills the gap in the research on the evolution of regional landscape patterns and ecological risks in the study area and improves the automatic classification efficiency of LULC for use in open-pit mines. The results show that the classification accuracy of LULC regarding open-pit mines based on image pixels and the random forest model can reach 30 m, and the rate of accuracy can reach 92–97%. From 1995 to 2020, the coverage area of forest land and building land in the study area has increased and is mainly composed of grassland and undeveloped land. The use of land was transferred to the mining area, the water body area maintained a relative dynamic balance, and the overall vegetation coverage of the mining area was greatly improved; the forest land began to expand from the surrounding area to the mining area in 2010, and the construction land began to move from the areas surrounding the mining area to the surrounding valleys in 2015. The landforms have extended radially, and the landscape sprawl index has increased, indicating the optimization of the ecological environment; the high- and medium-risk areas decreased by 75.51 km2, the low-risk areas expanded by 461.48 km2, and the overall ecological risk index decreased. From this, it is possible to conclude that the landscape restoration project adopted in the study area has achieved great results, and the improvement of the ecological environment also directly affects the increase of construction land. These research results can provide scientific guidance for the rational utilization and sustainable development of land resources in urban areas of open-pit mines.
Cultivating Design Thinking for Sustainable Business Transformation in a VUCA World: Insights from a German Case Study
Authors: Niehaus Markus , Mocan Marian
Published: March 2024

Companies around the world are facing global challenges, such as internationally interwoven crisis situations and conflicts, climate change, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and technological disruptions. While the UN has developed a global agenda (namely, the SDGs) to drive sustainability, at a political and economic level, global players seem to have a rather heterogeneous understanding of the situation. How can companies successfully adapt to the resulting turbulent market environments? Design Thinking, a method for finding answers to complex and wicked problems, is experiencing a renaissance wherein it is being used not only as a tool for product innovation but also for organizational and strategic transformation. By incorporating the principles of Industry 5.0 into company visions and integrating Design Thinking and ecodesign at the level product innovation, Design Thinking can help strengthen the adaptability of companies and create sustainable innovations in these VUCA environments. However, the factors that are necessary to realize the full potential of Design Thinking for sustainable business transformation remain unclear in science. This paper presents a case study that shares key factors, including a company DNA that consists of a targeted orchestration of diversity and the company’s Love–Trust–Do mantra that, in combination, work transnationally in the company organization and can utilize the full potential of Design Thinking to foster sustainable innovation and thus strengthen the company’s resiliency in times of VUCA.
Responses of Freshwater Invertebrates to Imhoff Tank Sewage Effluents: A Preliminary Study in Four Watercourses with Different Ecological Status (Abruzzo, Central Italy)
Authors: Di Sabatino Antonio , Damiani Giovanni , Ercolino Giada , Rossi Floriana , Ruggieri Lino
Published: March 2024

In many EU countries, a large proportion of domestic effluents is treated in small, decentralized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) which often lack appropriate treatment technologies. The low efficiency of these systems and their incorrect maintenance often contribute to environmental deterioration, with a large quantity of inadequately treated sewage dispersed in the soil or discharged into superficial watercourses. In the Abruzzo region (Central Italy), almost all rivers and streams receive wastewater from Imhoff tanks with only primary treatments. The ecological impacts of these effluents have rarely been investigated. This paper aimed to evaluate the response of freshwater invertebrates to Imhoff effluents in receiving watercourses with different ecological status. Our results showed that wastewater from Imhoff plants negatively affected the structure and composition of freshwater communities, with a reduction in the richness and abundance of more sensitive taxa and an increase in the most tolerant ones. These negative effects were more accentuated during low flow periods and in streams with moderate ecological status. To improve the ecological status of rivers and streams and to limit the diffusion of pathogens and micropollutants in freshwater, a more efficient (secondary treatments, possibly with nature-based solutions) and sustainable (water reuse or sewage sludge recycling) approach to wastewater treatment in decentralized WWTPs is urgently needed.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Environmental Investment: The Mediating Effects of Information Transmission and Resource Acquisition
Authors: Liu Ruizhi , Song Fei , Wu Mark , Zhang Yuming
Published: March 2024

In recent years, more and more research has focused on the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on business activities. Due to the existence of two different theoretical perspectives, shareholder value theory and managerial opportunism theory, the research on CSR has reached different conclusions. Meanwhile, the motivations for environmental investments in enterprises have received attention from scholars. However, there is a lack of empirical research on the relationship between CSR and environmental investment. Therefore, this study conducts a regression analysis on the external evaluation of CSR and enterprises’ environmental investment using data from Chinese listed companies. The empirical results show a significant positive relationship between the external evaluation of CSR and enterprises’ environmental investment. The mediating tests conducted based on information transmission and resource acquisition mechanisms explain the reasons for this promotion effect, supporting the shareholder value theory. Furthermore, our research finds that this promotion effect is more significant in non-state-owned enterprises, enterprises receiving fewer environmental subsidies, enterprises disclosing environmental philosophies, and enterprises identified as key pollution-monitoring units in reports. The research findings of this study are meaningful for clarifying the economic consequences of CSR and provide practical evidence for Chinese enterprises to understand the importance of environmental investment and the government’s advocacy for enterprises to proactively engage in environmental investment.
Applied Artificial Intelligence for Sustainability
Authors: Syafrudin Muhammad , Alfian Ganjar , Fitriyani Norma Latif , Anshari Muhammad
Published: March 2024

In the contemporary era, modern civilization is immersed in a technologically interconnected environment, where numerous applications within the digital ecosystem harness advanced artificial intelligence (AI) techniques [...]
Anisotropy and Asymptotic Degeneracy of the Physical-Hilbert-Space Inner-Product Metrics in an Exactly Solvable Unitary Quantum Model
Authors: Znojil Miloslav
Published: March 2024

A unitary-evolution process leading to an ultimate collapse and to a complete loss of observability alias quantum phase transition is studied. A specific solvable N−state model is considered, characterized by a non-stationary non-Hermitian Hamiltonian. Our analysis uses quantum mechanics formulated in Schrödinger picture in which, in principle, only the knowledge of a complete set of observables (i.e., operators Λj) enables one to guarantee the uniqueness of the related physical Hilbert space (i.e., of its inner-product metric Θ). Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, we only assume the knowledge of just a single input observable (viz., of the energy-representing Hamiltonian H≡Λ1). Then, out of all of the eligible and Hamiltonian-dependent “Hermitizing” inner-product metrics Θ=Θ(H), we pick up just the simplest possible candidate. Naturally, this slightly restricts the scope of the theory, but in our present model, such a restriction is more than compensated for by the possibility of an alternative, phenomenologically better motivated constraint by which the time-dependence of the metric is required to be smooth. This opens a new model-building freedom which, in fact, enables us to force the system to reach the collapse, i.e., a genuine quantum catastrophe as a result of the mere conventional, strictly unitary evolution.
Sustainable Business Practices and the Role of Digital Technologies: A Cross-Regional Analysis
Authors: Plečko Samuel , Bradač Hojnik Barbara
Published: March 2024

This study examines the relationship between digital transformation and sustainable practices within enterprises against the backdrop of global transformative forces framed within the holistic paradigm of systems thinking. It examines the extent to which digital advances either facilitate or impede the sustainable development of companies, while also considering the systemic impact of demographic variables (such as gender, age, education), national income levels, and geographical regions on business sustainability. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which encompasses 26,790 entrepreneurs in 47 countries, this research uses multinomial regression to assess how these factors influence companies’ commitment to social and environmental goals. A key finding is that the strategic use of digital technologies in sales processes significantly increases the likelihood that entrepreneurs will integrate social and environmental considerations into their decision-making. Notably, this conscientious approach to business is most prevalent among entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our findings underscore the central role of digital technologies in driving sustainable business transformation while also highlighting the significant influence of regional socio-environmental contexts on business sustainability orientations.
Applications of 3D Reconstruction in Virtual Reality-Based Teleoperation: A Review in the Mining Industry
Authors: Kamran-Pishhesari Alireza , Moniri-Morad Amin , Sattarvand Javad
Published: March 2024

Although multiview platforms have enhanced work efficiency in mining teleoperation systems, they also induce “cognitive tunneling” and depth-detection issues for operators. These issues inadvertently focus their attention on a restricted central view. Fully immersive virtual reality (VR) has recently attracted the attention of specialists in the mining industry to address these issues. Nevertheless, developing VR teleoperation systems remains a formidable challenge, particularly in achieving a realistic 3D model of the environment. This study investigates the existing gap in fully immersive teleoperation systems within the mining industry, aiming to identify the most optimal methods for their development and ensure operator’s safety. To achieve this purpose, a literature search is employed to identify and extract information from the most relevant sources. The most advanced teleoperation systems are examined by focusing on their visualization types. Then, various 3D reconstruction techniques applicable to mining VR teleoperation are investigated, and their data acquisition methods, sensor technologies, and algorithms are analyzed. Ultimately, the study discusses challenges associated with 3D reconstruction techniques for mining teleoperation. The findings demonstrated that the real-time 3D reconstruction of underground mining environments primarily involves depth-based techniques. In contrast, point cloud generation techniques can mostly be employed for 3D reconstruction in open-pit mining operations.
Editorial for the Special Issue “Environmental Exposure and Reproductive Health”
Authors: Yang Pan
Published: March 2024

In recent decades, the decline in human fertility has emerged as a significant public health concern, garnering global attention [...]
Acalculous Cholecystitis in COVID-19 Patients: A Narrative Review
Authors: Thomaidou Evanthia , Karlafti Eleni , Didagelos Matthaios , Megari Kalliopi , Argiriadou Eleni , Akinosoglou Karolina , Paramythiotis Daniel , Savopoulos Christos
Published: March 2024

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) represents cholecystitis without gallstones, occurring in approximately 5–10% of all cases of acute cholecystitis in adults. Several risk factors have been recognized, while infectious diseases can be a cause of cholecystitis in otherwise healthy people. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and has spread worldwide, leading to an unprecedented pandemic. The virus enters cells through the binding of the spike protein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors expressed in many human tissues, including the epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and this explains the symptoms emanating from the digestive system. Acute cholecystitis has been reported in patients with COVID-19. The purpose of this review is to provide a detailed analysis of the current literature on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, management, and outcomes of AAC in patients with COVID-19.
Parsonage–Turner Syndrome following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rosca Elena Cecilia , Al-Qiami Almonzer , Cornea Amalia , Simu Mihaela
Published: March 2024

Background: Parsonage–Turner syndrome (PTS) is an inflammatory condition of the brachial plexus, with more than half of patients presenting a trigger, such as infection or vaccination. Our objective was to synthesize the clinical and paraclinical features, therapeutic responses, and outcomes of PTS post-COVID-19 vaccination. Methods: We systematically reviewed two databases (LitCOVID and the WHO database on COVID-19) up to January 2024 following a published protocol (OSF registries). Results: We included 59 cases. PTS occurred more frequently in males (61.1% mRNA group, 83.3% viral vector group). Patients in the mRNA group were younger (41.7% between 41 and 50 years vs. 38.9% between 61 and 70 years). Most cases had sudden pain within two weeks. Unilateral PTS was present in 94.4% of mRNA and all viral vector-vaccinated cases. Symptoms included pain (97.1% and 92.3%, respectively), usually followed within two weeks by motor deficits (97.2% and 94.1%, respectively), amyotrophy (30% and 81.8%, respectively), paresthesia (50% and 27.3%, respectively), and sensory loss (33.3% and 38.5%, respectively). Viral vector vaccine recipients had nerve involvement outside the brachial plexus. Ancillary investigations revealed CSF albuminocytological dissociation (33.3% and 100%, respectively) and ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. Two PTS cases worsened after the second mRNA dose, and another recurred after influenza vaccination. One patient well tolerated the second dose of the viral vector vaccine, but symptoms reemerged in another. Conclusions: Current evidence suggests PTS may occur after all COVID-19 vaccine types, with some subgroup differences. Also, PTS might recur with subsequent similar or unrelated vaccines.