bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Part A: Biodegradable Bio-Composite Film Reinforced with Cellulose Nanocrystals from Chaetomorpha linum into Thermoplastic Starch Matrices
Authors: Alsufyani Taghreed , M’sakni Nour Houda
Published: March 2023

In recent years, macroalgae and microalgae have played a significant role in the production of organic matter, fiber, and minerals on Earth. They contribute to both technical and medicinal applications as well as being a healthy and nutritious food for humans and animals. The theme of this work concerns the development and exploitation of Chaetomorpha linum (C. linum) biomass, through the elaboration of a new starch-based composite film reinforced by cellulose nanocrystals (CL-CNC) derived from C. linum. The first step involves the chemical extraction of CL-CNC from dry C. linum algae biomass. To achieve this, three types of cyclic treatment were adopted: alkalinization (sodium hydroxide) followed by bleaching (sodium hypochlorite) and acid hydrolysis (hydrochloric acid). We then studied the optimization of the development of bio-composite films based on corn starch (CS) reinforced by CL-CNC. These polymeric films were produced using the solution-casting technique followed by the thermal evaporation process. Structure and interactions were modified by using different amounts of glycerol plasticizers (20% and 50%) and different CS:CNC ratios (7:3 and 8:2). These materials were characterized by UV visible (UV/Vis), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) spectroscopy to understand structure-property relationships. The result revealed that the best matrix composition is 7:3 (CS: CL-CNC) with 50% glycerol, which reflects that the reinforcing effect of CL-CNC was greater in bio-composites prepared with a 50% plasticizer, revealing the formation of hydrogen bonds between CL-CNC and CS.
The Study of Crystallization Behavior, Microcellular Structure and Thermal Properties of Glass-Fiber/Polycarbonate Composites
Authors: Wang Xinchao , Sun Yapeng , Hu Jiale , Wu Lan , Geng Tie , Guo Yonggang , Zhao Chenhao , Dong Binbin , Liu Chuntai
Published: March 2023

Polycarbonate (PC) foam is a versatile material with excellent properties, but its low thermal stability limits its application in high-temperature environments. The aim of this study was to improve the thermal stability of PC foam by adding glass fibers (GF) and to investigate the effect of GF on PC crystallization behavior and PC foam cell morphology. This study was motivated by the need to improve the performance of PC foams in various industries, such as construction, automotive, and medical. To achieve this goal, PC/GF composites were prepared by extrusion, and PC/GF composite foams were produced using a batch foaming process with supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) as the blowing agent. The results showed that the addition of GF accelerated the SC-CO2-induced crystallization stability of PC and significantly increased the cell density to 4.6 cells/cm3. In addition, the thermal stability of PC/GF foam was improved, with a significant increase in the residual carbon rate at 700 °C and a lower weight loss rate than PC matrix. Overall, this study highlights the potential of GF as a PC foam reinforcement and its effect on thermal and structural properties, providing guidance for industrial production and applications.
Production and Characterisation of an Exopolysaccharide by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens: Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Sánchez-León Enrique , Huang-Lin Elisa , Amils Ricardo , Abrusci Concepción
Published: March 2023

The Bacillus amyloliquefaciens RT7 strain was isolated from an extreme acidic environment and identified. The biodegradation capabilities of the strain using different carbon sources (glucose, oleic acid, Tween 80, PEG 200, and the combination of glucose–Tween 80) were evaluated via an indirect impedance technique. The glucose–Tween 80 combination was further studied using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The exopolysaccharide (EPSRT7) that had been produced with the strain when biodegrading glucose–Tween 80 was isolated and characterised using different techniques (GC–MS, HPLC/MSMS, ATR–FTIR, TGA, and DSC), and its molecular weight was estimated. The results show that the average molecular weight of EPSRT7 was approximately 7.0794 × 104 Da and a heteropolysaccharide composed of mannose, glucose, galactose, and xylose (molar ratio, 1:0.5:0.1:0.1) with good thermostability. EPSRT7 showed good emulsifying activity against different natural oils and hydrocarbons at high concentrations (2 mg/mL) and at the studied pH range (3.1–7.2). It also presented good emulsifying activity compared to that of commercial emulsifiers. Lastly, EPSRT7 showed antioxidant capacity for different free radicals, a lack of cytotoxicity, and antioxidant activity at the cellular level. EPSRT7 has promising applications in bioremediation processes and other industrial applications.
Coating Methods of Carbon Nonwovens with Cross-Linked Hyaluronic Acid and Its Conjugates with BMP Fragments
Authors: Magdziarz Sylwia , Boguń Maciej , Frączyk Justyna
Published: March 2023

The cross-linking of polysaccharides is a universal approach to affect their structure and physical properties. Both physical and chemical methods are used for this purpose. Although chemical cross-linking provides good thermal and mechanical stability for the final products, the compounds used as stabilizers can affect the integrity of the cross-linked substances or have toxic properties that limit the applicability of the final products. These risks might be mitigated by using physically cross-linked gels. In the present study, we attempted to obtain hybrid materials based on carbon nonwovens with a layer of cross-linked hyaluronan and peptides that are fragments of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). A variety of cross-linking procedures and cross-linking agents (1,4-butanediamine, citric acid, and BDDE) were tested to find the most optimal method to coat the hydrophobic carbon nonwovens with a hydrophilic hyaluronic acid (HA) layer. Both the use of hyaluronic acid chemically modified with BMP fragments and a physical modification approach (layer-by-layer method) were proposed. The obtained hybrid materials were tested with the spectrometric (MALDI-TOF MS) and spectroscopic methods (IR and 1H-NMR). It was found that the chemical cross-linking of polysaccharides is an effective method for the deposition of a polar active substance on the surface of a hydrophobic carbon nonwoven fabric and that the final material is highly biocompatible.
Feasibility Study on the Classification of Persimmon Trees’ Components Based on Hyperspectral LiDAR
Authors: Shao Hui , Wang Fuyu , Li Wei , Hu Peilun , Sun Long , Xu Chong , Jiang Changhui , Chen Yuwei
Published: March 2023

Intelligent management of trees is essential for precise production management in orchards. Extracting components’ information from individual fruit trees is critical for analyzing and understanding their general growth. This study proposes a method to classify persimmon tree components based on hyperspectral LiDAR data. We extracted nine spectral feature parameters from the colorful point cloud data and performed preliminary classification using random forest, support vector machine, and backpropagation neural network methods. However, the misclassification of edge points with spectral information reduced the accuracy of the classification. To address this, we introduced a reprogramming strategy by fusing spatial constraints with spectral information, which increased the overall classification accuracy by 6.55%. We completed a 3D reconstruction of classification results in spatial coordinates. The proposed method is sensitive to edge points and shows excellent performance for classifying persimmon tree components.
Steganography in IoT: Information Hiding with Joystick and Touch Sensors
Authors: Koptyra Katarzyna , Ogiela Marek R.
Published: March 2023

This paper describes a multi-secret steganographic system for the Internet-of-Things. It uses two user-friendly sensors for data input: thumb joystick and touch sensor. These devices are not only easy to use, but also allow hidden data entry. The system conceals multiple messages into the same container, but with different algorithms. The embedding is realized with two methods of video steganography that work on mp4 files, namely, videostego and metastego. These methods were chosen because of their low complexity so that they may operate smoothly in environments with limited resources. It is possible to replace the suggested sensors with others that offer similar functionality.
ADE-CycleGAN: A Detail Enhanced Image Dehazing CycleGAN Network
Authors: Yan Bingnan , Yang Zhaozhao , Sun Huizhu , Wang Conghui
Published: March 2023

The preservation of image details in the defogging process is still one key challenge in the field of deep learning. The network uses the generation of confrontation loss and cyclic consistency loss to ensure that the generated defog image is similar to the original image, but it cannot retain the details of the image. To this end, we propose a detail enhanced image CycleGAN to retain the detail information during the process of defogging. Firstly, the algorithm uses the CycleGAN network as the basic framework and combines the U-Net network’s idea with this framework to extract visual information features in different spaces of the image in multiple parallel branches, and it introduces Dep residual blocks to learn deeper feature information. Secondly, a multi-head attention mechanism is introduced in the generator to strengthen the expressive ability of features and balance the deviation produced by the same attention mechanism. Finally, experiments are carried out on the public data set D-Hazy. Compared with the CycleGAN network, the network structure of this paper improves the SSIM and PSNR of the image dehazing effect by 12.2% and 8.1% compared with the network and can retain image dehazing details.
Mapping with Monocular Camera Sensor under Adversarial Illumination for Intelligent Vehicles
Authors: Tian Wei , Wen Yongkun , Chu Xinning
Published: March 2023

High-precision maps are widely applied in intelligent-driving vehicles for localization and planning tasks. The vision sensor, especially monocular cameras, has become favoured in mapping approaches due to its high flexibility and low cost. However, monocular visual mapping suffers from great performance degradation in adversarial illumination environments such as on low-light roads or in underground spaces. To address this issue, in this paper, we first introduce an unsupervised learning approach to improve keypoint detection and description on monocular camera images. By emphasizing the consistency between feature points in the learning loss, visual features in dim environment can be better extracted. Second, to suppress the scale drift in monocular visual mapping, a robust loop-closure detection scheme is presented, which integrates both feature-point verification and multi-grained image similarity measurements. With experiments on public benchmarks, our keypoint detection approach is proven robust against varied illumination. With scenario tests including both underground and on-road driving, we demonstrate that our approach is able to reduce the scale drift in reconstructing the scene and achieve a mapping accuracy gain of up to 0.14 m in textureless or low-illumination environments.
Terahertz Cross-Correlation Spectroscopy and Imaging of Large-Area Graphene
Authors: Mølvig Bjørn Hübschmann , Bæk Thorsten , Ji Jie , Bøggild Peter , Lange Simon Jappe , Jepsen Peter Uhd
Published: March 2023

We demonstrate the use of a novel, integrated THz system to obtain time-domain signals for spectroscopy in the 0.1–1.4 THz range. The system employs THz generation in a photomixing antenna excited by a broadband amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) light source and THz detection with a photoconductive antenna by coherent cross-correlation sampling. We benchmark the performance of our system against a state-of-the-art femtosecond-based THz time-domain spectroscopy system in terms of mapping and imaging of the sheet conductivity of large-area graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and transferred to a PET polymer substrate. We propose to integrate the algorithm for the extraction of the sheet conductivity with the data acquisition, thereby enabling true in-line monitoring capability of the system for integration in graphene production facilities.
Present-Day Crustal Velocity Field in Ecuador from cGPS Position Time Series
Authors: Arias-Gallegos Alejandro , Borque-Arancón Mᵃ Jesús , Gil-Cruz Antonio J.
Published: March 2023

The present study analyzes the GNSS time series obtained between the years 2017 and 2022 for the calculation of absolute and residual rates of Ecuador in 10 stations (ABEC, CUEC, ECEC, EPEC, FOEC, GZEC, MUEC, PLEC, RIOP, SEEC, TPC) of the continuous monitoring REGME network. Considering that the latest studies refer to periods 2012–2014 and Ecuador is located in an area of high seismic activity, it is important to update the GNSS rates. The RINEX data were provided by the Military Geographic Institute of Ecuador, the governing institution of geoinformation in that country; for processing, GipsyX scientific software was used with a PPP mode, considering 24 h sessions, and high precision was achieved. For the analysis of time series, the SARI platform was used. The series was modeled using a least-squares adjustment, which delivered the velocities for each station in the three local topocentric components. The results were contrasted with other studies, obtaining interesting conclusions as the presence of abnormal post-seismic rates stands out due to the high rate of seismic occurrence in Ecuador, and reaffirms the idea of a constant update of velocities for the Ecuadorian territory and the inclusion of the stochastic factor in the analysis of GNSS time series, since it can affect the ability to obtain the final GNSS velocities.
Fusion of GNSS Pseudoranges with UWB Ranges Based on Clustering and Weighted Least Squares
Authors: Retscher Günther , Kiss Daniel , Gabela Jelena
Published: March 2023

Global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs) and ultra-wideband (UWB) ranging are two central research topics in the field of positioning and navigation. In this study, a GNSS/UWB fusion method is investigated in GNSS-challenged environments or for the transition between outdoor and indoor environments. UWB augments the GNSS positioning solution in these environments. GNSS stop-and-go measurements were carried out simultaneously to UWB range observations within the network of grid points used for testing. The influence of UWB range measurements on the GNSS solution is examined with three weighted least squares (WLS) approaches. The first WLS variant relies solely on the UWB range measurements. The second approach includes a measurement model that utilizes GNSS only. The third model fuses both approaches into a single multi-sensor model. As part of the raw data evaluation, static GNSS observations processed with precise ephemerides were used to define the ground truth. In order to extract the grid test points from the collected raw data in the measured network, clustering methods were applied. A self-developed clustering approach extending density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) was employed for this purpose. The results of the GNSS/UWB fusion approach show an improvement in positioning performance compared to the UWB-only approach, in the range of a few centimeters to the decimeter level when grid points were placed within the area enclosed by the UWB anchor points. However, grid points outside this area indicated a decrease in accuracy in the range of about 90 cm. The precision generally remained within 5 cm for points located within the anchor points.
Intraoperative Beat-to-Beat Pulse Transit Time (PTT) Monitoring via Non-Invasive Piezoelectric/Piezocapacitive Peripheral Sensors Can Predict Changes in Invasively Acquired Blood Pressure in High-Risk Surgical Patients
Authors: Nordine Michael , Pille Marius , Kraemer Jan , Berger Christian , Brandhorst Philipp , Kaeferstein Philipp , Kopetsch Roland , Wessel Niels , Trauzeddel Ralf Felix , Treskatsch Sascha
Published: March 2023

Background: Non-invasive tracking of beat-to-beat pulse transit time (PTT) via piezoelectric/piezocapacitive sensors (PES/PCS) may expand perioperative hemodynamic monitoring. This study evaluated the ability for PTT via PES/PCS to correlate with systolic, diastolic, and mean invasive blood pressure (SBPIBP, DBPIBP, and MAPIBP, respectively) and to detect SBPIBP fluctuations. Methods: PES/PCS and IBP measurements were performed in 20 patients undergoing abdominal, urological, and cardiac surgery. A Pearson’s correlation analysis (r) between 1/PTT and IBP was performed. The predictive ability of 1/PTT with changes in SBPIBP was determined by area under the curve (reported as AUC, sensitivity, specificity). Results: Significant correlations between 1/PTT and SBPIBP were found for PES (r = 0.64) and PCS (r = 0.55) (p < 0.01), as well as MAPIBP/DBPIBP for PES (r = 0.6/0.55) and PCS (r = 0.5/0.45) (p < 0.05). A 7% decrease in 1/PTTPES predicted a 30% SBPIBP decrease (0.82, 0.76, 0.76), while a 5.6% increase predicted a 30% SBPIBP increase (0.75, 0.7, 0.68). A 6.6% decrease in 1/PTTPCS detected a 30% SBPIBP decrease (0.81, 0.72, 0.8), while a 4.8% 1/PTTPCS increase detected a 30% SBPIBP increase (0.73, 0.64, 0.68). Conclusions: Non-invasive beat-to-beat PTT via PES/PCS demonstrated significant correlations with IBP and detected significant changes in SBPIBP. Thus, PES/PCS as a novel sensor technology may augment intraoperative hemodynamic monitoring during major surgery.
AoI-Aware Optimization of Service Caching-Assisted Offloading and Resource Allocation in Edge Cellular Networks
Authors: Feng Jialiang , Gong Jie
Published: March 2023

The rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT) has led to computational offloading at the edge; this is a promising paradigm for achieving intelligence everywhere. As offloading can lead to more traffic in cellular networks, cache technology is used to alleviate the channel burden. For example, a deep neural network (DNN)-based inference task requires a computation service that involves running libraries and parameters. Thus, caching the service package is necessary for repeatedly running DNN-based inference tasks. On the other hand, as the DNN parameters are usually trained in distribution, IoT devices need to fetch up-to-date parameters for inference task execution. In this work, we consider the joint optimization of computation offloading, service caching, and the AoI metric. We formulate a problem to minimize the weighted sum of the average completion delay, energy consumption, and allocated bandwidth. Then, we propose the AoI-aware service caching-assisted offloading framework (ASCO) to solve it, which consists of the method of Lagrange multipliers with the KKT condition-based offloading module (LMKO), the Lyapunov optimization-based learning and update control module (LLUC), and the Kuhn–Munkres (KM) algorithm-based channel-division fetching module (KCDF). The simulation results demonstrate that our ASCO framework achieves superior performance in regard to time overhead, energy consumption, and allocated bandwidth. It is verified that our ASCO framework not only benefits the individual task but also the global bandwidth allocation.
Study on Multi-Mode Switching Control Strategy of Active Suspension Based on Road Estimation
Authors: Liu Jianze , Liu Jiang , Li Yang , Wang Guangzheng , Yang Fazhan
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the least squares method is used to determine the vertical height of the road space domain. Based on the road estimation method, the active suspension control mode switching model is constructed, and the dynamic characteristics of the vehicle in comfort, safety, and integrated modes are analyzed. The vibration signal is collected by the sensor, and the parameters such as vehicle driving conditions are solved for in reverse. A control strategy for multiple mode switching under different road surfaces and speeds is constructed. At the same time, the particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO) is used to optimize the weight coefficients of LQR control under different modes, and the dynamic performance of vehicle driving is comprehensively analyzed. The test and simulation results show that the road estimation results under different speeds in the same road section are very close to the results obtained by the detection ruler method, and the overall error is less than 2%. Compared with the active suspension controlled by passive and traditional LQR, the multi-mode switching strategy can achieve a better balance between driving comfort and handling safety and stability, and also improve the driving experience more intelligently and comprehensively.
Prediction of Landslide Displacement Based on the Variational Mode Decomposition and GWO-SVR Model
Authors: Wang Chenhui , Guo Wei
Published: March 2023

Accurate prediction of landslide displacement is an effective way to reduce the risk of landslide disaster. Under the influence of periodic precipitation and reservoir water level, many landslides in the Three Gorges Reservoir area underwent significant displacement deformation, showing a similar step-like deformation curve. Given the nonlinear characteristics of landslide displacement, a prediction model is established in this study according to the variational mode decomposition (VMD) and support vector regression (SVR) optimized by gray wolf optimizer (GWO-SVR). First, the original data are decomposed into trend, periodic and random components by VMD. Then, appropriate influential factors are selected using the grey relational degree analysis (GRDA) method for constructing the input training data set. Finally, the sum of the three displacement components is superimposed as the total displacement of the landslide, and the feasibility of the model is subsequently tested. Taking the Shuizhuyuan landslide in the Three Gorges Reservoir area as an example, the accuracy of the model is verified using the long time-series monitoring data. The results indicate that the newly proposed model achieves a relatively good prediction accuracy with data decomposition and parameter optimization. Therefore, this model can be used for the predict the accuracy of names and affiliations ion of landslide displacement in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.
New Methodology for Corn Stress Detection Using Remote Sensing and Vegetation Indices
Authors: Cvetković Nikola , Đoković Aleksandar , Dobrota Milan , Radojičić Milan
Published: March 2023

Since corn is the second most widespread crop globally and its production has an impact on all industries, from animal husbandry to sweeteners, modern agriculture meets the task of preserving yield quality and detecting corn stress. Application of remote sensing techniques enabled more efficient crop monitoring due to the ability to cover large areas and perform non-destructive and non-invasive measurements. By using vegetation indices, it is possible to effectively measure the status of surface vegetation and detect stress on the field. This study describes the methodology for corn stress detection using red-green-blue (RGB) imagery and vegetation indices. Using the Excess Green vegetation index and calculated vegetation index histogram for healthy crop, corn stress has been effectively detected. The obtained results showed higher than 89% accuracy on both experimental plots, confirming that the proposed methodology can be used for corn stress detection using images acquired only with the RGB sensor. The proposed method does not depend on the sensor used for image acquisition and vegetation index used for stress detection, so it can be used in various different setups.
Using Speed and Accuracy and the Simon Effect to Explore the Output Form of Inhibition of Return
Authors: Redden Ralph S. , Hilchey Matthew D. , Aslam Sinan , Ivanoff Jason , Klein Raymond M.
Published: March 2023

Inhibition of return (IOR) refers to slower responses to targets presented at previously cued locations. Contrasting target discrimination performance over various eye movement conditions has shown the level of activation of the reflexive oculomotor system determines the nature of the effect. Notably, an inhibitory effect of a cue nearer to the input end of the processing continuum is observed when the reflexive oculomotor system is actively suppressed, and an inhibitory effect nearer the output end of the processing continuum is observed when the reflexive oculomotor system is actively engaged. Furthermore, these two forms of IOR interact differently with the Simon effect. Drift diffusion modeling has suggested that two parameters can theoretically account for the speed-accuracy tradeoff rendered by the output-based form of IOR: increased threshold and decreased trial noise. In Experiment 1, we demonstrate that the threshold parameter best accounts for the output-based form of IOR by measuring it with intermixed discrimination and localization targets. Experiment 2 employed the response-signal methodology and showed that the output-based form has no effect on the accrual of information about the target’s identity. These results converge with the response bias account for the output form of IOR.
Peripheral Flicker Fusion at High Luminance: Beyond the Ferry–Porter Law
Authors: Fernandez-Alonso Maydel , Innes Will , Read Jenny C. A.
Published: March 2023

The relationship between luminous intensity and the maximum frequency of flicker that can be detected defines the limits of the temporal-resolving ability of the human visual system, and characterizing it has important theoretical and practical applications; particularly for determining the optimal refresh rate for visual displays that would avoid the visibility of flicker and other temporal artifacts. Previous research has shown that this relationship is best described by the Ferry–Porter law, which states that critical flicker fusion (CFF) increases as a linear function of log retinal illuminance. The existing experimental data showed that this law holds for a wide range of stimuli and up to 10,000 Trolands; however, beyond this, it was not clear if the CFF continued to increase linearly or if the function saturated. Our aim was to extend the experimental data available to higher light intensities than previously reported in the literature. For this, we measured the peripheral CFF at a range of illuminances over six orders of magnitude. Our results showed that for up to 104 Trolands, the data conformed to the Ferry–Porter law with a similar slope, as previously established for this eccentricity; however, at higher intensities, the CFF function flattens and saturates at ~90 Hz for a target size of 5.7 degrees, and at ~100 Hz for a target of 10 degrees of angular size. These experimental results could prove valuable for the design of brighter visual displays and illumination sources that are temporally modulated.
Comparative Evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Adhesion to a Poly-(2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphorylcholine)-Modified Silicone Hydrogel Contact Lens
Authors: Harris Valerie , Pifer Reed , Shannon Paul , Crary Monica
Published: March 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common causative agent associated with microbial keratitis. During contact lens wear, pathogens may be introduced into the ocular environment, which might cause adverse events. Lehfilcon A is a recently developed contact lens with a water gradient surface composed of polymeric 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC). MPC is re-ported to impart anti-biofouling properties onto modified substrates. Therefore, in this in vitro experimental study, we tested the capability of lehfilcon A to resist adhesion by P. aeruginosa. Quantitative bacterial adhesion assays using five strains of P. aeruginosa were conducted to compare the adherence properties of lehfilcon A to five currently marketed silicone hydrogel (SiHy) contact lenses (comfilcon A, fanfilcon A, senofilcon A, senofilcon C, and samfilcon A). Compared to lehfilcon A, we observed 26.7 ± 8.8 times (p = 0.0028) more P. aeruginosa binding to comfilcon A, 30.0 ± 10.8 times (p = 0.0038) more binding to fanfilcon A, 18.2 ± 6.2 times (p = 0.0034) more binding to senofilcon A, 13.6 ± 3.9 times (p = 0.0019) more binding to senofilcon C, and 29.5 ± 11.8 times (p = 0.0057) more binding to samfilcon A. These results demonstrate that, for various strains of P. aeruginosa, lehfilcon A reduces bacterial adhesion compared to other contact lens materials.
Groundwater Quality and Health Risk Assessment Using Indexing Approaches, Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Artificial Neural Networks, and GIS Techniques in El Kharga Oasis, Egypt
Authors: Gad Mohamed , Gaagai Aissam , Eid Mohamed Hamdy , Szűcs Péter , Hussein Hend , Elsherbiny Osama , Elsayed Salah , Khalifa Moataz M. , Moghanm Farahat S. , Moustapha Moustapha E. , Tolan Dina A. , Ibrahim Hekmat
Published: March 2023

The assessment and prediction of water quality are important aspects of water resource management. Therefore, the groundwater (GW) quality of the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer (NSSA) in El Kharga Oasis was evaluated using indexing approaches, such as the drinking water quality index (DWQI) and health index (HI), supported with multivariate analysis, artificial neural network (ANN) models, and geographic information system (GIS) techniques. For this, physical and chemical parameters were measured for 140 GW wells, which indicated Ca–Mg–SO4, mixed Ca–Mg–Cl–SO4, Na–Cl, Ca–Mg–HCO3, and mixed Na–Ca–HCO3 water facies under the influence of silicate weathering, rock–water interactions, and ion exchange processes. The GW in El Kharga Oasis had high levels of heavy metals, particularly iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn), with average concentrations above the limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water. The DWQI categorized most of the samples as not suitable for drinking (poor to very poor class), while some samples fell in the good water class. The results of the HI indicated a potential health risk due to the ingestion of water, with the risk being higher for children in only one location. However, for both children and adults, there was a low risk of dermal and ingestion exposure to the water in all locations. The contaminants could be from natural sources, such as minerals leaching from rocks and soil, or from human activities. Based on the results of ANN modeling, ANN-SC-13 was the most accurate prediction model, since it demonstrated the strongest correlation between the best characteristics and the DWQI. For example, this model’s thirteen characteristics were extremely important for predicting DWQI. The R2 value for the training, cross-validation (CV), and test data was 0.99. The ANN-SC-2 model was the best in measuring HI ingestion in adults. The R2 value for the training, CV, and test data was 1.00 for all models. The ANN-SC-2 model was the most accurate at detecting HI dermal in adults (R2 = 0.99, 0.99, and 0.99 for the training, CV, and test data sets, respectively). Finally, the integration of physicochemical parameters, water quality indices (WQIs), and ANN models can help us to understand the quality of GW and its controlling factors, and to implement the necessary measures that prevent outbreaks of various water-borne diseases that are detrimental to human health.
Integrated Smart Management in WDN: Methodology and Application
Authors: Ramos Helena M. , Morani Maria Cristina , Pugliese Francesco , Fecarotta Oreste
Published: March 2023

Urbanization and population growth have been responsible for a significant increase in consumption of water and energy at a global scale. A careful management of water resource and infrastructures is crucial for Energy Transition, as well as for achieving a sustainable efficiency of these systems. High pressure values along with the ageing of the systems contribute to high leakage levels of Water Distribution Networks (WDN). The simultaneous control of excess pressure and containment of water losses are mainly performed by using Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) in WDN, which dissipate the surplus of hydraulic energy. Instead of being dissipated, energy can be recovered by the transformation of the excess pressure into electrical energy with the use of Pump as Turbines (PAT), which results in an increased reliability, reduction of cost and an overall improvement in the efficiency of WDN. The work aims on presenting an integrated efficiency management methodology in terms of Effectiveness (E), capability (ηpi), reliability (μpi) and sustainability (χpi) with values between 47 to 98%, also associated with the pressure and leakage management, and energy recovery. This research presents a modelling of a real WDN of a District Metering Areas (DMA) of Beloura endowed with seasonal consumption variability to better show its applicability. Additionally, an economic analysis to assess the solution’s feasibility is presented concluding an annual energy recovered of 9.8 MWh and a saving of about 30% of water leakage, which correspond, in the analyzed case study, to about 3523 m3. The payback period found is around 9 or 12 years, for only one PAT or two different PATs installed, due to the small available energy of the analyzed case study. Acknowledging the synergy between water and energy efficiency and taking advantage of these integrated smart management methodology exemplification, it resulted in more efficient systems to achieve both effectiveness solutions, digital and energy transition in the water sector.
Analysis of Desalination Performance with a Thermal Vapor Compression System
Authors: Fergani Zineb , Triki Zakaria , Menasri Rabah , Tahraoui Hichem , Kebir Mohammed , Amrane Abdeltif , Moula Nassim , Zhang Jie , Mouni Lotfi
Published: March 2023

Multi-effect distillation with thermal vapor compression (MED-TVC) is a highly energy-efficient desalination technology that can provide a reliable and sustainable source of high-quality water, particularly in areas with limited energy infrastructure and water resources. In this study, a numerical model based on exergoeconomic approach is developed to analyze the economic performance of a MED-TVC system for seawater desalination. A parallel/cross feed configuration is considered because of its high energy efficiency. In addition, a parametric study is performed to evaluate the effects of some operational parameters on the total water price, such as the top brine temperature, seawater temperature, motive steam flow rate, and number of effects. The obtained results indicate that the total water price is in the range of 1.73 USD/m3 for a distilled water production of 55.20 kg/s. Furthermore, the exergy destructions in the effects account for 45.8% of the total exergy destruction. The MED effects are also identified to be the most relevant component from an exergoeconomic viewpoint. Careful attention should be paid to these components. Of the total cost associated with the effects, 75.1% is due to its high thermodynamic inefficiency. Finally, the parametric study indicates that adjusting the top brine temperature, the cooling seawater temperature, the motive steam flow rate, and the number of effects has a significant impact on the TWP, which varies between 1.42 USD/m3 and 2.85 USD/m3.
Total Maximum Daily Load Application Using Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, and Ammoniacal Nitrogen: A Case Study for Water Quality Assessment in the Perai River Basin, Malaysia
Authors: Mohamad Faudzi Siti Multazimah , Mohd Souhkri Danial Nakhaie , Mohd Akhir Muhammad Fitri , Abdul Aziz Hamidi , Mohd Kasim Muhammad Zaki , Zakaria Nor Azazi , Saad Noor Aida
Published: March 2023

Water shortage has been an issue for urbanized areas. For the Penang state in Malaysia, it is forecast that there will be a significant increase in water demand in the future. Penang authorities in Malaysia are trying to find an alternative water source to overcome the problem, with one of the options being the Perai River catchment. However, the river water quality was found to be polluted and not suitable to be used for water extraction for domestic consumption. This paper aims to study the pollution level variation due to changes in rainfall during the year in the Perai River Basin, and estimate the TMDL of the river in a particular case for BOD, COD, and NH3N parameters. A water quality model was developed for the Perai River, Jarak River and Kulim River using InfoWorks ICM. The year 2016 was selected as a model event due to data availability. BOD, COD and NH3N concentrations were used for TMDL calculation, and the load duration curve approach was used to estimate TMDL. The tidal effect at the downstream of the Perai River was found to impact the data analysis in the river stretch. It was found that pollutant load exceedance was the highest during the rainy season and the problematic pollutant was NH3N. Thus, local authorities need to focus on tidal and seasonal change factors when developing action plans to manage water quality issues in this basin.
Hotel management: methods, techniques, technologies
Authors:   Higher School of Tourism and Hospitality Russian State University of Tourism and Service, L. L. Dukhovnaya L. L. Dukhovnaya
Published: March 2023

In the modern world, tourists are increasingly paying attention to environmental issues and the environmental responsibility of the tourism and hotel business, so hoteliers are striving to adhere to the principles of conscious consumption. In the presented study, the author identified both the incentives for the transition to the principles of eco-hotels and the barriers to the introduction of eco-innovations in thehotel business. The positive and negative aspects of the functioning of eco-hotels, as well as Russian and foreign experience and development prospects are considered.
Attention, Interest, Search, Action, and Share Method as a Sales Promotion Strategy for Indonesian Public Figure Food Products through Creative Advertising
Authors:   Universitas Kristen Maranatha Faculty of Art and Design Gedung B, 4th Floor Jl. Prof. drg. Surya Sumantri, M. P. H. No. 65 Bandung - 40164, West Java, Indonesia, Aryani DI , Mulyadi RH ,   Universitas Kristen Maranatha Faculty of Art and Design Gedung B, 4th Floor Jl. Prof. drg. Surya Sumantri, M. P. H. No. 65 Bandung - 40164, West Java, Indonesia, Setiawan H ,   Universitas Kristen Maranatha Faculty of Art and Design Gedung B, 4th Floor Jl. Prof. drg. Surya Sumantri, M. P. H. No. 65 Bandung - 40164, West Java, Indonesia
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this research is to examine and analyze the phenomena of Indonesian public figures' food businesses in terms of creative advertising using the Attention, Interest, Search, Action, and Share (AISAS) technique, as well as its relationship to Integrated Marketing Communication (IMC). The research method is qualitative, using a case study approach, and it entails gathering thorough data from a variety of sources connected to the study's subject. The findings suggest that the AISAS approach via IMC is a product marketing tool that can spark innovative digital sales concepts. According to research, prominent figures' popularity does not ensure the long-term marketing of a product because it is merely a short-term sales plan that does not consider long-term programs. This study's impact is likely to be significant
Creating Competitive Advantage for MSMES through the Use of Information Technology Functions and Absorptive Capacity in MSMES Priangan Timur - West Java
Authors:   International Women University, Munandar D , Sarwono J ,   International Women University, Nisa A ,   International Women University
Published: March 2023

This study aims to find out how to create competitive advantage through the use of information technology and the ability to absorb knowledge in MSMEs in the East Priangan area, West Java. In this research, the researcher uses a sequential mixed method where qualitative research is carried out first and then followed by quantitative research. A total of 120 MSME entrepreneurs were selected as respondents purposively and 3 people were used as resource persons (expert judgment method). Linear regression was used to analyze quantitative data. The results of the research show that qualitatively information technology plays a very important role for the sustainability of the business of MSME entrepreneurs in East Priangan, West Java. The ability to absorb knowledge (absorptive capacity) of MSME entrepreneurs has been sufficient. The competitive advantage of the East Priangan MSME managers is sufficient. The results of quantitative research show that the competitive advantage function of MSMEs in East Priangan can be improved through information technology and Absorption Capability, both simultaneously and partially
The Impact And Response Of Maritime Southeast Asian Countries to Economic Dynamics During The Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors:   Departemen of International Relations, Universitas Komputer Indonesia (UNIKOM), Indonesia, Darmayadi A , Aditiya M.A ,   Departmen of International Relations, Universitas Pasundan (UNPAS), Indonesia
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this research is to analyze the responses made by each Maritime Southeast Asian country in dealing with economic dynamics during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Southeast Asia region, especially Maritime Southeast Asia, has experienced relatively rapid growth in the last few decades, so several countries in this region are classified as newly industrialized countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. However, this economic development has been disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020. This pandemic has left a sizeable impact on sectors in the world, including in Maritime Southeast Asian countries. The method used in writing this paper is using a qualitative method, this journal will describe the impact of using the data obtained through the Literature Study method. In its development, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a considerable impact on the economies of countries in the Maritime Southeast Asia region. Countries in the region recorded a slowdown in economic growth, most of them even experienced a recession. The result of this research are All countries in the Maritime Southeast Asia region experienced negative economic growth during 2020 except for Brunei. The governments of each country have their policies in dealing with existing problems, starting from providing financial assistance in the form of an economic stimulus package as well as issuing other fiscal and monetary policies
The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission's Response on Human Rights to the 2021 Myanmar Crisis
Authors:   Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Bandung, primawanti H , Dermawan W ,   Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang, Iqbal A M ,   Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Padjadjaran University, Sumedang
Published: March 2023

This article aims to look at the response and role of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights as a human rights organization in ASEAN in the crisis that occurs in Myanmar in 2021. The researcher uses a qualitative research method which is carried out by conducting a literature study in collecting data related to the research. Research results show that AICHR is concerned about all forms of violence and human rights violations that occur in Myanmar. Then AICHR as a human rights organization in ASEAN became an arena for member countries to discuss so that the crisis that occurred in Myanmar was immediately ended. Because the principle of non-intervention held by ASEAN countries makes AICHR unable to take much action. It is hoped that this research can provide knowledge and become a source of reference for other researchers related to the response and role of AICHR in the 2021 Myanmar crisis.
K-Pop Business: Prospects and Challenges for Entrepreneurs in Indonesia
Authors:   Department of International Relations, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Republic of Indonesia, Putri S O
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this research is to find out how K-Pop popularity is turned into a business for entrepreneur in Indonesia. Nowadays people are crazy about Hallyu or Korean Wave, including the K-dramas and K-pop, South Korean music. The market size of the South Korean entertainment is getting bigger and there are over 100 million members of Korean Wave fan clubs in many countries around the world in 2021. The research method was qualitative methods, with data collection techniques through literature studies The results showed that the K-Pop business in Indonesia opens many opportunities for entrepreneurs in developing business by utilizing the popularity of K-Pop. The hype around K-Pop bands and other celebrities has led many fans to spend a lot of money on their idol merchandise. Though the pandemic of Covid-19 has affected the economy, but the popularity of Korean Wave is growing in Indonesia. Many young entrepreneurs are starting small Hallyu businesses by utilizing social media and e-commerce. Although it is economically valuable, there are challenges faced by the entrepreneurs, namely intellectual property rights.
Work Coffee Indonesia Marketing Communication Strategy Through a Zero Percent Plastic Campaign In Increase Brand Figure
Authors:   Program Studi Ilmu Komunikasi, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Desayu Surya Eka , Ririn Astiani ,   Program Studi Ilmu Komunikasi, Fakultas Ilmu Sosial dan Ilmu Politik, Universitas Komputer Indonesia
Published: March 2023

The research purpose is to find out the communication strategy used by Work Coffee Indonesia in improving its brand Figure as the coffee shop business is growing rapidly and competing fiercely. The research is conducted with a qualitative approach, descriptive method. The data collection technique is through literatu e study and field study, observation, interviews, and documentation, while the research informants are obtained through purposive sampling technique. The rescarch results indicate that Work Coffee Indonesia is running a Zero Percent Plastic Campaign by carrying out several activities called Waste Management, namely Positive Green Energy and Against Single-Use Plastic by sorting waste with the goal that Work Coffee Indonesia is to become a friendly environment coffee shop. Furthermore, to show good examples for customers and other coffee shops' awareness in environmental care programs. The messages conveyed are information and persuasion messages both verbally and non- verbally, namely a series of messages that can change new habits in consumers, while the zero percent plastic campaign through the social media of Instagram and the Website. Conclusion The research shows that the communication strategy implemented to increase the brand Figure has achieved the goals conceptualized by Works Coffee Indonesia Bandung, although for promotional achievements it still needs development in the use of information media. Research Suggestions is that Work Coffee should hold events or seminars more often to educate about programs or campaigns held by them for their very positive program. In addition, social media development such as TikTok and YouTube to share videos with creative content to reach a wider audience is needed.