bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart, Sustainable, Green Cities: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Javidroozi Vahid , Carter Claudia , Grace Michael , Shah Hanifa
Published: March 2023

This state-of-the-art review paper aims to provide an overview of the current research on three categories of liveable cities, Smart, Sustainable, and Green (SSG). It explores how the discussions about these three categories have been brought together in the literature and identifies an integrated approach to developing more liveable cities of the future. The paper begins by introducing the research topic and methodology, setting out a broad definition for SSG cities as a starting point. Then, the review focuses on recent publications and research trends, with an emphasis on the most significant contributions to the convergence of the SSG categories. Special attention is paid to identifying gaps in current knowledge and suggesting areas for future research. Reviewing recent resources based on our inclusion and exclusion criteria in depth, using 11 relevant themes within the three aforementioned categories, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date summary of the current state of research in developing more liveable cities. Moreover, a summary of the main findings, providing a holistic view of the liveable future cities and implications for further research, policy, and practice offers a helpful resource for scholars, practitioners, policymakers, city authorities, consultants, and solution providers for SSG cities.
An Agent-Based Model for Land-Use Change Adaptation Strategies in the Context of Climate Change and Land Subsidence in the Mekong Delta
Authors: Truong Quang Chi , Drogoul Alexis , Gaudou Benoit , Taillandier Patrick , Huynh Nghi Quang , Nguyen Thao Hong , Minderhoud Philip , Nguyen Thi Thu Ha , Espagne Etienne
Published: March 2023

The Mekong Delta region has been seriously affected by climate change, with increasing temperatures, sea-level rise, and salinization strongly impacting agricultural activities of the region. Recent studies have shown that groundwater exploitation also contributes significantly to land subsidence throughout the delta. Thus, combating climate change now makes it necessary to design strategies and policies for adapting to and mitigating climate change and subsidence, not only at the individual level (mainly farmers), but also at the institutional level (province and region). This study aims to build an integrated model for the purpose of exploring the socio-economic impact of adaptation strategies provinces choose under various climate and economic scenarios. The LUCAS–GEMMES model (an agent-based model for strategies for adapting to land-use change in the context of climate change) was developed in order to evaluate socio-economic factors, climate, and water use by farmers, as well as the subsidence dynamics and macroeconomic trends in land-use selection strategies. The simulations are carried out according to four main scenarios: (i) lack of provincial adaptation strategies and absence of subsidence dynamics, (ii) lack of adaptation strategies though subsidence and the impact of land-use production benefits, (iii) purely individual adaptation strategies combined with the impact of subsidence, and (iv) provincial and individual-scale adaptation combined with the impact of subsidence. In all the scenarios that consider subsidence, our results show that early response decisions to even low-level subsidence lead to many positive outcomes in water resource management, such as a significant reduction in water-use in the dry season and a reduction in the area vulnerable to subsidence and climate change. However, the same results also indicate a possible decrease in farmers’ income due to reduced agricultural seasons and restricted land-use transformation, which demonstrates the importance of modeling the multi-sectoral aspects of adaptation. Finally, at a more general level, in the fourth scenario, the model clearly shows the benefits when provinces located in the same agro-ecological zone harmonize strategies, thus paving the way for defining integrated land-use policies at the regional level.
Investigation of Dynamic Processes of Rolling Stock–Track Interaction: Experimental Realization
Authors: Bondarenko Iryna , Lukoševičius Vaidas , Keršys Robertas , Neduzha Larysa
Published: March 2023

The dynamic process of the railway track–rolling stock interaction is characterized by time-dependent dynamics that are determined by both the varying characteristics of the interaction objects and the varying climatic conditions. This study investigated the effect of different groups of influence on the dynamic process, with a view towards the reduction of the cases of randomness during the registration of the process in experiments and an expansion of the understanding of the processes happening during the assessment of the registered data. The static nature of the rolling stock has been demonstrated to be not uniform and to influence the scattering of dynamic values under the variation of vertical and horizontal forces due to the characteristics of a rolling stock. The position of the rolling stock truck relative to the track axis during the movement of the rolling stock has been shown to enhance static non-uniformity. The results of the longitudinal force measurements under the three-point and Schlumpf methods have suggested that it is necessary to investigate the process of rail warping under the action of the rolling stock wheels. To enhance the output of the experiments, it is proposed to consider not only the stiffness of the basis of the oscillatory processes that imitate the physical process of oscillation of the system elements by means of the oscillation amplitude, but also the time of response to the oscillation process by using and assessing the triggering time rather than the frequencies of the oscillation processes.
Employer Responses to Poaching on Employee Productivity: The Mediating Role of Organizational Agility in Technology Companies
Authors: Li Miao , Malik Muhammad Shaukat , Ijaz Mahrukh , Irfan Muhammad
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the impact of an organization’s response to poaching on employee productivity while considering the mediating role of organizational agility, contributing to the sustainability literature. The study aimed to explore the impact of three responses toward poaching, including the constructive response (CR), defensive response (DR), and retaliatory response (RR), on employee productivity. The survey-based approach collected data from companies in the Pakistani service sector, an essential step toward understanding sustainable human resource practices in developing countries. Regression analysis was used to analyze the collected data, revealing significant relationships between predictor variables and employee productivity. Specifically, Model 1 found a significant negative relationship between CR and productivity, whereas DR showed a positive and significant association with productivity. The study also considered the unique characteristics of the Pakistani service sector to explain the observed negative and positive relationships between CR and DR, respectively, and employee productivity. Model 2 improved the model fit by introducing organizational agility as a predictor variable, demonstrating a positive and significant relationship between productivity and all four predictor variables. The study suggests that the positive relationship between organizational agility and productivity could be due to agile organizations being more adept at responding to changing market conditions and demands, resulting in improved overall performance. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of an organization’s response to poaching on employee productivity while considering the mediating role of organizational agility. It contributes to the sustainability literature.
Awareness Level of Spatial Planning Tools for Disaster Risk Reduction in Informal Settlements in Mopani District, South Africa
Authors: Akola Juliet , Chakwizira James , Ingwani Emaculate , Bikam Peter
Published: March 2023

Disaster risks are becoming more prevalent in densely populated spaces such as informal settlements as a result of unplanned urbanisation. Several scholars ascribe this condition to inadequate awareness of spatial planning tools among informal settlers, as these influence where and how they construct their buildings for disaster risk reduction. This study aimed at assessing the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction in informal settlements in Mopani District, South Africa. A questionnaire was used to collect primary data from 608 households that were selected using stratified sampling. The Relative Importance Index which was transformed into five importance levels was used to assess the awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study analysed the relationship between participant characteristics and awareness level using a t-test and an analysis of variance (ANOVA). The transformed relative importance index revealed that there is a moderate to low level of awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. A t-test and an ANOVA revealed significant differences in awareness levels of spatial planning tools between the sub-groups based on gender, education and income levels. The females, low-income earners and less educated have a lower awareness level of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction. The study recommends focusing on raising awareness of spatial planning tools for disaster risk reduction among the females, low-income earners and less educated to promote safe, healthy and liveable spaces in informal settlements.
Comparative Analysis of SAM and RETScreen Tools for the Case Study of 600 kW Solar PV System Installation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Khan Salah Ud-Din , Wazeer Irfan , Almutairi Zeyad
Published: March 2023

In this study, we discussed the main recent studies on PV systems worldwide and specifically in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. We focused on different PV cells and their characteristics in terms of efficiency, importance, and negative impacts, and examined the classification of PV systems and their comparison. In addition, the adoption of PV technologies in GCC countries is considered, focusing on the future aspects. In addition, technical and economic evaluations were carried out for a 600-kW commercial PV solar project at one of the selected sites in the Riyadh region, and the PV energy generation performance was assessed. The monthly energy production, module orientation and tracking system, peak voltage, net power consumption, rated output power, cash flow and capacity factor were calculated. In addition, the direct, normal and diffuse solar radiation are calculated to determine the cost-effective and efficient PV system. Two simulation programs, namely system advisor model (SAM) and RETScreen, are used in this study. In addition, a comparison between annual energy production, cash flow, and electricity loads was performed to evaluate the accuracy of the simulation results. The study suggests that a low-cost PV system could be developed in the Riyadh region.
CFD Analysis of the Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow Characteristics Using the Rectangular Rib Attached to the Fin Surface in a Solar Air Heater
Authors: Choi Hwi-Ung , Moon Kwang-Am , Kim Seong-Bhin , Choi Kwang-Hwan
Published: March 2023

This study discussed the effect of ribbed fin, which was suggested by the authors, on the enhancement of heat transfer and flow characteristics of fluid in a solar air heater. The ribbed fin has a rectangular rib at the base and side surfaces of the fin. Thus, it can increase the heat transfer coefficient in the fluid field of a solar air heater as well as extend the heat transfer area. The simulation was performed with various Reynolds numbers, relative heights, and pitches of the rib. The presence of the rib enhances the heat transfer performance by 3.497 times over a smooth fin. However, the addition of the rib also increases pressure drop. Thus, the thermo-hydraulic performance, which considers both heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop increase, was also discussed. Furthermore, this study developed correlations for the Nusselt number and friction factor as a function of geometric condition of the rib and Reynolds number. The correlations accurately predicted the Nusselt number for the base and side surfaces of the fin and friction factor with mean absolute percent errors of 4.24%, 4.53%, and 7.33%, respectively.
An Evaluation of Possible Sugarcane Plantations Expansion Areas in Lamongan, East Java, Indonesia
Authors: Artikanur Salis Deris , Widiatmaka  , Setiawan Yudi , Marimin
Published: March 2023

Sugar is a significant commodity for Indonesia because the need for sugar reaches 7 million tons. Meanwhile, imports from Thailand, Australia, and Brazil were approximately 5.54 million tons in 2020. Sugarcane and sugar production in East Java province is also supported by Lamongan Regency. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the possible sugarcane plantation expansion areas in Lamongan. The evaluation process carried out in this study was an analysis of land suitability using the analytic network process (ANP) and land availability using an overlay analysis of several policy maps. Three parameters with the highest weight of the ANP were soil drainage (0.181), cation exchange capacity and base saturation (0.134), and rainfall (0.133). The total possible area for sugarcane plantations expansion in Lamongan was 32,552.37 ha and the largest class was Possible Area 2 (65.67%). The three sub-districts with the highest possible areas include Solokuro, Ngimbang, and Mantup. We recommend that the government and stakeholders extend the area allocated to sugarcane plantations in Lamongan because the possible expansion areas are still more than 30 ha, while in the 2011–2031 spatial plan they were only 8927 ha. Expansion plans must take into consideration other uses such as residence, industry, food crops, and protected areas.
Eco-Gamification Platform to Promote Consumers’ Engagement in the Textile and Clothing Circular Value Chain
Authors: Alves Luís , Faria Pedro Miguel , Cruz Estrela Ferreira , Lopes Sérgio Ivan , Rosado da Cruz António Miguel
Published: March 2023

The textile and clothing (T&C) value chain is one of the most polluting in the world and one that produces the most waste. It is, therefore, important to encourage the circular economy (CE) model in this sector to reduce pollution, mitigate the effects of waste production, and, consequently, increase environmental sustainability. Leveraging end-consumer engagement in a CE mindset in the T&C sector is crucial, as they are the last player in a typical linear value chain. Therefore, a platform that supports and promotes sustainable tasks to manage one’s fashion products, through the use of gamification techniques, can be of utmost importance. In this article, we identify impactful carbon footprint consumer actions and solutions for the T&C consumer phase. After that, we survey gamification frameworks for analyzing techniques, at the system design level, which enable the engagement of the final consumer in the CE process. Then, we select and use one of such frameworks, Gameful Design Heuristics (GDH), for defining the gamification structure needed to implement on a business-to-consumer-to-consumer (B2C2C) context of a circular economy process, linking it to the aforementioned actions and solutions. As result, we present a B2C2C circular business process model for the T&C value chain and propose the design model of a gamified platform for the final consumers, which allows them to register the consumer-to-business (C2B) and consumer-to-consumer (C2C) activities, from the circular value chain’s business process, and benefit from a game-like experience. All the model features have been mapped to the GDH framework heuristics, validating that it is possible to support a set of defined heuristics of applied gamification for promoting CE in the T&C value chain.
A Data-Driven Approach for Assessing Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Applied to Puget Sound, Washington State, USA
Authors: Miller Ian , Maverick Avery , Johannessen Jim , Fleming Chloe , Regan Seann
Published: March 2023

Sea level rise (SLR) will exert pressures on assets with social value, including things such as infrastructure and habitats, in the coastal zone. Assessing and ranking the vulnerability of those assets can provide insights that support planning and projects that can reduce those vulnerabilities. In this study, we develop a quantitative, data-drive framework for calculating a sea level rise vulnerability score, using publicly available spatial data, for 111,239 parcels in Puget Sound, Washington State, USA. Notably, our approach incorporates an assessment of coastal erosion, as well as coastal flooding, in an evaluation of the exposure of each parcel, and impacts to habitats are quantified alongside impacts to existing infrastructure. The results suggest that sea level rise vulnerability in Puget Sound is widely distributed, but the overall distribution of scores is heavily skewed, suggesting that adaptation actions directed at a relatively small number of parcels could yield significant reductions in vulnerability. The results are also coupled with a concurrently developed social vulnerability index, which provides additional insight regarding those people and places that may be predisposed to adverse impacts from SLR-related hazards. We find that the proposed approach offers advantages in terms of advancing equitable SLR-related risk reduction, but also that the results should be carefully interpreted considering embedded assumptions and data limitations.
Climate Change Science and Policy—A Guided Tour across the Space of Attitudes and Outcomes
Authors: Kundzewicz Zbigniew W. , Choryński Adam , Olejnik Janusz , Schellnhuber Hans J. , Urbaniak Marek , Ziemblińska Klaudia
Published: March 2023

The ongoing debate on global climate change has polarized societies since ever. The attitude of an individual towards its anthropogenic nature as well as the need and extent to which human beings should mitigate climate warming can result from a number of factors. Also, since the consequences of such alteration in global climate have no borders and became much more severe in the last decades, it is worth it to shed some more light on a current state of an interplay between scientific findings and climate policies. In this paper, we examine a low-dimensional space of possible attitudes toward climate change, its impact, attribution, and mitigation. Insights into those attitudes and evidence-based interpretations are offered. We review a range of inconvenient truths and convenient untruths, respectively, related to fundamental climate-change issues and derive a systematic taxonomy of climate-change skepticism. In addition, the media track related to climate change is reconstructed by examining a range of cover stories of important magazines and the development of those stories with global warming. In a second major step, we span a low-dimensional space of outcomes of the combined climate science-policy system, where each of the sub-systems may either succeed or fail. We conclude that the most probable outcome from today’s perspective is still the same as it was 12 years ago: a tragic triumph, i.e., the success of climate science and the simultaneous failure of climate policy.
Sustainable Marketing and the Role of Social Media: An Experimental Study Using Natural Language Processing (NLP)
Authors: Dash Ganesh , Sharma Chetan , Sharma Shamneesh
Published: March 2023

Marketing has changed fundamentally in the new millennium. At the same time, sustainable marketing strategies have evolved to meet the challenges of environmental issues. In this study, we examined the trends in sustainable marketing strategies and the role of social media in these. Based on specific keywords per the objective, this study collected 33 published articles from the Scopus database from 1991 to 2022 (2012–2022). The KNIME (Konstanz Information Miner) and VOSviewer tools were deployed to provide detailed classification and prediction of the various trends in sustainable marketing, with a particular focus on the role of social media. The study method applied text mining and latent semantic analysis to predict the latest trends. The top three trends were Green Marketing and Consumer Behavior, Sustainable Social Media Marketing, and Influencer Social Media Marketing Practices. This NLP-based review and the clustering of research directions provide immense value to marketers and policymakers.
Operating Multi-Purpose Reservoirs in the Red River Basin: Hydropower Benefit Optimization in Conditions Ensuring Enough Water for Downstream Irrigation
Authors: Nguyen Dung Thien
Published: March 2023

Operational management of multiple reservoirs and hydropower plants in the Red River Basin (RRB) in Vietnam was investigated for optimal benefit of hydropower generation and to ensure the water supply for agricultural and social–economic development downstream during the dry season. This research will investigate the operation of three hydropower reservoirs, including Hoa Binh, Thac Ba, and Tuyen Quang reservoirs. Those reservoirs are managed under the operating Decision No. 740 of the Prime Minister in 2019, which stipulates the dry season and water - enhanced discharge period to supply water for agriculture and ensures that the minimum water level in Hanoi is above 2.2 m, which may lead to lack of water for hydropower plants. To do this, I used the optimization approach to determine the optimal water discharge scenario in these three reservoirs during the enhanced discharge period (irrigation water supply). Based on the optimal scenario, I calculated the amount of saved water which is then compared with the standard discharge scenario under Decision No. 740. This study also found that there is an increasing economic benefit from saved water and hydropower generation during peak hours (after the winter–spring crop). Addtionally, the results demonstrated that the economic value added by the power generation of three reservoirs is about 401.7 billion VND. If compared with using thermal power plants, it saves 858.0 billion VND.
Implications of the Interrelations between the (Waste)Water Sector and Hydrogen Production for Arid Countries Using the Example of Jordan
Authors: Adisorn Thomas , Venjakob Maike , Pössinger Julia , Ersoy Sibel Raquel , Wagner Oliver , Moser Raphael
Published: March 2023

In the energy sector, few topics, if any, are more hyped than hydrogen. Countries develop hydrogen strategies to provide a perspective for hydrogen production and use in order to meet climate-neutrality goals. However, in this topical field the role of water is less accentuated. Hence, in this study, we seek to map the interrelations between the water and wastewater sector on the one hand and the hydrogen sector on the other hand, before reflecting upon our findings in a country case study. We chose the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan because (i) hydrogen is politically discussed not least due to its high potentials for solar PV, and (ii) Jordan is water stressed—definitely a bad precondition for water-splitting electrolyzers. This research is based on a project called the German-Jordanian Water-Hydrogen-Dialogue (GJWHD), which started with comprehensive desk research mostly to map the intersectoral relations and to scope the situation in Jordan. Then, we carried out two expert workshops in Wuppertal, Germany, and Amman, Jordan, in order to further discuss the nexus by inviting a diverse set of stakeholders. The mapping exercise shows various options for hydrogen production and opportunities for planning hydrogen projects in water-scarce contexts such as Jordan.
Activation Method and Reuse of Waste Concrete Powder—A Review
Authors: Bu Changming , Tan Baolin , Wu Qiutong , Qiao Yingying , Sun Yi , Yu Linwen , Yang Qian
Published: March 2023

With an emphasis on environmental protection and the sustainable development of resources, the reuse of waste concrete has long been a research hotspot, and the study of WCP is the key to improving the efficiency of waste concrete utilization. In this study, in which we reviewed the relevant literature at home and abroad in recent years, we first used Citespace software to visualize and analyze the research on the reuse and activation methods of WCP in recent years. In this paper, we explain the characteristics of WCP and the influence of different activation methods on the activity index of WCP. We summarize the mechanical properties and working properties of WCP mortar products, and finally, the optimal activation method of WCP and the optimal amount of WCP in mortar preparation are analyzed. In addition, some problems in the current research are determined.
For a Coexistence with the More-Than-Human: Making Biomaterials from a Philosophical Perspective
Authors: Scarpitti Chiara , Valsecchi Francesca
Published: March 2023

This paper discusses the domain of do-it-yourself (DIY) biomaterials applied to design, by analysing aims, speculative value and aesthetics emerging from this encounter. From a transdisciplinary perspective, the convergence of postanthropocentric philosophies with systematic experiments in two different laboratories, located in Italy and China, demonstrates how design practices can contribute to new forms of human–nature relationships, highlighting a pluriverse way to understand life. Because of the dual approach of philosophical theories and hands-on experiments, biomaterials become tangible tools which change the very idea of “designed objects”: they assign to artefacts circular, living, and integrated properties, thereby placing them within the notion of an ecosystem. Nevertheless, beyond bio-based properties, the three most interesting qualities emerging from this theoretical–practical study are (1) 1:1 scale of production, (2) organic-formless aesthetic, and (3) multispecies coexistence. We argue that through such a model of bioproduction, the designer can assume the role of catalyst for a postanthropocentric vision, dismantling the feeling of separation, alterity, and not-belonging between the human and the nonhuman, between objects and organisms.
Tangent Bundles of P-Sasakian Manifolds Endowed with a Quarter-Symmetric Metric Connection
Authors: Khan Mohammad Nazrul Islam , Mofarreh Fatemah , Haseeb Abdul
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the curvature tensor and the Ricci tensor of a P-Sasakian manifold with respect to the quarter-symmetric metric connection on the tangent bundle TM. Certain results on a semisymmetric P-Sasakian manifold, generalized recurrent P-Sasakian manifolds, and pseudo-symmetric P-Sasakian manifolds on TM are proved.
A Framework for Service-Oriented Digital Twin Systems for Discrete Workshops and Its Practical Case Study
Authors: Zhang Qinglei , Wei Yang , Liu Zhen , Duan Jianguo , Qin Jiyun
Published: March 2023

To address issues in discrete manufacturing workshops, such as the difficulty for management personnel to coordinate workshop production and the challenge of visualizing and supervising a massive amount of temporary data, this paper proposes a service-oriented digital-twin-system framework for discrete workshops using the industrial IoT platform as the system-service platform to solve the problems of the opaque monitoring of operators in discrete workshops, the low interactivity of 2D monitoring systems, and the difficulty of the visual monitoring of workshop data. Firstly, the current situation of intelligent manufacturing workshop-monitoring demand in the context of new-generation information technology is analyzed, and a six-dimensional digital-twin-workshop-monitoring architecture is proposed, whereby a discrete workshop monitoring system based on the digital twin is constructed with IoT as the service platform. We will conduct research on the construction of virtual workshops for the system development process, twin data collection based on edge computing gateways, and dynamic monitoring of the production process. Finally, through the application of this system framework in a movable-arm-production workshop, the more intelligent human–machine interaction process of browsing and controlling workshop information, such as the equipment layout and production processes in the virtual workshop, has been realized. This includes data acquisition based on edge-computing gateways, dynamic real-time monitoring of the production process, etc., which provides a reference for realizing the visual monitoring of the discrete workshop.
Symbiotic Analysis of Security Assessment and Penetration Tests Guiding Real L4 Automated City Shuttles
Authors: Benyahya Meriem , Bergerat Pierre , Collen Anastasija , Nijdam Niels Alexander
Published: March 2023

The Connected Automated Vehicle (CAV)’s deployment is proof of the wide evolution of autonomous driving technologies enabling vehicles to gradually dispose of their drivers. Within the scope of smart cities, such innovation has given rise to a new type of CAV: the Automated City Shuttle (ACS). Foreseen as the new paradigm aiming to shape the public transport model, the ACS elicits a plurality of new applications, such as the on-demand service in which a driverless shuttle offers the desired ride without human intervention. However, such a model raises cybersecurity concerns through the numerous attack surfaces and vehicle hyperconnection. This phenomenon was highlighted in several studies on CAVs, but very few research works tackled the specific case of ACSs, whose challenges and risks far exceed those of personal vehicles. The present work offers a comprehensive investigation of cybersecurity attacks, demonstrates a performed risk assessment based on the ISO/SAE 21434 standard, and showcases a penetration test over a real ACS of automation level four (L4) according to the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE)’s ranking. Based on our experiments, we leverage fundamental cybersecurity recommendations with a focus on the ACS’s physical security.
Status of Ecosystem Services in Abandoned Mining Areas in the Iberian Peninsula: Management Proposal
Authors: González-Morales María , Rodríguez-González Mª Ángeles , Fernández-Pozo Luis
Published: March 2023

An abandoned sphalerite mining area in the southwest (SW) of the Iberian Peninsula was studied to evaluate the impact that the presence of metal(loid)s has on soil and ecosystem health. Five zones were delimited: sludge, dump, scrubland, riparian zone, and dehesa. Critical total levels of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), thallium (Tl), and chromium (Cr), well above the limit indicative of toxicity problems, were found in the areas close to the sources of contamination. Pb-Zn concentrations were very high in the riparian zone, reaching values of 5875 mg/kg Pb and 4570 mg/kg Zn. The whole area is classifiable as extremely contaminated with Tl, with concentrations above 370 mg/kg in the scrubland. Cr accumulation mainly occurred in areas away from the dump, with levels up to 240 mg/kg in the dehesa. In the study area, several plants were found growing luxuriantly despite the contamination. The measured metal(loid)s content is the cause of a significant decrease in ecosystem services, resulting in unsafe soils for food and water production, so the implementation of a decontamination program is advisable. The plant species Retama sphaerocarpa, present in the sludge, scrubland, riparian zone, and dehesa, is postulated as suitable for use in phytoremediation.
Electronic Cigarette Use during Pregnancy: Is It Harmful?
Authors: Vilcassim M. J. Ruzmyn , Stowe Samuel , Majumder Rachel , Subramaniam Akila , Sinkey Rachel G.
Published: March 2023

Although combustible cigarette smoking rates have declined in recent years, alternative tobacco product use, particularly electronic cigarette use (“vaping”), has increased among young adults. Recent studies indicate that vaping during pregnancy is on the rise, possibly due to the perception that it is a safer alternative to combustible cigarette smoking. However, e-cigarette aerosols may contain several newer, potentially toxic compounds, including some known developmental toxicants that may adversely impact both the mother and the fetus. However, there is paucity of studies that have examined the effects of vaping during pregnancy. While the adverse perinatal outcomes of cigarette smoking during pregnancy are well established, the specific risks associated with inhaling vaping aerosols during pregnancy requires more research. In this article, we discuss the existing evidence and knowledge gaps on the risks of vaping during pregnancy. Studies that investigate vaping-associated systemic exposure and its effects (i.e., biomarker analyses) and maternal and neonatal clinical health outcomes are needed to reach more robust conclusions. We particularly emphasize the need to go beyond comparative studies with cigarettes, and advocate for research that objectively evaluates the safety of e-cigarettes and other alternative tobacco products.
A Sublethal Concentration of Sulfoxaflor Has Minimal Impact on Buff-Tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Locomotor Behaviour under Aversive Conditioning
Authors: James Laura , Reynolds Andrew M. , Mellor Ian R. , Davies T. G. Emyr
Published: March 2023

Pesticide exposure has been cited as a key threat to insect pollinators. Notably, a diverse range of potential sublethal effects have been reported in bee species, with a particular focus on effects due to exposure to neonicotinoid insecticides. Here, a purpose-built thermal–visual arena was used in a series of pilot experiments to assess the potential impact of approximate sublethal concentrations of the next generation sulfoximine insecticide sulfoxaflor (5 and 50 ppb) and the neonicotinoid insecticides thiacloprid (500 ppb) and thiamethoxam (10 ppb), on the walking trajectory, navigation and learning abilities of the buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris audax) when subjected to an aversive conditioning task. The results suggest that only thiamethoxam prevents forager bees from improving in key training parameters (speed and distanced travelled) within the thermal visual arena. Power law analyses further revealed that a speed–curvature power law, previously reported as being present in the walking trajectories of bumblebees, is potentially disrupted under thiamethoxam (10 ppb) exposure, but not under sulfoxaflor or thiacloprid exposure. The pilot assay described provides a novel tool with which to identify subtle sublethal pesticide impacts, and their potential causes, on forager bees, that current ecotoxicological tests are not designed to assess.
Integrating “One Health” Concepts in the Design of Sustainable Systems for Environmental Use
Authors: Johnson Mark S. , Adams Valerie H.
Published: March 2023

Ensuring for the national defense requires the use of substances such as energetics, propellants, pyrotechnics, and other materials in environmental applications. Systems that use these materials do so in testing and training environments and must be used in an environmentally sustained manner to ensure success during actual kinetic defensive operations. Environmental and occupational health assessments require a weighted evaluation of toxicity, bioaccumulation, persistence, and environmental fate and transport considerations for each substance in the formulation to include potential combustion products. Data that support these criteria need to be collected in a phased and matrixed approach and considered iteratively as technology advances. Further, these criteria are often considered as disparate and separate; hence, comparing favorable aspects of one may or may not offset detrimental data from another. Here, we describe an approach to the phased collection of environmental, safety, and occupational health (ESOH) information for new systems and substances and provide recommendations for evaluating such data streams in making decisions for use and for evaluating alternatives.
Gut Microbiome-Host Metabolome Homeostasis upon Exposure to PFOS and GenX in Male Mice
Authors: Rashid Faizan , Dubinkina Veronika , Ahmad Saeed , Maslov Sergei , Irudayaraj Joseph Maria Kumar
Published: March 2023

Alterations of the normal gut microbiota can cause various human health concerns. Environmental chemicals are one of the drivers of such disturbances. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—specifically, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-(heptafluoropropoxy) propanoic acid (GenX)—on the microbiome of the small intestine and colon, as well as on liver metabolism. Male CD-1 mice were exposed to PFOS and GenX in different concentrations and compared to controls. GenX and PFOS were found to have different effects on the bacterial community in both the small intestine and colon based on 16S rRNA profiles. High GenX doses predominantly led to increases in the abundance of Clostridium sensu stricto, Alistipes, and Ruminococcus, while PFOS generally altered Lactobacillus, Limosilactobacillus, Parabacteroides, Staphylococcus, and Ligilactobacillus. These treatments were associated with alterations in several important microbial metabolic pathways in both the small intestine and colon. Untargeted LC-MS/MS metabolomic analysis of the liver, small intestine, and colon yielded a set of compounds significantly altered by PFOS and GenX. In the liver, these metabolites were associated with the important host metabolic pathways implicated in the synthesis of lipids, steroidogenesis, and in the metabolism of amino acids, nitrogen, and bile acids. Collectively, our results suggest that PFOS and GenX exposure can cause major perturbations in the gastrointestinal tract, aggravating microbiome toxicity, hepatotoxicity, and metabolic disorders.
Ecotoxicity of o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile (CBM) and Toxicological Risk Assessment for SCLP Biological Cultures (Saccharomyces sp., Chlorella sp., Lactobacillus sp., Paramecium sp.)
Authors: Gheorghe Viorel , Gheorghe Catalina Gabriela , Bondarev Andreea , Somoghi Raluca
Published: March 2023

Toxic substances used as chemical weapons present a number of particularities that affect the surrounding environment, having a wide range of action by disrupting the ecological balance: they may infect soil or air, or form aerosols through smoke or toxic fog. Such substances can have a long duration of action, from minutes to weeks, which is why they are used in military attacks. This study evaluated the toxicological character of o-chlorobenzyliden malonitrile (CBM) in order to study the toxicity limit of this substance using microbiological cultures of Saccharomyces sp., Chlorella sp., Lactobacillus sp. and Paramecium sp., which were used to determine their rate of growth in the presence of different concentrations of o-chlorobenzyliden malonitrile and their ability to respond to this toxic stimulus.
Meta-Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Novel RNA Viruses in Hippocampus erectus
Authors: Zhang Fan , Ren Zhihao , Guo Xiaomeng , Wang Yiting , Meng Fanzeng , Shi Weifeng , Wang Xinping , Dong Xuan
Published: March 2023

Lined seahorse, Hippocampus erectus, is an important aquatic animal due to its medicinal and ornamental purposes. However, our understanding of the viral spectrum in H. erectus is still limited. Here, we studied the viruses in H. erectus using meta-transcriptomic sequencing. A total of 213,770,166 reads were generated and assembled de novo into 539 virus-associated contigs. Three novel RNA viruses from the Astroviridae, Paramyxoviridae, and Picornaviridae families were finally identified. In addition, we identified a strain of nervous necrosis virus from H. erectus. In particular, the unhealthy group showed a higher viral diversity and abundance than the normal group. These results revealed the diversity and cross-species transmission of viruses in H. erectus and highlighted the threat of viral infections to H. erectus.
Neurological Dysfunction in Long COVID Should Not Be Labelled as Functional Neurological Disorder
Authors: Van der Feltz-Cornelis Christina M. , Moriarty Andrew S. , Strain William David
Published: March 2023

There have been suggestions that Long COVID might be purely functional (meaning psychological) in origin. Labelling patients with neurological dysfunction in Long COVID as having functional neurological disorder (FND) in the absence of proper testing may be symptomatic of that line of thought. This practice is problematic for Long COVID patients, as motor and balance symptoms have been reported to occur in Long COVID frequently. FND is characterized by the presentation of symptoms that seem neurological but lack compatibility of the symptom with a neurological substrate. Although diagnostic classification according to the ICD-11 and DSM-5-TR is dependent predominantly on the exclusion of any other medical condition that could account for the symptoms, current neurological practice of FND classification allows for such comorbidity. As a consequence, Long COVID patients with motor and balance symptoms mislabeled as FND have no longer access to Long COVID care, whereas treatment for FND is seldom provided and is ineffective. Research into underlying mechanisms and diagnostic methods should explore how to determine whether motor and balance symptoms currently diagnosed as FND should be considered one part of Long COVID symptoms, in other words, one component of symptomatology, and in which cases they correctly represent FND. Research into rehabilitation models, treatment and integrated care are needed, which should take into account biological underpinnings as well as possible psychological mechanisms and the patient perspective.
Exosomes as Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Agents
Authors: Heydari Romina , Koohi Fatemeh , Rasouli Milad , Rezaei Kimia , Abbasgholinejad Elham , Bekeschus Sander , Doroudian Mohammad
Published: March 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disorder that causes systemic inflammation, autoimmunity, and joint abnormalities that result in permanent disability. Exosomes are nanosized extracellular particles found in mammals (40–100 nm). They are a transporter of lipids, proteins, and genetic material involved in mammalian cell–cell signaling, biological processes, and cell signaling. Exosomes have been identified as playing a role in rheumatoid arthritis-related joint inflammation (RA). Uniquely functioning extracellular vesicles (EVs) are responsible for the transport of autoantigens and mediators between distant cells. In addition, paracrine factors, such as exosomes, modulate the immunomodulatory function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In addition to transporting genetic information, exosomes convey miRNAs between cells and have been studied as drug delivery vehicles. In animal models, it has been observed that MSCs secrete EVs with immunomodulatory properties, and promising results have been observed in this area. By understanding the diversity of exosomal contents and their corresponding targets, it may be possible to diagnose autoimmune diseases. Exosomes can be employed as diagnostic biomarkers for immunological disorders. We here discuss the most recent findings regarding the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of these nanoparticles in rheumatoid arthritis and provide an overview of the evidence pertaining to the biology of exosomes in RA.
The Correlation of Papanicolaou Smears and Clinical Features to Identify the Common Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer: A Retrospective and Descriptive Study from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Trinidad
Authors: Umakanthan Srikanth , Bukelo Maryann M. , Ghany Saudah , Gay La Donna , Gilkes Tia , Freeman Jamila , Francis Andre , Francis Kyle , Gajadhar Gabriel , Fraser Junea
Published: March 2023

Background: Cervical cancer, the fourth most frequent cancer in women, is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). This study identifies risk factors and clinical findings for abnormal cervical cytology and histopathology in the Trinidad and Tobago populations. Some risk factors include early age of first coitus, a high number of sexual partners, high parity, smoking, and using certain medications, such as oral contraception. This study aims to identify the significance of Papanicolaou (pap) smears and the common risk factors that contribute to the development of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. Method: A three-year retrospective, descriptive study of cervical cancer was conducted at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex. The subject population included 215 female patients aged 18 years and older with the following documented abnormal cervical cytology: (ASCUS), ASC-H, LSIL, HSIL, Atypical Glandular cells, HPV, Adenocarcinoma, and Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Histopathology records were analysed for thirty-three of these patients. Patients’ information was recorded on data collection sheets adapted from the North Central Regional Health Authority’s cytology laboratory standardised reporting format request form. Results and Findings: The data were analysed via Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software edition 23 using frequency tables and descriptive analysis. The mean sample age of the population was 36.7 years, the first age of coitus was 18.1 years, the number of sexual partners was 3.8, and the number of live births was 2. LSIL was the most popular abnormal finding, 32.6%, followed by HSIL, 28.8%, and ASCUS, 27.4%. Most histopathological reports resulted in CIN I and II. Conclusions: The significant risk factors observed for cytology abnormalities and premalignant lesions were early age of coitus, a high number of sexual partners, and no use of contraception. Patients mostly presented as asymptomatic despite obtaining abnormal cytology results. Hence, regular pap smear screening should continue to be highly encouraged.
Follow-Up of Side Effects throughout the Entire Course of Coronavirus Vaccination
Authors: Odeh Mohanad , Al-Jussani Ghada Nazar , Ashour Abdelrahman , AlNaqah Husam , Hasan Hamza A. , Sbitan Lana , Dawabsheh Amro , Alhawi Moayad
Published: March 2023

Vaccines are considered the best protective means against coronavirus infection. There is increasing interest in reporting the side effects of vaccines, especially for individuals younger than 18 years old. Accordingly, this analytical cohort study aims to report on the side effects of adult and young individuals who received vaccination within 24 h, 72 h, 5 days, and 1 week through the entire course of vaccination (ECoV). A validated online survey was used to collect information. In total, 1069 individuals were completely followed. Most individuals received the Pfizer vaccine (59.6%). Most individuals had received two doses (69.4%). Very strong and statistically significant associations with side effects (p < 0.05, Phi (Φ) > 0.25) throughout the ECoV were reported for the type of vaccine and female gender. Non-smokers reported weak statistically significant associations. Fatigue and localized pain were the most commonly reported side effect, with onset within 24 h and duration of less than 72 h. The prevalence of reported side effects was statistically significantly higher among young individuals (<18 years old) than among adults (X2 (1) =7.6, p = 0.006. Phi φ = 0.11).