bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Processing Potential of Polylactic Acid, Polyhydroxyalkanoate, and Poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) Binary and Ternary Blends
Authors: Sabalina Alisa , Gaidukovs Sergejs , Aunins Arturs , Gromova Anda , Gaidukova Gerda , Orlova Liga , Platnieks Oskars
Published: August 2024

Biodegradable and bio-based polymers, including polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), polylactic acid (PLA), and poly(butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA), stand out as sustainable alternatives to traditional petroleum-based plastics for a wide range of consumer applications. Studying binary and ternary blends is essential to exploring the synergistic combinations and efficiencies of three distinct biopolyesters. A comprehensive evaluation of melt-extruded binary and ternary polymer blends of PHA, PLA, and PBSA was conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed a heterogeneous morphology characteristic of immiscible blends, with a predominant spherical inclusion morphology observed in the majority of the blends. An increased PBSA concentration led to an elevation in melt viscosity and elasticity across both ternary and binary blends. An increased PHA content reduced the viscosity, along with both storage and loss moduli in the blends. Moreover, a rise in PHA concentration within the blends led to increased crystallinity, albeit with a noticeable reduction in the crystallization temperature of PHA. PLA retained amorphous structure in the blends. The resultant bio-based blends manifested enhanced rheological and calorimetric traits, divergent from their pure polymer counterparts, highlighting the potential for optimizing material properties through strategic formulation adjustments.
Assessment of Semi-Automated Techniques for Crop Mapping in Chile Based on Global Land Cover Satellite Data
Authors: Volke Matías , Pedreros-Guarda María , Escalona Karen , Acuña Eduardo , Orrego Raúl
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the Chilean agricultural sector has undergone significant changes, but there is a lack of data that can be used to accurately identify these transformations. A study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of different spatial resolutions used by global land cover products (MODIS, ESA and Dynamic World (DW)), in addition to the demi-automated methods applied to them, for the identification of agricultural areas, using the publicly available agricultural survey for 2021. It was found that lower-spatial-resolution collections consistently underestimated crop areas, while collections with higher spatial resolutions overestimated them. The low-spatial-resolution collection, MODIS, underestimated cropland by 46% in 2021, while moderate-resolution collections, such as ESA and DW, overestimated cropland by 39.1% and 93.8%, respectively. Overall, edge-pixel-filtering and a machine learning semi-automated reclassification methodology improved the accuracy of the original global collections, with differences of only 11% when using the DW collection. While there are limitations in certain regions, the use of global land cover collections and filtering methods as training samples can be valuable in areas where high-resolution data are lacking. Future research should focus on validating and adapting these approaches to ensure their effectiveness in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem conservation on a global scale.
An Innovative Internal Calibration Strategy and Implementation for LT-1 Bistatic Spaceborne SAR
Authors: Jiao Yuanbo , Liu Kaiyu , Yue Haixia , Zhang Heng , Zhao Fengjun
Published: August 2024

Bistatic and multistatic SAR technology, with its multi-dimensional, ultra-wide swath, and high-resolution advantages, is widely used in earth observation, military reconnaissance, deep space exploration, and other fields. The LuTan-1 (LT-1) mission employs two full-polarimetric L-band SAR satellites for the BiSAR system. The bistatic mode introduces phase errors in echo reception paths due to different transmission links, making echo compensation a key factor in ensuring BiSAR performance. This paper proposes a novel bistatic internal calibration strategy that combines ground temperature compensation, in-orbit internal calibration, and pulsed alternate synchronization to achieve echo compensation. Prior to launch, temperature compensation data for the internal calibration system are obtained via temperature experiments. During in-orbit operation, calibration data are acquired by executing the internal calibration pulse sequence and noninterrupted pulsed alternate synchronization. In ground processing, echo compensation is completed based on the above two parts of calibration data. A comprehensive analysis of the entire calibration chain reveals a temperature compensation accuracy of 0.10 dB/1.38°. Additionally, a ground verification system is established to conduct BiSAR experiments, achieving a phase synchronization accuracy of 0.16°. Furthermore, the in-orbit test obtained DSM products with an average error of 1.3 m. This strategy provides a valuable reference for future spaceborne bistatic and multistatic SAR systems.
The Framework of Quantifying Biomarkers of OCT and OCTA Images in Retinal Diseases
Authors: Liu Xiaoli , Zhu Haogang , Zhang Hanji , Xia Shaoyan
Published: August 2024

Despite the significant advancements facilitated by previous research in introducing a plethora of retinal biomarkers, there is a lack of research addressing the clinical need for quantifying different biomarkers and prioritizing their importance for guiding clinical decision making in the context of retinal diseases. To address this issue, our study introduces a novel framework for quantifying biomarkers derived from optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) images in retinal diseases. We extract 452 feature parameters from five feature types, including local binary patterns (LBP) features of OCT and OCTA, capillary and large vessel features, and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) feature. Leveraging this extensive feature set, we construct a classification model using a statistically relevant p value for feature selection to predict retinal diseases. We obtain a high accuracy of 0.912 and F1-score of 0.906 in the task of disease classification using this framework. We find that OCT and OCTA’s LBP features provide a significant contribution of 77.12% to the significance of biomarkers in predicting retinal diseases, suggesting their potential as latent indicators for clinical diagnosis. This study employs a quantitative analysis framework to identify potential biomarkers for retinal diseases in OCT and OCTA images. Our findings suggest that LBP parameters, skewness and kurtosis values of capillary, the maximum, mean, median, and standard deviation of large vessel, as well as the eccentricity, compactness, flatness, and anisotropy index of FAZ, may serve as significant indicators of retinal conditions.
Correction: Yuldashev et al. Parking Lot Occupancy Detection with Improved MobileNetV3. Sensors 2023, 23, 7642
Authors: Yuldashev Yusufbek , Mukhiddinov Mukhriddin , Abdusalomov Akmalbek Bobomirzaevich , Nasimov Rashid , Cho Jinsoo
Published: August 2024

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Walking on Virtual Surface Patterns Leads to Changed Control Strategies
Authors: Stasica Maximilian , Honekamp Celine , Streiling Kai , Penacchio Olivier , van Dam Loes , Seyfarth André
Published: August 2024

Inclusive design does not stop at removing physical obstacles such as staircases. It also involves identifying architectural features that impose sensory burdens, such as repetitive visual patterns that are known to potentially cause dizziness or visual discomfort. In order to assess their influence on human gait and its stability, three repetitive patterns—random dots, repetitive stripes, and repetitive waves (Lisbon pattern)—were displayed in a coloured and greyscale variant in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The movements of eight participants were recorded using a motion capture system and electromyography (EMG). During all test conditions, a significant increase in the muscular activity of leg flexor muscles was identified just before touchdown. Further, an increase in the activity of laterally stabilising muscles during the swing phase was observed for all of the test conditions. The lateral and vertical centre of mass (CoM) deviation was statistically evaluated using a linear mixed model (LMM). The patterns did cause a significant increase in the CoM excursion in the vertical direction but not in the lateral direction. These findings are indicative of an inhibited and more cautious gait style and a change in control strategy. Furthermore, we quantified the induced discomfort by using both algorithmic estimates and self-reports. The Fourier-based methods favoured the greyscaled random dots over repetitive stripes. The colour metric favoured the striped pattern over the random dots. The participants reported that the wavey Lisbon pattern was the most disruptive. For architectural and structural design, this study indicates (1) that highly repetitive patterns should be used with care in consideration of their impact on the human visuomotor system and its behavioural effects and (2) that coloured patterns should be used with greater caution than greyscale patterns.
Mobile Energy-Storage Technology in Power Grid: A Review of Models and Applications
Authors: Lu Zhuoxin , Xu Xiaoyuan , Yan Zheng , Han Dong , Xia Shiwei
Published: August 2024

In the high-renewable penetrated power grid, mobile energy-storage systems (MESSs) enhance power grids’ security and economic operation by using their flexible spatiotemporal energy scheduling ability. It is a crucial flexible scheduling resource for realizing large-scale renewable energy consumption in the power system. However, the spatiotemporal regulation of MESS is affected by the complex operating environments in the power and transportation networks. Numerous challenges exist in modeling and decision-making processes, such as incorporating uncertainty into the optimization model and handling a considerable quantity of integer decision variables. This paper provides a systematic review of MESS technology in the power grid. The basic modeling methods of MESS in the coupled transportation and power network are introduced. This study provides a detailed analysis of mobility modeling approaches, highlighting their impact on the accuracy and efficiency of MESS optimization scheduling. The applications of MESS in the power grid are presented, including the MESS planning, operation, and business model. The key challenges encountered by MESS in power grid operations across various scenarios are analyzed. The corresponding modeling methods, solution algorithms, and typical demonstration projects are summarized. At last, this study also proposes the MESS system research and application prospects based on the consideration of its promotion.
Multiscale Tea Disease Detection with Channel–Spatial Attention
Authors: Sun Yange , Jiang Mingyi , Guo Huaping , Zhang Li , Yao Jianfeng , Wu Fei , Wu Gaowei
Published: August 2024

Tea disease detection is crucial for improving the agricultural circular economy. Deep learning-based methods have been widely applied to this task, and the main idea of these methods is to extract multiscale coarse features of diseases using the backbone network and fuse these features through the neck for accurate disease detection. This paper proposes a novel tea disease detection method that enhances feature expression of the backbone network and the feature fusion capability of the neck: (1) constructing an inverted residual self-attention module as a backbone plugin to capture the long-distance dependencies of disease spots on the leaves; and (2) developing a channel–spatial attention module with residual connection in the neck network to enhance the contextual semantic information of fused features in disease images and eliminate complex background noise. For the second step, the proposed channel–spatial attention module uses Residual Channel Attention (RCA) to enhance inter-channel interactions, facilitating discrimination between disease spots and normal leaf regions, and employs spatial attention (SA) to enhance essential areas of tea diseases. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieved accuracy and mAP scores of 92.9% and 94.6%, respectively. In particular, this method demonstrated improvements of 6.4% in accuracy and 6.2% in mAP compared to the SSD model.
Brands’ Green Activism: An Empirical Comparison between Posts of Digital Influencers and Brands
Authors: Silveira Paulo Duarte , Sandes Fábio Shimabukuro , Xara-Brasil Duarte , Menezes Karla
Published: August 2024

In this article, we present a study that investigates the effectiveness of social media communication in conveying brands’ green activism actions framed by corporate social responsibility. To address this question, a survey was conducted with 550 participants, comparing their opinions about the green posts made by brands and influencers. Statistical analysis (Wilcoxon rank-sum test means comparison of responses between the two groups) revealed significant differences in consumer perceptions between them. The findings indicate that using social media channels to communicate green initiatives is effective for brands. Moreover, the study concludes that direct brand communication is more beneficial than relying on digital influencers. This research contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the comparative effectiveness of brand-generated social media posts and influencer-generated content in promoting green activism actions. The study highlights the importance of direct brand communication in enhancing consumer perception and engagement with green initiatives. It offers valuable insights for brands seeking to optimize their social media strategies for sustainability messaging.
Enhancing Sustainability in University Campuses: A Study on Solid Waste Generation and Disposal Practices among Students in Politehnica University Timisoara, Romania
Authors: Gherheș Vasile , Dragomir Gabriel-Mugurel , Cernicova-Buca Mariana , Palea Adina
Published: August 2024

A major issue recurrent in sustainability ensuring concerns is pollution due to human activities, mainly related to the reduction in waste generation. The present study aims to identify students’ awareness of waste management, their daily routines in separately collecting recyclable waste, and their behaviors leading to reducing wasteful consumption in campus residential living, in a large university in the Western part of Romania, to channel the strategic plan of the university and the efforts of institutional teams dealing with the issues of waste management and sustainability. The methodology consists of an analysis of waste management in the university campus hosting around 6000 students in 16 dormitories, and of an anonymous online survey mapping the self-perceived behavior of students in solid waste management. Data from 1172 valid responses are refined through factorial analysis. While recycling behavior seems to be largely shared by the respondents, with more than 50% declaring that they always reuse recyclables, separate collection of waste is typical for only a quarter of the sample. Therefore, a vigorous intervention is needed to guide young adults’ behavior towards sustainability choices. Campus greening needs to join interventions from the university, in charge of campus life in the selected case, city administration, waste management companies, and the student body. The findings are useful to explore the possible directions for action to increase or contribute to territorial sustainability in the socio-ecological context of Timisoara, the largest university city in the western part of Romania through educational, managerial, and policy interventions, based on local partnerships and collaborations, in accordance with SDG 17.
Research on Targeted Poverty Alleviation and Eco-Compensation Model in Impoverished Mountainous Areas: A Case Study of Longnan City, China
Authors: Qi Yuan , Song Xiaoyu , Lian Xihong , Wang Hongwei , Ma Xiaofang , Zhang Jinlong
Published: August 2024

Poverty remains a significant global challenge, particularly in severely impoverished areas where balancing eco-civilization and economic growth is crucial. This study aims to analyze livelihood assets, determine appropriate strategies, and establish an eco-compensation model based on ecological vulnerability in Longnan City. We developed a livelihood evaluation index system using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and entropy weight method to assess the vulnerable portfolio of livelihood assets. We examined poverty causes and proposed targeted alleviation measures. Additionally, we created an “Eco-Compensation Model of Longnan City” incorporating the Sloping Land Conversion Program, key industries exit compensation, and cross-provincial water compensation based on incentive and punitive mechanisms. Our findings reveal that severely impoverished areas in Longnan City are primarily in the central, southern, and northwestern regions. Poverty is driven by unfavorable natural conditions, frequent natural disasters, regional economic marginalization, inadequate infrastructure, and a limited agricultural structure. The evaluation shows that natural capital in the five areas is lower than the national average level. We propose targeted measures for different vulnerable livelihood portfolios. The eco-compensation model provides a scientifically calculated compensation standard, offering a crucial funding source for implementing targeted poverty alleviation strategies.
Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production from Different Biomasses
Authors: D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Vinci Giuliana , Savastano Marco , Amici Aurora , Ruggeri Marco
Published: August 2024

The aviation sector makes up 11% of all transportation emissions and is considered a “hard to abate” sector since, due to the long distances to be traveled, opportunities for electrification are rather limited. Therefore, since there are no alternatives to fuels, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), or fuels produced from biomass, have recently been developed to reduce climate-changing emissions in the aviation sector. Using Life Cycle Assessment, this research evaluated the environmental compatibility of different SAF production routes from seven biomasses: four food feedstocks (Soybean, Palm, Rapeseed, and Camelina), one non-food feedstock (Jatropha curcas L.), and two wastes (Waste Cooking Oil, or WCO, and Tallow). The evaluation was carried out using SimaPro 9.5 software. The results showed that the two potentially most favorable options could be Camelina and Palma, as they show minimal environmental impacts in 4 and 7 out of 18 impact categories, respectively. Soybean, on the other hand, appears to be the least sustainable precursor. Considering GWP, SAF production could reduce the values compared to fossil fuel by 2.8–3.6 times (WCO), 1.27–1.66 times (Tallow), 4.6–5.8 times (Palm), 3.4–4.3 times (Jatropha), 1.05–1.32 times (Rapeseed), and 4.36–5.5 times (Camelina), demonstrating the good environmental impact of these pathways. Finally, the sensitivity analysis showed that SAF production from waste could be an environmentally friendly option, with rather low environmental impacts, in the range of 5.13 g CO2 eq/MJ for Tallow and 3.12 g CO2 eq/MJ for WCO. However, some of the energy would have to come from sustainable energy carriers such as biomethane and renewable sources such as photovoltaic energy.
Monitoring Water Quality Parameters Using Sentinel-2 Data: A Case Study in the Weihe River Basin (China)
Authors: Liu Tieming , Guo Zhao , Li Xiaoping , Xiao Teng , Liu Jiaxin , Zhang Yuanzhi
Published: August 2024

Based on Sentinel-2 multispectral image data and existing research results, the comprehensive water quality index (CWQI), NH4+-N, and total phosphorus (TP) in the Weihe River and its tributaries were estimated. Furthermore, a verified model was obtained by fitting the regression using the measured and inverted data. The verified model results show that the average relative error of the CWQI is only 9.80%, the goodness of fit of NH4+-N and TP concentrations is 0.62 and 0.61, respectively, and the average relative errors are 19.40% and 24.70%, respectively. The accuracy of the verified model is relatively high, and it can approximately invert the distribution of the three parameters of the Weihe River and its tributaries. In December 2023, except for the Bahe River between Puhua Town and Sanli Town in Lantian County, most of the water bodies in the Weihe River and its tributaries had good water quality. The study can provide an example of how to monitor water quality information using Sentinel-2 data in similar river basins.
Planning Time Management in School Activities and Relation to Procrastination: A Study for Educational Sustainability
Authors: Valente Sabina , Dominguez-Lara Sergio , Lourenço Abílio
Published: August 2024

Academic procrastination, more than merely postponing tasks, represents a significant failure in the self-regulation process of learning. Research on study skills highlights academic time management as one of the crucial elements of learning strategies and sustainable education. These abilities will help achieve the fourth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals. Therefore, this study aimed to understand how students plan time management in school activities and its influence on study procrastination, analyzing differences between genders and the hours students spend studying. The Time Management Planning Inventory, the Study Procrastination Questionnaire, and a personal and school data sheet were used. A sample of 506 students (Mage = 13.7) from basic schools in northern Portugal was utilized. The results revealed that gender and study hours significantly influence how students plan time management for school tasks in the short and long term. These variables also showed a significant impact on the procrastination of study activities. The practical implications of this study are substantial, as they provide educators and researchers with insights into the factors influencing academic procrastination and the role of time management planning and study hours. These insights can be applied to develop effective strategies to reduce academic procrastination and promote sustainable education.
Traffic Safety Evaluation of Downstream Intersections on Urban Expressways Based on Analytical Hierarchy Process–Matter-Element Method
Authors: Feng Tianjun , Liu Yusong , Chen Chun , Liu Keke , Huang Chongjun
Published: August 2024

This study aimed to explore the traffic safety evaluation model for downstream intersections of urban expressway exits and make up for the shortcomings in safety research on downstream intersections of urban expressway exits. We constructed a comprehensive traffic safety evaluation index system, established a traffic safety evaluation model, and divided precise safety evaluation levels using the AHP–Matter-Element analysis method, establishing a traffic safety evaluation index system consisting of eleven indicators. The effectiveness of this method was validated through an assessment of traffic safety at the intersection of Dongsheng Street and Free Road in Changchun City. A theoretical basis for improving traffic safety at downstream intersections of urban expressways and a reference for subsequent related research were provided.
Exploring Appropriate Search Engine Data for Interval Tourism Demand Forecasting Responding a Public Crisis in Macao: A Combined Bayesian Model
Authors: Nie Ru-Xin , Wu Chuan , Liang He-Ming
Published: August 2024

Public crises can bring unprecedented damage to the tourism industry and challenges to tourism demand forecasting, which is essential for crisis management and sustainable development. Existing studies mainly focused on point forecasts, but point forecasts may not be enough for the uncertain environments of public crises. This study proposes a combined Bayesian interval tourism demand forecasting model based on a forgetting curve. Moreover, considering tourists’ travel plans may be adjusted due to changing crisis situations, the choice of search engine data for forecasting tourism demand is investigated and incorporated into the proposed model to yield reliable results. Through an empirical study, this study figures out that the Baidu Index had better tourism predictive capabilities before the public crisis, whereas the Google Index effectively captured short-term fluctuations of tourism demand within the crisis period. The results also indicate that integrating both Baidu and Google Index data obtains the best prediction performance after the crisis outbreak. Our main contribution is that this study can generate flexible forecasting results in the interval form, which can effectively handle uncertainties in practice and formulate control measures for practitioners. Another novelty is successfully discovering how to select appropriate search engine data to improve the performance of tourism demand forecasts across different stages of a public crisis, thus benefiting daily operations and crisis management in the tourism sector.
Understanding Multi-Hazard Interactions and Impacts on Small-Island Communities: Insights from the Active Volcano Island of Ternate, Indonesia
Authors: Lessy Mohammad Ridwan , Lassa Jonatan , Zander Kerstin K.
Published: August 2024

Drawing on a case study from Ternate Island, a densely populated volcanic island in Eastern Indonesia, this research illustrates how multi-hazards and extreme weather events are likely to compound and cascade, with serious consequences for sustainable development in small island context. At the heart of Ternate Island sits the active Gamalama volcano, posing a constant eruption threat. Its location within the Ring of Fire further exposes the island to the risks of tsunamis and earthquakes. Additionally, the island’s physical features make it highly susceptible to flooding, landslides, and windstorms. Rapid urbanization has led to significant coastal alterations, increasing exposure to hazards. Ternate’s small-island characteristics include limited resources, few evacuation options, vulnerable infrastructure, and inadequate resilience planning. Combining GIS multi-hazard mapping with a structured survey in 60 villages in Ternate, this case study investigates the multi-hazard exposure faced by the local population and land coverage. The findings suggest significant gaps between village chiefs’ perceptions of the types of hazards and the multi-hazard assessment in each village. Out of 60 village chiefs surveyed, 42 (70%) are aware of earthquake risks, 17 (28%) recognize tsunami threats, and 39 see volcanoes as a danger. GIS assessments show that earthquakes could impact all villages, tsunamis could affect 46 villages (77%), and volcanoes could threaten 39 villages. The hazard map indicates that 32 villages are at risk of flash floods and 37 are at risk of landslides, and extreme weather could affect all villages. Additionally, 42 coastal villages on Ternate Island face potential extreme wave and abrasion disasters, but only 18 chiefs acknowledge extreme weather as a threat. The paper argues that addressing the cognitive biases reflected in the perceptions of community leaders requires transdisciplinary dialogue and engagement.
Strategic Analysis of the Forest Carbon Market in Brazil
Authors: Alves Lucas Lamare Moreira , Angelo Humberto , Almeida Alexandre Nascimento , Silva Gilson Fernandes , Matricardi Eraldo Aparecido Trondoli , Nunes André , Souza Júnior Celso Vila Nova
Published: August 2024

The forest carbon market in Brazil presents a complex scenario filled with challenges and opportunities. This study employed SWOT analysis to evaluate the dynamics of this market, based on the perceptions of 77 specialists from various professional fields. The analysis revealed that extensive forest cover and biodiversity preservation are significant strengths that position Brazil as a potential leader in the global carbon credit market. However, weaknesses such as illegal deforestation and fragile public policies undermine the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Opportunities include the growing international demand for carbon credits and the recognition of the importance of local communities in forest conservation. Nevertheless, external threats like land conflicts and political instability pose considerable risks. The study concludes that it is crucial to strengthen public policies and regulatory frameworks, promote technological innovation, and ensure the active inclusion of local and indigenous communities to guarantee the sustainability and growth of Brazil’s forest carbon market. The research suggests that despite significant challenges, Brazil can overcome these obstacles with the implementation of effective strategies.
Analyzing the Spatiotemporal Pattern and Interaction of SDGs for Sustainable Development in Inner Mongolia
Authors: Yan Mengxuan , Tian Yuhong , Wu Lizhu , Zheng Huichao
Published: August 2024

Increased global climate change and contradictions in human–land relationships has aroused awareness of studies on regional sustainable development. Whether SDGs and their interactions are suitable for analyzing the fine scale of regional differentiation of sustainable development, especially in ecologically sensitive regions, was still in suspense. This study analyzed the inter-annual changes and regional clustering of SDGs and the interactions among SDGs, and among their indicators, at both provincial and municipal levels in Inner Mongolia. We found the sustainable development was relatively higher in the east than in the west. SDG5, SDG6, SDG10, SDG11, and SDG15 got cold spots in the west and hot spots in the east. For most SDGs and indicators, synergies outweigh trade-offs. Improvement measures should focus on the indices with strong synergies such as SDG3 and SDG7, and SOC2, ECO1, ECO4, and ECO5. Special attention should be put on those with trade-offs such as ECO15 and ENV20 to be aware of their opposite effects. SDG5 and ECO2 were the most important in the entire network that need attention. Considering only singular or a few SDGs may not be feasible when assessing sustainable development because other goals or indicators may play roles. Reasonable improvements for sustainable development needed to clarify synergies and trade-offs among SDGs and indicators.
Applications of the Separation of Variables Method and Duhamel’s Principle to Instantaneously Released Point-Source Solute Model in Water Environmental Flow
Authors: Gao Ran , Gao Juncai , Chu Linlin
Published: August 2024

The transport–diffusion problem of point-source solutes in water environmental flows is an important issue in environmental fluid mechanics, with significant theoretical and practical implications for sustainable development and the ecological management and environmental protection of water. This study presents a model for instantaneously released multi-point-source solutes, utilizing the separation of variables method and Duhamel’s principle to solve classical mathematical physics equations. The zeroth-order and first-order concentration moment equations, which are crucial for predicting the cross-sectional average concentration of instantaneously released point-source solutes, are systematically addressed. The accuracy of the analytical results is confirmed by comparing them with the relevant literature. Furthermore, a general discussion is provided based on the study’s findings (including an ideal physical model of Couette flow), and an analytical solution (a recursive relationship) for higher-order concentration moments is deduced. Finally, this study quantitatively discusses downstream environmental ecological effects by examining the movement of released point-source solute centroids in the river, illustrating that the time needed for the released point-source solute to have an environmental–ecological impact downstream of the river is dependent on the initial release location. Under the specified engineering parameters, for the release location at the bottom boundary point of the channel (z0 = 0 m), the midpoint (z0 = 5 m), and the water-surface point (z0 = 10 m), the time for additional displacement of released solute centroid to reach the asymptotic value in three cases is 4.0 h, 1.0 h, and 4.5 h; the asymptotic values are approximately −0.087 km, 0.012 km, and 0.055 km, respectively. These results not only correspond with the conclusions of previous research but also provide a more extensive range of numerical results. This study establishes the groundwork for theoretical research on more complex water environmental flow models and provides a theoretical basis for engineering computations aimed at contributing to the environmental management of rivers and lakes.
Sustainable Forest Management and Natural Hazard Prevention
Authors: Jaafari Abolfazl , Mafi-Gholami Davood
Published: August 2024

Globally, forest ecosystems are shrinking at an alarming rate of 47,000 km2 per year, with deforestation progressing at 100,000 km2 per year [...]
A Functioning Model for Large-Scale Protected Areas in Roztocze in the Context of Sustainable Tourism
Authors: Brzezińska-Wójcik Teresa , Skowronek Ewa
Published: August 2024

This paper contributes to the research into the sustainable development of tourism. It analyses large-scale protected areas (one national park, four landscape parks, two protected landscape areas) located in the Roztocze region, at the SE border of Poland, which are most exposed to tourist movement overload due to their attractiveness. The study presents a proposal for a research procedure based on the method of multidimensional comparative analysis, which facilitates interpretation of the state of tourism function by calculation of the values of indicators of tourism potential and function. The result of the study is a model. It shows that with the exception of the National Park, the current state of tourism can be described as sustainable in most of the analysed areas. In addition to their scientific value, the results obtained may have a practical dimension, as they indicate specific factors causing the loss of balance in the environment, which should be monitored or addressed by stakeholders (government, local authorities, entrepreneurs, local communities), leading to the maintenance of sustainable tourism development in a specific area. The procedure proposed in the study can be applied to any other naturally and culturally valuable area.
Impact of the Implementation of the Deposit Refund System on Coastal Littering in Latvia
Authors: Brizga Janis , Ulme Janis , Larsson Anna
Published: August 2024

This paper provides a comprehensive evaluation of the environmental impact of implementing the beverage container deposit refund system on marine and coastal litter along the Latvian coastline. It incorporates data and insights from the assessment of deposit fractions littered in coastal areas during the post-season autumn period (weeks 3–4 in October and week 1 in November) in three monitoring sessions from 2021 (before the introduction of the DRS in Latvia) to 2023 (post-introduction). In 2022, a 43% overall decrease in selected public coastal areas was observed, with significant reductions at 11 out of 17 sites. This positive trend continued in 2023, showcasing a further 22% decrease compared to 2022 and a substantial 56% decrease compared to 2021. This study delves into the specific impact on different material types of beverage containers, reporting significant decreases in plastic and aluminium litter fractions. While glass beverage container litter showed a smaller decrease, overall positive trends continued in 2023. However, the situation with aluminium cans remained challenging, especially in border areas with Lithuania and Estonia. This study emphasizes that beverage containers with identifiable deposit system labels constitute a minority of the total litter pressure, underscoring the need for ongoing efforts to address containers without deposit labels, particularly in specific border areas. The findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the deposit system in mitigating coastal litter, contributing to sustainable waste management practices in Latvia.
Metal-Plated Connections in Sustainable Lightweight Construction: A Weak Link in Fire Conditions?
Authors: Kubicki Michael , Park Haejun
Published: August 2024

Lightweight engineered trusses support sustainable construction with the benefits of mass production and fast construction at lower costs. However, the truss system has raised concerns due to premature failure in fire conditions. This study investigates the effect of a thin soot layer on the surface of the gusset plate and the teeth of the gusset plate on the temperature development within lightweight wood specimens in fire conditions. A 10 cm long, 8.9 cm wide, and 3.8 cm thick dimensional lumber (often called 2 by 4) partially covered by a gusset plate was exposed to a constant incident radiant heat flux. A total of 12 experiments were conducted with four different configurations, bare gusset plates with and without teeth and soot-coated gusset plates with and without teeth, at three different external radiative heat fluxes of 10, 15, and 20 kW/m2. The exposure durations were set to be 60, 40, and 30 min, respectively, to allow the total applied amount of radiant energy for each specimen to be identical. Three thermocouples were installed at a depth of 13 mm from the exposed wooden surface: two beneath the gusset plate and one below the uncovered wooden surface, and an additional thermocouple was between the gusset plate and the wood surface. The obtained temperature data showed that soot-coated gusset plates absorb significantly more radiation and record higher temperatures within the specimens than the specimens with the bare gusset plates. It was also found that the bare gusset plate works as a protective layer for the wood at 20 kW/m2, but not at 10 and 15 kW/m2. The teeth certainly contributed to heat transfer increasing the temperatures within the wood higher than those without teeth, but the effect was only meaningful for the soot-covered specimens. Connection strength was also qualitatively analyzed and it was discovered that the bare specimen retained a strong connection between the gusset plate and wood. In contrast, the soot-coated specimen was easily removed by hand, even when exposed to the same heat flux. Applying these results to a realistic scenario, this loss in connection strength could result in truss failure and structural collapse, which may result in injury to or even death of the responding firefighters. Additional gusset plate protection measures may be necessary to prolong the connection strength and prevent structural collapse.
Impact of Industrial Robots on Labor Income Share: Empirical Evidence from Chinese A-Listed Companies
Authors: Du Junhong , Zhao Chuanyue , Hu Yingying , Chen Xiaohong
Published: August 2024

Based on data from the International Federation of Robotics (IFR) and Chinese A-Share Listed Companies 2011–2019, this paper evaluates how the penetration of industrial robots in China affects the labor income share from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. We first develop a theoretical framework considering robots in the task model, consider different tasks matching different types of labor, construct a labor income share model including robots based on the task model, and perform a theoretical analysis finding that industrial robots can improve labor income. Then, we explore the mechanism of labor price distortion as an intermediate variable that can reduce the labor income share, finding that robots are able to effectively reduce the negative impact of labor price distortions on labor income share. After correcting for potential endogeneity problems, the results confirm a positive, significant, and lasting impact of industrial robot penetration on labor income share, confirming that labor price distortion is the underlying mechanisms through which the robots can effectively reduce the negative impact of labor price distortions on labor income share. At the same time, the impact of robots on firms’ labor income shares varies significantly across different regions, external financial dependence, and skill premiums. Our findings can help the government to provide a decision-making basis for how industrial robots can better serve people in the new century, ensuring that people can share in the achievements of economic development.
Investigation of Thermoregulation Effect of Stabilized Phase Change Gypsum Board with Different Structures in Buildings
Authors: Gao Feng , Xiao Xin , Shu Zhao , Zhong Ke , Wang Yunfeng , Li Ming
Published: August 2024

The energy consumption in buildings is high currently, leading to the development of the building envelope with phase change material (PCM), while the application of PCMs to the building envelope has the potential to effectively regulate the temperature variations in the inner surfaces of walls. Eutectic PCM consists of lauric acid, myristic acid, and stearic acid (LA-MA-SA) and was synthesized first, while expanded graphite (EG) and diamote (DE) were used as additives. LA-MA-SA/10 wt.% EG/10 wt.% DE composite PCM was synthesized via the impregnation method; then, the phase change layer was compressed and formed under a pressure of 10 MPa. The sandwich phase change gypsum board was built with three layers, considering the phase change layer on the outside, middle and indoor sides of the board, respectively. The thermal responses of sandwich phase change gypsum boards were considered under various radiation conditions at controlled temperatures of 37 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C and 50 °C. The results indicated that the gypsum board with the addition of 16.7 wt.% composite PCMs showed a better relative time duration of thermal comfort in comparison with pure gypsum board. The indoor heating rate slowed down, and the environmental temperature fluctuation was within a smaller range, because of the latent heat of the phase change gypsum board. Comparing the phase change gypsum boards at different interlayer positions, we found that the phase change gypsum board with an interlayer on the indoor side shows better thermal performance and a relatively longer time duration of thermal comfort, e.g., when the setting temperatures were 37 °C, 40 °C, 45 °C and 50 °C, respectively, the relative time durations of the thermal comfort of the sandwich phase change gypsum board were 4825 s, 3160 s, 1980 s and 1710 s. This study provides insights into the thermoregulation performance of phase change walls, where the utilization of a PCM in a wall can increase thermal capacity and enhance the inner-zone thermal comfort. The findings can provide guidelines for phase change walls to ensure sustainable practices in the energy savings of buildings.
Wind Speed Forecasting Based on Phase Space Reconstruction and a Novel Optimization Algorithm
Authors: He Zhaoshuang , Chen Yanhua , Zang Yale
Published: August 2024

The wind power generation capacity is increasing rapidly every year. There needs to be a corresponding development in the management of wind power. Accurate wind speed forecasting is essential for a wind power management system. However, it is not easy to forecast wind speed precisely since wind speed time series data are usually nonlinear and fluctuant. This paper proposes a novel combined wind speed forecasting model that based on PSR (phase space reconstruction), NNCT (no negative constraint theory) and a novel GPSOGA (a hybrid optimization algorithm that combines global elite opposition-based learning strategy, particle swarm optimization and the genetic algorithm) optimization algorithm. SSA (singular spectrum analysis) is firstly applied to decompose the original wind speed time series into IMFs (intrinsic mode functions). Then, PSR is employed to reconstruct the intrinsic mode functions into input and output vectors of the forecasting model. A combined forecasting model is proposed that contains a CBP (cascade back propagation network), RNN (recurrent neural network), GRU (gated recurrent unit), and CNNRNN (convolutional neural network combined with recurrent neural network). The NNCT strategy is used to combine the output of the four predictors, and a new optimization algorithm is proposed to find the optimal combination parameters. In order to validate the performance of the proposed algorithm, we compare the forecasting results of the proposed algorithm with different models on four datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that the forecasting performance of the proposed algorithm is better than other comparison models in terms of different indicators. The DM (Diebold–Mariano) test, Akaike’s information criterion and the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient confirm that the proposed algorithm outperforms the comparison models.
The Potential Therapeutic Effects of Botulinum Neurotoxins on Neoplastic Cells: A Comprehensive Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Safarpour Delaram , Tavassoli Fattaneh A. , Jabbari Bahman
Published: August 2024

A systematic review of the literature found fifteen articles on the effect of a botulinum toxin on neoplastic cell lines and eight articles on in vivo neoplasms. The reported in vitro effects rely on high doses or the mechanical disruption of cell membranes to introduce the botulinum neurotoxin into the cell cytoplasm. The potency of the botulinum neurotoxin to intoxicate non-neuronal cells (even cell lines expressing an appropriate protein receptor) is several orders of magnitude lower compared to that to intoxicate the primary neurons. The data suggest that the botulinum toxin disrupts the progression of cancer cells, with some studies reporting apoptotic effects. A majority of the data in the in vivo studies also showed similar results. No safety issues were disclosed in the in vivo studies. Limited studies have suggested similar anti-neoplastic potential for the clostridium difficile. New modes of delivery have been tested to enhance the in vivo delivery of the botulinum toxin to neoplastic cells. Careful controlled studies are necessary to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this mode of anti-neoplastic treatment in humans.
Prevalence of Co-Infections in Primary Care Patients with Medically Attended Acute Respiratory Infection in the 2022/2023 Season
Authors: Sočan Maja , Prosenc Katarina , Mrzel Maja
Published: August 2024

In the post-pandemic period, an endemic circulation of respiratory viruses has been re-established. Respiratory viruses are co-circulating with SARS-CoV-2. We performed a retrospective analysis of co-infections in primary care patients with medically attended acute respiratory infections (MAARI) who consulted from week 40/2022 to week 39/2023 and were tested for a panel of respiratory viruses. Out of 2099 samples tested, 1260 (60.0%) were positive for one virus. In 340 samples, co-infection was detected: two viruses in 281 (13.4%), three viruses in 51 (2.4%), and four viruses in eight (0.4%) samples. Respiratory viruses co-infected the patients with MAARI at very different rates. The lowest rates of co-infections were confirmed for influenza B (13.8%) and influenza A (22.9%) and the highest for human bocaviruses (84.0%) and human parechoviruses (82.1%). Co-infections were detected in 28.2% of SARS-CoV-2 positive samples. SARS-CoV-2 has never been co-infected with influenza B virus, enterovirus or adenovirus, although the latter was found as a co-infecting virus with all other respiratory viruses tested. The rate of co-infections decreased significantly with increasing age (p-value 0.000), and no difference was found regarding gender (p-value 0.672). It is important to understand the epidemiology of respiratory co-infections for prevention and management decisions in patients with MAARI.