bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Organic—Inorganic Hybrid Interfaces Enable the Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Hollow Carbon Nanospheres as High-Performance Anodes for Lithium and Potassium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Dai Yao , Mo Dong-Chuan , Qu Zong-Tao , Wang Wen-Kang , Lyu Shu-Shen
Published: July 2023

An abundant hollow nanostructure is crucial for fast Li+ and K+ diffusion paths and sufficient electrolyte penetration, which creates a highly conductive network for ionic and electronic transport. In this study, we successfully developed a molecular-bridge-linked, organic–inorganic hybrid interface that enables the preparation of in situ nitrogen-doped hollow carbon nanospheres. Moreover, the prepared HCNSs, with high nitrogen content of up to 10.4%, feature homogeneous and regular morphologies. The resulting HCNSs exhibit excellent lithium and potassium storage properties when used as electrode materials. Specifically, the HCNS-800 electrode demonstrates a stable reversible discharge capacity of 642 mA h g−1 at 1000 mA g−1 after 500 cycles for LIBs. Similarly, the electrode maintains a discharge capacity of 205 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 500 cycles for KIBs. Moreover, when coupled with a high-mass-loading LiFePO4 cathode to design full cells, the HCNS-800‖LiFePO4 cells provide a specific discharge capacity of 139 mA h g−1 at 0.1 C. These results indicate that the HCNS electrode has promising potential for use in high-energy and environmentally sustainable lithium-based and potassium-based batteries.
Continuous Production of Functionalized Graphene Inks by Soft Solution Processing
Authors: Rao Kodepelly Sanjeeva , Senthilnathan Jaganathan , Ting Jyh-Ming , Yoshimura Masahiro
Published: July 2023

The continuous production of high-quality, few-layer graphene nanosheets (GNSs) functionalized with nitrogen-containing groups was achieved via a two-stage reaction method. The initial stage produces few-layer GNSs by utilizing our recently developed glycine-bisulfate ionic complex-assisted electrochemical exfoliation of graphite. The second stage, developed here, uses a radical initiator and nitrogen precursor (azobisisobutyronitrile) under microwave conditions in an aqueous solution for the efficient nitrogen functionalization of the initially formed GNSs. These nitrile radical reactions have great advantages in green chemistry and soft processing. Raman spectra confirm the insertion of nitrogen functional groups into nitrogen-functionalized graphene (N-FG), whose disorder is higher than that of GNSs. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirm the insertion of edge/surface nitrogen functional groups. The insertion of nitrogen functional groups is further confirmed by the enhanced dispersibility of N-FG in dimethyl formamide, ethylene glycol, acetonitrile, and water. Indeed, after the synthesis of N-FG in solution, it is possible to disperse N-FG in these liquid dispersants just by a simple washing–centrifugation separation–dispersion sequence. Therefore, without any drying, milling, and redispersion into liquid again, we can produce N-FG ink with only solution processing. Thus, the present work demonstrates the ‘continuous solution processing’ of N-FG inks without complicated post-processing conditions. Furthermore, the formation mechanism of N-FG is presented.
Infant Formula Supplemented with Five Human Milk Oligosaccharides Shifts the Fecal Microbiome of Formula-Fed Infants Closer to That of Breastfed Infants
Authors: Holst Andrea Q. , Myers Pernille , Rodríguez-García Paula , Hermes Gerben D. A. , Melsaether Cathrine , Baker Adam , Jensen Stina R. , Parschat Katja
Published: July 2023

Breastmilk is the optimal source of infant nutrition, with short-term and long-term health benefits. Some of these benefits are mediated by human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), a unique group of carbohydrates representing the third most abundant solid component of human milk. We performed the first clinical study on infant formula supplemented with five different HMOs (5HMO-mix), comprising 2′-fucosyllactose, 3-fucosyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, 3′-sialyllactose and 6′-sialyllactose at a natural total concentration of 5.75 g/L, and here report the analysis of the infant fecal microbiome. We found an increase in the relative abundance of bifidobacteria in the 5HMO-mix cohort compared with the formula-fed control, specifically affecting bifidobacteria that can produce aromatic lactic acids. 5HMO-mix influenced the microbial composition as early as Week 1, and the observed changes persisted to at least Week 16, including a relative decrease in species with opportunistic pathogenic strains down to the level observed in breastfed infants during the first 4 weeks. We further analyzed the functional potential of the microbiome and observed features shared between 5HMO-mix-supplemented and breastfed infants, such as a relative enrichment in mucus and tyrosine degradation, with the latter possibly being linked to the aromatic lactic acids. The 5HMO-mix supplement, therefore, shifts the infant fecal microbiome closer to that of breastfed infants.
The Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A Inhibitor Teglicar Shows Promising Antitumour Activity against Canine Mammary Cancer Cells by Inducing Apoptosis
Authors: Cacciola Nunzio Antonio , Sepe Fabrizia , Fioriniello Salvatore , Petillo Orsolina , Margarucci Sabrina , Scivicco Marcello , Peluso Gianfranco , Balestrieri Anna , Bifulco Giovanna , Restucci Brunella , Severino Lorella
Published: July 2023

Canine mammary tumours (CMTs) are the most common cancer in intact female dogs. In addition to surgery, additional targeted and non-targeted therapies may offer survival benefits to these patients. Therefore, exploring new treatments for CMT is a promising area in veterinary oncology. CMT cells have an altered lipid metabolism and use the oxidation of fatty acids for their energy needs. Here we investigated the tumoricidal effects of teglicar, a reversible inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A (CPT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid import into mitochondria, on two CMT cells, P114 and CMT-U229. Viability and apoptosis were examined in CMT cells using the crystal violet assay, trypan blue assay, and flow cytometry analysis. The expression of mediators of apoptosis signalling (e.g., caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3) was assessed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. Teglicar was able to decrease cell viability and induce apoptosis in P114 and CMT-U229 cells. At the molecular level, the effect of teglicar was associated with an upregulation of the mRNA expression levels of caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3 and an increase in their protein levels. In summary, our results show that teglicar has a potential effect against CMTs through the induction of apoptotic cell death, making it a promising therapeutic agent against CMTs.
Development of a Novel Red Clay-Based Drug Delivery Carrier to Improve the Therapeutic Efficacy of Acyclovir in the Treatment of Skin Cancer
Authors: Francis Arul Prakash , Ahmad Aftab , Nagarajan Sri Durga Devi , Yogeeswarakannan Harish Sundar , Sekar Krishnaraj , Khan Shah Alam , Meenakshi Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan , Husain Asif , Bazuhair Mohammed A. , Selvasudha Nandakumar
Published: July 2023

Acyclovir (ACV) is a promising candidate for drug repurposing because of its potential to provide an effective treatment for viral infections and non-viral diseases, such as cancer, for which limited treatment options exist. However, its poor physicochemical properties limit its application. This study aimed to formulate and evaluate an ACV-loaded red clay nanodrug delivery system exhibiting an effective cytotoxicity. The study focused on the preparation of a complex between ACV and red clay (RC) using sucrose stearate (SS) (nanocomplex F1) as an immediate-release drug-delivery system for melanoma treatment. The synthesized nanocomplex, which had nanosized dimensions, a negative zeta potential and the drug release of approximately 85% after 3 h, was found to be promising. Characterization techniques, including FT-IR, XRD and DSC-TGA, confirmed the effective encapsulation of ACV within the nanocomplex and its stability due to intercalation. Cytotoxicity experiments conducted on melanoma cancer cell lines SK-MEL-3 revealed that the ACV release from the nanocomplex formulation F1 effectively inhibited the growth of melanoma cancer cells, with an IC50 of 25 ± 0.09 µg/mL. Additionally, ACV demonstrated a significant cytotoxicity at approximately 20 µg/mL in the melanoma cancer cell line, indicating its potential repurposing for skin cancer treatment. Based on these findings, it can be suggested that the RC-SS complex could be an effective drug delivery carrier for localized cancer therapy. Furthermore, the results of an in silico study suggested the addition of chitosan to the formulation for a more effective drug delivery. Energy and interaction analyses using various modules in a material studio demonstrated the high stability of the composite comprising red clay, sucrose stearate, chitosan and ACV. Thus, it could be concluded that the utilization of the red clay-based drug delivery system is a promising strategy to improve the effectiveness of targeted cancer therapy.
Advancements in Functionally Graded Polyether Ether Ketone Components: Design, Manufacturing, and Characterisation Using a Modified 3D Printer
Authors: McNiffe Eric , Ritter Tobias , Higgins Tom , Sam-Daliri Omid , Flanagan Tomas , Walls Michael , Ghabezi Pouyan , Finnegan William , Mitchell Sinéad , Harrison Noel M.
Published: July 2023

Functionally Graded Materials represent the next generation of engineering design for metal and plastic components. In this research, a specifically modified and optimised 3D printer was used to manufacture functionally graded polyether ether ketone components. This paper details the design and manufacturing methodologies used in the development of a polyether ether ketone printer capable of producing functionally graded materials through the manipulation of microstructure. The interaction of individually deposited beads of material during the printing process was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, to observe and quantify the porosity levels and interlayer bonding strength, which affects the quality of the final parts. Specimens were produced under varying process conditions and tested to characterise the influence of the process conditions on the resulting material properties. The specimens printed at high enclosure temperatures exhibited greater strength than parts printed without the active addition of heat, due to improved bond formation between individual layers of the print and a large degree of crystallinity through maintenance at these elevated temperatures.
Moisture Adsorption–Desorption Behaviour in Nanocomposite Copolymer Films
Authors: Md Zulkiflie Farah Aqilah , Muhamad Sarih Norazilawati , Hashim Nur Awanis , Mohd Zubir Mohd Nashrul , Abdullah Shekh , Mohd Amin Aida Sabrina
Published: July 2023

Dehumidifying air via refrigerant cooling method consumes a tremendous amount of energy. Independent humidity control systems using desiccants have been introduced to improve energy efficiency. This research aimed to find an alternative to the commonly used solid desiccant, silica gel, which has weak physical adsorption properties. It also aimed to overcome the limitation of liquid desiccants that may affect indoor air quality and cause corrosion. This study reports on the synthesis of poly(vinyl alcohol-co-acrylic acid), P(VA-AA), through solution polymerisation by hydrolysing poly(vinyl acetate-co-acrylic acid), P(VAc-AA). This viable copolymer was then incorporated with graphene oxide (GO) at different concentrations (0 wt.%, 0.5 wt.%, 2 wt.% and 5 wt.%) to enhance the adsorption–desorption process. The samples were tested for their ability to adsorb moisture at different levels of relative humidity (RH) and their capability to maintain optimum sorption capacity over 10 repeated cycles. The nanocomposite film with 2% GO, P(VA-AA)/GO2, exhibited the highest moisture sorption capacity of 0.2449 g/g for 60–90% RH at 298.15 K, compared to its pristine copolymer, which could only adsorb 0.0150 g/g moisture. The nanocomposite desiccant demonstrated stable cycling stability and superior desorption in the temperature range of 318.15–338.15 K, with up to 88% moisture desorption.
Optimization of Factors for the Biological Treatment of Free and Complexed Cyanide
Authors: Alvillo-Rivera Angelica Julieta , Garrido-Hoyos Sofia Esperanza , Rosano-Ortega Genoveva
Published: July 2023

Mexico is characterized as a mining country since it is the world’s main silver producer. During its extraction, wastewater (mining tailings) is generated which contains cyanide and heavy metals. The purpose of this research was to determine whether a bacterial consortium isolated from a tailings dam can use cyanide as a source of nitrogen and carbon to carry out its biodegradation. The study determined the effects of three physicochemical factors (pH, temperature and inoculum concentration) and three metals (copper, iron and nickel) on cyanide biodegradation. The results showed that the highest cyanide removals were obtained when working with a pH of 9.5, a temperature of 25 °C and 15% v/v of inoculum (88%), while the optimum values for copper, iron and nickel were 0, 7.7 and 0.46 mg·L−1, respectively, showing that copper causes an inhibitory effect (cyanide biodegradation of 68%) on the bacteria and consequently on the biological degradation of cyanide and that iron can promote the biodegradation of the pollutant by 91%.
Transformative Education, Participative Black Theology and the Challenge of Making a Difference
Authors: Reddie Anthony G.
Published: July 2023

This paper explores the critical intersection of transformative pedagogies, especially the work of Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal, as it encounters Black theology. The nexus of these epistemological frameworks is then reflected on further, in order that a Black participative mode of theological reflection can be explicated as a newer, more critical form of intellectual enquiry. The development of this work, I argue, can then be used as a means of improving the praxiological intent of Practical theology in South Africa. In the final part of the paper, I outline how South African Practical theologians have responded to the radical intent I am outlining in this article.
The Tripartite Dimensions of “Ren 人” (Human Beings) in Pre-Qin Confucianism in Terms of “Li 礼” (Ritual)
Authors: Feng Li
Published: July 2023

This study delves into the Pre-Qin Confucian understanding of “ren 人” (human beings), focusing on the tripartite dimensions of “shen 身” (body), “qing 情” (sentiment), and “xin 心” (mind) as viewed through the lens of “li 礼” (ritual). By analyzing the works of Confucius, Mencius, Xunzi, and other significant early texts, we unravel how these early Confucian philosophers reconceptualized human beings within the framework of “li 礼” (ritual). In doing so, they presented a novel perspective on the human experience that emphasized the interconnectedness of these three dimensions, transforming the way people thought about themselves and their place in the world. This research illuminates the unique contributions of Pre-Qin Confucianism to the understanding of human beings and provides valuable insights into the philosophical breakthroughs of this period in Chinese thought. Furthermore, this understanding of human beings persisted throughout the subsequent imperial history of China.
Optimal Reinsurance under the Linear Combination of Risk Measures in the Presence of Reinsurance Loss Limit
Authors: Xiong Qian , Peng Zuoxiang , Nadarajah Saralees
Published: July 2023

Optimal reinsurance problems under the risk measures, such as Value-at-Risk (VaR) and Tail-Value-at-Risk (TVaR), have been studied in recent literature. However, losses based on VaR may be underestimated and TVaR allows us to account better for catastrophic losses. In this paper, we propose a new family of flexible risk measures denoted by LVaR, which is a weighted combination of VaR and TVaR. Based on the new risk measures, we deal with the optimal reinsurance problem by minimizing the LVaR of the total risks of an insurer when two types of constraints for reinsurer’s risk exposure are considered. The results indicate that the two-layer reinsurance is always an optimal reinsurance policy with both types of constraints. Also, we find that the optimal reinsurance policy depends on the confidence level, the weight coefficient, the safety loading, the tolerance level, as well as the relations between them. Finally, we illustrate the results by numerical examples and compare them with the results in Lu et al.
Integrated Edge Deployable Fault Diagnostic Algorithm for the Internet of Things (IoT): A Methane Sensing Application
Authors: Kumar S. Vishnu , Mary G. Aloy Anuja , Mahdal Miroslav
Published: July 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) is seen as the most viable solution for real-time monitoring applications. But the faults occurring at the perception layer are prone to misleading the data driven system and consume higher bandwidth and power. Thus, the goal of this effort is to provide an edge deployable sensor-fault detection and identification algorithm to reduce the detection, identification, and repair time, save network bandwidth and decrease the computational stress over the Cloud. Towards this, an integrated algorithm is formulated to detect fault at source and to identify the root cause element(s), based on Random Forest (RF) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA). The RF classifier is employed to detect the fault, while the FTA is utilized to identify the source. A Methane (CH4) sensing application is used as a case-study to test the proposed system in practice. We used data from a healthy CH4 sensing node, which was injected with different forms of faults, such as sensor module faults, processor module faults and communication module faults, to assess the proposed model’s performance. The proposed integrated algorithm provides better algorithm-complexity, execution time and accuracy when compared to FTA or standalone classifiers such as RF, Support Vector Machine (SVM) or K-nearest Neighbor (KNN). Metrics such as Accuracy, True Positive Rate (TPR), Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC), False Negative Rate (FNR), Precision and F1-score are used to rank the proposed methodology. From the field experiment, RF produced 97.27% accuracy and outperformed both SVM and KNN. Also, the suggested integrated methodology’s experimental findings demonstrated a 27.73% reduced execution time with correct fault-source and less computational resource, compared to traditional FTA-detection methodology.
A Faster and Lighter Detection Method for Foreign Objects in Coal Mine Belt Conveyors
Authors: Luo Bingxin , Kou Ziming , Han Cong , Wu Juan , Liu Shaowei
Published: July 2023

Coal flow in belt conveyors is often mixed with foreign objects, such as anchor rods, angle irons, wooden bars, gangue, and large coal chunks, leading to belt tearing, blockages at transfer points, or even belt breakage. Fast and effective detection of these foreign objects is vital to ensure belt conveyors’ safe and smooth operation. This paper proposes an improved YOLOv5-based method for rapid and low-parameter detection and recognition of non-coal foreign objects. Firstly, a new dataset containing foreign objects on conveyor belts is established for training and testing. Considering the high-speed operation of belt conveyors and the increased demands for inspection robot data collection frequency and real-time algorithm processing, this study employs a dark channel dehazing method to preprocess the raw data collected by the inspection robot in harsh mining environments, thus enhancing image clarity. Subsequently, improvements are made to the backbone and neck of YOLOv5 to achieve a deep lightweight object detection network that ensures detection speed and accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that the improved model achieves a detection accuracy of 94.9% on the proposed foreign object dataset. Compared to YOLOv5s, the model parameters, inference time, and computational load are reduced by 43.1%, 54.1%, and 43.6%, respectively, while the detection accuracy is improved by 2.5%. These findings are significant for enhancing the detection speed of foreign object recognition and facilitating its application in edge computing devices, thus ensuring belt conveyors’ safe and efficient operation.
Intelligent Diagnosis of Rolling Bearings Fault Based on Multisignal Fusion and MTF-ResNet
Authors: He Kecheng , Xu Yanwei , Wang Yun , Wang Junhua , Xie Tancheng
Published: July 2023

Existing diagnosis methods for bearing faults often neglect the temporal correlation of signals, resulting in easy loss of crucial information. Moreover, these methods struggle to adapt to complex working conditions for bearing fault feature extraction. To address these issues, this paper proposes an intelligent diagnosis method for compound faults in metro traction motor bearings. This method combines multisignal fusion, Markov transition field (MTF), and an optimized deep residual network (ResNet) to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of diagnosis in the presence of complex working conditions. At the outset, the acquired vibration and acoustic emission signals are encoded into two-dimensional color feature images with temporal relevance by Markov transition field. Subsequently, the image features are extracted and fused into a set of comprehensive feature images with the aid of the image fusion framework based on a convolutional neural network (IFCNN). Afterwards, samples representing different fault types are presented as inputs to the optimized ResNet model during the training phase. Through this process, the model’s ability to achieve intelligent diagnosis of compound faults in variable working conditions is realized. The results of the experimental analysis verify that the proposed method can effectively extract comprehensive fault features while working in complex conditions, enhancing the efficiency of the detection process and achieving a high accuracy rate for the diagnosis of compound faults.
Impact of Climate Change on the Spatio-Temporal Variation in Groundwater Storage in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area
Authors: Huang Qifeng , Wang Longhuan , Jia Binghao , Lai Xin , Peng Qing
Published: July 2023

The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is one of the world’s four major bay areas. Groundwater is indispensable in ensuring water supply for human production and living, as well as social and economic development. Studying the spatial–temporal variation in groundwater storage (GWS) and exploring the impact of climate change on GWS is of great significance for water resource management in the GBA. In this work, we conducted a simulation using the Community Land Model version 5.0 (CLM5.0) and combined it with Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data to calculate GWS in the GBA. In addition, based on the multiple linear regression model, we quantitatively assessed the effects of different climate factors on the change in GWS in the GBA. Comparisons with groundwater wells, automatic weather stations, and satellite observations demonstrated reasonable results. Our results showed that precipitation and evapotranspiration are the main factors affecting the change in GWS in the GBA. Precipitation dominates GWS anomaly changes in areas where wetting and precipitation vary drastically, such as the northern part of Foshan. GWS is closely related to evapotranspiration, in which water and heat changes are significant.
Decoupling Economic Growth from Embodied Water–Energy–Food Consumption Based on a Modified MRIO Model: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Delta Region in China
Authors: Huang Yinwen , Huang Dechun
Published: July 2023

Water, energy, and food are indispensable resources for socioeconomic development, and are highly interwoven in urban activities. Clarifying spatial differences in resource consumption is of great significance for coordinated management. However, there is still a lack of a unified assessment for water–energy–food (WEF) nexus flow analysis. This study proposes a comprehensive framework to investigate WEF utilization based on a modified multi-regional input–output (MRIO) analysis. Taking the case of the Yangtze River Delta region, we first inventoried embodied water–energy–food consumption from 2012 to 2017. Then, decoupling analysis and the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method were applied to explore decoupling states and identify driving factors. The results show that overall embodied WEF consumption experienced a downward trend from 2012 to 2017, and different provinces varied significantly. Jiangsu had the largest consumption of water and energy, while Anhui contributed a big chunk to food consumption. The manufacturing sector heavily relied on WEF resources and had a great impact on the ecological environment. The decoupling performance indicated a general trend of weak decoupling and strong decoupling in most provinces, with the mining, electricity, and gas supply sectors contributing most to positive decoupling, and the service sectors devoting the most to negative decoupling. As for resource type, water ecological footprint decoupled more than energy and food ecological footprints. Technology level and industrial structure had a major effect on the realization of decoupling, while economic output and population scale were the main restraining factors. Finally, we provide some differentiated policy recommendations for coordinated resource management.
Spatiotemporal Variation in the Coupling Relationship between Human Activities and Soil Erosion—A Case Study in the Weihe River Basin
Authors: Zhao Zhixin , Huo Aidi , Liu Qi , Peng Jianbing , Elbeltagi Ahmed , Abuarab Mohamed EL-Sayed , Abu-Hashim Mohamed Said Desouky
Published: July 2023

Studying the relationship between human activities and soil erosion on a regional scale is of great significance for macro-decision-making in soil erosion prevention and control. The entropy weight method and RUSLE model are used to analyze the spatiotemporal variation in human activity intensity (HAI) and soil erosion in the Weihe River Basin (WRB) from 2005 to 2020. Through geographic detectors and a four-quadrant model, the impact of various driving factors and the coupling degree of the human–land relationship are studied. The results showed: (1) During the past 15 years, the moderate, high, strong, and severe erosion areas in the WRB decreased by 9.88%, 35.89%, 45.17%, and 70.05%, respectively. The ratio of the historical sand transport modulus to the RUSLE model result is 0.83, indicating that the results obtained by the RUSLE model can be used for further analysis. (2) Slight and weak degrees account for 80% in the northwest region. The high and strong regions are mainly distributed in the Shaanxi section, accounting for 3% of the total basin. (3) The coupling between human activities and soil erosion is constantly strengthening, and the joint effect of pop and crop is the main reason for the slowdown and spatial differences in soil erosion. This indicates that the ecological environment became stable. These findings contribute by acting as references for soil and water conservation and management in the WRB to promote a harmonious relationship between humans and the environment.
Opportunity and/or Necessity Entrepreneurship? The Impact of the Socio-Economic Characteristics of Entrepreneurs
Authors: Giacomin Olivier , Janssen Frank , Guyot Jean-Luc , Lohest Olivier
Published: July 2023

Entrepreneurs have often been considered as either belonging to the necessity or to the opportunity category based on their motivations when they started their organization. However, the necessity/opportunity entrepreneurship dichotomy is too limiting and the boundary between opportunity and necessity is certainly not as clear-cut as it is assumed. Moreover, the interpretation of the entrepreneurial motivation must be considered as a product of the interaction between a specific situation and a specific individual. Depending on the individual’s characteristics, the same motivation could be interpreted either as a necessity motivation or as an opportunity motivation. In this paper, based on an original dataset of 538 Belgian nascent entrepreneurs, we thus explore the impact of entrepreneurs’ background and socio-economic characteristics on the way they position themselves on the necessity–opportunity axis. We point out that individuals who become involved in an entrepreneurial process have encountered a situation of necessity and/or opportunity and that the latter can take various forms. We show the impact of the socio-economic characteristics of entrepreneurs on the alignment of their project with a necessity or opportunity entrepreneurial dynamic. The existence of sub-profiles of entrepreneurs within the necessity–opportunity typology is also highlighted. We stress, for instance, that not all jobseekers are necessity entrepreneurs and that new venture creation based on family influence may convey both a necessity and an opportunity dimension. Finally, our study reveals a new kind of entrepreneurship, i.e., hobby entrepreneurship.
Impact of Spatial Configuration on Promoting Lifelong Learning Development in Pathum Thani, Thailand
Authors: Iamtrakul Pawinee , Chayphong Sararad , Crizzle Alexander M.
Published: July 2023

A “Learning City” uses its resources to enhance learning opportunities for individuals and communities that promote social cohesion, cultural prosperity and economic development. While the UNESCO network of learning cities provides guidelines for measuring social and economic prosperity, there have been no studies examining the current strengths and weaknesses of such cities in Thailand. The purpose of this study was to identify current strengths and opportunities for improvement in the Thanyaburi district of Thailand. We surveyed 400 residents to examine formal and informal learning activities, followed by layering the survey data using geographic information systems, to determine geographic differences in population size, density and transportation access. The findings show that formal and informal learning activities differ by the density and diversity of various geographical locations within the district according to urban centrality scores. The most popular activities were community-based, environmental and educational activities, respectively. However, various municipalities had few learning opportunities for local residents. Promoting lifelong learning opportunities is an essential response to establishing a vibrant environment for individuals, communities and cities and is a key driver to improving economic development (e.g., employment and education) and sustainability.
Assessment of the Effect of Different Loading Combinations Due to Truck Platooning and Autonomous Vehicles on the Performance of Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Merhebi Ghina H. , Joumblat Rouba , Elkordi Adel
Published: July 2023

Autonomous vehicles and truck platooning have become the future in the transportation field. This new strategy has many benefits because it lowers fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, improves safety, optimizes transport by using roads more effectively, and reduces traffic congestion. In this research, the effect of the controlled positioning of autonomous and non-autonomous truck loadings on the long-term performance of pavement was estimated using different variables such as climate, uniform wandering values of distance between trucks, and percentage of autonomous trucks by using MEPDG/AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. This was achieved by first computing the strain and stress of the different loading combinations, resulting in the computation of the failures in the pavement infrastructure and the pavement thickness needed to support each combination. The second part of the research consisted of designing a platoon strategy that was developed for a series of autonomous and connected trucks such that the lateral position of the trucks and the spacing between them could be explicitly optimized to minimize flexible pavement damage. The findings revealed that a small percentage of autonomous trucks can be beneficial to pavement life and that truck platooning following a well-studied skeleton can open a whole new world of pavement design. This can be revolutionary in changing roads around the world to improve traffic and infrastructure.
Seasons Effects of Field Measurement of Near-Ground Wind Characteristics in a Complex Terrain Forested Region
Authors: Yue Hao , Zhao Yagebai , Xin Dabo , Xu Gaowa
Published: July 2023

The wind characteristics of the atmospheric boundary layer in forested regions exhibit a significant complexity due to rugged terrain, seasonal climate variability, and seasonal growth of vegetation, which play a key role not only in designing optimal blades to gain better performance but also in assessing the structural response, and there is a paucity of research on such wind fields. Therefore, this paper investigates wind characteristics via on-site wind field measurement. The mean and fluctuating wind characteristics of the forested region in different seasons were analyzed based on the field measurement data. The results show that for the mean wind characteristics, the seasonally fitted exponents play a decisive role in characterizing the mean wind profile, while the season and temperature are the key factors affecting the mean wind direction in forested regions. For fluctuating wind characteristics, the seasonal power-law function can accurately characterize the turbulence intensity profile. Moreover, the ratio of the three turbulence intensity components is significantly affected by temperature and season, and the Von Kármán spectrum has better applicability in the cold and less canopy-disturbed winter than in the other three seasons. The proposed seasonally fitted parameters show better applicability in terms of vertical coherence.
The Impact of Perceived Quality of Government Subsidies on Residents’ Travel Intention Post-COVID-19 in Wuhan, China
Authors: Dong Yajuan , Jin Yi , Anwar Kamal Khan
Published: July 2023

To stimulate tourism demand and promote internal circulation, government subsidy policies have been introduced in many places in recent years due to public health concerns. In this paper, we propose a mechanistic model of the impact of the perceived quality of government subsidies on the travel intentions of residents based on consumer perception. Data were collected from Wuhan, China for empirical analysis. The results of this study showed that the perceived quality of government subsidies influenced travel intentions through the perceived behavioral control of travel consumers. Government subsidies were more likely to promote perceived behavioral control among residents with higher public health concerns, and their willingness to travel was stronger. Predicted risks undermine the positive effect of the perceived quality of government subsidies on travel intentions. The analysis suggested that a precise implementation of subsidy policies can enhance the efficiency of effects. We are keen to help China’s tourism market sustain growth in the post-COVID-19 period.
Solar-Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive Red and Turquoise Dyes Using a Titanium Oxide/Xanthan Gum Composite
Authors: Alwared Abeer I. , Mohammed Noor A. , Al-Musawi Tariq J. , Mohammed Ahmed A.
Published: July 2023

The present study explores the solar-induced photocatalytic degradation of reactive red (RR) and reactive turquoise (RT) dyes in a single system using TiO2 immobilized in xanthan gum (TiO2/XG), synthesized using the sol–gel dip-coating technique for direct precipitation. SEM-EDX, XRD, FTIR, and UV–Vis were used to assess the characteristics of the resulting catalyst. Moreover, the effects of different operating parameters, specifically pH, dye concentration, TiO2/XG concentration, H2O2 concentration, and contact time, were also investigated in a batch photocatalytic reactor. The immobilized TiO2/XG catalyst showed a slight adsorption degradation efficiency and then improved the RR and RT dye degradation activity (92.5 and 90.8% in 120 min) under solar light with a remarkable Langmuir–Hinshelwood pseudo-first-order degradation rate of 0.0183 and 0.0151 min−1, respectively, under optimum conditions of pH 5, dye concentration of 25 mg/L, TiO2/XG concentration of 25 mg/L, H2O2 concentration of 400 mg/L, and reaction time of 120 min. The improved photocatalytic ability was ascribed to the impact of TiO2/XG nanoparticles with a high surface area, and lower band gap energy. Solar light energy has significant potential for addressing energy deficit and water pollution concerns.
How Do Urban Walking Environments Impact Pedestrians’ Experience and Psychological Health? A Systematic Review
Authors: Sundling Catherine , Jakobsson Marianne
Published: July 2023

Daily walks are recommended for health gains, and walkable urban environments are recommended as one strategy to combat climate change. Evidence of the relationship between physical environments and psychological health is increasing. The aim of this study was to systematically review and compile evidence regarding micro-scale characteristics in urban outdoor environments that impacted pedestrian short-term experience and/or long-term psychological health. The databases ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo, and Google Scholar were used. To explore the area, a large heterogeneity in publications was allowed; therefore, it was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis. From 63 publications, data items were extracted from full text and categorized according to the main study characteristics. Environmental characteristics impacting pedestrians psychologically were identified and categorized into themes: grey, green, blue, and white areas, and weather, temporalities, topography, person factors, and safety. Environmental factors were analyzed from the perspective of the circumplex model of human affect (negative/positive dimensions and activation/deactivation). The findings included the fact that urban pedestrians need both positively activating and deactivating (restorative) areas during walkabouts. Perceived safety is essential for experiencing the positive aspects of urban environments. Some characteristics interact differently or have different importance for health in different groups. To further develop research on pedestrian environments, psychological experiences should be included.
Eco-Geological Environment Quality Assessment Based on FAHP-CV Combination Weighting
Authors: Huang Jintao , Zhang Yichen , Zhang Jiquan , Qi Jiawei , Liu Peng , Liang Chong
Published: July 2023

This study evaluated the eco-geological environment quality of Hunjiang District, Baishan City, Jilin Province. Fifteen indicators were selected from geological, ecological, and social aspects to make the eco-geological environmental quality assessment more comprehensive. On the basis of improved game theory, two weighting methods of FAHP-CV (Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process and Coefficient of Variation) were used to calculate the weight, and finally ArcGIS was used to intuitively understand the eco-geological environment quality of the study area. According to a threshold value, the eco-geological environment quality of the study area was divided into five types: better, good, medium, bad, and worse, and the results show that the overall eco-geological environment quality of the study area is in the middle and upper levels. The eco-geological environment quality of a small part of the area is poor. The classification of the eco-geological environment quality of Hunjiang District provides a scientific basis for the establishment of reasonable eco-geological environment protection and urban planning in the future.
MaaS Implications in the Smart City: A Multi-Stakeholder Approach
Authors: Lopez-Carreiro Iria , Monzon Andres , Lopez Elena
Published: July 2023

Cities worldwide are calling for smart mobility strategies to tackle the negative externalities of their transport networks. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is expected to introduce a new mobility model that promotes smarter and more sustainable urban futures. Given the novelty of the concept, this paper explores the implications that might arise from the implementation of MaaS in today’s metropolises in relation to the six dimensions of smart cities: smart governance, smart economy, smart mobility, smart environment, smart people, and smart living. To this end, 42 semi-structured interviews with MaaS stakeholders were conducted in Madrid (Spain). Thematic analysis identified a set of 35 urban implications. The success of MaaS requires more than the mere deployment of technologies and must be supported by the reorganisation of institutional structures, the reform of the regulatory scenario, the stimulation of innovation-based entrepreneurship, the promotion of environmental awareness, the encouragement of cultural transition, and the consideration of the public sphere. Overall, valuable insights are identified for policymakers when designing MaaS. Assessment of multiple stakeholders’ perspectives enables a holistic understanding of these strategies and thus maximises their potential to address the limitations of our complex mobility systems in meeting urban sustainability goals.
Achieving Corporate Sustainability through Green Human Resource Management: The Role of CSR in the Banking Industry of a Developing Country
Authors: Yahya Ahmad Abo , Zargar Pouya
Published: July 2023

Green human resource management (GHRM) and green innovation are highly important aspects for firms to achieve corporate sustainability, particularly in developing countries. This study explores the effect of GHRM and green innovation on obtaining corporate sustainability through the mediating effect of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A quantitative approach using self-administered surveys is deployed, where a total of 192 data points were obtained from bank managers in Beirut. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) is used for analyzing data in Smart-PLS version 3. The findings suggest that both GHRM and green innovation have positive impacts on corporate sustainability. Furthermore, the mediating effect of CSR activities has been supported in both relationships between GHRM and corporate sustainability and between green innovation and corporate sustainability. These results provide both managerial and theoretical implications that can be beneficial for scholars and practitioners alike.
Numerical Simulation of Hydrogen Diffusion in Cement Sheath of Wells Used for Underground Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Dudun Anireju , Feng Yin , Guo Boyun
Published: July 2023

The negative environmental impact of carbon emissions from fossil fuels has promoted hydrogen utilization and storage in underground structures. Hydrogen leakage from storage structures through wells is a major concern due to the small hydrogen molecules that diffuse fast in the porous well cement sheath. The second-order parabolic partial differential equation describing the hydrogen diffusion in well cement was solved numerically using the finite difference method (FDM). The numerical model was verified with an analytical solution for an ideal case where the matrix and fluid have invariant properties. Sensitivity analyses with the model revealed several possibilities. Based on simulation studies and underlying assumptions such as non-dissolvable hydrogen gas in water present in the cement pore spaces, constant hydrogen diffusion coefficient, cement properties such as porosity and saturation, etc., hydrogen should take about 7.5 days to fully penetrate a 35 cm cement sheath under expected well conditions. The relatively short duration for hydrogen breakthrough in the cement sheath is mainly due to the small molecule size and high hydrogen diffusivity. If the hydrogen reaches a vertical channel behind the casing, a hydrogen leak from the well is soon expected. Also, the simulation result reveals that hydrogen migration along the axial direction of the cement column from a storage reservoir to the top of a 50 m caprock is likely to occur in 500 years. Hydrogen diffusion into cement sheaths increases with increased cement porosity and diffusion coefficient and decreases with water saturation (and increases with hydrogen saturation). Hence, cement with a low water-to-cement ratio to reduce water content and low cement porosity is desirable for completing hydrogen storage wells.
Highly Effective Removal of Ciprofloxacin Antibiotic from Water by Magnetic Metal–Organic Framework
Authors: Yu Binbin , Chang Hongchao , Wei Wenwan , Yu Hua , Chen Zhangxin , Cheng Xiaoye , Chen Dan , Jin Yanxian , Han Deman , Xu Wei
Published: July 2023

The presence of antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIP) in pharmaceutical wastewaters is dangerous when their concentrations exceed the allowable limits. Thus, eliminating CIP from pharmaceutical wastewaters is an essential issue. In this work, magnetic MOFs, named Fe3O4/Zn3(BTC)2 MMOF, were successfully synthesized and used for the adsorption of CIP. Compared with Cu3(BTC)2 and Fe3O4/Cu3(BTC)2 MMOF, the Fe3O4/Zn3(BTC)2 MMOF exhibited the best CIP-adsorption performance, with a maximum removal rate of 72.15% due to the large pore size, abundant adsorption sites and functional groups of MOFs, and the magnetic properties of the Fe3O4 nanorod. The influencing factors in the adsorption process, including oscillation time and pH value, were discussed, and the best adsorption performance was obtained when the pH was 3.84 and the oscillation time was 90 min. Furthermore, the removal rate of the Fe3O4/Zn3(BTC)2 MMOF still reached 31.45% after five instances of reuse, revealing its great regeneration and reusability. The results of the adsorption-kinetics studies showed that the adsorption process of CIP by Fe3O4/Zn3(BTC)2 MMOF followed the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and was mainly chemical adsorption. Based on the results above, Fe3O4/Zn3(BTC)2 MMOF is recommended as a highly efficient adsorbent for the removal of CIP from pharmaceutical wastewaters.
Diagnostic value of ctenterography and ultrasound elastography in detecting fibrous changes in the intestinal wall in patients with crohn’s stricture
Authors:   FSBI A.N. Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Vardanyan A.V. , Anosov I.S. ,   FSBI A.N. Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Michalchenko V.A. ,   FSBI A.N. Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Achkasov S.I. ,   FSBI A.N. Ryzhikh National Medical Research Center of Coloproctology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow
Published: July 2023

The article presents an analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of CT enterography and ultrasound elastography in the diagnosis of a fibrous process in the intestinal wall in patients with the Crohn's stricture. The results obtained showed a very good quality of detection of fibrous changes in the intestinal wall using CT enterography, while US elastography demonstrated the unsatisfactory quality of the method used.