bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovery of Palladium and Gold from PGM Ore and Concentrates Using ZnAl-Layered Double Hydroxide@zeolitic Imidazolate Framework-8 Nanocomposite
Authors: Biata Nkositetile Raphael , Jakavula Silindokuhle , Mpupa Anele , Moutloali Richard M. , Nomngongo Philiswa Nosizo
Published: October 2022

Gold (Au) and palladium (Pd) are platinum group metals (PGMs) that are considered critical in society because they are required in several industrial applications. Their shortage has caused the urgent need for their recovery from secondary resources. Therefore, there is a need to develop functional materials with high adsorption capacity and selectivity for recovery of PGMs from various secondary sources. In this study, a Zn-Al-layered double hydroxide@zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (Zn–Al–LDH@ZIF–8) nanocomposite was used as an adsorbent for the recovery of Au and Pd from ore concentrates. The Zn–Al–LDH@ZIF–8 nanocomposite was characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta potential, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy. The recovery of Au(III) and Pd(II) was achieved using ultrasound-assisted dispersive µ-solid-phase extraction (UA-D-µ-SPE) and their quantification was attained using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS). The results showed that the surface of the adsorbent remained positively charged in a wide pH range, which endowed the nanocomposite with high adsorption affinity towards Au(III) and Pd(II). Under optimised conditions, the equilibrium studies revealed that the adsorption of Au(III) and Pd(II) ions followed the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum sorption capacities of 163 mg g−1 and 177 mg g−1 for Au(III) and Pd(II), respectively. The nanocomposite possessed relatively good regeneration, reusability, and stability characteristics, with its performance decreasing by only 10% after five adsorption–desorption cycles.
Application of GC/MS Pyrolysis for Assessment Residues of Textile Composites after Filtration of Washing and Rinsing Effluents
Authors: Dimitrov Nino , Čurlin Mirjana , Pušić Tanja , Vojnović Branka
Published: October 2022

Research on the sources of microplastics (MP) in the environment and the parameters that lead to the loss of microfibers from synthetic textiles during washing have recently attracted public attention. Considering the involvement of a variety of structural and process parameters, it is important to choose methods for quantifying fibers as MP pollutants that migrated during the washing process. In the research to date, various sampling techniques and analytical protocols for the identification of polymers from washed synthetic textiles have been applied. In the present research, pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), was applied to verify the composition of the filter residue isolated from washing and rinsing effluents. A comparison with bases of polymeric materials has proven the presence of potential environmental pollutants in the form of microfibers released during the washing process. The investigation confirmed that fragments of cotton cellulose residues predominate in relation to polyester. Based on the list of identified compounds generated by Py-GC/MS results and their retention times the multivariate data analysis proved the influence in the bath composition.
Development of Analytical Procedure for the Determination of 17β-Testosterone, 11-Ketotestosterone and 17β-Estradiol in the Sea Trout (Salmo trutta L.) Gonads
Authors: Matraszek-Żuchowska Iwona , Kłopot Alicja , Witek Sebastian , Pękala-Safińska Agnieszka , Posyniak Andrzej
Published: October 2022

Steroid hormones, such as 17β-testosterone, 11-ketotestorenone and 17β-estradiol, play an essential role not only in reproductive function but also are potential biomarkers of numerous additional functions in teleost fish. The presence of endocrine disruptor compounds in aquatic ecosystems has raised concern about their effect on hormone levels in fish target organs. Since hormones are present in very low concentrations in biological material, their determination still remains a challenge. A new analytical procedure has been developed to determine 17β-testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol in the sea trout female and male gonads by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system equipped with an ESI source operating in both positive and negative mode. Chromatographic separation of analytes was accomplished in Poroshell 120 EC-C18 (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 2.7 µm) column under isocratic elution conditions. The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile, methanol and water (20:50:30/v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.2 mL/min. Analytes were extracted from the gonad matrix with ethyl acetate, and co-extractives impurities were successfully removed by QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged and safe) method. The procedure was validated with good sensitivity, linearity, accuracy, and precision. Limits of quantifications were from 0.15 to 0.75 ng/g, linearity was obtained with correlation coefficient R > 0.99, accuracy was from 94.0 to 109.5%, precision expressed as RSD ranged from 1.7 to 27.2% (repeatability) and from 2.2 to 37.1% (reproducibility). Finally, the method was applied to determining 17β-testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol in real samples of the female and male sea trout gonads, 8 and 22 samples, respectively.
Techno-Economic Analysis of Brine Treatment by Multi-Crystallization Separation Process for Zero Liquid Discharge
Authors: Poirier Kristofer , Al Mhanna Najah , Patchigolla Kumar
Published: October 2022

This study analyses the concept of a novel multi-crystallization system to achieve zero liquid discharge (ZLD) for desalination plants using an innovative heat recovery system consisting of a heat transfer fluid and a compressor to reduce energy consumption. The main focus is to recover water and separately extract salts from seawater brines with high purity, including calcite, anhydrite, sodium chloride, and epsomite, which can be sold to the cement industry. The system is compared with a conventional brine treatment system. The energy demand and economic feasibility of both systems are assessed to evaluate profitability at a scale of 1000 kg/h. The results estimate that the utilization of a heat recovery fluid reduces energy consumption from 690 kWhth/ton of feed brine to 125.90 kWhth/ton equaling a total electric consumption of 60.72 kWhe/ton. The system can recover 99.2% of water and reduce brine discharge mass by 98.9%. The system can recover 53.8% of calcite at near 100% purity, 96.4% of anhydrite at 97.7% purity, 91.6% of NaCl at near 100% purity, and 71.1% of epsomite at 40.7% purity. Resource recovery accounts for additional revenues, with halite and water accounting respectively for 69.85% and 29.52% of the income. The contribution of calcite and anhydrite to revenue is very low due to their low production. The levelized cost of water (LCOW) of the multi-crystallization system is 13.79 USD/m3 as opposed to 7.85 USD/m3 for the conventional ZLD system. The economic analyses estimate that the conventional ZLD system can achieve payback after 7.69 years. The high electricity cost, which accounts for 68.7% of the annual expenses, can be produced from renewable sources.
In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Spectral Analysis-Based Phytochemical Profiling of Methanol Extract of Barleria hochstetteri, and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Its Apoptosis-Inducing Effect on Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Alkahtani Saad Ahmed , Alshabi Ali Mohamed , Shaikh Ibrahim Ahmed , Orabi Mohamed A. A. , Abdel-Wahab Basel A. , Walbi Ismail A. , Habeeb Mohammed Shafiuddin , Khateeb Masood Medleri , Shettar Arun K. , Hoskeri Joy H.
Published: October 2022

The objectives of this research were to carry out GC–MS and LC–MS-based phytochemical profiling of Barleria hochstetteri, as well as flow cytometry-based mechanistic investigations of the cytotoxic effect of its extracts against breast and lung cancer cell lines. This preclinical in vitro study was carried out in Saudi Arabia and India, from 11 August to 15 January 2022. Barleria hochstetteri was sequentially extracted using the Soxhlet extraction technique. Utilizing LC–MS and GC–MS methods, the phytochemical profiling was performed. Additionally, the total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were quantified in the plant extract using spectrophotometric techniques. In this study, we first examined the cytotoxicity of the plant extract on non-malignant L929 cells and on the carcinogenic MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Then, we studied the underlying molecular pathways by means of Anti-Bcl-2, caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) assays, using flow cytometry. The results revealed phenolic compounds and flavonoids to be the two major components in the methanolic extract of B. hochstetteri, with concentrations of 3210 µg GAE/g dwt and 1863 µg QE/g dwt, respectively. Results from GC–MS and LC–MS analyses revealed the presence of bioactive phytochemicals with known cytotoxicity. From the MTT assay on cell viability, the IC50 of the methanol extract for the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines were 219.67 and 144.30 µg/mL, respectively. With IC50 values of 324.24 and 266.66 µg/mL, respectively, the aqueous and methanol extracts were less toxic when tested against the non-cancerous L929 cell line. The extract caused early and late apoptosis in the tested breast and lung cancer cells by activating caspase-3 and inhibiting Bcl-2 protein, and it also caused cell death via DNA damage, based on flow cytometric and molecular marker analyses. These findings indicate that the methanol extract of B. hochstetteri was cytotoxic on breast cancer and lung cancer cell lines. To uncover cancer-fighting chemicals, there is a need for further research on B. hochstetteri, as it is a promising source of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.
Quota System in Japanese Politics, Healthcare, and Education: Women’s Rights and Equality
Authors: Nakazawa Eisuke , Akabayashi Akira
Published: October 2022

The World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index shows the serious nature of Japan’s gender gap. The gender gap with respect to political and economic participation is obvious. The percentage of women in the Diet (the national parliament) is significantly low, and few women hold management positions. Although not shown in the Gender Gap Index, there are hidden gender inequalities in education and health care in Japan. These gender inequalities are largely due to the remnants of Japan’s traditional family culture and customs. In order to empower Japanese women from the confines of the family and community, drastic measures guided by the principles of gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are needed. A quota system is one of the most important strategies to achieve this, and the time has come for Japan to seriously discuss the introduction of a quota system in politics, corporate culture, and university entrance examinations.
A Review of Mechanisms Used to Improve Community Participation in the Integrated Development Planning Process in South Africa: An Empirical Review
Authors: Mamokhere John , Meyer Daniel Francois
Published: October 2022

In 1996, the government of South Africa introduced the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) policy process to transform municipal administration, integrated planning and service delivery. One of the IDP policy’s key aspects is community participation in the planning process. South Africa is still struggling to achieve their duty of delivering basic services due to ineffective community participation. The article primarily appraises the mechanisms for improved community participation in the IDP process. It is underpinned by the New Public Management (NPM) theory, which promotes management reforms, participatory planning, and decentralising power among municipalities and communities. This study adopted a mixed-methods research approach. It is conducted in the Tzaneen municipal area in Limpopo Province. It is also found that some of the mechanisms to facilitate community participation are no longer relevant and effective in the COVID-19 pandemic era. Public meetings are no longer seen as an effective and safe means of public discussion due to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Disaster Management Act: Amendment of Regulation (Act 57 of 2002) that restricts the physical contact of large groups of people, which has implications for public meeting attendance. The study concludes by recommending that the Tzaneen municipal area should design mechanisms that make it easier for marginalised and previously disadvantaged people to participate in municipal planning and decision-making processes freely and without prejudice. Lastly, the study recommends that the municipality adopt the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and E-participation to facilitate effective community participation in the IDP process.
Gender-Balanced Seats, Equal Power and Greater Gender Equality? Zooming into the Boardroom of Companies Bound by the Portuguese Gender Quota Law
Authors: Casaca Sara Falcão , Marques Susana Ramalho , Guedes Maria João , Seierstad Cathrine
Published: October 2022

This paper seeks to analyse the potential for change in the gender quota law on corporate boards in Portugal. This is achieved by incorporating concepts and insights drawn from political science and the study of quotas in politics and adjusting these to the boardroom context. It adds to the literature on women on boards by shedding light on the importance of looking at descriptive representation, substantive representation, substantive equality and transformative institutional change, in order to understand a quota law’s potential for eliciting gender balance in the boardroom, as well as greater gender equality in directorship positions, in board dynamics and at the workplace level. This study uses multi-strategy research methods. Evidence provided by the quantitative analysis of survey data, combined with the qualitative analysis of interviews undertaken with female and male board members and the contents of Gender Equality Action Plans (GEAPs), shows that there have been some changes in terms of descriptive representation, but fewer in relation to substantive equality, as men are still largely over-represented in positions associated with effective power and influence over decision-making. Moreover, although the promotion of gender equality at the workplace is valued by both groups, and particularly so by women, weaknesses have been found in the materialisation of such a commitment (substantive representation) through the adoption of GEAPs designed to tackle gendered patterns at the workplace (transformative institutional change).
Design for Climate Change in the Neoliberal Present: Gentrification, Ecocide, and the Loss of Urbanity in New York City
Authors: Chiesi Leonardo , Forte Giuseppina
Published: October 2022

Climate urbanism is an emerging field of action that aims to adapt to or mitigate the impacts of climate change on cities. These interventions are often framed by narratives of climate collapse, implying that there is not enough time to engage citizens in participatory planning processes. Some scholars have argued that this may also enable the realization of urban interventions that would otherwise be difficult to implement under ordinary circumstances. At the same time, research has demonstrated that mitigation and adaptation policies and projects may result in the displacement of vulnerable populations. To avoid this scenario, city governments must ensure vulnerability assessments, transparency, and accountability to all affected communities throughout the design process, and examination of projects proposed by residents and developed by the city authorities. Based on interviews, fieldwork observation, and secondary analysis of open-source documents, this article examines the complexity of appropriate urban climate planning through a comparative analysis. Taking the East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) Project in New York as an exemplary case study, we analyze multiple perspectives, expertise, and rights involved in climate urbanism in global cities under the neoliberal present. We conclude that democratic city planning for climate change cannot be separated from questions of climate justice, which concerns democratic decision making and the impact of interventions on local communities and ecosystems.
Unpacking the Land and Socio-Economic Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Kenya
Authors: Wangu James , Githuku Fridah
Published: October 2022

Following its outbreak in late 2019, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been reported to have had devastating human health, health systems, and socioeconomic impacts across the globe. Countries in the Global South are known to have been hit harder given the low level of resilience to crises amid high levels of poverty and limited social protection programmes. This includes countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Most of the existing studies on the COVID-19 pandemic in SSA, however, have focused on the puzzling nature of the considerably low rate at which the virus spread over the continent, the low level of hospitalisation, and the corresponding low morbidity rate. As such, little focus has been given to the social and economic effects of the pandemic in the local communities. Carried out in two rural communities in Kenya—Kilifi and Murang’a—the present study adopts a case study approach for an in-depth, real-life context and explores the socioeconomic (including land-related) effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the vulnerable rural population and the social group of smallholder farmers. Outcomes of the study show that the local effects of the pandemic are context specific. The findings demonstrate that the pandemic has had far-reaching impact on access to and control over land for some households in the rural communities. It was also accompanied with other negative social and economic effects, including a notable rise in teenage pregnancy, intra-household conflicts, job losses, and businesses closures. Positively, it is also claimed to have contributed to food and nutrition security in some rural regions, following increased availability of nutritious food that could have, otherwise, been sold.
A Quantitative Exploration of Reconciliation: Evidence from Colombia
Authors: Sanandres Campis Eliana , Molinares-Guerrero Ivonne , Arana Roberto González , Martínez Pérez Melissa
Published: October 2022

The reconciliation of societies in negotiated transitions from civil war to peace represents a practical challenge. While the political dimension concerns the construction of socio-political relations, the interpersonal dimension focuses on intergroup relationships. Empirical evidence shows that reconciliation should not assign primacy to one dimension over another; rather, it should address the interaction between them. However, research on this topic is scarce. There is a need to develop an instrument to assess the political and interpersonal dimensions of reconciliation in peacebuilding contexts. This study developed the Political and Interpersonal Reconciliation Scale (PIRS) and assessed its psychometric properties based on a sample of Colombian population after the peace agreement between the Colombian government and the FARC guerrilla group. The results show the validity of a factorial structure for two components as well as an acceptable Cronbach’s alpha. Concerning external validity, in line with the existing literature, the scale under study was positively related to confidence in the peace agreement, trust in the ex-combatants, willingness to share with the adversary and community identification. This study provides evidence that the Political and Interpersonal Reconciliation Scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating reconciliation in peacebuilding contexts.
Framing Political Issues in Food System Transformative Changes
Authors: Sodano Valeria , Gorgitano Maria Teresa
Published: October 2022

The paper addresses political issues related to policy interventions for food system sustainability. It presents the results of a literature review, which explores how the concept of power has been used so far by scholars of food system dynamics. Articles numbering 116 were subjected to an in-depth qualitative analysis, which allowed the identification of three main strands of the literature with respect to food and power issues: (1) marketing and industrial organisation literature, dealing with the economic power exercised by economic actors in contexts of noncompetitive market structures; (2) articles addressing the power issue from a political economy perspective and by using an interdisciplinary approach; (3) heterogenous studies. The results of the review witness a growing interest for the analysis of food systems, political issues, and the need of a wider use of analytical tools and concepts offered by social sciences for the study of power in sustainability policy design.
Climate Change Migration and the Economic Rebirth of Central Appalachia
Authors: Hirschman Elizabeth C.
Published: October 2022

This research examines the potential economic rebirth of the Central Appalachian Region as persons from the southwestern and southeastern parts of the United States seek a safe and livable environment for their families and businesses. Central Appalachia is projected to be the largest habitable area in the continental United States by the year 2050. However, mined land remediation, water control efforts, and hydro-electric energy generation units will be required to support the incoming population.
Gender Trends in Healthcare and Academia—Where Does the University of Malta Stand?
Authors: Grech Elizabeth , Pace Anneka , Attard Mallia Tamara , Cuschieri Sarah
Published: October 2022

A current and pertinent topic is that of gender studies within healthcare students and academic staff of healthcare courses. This commentary explores the feminization of healthcare studies and the extent to which women in Malta hold key roles in academia within the faculties of Health Sciences, Dental Surgery, and Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta. Data were publicly available from the university website. Gender (male: female ratio) trends were elicited from the data representing each level of qualification as offered by each faculty, while top academic roles within each faculty were noted. As a general trend, the number of students studying healthcare courses has increased, with an increased female-to-male ratio. Yet, in academia, men still occupy top roles. Efforts should be made to cater for all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic levels within the healthcare workforce to allow delivery of the best possible service.
Review on Ecological Response of Aquatic Plants to Balanced Harvesting
Authors: Zhao Jianguo , Liu Cunqi , Li Hongbo , Liu Jing , Jiang Tiantian , Yan Donghua , Tong Jikun , Dong Li
Published: October 2022

Macrophytes are the main primary producers in lake ecosystems and are the main transmitters of material and energy flows in lake ecosystems, directly influencing the structure and function of lake ecosystems. The balanced harvesting of aquatic plants is a cost-effective scientific management approach to maintain ecosystem health. The article defines “balanced harvesting” as an aquatic plant harvesting technique to optimize the structure of aquatic plant communities, maintain the normal function of the ecosystem material cycle and energy flow, and enhance the stability and resilience of the system. The ecological significance of balanced harvesting in regulating the evaporation coefficient of the subsurface, reducing the accumulation and release of endogenous nutrient loads in lakes, delaying the evolutionary process of marshification, inhibiting biological filling, increasing biodiversity and system stability, and improving the environment of water bodies under the natural laws of adapted aquatic plants is reviewed. The way, time, and method of the balanced harvesting of aquatic plants in Baiyangdian, a grass-type lake in the north, were analyzed in order to provide an important reference for wetland ecological restoration and protection, maintaining the health of the aquatic ecosystem, and making the lake environment sustainable.
Development and Implementation of Cement-Based Nanocomposite Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring Applications: Laboratory Investigations and Way Forward
Authors: Roopa A. , Hunashyal A. , Mysore Rahila
Published: October 2022

Recent advances in material science and self-sensing technology have enabled the development of cement-based nanocomposite sensors that detect the damage on their own by exhibiting piezoelectric properties corresponding to the response of the structures. The present study involves the development and implementation of these sensors in the structural components and monitors the response by correlating the piezoelectric properties of the sensors with the stress-strain response to identify the potential damage. For this purpose, the carbon fiber (CF) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) are used as nanofiller in the cementitious matrix to develop the self-sensing sensors. These sensors possess high strength, large elastic modulus, and piezo resistivity properties, which make them promising smart sensor materials for structural health monitoring applications. Two example applications involving the beam and column as the structural components are used for the experimentation. After embedding the sensors into the structural components, the response is evaluated in the form of resistance versus load. The self-sensing sensor is capable of detecting the nanostructural cracks during the loading of the system. Based on the severity of loading, the resistivity will indicate the damage state of the structural component which helps in deciding the suitable retrofitting strategies for the maintenance of the structural component to elongate the service life of the structures. The developed sensors also possess good mechanical and electrical properties and hence they have promising characteristics for real-time health monitoring applications.
Assessment of Arsenic Contamination in Groundwater and Associated Human Health Risk
Authors: Riaz Rana Muhammad Yasir , Murtaza Ghulam , Farooqi Zia Ur Rahman , Ali Shafaqat , Aziz Humera , Mahboob Shahid , Al-Ghanim Khalid A. , Owens Gary , Ahmad Hamaad Raza , Riaz Umair
Published: October 2022

Drinking water contamination by arsenic (As) is of significant concern due to its potential cause of cancer and arsenicosis. In this study, out of the 200 samples (n = 200), the mean As concentrations ranged from below detection limit (BDL) to 3.30, 4.81, 4.42 and 3.85 µg L−1 in small residential, roadside, industrial and household areas, respectively. From 200 total samples, 9% of the groundwater samples showed As levels higher than the WHO safe guideline limit of 10 μg L−1. Human health risk was assessed using average daily intake (ADD), hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) values which were found to be greater than the recommended values by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1.0 and 10−6) for health risk assessment. The CR were ranged from 0–5.7 × 10−1, 4.0 × 10−1, 2.0 × 10−1 and 1.0 × 10−1 in small residential areas for children, adolescents, males and females, respectively. In roadside areas, the values ranged from 0–2.8 × 10−1, 4.0 × 10−1, 2.0 × 10−1 and 2.8 × 10−1 for children, adolescents, males and females, while 0–5.9 × 10−1, 4.1 × 10−1, 2.1 × 10−1 and 1.6 × 10−1 in industrial areas and 0–8.0 × 10−1, 2.91 × 10−1, 2.6 × 10−1 and 3.9 × 10−1 were calculated in household sites. All the CR values were found to be exceeding the US-EPA limit (10−6) recommending that the people in the study area are more prone to carcinogenic risk. Overall, it was concluded that due to presence of As in drinking water, these areas tend to be at higher cancer risks. To provide safe drinking water for the people living in these As-affected areas, urgent remedial and management steps are required.
The Influence of Sustainable Positioning on eWOM and Brand Loyalty: Analysis of Credible Sources and Transparency Practices Based on the S-O-R Model
Authors: Mim Khirul Basar , Jai Tunmin (Catherine) , Lee Stacy H.
Published: October 2022

With increased concern for environmental and social issues, consumers and the apparel industry have become more interested in the topic of sustainability. Numerous brands strive to reposition in sustainability by employing credible sources and maintaining information transparency to get consumers’ recognition. By employing the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, this study experimented with how sustainability positioning with credible sources (EPA vs. Celebrity vs. Social Media Influencer) and high (vs. low) transparency influence brand attachment, trust, and identification, leading to eWOM and brand loyalty. The findings indicate that sustainable positioning with credible sources (i.e., EPA and Social Media influencers) could achieve consumers’ positive brand attachment, trust, and identification in social media marketing. However, we did not find evidence of the impact of high (vs. low) transparency on these dependable variables. Furthermore, brand loyalty and eWOM are significantly influenced by consumers’ brand attachment and trust, whereas brand identification positively affects brand loyalty only, not eWOM. Additionally, this study found that women and higher-income groups had a high preference for sustainable brands.
Three-Stream and Double Attention-Based DenseNet-BiLSTM for Fine Land Cover Classification of Complex Mining Landscapes
Authors: Zhang Diya , Leng Jiake , Li Xianju , He Wenxi , Chen Weitao
Published: October 2022

The fine classification of land cover around complex mining areas is important for environmental protection and sustainable development. Although some advances have been made in the utilization of high-resolution remote sensing imagery and classification algorithms, the following issues still remain: (1) how the multimodal spectral–spatial and topographic features can be learned for complex mining areas; (2) how the key features can be extracted; and (3) how the contextual information can be captured among different features. In this study, we proposed a novel model comprising the following three main strategies: (1) design comprising a three-stream multimodal feature learning and post-fusion method; (2) integration of deep separable asymmetric convolution blocks and parallel channel and spatial attention mechanisms into the DenseNet architecture; and (3) use of a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network to further learn cross-channel context features. The experiments were carried out in Wuhan City, China using ZiYuan-3 imagery. The proposed model was found to exhibit a better performance than other models, with an overall accuracy of 98.65% ± 0.05% and an improvement of 4.03% over the basic model. In addition, the proposed model yielded an obviously better visual prediction map for the entire study area. Overall, the proposed model is beneficial for multimodal feature learning and complex landscape applications.
Smart Rural Village’s Healthcare and Energy Indicators—Twin Enablers to Smart Rural Life
Authors: Maja Pontsho William , Meyer Johan , von Solms Suné
Published: October 2022

Poverty in rural areas remains rife and high despite the rapid societal developments and technological advancements the world is riding on, brought about by the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Most communities and individuals in many rural areas of the world often face near zero to limited access to basic services such as access to energy and healthcare. The study’s objective is to develop linkages between smart rural health indicators and smart rural energy indicators. This is achieved by using a six-stage method developed over a two year period. The method uses sustainable development goals as a point of departure; however, in this study, the focus is on healthcare and energy access. The following indicators has been derived: the number of patients in a village monitored remotely, the number of persons having access to a mobile health clinic powered by a renewable energy source, the number of network routers powered by renewable energy to enable drone usage in a village, and the accessibility of a patient’s database by the village surgeon remotely due to reliable and accessible servers powered by a mixture of sustainable and renewable energy. The paper concludes that a sustainable, renewable energy mix acts as the enabling link that renders healthcare services in rural villages accessible to all.
Sulphate Removal in Industrial Effluents Using Electrocoagulation Sludge as an Adsorbent
Authors: Yamba Siyanda , Hintsho-Mbita Nomso C. , Yusuf Tunde L. , Moutloali Richard , Mabuba Nonhlangabezo
Published: October 2022

The high concentration of sulphates is detrimental to the infrastructure of wastewater treatment plants. Hence in this study, we present the application of electrocoagulation sludge as an adsorbent to remove sulphates from industrial effluents before they are released back to the environment. The sludge contains iron and aluminium cations and cationic complexes that precipitate sulphates in water. Corrugated iron sheet was used as a sacrificial electrode during electrocoagulation (EC) to generate sludge. FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, and Zeta Potential were used to characterize the sludge. The following parameters: contact time, pH, initial concentration, and adsorbent dosage were optimized to 120 min, 2, 100 mg/L and 150 mg, respectively. For the synthetic water, the sulphate removal was 99.1%, whereas for the real water it was found to be 98.7%. The adsorption capacity of the EC sludge was 66.76% for 2 h under acidic conditions. The Langmuir isotherm fitted better than the Freundlich isotherm. This confirmed the homogenous distribution of the active sites on the EC sludge. At different EC’s sludge, the pseudo-second order kinetic model produced the best fitting experimental results which confirmed the removal of sulphate ions by chemisorption. This approach (method) is useful for purifying industrial effluents before they are discharged into the environment.
An Integrated Framework for the Quantification of Road Network Seismic Vulnerability and Accessibility to Critical Services
Authors: El-Maissi Ahmad Mohamad , Argyroudis Sotirios A. , Kassem Moustafa Moufid , Leong Lee Vien , Mohamed Nazri Fadzli
Published: October 2022

Road networks are regarded as the backbone of transportation systems, which play an important role in the social and economic prosperity of societies. Due to this reason, it is crucial to develop road networks with higher resiliency rates to operate normally during earthquake incidents. In the last decades, the research that tackled the management of disasters for road networks gained great attention, in particular by developing various seismic vulnerability assessment models. Most of those models study a single criterion, e.g., physical damage of road assets, traffic disruption, and/or functionality loss of the network without taking into consideration the combination of different vulnerability criteria. The proposed framework is part of the global seismic vulnerability assessment models that combine fragility functions and vulnerability indices, which is demonstrated by an application in a road network in the city of Penang in Malaysia. In the first step, the fragility functions are developed where their results are used to calculate the Seismic Vulnerability Index (SVI) for roadways by weighting the main investigated parameters. This is followed by investigating the Accessibility Index (AI) model that is employed to assess the accessibility of targeted districts within the investigated area. Subsequently, an integrated approach is employed to generate the emergency evacuation maps to critical service centres by referring to the correlations between vulnerability and the accessibility rates. In conclusion, the results of this study integrate engineering judgment and numerical models to create a comparative study for assessing the performance of road networks and to validate the significance of an integrated seismic assessment on various critical societal sectors, such as improving emergency accessibility and implementing better mitigation strategies for communities living in disaster-prone areas.
Research on the Effects and Mechanism of Carbon Emission Trading on the Development of Green Economy in China
Authors: Wang Ling , Chen Zhiying , Huang Zheheng
Published: October 2022

Based on the panel data from 2004 to 2018, this paper evaluates the effect of carbon emission trading policies launched in 2014 on the development of green economy in pilot areas by using synthetic control methods, and further studies the mechanism of the policies affecting green economy by using the mediating effects test. The results show that carbon emission trading has a significant effect on the green economy, which is affected by the economic base and location conditions. Technological innovation and the use of clean energy are the main mechanisms by which to promote green economy. Finally, some corresponding policy recommendations are put forward.
Numerical Simulation of Gas Extraction in Coal Seam Strengthened by Static Blasting
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Zhou Fengyuan , Zou Jiaxing
Published: October 2022

For mines with low permeability and high gas emissions, static blasting technology is used to pre-split the coal seam to increase the permeability and strengthen the gas extraction, which will significantly reduce the occurrence of gas accidents in mines. Taking Wangjialing Coal Mine as the research object, the mathematical model of fluid-solid is established. The numerical simulation software COMSOL is used to simulate the established mathematical model. Simultaneously, the factors affecting the efficiency of static blasting gas extraction are analyzed by adjusting the parameters. The results reveal a more significant drop in gas pressure with increasing time. At 10 d, 30 d, 90 d and 180 d, the extraction efficiency increases by 11.80%, 18.67%, 22.22% and 24.13% in comparison to conventional extraction. In studying the influence of expansion pressure and other factors on gas extraction during static blasting, it is found that the change of negative pressure has little effect on gas extraction. Static blasting can significantly reduce gas pressure and achieve safe coal mining, providing a basis of field application of efficient gas extraction in low gas mines.
Research on Closed-Loop Supply Chain Decision Making of Power Battery Considering Subsidy Transfer under EPR System
Authors: Shen Yan , Song Zizhao , Gao Tian , Ma Ji
Published: October 2022

With new energy vehicles becoming the mainstream of new vehicles sold, the surge in user ownership has triggered a wave of power battery scrapping, and the environmental problems caused by improper power battery recycling are becoming more serious. It is essential to promote the development of the closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) of power batteries effectively through government subsidies under the extended producer responsibility (EPR) regime. Combining the EPR system with the battery manufacturer as the leader and the vehicle manufacturer and the retailer as the subordinates, this paper constructs and solves four models of different CLSC subsidy objects and analyzes the pricing of power batteries by different subsidy objects by using the Stackelberg game, as well as the profit change and profit distribution ratio of each CLSC participant. The results of the study showed: (1) when the unit subsidy is limited, the government should subsidize all the CLSC subjects as much as possible. (2) When the government subsidizes the remanufacturing of power batteries, the recycling rate of power batteries is higher, and the benefits of the CLSC are better than those of subsidizing other actors. (3) The change in government subsidy objects will not affect the profit distribution ratio of CLSC, mainly because the subsidy not only improves the recovery rate, but also improves the profitability of each entity.
Explorative Study on Urban Public Space Renovation during COVID-19: Test of a Visual Web-Based Survey about the City of Saint German en Laye, France
Authors: Buffoli Maddalena , Mangili Silvia , Capolongo Stefano , Brambilla Andrea
Published: October 2022

Background: The complex socio-epidemiological situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic forced cities to rapidly adapt to new prevention distancing measures. Several interventions have been made but specific tools are needed to rapidly verify the suitability of such design proposals. This study aims to describe the process of development and testing of a visual web-based survey to assess potential user feedback on Urban Public Space renovation for the city of Saint Germain-En-Laye (SGL), France during the pandemic. The renovation included pedestrianization strategies for the city center and the design and installation of new street furniture. Method: After an exploration of the literature and stakeholder interaction, an online survey composed of three sections and seven questions evaluating the project was developed to rapidly validate the design solution before its actual installation and compare the pre- and post-situation trough visual insights on a 5-point Likert scale. Data was collected through a Google Form and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results: We received 371 full replies from Italian and French respondents. The survey results showed that the Urban Public Space proposal improved the baseline situation for different reasons, such as safety, sustainability, and accessibility. In fact, Solution A (the existing situation) obtained an average score of 2.08 while Solution B (the design solution) obtained 4.13. Conclusions: The features identified allowed for timely comparisons and possible insights, and the approach can be implemented in other medium-sized European cities dealing with Urban Public Space transformation during COVID-19.
Design, Modelling, and Thermodynamic Analysis of a Novel Marine Power System Based on Methanol Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, Integrated Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells, and Combined Heat and Power Production
Authors: Duong Phan Anh , Ryu Borim , Jung Jinwon , Kang Hokeun
Published: October 2022

A novel maritime power system that uses methanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) to power marine vessels in an eco-friendly manner is proposed. The SOFCs, gas turbine (GT), steam Rankine cycle (SRC), proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) were integrated together to generate useful energy and harvest wasted heat. The system supplies the exhaust heat from the SOFCs to the methanol dissociation unit for hydrogen production, whereas the heat exchangers and SRC recover the remaining waste heat to produce useful electricity. Mathematical models were established, and the thermodynamic efficiencies of the system were evaluated. The first and second laws of thermodynamics were used to construct the dynamic behavior of the system. Furthermore, the exergy destruction of all the subsystems was estimated. The thermodynamic performances of the main subsystem and entire system were evaluated to be 77.75% and 44.71% for the energy and exergy efficiencies, respectively. With a hydrogen distribution ratio of β = 0.12, the PEMFCs can generate 432.893 kW for the propulsion plant of the target vessel. This is also important for the rapid adaptation of the vessel’s needs for power generation, especially during start-up and maneuvering. A comprehensive parametric analysis was performed to examine the influence of changing current densities in the SOFCs, as well as the influence of the hydrogen distribution ratio and hydrogen storage ratio on the operational performance of the proposed systems. Increasing the hydrogen storage ratio (φ = 0–0.5) reduces the PEMFCs power output, but the energy efficiency and exergy efficiency of the PEMFC-ORC subsystem increased by 2.29% and 1.39%, respectively.
Evolutionary Game Strategies Analysis of Economic Development and Environmental Protection between Local Governments under Central Supervision Mechanism in China
Authors: Wang Lin , Pan Feng , Li Yingjie
Published: October 2022

The positive interaction between economic development and environmental protection is an important social issue which concerns people’s livelihoods. In order to explore the coordinated path of economic development and environmental protection, game models are constructed, successively, between local governments and among central-local governments by the evolutionary game method, and then, numerical simulation technology is used to analyze the results. The results show that the presented evolutionary stability strategies are consistent with the three stages of economic development and environmental protection since the reform and opening up in China. From the early to the middle stage, the sum of the special governance funds and local penalty fees play a key role; from the middle to the late stage, the heterogeneity coefficient between the local governments, local environmental governance costs, and environmental pollution losses plays a decisive role; during the late stage, the sum of the special governance funds and local penalty fees and the performance appraisal indicators play an important role. According to the above conclusions, local governments tend to choose environmental priority strategy, and the central government tends to choose a loose supervision strategy to achieve coordinated development by improving the phased planning for coordinated development, appropriately increasing the special governance funds and local penalty standards, and appropriately balancing the weights of the economic and environmental indicators.
Health-Supportive Office Design—It Is Chafing Somewhere: Where and Why?
Authors: Bodin Danielsson Christina , Hoy Sara
Published: October 2022

This explorative case study investigates health-promoting office design from an experience and meaning-making perspective in an activity-based flex-office (A-FO) in a headquarter building. This small case study (n = 11) builds using qualitative data (walk-through and focus group interviews). A reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) of the experience of design approach was performed on this from a health and sustainability perspective, including the physical, mental, and social dimensions of health defined by WHO. Results show a wide range in participants’ experiences and meaning-making of the health-promoting office design of their office building. The control aspect plays a central role in participants’ experiences, including factors such as surveillance and obeyance, related to status and power, in turn associated with experiences of pleasantness, symbolism, and inclusiveness. Three main themes are identified in participants’ experiences: (1) comfort–non-comfort, (2) outsider–insider, and (3) symbolism. The major finding of the study is the ambiguity among participants about the health-supportive office design of the office building per se and its various environments. There is a sense that it is chafing, due to dissonance between the intention of the office and the applied design.