bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Progress by Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Trane Matteo , Marelli Luisa , Siragusa Alice , Pollo Riccardo , Lombardi Patrizia
Published: April 2023

Scientific research has been acknowledged to play a pivotal role in achieving the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda. Vice-versa, since its adoption, the 2030 Agenda has been reinvigorating the academic production on sustainable development. This study provides a systematic literature review of the most used and newly developed approaches by academic research to support the achievement of the SDGs in the EU. The results are presented by descriptive, bibliometric, and content analysis. The descriptive analysis highlights a rising interest of scholars in operationalizing the 2030 Agenda, with a growing interest at the urban level. A text-mining tool was employed to scan the most investigated SDGs in the selected papers. Major interest by scholars is devoted to environmental concerns (especially linked to SDG 13, 7, 6, 12, and 15), while social issues (e.g., SDG 4, 5, and 10) still deserve more research. The bibliometric analysis unveiled poor intra-cluster connections, highlighting the need for more transdisciplinary research. The most recurrent research fields on the SDGs in the EU are governance, circular economy, ecosystem services, urban localization, and decision making. We advise future studies to focus on gaps highlighted and adopt a system perspective, boosting Policy Coherence across governance levels and scales of implementation by looking at trade-offs and assessing context-specific priorities.
Twenty Years of Research on Millennials at Work: A Structural Review Using Bibliometric and Content Analysis
Authors: Badar Kamal , Lasthuizen Karin
Published: April 2023

This study reviews the literature regarding millennials at work over the past 20 years (from 2000 to 2020). Bibliometric methods of citation, co-citation and bibliographic coupling analysis, as well as traditional content analyses, were performed on a sample of 377 articles retrieved from ISI Web of Science (WOS). Citation analysis revealed influential articles, authors, journals and countries. Co-citation analysis and bibliographic coupling identified six historic research streams and four current research fronts. The content analysis finally led to the identification of the future research questions. The study explores the body of literature on millennials at work over the last 20 years and offers context and placement in the literature for prior studies by presenting the historical and current state of research. Further, recommended research questions are identified for future research. Finally, we present implications for HRM practice and research.
Measuring River-View Visibilities of Individual Dwellings for Planning of Compact Urban Riverside Neighborhood Blocks
Authors: Guo Yang , Lai Dongchi , Hu Xijun
Published: April 2023

Line-of-sight occlusion in compact cities commonly reduces the river views of riverfront residents. This study developed a new approach to measure the river-view visibilities of individual dwellings in urban riverfront neighborhood blocks. The objective of this study is to achieve a good integration between the morphology of building groups and the ideal river-view visibility of dwellings, and to provide assistance in building and landscape design through the proposed method. First, a design case of an actual riverside neighborhood block with two initial building layout schemes was selected. The complex layout scheme led to a better building-group morphology than the simple layout scheme. Second, 3D models were built using the Rhinoceros and Grasshopper software platforms, and 3D isovists were generated on the hypothetical River Surface Curve (RSC) equipartition points. Finally, the data from the 3D isovists were used to measure the river-view visibility of each dwelling. The results show that river views were available for all dwellings with the simple layout scheme; however, the complex layout scheme was polarized, with 3% of the dwellings having no river views, and a higher number of dwellings with high-quality river-view visibilities. The optimized layout scheme was based on repeated adjustments of the river-view visibility for all dwellings. The viewpoint clouds of the river views on the dwelling exterior walls are described for facade design guidance. The river-view measurement approach can accurately and efficiently measure the river-view visibility of each dwelling in the block, which can be used in optimizing of neighborhood block design.
Knowledge, Competencies, and Skills for a Sustainable Sport Management Growth: A Systematic Review
Authors: Guidotti Flavia , Demarie Sabrina , Ciaccioni Simone , Capranica Laura
Published: April 2023

The present systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of sport management relevant knowledge, competencies, and skills analyzing and harmonizing the European skills classification for sport management employment profiles and evidence-based information from the scientific literature in this field. The information search in the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations platform resulted in four main sport management professional profiles, whereas literature searches in SPORTDiscus (EBSCOhost), Scopus, and Google Scholar databases resulted in 48 manuscripts meeting the inclusion criteria. The main findings showed a substantial scholars’ interest in deepening the understanding of necessary sport management-related knowledge/competencies/skills from different research perspectives. However, a disconnect between industry demands and students and/or employees’ preparedness and performance emerged, which substantiates the need to systematically update education and training in the sector to foster the sustainable development of this scientific area. Furthermore, in recognizing the centrality of the background, foundational, sport management-related knowledge, the crucial role of competencies and soft skills emerged. The present study not only provided a comprehensive, evidence-based, overview on sport management relevant knowledge/competencies/skills but also proposed a harmonized framework grounded on different relevant clusters that should be considered in developing and implementing educational sustainable programs for sport managers and leaders.
Quantitative Identification of Cracks in Jointed Layered Rock Specimens under Uniaxial Compression
Authors: Xiong Baolin , Sun Jia , Zhao Yunmeng , Wang Zhuangzhuang , Wang Zhiyuan , Chen Bo
Published: April 2023

Few researchers have looked at the mechanical characteristics of rocks that are composed of numerous layers of various kinds of rock. Most strata in practical engineering are composite strata, and fracture propagation is frequently to blame for engineering mishaps. The digital image correlation method (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) equipment were used to observe the crack strike and strain field changes of specimens that resemble rocks with a constructed joint under uniaxial compression in order to study the crack growth process and failure mode in composite rock strata under uniaxial compression. The research focus of this paper is to conduct a quantitative and qualitative analysis of crack types based on the data obtained from the DIC test. The covariance matrix was introduced to quantify the strain field dispersion of samples with joint dip angles α = 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, and 75°. The outcomes of the analysis were as follows: the displacement data of the two crack sides were quantified using the novel method, and the crack types were determined to be tensile crack (type I), shear crack (type II), and composite tension–shear crack (type I–II); the covariance matrix-based parameter V can be used to describe the crack creation and spread process; and according to the growth rate of V, the crack types were identified as tensile crack (0.12 × 10−4–0.49 × 10−4), shear crack (1.17 × 10−4–4.5 × 10−4), and composite tension–shear crack (0.72 × 10−4–0.99 × 10−4).
Spatial Difference Studies and Driving Force Analysis of Rural Settlements in the Northwest Sichuan Plateau
Authors: Tan Yuxiang , Xiang Mingshun , Lu Haixia , Duan Linsen , Yang Jin , Meng Jiake , Li Ao , Deng Lanlan
Published: April 2023

The scattered, isolated, and closed nature of rural settlements in northwest Sichuan is a constraint on the high-quality development of rural areas. Determining the spatial differences and driving forces of rural settlements in this area is the essential prerequisite for promoting rural revitalization. In this paper, the methods of the nearest neighbor index, the Voronoi diagram, and the Geodetector are used to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of rural settlements and explore the driving factors of their spatial differences. The key findings are as follows. (1) The rural settlements exhibit the feature of “an extensive dispersion with localized concentrations”. The spatial distribution is in the shape of dots, strips, and branches along the river valley. (2) The number and land use scale of rural settlements decreases from east to west. The spatial differences in settlement morphology have a clear feature that the settlement morphology along the river and road is more complex, while the settlement morphology in the plateau area and the river valley is relatively regular. (3) Mountain disasters and arable land resources have the greatest impact on the spatial differences of the settlements. The location and form of the settlements are greatly affected by the altitude and accumulated temperature, and the settlement scale is significantly affected by the traffic conditions and the scenic spots. The mutually reinforcing role of the driving factors is remarkable, especially the reinforcing effects of the enhancement between the arable land resources and other factors. The research results provide data support for the reconstruction, improvement, and high-quality development of rural settlements in this region.
Can Dried Fruits Replace Unhealthy Snacking among Millennials? An Empirical Study on Dried Fruit Consumption in Italy
Authors: Testa Riccardo , Rizzo Giuseppina , Schifani Giorgio , Tinebra Ilenia , Farina Vittorio , Vella Francesco , Migliore Giuseppina
Published: April 2023

The consumption of dried fruits in place of unhealthy snacks, which are rich in sugars, salt, and fats, could represent a valid option for reaching the daily intake recommended by the WHO for fruits and for encouraging the adoption of a sustainable diet. However, the consumption of dried fruits is lower than that of unhealthy snacks, especially among young people. Therefore, to foster young people’s intentions to consume dried fruits instead of unhealthy snacks, it is important to identify the factors underlying millennials’ consumption intentions. Using a convenience sample of 174 Italian millennials, this paper aimed to understand the factors influencing young people’s intentions to consume dried fruits by measuring their willingness to pay a price premium. The findings showed that under half of respondents were willing to pay an extra premium for dried fruits. The intentions to consume dried fruits among Italian millennials would seem to be characterized by a certain predisposition toward novelty, as revealed by the attitudes of being neophiliacs, as well as by convenience and emotional aspects related to the product. Relative to socio-demographic factors, Italian millennials with higher household incomes and high educational levels tended to show a high willingness to pay a price premium for dried fruits. These results may have theoretical, managerial as well as policy implications. They could enrich the existing literature on dried fruits consumption and provide suggestions for practitioners wishing to adopt effective marketing strategies and specific promotion campaigns, as well as for government policies or programs.
Integrated Nanogrid for the Impressed Current Cathodic Protection System in Desalination Plant
Authors: Ramanavasu R. , Vijayakumar K. , Fernandez S. George
Published: April 2023

The impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) scheme is a more reliable and efficient method of corrosion prevention mechanism than the sacrificial method. Currently, the grid connected transformer rectifier units supported with a battery banks are used for the ICCP-based corrosion protection system in the desalination plant. This conventional method is entirely grid-dependent, more expensive, and suffers during prolonged grid failure. The present trend of industrialization is the application of multi-renewable energy sources based on a nanogrid to power the station’s auxiliary power supply. This paper introduces a concept of distributed energy resources (DERs) operated integrated nanogrid (ING) system to provide a stable power supply solution to the ICCP scheme. A 100-million-litter per day capacity-based seawater desalination plant (SWDP) in India has been chosen as the test station. The conceptual hardware design and operational logic details for smooth integration of the integrated nanogrid module into the ICCP scheme of the Desalination plant is proposed. This research aims to investigate the behaviour of DERs during on-grid, off-grid and switching over from one mode of operation to another and vice-versa by using the accelerated Gauss–Seidel method in ETAP software (version 16.0.0). The simulation results confirm that the ING suffers from a high-frequency change rate during islanded operation, and in some cases, a complete blackout occurs. A PLC-based Smart Versatile ING Controller has been suggested to overcome the blackout issue. Finally, it has been proven that the stability of an industrial power system can be improved further by introducing the ING module into it.
Polystyrene Nanoparticle Uptake and Deposition in Silkworm and Influence on Growth
Authors: Wang Ze-Jun , Zhang Yu-Hang , Gao Rong-Yao , Jia Hua-Bing , Liu Xiao-Jing , Hu Ya-Wen , Shao Qian-Qian , Fu Li-Min , Zhang Jian-Ping
Published: April 2023

This work reports the biological toxicity of nano plastic particles (NPs) to silkworms fed on the bait dopped with polystyrene encapsulated luminescent nanoparticles. The processes of NPs intake and excretion were monitored by means of time-gated optical imaging (TGI) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), which allowed the quantification of the spatiotemporal deposition of NPs in an individual silkworm. The rates of NPs excretion and sequestration were found to be 99.92% and 0.08%, respectively, and the NPs retentate stayed mainly in the fat body (67.7%), digestive tract (18.0%), and head (7.54%). Adverse effects of NPs exposure were accordingly confirmed such as growth retardation and smaller physique. The results of the present work confirmed the possibility of nano-plastics accumulating and transmitting along the food chain in terrestrial ecosystems. The present work demonstrates the potential of employing silkworm as a model of full metamorphosed insects for exploring the biological impact of NPs on congeneric terrestrial animals, as well as the efficacy of the TGI-MS modality for in situ visualizing and quantifying the propagation of NPs via the primary food chain.
Exploring the Determinants of Digital Transformation Adoption for SMEs in an Emerging Economy
Authors: Ta Viet Anh , Lin Chieh-Yu
Published: April 2023

In the fourth industrial revolution age, digital transformation is crucial to the sustainable development of small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). This study suggests a hierarchical model based on the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) model with three main dimensions and nine sub-dimensions for SMEs that implemented digital transformation in the emerging economy. The fuzzy analytic hierarchical process methodology (Fuzzy AHP) was used to explore and rank determinants of the digital transformation adoption for SMEs. Data were collected by the questionnaires from 72 respondents, who were the leaders of SMEs in Vietnam. The results revealed that the environmental factor was ranked the most important factor in the pairwise comparisons of the hierarchical structure, and the sub-dimension of the customer experience was at the highest ranking of the relative pairwise comparisons of the digital transformation adoption for SMEs, followed by technological compatibility, government support, organizational support, and human resources. This research makes contributions to the topic of digital transformation from both theoretical and practical implications. The result stresses the critical significance of environmental factors in the successful adoption of digital technologies in SMEs, which adds to the perspective in the context of a growing nation.
The Use of Normative Energy Calculation beyond the Optimum Retrofit Solutions in Primary Design: A Case Study of Existing Buildings on a Campus
Authors: Li Wenjing , Sun Zhuoyang , Makvandi Mehdi , Chen Qingchang , Fu Jiayan , Gong Lei , Yuan Philip F.
Published: April 2023

There are significant differences between expectations and fulfillment in the building delivery process. Many researchers have emphasized the need for design strategies that establish a direct correlation between design proposals and building performance. One of the main objectives is to support performance-driven primary design, which occurs before the design performance modeling (DPM) phase. To achieve this, a case study of retrofitting existing buildings on campus is presented. A normative calculation approach is used to identify the optimal combinations of a dozen retrofit strategies based on the Energy Performance Calculator (EPC) model. This approach reduces or eliminates the impact of parametric uncertainties on modeling assumptions and simplifies calculations, particularly in restrictive studies. These retrofit solutions involve structural and functional zoning renovation, meaning that disparity between expectations and fulfilments is considered, and a timely related information feedback route to architects is achieved. In the first step of the narrative development of the EPC model, EPC-Calib was used to find the optimal combination of input variables in the model that satisfies the desired target and complies with the problem constraints. Secondly, the retrofit study was implemented with EPC-TechOpt, and 16 retrofit solutions for three design performance models were examined based on the local climatic conditions, building features, and retrofit costs. Finally, design schemes were determined, and the cost-optimal mix of the measures was desired with a 40% energy saving.
The Demographic Changes and Their Driving Forces on the Loess Plateau since 4000 Years BP
Authors: Huang Tao , Liu Baoyuan , Zhao Yunge
Published: April 2023

The intensity of human activities on the Loess Plateau (LP) could affect the ecological health and socioeconomic development of the area and the lower reaches of the Yellow River (YR). Population size/density is used as an important indicator to evaluate the intensity of human activities, but there has been little research on its variation in history. Therefore, this study provided a comprehensive analysis of the change characteristics, drivers and development stages of the population on the LP over the past 4000 years. We found that: (1) The significant increase in population after the Warring States (475–221 BC) was due to increasing cropland area and grain yield as a result of the development of agricultural technology compared to that before the Warring States, but its exponential increasing trend depended on reductions in procreation cost due to tax policies, in particular the abolition of the poll tax. (2) Peasant revolts and wars for power in each dynasty, and military conflicts on the boundary between the farming and pasture areas during the dry and cold period, led to population mortality and migration, causing the population of the LP to show a cyclical pattern of decline with the change in dynasties. (3) The population change of the LP has passed through four major stages: the sparsely populated period of primitive agriculture (2000–476 BC), the population fluctuation period of traditional agriculture (475 BC–1530 AD), the population growth period of traditional agriculture (1531–1949 AD) and the rapid population growth period of modern agriculture (1950–2000 AD).
Adversarial Approaches to Tackle Imbalanced Data in Machine Learning
Authors: Ayoub Shahnawaz , Gulzar Yonis , Rustamov Jaloliddin , Jabbari Abdoh , Reegu Faheem Ahmad , Turaev Sherzod
Published: April 2023

Real-world applications often involve imbalanced datasets, which have different distributions of examples across various classes. When building a system that requires a high accuracy, the performance of the classifiers is crucial. However, imbalanced datasets can lead to a poor classification performance and conventional techniques, such as synthetic minority oversampling technique. As a result, this study proposed a balance between the datasets using adversarial learning methods such as generative adversarial networks. The model evaluated the effect of data augmentation on both the balanced and imbalanced datasets. The study evaluated the classification performance on three different datasets and applied data augmentation techniques to generate the synthetic data for the minority class. Before the augmentation, a decision tree was applied to identify the classification accuracy of all three datasets. The obtained classification accuracies were 79.9%, 94.1%, and 72.6%. A decision tree was used to evaluate the performance of the data augmentation, and the results showed that the proposed model achieved an accuracy of 82.7%, 95.7%, and 76% on a highly imbalanced dataset. This study demonstrates the potential of using data augmentation to improve the classification performance in imbalanced datasets.
A New Method of Regional Mining Subsidence Control for Sustainable Development in Coal Areas
Authors: Li Huaizhan , Guo Guangli , Zha Jianfeng , Wang Tiening , Chen Yu , Yuan Yafei , Huo Wenqi
Published: April 2023

Coordinated and sustainable development of production-living-ecological space (PLES) is directly related to the global energy security and quality of life in coal areas. However, the current surface subsidence control methods have some problems, such as low resource recovery rate, high cost, insufficient materials, which are difficult to meet the requirements for the PLES sustainable development in coal areas. Under this background, based on characteristics of surface subsidence and deformation due to sub-critical extraction, the large protection area, and high deformation tolerance in PLES of mining areas, the new method of regional mining subsidence control was proposed, with the combination of source control and ground rehabilitation. The effectiveness of the method was verified by numerical simulation results and practical applications, and the application principles and implementation methods were proposed. The research results could provide technical support for the sustainable development of coal areas in major coal producing countries of the world.
Quality Research of the Beetroots (Beta vulgaris L., ssp. vulgaris var. conditiva Alef.) Grown in Different Farming Systems Applying Chemical and Holistic Research Methods
Authors: Paulauskienė Aurelija , Šileikienė Daiva , Karklelienė Rasa , Tarasevičienė Živilė , Česonienė Laima
Published: April 2023

For consumers who care about food sustainability, sustainable food seems to be at least organic, local, and seasonal food. Our research aimed to compare the differences between beetroots grown conventionally and organically using chemical and electrochemical research methods demonstrating life processes in products. Three beetroot (Beta vulgaris L., ssp. vulgaris var. conditiva Alef.) cultivars, ‘Joniai’, ‘Jolie’ H, and ‘Grenade’ H, were grown using organic and conventional farming systems. The total yield, diameter, and root length were measured after harvesting. The main chemical composition and color coordinates were determined. Holistic electrochemical research methods were applied to demonstrate the vitality of the products. It was found that the yield of conventionally grown vegetables depending on cultivars was from 4 to 19% higher than that of organically grown vegetables, and the dependence of the chemical composition on the farming system was ambiguous. Although the higher amounts of DM (13.70–15.90%), TSS (10.50–12.20%), and sugars (8.47–8.98%) were found in organically grown beetroots, higher contents of betalains (647–1408 mg kg−1 fw) were accumulated by conventionally grown plants. The highest amount in the fresh weight of Ca (310 mg kg−1) and Mg (470 mg kg−1) was accumulated in conventionally grown cv ‘Joniai’; only organically grown cv ‘Jolie’ H beetroots accumulated the highest amount of Fe (17.40 mg kg−1). However, lower values of the electrochemical parameters rH and P showed a better quality of ecologically grown beetroot, better vitality, and better suitability for human consumption.
Effect of Karst Microhabitats on the Structure and Function of the Rhizosphere Soil Microbial Community of Rhododendron pudingense
Authors: Yuan Congjun , Wang Haodong , Dai Xiaoyong , Chen Meng , Luo Jun , Yang Rui , Ding Fangjun
Published: April 2023

Soil microbes play an important role in the microbial circulation and energy flow of ecosystems. In order to understand the change in the rhizosphere soil microbial community structure and function in the heterogeneous karst habitats, the nutrient content and enzyme activity were analyzed, and Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology was used to detect the composition, quantity and functional types of the rhizosphere soil microbial community in Rhododendron pudingense under three kinds of karst microhabitats (soil surface, rock gully and rock surface) in Wangmo Country (WM), Zhenning Country (ZN) and Qinglong Country (QL). The results showed that SS and RG microhabitats had a higher nutrient content and enzyme activity, while RS had the lowest. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Actinomycetes were dominant in terms of bacteria, while Ascomycota and Basidiomycotina were dominant in terms of fungi. There was no significant difference in microbial diversity among different karst microhabitats (p > 0.05). At the microbial genus level, there were some differences in species composition among the three karst microhabitats, which may lead to soil heterogeneity in karst microhabitats. WM was a little different from ZN and QL. The results of PCoA showed that the community composition of RG and RS was more similar to that of SS. There was no significant difference in microbial functional types among different microhabitats (p > 0.05). Only the abundance of pathothoph-symbiothoph fungi in RG was significantly higher than that in RS (p < 0.05). The main function of bacteria was metabolism, and saprophytic and symbiotic fungi were the dominant fungal group. In conclusion, soil organic carbon and alkaline phosphatase are important factors affecting the level distribution of microflora in different karst microhabitats. R. pudingense in the SS and RG microhabitats has better soil conditions, which may require protection for the plants in the RS microhabitat. The current study results can provide a theoretical basis for the adaptation mechanism of Rhododendron pudingense to the karst microhabitat.
A Critical Review of Developers’ Decision Criteria for Brownfield Regeneration: Development of the BRIC Index
Authors: Okeyinka Oriyomi Modupe , Khan Rana , Pathirage Chaminda , Mahammedi Charf El Dine , West Antony
Published: April 2023

The complexity of processes and constraints associated with redevelopment of brownfield lands calls for provision of relevant, adequate, sufficient, up-to-date, and easily accessible information on brownfield lands to enable developers make an informed decision when navigating the hurdles of brownfield redevelopment. Furthermore, the various obstacles and barriers that developers encounter during decision making for brownfield redevelopment has continued to contribute to the limited uptake of brownfield lands in England by developers for redevelopment and regeneration. This study was conducted to explore the factors that developers consider when redeveloping brownfield lands and to present a decision criterion that will support brownfield site selection and subsequent regeneration. A mixed methodology using qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted to investigate the factors, criteria, and information that developers consider when making decisions for brownfield redevelopment. Data collection was carried out using a literature review and interviews with brownfield experts. Using a purposeful sampling approach, a total of 11 brownfield stakeholders, which cut across key experts involved in brownfield redevelopment within the Black Country region of England, was interviewed. Each expert interviewed holds a stakeholder critical role in regulatory organisations and construction industry organisations, including local authorities, geo-environmental organisations, land remediators and consultants, housing developers, etc. A comparative analysis of evidence obtained from developer interview responses, the literature review, and the brownfield register showed that 57% of factors, criteria, and information such as cost/capital expenses, funding, contamination level, infrastructure, water risk, neighbours, connectivity (digital, energy networks/grid), and access and transport, which developers require for decision making relating to redevelopment of brownfield sites, are not available on a standard local authority’s brownfield land register. To address the identified information gaps, this study developed “The BRIC Index”, a decision-making tool that incorporates a GIS-based system to facilitate screening of brownfield sites based on specified criteria and to help identify risks, contamination, and remediation costs of brownfield development. The effectiveness of the BRIC Index was validated through successful usage for site selection by various SMEs in the Black Country.
Assessment of Biostimulant Derived from Moringa Leaf Extract on Growth, Physiology, Yield, and Quality of Green Chili Pepper
Authors: Yuniati Nita , Kusumiyati Kusumiyati , Mubarok Syariful , Nurhadi Bambang
Published: April 2023

With the rapid growth in global population and standards of living, improving food production and quality are the greatest challenges in agriculture. The application of biostimulant derived from moringa leaf extract (MLE) has attracted a great deal of interest to support these efforts in a sustainable approach. A field study was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The effect of individual and combined application of MLE through seed priming (seed soaking) and foliar spray at different rates (1:30, 1:20, and 1:10, v/v) on growth, physiological, yield, and quality traits of green chili pepper were investigated, which was the aim of this study. In general, the responses generated by the combined MLE methods were more pronounced compared to their single applications. Among all treatments, MLE priming plus foliar spray at 1:30 was effective in improving most traits observed, including chlorophyll fluorescence (6.49%), stomatal conductance (57.19%), plant height (30.57%), leaf number (88.89%), leaf area index (116.67%), fruit weight per plant (46.27%), average fruit weight (39.62%), length (9.89%), diameter (29.65%), firmness (27.77%), and vitamin C content (29.07%) of fruit. Therefore, it is regarded as an appropriate treatment to maximize the potential use of MLE in green chili.
Soil Erosion Status Prediction Using a Novel Random Forest Model Optimized by Random Search Method
Authors: Tarek Zahraa , Elshewey Ahmed M. , Shohieb Samaa M. , Elhady Abdelghafar M. , El-Attar Noha E. , Elseuofi Sherif , Shams Mahmoud Y.
Published: April 2023

Soil erosion, the degradation of the earth’s surface through the removal of soil particles, occurs in three phases: dislocation, transport, and deposition. Factors such as soil type, assembly, infiltration, and land cover influence the velocity of soil erosion. Soil erosion can result in soil loss in some areas and soil deposition in others. In this paper, we proposed the Random Search-Random Forest (RS-RF) model, which combines random search optimization with the Random Forest algorithm, for soil erosion prediction. This model helps to better understand and predict soil erosion dynamics, supporting informed decisions for soil conservation and land management practices. This study utilized a dataset comprising 236 instances with 11 features. The target feature’s class label indicates erosion (1) or non-erosion (−1). To assess the effectiveness of the classification techniques employed, six evaluation metrics, including accuracy, Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC), F1-score, precision, recall, and Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC), were computed. The experimental findings illustrated that the RS-RF model achieved the best outcomes when compared with other machine learning techniques and previous studies using the same dataset with an accuracy rate of 97.4%.
The Relation between Bio-Industry Performance and Innovation Capacity—Focusing on the Korean Bio-Industry
Authors: Yeon Ju Han , Jang Seung-hwan
Published: April 2023

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the bio-industry is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, it is necessary to respond to the changed environment after COVID-19 by analyzing the bio-industry situation before the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, Korean bio-industry is a very important industry for Korea’s economic growth, so huge investments are being made in the development of bio-companies. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the effect of innovation capabilities on the performance of the Korean bio-industry. Korea’s bio-industry has been developing under the leadership of the government. Thus, Korea’s bio-companies need various forms of innovation to achieve sustainability through competitive advantage on their own. The objective of this research is to find the competitive advantage factors that improve the innovation ability of the Korean bio-industry. Therefore, the elements that increase a company’s innovation capability were studied in order to uncover competitive advantage factors that improve the Korean bio-industry’s innovation capability, and the effect on corporate performance was analyzed. Using samples from the ‘Korean Bio-industry Survey’, the current state of the Korean bio-industry was examined through a review of all bio-industry enterprises. In addition, each of the eight bio-industries was examined using Korea’s industrial classification system. As an analysis method, multiple regression analysis of SPSS 25 was performed to analyze how the six input factors have a complex effect on the output factor. This study discovered that R&D intensity, machine investment, and human resource characteristics all had an impact on the business performance of Korean biotech enterprises. In eight bio-sectors, elements affecting company success were defined differently. Therefore, through this study, Korean bio-companies must understand their own industrial characteristics, and develop factors that affect business performance through strategic operational management. In addition, based on the results of this study, companies should strengthen the innovation capabilities of the bio-industry to survive post-COVID-19, analyze changes in innovation capabilities, and promote sustainable growth by strengthening key innovation factors.
Addressing Individual Perception: Extending the Technology Acceptance Model to the Interim Payment Method in Construction Projects
Authors: Zhu Lei , Xiong Hui , Ning Yan , Lv Miaomiao
Published: April 2023

An increasing trend in late payment and nonpayment of construction projects would hinder the sustainable development of projects by impeding progress or causing disputes. Although the interim payment method is a good practice to solve payment-related problems of construction projects, its acceptance rate is low, and studies on it are few. Therefore, this research aims to extend the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to understand practitioners’ acceptance behavior toward the interim payment method. By adopting TAM, this study established an acceptance model of the interim payment method, which consists of four constructs and 25 indicators, and validated it through 131 survey data collected in Jiangsu Province, China. The results showed that the adoption rate for public projects (17%) was much lower than that of private projects (44.8%). The results revealed that environmental factors, perceived usefulness, and attitude increase practitioners’ acceptance, while the perceived ease of use impedes practitioners’ acceptance. In addition, the settlement process and pricing method impact the ease of use the most and could be breakthrough points for improvement in the future. Moreover, the perceived usefulness significantly affects practitioners’ attitudes but does not affect behavioral intention. This study contributes to the body of knowledge of project management by identifying the key causes of the low acceptance of the interim payment method and provides strategies for further improvement. The findings would help to inform the decision-making in policies, strategies, and incentive schemes to increase practitioners’ acceptance in China and worldwide.
2D Enantioselective Disposable Stochastic Sensor for Fast Real-Time Enantioanalysis of Glutamine in Biological Samples
Authors: Stefan-van Staden Raluca-Ioana , Bogea Mihaela Iuliana , Ilie-Mihai Ruxandra-Maria , Gheorghe Damaris-Cristina , Badulescu Marius
Published: April 2023

As protein is both a structural component and a metabolic intermediary, amino acids play a crucial function in the body. When it comes to proteins, only the L-configuration of chiral amino acids is found. At the molecular level, symmetry is disrupted; however, the scientific basis for this symmetry breaking is not yet known. Enantioanalysis of chiral compounds such as amino acids plays a very important role in the correct diagnosis of illnesses, such as cancer. The enantiomers of glutamine—a chiral amino acid—were investigated in biological samples using a disposable stochastic sensor. The disposable stochastic sensor based on immobilization of maltodextrin (DE 4.0–7.0) on the surface of a disposable sensor based on graphene decorated with Ag was designed, characterized, and validated for screening tests of whole blood and tissue samples. The stochastic sensor was designed using cold plasma deposition of graphene decorated with Ag on plastic material. The sensor was enantioselective, being able to discriminate between the enantiomers of glutamine. High sensitivities were recorded for both enantiomers, while the limits of determination were 100 fmol L−1 for L-glutamine and 1 fmol L−1 for D-glutamine. High recoveries were determined for the assay of one enantiomer in the presence of the other, despite the ratio between the two enantiomers.
Two-Fluid Classical and Momentumless Laminar Far Wakes
Authors: Pillay Kiara , Mason David Paul
Published: April 2023

Two-dimensional two-fluid classical and momentumless laminar far wakes are investigated in the boundary layer approximation. The velocity deficit satisfies a linear diffusion equation and the continuity equation in the upper and lower parts of the wakes. By using the multiplier method, conservation laws for the system of partial differential equations (PDEs) in the upper and lower parts of the wake are derived. Lie point symmetries associated with the conserved vectors for the classical and momentumless wakes are obtained. The conserved quantity for the two-fluid classical wake is the total drag on the obstacle, which is rederived. A new conserved quantity for the two-fluid momentumless wake is obtained, which satisfies the condition that the total drag on the obstacle is zero. Using the conserved quantities, it is shown that the equation of the interface is y=kx12, where k is a constant and x and y are Cartesian coordinates with origin at the trailing edge of the obstacle. New invariant solutions for the two-fluid classical and momentumless wakes with k=0 are found. Both solutions depend on the dimensionless parameter χ=(ρ1μ1)/(ρ2μ2) where suffices 1 and 2 refer to the upper and lower parts of the wake. For the special case in which the kinematic viscosity ratio ν2/ν1=1, two further solutions for the two-fluid momentumless wake are derived with k=±6.
A Study on Hyperatomic Ordered Semihyperrings
Authors: Guan Hao , Zahednejad Behnam , Khan Aysha , Akhoundi Maryam
Published: April 2023

In this study, we analyze an operator RT of an ordered semihyperring T with symmetrical hyperoperation ⊕ and show relations with the LT operator of T. We define the set ERT(K)={RT(K):∅≠K⊆T}. We denote by τRT(T) the topology generated by ERT(K). We prove that if RT(0)=T, then (T,τRT(T)) is connected. Some results relating to the hyperatomic ordered semihyperrings and the topology τRT(T) are discussed.
Some Common Fixed Circle Results on Metric and 𝕊-Metric Spaces with an Application to Activation Functions
Authors: Taş Nihal , Kaplan Elif , Santina Dania , Mlaiki Nabil , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we modify various contractive conditions (C.C.)s such as Ciric type (C.C.), Rhoades type (C.C.), Seghal type (C.C.), Bianchini type (C.C.), and Berinde type (C.C.) for two self-mappings, considering that the contractive property plays a major role in establishing a fixed circle (F.C.) on both metric spaces (M-s) and S-(M-s) where the symmetry condition is satisfied, and we utilize them to establish a common (F.C.). We prove new (F.C.) results on both (M-s) and S-(M-s) with illustrative examples. Finally, we provide an application to activation functions such as rectified linear unit activation functions and parametric rectified linear unit activation functions.
Turkey Red Oil as a Renewable Leveling and Dispersant Option for Polyester Dyeing with Dispersed Dyes
Authors: Filippi Jully Schmidt Pinto , Silva Angelo Oliveira , Marangoni Cintia , Correia Jeferson , Valle José Alexandre Borges , Valle Rita de Cassia Siqueira Curto
Published: April 2023

The objective of this work was to evaluate Turkey red oil as a renewable dispersant and leveling option for dyeing polyester knitted fabric with disperse dyes. The dyeing results were evaluated by measuring the color at several positions of the dyed samples to verify the levelness. In addition, the amount of residual dye was evaluated. Migration tests were also carried out to evaluate the leveling effectiveness of Turkey red oil. Wet rubbing and washing fastness analysis, hydrophilicity, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), surface analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and modification of functional groups by FTIR were also carried out. The results obtained in the analyses show that Turkey red oil is efficient as a dispersant and leveling agent when compared to the well-known sodium naphthalene sulfonate. It is concluded that Turkey red oil reduces the time of the dyeing process and consequently its energy consumption, and reduces the amount of effluent generated while improving hydrophilicity and fastness, thus being a renewable and sustainable option for current products based on petroleum.
Priorities and Challenges in Methodology for Human Health Risk Assessment from Combined Exposure to Multiple Chemicals
Authors: Nikolopoulou Dimitra , Ntzani Evangelia , Kyriakopoulou Katerina , Anagnostopoulos Christos , Machera Kyriaki
Published: April 2023

This paper reviews key elements in the assessment of human health effects from combined exposure to multiple chemicals taking into consideration current knowledge and challenges to identify areas where scientific advancement is mostly needed and proposes a decision-making scheme on the basis of existing methods and tools. The assumption of dose addition and estimation of the hazard index (HI) is considered as a starting point in component-based risk assessments. When, based on the generic HI approach, an unacceptable risk is identified, more specific risk assessment options may be implemented sequentially or in parallel depending on problem formulation, characteristics of the chemical group under assessment, exposure levels, data availability and resources. For prospective risk assessments, the reference point index/margin of exposure (RPI/MOET) (Option 1) or modified RPI/normalized MOET (mRPI/nMOET) (Option 2) approaches may be implemented focusing on the specific mixture effect. Relative potency factors (RPFs) may also be used in the RPI approach since a common uncertainty factor for each mixture component is introduced in the assessment. Increased specificity in the risk assessment may also be achieved when exposure of selected population groups is considered (Option 3/exposure). For retrospective risk assessments, human biomonitoring data available for vulnerable population groups (Option 3/susceptibility) may present more focused scenarios for consideration in human health risk management decisions. In data-poor situations, the option of using the mixture assessment factor (MAF) is proposed (Option 4), where an additional uncertainty factor is applied on each mixture component prior to estimating the HI. The magnitude of the MAF may be determined by the number of mixture components, their individual potencies and their proportions in the mixture, as previously reported. It is acknowledged that implementation of currently available methods and tools for human health risk assessment from combined exposure to multiple chemicals by risk assessors will be enhanced by ongoing scientific developments on new approach methodologies (NAMs), integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA), uncertainty analysis tools, data sharing platforms, risk assessment software as well as guideline development to meet legislative requirements.
Functional Profiling of the A-Family of Venom Peptides from the Wolf Spider Lycosa shansia
Authors: Lüddecke Tim , Dersch Ludwig , Schulte Lennart , Hurka Sabine , Paas Anne , Oberpaul Markus , Eichberg Johanna , Hardes Kornelia , Klimpel Sven , Vilcinskas Andreas
Published: April 2023

The venoms of spiders from the RTA (retro-lateral tibia apophysis) clade contain diverse short linear peptides (SLPs) that offer a rich source of therapeutic candidates. Many of these peptides have insecticidal, antimicrobial and/or cytolytic activities, but their biological functions are unclear. Here, we explore the bioactivity of all known members of the A-family of SLPs previously identified in the venom of the Chinese wolf spider (Lycosa shansia). Our broad approach included an in silico analysis of physicochemical properties and bioactivity profiling for cytotoxic, antiviral, insecticidal and antibacterial activities. We found that most members of the A-family can form α-helices and resemble the antibacterial peptides found in frog poison. The peptides we tested showed no cytotoxic, antiviral or insecticidal activities but were able to reduce the growth of bacteria, including clinically relevant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria monocytogenes. The absence of insecticidal activity may suggest that these peptides have no role in prey capture, but their antibacterial activity may help to defend the venom gland against infection.