bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimum Nitrogen and Phosphorus Combination Improved Yield and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Sorghum in Saline Soil
Authors: Guo Xiaoqian , Wu Qidi , Wang Luqi , Zhou Guisheng , Zhu Guanglong , Suliman Mohamed Suliman Eltyb , Nimir Nimir Eltyb Ahmed
Published: January 2025

Two-year experiments were conducted to assess the responses of yield and nutrient use efficiency of sorghum to nitrogen and phosphorus under saline soils. Three nitrogen rates (0, 180, and 360 N kg ha−1) and three phosphorus rates (0, 60, and 120 P2O5 kg ha−1) were used in this study. Our results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus supply increased SPAD (leaf greenness, 5.0–29.1%), NSC (non-structural carbohydrates, 14.0–41.2%), nutrient accumulation (nitrogen: 14.1–50.0%, phosphorus: 11.8–41.5%, potassium: 13.7–28.2%), biomass (fresh: 10.8–29.3%, dry: 5.0–22.8%), yield (16.6–30.7%), and harvest index (2.0–9.8%) of sorghum at the maturity stage grown in saline soils but significantly decreased nutrient use efficiency. Combined application showed better performance on these attributes than sole nitrogen and sole phosphorus. The highest seed yield (5919 kg ha−1) was recorded at 180 N kg ha−1 and 60 P2O5 kg ha−1 treatment, while the largest value of dry biomass (18,401 kg ha−1) was obtained at 360 N kg ha−1 and 120 P2O5 kg ha−1 treatment. The Pearson analysis showed that seed yield had the highest correlation with aerial potassium accumulation, while dry biomass had the highest correlation with NSC as well as aerial nitrogen accumulation. A treatment of 180 N kg ha−1 and 60 P2O5 kg ha−1 was recommended to be used in sorghum production in saline soils based on harvest index and nutrient use efficiency.
In Situ Polymerization and Synthesis of UHMWPE/Carbon Fiber Composites
Authors: Fedorenko Elena , Luinstra Gerrit A.
Published: January 2025

Carbon-fiber-reinforced composites of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are not easily prepared because of their high viscosity, although they can be advantageous in advanced engineering applications due to their superior mechanical properties in combination with their low specific weight and versatility. Short polyacrylonitrile-based carbon-fiber-reinforced UHMWPE composites with fiber contents of 5, 10, and 15 wt.% could easily be prepared using in situ ethylene polymerization. Therefore, MgCl2 was generated at the Brønsted acidic groups of the fiber surface by employing a reaction between the co-catalysts Mg(C4H9)2 and AlEt2Cl. Titanation with TiCl4 resulted in a catalyst directly on the fiber surface. The catalyst polymerized ethylene (2 bar pressure at 50 °C), forming a UHMWPE matrix near the surface; its fragmentation led to polymer particles associated with the fiber. The catalyst activity on the fiber surface of untreated (CF-Pr, 3.48 ± 0.24 wt.%) and oxidized fibers (CF-Ox, 7.41 ± 0.03 wt.%) was 20% lower. CF-Pr compression-molded samples showed tensile strengths of up to 50.4 ± 1.3 MPa, while CF-Ox samples reached 39.1 ± 0.6 MPa, surpassing the performance of composites prepared by melt compounding. The stiffness of 1.58 ± 0.17 GPa for a melt-compounded material was lower than the 3.24 ± 0.10 GPa for CF-Pr and 2.19 ± 0.07 GPa for CF-Ox composites. A fracture examination showed fiber pull-outs, matrix residues on the fibers, and the formation of some extensional polymer fibrils. The latter explains the higher stress at yield and the breakage of the CF-Pr based composites in particular. The potential of in situ polymerized UHMWPE composites for the utilization in high-performance structural applications is thus demonstrated.
Tailoring UV Penetration Depth in Photopolymer Nanocomposites: Advancing SLA 3D Printing Performance with Nanofillers
Authors: Ahmad Khalid Haj , Mohamad Zurina , Khan Zahid Iqbal , Habib Muddasar
Published: January 2025

This study examines the influence of nanofillers on the ultraviolet (UV) penetration depth of photopolymer resins used in stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing, and their impact on printability. Three nanofillers, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphene nanoplatelets (xGNP), and boron nitride nanoparticles (BNNP), were incorporated into a commercially available photopolymer resin to prepare nanocomposite formulations. The UV penetration depth (Dp) was assessed using the Windowpane method, revealing a significant reduction with the addition of nanofillers. At a concentration of 0.25 wt.%, MWCNT showed the highest reduction in Dp (90%), followed by xGNP (65%) and BNNP (33%). SLA 3D printing was performed at varying nanofiller concentrations to evaluate printability. The findings highlight a strong correlation between Dp and the maximum printable nanofiller concentration, with MWCNT limiting printability to 0.05 wt.% due to its low Dp, while BNNP allowed printing up to 1.5 wt.%. Mechanical testing showed substantial improvements in hardness and elastic modulus, even at low nanofiller concentrations, with BNNP outperforming other fillers. Compared to a clear photopolymer, the elastic modulus for 3D printed nanocomposite samples with 0.05 wt.% nanofiller compositions showed an improvement of 43% for MWCNT, 63% for xGNP, and 104% for BNNP. The hardness results showed an improvement of 86% for MWCNT, 103% for xGNP, and 179% for BNNP. These results underscore the importance of Dp in determining the layer thickness and print success in SLA 3D printing. Practical applications include the design of advanced photopolymer nanocomposites for biomedical devices, electronics, and lightweight structural components. This research provides valuable insights for tailoring material properties to meet the demands of high-performance additive manufacturing.
Dye Adsorbent from Natural Rubber Latex Foam: Efficiency and Post-Utilization
Authors: Masa Abdulhakim , Jehsoh Nureeyah , Hayeemasae Nabil
Published: January 2025

This study examined the feasibility of using natural rubber (NR) latex foam as a dye adsorbent and antibacterial foam. The dyes used in this experiment were Methylene Blue (MB) and Alizarin Yellow (AY). Foams with that optimum density were further evaluated for adsorption isotherm, kinetics, and thermodynamic data. The dye adsorption occurred in two steps: the initial and the stabilized stages where an increase in dye concentrations boosted the adsorption capacity. Based on the prediction, the maximum adsorptions of MB and AY from the solution were 3.15 and 10.31 mg/g, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm fits better with the adsorption of MB while AY is better matched by the Freundlich isotherm. Moreover, the adsorption behavior fits well with the pseudo-second-order model. MB took much longer to reach the stabilized stage, especially at high dye concentrations. The thermodynamic study revealed that physical adsorption accounted for most of the adsorption. Later, the foam after use as an adsorbent was further utilized as an antibacterial foam. Based on the qualitative and quantitative aspects, the results indicate that the dye-carrying foam could inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It can be concluded that NR latex foam can be applied as a dye adsorbent and further utilized as an antibacterial foam.
Natural Compounds from Food By-Products in Preservation Processes: An Overview
Authors: Maddaloni Lucia , Gobbi Laura , Vinci Giuliana , Prencipe Sabrina Antonia
Published: January 2025

Food spoilage is a natural process that influences the quality and safety of food products, negatively affecting their nutritional and organoleptic composition. In these regards, traditional industrial food preservation processes often rely on the use of traditional preservation techniques to extend food shelf life, while ensuring microbiological and chemical stability without compromising the product’s sensory characteristics. However, in recent years, consumers have become increasingly wary of chemical food additives; they often associate their use with potential health risks and negative impact on product appeal. In addition, this is compounded by an increasingly compellent European regulatory framework, as well as efforts in the search of natural and sustainable alternatives for food preservation. In this context, this review explores the potential of natural additives, such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidants, derived from agro-industrial waste, including fruit peels, vegetable by-products, and seeds. These compounds exhibit strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which not only extend the shelf life of food products but also enhance their safety and quality. Considering vegetable wastes (i.e., pomegranate peels, olive leaves, olive mill wastewater, and grape pomace) as the main by-products from which natural additives can be extracted, this study provides an overview of their efficacy in preventing lipid oxidation and reducing microbial growth, while maintaining sensory properties. This could represent an opportunity both for maintaining food quality and prolonging food shelf life by valorizing by-products to be otherwise disposed of, and also contribute to mitigating the environmental impact associated with the food industry and to optimize food preservation processes. In addition, it highlights the possibility of employing sustainable alternatives to synthetic additives, capable of extending the shelf life of food products while ensuring their safety for human consumption.
Feasibility Study of Real-Time Speech Detection and Characterization Using Millimeter-Wave Micro-Doppler Radar
Authors: Steinmetz Nati , Balal Nezah
Published: January 2025

This study presents a novel approach to remote speech recognition using a millimeter-wave micro-Doppler radar system operating at 94 GHz. By detecting micro-Doppler speech-related vibrations, the system enables non-contact and privacy-preserving speech recognition. Initial experiments used a piezoelectric crystal to simulate vocal cord vibrations, followed by tests with actual human speech. Advanced signal processing techniques, including short-time Fourier transform (STFT), were used to generate spectrograms and reconstruct speech signals. The system demonstrated high accuracy, with cross-correlation analysis quantitatively confirming a strong correlation between radar-reconstructed and original audio signals. These results validate the effectiveness of detecting and characterizing speech-related vibrations without direct audio recording. The findings have significant implications for applications in noisy industrial environments, enabling robust voice interaction capabilities, as well as in healthcare diagnostics and assistive technologies, where contactless and privacy-preserving solutions are essential. Future research will explore diverse real-world scenarios and the integration of advanced signal processing and machine learning techniques to further enhance accuracy and robustness.
Comparing the Influences on NO2 Changes in Terms of Inter-Annual and Seasonal Variations in Different Regions of China: Meteorological and Anthropogenic Contributions
Authors: Bai Xuehui , Wang Yi , Gui Lu , Tao Minghui , Zeng Mingyu
Published: January 2025

NO2 primarily originates from natural and anthropogenic emissions. Given China’s vast territory and significant differences in topography and meteorological conditions, a detailed understanding of the impacts of weather and human emissions in different regions is essential. This study employs Kolmogorov–Zurbenko (KZ) filtering and stepwise multiple linear regression to isolate the effects of meteorological conditions on tropospheric NO2 vertical column densities. Long term trends indicate an overall decline, with anthropogenic contribution rates exceeding 90% in Shanghai, Changchun, Urumqi, Shijiazhuang, and Wuhan, where interannual variations are primarily driven by human emissions. In Guangzhou, the anthropogenic contribution rate exceeds 100%, highlighting the significant impact of human factors in this region, although meteorological conditions somewhat mitigate their effect on NO2. In Chengdu, meteorological factors also play a role. Seasonal variations display a U-shaped trend, and there are significant differences in the impact of meteorological factors on seasonal variations among different regions. Meteorological contribution rates in Changchun and Chengdu are below 36.90% and anthropogenic contributions exceed 63.10%. This indicates that changes in NO2 are less influenced by meteorological factors than by human activities, with human emissions dominating. In other regions, meteorological contributions are greater than those from human activities.
Analysis and Selection Method for Radar Echo Features in Challenging Scenarios
Authors: Dong Yunlong , Luo Xiao , Ding Hao , Liu Ningbo , Cao Zheng
Published: January 2025

In addressing the issue of weak target detection at sea, most existing feature detection methods are designed for scenarios with low sea states and small grazing angles. Under high sea states and large grazing angles, variations in scattering mechanisms lead to changes in feature characteristics, resulting in performance degradation when these methods are applied directly due to scene mismatch. To address this, this paper employs four quantitative metrics—mean feature value, coefficient of variation, Bhattacharyya distance, and Spearman correlation coefficient—to analyze the centrality, variability, separability, and correlations of nine features in the time, frequency, and time-frequency domains under varying sea states and grazing angles. The study reveals that, with increasing sea state and changing grazing angles, the separability of time-frequency features, especially the time-frequency ridge accumulation, declines more gradually than other features, and feature correlations generally weaken. These findings provide a reference for joint feature detection in complex scenarios. To optimize feature application, the Spearman correlation coefficient matrix was transformed into a generalized distance matrix, and spectral clustering was used to group features with strong correlations. Feature selection was then performed from the clusters based on mean feature value, coefficient of variation, and Bhattacharyya distance, yielding an optimal feature set for the current scenario. Validation on the SDRDSP dataset under sea states 4–5 showed that the proposed method achieved an average detection probability 10.64% higher than existing methods. Further validation on the Yantai angle airborne test dataset, with grazing angles ranging from 62° to 82°, showed an average detection probability increase of 10.07% over existing methods.
An Axial-Oriented Dual-Layer Indexing Structure for Tunnel Point Clouds
Authors: Zhang Hongyang , Yang Qigui , Liu Quan , Jin Yinlong , Ma Gang , Meng Xin
Published: January 2025

Three-dimensional laser scanning technology has increasingly gained favor among professionals in tunnel monitoring. A fundamental challenge in tunnel point cloud processing is to efficiently manage massive datasets using appropriate data structures and accurately extract features such as tunnel axes and cross-sections. However, existing studies often disconnect tunnel point cloud indexing from post-processing tasks. Conventional structures (e.g., voxels, octrees) struggle with long strip-like uneven spatial distribution, resulting in imbalanced trees with numerous empty nodes, which are incompatible with axis-aligned operations. Therefore, this study proposes a dual-layer indexing structure tailored to tunnel geometries. The upper layer reorganizes the tunnel point cloud along its axis, while the lower layer leverages local octrees for fast data querying and updates. In implementation, we introduce a merge-based octree generation strategy for ultra-large-scale datasets, and a rapid Hough transform-based algorithm for tunnel boundaries and axes extraction. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method successfully supports the management and visualization of a tunnel point cloud exceeding 6 billion points, significantly enhancing efficiency in narrow tunnel scenarios and streamlining various axis-aligned post-processing tasks.
Reliability, Objectivity, Validity and Reference Levels of the Austrian Balance Check (ABC)—A Novel Balance Field Test for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults to Assess Static Balance
Authors: Jarnig Gerald , Kerbl Reinhold , van Poppel Mireille N. M.
Published: January 2025

Balance is a relevant indicator of physical fitness and correlates with intellectual abilities. Due to limited resources, however, balance tests are underrepresented in fitness checks. To develop an effective field test to assess static balance with minimal cost, little spatial requirement and short testing time, a cross-sectional pilot study was conducted in three different school types (primary school, secondary school, and high school) and the reliability, objectivity and validity of the novel Austrian Balance Check (ABC) were assessed, with the generation of age- and gender-specific reference values. Tests were carried out with participants from regular school classes (RSC) and elite sports school classes (ESC). A total of 1005 participants were included (age range: 6.2 to 19.8 years). Participants in RSC (ICC2.1 = 0.92, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.93) showed excellent values, and those in ESC (ICC2.1 = 0.89, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.93) had good to excellent values in the reliability test. Objectivity was excellent in both groups (RSC (ICC2.1 = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99); ESC (ICC2.1 = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.99)). A gold standard comparison using an electronic force plate showed a strong negative correlation: participants with high overall ABC scores showed less movement on the force plate (parameters of the center of pressure: surface area (ρ = −0.61), mean velocity (ρ = −0.65) and path length (ρ = −0.65). The test duration of ABC was significantly (p < 0.001) shorter compared with an established balance test. ABC offers potential benefits by allowing field-based static balance testing in large groups with low cost, minimal time and spatial requirements as well as high reliability, objectivity and validity.
Arm Propulsion in Front Crawl Stroke
Authors: Romagnoli Cristian , Bonaiuto Vincenzo , Gatta Giorgio
Published: January 2025

Objectives: This study aims to determine the propulsive force and effective arm area contributed by the propulsion through the dynamic balance (power balance) between drag and propulsive power in swimming crawl performance. Methods: Ten male swimmers participated in the study. The athletes conducted the crawl trials at a constant velocity using only the upper limbs. Data were collected using a Spectro instrument to measure the drag and 3D video analysis for kinematic of upper limbs movement. Results: The power balance was confirmed through the Bland–Altman estimation (estimated bias 8.5) and was also demonstrated by a one-way analysis of variance that does not show statistical differences. Subsequently, by applying the power balance, the effective propulsive area could be estimated. The result shows an increase of ~8.5% over the value at the hand area used to verify the power balance. This value appears to be attributable to a percentage of the forearm area to propulsive action. Conclusions: This information will allow athletes and coaches to constantly monitor the propulsive force and power, providing useful data on arm movement and swimming technique. Indeed, deeper knowledge about the athlete’s swimming technique can reduce the possibility of suffering micro-traumas in the elbows and shoulders.
Mapping Scientific and Topic Evolution Around Lithium-Based Clean Energy Technologies: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Bello-Yañez Xochitl Virginia , Martínez-Rodríguez María-Concepción , Campos-Villegas Lorena Elizabeth , Cervantes-Nájera Ana Laura , Padilla-Rivera Alejandro
Published: January 2025

Climate change effects have a significant global negative impact, prompting global leaders to promote clean energy use to reduce carbon emissions. Electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries are crucial to achieving this goal. Lithium is an essential material for the efficient operation of electric batteries, so in recent years, its demand has increased, and it is considered a strategic mineral. This paper aims to describe and analyze the scientific development of lithium-based clean energy technologies and reveal future areas of scientific production priority. This research is conducted through a bibliometric analysis in the Scopus database from 1929 to April 2024. Using the software Bibliometrix 4.1 and Biblioshiny the exported literature data are analyzed. The number of papers on lithium topics has significantly increased since 2018, with China leading in publications and collaborating with many countries. The trending topics are geological prospection, lithium ore characterization, chemical engineering, and lithium energy technologies. Lithium research is a growing field, but its development is uneven. Only a few countries lead in scientific production and lithium energy technologies, and sustainability lithium topics related to Life-Cycle Analysis (LCA) require further attention. Lithium research development is influenced by global economic trends.
Variation and Controlling Factors of Carbon Flux over a Humid Region Kiwifruit Orchard in Southwest China
Authors: Yu Xiuyun , Cui Ningbo , He Yuxin , Wang Mingjun , Zheng Shunsheng , Zhao Lu , Wei Renjuan , Jiang Shouzheng
Published: January 2025

Investigating the carbon flux in orchard ecosystems is crucial for assessing agroecosystem productivity and optimizing management practices. We measured and estimated carbon fluxes (gross primary productivity, GPP; ecosystem respiration, Re; and net ecosystem exchange, NEE) and environmental variables in a seven-year-old kiwifruit orchard over two years. Our results showed that diurnal carbon fluxes exhibited bell-shaped patterns, peaking between 12:30 and 15:30. Daily carbon fluxes exhibited a seasonal trend, characterized by an increase followed by a decrease. The average daily GPP, Re, and NEE values were 6.77, 4.99, and −1.79 g C m−2 d−1 in 2018, and 5.88, 4.78, and −1.10 g C m−2 d−1 in 2019, respectively. The orchard sequestered −444.25 g C m−2 in 2018 and −285.77 g C m−2 in 2019, which accounted for 26.4% and 18.6% of GPP, respectively. Diurnal GPP and NEE were significantly influenced by photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), with direct path coefficients of 0.75 and 0.88 (p < 0.01), while air temperature (Ta) significantly affected GPP and NEE through PAR, with an indirect path coefficient of 1.12 for both. PAR had a similar effect on daily GPP and NEE, while both were indirectly influenced by soil temperature (Ts) at a 5 cm depth and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Re was primarily impacted by VPD, with a direct path coefficient of 0.64 (p < 0.01), while Ta and the concentration of air carbon dioxide (CCO2) significantly affected GPP through VPD, with indirect path coefficients of 0.82 and −0.80. The leaf area index (LAI) and soil water content (SWC) at a 20 cm depth exhibited a significant correlation with carbon fluxes during the vigorous growing period.
Can Urban Internet Development Attract Labor Force? Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Zhai Xiaoxia , Luo Yongmin
Published: January 2025

Labor force mobility plays a crucial role in achieving balanced regional development in China. This study investigates whether urban internet development can effectively attract labor force inflow using data from the China Labor-force Dynamic Survey (CLDS) and constructing a comprehensive urban internet development index through factor analysis. Employing a conditional logit model and addressing potential endogeneity through instrumental variables, we find that (1) urban internet development significantly attracts labor force inflow, with a one-unit increase in the urban internet development index significantly raising the log odds of individual city choice by 0.2, and this effect remains robust across multiple specifications and estimation methods; (2) the attraction effect shows significant heterogeneity—it is stronger among highly educated, younger, foreign language proficient, and unmarried individuals, and more pronounced in regions with lower housing costs, lower income levels, and inland locations. These findings suggest that less-developed cities should prioritize internet infrastructure development to accumulate high-quality labor resources and achieve high-quality economic development, while also enhancing support for bottom-tier workers through public-benefit online platforms.
A Surrogate Model-Based Optimization Approach for Geothermal Well-Doublet Placement Using a Regularized LSTM-CNN Model and Grey Wolf Optimizer
Authors: Li Fengyu , Guo Xia , Qi Xiaofei , Feng Bo , Liu Jie , Xie Yunpeng , Gu Yumeng
Published: January 2025

The placement of a well doublet plays a significant role in geothermal resource sustainable production. The normal well placement optimization method of numerical simulation-based faces a higher computational load with the increasing precision demand. This study proposes a surrogate model-based optimization approach that searches the economically optimal injection well location using the Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The surrogate models trained by the novel Multi-layer Regularized Long Short-Term Memory–Convolution Neural Network concatenation model (MR LSTM-CNN) will relieve the computation load and save the simulation time during the simulation–optimization process. The results showed that surrogate models in a homogenous reservoir and heterogenous reservoir can predict the pressure–temperature evolution time series with the accuracy of 99.80% and 94.03%. Additionally, the optimization result fitted the real economic cost distribution in both reservoir situations. Further comparison figured out that the regularization and convolution process help the Long Short-Term Memory neural network (LSTM) perform better overall than random forest. And GWO owned faster search speed and higher optimization quality than a widely used Genetic Algorithm (GA). The surrogate model-based approach shows the good performance of MR LSTM-CNN and the feasibility in the well placement optimization of GWO, which provides a reliable reference for future study and engineering practice.
Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics and Causative Analysis of Toponymic Cultural Landscapes in Traditional Villages in Northern Guangdong, China
Authors: Li Jun , Xiao Yao , Yan Jiangyu , Liang Chen , Zhong Haiyan
Published: January 2025

This research focuses on the cultural landscape of traditional village toponyms in the northern Guangdong region, aiming to reveal the spatial distribution, site selection characteristics, temporal evolution patterns, and influencing factors of toponyms. The study employs quantitative statistics and ArcGIS spatial analysis methods, combining place name classification and kernel density analysis to explore the mechanisms through which natural and human factors influence place name distribution. The main findings are as follows: (1) Traditional village toponyms exhibit a characteristic of “large dispersion and small aggregation” with high-density areas mainly concentrated in Meizhou and Qingyuan. (2) Natural toponyms dominate, showing a strong correlation with river valley and plain environments, while village location demonstrates hydrophilicity and terrain suitability. Human toponyms enrich the landscape’s connotation through cultural identity and social memory, reflecting the profound influences of Confucian agricultural education traditions and immigrant cultures. (3) Economic activities and population migrations during historical periods have significantly shaped the cultural landscape of toponyms, not only promoting the evolution of village site selection and distribution patterns but also profoundly affecting naming conventions for toponyms. This research emphasizes the importance of protecting the cultural landscape of toponyms while achieving a symbiotic relationship between cultural value and economic benefits through regional cultural tourism development, laying a theoretical foundation for the long-term preservation and sustainable development of regional cultural heritage.
The Impact of the Forward-Looking Strategy on the Sustainable Development of Enterprises Under the Background of Digital Economy—Based on Dynamic Regulation
Authors: Zeng Xiao , Rojniruttikul Nuttawut
Published: January 2025

In recent years, sustainable entrepreneurship has emerged as a dynamic field, driving innovative solutions to environmental, social, and financial issues, as evidenced by the improvement of income systems. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of the forward-looking strategy on enterprise performance so as to ensure that enterprises can maintain the ability of sustainable development. Foresight can promote the enhancement of sustainable development. Therefore, the current research mainly determines that forward-looking strategies will ultimately affect the performance of enterprises through the impact on their own dynamic capabilities. Through the empirical investigation of 125 enterprises, the corresponding research data are obtained. The results show that the forward-looking strategy has a positive impact on enterprise performance, while enterprise dynamic capability, as an intermediary variable, has a positive impact between the forward-looking strategy and enterprise performance. This research introduces market dynamic capability as a moderating variable to explore whether forward-looking strategies can adapt to changes in the external market environment. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to examine the complex relationships between multiple independent and dependent variables of forward-looking strategies and dynamic capabilities, including the impact of latent variables. Under the background of digital economy, digital technology gradually infiltrates the operation of enterprises and plays a vital role in enterprise performance. Digital transformation has become a realistic need for enterprises to respond to changes in the market environment and seek development. The forward-looking strategy has brought new opportunities to solve this problem. The core of the forward-looking strategy lies in “forward thinking” and “pioneering intention”. It not only emphasizes the ability to predict and identify potential opportunity windows in uncertain environments but also pays attention to the cultivation of enterprise resilience and openness to maintaining sustainable competitive advantage. Its foresight can build dynamic capabilities and ensure the sustainable development ability of enterprises through continuous insight into market information and technology resources, such as opportunity recognition perception, knowledge absorption and transformation, resource replacement and innovation, organizational change, and reconstruction.
2D Model of a Biomass Single Particle Pyrolysis—Analysis of the Influence of Fiber Orientation on the Thermal Decomposition Process
Authors: Hercel Paulina , Orhon Atahan , Jóźwik Michał , Kardaś Dariusz
Published: January 2025

Understanding the influence of heat transfer on the pyrolysis process is crucial for optimizing industrial biofuel production processes. While numerous scientific studies focus on experimental investigations of pyrolysis using laboratory-scale devices, many neglect the essential role of thermal energy in initiating and controlling thermal decomposition processes. This study presents a transient two-dimensional numerical model of biomass single-particle pyrolysis, which includes the energy balance, mass conservation equations and pyrolysis gas pressure and velocity equations. The model employs explicit numerical methods to manage the high computational demands of 2D transient simulations, but is successfully validated with the use of experimental data found in the literature. The model reflects the heterogeneous structure of wood by using different thermal conductivity coefficients depending on the wooden fibers’ orientation. The results demonstrate the impact of fiber orientation on the heat transfer and thermal decomposition processes. The anisotropic properties of wood led to varied temperature fields and pyrolysis decomposition stages, aligning well with experimental data, thus validating the model’s accuracy. The proposed approach can provide a better understanding and lead to improvement in biofuel production processes, enabling more efficient and controlled conversion of biomass into fuel. By optimizing the pyrolysis process, it contributes to the development of sustainable energy preservation and regeneration methods, supporting a shift towards more sustainable fuel production patterns using renewable biomass resources like wood.
The Effect of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on Taiwan’s Global Value Chain of the Electronic Information Industry
Authors: Liu Cheyuan , Zhou Jianrui , Wen Wen , Liu Fangzhou , Ji Liuyin , Zhang Chunyu
Published: January 2025

Taiwan (China) is a global leader in the electronic information industry. However, previous studies have paid limited attention to the impact of international trade policies on Taiwan’s electronic information sector. This study aims to examine the effects of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) on the global value chain (GVC) of Taiwan’s electronic information industry. Using the GTAP 10.0 database, this study applies the GVC-CGE model to measure the GVC participation and position index of the electronic information industry in Taiwan (China), Mainland China, and other RCEP member economies. The results show that, in the short term, the RCEP does not have a significant impact on Taiwan’s electronic information industry’s participation or position in the global value chain. However, in the long term, it is likely to negatively affect Taiwan’s forward participation and position. Economies within the RCEP that possess technological or resource advantages are expected to see improvements in their electronic information industry’s value chain position. As a result, Taiwan’s electronic information industry faces the risk of being displaced in the global division of labor. These findings offer valuable insights into the position of the electronic information industry of Taiwan (China) within the global value chain, highlight the importance of regional economic cooperation, and provide crucial information for the development of this industry. This study reveals how the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership contributes to the regional reconfiguration of global value chains and its potential impacts on Taiwan’s electronic information industry. We suggest that Taiwan should engage more actively in East Asian regional economic cooperation to mitigate these potential negative effects as much as possible.
The Impact of Blockchain Technology on Green Investment Decisions for a Sustainable Supply Chain with an Overconfident Manufacturer
Authors: He Jiajun , Zhao Yiming , Zhang Beijia , Chen Lin , Ma Xiuxiu
Published: January 2025

Driven by the principles of green consumption and social responsibility, more companies are making strategic green investments by adopting blockchain technology to achieve sustainable development goals. However, in the real market, upstream manufacturers often tend to be overconfident. This can have a significant impact on decision-making processes and even influence other members within the sustainable supply chain. This paper investigates the influence of blockchain technology on investment decisions in sustainable supply chains for a manufacturer exhibiting overconfidence. We construct a supply chain with an overconfident manufacturer and a rational retailer and discuss the performance of supply chains by comparing two scenarios: without blockchain and with blockchain. First, we find that overconfident manufacturer can only benefit from blockchain adoption if the actual operating cost is below this threshold. Then, the maximum adoption cost acceptable to manufacturer increases with the carbon tax rate and the consumers’ green sensitivity coefficient. Furthermore, with blockchain, manufacturer is likely to make more profit as the level of overconfidence increases compared to the case without blockchain. We also found that the retailer benefits from adopting blockchain technology only when the manufacturer’s overconfidence is at a low level. Otherwise, only when the blockchain operating cost is less than a certain threshold can the retailer increase their revenue. Finally, we find that when the level of overconfidence increases, blockchain adoption can boost consumer surplus and social welfare.
Review of Lignocellulosic Biomass Pretreatment Using Physical, Thermal and Chemical Methods for Higher Yields in Bioethanol Production
Authors: Woźniak Adrian , Kuligowski Ksawery , Świerczek Lesław , Cenian Adam
Published: January 2025

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has led to significant interest in second-generation biofuels derived from lignocellulosic biomass and waste materials. This review underscores the pivotal role of lignocellulosic biomass valorization in meeting global energy needs, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering a circular bioeconomy. Key pretreatment methods—including steam explosion, pressure treatment, and chemical pretreatment—are analyzed for their ability to enhance the accessibility of cellulose and hemicellulose in enzymatic saccharification. Advances in cellulolytic enzyme development and fermentation strategies, such as the use of genetically engineered microorganisms capable of fermenting both hexoses and pentoses, are discussed in detail. Furthermore, the potential of biorefinery systems is explored, highlighting their capacity to integrate biomass valorization into biofuel production alongside high-value bioproducts. Case studies and recent trends in bioethanol and biogas production are examined, providing insights into the current state of research and its industrial applications. While lignocellulosic biofuels hold considerable promise for sustainable development and emissions reduction, challenges related to cost optimization, process scalability, and technological barriers must be addressed to enable large-scale implementation. This review serves as a comprehensive foundation for bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial application, emphasizing the need for continued innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration in biofuel technologies.
A Text-Based Dual-Branch Person Re-Identification Algorithm Based on the Deep Attribute Information Mining Network
Authors: Han Ke , Zhang Xiyan , Xu Wenlong , Jin Long
Published: January 2025

Text-based person re-identification enables the retrieval of specific pedestrians from a large image library using textual descriptions, effectively addressing the issue of missing pedestrian images. The main challenges in this task are to learn discriminative image–text features and achieve accurate cross-modal matching. Despite the potential of leveraging semantic information from pedestrian attributes, current methods have not yet fully harnessed this resource. To this end, we introduce a novel Text-based Dual-branch Person Re-identification Algorithm based on the Deep Attribute Information Mining (DAIM) network. Our approach employs a Masked Language Modeling (MLM) module to learn cross-modal attribute alignments through mask language modeling, and an Implicit Relational Prompt (IRP) module to extract relational cues between pedestrian attributes using tailored prompt templates. Furthermore, drawing inspiration from feature fusion techniques, we developed a Symmetry Semantic Feature Fusion (SSF) module that utilizes symmetric relationships between attributes to enhance the integration of information from different modes, aiming to capture comprehensive features and facilitate efficient cross-modal interactions. We evaluated our method using three benchmark datasets, CUHK-PEDES, ICFG-PEDES, and RSTPReid, and the results demonstrated Rank-1 accuracy rates of 78.17%, 69.47%, and 68.30%, respectively. These results indicate a significant enhancement in pedestrian retrieval accuracy, thereby validating the efficacy of our proposed approach.
Automation Systems Implications on Economic Performance of Industrial Sectors in Selected European Union Countries
Authors: Doran Nicoleta Mihaela , Badareu Gabriela , Puiu Silvia
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the sector-specific economic impacts of robot density across countries with varying levels of technological adoption. The analysis focuses on three key sectors—manufacturing, industry (excluding construction), and construction—using panel data from 12 European Union countries between 2016 and 2022. To explore these relationships, the study employs the Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) methodology, which enables the assessment of the effects of robot density across different levels of sectoral performance while accounting for cross-country variations and heterogeneity. The findings reveal that robot density significantly enhances economic performance in the manufacturing sector, while its effects are smaller but still positive in the industrial and construction sectors. These results highlight the varying capacity of sectors and countries to integrate and benefit from automation technologies. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of tailored automation strategies and policy interventions to maximize the economic benefits of robotics across diverse national and sectoral contexts. These insights contribute to understanding the role of automation in driving industrial transformation and economic growth.
A Model for Cosmic Magnetic Field Amplification: Effects of Pressure Anisotropy Perturbations
Authors: Ha Ji-Hoon
Published: January 2025

Magnetic field amplification in the early universe is a long-standing problem that has been extensively studied through theoretical and numerical approaches, focusing on turbulent dynamos and the growth of collisionless plasma instabilities. In the post-recombination era, pressure anisotropy drives plasma instabilities, and magnetic field amplification through these instabilities can be faster than that driven by turbulent dynamos. By considering the balance between isotropization through magnetic field amplification and anisotropy generation by external sources such as turbulence and anisotropic cosmic-ray scattering, it is reasonable to assume that the system evolves around an equilibrium anisotropy value. To improve the theoretical modeling of magnetic field amplification in such systems, this study specifically examines pressure anisotropy perturbations near the equilibrium anisotropy value, which may destabilize the system. By analyzing the effects of pressure anisotropy perturbations and their damping rates on the time evolution of cosmic magnetic fields, we highlight the importance of these perturbations in driving plasma instabilities and boosting cosmic magnetic field amplification.
Lipoprotein Signal Peptide as Adjuvants: Leveraging Lipobox-Driven TLR2 Activation in Modern Vaccine Design
Authors: Umar Muhammad , Afzal Haroon , Murtaza Asad , Cheng Li-Ting
Published: January 2025

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) signaling is a pivotal component of immune system activation, and it is closely linked to the lipidation of bacterial proteins. This lipidation is guided by bacterial signal peptides (SPs), which ensure the precise targeting and membrane anchoring of these proteins. The lipidation process is essential for TLR2 recognition and the activation of robust immune responses, positioning lipidated bacterial proteins as potent immunomodulators and adjuvants for vaccines against bacterial-, viral-, and cancer-related antigens. The structural diversity and cleavage pathways of bacterial SPs are critical in determining lipidation efficiency and protein localization, influencing their immunogenic potential. Recent advances in bioinformatics have significantly improved the prediction of SP structures and cleavage sites, facilitating the rational design of recombinant lipoproteins optimized for immune activation. Moreover, the use of SP-containing lipobox motifs, as adjuvants to lipidate heterologous proteins, has expanded the potential of vaccines targeting a broad range of pathogens. However, challenges persist in expressing lipidated proteins, particularly within heterologous systems. These challenges can be addressed by optimizing expression systems, such as engineering E. coli strains for enhanced lipidation. Thus, lipoprotein signal peptides (SPs) demonstrate remarkable versatility as adjuvants in vaccine development, diagnostics, and immune therapeutics, highlighting their essential role in advancing immune-based strategies to combat diverse pathogens.
Introduction to Song’s “Persuasion vs. Coercion or Persuasion and Coercion”
Authors: Spears Larry C.
Published: January 2025

Introduction to Song’s “Persuasion vs. Coercion or Persuasion and Coercion”
Colloquium Servant-Leadership Interviews
Authors: Ferch Shann Ray
Published: January 2025

Colloquium Servant-Leadership Interviews
Servant-Leadership as a Pathway to Success for Foreign-Born Leaders
Authors: Davis Ashley
Published: January 2025

Immigrants have consistently been recognized as significant contributors to the United States economy, science, and innovation (Vandor & Franke, 2016). However, there remains a noticeable gap in the literature regarding the experiences and leadership development process of foreign-born leaders (FBLs). This article addresses this gap by highlighting the positive contributions of FBLs while noting the relatively small pool of effective FBLs in comparison to the large immigrant population in the United States, suggesting substantial untapped potential. The author explores common challenges faced by FBLs and emphasizes that overcoming these obstacles is integral to FBLs’ leadership development journey. The central argument of the article posits that understanding and attributing meaning to these struggles is essential for overcoming them and that servant-leadership provides a viable pathway to success for FBLs. While the onus of becoming effective leaders primarily lies with the FBLs themselves, the article concludes by offering examples for how supervisors can create a supportive environment conducive to FBLs’ growth. The exploration of FBLs’ experiences and their leadership development is particularly important given the current talent shortage, a condition expected to persist well into the late 2030s and beyond (Bremen, 2023). By redirecting attention and investing in this neglected group, there is potential to maximize their collective impact and contributions. FBLs can become a valuable part of the solution to the talent shortage issue.
The Boland Hall Fire: A Case Study on Campus Crisis and the Role of Servant-Leadership in Institutional Healing
Authors: Thampikutty Costin
Published: January 2025

The application of servant-leadership in crisis response within Catholic higher education has not been explored. Thus, this essay analyzes the Boland Hall Fire at Seton Hall University to further understand the nuances of servant-leadership in times of crises, and to examine how the principles of servant-leadership can play and cultivate institution-wide healing. By studying artifacts that display how Seton Hall University’s President, administration, and students displayed servant-leadership, this case study emphasizes the role of servant-leadership as an advantagous tool for Catholic higher education leaders in times of crisis.
Bridging the Tragic Gap with Servant-Leadership: An Exploration of Stewardship and Healing
Authors: Noling-Auth Jamie
Published: January 2025

This article utilizes servant-leadership theory to engage with the leadership predicament that theologian Parker Palmer calls “the tragic gap”—the disparity between a hopeful vision for good and the reality of humanity’s propensity for violence. Utilizing two of servant-leadership theory’s ten characteristics, this article explores how stewardship and healing might serve the servant-leader who wishes to bridge the tragic gap. Through a survey of interdisciplinary literature, this article concludes that essential actions of stewardship and healing include: honoring human dignity, care-giving, love, responsibility, and forgiveness.