bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Halloysite Nanohybrids-Based Films: Enhancing Mechanical and Hydrophilic Properties for Wound Healing
Authors: Rodríguez Pozo Francisco Ramón , Ianev Daiana , Martínez Rodríguez Tomás , Arias José L. , Linares Fátima , Gutiérrez Ariza Carlos Miguel , Valentino Caterina , Arrebola Vargas Francisco , Hernández Benavides Pablo , Paredes José Manuel , Medina Pérez María del Mar , Rossi Silvia , Sandri Giuseppina , Aguzzi Carola
Published: September 2024

Most of the therapeutic systems developed for managing chronic skin wounds lack adequate mechanical and hydration properties, primarily because they rely on a single component. This study addresses this issue by combining organic and inorganic materials to obtain hybrid films with enhanced mechanical behavior, adhesion, and fluid absorption properties. To that aim, chitosan/hydrolyzed collagen blends were mixed with halloysite/antimicrobial nanohybrids at 10% and 20% (w/w) using glycerin or glycerin/polyethylene glycol-1500 as plasticizers. The films were characterized through the use of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and electron microscopy. The mechanical properties were evaluated macroscopically using tensile tests, and at a nanoscale through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and nanoindentation. Thermodynamic studies were conducted to assess their hydrophilic or hydrophobic character. Additionally, in vitro cytocompatibility tests were performed on human keratinocytes. Results from FTIR, TGA, AFM and electron microscopy confirmed the hybrid nature of the films. Both tensile tests and nanomechanical measurements postulated that the nanohybrids improved the films’ toughness and adhesion and optimized the nanoindentation properties. All nanohybrid-loaded films were hydrophilic and non-cytotoxic, showcasing their potential for skin wound applications given their enhanced performance at the macro- and nanoscale.
Tailoring Crystallization Kinetics in Thin Sucrose Films during Convective Drying: Impact of Temperature and Humidity on Onset, Growth, and Nucleation Rate
Authors: Schugmann Martin , Foerst Petra
Published: September 2024

Drying experiments with varying air temperature and humidity were conducted to investigate the influence of the drying process on the crystallization of thin sucrose films. For the first time, the effects of the nucleation onset, nucleation rate, and growth rate were investigated in situ and their differentiated influence on product crystallinity could be assessed. The growth rate was not influenced by air humidity but showed a strong dependence on temperature. It increased with drying temperature; however, at high temperatures, growth was inhibited when the water content falls below a critical level. Noticeable differences in nucleation behavior could be observed with regard to air humidity. Dry air led to crystallization onsets at lower levels of supersaturation, while moderately humid air retarded it. At higher temperatures, nucleation onset commenced at lower water contents but at a constant supersaturation level. The nucleation rate doubled in experiments with moderately humid air (15% RH), while an elevated drying temperature showed generally lower nucleation rates. The observed differences in the nucleation onset and rate could be explained by the film-internal concentration profile, which is strongly influenced by drying parameters. The insights therefore provide a differentiated understanding of the formation of the physical state and how it can be influenced during convective drying.
Ecogeographic Study of Ipomoea Species in Mauritius, Indian Ocean
Authors: Boyjnath Yakshini , Dulloo Mohammad Ehsan , Bhoyroo Vishwakalyan , Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya Vijayanti Mala
Published: September 2024

The wild relatives of crops play a critical role in enhancing agricultural resilience and sustainability by contributing valuable traits for crop improvement. Shifts in climatic conditions and human activities threaten plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), jeopardizing contributions to future food production and security. Studies and inventories of the extant agrobiodiversity, in terms of numbers and distribution patterns of species and their genetic diversity, are primordial for developing effective and comprehensive conservation strategies. We conducted an ecogeographic study on Ipomoea species and assessed their diversity, distribution, and ecological preferences across different topographic, altitudinal, geographical, and climatic gradients, at a total of 450 sites across Mauritius. Species distribution maps overlaid with climatic data highlighted specific ecological distribution. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed species distribution was influenced by geographical factors. Regional richness analyses indicated varying densities, with some species exhibiting localized distributions and specific ecological preferences while the other species showed diverse distribution patterns. Field surveys identified 14 species and 2 subspecies out of 21 species and 2 subspecies of Ipomoea reported in Mauritius. A gap in ex situ germplasm collections was observed and several species were identified as threatened. Further investigations and a more long-term monitoring effort to better guide conservation decisions are proposed.
Investigation on the Coalescence of Filaments in Fused Filament Fabrication Process for Amorphous Polyether Ketone Ketone for Varying Nozzle Diameters and Chamber Temperatures
Authors: Runacher Antoine , Joffre Thomas , Fauny Germain , Salvan Claudia , Marchal Nils , Chinesta Francisco
Published: September 2024

The use of Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) of high-performance polymers is becoming increasingly prevalent, leading to the exploration of new applications. The use of such materials in critical cases for aerospace applications necessitates the verification of industry standards, particularly with regard to the requirements for part porosity. The authors investigate the effect of nozzle diameter and cooling temperature printing parameters on the porosity of the part by using existing modelling methods based on the sintering of cylinders and spheres and comparing the results to microscope snapshots of sections of parts. The models are able to be used as limits for predicting the longitudinal neck growth of the part. The authors show through experiments that the value of the cooling temperature of the deposited filament has a minimal effect on the outcome, while nozzle diameter has a strong impact on the resulting porosity. The modelling results show that there is a significant impact of both the nozzle diameter and cooling temperature on the porosity of the part. This implies that further refinement of the models is needed for the resulting parts to be applied in critical structures.
Microbeam X-ray and Scanning Electron Microscopic Analyses on Sector-Banded Spherulites of Poly(p-dioxanone) Justified with Pixelated Iridescence
Authors: Woo Eamor M. , Lin Chia-Hui , Nagarajan Selvaraj , Su Chean-Cheng
Published: September 2024

Poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO) is crystallized with amorphous poly(p-vinyl phenol) (PVPh) and tannic acid (TA) as co-diluents to regulate and induce dendritic-ringed PPDO spherulites, with spoke- or sector-bands, aiming for convenience of analyses on interior lamellar assembly. Morphologies and interior lamellar arrangement leading to the peculiar rings on individual dendrites are evaluated by using polarized-light microscopy (PLM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Combinatory microbeam small-/wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) analyses further confirm the unique assembly patterns in periodic cycles. Alternate gratings are packed with periodic ridges composed of feather-like branches and the valley is featured with some embossed textures. The periodic gratings in the ringed spokes resemble those in nature’s structured coloration and are proven to display light-interference iridescence.
Manufacturing Process of Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Fillers
Authors: Hong Gi-Woong , Wan Jovian , Park Youngjin , Yoo Jane , Cartier Hugues , Garson Sebastien , Haykal Diala , Yi Kyu-Ho
Published: September 2024

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are extensively utilized in aesthetic medicine due to their biocompatibility, reversibility, and effectiveness in enhancing skin hydration, volume, and overall appearance. These fillers are predominantly produced through microbial fermentation, followed by a critical cross-linking process that enhances their longevity by resisting enzymatic degradation. This review provides a thorough examination of the manufacturing processes that differentiate HA fillers, with particular attention to the distinctions between biphasic and monophasic variants. Unlike previous studies, this review emphasizes the specific cross-linking techniques and their substantial impact on the fillers’ rheological properties, such as elasticity and cohesiveness, which are crucial to their clinical performance and patient outcomes. Additionally, the review offers a comprehensive comparison of HA fillers with non-HA alternatives, including calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-l-lactic acid, and polymethyl methacrylate, highlighting the unique advantages and potential complications associated with each type. By presenting novel insights into the latest advancements and challenges in filler technology, this review aims to provide clinicians with a deeper understanding of filler properties, thereby guiding them in making informed decisions to optimize patient safety and aesthetic results.
Multiscale Analysis of Impact-Resistance in Self-Healing Poly(ethylene-co-methacrylic acid) (EMAA) Plain Woven Composites
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Tie Ying , Fan Congjie , Yin Zhihao , Li Cheng
Published: September 2024

A study combining multiscale numerical simulation and low-velocity impact (LVI) experiments was performed to explore the comprehensive effects on the impact-resistance of EMAA filaments incorporated as thermoplastic healing agents into a plain woven composite. A multiscale micro–meso–macro modeling framework was established, sequentially propagating mechanical performance parameters among micro–meso–macro models. The equivalent mechanical parameters of the carbon fiber bundles were predicted based on the microscopic model. The mesoscopic representative volume element (RVE) model was crafted by extracting the actual architecture of the monolayer EMAA filaments encompassing the plain woven composite. Subsequently, the fiber and matrix of the mesoscopic model were transformed into a monolayer-equivalent cross-panel model containing monolayers aligned at 0° and 90° by local homogenization, which was extended into a macroscopic equivalent model to study the impact-resistance behavior. The predicted force–time curves, energy–time curves, and damage profile align closely with experimental measurements, confirming the reliability of the proposed multiscale modeling approach. The multiscale analysis reveals that the EMAA stitching network can effectively improve the impact-resistance of plain woven composite laminates. Furthermore, there exist positive correlations between EMAA content and both impact-resistance and self-healing efficiency, achieving a self-healing efficiency of up to 98.28%.
Poisoning and Asphyxiation Risk Assessment in a Steel Plant Based on Fuzzy Bayesian Network
Authors: Li Qianqian , Yang Qingzhou , Liu Wei , Dai Ping , Yang Yuenan
Published: September 2024

There is a lack of a quantitative assessment of the risk factors associated with poisoning and asphyxiation accidents in steel enterprises, especially the insufficient treatment of uncertainty in risk analysis. To address this issue, this work proposed a risk assessment method based on fuzzy Bayesian network (FBN), which established a risk assessment indicator system for poisoning and asphyxiation from four aspects, including human, material, environmental, and management factors, and illustrated the relationship between these risk factors through fault tree analysis (FTA). Taking a steel plant in China as an example, fuzzy set theory (FST) and expert surveys were combined to determine the prior probabilities and conditional probabilities of Bayesian network (BN) nodes. The results show that (i) the probability of poisoning and asphyxiation accidents in this steel plant is 74%; (ii) among the various influencing factors, defective or inadequate monitoring and alarm devices, isolation devices, equipment inspection systems, and toxic gas operation management are identified as the critical contributors; and (iii) this accident probability has decreased to 47% after rectification measures and reassessment. The findings of this research offer valuable insights for steel enterprises in preventing poisoning and asphyxiation accidents.
Gregory of Nyssa’s Treatment of Ancient Beliefs in his Homilies
Authors: Farrugia Jonathan
Published: September 2024

In his many homilies, Gregory of Nyssa contrasts Christian belief to earlier forms of belief that were still very present in the Roman empire during the fourth century, namely the classical polytheistic faith and Judaism, with the explicit intention of showing its superiority over them. Even though Gregory is clearly against any belief that is not Christian orthodoxy, he presents these other beliefs from two different perspectives: at times, he presents them as the enemies of Christianity, showing clearly how they seek to harm the true faith; at other times, he also seeks to show how, in a way, they are of benefit to Christianity because their very presence and the behaviour of their followers help to show how much the Christian way of life outshines any other. This discussion on other faiths in relation to Christian belief is present in many contexts; however, attacks on paganism are more evident in the sermons in honour of martyrs, while invectives addressed to Jews are present mainly in his sermons on biblical books. In this paper, an attempt will be made to present in detail what Gregory has to say about these other faiths and their relation to Christianity (desired and factual), concluding with how his attitude towards other faiths can be classified and described.
Influence of Social Identity and Personality Traits in Human–Robot Interactions
Authors: Staffa Mariacarla , D’Errico Lorenzo , Maratea Antonio
Published: September 2024

This study explores the role of social identity in human–robot interactions, focusing on a scenario where a humanoid robot functions as a bartender with either a positive or negative personality. Conducted with 28 participants, the experiment utilized the Big-5 questionnaire to assess personality traits and the Godspeed questionnaire to gauge perceptions of the robot. The research sought to determine if users could perceive the robot’s distinct identities and if these perceptions were influenced by the participants’ personality traits. The findings indicated that participants could effectively discern the robot’s different personalities, validating the potential for programming robots to convey specific social identities. Despite the limited sample size, the results suggest that participants’ initial emotional states and personality traits significantly influenced their perceptions, suggesting that customizing a robot’s identity to match the interlocutor’s personality can enhance the interaction experience. As a preliminary investigation, this study contributes valuable insights into human–robot interaction dynamics and lays the groundwork for future research in the development of socially integrated robotic systems.
Tracking Phytoplankton Biomass Amid Wildfire Smoke Interference Using Landsat 8 OLI
Authors: Mohammady Sassan , Erratt Kevin J. , Creed Irena F.
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the escalating impact of wildfire smoke on the remote sensing of phytoplankton biomass in freshwater systems. Wildfire smoke disrupts the accuracy of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) retrieval models, with Chl-a often used as a proxy for quantifying phytoplankton biomass. Given the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, there is a need for the development and refinement of remote sensing methodologies to effectively monitor phytoplankton dynamics under wildfire-impacted conditions. Here we developed a novel approach using Landsat’s coastal/aerosol band (B1) to screen for and categorize levels of wildfire smoke interference. By excluding high-interference data (B1 reflectance > 0.07) from the calibration set, Chl-a retrieval model performance using different Landsat band formulas improved significantly, with R2 increasing from 0.55 to as high as 0.80. Our findings demonstrate that Rayleigh-corrected reflectance, combined with B1 screening, provides a robust method for monitoring phytoplankton biomass even under moderate smoke interference, outperforming full atmospheric correction methods. This approach enhances the reliability of remote sensing in the face of increasing wildfire events, offering a valuable tool for the effective management of aquatic environments.
Convolution Neural Network Development for Identifying Damage in Vibrating Pylons with Mass Attachments
Authors: Manolis George D. , Dadoulis Georgios I.
Published: September 2024

A convolution neural network (CNN) is developed in this work to detect damage in pylons by measuring their vibratory response. More specifically, damage detection through testing relies on the development of damage-sensitive indicators, which are then used to reach a decision regarding the existence/absence of damage, provided they have been retrieved from at least two distinct structural states. Damage indicators, however, exhibit a relatively low sensitivity regarding the onset of structural damage, further exacerbated by the low amplitude response to a variety of environmentally induced loads. To this end, a mathematical model is developed to interpret the experimental data recovered from a fixed-base pylon with a top mass attachment to transverse motion. Damage is introduced in the mathematical model in the form of springs corresponding to the cracking of the beam’s lower end. Families of numerically generated acceleration records are produced at select stations along the beam’s height, which are then used for training a CNN. Once trained, it is used to identify damage from acceleration records produced from a series of experiments. Difficulties faced by CNN in correctly identifying the presence/absence of damage in the pylon are discussed, and steps taken to improve the quality of the results are proposed.
Non-Invasive Characterization of Different Saccharomyces Suspensions with Ultrasound
Authors: Geier Dominik , Mailänder Markus , Whitehead Iain , Becker Thomas
Published: September 2024

In fermentation processes, changes in yeast cell count and substrate concentration are indicators of yeast performance. Therefore, monitoring the composition of the biological suspension, particularly the dispersed solid phase (i.e., yeast cells) and the continuous liquid phase (i.e., medium), is a prerequisite to ensure favorable process conditions. However, the available monitoring methods are often invasive or restricted by detection limits, sampling requirements, or susceptibility to masking effects from interfering signals. In contrast, ultrasound measurements are non-invasive and provide real-time data. In this study, the suitability to characterize the dispersed and the liquid phase of yeast suspensions with ultrasound was investigated. The ultrasound signals collected from three commercially available Saccharomyces yeast were evaluated and compared. For all three yeasts, the attenuation coefficient and speed of sound increased linearly with increasing yeast concentrations (0.0–1.0 wt%) and cell counts (R2 > 0.95). Further characterization of the dispersed phase revealed that cell diameter and volume density influence the attenuation of the ultrasound signal, whereas changes in the speed of sound were partially attributed to compositional variations in the liquid phase. This demonstrates the ability of ultrasound to monitor industrial fermentations and the feasibility of developing targeted control strategies.
The Effect of Environmental Damage Costs on the Performance of Insurance Companies
Authors: Bressan Silvia , Du Sabrina
Published: September 2024

We examine worldwide Property and Casualty and Life and Health insurance companies from 2004 until 2023, implementing panel regression models and mediation analyses to show that insurers raise their reserves when they face increasing costs for their potential environmental damages, ultimately reducing their profitability and underwriting capacity. Our findings extend to the insurance sector the previous evidence on banks, demonstrating that environmental damages could affect profits and solvency of financial intermediaries. These insights are important especially for insurance managers and regulators.
Characteristics of Spatial and Temporal Variation in Drought in the Sichuan Basin from 1963 to 2022
Authors: Yang Zongying , Zhang Bo , Chen Jie , Hou Yule , Wu Yan , Xie Hong
Published: September 2024

The study of regional drought characteristics is vital for identifying drought patterns and offering scientifically informed guidance for drought warnings. This research focuses on the Sichuan Basin, where the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) was calculated across various time scales using meteorological data from 1963 to 2022. Wavelet analysis was applied to examine the periodic fluctuations of the SPEI across different time scales. Drought events were identified using run-length theory and spatially visualized with ArcGIS 10.7 interpolation techniques to elucidate the temporal and spatial dynamics of drought occurrences. The findings are as follows: (1) Over nearly 60 years, the SPEI in the Sichuan Basin fluctuated between −1.5 and 1, with an insignificant annual downward trend but a significant downward trend in autumn (p < 0.05). (2) The SPEI displayed a primary cycle of 6 years in spring, autumn, and winter, while the summer cycle matched the annual SPEI cycle of 8 years. (3) Drought events were more frequent in the eastern part of the basin compared to the west. The area with high drought frequency shifted counterclockwise from east to north, northwest, west, and south with the changing seasons. (4) Drought duration was longer in the western and northern regions of the basin than in the east. Severe drought events were mainly concentrated in the Chengdu Plain and the Central Sichuan Hilly Region, although the drought intensity index was lowest in the Chengdu Plain and Chongqing in eastern Sichuan. The peak values of drought showed an insignificant decreasing trend, indicating a potential expansion in the extreme impacts of drought disasters in the study area.
An Integrated Hog Supply Forecasting Framework Incorporating the Time-Lagged Piglet Feature: Sustainable Insights from the Hog Industry in China
Authors: Xu Mingyu , Lai Xin , Zhang Yuying , Li Zongjun , Ouyang Bohan , Shen Jingmiao , Deng Shiming
Published: September 2024

The sustainable development of the hog industry has significant implications for agricultural development, farmers’ income, and the daily lives of residents. Precise hog supply forecasts are essential for both government to ensure food security and industry stakeholders to make informed decisions. This study proposes an integrated framework for hog supply forecast. Granger causality analysis is utilized to simultaneously investigate the causal relationships among piglet, breeding sow, and hog supply, as well as to ascertain the uncertain time lags associated with these variables, facilitating the extraction of valuable time lag features. The Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess (STL) is leveraged to decompose hog supply into three components, and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Xtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) are utilized to forecast the trends, i.e., seasonality and residuals, respectively. Extensive experiments are conducted using monthly data from all the large-scale pig farms in Chongqing, China, covering the period from July 2019 to November 2023. The results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the other five baseline models with more than 90% reduction in Mean Squared Logarithm (MSL) loss. The inclusion of the piglet feature can enhance the accuracy of hog supply forecasts by 42.1% MSL loss reduction. Additionally, the findings reveal statistical time lag periods of 4–6 months for piglet and 11–13 months for breeding sow, with significance levels of 99%. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed to promote the sustainability of the pig industry, thereby driving the sustainable development of both upstream and downstream sectors of the swine industry and ensuring food security.
Economic Attractiveness of the Flexible Combined Biofuel Technology in the District Heating System
Authors: Galinis Arvydas , Kurkela Esa , Kurkela Minna , Habermeyer Felix , Lekavičius Vidas , Striūgas Nerijus , Skvorčinskienė Raminta , Neniškis Eimantas , Tarvydas Dalius
Published: September 2024

European Union (EU) energy markets are changing rapidly. After the recent turmoil, a new wave of EU legislation is once again reshaping the way energy should be used in the EU, emphasizing not only the increasing importance of using renewable and local energy sources but also highlighting the importance of energy efficiency and decarbonization of high to abate sectors (including aviation and marine fuels). Heating and cooling account for about half of the total gross final energy consumption in the EU. This article explores the novel concept of using waste heat from the flexible Fischer–Tropsch (FT) process (FLEXCHX) in the existing district heating network, resulting in tri-generation: FT C5+ liquids, heat, and electricity. FLEXCHX provides operation flexibility and combines advanced biomass gasification, catalytic liquefaction, electrolysis, and waste heat recovery, allowing use of biomass residues in a more sustainable way. Our results, based on the Kaunas district heating (DH) system, show that this process could be integrated into the existing district heating network in Northern Europe and successfully compete with existing heat-only boilers and CHPs using biomass or municipal waste, resulting in more efficient use of biomass and savings accumulated up to EUR 200 million over the study period in the analysis (2020–2050), supplying up to 30% of the heat in the Kaunas DH system. Enriching the FT process with hydrogen (using electrolysis) could result in additional FLEXCHX utilization benefits by creating demand for cheap excess electricity that might otherwise be curtailed.
Assessing the Multiplier Effect of National Parks: A Case Study of Buiratau State National Nature Park in Kazakhstan
Authors: Sapiyeva Akmaral , Yessenov Meirzhan , Aktymbayeva Aliya , Nuruly Yeldar , Sakypbek Mereke , Razdobudko Olesya , Assipova Zhanna
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the economic impact of tourism in Buiratau State National Nature Park (SNNP) by analyzing the direct, indirect, and induced effects of tourist spending through the multiplier effect. Using input–output (I-O) models and primary data from park administrators, local businesses, and national statistics, the research quantifies the economic contributions of tourism to the local economy. In 2023, total tourist spending in Buiratau SNNP amounted to 19,856,520 KZT (41,320.4 USD), generating an overall economic impact of 56,337,037 KZT (117,234.5 USD). The calculated tourist expenditure multiplier is 2.84, and the tourist income multiplier is 2.578. These findings demonstrate the amplification of tourist spending within the regional economy, highlighting the roles of direct revenues from tourist services and indirect benefits from related sectors. This study also explores sustainable tourism development, emphasizing investments in infrastructure and collaboration with local stakeholders. Recommendations include enhancing data collection methods, promoting sustainable tourism practices, and engaging local communities in planning processes. This research is particularly relevant for developing regions, including post-Soviet states, where national parks are centrally managed, providing a framework for optimizing tourism’s economic contributions while maintaining conservation goals.
Spatial Differentiation of Mangrove Aboveground Biomass and Identification of Its Main Environmental Drivers in Qinglan Harbor Mangrove Nature Reserve
Authors: Wang Kaiyue , Jiang Meihuijuan , Li Yating , Kong Shengnan , Gao Yilun , Huang Yingying , Qiu Penghua , Yang Yanli , Wan Siang
Published: September 2024

In the Bamen Bay area of the Qinglan Harbor Mangrove Provincial Nature Reserve in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China, mangrove aboveground biomass (AGB) was estimated using high-resolution UAV ortho-imagery and UAV LiDAR data. The spatial distribution characteristics of AGB were studied using global Moran’s I index and hotspot analysis. Optimal geographic detectors and regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between AGB and key environmental factors. The results indicate that (1) the average AGB in the study area was 141.22 Mg/ha, with significant spatial variation. High AGB values were concentrated in the southwestern and northeastern regions, while low values were mainly found in the central and southeastern regions. (2) Plant species, water pH, soil total potassium, salinity, dissolved oxygen, elevation, soil organic matter, soil total phosphorus, and soil total nitrogen were identified as major factors influencing the spatial distribution of AGB. The interaction results indicate either bifactor enhancement or nonlinear enhancement, showing a significantly higher impact compared with single factors. (3) Comprehensive regression model results reveal that soil total nitrogen was the primary factor affecting AGB, followed by soil total potassium, with water pH having the least impact. Factors positively correlated with AGB promoted biomass growth, while elevation negatively affected AGB, inhibiting biomass accumulation. The findings provide critical insights that can guide targeted conservation efforts and management strategies aimed at enhancing mangrove ecosystem health and resilience, particularly by focusing on key areas identified for potential improvement and by addressing the complex interactions among environmental factors.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Study on Carbon Footprint of Water Treatment Plants: Case Study of Indonesia and Taiwan
Authors: Ouattara Ali , Azhaari Resita Nadya Noor , Hu Allen H. , Kuo Chien-Hung , Huang Hongwei (Lance)
Published: September 2024

Access to clean and safe water is essential to sustain human life. With the growth of the world population, the demand for clean water is also increasing. Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) are among the highest electricity consumers, thus causing damage to the environment and human health by producing solid waste and sludge as by-products, along with air pollution and noise. With the fourth highest population in the world, Indonesia faces a high demand for clean water. The country has pledged to reach net zero by 2060 or sooner, requiring effort in all sectors of the economy. Taiwan is relatively small compared to Indonesia but has a higher average clean water supply per capita than Indonesia. This study assessed and compared the Carbon Footprint (CF) emitted from four WTPs in Indonesia and Taiwan. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was used, employing a cradle to gate as the methodology. The results showed that the Indonesian WTPs emit more CF than the Taiwanese ones. Electricity consumption from the intake operation and screening process mainly contributes to the CF in most of the studied WTPs. While chemical usage is related to the amount of treated water and the water quality regulations, their consumption has more impact on ecosystem services in Taiwan. Using both renewable energy and good chemical management will be a better solution to lessen the environmental impact of all of these WTPs.
Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Biogas Slurry Application on Plant Growth, Soil Composition, and Microbial Communities of Hybrid Pennisetum
Authors: Cai Jiabang , Ran Qifan , Zhou Jie , Bi Ming , Liu Yang , Yang Sisi , Fan Yan , Nie Gang , He Wei
Published: September 2024

Biogas slurry with rich nutrients could be applied as fertilizer to improve nitrogen absorption and soil structure. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial soil microorganisms that establish mutualistic relationships with the plant roots. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of AMF and biogas slurry treatment on hybrid Pennisetum growth, soil chemical properties, and soil microorganisms. The results revealed that the biomass yield of hybrid Pennisetum was significantly increased after the application of biogas slurry, and it reached the peak values when the biogas slurry dosage was 900 t/hm2, which were 13,216.67 kg/hm2 and 13,733.33 kg/hm2 in AMF− and AMF+ treatment groups, respectively. Moreover, biogas slurry treatment has a significant promoting effect on other agronomic traits related to biomass yield. As for soil chemical indicators, the contents of total nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and available phosphorus in the soil increased with the increase in biogas slurry application, while the soil organic matter was decreased. The addition of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi significantly increased the species diversity of soil fungi with no biogas slurry application. Furthermore, when biogas slurry was applied, it had no significant effect on soil microbial diversity and composition, no matter the AMF+ or AMF− treatment. The research results can provide a reference for the long-term utilization of biogas slurry and it also can be used in the actual production of hybrid Pennisetum.
The Influence of Digital Skills on Farm Households’ Vulnerability to Relative Poverty: Implications for the Sustainability of Farmers’ Livelihoods
Authors: Qi Jianling , Li Huanjiao , Li Wenlong , Jin Jing , Ye Feng
Published: September 2024

Improving farmers’ digital skills is instrumental in reducing the risk of farmer households reverting to poverty and in fostering sustainable livelihood development. This study investigated the impact of digital skills on the relative vulnerability of farm households to poverty and explored the mediating role of social capital. Based on 2022 field survey data from 917 rural households in Yunnan Province, China, we employed a probit model to evaluate how digital skills influence the likelihood of poverty reversion among farm households. The findings indicated that enhancing digital skills significantly reduced households’ vulnerability to poverty, thereby mitigating the risk of poverty recurrence. The heterogeneity analysis revealed that the impact of digital skills was more pronounced among low-income households. Among various digital skills, social digital skills exerted the strongest effect in reducing poverty vulnerability. Further analysis demonstrated that enhanced digital skills strengthened social capital, which subsequently reduced the risk of poverty reversion. To ensure sustainable poverty alleviation and prevent widespread poverty relapse, accelerating the development of digital skills among rural populations in western China is essential. This will create new development opportunities and contribute to long-term livelihood sustainability.
Design and Control of Four-Port Non-Isolated SEPIC Converter for Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems
Authors: Chandrasekar Anuradha , Subramanian Vijayalakshmi , Rajamanickam Narayanamoorthi , Shorfuzzaman Mohammad , Emara Ahmed
Published: September 2024

A new four-port non-isolated SEPIC converter intended for hybrid renewable energy systems is presented in this study. The suggested converter minimizes space and expense by integrating two inputs and two outputs in a single-stage structure with fewer components. The converter retains important characteristics including continuous input current, buck/boost capability, non-inverting output, and enhanced power factor because it is based on the fundamental SEPIC topology. It effectively combines an energy storage system (ESS) with a variety of energy sources that have different voltage and current characteristics. The converter can be configured to operate in unidirectional or bidirectional topologies depending on whether storage elements are included. Performance is examined in two operating modes, with an emphasis on the ESS’s charging and discharging processes. System equations are produced by steady-state analysis, and the design of a closed-loop controller for accurate input power and output voltage regulation is informed by dynamic analysis performed with the state-space approach. Through real-time hardware implementation and MATLAB/Simulink simulations, the efficacy of the suggested design is verified, demonstrating the open-loop unidirectional topology’s theoretical and practical validity.
Can Agricultural Socialized Services Promote Agricultural Green Total Factor Productivity? From the Perspective of Production Factor Allocation
Authors: Yao Wei , Zhu Yingyu , Liu Shuyao , Zhang Yan
Published: September 2024

In the context of China’s large country with small farmers, agricultural socialized services are regarded as an important way for small farmers to organically connect with modern agriculture and provide ideas for improving agricultural green total factor productivity (AGTFP). Based on data from 1066 farmers from the China Land Economy Survey (CLES), this paper takes net carbon sink as the environmental output variable, adopts the Cobb–Douglas production function for stochastic frontier method estimation, and measures the AGTFP based on the stochastic frontier analysis method with an output-oriented distance function. At the same time, through the construction of intermediary effect and regulatory effect models, it empirically analyzes the impact and mechanism of agricultural socialized services on farmers’ AGTFP from the perspective of factor allocation. The study found that agricultural socialized services not only significantly promote AGTFP, but also that the effect of AGTFP improvement is more significant as the degree of participation in agricultural socialized services increases. The main results have passed a series of robustness tests. Further research found that agricultural socialized services promote the improvement of AGTFP through the intermediary role of improving the scale of farmland and the level of agricultural green technology adoption. Off-farm employment of the rural labor force has a positive regulatory effect between agricultural socialized services and AGTFP. Therefore, it is recommended to further play the role of agricultural socialized services in optimizing the allocation of production factors and to motivate agricultural socialized service organizations to provide multiple green production services for farmers through policy support or subsidies, enhance the service capacity of agricultural socialized service organizations, and provide precise services by fully considering the differences in the endowment of production factors among farmers, as well as take multiple measures and make solid and steady progress in promoting the sustainable development of agriculture.
A Machine Learning-Based Sustainable Energy Management of Wind Farms Using Bayesian Recurrent Neural Network
Authors: Blfgeh Aisha , Alkhudhayr Hanadi
Published: September 2024

The sustainable management of energy sources such as wind plays a crucial role in supplying electricity for both residential and industrial purposes. For this, accurate wind data are essential to bring sustainability in energy output estimations for wind stations. The choice of an appropriate distribution function significantly affects the actual wind data, directly influencing the estimated energy output. While the Weibull function is commonly used to describe wind speed at various locations worldwide, the variability of weather information across wind sites varies significantly. Probabilistic forecasting offers comprehensive probability information for renewable generation and load, assisting decision-making in power systems under uncertainty. Traditional probabilistic forecasting techniques based on machine learning (ML) rely on prediction uncertainty derived from previous distributional assumptions. This study utilized a Bayesian Recurrent Neural Network (BNN-RNN), incorporating prior distributions for weight variables in the RNN network layer and extending the Bayesian networks. Initially, a periodic RNN processes data for wind energy prediction, capturing trends and correlation characteristics in time-series data to enable more accurate and reliable energy production forecasts. Subsequently, the wind power meteorological dataset was analyzed using the reciprocal entropy approach to reduce dimensionality and eliminate variables with weak connections, thereby simplifying the structure of the prediction model. The BNN-RNN prediction model integrates inputs from RNN-transformed time-series data, dimensionality-reduced weather information, and time categorization feature data. The Winkler index is lower by 3.4%, 32.6%, and 7.2%, respectively, and the overall index of probability forecasting pinball loss is reduced by 51.2%, 22.3%, and 10.7%, respectively, compared with all three approaches. The implications of this study are significant, as they demonstrate the potential for more accurate wind energy forecasting through Bayesian optimization. These findings contribute to more precise decision-making and bring sustainability to the effective management of energy systems by proposing a Bayesian Recurrent Neural Network (BNN-RNN) to improve wind energy forecasts. The model further enhances future estimates of wind energy generation, considering the stochastic nature of meteorological data. The study is crucial in increasing the understanding and application of machine learning by establishing how Bayesian optimization significantly improves probabilistic forecasting models that would revolutionize sustainable energy management.
Analytical Study on Water and Heat Coupling Process of Black Soil Roadbed Slope in Seasonal Frozen Soil Region
Authors: Su Anshuang , Hai Mingwei , Wang Miao , Zhang Qi , Zhou Bin , Zhao Zhuo , Lu Chuan , Guo Yanxiu , Wang Fukun , Liu Yuxuan , Ji Yuhang , Chen Bohang , Wang Xinyu
Published: September 2024

The hydrothermal properties of black soils in seasonal frozen regions are more complex during the freezing process. In the context of the freezing and thawing cycles of black soil within seasonal freeze–thaw regions, there is a limited application of mathematical models to characterize the interplay between water and thermal dynamics. Therefore, existing models for analyzing water and heat in black soil in seasonal frozen regions may not be applicable or accurate. The application of existing models to the water and heat problems of black soil in seasonal frozen regions is important and innovative. This study is grounded in Darcy’s law pertaining to unsaturated soil water flow and is informed by principles of mass conservation, energy conservation, and conduction theory. The research begins with the establishment of definitions for relative saturation and the solid–liquid ratio through mathematical transformations. Subsequently, a theoretical model is developed to represent the water–heat coupling in black soil, utilizing relative saturation and temperature as field functions. The model’s validity is confirmed through its integration with experimental data from a black soil freezing and thawing model test. Furthermore, the analysis delves into the distribution of the temperature field, water field, and ice content that arise from the phase change processes occurring during the freezing and thawing of black soil roadbed slopes. There is a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of disasters associated with black soil roadbed slopes in seasonal frozen areas.
From Corporate Social Responsibility to ‘Corporate Environmental Responsibility’ and Back: Rebalancing and Enhancing CSR towards a More Just Tourism Sector
Authors: Dłużewska Anna , Giampiccoli Andrea
Published: September 2024

This article argues that, while Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is gaining traction in the hospitality and tourism sectors, it is skewed in favour of environmental matters to the detriment of social issues. It could thus be more aptly termed ‘Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER)’. This calls for a shift in direction that balances social and environmental matters. Based on the extant literature, this article proposes strategies to achieve such rebalancing. In particular, it proposes the introduction of a CSR rating/classification system that considers various aspects of CSR, suggesting it should be based on international and national regulations or policies. While the recommended strategies will not change the tourism sector’s CSR overnight, they would promote redistribution and enable the sector to contribute to a more egalitarian and just world.
Current Trends of Polymer Materials’ Application in Agriculture
Authors: Lewicka Kamila , Szymanek Izabela , Rogacz Diana , Wrzalik Magdalena , Łagiewka Jakub , Nowik-Zając Anna , Zawierucha Iwona , Coseri Sergiu , Puiu Ioan , Falfushynska Halina , Rychter Piotr
Published: September 2024

In light of the growing plastic waste problem worldwide, including in agriculture, this study focuses on the usefulness of both conventional, non-degradable plastics and environmentally friendly bioplastics in the agricultural sector. Although conventional plastic products are still essential in modern, even ecological agriculture, the increasing contamination by these materials, especially in a fragmented form, highlights the urgent need to search for alternative, easily biodegradable materials that could replace the non-degradable ones. According to the literature, polymers are widely used in agriculture for the preparation of agrochemicals (mostly fertilizers) with prolonged release. They also play a role as functional polymers against pests, serve as very useful super absorbents of water to improve crop health under drought conditions, and are commonly used as mulching films, membranes, mats, non-woven fabrics, protective nets, seed coatings, agrochemical packaging, or greenhouse coverings. This widespread application leads to the uncontrolled contamination of soil with disintegrated polymeric materials. Therefore, this study highlights the possible applications of bio-based materials as alternatives to conventional polyolefins or other environmentally persistent polymers. Bio-based polymers align with the strategy of innovative agricultural advancements, leading to more productive farming by reducing plastic contamination and adverse ecotoxicological impacts on aquatic and terrestrial organisms. On the other hand, advanced polymer membranes act as catching agents for agrochemicals, protecting against environmental intoxication. The global versatility of polymer applications in agriculture will not permit the elimination of already existing technologies involving polymers in the near future. However, in line with ecological trends in modern agriculture, more “green” polymers should be employed in this sector. Moreover, we highlight that more comprehensive legislative work on these aspects should be undertaken at the European Union level to guarantee environmental and climate protection. From the EU legislation point of view, the implementation of a unified, legally binding system on applications of bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics should be a priority to be addressed. In this respect, the EU already demonstrates an initial action plan. Unfortunately, these are still projected directions for future EU policy, which require in-depth analysis.