bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancements in Lightweight Artificial Aggregates: Typologies, Compositions, Applications, and Prospects for the Future
Authors: Singh Narinder , Raza Jehangeer , Colangelo Francesco , Farina Ilenia
Published: October 2024

Currently, the environment and its natural resources face many issues related to the depletion of natural resources, in addition to the increase in environmental pollution resulting from uncontrolled waste disposal. Therefore, it is crucial to identify practical and effective ways to utilize these wastes, such as transforming them into environmentally friendly concrete. Artificial lightweight aggregates (ALWAs) are gaining interest because of their shift in focus from natural aggregates. Researchers have developed numerous ALWAs to eliminate the need for natural aggregates. This article explores the diverse applications of ALWAs across different industries. ALWAs are currently in the research phase due to various limitations compared to the availability of the various natural aggregates that form more durable solutions. However, researchers have discovered that certain artificial aggregates prioritize weight over strength, allowing for the effective use of ALWAs in applications like pavements. We thoroughly studied the various ALWAs discussed in this article and found that fly ash and construction waste are the most diverse sources of primary material for ALWAs. However, the production of these aggregates also presents challenges in terms of processing and optimization. This article’s case study reveals that ALWAs, consisting of 80% fly ash, 5% blast-furnace slag, and only 15% cement, can yield a sustainable solution. In the single- and double-step palletization, the aggregate proved to be less environmentally harmful. Additionally, the production of ALWAs has a reduced carbon footprint due to the recycling of various waste materials, including aggregates derived from fly ash, marble sludge, and ground granulated blast-furnace slag. Despite their limited mechanical strength, the aggregates exhibit superior performance, making them suitable for use in high-rise buildings and landscapes. Researchers have found that composition plays a key role in determining the application-based properties of aggregates. This article also discusses environmental and sustainability considerations, as well as future trends in the LWA field. Simultaneously, recycling ALWAs can reduce waste and promote sustainable construction. However, this article discusses and researches the challenges associated with the production and processing of ALWAs.
Photovoltaic Modules’ Cleaning Method Selection for the MENA Region
Authors: Abuzaid Haneen , Awad Mahmoud , Shamayleh Abdulrahim
Published: October 2024

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are important components of the global shift towards sustainable energy resources, utilizing solar energy to generate electricity. However, the efficiency and performance of PV systems heavily rely on cleanliness, as dust accumulation can significantly obstruct their effectiveness over time. This study undertook a comprehensive literature review and carried out multiple interviews with experts in the PV systems field to propose a map for selecting the optimal PV cleaning method for PV systems within MENA region. These factors, covering meteorological conditions, the local environment, PV system design, module characteristics, dust deposition attributes, exposure time to dust, and socio-economic and environmental considerations, were employed as criteria in a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) model, specifically, an Analytic Network Process (ANP). The results indicate that partially automated cleaning is the most suitable method for existing utility-scale PV projects in the MENA region. The findings provide robust guidelines for PV system stakeholders, aiding informed decision-making and enhancing the sustainability of PV cleaning processes.
How Students’ Well-Being, Education for Sustainable Development, and Sustainable Development Relate: A Case of Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University
Authors: Abdelrahim Yousif , Zafer Aliah
Published: October 2024

This study investigates how students’ well-being relates to sustainable development and education for sustainable development at Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, Saudi Arabia. The authors endeavor to answer the question “How Does Students’ Well-Being Relate to Sustainable Development Via Education for Sustainable Development?” and four sub-questions. The authors used primary data collected by semi-structured interviews exploring the viewpoints of twenty-six female and male students (n = 26) aged between 18 and 25. These interviewees, who are Saudi senior business students, have played a crucial role in our study. As revealed in the content and thematic analysis results, their insights have identified additional well-being and education for sustainable development antecedents that influence sustainable education and, therefore, sustainable development. In addition to this study’s new well-being and education for sustainable development factors, this study also developed a theoretical model for the relationship between antecedents for education for sustainable development factors, education for sustainable development, and sustainable development in the Saudi context. Moreover, this study’s outcomes guide educational institutions to link students’ education for sustainable development to their inner well-being and that on campus, which requires instructors’ awareness and training to help them deliver knowledge, skills, and emotional intelligence that improve students’ well-being, and therefore, education for sustainable development.
International Law and Regulation of Marine Microplastics: Current Situation, Problems, and Development
Authors: Yang Xin , Zhou Yi , Li Yincheng , Wang Siming
Published: October 2024

The severe global hazards posed by marine microplastics must be given attention. This study evaluated the current international legal framework, and offers forward-looking recommendations for enhancing international law. The analysis began by examining the unique characteristics and profound impacts of marine microplastics, underscoring the necessity of a corresponding international regulatory regime. Through a thorough review of the existing global and regional legal instruments—both soft and hard laws—we identified key issues and challenges in the international legal response to marine microplastics, particularly in terms of legislation and enforcement mechanisms. The study emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened international legislation, including the potential development of a specialized international treaty, and calls for the enhancement of compliance mechanisms to effectively combat marine microplastic pollution and support the broader goal of sustainable development.
Analysis of Leisure Activities and Residential Intentions in Depopulated Areas: A Case Study of Wajima City, Ishikawa Prefecture
Authors: Mashio Taiki , Morisaki Yuma , Fujiu Makoto
Published: October 2024

Population outflow from rural areas represents a significant social issue in Japan. Data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications suggest that insufficient leisure options contribute to rural residents’ decisions to relocate. This study aims to examine the relationship between subjective well-being and the intention to reside in a specific region, considering the diversity of leisure activities available to rural residents. Our findings indicate that enhancing leisure activities improves subjective well-being but does not necessarily strengthen residents’ intentions to reside in the area. Notably, those partaking in wider areas for leisure activities exhibited a lower inclination to stay in the region. This study contributes to the understanding necessary for developing sustainable rural societies.
Long-Term Effects of Thinning in Sub-Mountainous Thermophilic Sessile Oak (Quercus petraea Mill.) and European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Coppices in the Croatian Dinarides
Authors: Đodan Martina , Nicolescu Valeriu-Norocel , Perić Sanja , Jazbec Anamarija , Bartlett Debbie
Published: October 2024

Coppicing has been neglected in recent decades, leaving gaps in knowledge on silvicultural interventions, especially the long-term effects on coppices of Southeast Europe. The recent economic crisis, the sudden increase in energy prices, and the increased demand for assorted wood products have initiated higher interest in coppices in Croatia. Thus, our work aims to define the long-term effects of thinning in sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) sub-mountainous thermophilic low coppices in the Croatian Dinarides. The experiment includes two localities with thinning and control plots. Thinning was performed in 2002, with 17.71% of wood volume removed in the European beech coppice and 26.09% in the sessile oak coppice. In 2020, 1276 trees were marked, measured (DBH, tree height, number of stems per stump), and assessed for vitality, origin, and six silvicultural features revealing tree quality. In 2022, trees were again measured (DBH, tree height) to gain data on tree growth. Conventional data analysis methods were used. The results show a statistically significant positive long-term effect of thinning on tree growth, stem, and crown features and support findings that thinning, by increasing growth and quality, is a necessary intervention in European beech and sessile oak low coppices. Thinning promoted the healthiest and best quality trees/stems, resulting in a more valuable range of wood products and the potential for higher income. It had a positive impact on tree growth regardless of the tree’s origin (seed or stump) and improved the growth and quality of trees among the supporting tree species. Short-term effects of thinning in trial plots suggested that thinning supported tree species diversity, but this effect diminished over time, showing no positive effect after twenty years. The study points to the need for more frequent thinning in coppices to support tree species diversity (i.e., to allow growth to less competitive tree species) but underlines the need for further research.
Environmental Accounting and Sustainability: A Meta-Synthesis
Authors: Sundarasen Sheela , Rajagopalan Usha , Alsmady Ahnaf Ali
Published: October 2024

This study conducts a comprehensive meta-synthesis of review-based research on environmental accounting, spanning from 1995 to 2024. Environmental accounting, also known as green accounting, has evolved as a critical tool for integrating sustainability into corporate financial practices. Using bibliometric methods via Bibliometrix R-package (Biblioshiny—Version 4.2.0) and VOSviewer (Version 1.6.20), the research mainly examines scholarly discussion in review-based studies and identifies dominant themes. The main clusters identified are (1) environmental audits and management, (2) green accounting, financial reporting and sustainable development, (3) CSR, stakeholder engagement, and accountability, and (4) environmental accounting and protection. On the descriptive end, publication trends, prominent authors, articles, and sources are identified. The findings highlight a significant increase in review-based studies since 2022, coinciding with the growing global awareness and importance of sustainability. This study contributes to the field by consolidating fragmented research on environmental accounting, offering a framework for future academic exploration. Practically, it informs policymakers and business leaders on the importance of unified reporting standards across regions; integrating environmental considerations into financial decision-making; promoting transparency, accountability, and sustainability accounting; and disclosure across industries and regions.
The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Adoption Intensity on Corporate Sustainability Performance: The Moderated Mediation Effect of Organizational Change
Authors: Li Jiachen , Jin Xiu
Published: October 2024

With the rapid development of the economy and society, enterprises are increasingly prioritizing environmental and social sustainability alongside economic benefits. As a critical driver of technological innovation, the effective application of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance corporate sustainability performance has garnered considerable attention from both academia and industry. This study explores the impact of AI adoption intensity on corporate sustainability performance, with a particular focus on the mediating role of organizational change and its moderated mediation effect. Employing an empirical analysis approach, this study collected 451 employee survey responses from manufacturing enterprises. The results indicate that AI adoption intensity substantially enhances corporate sustainability performance, reflected in comprehensive improvements in economic, environmental, and social benefits. Furthermore, organizational change serves as a crucial mediator between AI adoption and sustainability performance, with this mediation effect moderated by internal and external environmental factors. The study finds that enterprises with high digital capabilities and innovative cultures are more effective in leveraging AI to enhance sustainability performance. This suggests that in promoting AI applications, enterprises should not only focus on technology adoption but also emphasize internal organizational change and the development of digital capabilities to fully achieve sustainability goals. Through empirical analysis, this study provides an in-depth understanding of the application paths and mechanisms of AI in corporate sustainability, offering a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for corporate managers in strategy and policymaking.
Remote Sensing of Residential Landscape Irrigation in Weber County, Utah: Implications for Water Conservation, Image Analysis, and Drone Applications
Authors: Turman Annelise M. , Sowby Robert B. , Williams Gustavious P. , Hansen Neil C.
Published: October 2024

Analyzing irrigation patterns to promote efficient water use in urban areas is challenging. Analysis of irrigation by remote sensing (AIRS) combines multispectral aerial imagery, evapotranspiration data, and ground-truth measurements to overcome these challenges. We demonstrate AIRS on eight neighborhoods in Weber County, Utah, using 0.6 m National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) and 0.07 m drone imagery, reference evapotranspiration (ET), and water use records. We calculate the difference between the actual and hypothetical water required for each parcel and compare water use over three time periods (2018, 2021, and 2023). We find that the quantity of overwatering, as well as the number of customers overwatering, is decreasing over time. AIRS provides repeatable estimates of irrigated area and irrigation demand that allow water utilities to track water user habits and landscape changes over time and, when controlling for other variables, see if water conservation efforts are effective. In terms of image analysis, we find that (1) both NAIP and drone imagery are sufficient to measure irrigated area in urban settings, (2) the selection of a threshold value for the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) becomes less critical for higher-resolution imagery, and (3) irrigated area measurement can be enhanced by combining NDVI with other tools such as building footprint extraction, object classification, and deep learning.
Role of Innovation, Policy, Social Media, and Environmental Munificence for Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Punjab, India
Authors: Kansra Pooja , Oberoi Sumit , Singh Nripendra , Choi Hayeon (Hailey)
Published: October 2024

Sustainable ecotourism is tourism that meets the prerequisites of responsible travel and environmental conservation and improves the financial well-being of local businesses. This study investigates the role of ecotourism policy, innovation, and social media as direct antecedents of sustainable ecotourism development and the moderating role of environmental philanthropy. A quantitative process was used, and existing validated scales were used to develop the survey instrument. A partial least squares path modeling technique was utilized to test the model. The study results show that ecotourism policy, innovation, and social media significantly influence ecotourism development, and environmental munificence determines the moderating role. This study suggests that tourism firms and local businesses should focus more on innovations and their applications. The role of social media and influences should also be extensively promoted amongst locals, tourists, and firms to achieve sustainable ecotourism development. This study extends the research by using the sustainable tourism theory as the theoretical foundation and validating the moderating role of environmental munificence between innovation and sustainable ecotourism development.
Multiple Paths to Green Building Popularization Under the TOE Framework—A Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Fuzzy Sets Based on 26 Chinese Cities
Authors: Wang Xiaokang , Zhu Li , Tang Yue , Deng Haoyu , Wang Haolong
Published: October 2024

Green buildings are a crucial element in achieving sustainable development. The use of green buildings can save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Promoting the widespread adoption of green buildings has become a significant concern in many countries or regions. Although previous studies have identified a range of key factors influencing the promotion of green buildings, further analysis of the combination of these critical factors needs to be conducted. Therefore, based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework, this study utilizes the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method to analyze survey data from 26 cities in China, resulting in four high-level configuration paths for the widespread adoption of green buildings. The results indicate that (1) achieving high levels of widespread adoption of green buildings does not depend on any single factor; instead, it relies on the collaborative interaction of multiple elements across technological, organizational, and environmental dimensions; (2) the potential substitution relationships between conditional variables among different configurations within the TOE framework indicate that science and technology expenditure and gross domestic product play more significant roles in the path combinations for the promotion of green buildings; (3) through the study of the substitutive relationships of four configuration paths, it was found that when a city faces challenges in the widespread adoption of green buildings, such as an insufficient number of green building technology patents or underdeveloped green finance incentive systems, it can still achieve efficient green building adoption by formulating corresponding policies and enhancing cultural value guidance for groups like developers, contractors, and consumers. Conversely, the same is true. This paper explores the combination of critical factors in green building adoption, providing insights into addressing the differing foundational conditions of cities in the process.
Appreciative Inquiry into Implementing Artificial Intelligence for the Development of Language Student Teachers
Authors: Al-Nofaie Haifa , Alwerthan Tarik Abdulkreem
Published: October 2024

The current study investigates the perceptions of four student teachers of implementing AI tools for designing ELT lessons into their microteaching sessions. The professional development of student teachers achieved via adapting AI tools has not been widely investigated, since the majority of available studies focus on the students’ learning of language skills with AI tools. This study follows the appreciative inquiry approach that emphasises positive teaching practices, aiming to foster sustainable professional development. The participants of the study were MA student teachers studying the Advanced Teaching Practicum course at a Saudi university over one academic semester. Their experiences of designing ELT lessons for their microteaching sessions were reflected upon in reflective journals and a BlackBoard forum. The qualitative analyses of the journals, the forum and lesson plans revealed that the participants appreciated using AI tools, despite the few challenges that occurred. This study demonstrates the participants’ independent efforts that led them to use AI tools that have not been addressed by ELT researchers. The authors hope that this study will enrich ELT practices, assist AI designers in developing their designs by understanding teachers’ experiences and contribute to a sustainable educational future.
Mapping of FinTech Ecosystem to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Saudi Arabia’s Landscape
Authors: Noreen Umara
Published: October 2024

Financial technology (FinTech) has become an indispensable part of most of the business infrastructure around the world. The FinTech ecosystem provides this solution by providing a suitable environment for all financial techno services to synergize. This paper explores the relationship between FinTech programs in Saudi Arabia and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights how these financial technology initiatives contribute to various SDGs by providing innovative solutions that enhance financial inclusion, improve access to essential services, and foster economic growth. Specifically, the study identifies connections between FinTech programs and SDG goals 1 (No Poverty), 2 (Zero Hunger), 5 (Gender Equality), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Through these linkages, this paper demonstrates the role of FinTech in promoting sustainable development and supporting national and global efforts to achieve these crucial objectives. Secondary data were collected from published reports, institutional and governmental websites, official portals, and research papers focusing on the companies operating in Saudi Arabia. It was found that FinTech in Saudi Arabia is addressing SDGs goals 1, 2, 5, 8 and 17. This paper further endeavors to map specific SDG indicators to the products and services provided by FinTech companies in Saudi Arabia. By doing so, it seeks to identify the areas where these technological solutions directly support the achievement of sustainable development targets. This comprehensive analysis is intended to be a valuable resource for institutions and policymakers in the FinTech industry. It provides insights into how these companies can align their offerings more closely with the SDG framework, thereby addressing any existing gaps. The findings aim to aid in the global agenda of eradicating poverty and promoting sustainable development opportunities by leveraging FinTech innovations.
Constraint of d = 8 Lorentz Invariance Violation with New Experimental Design
Authors: Jin Tao , Li Jia-Rui , Tan Yu-Jie , Wang Pan-Pan , Qin Cheng-Gang , Shao Cheng-Gang
Published: October 2024

Short-range gravity experiments are more suitable for the testing of high-order Lorentz symmetry breaking effects. In our previous work, we proposed a new experimental design based on precision torsion balance technology to test the Lorentz violation force effect that varies inversely with the fourth power of distance (corresponding to mass dimension d = 6 term), and the corresponding experiment is currently underway. In this paper, we focus on analyzing the potential of this experimental scheme to test the Lorentz violation force that varies inversely with the sixth power of distance (corresponding to mass dimension d = 8 term). The results show that, compared with the current best limit, the new experimental scheme can improve the constraints on the Lorentz violation coefficients with d = 8 by at least one order of magnitude.
A Fourth-Order Tensorial Wiener Filter Using the Conjugate Gradient Method
Authors: Dogariu Laura-Maria , Costea Ruxandra-Liana , Paleologu Constantin , Benesty Jacob
Published: October 2024

The recently developed iterative Wiener filter using a fourth-order tensorial (FOT) decomposition owns appealing performance in the identification of long length impulse responses. It relies on the nearest Kronecker product representation (with particular intrinsic symmetry features), together with low-rank approximations. Nevertheless, this new iterative filter requires matrix inversion operations when solving the Wiener–Hopf equations associated with the component filters. In this communication, we propose a computationally efficient version that relies on the conjugate gradient (CG) method for solving these sets of equations. The proposed solution involves a specific initialization of the component filters and sequential connections between the CG cycles. Different FOT-based decomposition setups are also analyzed from the point of view of the resulting parameter space. Experimental results obtained in the context of echo cancellation confirm the good behavior of the proposed approach and its superiority in comparison to the conventional Wiener filter and other decomposition-based versions.
Integrated Scheduling of Handling Equipment in Automated Container Terminal Considering Quay Crane Faults
Authors: Li Taoying , Dong Quanyu , Sun Xulei
Published: October 2024

Quay cranes (QCs) play a vital role in automated container terminals (ACTs), and once a QC malfunctions, it will seriously affect the operation efficiency of ships being loaded and unloaded by the QC. In this study, we investigate an integrated scheduling problem of quay cranes (QCs), yard cranes (YCs), and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) under QC faults, which is aimed at minimizing the loading and unloading time by determining the range of adjacent operational QCs of the faulty QCs and reallocating unfinished container handling tasks of QCs. A mixed integer programming model is formulated to dispatch QCs, YCs, and AGVs in ACTs. To solve the model, an adaptive two-stage NSGA-II algorithm is proposed. Numerical experiments show that the proposed algorithm can significantly reduce the impact of faulty QCs on productivity while maintaining its synchronous loading and unloading efficiency. The sensitivity analysis of ship scale, location, and number of faulty QCs indicates that the number of faulty QCs has a greater influence on the loading and unloading efficiency than their locations, and the impact of faulty QCs on the efficiency of small-scale ships is greater than that of large-scale ships.
Supply Chain Integration Capability, Intra-Cluster Co-Opetition Strategy, and Breakthrough Innovation: The Moderating Effect of Environmental Turbulence
Authors: Wang Jianping , Wang Senqiang
Published: October 2024

Under the frequent occurrence of external environmental risks and in the context of breakthrough innovations driving new quality productivity, this study explores the intrinsic mechanisms by which supply chain integration affects enterprise breakthrough innovation. Grounded in supply chain integration and breakthrough innovation theories, we used statistical methods to analyze data from a sample of 209 valid enterprises. The study systematically interprets these mechanisms from the perspective of competition and examines the moderating effect of external environmental turbulence on competitive strategy. The results demonstrate that supply chain integration capability significantly and positively influences breakthrough innovation, with vertical and horizontal competing strategies acting as mediators. Additionally, environmental turbulence positively moderates the relationship between supply chain integration capability and horizontal competing strategies. The results of the study are of great theoretical and practical significance in promoting the integration of enterprises’ supply chains and enhancing their sustainable innovation capabilities.
RETRACTED: Galeoto et al. Assessment Capacity of the Armeo® Power: Cross-Sectional Study. Technologies 2023, 11, 125
Authors: Galeoto Giovanni , Berardi Anna , Mangone Massimiliano , Tufo Leonardo , Silvani Martina , González-Bernal Jerónimo , Seco-Calvo Jesús
Published: October 2024

The Technologies Editoral Office retracts the article titled “Assessment Capacity of the Armeo® Power: Cross-Sectional Study” [...]
Enhancing Analytical Potential for Ultratrace Analysis of Inorganic Oxyanions Using Extraction Procedures with Layered Double Hydroxides
Authors: Hagarová Ingrid , Andruch Vasil
Published: October 2024

This article provides an overview of the use of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as effective sorbents in various extraction methods, including column-based solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive solid-phase extraction (DSPE), and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), for the separation and preconcentration of inorganic oxyanions of chromium, arsenic, and selenium. The primary focus is on enhancing the analytical performance of spectrometric detection techniques, particularly in terms of sensitivity and selectivity when analyzing low concentrations of target analytes in complex matrices. LDHs, which can be readily prepared and structurally modified with various substances, offer promising potential for the development of novel analytical methods. When used in analytical extraction procedures and following careful optimization of experimental conditions, the developed methods have yielded satisfactory results, as documented by studies reviewed in this paper. This review is intended to assist analytical chemists in scientific laboratories involved in developing new extraction procedures.
Occurrence and Fate Analysis of Mycotoxins in Maize During the Post-Harvest Period
Authors: Zheng Yajie , Wu Wenfu , Sun Changpo , Liu Hujun , Dou Jianpeng
Published: October 2024

The consumption of agricultural products contaminated with mycotoxins poses a significant threat to the health of both humans and animals. Maize frequently becomes contaminated with toxic fungi while it is still growing in the field. Therefore, more proactive measures should be implemented to reduce mycotoxin levels during the storage and processing of maize after harvest. This article analyzes the prevalent mycotoxins found in maize, specifically aflatoxins, ochratoxins, trichothecenes, fumonisins, and zearalenone. The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the occurrence of mycotoxins in maize during storage, as well as fate analysis of them during processing. It summarizes the impacts of storage time, environmental conditions, storage methods, and agricultural practices on mycotoxin occurrence during storage in the post-harvest period. Furthermore, the different distribution of mycotoxins across various fractions during both dry- and wet-milling processes in the post-harvest processing period is analyzed. Additionally, the strategies to control mycotoxins in maize are also proposed during the post-harvest period. This review offers valuable insights for future research on mycotoxin contamination in maize during the post-harvest period.
Leveraging the Interplanetary Superhighway for Propellant–Optimal Orbit Insertion into Saturn–Titan System
Authors: Papalia Giuseppe , Conte Davide
Published: October 2024

This paper presents an innovative approach using Dynamical Systems Theory (DST) for interplanetary orbit insertion into Saturn−Titan three−body orbits. By leveraging DST, this study identifies invariant manifolds guiding a spacecraft into Titan−centered Distant Retrograde Orbits (DROs), strategically selected for their scientific significance. Subsequently, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is employed to fine−tune the insertion parameters, thereby minimizing ΔV. The results demonstrate that the proposed method allows for a reduction in ΔV of over 70% compared to conventional approaches like patched conics−based flybys (2.68 km/s vs. 9.23 km/s), albeit with an extended time of flight, which remains notably faster than weak stability boundary transfers. This paper serves as an interplanetary mission planning methodology to optimize spacecraft trajectories for the exploration of the Saturn−Titan system.
Community Engagement in the Management of Urban Green Spaces: Prospects from a Case Study in an Emerging Economy
Authors: Bressane Adriano , Loureiro Anna Isabel Silva , Almendra Ricardo
Published: October 2024

Urban green spaces (UGSs) play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life in cities, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions such as the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). However, significant challenges related to equitable management and access persist, often exacerbated by socio-environmental inequalities. While much of the existing literature on UGS management focuses on developed economies, there is a gap in our understanding of how community engagement influences UGS outcomes in emerging economies, which face unique socio-economic and infrastructural constraints. This study addresses this gap by investigating the impact of community engagement on UGS management in the MRSP, specifically examining how increased participation correlates with improved UGS access and reduced socio-environmental inequality. Utilizing survey data from 33 municipal environmental departments across the MRSP, this research applied correlation tests, generalized linear models, and a non-parametric analysis of variance to evaluate the relationships between community engagement, UGS coverage, and inequality. The findings reveal a moderate positive correlation between community engagement and UGS coverage, alongside a negative correlation with socio-environmental inequality. Increased levels of community participation were associated with greater access to UGSs and a reduction in disparities across socio-economic groups. These results underscore the potential of fostering community involvement in UGS management to promote urban equity and environmental sustainability in emerging economies, particularly through institutional support and transparent information sharing. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term effects of sustained community engagement and incorporate qualitative data from community members to provide a more comprehensive analysis of participatory processes. Additionally, expanding the scope of analysis to include informal and private green spaces will offer a more holistic understanding of urban greening dynamics.
Real-Time Monitoring of Visitor Carrying Capacity in Crowded Historic Streets Through Digital Technologies
Authors: Viñals María José , Orozco Carpio Patricio R. , Teruel Penélope , Gandía-Romero José M.
Published: October 2024

This paper addresses methodological issues related to the identification and monitoring of visitor overcrowding and congestion situations in historic centres. Once the visitor carrying capacity was estimated for public spaces, taking into consideration the standards of quality and comfort for visitor experience and those related to the desired conditions for heritage assets’ conservation, digital real-time monitoring tools were implemented in an experimental urban area in Valencia, Spain, in order to know, through the establishment of proxemic triggers, when the standards were violated (or may soon be violated); then, the carrying capacity was exceeded, and management actions may be required. The results show that these digital monitoring tools are very efficient and accurate in micro-scale public spaces, user-friendly and affordably priced.
Determining the Effectiveness of Interventions for the Reduction of Child Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution at Schools in England
Authors: Brown Louis , Hayes Enda , Barnes Jo
Published: October 2024

Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is a significant risk to human health and is particularly damaging to children as a vulnerable group. TRAP exposure near schools and on the school commute is linked to a growing number of adverse health effects, including respiratory and cardiovascular disease and can lead to (and exacerbate existing) respiratory conditions. The current study aimed to assess the effectiveness of interventions for the reduction of potential child exposure to TRAP at the school gates and on the school commute. This study employed dispersion modelling to assess the effects of interventions for reducing TRAP concentrations in the vicinity of five schools in England. The results revealed that all interventions led to reductions in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations. Improved travel routes were the most effective intervention for reducing concentrations along travel routes, while the introduction of low-emission zones (LEZs) proved most effective in reducing NO2 concentrations at schools, with greater effectiveness observed at shorter distances. Active travel also demonstrated effectiveness, particularly in areas with heavy traffic. When considering all receptors, LEZ implementation, active travel, and rideshare interventions exhibited effectiveness, with greater distance providing greater reductions in NO2 concentrations. Anti-idling was found to be more effective in sparsely populated areas. Combined with improved travel routes, anti-idling showed the greatest percentage difference in concentrations, followed by active travel, and rideshare.
Concluding Remarks for the Special Issue on RNA Viruses and Antibody Response, Second Edition
Authors: Yu Heng , He Jianning , Kam Yiu-Wing
Published: October 2024

The emergence and re-emergence of RNA viruses pose a constant, significant global health problem [...]
Camel Whey Protein Attenuates Acute Heat Stress-Induced Kidney Injury in Rats by Up-Regulating CYP2J Activity and Activating PI3K/AKT/eNOS to Inhibit Oxidative Stress
Authors: Jing Xiaoxia , Du Donghua , Hou Bin , Zhan Deng , Hasi Surong
Published: October 2024

Camel whey protein (CWP) is a potent natural antioxidant, noted for its abundance of antioxidant amino acids. Despite its promising properties, the precise mechanisms underlying its effects remain inadequately explored. This study aims to investigate the impact of CWP on kidney damage induced by acute heat stress in rats, as well as to elucidate its mechanism of action. We assessed CWP’s influence on cytochrome P450 2J (CYP2J) activity during heat stress, measured oxidative stress levels, and evaluated renal injury using CYP2J knockout rats. Our findings indicate that acute heat stress reduces CYP2J expression, while CWP administration restores CYP2J activity and enhances PI3K/Akt signaling. However, CWP did not mitigate oxidative stress-induced kidney damage in CYP2J−/− rats, suggesting the necessity of CYP2J for its protective effects.
Current Progress on Antibiotic Resistance Genes Removal by Composting in Sewage Sludge: Influencing Factors and Possible Mechanisms
Authors: Basil Shava , Zhu Chun , Huo Zongli , Xu Sai
Published: October 2024

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) present in sewage sludge pose significant environmental and public health challenges. Composting has emerged as a promising method to mitigate these risks by reducing ARGs. This review paper evaluated the current progress in the removal of ARGs through composting, incorporating a bibliometric analysis of 228 publications from January 2010 to January 2024. This review highlights the increasing scholarly interest in this field, with a notable rise in publications since 2010. Key mechanisms identified include the denaturation of proteins and DNA at high temperatures, the adsorption of antibiotics and heavy metals by additives like biochar, and shifts in microbial communities, all contributing to the reduction of ARGs during composting. Despite these findings, challenges remain in achieving consistent ARG removal rates, addressing the potential for ARG regrowth, and understanding horizontal gene transfer post-composting. This review suggests further research into optimizing composting conditions and integrating additional treatment methods to enhance ARG removal and minimize associated risks.
Defining and Mitigating Flow Instabilities in Open Channels Subjected to Hydropower Operation: Formulations and Experiments
Authors: Tavares Miguel , Pérez-Sánchez Modesto , Coronado-Hernández Oscar E. , Kuriqi Alban , Ramos Helena M.
Published: October 2024

A thorough literature review was conducted on the effects of free surface oscillation in open channels, highlighting the risks of the occurrence of positive and negative surge waves that can lead to overtopping. Experimental analyses were developed to focus on the instability of the flow due to constrictions, gate blockages, and the start-up and shutdown of hydropower plants. A forebay at the downstream end of a tunnel or canal provides the right conditions for the penstock inlet and regulates the temporary demand of the turbines. In tests with a flow of 60 to 100 m3/h, the effects of a gradually and rapidly varying flow in the free surface profile were analyzed. The specific energy and total momentum are used in the mathematical characterization of the boundaries along the free surface water profile. A sudden turbine stoppage or a sudden gate or valve closure can lead to hydraulic drilling and overtopping of the infrastructure wall. At the same time, a PID controller, if programmed appropriately, can reduce flooding by 20–40%. Flooding is limited to 0.8 m from an initial amplitude of 2 m, with a dissipation wave time of between 25 and 5 s, depending on the flow conditions and the parameters of the PID characteristics.
Assessment of Water Status, Bottom Sediments, Macrophytes in the Light of Index Analysis and Geochemical Parameters of Selected Dam Reservoirs of Kielce Upland (Poland)
Authors: Świercz Anna , Tomczyk-Wydrych Ilona
Published: October 2024

Concentrations of trace elements such as Cr, Zn, Cd, Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Fe were investigated in water, bottom sediments, and macrophytes (Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia L.) collected from the Borków, Wilków, and Rejów water reservoirs in the Kielce Upland (Poland). The main objective of this study was to investigate the condition of water, bottom sediments, and macrophytes in selected three sedimentary basins of the Kielce Upland and to identify natural and anthropogenic factors influencing this condition. The secondary objectives were (i) to determine the contents of trace metals in water, bottom sediments, and macrophytes, (ii) to assess the quality of abiotic and biotic elements of the ecosystem based on selected criteria, (iii) to compare reservoirs in terms of pollution, and (iv) to determine the ability of macrophytes to be used as a bioindicator of water/sediment pollution. Field tests were conducted in 2021. The trace metals in water were determined by ETAAS (Cr, Cd, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb) and FAAS (Zn), and spectrophotometry method (Fe). The trace metals in sediments and macrophytes, including Cr, Zn, Cd, Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Fe, were detected using ICP-OES method. Contamination of bottom sediments with potentially toxic metals was determined based on the geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), and pollutant load index (PLI). Statistical analyses were performed using the Statistica PL 13.1. The analyses showed that the accumulation of trace elements in the surface layer of the reservoir sediments increases as follows: in Borków, Cd < Co < Ni < Cu < Pb < Cr < Zn < Mn < Fe; in Wilków, Cd < Co < Cu < Ni < Pb < Cr < Zn < Mn < Fe; and in Rejow, Cd < Co = Cu = Ni = Pb < Zn < Cr < Mn < Fe. It was shown that the average distribution of metals in the bottom sediments of the studied reservoirs was as follows: Borków > Wilków > Rejów. Research has shown that the degree of trace metal accumulation increases as follows: water < sediments < macrophytes (except Pb from the reservoir in Borków).
Modeling Three-Dimensional Exfiltration Rates from Permeable Street Stormwater Inlets as One-Dimensional Water Flux in Urban Hydrological Models
Authors: Iinuma Ryuga , Harada Shigeki , Yamauchi Nana
Published: October 2024

Climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of weather systems, increasing the risk of inundation in urban areas. To mitigate these risks, not only rivers but also entire catchments need to be managed, and the use of infiltration and retention units needs to be expanded. The ability to evaluate the effects of promoting infiltration and retention in catchments using distributed hydrological models, clarify the three-dimensional behavior of exfiltration from catchments into natural base soils, and parameterize this flow as a one-dimensional hypothetical water flux is essential. Using VGFlow2D (Forum8) and field observations, numerical analyses were conducted to parametrize the flux and assess the features of q/Ks values, representing the volume of three-dimensional water exfiltration from stormwater inlet bases into natural soils relative to the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks) of the soils. The findings were integrated into the hydrological model Infoworks ICM (Innovyze) by adding a single parameter, the “exfiltration loss rate”, to each inlet without increasing computational demands. The obtained q/Ks values were compared to previously reported values, and variations were evaluated using infiltration theory.
Risk Assessment of Urban Water and Energy Supply Using Copula Function: A Water–Energy Nexus Approach in an Arid City
Authors: Goodarzi Mohammad Reza , Sabaghzadeh Maryam , Mousavi Samane Al-sadat , Niazkar Majid
Published: October 2024

Planning for the future of water and energy supply systems in urban areas requires a thorough assessment of associated risks. In this study, monthly water and energy demand data from 2011 to 2022 in an arid city was used to predict the corresponding demands from 2023 to 2032 using the seasonal auto-regressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) method. The aim is to estimate future water and energy supply risks both individually and jointly, using cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) derived from historical data. The main focus is to calculate the combined risk of water and energy, referred to as the water–energy nexus (WEN) risk. Based on the interdependent relationship between water and energy, the Copula function was utilized to model the bivariate distribution between these two variables. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a strong correlation between water and energy supplies. Among the distributions fitted to the data, the log-normal and gamma distributions were the best fit for water supply and energy supply systems, respectively, with the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC) values. The Gumbel Copula, with a parameter of 1.66, was identified as the most suitable for modeling the joint distribution, yielding the lowest AIC value. The results indicate that the risks associated with energy supply, water supply, and their joint dependency could exceed 0.8% in the future, highlighting a potentially critical situation for the city. The trend analysis revealed that forecasted water and energy demands and their corresponding risks and the WEN risk are expected to have a significant upward trend in the future. Finally, local authorities need to explore alternative sources to supply water and energy in the future to address the ever-growing water and energy demands.