bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Participatory Action Research as a Decolonial Research Methodology
Authors: Omodan Bunmi Isaiah , Dastile Nontyatyambo Pearl
Published: September 2023

Decolonising the research process is inevitable in today’s world full of social and power inequalities. Participatory Action Research (PAR), as one of the methodologies that enhances the transformation of both the researchers and researched, is, therefore, inevitable in social research targeting social, inclusive, and informed change. This study responds to various agitations of decoloniality of the research process that sees the participants as mere subjects rather than essential partners of the knowledge production process. This study conceptualises decoloniality and PAR with an argument recognising PAR as a decolonised research process. This study is located within a transformative paradigm and employs conceptual analysis as a tool to argue the nexus between decoloniality and participatory action research and their assumptions. This study attests to the fact that it is an effective and valuable tool in achieving the decolonised research process because it allows for the research subjects to have input into the process, have their voices recognised, and provide them with a platform to take agency and exercise self-determination. The elements, therefore, resonate with the decolonial agenda to deconstruct oppressive power structures and remembering those who have been historically dismembered by systems of colonial occupation. In this way, this study finds that PAR functions as an important element in implementing the decolonised research process.
Coal Mine Solid Waste Backfill Process in China: Current Status and Challenges
Authors: Bo Lei , Yang Shangqing , Liu Yang , Zhang Zihang , Wang Yiying , Wang Yanwen
Published: September 2023

Coal mine solid waste backfill is a coal mining method employed to safeguard subterranean and surface geological formations, as well as water resources, against impairment. It stands as a pivotal technical approach for realizing ecologically sustainable mining endeavors, aiming to address China’s predicament of ’three down’ coal pressure, coal gangue emissions, and land resource scarcity. This manuscript delves into an in-depth exploration of the evolution and research status pertaining to solid backfill technology, encompassing backfill materials, rock mechanics, backfill processes, and their application across China’s coal sector. The developmental challenges and technical intricacies linked to solid backfill technology within coal mines are meticulously scrutinized. Building upon these challenges and complexities, this study sets forth a progressive trajectory for solid backfill technology within the contemporary era. This trajectory envisions the synchronized advancement of novel solid backfill materials, intelligent surveillance and regulation methodologies, and machine learning technologies for backfill quality assessment. By doing so, the overarching aim of achieving superlative quality, heightened efficiency, and automation in solid backfill practices can be effectively realized.
Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Sustainability: A Review of SDGs, Renewable Energy, and Environmental Health
Authors: Fan Zhencheng , Yan Zheng , Wen Shiping
Published: September 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning (DL) have shown tremendous potential in driving sustainability across various sectors. This paper reviews recent advancements in AI and DL and explores their applications in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), renewable energy, environmental health, and smart building energy management. AI has the potential to contribute to 134 of the 169 targets across all SDGs, but the rapid development of these technologies necessitates comprehensive regulatory oversight to ensure transparency, safety, and ethical standards. In the renewable energy sector, AI and DL have been effectively utilized in optimizing energy management, fault detection, and power grid stability. They have also demonstrated promise in enhancing waste management and predictive analysis in photovoltaic power plants. In the field of environmental health, the integration of AI and DL has facilitated the analysis of complex spatial data, improving exposure modeling and disease prediction. However, challenges such as the explainability and transparency of AI and DL models, the scalability and high dimensionality of data, the integration with next-generation wireless networks, and ethics and privacy concerns need to be addressed. Future research should focus on enhancing the explainability and transparency of AI and DL models, developing scalable algorithms for processing large datasets, exploring the integration of AI with next-generation wireless networks, and addressing ethical and privacy considerations. Additionally, improving the energy efficiency of AI and DL models is crucial to ensure the sustainable use of these technologies. By addressing these challenges and fostering responsible and innovative use, AI and DL can significantly contribute to a more sustainable future.
Impacts of Human Activities on Urban Sprawl and Land Surface Temperature in Rural Areas, a Case Study of El-Reyad District, Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt
Authors: Mostafa Wael , Magd Zenhom , Abo Khashaba Saif M. , Abdelaziz Belal , Hendawy Ehab , Elfadaly Abdelaziz , Nabil Mohsen , Kucher Dmitry E. , Chen Shuisen , Mohamed Elsayed Said
Published: September 2023

Anthropogenic activities affect the surrounding environment dynamically in different ways. In the arid and hyper arid, agriculture is concentrated in rural communities, which are cooling surfaces that help mitigate surface temperature increases. Recently, rural communities are suffering from increasing urban sprawl. The current work focuses on evaluating the changes in land cover and their impacts on land surface temperature (LST) during (1988–2022) and predicting the changes until 2056 in El-Reyad District, Kafrelsheikh Governorate, Egypt. For achieving this purpose, Landsat images (TM, ETM+, and OLI) were used. The support vector machine (SVM) was applied using Google Earth Engine (GEE) to monitor changes in land use/cover and LST. The prediction of land use until 2056 was achieved using the CA-Markov simulation model. The results showed six land cover classes: agricultural lands, bare lands, urban areas, natural vegetation, Lake Burullus, and fish farms. The results showed the effects of human activity on the conversion of agricultural land to other activities, as agricultural lands have decreased by about 3950.8 acres, while urban areas have expanded by 6283.2 acres, from 1988 to 2022. Fish farms have increased from 3855.6 to 17,612 acres from 1988 to 2022. While the area of bare land decreased from 28.3% to 0.7% of the total area, it was converted to urban, agricultural, and fish farms. The spatiotemporal change in land cover affected the balance of LST in the study area, although the average temperature increased from 32.4 ± 0.5 to 33.6 ± 0.2 °C. In addition, it is expected to reach 36 ± 0.5 °C in 2056, and there are some areas with decreased LST where it is converted from bare areas into fish farms and agricultural uses. The prediction results show that the agricultural area will decrease by −11.38%, the urban area will increase by 4.6%, and the fish farms area will increase by 6.1%. Thus, preserving green spaces and reducing urban sprawl in rural communities are very important objectives.
The Impact of Digital Transformation on ESG Performance Based on the Mediating Effect of Dynamic Capabilities
Authors: Su Xin , Wang Shengwen , Li Feifei
Published: September 2023

The United Nations Development Summit in 2015 adopted the “2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, establishing a framework for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the aim of achieving coordinated economic, social, and ecological development worldwide by 2030. The “environmental, social, and governance” (ESG) approach is important within the concept of SDGs and is the subject of increasing attention from scholars. Despite China’s significant contributions to the SDGs, it still faces numerous challenges in terms of environmental and governance development. With the ongoing development of digital technology, many Chinese enterprises aspire to harness the dividends of digital transformation in order to achieve SDGs. In this study, we aim to help companies understand how they can improve their ESG performance through digital transformation. We use a sample of A-share listed companies in China from 2011 to 2020 to construct a digital transformation index by profiling the frequency of digital-related words in companies’ annual reports using textual analysis. Furthermore, we empirically examine the direct effect of digital transformation on companies’ level of ESG disclosure and explore the mediating effect of dynamic capabilities on the impact of digital transformation on ESG performance. Empirical testing reveals that digital transformation indeed has a positive impact on enterprises’ ESG performance, and digital technology innovation can enhance ESG performance through dynamic capabilities such as green innovation, social responsibility, and operational management. The findings indicate that companies need to actively develop and promote digital technologies to obtain the benefits of digital transformation, with company executives including advanced technology in their decision-making and operational processes in an effort to promote innovation and management efficiency, thereby improving their ESG performance.
What Is Next? The Longer-Term Managerial Challenges following COVID-19
Authors: Law Kuok Kei , Koh Youngjae
Published: September 2023

Existing research has highlighted the immediate challenges posed by the enforced work-from-home arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the effective transfer and retention of knowledge, especially tacit knowledge, due to the reduced opportunities for face-to-face interactions. This study seeks to delve into the enduring concerns and obstacles faced by business managers as they navigate a return to normalcy in their operations. We conducted a grounded approach study between September and December 2021, involving semi-structured interviews with thirteen managers from eight business firms in Hong Kong who had experience supervising and undergoing work-from-home arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our research uncovered three layers of challenges. The first layer, echoing the existing literature, revolves around the inefficiencies in knowledge sharing stemming from the absence of physical interactions among colleagues. The second layer addresses the difficulties related to the socialization, performance, and retention of newcomers who joined the workforce during the pandemic. The third layer represents a longer-term challenge, encompassing skill and talent shortages attributed to the lack of intergenerational knowledge transfer. While our study acknowledges its limitations regarding representativeness and the absence of extensive quantitative evidence often associated with exploratory research, it nonetheless offers valuable insights for researchers and managers alike. These insights illuminate the imminent challenges that will surface as we navigate the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, this paper holds significance for business sustainability by directing managerial attention towards addressing the issues of skill and talent shortages that may hinder business performance or even its survival in the post-COVID-19 era.
Digital Economy, Factor Allocation Efficiency of Dual-Economy and Urban-Rural Income Gap
Authors: Zhang Bochao , Dong Wanhao , Yao Jin , Cheng Xiaolong
Published: September 2023

The digital economy has significant economic structural transformation effects and income distribution effects. This article analyzed the impacts and mechanisms of digital economy development on the efficiency of dual-economic factor allocation and the urban–rural income gap from a theoretical perspective, empirically tested by using China’s provincial panel data from 2008 to 2017 and a bidirectional fixed effects model. It was found that the development of the digital economy has significantly improved the efficiency of factor allocation in the dual-economy, which has a significant improvement effect on the allocation efficiency of capital and labor. The development of the digital economy alleviates the problem of surplus labor factors and insufficient capital input in the agricultural sector by promoting nonagricultural employment and the flow of capital factors to the agricultural sector. The development of the digital economy can significantly reduce the urban–rural income gap by improving the efficiency of factor allocation in the dual-economy. The main contribution of this article is verifying that the flow of production factors triggered by the digital economy has a configuration efficiency improvement effect and further extending the economic structure effect of the digital economy to the field of distribution, examining the feasible path of optimizing the income distribution pattern of the digital economy.
Numerical Analysis of the Dynamic Response Law of Counter-Tilt Layered Rock Slopes
Authors: Wang Weiguo , Wang Yanping , Lan Binpeng , Zheng Guang
Published: September 2023

Counter-tilt layered rock slopes are common types of slopes that are susceptible to destabilizing damage under seismic action. Therefore, the dynamic response law of counter-tilt layered rock slopes under seismic action is of great significance for the study of slope stability. This study utilizes UDEC (Universal Distinct Element Code) numerical simulation software to vary slope geometry and seismic wave parameters, such as joint thickness, joint inclination angle, slope angle, seismic wave frequency, amplitude, and duration. The maximum displacements of the monitoring points of a slope were obtained, and the dynamic response law of counter-tilt layered rock slopes under seismic action was investigated. The results yielded the following insights: (1) The thickness of the joints of a slope is an important factor affecting the dynamic response of a slope, and with the increase in the thickness of the joints, the maximum displacement of each monitoring point of the slope will decrease. (2) The maximum displacement of a slope increases with the increase in the joint inclination angle and the slope angle. When the joint inclination angle is less than 50°, the change in the joint inclination angle has less of an effect on the maximum displacement of the slope in the x and y directions. When the joint inclination angle is more than 50°, the maximum displacement of the slope in the x and y directions increases faster with the change in the joint inclination angle, and a similar pattern is observed for the slope angle. (3) Slopes are less susceptible to damage when both the joint inclination angle and the slope angle are less than 50°, and the probability of slope damage increases significantly when both are greater than 50°. (4) The maximum displacement at each monitoring point of a slope increases with the frequency, amplitude, and duration of a seismic wave. (5) Seismic wave amplitude has the greatest effect on the dynamic response of a slope, followed by duration, and frequency has the weakest effect on the dynamic response of a slope. The conclusions drawn in this paper can be useful for the control of counter-tilt layered rock slopes.
Environmental Impact Analysis to Achieve Sustainability for Artisan Chocolate Products Supply Chain
Authors: Nur Taufik , Hidayatno Akhmad , Setiawan Andri D. , Komarudin Komarudin , Suzianti Amalia
Published: September 2023

Small-scale artisan chocolate producers target environmentally conscious consumers and must work with their supply chain partners to measure and improve their environmental impacts. This research evaluates the environmental impact along the supply chain of artisan dark chocolate products in Indonesia and creates an action plan to reduce environmental impact. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used. The analysis considers cocoa production from the farm level to the processing of cocoa beans into bars in three stages for 1 kg of dark chocolate: the farm maintenance and harvesting stage; post-harvesting stage; and processing stage. At the farm maintenance and harvesting stage, the significant contributions are 72.5% of total abiotic depletion (AD), 47.2% of total global warming (GW), 80.2% of total eutrophication (EU). The significant contributions at the post-harvesting are 31.2% of total AD, 51.8% of total GW, 83% of total EU, 26.4% of total ozone layer depletion (ODP), 20.1% of total cumulative energy demand (CED) and non-renewable fossil (NRF), and 36.9% of total CED renewable biomass (RB). And at the processing stage, the significant contributions are 20.5% of total AD, 15% of total GW, 4% of total ODP, 13.1% of total acidification (AC), 12% of total EU, 10% of total fossil resource scarcity (FRS), and 1.6% of total CED NRF. Changes to the farm maintenance and harvesting stages contributed the most to environmental impact reduction by improving waste utilization and the treatment and selection of environmentally friendly materials.
Exploring the User Acceptance of Online Interactive Mechanisms for Live-Streamed Teaching in Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Huang Yaxi , Pan Li , Wang Yiran , Yan Ziting , Chen Yifei , Hao Xin , Xia Tiansheng
Published: September 2023

With the advancement of technology and the development of society, live-streamed teaching, characterized by real-time interaction between teachers and students, has emerged as a new form of online education and has rapidly evolved in practice. However, in online live-streamed teaching, there are still various issues, such as insufficient teacher–student interaction and interactive functionalities, that fail to meet learners’ needs. These issues impact the efficiency and user experience of online live-streamed teaching. Currently, scholars mostly examine these issues from the perspective of online teaching system design, paying less attention to exploring the interactive mechanisms from the point of view of user perception. Within the context of Chinese education, based on the technology acceptance model, this study investigated student personality traits, interactive motivations, and platform interactive functionalities, and the aim of this study was to explore the influencing factors and mechanisms of online live-streamed teaching interactions. A total of 281 university students participated in the survey, and the results indicated that the platform’s interactive functionalities significantly and positively predicted perceived usability and perceived ease of use. Moreover, the students’ personality traits significantly and positively predicted interaction motivations and usage attitudes. Furthermore, usage attitudes significantly and positively predicted interactive behavior. A mediation analysis revealed that perceived usability and perceived ease of use mediated the relationship between the platform’s interactive functionalities and usage attitudes. Additionally, interaction motivations mediated the relationship between the students’ personality traits and interactive behavior. We discuss the potential implications and practical significance of the current research findings. The results of this study offer viable strategies for enhancing current online educational practices, aiding educational designers in order to better organize and promote online educational interactions to elevate student engagement and advance the sustainable development of digital education.
Sustainability of Graduate Employability in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Initiatives by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education and Universities
Authors: Bikar Soon Singh , Talin Rosy , Rathakrishnan Balan , Sharif Sabariah , Nazarudin Mohamad Nizam , Rabe Zulfhikar Bin
Published: September 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic that hit the world in early 2020 has had major impacts on social and economic life in every country, including Malaysia. Many socio-economic activities have been globally disrupted, leading to the closure of companies and the suspension of work activities, which have drastically increased the unemployment rate and narrowed employment opportunities. This study used a qualitative method to explore the initiatives taken by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education and University Malaysia Sabah to improve the sustainability of graduate employability in the post-COVID-19 era. The study sample comprised ten officers who are experienced and responsible for organising initiatives for university graduate employability programmes and ten students who participated in these programmes. The study showed that the Short-Term Training and Placement Programme (MySTEP), Career Advancement Programme (Penjana CAP), Professional Certification Programme (Penjana PACE), and Career Advancement Programme at State (Penjana KPT-CAP @ State) were the major initiatives taken by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education to improve graduate employability in the post-COVID-19 era. The findings also revealed that the university undertook initiatives regarding upskilling and reskilling, the gig economy, entrepreneurship, finishing school programmes, and online career fairs to improve graduate employability rates in the post-COVID-19 era. Interviews with student respondents showed that these initiatives have given them the opportunity to learn and improve on new skills that are necessary to find new job opportunities in the post-COVID-19 era. The main contribution of this study is that upskilling and reskilling programmes are essential to improving the sustainability of graduate employability in the post-COVID-19 era.
Environmental, Social and Economic Attitudes and Sustainable Knowledge on the Sustainable Behaviour of Engineering Students: An Analysis Based on Attitudes towards Teachers
Authors: Colón-Flores Nirda de Jesús , Vargas-Martínez Maira Rafaela , Tavarez-De Henríquez Joselina Caridad , Domínguez-Valerio Cándida María
Published: September 2023

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is crucial in higher education, providing students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for a sustainable future. ESD seeks a holistic understanding of sustainability and promotes critical thinking and innovative approaches. Specifically, ESD is very important to address in engineering careers, as engineers will need to establish sustainable solutions in the future. For this reason, the integration of sustainability into university curricula has been studied for some time. In this way, this research analyses the perceptions (attitudes towards teachers; knowledge about sustainable development; environmental, economic, and social attitudes; sustainable behaviours) that engineering students in the Dominican Republic have towards sustainable development. A number of 626 questionnaires completed by engineering students were obtained. Subsequently, the data were analysed in SPSS and PLS-SEM. The results showed that attitudes towards teachers have an impact on engineering students’ knowledge of sustainable development. In turn, the results also showed that knowledge about sustainable development influences both attitudes (economic, social, and environmental) and sustainable behaviours of engineering students. Contrary to other research, this study suggested that economic attitudes are not identified as an antecedent of sustainable behaviours among engineering students. From these results, implications and future lines of research are generated.
Advances in the Optimization of Energy Use in Buildings
Authors: Schito Eva , Lucchi Elena
Published: September 2023

Buildings are responsible for about 40% of final energy consumptions and 30% of total energy-related CO2 emissions [...]
Management of Small WEEE: Future Directions for Australia
Authors: Jayasiri Gimhan , Herat Sunil , Kaparaju Prasad
Published: September 2023

Globally, the generation of small Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is rapidly increasing and accounted for over 30% of total E-waste in 2019. Managing this critical waste stream has proven challenging in Australia due to diverse product categories, short lifespans, and high frequency of disposal. To address the issue, a Multivocal Literature Analysis was conducted to identify prevailing situations, barriers, and prospects for a practical management framework. Findings were thematically analysed based on sustainability and circular-economy principles. The study revealed several critical obstacles, including the lack of involvement by local governments, the mixing of small WEEE with municipal waste, the absence of an established repair and reuse culture, and the limited domestic application of recovered metals. To address these issues, the study identifies the need for a dedicated co-regulatory stewardship scheme based on extended producer responsibility with eco-modulated fees and realistic scheme targets. Additionally, to accommodate the high product diversity, the expansion of treatment infrastructure is suggested while encouraging responsible consumption among customers. The findings of this investigation hold substantial value for the regulatory bodies in developing and implementing small-WEEE management schemes for Australia.
PROLIFIC: Deep Reinforcement Learning for Efficient EV Fleet Scheduling and Charging
Authors: Ma Junchi , Zhang Yuan , Duan Zongtao , Tang Lei
Published: September 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular in ride-hailing services, but their slow charging speed negatively affects service efficiency. To address this challenge, we propose PROLIFIC, a deep reinforcement learning-based approach for efficient EV scheduling and charging in ride-hailing services. The objective of PROLIFIC is to minimize passenger waiting time and charging time cost. PROLIFIC formulates the EV scheduling problem as a Markov decision process and integrates a distributed charging scheduling management model and a centralized order dispatching model. By using a distributed deep Q-network, the agents can share charging and EV supply information to make efficient interactions between charging and dispatch decisions. This approach reduces the curse of dimensionality problem and improves the training efficiency of the neural network. The proposed approach is validated in three typical scenarios with different spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of passenger order, and the results demonstrate that PROLIFIC significantly reduces the passenger waiting time and charging time cost in all three scenarios compared to baseline algorithms.
Numerical Analysis on the Influence of Joint Density on the Stability of Complex Jointed Roadway Surrounding Rock
Authors: Wang Wenhai , Wu Chaolei , Yang Yiming , Peng Xiaohan , Jiang Lishuai , Huang Yifeng
Published: September 2023

The random distribution of a complex joint network within a coal–rock mass has a significant weakening effect on its bearing capacity, making the surrounding rock of the roadway highly susceptible to instability and failure under the influence of in situ stress and mining-induced stress. This poses challenges in controlling the surrounding rock and seriously affects the normal production of mines. Consequently, it is imperative to conduct stability analysis on complex jointed roadway surrounding rock. Therefore, taking the transport roadway of Panel 11030 in the Zhaogu No. 2 Coal Mine as a case study, the microscopic contact parameters of particles and joint surfaces in each rock layer were calibrated through uniaxial compression and shear simulation tests using the particle flow simulation software PFC2D 5.0. Based on the calibrated microscopic contact parameters, a multilayered roadway surrounding rock model containing complex joints was established, and the joint density was quantified to analyze its effects on the displacement field, stress field, force chain field, and energy field of the roadway surrounding rock. The research findings indicate that as the distance to the sidewall decreases, the impact of joint density on the deformation of the surrounding rock of the roadway increases. The displacement of the roadway roof, floor, and sidewalls is affected differently by the joint density, predominantly contingent upon the properties of the rock mass. During the process of stress redistribution in the surrounding rock, the vertical stress of the roof and floor is released more intensively compared to the horizontal stress, while the horizontal stress of the sidewalls is released more intensively compared to the vertical stress. The increase in joint density leads to an increasing release rate of the surrounding rock stress, causing the load-bearing rock mass to transfer towards the deeper part. As the joint density increases, the force chain network gradually transitions from dense to sparse, resulting in a decrease in strong force chains and a decline in the bearing capacity of the surrounding rock, accompanied by an expansion in the range of force chain failure and deformation. With the continuous increase in joint density, the values of maximum released kinetic energy and residual released kinetic energy become larger. Once the joint density reaches a certain threshold, the kinetic energy stability zone consistently maintains a high energy level, indicating extreme instability in the roadway and sustained deformation. The results provide a valuable insight for analyzing the failure mechanism of complex jointed roadway surrounding rock and implementing corresponding support measures.
Dynamic Capabilities Influence on the Operational Performance of Hotel Food Supply Chains: A Mediation-Moderation Model
Authors: Abou Kamar Mahmoud , Albadry Omaima Munawar , Sheikhelsouk Samar , Ali Al-Abyadh Mohammed Hasan , Alsetoohy Omar
Published: September 2023

This study develops and tests an integrated model based on the Dynamic Capabilities View (DCV) to empirically examine how dynamic capabilities influence the operational performance of hotel food supply chains through the mediating role of supply chain resilience and the moderating influences of environmental uncertainty and disruption orientation. The model is tested using survey data from 160 five- and four-star hotel managers in Egypt and the findings of structural equation modeling. The findings support the proposed model and reveal a positive effect of total dynamic capabilities and the four dynamic capabilities (i.e., collaboration, integration, agility, and reconfiguration) on the operational performance of hotel food supply chains through the mediating role of supply chain resilience. The results affirm that supply chain resilience mediates the relationship between dynamic capabilities (in total) and operational performance. Furthermore, the results show that environmental uncertainty moderates the above linkage, whereas disruption orientation does not do that. With the extension of DCV, our findings contribute to deepening our understanding of the dynamic capabilities contributing to the development of hotel food supply chain performance. These findings hold crucial implications for academics, managers, and policymakers. They also provide valuable insights on how to effectively control operational performance during disruptions.
Cytotoxic Evaluation and Elucidation of Dammarane-Type Triterpenoids Isolated from the Exocarp of Aglaia cucullata (Meliaceae)
Authors: Purnama  , Anjari Intan Hawina , Farabi Kindi , Runadi Dudi , Mayanti Tri , Nurlelasari  , Naini Al Arofatus , Harneti Desi , Harizon  , Kuncoro Hadi , Prescott Thomas A. K. , Azmi Mohamad Nurul , Supratman Unang
Published: September 2023

Aglaia cucullata is a mangrove plant with a tropical Asian distribution. It is used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diarrhea, inflammation, skin diseases, and heart diseases. Several compounds isolated from A. cucullata have demonstrated cytotoxic activity against various human cancer cells. Cancer therapies such as surgery, chemo-, and radiotherapy have many side effects. However, the use of natural bioactive compounds such as triterpenoid in cancer treatment can be used as an alternative to reduce these side effects. Therefore, the discovery of bioactive compounds from plants is very important to improve aspects of discovery and development of sustainable new anticancer drug candidates. Here, we report the chemical structures of seven known dammarane-type triterpenoids (1–7) isolated from A. cucullata exocarp and evaluate their cytotoxicity against B16-F10 melanoma skin cancer cells. The isolated compounds included cabraleahydroxylactone 3α-acetate (1), (20S)-20-hydroxydammar,24-en-3α-ol (2), (20S)-20-hydroxydammar,24-en-3-on (3), methyl 20(S)-hydroxy-3,4-secodammar-4(28),24-diene-3-oic acid (4), 3-epi ocotillol II (5), cabraleone (6), and ocotillone (7). The n-hexane extract was found to be active against B16-F10 cells, exhibiting an IC50 value of 7.85 ± 0.22 µg/mL. Fractionation of this extract subsequently identified the compound (20S)-20-hydroxydammar 24-en-3-on (3) as an active substance with an IC50 value of 21.55 ± 0.25 µM, comparing favorably with the positive control cisplatin (12.90 µg/mL; 43.00 µM). These results provide further evidence of the genus Aglaia as a source of cytotoxic cancer drug leads. In addition, compound 3 has potential as a convincing therapeutic agent for further research in the context of sustainable drug development, especially the development of new safe cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
A Study on Solutions for a Class of Higher-Order System of Singular Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Pandit Biswajit , Verma Amit K. , Agarwal Ravi P.
Published: September 2023

In this article, we propose a fourth-order non-self-adjoint system of singular boundary value problems (SBVPs), which arise in the theory of epitaxial growth by considering hte equation 1rβrβ1rβ(rβΘ′)′′′=12rβK11μ′Θ′2+2μΘ′Θ″+K12μ′φ′2+2μφ′φ″+λ1G1(r),1rβrβ1rβ(rβφ′)′′′=12rβK21μ′Θ′2+2μΘ′Θ″+K22μ′φ′2+2μφ′φ″+λ2G2(r), where λ1≥0 and λ2≥0 are two parameters, μ=pr2β−2,p∈R+, G1,G2∈L1[0,1] such that M1*≥G1(r)≥M1>0,M2*≥G2(r)≥M2>0 and K12>0, K11≥0, and K21>0, K22≥0 are constants that are connected by the relation (K12+K22)≥(K11+K21) and β>1. To study the governing equation, we consider three different types of homogeneous boundary conditions. We use the transformation t=r1+β1+β to deduce the second-order singular boundary value problem. Also, for β=p=G1(r)=G2(r)=1, it admits dual solutions. We show the existence of at least one solution in continuous space. We derive a sign of solutions. Furthermore, we compute the approximate bound of the parameters to point out the region of nonexistence. We also conclude bounds are symmetric with respect to two different transformations.
Control of Strongly Nonequilibrium Coherently Correlated States and Superconducting Transition Temperature
Authors: Kruchinin Sergei P. , Eglitis Roberts I. , Novikov Valery E. , Oleś Andrzej M. , Wirth Steffen
Published: September 2023

Our paper considers the possibility of the emergence and control of non-equilibrium states of a quasi-homogenous condensed medium with energy and particle flows in the phase space, which, first of all, manifest themselves in the explosive development of the asymmetry in the initially symmetric equilibrium system. This symmetry breaking and the appearance of non-equilibrium in the system are controlled by the coherent acceleration of the system. Dependencies of thermodynamic parameters of a strong nonequilibrium system on the indices of disequilibrium in coherently correlated states are given, and the estimates of the dielectric permittivity in a non-equilibrium system and modes of plasma acoustic oscillations are made. An estimate of the superconducting transition temperature under nonequilibrium conditions has been made. It is demonstrated that the superconducting transition temperature can approach the limiting value, corresponding to a quantum with its plasma frequency of the medium.
The Effect of a Moving Boundary on the Shear Strength of Granular Materials in a Direct Shear Test
Authors: Wang Yuhao , Dong Tong , Dong Hongxiao , Fang Yuyu
Published: September 2023

The boundary state significantly influences the soil shear strength. Therefore, it is necessary to overcome the limitations of existing indoor test instruments and determine the differences in the shear properties of granular materials to ensure the economic feasibility and mechanical integrity of engineering structures. In this study, the core formula for the direct shear test was derived from the static balancing analysis of the shear box, the external force on the specimen, and the internal force on the shear surface. Three loading methods were then developed by the staggered state of the upper and lower boxes: the upper box moving shear loading method (UM), the lower box moving shear loading method (LM), and the bidirectional moving shear loading method (BM). Finally, by manipulating the motion boundary, the discrete element method (DEM) was employed to simulate the shear test of granular materials. Among the three loading methods, the order of the peak shear stresses was as follows: UM > BM > LM. Moreover, the order of the sample post-peak stress uniformities was as follows: LM > BM > UM. A shear strength conversion formula was then proposed. The findings of this study promote the advancement of the shear mechanics theory of granular materials in direct shear testing and can serve as a scientific basis for the design and manufacture of shear equipment.
On Ulam Stabilities of Delay Hammerstein Integral Equation
Authors: Tunç Osman , Tunç Cemil
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we consider a Hammerstein integral equation (Hammerstein IE) in two variables with two variables of time delays. The aim of this paper is to investigate the Hyers–Ulam (HU) stability and Hyers–Ulam–Rassias (HUR) stability of the considered IE via Banach’s fixed point theorem (Banach’s FPT) and the Bielecki metric. The proofs of the new outcomes of this paper are based on these two basic tools. As the new contributions of the present study, here, for the first time, we develop the outcomes that can be found in the earlier literature on the Hammerstein IE, including variable time delays. The present study also includes complementary outcomes for the symmetry of Hammerstein IEs. Finally, a concrete example is given at the end of this study for illustrations.
Fundamental Prerequisites of Operational Readiness, Activation, and Transition: Case Study of Istanbul Grand Airport
Authors: Aladağ Hande , Demirdöğen Gökhan , Işık Zeynep
Published: September 2023

Operational readiness, activation, and Transition (ORAT) is a series of processes that aims to convert an airport into an efficient business and make the personnel, processes, operations, and systems work in full harmony with each other. This paper aimed to determine the importance level of the fundamental prerequisites of the ORAT process. To fulfil this aim, the ORAT activities were first determined within a comprehensive literature review, and a descriptive case study was presented for illustrating the effects and the relations between the ORAT activities. Finally, the Pythagorean fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (PFAHP) method was used. “Management of airport systems”, “Preparation of ORAT management and tracking systems”, and “Providing process, and documentation requirements for operational transition of the facility” were found out as the three prominent ORAT activities. The study contributes to the body of knowledge with an empirical investigation of which of up-front activities in the ORAT process should be primarily focused. Thus, operational and risk management strategies can be developed by considering the fundamental prerequisites of ORAT on a preferential basis by practitioners. Additionally, the results of this study will also be an informative resource for the prevention of failures that are frequently encountered in ORAT experiences.
Knowledge Graph Construction for Social Customer Advocacy in Online Customer Engagement
Authors: Abu-Salih Bilal , Alotaibi Salihah
Published: September 2023

The rise of online social networks has revolutionized the way businesses and consumers interact, creating new opportunities for customer word-of-mouth (WoM) and brand advocacy. Understanding and managing customer advocacy in the online realm has become crucial for businesses aiming to cultivate a positive brand image and engage with their target audience effectively. In this study, we propose a framework that leverages the pre-trained XLNet- (bi-directional long-short term memory) BiLSTM- conditional random field (CRF) architecture to construct a Knowledge Graph (KG) for social customer advocacy in online customer engagement (CE). The XLNet-BiLSTM-CRF model combines the strengths of XLNet, a powerful language representation model, with BiLSTM-CRF, a sequence labeling model commonly used in natural language processing tasks. This architecture effectively captures contextual information and sequential dependencies in CE data. The XLNet-BiLSTM-CRF model is evaluated against several baseline architectures, including variations of BERT integrated with other models, to compare their performance in identifying brand advocates and capturing CE dynamics. Additionally, an ablation study is conducted to analyze the contributions of different components in the model. The evaluation metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, demonstrate that the XLNet-BiLSTM-CRF model outperforms the baseline architectures, indicating its superior ability to accurately identify brand advocates and label customer advocacy entities. The findings highlight the significance of leveraging pre-trained contextual embeddings, sequential modeling, and sequence labeling techniques in constructing effective models for constructing a KG for customer advocacy in online engagement. The proposed framework contributes to the understanding and management of customer advocacy by facilitating meaningful customer-brand interactions and fostering brand loyalty.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Iron Overload Assessment by MRI in Patients with Hemoglobinopathies: The E-MIOT Network Experience
Authors: Meloni Antonella , Pistoia Laura , Lupi Amalia , Righi Riccardo , Vallone Antonino , Missere Massimiliano , Renne Stefania , Fina Priscilla , Riva Ada , Gamberini Maria Rita , Cecinati Valerio , Sorrentino Francesco , Rosso Rosamaria , Messina Giuseppe , Ricchi Paolo , Positano Vincenzo , Mavrogeni Sophie , Quaia Emilio , Cademartiri Filippo , Pepe Alessia
Published: September 2023

Background. The E-MIOT (Extension-Myocardial Iron Overload in Thalassemia) project is an Italian Network assuring high-quality quantification of tissue iron overload by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on E-MIOT services. Methods. The activity of the E-MIOT Network MRI centers in the year 2020 was compared with that of 2019. A survey evaluated whether the availability of MRI slots for patients with hemoglobinopathies was reduced and why. Results. The total number of MRI scans was 656 in 2019 and 350 in 2020, with an overall decline of 46.4% (first MRI: 71.7%, follow-up MRI: 36.9%), a marked decline (86.9%) in the period March–June 2020, and a reduction in the gap between the two years in the period July–September. A new drop (41.4%) was recorded in the period October–December for two centers, due to the general reduction in the total amount of MRIs/day for sanitization procedures. In some centers, patients refused MRI scans for fear of getting COVID. Drops in the MRI services >80% were found for patients coming from a region without an active MRI site. Conclusions. The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong negative impact on MRI multi-organ iron quantification, with a worsening in the management of patients with hemoglobinopathies.
Ochratoxin A: Overview of Prevention, Removal, and Detoxification Methods
Authors: Ding Lijuan , Han Meihua , Wang Xiangtao , Guo Yifei
Published: September 2023

Ochratoxins are the secondary metabolites of Penicillium and Aspergillus, among which ochratoxin A (OTA) is the most toxic molecule. OTA is widely found in food and agricultural products. Due to its severe nephrotoxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and teratogenic mutagenesis, it is essential to develop effective, economical, and environmentally friendly methods for OTA decontamination and detoxification. This review mainly summarizes the application of technology in OTA prevention, removal, and detoxification from physical, chemical, and biological aspects, depending on the properties of OTA, and describes the advantages and disadvantages of each method from an objective perspective. Overall, biological methods have the greatest potential to degrade OTA. This review provides some ideas for searching for new strains and degrading enzymes.
Accuracy of Nanopore Sequencing as a Diagnostic Assay for Pulmonary Tuberculosis versus Smear, Culture and Xpert MTB/RIF: A Head-to-Head Comparison
Authors: Yang Juan , Ye Wei , Zhang Chao , Lin Wenhong , Mei Lin , Liu Shengsheng , Liu Jie
Published: September 2023

Early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is pivotal for achieving effective tuberculosis (TB) control. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of nanopore sequencing of sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and pleural fluid samples for achieving early PTB diagnosis and provided head-to-head comparisons of nanopore sequencing results versus results obtained using smear, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assays. Patients admitted from October 2021 to April 2023 were screened for PTB using diagnostic imaging and electronic medical records. A total of 172 patients (129 PTB, 43 non-TB patients) were included in the final analysis after the exclusion of patients who did not meet the study’s inclusion criteria. PTB-positive rates were determined for each assay, and then, assay diagnostic efficacies were compared. The positive MTB-detection rates obtained using nanopore sequencing were 86.8% for all samples, 62.3% for BALF, and 84.6% for pleural fluid, all of which were significantly higher than the corresponding rates obtained using the other three assays. The overall sensitivity rates, specificity rates, and area under the curve (AUC) values obtained from smear testing were 5.4%, 95.3%, and 0.504, respectively, as compared to the respective results obtained via culture (18.6%, 100.0%, and 0.593), Xpert MTB/RIF (26.4%, 97.7%, and 0.620), and nanopore sequencing (85.3%, 95.4%, and 0.903). The diagnostic efficacy of nanopore sequencing surpassed the diagnostic efficacies of smear, culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assays. Thus, nanopore sequencing holds promise as an alternative to Xpert MTB/RIF for early PTB detection, particularly for the testing of BALF and pleural fluid samples.
Suppression of the Multiplicity Fluctuations in Particle Correlations
Authors: Ye Chong , Ma Hong-Hao , Wen Dan , Mota Philipe , Qian Wei-Liang , Yue Rui-Hong
Published: September 2023

Multiplicity fluctuations play a crucial role in relativistic heavy-ion collisions. In this work, we explore how the multiplicity fluctuations can be effectively suppressed in the measurement of particle correlations. In particular, through proper normalization, particle correlations can be evaluated in a manner irrelevant to multiplicity. When the multiplicity fluctuations are adequately extracted, Monte Carlo simulations show that the remaining correlations possess distinct features buried in the otherwise overwhelming fluctuations. Moreover, we argue that such a normalization scheme naturally agrees with the multi-particle correlator, which can be evaluated using the Q-vectors. The implications of the present study in the data analysis are also addressed.