bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Release Kinetics of Monomers from Dental Composites Containing Fluoride-Doped Calcium Phosphates
Authors: Alambiaga-Caravaca Adrián M. , López-Castellano Alicia , Chou Yu Fu , Luzi Arlinda , Núñez Juan Manuel , Banerjee Avijit , Jovani Sancho María del Mar , Sauro Salvatore
Published: July 2023

This study analyse the type of release kinetic of specific monomers from dental resin composites containing various fluoride-doped calcium phosphates. The release behavior of urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA), ethoxylated bisphenol-A dimethacrylate (bis-EMA) and 1.6-hexanediol ethoxylate diacrylate (HEDA) was evaluated over a period of 35 days. Two tailored calcium phosphates doped with different concentrations of fluoride salts (VS10% and VS20%) were prepared and incorporated in the dimethacrylate matrix at various concentrations to generate a range of experimental composites. The release kinetics were characterized using mathematical models such as zero-order, first-order, Peppas and Higuchi models. The results showed that the first-order model best described the release kinetics. UDMA and HEDA exhibited significant differences in release compared to bis-EMA from day 1, while no significant differences were observed between UDMA and HEDA, except on day 35, when UDMA exhibited a higher release rate than HEDA. When comparing the release of each monomer, VS20-R20% had the highest total release percentage, with 3.10 ± 0.25%, whereas the composite VS10-R5% showed the lowest release percentage, with a total of 1.66 ± 0.08%. The release kinetics were influenced by the composition of the resin composites and the presence of calcium fluoride and sodium fluoride in the calcium phosphate played a role in the maximum amounts of monomer released. In conclusion, the release of monomers from the tested resin composites followed a first-order kinetic behaviour, with an initial rapid release that decreased over time. The composition of the resin monomers and the presence of fluoride salts influenced the release kinetics. The VS10-R5% and VS10-R10% resin composites exhibited the lowest total monomer release, suggesting its potential favourable composition with reduced monomer elution. These findings contribute to understanding the release behavior of dental resin composites and provide insights for the development of resin-based bioactive dental materials.
Correction: Yang et al. Growing Carbon Nanotubes In Situ Surrounding Carbon Fiber Surface via Chemical Vapor Deposition to Reinforce Flexural Strength of Carbon Fiber Composites. Polymers 2023, 15, 2309
Authors: Yang Guangming , Cheng Fei , Zuo Shihao , Zhang Jinheng , Xu Yang , Hu Yunsen , Hu Xiaozhi
Published: July 2023

In the original publication [...]
A Hyper-Pseudoelastic Model of Cyclic Stress-Softening Effect for Rubber Composites
Authors: Dong Yifeng , Fu Yutong , He Chunwang , Fang Daining
Published: July 2023

Rubber composites are hyperelastic materials with obvious stress-softening effects during the cyclic loading–unloading process. In previous studies, it is hard to obtain the stress responses of rubber composites at arbitrary loading–unloading orders directly. In this paper, a hyper-pseudoelastic model is developed to characterize the cyclic stress-softening effect of rubber composites with a fixed stretch amplitude at arbitrary loading–unloading order. The theoretical relationship between strain energy function and cyclic loading–unloading order is correlated by the hyper-pseudoelastic model directly. Initially, the basic laws of the cyclic stress-softening effect of rubber composites are revealed based on the cyclic loading–unloading experiments. Then, a theoretical relationship between the strain energy evolution function and loading–unloading order, as well as the pseudoelastic theory, is developed. Additionally, the basic constraints that the strain energy evolution function must satisfy in the presence or absence of residual deformation effect are derived. Finally, the calibration process of material parameters in the hyper-pseudoelastic model is also presented. The validity of the hyper-pseudoelastic model is demonstrated via the comparisons to experimental data of rubber composites with different filler contents. This paper presents a theoretical model for characterizing the stress-softening effect of rubber composites during the cyclic loading–unloading process. The proposed theoretical model can accurately predict the evolution of the mechanical behavior of rubber composites with the number of loading–unloading cycles, which provides scientific guidance for predicting the durability properties and analyzing the fatigue performance of rubber composites.
Trueness, Flexural Strength, and Surface Properties of Various Three-Dimensional (3D) Printed Interim Restorative Materials after Accelerated Aging
Authors: Alageel Omar , Alhijji Saleh , Alsadon Omar , Alsarani Majed , Gomawi Abdurabu Abdullah , Alhotan Abdulaziz
Published: July 2023

Various 3D printing systems for interim fixed dental restorations are commercially available. This study aimed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of 3D printed resins used for interim restorations fabricated using various 3D printing systems and printing angulations after accelerated aging. Three different interim restorative materials were provided and printed using their specific 3D printing systems (A: NextDent; B: Asiga; C: Nova3D), and the testing specimens from each system were printed at two building angles: (1) 0° and (2) 90°. The six groups were A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, and C2, with sixteen specimens per group. Half of the specimens in each group (N = 8) were subjected to accelerated aging, including simulated brushing and thermocycling. Three-point bending, surface roughness, and Vickers microhardness tests were performed. Two-way ANOVA and Fisher’s multiple tests were used for statistical analyses. The most accurate systems were found in groups C1 and C2 for length, A1 and B1 for width, and A1 and C1 for height. The specimen trueness only changed after aging for groups B1, B2, and C1. The flexural strength of the A2 group (151 ± 7 MPa) before aging was higher than that of the other groups, and the strength decreased after aging only for groups A1 and A2. The flexural strength, microhardness, and surface roughness of the 3D printed interim resins after aging varied depending on the material, system used, and printing angle.
Harnessing Nature’s Ingenuity: A Comprehensive Exploration of Nanocellulose from Production to Cutting-Edge Applications in Engineering and Sciences
Authors: Sofiah Abd Ghafar Nurhanis , Pasupuleti Jagadeesh , Samykano Mahendran , Kadirgama Kumaran , Koh Siaw Paw , Tiong Sieh Kieh , Pandey Adarsh Kumar , Yaw Chong Tak , Natarajan Sendhil Kumar
Published: July 2023

Primary material supply is the heart of engineering and sciences. The depletion of natural resources and an increase in the human population by a billion in 13 to 15 years pose a critical concern regarding the sustainability of these materials; therefore, functionalizing renewable materials, such as nanocellulose, by possibly exploiting their properties for various practical applications, has been undertaken worldwide. Nanocellulose has emerged as a dominant green natural material with attractive and tailorable physicochemical properties, is renewable and sustainable, and shows biocompatibility and tunable surface properties. Nanocellulose is derived from cellulose, the most abundant polymer in nature with the remarkable properties of nanomaterials. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the methods used for nanocellulose preparation, structure–property and structure–property correlations, and the application of nanocellulose and its nanocomposite materials. This article differentiates the classification of nanocellulose, provides a brief account of the production methods that have been developed for isolating nanocellulose, highlights a range of unique properties of nanocellulose that have been extracted from different kinds of experiments and studies, and elaborates on nanocellulose potential applications in various areas. The present review is anticipated to provide the readers with the progress and knowledge related to nanocellulose. Pushing the boundaries of nanocellulose further into cutting-edge applications will be of particular interest in the future, especially as cost-effective commercial sources of nanocellulose continue to emerge.
Evaluating the Release of Different Commercial Orally Modified Niacin Formulations In Vitro
Authors: Chbib Christiane , Rashid Md. Abdur , Shah Sarthak M. , Kazi Mohsin , Uddin Mohammad N.
Published: July 2023

Objectives: To evaluate the release profile of different modified-release oral formulations of niacin, such as immediate-release (IR) powder and tablets, timed-release (TR) caplets, extended-release (ER) capsules, and controlled-release (CR) tablets, to assure their defined release pattern and correlate this release with their matrix polymers. Significance: Niacin is used to manage hyperlipidemia by reducing cutaneous flushing and hepatotoxicity adverse events. The release profiles of different types of modified-release dosage forms depend on the types of coating materials (polymers) used in the matrix formation. Although different types of niacin formulations exist, none of the niacin dissolution profiles have been evaluated and compared in the literature. Methods: Four commercial orally modified-release niacin brands were collected from a local CVS pharmacy retail store, in Miami, FL, USA. The in vitro release study was conducted in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) conditions. Results: The results of the release patterns of four niacin-modified dosage forms (IR, ER, TR, and CR) were aligned with their release definitions. However, the CR dosage form did not follow an ideal release pattern. Conclusions: The release rate of niacin in vitro was pH dependent, which was confirmed by the similarity factor (f2) results. All the f2 comparison values were below 50 in both the SIF and SGF media, while all the comparisons were below the f2 values for all brands in the SIF media.
Mechanochemical Synthesis and DC Electrical Conductivity of PANI-Based MWCNT Containing Nanocomposites with Te0 and Bi2Te3 Thermoelectric Nanophase
Authors: Zhmurova Anna V. , Prozorova Galina F. , Zvereva Marina V.
Published: July 2023

Nowadays, the search for the coupled polymer nanocomposite thermoelectrics that exhibit a high value of thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT) and similar behaviour of physical properties for the use as legs of thermoelectric cells is a current challenge. The direct current (DC) conductivity is one of the three important components of thermoelectric figure of merit. The aim of this study was to obtain PANI-based nanothermoelectrics with Te0 and Bi2Te3 nanoparticles and MWCNT by mechanochemical methodology and to investigate the dependency of their DC electrical conductivity on temperature in the 298–353 K range using the Arrhenius and Mott’s variable range hopping (VRH) models. Inorganic Te0 and Bi2Te3 nanoparticles were pre-synthesized by the available and environmentally friendly method using a commercial tellurium powder. The samples obtained were characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The XRD study of ES-PANI/Te0 (4.4 wt% Te0) and ES-PANI/Bi2Te3 (2.9 wt% Bi2Te3) nanocomposites found that the nanoparticle average size was 32 nm and 17 nm, respectively. The DC conductivity study of the samples with different nanophase content (2.1, 4.4, 10.2 wt% Te0, 1.5, 2.9, 7.3 wt% Bi2Te3, 1.5 wt% MWCNT) by the two points measurement method reveals the following: (a) the presence of inorganic nanophase reduces the conductivity compared to the matrix, (b) the addition of MWCNT in ES-PANI increases its electrical conductivity, (c) the conductivity of ES-PANI/Te0 as well as ES-PANI/Bi2Te3 nanocomposite rises with the increasing inorganic nanophase content, (d) the observed increase in the electrical conductivity of MWCNT-based nanocomposites with increasing inorganic nanophase content is interrupted by a characteristic area of decrease in its value at average values of inorganic nanoparticles content (at Te0 content of 4.4 wt%, at Bi2Te3 content of 2.9 wt%), (e) a similar DC conductivity behaviour in ES-PANI/Te0—ES-PANI/Bi2Te3 and ES-PANI/Te0-MWCNT—ES-PANI/Bi2Te3-MWCNT nanocomposite pairs is observed.
Scanning Three-Dimensional X-ray Diffraction Microscopy for Carbon Steels
Authors: Hayashi Yujiro , Kimura Hidehiko
Published: July 2023

Plastically deformed low-carbon steel has been analyzed by nondestructive three-dimensional orientation and strain mapping using scanning three-dimensional X-ray diffraction microscopy (S3DXRD). However, the application of S3DXRD is limited to single-phase alloys. In this study, we propose a modified S3DXRD analysis for dual-phase alloys, such as ferrite–pearlite carbon steel, which is composed of grains detectable as diffraction spots and a phase undetectable as diffraction spots. We performed validation experiments for ferrite–pearlite carbon steel with different pearlite fractions, in which the ferrite grains and the pearlite corresponded to the detectable grains and an undetectable phase, respectively. The regions of pearlite appeared more remarkably in orientation maps of the ferrite grains obtained from the carbon steel samples than that of the single-phase low-carbon steel and increased with the increase in the carbon concentration. The fractions of the detectable grains and the undetectable phase were determined with an uncertainty of 15%–20%. These results indicate that the proposed modified analysis is qualitatively valid for dual-phase alloys comprising detectable grains and an undetectable phase.
Mobilities in Religious Knowledge: Phiroz Mehta and the Logics of Transreligiosity in 1970s–80s South London
Authors: O’Brien-Kop Karen
Published: July 2023

This paper examines transreligiosity in the context of the transmission of South Asian concepts of spirituality to the UK in the 20th century. Between the 1920s and 1990s, Indian teacher and author Phiroz Mehta (1902–1994) crossed borders in a colonial and postcolonial shuttling between India and the UK but also transgressed conceptual and practice borders of religion, teaching Indian religious concepts to post-Christian spiritual seekers in 1970s–80s South London. Mehta cultivated an elasticity between many religious and philosophical traditions, recognising the post-institutional fatigue of subjects who sought alternative forms of ‘belonging without believing’. Privileging the domestic space for teaching, as well as transitory ‘camp’ gatherings in the UK and Germany, Mehta often operated in the social margins, combining teachings from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity with Zoroastrianism, Judaism (specifically Kabbalah), and Daoism. He offered his tutees the freedom to practice religion in whatever way they chose by drawing on a broad range of traditions concurrently to create a transreligiosity. This paper examines Panagiotopoulos and Roussou’s ‘transgressional webs of practising individualised forms of alternative spirituality’ in relation to Mehta’s followers in the 1970s-1980s and asks how transreligiosity relates to other theoretical analyses, such as religious exoticism, bricolage, religious appropriation, cultural re-articulation or assemblage. This paper focuses on qualitative interviews with original members of the Mehta community conducted between 2021 and 2022.
An Overview of Using Unmanned Aerial System Mounted Sensors to Measure Plant Above-Ground Biomass
Authors: Bazrafkan Aliasghar , Delavarpour Nadia , Oduor Peter G. , Bandillo Nonoy , Flores Paulo
Published: July 2023

Conventional measurement methods for above-ground biomass (AGB) are time-consuming, inaccurate, and labor-intensive. Unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have emerged as a promising solution, but a standardized procedure for UAS-based AGB estimation is lacking. This study reviews recent findings (2018–2022) on UAS applications for AGB estimation and develops a vegetation type-specific standard protocol. Analysis of 211 papers reveals the prevalence of rotary-wing UASs, especially quadcopters, in agricultural fields. Sensor selection varies by vegetation type, with LIDAR and RGB sensors in forests, and RGB, multispectral, and hyperspectral sensors in agricultural and grass fields. Flight altitudes and speeds depend on vegetation characteristics and sensor types, varying among crop groups. Ground control points (GCPs) needed for accurate AGB estimation differ based on vegetation type and topographic complexity. Optimal data collection during solar noon enhances accuracy, considering image quality, solar energy availability, and reduced atmospheric effects. Vegetation indices significantly affect AGB estimation in vertically growing crops, while their influence is comparatively less in forests, grasses, and horizontally growing crops. Plant height metrics differ across vegetation groups, with maximum height in forests and vertically growing crops, and central tendency metrics in grasses and horizontally growing crops. Linear regression and machine learning models perform similarly in forests, with machine learning outperforming in grasses; both yield comparable results for horizontally and vertically growing crops. Challenges include sensor limitations, environmental conditions, reflectance mixture, canopy complexity, water, cloud cover, dew, phenology, image artifacts, legal restrictions, computing power, battery capacity, optical saturation, and GPS errors. Addressing these requires careful sensor selection, timing, image processing, compliance with regulations, and overcoming technical limitations. Insights and guidelines provided enhance the precision and efficiency of UAS-based AGB estimation. Understanding vegetation requirements aids informed decisions on platform selection, sensor choice, flight parameters, and modeling approaches across different ecosystems. This study bridges the gap by providing a standardized protocol, facilitating widespread adoption of UAS technology for AGB estimation.
Five Important Seeds in Traditional Medicine, and Pharmacological Benefits
Authors: Shahrajabian Mohamad Hesam , Sun Wenli
Published: July 2023

Knowledge about the pharmacological benefits of different seeds is an important factor for the cultivation and application of medicinal herbs and plants. The seeds of medicinal plants are stores of valuable and active secondary metabolites that have been commercially and economically beneficial and helpful for medicine and pharmacy. The major parameter of reproduction and the preservation of plants are seeds, which have a functional role in the distribution and establishment of plants in different regions. Five important seeds that have tremendous medicinal and pharmacological benefits are anise, basil, borage, cilantro, and chamomile. Anise seed is used as a spice, either whole or ground, and its essential oil and extract are also obtained from the seeds. Basil seeds have a long history of usage in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, and they are a good source of minerals, are high in fiber (including pectin), and are rich is flavonoids and other polyphenols. Borage seed oil is used for skin disorders, such as seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and neurodermatitis. Coriander is an annual herb that is part of the Apiaceae family, and the seeds are rich in iron, zinc, copper, and essential minerals, which can decrease bad cholesterol and improve good cholesterol in the body. Chamomile can be considered for the treatment of insomnia, hemorrhoids, anxiety, and diarrhea, and it may help with wound healing and skin irritation. Keyword searches for Anise, Seed, Basil, Borage, Cilantro, Chamomile, Seed biology, Traditional medicinal science, and seed anatomy were performed using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google scholar. The aim of this article review is to survey the pharmacological and health benefits of the seeds of the five aforementioned important medicinal plants.
Sustainable Rehabilitation of Post-Bauxite Mining Land for Albizia falcata Cultivation Using Specific Location Amelioration Technology
Authors: Suswati Denah , Denashurya Nugra Irianta
Published: July 2023

Bauxite mining, catalyzed by the escalating global demand for aluminum, leads to serious environmental repercussions, necessitating the development of efficient land rehabilitation techniques. This study presents a sustainable solution for post-bauxite mining land rehabilitation by leveraging red mud waste and cow manure fertilizer. Applied in PT Antam, Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan, this research examines the potential of these ameliorants to restore ecological functions and promote the growth of Albizia falcata plants. Our findings reveal a remarkable enhancement in soil pH levels and nutrient availability (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and Na) when applying a blend of 10% red mud and 20% cow manure fertilizer. Consequently, a significant improvement in the growth of Albizia falcata plants by factors ranging from 8 to 13 times was recorded. These results, alongside potential economic benefits, highlight the promise of this approach not to only confront the challenges posed by bauxite mining but also to contribute to global land rehabilitation strategies. While this study provides substantial insights, it recommends further exploration of this method involving diverse plant species, treatments with different ameliorants, and a broader range of observed variables. The study underscores the critical role of government intervention through stringent regulations and the need for a more comprehensive environmental and cost-benefit analysis to foster sustainable mining practices and responsible land rehabilitation.
Delineation of a Groundwater Potential Zone Map for the Kızılırmak Delta by Using Remote-Sensing-Based Geospatial and Analytical Hierarchy Processes
Authors: Beden Neslihan , Soydan-Oksal Nazire Göksu , Arıman Sema , Ahmadzai Hayatullah
Published: July 2023

Locating prospective groundwater recharge zones is essential for managing and planning groundwater resources. Therefore, spatial modeling of groundwater distribution is a significant undertaking that would aid groundwater’s subsequent conservation and management. The current study employs geographic information systems (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) based on multi-criteria analysis to identify groundwater potential zones (GPZ). The AHP technique was utilized to analyze and generate the geo-environmental factor parameters, which included drainage density, lineament density, precipitation, slope, soil texture, land use/land cover, groundwater level, and geology. Each factor is weighted according to its characteristics and effects on water potential in this process. Finally, the weighted overlay method was applied in a GIS environment to gather the weighted variables and locate the map of the GPZ. The proposed GPZ map is divided into four different groundwater potential zones: poor, moderate, high, and very high. Consequently, according to the results, 38% of the basin has very high groundwater potential, 19% has high potential, 39% has moderate potential, and 4% has poor potential from the spatial distribution of the potential regions. Therefore, the study’s conclusions can be used to sustain groundwater resources by identifying areas with high groundwater potential.
The Impact of the Green Economy on Carbon Emission Intensity: Comparisons, Challenges, and Mitigating Strategies
Authors: Peng Jia , Hu Xianli , Fan Xinyue , Wang Kai , Gong Hao
Published: July 2023

Global warming, driven primarily by the substantial discharge of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, presents a progressively intensifying concern. To curtail these emissions, the international community is persistently exerting efforts. Traditional economic paradigms have contributed to resource exhaustion and severe pollution, as well as other issues. The green economy, characterized by “eco-friendly”, “low carbon”, and “intensive development” principles, proposes strategies to counter global warming. The current study considers 30 Chinese provinces and cities, assessing coal, coke, and diesel consumption data from 2004 to 2020. Using the carbon emission factor method to quantify carbon emissions, spatial autocorrelation of emissions across various regions is evaluated by employing Moran’s I. The Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression (GTWR) of carbon emissions and green economy is formulated to scrutinize the contributing factors to carbon emissions, focusing on spatial–temporal evolution and spatial heterogeneity. According to the analysis results, the corresponding suggestions are put forward. This also facilitates analysis of the green economy’s impact on China’s carbon peak and carbon neutrality targets. The findings suggest the following: (1) Over the study period, China’s aggregate carbon emissions exhibited an upward trend, although the growth rate notably decelerated after 2011, and significant spatial clustering of carbon emissions was discerned across the regions. (2) Overall, both economic and social development markedly augmented carbon emission intensity. (3) Spatially, the green economy’s effect on carbon emissions demonstrated significant spatial differentiation. By constructing a GTWR model of the green economy–carbon emission relationship, this study provides a trajectory for regional green sustainability and offers empirical guidance for developing countries grappling with global warming.
Can ESG Performance Alleviate the Constraints of Green Financing for Chinese Enterprises: Empirical Evidence from China’s A-Share Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Li Kunming , Huang Linxing , Zhang Jinshan , Huang Zhencheng , Fang Liting
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the model of extensive economic development at the expense of the ecological environment has been gradually abandoned by all countries in the world. Green economic transformation has become the basic consensus of societies worldwide. Capital is the blood of enterprise development. The rapid development of the green economy with the goal of supporting the green transformation of the economy has increased the financing pressure of enterprises caused by pollution. This paper explores the internal relationship between corporate green behavior decision-making and corporate green financing constraints from a micro perspective. Based on the data of China’s A-share manufacturing industry from 2011 to 2019, this paper examines the impact of corporate ESG performance on the green financing constraints for it. The empirical results show that the listed companies face greater green financing constraints at present. The overall performance of corporate ESG is conducive to easing corporate green financing constraints, but the role of ESG sub-performance is limited. At the same time, there are regional and scale differences in the mitigation effect of the performance of corporate ESGs on green financing constraints. Finally, this paper puts forward policy suggestions on how to promote the alleviation of corporate green financing constraints. Namely: (1) enterprises should improve themselves by improving technological innovation and utilization rate to meet the requirements of green development; and (2) relevant institutions shall formulate appropriate policies and conduct reasonable supervision according to the differentiated requirements of enterprises with different characteristics in different regions.
Quality Properties and Torrefaction Characteristics of Pellets: Rose Oil Distillation Solid Waste and Red Pine Sawdust
Authors: Önür Muhammet Enes , Ekinci Kamil , Civan Mihriban , Bilgili Mehmet Emin , Yurdakul Sema
Published: July 2023

Two different biomass types, rose oil (Rosa damascena Mill.) distillation solid wastes (RDWs) and red pine sawdust (RPS), were pelletized in this study at different moisture and additives. The prepared pellets were also torrefied. This study revealed that the strength of the RPS and RDW pellets decreased as their moisture content increased in both their raw and torrefied forms. However, the tensile strength of the torrefied pellets increased with the increased binder ratio, which is similar to raw pellets. Compared to their raw form, the torrefied pellets generally had higher ash contents, fixed carbon contents, and higher heating values. As a result of torrefaction, the higher heating value of the RPS pellets increased from 17.51–18.80 MJ/kg to 20.20–21.73 MJ/kg, while the higher heating value of the RDW pellets increased from 17.42–18.54 MJ/kg to 19.13–20.92 MJ/kg. For the torrefied RPS and RDW pellets in this study, there was no statistically significant difference between initial moisture content and energy efficiency, energy density, or mass yield. On the other hand, energy density ratios in both the torrefied RPS and torrefied RDW pellets generally increased with increasing binder content. Furthermore, the torrefied pellets were found to be more stable in moisture absorption than the raw pellets.
Education Professionals’ Cooperative Learning for the Development of Professional Capital
Authors: Damkuviene Milda , Valuckiene Jurate , Balciunas Sigitas , Petukiene Evandzelina
Published: July 2023

This article presents the research results on developing professional capital in Lithuanian schools during the national project “Time for leaders”. The longitudinal national initiative aimed to develop professional capital as the synergy of human, social and decisional components of schools through educational professionals’ various cooperation-based learning experiences. Using the descriptive case study approach, the article investigates the question of how the cooperative learning approach, applied in a long-term professional development project for education professionals, develop individuals’ professional capital. The paper provides an overview of project interventions (i.e., activities that stimulated cooperative learning of educational professionals) in the light of cooperative learning principles. The assessment of change over two project years in education professionals’ perceptions of professional capital, which is presented using Cohen’s d effect size measure. The measurement sample consisted of teachers (n(I) = 5105; n(II) = 4683) and school leaders (n(I) = 439; n(II) = 405) from 189 schools in 30 Lithuanian municipalities. The findings show a statistically significant medium positive change in professional capital. The most considerable change was estimated in the social and decisional capital dimensions and the relative smallest in the field of human capital.
Driving Sustainable Disaster Risk Reduction: A Rapid Review of the Policies and Strategies in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Wathinani Ahmed M. , Barten Dennis G. , Borowska-Stefańska Marta , Gołda Paweł , AlDulijan Noora A. , Alhallaf Mohammad A. , Samarkandi Lujain O. , Almuhaidly Abdullah S. , Goniewicz Mariusz , Samarkandi Waleed O. , Goniewicz Krzysztof
Published: July 2023

This article presents a comprehensive rapid review of the current disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts in Saudi Arabia, a country exposed to a variety of hazards such as extreme heat, droughts, floods, dust, and sandstorms, along with threats from terrorism and violence. Employing a rapid review approach, our aim was to provide timely insights into DRR strategies, with an emphasis on the unique geographical and socio-political context of Saudi Arabia. This study serves as a valuable reference for similar hazard-prone regions worldwide. Our review encompasses Saudi Arabia’s progress in key areas, such as improving building codes and infrastructure, developing early warning systems, raising public awareness, and strengthening emergency response capabilities. While Saudi Arabia has made commendable strides in implementing international best practices for DRR, our review also identified specific areas where further development and enhancement are needed. These include the need for more sophisticated early warning systems, expanded public awareness campaigns, and continual enhancements in emergency response capabilities. This review offers key insights into the challenges and opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s DRR efforts, highlighting the steps that Saudi Arabia has taken towards resilience. Drawing from specific examples of past disasters, our findings shed light on practical considerations for improving disaster risk management, with the potential to inform policy, enhance public awareness, and contribute to building a safer and more resilient future in Saudi Arabia.
An Intelligent Decision Support System Based on Multi Agent Systems for Business Classification Problem
Authors: Haj Qasem Mais , Aljaidi Mohammad , Samara Ghassan , Alazaidah Raed , Alsarhan Ayoub , Alshammari Mohammed
Published: July 2023

The development of e-systems has given consumers and businesses access to a plethora of information, which has complicated the process of decision making. Document classification is one of the main decisions that any business adopts in their decision making to categorize documents into groups according to their structure. In this paper, we combined multi-agent systems (MASs), which is one of the IDSS systems, with Bayesian-based classification to filter out the specialization, collaboration, and privacy of distributed business sources to produce an efficient distributed classification system. Bayesian classification made use of MAS to eliminate distributed sources’ specialization and privacy. Therefore, incorporating the probabilities of various sources is a practical and swift solution to such a problem, where this method works the same when all the data are merged into a single source. Each intelligent agent can collaborate and ask for help from other intelligent agents in classifying cases that are difficult to classify locally. The results demonstrate that our proposed technique is more accurate than those of the non-communicated classification, where the results proved the ability of the utilized productive distributed classification system.
Determinants Influencing Cocoa Farmers’ Satisfaction with Input Credit in the Nawa Region of Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Kouadio Yao Dinard , Anani Amètépé Nathanaël Beauclair , Faye Bonoua , Fan Yadong
Published: July 2023

Assessing farmers’ satisfaction with Input Credit (IC) is essential for agricultural modernization in Sub-Saharan African countries. Therefore, based on farmers’ socio-economics data, this study aimed to determine the potential factors influencing farmers’ satisfaction with IC. The data were collected through a questionnaire from a random sample of 311 farmers in the Nawa region of southwestern Côte d’Ivoire in November 2022. Farmers rated constraints in the use of IC on three main indicators: (1) availability of inputs, (2) accessibility, and (3) credit repayment conditions. In addition to the descriptive statistics, a logistic regression model was constructed to compute the results using Stata 17.0 software. The main findings of descriptive statistics showed that 61.97% of the farmers were dissatisfied with using IC, while 38.03% were satisfied. The results also indicated that about 61.15% of farmers were constrained by credit services for inputs, compared to 38.85%. The logistic regression results revealed that the factors that significantly influence farmers’ satisfaction were annual production required and the number of years (at 1%) of IC use, training programs for farmers, farm size, input price (at 10%), and age (at 5%). Accordingly, cacao production in Côte d’Ivoire still faces multiple and complex factors. So, the results provide practical implications for policymakers and innovators to support smallholder farmers in providing high-quality technology innovation adoption programs.
Risk of Heavy Metal Contamination in Vegetables Fertilized with Mushroom Residues and Swine Manure
Authors: Li Changhe , Lan Wenchong , Jin Zhi , Lu Siwen , Du Jingyu , Wang Xindong , Chen Yonghui , Hu Xuefeng
Published: July 2023

Mushroom residues and swine manure are two common types of agricultural waste that are often returned to fields as organic fertilizers. However, the environmental risks of their reclamation, such as heavy metal pollution, have been less studied. To investigate the potential risks of heavy metal contamination in soils and vegetables after continuously applying mushroom residues and swine manure, field experiments of four consecutive vegetable rotations were conducted in the Qingpu District of Shanghai, Southeast China, from 2019 to 2021. The concentrations of heavy metals in soils continuously fertilized with mushroom residues and swine manure gradually increased. The organic matter content in the soils exhibited a significant correlation with the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd (p < 0.01), suggesting that the increase in heavy metals is attributed to the use of organic waste. In particular, the application of swine manure increased Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd concentrations in the soils by 118.3%, 54.9%, 57.6%, and 122.2%, respectively. Moreover, the application of organic waste raised the risk of the bioaccumulation of toxic metals, such as Cd, in vegetables. The Cd concentration was significantly and positively correlated with Zn in the edible parts of vegetables (p < 0.05). The recycling of swine manure more significantly enhanced Cd concentrations in the edible parts of green pepper (Capsicum annuum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), Brassica chinensis, and lettuce (Lactuca sativa), which were 2.53, 1.55, 1.66, and 1.62 times that of the non-fertilizer control (CK), respectively. Although the increase in heavy metals in the soils and vegetables was still mild when compared with the set thresholds of soil and food safety after the four vegetable rotations, the trend of increase in toxic heavy metals in the food chain with a continuous application of organic waste should be carefully considered.
The Conflict and Coordination Mechanism of Interpersonal Relationship between New and Old Residents in Community Reorganization at Heritage Sites: A Model Based on Tangkou in Huangshan
Authors: Jiang Haiping , Wu Wenzhi , Ye Lan , Ding Qiujian
Published: July 2023

During the transition to the tourism service community, the heritage community has absorbed more and more new residents, and the community undergoes constant reorganization. The relationship between new arrivals and original residents has caused many conflicts in the process of community restructuring, which in turn affects the sustainable development of the heritage site. Based on the survey of the typical heritage community in Tangkou, Huangshan, combined with grounded theory, it is found that interpersonal relationship conflicts between new arrivals and original residents of the heritage community are mainly affected by economic interests, environmental cognition, emotional exchanges, cultural customs, and so on. It is suggested to improve the interest coordination mechanism between new arrivals and original merchants, give play to the role of industry associations, protect the interests of marginalized or disadvantaged groups, strengthen the construction of community public leisure space, encourage residents to participate in the protection and inheritance of traditional cultural customs in the community, and establish community environmental protection and responsibility mechanisms.
Research on Operation Efficiency Prediction and Optimization of Biological Retention System Based on GA-BP Neural Network Model
Authors: Chen Feiwu , Zhang Qian , Chen Sheming , Yuan Yingwei
Published: July 2023

Bioretention systems are an important measure in sandy city construction to remove pollutants. This study collected all the operating data samples of bioretention ponds currently in operation in China and used the Mantel test and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) to optimize the main factors that affect the changes in pollutant-removal efficiency. Genetic Algorithms (GA) were used to optimize the Back Propagation (BP) neural network model, and a predictive index system was established to predict the efficiency of removing typical pollutants (ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen) by bioretention ponds. The operating efficiency of bioretention ponds was evaluated and predicted based on the GA-BP neural network model. The results indicated that the highest positive correlation with the operating efficiency of the bioretention system was X3 (rainfall duration), with a correlation coeffi-cient of 0.79, while the highest negative correlation was with X7 (percentage of strong percolating soil) and X12 (the proportion of mineral fillers), with correlation coefficients of −0.89. The overall regression coefficients of the GA-BP model for predicting the efficiency of removing typical pollu-tants (ammonia nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen) were 0.9397 and 0.9303, respectively, indicating high accuracy and representativeness. The overall regression index of the model is 0.9298, and the overall predicted removal rates of typical pollutants in the blank area are 78.72%, 70.31%, and 86.92%, re-spectively. The model can provide a basis and reference for the construction and planning of bio-retention ponds in areas lacking them.
Carbon Emissions during the Building Construction Phase: A Comprehensive Case Study of Construction Sites in Denmark
Authors: Kanafani Kai , Magnes Jonathan , Lindhard Søren Munch , Balouktsi Maria
Published: July 2023

Buildings are major contributors of carbon emissions and related global warming. Emissions occur along all building stages, from a whole-life perspective, including material production, construction processes, building operations, maintenance and end-of-life processes. Upfront emissions include processes before building operations. They can be influenced immediately and will have a positive effect today. However, mitigation potentials during the construction stage are often overseen in research. This study presents an analysis of the carbon emissions of 61 Danish construction sites based on their energy consumption, waste production (module A5) and transport to site (A4). The results show carbon emissions for A4 of 0.28 and for A5 of 1.00 kgCO2e/m2 gross floor area per year over 50 years. This is 13.47% of the Danish whole-life carbon reference of 9.50 kgCO2e/m2y, which includes the product stage (A1–3), replacements (B4), operational energy use (B6) and waste processes and disposal (C3–4). Almost half of the emissions are related to construction waste followed by electricity, heat and fuel. Floor area and building use have not shown to be influential for carbon emissions, suggesting other parameters are more important. The significance of modules A4 and A5 suggests implementing them in future whole-life carbon assessments and related policies. This paper also demonstrates the development of generic emission coefficients, which are suited to increase the feasibility for application in the building industry. Finally, the usability of module A4 and A5 in environmental product declarations is discussed.
An Energy-Saving-Oriented Approach to Urban Design—Application in the Local Conditions of Poznań Metropolitan Area (Poland)
Authors: Bonenberg Wojciech , Skórzewski Wojciech , Qi Ling , Han Yuhong , Czekała Wojciech , Zhou Mo
Published: July 2023

This article discusses the impact of urban layout on the energy performance of residential buildings. A comparative analysis of multiple variants of land development differing in building layout only, with all other features being the same, including the building envelope properties and technical equipment, was carried out. The research was conducted in two selected locations in Poznań metropolitan area (Poland), which is located in the Dfb climate zone (humid continental—warm summer subtype). For each location, the following variants of building layout were considered: parallel buildings (12 variants with an orientation towards the sides of the world rotated in steps of 15 degrees), perimeter frontage buildings, and comb-shaped buildings with semi-open courtyards (4 variants with courtyards open to each side of the world). The calculation of annual end uses for heating and cooling was conducted as well as the peak values. All calculations were performed using OpenStudio Application Release v. 1.2.1 software with the SketchUp plugin. The results showed that the proper arrangement of buildings on the urban plot may result in significant energy savings. The considered variants differed in terms of annual end uses for heating and cooling even by approx. 15%, and the peak values on the hottest days were 4–10 times lower in comparison with the least advantageous variants. The results show the slight advantage of compact development over free-standing development in terms of total end uses as well as the south and north orientation of facades over the east and west in terms of peak solar heat gain values.
Distributed Energy Resource Exploitation through Co-Optimization of Power System and Data Centers with Uncertainties during Demand Response
Authors: Weng Yu , Liu Yang , Lim Rachel Li Ting , Nguyen Hung D.
Published: July 2023

This paper presents a robust bi-level co-optimization model that promotes the active participation of Internet Data Centers (IDCs) in demand response (DR) programs, thereby enhancing the flexibility of power systems. Our approach involves leveraging virtual power lines to migrate workloads among IDCs, optimizing resource allocations, and benefiting both domains. The model incorporates a Gaussian Process Regression (GPR)-constructed DR price–amount curve, which largely contributes to the simplification of the optimization problem with high accuracy and computational efficiency. It also respects the information barriers between the two domains of power systems and IDCs, and thus safeguards the privacy and flexibility of IDCs. The uncertainty in IDC operations is considered by incorporating the variance in GPR into the demand response curve. By integrating IDCs as DR resources, the framework of this research enhances the flexibility of power systems and the efficiency of cross-domain co-optimization. The model and algorithm are validated using modified IEEE test systems.
Nonlinear Effects of Environmental Data Disclosure on Urban Pollution Emissions: Evidence from China
Authors: Yang Xiuyun , Han Qi
Published: July 2023

Urban pollution emissions have become an unavoidable problem for China in its goal to achieve sustainable development, and environmental data disclosure is a key initiative for China to control urban pollution emissions. Based on the panel data of 120 cities in China from 2013 to 2018, this paper investigates the specific impact of environmental data disclosure level on urban pollution emissions. It was found that there is an inverted U-shaped curve relationship between the level of environmental data disclosure and urban pollutant emissions. A higher level of environmental data disclosure can alleviate information asymmetry and force polluters to take measures to ultimately reduce urban pollution emissions. However, a low level of environmental data disclosure cannot produce strong environmental constraints on polluters, although it may stimulate their speculative psychology, expand production before the advent of more efficient environmental supervision, and increase the total amount of urban pollution emissions. Therefore, the level of environmental data disclosure should be improved as much as possible, and the positive value of environmental data disclosure should be exploited to reduce urban pollution emissions. Heterogeneity shows that the impact of environmental data disclosure on urban pollution emissions is more significant in cities with higher entrepreneurial vitality, higher public environmental awareness, and stronger resource dependence. Further mechanism tests found that environmental data disclosure mainly affects urban pollutant emissions by increasing urban research investment, influencing the level of urban green technology innovation and the talent agglomeration effect, and improving urban green total factor productivity. These findings enrich the content of the literature regarding the relationship between environmental data disclosure and urban pollution emissions and present a feasible path for China to achieve emissions control goals through environmental data disclosure.