bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Properties and Burn Wound Healing Activity of Thixotropic Xymedone Gels
Authors: Sheferov Ilya , Balakireva Alyona , Panteleev Dmitry , Spitskaya Irina , Orekhov Sergey , Kazantsev Oleg , Solovyeva Anna , Novopoltsev Denis , Melnikova Nina
Published: October 2022

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) modified by oxopyrymidine alcohol, also known as xymedone (Xym), were obtained and studied using FTIR, UV-vis, and fluorescent spectroscopy, and SEM, BET, powder XRD, and DLS analysis. A formulation of thixotropic hydrophilic gels containing Carbopol-based Xym and ZnO NPs was developed. A vertical Franz cell with a cellulose acetate membrane was used as a model to investigate the passive diffusion of the gel components by AAS. The gel components—Xym and ZnO NPs—were shown to penetrate through acetyl cellulose membrane within 5–7 h depending on an initial amount, and its values were in the range of 56–77%. The penetration of modified ZnO NPs by Xym was more effective in contrast to ZnO NPs without modification. The burn wound healing activity of ZnO NPs–Xym gel was demonstrated on a thermal burn wound model on rats. SOD and GR activity was increased by 30–35% during ZnO NPs–Xym gel treatment, the burn area on 10 postburn day decreased by 10% in contrast to a positive control, Methyluracyl®® ointment.
Greenness Assessment of Chromatographic Methods Used for Analysis of Empagliflozin: A Comparative Study
Authors: Santali Eman Y. , Naguib Ibrahim A. , Alshehri Abdullah M. , Alzahrani Yazeed A. , Alharthi Abdullah E. , Alosaimi Turki S. , Alsayali Bandar D. , Alsalahat Izzeddin , Almahri Albandary , Abourehab Mohammed A. S. , Abdallah Fatma F.
Published: October 2022

The analytical chemistry community is attempting to incorporate green chemistry concepts in the development of analytical techniques to redefine analytical methods and dramatically modify the philosophy of analytical technique development. Each greenness assessment method has its own benefits and drawbacks, as well as its own procedures. The results of each greenness assessment method produce numerous deductions regarding the selection of a greenest chromatographic method on which the determination of a greenness assessment tool depends. The current study examined the greenness behavior of 26 reported chromatographic methods in the literature for the evaluation of the medicine empagliflozin using three evaluation methods: the national environmental methods index (NEMI), the eco-scale assessment (ESA), and the green analytical procedure index (GAPI). This comparative study discussed the value of using more than one greenness evaluation methods while evaluating. The findings showed that the NEMI was a less informative and misleading tool. However, the ESA provided reliable numerical assessments out of 100. Despite the GAPI being a complex assessment compared to the others, it provided a fully descriptive three-colored pictogram and a precise assessment. The findings recommended applying more than one greenness assessment tool to evaluate the greenness of methods prior to planning laboratory-based analytical methods to ensure an environment friendly process.
Efficient Removal of Eriochrome Black T Dye Using Activated Carbon of Waste Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Grown in Northern Morocco Enhanced by New Mathematical Models
Authors: El Mansouri Fouad , Pelaz Guillermo , Morán Antonio , Da Silva Joaquim C. G. Esteves , Cacciola Francesco , El Farissi Hammadi , Tayeq Hatim , Zerrouk Mohammed Hassani , Brigui Jamal
Published: October 2022

In the present work, the adsorption behavior of Eriochrome Black T (EBT) on waste hemp activated carbon (WHAC) was examined. The surface of the WHAC was modified by H3PO4 acid treatment. The surface and structural characterization of the adsorbents was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The effect of influential adsorption parameters (pH, contact time, dosage, and initial concentration) on the adsorption of EBT onto WHAC was examined in batch experiments; some adsorption parameters such as pH, concentration and dose were improved by new mathematical models. The adsorption behavior of EBT on the surfaces of WHAC was evaluated by applying different isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin–Radushkevich) to equilibrium data. The adsorption kinetics was studied by using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intraparticle models on the model. Adsorption followed the pseudo-second-order rate kinetics. The maximum removal of EBT was found to be 44–62.08% by WHAC at pH = 7, adsorbent dose of 10–70 mg, contact time of 3 h and initial dye concentration of 10 mg.L−1. The maximum adsorption capacities were 14.025 mg.g−1 obtained by calculating according to the Langmuir model, while the maximum removal efficiency was obtained at 70 mg equal to 62.08% for the WHAC. The adsorption process is physical in the monolayer and multilayer.
The Effect of Molecular Mass of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose on the Performance of Capillary Electrophoretic Separation of Proteins
Authors: Huang Jiaxin , Tao Chunxian , Li Zhenqing , Miyake Erika , You Qingxiang , Xiao Wen , Zhang Dawei , Yamaguchi Yoshinori
Published: October 2022

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is a versatile analytical separation method in the field of biochemistry. Although it has been proved that the relative molecular mass (Mr) of the polymers determines the threshold concentration of the entangled polymer solution, which will affect the separation performance of DNA molecules, there is still no report on the effect of Mr on the separation performance of proteins. Herein, we have thoroughly performed the CE of proteins ranged from 14.3 kDa to 116 kDa in a mixed hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) solution. The mixed solution was obtained with various Mr including 90,000, 250,000, 720,000, and 1,300,000. Then, we found that the mixed polymer provided a high resolution for small protein molecules while increasing the efficiency of large ones. Results demonstrated that the migration time decreased if HEC (1,300,000) was mixed with the lower Mr one, and the mixed solution (1,300,000/250,000) offered the highest resolution. The resolution was negatively correlated with the electric field strength. Finally, we have employed the optimal electrophoretic conditions to separate proteins in human tears, and it showed that lysozyme, lipocalin, and lactoferrin from human tears were successfully resolved in the mixed HEC. Such work indicates that CE has the potential to be developed as a tool for the diagnosis of xerophthalmia, meibomian gland dysfunction, or other eye diseases.
Extraction and Isolation of Natural Products
Authors: Gallo Monica
Published: October 2022

Bioactive compounds are substances that are generally found in small amounts in food and can have beneficial health effects [...]
Fertility Preservation and Parenthood: Perspectives of Trans and Non-Binary Youth and Parents in Portugal
Authors: Gato Jorge , Fonseca Maria
Published: October 2022

(1) Background: Fertility preservation allows for trans and non-binary individuals to achieve parenthood using their own gametes. Considering that preservation of gametes can be performed at increasingly earlier ages, it is important to analyze both the attitudes of trans and non-binary youth and their parents towards available family formation options, including fertility preservation. We aimed to explore attitudes toward parenthood and fertility among trans and non-binary youth and parents of trans and non-binary youth. (2) Methods: A questionnaire about fertility attitudes was administered to 33 adolescents and young adults and 27 parents. (3) Results: Trans and non-binary youth showed little interest in resorting to fertility preservation, and both parents and youth mentioned the lack of knowledge about this procedure as the main reason for not performing it. Parents were overall supportive of their children’s decisions, including the choice of different pathways to parenthood other than biological reproduction. (4) Discussion: Health providers should ensure that young trans and non-binary persons and their parents are aware of family formation options, including fertility preservation along with its impact in future genetic parenthood.
The Linguistic Challenge for Standards
Authors: Robinson Richard C.
Published: October 2022

Standards serve a valuable function that enable efficiencies, technological advancement, and commerce. To date, there is little examination of the problems with standards, their implementations, and methodologies that could be introduced to improve utility and utilization. This is contrasted against the large inventory of standards that exist, and proliferation of standards. More available literature exists on standards wars that focus on attempts at market dominance, persistence of ‘legacy’ standards in light of newer and ‘better’ solutions, cases for and against multiple standards, and even legal cases regarding anti-competitive behavior leveraging dominance in particular standards. This, however, focuses more on the politics as opposed to presenting a more fundamental examination of the cause for the existing friction. Through applied linguistics, it becomes more apparent that differences in language, using Communities of Practice as a guide, can provide a dimension to standards development and implementation. Friction in standards arises when standards are viewed as broad and universally applicable versus being the expression of a specific Community of Practice, and therefore should be specifically and formally scoped using linguistic methods.
Error-Tracking Iterative Learning Control for the Constrained Flexible-Joint Manipulator with Initial Errors
Authors: Shi Huihui , Chen Qiang
Published: October 2022

The use of manipulators can improve sustainable energy utilization efficiency and increase sustainable manufacturing practices for solar tracking systems and manufactures, and thus it is significant to guarantee a high tracking accuracy for manipulators. In this paper, an error-tracking adaptive iterative learning control (AILC) method is proposed for a constrained flexible-joint manipulator (FJM) with initial errors. Due to the existence of the repeated positioning drift, the accuracy of the actual manipulator and the sustainable energy utilization efficiency are affected, which motivates the error-tracking approach proposed in this paper to deal with the repeat positioning problem. The desired error trajectory is constructed, such that the tracking error can follow the desired error trajectory without arbitrary initial values and iteration-varying tasks. Then, the system uncertainties are approximated by the capability of fuzzy logic systems (FLSs), and the combined adaptive laws are designed to update the weight and the approximating error of FLSs. Considering the safety operation of the flexible-joint manipulator, both input and output constraints are considered, a quadratic-fractional barrier Lyapunov function (QFBLF) is constructed, such that the system output is always within the constrained region. Therefore, the proposed method can guarantee the output tracking accuracy of manipulators under arbitrary initial values and iteration-varying tasks and keep the system output within the constraints to improve the transient performance, such that the energy utilization and accessory manufacturing efficiency can be improved. Through the Lyapunov synthesis, it is proved that the tracking error can converge to zero as the number of iterations goes to infinity. Finally, comparative simulations are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Bringing Life Back into Former Mining Sites: A Mini-Review on Soil Remediation Using Organic Amendments
Authors: Miu Bogdan Andrei , Pop Cristian-Emilian , Crăciun Nicolai , Deák György
Published: October 2022

Former mining sites cause serious environmental problems worldwide as they are contaminated with hazardous levels of metals. Mined lands are characterized by a deserted landscape due to the lack of organic matter in soil. Research analyses confirmed that the structure of soil in abandoned surface mines has affected the occurrence of ecological processes and natural colonization of vegetation cannot take place. Moreover, phytoextraction of metals is possible only in soils with specific parameters. Previously conducted studies proposed the in situ supplementation with biochar, compost or agri-food wastes as a solution to the lack of organic carbon and nitrogen in areas affected by mining. Therefore, the main aim of this review is to investigate what improvements different organic amendments can bring to mining-impacted soils to support plant growth without affecting the bioavailability of metals. We concluded that contaminants are specific to the mining activity, while organic treatments cause the increase of soil pH, which influences, to the greatest extent, the bioavailability of metals.
How Do Psychosocial Barriers Shape Public Transport Use? A Mixed-Method Study among Older Adults in Pakistan
Authors: Al-Rashid Muhammad Ahmad , Nadeem Muhammad , Campisi Tiziana , Shamsul Harumain Yong Adilah , Goh Hong Ching
Published: October 2022

Transport can significantly contribute to independent and healthy ageing, but in Pakistan—as in various other countries across the globe—many older adults are dependent on others. Age-sensitive transport environments are crucial for generating positive experiences among older adults. Notably, psychosocial experiences significantly impact public transport use. Thus, a thorough understanding of these psychological influences on public transport accessibility can encourage walkability and independent mobility. In the present research, we combine different data into a mixed-method study to investigate the psychosocial barriers to public transport use by older adults for daily travel in Lahore, Pakistan. The data include a questionnaire survey (319 older adults), semi-structured interviews (11 older adults), structured interviews with four experts and an analysis of relevant national-, provincial-, and district-level strategies and transport plans. The findings show how poorly perceived social norms, negative emotional responses, and perceived difficulty are significant barriers to using public transport services among older adults. Moreover, the existing transport plans and documents do not favour and cater to such psychosocial issues. Several strategic interventions that could promote walkability and public transport use are suggested. It includes activating social norms, raising awareness and information, providing social support, improving walking infrastructure and public transport services, pricing mechanisms, and offering specialised services. These initiatives, however, necessitate coordination among government authorities at the national, provincial, and district levels.
Perceptions, Problems and Prospects of Contract Farming: Insights from Rice Production in Vietnam
Authors: Tuyen Mai Chiem , Sirisupluxana Prapinwadee , Bunyasiri Isriya , Hung Pham Xuan
Published: October 2022

Contract farming (CF) is considered a relevant measure to tackle the challenges to sustainable development from the serious effects of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the positive effects of CF, low participation and frequent breaching of contracts remain challenges. Several studies have mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of CF but little is known about their rankings and perceptions of CF from the involved stakeholders. To address these evidence gaps, this study surveys stakeholders, ranks the perceived advantages and disadvantages of CF, and investigates the problems and prospects of CF. The study utilizes data triangulation from three stakeholders: farmers, contractors, and government policymakers. Data include twenty-seven key informant interviews (KIIs), seven focus group discussions (FGDs), and two participant observations (POs). Data are analyzed by a mixed method approach with methods of constant comparison, content analysis, and Rank Based Quotient (RBQ). The results indicate that while the main perceived advantage of CF relates to the outputs, the top three disadvantages of CF relate to issues likely to cause a breach of contract. The results also reveal that there seems to be a difference in the perception of CF’s advantages and disadvantages among the stakeholders. Despite the problems such as breaching several contract terms, mistrust, or market manipulation from the local collectors, CF in Vietnam is overall promising.
Remote Sensing Monitoring of Changes in Lake Aquatic Vegetation before and after the Removal of the Fence Based on Sentinel-2: A Case Study in Lake Futou, Hubei Province
Authors: Fu Congju , He Baoyin , Zhou Yadong , Liu Hui , Yang Fan , Song Jinwen , Cai Huiping , Yang Xiaoqin
Published: October 2022

Aquatic vegetation is an important component and main primary producer of lake ecosystems and plays an important role in improving water quality and maintaining biodiversity, which is critical to diagnosing the health of aquatic ecosystems in shallow lakes. It is therefore important to accurately obtain information on dynamic changes and spatial-temporal distribution of aquatic vegetation. Based on the Sentinel-2 satellite remote sensing images from 2016–2022, we studied the feasibility of using remote sensing technology to monitor the spatial-temporal changes of aquatic vegetation before and after the removal of the fence, taking Futou Lake in Hubei Province as a case study. Two vegetation indices, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Index (SAVI) were applied to identify the open water and the aquatic vegetation through two threshold determination methods, Otsu algorithm and manual division threshold method. The results show that: (1) the classification based on the NDVI and manual division threshold method performs the best, with the overall classification accuracy of 94.44% and the Kappa coefficient of 85.23%. (2) The growth of aquatic vegetation is divided into stages, the first stage is enclosing culture, and the distribution of aquatic vegetation is less in 2016–2017, all around 10 km2. The second stage is after the removal of the fence, the distribution area of aquatic vegetation in 2018 is on an upward trend, and in 2019–2022 it is growing rapidly. (3) Spatially, the aquatic vegetation was mainly distributed at the former fence, specifically in the northeastern and southwestern waters of the Futou Lake and it spread to the core area of the lake, probably due to the elevation of the siltation of the lake bottom. (4) Potamogeton crispus and Trapa are the dominant species, the peak of the distribution range in Futou Lake occurs in 2021 with an area of about 50.89 km2, which needs to be controlled moderately. (5) The area covered by Potamogeton crispus in the Futou Lake has increased significantly, probably due to the siltation and accumulation of nutrients in the Futou Lake caused by the history of purse seine farming.
Sustaining Increasing Wintering Raptor Populations in Central Israel: A 38 Years Perspective
Authors: Hadad Ezra , Zduniak Piotr , Yosef Reuven
Published: October 2022

Censusing wintering raptors has proved useful in detecting changes in populations. Israel is a well-known bottleneck for soaring birds in the autumn and the spring. Despite the many studies on migratory raptors in Israel, none have undertaken the study of the overwintering raptors consistently over extended periods, such as 1985–2022, a period of 38 years. During the study, conducted in central Israel, we recorded 44,120 individuals from 32 species. The most frequently observed species were Black Kite (Milvus migrans; 59.1%), Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus; 18.1%), and Steppe Buzzard (Buteo vulpinus; 6.6%). We found an increase in the total number of individuals, where the mean increase compared to the starting year was 851.6 ± 1071.2%, and the average annual growth was 43.7 ± 158.8%, respectively. A similar pattern was found in the number of species during the study period, where the mean annual increase was 17.1 ± 20.5%, and the average annual growth rate of species richness was 2.2 ± 16.2%. However, an evaluation of the mortality from power lines of two listed species suggests that the wintering raptors are not well protected in the study area. The conservation of these raptors and the possible sustainability of their wintering populations into the future, some of which are on the IUCN Red List, are of great importance, and the authorities should try and understand the human demographics and mesohabitat changes that appear to influence the wintering capabilities of the raptor populations.
Emergency Shelter Geospatial Location Optimization for Flood Disaster Condition: A Review
Authors: Ekaputra Reza Asriandi , Lee Changkye , Kee Seong-Hoon , Yee Jurng-Jae
Published: October 2022

Today, the world is experiencing a tremendous catastrophic disaster that can lead to potential environmental damage. However, awareness of how to deal with this catastrophic situation still remains very low. One of the most critical issues in disaster response is assigning disaster victims to the best emergency shelter location. This article reviews various existing studies to develop a new approach to determining emergency shelter locations. There are four evaluation criteria that are reviewed: optimization objective, decision variable, methodology, and victim identification. From the investigation, there are two major evaluations that can be further developed. In terms of decision variables, most of the previous research applies direct distance (Euclidean Distance) in the analysis process. However, the application of travel distance can represent a real evacuation process. Another interesting point is the victim identification process. Recent research applies grid-based partitioning and administrative-based partitioning. However, this method leads to a bias in the assignment process. This article recommends the application of K-Means clustering method as one of the unsupervised machine learning methods that is rapidly developing in many engineering fields. For better understanding, an example of K-Means clustering application is also provided in this article. Finally, the combination of travel distance and K-Means clustering will be proposed method for any further research.
Agent-Based Modelling in Visitor Management of Protected Areas
Authors: Štekerová Kamila , Zelenka Josef , Kořínek Milan
Published: October 2022

The research was motivated by the growing importance of visitor management in protected areas, which can be based on knowledge management, system modelling of processes and phenomena, and a deeper knowledge of the experience of visitors in connection with the concept of psychological carrying capacity. The work builds on previous publications and research by the authors, focused on the optimization of tourism impacts, visitor management and the development of the theory and applicability of the concept of carrying capacity. It emphasizes the overview analysis of the possibilities of using agent-based modelling and visualization of visitor flows in protected areas. The analysis of suitable sources was based on the PRISMA method, which showed the main research directions for the use of the agent-based approach in visitor management. For the practical application of modelling, the NetLogo environment was chosen, in which the visitor flows of the model area were simulated. The visitor attendance was evaluated in relation to the psychological carrying capacity. Subsequently, visitor management measures were implemented in the model, and repeated simulations of visitor attendance, based on monitored flows, were run for a specific location around Oheb Castle (the Železné hory/Iron Mountains, Bohemia). The main result is the innovative use of agent-based modelling in visitor management in the context of visitor experience, visitor satisfaction and psychological carrying capacity. The contribution of the presented research is also the proposal of future research directions for more accurate use of psychological carrying capacity in visitor management.
Fertilizer Use, Value, and Knowledge Capital: A Case of Indian Farming
Authors: Paul Bino , Patnaik Unmesh , Sasidharan Subash , Murari Kamal Kumar , Bahinipati Chandra Sekhar
Published: October 2022

Using the recently released microdata covering input use in Indian agriculture, this study analyzes the relation between value and fertilizer consumption along with four layers of explanation. These layers include factors of production, knowledge capital, social identity, and human capital for both agricultural seasons. Subsequently, the study also examines the propensity to use diverse channels of information. This study uses both regression and machine learning methods for analysis. The main finding of the study is that fertilizer use is directly associated with the value of production. However, the propensity to use fertilizer is the highest for the lowest quantile. Moreover, fertilizer use is a positive covariant of select information sources. Further, similar to tangible resources, the study observes that information plays a crucial role in fertilizer use. Information channels such as extension services have a pivotal role in promoting sustainable farming, especially among marginal farms.
Landscape Pattern and Succession of Chinese Fir Plantations in Jiangle County, China
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Zhong Yongde , Yang Lingfan , Li Dali , Tang Hui , He Jianghua
Published: October 2022

Since the early 1980s, in southern China, evergreen broad-leaved forests have been replaced by Chinese fir plantations on a large scale. By analyzing the dynamic change characteristics of the landscape pattern of Chinese fir plantations in the case study, the paper explored the current status and development trend of the landscape pattern of Chinese fir plantations after 40 years of manual intervention and natural succession. The paper, based on the three-period survey data on forest resources in 2010, 2015, and 2020, analyzed the dynamic changes of the landscape pattern of Chinese fir plantations from 2010 to 2020 and, by using a transition matrix and landscape index, simulated and predicted the landscape pattern of Chinese fir plantations in Jiangle County in 2025 by constructing a CA–Markov model with Jiangle County, Fujian Province, China, as the study area. The results showed that the landscape of Chinese fir plantations is the main component of the forest landscape in southern China, accounting for 12%. The landscape quality of Chinese fir plantations degraded, mainly shown in the facts that the Chinese fir plantations were juvenile from 2010 to 2020, and that the young and middle-aged forests became the main part of the landscape of Chinese fir plantations, accounting for 54.8%. The landscape area of Chinese fir plantations showed an increasing trend, which mainly came from other coniferous forests, other woodlands, non-woodlands and non-wood forests, and the replaced Chinese fir plantations were mainly eroded by bamboo forests. The evergreen broad-leaved forests, a kind of zonal vegetation, have been effectively protected in the past 10 years. In the future, the total area of Chinese fir plantations will continue to expand, and a small part of them will continue to be eroded by bamboo forests. In order to improve the landscape quality of Chinese fir plantations, it is necessary to adjust the age group structure of Chinese fir plantations, expand the proportion of mature forests, and, meanwhile, continue to protect evergreen broad-leaved forests and curb the expansion of bamboo forests.
Complex Cause-Effect Relationships of Social Capital, Leader-Member Exchange, and Safety Behavior of Workers in Small-Medium Construction Firms and the Moderating Role of Age
Authors: Bentoy Marchel , Mata Marlon , Bayogo Jayson , Vasquez Roel , Almacen Rose Mary , Evangelista Samantha Shane , Wenceslao Charldy , Batoon Jannen , Lauro Maria Diana , Yamagishi Kafferine , Gonzales Gamaliel , Burdeos Angelo , Ocampo Lanndon
Published: October 2022

Due to workers’ vulnerability in construction sites, workplace safety has become of particular interest, and the current literature offers myriad approaches to dealing with it. From a social and organizational lens, this study explores an empirical model that integrates the dimensions of social capital theory (SCT) and leader-member exchange (LMX) in modelling the safety behavior of construction workers, particularly relevant in small-medium construction firms. The data were collected from 232 construction workers in the central Philippines. The responses were analyzed using partial least squares—structural equation modeling to investigate five hypothesized paths, including the influence of SCT dimensions (e.g., structural, relational, and cognitive) on LMX and LMX on safety behaviors (i.e., compliance and participation). We also tested whether the relationship of LMX to safety behaviors is moderated by age. The results indicate that the three dimensions of SCT have a significant and direct influence on LMX. In addition, LMX directly affects safety participation but does not significantly affect safety compliance. Particularly in small and medium construction firms with relatively flat organizational structures and supervisors displaying diverse roles, these findings suggest that the social relationships of workers tend to promote their trust and professional respect for supervisors who can leverage their position to encourage them participate in safety initiatives. On the other hand, age negatively influences the relationship of LMX to safety participation, indicating that younger workers tend to better translate high quality LMX into initiatives that promote overall workplace safety. Our findings offer the first evidence of the positive relationship between SCT and LMX in advancing the safety participation of construction workers. From these insights, practical inputs to the design of relevant measures and future research works are outlined.
Sustainable Learning, Cognitive Gains, and Improved Attitudes in College Algebra Flipped Classrooms
Authors: Karjanto Natanael , Acelajado Maxima Joyosa
Published: October 2022

To respond to global issues positively, education systems in higher education institutions play a significant role in empowering learners as well as promoting sustainable development goals. By implementing curricula that cultivate cross-cutting and transversal key competencies for sustainability, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration, we prepare our pupils to become sustainability citizens, who not only sustain learning throughout their lives in various circumstances and across different disciplines but also engage constructively and responsibly toward any future world’s challenges through their dispositions, strategies, and skills. One such sustainable teaching methodology is known as the flipped classroom, an active-learning, student-centered, flexible, and multidimensional pedagogy. Our objective is to investigate the effect of such pedagogy on learners’ academic achievement and their attitude toward mathematics using both quantitative and qualitative methods. We cultivated sustainable learning in mathematics education for college freshmen (n=55) by exposing them to both the conventional teaching method (CTM) and flipped classroom pedagogy (FCP). By splitting them into control and experimental groups alternately (n1=24, n2=31) and by selecting the four most challenging topics in college algebra, we measured their cognitive gains quantitatively via a sequence of pre- and post-tests. The topics are factorization, rational expressions, radical operations, and applied problems. Both groups improved academically over time across all these four topics with statistically very significant outcomes (p<0.001). Although they were not always statistically significant (p>0.05) in some topics, the post-test results suggest that generally, the FCP trumps the CTM in cognitive gains, except for the first topic on factorization, where the opposite is true with a very statistically significant mean difference (p<0.001). By examining non-cognitive gains qualitatively, we analyzed the students’ feedback on the FCP and their responses to a perception inventory. The finding suggests a favorable response toward the FCP with primary improvements in the attitudes toward mathematics and increased levels of cooperation among students. Since these students are so happy to have control of their own learning, they were more relaxed, motivated, confident, active, and responsible in learning under the FCP. We are confident that although this study is relatively small in scale, it will yield incremental and long-lasting effects not only for the learners themselves but also for other role-takers in education sectors who aspire in nurturing sustainable long-life learning and achieving sustainable development goals successfully.
Assessing the Feasibility and the Potential of Implementing Solar Water Heaters in Dimbaza, a Township in Eastern Cape, South Africa
Authors: Peter Sinethemba , Kambule Njabulo , Tangwe Stephen , Yessoufou Kowiyou
Published: October 2022

The level of income of the inhabitants in a township has an impact on the potential to have adequate access to electricity. The bulk of the domestic energy sources needed in the residential buildings is derived from electrical energy. In South Africa, the base load electricity is derived from coal thermal power plants. However, the environmental impact associated with the combustion of coal in the thermal power plants is a cause for concern. This study was designed to identify the common mode of sanitary hot-water heating in Dimbaza and the potential economic and environmental advantages of replacing the electric water heaters with solar water heaters (SWH) coupled with auxiliary electric heaters. The secondary data on the weather conditions, walk-through audits of selected buildings, and the energy consumption of a residence were analysed. The results depicted that the average annual day temperature and the global solar radiations of Dimbaza were 25 °C and 4.95 kWh/m2/day, respectively. The qualitative data recovered from the survey questionnaires of the sample household representatives revealed the level of awareness of the impact of climate change owing to the electricity generated from the Eskom national grid as 69%. The simple payback period of the projected SWH based on energy consumed by an electric water heater in a specific residence was 5.02 years using the energy analysis method. The implementation of SWHs in the households of Dimbaza would be techno-economically and environmentally viable due to the potential energy savings and the greenhouse gas reduction.
Sustainable Competitiveness in the Case of SMEs—Opportunities Provided by Social Media in an International Comparison
Authors: Korcsmáros Enikő , Csinger Bence
Published: October 2022

In the extremely competitive business environment typical of the 20th century, small and medium-sized enterprises have had to face countless challenges. As time progressed, digitization and the development of information and communication technology has had increasing impacts on the lives of both individuals and businesses. Now, from an organizational point of view, social media has become a corporate strategic tool the significant role of which is indisputable. The relevance of our study can be found in the fact that social media is now one of the most popular solutions if the goal of a business is to reach a specific target audience, to receive feedback about products/services, and to initiate the immediate communication that contributes to the loyalty of consumers and customers in the long term, as well as to take advantage of cost-effective advertising opportunities. The primary goal of our research is to provide the reader with a comprehensive picture of the thinking in the SME sector regarding the corporate application of social media. In our study, following a comprehensive literature review related to the topic, we use primary data collection to examine small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Hungary and Slovakia. The reason for choosing the subjects of the research is that, taking into account the territorial size of the regions under investigation, similar districts were selected, and the regions have similar numbers of businesses engaged in economic activity. The investigation process covers two regions in the two selected countries, examining a total of 1114 enterprises. Before starting our research, two hypotheses were defined. In order to test the correctness of the hypotheses, we performed statistical analyses using the SPSS program, specifically the Mantel–Haenszel test and the chi-square test. Considering the results, the hypotheses formulated by the authors proved to be correct in the case of both countries. As a result, it can be stated that the success of traditional marketing tools used before the online space greatly influences the extent to which businesses feel their presence in social media is important.
Food Waste Originated Material as an Alternative Substrate Used for the Cultivation of Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus): A Review
Authors: Doroški Ana , Klaus Anita , Režek Jambrak Anet , Djekic Ilija
Published: October 2022

Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) is considered a high-quality food, rich in proteins and bioactive compounds important for maintaining human health. Lately, a commonly used substrate for oyster mushroom cultivation—wheat straw, is more often replaced by alternative cellulose substrates originated from the agricultural and food industry. Utilization of wastes for mushroom cultivation has its added value: sustainable food waste management, production of high-quality food from low quality waste, as well as solving environmental, economic and global issues. This overview covered three categories of food waste: food-processing wastes, agro-cereal wastes and nut–fruit wastes, the most used for the cultivation P. ostreatus in the period of 2017–2022. Analyzed studies mostly covered the productivity and chemical characterization of the substrate before and after the cultivation process, as well as the morphological characteristics of the fruiting bodies cultivated on a specific substrate. Chemical analyses of mushrooms cultivated on food waste are not adequately covered, which gives room for additional research, considering the influence of substrate type and chemical quality on the fruiting bodies chemical composition.
Influence of Basalt Fiber on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Rubber Concrete
Authors: Wang Xiao , Shao Jinggan , Wang Junchao , Ma Minghao , Zhang Bing
Published: October 2022

The utilization of waste rubber in concrete will reduce pollution and improve the efficiency of resource utilization. The effects of rubber particles and basalt fibers on the compressive strength and splitting tensile strength of concrete were investigated. In addition, the influence of basalt fibers on the mechanical properties and micropore structure of rubber concrete (RC) were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray computed tomography (CT). The distribution of rubber particles in concrete was also studied. The results indicate that the effects of basalts fibers on the mechanical properties of rubber concrete were significant. The rubber particles were evenly distributed in the concrete. Compared with normal concrete (NC), rubber concrete with 10% rubber particles had lower compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. Compared with rubber concrete, basalt fiber rubber concrete (BFRC) with 2% basalt fibers had no obvious effect on the compressive strength, while significantly improving the splitting tensile strength, refining the pores of rubber concrete, and reducing the porosity of the matrix. The effects of basalt fiber on the properties and pore distribution of RC should be considered in future applications.
Trend of Percentile Climate Indices in Montenegro in the Period 1961–2020
Authors: Burić Dragan , Doderović Miroslav
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study is to determine the frequency trend of daily temperature and precipitation extremes in Montenegro. Firstly, using the Multiple Analysis of Series for Homogenization method (MASHv3.02), the accuracy of daily maximum and minimum temperatures, as well as daily precipitation, from 18 meteorological stations in Montenegro during 1961–2020, was examined. Using percentile distributions, one of the most objective methods in researching modern climate change, time series were formed for four temperature and four precipitation percentile indices on a seasonal and annual level. Finally, the trend was calculated using the Sen Method, while the significance was tested using the Mann–Kendall test. The obtained results demonstrate that there is a significant warming in Montenegro, because the number frequency trend of cold days and nights/warm days and nights decreases/increases (annually up to: −12.9, −18.4, 7.0 and 6.8 days/decade). The trend in the frequency of very wet, moderately wet, moderately dry and very dry days is insignificant, but indicates slight aridization. Significant warming increases water evaporation, which, with additional slight aridization, can pose a problem in the functioning of natural systems as well as in the life and work of the citizens.
Assessing the Potential for Rainwater Harvesting Use in a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation Region in the South of Brazil
Authors: Hoss Caroline Gabriela , Tavares Jorge Manuel Rodrigues , Moreira Ailton João Gonçalves , Belli Filho Paulo , Matthiensen Alexandre
Published: October 2022

Sustainability in intensive animal production is directly linked to water management. The increasing pressure on water resources and the occurrence of increasingly frequent and severe droughts makes it harder to meet the demand for animal husbandry in rural properties and highlights the importance of rational water use and the search for alternative sources of water supply. In the midwest region of Santa Catarina state, south of Brazil, the use of cisterns to store rainwater collected from the roofs of houses that confine animals is an alternative already widely used and encouraged to minimize water scarcity. Studies that deal with the potential for rainwater use in livestock production are still scarce; however, available information provides a concrete basis for further technical and economic feasibility studies. The present study aimed to evaluate, based on local precipitation and available harvesting areas, the potential of the use of rainwater to supply the water demand (r, %) and the water-saving potential (R, m3/year) in swine and poultry Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in Jacutinga river basin and contiguous sub-basin municipalities, a region with great national importance in this activity. As a result, potential r values of 100% to supply water demand in the poultry sector and between 32.7% and 68.3% in the different production stages of the swine sector were obtained. The potential R value in the study area represented 5.2 million m3 per year. Such results reveal the high potential of rainwater harvesting systems not only for minimizing impacts of drought periods but also as an abundant source of water for supplying the husbandry water demand of rural farms, ensuring water security, and serving as a tool for managing local water resources.
A Comparative Assessment of Hygienic Behavior of Carniolan (Apismelliferacarnica Pollmann) and Yemeni (Apismellifera jemenitica Ruttner) Honeybees Using Infra-Red Photography Video Recording
Authors: Al-Kahtani Saad N. , Taha El-Kazafy A.
Published: October 2022

The use of infra-red photography video recording is very useful for conducting behavioristic studies of honeybees against many brood diseases. The removal of dead or diseased brood from capped cells by honeybee workers is a heritable trait that confers colony-level resistance. This work aimed to compare the hygienic behavior of the native (Yemeni bees, A. mellifera jemenitica) and the exotic (Carniolan bees, A. m. carnica) honeybee races in Saudi Arabia using an infra-red photography video recording. In addition, hygienic behavior towards the related and non-related combs was examined. Therefore, it is possible to obtain honeybee colonies with greater disease resistance. The pin-killing method and infra-red photography video recording were used for the evaluation of hygienic behavior in colonies of the two races. Significant differences in hygienic behavior between the two races were detected at the beginning of the experiment. Under the environmental conditions of eastern Saudi Arabia, the Yemeni honeybee colonies showed a higher number of uncapped and cleaned cells containing dead brood in either the brood comb from the same colony, or the brood comb from the same race but a different colony, or brood comb from a different race. It was concluded that the honeybee’s ability to detect and clean the dead brood from comb cells can be correlated with race and it is more efficient for the non-related individuals of the same race than from a related or another race. The outstanding performance of a few individuals in the expression of various traits indicates their usefulness in carrying out breeding programs for Varroa resistance.
Assessment of Thermal Comfort and Air Quality of Room Conditions by Impinging Jet Ventilation Integrated with Ductless Personalized Ventilation
Authors: Yang Bin , Liu Pengju , Liu Yihang , Jin Dacheng , Wang Faming
Published: October 2022

Advanced ventilation methods are responsible for creating an appropriate temperature environment with satisfactory inhaled air quality. The ductless personalized ventilation system integrated with impinging jet ventilation shows the good ventilation performance. In order to investigate the effect of using such an integrated system on thermal comfort and air quality improvement. Twenty subjects participated in a chamber test at 25 °C, 27 °C, and 29 °C, respectively, with operating DPV devices at three modes (no flow, pre-set flow, and user control flow). Votes on thermal comfort, thermal sensation, thermal acceptability, and perceived air quality were collected from the them. The results showed that overall thermal sensation votes with DPV running at the user control flow mode were close to neutral (0.1, 0.4, and 0.5, respectively, at 25 °C, 27 °C, and 29 °C). Thermal comfort and perceived air quality were improved at all three temperatures studied in the user control DPV flow mode, with 90% of occupants reporting that the thermal environments were acceptable. An integrated system of this type could raise the acceptable HVAC temperature setpoint to 29 °C, resulting in an average energy savings of 34% over the neutral condition at 25 °C. Hence, occupants are advised to use the DPV’s user-control mode. Lastly, it is concluded that the integrated system could greatly improve thermal comfort, perceived air quality, and save HVAC energy, despite some issues with dry eyes at 29 °C.