bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Scoping Review of Options for Increasing Biogas Production from Sewage Sludge: Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Energy Self-Sufficiency in Wastewater Treatment Plants
Authors: Lima Derick , Appleby Gregory , Li Li
Published: March 2023

Treating municipal wastewater is a complex and costly process. With rising energy costs and sustainability targets, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are looking for alternatives to reduce operating costs and carbon dependence. Anaerobic digestion is the most common and established technology used in WWTPs to treat sludge since it can potentially improve energy recovery and reduce sewage treatment costs, mainly due to the generation of biogas. Biogas is a renewable energy resource and can be used in several applications, including heating and producing electricity. By exploring the biogas potential, WWTPs can reduce their operating costs and energy demands. The objective of this paper is to conduct a scoping literature review in order to provide the key concepts underpinning alternatives to improve biogas production and utilisation in WWTPs. In addition, this study aims to provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art that may serve as a quick reference for the research community, WWTP operators, and engineers, including definitions and a general overview of the current state of biogas technologies around the world. Methods to increase biogas production, including co-digestion, pre-treatment, and biological hydrogen methanation, are reviewed, and the alternatives to using biogas are also summarised. This review has identified that co-digestion was the most efficient technique to improve biogas production and methane yield, while pre-treatment of sludge improved sludge biodegradability and reduced sludge treatment costs but also enhanced biogas production. Although many studies have explored different methods to improve biogas production in WWTPs, there is still a need for further investigation, especially regarding the techno-economic feasibility of these methods in full-scale facilities. The current challenges are mainly related to the need for extra investment and increased operating costs to integrate the new techniques into the current system. There is a great interest in alternatives to improve energy efficiency and self-sufficiency in WWTPs. This work provides an important review of the increasing number of recently published research papers that focus on improving biogas generation from sewage sludge in WWTPs.
Hosting Capacity Assessment Strategies and Reinforcement Learning Methods for Coordinated Voltage Control in Electricity Distribution Networks: A Review
Authors: Suchithra Jude , Robinson Duane , Rajabi Amin
Published: March 2023

Increasing connection rates of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems to electricity distribution networks has become a major concern for the distribution network service providers (DNSPs) due to the inability of existing network infrastructure to accommodate high levels of PV penetration while maintaining voltage regulation and other operational requirements. The solution to this dilemma is to undertake a hosting capacity (HC) study to identify the maximum penetration limit of rooftop PV generation and take necessary actions to enhance the HC of the network. This paper presents a comprehensive review of two topics: HC assessment strategies and reinforcement learning (RL)-based coordinated voltage control schemes. In this paper, the RL-based coordinated voltage control schemes are identified as a means to enhance the HC of electricity distribution networks. RL-based algorithms have been widely used in many power system applications in recent years due to their precise, efficient and model-free decision-making capabilities. A large portion of this paper is dedicated to reviewing RL concepts and recently published literature on RL-based coordinated voltage control schemes. A non-exhaustive classification of RL algorithms for voltage control is presented and key RL parameters for the voltage control problem are identified. Furthermore, critical challenges and risk factors of adopting RL-based methods for coordinated voltage control are discussed.
Greenfield Investment as a Catalyst of Green Economic Growth
Authors: Kwilinski Aleksy , Lyulyov Oleksii , Pimonenko Tetyana
Published: March 2023

The intensification of countries’ growth causes the depletion of natural resources, biodiversity degradation, ecological imbalances, damage, and disasters. The aggravation of ecological issues requires the development of mechanisms for simultaneous achievement of economic, social, and ecological goals. The energy sector is the core direction of economic decarbonization. Therefore, green economic growth requires economic development due to the extension of innovative technologies for renewable energies and relevant investment for that. The study aims to test the hypothesis on the impact of green field investment on green economic growth. The object of the research was countries in the European Union (EU) for 2006–2020. This study applied the Malmquist-Luenberger Global Productivity Index to estimate green economic growth. It considers the resources available for the production process in the country (labor, capital, energy), the desired outcome (gross domestic product) and undesirable results (emissions to the environment) of this process. The study applied the Tobit model to test the hypothesis. The findings confirm the spatial heterogeneity of green economic growth among the EU countries. The asymmetry in technological efficiency and progress limits the efficacy of green innovations. At the same time, the obtained data confirm the research hypothesis. It is shown that along with green investments, economic openness and the efficiency of public governance have a positive effect on the green economic growth of countries. The findings highlight the importance of attracting green investments to increase green innovations in renewable energy, which boost green economic growth. This study explored the linear and direct effects of green investment on the green economic growth while eliminating the transmission impact of other mediating factors. It should be noted that further research should analyze the nonlinear impact of green investment on the green economic growth and the mediating effect, which could be caused by other variables (corruption, governance efficiency, green innovations, etc.).
Does Off-Farm Employment Promote the Low-Carbon Energy Intensity in China’s Rural Households?
Authors: Wang Ping , Li Shen-Li , Zou Shao-Hui
Published: March 2023

A study linking the two economic and social phenomena of rural labor force migration and energy transition can help analyze the underlying causes of rural “Energy Poverty”. However, how off-farm employment affects household low-carbon energy consumption and its potential mechanisms requires further research. Using 1351 sampled rural households from the “Rural Energy, Population Transfer and Well-being” survey in 2018 and 2021 to explore response mechanisms through which off-farm employment can influence low-carbon energy intensity. Utilizing the multivariate regression, Sobel test, and moderating effect test, the results demonstrate that off-farm employment, including short-term and long-term off-farm employment, significantly increases the intensity of low-carbon energy use among rural households. Specifically, long-term off-farm employment tends to have a greater positive contribution to the low-carbon energy intensity than short-term off-farm employment. Furthermore, off-farm employment can affect household low-carbon energy intensity through the total income, and effect of the surrounding people in the off-farm employment process also increases their consumption intensity. The research reveals that the rural energy revolution under the constraints of “Carbon Neutral” and “Carbon Peak” should relate to the off-farm development of rural households to achieve “Precise Energy Poverty Alleviation”.
Effect of Acid Pretreatment on the Primary Products of Biomass Fast Pyrolysis
Authors: Usino David O. , Sar Taner , Ylitervo Päivi , Richards Tobias
Published: March 2023

A high load of inorganics in raw lignocellulosic biomass is known to inhibit the yield of bio-oil and alter the chemical reactions during fast pyrolysis of biomass. In this study, palm kernel shell (PKS), an agricultural residue from palm oil production, and two other woody biomass samples (mahogany (MAH) sawdust and iroko (IRO) sawdust) were pretreated with distilled water or an acidic solution (either acetic, formic, hydrochloric (HCl) or sulfuric acid (H2SO4)) before fast pyrolysis in order to investigate its effect on the primary products and pyrolysis reaction pathways. The raw and pretreated PKS, MAH and IRO were pyrolysed at 600 °C and 5 s with a micro-pyrolyser connected to a gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer/flame ionisation detector (GC-MS/FID). Of the leaching solutions, HCl was the most effective in removing inorganics from the biomass and enhancing the primary pyrolysis product formed compared to the organic acids (acetic and formic acid). The production of levoglucosan was greatly improved for all pretreated biomasses when compared to the original biomass but especially after HCl pretreatment. Additionally, the relative content of the saccharides was maximised after pretreatment with H2SO4, which was due to the increased production of levoglucosenone. The relative content of the saccharides increased by over 70%. This increase may have occurred due to a possible reaction catalysed by the remaining acid in the biomass. The production of furans, especially furfural, was increased for all pretreatments but most noticeable when H2SO4 was used. However, the relative content of acids and ketones was generally reduced for PKS, MAH and IRO across all leaching solutions. The relative content of the phenol-type compound decreased to a large extent during pyrolysis after acid pretreatment, which may be attributed to dehydration and demethoxylation reactions. This study shows that the production of valuable chemicals could be promoted by pretreatment with different acid solutions.
The Impact of Trade on Carbon Emissions and Employment from the Perspective of Global Value Chains—A Case Study of Chinese–Japanese–Korean Trade
Authors: Liu Wenzheng , Ning Yadong , Bai Shukuan , Zhang Boya
Published: March 2023

While international trade drives countries’ economic growth and promotes employment, it also has some environmental impact. To investigate the impact of trade on carbon emissions and employment, this study performs a detailed decomposition and measurement of embodied carbon emissions and employment in value-added trade between China, Japan, and Korea from 2007–2019. The current study established that, while China’s trade with Japan and Korea created many domestic jobs, it also resulted in significant domestic carbon emissions. While Japan and Korea’s trade with China reduced carbon emissions, employment in their own countries was reduced and replaced by employment in China. At the value chain route level, trade among the three countries through each value chain route either achieves employment promotion at the cost of increased carbon emissions or promotes domestic emissions reduction at the cost of employment loss. However, it is worth noting that, when trade between Japan and Korea was conducted through simple GVCs (route 2), it not only helped reduce Japan’s carbon emissions, but also effectively promoted employment. This is the ideal trade route. The results of this study can provide useful reference information for developing countries such as China, to achieve sustainable economic growth, carbon emission reduction, and employment promotion in the context of trade globalization.
Effects of Inorganic Minerals and Kerogen on the Adsorption of Crude Oil in Shale
Authors: Zhang Yanyan , Li Shuifu , Hu Shouzhi , Zhou Changran
Published: March 2023

Shale oil stored in the shale system occurs mainly in adsorbed and free states, and ascertaining the amount of adsorbed crude oil in shale is a method of ascertaining its free oil content, which determines the accuracy of shale oil resource evaluation. Both inorganic minerals and kerogen have the ability to adsorb crude oil, but there is controversy surrounding which plays the greatest part in doing so; clarifying this would be of great significance to shale oil resource evaluation. Therefore, in this study, the evolution states of inorganic minerals and kerogen in shale were changed using pyrolysis, and the adsorbents were prepared for crude oil adsorption experiments, to explore the effects of inorganic minerals and kerogen on the crude oil adsorption of shale. The results showed that the differences in kerogen’s structural units and content in organic-rich shale (TOC = 1.60–4.52%) had no obvious effects on its crude oil adsorption properties. On the contrary, inorganic minerals, as the main body of shale, played a dominant role in the adsorption of crude oil. The composition and evolution of the inorganic minerals controlled the surface properties of shale adsorbents, which is the main reason for the different crude oil adsorption properties of the different types of adsorbents. The results of this study are helpful in improving our understanding of the performance and mechanisms of shale in adsorbing crude oil and promoting the development of shale oil resource evaluation.
Local Renewable Energy Communities: Classification and Sizing
Authors: Canizes Bruno , Costa João , Bairrão Diego , Vale Zita
Published: March 2023

The transition from the current energy architecture to a new model is evident and inevitable. The coming future promises innovative and increasingly rigorous projects and challenges for everyone involved in this value chain. Technological developments have allowed the emergence of new concepts, such as renewable energy communities, decentralized renewable energy production, and even energy storage. These factors have incited consumers to play a more active role in the electricity sector and contribute considerably to the achievement of environmental objectives. With the introduction of renewable energy communities, the need to develop new management and optimization tools, mainly in generation and load management, arises. Thus, this paper proposes a platform capable of clustering consumers and prosumers according to their energy and geographical characteristics to create renewable energy communities. Thus, this paper proposes a platform capable of clustering consumers and prosumers according to their energy and geographical characteristics to create renewable energy communities. Moreover, through this platform, the identification (homogeneous energy communities, mixed energy communities, and self-sufficient energy communities) and the size of each community are also obtained. Three algorithms are considered to achieve this purpose: K-means, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise, and linkage algorithms (single-link, complete-link, average-link, and Wards’ method). With this work, it is possible to verify each algorithm’s behavior and effectiveness in clustering the players into communities. A total of 233 members from 9 cities in the northern region of Portugal (Porto District) were considered to demonstrate the application of the proposed platform. The results demonstrate that the linkage algorithms presented the best classification performance, achieving 0.631 by complete-ink in the Silhouette score, 2124.174 by Ward’s method in the Calinski-Harabasz index, and 0.329 by single-link on the Davies-Bouldin index. Additionally, the developed platform demonstrated adequacy, versatility, and robustness concerning the classification and sizing of renewable energy communities.
A New Task Scheduling Approach for Energy Conservation in Internet of Things
Authors: Tian Man-Wen , Yan Shu-Rong , Guo Wei , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir , Ghaderpour Ebrahim
Published: March 2023

Internet of Things (IoT) and mobile edge computing (MEC) architectures are common in real-time application scenarios for improving the reliability of service responses. Energy conservation (EC) and energy harvesting (EH) are significant concerns in such architectures due to the self-sustainable devices and resource-constraint edge nodes. The density of the users and service requirements are further reasons for energy conservation and the need for energy harvesting in these scenarios. This article proposes decisive task scheduling for energy conservation (DTS-EC). The proposed energy conservation method relies on conditional decision-making through classification disseminations and energy slots for data handling. By classifying the energy requirements and the states of the mobile edge nodes, the allocation and queuing of data are determined, preventing overloaded nodes and dissemination. This process is recurrent for varying time slots, edge nodes, and tasks. The proposed method is found to achieve a high data dissemination rate (8.16%), less energy utilization (10.65%), and reduced latency (11.44%) at different time slots.
Temperature Calculation, Test and Structure Improvement of Magnetic Coupling under High Slip
Authors: Cheng Gang , Song Donghua , Wang Pengyu , Chen Jie
Published: March 2023

The temperature effect caused by high slip has an important influence on the operation performance and reliability of magnetic coupling. Taking the self-developed single disk asynchronous magnetic coupling as the research object, the heat loss equation of the magnetic coupling is established. Based on the three-dimensional transient magnetic field simulation model of the magnetic coupling, the eddy current loss, torque, and eddy current distribution law of the magnetic coupling are obtained through simulation. The space flow field and structure temperature field distribution of the magnetic coupling are analyzed by using the fluid-thermal coupling simulation method, and the heat dissipation coefficient and temperature distribution law of the structure surfaces such as copper disk, the back lining yoke iron disk, and the aluminum disk are obtained. The test platform was built to test the torque and temperature of the magnetic coupling. The results show that the error between the test and simulation is 4.8% in the torque aspect, and the maximum error between the test and simulation is only 8.1% in the temperature aspect of each component, which further verifies the effectiveness of the simulation method. On this basis, three heat dissipation improvement schemes are proposed, including installing heat dissipation blocks, setting semicircular grooves on the back lining yoke iron disk, and a hybrid design. The results show that the degree of improvement for each scheme is in the following order: hybrid design, setting semicircular grooves on the back lining yoke iron disk, and installing heat dissipation blocks. Under the hybrid design, the temperature of the back lining yoke iron plate and a copper plate of the magnetic coupling is reduced by about 8.5 °C compared with the original model, and the effect is ideal. The research results can provide an optimization reference for high-speed magnetic coupling and the temperature effect caused by an overload-locked rotor.
Effect of Thermal Pretreatment on the Physiochemical Properties and Stability of Pumpkin Seed Milk
Authors: Yu Min , Peng Mengyao , Chen Ronghua , Chen Jingjing
Published: March 2023

During the production of plant-based milk, thermal treatment of raw materials is an important processing method to improve the physicochemical and nutritional quality of the final products. The objective of this study was to examine the impact of thermal processing on the physiochemical properties and stability of pumpkin seed (Cucurbita pepo L.) milk. Raw pumpkin seeds were roasted at different temperatures (120 °C, 160 °C, and 200 °C), and then processed into milk using a high-pressure homogenizer. The study analyzed the microstructure, viscosity, particle size, physical stability, centrifugal stability, salt concentration, heat treatment, freeze–thaw cycle, and environment stress stability of the resulting pumpkin seed milk (PSM120, PSM160, PSM200). Our results showed that the microstructure of pumpkin seeds was loose and porous, forming a network structure because of roasting. As the roasting temperature increased, the particle size of pumpkin seed milk decreased, with PSM200 showing the smallest at 210.99 nm, while the viscosity and physical stability improved. No stratification was observed for PSM200 within 30 days. The centrifugal precipitation rate decreased, with PSM200 showing the lowest rate at 2.29%. At the same time, roasting enhanced the stability of the pumpkin seed milk in the changes in ion concentration, freeze–thaw, and heating treatment. The results of this study suggested that thermal processing was an important factor in improving the quality of pumpkin seed milk.
Some New Versions of Fractional Inequalities for Exponential Trigonometric Convex Mappings via Ordered Relation on Interval-Valued Settings
Authors: Khan Muhammad Bilal , Cătaş Adriana , Aloraini Najla , Soliman Mohamed S.
Published: March 2023

This paper’s main goal is to introduce left and right exponential trigonometric convex interval-valued mappings and to go over some of their important characteristics. Additionally, we demonstrate the Hermite–Hadamard inequality for interval-valued functions by utilizing fractional integrals with exponential kernels. Moreover, we use the idea of left and right exponential trigonometric convex interval-valued mappings to show various findings for midpoint- and Pachpatte-type inequalities. Additionally, we show that the results provided in this paper are expansions of several of the results already demonstrated in prior publications The suggested research generates variants that are applicable for conducting in-depth analyses of fractal theory, optimization, and research challenges in several practical domains, such as computer science, quantum mechanics, and quantum physics.
An Application of the Homotopy Analysis Method for the Time- or Space-Fractional Heat Equation
Authors: Brociek Rafał , Wajda Agata , Błasik Marek , Słota Damian
Published: March 2023

This paper focuses on the usage of the homotopy analysis method (HAM) to solve the fractional heat conduction equation. In the presented mathematical model, Caputo-type fractional derivatives over time or space are considered. In the HAM, it is not necessary to discretize the considered domain, which is its great advantage. As a result of the method, a continuous function is obtained, which can be used for further analysis. For the first time, for the considered equations, we proved that if the series created in the method converges, then the sum of the series is a solution of the equation. A sufficient condition for this convergence is provided, as well as an estimation of the error of the approximate solution. This paper also presents examples illustrating the accuracy and stability of the proposed algorithm.
Plant-Derived Metal Nanoparticles (PDMNPs): Synthesis, Characterization, and Oxidative Stress-Mediated Therapeutic Actions
Authors: Khan Mohammad Faheem , Khan Mohd Aamish
Published: March 2023

In the 21st century, plant-derived metal nanoparticles (PDMNPs) have gained considerable interest because of their tremendous and remarkable potential as therapeutic agents as well as development of less expensive, safer, and easier biomedical equipment. PDMNPs are synthesized from metal salts or oxides by using plant extracts because plants have diversified bioactive compounds that can act as reducing and stabilizing agents at the time of nanoparticle synthesis. Besides, PDMNPs take advantages over the nanoparticles synthesized by other methods because of their low cost, environmental friendliness, and sustainability. The present review explains the synthesis of PDMNPs, their characterization techniques, and oxidative stress-mediated pharmacological effects. The mode of actions for antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties has also been critically explored. Due to the plethora of data on plant-derived nanoparticles and their pharmacological properties, we have highlighted PDMNPs’ shape, size, metals of use, and experimental findings regarding their antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anticancer properties in a tabulated form for studies conducted in the last five years, from 2018 to 2022. Because of our review study, we, herein, contemplate that the scientific community as a whole will get a greater comprehension of PDMNPs and their numerous therapeutic applications in a single window.
The Use of Hydrogels in the Treatment of Metal Cultural Heritage Objects
Authors: Guilminot Elodie
Published: March 2023

Currently gels are widely used in the restoration of paintings, graphic arts, stuccowork and stonework, but their use in metal restoration is less widespread. In this study, several polysaccharide-based hydrogels (agar, gellan and xanthan gum) were selected for use in metal treatments. The use of hydrogels allows to localize a chemical or electrochemical treatment. This paper presents several examples of treatment of metal objects of cultural heritage, i.e., historical or archaeological objects. The advantages, disadvantages and limits of hydrogel treatments are discussed. The best results are obtained for the cleaning of copper alloys via associating an agar gel with a chelating agent (EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) or TAC (tri-ammonium citrate)). The hot application allows to obtain a peelable gel, particularly adapted for historical objects. Electrochemical treatments using hydrogels have been successful for the cleaning of silver and for the dechlorination of ferrous or copper alloys. The use of hydrogels for the cleaning of painted aluminum alloys is possible but it has to be coupled with mechanical cleaning. However, for the cleaning of archaeological lead, the cleaning using hydrogels was not very effective. This paper shows the new possibilities of using hydrogels for the treatment of metal cultural heritage objects: agar is the most promising hydrogel.
Physical Chemistry Study of Collagen-Based Multilayer Films
Authors: Chen Yi-Wei , Iqbal Muhammad Haseeb , Meyer Florent , Ball Vincent , Boulmedais Fouzia
Published: March 2023

The surface properties of a biomaterial play an important role in cell behavior, e.g., recolonization, proliferation, and migration. Collagen is known to favor wound healing. In this study, collagen (COL)-based layer-by-layer (LbL) films were built using different macromolecules as a partner, i.e., tannic acid (TA), a natural polyphenol known to establish hydrogen bonds with protein, heparin (HEP), an anionic polysaccharide, and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (PSS), an anionic synthetic polyelectrolyte. To cover the whole surface of the substrate with a minimal number of deposition steps, several parameters of the film buildup were optimized, such as the pH value of the solutions, the dipping time, and the salt (sodium chloride) concentration. The morphology of the films was characterized by atomic force microscopy. Built at an acidic pH, the stability of COL-based LbL films was studied when in contact with a physiological medium as well as the TA release from COL/TA films. In contrast to COL/PSS and COL/HEP LbL films, COL/TA films showed a good proliferation of human fibroblasts. These results validate the choice of TA and COL as components of LbL films for biomedical coatings.
Winners and Losers of Atlantification: The Degree of Ocean Warming Affects the Structure of Arctic Microbial Communities
Authors: Ahme Antonia , Von Jackowski Anabel , McPherson Rebecca A. , Wolf Klara K. E. , Hoppmann Mario , Neuhaus Stefan , John Uwe
Published: March 2023

Arctic microbial communities (i.e., protists and bacteria) are increasingly subjected to an intrusion of new species via Atlantification and an uncertain degree of ocean warming. As species differ in adaptive traits, these oceanic conditions may lead to compositional changes with functional implications for the ecosystem. In June 2021, we incubated water from the western Fram Strait at three temperatures (2 °C, 6 °C, and 9 °C), mimicking the current and potential future properties of the Arctic Ocean. Our results show that increasing the temperature to 6 °C only minorly affects the community, while an increase to 9 °C significantly lowers the diversity and shifts the composition. A higher relative abundance of large hetero- and mixotrophic protists was observed at 2 °C and 6 °C compared to a higher abundance of intermediate-sized temperate diatoms at 9 °C. The compositional differences at 9 °C led to a higher chlorophyll a:POC ratio, but the C:N ratio remained similar. Our results contradict the common assumption that smaller organisms and heterotrophs are favored under warming and strongly indicate a thermal limit between 6 °C and 9 °C for many Arctic species. Consequently, the magnitude of temperature increase is a crucial factor for microbial community reorganization and the ensuing ecological consequences in the future Arctic Ocean.
Digital Workflow for Producing Hybrid Posts and Cores
Authors: Perlea Paula , Stefanescu Cosmin , Al-Aloul Omar-Andrei , Ionita Cezar , Petre Alexandru-Eugen
Published: March 2023

A novel and straightforward digital workflow is described to aid clinicians in producing in-office hybrid posts and cores. The method is based on scanning and using the basic module of a computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD-CAM) software program for dental applications. The applicability of the technique in a digital workflow is the simplicity of in-office production of a hybrid post and core that can be delivered to the patient in the same day.
Prevalence of Symptomatic Knee Osteoarthritis in Saudi Arabia and Associated Modifiable and Non-Modifiable Risk Factors: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Althomali Omar W. , Amin Junaid , Acar Tolgahan , Shahanawaz Syed , Talal Abdulrahman Alanazi , Alnagar Dalia Kamal , Almeshari Meshari , Alzamil Yasser , Althomali Kamal , Alshoweir Noorah , Althomali Othman , Aldhahi Monira I. , Bin Sheeha Bodor H.
Published: March 2023

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in Saudi Arabia and the association between knee OA and modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Methods: A self-reported, population-based, cross-sectional survey between January 2021 and October 2021 was conducted. A large, population-representative sample (n = 2254) of adult subjects aged 18 years and over from all regions of Saudi Arabia was collected electronically using convenience sampling. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical criteria were used to diagnose OA of the knee. The knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) was used to investigate the severity of knee OA. This study focused on modifiable risk factors (body mass index, education, employment status, marital status, smoking status, type of work, previous history of knee injury, and physical activity level) and non-modifiable risk factors (age, gender, family history of OA, and presence of flatfoot). Results: The overall prevalence of knee OA was 18.9% (n = 425), and women suffered more compared to their male counterparts (20.3% vs. 13.1%, p = 0.001). The logistic regression analysis model showed age (OR: 1.06 [95% CI: 1.05–1.07]; p < 0.01), sex (OR: 2.14 [95% CI: 1.48–3.11]; p < 0.01), previous injury (OR: 3.95 [95% CI: 2.81–5.56]; p < 0.01), and obesity (OR: 1.07 [95% CI: 1.04–1.09]; p < 0.01) to be associated with knee OA. Conclusions: A high prevalence of knee OA underlines the need for health promotion and prevention programmes that focus on modifiable risk factors to decrease the burden of the problem and the cost of treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Polyploid Induction and Karyotype Analysis of Dendrobium officinale
Authors: Liu Yang , Duan Shan-De , Jia Yin , Hao Li-Hong , Xiang Di-Ying , Chen Duan-Fen , Niu Shan-Ce
Published: March 2023

Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is an orchid with both medicinal and edible values and a high economic value. The wild resources of D. officinale are in an endangered state. Compared with the wild D. officinale, cultivated D. officinale exhibits inferior quality and a low content of medicinal components. Polyploid induction is a conventional breeding tool for genome doubling of species, which can effectively increase the total amount of plant components to improve the medicinal efficacy of D. officinale. In this study, D. officinale tetraploids were generated by treating the protocorms with colchicine. Morphological observations showed that tetraploids exhibited decreased plant size and leaf shape index and increased stem diameter. Cytological observations showed that the polyploid plants had larger stomata and a lower number of stomata per unit area compared with normal plants. The highest stomata variation of 30.00% was observed when the plant was treated with 0.3% colchicine for 24 h. Chromosomal observations showed that treatment of plants with 0.2% colchicine for 48 h resulted in the highest tetraploid induction rate of 10.00%. A total of 10 tetraploids were successfully obtained by inducing plant protoplasts with colchicine. The number of diploid D. officinale chromosomes was 38 with a base number of 19, and the karyotype formula was 2n = 2x = 38 = 24m + 14sm with a karyotype asymmetry coefficient of 60.59%, belonging to type 2B. The number of tetraploid D. officinale chromosomes was 76 with a base number of 19, and the karyotype formula was 2n = 4x = 76 = 58m + 18sm with a karyotype asymmetry coefficient of 60.04%, belonging to type 2B. This study determined the optimal mutagenesis treatment based on the chromosome observation results, investigated the relationship between the phenotype and ploidy level, and generated the polyploid germplasm of D. officinale, thereby laying the foundation for the breeding of new D. officinale cultivars enriched with compounds of medicinal value.
The Development of Sustainable Engineering with PjBL during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hayashi Victor Takashi , Arakaki Reginaldo , Almeida Felipe Valencia de , Ruggiero Wilson Vicente
Published: March 2023

Sustainable Engineering education must provide cyber-physical and distributed systems competencies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The COVID-19 pandemic caused profound impacts arising from a traditional on-site teaching model rupture and demanded distance learning for engineering students. In this context, we considered the following Research Questions (RQ): How can Project Based Learning (PjBL) be applied in hardware and software courses from the Engineering curriculum to foster practical activities during the COVID-19 pandemic? Is the student performance in the fully remote offering comparable to the face-to-face offering? (RQ1); Which Sustainable Development Goals are related to the Engineering students’ project themes? (RQ2). Regarding RQ1, we present how PjBL was applied in first-, third- and fifth-year Computer Engineering Courses to support 31 projects of 81 future engineers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Student grades in a Software Engineering course indicate no relevant differences between student performance in remote and face-to-face offerings. Regarding RQ2, most Computer Engineering students from the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo in 2020 and 2021 decided to create projects related to SDG 3—Good Health and Well-being, SDG 8—Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities. Most projects were related to health and well-being, which was an expected behavior according to how health issues were brought into highlight during the pandemic.
Piloting a Home Visual Support Intervention with Families of Autistic Children and Children with Related Needs Aged 0–12
Authors: Rutherford Marion , Baxter Julie , Johnston Lorna , Tyagi Vaibhav , Maciver Donald
Published: March 2023

Visual supports are an important intervention for autistic individuals and others with neurodevelopmental differences. However, families often report limited access to visual supports and lack of information and confidence in their use at home. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a home-based visual supports intervention. Methods: 29 families with children (n = 20 males; mean age 6.59 years [Range 3.64–12.21 years SD 2.57]) receiving support for autism or related needs participated in the study. Parents engaged in an individualised assessment and intervention process through home visits, completing pre- and post-measures. Qualitative methods were used to explore the parents’ experiences of the intervention. Results: The intervention led to a statistically significant improvement in parent-reported quality of life (t28 = 3.09, p = 0.005) and parent-reported perception of autism-specific difficulties (t28 = 2.99, p = 0.006). Parents also reported improved access to resources and relevant information and increased confidence in using visual supports at home. The home visit model was strongly supported by the parents. Conclusion: The results provide initial evidence of the acceptability, practicality, and utility of the home-based visual supports intervention. These findings suggest that outreach into the family home may be a beneficial mechanism for delivering interventions related to visual supports. This study highlights the potential of home-based interventions to improve access to resources and information for families and the importance of visual supports in the home setting.
Third-Generation Behavioural Therapies in the Context of Neurodevelopmental Problems and Intellectual Disabilities: A Randomised Clinical Trial with Parents
Authors: Lobato David , Montesinos Francisco , Polín Eduardo , Cáliz Saray
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine how 14 parents of children with autism and intellectual impairments responded to an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based psychological flexibility intervention programme. A randomised clinical trial was conducted. Parents were randomly assigned to the training programme group (n = 8) or waiting list group (n = 6). The treatment effect was measured using the 6-PAQ, PSS-14, GHQ-12, and WBSI questionnaires. Changes in interactions were assessed through self-recording, including a baseline to observe the previous functioning. Measures were taken before and after the application of the intervention programme and three months later. After that, the control group was switched to the psychological flexibility programme condition. After the programme’s implementation, we could see a reduction in stress and the tendency to suppress unwanted private events. The impacts also appeared to apply to family interactions, resulting in a rise in positive interactions and a decrease in unfavourable ones. The results led us to think about the importance of psychological flexibility for the parents of children with chronic conditions, facilitating a reduction in the emotional impact derived from parenting and the emission of behaviours that promote the harmonious development of the diagnosed child.
Geographical Disparities and Settlement Factors and Mental Health of Refugees Living in Germany
Authors: Grabo Julian , Leavey Gerard
Published: March 2023

(1) Background: Approximately half of all refugees living in Germany experience discrimination, which may negatively affect their mental health. Moreover, German refugees have experienced hostility, especially in eastern regions. (2) Aims: We examined the effect of perceived discrimination on refugees’ mental health in Germany, with a particular focus on possible regional differences of refugee mental health and perceived discrimination. (3) Method: The data of 2075 refugees who arrived in Germany between 2013 and 2016, from a large-scale survey, was analysed using binary logistic regression. The refugee health screener, 13-item version, was used to assess psychological distress. All effects were investigated for the entire sample and both sexes independently. (4) Results: A third of refugees experienced discrimination which increased the risk of psychological distress (OR = 2.25 [1.80, 2.8]). Those living in eastern Germany were more than twice as likely to report experiences of discrimination, compared to their counterparts living in western Germany (OR = 2.52 [1.98, 3.21]). Differences were noted between males and females, and religious attendance. (5) Conclusions: Perceived discrimination is a risk factor for refugee mental health, particularly female refugees in eastern Germany. An east–west regional difference may be explained by socio-structural factors, rural placement, differential historical exposure to migrant populations, and a greater presence of right-wing and populist parties in eastern Germany.
Market Segmentation and Green Development Performance: Evidence from Chinese Cities
Authors: Dong Xuebing , Liang Benbo , Yu Haichao , Zhu Hui
Published: March 2023

This study is based on 2006–2019 panel data from 282 Chinese cities. Market segmentation and green development performance are empirically investigated to examine their non-linear relationship using static panel, dynamic panel, and dynamic spatial panel models. The results reveal the following: (1) Green development performance is found to have a high degree of temporal and spatial path dependence, exhibiting spatial linkage between cities. (2) Market segmentation stemming from local government protection has a clear inverted U-shaped structure in relationship with the green development performance. (3) Our analysis suggests that the upgrading of industrial structures significantly enhances green development, while factor price distortion inhibits it. The relationship between market segmentation and industrial structure upgrading is also an inverted U-shape. (4) The analysis further reveals that market segmentation has an inverted U-shaped correlation with the green development performance in western, central, and eastern cities. However, the different rates of development of industrial structures within the three regions result in varying degrees of market segmentation according to inflection point values. Moreover, aligned with the theoretical hypothesis of “resource curse,” in resource-based cities (exclusively), market segmentation still affects the green development performance with a significant inverted U-shaped structure.
Electromagnetic Frequency Pollution in Malawi: A Case of Electric Field and Magnetic Flux Density Pollution in Southern Africa
Authors: Thulu Fabiano Gibson Daud , Tembo David , Nyirongo Rowland , Mzaza Patrick Joseph Cardinal , Kamfosi Allan , Mawenda Upile Chitete
Published: March 2023

In this study, electric field and magnetic flux density pollution levels were measured in southern Africa, a case of Blantyre City in Malawi, between 2020 and 2021. Sixty short-term measurements were performed using Trifield Electro Magnetic Frequency meter model TF2 in 30 different locations. Five high-population-dense sampling points were selected from school campuses, hospitals, industrial areas, markets, residential areas, and within the commercial and business center (CBC) of Blantyre. Electric field and magnetic flux density pollution monitoring was conducted between 10:00–12:00 h and 17:00–19:00 h for short-range analysis. Short-range results show that the maximum measured electric field pollution were 249.24 mV/m and 207.85 mV/m between 10:00–12:00 and 17:00–19:00 respectively, which are below the public limits of 4200.00 mV/m for public exposure. Similarly, maximum short-range results for magnetic flux density were 0.073 G and 0.057 G between 10:00–12:00 and 17:00–19:00 respectively which are below the public limits of 2 G for public exposure. Both measured electric and magnetic flux density were compared with the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), World health organization (WHO), and Institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE). It was determined that all measured values for both electric and magnetic flux density were smaller than set limits for non-ionizing radiation for both public and occupation health. More importantly, these background measurements establish a baseline for future changes to be compared against public safety.
Barriers and Facilitators to Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in Rural South Australia: A Service Providers’ Perspective
Authors: Lim David , Phillips Emily , Bradley Clare , Ward James
Published: March 2023

This study explored the barriers and facilitators to hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural South Australia as viewed from a healthcare provider perspective in the era of direct acting antivirals (DAAs). Phase 1 was a qualitative systematic review examining the barriers and enablers to diagnosis and treatment amongst Indigenous peoples living with HCV worldwide. Phase 2 was a qualitative descriptive study with healthcare workers from six de-identified rural and regional Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services in South Australia. The results from both methods were integrated at the analysis phase to understand how HCV treatment could be improved for rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Five main themes emerged: the importance of HCV education, recognizing competing social and cultural demands, the impact of holistic care delivery and client experience, the effect of internal barriers, and overlapping stigma, discrimination, and shame determine how Indigenous peoples navigate the healthcare system and their decision to engage in HCV care. Continued efforts to facilitate the uptake of DAA medications by Aboriginal and Torres Strait peoples in rural areas should utilize a multifaceted approach incorporating education to community and cultural awareness to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Operationalising a Recovery-Oriented Support and Information Programme Online: The EOLAS Programme
Authors: O’Sullivan Karin , Downes Carmel , Monahan Mark , Morrissey Jean , Byrne Gobnait , Farrell Gerard , Gibbons Patrick , Higgins Agnes
Published: March 2023

Evidence demonstrates that psychoeducation interventions have clinical and recovery-related benefits for people experiencing psychosis and their family members. The EOLAS programmes are one example of recovery-oriented psychoeducation programmes for psychosis. They differ from other programmes in that they are co-designed and co-facilitated (peer and clinician) group programmes. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, EOLAS went online using a videoconferencing platform. The study examined the feasibility, acceptability and usefulness of EOLAS-Online and explored whether some of the positive recovery outcomes reported by attendees regarding the in-person programmes were replicated online. Data were collected through an online survey and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Fifteen attendees (40% of attendees) completed the surveys and eight participated in interviews. A total of 80% were satisfied/very satisfied with the programme. The programme was rated highly for increased knowledge of mental health, coping strategies, and engaging with peers. The use of technology was mostly unproblematic, although some audio and video-related challenges were identified. Engaging with the online programme was experienced positively, including facilitator support to engage. The overall findings indicate that EOLAS-Online is feasible, acceptable and useful in supporting attendees’ recovery journeys.