bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X-TEAM D2D Project: Designing and Validating a Concept of Operations for Door-To-Door Multimodal Transport
Authors: Di Vito Vittorio , Montaquila Roberto Valentino , Cerasuolo Giovanni , Dziugieł Bartosz , Maczka Maciej , Mazur Anna , Meincke Peter A. , Naser Fares , Mujica Mota Miguel , Bagamanova Margarita , Makhloufi Abdel el , Duca Gabriella , Russo Raffaella , Brucculeri Luigi , Proietti Stefano
Published: January 2023

The project X-TEAM D2D (extended ATM for door-to-door travel) has been funded by SESAR JU in the framework of the research activities devoted to the investigation of integration of Air Traffic Management (ATM) and aviation into a wider transport system able to support the implementation of the door-to-door (D2D) travel concept. The project defines a concept for the seamless integration of ATM and Air Transport into an intermodal network, including other available transportation means, such as surface and waterways, to contribute to the 4 h door-to-door connectivity targeted by the European Commission in the ACARE SRIA FlightPath 2050 goals. In particular, the project focused on the design of a concept of operations for urban and extended urban (up to regional) integrated mobility, taking into account the evolution of transportation and passengers service scenarios for the next decades, according to baseline (2025), intermediate (2035) and final target (2050) time horizons. The designed ConOps encompassed both the transportation platforms integration concepts and the innovative seamless Mobility as a Service, integrating emerging technologies, such as Urban Air Mobility (e.g., electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles) and new mobility forms (e.g., micromobility vehicles) into the intermodal traffic network, including Air Traffic Management (ATM) and Unmanned Traffic Management (UTM). The developed concept has been evaluated against existing KPAs and KPIs, implementing both qualitative and quantitative performance assessment approaches, while also considering specific performance metrics related to transport integration efficiency from the passenger point of view, being the proposed solution designed to be centered around the passenger needs. The aim of this paper is to provide a description of the activities carried out in the project and to present at high level the related outcomes.
#How Can We Help You?: An Instagram-Based Online Self-Help for Eating Disorders
Authors: Albano Gaia , Lo Coco Gianluca , Teti Arianna , Semola Mariarita , Valenti Federica , Pastizzaro Chiara Destro , Mignosi Debora , Gullo Salvatore
Published: January 2023

In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in online self-help treatments and peer-support programs for eating disorders. The possibility of easily accessing them anytime makes these programs an important support tool and an influencing source for increasing motivation to change. The aim of this work is to describe the #How can we help you? project, its initial feedback received from users, and its future directions. Researchers and clinicians developed an Instagram profile (Dicci Come Aiutarti) based on psychoeducation, aimed at orienting those suffering from a self-reported eating disorder towards clinical care, providing information about eating concerns and related constructs, and increasing motivation for treatment and illness awareness. The contents shared are based on narratives about people who had recovered from an eating disorder, importance and ability to change, and nutrition management. We have provided an overview of the needs of the Instagram profile users, a description of the main interactions recorded since the profile was opened, and examples of the unmet needs shared by users in direct messages. Future directions of the project concern the definition and formalization of the type of support provided by developing a psychoeducational and integrated program and also, the formulation of a research protocol able to assess the usability, effectiveness, and satisfaction of the Instagram profile.
Development of a Method for Selecting Bus Rapid Transit Corridors Based on the Economically Viable Passenger Flow Criterion
Authors: Pechkurov Ivan , Plotnikov Dmitry , Gorev Andrey , Kudryavtseva Tatiana , Banite Aushra , Skhvediani Angi
Published: January 2023

The creation of bus rapid transit systems requires significant investments in transport infrastructure. It often requires changes in roadway parameters, building boarding platforms, new bus depots, as well as creating a priority passage system at intersections with individual vehicles flows. In world practice, the routing of bus rapid transit (hereinafter—BRT) corridors is often based on the criterion of an opinion of transport experts who assess passenger flows and the location of main attraction points. This article describes an algorithm for building BRT corridors based on the criterion of economically viable passenger flow. The method is based on an iterative algorithm built on the principle of passenger flows redistribution over the transport network in the event of a change in its characteristics. Specifically, what changes is the speed of transit in certain areas due to inclusion of the area in a BRT corridor when the area reaches the threshold of economically viable passenger flow. A threshold value of passenger flow for different cities, grouped by population size, is determined on the basis of passenger flow statistics in globally operated BRT systems. The condition for exiting the iterative algorithm can be either the absence of new network areas where an economically viable passenger flow is achieved, or the achievement of 90% of the labor commuting share in the city during the time specified in the urban planning standard. This method can be used to identify new and extend existing BRT corridors in cities with populations from 100 to 2000 thousand people.
Integrated Environmental Assessment of Medical Waste Management in the Kingdom of Bahrain
Authors: Al-Omran Khadija , Abahussain Asma , Khan Ezzat
Published: January 2023

As a global concern, medical waste (MW) links public health, environmental pollution, and resource sustainability. This study aims to assess the two issues related to medical waste in Bahrain: the increasing generation rate of MW and its management. The integrated Environmental Assessment (IEA) methodology was adopted, including the DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Responses) framework, analysis of existing policies, and the outlook. Consequently, data were collected from official health statistics in Bahrain, and related policies for the last two decades (2001 to 2021) were also collected, in addition to interviews with Bahrain medical waste (BMW) treatment company. The results show a vast increase in medical waste during COVID-19. Moreover, most of the existing policies address the impact of the BMW issues, but the policies are lacking in tackling the drivers and pressures; there is also a policy gap related to the generation rate. Accordingly, a set of policies was proposed to overcome the two medical waste issues. Moreover, to overcome issues associated with MW, the study recommended reforming regulations aiming to reduce and manage medical waste efficiently in order to focus more on drivers and pressure causing an elevation in MW issues in Bahrain.
Responding to Tourists’ Intentions to Revisit Medical Destinations in the Post-COVID-19 Era through the Promotion of Their Clinical Trust and Well-Being
Authors: Abdul-Rahman Muhammad N. , Hassan Thowayeb H. , Abdou Ahmed H. , Abdelmoaty Mostafa A. , Saleh Mahmoud I. , Salem Amany E.
Published: January 2023

The cross-border medical-care industry has recently grown exponentially, and medical-tourism development has been an integral part of the marketing strategies of medical institutions. However, having a successful medical-tourism destination that best attracts customers might be difficult to attain, particularly in the context of scarce relevant literature. Participants’ intentions to revisit a medical-tourism destination is better guided by the interplay of several factors, particularly clinical trust and well-being. The current study aimed to assess the impact of clinical trust and well-being on patients’ intentions to revisit a destination through an online survey on a sample of patients who visited three medical-tourism institutions in Egypt. We investigated also a possible mediation relationship of three institutional variables, including the infrastructure, service quality and the provision of bearable expenses within the hypothesized framework. A structured survey was distributed to medical tourists who visited international medical centers in Cairo city and Red Sea resorts. A partial-least-squares structural-equation-modelling technique was used to validate the used constructs. Results showed that participants’ intention to revisit the destination was significantly predicted by the affordable expenses, medical tourism infrastructure, clinical trust and well-being, but not predicted by service quality. Participants’ well-being fully mediated the relationship between service quality and the intentions to revisit, whereas clinical trust and well-being partially mediated the relationship between the affordable expenses and psychological intentions. Decision makers in the medical-tourism sector might benefit from enhancing tourists’ behavioral intentions via improving patients’ well-being and enhancing clinical trust.
Influence of Utilitarian and Hedonic Attributes on Willingness to Pay Green Product Premiums and Neural Mechanisms in China: An ERP Study
Authors: Wei Qiang , Lv Dong , Lin Yixin , Zhu Dongmei , Liu Siyuan , Liu Yuting
Published: January 2023

Green consumption is expected to become a new driving force for sustainable economic growth. The production cost of green products leads to the existence of a green premium, which affects the willingness to pay for green consumption. Moreover, willingness to pay is influenced by the product’s own attributes, such as its hedonic and utilitarian attributes. Our study used the event-related potentials (ERPs) technique to investigate how product attributes and premiums affect information processing and subsequent decision-making by comparing consumers’ acceptance of hedonic and utilitarian green products with different levels of premiums. Behavioral results indicated that consumers were more willing to pay premiums for utilitarian attributes than for hedonic attributes. ERPs results showed that hedonic attributes induced a greater P2 component, suggesting that price increases for hedonic products elicited more cognitive attention in the early cognitive stage and that the high premium condition did not match the hedonic attributes. In the late cognitive stage, where the utilitarian attribute induced higher N4, the consumers used the green consumption concept as a reason to reduce the negative emotions generated by the hedonic attribute and thus were more willing to accept the green premium for the hedonic product. The findings can be used to explain the psychological and neural activities of consumers at different stages when faced with the degree of product attribute-premium and help companies optimize their pricing strategies by using green products’ attributes.
Can the Dual-Credit Policy Help China’s New Energy Vehicle Industry Achieve Corner Overtaking?
Authors: Li Yuchao , Zhang Lijie , Liu Jiamin , Qiao Xinpei
Published: January 2023

The purpose of the dual-credit policy is to promote the healthy and sustainable development of China’s new energy vehicle industry. This study took the dual-credit policy as the background, took the new energy vehicle listed companies in the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets in China as the research object, and used the difference-in-difference model to verify the impact of the dual-credit policy on the performance of new energy vehicle companies and identify the mechanism behind its role. The study found the following: (1) the dual-credit policy significantly improves the performance of listed new energy vehicle companies, but the marginal utility of the policy will diminish; (2) the impact of the dual-credit policy on the performance of domestic listed new energy vehicle companies is better than that of joint venture listed new energy vehicle companies; (3) the dual-credit policy mainly enhances the competitiveness of listed new energy vehicle companies through the market expectation of enterprises and market competition mechanism; (4) there is heterogeneity in the mechanism of the dual-credit policy for domestic and joint venture new energy vehicles. The research in this paper is helpful for evaluating the economic effect of the dual-credit policy, and it has implications for the healthy and orderly development of the new energy vehicle industry.
Elaboration and Characterization of a Biochar from Wastewater Sludge and Olive Mill Wastewater
Authors: Gaga Younes , Mehdaoui Imane , Kara Mohammed , Assouguem Amine , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman , Ragab AbdelGawwad Mohamed , Elshikh Mohamed S. , Saoudi Hassani El Mokhtar , Alwahibi Mona S. , Bahhou Jamila , Taleb Mustapha , Rais Zakia
Published: January 2023

The objective of this study is to valorize two waste products which, until now, caused major problems concerning their management and impacts on the environment and health. This study concerns the sludge of the wastewater treatment station of the city of Fez-Morocco and the olive mill wastewater, which are produced, respectively, in quantities of around 51,100 t/year and 514,350 m3/year, by pyrolysis for the production of biochar. The obtained biochar was characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic analyses. The results show that the biochar is close to neutrality and is characterized by an important organic and mineral load; further, it is endowed with a porous surface, which could facilitate the adsorption of different polluting substances, composed mainly by micropores. It is mainly composed of alcohol, phenol, carboxyl and phenyl groups, as well as other mineral elements including silica and calcite. The composition, structure and morphology of the biochar thus prepared recommend its use in various fields, such as the treatment of pollutants, organic amendment, the reinforcement of polymers and as a secondary building material.
Effects of Sustainable Regulations at Agricultural International Market Failures: A Dynamic Approach
Authors: May Daniel , Tremma Ourania
Published: January 2023

Several policies have been proposed to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural trade. However, a number of these policies have low efficiency on a global scale due to side effects on third-competitor countries. The objective of this article is to assess the consequences of these policies under the existence of market failures that characterise the agricultural sector (i.e., ex ante price uncertainty and oligopoly in international markets). In particular, it is shown that some of these policies could cause instability in the agricultural trade system in the short/medium run, as well as permanent adverse side effects on competitor countries. Using a theoretical dynamic model that includes these failures, it was found that instability could be reduced by supplying information that could help producers to improve price forecasting. Likewise, the adverse side effects could be prevented by means of sustainable policies adopted co-ordinately by competitor countries. This latter result is consistent with the general strategies stated by the Climate Club.
The Efficiency of Urban–Rural Integration in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and Its Optimization
Authors: Muga Gubu , Hu Shougeng , Wang Zhilan , Tong Luyi , Hu Zongnan , Huang Hui , Qu Shijin
Published: January 2023

China has entered a new stage of integrated development of urban and rural areas under the constraints of scarce land resources and the need for high-quality economic and social development. While there is concern about the state and speed of urban–rural integrated development (URID), increasing attention is being paid to efficiency improvement. This paper comprehensively measures the efficiency of URID from the input–output perspective, taking into account the impact of carbon emissions; it also studies the efficiency of URID and its developmental spatiotemporal characteristics in 73 cities within three major city clusters in the Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) from 2010 to 2019, and analyzes the input–output optimization strategies for URID within each of these major urban systems. The results show that (1) the comprehensive efficiency evaluation system constructed by the study can more objectively reflect the state and trends of URID. From 2010 to 2019, the efficiency of URID in the three major city clusters in the YREB showed a downward trend; in cities with better economic development, the efficiency of URID was lower than in cities with average economic development, where carbon emission indicators showed a significant impact. (2) The spatial distribution of URID efficiency in the three major city clusters in the YREB follows an inverted “U” shape; URID efficiency in the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (MRYRUA) is higher than in the Chengyu urban agglomeration (CYUA), where it is higher than in the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRDUA). (3) The input redundancy rates are high in the indicators for culture, sports and media, energy conservation and environmental protection, urban and rural communities, and housing security expenditures. Carbon emission redundancy has a negative impact on efficiency in URID. Based on the high redundancy rates of each input–output indicator, this paper proposes methods to optimize the efficiency of URID in each of the three major city clusters and provides directional guidance for promoting the high-quality development of regional urban–rural integration.
When the Trawl Ban Is a Good Option: Opportunities to Restore Fish Biomass and Size Structure in a Mediterranean Fisheries Restricted Area
Authors: Pipitone Carlo , Agnetta Davide , Zenone Arturo , Giacalone Vincenzo Maximiliano , Badalamenti Fabio , Fiorentino Fabio , Rinelli Paola , Sinopoli Mauro , Vega Fernández Tomás , D’Anna Giovanni
Published: January 2023

This paper reports the results of a 15-year trawl ban imposed in 1990 in the Gulf of Castellammare (GCAST: NW Sicily, central Mediterranean Sea) and its effects on the biomass and size structure of demersal finfish and shellfish and on the proportion of different commercial categories of fish. Data were collected by experimental trawl surveys conducted in the GCAST and in two trawled areas before and after 1990. The biomass of the total assemblage and of a number of selected species was significantly higher in the GCAST after the ban. Highly commercial species had the largest increase in the same gulf after the ban, particularly at the depths used by artisanal fishermen. The results from size-based indicators were not as clear-cut as those from biomass though. Although the length frequency distributions obtained in the GCAST were significantly different from the other gulfs, in several cases, the values of the size indicators were higher in the trawled gulfs. Our results suggest that, at the temporal and spatial scale adopted, trawl bans may drive full biomass recovery but only partial size structure recovery of the fish populations subject to trawl exclusion, at least in the Mediterranean. The trawl ban in the Gulf of Castellammare provides an example of an effective ecosystem-based fisheries management tool that offers the potential for fish stock rebuilding and for the economic sustainability of artisanal, small-scale fisheries.
Modified Shrimp-Based Chitosan as an Emerging Adsorbent Removing Heavy Metals (Chromium, Nickel, Arsenic, and Cobalt) from Polluted Water
Authors: Rahman Aminur , Haque Md Azizul , Ghosh Sibdas , Shinu Pottathil , Attimarad Mahesh , Kobayashi Genta
Published: January 2023

Water quality is under constant threat worldwide due to the discharge of heavy metals into the water from industrial waste. In this report, we introduce a potential candidate, chitosan, extracted and isolated from shrimp shells, that can adsorb heavy metals from polluted water. The waste shrimp shell chitosan was characterized via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The adsorption capacity of heavy metals on the modified shrimp shell was measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry before and after adsorption. The highest adsorption of arsenic, nickel, and cobalt was 98.50, 74.50, and 47.82%, respectively, at neutral pH, whereas the highest adsorption of chromium was 97.40% at pH 3. Correspondingly, the maximum adsorption capacities of MSS for As, Cr, Ni, and Co were observed to be 15.92, 20.37, 7.00, and 6.27 mg/g, respectively. The application of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models revealed that the adsorption processes for the heavy metals were statistically significant (r2 > 0.98). The kinetic studies of metal adsorption, using modified shrimp shell, were well explained by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with linear coefficients (r2) of >0.97. The presence of a greater number of functional groups on the adsorbent, such as N–H coupled with H–O, –COO−, C–H, N–N, and C–O–C, was confirmed by FTIR analyses. Furthermore, SEM-EDX analysis detected the presence of elements on the surface of modified shrimp shell chitosan. This noteworthy adsorption capacity suggests that MSS could serve as a promising, eco-friendly, and low-cost adsorbent for removing toxic heavy metals including Cr, Ni, As, and Co and can be used in many broad-scale applications to clean wastewater.
Does the Environmental Management System Predict TBL Performance of Manufacturers? The Role of Green HRM Practices and OCBE as Serial Mediators
Authors: Yue Guiling , Wei Haoqiang , Khan Noor Ullah , Saufi Roselina Ahmad , Yaziz Mohd Fathi Abu , Bazkiaei Hanieh Alipour
Published: January 2023

Over the years, Malaysian manufacturers struggled to mitigate the widened gap among the three aspects of TBL performance, e.g., economic, social, and environmental. Although, the economic performance is relatively elevated compared to environmental performance based on environmental performance index (EPI) data reports. Similarly, less than twenty per cent (20%) of manufacturers are ISO14001-certified out of the total registered firms in the 52nd FMM directory. The firms must employ green HRM practices to foster pro-environmental behaviour and support their managers to adopt the environmental management system (EMS) framework to reap the benefits of TBL performance. To resolve these issues, sustainability has become an essential strategy for manufacturers in addressing environmental problems due to consistent ecological awareness among stakeholders that compels firms to adopt EMS and green HRM practices to foster organizational citizenship behaviour for the environment (OCBE) and improve triple bottom line (TBL) performance. This research aimed to investigate the impact of the EMS on TBL performance through green HRM practices and OCBE via a serial mediation approach among ISO14001-certified manufacturing firms. A quantitative methodology was employed based on a positivist paradigm. The sample of 350 respondent firms was randomly targeted via standard questionnaires. Around 248 manufacturers responded with a response rate of 70%, which is sufficient for data analysis. After outliers and normality assessment, the clean data of 216 manufacturers were finally analysed using SmartPLS 4.0. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis revealed that EMS is positively related to OCBE, and OCBE is positively associated with TBL. EMS is positively related to green HRM practices, and green HRM practices are positively associated with OCBE. Furthermore, it was confirmed that green HRM practices and OCBE serially mediated the relationship between EMS and TBL performance among ISO14001-certified manufacturing firms. The current study also presents vital organizational and managerial implications.
Factors Influencing Green Innovation Adoption and Its Impact on the Sustainability Performance of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Wasiq Mohammad , Kamal Mustafa , Ali Nazim
Published: January 2023

Due to the growing worries of communities and governments about the depletion of natural resources and environmental contamination, green innovation (GI) is currently receiving much attention on a global scale. This study intends to investigate how Green Innovation Adoption (GIA) influences Sustainable Performance (SNP) in Saudi Arabia’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on primary research. A conceptual framework model is developed to better comprehend the relationships of Government Support (GS), External Partnership and Cooperation (EPC), Rules and Regulatory Factors (RR), Market and Customer Factors (MC), Organization and Human Factors (OH), Green Innovation Strategy (GIS), and Technology Factors (TF) with GIA. The evaluation of hypotheses is performed using the Partial Least-Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method. The study’s findings are obtained using the SPSS 24.0 and AMOS 24.0 software programs. The results of this study reveal that GS, EPC, RR, MC, OH, and TF all have a positive impact on GIA. Furthermore, it has been noted that GIA has a positive impact on the economic, social, and environmental performance of SMEs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In accordance with the findings, corporate units that use GI would produce more acceptable eco-friendly and long-term performance.
Scenario Prediction of Carbon Emission Peak of Urban Residential Buildings in China’s Coastal Region: A Case of Fujian Province
Authors: Ke Yanyan , Zhou Lu , Zhu Minglei , Yang Yan , Fan Rui , Ma Xianrui
Published: January 2023

With the acceleration of China’s urbanization process, the importance of energy conservation and emission reduction in the building sector has become increasingly prominent. The effective control of carbon emissions in coastal provinces has a decisive impact on achieving the carbon emissions peak target nationwide. Based on the analysis of the influencing factors, this study establishes an urban residential buildings carbon emission prediction model by combining the IPAT model and the ridge regression model. In addition, the prediction model is combined with scenario analysis to simulate the evolution of carbon emission trends of urban residential buildings in Fujian Province from 2018 to 2050 under different scenarios. The results show that total population, urban living area, residents’ consumption expenditure, urbanization rate, per capita GDP, and energy structure are key factors affecting carbon emissions from urban residential buildings in coastal cities. Only under the ultra-low carbon model scenario can Fujian’s urban residential buildings achieve the carbon peak goal in 2027 (13.4748 million tons of CO2), which requires a reduction of 59.67% compared to that under the baseline model scenario. This study can provide an effective reference for energy conservation and emission reduction work of the regional scale and even the national scale.
Investigation of West Lake Ecotourism Capabilities Using SWOT and TOPSIS Decision-Making Methods
Authors: Zhu Yihao , Chen Chou , Zhang Guodao , Lin Zimin , Meshram Sarita Gajbhiye , Alvandi Ehsan
Published: January 2023

Using SWOT and TOPSIS models, this study aimed to determine West Lake’s potential as a tourist destination. In terms of study methodology, the current research is a descriptive survey. The TOPSIS method was used to rank strengths, weaknesses, threats, opportunities, and preferred strategies after the SWOT analysis was completed. Using a questionnaire and the Delphi method, 30 regional specialists provided research data which was collected and analyzed. Thirteen internal elements and twelve external factors affecting the West Lake tourism were identified and evaluated. Additionally, fifteen strategies were presented to improve the lake’s tourism. On the basis of the matrix of internal–external components in the SWOT model, an aggressive approach was determined to be the optimal strategic stance for West Lake. The results of the TOPSIS technique also revealed that internal strengths have a bigger impact than other elements; hence, aggressive strategies are emphasized for the growth of ecotourism in this region. Based on the results of the TOPSIS technique, the “optimal utilization of the lake’s natural, cultural, and historical potential and attractions in order to develop and attract tourists and generate jobs and revenues“ and “formulation of strategic plans to maximize potential and opportunities in order to attract tourists in all seasons of the year“ strategies were identified as the most important strategies for enhancing the West Lake tourism scenario. Therefore, it is hoped that the relevant authorities would contribute to the expansion and enhancement of the region’s economy through a focus on the vision and goals of the tourist sector and careful foresight in the implementation of these projects.
Sustainability in Higher Education: Digital Transformation of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Open Knowledge
Authors: Shenkoya Temitayo , Kim Euiseok
Published: January 2023

Education is important for sustainable development and drives innovation within national innovation systems. As developed economies move to matured stages of the fourth industrial revolution, the quality of education needs to keep up with the required technological changes brought about by the digital transformation created by these technologies. However, studies on the impact of the digital transformation of the higher education system and its effect on sustainability are few. This study bridged this gap by providing empirical evidence on the subject matter through a synergy of extant studies. The methodology used herein involves a combination of a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis. The results of this study show that the digital transformation of the higher education sector is leading to the development of sustainable curriculums, digitalization of the higher education, enhancement of innovation, and an improvement in the performance of students. It also shows that the future of the digital transformation of the higher education sector will include—the advancement of the concept of ‘Education 4.0’, an increase in gamification within the sector, a rise in the use of datafication in decision making, and the integration of artificial intelligence/augmented intelligence to reform higher education.
Thermodynamic Investigation and Study of Kinetics and Mass Transfer Mechanisms of Oily Wastewater Adsorption on UIO-66–MnFe2O4 as a Metal–Organic Framework (MOF)
Authors: Amari Abdelfattah , Alawameleh Heba Saed Kariem , Isam Mubeen , Maktoof Mohammed Abdul Jaleel , Osman Haitham , Panneerselvam Balamurugan , Thomas Maciej
Published: January 2023

Hitherto, a considerable amount of research has been carried out to investigate the equilibrium condition of adsorption process; nevertheless, there is no comprehensive study to evaluate the surface adsorption properties of MOFs. Therefore, the adsorption mechanism and equilibrium capacity of MOFs have not been fully understood. Furthermore, the mass transfer mechanism is still unknown and so it is not possible to predict the adsorption process using MOFs. In this work, a new metal–organic framework (MOF) named UIO-66–MnFe2O4 was synthesized as an adsorbent for oily wastewater treatment. In this way the effects of temperature, amount of adsorbent, adsorption time, pH, and pollutant initial concentration were studied in the treatment of oily wastewater using the UIO-66-MnFe2O4 MOF through the adsorption process. Furthermore, to examine the process of surface adsorption, different adsorption kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and Elovich) have been performed for the removal of oily pollutants on MOF adsorbents and the surface adsorption mechanism has been discussed carefully. Moreover, to investigate the mass transfer mechanism of oily pollutants in the surface adsorption process, different mass transfer models (Weber and Morris, liquid film diffusion, and Bangham and Burt) have been investigated on porous adsorbents, and finally the mass transfer mechanism of the adsorption process has been proposed.
Effects of Land Use Changes on Ecosystem Service Value in Xiangjiang River Basin, China
Authors: Zhou Ze , Quan Bin , Deng Zhiwei
Published: January 2023

The study of land use and land cover (LULC) change and the evolution of ecosystem service values (ESV) is important for optimizing the allocation of regional land resources and achieving sustainable development, but traditional land use analysis methods cannot dig deeper into the information on the internal transitions between different land types. Therefore, in this paper, we use the component analysis and Intensity Analysis methods to systematically analyze the land use landscape changes at multiple levels. In addition, the spatial and temporal dynamic characteristics of ESV in the Xiangjiang River Basin are carved with the help of equivalence factors and GIS spatial analysis methods, which reveal the response of ESV changes to land use changes in the Xiangjiang River Basin in the past four decades. Our results showed that, (1) in the past 40 years, the intensity of land use change in the Xiangjiang River Basin has been increasing, mainly in quantity and shift. The increase of built-up and bare land and the decrease of cultivated land are stable and active, and the loss of forest land is large, but it is dormant. The loss of cultivated and forested land flows mainly to built-up land. (2) In the Xiangjiang River Basin, ESV increases first and then decreases, mainly in the middle and high grades and changes faster in the east. (3) The cross-sensitivity coefficient reflected that the net conversion of cultivated land to forest land and water area had a promoting effect on ESV. Our results provide important knowledge to inform land use decisions and facilitate sustainable development in the Xiangjiang River Basin.
Entropy Generation Optimization in Couple Stress Fluid Flow with Variable Viscosity and Aligned Magnetic Field
Authors: Saini Geetika , Hanumagowda B. N. , Mulki Hasan , Raju S. Suresh Kumar , Varma S. V. K. , Barghout Kamal , Murshid Nimer , Al-Kouz Wael
Published: January 2023

This study explores the influence of an inclined magnetic field and variable viscosity on the entropy generation in steady flow of a couple stress fluid in an inclined channel. The walls of the channel are stationary and non-isothermal. The fluid flow is driven due to pressure gradient and gravitational force. Reynold’s model for temperature-dependent viscosity was used. The dimensionless, non-linear coupled equations of momentum and energy was solved, and we obtained an analytical solution for the velocity and temperature fields. The entropy generation and Bejan number were evaluated. The variation of pertinent parameters on flow quantities was discussed graphically. The rate of volume flow, skin friction coefficient, and Nusselt number at the surfaces of the channel were calculated and their variations were discussed through surface graphs. From the results, it is noticed that the entropy generation rate can be minimized by increasing the magnetic field and the temperature difference parameters. The findings of the current study in some special cases are in precise agreement with the previous investigation.
Effect of Class C and Class F Fly Ash on Early-Age and Mature-Age Properties of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cement Paste
Authors: Mondal Sukanta K. , Clinton Carrie , Ma Hongyan , Kumar Aditya , Okoronkwo Monday U.
Published: January 2023

To promote the sustainable development of eco-efficient calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cements through the partial replacement of the CSA clinker with supplementary cementitious waste products, the effects of coal fly ashes on the early-age and mature-age properties of a calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA)-based cement paste were investigated. The impacts of both Class C and Class F fly ashes on the rheological properties, hydration kinetics, and compressive strength development of CSA cement paste were studied. Rheology-based workability parameters, representing the rate of loss of flowability, the rate of hardening, and the placement limit, were characterized for the pastes prepared with fixed water-to-cement (w/c) and fixed water-to-binder (w/b) ratios. The results indicate a slight improvement in the workability of the CSA paste by fly ash addition at a fixed w/b ratio. The isothermal calorimetry studies show a higher heat of hydration for the Class C fly ash-modified systems compared to the Class F-modified systems. The results show that fly ash accelerates the hydration of the calcium sulfoaluminate cement pastes, chiefly due to the filler effects, rather than the pozzolanic effects. In general, ettringite is stabilized more by the addition of Class F fly ash than Class C fly ash. Both fly ashes reduced the 1-day compressive strength, but increased the 28-day strength of the CSA cement paste; meanwhile, the Class C modified pastes show a higher strength than Class F, which is attributed to the higher degree of reaction and potentially more cohesive binding C-S-H-based gels formed in the Class C fly ash modified systems. The results provide insights that support that fly ash can be employed to improve the performance of calcium sulfoaluminate cement pastes, while also enhancing cost effectiveness and sustainability.
Energy Budget, Water Quality Parameters and Primary Production Modeling in Lake Volvi in Northern Greece
Authors: Antonopoulos Vassilis Z. , Gianniou Soultana K.
Published: January 2023

A lake’s water quality and its ecosystem structure are mainly determined by heat storage change through its energy budget, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and primary productivity. A one-dimensional water quality model for lakes was used to estimate temperature, dissolved oxygen, phytoplankton (as chlorophyll-α), and inorganic and organic phosphorus. Evaporation, energy budget and surface water temperature were also computed. The results of the mathematical model simulation are presented and evaluated. Data from Lake Volvi in Central Macedonia (in northern Greece) for three successive years (2013 to 2015) were used to calibrate and recalibrate the model. The model results of water temperature, dissolved oxygen and primary productivity (Chlα) were compared with measurements for the years 2013 to 2015. The comparison showed that the predicted values of these parameters were all in good agreement with the measurements. The simulation results of water quality parameters generally exhibited the same seasonal dynamic and inter-annual variations as the measured data. The simulation results of the model application provided important information on changes in the physical, chemical and biological variables of the lake. The water temperature and heat fluxes at the water–atmosphere interface are crucial variables related to climate changes.
Molecular Blueprinting by Word Processing
Authors: Longo Savino
Published: January 2023

In this work, computer-assisted writing techniques for linear expressions of the structure of polycyclic molecules, branched molecules and clusters, based on formal languages, are tested. The techniques used only require the ability to process written texts, even just using a text editor, and one of the many available molecular drawing/optimization programs that accept input in the form of a SMILES string. A few specific syntactic operators acting on strings are characterized in terms of their effect on the corresponding structure, and although they are simply examples, they are already capable of producing non-trivial structures. The aim of this work is to encourage experiments that may lead to potentially interesting molecular schemata, in view of their symmetry and stereochemistry, as revealed by optimization, and to develop insight into the connection between formal expressions and structures. Given the simplicity and availability of the required tools, it can also be useful for education.
Impact of Nonstandard Default Risk of the Urban Investment and Development Companies on the Urban Investment Bond Market
Authors: Yan Xue , Li Yuke , Ming Meng , Chong Heap-Yih
Published: January 2023

Under the general trend of reducing leverage and strictly controlling new implicit debts of local governments, the risk of nonstandard defaults by urban investment and development companies (UIDCs) continues to be released, which will increase the credit risk of UIDCs. This paper examines the impact of nonstandard default events of municipal investment platform companies on the urban investment bond (UIB) market through event analysis using 252 nonstandard default events of 32 municipal investment companies from 2018 to 2021 as sample data. The findings show that the UIB market is ineffective and affected by nonstandard defaults and that bond returns show abnormal short-term significant negative fluctuations. This study has important implications regarding the early warning of UIB default risk and the improvement of the sustainable development of urban investment enterprise financing.
Application and Analysis of Modified Metal-Oxide Memristor Models in Electronic Devices
Authors: Mladenov Valeri
Published: January 2023

The design of memristor-based electronic circuits and devices gives researchers opportunities for the engineering of CMOS-memristor-based electronic integrated chips with ultra-high density and various applications. Metal-oxide memristors have good compatibility with the present CMOS integrated circuits technologies. The analysis of new electronic circuits requires suitable software and fast-functioning models. The main purpose of this paper is to propose the application of several modified, simplified, and improved metal-oxide memristor models in electronic devices and provide a comparison of their behavior, basic characteristics, and properties. According to this, LTSPICE is utilized in this paper because it is a free software product with good convergence. Several memristor-based electronic circuits, such as non-volatile passive and hybrid memory crossbars, a neural network, and different reconfigurable devices–filters, an amplifier, and a generator are analyzed in the LTSPICE environment, applying several standards and modified metal-oxide memristor models. After a comparison of the operation of the considered schemes, the main advantages of the modified metal-oxide memristor models, according to their standard analogs, are expressed, including fast operation, good accuracy, respectable convergence, switching properties, and successful applicability in complex electronic circuits.
Floating Interleaved Boost Converter with Zero-Ripple Input Current Using Variable Inductor
Authors: Hidalgo Hector , Vázquez Nimrod , Orosco Rodolfo , Huerta-Ávila Hector , Pinto Sergio , Estrada Leonel
Published: January 2023

A zero-ripple input current is known to improve the lifetime of battery sets and fuel cells and to assure maximum power point tracking in PV panels. To perform current ripple elimination in a floating interleaved boost converter (FIBC), one of the typical linear inductors is substituted by a variable inductor, and phases of the converter have complementary duty cycles. This variable inductor is controlled using a switched current-source converter, which adjusts the input current ripple. An equivalent model for the variable inductor is presented, including uncertainties in the component description. To achieve current stabilization, a variable inductor controller was designed using the sliding modes approach via fixed frequency. An experimental prototype is implemented and tested with an output voltage controller to compare with the conventional FIBC. The results demonstrate that the input current ripple of the proposed converter is eliminated without significantly decreasing the efficiency.
Diagnostic Management of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms: Technique Optimization and Tips and Tricks for Radiologists
Authors: Pellegrino Fabio , Granata Vincenza , Fusco Roberta , Grassi Francesca , Tafuto Salvatore , Perrucci Luca , Tralli Giulia , Scaglione Mariano
Published: January 2023

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NENs) comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, which derive from cells of the diffuse neuroendocrine system that specializes in producing hormones and neuropeptides and arise in most cases sporadically and, to a lesser extent, in the context of complex genetic syndromes. Furthermore, they are primarily nonfunctioning, while, in the case of insulinomas, gastrinomas, glucagonomas, vipomas, and somatostatinomas, they produce hormones responsible for clinical syndromes. The GEP-NEN tumor grade and cell differentiation may result in different clinical behaviors and prognoses, with grade one (G1) and grade two (G2) neuroendocrine tumors showing a more favorable outcome than grade three (G3) NET and neuroendocrine carcinoma. Two critical issues should be considered in the NEN diagnostic workup: first, the need to identify the presence of the tumor, and, second, to define the primary site and evaluate regional and distant metastases. Indeed, the primary site, stage, grade, and function are prognostic factors that the radiologist should evaluate to guide prognosis and management. The correct diagnostic management of the patient includes a combination of morphological and functional evaluations. Concerning morphological evaluations, according to the consensus guidelines of the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS), computed tomography (CT) with a contrast medium is recommended. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), is usually indicated for use to evaluate the liver, pancreas, brain, and bones. Ultrasonography (US) is often helpful in the initial diagnosis of liver metastases, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can solve problems in characterizing the liver, as this tool can guide the biopsy of liver lesions. In addition, intraoperative ultrasound is an effective tool during surgical procedures. Positron emission tomography (PET-CT) with FDG for nonfunctioning lesions and somatostatin analogs for functional lesions are very useful for identifying and evaluating metabolic receptors. The detection of heterogeneity in somatostatin receptor (SSTR) expression is also crucial for treatment decision making. In this narrative review, we have described the role of morphological and functional imaging tools in the assessment of GEP-NENs according to current major guidelines.
Advection–Dispersion Behavior for Simulation of H-3 and Pu-238 Transport in Undisturbed Argillaceous Shale of a Near-Surface Repository
Authors: Shi Yunfeng , Yang Song , Wu Enhui , Wang Longjiang , Chen Wenjie , Xiong Weijia , Zhang Yanna , Zhang Aiming , Lian Bing
Published: January 2023

In this study, a column experiment was employed to evaluate the nuclide migration behavior in the surrounding rock medium of a near-surface disposal site in China and to investigate the advection–dispersion behavior of tritium (H-3) and plutonium-238 (Pu-238) in highly weathered argillaceous shale. A reasonable numerical model was selected to fit the experimental breakthrough curves (BTCs) and to obtain the relevant migration parameters. The results show the following: (1) the internal structure of the highly weathered argillaceous shale exhibited heterogeneity, and the nuclide migration BTC showed characteristics of a “curve peak moving forward” and a “tail curve trailing”; (2) compared with other models, the stream tube mode could better fit the BTCs and obtain the average dispersion coefficient , average distribution coefficient , and other parameters; (3) compared to the results of the batch experiment, the distribution coefficient Kd obtained from the column experiment was smaller than that obtained from the batch experiment, which is speculated to be due to the influence of contact time and the contact area between the nuclide and the medium.