bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anomaly Detection via Progressive Reconstruction and Hierarchical Feature Fusion
Authors: Liu Fei , Zhu Xiaoming , Feng Pingfa , Zeng Long
Published: October 2023

The main challenges in reconstruction-based anomaly detection include the breakdown of the generalization gap due to improved fitting capabilities and the overfitting problem arising from simulated defects. To overcome this, we propose a new method called PRFF-AD, which utilizes progressive reconstruction and hierarchical feature fusion. It consists of a reconstructive sub-network and a discriminative sub-network. The former achieves anomaly-free reconstruction while maintaining nominal patterns, and the latter locates defects based on pre- and post-reconstruction information. Given defective samples, we find that adopting a progressive reconstruction approach leads to higher-quality reconstructions without compromising the assumption of a generalization gap. Meanwhile, to alleviate the network’s overfitting of synthetic defects and address the issue of reconstruction errors, we fuse hierarchical features as guidance for discriminating defects. Moreover, with the help of an attention mechanism, the network achieves higher classification and localization accuracy. In addition, we construct a large dataset for packaging chips, named GTanoIC, with 1750 real non-defective samples and 470 real defective samples, and we provide their pixel-level annotations. Evaluation results demonstrate that our method outperforms other reconstruction-based methods on two challenging datasets: MVTec AD and GTanoIC.
Regional Inversion of Soil Heavy Metal Cr Content in Agricultural Land Using Zhuhai-1 Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Guo Hongxu , Yang Kai , Wu Fan , Chen Yu , Shen Jinxiang
Published: October 2023

With the development of hyperspectral imaging technology, the potential for utilizing hyperspectral images to accurately estimate heavy metal concentrations in regional soil has emerged. Currently, soil heavy metal inversion based on laboratory hyperspectral data has demonstrated a commendable level of accuracy. However, satellite images are susceptible to environmental factors such as atmospheric and soil background, presenting a significant challenge in the accurate estimation of soil heavy metal concentrations. In this study, typical chromium (Cr)-contaminated agricultural land in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, China, was taken as the study area. Soil sample collection, Cr content determination, laboratory spectral measurements, and hyperspectral satellite image collection were carried out simultaneously. The Zhuhai-1 hyperspectral satellite image spectra were corrected to match laboratory spectra using the direct standardization (DS) algorithm. Then, the corrected spectra were integrated into an optimal model based on laboratory spectral data and sample Cr content data for regional inversion of soil heavy metal Cr content in agricultural land. The results indicated that the combination of standard normal variate (SNV)+ uninformative variable elimination (UVE)+ support vector regression (SVR) model performed best with laboratory spectral data, achieving a high accuracy with an R2 of 0.97, RMSE of 5.87, MAE of 4.72, and RPD of 4.04. The DS algorithm effectively transformed satellite hyperspectral image data into spectra resembling laboratory measurements, mitigating the impact of environmental factors. Therefore, it can be applied for regional inversion of soil heavy metal content. Overall, the study area exhibited a low-risk level of Cr content in the soil, with the majority of Cr content values falling within the range of 36.21–76.23 mg/kg. Higher concentrations were primarily observed in the southeastern part of the study area. This study can provide useful exploration for the promotion and application of Zhuhai-1 image data in the regional inversion of soil heavy metals.
The Application of Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Biosensors in COVID-19 Detection Technology: A Review
Authors: Liang Qin-Hong , Cao Ban-Peng , Xiao Qiang , Wei Dacheng
Published: October 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by the infectious agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The primary method of diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 is nucleic acid detection, but this method requires specialized equipment and is time consuming. Therefore, a sensitive, simple, rapid, and low-cost diagnostic test is needed. Graphene field-effect transistor (GFET) biosensors have become the most promising diagnostic technology for detecting SARS-CoV-2 due to their advantages of high sensitivity, fast-detection speed, label-free operation, and low detection limit. This review mainly focus on three types of GFET biosensors to detect SARS-CoV-2. GFET biosensors can quickly identify SARS-CoV-2 within ultra-low detection limits. Finally, we will outline the pros and cons of the diagnostic approaches as well as future directions.
An Automated Wireless System for Monitoring Concrete Structures Based on Embedded Electrical Resistivity Sensors: Data Transmission and Effects on Concrete Properties
Authors: Tenório Filho José Roberto , Goethals Jasper , Aminzadeh Reza , Abbas Yawar , Valdez Madrid Dulce Elizabeth , Cnudde Veerle , Vermeeren Günter , Plets David , Matthys Stijn
Published: October 2023

Modern infrastructure heavily relies on robust concrete structures, underscoring the critical need for effective monitoring to ensure their safety and durability. This paper addresses this imperative issue by introducing an innovative automated and wireless system for continuous structural monitoring. By employing embedded electrical resistivity sensors coupled with a wireless-based data transmission mechanism, real-time data collection becomes feasible. We provide a general description of the system’s architecture and its application in a pilot study covering the effects of the devices on concrete properties and data transmission. The dielectric properties of concrete specimens were investigated under natural and accelerated curing/degradation and the results were used in the final design of the antenna device. Furthermore, a pilot test comprising four reinforced concrete columns was used to investigate the range of data transmission from inside to outside of the concrete, the effects of the hardware device on the compressive strength and concrete distribution in the columns, and the data transmission quality in real time under realistic exposure conditions.
Train Distance Estimation in Turnout Area Based on Monocular Vision
Authors: Hao Yang , Tang Tao , Gao Chunhai
Published: October 2023

Train distance estimation in a turnout area is an important task for the autonomous driving of urban railway transit, since this function can assist trains in sensing the positions of other trains within the turnout area and prevent potential collision accidents. However, because of large incident angles on object surfaces and far distances, Lidar or stereo vision cannot provide satisfactory precision for such scenarios. In this paper, we propose a method for train distance estimation in a turnout area based on monocular vision: firstly, the side windows of trains in turnout areas are detected by instance segmentation based on YOLOv8; secondly, the vertical directions, the upper edges and lower edges of side windows of the train are extracted by feature extraction; finally, the distance to the target train is calculated with an appropriated pinhole camera model. The proposed method is validated by practical data captured from Hong Kong Metro Tsuen Wan Line. A dataset of 2477 images is built to train the instance segmentation neural network, and the network is able to attain an MIoU of 92.43% and a MPA of 97.47% for segmentation. The accuracy of train distance estimation is then evaluated in four typical turnout area scenarios with ground truth data from on-board Lidar. The experiment results indicate that the proposed method achieves a mean RMSE of 0.9523 m for train distance estimation in four typical turnout area scenarios, which is sufficient for determining the occupancy of crossover in turnout areas.
Risk Contagion of Local Government Implicit Debt Integrating Complex Network and Multi-Subject Coordination
Authors: Wang Lei , Luo Zuchun , Wang Wenyi
Published: October 2023

This article analyzes the risk contagion mechanism of local government implicit debt from the perspective of multi-subject collaboration, considering interaction effects among different influencing factors. On this basis, with the help of complex network theory and mean field theory, a risk contagion model of local government implicit debt is constructed, and then the evolution characteristics and control strategies for risk contagion of local government implicit debt are analyzed theoretically and simulated. The main findings obtained from the study are: (1) A scale-free network is not conducive to the risk contagion of local government implicit debt, while the opposite is true for a random network. (2) Information openness accuracy and information disclosure strategy both exhibit a positive “U” shaped relationship with the risk contagion of local government implicit debt. Debt management level, emotional tendency, risk preference level, credit policy robustness, accountability mechanism soundness, and perfection of laws and regulations are all negatively correlated with the risk contagion of local government implicit debt. (3) In order to effectively reduce the risk contagion intensity of local government implicit debt, local governments at all levels should continuously strengthen their debt management capabilities and information openness, and the central government should continuously improve accountability mechanisms, laws, and regulations. At the same time, financial institutions and the media should actively play the role of “stabilizers”. However, the local government implicit debt risk is an inherent risk, and its control focus should be on reducing rather than eliminating the risk.
An Improved Big Data Analytics Architecture Using Federated Learning for IoT-Enabled Urban Intelligent Transportation Systems
Authors: Kaleem Sarah , Sohail Adnan , Tariq Muhammad Usman , Asim Muhammad
Published: October 2023

The exponential growth of the Internet of Things has precipitated a revolution in Intelligent Transportation Systems, notably in urban environments. An ITS leverages advancements in communication technologies and data analytics to enhance the efficiency and intelligence of transport networks. At the same time, these IoT-enabled ITSs generate a vast array of complex data classified as Big Data. Traditional data analytics frameworks need help to efficiently process these Big Data due to its sheer volume, velocity, variety, and significant data privacy concerns. Federated Learning, known for its privacy-preserving attributes, is a promising technology for implementation within ITSs for IoT-generated Big Data. Nevertheless, the system faces challenges due to the variable nature of devices, the heterogeneity of data, and the dynamic conditions in which ITS operates. Recent efforts to mitigate these challenges focus on the practical selection of an averaging mechanism during the server’s aggregation phase and practical dynamic client training. Despite these efforts, existing research still relies on personalized FL with personalized averaging and client training. This paper presents a personalized architecture, including an optimized Federated Averaging strategy that leverages FL for efficient and real-time Big Data analytics in IoT-enabled ITSs. Various personalization methods are applied to enhance the traditional averaging algorithm. Local fine-tuning and weighted averaging tailor the global model to individual client data. Custom learning rates are utilized to boost the performance further. Regular evaluations are advised to maintain model efficacy. The proposed architecture addresses critical challenges like real-life federated environment settings, data integration, and significant data privacy, offering a comprehensive solution for modern urban transportation systems using Big Data. Using the Udacity Self-Driving Car Dataset foe vehicle detection, we apply the proposed approaches to demonstrate the efficacy of our model. Our empirical findings validate the superiority of our architecture in terms of scalability, real-time decision-making capabilities, and data privacy preservation. We attained accuracy levels of 93.27%, 92.89%, and 92.96% for our proposed model in a Federated Learning architecture with 10 nodes, 20 nodes, and 30 nodes, respectively.
Optimization of Accurate Spacing for Gas Extraction from Damaged Coal Seams Based on a Dual-Penetration Model
Authors: Yan Jin , Lei Kejiang , Jiang Yuangang , Zhang Minbo , Zhang Weizhong , Yin Hao
Published: October 2023

In order to develop precise hole placement technology for gas extraction, this paper combines industrial testing, the evolution law of coal rock damage permeability, and the coal double-pore double-permeability model; establishes a coupling model of the coal damage deformation field and matrix-fracture double diffusion seepage field; and determines precise hole placement spacing for a coal seam gas by using the COMSOL Multiphysics 5.6 numerical simulation software. This study shows that the effective radius of gas extraction is 4.8 m after 180 d of extraction, which is a power function of the extraction time. The permeability of the coal body is affected by matrix adsorption, and contraction and effective stress, and the influence range between the boreholes under multi-hole extraction increases with the increase in spacing; at the same time, we took into account the positive effect of the permeability change on the extraction effect and ultimately determined the optimal spacing of boreholes in Dashucun Mine to be 6 m, which was arranged in the square area. The extraction effect was good after the on-site test, and the results of this study can provide guidance for the optimal arrangement of the spacing of boreholes in the underground areas of coal mines.
Student Perceptions of Environmental Education in India
Authors: Goel Anubha , Iyer-Raniga Usha , Jain Supreme , Addya Asmita , Srivastava Shivam , Pandey Ravish , Rathi Shubham
Published: October 2023

Effective implementation of environmental education (EE) is to produce students who have experienced an attitudinal change so that they can evaluate and show their concern for sustainable development (SD). Environmental education (EE) was introduced as a compulsory subject for schoolchildren in 2003. In the present study, we conducted an offline survey on senior primary, middle, and high school students in one school in the north Indian city of Kanpur. The responses received for the offline questionnaire survey QS (including open-ended and closed-ended questions) from ~800 students reveal that schoolchildren have heard of climate change (CC) and perceive it as a significant threat. Most of them feel that temperature rise is the most notable consequence of CC and show great willingness for knowledge enhancement and action. However, there is a lack of understanding of the difference between EE and CCE (climate change education) in the Indian context. The results also indicate critical gaps related to the environmental dimension of education, and students overwhelmingly want increased school activities that will enhance awareness and build capacity. The need to integrate EE and CCE and spread information on the ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) initiative of UNESCO in urban India is urgent. Social media emerges as a significant player in awareness generation. Its use can help reach out to a broader audience. Students’ proactive engagement in awareness campaigns and energetic participation, already reported by several studies to have a positive impact, is essential for promoting climate action and sustainability. It sheds light on the status of the effectiveness of EE in the school curriculum of India with the aim of promoting environmental literacy. The recent G-20 Summit held in New Delhi, India, recognized the increased vulnerability of low-income countries to climate change and re-iterated its commitment to delivering quality education to all and following a green development path and highlighted the “green development path for a sustainable future” The paper outlines suggestions for educational interventions to enhance students’ comprehension of global critical environmental challenges and promote mitigation strategies.
Managing Uncertainties in Supply Chains for Enhanced E-Commerce Engagement: A Generation Z Perspective on Retail Shopping through Facebook
Authors: Al Moteri Moteeb , Alojail Mohammed , Khan Surbhi Bhatia
Published: October 2023

This research investigates the uncertainties in supply chains using symmetrical and asymmetrical modeling tools, focusing on the attitudes of millennials towards Facebook retail shopping. By exploring antecedents such as pleasure, credibility, and peer interaction, this study delves into the extent of E-commerce via Facebook among Generation Z in the Middle East. Built on an exhaustive literature review, a conceptual framework is designed targeting solely Generation Z members. Employing partial least squares structural equation modeling for data analysis, the findings indicate a strong correlation between attitude and the propensity of Generation Z to make Facebook retail purchases (R2 = 0.540), affecting enjoyment, credibility, and peer communication (R2 = 0.589). This study offers strategies for supply chain improvements and validates the potential of E-commerce on Facebook among Generation Z.
Augmented Reality and Tourism: A Bibliometric Analysis of New Technological Bets in the Post-COVID Era
Authors: Ariza-Colpas Paola Patricia , Piñeres-Melo Marlon Alberto , Morales-Ortega Roberto Cesar , Rodriguez-Bonilla Andres-Felipe , Butt-Aziz Shariq , Naz Sumera , del Carmen Contreras-Chinchilla Leidys , Romero-Mestre Maribel , Ascanio Ronald Alexander Vacca
Published: October 2023

Tourism is a sector of high relevance worldwide, due to the multiple impacts it generates in local, regional, national, continental, and global economies, and it is a key generator of employment and provides sustenance to an innumerable number of people around the world. There have been many challenges at a global level to improve the user experience in a particular tourist place, where technology has played a highly relevant role in strengthening the conditions for tourists to achieve immersion in the culture, gastronomy, and recreation. The objective of this literature review is precisely to know and understand the key contributions that are currently being developed around the implementation of augmented reality as tourist technological support for user experiences. The literature on this topic is quite dispersed in specialized databases; therefore, it constitutes an opportunity to carry out a more detailed exploration of the topic. To address the different developments that have been carried out on tourism and augmented reality, an analysis was carried out based on the fusion of scientometric analysis and the metaphor of the Tree of Science, in which two relevant visions about the data were generated. The first focused on the different scientometric statistics regarding countries, authors, universities, or research or technological development centers that currently generate new applications based on augmented reality for tourism. The second focused on an evolutionary analysis based on the Tree of Science, analyzing the origins of the basic contributions of research and how it has evolved over time. This review indicates that the topic is currently valid and that it has been strengthened even more with the post-pandemic process, where many technological developments have been strengthened that allow people to enjoy tourist and cultural sites even without leaving home.
Pollution Transfer under Intergovernmental Competition: Suppression or Opportunity
Authors: Zhang Hongmin , Zhang Jinghua
Published: October 2023

In recent years, the Sustainable Development Goals have introduced a “race to the top” mechanism to complement the “race to the bottom” in local governance and have an impact on pollution. This study utilizes the environmentally oriented accreditation of National Civilized Cities as a policy shock and applies the PSM-DID method to identify the pollution-relocation effects among cities triggered by the competition in local governance. The results indicate that environmentally oriented intergovernmental competition leads to the transfer of industrial enterprises to non-accredited cities, resulting in a significant increase in their pollution emissions and industrial pollution intensity. This indicates that the competition in asymmetric local governance will lead to the transfer of pollution to backward regions, which hampers the overall implementation efficiency of national environmental policies. Furthermore, heterogeneity analysis reveals that the impact is more significant for cities in the central and western regions. Being nominated for the National Civilized City accreditation helps to inhibit the influx of polluting enterprises. Cities that are not part of integrated environmental regulatory regions show a more pronounced increase in pollution emissions compared to other cities, indicating that symmetric local government environmental regulations and environmental collaborative governance contribute to restraining pollution transfer.
Sustainability of Spent Nickel-Based Electroplating Baths: An Innovative Valorisation Process
Authors: Moura Bruna , Papaioannou Evangelos , Grigoropoulos Alexios , Zoikis-Karathanasis Alexandros , Monteiro Helena
Published: October 2023

The plating industry is a high-pollutant sector because it consumes a significant amount of chemical compounds and produces a large volume of hazardous waste via the disposal of spent plating baths. Thus, the development of regeneration/purification routes to extend the lifetime of the plating baths may be a good opportunity to reduce both the environmental impact and the production costs of the plating industry. In this context, an innovative and in situ purification process, that uses magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to capture and remove contaminants and undesirable chemicals from the plating baths, extending their lifetime, was studied within the scope of the PureNano project. To support the process that has been developed, this work aimed to assess the sustainability of this recovery route and highlight its potential benefits. A comparative analysis was conducted between this novel route and conventional alternatives (i.e., underground disposal and incineration). To do so, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies were used to evaluate the environmental impact and production costs, and an ecoefficiency analysis was performed to understand the trade-offs of each scenario. The results showed that MNPs were the main hotspot for the environmental impact and production costs. Overall, the purified plating baths may lead to lower environmental impacts (−98%) and processing costs (up to −95%) than other conventional alternatives. Regarding the ecoefficiency analysis, Scenario A (recovery route without MNPs recycling) and A-R (recovery route with MNPs valorisation) have a better economic/environmental impact relation than the conventional scenarios, i.e., incineration, and deposition in a landfill. However, Scenario A was the most ecoefficient scenario. In addition to this, further research is needed, namely, to search for other materials that may replace the most expensive and burdensome ones, and to investigate the use of renewable energy sources in MNPs production to improve their environmental and economic performances.
Flexural Strength of High-Performance Soil-Cement: A New, Alternative, Sustainable Construction Material
Authors: Vinolas Bernat , Casanovas-Rubio Maria del Mar , Silva Alexandre Christofaro , Bretas Roa Juan Pedro , Andrade Alan Cardek Lopes , Carvalho Frank A. de , Gonçalves Hugo Henrique A. , Rocha Helton John A.
Published: October 2023

Soil-cement is a building material that is considered low-cost and has a low environmental impact. Despite its benefits, performance optimisation studies are scarce compared to other materials such as concrete. The possibility of obtaining soil-cement with improved characteristics, such as flexural strength, would enable the increased use of this product in new applications in construction. The aim of this study is to produce high-performance soil-cement (HPSC) specimens and to evaluate and compare this new material with high-performance concrete (HPC) in terms of flexural strength. A total of 12 specimens were produced with a mixture of 23.5% (by mass) of cement with the application of 10 MPa of pressure for its compaction. The results show that, at 28 days, the specimens reached an average strength of 6.73 MPa and, at 240 days, 12.34 MPa. This means that the HPSC reached a flexural strength resistance equivalent to HPC without the need for mined materials, such as sand and gravel, or the additives adopted in some doses of HPC, such as superplasticisers. Therefore, when using local soil, HPSC can be considered an environmentally preferable alternative to HPC for many construction applications where flexural strength is a requirement.
Achieving a Sustainable Transportation System via Economic, Environmental, and Social Optimization: A Comprehensive AHP-DEA Approach from the Waste Transportation Sector
Authors: Hmamed Hala , Benghabrit Asmaa , Cherrafi Anass , Hamani Nadia
Published: October 2023

Given the growing global emphasis on sustainable transportation systems, this research presents a comprehensive approach to achieving economic, social, and environmental efficiency in transport within the waste management sector. To address the different challenges of sustainable transportation issues, this paper presents a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach that incorporates the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) along with data envelopment analysis (DEA) for sustainable route selection. By leveraging the strengths of both methods, this approach reconciles conflicting requirements and diverse perspectives, facilitating effective decision making. This paper involves identifying relevant criteria for route evaluation, engaging waste management company experts and stakeholders in pairwise comparisons using AHP. Furthermore, DEA is used to calculate route efficiency based on the inputs and outputs of the system. These evaluations enable the identification of the most effective and sustainable routes. This proposed methodology empowers decision makers and transportation policymakers to develop an effective decision-making tool for addressing waste transportation challenges in developing countries. The study contributes to the growing body of research on sustainable waste management practices and provides insights for waste management companies and decision makers on how to optimize waste transportation routes while reducing economic, social, and environmental impacts.
Head Regional Differences in Thermal Comfort: Evaluating a Novel Surgical Helmet Cooling Method with Phase Change Material
Authors: Mercurio Michele , Galasso Olimpio , de Filippis Renato , Familiari Filippo , Gasparini Giorgio
Published: October 2023

Thermal comfort is a significant factor in maintaining a satisfactory perception of the body temperature and influences behavioral thermoregulation. This pilot study aimed to investigate regional differences in thermal comfort in the head and neck areas by applying a surgical helmet equipped with cooling pads containing octadecane (CAS 593-45-3) as a phase change material (PCM) in healthy volunteers. Forty-three surgeons and nurses were enrolled. Octadecane is an odorless alkane hydrocarbon with an appearance of white crystal and a melting point of 28 °C. The PCM pads, each with a diameter of 5 cm and containing 7 g of octadecane, were placed between the helmet and the wearer’s head directly in contact with the skin. To identify the areas of the head and neck investigated, the surface was sampled and numbered, with the identification of a total of 38 different locations. A climate chamber maintained at 23–26 °C was used for the experiment. Thermal comfort of the stimulated area was reported by the subjects in an evaluation questionnaire at the end of the local stimulation conducted for 1 h. The sensations were reported as 1 (maximum uncomfortable) to 7 (maximum cold comfort), with 4 indicating a neutral sensation. The duration of the thermal comfort effect was also recorded. The highest mean value reported was 6 in five areas. The frontal region, the frontotemporal region, and the neck region were the areas sensitive to thermal comfort. A neutral sensation was reported in 13 areas. No uncomfortable sensation was reported in any area. This pilot study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and potential benefits of integrating PCM cooling pads into surgical helmets to enhance thermal comfort.
Periodic Solution Problems for a Class of Hebbian-Type Networks with Time-Varying Delays
Authors: Xu Mei , Yin Honghui , Du Bo
Published: October 2023

By using Gronwall’s inequality and coincidence degree theory, the sufficient conditions of the globally exponential stability and existence are given for a Hebbian-type network with time-varying delays. The periodic behavior phenomenon is one of the hot topics in network systems research, from which we can discover the symmetric characteristics of certain neurons. The main theorems in the present paper are illustrated using a numerical example.
The Wreath Product of Powerful p-Groups
Authors: Alharbi Bashayer S. , Alghamdi Ahmad M.
Published: October 2023

This study provides a scholarly examination of fundamental concepts within the field of group theory, specifically focusing on topics such as the wreath product and powerful p-groups. We examine the characteristics pertaining to the structure of the wreath product of cyclic p-groups, with a specific focus on the groups that are powerfully embedded within it. The primary discovery pertains to the construction of the powerful wreath product and the quasi-powerful wreath product. In this study, we establish that subgroups are powerful within the wreath product, specifically focusing on p-groups. The aforementioned outcome is derived from the assumption that p is a prime number and W is the standard wreath product of two nontrivial cyclic p-groups, denoted as G and H.
Uniform Convexity in Variable Exponent Sobolev Spaces
Authors: Bachar Mostafa , Khamsi Mohamed A. , Méndez Osvaldo
Published: October 2023

We prove the modular convexity of the mixed norm Lp(ℓ2) on the Sobolev space W1,p(Ω) in a domain Ω⊂Rn under the sole assumption that the exponent p(x) is bounded away from 1, i.e., we include the case supx∈Ωp(x)=∞. In particular, the mixed Sobolev norm is uniformly convex if 1<infx∈Ωp(x)≤supx∈Ωp(x)<∞ and W01,p(Ω) is uniformly convex.
Strengthening Resilient Built Environments through Human Social Capital: A Path to Post-COVID-19 Recovery
Authors: Agboola Oluwagbemiga Paul , Nia Hourakhsh Ahmad , Dodo Yakubu Aminu
Published: October 2023

There are strong indications that the built environment has had a great influence on the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-disaster recovery. The COVID-19 pandemic has adversely affected both human and global development, while efforts to combat this menace call for an integrated human social capital index. This research seeks to enhance understanding of how the built environment can be enhanced through resilience against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to investigate the impact of a resilient built environment on increasing resilience in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The quantitative studies test the impact of four built environment resilience indices (built environment capital, disaster management indices, awareness of the COVID-19 pandemic, and built environment adaptive strategies) on human social capital and COVID-19 pandemic indices. This study reveals the role of human social capital in achieving a resilient built environment in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. Built environment capital, disaster management indices, and awareness of COVID-19 also indirectly affect the COVID-19 pandemic indices through human social capital. This study’s implications are useful for post-COVID-19 recovery, which is important for future planning of the built environment in Nigeria.
Fluoride Contamination in Groundwater of Community Tube Wells, Source Distribution, Associated Health Risk Exposure, and Suitability Analysis for Drinking from Arid Zone
Authors: Ullah Zahid , Rashid Abdur , Nawab Javed , Bacha Aziz-Ur-Rahim , Ghani Junaid , Iqbal Javed , Zhu Zhiling , Alrefaei Abdulwahed Fahad , Almutairi Mikhlid H.
Published: October 2023

Fluoride (F−) pollution in potable groundwater (GW) is a serious environmental concern in Pakistan with substantial human health hazard reports. The research on F− pollution in GW resources in Sindh Province is still incomplete. To explore the realistic conditions, the present research aimed to investigate the GW quality of community tube wells concerning F− contamination in Tharparkar, Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 53 samples were collected and examined for F−, along with other physicochemical parameters. The F− values observed varied from 0.2–4.2 mg/L, with a mean value of 1.63 mg/L. Among the 53 samples, 46% had F− levels that were higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit (1.5 mg/L). The water type of the studied region was Ca-HCO3 type, which can be attributed to fresh recharged water. The interaction of rock–water contact controls the hydrochemistry of GW. The GW resources of the research zone were highly saturated with fluorite minerals. Human health risk calculation outcomes exposed that 21 samples showed high HQ values for children and 7 samples showed high values for adults in the research zone. Children are at high risk in the study area from drinking F−-contaminated GW. WQI results showed that 31 samples were not suitable for drinking.
Impact of Climate Change on Reservoir Operation during the Dry Season in the Pearl River Basin
Authors: Liu Jin , Wang Sen , Jia Wenhao , Chen Mufeng , Wang Xiayu , Yao Hongyi , Ni Xiaokuan
Published: October 2023

Climate change has far-reaching impacts that have created new challenges for water resource management. As an important measure to coordinate the relationship between society, economy, and environment, reservoir scheduling can reduce the future impact of climate change. It is, therefore, important to investigate the impacts of scheduling on reservoir operation. In this study, a reservoir system in the Pearl River Basin was selected to explore these impacts. Results show that the basin temperature significantly and abruptly increased in 2000, and precipitation and streamflow changed abruptly in 1983 and 1992. Historically, climate change has increased power generation, increased the risks to water supply security and ecological protection, and altered the relationship between power generation and ecological protection objectives. Based on 28 global climate models, the rank scoring method, Delta statistical downscaling, and the SWAT model, three emission scenarios (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5) in CMCC-CM were evaluated to assess the climate change impact. In the future, the temperature will continue to exhibit an increasing trend, and the amount and distribution of streamflow will be altered. Although climate change will increase power generation in the dry season, it will also bring about new challenges for ecological protection and water supply security. Accordingly, the Datengxia Reservoir operating rules may require significant amendments.
NaOH-Activated Natural Glauconite for Low-Cost Adsorption of Congo Red Dye
Authors: Hamd Ahmed , Salah Doaa , Alyafei Huda Fadol , Soliman Nofal K. , El-Reedy Ahmed A. M. , Elzanaty Ali M. , Al-Saeedi Sameerah I. , Al-Ghamdi Azza , Shaban Mohamed , El-Sayed Refat , Ahmed Sayed A.
Published: October 2023

To explore the adsorption of Congo red (CR) dye from textile effluent, natural clay glauconite was employed as a sustainable and inexpensive adsorbent. The effects of varying concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) on glauconite alteration were examined. Furthermore, this research focuses on the optimal NaOH concentration that improves removal efficiency and adsorption capacity. Thus, four NaOH solutions of concentrations ranging from 1 M to 4 M were used to activate glauconite raw (GL), indicated as GLACT1M, GLACT2M, GLACT3M, and GLACT4M. These samples were characterized using different analysis tools. The effects of starting concentration, adsorption time, adsorbent dosage, pH, temperature, and reusability on removal efficacy were all investigated. The data show that the CR removal efficiency increases with modification up to a 2 M NaOH activation, beyond which it begins to decrease. At 25 °C and pH 7, the CR removal efficiencies were ~77%, 72%, 80%, 34.5%, and 30.5% by GL, GLACT1M, GLACT2M, GLACT3M, and GLACT4M, respectively. Batch experiments were performed to explore both the kinetics and isotherms of CR adsorption to determine the impact of different experimental conditions accurately. Moreover, isotherm interpretations demonstrated that the Freundlich isotherm closely matches the experimental results. The pseudo-second-order model clearly explains the obtained results (R2 = 0.998) from 5 to 25 ppm for GL, GLACT1M, GLACT2M, and GLACT3M, but GLACT4 is expressed by the Elovich model from 20 to 25 ppm. The reusability investigation revealed that the reusability of adsorbents could be achieved efficiently. The findings suggest that glauconite and its NaOH-activated forms can be employed as natural and affordable adsorbents for removing CR from textile effluent.
Enhancing Runoff Simulation Using BTOP-LSTM Hybrid Model in the Shinano River Basin
Authors: Nimai Silang , Ren Yufeng , Ao Tianqi , Zhou Li , Liang Hanxu , Cui Yanmin
Published: October 2023

Runoff simulation is an ongoing challenge in the field of hydrology. Process-based (PB) hydrological models often gain unsatisfactory simulation accuracy due to incomplete physical process representations. While the deep learning (DL) models demonstrate their capacity to grasp intricate hydrological response processes, they still face constraints pertaining to the representative training data and comprehensive hydrological observations. In order to provide unobservable hydrological variables from the PB model to the DL model, this study constructed hybrid models by feeding the output variables of the PB model (BTOP) into the DL model (LSTM) as additional input features. These variables underwent feature dimensionality reduction using the feature selection method (Pearson Correlation Coefficient, PCC) and the feature extraction method (Principal Component Analysis, PCA) before input into LSTM. The results showed that the standalone LSTM performed well across the basin, with NSE values all exceeding 0.70. The hybrid models enhanced the simulation performance of the standalone LSTM. The NSE values increased from 0.75 to nearly 0.80 in a sub-basin. Lastly, if the BTOP output is directly fed into LSTM without feature dimensionality reduction, the model’s accuracy significantly decreases due to noise interference. The NSE value decreased by 0.09 compared to the standalone LSTM in a sub-basin. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of PCC and PCA in removing redundant information within hydrological variables. These findings provide new insights into incorporating physical information into LSTM and constructing hybrid models.
Potential of Laccase as a Tool for Biodegradation of Wastewater Micropollutants
Authors: Janusz Grzegorz , Skwarek Ewa , Pawlik Anna
Published: October 2023

In the 21st century, humans are facing a high risk of exposure to emerging pollutants. Water contamination has become a major threat due to its devastating impacts on the entire ecosystem. Relatively great danger for aquatic microorganisms is posed by organic micropollutants, which are a consequence of progressing urbanization and industrialization. This review focuses on laccase of mainly fungal and bacterial origin, which provides an eco-friendly strategy for the transformation of these harmful pollutants to less or non-toxic compounds, as it acts oxidatively on the aromatic ring of a wide range of compounds, releasing water as the only by-product. Laccase alone or with the use of mediators has been used successfully to remove micropollutants from wastewater, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, biocides, endocrine disrupting agents, steroid hormones, and microplastics. Even though the potential of an LMS (laccase–mediator system) is tremendous, the selection of an appropriate mediator and the persistent monitoring of toxicity after treatment are critical and should be performed routinely. Hence, further research is still needed for the optimization of degradation processes to improve our understanding of the different interactions of laccase with the substrate and to develop sustainable advanced water treatment systems.
Peningkatan Kompetensi Masyarakat Berbasis Sapta Pesona Melalui Service Excellent Di Perkampungan Budaya Betawi Setu Babakam
Authors: Dewi Liliana , Karyatun Subur , Emelia Reza
Published: October 2023

Perkampungan Budaya Betawi Setu Babakan is a community Betawi cultural preservation centre. Research problems are communities lack of socialization, and training about destination tourism management impacted service excellence and environment. The objective of this community service on Perkampungan budaya Betawi Setu Babakan is to share knowledge with communities to develop human resources tourism competencies and give service excellence. Participants are local communities and local government, UPK Setu Babakan. The result is that the locals get knowledge and experience about Sapta Pesona and how to serve excellent visitors.
La construction des identités sexuelles à l’école L’exemple de lycéens d’un quartier populaire
Authors: Deville Julie
Published: October 2023

L’intérêt porté aujourd’hui aux problèmes de la mixité dans les quartiers ne doit pas masquer la persistance du rôle de l’école dans la différenciation sexuelle des adolescents. Ces jeunes ont toujours connu l’école mixte et ne la remettent pas en cause, mais ils acceptent comme « normales » les différences d’orientation entre garçons et filles, et montrent même souvent une certaine satisfaction à se trouver séparés de l’autre sexe. Les stéréotypes sexuels sont retraduits en termes d’aptitudes scolaires et contribuent ainsi à la séparation des sexes hors de l’école, puis dans la vie professionnelle.
La ségrégation sexuée dans les quartiers populaires
Authors: Kebabza Horia
Published: October 2023

La vie collective dans les quartiers populaires se structure selon une division sexuée de l’espace et des lieux. Les garçons «trônent » au bas des immeubles, les filles, toujours en plus faible proportion, se regroupent en fonction de leur temps libre et des espaces disponibles. Car hommes et femmes du quartier ont des espaces «réservés » , identifiés par l’ensemble des groupes, et l’usage veut que l’on respecte ces «périmètres » . L’accession à l’espace urbain, aux lieux publics, s’opère selon des modalités différentes en fonction du sexe. Très vite, ces usages deviennent des habitudes, et bientôt des règles qui ont force de «lois » .
La médiation sociale en emploi-jeune. Une activité professionnelle virile
Authors: Divay Sophie
Published: October 2023

Les emplois-jeunes spécialisés dans le domaine de la médiation sociale ont été marqués par une forme de discrimination sexiste. Les médiatrices de quartier sont ainsi en nombre inférieur par rapport aux médiateurs et cantonnées dans des rôles professionnels sexués. Force est de constater que ces emplois dits innovants renforcent en fait bien des inégalités traditionnelles dans le monde du travail.
Quand une école bouscule les normes
Authors: Carra Cécile , Faggianelli Daniel
Published: October 2023

Cet article rend compte d’une étude portant sur le fonctionnement d’une école expérimentale Freinet située en réseau d’éducation prioritaire et sur ses efforts pour répondre aux difficultés scolaires, à l’éviction des élèves et à la violence. Cette école a aujourd’hui perdu sa mauvaise réputation. La dynamique sociale engagée contribue à transformer le rapport aux normes des élèves, en particulier le rapport à la loi, aux autres et au savoir.
L’éducation partagée : une idée neuve ?
Authors: Richez Jean-Claude
Published: October 2023

«A priori», la notion d’éducation partagée va de soi et relève du sens commun. Si l’on interroge autour de soi «qui éduque ?», il est répondu spontanément : les parents et l’école. C’est ce qui ressort d’ailleurs d’un sondage récent TNS Sofres. Pourtant, au-delà des évidences, la coresponsabilité éducative soulève des questions et rencontre des obstacles.
L’éducation prioritaire : une politique sous-administrée
Authors: Lorcerie Françoise
Published: October 2023

Cet article propose une approche de l’éducation prioritaire en tant que politique publique. Il s’appuie sur l’ensemble fort riche (mais surtout à caractère sociologique) des données publiées, ainsi que sur une enquête inédite spécifique réalisée de 2003 à 2005 dans le cadre du programme de la Direction de la programmation et du développement (DPD-MEN) et de la Délégation à l’aménagement du territoire et à l’action régionale (DATAR), éducation et formation : « Disparités territoriales et régionales ». Pour des raisons pratiques, la recherche s’est focalisée sur le niveau du collège.
Le rapport aux savoirs des enfants et adolescents des banlieues toulousaines
Authors: Benayoun Chantal , Tandian Aly
Published: October 2023

L’enquête dont il est ici question porte sur des jeunes de 10 à 20 ans des banlieues toulousaines. À distance des visions centrées sur la cristallisation des « bandes » et leurs violentes manifestations, elle considère les groupes juvéniles comme des espaces d’échanges sociocognitifs dans lesquels s’élabore et se joue un certain rapport à la culture, entre dénigrement et valorisation de la culture savante.
L’école et les mobilités en ville
Authors: Santelli Emmanuelle , Legube Aude
Published: October 2023

Les jeunes des cités sont généralement perçus comme intrinsèquement liés à leur quartier de résidence, quartier qui agit d’ailleurs sur leur construction identitaire. Il s’agit de comprendre de quelle manière le rapport au quartier résulte d’une histoire dont les mobilités entreprises à l’occasion du parcours scolaire peuvent être les témoins.
Loisirs et immigration. Convergence ou résistance culturelle ?
Authors: Coulangeon Philippe
Published: October 2023

Les pratiques observées dans le domaine des loisirs au sein des populations immigrées et issues de l’immigration témoignent d’un mouvement global de convergence culturelle qui peut être mis à l’actif du modèle français d’intégration. Cependant, ce constat peut aussi être lu comme le résultat de l’incapacité assumée des politiques publiques, et en particulier des politiques culturelles, à soutenir l’expression de la diversité des modes de vie, des traditions et des expressions artistiques et culturelles des populations qui font la France contemporaine.
« Communautarisme » : l’imaginaire nationaliste
Authors: Dhume Fabrice
Published: October 2023

La sémantique ne laisse pas de doute : l’idée de « communautarisme » repose sur une lecture réactionnelle, qui dénonce inlassablement le «risque », la « dérive », la « menace ». On met en scène une opposition radicale entre deux figures fantasmatiques, dont l’une est censée être l’exact contraire de l’autre.
Contre l’abandon orthographique des élèves de ZEP
Authors: Manesse Danièle
Published: October 2023

Pour la majeure partie des professeurs de français de collège de ZEP, l’orthographe des élèves est une question non résolue (parmi bien d’autres) et douloureuse : à la vérité, de manière massive, ils ne savent plus comment s’y prendre pour l’enseigner à des élèves dont les travaux écrits sont si défaillants qu’aucune intervention localisée ne semble pouvoir mordre sur ce qui semble un chaos bien installé.