bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Causal Relationships among Enablers of the Construction 5.0 Paradigm: Integration of Operator 5.0 and Society 5.0 with Human-Centricity, Sustainability, and Resilience
Authors: Yitmen Ibrahim , Almusaed Amjad , Alizadehsalehi Sepehr
Published: June 2023

The Construction 5.0 paradigm is the next phase in industrial development that aims to combine the skills of human experts in partnership with efficient and precise machines to achieve production solutions that are resource-efficient and preferred by clients. This study reviewed the evolution of the Construction 5.0 paradigm by defining its features and diverse nature. It introduced the architecture, model, and system of Construction 5.0 and its key enablers: Operator 5.0, Society 5.0, human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience. The study used the SEM method to evaluate the research model and investigate the causal relationships among the key enablers of the Construction 5.0 paradigm. Nine vital hypotheses were proposed and assessed comprehensively. The critical enablers’ variables were measured to examine the constructs’ reliability and validity. The key findings showed that Construction 5.0 prioritizes collaboration between humans and machines, merges cyberspace with physical space, and balances the three pillars of sustainability (economy, environment, and society), creating a relationship among Operator 5.0, Society 5.0, human-Ccentricity, sustainability, and resilience. The study also discussed the limitations and challenges and offered suggestions for future research. Overall, Construction 5.0 aims to achieve sustainable development and become a robust and resilient provider of prosperity in an industrial community of a shared future. The study expects to spark debate and promote pioneering research toward the Construction 5.0 paradigm.
Can Local Government Debt Decrease the Pollution Emission of Enterprises?—Evidence from China’s Industrial Enterprises
Authors: Xie Hai , Zhang Weikun , Liang Hanyuan
Published: June 2023

The rapid growth of local government debt size in China has aroused the attention of academia and policy circles due to its impact on environmental pollution. This paper aims to explore the impact of local government debt size on corporate pollution emissions and its mechanism. This paper uses the China Local Government Debt Database, Industrial Enterprise Database, and Industrial Enterprise Pollution Database from 2006 to 2013, and adopts the two-way fixed effect model and difference-in-differences method to conduct an empirical analysis of industrial enterprises in 31 provinces of China. The results show that the local government debt size has a significant positive impact on corporate pollution emissions, and each unit increase in the local government debt size leads to an increase of 0.002 units in corporate pollution emissions. Further mechanism tests show that this effect is realized through the expansion of regional fixed asset investment and the reduction of enterprise R&D investment. In addition, there is significant heterogeneity among enterprises of different ownership, location, and industry. This paper provides practical references for local governments and micromarket actors to improve environmental protection and debt governance in the new era.
Design of an Evaluation System for Disruptive Technologies to Benefit Smart Cities
Authors: Qiu Jun , Cao Jing , Gu Xinyi , Ge Zimo , Wang Zhe , Liang Zheng
Published: June 2023

Technological empowerment has facilitated the development of cities, which have progressed from pre-industrial to industrial to information-based and are currently transitioning towards the advanced stage of smart cities. The evolution and transformation of cities are fuelled by technology, which serves as a key driver. Disruptive technologies are radically scientific innovations that dramatically change the way consumers, businesses, and industries operate by destroying the value of existing technical competencies, thereby providing organisations with the capability or technical foundation to alter their business environments. To ensure that a city has a clear understanding of its smart city development direction, it is crucial to establish a scientifically valid and reliable evaluation index and method to analyse and recognise the disruptive technologies closely related to industrial development, transformation, and competitiveness in smart cities. However, there is a paucity of study on this topic. This paper addresses this research gap by developing a framework for disruptive technology identification and evaluation for smart cities using an entropy weight method and analytic hierarchy process. The evaluation index system contains 5 primary indicators and 11 secondary indicators according to the connotation of disruptive technologies in smart cities. The feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed framework are verified in the field of information science. This study provides technical knowledge and theoretical support for the evaluation and construction of smart cities.
Assessing Climate-Driven Salinity Intrusion through Water Accounting: A Case Study in Ben Tre Province for More Sustainable Water Management Plans
Authors: Nam Nguyen Trung , Thuc Pham Thi Bich , Dao Do Anh , Thien Nguyen Duc , Au Nguyen Hai , Tran Dung Duc
Published: June 2023

This scientific paper delves into sustainable water management strategies for Ben Tre Province of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta (VMD) in light of water-infrastructure plans that have been impacted by climate change-induced salinity intrusion. Specifically, we aim to mitigate the effects of salinity intrusion for the province while promoting long-term environmental sustainability. In doing so, a water accounting framework was applied, mostly based on the MIKE11 hydrodynamic modeling and water balance calculations, to determine current and future water stress issues based on two main scenarios of extreme drought year 2016 (baseline) and the future year 2030 under climate change for a medium-low emission scenario (RCP4.5). The study found that salinity intrusion significantly causes severe water stress in the future year 2030 compared to the baseline year 2016, while the existing water management methods are relatively inadequate to control salinity intrusion, leading to over 57% of the area affected by medium to critical water stress levels, although it will go along with planned water infrastructures. Additionally, a system of triple rice cropping converted two rice cropping and upland cropping with 40% water demand cutoff was found to be the most suitable measure for 2030. Particularly, water-saving and water demand reduction should be incorporated into infrastructural planning for sustainable water management. Our study provides valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders, not only for the province and the VMD, but also other regions facing similar challenges.
Evaluation of Remote Sensing and Reanalysis Products for Global Soil Moisture Characteristics
Authors: Zhang Peng , Yu Hongbo , Gao Yibo , Zhang Qiaofeng
Published: June 2023

Soil moisture (SM) exists at the land-atmosphere interface and serves as a key driving variable that affects global water balance and vegetation growth. Its importance in climate and earth system studies necessitates a comprehensive evaluation and comparison of mainstream global remote sensing/reanalysis SM products. In this study, we conducted a thorough verification of ten global remote sensing/reanalysis SM products: SMAP DCA, SMAP SCA-H, SMAP SCA-V, SMAP-IB, SMOS IC, SMOS L3, LPRM_C1, LPRM_C2, LPRM_X, and ERA5-Land. The verification was based on ground observation data from the International SM Network (ISMN), considering both static factors (such as climate zone, land cover type, and soil type) and dynamic factors (including SM, leaf area index, and land surface temperature). Our goal was to assess the accuracy and applicability of these products. We analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of global SM and discussed the vegetation effect on SM products. Additionally, we examined the global high-frequency fluctuations in the SMAP L-VOD product, along with their correlation with the normalized difference vegetation index, leaf area index, and vegetation water content. Our findings revealed that product quality was higher in regions located in tropical and arid zones, closed shrubs, loose rocky soil, and gray soil with low soil moisture, low leaf area index, and high average land surface temperature. Among the evaluated products, SMAP-IB, SMAP DCA, SMAP SCA-H, SMAP SCA-V, and ERA5-Land consistently performed better, demonstrating a good ability to capture the spatial and temporal variations in SM and showing a correlation of approximately 0.60 with ISMN. SMOS IC and SMOS L3 followed in performance, while LPRM_C1, LPRM_C2, and LPRM_X exhibited relatively poor results in SM inversion. These findings serve as a valuable reference for improving satellite/reanalysis SM products and conducting global-scale SM studies.
Feasibility of Wave Energy Harvesting in the Ligurian Sea, Italy
Authors: Corrales-Gonzalez Manuel , Lavidas George , Besio Giovanni
Published: June 2023

Clean energies are being incorporated into the energy mix in numerous countries. Through a spatial survey of maritime trade, restricted military maritime areas, marine planning, and the presence of fauna and flora along the Ligurian Sea, locations for possible investments in wave energy harvesting were identified in the Northern Thyrrenian Sea, along the Ligurian coast. Previous studies in this region have demonstrated, at a lower spatial resolution, the wave energy potential that can be captured and its variation over time. However, the optimization of wave energy exploitation under the criteria of the functionality and safety of converter devices has not yet been evaluated in the Ligurian Sea. The purpose of this study is to identify the optimal wave energy converter from an economic and technical perspective at several selected locations in the Ligurian Sea. This study involves the scaling of the employed power matrices to obtain the optimized capacity factors of wave energy converters.
Variation in Certain Soil Properties Based on Land Use Type, and Elevation in Arhavi Sub-Basin, Artvin, Turkiye
Authors: Duman Ahmet , Yildirim Cengizhan , Tufekcioglu Mustafa , Tufekcioglu Aydın , Satiral Caner
Published: June 2023

Knowledge of soil properties such as texture, bulk density, organic matter, soil reaction, soil electrical conductivity, and soil erodibility factor is fundamental to the sustainable management of soil resources. This study aimed to determine the changes in certain soil properties including texture, bulk density, organic matter, pH, electrical conductivity, and soil erodibility factor with different land uses, elevation zones and soil depths in the Arhavi Sub-basin, Artvin, Turkiye. For these purposes, a total of 618 soil samples (309 disturbed and 309 undisturbed) were taken from 155 sampling points located in areas with different land uses, including tea (33 sampling points), hazelnut (33 sampling points), forest (67 sampling points), and grassland (22 sampling points). The results of the statistical analysis revealed that the soils at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm showed significant differences according to the land use in terms of sand, clay, silt, bulk density, organic matter, and pH. There were significant positive correlations between elevation and soil bulk density (r = 0.495) at a soil depth of 0–15 cm in the tea areas. In the grassland areas, there were significant positive correlations between elevation and silt, bulk density, and the soil erodibility factor (r = 0.485, r = 0.794, and r = 0.442, respectively) at depths of 0–15 cm, and significant positive correlations between elevation and both silt and bulk density (r = 0.468 and r = 0.691, respectively) at depths of 15–30 cm. Similarly, there were significant positive correlations between elevation and both sand and organic matter at soil depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm (sand: r = 0.351 and r = 0.638, respectively; organic matter: r = 0.277 and r = 0.587, respectively). On the other hand, significant negative correlations were found between elevation and silt, bulk density, pH, and the soil erodibility factor at depths of 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm (silt: r = −0.400 and r = −0.461, respectively; bulk density: r = −0.593 and r = −0.545, respectively; pH: r = −0.354 and r = −0.309, respectively; soil erodibility factor: r = −0.443 and r = −520, respectively). Soil acidity was found to be the most important problem threatening soil fertility in all land uses. The use of soil acidity-increasing fertilizers, such as ammonium sulfate, in tea gardens in the region should be eliminated to protect the fertility of soils in the future. The knowledge that this study provides might help farmers and foresters in the region in the proper management and fertilization of their lands. Moreover, this study will provide data to future studies related to soil acidification, soil erosion, and land use that are planned for the Arhavi Sub-basin.
Agro-Industrial Waste of Malt Bagasse: Perspectives on the Development of Eco-Friendly Ceramic Material
Authors: Andrade João Pedro da Silva Costa , Cecchin Daiane , Vieira Carlos Maurício Fontes , Delaqua Geovana Carla Girondi , Silva Flávio Castro da , Hamacher Leonardo da Silva , da Silva Tulane Rodrigues , Amran Mugahed , Paes Juliana Lobo , Moll Hüther Cristina , Carmo Dirlane de Fátima do , Azevedo Afonso Rangel Garcez de
Published: June 2023

The construction sector is increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives in its processes worldwide, with a particular focus on the production of eco-friendly materials. Additionally, the improper disposal of solid waste is rapidly increasing, particularly in the agro-industry, including the waste generated from beer processing such as malt bagasse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to incorporate malt bagasse residue into ceramic materials at varying proportions (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15%) as a partial substitute for clay, submitted to different sintering temperatures (750, 850, 950, and 1050 °C). The raw materials, namely ceramic mass and malt bagasse, were characterized based on their chemical properties (XRF, loss of fire, and elemental analysis), physical properties (grain size, Atterberg limits), and mineralogical properties (XRD) characteristics. The properties of the ceramics, both with and without the incorporation of waste, were evaluated using dilatometry, apparent density, apparent porosity, water absorption, linear shrinkage, and tensile strength. The compositions that exhibited the best sintering temperatures were subjected to microstructural characterization using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Significant differences were observed in the properties of the ceramic material, particularly in terms of linear shrinkage and apparent porosity. It was concluded that as the amount of malt bagasse residue incorporated increased, the mechanical properties of the pieces decreased. The incorporation of 15% residue resulted in the lowest performance, primarily due to a greater loss of mass. However, it should be noted that the incorporation of up to 5% malt bagasse for all the studied temperatures can still be considered acceptable, as it meets the minimum recommended value of 1.5 MPa for masonry ceramic components. This incorporation of malt bagasse contributes to both the technological and environmental aspects of civil construction.
Coordinated Development of Marine Economy and Ecological Environment in Coastal Areas of China: Development Level, Coupling Coordination Measurement, and Obstacle Analysis
Authors: Zhang Ying , Fang Zhiqiang , Xie Zhongqi
Published: June 2023

The ecological environment (EE) is an important factor affecting the sustainable development of the marine economy (ME): achieving coordinated development between the ME and EE remains a problem to be explored. From three perspectives—comprehensive development level, coupling coordination degree spatiotemporal analysis, and obstacle degree recognition—this paper explores the development level and spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of ME and EE coupling coordination in 11 coastal areas in China from 1999 to 2019. The results indicate the following: (1) During the research period, the comprehensive development levels of the ME and EE in China’s coastal areas continued to improve, with relatively high levels of economic structure subsystems and pressure subsystems. (2) There was a clear coupling relationship between the ME and EE, with a high degree of coupling, mainly consisting of high-quality coupling and good coupling. The increase in coupling coordination was significant, especially in Guangdong, Shandong, and Liaoning. (3) The analysis of the obstacle degree found that the crucial obstacle elements affecting the coordinated development of the ME and EE included the ME vitality subsystem and the EE response subsystem. Finally, policy suggestions are put forward, including promoting the development of an ecotype ME, promoting marine technology innovation, and adopting differentiated EE governance policies according to local conditions. This study helps evaluate the development capacity of the ME in China’s coastal areas and provides a basis for formulating targeted ME development strategies.
Examining ICT Innovation for Sustainable Terminal Operations in Developing Countries: A Case Study of the Port of Radès in Tunisia
Authors: Sahraoui Ahmed , Tran Nguyen Khoi , Tliche Youssef , Kacem Ameni , Taghipour Atour
Published: June 2023

There is a lack of technology innovation studies in the maritime sector focusing on developing countries. Generally, these countries present various limitations due to their own social, economic, and political contexts. Moreover, the lack of leadership support, stakeholder involvement, training, resources, and financial and academic support affects successful implementation of technological innovation. The objective of this paper is to emphasize the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the maritime sector and port companies of developing countries by investigating the impact of an ICT solution on port operations from berth to gate through yard operations. Our case study consists of the implementation of a Terminal Operating System (TOS) in the Port of Radès, the main port in Tunisia. An examination of the port operations before and after the implementation of the TOS is carried out. Then, the effects of TOS implementation on terminal operations are studied through a survey based on Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and submitted to managers of three port stakeholders. Key findings indicate that TOS allows an increase in the level of productivity from the quay crane to the gate, allowing decisions to be made based on real-time data and ensuring that the terminal is operating at its full potential. More specifically, berthing and delivery service times are improved thanks to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and the streamlining of the gate and yard activities system. The results also indicate that reputation is progressively improving due to the ability to locate and monitor hazardous goods flowing through the port, and the ability to dispatch engine movement inside the port using the new terminal layout. However, in contrast with the port authority, the results highlight a lack of adaptability on the part of the stevedoring company, which requires time to progressively adapt to the new rules and constraints.
Promoting Underground Cultural Heritage through Sustainable Practices: A Design Thinking and Audience Development Approach
Authors: Lo Presti Olga , Carli Maria Rosaria
Published: June 2023

This paper examines two sustainability practices in complex and uncertain processes such as the case of the promotion of the underground built heritage (UBH). Convinced that the sustainability of a UBH valorisation project is only guaranteed by its survival over time, the authors argue that the decision-making process must be bottom-up, i.e., promoted and developed by the actors of the territory—communities and stakeholders—who share a strategic objective. They assume that they have already defined the value of the asset to be enhanced through heritage interpretation. At this point, two practices are proposed. The first is aimed at enhancing the UBH for the territory itself and involves the application of design thinking; the second, in the interest of the economic agents, is aimed at promoting the territory externally—promoting sustainable tourism—through the application of audience development. The work is a theoretical proposal and has not yet been tested in the field. The authors reserve the right to test it in a subsequent case study.
The Valorization of Agro-Wastes and Stevia Leaves as a Sugar Replacer in Cupcake Formulas: Histological and In Vivo Studies on Diabetic Rats
Authors: El-Waseif Mohammed , Saed Badr , El-Behairy Samy , Ali Hatem , Elkhadragy Manal , Yehia Hany , Farouk Amr
Published: June 2023

One potential solution to enhance the nutritional value of food while addressing environmental concerns is to use bioactive extracts from agro-waste in the food industry. This study aimed to investigate the effects of replacing sucrose with powders made from Stevia leaves (SLP), banana peels (BPP), and carrot leaves (CLP), as well as their mixtures, in cupcakes. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the impact of these substitutes on alloxan-induced diabetic rats fed the cupcakes. Sensory evaluation revealed that up to 60% of sucrose in the cupcake formula could be replaced without significant changes in sensory attributes. Substituting agro-wastes and SLP increased the protein content from 12.86% to 14.26% and the dietary fiber content from 3.65% to 5.60% compared to the control sample. The treated diabetic groups, particularly those fed cupcakes containing SLP-CLP mixture, showed increased body weight gain % and feed intake, reducing serum glucose levels from 427.5 to 180.8 mg/dL after 28 days. The mix of CLP-SLP had the highest additive effect, indicating a significant reduction in various biochemical parameters, including ALT, AST, albumin, urea, uric acid, creatinine, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL, compared to the positive control. No histopathological alterations were detected in the pancreas and liver of diabetic rats fed cupcakes supplemented with SLP-CLP. However, moderate degenerations were observed in the hepatocytes of diabetic rats fed cupcakes fortified with SLP-BPP.
Transfer Learning for Renewable Energy Systems: A Survey
Authors: Al-Hajj Rami , Assi Ali , Neji Bilel , Ghandour Raymond , Al Barakeh Zaher
Published: June 2023

Currently, numerous machine learning (ML) techniques are being applied in the field of renewable energy (RE). These techniques may not perform well if they do not have enough training data. Additionally, the main assumption in most of the ML algorithms is that the training and testing data are from the same feature space and have similar distributions. However, in many practical applications, this assumption is false. Recently, transfer learning (TL) has been introduced as a promising machine-learning framework to mitigate these issues by preparing extra-domain data so that knowledge may be transferred across domains. This learning technique improves performance and avoids the resource expensive collection and labeling of domain-centric datasets; furthermore, it saves computing resources that are needed for re-training new ML models from scratch. Lately, TL has drawn the attention of researchers in the field of RE in terms of forecasting and fault diagnosis tasks. Owing to the rapid progress of this technique, a comprehensive survey of the related advances in RE is needed to show the critical issues that have been solved and the challenges that remain unsolved. To the best of our knowledge, few or no comprehensive surveys have reviewed the applications of TL in the RE field, especially those pertaining to forecasting solar and wind power, load forecasting, and predicting failures in power systems. This survey fills this gap in RE classification and forecasting problems, and helps researchers and practitioners better understand the state of the art technology in the field while identifying areas for more focused study. In addition, this survey identifies the main issues and challenges of using TL for REs, and concludes with a discussion of future perspectives.
Assessing the Vulnerability of Water Balance to Climate Change at River Basin Scale in Humid Tropics: Implications for a Sustainable Water Future
Authors: Sadhwani Kashish , Eldho T. I.
Published: June 2023

Sustainability in hydrology aims at maintaining a high likelihood of meeting future water demands without compromising hydrologic, environmental, or physical integrity. Therefore, understanding the local-scale impact of global climate change on hydrology and water balance is crucial. This study focuses on assessing the impact of climate change on water balance components (precipitation, surface runoff, groundwater flow, percolation, etc.) at the river basin scale in a humid tropical region. The Periyar river basin (PRB) in Kerala in India is considered as a case study and the SWAT hydrological model is adopted to obtain the water balance components. Three general circulation models are considered under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP 245 and SSP 585) emission scenarios assess the impact of climate change until 2100. For the PRB, the results demonstrate a significant increase in streamflow (>65%) and runoff (>40%) in the mid (2041–2070) and far (2071–2100) future under both the SSP scenarios, indicating a potential vulnerability to future floods. Conversely, in the near future under SSP 585, a decrease in runoff (−15%) and nominal changes in streamflow (−5%) are observed. Spatially, the eastern sub-basins and the west coast of the Periyar river basin are projected to experience higher precipitation events, while the central region faces reduced precipitation and low flow rates. The findings emphasize the need for proactive and sustainable management of water resources, considering irrigation requirements, groundwater discharge, and flood control measures, to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and prevent water stress/surplus situations in specific sub-basins. This study enhances our understanding of climate change impacts on water balance and emphasizes the significance of sustainable water resource management for an effective response. By integrating scientific knowledge into policy and management decisions, we can strive towards a resilient water future within a changing climate.
A Study of Purification in Pine Forest Soils after Salt Damage from the Tsunami in Enjugahama Beach, Wakayama Prefecture
Authors: Masuda Hayato , Yokota Kyohei
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of using a river as a water source for purification of soil damaged by the tsunami in a pine forest in Enjugahama, Mihama town, Wakayama prefecture, and to create a “purification map” visualizing the amount of purification water. Soil from the pine forest was placed in a plastic container and seawater was poured into it, followed by river water. The amount of water required for soil purification was determined by measuring the EC at this time. It was confirmed that 333,364 m3 of water would be required to purify the entire pine forest, which is approximately 1 km2. The time required to collect this volume of water from the West River would be 265 h (about 2 weeks) for an average flow rate. These results were aggregated to create the purification map. Using this map, it is possible to estimate the amount of water needed for purification at any given point and to make decisions, such as prioritizing areas that are easier to purify, thereby contributing to the purification of pine forests after tsunamis. However, it could be said that purification would be difficult in cases where seabed sediments have been deposited on the soil.
Exploring the Visual Attention Mechanism of Long-Distance Driving in an Underground Construction Cavern: Eye-Tracking and Simulated Driving
Authors: Zeng Qin , Chen Yun , Zheng Xiazhong , Zhang Meng , Li Donghui , Hu Qilin
Published: June 2023

Prolonged driving is necessary in underground construction caverns to transport materials, muck, and personnel, exposing drivers to high-risk and complex environments. Despite previous studies on attention and gaze prediction at tunnel exit-inlet areas, a significant gap remains due to the neglect of dual influences of long-distance driving and complex cues. To address this gap, this study establishes an experimental scenario in a construction environment, utilizing eye-tracking and simulated driving to collect drivers’ eye movement data. An analysis method is proposed to explore the visual change trend by examining the evolution of attention and calculating the possibility of visual cues being perceived at different driving stages to identify the attentional selection mechanism. The findings reveal that as driving time increases, fixation time decreases, saccade amplitude increases, and some fixations transform into unconscious saccades. Moreover, a phenomenon of “visual adaptation” occurs over time, reducing visual sensitivity to environmental information. At the start of driving, colorful stimuli and safety-related information compete for visual resources, while safety-related signs, particularly warning signs, always attract drivers’ attention. However, signs around intense light are often ignored. This study provides a scientific basis for transport safety in the construction environment of underground caverns.
The Evolution of Research on C&D Waste and Sustainable Development of Resources: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Wang Li , Lv Yanhong , Huang Siyu , Liu Yu , Li Xinrong
Published: June 2023

Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is steadily increasing as both urbanization and the construction industry advance. Therefore, numerous studies on C&D waste have been conducted. In this paper, the literature published in the field of C&D waste and sustainable development from 2002 to 2022 was utilized to examine the current state of research and potential future research hotspots via the bibliometric method. Herein, 3550 studies found in the literature were analyzed using Citespace and VOSviewer, two efficient visual analysis programs, for the annual quantitative distribution, contribution and cooperation of authors, influential and productive countries/regions and institutions, keyword co-occurrence analysis, literature co-citation analysis and identification of research frontiers. The findings show an exponential rise in publications on construction waste and sustainable resource development, while the research focus has clearly shifted from recycling and reduction of C&D waste to harmless and resourceful treatment in the last five years. The keywords “optimization”, “implementation” and “strategy” also indicate that more emphasis is being placed on the research of management method realization mechanisms, technological optimization schemes and policy strategies. The research results of this paper will help participants in the construction industry to grasp the current research hotspots and development trend in the field of C&D waste and the sustainable development of resources. It also plays a positive role in formulating relevant regulations and policies, reducing resource waste and construction project costs.
Rapid Urbanization Increased the Risk of Agricultural Waterlogging in the Huaibei Plain, China
Authors: Tao Yuxin , Wu Hao , Wang Yitong
Published: June 2023

The drainage modulus is an important indicator in the drainage system design of farmlands. Changes in the drainage modulus determine the effectiveness of drainage projects, and thus agricultural production. Thus, in this research, the trends in the drainage modulus of the Huaibei Plain, China were examined. The drainage modulus was estimated using the average draining method at 16 meteorological stations located in different areas of the Huaibei Plain during the period of 1960–2017. The trends of the drainage modulus were investigated using the Mann–Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator. The periodicities of the drainage modulus were investigated using wavelet analysis. The major environmental factors affecting the drainage modulus were investigated using the contribution rate method. The results showed that the mean drainage modulus (q1, q3) had increasing trends and significant 2.4-year and 2.5-year periodicities, respectively. An increase in building lots was the main factor that influenced the variability in the drainage modulus. Rapid urbanization increased the risk of agricultural waterlogging. These results provide important references for scientific planning in agriculture and farmland drainage engineering.
Tourism Knowledge Domains of Chinese and International Research
Authors: Su Yijing , Cong Li , Wall Geoffrey
Published: June 2023

Tourism knowledge domain has always been one of the appealing topics in tourism academic circle. This paper extracted author-selected keywords from 4788 articles published from 2012 to 2021 in four authoritative journals: Annals of Tourism Research, Tourism Management, Journal of Sustainable Tourism and Tourism Tribune. These keywords were coded according to “research areas”, “research objects”, “research methods”, and “research disciplines”, and a statistical analysis was carried out regarding the frequency, quantity, average frequency, and frequency variance of each category of the keywords. A total of 3459 Chinese keywords and 9128 English keywords formed the basis of this analysis. According to the findings, China is the most frequently studied geographical region in the international tourism research. The application of qualitative methods in the Chinese tourism research is less frequent than that in the international research, and the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods has become an important trend in tourism research. The international tourism research on certain topics is more in-depth and cutting-edge than the Chinese tourism research.
An Axi-Symmetric Problem of Suspensions Filtering with the Formation of a Cake Layer
Authors: Khuzhayorov Bakhtiyor Kh. , Ibragimov Gafurjan , Saydullaev Usmonali , Pansera Bruno Antonio
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we consider a vertically positioned cylindrical filtering element. Filtering occurs in the radial direction, therefore, the direction of the velocities of the liquid and suspended particles coincide with this radial direction. The flow can be considered to be one-dimensional and radially axisymmetric. To describe such a filtering process, the axisymmetric Stefan problem will be formulated. The radial mass balance formalism and Darcy’s law are utilized to obtain a basic equation for cake filtration. The boundary condition at the moving surface is derived and the cake filtration is formulated in a Stefan problem. Equations are derived that describe the dynamics of cake growth in the cake filtration, and they are numerically solved. The influence of different model parameters on the compression and fluid pressure across the cake and the growth of its thickness are studied.
Preparedness Indicator System for Education 4.0 with FUCOM and Rough Sets
Authors: Almacen Rose Mary , Castilla Delfa , Gonzales Gamaliel , Gonzales Roselyn , Costan Felix , Costan Emily , Enriquez Lynne , Batoon Jannen , Villarosa Rica , Aro Joerabell Lourdes , Evangelista Samantha Shane , Maturan Fatima , Wenceslao Charldy , Atibing Nadine May , Ocampo Lanndon
Published: June 2023

In view of the recent education sectoral transition to Education 4.0 (EDUC4), evaluating the preparedness of higher education institutions (HEIs) for EDUC4 implementation remains a gap in the current literature. Through a comprehensive review, seven criteria were evaluated, namely, human resources, infrastructure, financial, linkages, educational management, learners, and health and environment. This work offers two crucial contributions: (1) the development of an EDUC4 preparedness indicator system and (2) the design of a computational structure that evaluates each indicator and computes an aggregate preparedness level for an HEI. Using the full consistency method (FUCOM) to assign the priority weights of EDUC4 criteria and the rough set theory to capture the ambiguity and imprecision inherent in the measurement, this study offers an aggregate EDUC4 preparedness index to holistically capture the overall preparedness index of an HEI towards EDUC4. An actual case study is presented to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed indicator system. After a thorough evaluation, the results indicate that human resources were the most critical criterion, while health and environment ranked last. Insights obtained from the study provide HEIs with salient information necessary for decision making in various aspects, including the design of targeted policies and the allocation of resources conducive to implementing EDUC4 initiatives. The proposed indicator system can be a valuable tool to guide HEIs in pursuing EDUC4, resulting in a more effective and efficient implementation of this educational paradigm.
Online News Media Analysis on Information Management of “G20 Summit” Based on Social Network Analysis
Authors: Zhang Xiaohong , Pan Yuting , Wang Yanbo , Xu Cheng , Sun Yanqi
Published: June 2023

This paper contributes to the Special Issue on Communication for the Digital Media Age by investigating the factors that influence the management of political information on online news media platforms, specifically Twitter and Weibo. Using the recent “G20 Summit” as a case study, this study employs a mixed-methods approach that incorporates both deductive and inductive reasoning. Social network analysis (SNA) and graph theory are used to evaluate specific social relationships in the context of the G20 summit, while a combination of structured and content (semantic) analysis is performed. The findings indicate that individual power is becoming increasingly important in the age of online news media. Individuals contribute significantly to the diffusion of information and may play a decisive role in the future. The study also finds that the frequency of retweets increases as the reciprocity ratio increases, and mentions may be the most effective method for delivering political news on online news media platforms. Practical implications suggest strategies for managing information diffusion effectively. Additionally, this study provides insights into effective information diffusion on online news media platforms that can be utilized in health communication management during the COVID-19 era. This study expands theoretical understanding by investigating the role of individual power in the age of online news media and enriching the literature on online news media through the use of structured and content analysis based on social network analysis.
Exploring the Potential of Mixed Reality in Enhancing Student Learning Experience and Academic Performance: An Empirical Study
Authors: Almufarreh Ahmad
Published: June 2023

In recent years, mixed reality (MR) technology has emerged as a promising tool in the field of education, offering immersive and interactive learning experiences for students. However, there is a need to comprehensively understand the impact of MR technology on students’ academic performance. This research aims to examine the effect of mixed reality technology in the educational setting and understand its role in enhancing the student’s academic performance through the student’s novel learning experiences and satisfaction with the learning environment. The present research has employed a quantitative research design to undertake the research process. The survey questionnaire based upon the five-point Likert scale was used as the data collection instrument. There were 308 respondents studying at various educational institutes in Saudi Arabia, all of whom were using mixed reality as part of their educational delivery. The findings of the present research have indicated that the application of mixed reality by creating experiential learning, interactivity and enjoyment can significantly enhance the student’s novel experience, which can directly enhance students’ satisfaction with learning objects and the learning environment, as well as indirectly enhancing the student’s academic performance. The research offers various kinds of theoretical implications and policy implications to researchers and policymakers.
CFD-Based Approach to Propose a Zigzag-Shaped Tube Heat Exchanger without Fins
Authors: Rayhan Sabit , Kariya Keishi , Miyara Akio
Published: June 2023

This study explores the application of zigzag-shaped, finless tubes in enhancing heat transfer performance within heat exchangers. Using three-dimensional numerical simulations, we examined the heat transfer per unit area and the volume of the pressure drop, comparing these findings with a traditional parallel tube heat exchanger. This innovative design strategy involved arranging zigzag-shaped tubes at varying distances, and the thermal transfer and frictional characteristics were tested at different air speeds. This research suggests that the introduction of zigzag heat exchangers, as opposed to traditional fin-and-tube designs, led to a significant improvement in heat transfer. This enhancement is attributed to the swirling flow created around the zigzag tubes, which increased the total heat transfer area. Furthermore, we found that the heat transfer area increased by 14.2%, 32.1%, and 63.9% for tube zigzag angles of 30°, 45°, and 60°, respectively, when compared to a parallel tube heat exchanger. Consequently, the zigzag-shaped tube heat exchanger demonstrated not only superior heat transfer, but also a reduction in frictional pressure loss.
Investigating the Transformation Products of Selected Antibiotics and 17 α-Ethinylestradiol under Three In Vitro Biotransformation Models for Anticipating Their Relevance in Bioaugmented Constructed Wetlands
Authors: Alderete Lucas Sosa , Sauvêtre Andrés , Chiron Serge , Tadić Đorđe
Published: June 2023

The degradation of three antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and ofloxacin) and one synthetic hormone (17 α-ethinylestradiol) was investigated in three in-vitro biotransformation models (i.e., pure enzymes, hairy root, and Trichoderma asperellum cultures) for anticipating the relevance of the formation of transformation products (TPs) in constructed wetlands (CWs) bioaugmented with T. asperellum fungus. The identification of TPs was carried out employing high-resolution mass spectrometry, using databases, or by interpreting MS/MS spectra. An enzymatic reaction with β-glucosidase was also used to confirm the presence of glycosyl-conjugates. The results showed synergies in the transformation mechanisms between these three models. Phase II conjugation reactions and overall glycosylation reactions predominated in hairy root cultures, while phase I metabolization reactions (e.g., hydroxylation and N-dealkylation) predominated in T. asperellum cultures. Following their accumulation/degradation kinetic profiles helped in determining the most relevant TPs. Identified TPs contributed to the overall residual antimicrobial activity because phase I metabolites can be more reactive and glucose-conjugated TPs can be transformed back into parent compounds. Similar to other biological treatments, the formation of TPs in CWs is of concern and deserves to be investigated with simple in vitro models to avoid the complexity of field-scale studies. This paper brings new findings on the emerging pollutants metabolic pathways established between T. asperellum and model plants, including extracellular enzymes.
Assessment of Anti-Alzheimer Pursuit of Jambolan Fruit Extract and/or Choline against AlCl3 Toxicity in Rats
Authors: Hawash Zeinab Abdel Salam , Yassien Ensaf M. , Alotaibi Badriyah S. , El-Moslemany Amira M. , Shukry Mustafa
Published: June 2023

Jambolan fruit extract and choline were investigated for Aluminum tri chloride (AlCl3)-induced Alzheimer’s disease in rats. Thirty-six male “Sprague Dawley” rats weighing (150 ± 10 g) were allocated into six groups; the first group was fed a baseline diet and served as a negative control. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was induced in Group 2 rats by oral administration of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight) dissolved in distilled water (served as a positive control). Rats in Group 3 were orally supplemented concomitantly with both 500 mg/kg BW of an ethanolic extract of jambolan fruit once daily for 28 days and AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight). Group 4: Rivastigmine (RIVA) aqueous infusion (0.3 mg/kg BW/day) was given orally to rats as a reference drug concomitantly with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight) for 28 days. Group 5 rats were orally treated with choline (1.1 g/kg) concomitantly with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg body weight). Group 6 was given 500 mg/kg of jambolan fruit ethanolic extract and 1.1 g/kg of choline orally to test for additive effects concurrently with oral supplementation of AlCl3 (17 mg/kg bw) for 28 days. Body weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio, and relative brain, liver, kidney, and spleen weight were calculated after the trial. Brain tissue assessment was analyzed for antioxidant/oxidant markers, biochemical analysis in blood serum, a phenolic compound in Jambolan fruits extracted by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and histopathology of the brain. The results showed that Jambolan fruit extract and choline chloride improved brain functions, histopathology, and antioxidant enzyme activity compared with the positive group. In conclusion, administering jambolan fruit extract and choline can lower the toxic impacts of aluminum chloride on the brain.
The Role of Late-Onset Inflammatory Markers in the Prediction of Complications and Graft Survival after Pancreas Transplantation
Authors: Hügli Sandro , Müller Philip C. , Pfister Matthias , Rössler Fabian
Published: June 2023

Background: Despite great progress in graft survival and complication rates, pronounced inflammatory responses are common after pancreas transplantation (PT). Subsequent to the first postoperative increase in inflammatory markers, we have frequently observed a second peak of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs) following PT. This analysis is to assess the incidence and clinical relevance of late-onset increases in inflammatory markers following PT. Materials and methods: We analyzed all consecutive PTs over a 20-year period. The second peak of CRP (SCP) and WBCs (SWP) was defined as an increase >3 days after PT subsequent to a relevant initial decrease. Results: Of 116 patients, 60 (51.7%) developed SCP. SCP was not associated with pancreas graft loss or with thrombosis at discharge or at 90 days after PT (6.7% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.1; 8.3% vs. 1.8%, p = 0.2; and 15.0% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.06, respectively). Patients with SCP had more complications overall at discharge and at 90 days (85.0% vs. 50.0%, p < 0.001 and 93.3% vs. 76.8%, p = 0.02). In multivariable analysis, SCP was significantly associated with pre-transplant HbA1c (OR 2.1 (95% CI: 1.3–3.8); p = 0.005) and female gender (OR 0.03 (95% CI: 0.004–0.14); p ≤ 0.001). No significant association was found between SCP and pancreas cold ischemia time (OR 1.0 (95% CI: 1.0–1.0); p = 0.1), donor age (OR 1.01 (95% CI: 0.96–1.06); p = 0.7), recipient age (OR 0.9 (95% CI: 0.9–1.0); p = 0.1), or recipient BMI (OR 0.9 (95% CI: 0.9–1.4); p = 0.3). SWP did not differ in patients with or without SCP (p = 0.07) and there was no correlation with pancreas graft loss or relaparotomy (p = 0.3 and p = 0.6, respectively). Insulin-free graft survival after 1, 5, and 10 years did not differ between patients with SCP and those without SCP (95.0%, 90.2%, 90.2% vs. 96.1%, 91.2%, 88.7%, respectively; p = 0.964). Conclusion: Late-onset inflammatory reactions are frequently seen in PT and are correlated with higher overall complication rates. They are not correlated, however, with graft-specific complications or insulin-free graft survival.