bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Favipiravir—Tautomeric and Complexation Properties in Solution
Authors: Deneva Vera , Slavova Sofia , Kumanova Alina , Vassilev Nikolay , Nedeltcheva-Antonova Daniela , Antonov Luidmil
Published: December 2022

The tautomeric properties of favipiravir were investigated experimentally for the first time by using molecular spectroscopy (UV–Vis absorption, fluorescence and NMR), as well as DFT quantum–chemical calculations. According to the obtained results, the enol tautomer is substantially more stable in most of the organic solvents. In the presence of water, a keto form appears to be favored due to the specific solute–solvent interactions. Upon the addition of alkaline-earth-metal ions, deprotonation and complexation occurred simultaneously, giving the formation of 2 : 1 ligand : metal complexes. According to the theoretical simulations, the metal ion is captured between the carbonyl groups as a result of the size–fit effect.
Ionotropic Gelation and Chemical Crosslinking as Methods for Fabrication of Modified-Release Gellan Gum-Based Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Gadziński Piotr , Froelich Anna , Jadach Barbara , Wojtyłko Monika , Tatarek Adam , Białek Antoni , Krysztofiak Julia , Gackowski Michał , Otto Filip , Osmałek Tomasz
Published: December 2022

Hydrogels have a tridimensional structure. They have the ability to absorb a significant amount of water or other natural or simulated fluids that cause their swelling albeit without losing their structure. Their properties can be exploited for encapsulation and modified targeted drug release. Among the numerous natural polymers suitable for obtaining hydrogels, gellan gum is one gaining much interest. It is a gelling agent with many unique features, and furthermore, it is non-toxic, biocompatible, and biodegradable. Its ability to react with oppositely charged molecules results in the forming of structured physical materials (films, beads, hydrogels, nanoparticles). The properties of obtained hydrogels can be modified by chemical crosslinking, which improves the three-dimensional structure of the gellan hydrogel. In the current review, an overview of gellan gum hydrogels and their properties will be presented as well as the mechanisms of ionotropic gelation or chemical crosslinking. Methods of producing gellan hydrogels and their possible applications related to improved release, bioavailability, and therapeutic activity were described.
Multifunctional Photoactive Nanomaterials for Photodynamic Therapy against Tumor: Recent Advancements and Perspectives
Authors: Jain Rupesh , Mohanty Shambo , Sarode Ila , Biswas Swati , Singhvi Gautam , Dubey Sunil Kumar
Published: December 2022

Numerous treatments are available for cancer, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, biomarker testing, surgery, photodynamic therapy, etc. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective, non-invasive, novel, and clinically approved strategy to treat cancer. In PDT, three main agents are utilized, i.e., photosensitizer (PS) drug, oxygen, and light. At first, the photosensitizer is injected into blood circulation or applied topically, where it quickly becomes absorbed or accumulated at the tumor site passively or actively. Afterward, the tumor is irradiated with light which leads to the activation of the photosensitizing molecule. PS produces the reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in the death of the tumor cell. However, the effectiveness of PDT for tumor destruction is mainly dependent on the cellular uptake and water solubility of photosensitizer molecules. Therefore, the delivery of photosensitizer molecules to the tumor cell is essential in PDT against cancer. The non-specific distribution of photosensitizer results in unwanted side effects and unsuccessful therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, to improve PDT clinical outcomes, the current research is mostly focused on developing actively targeted photosensitizer molecules, which provide a high cellular uptake and high absorption capacity to the tumor site by overcoming the problem associated with conventional PDT. Therefore, this review aims to provide current knowledge on various types of actively and passively targeted organic and inorganic nanocarriers for different cancers.
Folic Acid-Grafted Chitosan-Alginate Nanocapsules as Effective Targeted Nanocarriers for Delivery of Turmeric Oil for Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: San Htet Htet Moe , Alcantara Khent Primo , Bulatao Bryan Paul I. , Sorasitthiyanukarn Feuangthit Niyamissara , Nalinratana Nonthaneth , Suksamrarn Apichart , Vajragupta Opa , Rojsitthisak Pranee , Rojsitthisak Pornchai
Published: December 2022

Folate receptors (FRs) highly expressed in breast cancers can be used as a recognized marker for preventing off-target delivery of chemotherapeutics. In this study, folic acid (FA)-grafted chitosan-alginate nanocapsules (CS-Alg-NCs) loaded with turmeric oil (TO) were developed for breast cancer targeting. CS was successfully conjugated with FA via an amide bond with a degree of substitution at 12.86%. The TO-loaded FA-grafted CS-Alg-NCs (TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs) optimized by Box-Behnken design using response surface methodology had satisfactory characteristics with homogenous particle size (189 nm) and sufficient encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity (35.9% and 1.82%, respectively). In vitro release study of the optimized TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs showed a sustained TO release following the Korsmeyer-Peppas model with a Fickian diffusion mechanism at pH 5.5 and 7.4. The TO-FA-CS-Alg-NCs showed lower IC50 than ungrafted TO-CS-Alg-NCs and unencapsulated TO against MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cells, suggesting that FA-CS-Alg-NCs can improve anticancer activity of TO through its active targeting to the high FRs expressing breast cancers.
The Trimeric Artesunate Analog TF27, a Broadly Acting Anti-Infective Model Drug, Exerts Pronounced Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Activity Spanning Variants and Host Cell Types
Authors: Hahn Friedrich , Wangen Christina , Häge Sigrun , Herrmann Lars , Herrmann Alexandra , Tsogoeva Svetlana B. , Marschall Manfred
Published: December 2022

Starting in 2019, the spread of respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the associated pandemic of the corona virus disease (COVID-19) has led to enormous efforts in the development of medical countermeasures. Although innovative vaccines have scaled back the number of severe COVID cases, the emergence of the omicron variant (B.1.1.529) illustrates how vaccine development struggles to keep pace with viral evolution. On the other hand, while the recently approved antiviral drugs remdesivir, molnupiravir, and Paxlovid are considered as broadly acting anti-coronavirus therapeutics, only molnupiravir and Paxlovid are orally available and none of these drugs are recommended for prophylactic use. Thus, so far unexploited small molecules, targeting strategies, and antiviral mechanisms are urgently needed to address issues in the current pandemic and in putative future outbreaks of newly emerging variants of concern. Recently, we and others have described the anti-infective potential and particularly the pronounced antiviral activity of artesunate and related compounds of the trioxane/sesquiterpene class. In particular, the trimeric derivative TF27 demonstrated strong anti-cytomegalovirus activity at nanomolar concentrations in vitro as well as in vivo efficacy after oral administration in therapeutic and even prophylactic treatment settings. Here, we extended this analysis by evaluating TF27 for its anti-SARS-CoV-2 potential. Our main findings are as follows: (i) compound TF27 exerted strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity in vitro (EC50 = 0.46 ± 0.20 µM), (ii) antiviral activity was clearly distinct from the induction of cytotoxicity, (iii) pretreatment with TF27 prevented virus replication in cultured cells, (iv) antiviral activity has likewise been demonstrated in Calu-3 human lung and Caco-2 human colon cells infected with wild-type, delta, or omicron SARS-CoV-2, respectively, and (v) analysis of TF27 combination treatments has revealed synergistic interaction with GC376, but antagonistic interaction with EIDD-1931. Combined, the data demonstrated the pronounced anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of TF27 and thus highlight the potential of trioxane compounds for further pharmacologic development towards improved options for COVID-specific medication.
Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymers as Potential Thermoplastic Modifiers of Photopolymer Compositions
Authors: Bazhanov Dmitriy A. , Poteryaev Arkadiy A. , Shapagin Alexey V. , Shcherbina Anna A.
Published: December 2022

The possibility of using thermoplastic polymers in photopolymer compositions for SLA and DLP is discussed in this article. The diffusion and mutual solubility of uncured systems based on tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA) or low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were studied. The solubility and diffusion of tBA with EVA containing 7, 20, and 40 wt.% vinyl acetate (VA) and with LDPE in the temperature range 20–75 °C were studied by optical micro-interferometry method. Phase diagrams of LDPE–tBA, EVA-7–tBA, and EVA-20–tBA systems were obtained. It is shown that the compositions are characterized by the phase-state diagrams of amorphous separation with the upper critical solution temperature (UCST). The concentration dependences of the interdiffusion coefficients as well as dependences of the self-diffusion coefficients on VA content and on temperature were plotted. The activation energy of self-diffusion of EVA and LDPE was calculated. It was shown that the most promising tBA modifier is EVA-40, which is completely soluble at all studied temperature ranges. The obtained data on the mixing of the initial components is valuable for further studies of the processes of structure formation during photocuring of compositions, regulation of the phase structure and, as a consequence, the performance characteristics of the 3D printable materials.
Research on Performance Optimization of Liquid Concentration Detection Systems Based on Turbulence Elimination
Authors: Li Zhiyang , Liu Haizeng , Wang Chao , Chen Jianye , Zhang Qingsong
Published: December 2022

Liquid concentration detection systems have been widely used in food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and many other industries. When the liquid flows, a large number of vortices will usually be generated, resulting in increased turbulence intensity, which will interfere with the detection of the concentration of the suspension. In this paper, a method for concentration detection by differential pressure based on turbulence elimination is proposed to improve the reliability of concentration detection results. The changes in the internal flow field corresponding to different lengths of the turbulence elimination structure and different inlet angles are analyzed through numerical simulation. Finally, the influence of changes in structure parameters on the accuracy of concentration detection is tested through experiments. The results show that when the length of the turbulence elimination structure is small, the vortex zone inside the concentration detection device changes with the inlet velocity. When the length of the turbulence elimination structure is 150 mm, the vortex zone is basically not affected by the inlet velocity. The stability of the flow field increases with the increase in the inlet angle. When the inlet angle increases to 60°, a stable zone of turbulence will form in the region where Y > 0.4 m. When the length of the turbulence elimination structure is 150 mm and the inlet angle is 60°, the expected experimental results are obtained, and the actual needs of liquid concentration measurement are met.
Cytotoxicity Assessment and Nutritional Profiling of Bio-Active Compounds Obtained from Food Waste
Authors: Adascălului Marian , Multescu Mihaela , Mihai Adriana Laura , Bobea Sabina Andreea , Florea Cristian , Belc Nastasia
Published: December 2022

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the properties of by-products obtained from the oil industry, to identify the content of bioactive compounds and to test the safety of their reintroduction in the food industry. Three sunflower meals obtained after cold-pressing of whole (WSM), partially dehulled (PSM) and total dehulled (TSM) sunflower seeds were used. A higher protein, ash and fiber content was obtained for WSM, followed by PSM, and TSM meals. Conversely, the lipid content was higher in TSM and PSM, and lower in WSM meals. Sunflower meals are important sources of unsaturated fatty acids (more linoleic than oleic acid), the content ranging between 82.74 and 86.72%. Additionally, sunflower meals represent a significant source of compounds with antioxidant activity. TSM showed the highest concentration of total polyphenols and total flavonoids, while WSM the lowest. The values of antioxidant activity were higher for TSM compared to PSM and WSM. The weak cytotoxic activity at concentrations lower than 6.25 mg/mL, as well as cell viability which is not affected by the action of PSM and TSM but even increases in the case of WSM, give sunflower meals the potential to be added as ingredients in the production of functional foods.
The Contemplative Approach of Indian Philosophies & Science Education: A Concentration on the Buddhist Principle of Pratityasamutpada
Authors: Pandya Raaghav
Published: December 2022

Contemporary science pedagogy, especially at the secondary level, seeks to emphasize Dewey’s idea of science as a method. More specifically, factors of the nature of science that highlight inquiry-based learning have been popularized and applied in science curricula and classrooms. Simultaneously, the West has experienced exponential growth in studios, seminars, and interventions involving mindfulness, yoga, and Eastern practices. Whether it be for physical health or corporate productivity, these practices have entered the contemporary culture, often with an aspect of cultural appropriation. While these practices have undoubtedly proven to improve performance and control anxiety among young people, this paper argues that adopting the paradigm and premise of philosophies such as yoga, Vedanta, and Buddhism alter student understanding of science and their interaction with the world. This paper will do so by presenting science as an experience of inquiry by the subject, as explained by Dewey, Spencer, and Kuhn. This paper will contrast the approach of these contemplative schools to Cartesian dualism, particularly concerning the idea of subjective awareness. By doing so, this paper will present how a pedagogy based on the paradigm and approach of yoga and mindfulness (not just its meditation practices) can influence students’ experience of oneness with others and their environment, science as inquiry, and being a contributing member of a community. More specifically, this paradigm application allows for a student’s experience of first-person inquiry and awareness that leads to an interconnectedness (pratityasamutpada) and citta vrtti nirodha (stilling of the fluctuating states of mind). In a time when students are heavily engaged in a technology-dependent, pandemic learning environment, this shift in science pedagogy offers an alternative approach that improves student understanding of the role of empathy and sustenance in science.
John Paul II and the Family—The Role of Authority Figures in the Lives of Young Poles
Authors: Stańdo Jacek , Żebrok Przemysław , Fechner Żywilla , Kopiczko Tomasz
Published: December 2022

The modern world, on the one hand, longs for authority figures, and on the other, often rejects them all. The present paper is a scientific reflection on the issue of authority in the context of the person and teachings of John Paul II and the family. Referring to scientific research, the text demonstrates the need for authority figures in society while also giving examples of how these role models are rejected. Over the years, there has also been a visible decline in the percentage of people declaring that John Paul II or the family are their supreme authority. The media and the increase in the number of ‘hip’ celebrities and influencers play an important role in this process. It is often they who take the place of traditional authority figures and values in the public sphere.
Tree Reconstruction Using Topology Optimisation
Authors: Lowe Thomas , Pinskier Joshua
Published: December 2022

Generating accurate digital tree models from scanned environments is invaluable for forestry, agriculture, and other outdoor industries in tasks such as identifying fall hazards, estimating trees’ biomass and calculating traversability. Existing methods for tree reconstruction rely on sparse feature identification to segment a forest into individual trees and generate a branch structure graph, limiting their application to easily separable trees and uniform forests. However, the natural world is a messy place in which trees present with significant heterogeneity and are frequently encroached upon by the surrounding environment. We present a general method for extracting the branch structure of trees from point cloud data, which estimates the structure of trees by adapting the methods of structural topology optimisation to find the optimal material distribution to interpolate the input data. We present the results of this optimisation over a wide variety of scans, and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of this novel approach to tree structure reconstruction. Our method generates detailed and accurate tree structures, with a mean Surface Error (SE) of 15 cm over 13 diverse tree datasets.
Assessing Local Climate Change by Spatiotemporal Seasonal LST and Six Land Indices, and Their Interrelationships with SUHI and Hot–Spot Dynamics: A Case Study of Prayagraj City, India (1987–2018)
Authors: Sarif Md. Omar , Gupta Rajan Dev , Murayama Yuji
Published: December 2022

LST has been fluctuating more quickly, resulting in the degradation of the climate and human life on a local–global scale. The main aim of this study is to examine SUHI formation and hotspot identification over Prayagraj city of India using seasonal Landsat imageries of 1987–2018. The interrelationship between six land indices (NDBI, EBBI, NDMI, NDVI, NDWI, and SAVI) and LST (using a mono-window algorithm) was investigated by analyzing correlation coefficients and directional profiling. NDVI dynamics showed that the forested area observed lower LST by 2.25–4.8 °C than the rest of the city landscape. NDBI dynamics showed that the built-up area kept higher LST by 1.8–3.9 °C than the rest of the city landscape (except sand/bare soils). SUHI was intensified in the city center to rural/suburban sites by 0.398–4.016 °C in summer and 0.45–2.24 °C in winter. Getis–Ord Gi* statistics indicated a remarkable loss of areal coverage of very cold, cold, and cool classes in summer and winter. MODIS night-time LST data showed strong SUHI formation at night in summer and winter. This study is expected to assist in unfolding the composition of the landscape for mitigating thermal anomalies and restoring environmental viability.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Integrated Solar-Driven CO2 Capture System for an Industrial Building
Authors: Shen Yongting , Yang Hongxing
Published: December 2022

Industrial CO2 emission, accounting for nearly a quarter of the total CO2 emission, is a “hard-to-abate” emission sector, owing to the longstanding challenge in reducing CO2 emission while not sacrificing industry economics. Herein, this research proposes an integrated solar-driven CO2 capture system for application in industrial buildings to decarbonize factories’ CO2-rich exhaust gas generated from workers or manufacturing processes, and further conducts multi-objective optimization based on the NSGA-II algorithm. By setting the integrated system’s performances, including captured CO2 mass, net levelized CO2 cost-profit, generated electricity, and exergy efficiency, as the constrained multi-objectives, the effects of system working parameters on them are disentangled and articulated concerning the energy-mass balance principles. Research demonstrates that the captured CO2 mass mainly depends on solar radiation and sorbent mass, net levelized CO2 cost on sorbent mass, and exergy efficiency on the total solar input. For capturing the CO2 from a light-CO2-intensity factory with CO2 partial pressure of 1000 Pa by using 6.0 tons of Zeolite 13X, a CO2 capacity of 0.79 mol/kg, levelized CO2 cost of 128.4 USD/ton, and exergy efficiency of 5–10% can be achieved. Furthermore, sensitivity and scenario analysis are conducted to demonstrate the system’s stability and feasibility. Overall, this work provides comprehensive and objective-oriented guidance for policymakers and industry owners and paves the way for greening the ever-increasing industry needs.
Digital Transformation Drives Sustainable Innovation Capability Improvement in Manufacturing Enterprises: Based on FsQCA and NCA Approaches
Authors: Fan Xiaonan , Wang Ye , Lu Xinyuan
Published: December 2022

In recent years, digital technologies represented by the Internet, cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence have developed rapidly and become a strong driving force for economic development. They have effectively driven manufacturing enterprises to innovate their production methods and management models and enhance their innovation capabilities. The improvement of the sustainable innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises is a complex system, which requires various types of collaborative coupling of digital transformation. Therefore, this paper constructs a comprehensive framework of sustainable innovation capability based on Complex System View, using 20 manufacturing enterprises in Dalian, China, as a sample to analyze the driving effects of digital transformation on the improvement of the sustainable innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises by using a mixture of NCA and QCA methods. The findings are: (1) A single type of digital transformation does not constitute a necessary condition for high sustainable innovation capacity, and the digital transformation of service, model and organization play a more universal role in generating high sustainable innovation capability in manufacturing enterprises; and (2) The combination of three paths can make various types of digital transformations couple and interact to achieve the high sustainable innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises in Liaoning Province, including the Pure Product Digital Transformation Driving Path, Model + Organization Digital Transformation Driving Path, and Comprehensive Digital Transformation Driving Path. In this paper, four conditional configurations are found to lead to non-high sustainable innovation capability, which can be summarized as the Process Digitalization Deficiency Type and Organization Digitalization Limitation Type. The findings of this paper have important theoretical and practical implications for making scientific and reasonable digital transformation decisions to improve the sustainable innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises.
Memorable Tourist Experiences in National Parks: Impacts on Future Intentions and Environmentally Responsible Behavior
Authors: Obradović Sanja , Stojanović Vladimir , Tešin Aleksandra , Šećerov Ivan , Pantelić Milana , Dolinaj Dragan
Published: December 2022

This study aims to investigate how national parks, identified as remarkable and, therefore, worthy of the trip, are visited and experienced. The main objective of this study was to explore the influence of memorable tourism experiences on environmentally responsible behavior, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions as its outcome. By giving an account of how national parks may be experienced by nature-based tourists, its main focus is on the concept of memorable nature-based tourist experience (MNBTE). The data for this research were collected through a survey from tourists visiting national parks in Serbia. The results demonstrate the significance of MNBTE as an important relationship mediator. The study’s key contributions are the extension of the memorable tourism experience construct and the inclusion of tourist satisfaction, intention to revisit, recommend, share the experience, and the environmental responsibility of tourists. Practical implications and potential future research approaches are also highlighted in the conclusion.
The Enabling Effect of Intellectual Property Strategy on Total Factor Productivity of Enterprises: Evidence from China’s Intellectual Property Model Cities
Authors: Zhu Ye , Sun Minggui
Published: December 2022

Does intellectual property (IP) strategy improve the total factor productivity of enterprises (TFP)? This paper uses 21,930 enterprise-year observations of China’s A-share listed enterprises from 2010–2020, adopts a multi-period difference-in-differences model, and constructs a quasi-natural experiment on the impacts of intellectual property model cities (IPMC) on TFP. The findings are as follows: (1) IPMC significantly improves TFP. (2) It has lag effects and long-term effects. (3) The promotion effect is stronger for state-owned enterprises and enterprises implementing organizational political strategies. (4) The close government-business relationship and clean government-business relationship play positive regulating roles in IPMC on TFP. (5) IPMC promotes TFP by increasing urban fiscal expenditure on science and technology and enterprise technological innovation. This study enriches the theory and evidence of policy effect assessment for IPMC at the enterprise level, and provides policy inspiration for the promotion of IPMC and TFP, to help China achieve high-quality economic development.
Firm-Specific Determinants of Firm Performance in the Hospitality Sector in India
Authors: Soni Tarun Kumar , Arora Akshita , Le Thi
Published: December 2022

The hospitality sector has been one of the worst-hit industries due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by nationwide lockdowns and curfews. Further, other factors, including the Russia–Ukraine war, commodity price rise, and recession, have acted as hurdles in the slow recovery process. Policy experts at different forums have advocated for proactive and robust measures by the government to reduce adverse impacts during these unprecedented times. To design such measures, determining the firm-specific factors that significantly impact their profitability is essential. In this context, this study tries to understand firm-specific factors that affect the hospitality sector’s performance in India. It also explores whether the firm-specific characteristics have changed over time due to changes in political regimes and differ between private and publicly listed companies. Using a sample of 440 public and private hospitality firms for 11 years (2010–2020) and after controlling for unobserved heterogeneity using firm fixed effects, we tested the relationship between firm characteristics and performance. The estimation results demonstrate that the net asset turnover, liquidity, foreign earnings intensity, and age have significant, positive impacts on profitability. In contrast, solvency and size have negatively impacted firm performance. Further, we found differences in the magnitudes of coefficients for private and publicly listed companies. The findings provide important implications for managers and regulators to stimulate new solutions to overcome the ongoing difficult period.
Study on Balanced Allocation of Water Resources in the Yellow River Basin Based on Water Benefit Sharing
Authors: Wan Fang , Wang Yu , Zhou Xiangnan , Zheng Xiaokang , Wu Jian , Xiao Lingfeng
Published: December 2022

In recent years, the shortage of water resources and the deterioration of water ecological environment have led to the increasing contradiction between supply and demand of water resources in river basins. How to realize the balanced allocation and scientific regulation of water resources in river basins is a serious challenge for China to face water resources problems. In this paper, the dynamic process and allocation scheme of water resources and water benefit allocation under different cooperative scenarios are simulated by constructing the water resources equilibrium allocation model of water benefit sharing. The influencing factors of water benefit sharing mechanism and the process of allocation compensation are studied, and the benefit relationship in regional coordinated utilization of water resources is revealed. The upstream, midstream and downstream water users of the Yellow River Basin are formed into alliances, respectively. Based on the principle of master–slave game theory, a basin system optimization problem with multi-level hierarchical structure is established. The initial allocation of water resources is carried out with the maximum overall benefit of water resources allocation, and the incremental benefits of the system optimization compared with the current individual and overall benefits are analyzed. The fuzzy cooperative alliance is used to allocate incremental benefits, improve the stability of cooperation among alliances, realize the cooperation and interaction of water resources in distribution, and finally achieve a dynamic equilibrium state. This paper focuses on the allocation mechanism of water resources competition and cooperation under water benefit sharing, which can provide a scientific basis for improving water resources security in water shortage basins and adapt to new problems and challenges brought by changing environments.
The Role of Nitrogen in Inducing Salt Stress Tolerance in Crocus sativus L.: Assessment Based on Plant Growth and Ions Distribution in Leaves
Authors: Hashemi Seyedeh Elahe , Madahhosseini Shahab , Pirasteh-Anosheh Hadi , Sedaghati Ebrahim , Race Marco
Published: December 2022

The role of nitrogen (N) in inducing salt stress tolerance in plants is not well understood, and the question is more complicated in saffron (Crocus sativus L.), which is sensitive to both nitrogen rates and salinity. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of different N (0, 50 and 150 kg ha−1) supplies on saffron growth and ions concentration in shoots under several salt stress levels (0, 3, 6 and 9 dS m−1). Salinity negatively affected plant growth assessed by leaves number, leaves length, shoot dry weight, corms number and corms weight. Moreover, there was a clear direct correlation between higher salinity value and less plant growth. Different effects due to salinity and nitrogen were evident in terms of the number and length of leaves during the growing season from day 60 after first irrigation (DAF) and achieved a peak after 90 DAF. Salt stress also affected the ions balance, as Na+, Cl− and Ca2+ were enhanced and K+ was reduced, thereby damaging the plants. Nitrogen partially mitigated the negative impacts of salinity on plant growth and ions balance, although this compensatory effect was observed when nitrogen supply was set at 50 kg N ha−1. For example, in 2019–2020, the losses in shoot dry weight due to 9 dS m−1 salinity amounted to 47%, 44% and 54%, at 0, 50 and 100 kg N ha−1 respectively, thus indicating a less negative effect of salinity at 50 kg N ha−1. Moreover, at 100 kg N ha−1 the negative effect of salinity was stronger for six and nine dS m−1. Our findings suggested that the optimum N supply (50 kg N ha−1) strengthened the plant under non-saline and moderately saline (6 dS m−1) conditions, and consequently improved salt tolerance.
Identifying Ecological Security Patterns Based on Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand Using Remote Sensing Products (Case Study: The Fujian Delta Urban Agglomeration, China)
Authors: Niu Xiaonan , Ni Huan , Ma Qun , Wang Shangxiao , Zong Leli
Published: December 2022

As the global population increases and cities expand, increasing social needs and ecosystem degradation generally coexist, especially in China’s urban agglomerations. Identifying ecological security patterns (ESPs) for urban agglomerations serves as an effective way to sustain regional ecological security and promote harmonious ecological conservation and economic development. Focusing on the Fujian Delta Urban Agglomeration (FDUA) as an example, this study aims to present a framework for linking the supply and demand of ecosystem services (ESs) to identify ESPs in 2020. First, the ecological sources are delimited by coupling the supply and demand of four critical ESs (carbon storage, water provision, grain production, and outdoor recreation). Afterward, the resistance coefficient is modified using nighttime light intensity data and the ecological risk index, the second of which combines the effects of the soil erosion sensitivity index, the geological disaster risk index, and the land desertification risk index. Then, ecological corridors are determined by employing the minimum cumulative resistance method. With the integration of ecological sources and corridors, the ESPs of the FDUA can be identified. The results show a distinct supply–demand mismatch for ESs, with supply exhibiting an upward gradient from coastal cities to inland mountain cities and demand showing the opposite trend. The ESPs consist of 8359 km2 of ecological sources that are predominantly forests, 171 ecological corridors with a total length of 789.04 km, 34 pinch points, 26 barriers, and 48 break points. This paper presents a realizable approach for constructing ESPs for urban agglomerations, which will help decision makers optimize ecological sources and ecological protection policies.
E-Commerce: Does Sustainable Logistics Development Matter?
Authors: Teng Zhuoqi , He Yugang , Wu Renhong
Published: December 2022

With the rise of the information industry in recent years, logistics and e-commerce have grown significantly. Logistics are regarded as an essential assurance for the execution of e-commerce transactions. Therefore, this article examines the effect of sustainable logistics development on China’s e-commerce by assessing province data from 2005 to 2020. Using the province and year fixed-effects model for empirical research, the following three empirical conclusions are reached: (1) the development of logistics has a favorable effect on e-commerce; (2) the dynamic link between logistics development and e-commerce is moderated by the speed of logistics development in a U-shaped manner; (3) the aforementioned two conclusions are dissimilar in the eastern, central, and western regions. On the basis of these three findings, several matching recommendations are made. This can serve as a point of reference for the sustainable growth of logistics and e-commerce in the near future. This paper can also contribute to the current literature.
Machine Learning Techniques for Multi-Fault Analysis and Detection on a Rotating Test Rig Using Vibration Signal
Authors: Lupea Iulian , Lupea Mihaiela
Published: December 2022

Machine health monitoring of rotating mechanical systems is an important task in manufacturing engineering. In this paper, a system for analyzing and detecting mounting defects on a rotating test rig is developed. The test rig comprises a slender shaft with a central disc, supported symmetrically by oscillating ball bearings. The shaft is driven at constant speed (with tiny variations) through a timing belt. Faults, such as the translation of the central disc along the shaft, the disc eccentricity, and defects on the motor reducer position or timing belt mounting position, are imposed. Time and frequency domain features, extracted from the vibration signal, are used as predictors in fault detection. This task is modeled as a multi-class classification problem, where the classes correspond to eight health states: one healthy and seven faulty. Data analysis, using unsupervised and supervised algorithms, provides significant insights (relevance of features, correlation between features, classification difficulties, data visualization) into the initial dataset, a balanced one. The experiments are performed using classifiers from MATLAB and six feature sets. Quadratic SVM achieves the best performance: 99.18% accuracy for the set of all 41 features extracted from X and Y accelerometer axes, and 98.93% accuracy for the subset of the 18 most relevant features.
Asymptotic Constancy for the Solutions of Caputo Fractional Differential Equations with Delay
Authors: Koyuncuoğlu Halis Can , Raffoul Youssef , Turhan Nezihe
Published: December 2022

In this paper, we aim to study the neutral-type delayed Caputo fractional differential equations of the form CDαxt−gt,xt=ft,xt,t∈t0,∞,t0≥0 with order 0<α<1, which can be used to describe the growth processes in real-life sciences at which the present growth depends on not only the past state but also the past growth rate. Our ultimate goal in this study is to concentrate on the convergence of the solutions to a predetermined constant by establishing a linkage between the delayed fractional differential equation and an integral equation. In our analysis, the sufficient conditions for the asymptotic results are obtained due to fixed point theory. The utilization of the contraction mapping principle is a convenient approach in obtaining technical conditions that guarantee the asymptotic constancy of the solutions.
Dispersive Optical Solitons with Schrödinger–Hirota Equation by Laplace-Adomian Decomposition Approach
Authors: González-Gaxiola O. , Biswas Anjan , Moraru Luminita , Moldovanu Simona
Published: December 2022

This paper studies dispersive bright and dark optical solitons, modeled by the Schrödinger–Hirota equation, numerically by the aid of the Adomian decomposition. The surface plots of the algorithm yielded an impressively small measure. The effects of soliton radiation are ignored.
Machine Learning Approach for Rapid Estimation of Five-Day Biochemical Oxygen Demand in Wastewater
Authors: Asteris Panagiotis G. , Alexakis Dimitrios E. , Tsoukalas Markos Z. , Gamvroula Dimitra E. , Guney Deniz
Published: December 2022

Improperly managed wastewater effluent poses environmental and public health risks. BOD evaluation is complicated by wastewater treatment. Using key parameters to estimate BOD in wastewater can improve wastewater management and environmental monitoring. This study proposes a BOD determination method based on the Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) model to combine Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Suspended Solids (SS), Total Nitrogen (T-N), Ammonia Nitrogen (NH4-N), and Total Phosphorous (T-P) concentrations in wastewater. Twelve different transfer functions are investigated, including the common Hyperbolic Tangent Sigmoid (HTS), Log-sigmoid (LS), and Linear (Li) functions. This research evaluated 576,000 ANN models while considering the variable random number generator due to the ten alternative ANN configuration parameters. This study proposes a new approach to assessing water resources and wastewater facility performance. It also demonstrates ANN’s environmental and educational applications. Based on their RMSE index over the testing datasets and their configuration parameters, twenty ANN architectures are ranked. A BOD prediction equation written in Excel makes testing and applying in real-world applications easier. The developed and proposed ANN-LM 5-8-1 model depicting almost ideal performance metrics proved to be a reliable and helpful tool for scientists, researchers, engineers, and practitioners in water system monitoring and the design phase of wastewater treatment plants.
Risk Assessment of Dike Based on Risk Chain Model and Fuzzy Influence Diagram
Authors: Wang Xiaobing , Xia Xiaozhou , Teng Renjie , Gu Xin , Zhang Qing
Published: December 2022

For the risk assessment of flood defense, a comprehensive understanding of risk factors affecting dike failure is essential. Traditional risk assessment methods are mostly based on experts’ experience and focus on just one type of failure mode of flood defensive structures. The risk resources, including the analytical factors and non-analytical factors, were summarized firstly according to the general experience of dikes. The uncertainty of the resources that affect dike safety can be quantified by membership degree. Hence, a fuzzy influence diagram based on fuzzy mathematics was proposed to assess the safety of the dikes. We evaluated the multi-failure modes at the same time by a fuzzy influence diagram. Taking a dike as an example, the expected value of the dike failure was 6.25%. Furthermore, the chance of damage to this dike was “very unlikely” according to the descriptive term of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The evaluation result was obtained as a probabilistic value, which enabled an intuitive perception of the safety of the dikes. Therefore, we provided some reasonable suggestions for project management and regular maintenance. Since the proposed method can account for uncertainties, it is well suited for the risk assessment of dikes with obvious uncertainties.
Short-Term Effect of Eucalyptus Leachates on Green Food Webs in Headwaters
Authors: González-Paz Lorena , Gestido Josué , Delgado Cristina , Pedrol Nuria , Pardo Isabel
Published: December 2022

Despite the reported allelopathic nature of the Eucalyptus genus, eucalypt leachates have unknown effects on the trophic base of stream green food webs. Eucalypt plantations have increased worldwide, including riparian ecosystems. We aimed to test whether short-term eucalypt leachates might alter water chemistry, periphytic algal biomass and diatoms, and herbivorous invertebrates’ (i.e., scrapers). We studied two oligotrophic and well-preserved headwaters from NW Spain. The experiment followed a before-after control-impact paired (BACIp) design, with weekly sampling before and after eucalypt leaves addition to streams. In the stream with lower discharge, the eucalypt treatments seemed to affect increases in biomass accrual (Chl-a) and diatom assemblages, disfavouring sensitive species (e.g., Eunotia minor and Achnanthidium pyrenaicum). Therefore, the ecological status was reduced from high to good. In the stream with higher discharge, invertebrate assemblages changed with scrapers having their abundances modified in comparison with the control (e.g., Habrophlebia sp. and Elmidae). Results suggest that eucalypt leaves leachates exert toxic effects on periphyton and on diatom and invertebrate assemblages, and this effect might be mediated by discharge. Alterations at the base of stream food webs may compromise their good ecological status. Further studies are necessary to identify whether this toxicity is due to allelopathic processes.
Using GIS-based Network Analysis to Evaluate the Accessible Forest Areas Considering Forest Fires: The Case of Sarajevo
Authors: SOKOLOVİC Dzevada , BAJRİC Muhamed , AKAY Abdullah Emin
Published: December 2022

The forest fire is one of the greatest environmental disasters in forest ecosystems. In order to effectively fight against forest fires, the ground team needs to access fire areas immediately and start firefighting within critical response time. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the forest areas where the ground team can reach in critical response time. In this study, the GIS-based network analysis method was used to evaluate the capabilities of the ground team to arrive at forest areas promptly, considering the forested areas in Canton Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the solution process, the effectiveness of establishing new fire stations (20) was evaluated by comparing the results obtained in the case where only the former stations (12) were taken into account. The optimal route and associated response times of firefighting teams to potential fire areas were generated considering the previously occurred forest fires (58 fires) in the region. The results indicated that about 18% of the forested areas were accessible considering the former fire station while accessible forest areas increased up to 45% considering the new stations. When analyzing the previously occurred forest fires, it was found that 33 fires were reached in the critical response time considering former fire stations. On the other hand, the accessible forest fires increased up to 56 fires for the case of new fire stations in the region.
THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR CREATING A HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION CLUSTER IN THE REGION AND EVALUATION OF ITS EFFICIENCY
Authors: Tereshchenko Svitlana , Avramenko Anastasia
Published: December 2022

The article considers the issue of creating a regional housing and construction cluster in order to find effective approaches to increasing of enterprises competitiveness in this industry and implementation of relevant innovation priorities that will increase domestic and international competitiveness of its members through commercial and non-commercial cooperation, scientific research and innovation, education, training and political support activities. Using the cluster analysis method, studies of the interdependence between the volume of completed construction work and capital investments were carried out. The Regional target program for supporting individual housing construction «Own House» for 2019–2020 was analyzed in order to identify sources of support for local authorities to create a regional housing and construction cluster. In accordance with the conditions of the cluster policy implementation, five fundamental characteristics are proposed, namely: the presence of competitive enterprises; availability of competitive advantages in the region for cluster development; growth of economic indicators of the industry; a wide range of participants; the presence of links between all participants in the clusters, which made it possible to propose calculating the economic efficiency of clusters. To support and develop modern integration systems and their integral part of cluster structures and systems of inter-cluster interaction of business networks, we propose to create a commission at the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to develop integration socio-economic structures (industrial, science and technology and business parks, free economic zones and special zones of economic and technological development, high-test parks), which should ensure the development of the necessary legislation and provide new structures with the necessary rights and benefits for development.
THEORETICAL CONTEXTS OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF COMPLEX SELF-GOVERNING SOCIO-ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Authors: Zavgorodniy Konstantin , Tkachenko Vladimir
Published: December 2022

The methodology contexts of perceiving complex self-governing socio-economic systems as planetary-civilizational social systems are theoretically substantiated in the article. Awareness of the essence of modern global and planetary crisis of civilization makes it possible to make sure that the planet Earth, which on the basis of classical approaches is traditionally perceived as a financial and economic one, should be considered methodologically as a planetary civilizational social system. Outstanding thinkers of our time, scientists from many highly developed countries have unequivocally proved that its main cause is the spiritual decline of society, the decline of the holistic consciousness of the subjects of society, orientation towards the definition of one-sided logical-mental intelligence, the loss of moral values and responsibility for the creation of man, the growing distrust to public administration institutions. All this emphasizes the inconsistency of a qualified and competent search the directions and mechanisms for overcoming the planetary-civilizational crisis of society. Therefore, the primary task of planetary civilization development is the need for a radical change in worldview, which would be based on life values: protecting people’s health, education, as the acquisition of new knowledge, peaceful coexistence, the dignity of man as such, trust and harmony in relations between people and people with nature. From a scientific point of view, this cardinal change in the worldview consists in the transition from target to value rationality based on the deepening of spiritual and moral factors that should set the vector of anti-crisis environmentally friendly thinking regarding all management decisions in the field of practical actions to reform national and global economic systems.