bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Carbon Reduction and Marketing Strategies with Consumers’ Environmental Awareness under Cap-and-Trade Regulation
Authors: Wang Weihao , Ma Deqing , Hu Jinsong
Published: August 2022

This paper targets a supply chain system consisting of a manufacturer and a retailer and studies the optimal dynamic carbon reduction, marketing, and coordination strategies under the cap-and-trade regulation with the presence of consumers’ environmental awareness. To this end, we first depict the dynamics of carbon emission in the supply chain and reveal the relationship between carbon accumulation and operational decisions. Then, we set up a differential game model under the cap-and-trade regulation and derive the optimal profits and decisions in decentralized, centralized, and cost-sharing scenarios, respectively. In the end, we also use the two-subsidy and revenue-sharing mechanism to coordinate the supply chain. After analyses and comparisons of the results, we can obtain some interesting results. The carbon trading price positively affects the manufacturer’s carbon reduction effort in all scenarios but exerts no influence on the retailer’s marketing effort in the decentralized and cost-sharing scenario. Only in the centralized scenario will the carbon trading price affect the retailer’s marketing decision and the retailer should decrease the marketing effort when the carbon trading price increases. Hence, the marketing effort in the centralized scenario may not always be the highest among these scenarios. We also find that full cooperation may not always help to reduce the carbon emission of the system, but the cost-sharing strategy is certain to reduce the carbon emission. Meanwhile, numerical analysis proves that when the revenue sharing rate is within a certain range, the two-subsidy and revenue-sharing mechanism will be able to perfectly coordinate the supply chain.
Intelligent Energy Management System for Mobile Robot
Authors: Lee Min-Fan Ricky , Nugroho Asep
Published: August 2022

Mobile robots used for search and rescue suffer from uncertain time duration for sustainable operation. Solar energy has the drawback that it fluctuates depending on the weather. By integrating the battery and supercapacitor, the energy management system eliminates this shortcoming. Managing power sharing between the battery and the supercapacitor is conducted by the fuzzy logic controller and proportional integral controller. The fuzzy logic controller provides a reference value to the proportional integral controller to keep the supercapacitor voltage at a certain value. It provides sufficient space to store solar energy and at the same time helps the battery to stay longer for operation. Moreover, the proposed energy management system offers a feature for providing a load power reference recommendation and offers the hibernate mode to save energy when the main power source is too weak, and it is suitable for mobile robot application. The simulation and experiment show that the energy management system design maintains the supercapacitor voltage and regulates the power sharing. Moreover, it also provides a percentage power reference recommendation for the central controller to manage its load current. It reduces the battery power consumption up to 35% and reduces peak current up to 5%, depending on the existing photovoltaic current and load management.
Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics of Apparent Resistivity and Its Response Correlation with Acoustic Emission of Coal under Multi-Step Loading
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Zhu Guoqing , Cheng Deqiang , Miao Bin , Chen Fanbao , Tian He
Published: August 2022

To understand the early warning signs of damage during the coal mass deformation process, an integrated monitoring procedure was designed that combines the apparent resistivity (AR) and acoustic emission (AE) of coal damage under multi-step loading. The spatiotemporal response characteristics of AR and the time-varying evolution of AE were studied and the varying correlation between the two was discussed. Additionally, the macro–microscopic mechanics of the AR response during the coal deformation process was explored. The results show that the AR and AE signals corresponded well with the applied load during the coal deformation process. In the early loading stage, variations in AR and AE signals were not apparent. As the applied load increased, the high-resistance area of AR increased and the AE signals became active. The local variation characteristics of AR could be used to indirectly invert the internal structure of the coal samples. The electrical variation in the loaded coal was mainly controlled by the conductive surface of cracks. The acoustic and resistivity methods can strongly complement the spatial and temporal dimensions of early warning systems for disasters. The AE technique can continuously monitor a test area for abnormal occurrences in the engineering site, and AR tomography images that are obtained can be used to locate inversions in the source coal in order to take pre-emptive action before disaster occurs. This research can provide new ideas for monitoring and early warning systems for coal and rock dynamic disasters.
Research on the Application of Blockchain Technology in Coal Supply Chain Finance
Authors: Liu Jia , Li Jianzhao , Wang Jianrui , Uddin Md Moslah , Zhang Baoxin
Published: August 2022

The implementation of measures to limit electricity consumption in many provinces of China has caused coal prices to rise irrationally, further aggravating the financing problems of small and medium-sized enterprises in the supply chain. Small and medium-sized enterprises lacking funds cannot effectively participate in the green transformation and development of the coal industry, which slows down the sustainable development process of the coal industry. Under the current background of low-carbon advocacy, blockchain technology can reasonably allocate resources and efficiently process information, thereby providing a solution for this financing problem. This paper first proposes a coal accounts receivable financing model based on blockchain technology, then builds a coal accounts receivable financing system dominated by ports through blockchain technology. Finally, the Stackelberg yield–benefit model is used to analyze the income function of each participant in the process of accounts receivable financing. The results show that the use of blockchain technology can reduce the financing condition of financial institutions and improve the maximum income of cooperative enterprises in the chain while solving the financing problems of small and medium-sized enterprises in the coal supply chain. This study provides practical significance and theoretical value for promoting the transformation and upgrading of coal enterprises and accelerating the opening of the sustainable development model of the coal industry.
Business Model Innovation for Sustainable Value Creation in Construction Companies
Authors: Treptow Igor Ceratti , Kneipp Jordana Marques , Gomes Clandia Maffini , Kruglianskas Isak , Favarin Rodrigo Reis , Fernandez-Jardón Carlos María
Published: August 2022

This paper aimed to analyze how innovations in the business model contribute to creating sustainable value in construction companies. The results revealed that analyzed companies implement practices that enhance their reputation and contribute to the environment while securing economic benefits. These practices include material reuse and replacing traditional processes with renewable ones (installing photovoltaic panels and rainwater harvesting). Companies also have tried to integrate with the community through sponsorships, primarily in sports and cultural events, and assistance to homes for the elderly and needy educational institutions. Companies need to implement processes that contribute to the rational use of water and waste reduction during construction projects despite the results. Furthermore, this study has the importance of identifying actions that are oriented towards generating benefits for society and the environment and analyzing them from the perspective of the creation of sustainable value from innovations in the business model.
Connection between the Spatial Characteristics of the Road and Railway Networks and the Air Pollution (PM10) in Urban–Rural Fringe Zones
Authors: Sohrab Seyedehmehrmanzar , Csikós Nándor , Szilassi Péter
Published: August 2022

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM10) is one of the most important pollutants for human health, and road transport could be a major anthropogenic source of it. Several research studies have shown the impact of roads on the air quality in urban areas, but the relationship between road and rail networks and ambient PM10 concentrations has not been well studied, especially in suburban and rural landscapes. In this study, we examined the link between the spatial characteristics of each road type (motorway, primary road, secondary road, and railway) and the annual average PM10 concentration. We used the European 2931 air quality (AQ) station dataset, which is classified into urban, suburban, and rural landscapes. Our results show that in urban and rural landscapes, the spatial characteristics (the density of the road network and its distance from the AQ monitoring points) have a significant statistical relationship with PM10 concentrations. According to our findings from AQ monitoring sites within the urban landscape, there is a significant negative relationship between the annual average PM10 concentration and the density of the railway network. This result can be explained by the driving wind generated by railway trains (mainly electric trains). Among the road network types, all road types in the urban landscape, only motorways in the suburban landscape, and only residential roads in the rural landscape have a significant positive statistical relationship with the PM10 values at the AQ monitoring points. Our results show that in the suburban zones, which represent the rural–urban fringe, motorways have a strong influence on PM-related air pollution. In the suburban areas, the speed of vehicles changes frequently near motorways and intersections, so higher traffic-related PM10 emission levels can be expected in these areas. The findings of this study can be used to decrease transportation-related environmental conflicts related to the air quality in urban, urban–rural fringe, and rural (agricultural) landscapes.
The Evaluation of Rock Mass Characteristics against Seepage for Sustainable Infrastructure Development
Authors: Khurshid Muhammad Nasir , Khan Ammad Hassan , Rehman Zia ur , Chaudhary Tahir Sultan
Published: August 2022

The determination of rock seepage characteristics is a complex phenomenon due to the variability, discontinuities, and formation age of rocks. The available literature on rock mechanics covers empirical relationships and approaches for the estimation of seepage characteristics from the rock mass parameters. In this study, an area comprising of infrastructure such as a water reservoir, embankments, roads, etc., constructed on mix rock mass formations was selected. The field and laboratory tests’ geo-mechanical data for the study area were evaluated. The data obtained from the field geo-mechanical engineering tests like Rock Quality Designation (RQD), Rock Core Recovery, Lugeon, etc., were analyzed. The data retrieved from the geological and geotechnical laboratory tests such as petrography, uniaxial compression, Hoek shear, elastic modulus, etc., were also evaluated. Rock mass was characterized based on petrographic and RQD, and was found in the hybrid formation of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary deposits. Seepage analysis in the study area was also carried out based on adit and piezometric data (installed in accordance with the mining technology guidelines), using Seep W Finite Element Method (FEM). The seepage observed in adits were compared with seepage calculated from Seep W. The trend of simulated flux was also presented against K ratio. Seepage quantities for different ranges of K ratio were plotted to evaluate interdependency between seepage and K ratio. Correlations of RQD were developed with hydraulic conductivity “k” for igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks for quick assessment of seepage characteristics of rock mass by RQD. These correlations and seepage related evaluations will be beneficial for the characterization of rock mass in relation to seepage for sustainable infrastructure development.
Women on the Front Line: The Growth of SMEs during Crises
Authors: Marconatto Diego A. B. , Peixoto Gaspar A. , Teixeira Emidio G. , Fochezatto Adelar
Published: August 2022

We investigate the relationship between women’s participation and the growth of 10,445 Brazilian SMEs operating in a widespread economic crisis. Our study is motivated by the disproportional unemployment scores observed among women during the COVID19 pandemic. We used stepwise regression and conditional process analysis to test all our hypotheses. We found that an increase of women employees in the total workforce of SMEs boosts their growth. This indicates that the disproportional spikes in women’s unemployment observed during recessions are not only unjust but also harmful to SMEs striving to weather crises. We also identified that these firms grow further by increasing women employees’ wages and job tenure, by preferring more women with higher levels of education and longer job tenure, or retaining more educated women who are better paid at the same time. Our findings rebuke the rationale behind the disproportional layoffs of women workers in times of crisis. They indicate that SMEs should sustain their female workforce to increase chances of weathering widespread economic crises. Our results can help alleviate the predicament experienced by women workers during economic crises, and support policies designed to reduce the persistent gender gap in businesses.
Public Awareness, Lifestyle and Low-Carbon City Transformation in China: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Wu Yan , Martens Pim , Krafft Thomas
Published: August 2022

Low-carbon city transformation is an important action area of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) that aims to reach peak CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. Responding to global climate change is not only a national responsibility but also an individual responsibility and very much depends on societal participation and acceptance. While many scholars argue that public participation would be critical to low-carbon cities developing in China, there is apparently a lack of sufficient research on the level of public participation. This systematic review aims to summarize the current related research about public awareness on low-carbon city transformation in China, and learn about the challenges and barriers of public attitude and behaviour towards the low-carbon lifestyle. This study reveals that: (1) although most scholars discussed the conception and policies of low-carbon cities, research methods, the theoretical foundation and the number of cities targeted for research are limited; (2) a public’s attention to low-carbon cities mainly focus on a low-carbon life, and there is a clear gap between low-carbon awareness and behaviour; and (3) although scholars had different opinions about the factors that affect low-carbon behaviour, most of them agree that education and government policy have an influence on the populations’ low-carbon behaviour in China.
Predictions of Geological Interface Using Relevant Vector Machine with Borehole Data
Authors: Ji Xiaojia , Lu Xuanyi , Guo Chunhong , Pei Weiwei , Xu Hui
Published: August 2022

Due to the discreteness, sparsity, multidimensionality, and incompleteness of geotechnical investigation data, traditional methods cannot reasonably predict complex stratigraphic profiles, thus hindering the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of geological formation that is vital to the visualization and digitization of geotechnical engineering. The machine learning method of relevant vector machine (RVM) is employed in this work to predict the 3D stratigraphic profile based on limited geotechnical borehole data. The hyper-parameters of kernel functions are determined by maximizing the marginal likelihood using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. Three kinds of kernel functions are employed to investigate the prediction performance of the proposed method in both 2D analysis and 3D analysis. The 2D analysis shows that the Gauss kernel function is more suitable to deal with nonlinear problems but is more sensitive to the number of training data and it is better to use spline kernel functions for RVM model trainings when there are few geotechnical investigation data. In the 3D analysis, it is found that the prediction result of the spline kernel function is the best and the relevant vector machine model with a spline kernel function performs better in the area with a fast change in geological formation. In general, the RVM model can be used to achieve the purpose of 3D stratigraphic reconstruction.
The Asymmetric and Long-Run Effect of Financial Stability on Environmental Degradation in Norway
Authors: Kirikkaleli Dervis , Castanho Rui Alexandre , Genc Sema Yilmaz , Oyebanji Modupe Oluyemisi , Couto Gualter
Published: August 2022

Risks associated with climate change can have an injurious impact on the economy as well as the financial system as a whole. There is a possibility that certain risks, such as losses to financial intermediaries and disruptions in the functioning of financial markets, can aggravate vulnerabilities in the financial system under certain conditions, including sudden increases in the prices of large asset classes. Using the dataset for Norway between 1995 and 2018, this study investigates how financial stability affects environmental degradation in Norway while controlling openness in trade, ecological clean energy, and economic growth. Findings from the results demonstrate that (i) financial stability causes a reduction in environmental degradation; (ii) growth causes carbon emissions to climb significantly; and (iii) renewable energy has been favorable for emissions in Norway. Lastly, surprisingly, trade openness causes a decline in carbon emissions. The study recommends that since financial stability in Norway reduces environmental degradation by incorporating climate-related risks into the financial stability monitoring framework, it can contribute to lowering carbon emissions to a greater extent. Norway’s policymakers should conduct detailed analyses of the role of global emissions in long-term petroleum policy and the economic viability of selected climate policy scenarios before implementing such a policy. Moreover, policymakers should be updated on the financial system’s vulnerabilities, considering climate-related shocks are likely to affect all financial systems. In addition, policymakers should encourage the use of sustainable energy to raise the availability of reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy to everyone.
Understanding Tourists’ Behavioral Intention and Destination Support in Post-pandemic Recovery: The Case of the Vietnamese Domestic Market
Authors: Duong Long Hai , Phan Quyet Dinh , Nguyen Tung Thanh , Huynh Da Van , Truong Thong Tri , Duong Khanh Quoc
Published: August 2022

Many countries have recently strived to accelerate the tourism recovery process by restarting their tourism industry despite the unprecedented risks of the COVID-19 crisis. Noticeably, several tourism destinations have experienced an impressive revitalization of both domestic and international tourist arrivals right after lifting all social distance restrictions. However, little is known about how a tourist destination may revive from the pandemic and to what extent tourists are willing to support a destination recovery. This study, therefore, aims to examine factors influencing the travel demand of domestic tourism and tourists’ willingness to support a destination recovery in new normal conditions. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling was employed to predict the structural model derived from a sample size of 695 valid questionnaires. The results indicate that there is a significant improvement in domestic tourists’ travel intention and their willingness to support the post-pandemic destination revival. It is interesting to learn that the destination health risk image is no longer a critical determinant to tourists’ travel plans, while other factors including attitude, monetary promotion, and social media significantly influence their travel intention and support of tourism destination re-opening in new normal conditions. Theoretically, this study generates important contributions to post-disaster crisis management and predicting tourists’ behavioral intentions that may influence tourism destination recovery prospects. Practically, the study also provides several important implications to rebuild the domestic tourism industry in a more resilient way against future pandemic challenges.
Application of GIS in Agriculture in Promoting Evidence-Informed Decision Making for Improving Agriculture Sustainability: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mathenge Mwehe , Sonneveld Ben G. J. S. , Broerse Jacqueline E. W.
Published: August 2022

The objective of this review was to synthesize existing evidence on GIS and RS application in agriculture in enhancing evidence-informed policy and practice for improving agriculture sustainability and identifying obstacles to their application, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Systematic searches were conducted in the databases SCOPUS, Web of Science, Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, COnnecting REpositories (CORE), and Google Scholar. We identified 2113 articles published between 2010–2021, out of which 40 articles met the inclusion criteria. The results show that GIS technology application in agriculture has gained prominence in the last decade, with 66% of selected papers being published in the last six years. The main GIS application areas identified included: crop yield estimation, soil fertility assessment, cropping patterns monitoring, drought assessment, pest and crop disease detection and management, precision agriculture, and fertilizer and weed management. GIS technology has the potential to enhance agriculture sustainability through integrating the spatial dimension of agriculture into agriculture policies. In addition, GIS potential in promoting evidenced informed decision making is growing. There is, however, a big gap in GIS application in sub-Saharan Africa, with only one paper originating from this region. With the growing threat of climate change to agriculture and food security, there is an increased need for the integration of GIS in policy and decision making in improving agriculture sustainability.
Hierarchical Structure of the Central Areas of Megacities Based on the Percolation Theory—The Example of Lujiazui, Shanghai
Authors: Hu Xinyu , Wang Yidian , Wang Hui , Shi Yi
Published: August 2022

The study of an urban center’s hierarchical structure is an important subject if one wishes to understand the city. Previous studies on urban hierarchical structure focused mostly on qualitative or quantitative research based on factors such as format, transportation, and economy, and lacked quantitative measurement from the perspective of street networks. This study examined the urban central area of Lujiazui, Shanghai, from the perspective of the percolation of the street network in the urban central area. Then, combined with the actual urban space function, the connotation and fractal nature of the hierarchical structure of the central area of the mega-city were obtained. The resulting nested hierarchies represent a reorganization of these highly agglomerated urban centers that contribute to sustainability. The fractal results were verified by the box counting method. Finally, this study fulfills its main purpose, which is to propose a new method for the study of the hierarchical structure of urban central areas.
Probing the Financial Sustainability of Eskom’s Open Cycle Gas Turbines (OCGTs) Utilisation (2018–2021)
Authors: Pram Wandisile , Kambule Njabulo , Adepoju Omoseni
Published: August 2022

Contributing to achieving sustainability in South Africa’s energy sector, this study probes financial sustainability and its relationship to the environmental sustainability of Eskom. This is because, over the past three financial years (FY2018–2019 to FY2020–2021) of Eskom’s generating plants’ performance, the energy availability factor (EAF) has taken a deep dive, reaching an extremely low generation availability year-end performance of 64.2%, translating to approximately an average of 29,800 MW available generation capacity out of a nominal generation capacity of 46,466 MW in FY2020–2021. Therefore, the study employed a quantitative research methodology, where the relevant financial records were analysed, and the necessary energy calculations made using descriptive analysis in Microsoft Excel. The findings show that the volumes (GWh) produced by the OCGTs during this period far exceed the regulatory approved volumes, thus attracting substantial costs, amounting to ZAR 25.9 bn instead of ZAR 8.9 bn, that could have been spent on the OCGTs if the level of efficiency achieved in FY2016–2017 and FY2017–2018 was maintained. The analysis also revealed that the OCGTs’ long-term financial and environmental sustainability could be achieved through switching from diesel to natural gas, thus resulting in lower fuel costs and lower emissions. Further, potential savings of approximately ZAR 27 bn (excluding capital expenditure) at a 10% load factor can be realised over a ten-year period when the natural gas price is sitting at ZAR 85/GJ (minimum). Finally, in order to attain financial and environmental sustainability, it is recommended that both Eskom’s and the independent power producers’ (IPPs) OCGTs must switch fuel from diesel to natural gas and be run at a 10% load factor, allowing the OCGTs to be run as mid-merit generators.
Preschool Federations as a Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Early Childhood Education in China
Authors: Fang Junjun , Zhang Jun , Bai Yingxin , Li Hui , Xie Sha
Published: August 2022

Teaming a strong preschool with less-developed, rural, or newly established preschools is an effective strategy to promote quality. Since 2015, Shanghai has sought to improve preschool education quality through collaboration. Guided by the “3A2S” theoretical framework, this study evaluated the development and effectiveness of preschool federations in the city using a mixed-methods approach. First, document analysis was conducted to depict features of preschool federations in Shanghai, which identified three main features. Next, a survey study including 702 stakeholders was conducted to assess the evaluations of preschool administrators, teachers, and parents of the effectiveness of preschool federations. Finally, an interview study including 15 stakeholders was conducted to triangulate the findings of the survey study. Results revealed that the stakeholders highly approbated the preschool federations, but parents’ evaluation was significantly lower than that of other stakeholders. Finally, the sustainability and affordability of the preschool federation policy are discussed herein. Implications for policy development and preschool management are also presented.
Development of an Aspen Plus® Model for the Process of Hydrogen Production by Black Liquor Electrolysis
Authors: Gonçalves José R. M. , Cecílio Duarte M. , Oliveira Raisa C. P. , Mateus Maria M. , Santos Diogo M. F.
Published: August 2022

The electrolysis of black liquor (BL) has emerged as a new form to valorize this byproduct from the pulp and paper industry. BL electrolysis produces a green fuel, hydrogen, and lignin, a high added-value compound. In opposition to water electrolysis, a symmetric process with two different gases produced at the electrodes, hydrogen and oxygen, BL electrolysis is seen as an asymmetric process, as hydrogen is the only gas generated (at the cathode), while solid lignin is electrodeposited at the anode. The present work intended to develop a model in Aspen Plus® to simulate BL electrolysis and consequently evaluate the performance of the BL electrolyzer. Aspen Plus® does not include a package for electrolyzers, so it was necessary to use the Aspen Custom Modeler (ACM) tool. The model developed in ACM is valid for the following conditions: nickel electrodes with 2 cm interelectrode distance, cell voltage between 1.5 V and 2.0 V, and temperatures between 25 and 35 °C for batch operation and 25 and 65 °C for continuous operation. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the optimum working temperature for batch operation is 35 °C, whereas it is 45 °C for continuous operation. An economic analysis was carried out, calculating the real gross profit (RGP) for the process and the electricity cost. A 2 kW electrolyzer with 80 cells and an active area of 0.3 m2 was simulated. For the electrolyzer in batch operation, RGP values of 1056 €/year and 1867 €/year for the worst and the best scenario were obtained, respectively, and the electricity cost was 1431 €/year. For continuous operation, the RGP values were 2064 €/year and 3648 €/year for the worst and best scenario, respectively, and 2967 €/year for the electricity costs.
Graph Mixed Random Network Based on PageRank
Authors: Ma Qianli , Fan Zheng , Wang Chenzhi , Tan Hongye
Published: August 2022

In recent years, graph neural network algorithm (GNN) for graph semi-supervised classification has made great progress. However, in the task of node classification, the neighborhood size is often difficult to expand. The propagation of nodes always only considers the nearest neighbor nodes. Some algorithms usually approximately classify by message passing between direct (single-hop) neighbors. This paper proposes a simple and effective method, named Graph Mixed Random Network Based on PageRank (PMRGNN) to solve the above problems. In PMRGNN, we design a PageRank-based random propagation strategy for data augmentation. Then, two feature extractors are used in combination to supplement the mutual information between features. Finally, a graph regularization term is designed, which can find more useful information for classification results from neighbor nodes to improve the performance of the model. Experimental results on graph benchmark datasets show that the method of this paper outperforms several recently proposed GNN baselines on the semi-supervised node classification. In the research of over-smoothing and generalization, PMRGNN always maintains better performance. In classification visualization, it is more intuitive than other classification methods.
Lie Symmetry Analysis of the One-Dimensional Saint-Venant-Exner Model
Authors: Paliathanasis Andronikos
Published: August 2022

We present the Lie symmetry analysis for a hyperbolic partial differential system known as the one-dimensional Saint-Venant-Exner model. The model describes shallow-water systems with bed evolution given by the Exner terms. The sediment flux is considered to be a power-law function of the velocity of the fluid. The admitted Lie symmetries are classified according to the power index of the sediment flux. Furthermore, the one-dimensional optimal system is determined in all cases. From the Lie symmetries we derive similarity transformations which are applied to reduce the hyperbolic system into a set of ordinary differential equations. Closed-form exact solutions, which have not been presented before in the literature, are presented. Finally, the initial value problem for the similarity solutions is discussed.
Regularized Solution of the Cauchy Problem in an Unbounded Domain
Authors: Juraev Davron Aslonqulovich , Shokri Ali , Marian Daniela
Published: August 2022

In this paper, using the construction of the Carleman matrix, we explicitly find a regularized solution of the Cauchy problem for matrix factorizations of the Helmholtz equation in a three-dimensional unbounded domain.
Magneto-Hydrodynamic Flow above Exponentially Stretchable Surface with Chemical Reaction
Authors: Arshad Mubashar , Hussain Azad , Elfasakhany Ashraf , Gouadria Soumaya , Awrejcewicz Jan , Pawłowski Witold , Elkotb Mohamed Abdelghany , M. Alharbi Fahad
Published: August 2022

This article is focused on investigating the convective magneto-hydrodynamic single-phase flow for comparative analysis of two different base fluids above an exponentially stretchable porous surface under the effect of the chemical reaction. The Buongiorno fluid model is incorporated to observe the Thermophoresis and Brownian diffusion in this study. Boussinesq approximation for temperature and concentration are accounted for flow to be naturally convective. In this study, water and ethanol are assumed for comparative analysis. Additionally, to achieve the outcomes of the designed three-dimensional flow boundary value, problem technique is employed to simulate the problem in MATLAB. Increase in the magnetic field, thermophoresis diffusion, temperature exponent, and Prandtl number expand thermal boundary, whereas contraction is observed with an increase in porosity. Shear stress rates in respective directions have decreased with an increase in the stretching ratio of the surface. Moreover, through comparison, reasonably enhanced Nusselt number is observed for water under influence of study parameters while the Nusselt number abruptly decreases for ethanol. High mass coefficients are observed for both examined fluids.
Numerical Computation of Mixed Volterra–Fredholm Integro-Fractional Differential Equations by Using Newton-Cotes Methods
Authors: Ahmed Shazad Shawki , Rasol Hiwa Abdullah
Published: August 2022

In this article, the numerical solution of the mixed Volterra–Fredholm integro-differential equations of multi-fractional order less than or equal to one in the Caputo sense (V-FIFDEs) under the initial conditions is presented with powerful algorithms. The method is based upon the quadrature rule with the aid of finite difference approximation to Caputo derivative usage collocation points. For treatments, our technique converts the V-FIFDEs into algebraic equations with operational matrices, some of which have the symmetry property, which is simple for evaluating. Furthermore, numerical examples are presented to show the technique’s validity and usefulness as well comparisons with previous results. The majority of programs are performed using MATLAB v. 9.7.
The History of Computing in Iran (Persia)—Since the Achaemenid Empire
Authors: Heidari Arash , Jafari Navimipour Nima , Unal Mehmet
Published: August 2022

Persia was the early name for the territory that is currently recognized as Iran. Iran’s proud history starts with the Achaemenid Empire, which began in the 6th century BCE (c. 550). The Iranians provided numerous innovative ideas in breakthroughs and technologies that are often taken for granted today or whose origins are mostly unknown from the Achaemenid Empire’s early days. To recognize the history of computing systems in Iran, we must pay attention to everything that can perform computing. Because of Iran’s historical position in the ancient ages, studying the history of computing in this country is an exciting subject. The history of computing in Iran started very far from the digital systems of the 20th millennium. The Achaemenid Empire can be mentioned as the first recorded sign of using computing systems in Persia. The history of computing in Iran started with the invention of mathematical theories and methods for performing simple calculations. This paper also attempts to shed light on Persia’s computing heritage elements, dating back to 550 BC. We look at both the ancient and current periods of computing. In the ancient section, we will go through the history of computing in the Achaemenid Empire, followed by a description of the tools used for calculations. Additionally, the transition to the Internet era, the formation of a computer-related educational system, the evolution of data networks, the growth of the software and hardware industry, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) are all discussed in the modern section. We highlighted the findings in each period that involve vital sparks of computing evolution, such as the gradual growth of computing in Persia from its early stages to the present. The findings indicate that the development of computing and related technologies has been rapidly accelerating recently.
Selected Political Criminal Poisonings in the Years 1978–2020: Detection and Treatment
Authors: Brunka Zuzanna , Ryl Jan , Brushtulli Piotr , Gromala Daria , Walczak Grzegorz , Zięba Sonia , Pieśniak Dorota , Sein Anand Jacek , Wiergowski Marek
Published: August 2022

Criminal poisonings are among the least frequently detected crimes in the world. Lack of suspicion of this type of event by police officers and prosecutors, clinical symptoms imitating many somatic diseases and technical difficulties in diagnostics, as well as high research costs make the actual frequency of these events difficult to estimate. The substance used for criminal poisoning is often characterized by: lack of taste, color and smell, delayed action, easy availability and difficulty to detect. The aim of the study was to analyze selected cases of political poisoning that took place in the years 1978–2020, to describe the mechanisms of action of the substances used and to evaluate the diagnosis and treatment. The analyzed cases of criminal poisoning concerned: Georgi Markov (ricin), Khalid Maszal (fentanyl), Wiktor Yushchenko (TCDD dioxin), Jasir Arafat (polonium 210Po isotope), Alexander Litvinenko (polonium 210Po isotope), Kim Jong-Nam (VX), Sergei Skripal (Novichok) and Alexei Navalny (Novichok). Contemporary poisons, to a greater extent than in the past, are based on the use of synthetic substances from the group of organophosphorus compounds and radioactive substances. The possibility of taking appropriate and effective treatment in such cases is the result of many factors, including the possibility of quick and competent rescue intervention, quick and reliable detection of the toxic substance and the possibility of using an antidote.
Multiple Targets of Toxicity in Environmental Exposure to Low-Dose Cadmium
Authors: Satarug Soisungwan , Gobe Glenda C. , Vesey David A.
Published: August 2022

Dietary assessment reports and population surveillance programs show that chronic exposure to low levels of environmental cadmium (Cd) is inevitable for most people, and adversely impacts the health of children and adults. Based on a risk assessment model that considers an increase in the excretion of β2-microglobulin (β2M) above 300 μg/g creatinine to be the “critical” toxicity endpoint, the tolerable intake level of Cd was set at 0.83 µg/kg body weight/day, and a urinary Cd excretion rate of 5.24 µg/g creatinine was considered to be the toxicity threshold level. The aim of this review is to draw attention to the many other toxicity endpoints that are both clinically relevant and more appropriate to derive Cd exposure limits than a β2M endpoint. In the present review, we focus on a reduction in the glomerular filtration rate and diminished fecundity because chronic exposure to low-dose Cd, reflected by its excretion levels as low as 0.5 µg/g creatinine, have been associated with dose-dependent increases in risk of these pathological symptoms. Some protective effects of the nutritionally essential elements selenium and zinc are highlighted. Cd-induced mitochondrial dysfunction is discussed as a potential mechanism underlying gonadal toxicities and infertility.
Post-Mortem Analysis of Heroin Biomarkers, Morphine and Codeine in Stomach Wall Tissue in Heroin-Related Deaths
Authors: Al-Asmari Ahmed , Alharbi Hassan , Zughaibi Torki
Published: August 2022

Toxicological analysis of some cases can be complicated by poor sample quality caused by decomposition. Although heroin-related deaths have been researched extensively, the interpretation of toxicology findings in these cases is challenging, especially in instances where blood samples are unavailable. Thus, it is important to develop analytical methods for different sample types. In this study. a method for the quantification of 6-monoacetylmorphine, 6-acetylcodeine, morphine, and codeine in postmortem stomach wall tissue using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry was developed and validated. All calibration curves prepared with the stomach wall tissue were linear and ranged from 0.5–1000 ng/g with determination coefficients of >0.99 and a lower limit of quantification of 1.0 ng/g. The coefficients of variation for within-run precision and between-run precision were <9%. Matrix effects of stomach wall tissues and their extraction recoveries were investigated and ranged from −19% to +17% and 76% to 80%, respectively. Among the 16 analyzed heroin-related death cases, 6-monoacetylmorphine, 6-acetylcodeine, morphine, and codeine were detected in 75%, 31%, 100%, and 94% of all stomach wall tissues with median concentrations of 90 ng/g, 20 ng/g, 140 ng/g, and 30 ng/g, respectively. This study provides new data on the distribution of 6-monoacetylmorphine, 6-Acetylcodeine, morphine, and codeine in postmortem stomach wall tissue and suggests the usefulness of alternative matrices for investigating heroin-related fatalities when blood samples are unavailable. In addition, the prevalence of 6-monoacetylmorphine in the stomach wall tissue was higher than that in the liver and kidney tissues.
Advanced Studies on Toxic Chemicals: Properties and Characteristics
Authors: Esteso Miguel A.
Published: August 2022

Examining the toxic scope of substances used in daily life (referred to as Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CEC)) in food, medicines, utensils, work and other industries, provides us with interesting information that will help us to prevent and recover from the dangerous organic unbalances that these substances can cause [...]
Autochthonous West Nile Virus Infection Outbreak in Humans (Asti, Piedmont, Italy, August–October 2018) and Long-Term Sequelae Follow-Up
Authors: Lupia Tommaso , Libanore Valentina , Corcione Silvia , Fornari Valentina , Rizzello Barbara , Bosio Roberta , Stroffolini Giacomo , Bigliano Paolo , Fontana Silvia , Patti Francesca , Brusa Maria Teresa , Degioanni Maria , Concialdi Erika , Navazio Anna Sara , Penna Maurizio , De Rosa Francesco Giuseppe
Published: August 2022

West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a reemerging zoonosis recently provoking significant outbreaks throughout Europe. During the summer of 2018, the number of WNV infections rose with a peak of new diagnoses of West Nile neuro-invasive disease (WNND). Most of the Italian cases were clustered in the Po River Valley. We present a case series of nine patients with WNV infection admitted to the Cardinal Massaia Hospital from 30 August 2018 to 1 October 2018. Demographic, immunovirological, clinical and therapeutic data are shown, and a report on clinical sequelae from the subsequent follow-up in patients with WNV and WNND. We showed the clinical, radiological and biochemical characteristics of WNV-infected patients. The risk factors and the clinical presentation of WNV in most patients in our case series were typical of that described in the literature, although, despite the high morbidity and mortality of WNND, we showed survival of 100% and long-term sequelae in only three patients. Environmental conditions may be essential in WNV outbreaks, and WNND can be clinically neurological multiform. Our long-lasting follow-up with clinical or radiological monitoring confirmed the morbidity of long-term neurological sequelae after WNND. Further studies are needed to investigate the epidemiology and physiopathology of bacterial superinfections after WNV infection.
The Usefulness of the C2HEST Risk Score in Predicting Clinical Outcomes among Hospitalized Subjects with COVID-19 and Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Rola Piotr , Doroszko Adrian , Trocha Małgorzata , Gajecki Damian , Gawryś Jakub , Matys Tomasz , Giniewicz Katarzyna , Kujawa Krzysztof , Skarupski Marek , Adamik Barbara , Kaliszewski Krzysztof , Kiliś-Pstrusińska Katarzyna , Matera-Witkiewicz Agnieszka , Pomorski Michał , Protasiewicz Marcin , Madziarski Marcin , Madej Marta , Gogolewski Grzegorz , Chourasia Goutam , Zielińska Dorota , Włodarczak Szymon , Rabczyński Maciej , Sokołowski Janusz , Jankowska Ewa Anita , Madziarska Katarzyna
Published: August 2022

Background: Even though coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered an independent risk factor of an unfavorable outcome of SARS-CoV-2-infection, the clinical course of COVID-19 in subjects with CAD is heterogeneous, ranging from clinically asymptomatic to fatal cases. Since the individual C2HEST components are similar to the COVID-19 risk factors, we evaluated its predictive value in CAD subjects. Materials and Methods: In total, 2183 patients hospitalized due to confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled onto this study consecutively. Based on past medical history, subjects were assigned to one of two of the study arms (CAD vs. non-CAD) and allocated to different risk strata, based on the C2HEST score. Results: The CAD cohort included 228 subjects, while the non-CAD cohort consisted of 1956 patients. In-hospital, 3-month and 6-month mortality was highest in the high-risk C2HEST stratum in the CAD cohort, reaching 43.06%, 56.25% and 65.89%, respectively, whereas in the non-CAD cohort in the high-risk stratum, it reached: 26.92%, 50.77% and 64.55%. Significant differences in mortality between the C2HEST stratum in the CAD arm were observed in post hoc analysis only for medium- vs. high-risk strata. The C2HEST score in the CAD cohort could predict hypovolemic shock, pneumonia and acute heart failure during hospitalization, whereas in the non-CAD cohort, it could predict cardiovascular events (myocardial injury, acute heart failure, myocardial infract, carcinogenic shock), pneumonia, acute liver dysfunction and renal injury as well as bleedings. Conclusions: The C2HEST score is a simple, easy-to-apply tool which might be useful in risk stratification, preferably in non-CAD subjects admitted to hospital due to COVID-19.
Reduction in SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infectivity in Human and Hamster Feces
Authors: Wurtzer Sébastien , Lacote Sandra , Murri Severine , Marianneau Philippe , Monchatre-Leroy Elodie , Boni Mickaël , Ferraris Olivier , Maday Yvon , Kébé Ousmane , Dia Ndongo , Peyrefitte Christophe , Sokol Harry ,   OBEPINE Consortium, Moulin Laurent , Maréchal Vincent
Published: August 2022

Objective: There is extensive evidence that SARS-CoV-2 replicates in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the infectivity of virions in feces is poorly documented. Although the primary mode of transmission is airborne, the risk of transmission from contaminated feces remains to be assessed. Design: The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 (infectivity and RNA) in human and animal feces was evaluated by virus isolation on cell culture and RT-qPCR, respectively. The exposure of golden Syrian hamsters to experimentally contaminated feces through intranasal inoculation has also been tested to assess the fecal-oral transmission route. Results: For periods that are compatible with average intestinal transit, the SARS-CoV-2 genome was noticeably stable in human and animal feces, contrary to the virus infectivity that was reduced in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. In human stools, this reduction was variable depending on the donors. Viral RNA was excreted in the feces of infected hamsters, but exposure of naïve hamsters to feces of infected animals did not lead to any productive infection. Conversely, hamsters could be experimentally infected following exposure to spiked fresh feces. Conclusion: Infection following exposure to naturally contaminated feces has been suspected but has not been established so far. The present work demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 rapidly lost infectivity in spiked or naturally infected feces. Although the possibility of persistent viral particles in human or animal feces cannot be fully ruled out, SARS-CoV-2 transmission after exposure to contaminated feces is unlikely.