bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of Geotourism in Australia from Kanawinka Global Geopark and Australian National Landscapes to GeoRegions and Geotrails: A Review and Lessons Learned
Authors: Lewis Ian D.
Published: June 2023

The geological heritage of Australia’s landscapes and World Heritage areas has generally been underpromoted to the public by the tourism industry. However, in 2008, the fledgling world of geotourism in Australia received a significant boost with two events: the Inaugural Global Geotourism Conference ‘Discover the Earth beneath our Feet’ held in Fremantle, Western Australia, and the declaration of the UNESCO Kanawinka Global Geopark, which linked volcanic regions in South Australia and Victoria. Simultaneously the Australian Federal Government launched the ‘Australian National Landscapes’ (ANL) program. However, this impetus was not sustained when the Kanawinka Global Geopark was deregistered as a UNESCO-branded geopark in 2012, and the ANL program faded within a decade. Despite these setbacks, as an outcome of the 2008 Fremantle conference, several productive lines of geotourism have developed across Australia. This paper reviews the history of Australian geotourism since 2008. It examines the impacts of the experiences, lessons learned, problems for geology as perceived by National Parks and the Environment movement, geological communication problems, and the subsequent evolution of Australian geotourism. From these issues, new non-government bodies and initiatives have arisen, including the Australian Geoparks Network, the Australian Geoscience Council, and the recent development of a National Geotourism Strategy. Strong elements emerging from these initiatives are the increasing development of geotrails (which suit the large Australian continent) and the new Australian concept of ‘GeoRegions’. These are in response to an awareness that geotourism requires a flexible outlook to widen the appreciation and appeal of geological heritage and landscapes to the broader public. A further new direction is suggested: for Australian geotourism to combine with some elements of ICOMOS Cultural Routes. An outstanding example, the ICOMOS Overland Telegraph Line (OTL) Cultural Route that crosses Australia from south to north, is considered. For 2000 km, the construction of this line in the 1870s followed the regional geology and hydrology, relying upon the available biota but bringing about a clash of human cultures. The six colonies of Australia were finally linked to the world by wire, but the arrival of the OTL had a significant impact on the country’s Indigenous inhabitants. In Australia and globally, geotourism is incorporating the A–B–Cs (abiotic, biotic and cultural elements) to more effectively encourage the public to value their landscapes and the associated stories. The OTL provides an example of a newly introduced fourth dimension for geotourism, which gives consideration to the socio-political context of landscape adaptation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Amphiphilic N-Benzyl 1,4-Dihydropyridine Derivatives—Evaluation of Lipid Monolayer and Self-Assembling Properties
Authors: Krapivina Anna , Lacis Davis , Rucins Martins , Plotniece Mara , Pajuste Karlis , Sobolev Arkadij , Plotniece Aiva
Published: June 2023

Liposomes and other nanoparticles have been widely studied as innovative nanomaterials because of their unique properties. Pyridinium salts, on the basis of 1,4-dihydropyridine (1,4-DHP) core, have gained significant attention due to their self-assembling properties and DNA delivery activity. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize original N-benzyl substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines and evaluate the influence on structure modifications on compound physicochemical and self-assembling properties. Studies of monolayers composed of 1,4-DHP amphiphiles revealed that the mean molecular areas values were dependent on the compound structure. Therefore, the introduction of N-benzyl substituent to the 1,4-DHP ring enlarged the mean molecular area by almost half. All nanoparticle samples obtained by ethanol injection method possessed positive surface charge and average diameter of 395–2570 nm. The structure of the cationic head-group affects the size of the formed nanoparticles. The diameter of lipoplexes formed by 1,4-DHP amphiphiles and mRNA at nitrogen/phosphate (N/P) charge ratios of 1, 2, and 5 were in the range of 139–2959 nm and were related to the structure of compound and N/P charge ratio. The preliminary results indicated that more prospective combination are the lipoplexes formed by pyridinium moieties containing N-unsubstituted 1,4-DHP amphiphile 1 and pyridinium or substituted pyridinium moieties containing N-benzyl 1,4-DHP amphiphiles 5a–c at N/P charge ratio of 5, which would be good candidates for potential application in gene therapy.
A Novel Magnetorheological Fluid with High-Temperature Resistance
Authors: Ji Jinjie , Wu Xiangfan , Tian Zuzhi , Xie Fangwei , Chen Fei , Li Haopeng
Published: June 2023

A magnetorheological fluid (MR fluid) is mainly composed of soft magnetic particles, surfactants, and the base carrier fluid. Among these, soft magnetic particles and the base carrier fluid influence the MR fluid significantly in a high-temperature environment. Therefore, a study was carried out to investigate the changes in the properties of soft magnetic particles and base carrier fluids in high-temperature environments. On this basis, a novel magnetorheological fluid with high-temperature resistance was prepared, and the novel magnetorheological fluid had excellent sedimentation stability, of which the sedimentation rate was only 4.42% after heat treatment at 150 °C followed by one-week placement. At 30 °C, the shear yield stress of the novel fluid was 9.47 kPa under the magnetic field of 817 mT: higher than the general magnetorheological fluid with the same mass fraction. Moreover, its shear yield stress was less affected by the high-temperature environment, reducing by only 4.03% from 10 °C to 70 °C. The novel MR fluid can be applied to a high-temperature environment, effectively expanding the application range of MR fluid.
Thermal and Sound Characterization of a New Biocomposite Material
Authors: Bojković Jovana , Marašević Miljan , Stojić Nenad , Bulatović Vesna , Radičević Branko
Published: June 2023

Bio-based composites are increasingly used. One of the most frequently used materials is hemp shives, which is agricultural waste. However, as the quantities of this material are lacking, there is a tendency towards finding new and more available materials. Corncob and sawdust are bio by-products that have great potential as insulation materials. In order to use these aggregates, it is necessary to examine their characteristics. New composite materials based on sawdust, corncobs, styrofoam granules, and the mixture of lime and gypsum as the binder were tested in this research. This paper presents the properties of these composites obtained by determining the porosity of samples, volume mass, water absorption, airflow resistance and heat flux, which was followed by the calculation of the thermal conductivity coefficient. Three of the new biocomposite materials, whose samples were 1–5 cm thick for each type of mixture, were investigated. The aim of this research was to analyze the results of different mixtures and sample thicknesses in order to determine the optimum composite material of the proper thickness so that the best possible thermal and sound insulation could be obtained. Based on the conducted analyses, the biocomposite with a thickness of 5 cm, composed of ground corncobs, styrofoam, lime, and gypsum, proved to be the best in terms of thermal and sound insulation. New composite materials can be used as an alternative to conventional materials.
Energy Equivalence Based Estimation of Hybrid Composites Mechanical Properties
Authors: Jerzyńska Anna , Egner Halina
Published: June 2023

Hybrid composites, usually combining natural and synthetic reinforcing filaments, have gained a lot of attention due to their better properties than traditional two-component materials. For structural applications of hybrid composites, there is a need to precisely determine their mechanical properties on the basis of the mechanical properties, volume fractions, and geometrical distributions of constituent materials. The most common methods, such as the rule of mixture, are inaccurate. More advanced methods, giving better results in the case of classic composites, are difficult to apply in the case of several types of reinforcement. In the present research, a new estimation method is considered, which is simple and accurate. The approach is based on the definition of two configurations: the real, heterogeneous, multi-phase hybrid composite configuration, and the fictitious, quasi-homogeneous one, in which the inclusions are “smeared out” over a representative volume. A hypothesis of the internal strain energy equivalence between the two configurations is formulated. The effect of reinforcing inclusions on the mechanical properties of a matrix material is expressed by functions of constituent properties, their volume fractions, and geometrical distribution. The analytical formulas are derived for an isotropic case of a hybrid composite reinforced with randomly distributed particles. The validation of the proposed approach is performed by comparing the estimated hybrid composite properties with the results of other methods, and with experimental data available in the literature. It is shown that a very good agreement is obtained between experimentally measured hybrid composite properties and their predictions resulting from the proposed estimation method. The estimation errors are much lower than the errors of other methods.
A Comparative Analysis of Doherty and Outphasing MMIC GaN Power Amplifiers for 5G Applications
Authors: Díez-Acereda Victoria , Khemchandani Sunil Lalchand , del Pino Javier , Diaz-Carballo Ayoze
Published: June 2023

A comparison between a fully integrated Doherty power amplifier (DPA) and outphasing power amplifier (OPA) for fifth Generation (5G) wireless communications is presented in this paper. Both amplifiers are integrated using pHEMT transistors from the OMMIC’s 100 nm GaN-on-Si technology (D01GH). After a theoretical analysis, the design and layout of both circuits are presented. The DPA uses an asymmetric configuration where the main amplifier is biased in class AB and the auxiliary amplifier is biased in class C, while the OPA uses two amplifiers biased in class B. In the comparative analysis, it has been observed that the OPA presents a better performance in terms of maximum power added efficiency (PAE), while the DPA provides higher linearity and efficiency at 7.5 dB output back-off (OBO). At a 1 dB compression point, the OPA exhibits an output power of 33 dBm with a maximum PAE of 58.3% compared to 44.2% for the DPA for an output power of 35 dBm, and at 7.5 dB OBO, the DPA achieves a PAE of 38.5%, while the OPA achieves 26.1%. The area has been optimized using absorbing adjacent component techniques, resulting in an area of 3.26 mm2 for the DPA and 3.18 mm2 for the OPA.
Editorial for the Special Issue “Effects of COVID-19 on Lifestyle Behaviors in Children with Obesity”
Authors: Ferrulli Anna , Terruzzi Ileana , Zuccotti Gianvincenzo , Luzi Livio
Published: June 2023

During the last four decades, the prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically worldwide; concomitantly, a progressive rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related chronic diseases has also been observed in childhood [...]
The Long-Term Neuroprotective Effect of the Endocannabinoid 2-AG and Modulation of the SGZ’s Neurogenic Response after Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia
Authors: Beldarrain Gorane , Hilario Enrique , Lara-Celador Idoia , Chillida Marc , Catalan Ana , Álvarez-Diaz Antonia Ángeles , Alonso-Alconada Daniel
Published: June 2023

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) often causes hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), a neurological condition that can lead to overall disability in newborns. The only treatment available for affected neonates is therapeutic hypothermia; however, cooling is not always effective to prevent the deleterious effects of HI, so compounds such as cannabinoids are currently under research as new therapies. Modulating the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may reduce brain damage and/or stimulate cell proliferation at the neurogenic niches. Further, the long-term effects of cannabinoid treatment are not so clear. Here, we studied the middle- and long-term effects of 2-AG, the most abundant endocannabinoid in the perinatal period after HI in neonatal rats. At middle-term (postnatal day 14), 2-AG reduced brain injury and increased SGZ’s cell proliferation and the number of neuroblasts. At post-natal day 90, the treatment with the endocannabinoid showed global and local protection, suggesting long-lasting neuroprotective effects of 2-AG after neonatal HI in rats.
Influence of Surface-Modification via PEGylation or Chitosanization of Lipidic Nanocarriers on In Vivo Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Profiles of Apixaban
Authors: Zaky Mohamed F. , Hammady Taha M. , Gad Shadeed , Alattar Abdullah , Alshaman Reem , Hegazy Ann , Zaitone Sawsan A. , Ghorab Mamdouh Mostafa , Megahed Mohamed A.
Published: June 2023

Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) have been proven to significantly improve the bioavailability and efficacy of many drugs; however, they still have many limitations. These limitations could hinder their potential for enhancing the bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs and, therefore, require further amendments. From this perspective, we have investigated how the chitosanization and PEGylation of NLCs affected their ability to function as a delivery system for apixaban (APX). These surface modifications could enhance the ability of NLCs to improve the bioavailability and pharmacodynamic activity of the loaded drug. In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to examine APX-loaded NLCs, chitosan-modified NLCs, and PEGylated NLCs. The three nanoarchitectures displayed a Higuchi-diffusion release pattern in vitro, in addition to having their vesicular outline proven via electron microscopy. PEGylated and chitosanized NLCs retained good stability over 3 months, versus the nonPEGylated and nonchitosanized NLCs. Interestingly, APX-loaded chitosan-modified NLCs displayed better stability than the APX-loaded PEGylated NLCs, in terms of mean vesicle size after 90 days. On the other hand, the absorption profile of APX (AUC0-inf) in rats pretreated with APX-loaded PEGylated NLCs (108.59 µg·mL−1·h−1) was significantly higher than the AUC0-inf of APX in rats pretreated with APX-loaded chitosan-modified NLCs (93.397 µg·mL−1·h−1), and both were also significantly higher than AUC0-inf of APX-Loaded NLCs (55.435 µg·mL−1·h−1). Chitosan-coated NLCs enhanced APX anticoagulant activity with increased prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time by 1.6- and 1.55-folds, respectively, compared to unmodified NLCs, and by 1.23- and 1.37-folds, respectively, compared to PEGylated NLCs. The PEGylation and chitosanization of NLCs enhanced the bioavailability and anticoagulant activity of APX over the nonmodified NLCs; this highlighted the importance of both approaches.
Compounding, Rheology and Numerical Simulation of Highly Filled Graphite Compounds for Potential Fuel Cell Applications
Authors: Celik Alptekin , Willems Fabian , Tüzün Mustafa , Marinova Svetlana , Heyn Johannes , Fiedler Markus , Bonten Christian
Published: June 2023

Highly filled plastics may offer a suitable solution within the production process for bipolar plates. However, the compounding of conductive additives and the homogeneous mixing of the plastic melt, as well as the accurate prediction of the material behavior, pose a major challenge for polymer engineers. To support the engineering design process of compounding by twin-screw extruders, this present study offers a method to evaluate the achievable mixing quality based on numerical flow simulations. For this purpose, graphite compounds with a filling content of up to 87 wt.-% were successfully produced and characterized rheologically. Based on a particle tracking method, improved element configurations were found for twin-screw compounding. Furthermore, a method to characterize the wall slip ratios of the compounded material system with different filler content is presented, since highly filled material systems often tend to wall slip during processing, which could have a very large influence on accurate prediction. Numerical simulations of the high capillary rheometer were conducted to predict the pressure loss in the capillary. The simulation results show a good agreement and were experimentally validated. In contrast to the expectation, higher filler grades showed only a lower wall slip than compounds with a low graphite content. Despite occurring wall slip effects, the developed flow simulation for the design of slit dies can provide a good prediction for both low and high filling ratios of the graphite compounds.
A Model-Assisted Combined Machine Learning Method for Ionospheric TEC Prediction
Authors: Weng Jiaxuan , Liu Yiran , Wang Jian
Published: June 2023

In order to improve the prediction accuracy of ionospheric total electron content (TEC), a combined intelligent prediction model (MMAdapGA-BP-NN) based on a multi-mutation, multi-cross adaptive genetic algorithm (MMAdapGA) and a back propagation neural network (BP-NN) was proposed. The model combines the international reference ionosphere (IRI), statistical machine learning (SML), BP-NN, and MMAdapGA. Compared with the IRI, SML-based, and other neural network models, MMAdapGA-BP-NN has higher accuracy and a more stable prediction effect. Taking the Athens station in Greece as an example, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of MMAdapGA-BP-NN in 2015 and 2020 are 2.84TECU and 0.85TECU, respectively, 52.27% and 72.13% lower than the IRI model. Compared with the single neural network model, the MMAdapGA-BP-NN model reduced RMSE by 28.82% and 24.11% in 2015 and 2020, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the neural network optimized by a single mutation genetic algorithm, MMAdapGA-BP-NN has fewer iterations ranging from 10 to 30. The results show that the prediction effect and stability of the proposed model have obvious advantages. As a result, the model could be extended to an alternative prediction scheme for more ionospheric parameters.
Performance Assessment of Multi-GNSS PPP Ambiguity Resolution with LEO-Augmentation
Authors: Li Qin , Yao Wanqiang , Tu Rui , Du Yanjun , Liu Mingyue
Published: June 2023

The fast motion of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites provides rapid geometric changes in a short time, which can accelerate the initialization of precise point positioning (PPP). The rapid convergence of ambiguity parameters is conducive to the rapid success of ambiguity fixing. This paper presents the performance of single- and four-system combined PPP Ambiguity Resolution (AR), enhanced with an ambiguity-float solution LEO. Two LEO constellations were designed: L was a typical polar orbit constellation, with a higher number of visible satellites at high latitudes than at low and middle latitudes; and M was designed to compensate for the lack of visible satellites at low and middle latitudes. The ground observation data of the LEO satellites at the MGEX stations were simulated. Because the global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) were fully operational, the GNSS data were real observation data from the MGEX stations. Based on the daily observation datasets collected at 258 stations in the global MGEX observation network over three days (from January 1 to January 3 2022), in addition to the LEO simulation data, we evaluated the positioning performance of LEO ambiguity-float solution-enhanced PPP ambiguity resolution and compared it with LEO-enhanced PPP. The L+M mixed constellation was able to reduce the time to first fix (TTFF) of the four-system combined PPP-AR to 5 min, and four LEO satellites were sufficient to achieve this. L+M mixed constellation was able to redu ce the convergence time of the four-system combined PPP to 2 min. Unlike PPP-AR, PPP required more LEO satellites for augmentation to saturate.
Analysis of the Characteristics and Ideas of Ancient Urban Land-Use Based on GIS and an Algorithm: A Case Study of Chang’an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties
Authors: Chen Siliang , Dong Yue , Chen Xiangyu , Xu Xinyue , Gong Jiangbo
Published: June 2023

As ancient cities are spaces that represent the development of civilization, it is worth exploring and studying their characteristics and conceptions of land use. In this regard, the focus has turned to the issue of how to achieve the efficient mining of massive urban remote sensing data through human–computer collaboration. In this paper, a new intelligent method of analyzing urban land use characteristics and their cultural significance is proposed; it is feasible, effective, accurate, manageable, and portable. The method is based on a geographic information system (GIS) and a specific algorithm. The city plan was calibrated with the help of satellite remote sensing images and sites. By constructing the “urban element area acquisition and analysis model”, various operations for areas in the city plan were realized, including an area value calculation, land use structure calculation, area modulus analysis, area ratio analysis between areas, and determination of the cultural significance of numbers and ratios. Taking the Sui and Tang dynasties capital city of Chang’an as an example, we found the existence of a set of urban planning techniques through area modulus (standard area units) for the first time; it took the market area as the modulus A and the area of Daxing Palace as the expanded modulus 2A, made the area of important areas in the city an integer multiplied by the modulus value (for example, the overall scope of the city is 100A, the rectangular urban area is 90A, and the small city area is 10A), and made the key values and numerical ratios have a cultural significance (such as 4.5, 5.5, 10, 25, 30, 100, 12:10, 1.618:1, 9:5, 45:1, 2:1), reflecting the planning and design concept of the capital city, into which the ancient Chinese deliberately integrated “number, shape and meaning”. In addition, we carried out supplementary verification with the Roman city of Timgad and the Japanese city of Heijo-kyo, discovering that they also have design methods for area planning. We believe that land use planning can better meet the practical needs of urban resource distribution. Compared with urban form design, it might have chronological precedence. By setting the area modulus and the modulus value of each area, the grid-shaped city achieves the rational distribution of land and the establishment of order in an efficient way, and this thought and operation method greatly contributed to the advancement of ancient civilizations.
Computer Vision in Human Analysis: From Face and Body to Clothes
Authors: Daoudi Mohamed , Vezzani Roberto , Borghi Guido , Ferrari Claudio , Cornia Marcella , Becattini Federico , Pilzer Andrea
Published: June 2023

For decades, researchers of different areas, ranging from artificial intelligence to computer vision, have intensively investigated human-centered data, i [...]
Resilience Optimization of Post-Quantum Cryptography Key Encapsulation Algorithms
Authors: Farooq Sana , Altaf Ayesha , Iqbal Faiza , Thompson Ernesto Bautista , Vargas Debora Libertad Ramírez , Díez Isabel de la Torre , Ashraf Imran
Published: June 2023

Recent developments in quantum computing have shed light on the shortcomings of the conventional public cryptosystem. Even while Shor’s algorithm cannot yet be implemented on quantum computers, it indicates that asymmetric key encryption will not be practicable or secure in the near future. The NIST has started looking for a post-quantum encryption algorithm that is resistant to the development of future quantum computers as a response to this security concern. The current focus is on standardizing asymmetric cryptography that should be impenetrable by a quantum computer. This has become increasingly important in recent years. Currently, the process of standardizing asymmetric cryptography is coming very close to being finished. This study evaluated the performance of two PQC algorithms, both of which were selected as NIST fourth-round finalists. The research assessed the key generation, encapsulation, and decapsulation operations, providing insights into their efficiency and suitability for real-world applications. Further research and standardization efforts are required to enable secure and efficient post-quantum encryption. When selecting appropriate post-quantum encryption algorithms for specific applications, factors such as security levels, performance requirements, key sizes, and platform compatibility should be taken into account. This paper provides helpful insight for post-quantum cryptography researchers and practitioners, assisting in the decision-making process for selecting appropriate algorithms to protect confidential data in the age of quantum computing.
Numerical Approach and Verification Method for Improving the Sensitivity of Ferrous Particle Sensors with a Permanent Magnet
Authors: Hong Sung-Ho
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to improve the sensitivity of ferrous particle sensors used in various mechanical systems such as engines to detect abnormalities by measuring the number of ferrous wear particles generated by metal-to-metal contact. Existing sensors collect ferrous particles using a permanent magnet. However, their ability to detect abnormalities is limited because they only measure the number of ferrous particles collected on the top of the sensor. This study provides a design strategy to boost the sensitivity of an existing sensor using a multi-physics analysis method, and a practical numerical method was recommended to assess the sensitivity of the enhanced sensor. The sensor’s maximum magnetic flux density was increased by around 210% compared to the original sensor by changing the core’s form. In addition, in the numerical evaluation of the sensitivity of the sensor, the suggested sensor model has improved sensitivity. This study is important because it offers a numerical model and verification technique that may be used to enhance the functionality of a ferrous particle sensor that uses a permanent magnet.
Design of a Ventilated Façade Integrating a Luminescent Solar Concentrator Photovoltaic Panel
Authors: Mangherini Giulio , Bernardoni Paolo , Baccega Eleonora , Andreoli Alfredo , Diolaiti Valentina , Vincenzi Donato
Published: June 2023

The increasing trend towards decarbonization requires the reduction of the environmental impact of the building sector that currently accounts for approximately 40% of the total CO2 emissions of European countries. Even though Luminescent Solar Concentrator (LSC) panels could be a very promising technology to be installed in urban environments, there is still little implementation of LSC panels in building façades. Here, the realization of a Ventilated Façade (VF) integrating an LSC device as an external pane is presented and a preliminary numerical and experimental investigation is used to evaluate the interaction between the different structure components. Thanks to the realization of a dedicated mock-up finite element method, models are calibrated and validated against experimental measurements, showing a good correspondence between simulated and measured data. Moreover, the electrical characterization of the LSC panel confirms that large area devices can be used as an external skin of VF, reporting a photovoltaic efficiency of 0.5%. The system’s thermal and optical properties (estimated thanks to the software COMSOL Multiphysics) encourage the continuation of the research by considering different technologies for the VF internal skin, by scaling up the case study, and by running the simulation of an entire building considering winter and summer energy demands.
Empowering Women through Digital Financial Inclusion: Comparative Study before and after COVID-19
Authors: Mabrouk Fatma , Bousrih Jihen , Elhaj Manal , Binsuwadan Jawaher , Alofaysan Hind
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 crisis seems to have disproportionately impacted women’s financial resilience. In fact, women’s economic involvement in the financial sector remains unequal. This study compares the impact of digital financial inclusion on women’s economic empowerment before and after the COVID-19 epidemic in Saudi Arabia. Using data collected from the Global Financial Inclusion Database for 2017 and 2021 and ordered probit models, the paper examines the relationship between economic women’s empowerment and digital financial inclusion. Findings indicate that using digital financial services has become more crucial since the pandemic. The results demonstrate that women now play a more significant economic role in decision-making than they did before the epidemic because they have access to a variety of digital financial services that could affect their choices and decisions. The findings are consistent with a number of previous studies, which found that financial digitization is a significant factor in women’s economic empowerment. The distinctiveness of this study is that it provides a recent assessment of Saudi women’s present financial circumstances and assesses current Saudi government initiatives to enhance women’s economic empowerment and leadership capabilities. The research conclusions provide insights for regulators and implications for future research in promoting digital financial inclusion and ensuring Saudi women’s economic empowerment.
Effects of Shaft Tuyere Parameters on Gas Movement Behavior and Burden Reduction in Oxygen Blast Furnace
Authors: Zhang Zedong , Tang Jue , Shi Quan , Chu Mansheng
Published: June 2023

Parameters of shaft tuyere have vital effects on the gas flow distribution and working condition in the TGR-OBF, which determine the production index, CO2 emission reduction, and economic benefit. To clarify the effects of shaft tuyere parameters on gas movement behavior and burden reduction in oxygen blast furnaces, a 2D steady-state model based on actual plant conditions in China is published in this study. The shaft of the blast furnace can be divided into region I near the wall and region II close to the center, which was influenced by top gas and bosh gas, respectively. The farthest movement distance of the top gas along the radial direction was defined as the penetration depth decided by its kinetic energy ratio. As the height of shaft tuyere decreased from 5/10 L to 1/10 L, the penetration depth decreased from 1.615 m to 1.308 m, and the reduction degree of iron-bearing burden before entering the cohesive zone increased from 0.925 to 0.982. With the shaft tuyere diameters increased from 0.088 m to 0.096 m with a constant blast velocity, the penetration depth was kept elongated at 1.24 m, and the reduction degree before entering the cohesive zone increased from 0.972 to 0.983. While the blast volume of top gas was kept constant, the reduction degree before entering the cohesive zone increased from 0.969 to 0.986. When the shaft tuyere angles increased from −20° to 20°, both the distribution of temperature and CO fraction moved towards the upper shaft slightly, and the penetration depth was kept around 1.24. Under experimental conditions, a low-height shaft tuyere was appropriate for an oxygen blast furnace. Within a certain control range, the changes of shaft tuyere diameters and angles had a small effect on the oxygen blast furnace.
Role of Urban Planning Standards in Improving Lifestyle in a Sustainable System
Authors: Addas Abdullah
Published: June 2023

The current study aims to propose urban planning standards and urban sustainability transitions to improve the living quality in a sustainable residential area. The planning of urban standards plays a vital role in improving the quality of living in any city. We present the intensity of land exploitation per inhabitant and the social infrastructure to determine a reasonable relationship between the housing development and the green spaces, type of services and indicators by considering the minimum requirement in establishing new sustainable systems and infrastructures. The research provides an in-depth analysis of urbanization developments through various indicators and addresses the exploitation of land use and the future of neighborhoods. New indicators have been developed, which include: the demographic indicators of demand for basic educational infrastructure depending on the current forecast; indicators to determine the exact space required for new infrastructure; academic indicators for each age group (i.e., nursery, preschool, junior and senior); and the minimum required urban green spaces (i.e., public parks, recreational areas and housing developments). The paper compares the proposed required areas and the standard area requirement according to the number of residents per hectare. It also considers the weighted average number of stories to the shared area in a plot. The research also develops a relationship between the proposed development intensity and the percentage share in the plot area, which provides the built-up area and the green area with leisure facilities. Then, we present the share in the plot area, calculated according to current indicators.
A Systematic Literature Review of the Interplay between Renewable Energy Systems and Occupant Practices
Authors: Malatesta Troy , Morrison Gregory M. , Breadsell Jessica K. , Eon Christine
Published: June 2023

The development of renewable energy systems offers a potential solution to energy consumption in the residential sector. These systems face many barriers and challenges regarding the nature of home energy demand and behaviors of household occupants. These barriers are discussed in innovation theory, which describes how people assess new technologies. A systematic literature review of 123 journals was conducted to explore the interrelationship between energy systems, home energy demand and occupant practices. This identified key gaps in the literature and important takeaways from past research showing the limitations of renewable energy systems in integrating into everyday lives. There are numerous personal and social barriers that inhibit behavior change and limit the penetration of renewable systems. Additionally, the development of social norms and institutional rhythms have resulted in people living in a lock-in lifestyle, with limited flexibility for change. This review discusses the role of technology, consumers and policies, and how they must all interact to create a sustainable and effective energy solution to this climate emergency. The next step is to reevaluate the design of home automation and energy management systems to consider the impacts of different lifestyles and routines.
The Optimal Emission Reduction and Recycling Strategies in Construction Material Supply Chain under Carbon Cap–Trade Mechanism
Authors: Xu Jiahui , Jia Renfu , Wang Buhan , Xu Anqi , Zhu Xiaoxia
Published: June 2023

As urbanization continues to expand in China, carbon emissions (CE) from the construction industry and the amount of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) are rapidly increasing. In order to reduce CEs and environmental hazards, this paper constructs a Stackelberg game model to explore the evolution of carbon emissions reduction (CER) and recycling strategies in the construction material supply chain (CMSC) under the carbon cap–trade (C&T) mechanism. The monotonicity analysis on important variables and model comparison simulation are then conducted. The results show the following: (1) A contractor’s green preference positively correlates with the CER level and recycling rate, while the CER cost exerts the opposite effect. (2) The C&T mechanism incentivizes low-emission manufacturers to actively participate in CER. However, excessive carbon trading prices may put high-emitters in a dilemma, making the whole supply chain profitless. (3) The recycler’s decision to recycle C&DW tends to follow the manufacturer’s CER decision. These findings not only help policy makers understand stakeholders’ behavior in CMSC under C&T mechanism, but also provide a basis for the government to formulate CER policies and introduce low-carbon management.
Sustainable Strategic People Management: A Confucian Perspective on Chinese Management
Authors: Zhang-Zhang Yingying
Published: June 2023

This paper examines the strategic management of people within enterprises as a driver of sustainable growth. As strategic people management (SPM) is founded on the Eastern knowledge workers’ perspective, we integrate SPM with the Confucian perspective to analyze the factors underlying the sustainable success of Chinese management. In so doing, we review the literature on sustainability, SPM, Chinese management, and the integration of Confucian cultural values. We utilize the qualitative case research method to examine 20 successful Chinese enterprises across five sectors. The results of the case analysis reveal three types of sustainable SPM associated with Confucian values: responsible people management, paradoxical people management, and humanistic people management. We propose a conception of sustainable SPM combined with Confucianism to be relevant in the Chinese business context, where a high degree of dynamism can be seen. The findings of this study could be extended through analyses conducted in other contexts with a high level of complexity, such as emerging markets, disruptive technology, unexpected crises, or any aggregated interactions of such contexts.
Antecedents of Cloud Gaming Acceptance among Gen Z: Achieving Sustainability in the Digital Gaming Industry
Authors: Gumasing Ma. Janice J. , Alonzo Ron Fourier B. , Nazareno Jose Mari V. , Guinto Ken Lance D.
Published: June 2023

The rapid increase in mobile phone usage among Gen Z online gamers has become more prevalent due to the pandemic. However, the limited processing power of mobile devices has prompted the need for alternative solutions, such as cloud gaming. As an alternative, cloud gaming could be used to lessen the expenses and have the processing power of a high-end computer. Cloud gaming allows users to stream games on various devices, including low-end devices such as smartphones and older computers. This extends the lifecycle of hardware by enabling users to access the latest games without the need for constant hardware upgrades. As a result, e-waste generation decreases, reducing the environmental impact associated with the production and disposal of gaming hardware. This study aimed to determine the acceptance of Gen Z towards cloud gaming as a potential solution in achieving sustainability in the digital gaming industry. The extended technology acceptance model (TAM) was utilized to explore the potential for cloud gaming adoption in the Philippines and the attitudes of Gen Z towards this technology. It was found out that for the average Filipino user, attitude plays the highest significant role in cloud gaming adoption. On the other hand, perceived enjoyment and perceived ease of use were found to have a significant influence on attitude, which in turn, affects the behavioral intention to use cloud gaming among Gen Z. Thus, cloud gaming presents a promising avenue for sustainability in the gaming industry, combining energy efficiency, resource optimization, reduced e-waste, and improved accessibility.
Rapid and Convenient Assessment of Trace Element Contamination in Agricultural Soils through Slurry-TXRF and Ecological Indices: The Ñuble Region, Chile as a Case Study
Authors: Medina-González Guillermo , Medina Yelena , Muñoz Enrique , Fuentes Patricio
Published: June 2023

The study aims to evaluate the applicability of the slurry-TXRF method for estimating background contents and ecological indices in a rapid and convenient way. For this reason, the agricultural soils of the Itata Valley were used as a case study, where 48 soil samples were collected and analyzed. This rapid, minimally sample-intensive, and simultaneous multi-element quantification technique presented high accuracy but lower precision (approx. 20% RSD) compared to the classic total reflection X-ray fluorescence and flame/graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry methods, which require sample digestion. Due to the analytical characteristics of Slurry-TXRF, it can be concluded that the lower precision is likely compensated for, and this method represents a valuable alternative for the rapid and efficient assessment of trace element contamination in agricultural soils. The regional median concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd in the Itata Valley surface soils were found to be 63.7, 9.57, 31.0, 41.1, and 0.56 mg kg−1, respectively, with corresponding upper limits of 47.6, 6.82, 17.0, 30.7, and 0.284 mg kg−1. The ecological indices, including the geoaccumulation index, contamination factor, enrichment factor, and degree of contamination, suggest moderate levels of contamination in the region.
Evaluating the Feedback of the Reservoir Methane Cycle to Climate Warming under Hydrological Uncertainty
Authors: Li Yunying , Fan Wenjie , Xiang Guni , Xu Zhihao
Published: June 2023

Freshwater reservoirs are widely recognized as methane (CH4) emission hotspots. Existing research has shown that temperature and hydrological conditions significantly affect wetland CH4 cycling processes. However, the feedback of the CH4 cycle to climate warming remains unclear for deep reservoirs where seasonal water thermal stratification exists. This study combined a reservoir CH4 cycling model and a Statistical DownScaling Model (SDSM) to evaluate reservoir CH4 cycling feedbacks under multiple climate change scenarios while accounting for hydrological uncertainty. Daily air temperatures in 2100 were predicted by the combination of the CanESM5 model and a SDSM. To address hydrological uncertainty, we selected three representative hydrological years (i.e., wet, normal, and dry) to create hydrological scenarios. Results showed that annual sediment CH4 production increased with warming, ranging 323.1–413.7 × 103 t C year−1 among multiple scenarios. Meanwhile, the CH4 oxidation percentage decreased with warming, which meant warming promoted sediment CH4 release non-linearly; 67.8–84.6% of sediment ebullient flux was ultimately emitted to the atmosphere (51.3–137.7 × 103 t C year−1), which showed ebullition was the dominant emission pathway. Higher air temperatures and drier conditions generally promote reservoir emissions. This study is helpful for predicting reservoir emissions while directing decision-making for reservoir sustainability.
Localized Symmetric and Asymmetric Solitary Wave Solutions of Fractional Coupled Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations
Authors: Zhang Sheng , Zhu Feng , Xu Bo
Published: June 2023

The existence of solutions with localized solitary wave structures is one of the significant characteristics of nonlinear integrable systems. Darboux transformation (DT) is a well-known method for constructing multi-soliton solutions, using a type of localized solitary wave, of integrable systems, but there are still no reports on extending DT techniques to construct such solitary wave solutions of fractional integrable models. This article takes the coupled nonlinear Schrödinger (CNLS) equations with conformable fractional derivatives as an example to illustrate the feasibility of extending the DT and generalized DT (GDT) methods to construct symmetric and asymmetric solitary wave solutions for fractional integrable systems. Specifically, the traditional n-fold DT and the first-, second-, and third-step GDTs are extended for the fractional CNLS equations. Based on the extended GDTs, explicit solutions with symmetric/asymmetric soliton and soliton–rogon (solitrogon) spatial structures of the fractional CNLS equations are obtained. This study found that the symmetric solitary wave solutions of the integer-order CNLS equations exhibit asymmetry in the fractional order case.
Assembly of the Tripartite and RNA Condensates of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus Factory Proteins In Vitro: Role of the Transcription Antiterminator M2-1
Authors: Visentin Araceli , Demitroff Nicolás , Salgueiro Mariano , Borkosky Silvia Susana , Uversky Vladimir N. , Camporeale Gabriela , de Prat-Gay Gonzalo
Published: June 2023

A wide variety of viruses replicate in liquid-like viral factories. Non-segmented negative stranded RNA viruses share a nucleoprotein (N) and a phosphoprotein (P) that together emerge as the main drivers of liquid–liquid phase separation. The respiratory syncytial virus includes the transcription antiterminator M2-1, which binds RNA and maximizes RNA transcriptase processivity. We recapitulate the assembly mechanism of condensates of the three proteins and the role played by RNA. M2-1 displays a strong propensity for condensation by itself and with RNA through the formation of electrostatically driven protein–RNA coacervates based on the amphiphilic behavior of M2-1 and finely tuned by stoichiometry. M2-1 incorporates into tripartite condensates with N and P, modulating their size through an interplay with P, where M2-1 is both client and modulator. RNA is incorporated into the tripartite condensates adopting a heterogeneous distribution, reminiscent of the M2-1-RNA IBAG granules within the viral factories. Ionic strength dependence indicates that M2-1 behaves differently in the protein phase as opposed to the protein–RNA phase, in line with the subcompartmentalization observed in viral factories. This work dissects the biochemical grounds for the formation and fate of the RSV condensates in vitro and provides clues to interrogate the mechanism under the highly complex infection context.
Unique Profile of Proinflammatory Cytokines in Plasma of Drug-Naïve Individuals with Advanced HIV/TB Co-Infection
Authors: Nosik Marina , Belikova Maria G. , Ryzhov Konstantin , Avdoshina Darya , Sobkin Alexandr , Zverev Vitaly , Svitich Oxana
Published: June 2023

HIV-1 infection is characterized by aberrant immune activation, and infection with M. tuberculosis by an unbalanced production of proinflammatory cytokines. The expression of these cytokines in HIV-1/TB coinfection is still understudied. Here, we aimed to compare the production of proinflammatory cytokines in drug-naive patients coinfected with HIV-1 and M. tuberculosis (HIV/TB) compared to patients with respective monoinfections. Plasma samples of patients with HIV/TB coinfection (n = 36), HIV-1 monoinfection (n = 36), and TB monoinfection (n = 35) and healthy donors (n = 36) were examined for the levels of eight proinflammatory cytokines. Their levels were significantly increased in all patient groups compared to healthy donors. At the same time, a drastic decrease in the plasma levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, Il-1β, IL-15, and IL-17 was detected in patients with HIV/TB coinfection compared to patients with HIV-1 or TB monoinfections. The plasma levels of IL-17 characterized the TB severity: in HIV/TB-coinfected patients with disseminated TB, plasma levels of IL-17 were eight times lower than in patients with less severe TB forms (infiltrative TB or TB of intrathoracic lymph nodes; p < 0.0001). At the same time, HIV/TB-coinfected patients had increased plasma levels of IL-8, IL-12, and IL-18, with the levels of IL-8 correlating with mortality (p < 0.0001). Thus, on the contrary to the patients with HIV-1 or TB monoinfections, HIV/TB-coinfected patients had suppressed production of most of the proinflammatory cytokines associated with antimicrobial immune response, specifically of T-cells involved in the containment of both infections. At the same time, they demonstrated an expansion of proinflammatory cytokines known to originate from both hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic cells, and manifest tissue inflammation. In HIV-1/TB coinfection, this leads to the disruption of granuloma formation, contributing to bacterial dissemination and enhancing morbidity and mortality.